Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 128, Number 49, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 8 December 2005 — Page 8

Page 8

• Advance News • Thursday, December 8, 2005

Wrestling team

By Anthony Godson Editor For the first time in 20 years, a new head coach will be shouting out instructions to North Wood wrestlers. Following the retirement of longtime North Wood coach Dennis Lewis last spring, Rod Lone has stepped in and is ready to lead the Panthers back to glory. "I have some big shoes to fill," Lone said about his feelings toward Lewis. Lone has spent the last eight years working as a high school assistant wrestling coach, while also working as head coach of the middle school team. Because of his familiarity with the program, his coaching style may be similar to Lewis', but also a bit different. "I'm more of a back to the basics kind of a guy," he said. "What we do we will do very well." What the Panthers did last year was go 5-15, with a 1-6 record in the Northern Lakes Conference. The team's record hasn't been where it may like, but with an influx of sophomore and freshmen wrestlers coming through, that may be changing. "The high school is already in a rebuilding phase," Lone said. The 2005-2006 Panthers will sport five seniors and five juniors, while the rest of the team is comprised of lower classmen. "The junior and senior classes are light, but they are definitely trying to improve on last year's record," Lone said. Among the seniors are Kyle Witmer (145), Austin Hamsher

North Wood stats - Basketball VARSITY * Girls 2 • PENN 61, NORTHWOOD 46 „ At Penn (11/29) Score by Quarters !" Penn I*9 8 13 21—61

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(145), Jeremy Fattorusso (152), Sam Telschow (215) and Tony Lopez (Heavyweight). "Our seniors have picked it up, and shown some leadership," Lone said. "That is something any team needs." Along with leadership, Lone also wants his-seniors to show that they are good people as well. "Austin Hamsher is definitely a leader to the guys, and also has great character," Lone said about one of his seniors. "He's been with the program for three years, wrestling on the junior varsity mostly, but he's the kind of wrestler I like to have." Lone expressed his desire, not only to have great wrestlers, but to also have wrestlers that will represent the school in a favorable light. "My philosophy is to have good wrestlers on and off the mat," the coach said. Among his junior class,. Lone brings back Trent Klotz (140), a regional qualifier a year ago. "Trent Klotz is entering his third year, and we also have some other experienced guys in the mix," Lone said. With 10 junior and senior wrestlers, the North Wood wrestling program brings out 10 wrestlers in the sophomore class alone, and another 10 in the freshmen class. Among the 10 sophomores are three wrestlers who qualified for regionals a year ago in Chase Teska (125), David Lopez (130) and Ryne Gamer (152). As freshmen, the three young men qualified for the regional competition, but alcng with Klotz, Lone sees all four transcending last year's accomplishments.

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is set to go under a new coach

F"f—l— M

. ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/ANTHONY GADSON Among the returning letter winners for the North Wood wrestling team are: (Front, left to right) Trent Klotz, Brian Beehler (Back, left to right) Cociy Mishler, Kyle Witmer, Jeremy Fattorusso and Dustin Woods.

"I definitely think that should be a goal of theirs," Lone said. A goal of Lone's is to incorporate his 10 freshmen wrestlers into the program, without putting them in too soon. "I have a 171-pound, freshman, who I'm going to let wrestle junior varsity, and get his confidence up," Lone said. "You want to build confidence in your guys, but you also want to remain competitive." In the past few years, North Wood has been building its elementary and middle school programs back up, which may now be paying dividends. "Our elementary is getting into place like it was several years ago," Lone said. "We have an elementary coach in place with Jason DeMein, arid that continuity has been big." Lone will also have a heads up when it comes to his middle

NW 12 7 9 18 —46 Penn: Emily Johnson 0 1-2 1; Morgan Malone 1 0-0 3; Kelsey Reynolds 4 810 17; Kelsey Whittaker 2 0-0 6; Sarah Strachan 0 3-3 3; Lily Svete 6 2-2 15; Colombe Martin 2 0-0 4; Maria Canfield 4 4-7 12. TOTALS: 19 18-24 61. NW: Heather Stutsman 0 2-2 2; Amanda Bechtel 4 2-611; Mandy Yoder 8 810 26; Mackenzie Lechlitner 1 0-0 2; Casey Bough 01-21; Brittany Hall 2 02 4. TOTALS: 15 13-22 46. 3-point field goals: Penn 5 (Whittaker 2, Malone, Reynolds, Svete), NW 3 (Yoder 2, Bechtel>. Turnovers: Penn 21. NW 23. Team fouls: Petlnl7, NW 16. iW.v.. North Wood Stats Rebounds: Brittany Hall 7. Assists: Amanda Bechtel 3. Steals: Amanda Bechtel 4, Mandy Yoder 3. Records: Penn 6-0. NW 5-1. J.V. Score: NW 31, Penn 23 Leading Scorers: Courtney Simpson 11. Alii Heeter 9. J.V. Record: 6-0. FRESHMEN Boys • NORTHWOOD 56, LAVILLE 35 At North Wood (11/28) Stats: Matt Troyer 25 pts, 4 assists; Cnaz Bellman 12 pts, 5 assists; Clark Ziegler 6 pts: Reid Yoder 6 pts; Brandc i Yoder 4 pts, 5 rebounds. Records: NW I-O.LV 1-1. Girls • PENN 34, NORTHWOOD 33 At Penn (11/28) Stats: Amber Slone 10 pts, 3 steals; Olivia Menzie 8 pts; Lindsey Kaufman 5 'pts, 3 steals. Records: Penn 7-0, N-Wood 3-1. • NORTHWOOD 38, CONCORD 15 At North Wood (12/1) Stats: Kelcy Heckaman 8 pts; Taylor Lincoln 6 pts; Amber Slone 6 pts. Record: 4-1.

BTH GRADE

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Sports

school wrestlers, as not only will he be coaching high school, but he'll also be head coach of the middle school team. "I will be staying on as middle school coach, but the seasons only overlap when the high school gets into regionals and semi-state," Lone said. With Lone coaching middle school wrestlers for the past eight years, he's already well acquainted with the high school wrestlers, as well as this year's freshmen crop. "The middle school program has been huge in bringing up guys," he said. "That can be seen with the 20-plus wrestlers in the sophomore and freshmen classes." Even though, they're young, Lone isn't counting his guys out at all. "Our sophomores are young, but they have a lot of varsity

A Team •NORTHWOOD 27, FAIRFIELD 26 At Fairfield( 11/29) Stats: Tony Miranda 10 pts, 4

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experience," he said. The Panthers are likely to strengthen their program even more this year, and that's exactly what Lone wants. "I want to stay competitive and definitely improve on where we were from last year," he said. Helping the guys to improve in their sport, will be more home meets. In future years, Lone wants to work to limit the number of super dual meets, which invites numerous schools to participate in a Saturday meet. He would like to see more dual meets scheduled throughout the week, to perhaps bring in more fan fare. "We need to try to build the interest in the sport," Lone said. North Wood had only one home meet last season, but will host three meets this season: Elkhart Memorial on Dec. 8, Plymouth on Dec. 15 and Northridge on Jan 12. "They are all conference meets," Lone pointed out. Roster Seniors: Jeremy Fattorusso, Austin Hamsher, Tony Lopez, Sam Telschow and Kyle Witmer. Juniors: Trent Klotz, Sam Montgomery, Brett Riley, Joe Wegener and Dustin Woods. Sophomores: Brian Beehler, Ryne Gamer, Ricky Guevara, David Lopez, Cody Mishler, James Reynolds, Zack Rollins, Austin Stout, Chase Teska and Bronson Weaver. Freshmen: Chris Avery, Cody Casteel, Ben Etsinger, Reyd Garner, Jared Hilty, Nick Hunsberger, George Lopez, Reece Martin, Josh Schmuck and Andrew Smith.

rebounds; Kyle Yoder 9 pts, 2 steals; Cam Spitaels 4 pts, 3 assists; Mike Bough 2 pts; Christian Diemer 1 pt; Marc Disher 1 pt. Record: 24. • NORTHWOOD 41, GRISSOM 31 At North Wood (12/1) Stats: Christian Diemer 10 pts; Tony Miranda 9 pts, 5 rebs, 3 assists; Marc Disher 5 pts, 4 rebs; Kyle Yoder 5 pts, 6 rebs; Brandon Menzie 5 pts, 3 steals; Cam Spitaels 3 pts; David Zeltwanger 2 pts; Nick Anglemeyer 2 pts; Mitch Anthony 2 steals. Records: NW 34, Grissom 24. B Team • MILFORD 47, NORTHWOOD 42 At North Wood (11/28) Stats: David Zeltwanger 3 pts, 2 assists, 2 steals; Benzing 5 pts; Jared Rogers 3 pts; Jarvis Rogers 3 pts, 7 rebounds; Mike Bough 4 pts, 3 rebounds; Toby Magers 8 pts, 2 assists; Brant Nine 14 pts, 5 rebounds; Austin YoderAnglemeyer 2 pts. Record: 1-2. 7TH GRADE A Team • NORTHWOOD 29, FAIRFIELD 28 At Fairfield (11/29) Stats: Michael Paul 11 pts, 5 rebs, 3 assists; Ryan Lincoln 8 pts, 5 ret»s; Cammeron Williams 4 pts, 5 rebs; Brennan Yoder 2 pts, 3 rebs; Brandpn Snodgrass 2 pts; Cory Snyder 2 pts; Lucio Chumas 5 rebounds, 2 assists. I Record: 6-0. I •NORTHWOOD 53, GRISSOM 45 ; At North Wood (12/1) : Stats: Michael Paul 21 pts, 5 rebs, 6 assists, 1 steal; Lucio Chumas 11 pt£ 2 rebs, 1 assist, 1 steal; Ryan Lincoln 9 pts, 5 rebs, 3 assists, 1 steal; Brandon Snodgrass 6 pts, 1 reb, 1 assist; Brennan Yoder 4 pts, 2 rebs, 2 assists, 1 steal; Kyle Heckaman 2 pts, 3 assists; Derek Yoder 2 assists; Johnny Lemley 1 steal; Neal Brown 1 reb; Cory Snyder 1 reb. Record: 7-0. < l • NORTHWOOD 54, . I WAWASEE 23 'l At Indian Springs (12/2) Indian Springs Tournament * Stats: Michael Paul 14 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assists, 4 steals; Derek Yoder 8 ptsj 1 assist, 2 steals; Johnny Lemley 6 pts, 2 assists, 1 steal; Brennan Yoder 6 pts, See STATS, Page; 9

Assistant Coaches: Amos Fry, Scott Hoover, Randy Mitschelen and Rob Nickerson. Mat Managers: Corrinda Bridenstine, Alyssa Goodman, Kelsey Hunsberger and Steph Weaver. Schedule Home meets in Bold DECEMBER 12/3—Rookie Classic Elkhart Central, 8 a.m.; 12/3 — Bellmont Varsity Invitational, 10 a.m.; 12/8 —Elkhart Memorial, 6:45 p.m.; 12/10 — Junior Varsity Invitational @ Goshen, 8:15 a.m.; 12/10 — Merrillville Varsity Invitational, 8:30 a.m.; 12/13—Goshen, 645 p.m.; 12/15—Plymouth, 6:45 p.m.; 12/17 —Penn Varsity Invitational, 9 a.m.; 12/20 — Concord, 6:45 p.m.; 12/21 — New Prairie Junior Varsity Invitational, 8 a.m.; 12/23 — Huntington North Varsity Invitational, 8:45 a.m. JANUARY 1/5 —Wawasee, 6:45 p.m.; 1/7 —Varsity Invitational @ Bremen, 9 a.m.; 1/7 —Northfield Junior Varsity a.m.; 1/12 — Northridge, 6:45 p.m.; 1/14 —Plymouth Junior Varsity Invitational, 9 a.m.; 1 /14—Concordia Varsity Invitational, 9 a.m.; 1/21 —NLC Tourney @ Concord, 9 a.m.; 1 / 28—Sectionals. / FEBRUARY 2/1 —Team Regionals; 2/i — Individual Regionals; 2/8 — Team Semi-State; 2/11 — Individual Semi-State; 2/17 — Individual State; 2/18; — Individual State; 2/25 —Team State.