The Mail-Journal, Volume 19, Number 50, Milford, Kosciusko County, 29 December 1982 — Page 12
THE MAIL-JOURNAL—Wed., December 29,1982
12
Sports
A conversation witK— Coach John Wysong: Fans and basketball
(EDITOR'S NOTE Fans good, bod or Indlffaranl. play on Inlogrot port of every baskelbo/l program Wawosee High School boys basketball coach John Wysong recently discussed the role of fans to his sport and to his job of Wowosee Whot follows is his conversation with Moil-Journal raportor Gary lewis ) LEWIS: How important is It that you have the gym full, to have a pep band there, to have the cheerleaders there. How important is that to you as a coach? WYSONG: I think it’s important to our team and it’s important to the opposing team. I think it brings out the best effort ... not necessarily the best, but a better effort out of both teams and makes for a better bay game 1 really do The atmosphere, and the setting... you can tell there’s a great deal of interest in the baskeballteam. 1 If we didn't have the negative people with us. then you’d know there wouldn’t be much interest and no one would really care much But people do care about what happens, and they're there They are yelling. That’s fine with me We don’t listen to a lot of things that people yell at us It's kind of like a roar, you don't hear too much of anything anyone says. It’s never changed anything we’ve done if we do hear it it’s a good thing, not just for Wawasee but for basketball. LEWIS: Is there such a thing as home court advantage? WYSONG: It’s hard to assess the home court advantage because you don't play the same opponents away at home You got different opponents It's pretty hard to look at your win lost record at home and say that you’re much better at home than away We hope that we concentrate more on what we do at the offensive and defensive end than what the atmosphere of the gym is or.ylhe fans, or that type of thing Os course, officiating sometimes doesn't go your way on the road That happens, but we don't ever try to put a visiting team at a disadvantage We want to beat them fair and square .., LEWIS: How much of a function does the coach play in public relations. Do you like to visit and speak al different places? WYSONG: I like to speak just about anywhere I’m asked to speak at. Right here at Wawasee. I do teach a full load and a full load of coaching We've got three junior highs spread out so I'm kept very busy But I like to go out and talk. I don't think I have to answer to anybody I will talk I kind of like to think that how we play kind of speaks for itself We've always emphasizing that to our players LEWIS: How much of an impact does the three communities, once separate, have on the program? Three In finals Mike Hernandez. Dave Melendez and Todd Reiff ad vanced to the final four of the Mishawaka Invitational wrestling tournament which is underway today (Wednesday i Melendez and Hernandez advanced their records to 1(H) with the wins at the 21-team tournament The invitational features some of the top grappiers in the state Advancing to a possible third place finish at the meet were Rob DeSomer and Juan Roa
Ik ip** . f *’ IH ■& ” _^H. - 1 ' ■ * k i VARSITY BASKETBALL coach Ms Wysong b in Ms second year at the helm at Wawasee. Last season, his team finished 13-10 and surprised area enthusiasts with a Triton Sectional Championship. Wysong came to Wawasee from Fairfield where he coached his high school alma mater to 0-13, 16-C and 20-4 records. The Warriors are 5-3 so far this season.
/ WYSONG: I think that division is evident. I think it does exist. 1 think it would be foolish to say that it does not. I think sometimes we don’t get the full maximum benefit of all being together that we could get. We sometimes don't capitalize on being consolidated because of that situation I'm not saying that loses any ball games or anything like that. I just don’t think we take full advantage of that. Anytime you got three junior highs that are still identifying with the old high schools, with the same names and everything, the same nicknames, the same colors, you're -going to have that. It’s something that’s been tried to change before but didn’t go over That’s something that were really don’t feel we re in a position to do anything about or change... LEWIS: Everybody is a coach. And everyone has his own way of doing things. Vnlike other professions, you are secondguessed and even criticized, or at least questioned, about certain things. How do you handle that? WYSONG: Well. I just feel that’s fine to second guess, but I feel like I’ve paid quite a bit of dues to get where I'm at. I think quite a few people just as a player to develop the way I have as a player and to have the success I had in high school and college In coaching, I work with my kids everyday. I’ve read a great deal of books on basketball. I’ve attended clinics and I work hard with my kids and try to get them better 1 have their best interest m mind I want to see them improve as people, and improve as players So I feel if another person feels they want that job. I’m not holding them back from applying for a job They can go ahead and take that job The other thing 1 think is a lot of times we say that secondguessing coaching is just part of basketball 1 don't believe it is really a part of basketball It is something that’s there, you don't have to really deal with it. You need to accept that you're going to have people yelling at you , . putting you down and different things I think anyone that's in an authority position or leadership position is going to experience that I think in a basketball game, sometimes we get the idea that when we (fans' pay the price of the ticket, we can say anything we want to say. I consider it. or consider it very closely, to someone coming into my accounting class and yelling in the back of the room to debit that account rather than credit that account So I try to put the fans out of my mind a little bit We have some fans who are just super and are very inspiring and helpful We've got to take the positive and try not to let the negative get you down. LEWIS: It takes just a few bad attitudes, or just a few people, to ruin it for you. How do you keep from letting it get to you? WYSONG: It's human nature to be bothered by people who yell derogatory things at you I can't say I just sit there and laugh As far as second guessing being a part of basketball. I think that's a 10l like saying worms are part of horses They're there and you have to de-worm horses all the time, but is that really part of horses'’ They get in there, eat away at you. but is that part of horses, the worm’ The thing you got to remember
is there are some super fans. We don’t hear them blowing their load down at the coffee shop or anything. They’ll come up to you when things are tough and say “I’m happy with some of the things you’re doing for these kids. Keep you chin up. and work hard. I'm behind you.” That gives you a little motivation, no doubt about it... We know when we are playing badly, we’re not that ignorant. The players know it, I know it. We’ll be trying to get out of that... the more vocal people, the ones that I'm aware of, really haven’t accomplished a great deal (in basketball) and I can understand
Athlete of the Week
This week's Mail-Journal • Athlete of the Week" has taken on a new sport by storm recently. Senior Todd Reiff, the bruising fullback for coach Myron Dickerson’s football Warriors, went out for wrestling a year ago and ended up placing third in the regional. This season, he captured his 177-pound weight division at the Wawasee Invitational and has advanced to today's (Wednesday) semi-final round of the rugged Mishawaka 21-team Invitational And the best could still yet to come because coach Rich Welborn says his man could go
Football conditioning change questioned By GARY LEWIS Conditioning time for Wawasee football players in 1983 will be shorter than usual, thanks to changes made in scheduling by the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Wawasee Athletic Director Hal Traviolia is aware of these changes and although he doesn't like them, he'll have tolive with them In an attempt to expand the playoff system, the IHSAA created a "cluster'' playoff format with teams vying for the chance at the state crown to be selected from clusters of four to six teams Because of the increase of the teams, the time allowed for the regular season and the playoff season had to be expanded The first game for the 1983 season is scheduled for August 19, a mere 10 days after workouts first begin Traviolia recently attended a conference of athletic directors from the northwest district of Indiana and the feeling was mutual. "Earlier in the year, people from our area, football coaches, athletic directors, and doctors, expressed concern that this wasn't enough time, " he said. Football —by far the most physical of any high school sport — has the shortest preparation time of any sport. "No other sport, to my knowledge, has a meet this soon, especially contact sports." Traviolia said He said the northwest district was actually in the minority opinion in its formally expressed concern. "One of the members of the (IHSAA) board of control said we were the only section to formally express concern.” Traviolia said the IHSAA primarily was concerned with getting more deserving teams in the playoffs. "Practice time became an after thought." Traviolia said Even though he opposed the changes in the practice time, he is not quick to criticize the IHSAA. "I don’t want to make the IHSAA out as the villian in this, because the people who express concern are in the minority ... they (IHSAA* do what they consider to be the best for Indiana high school athletes,” Traviolia said The IHSAA will wise-up once the 1983 season gets underway. Traviolia forecasted "Whenever anything new comes along it takes at least a year to work the bugs out, " he said The shortened preseason conditioning time means the coaches will have to place more emphasis on their summer voluntary conditioning program. At the Lakeland Community School System, all practices during vacations must be kept voluntary Traviolia thinks the Wawasee coaches wall still only allow those athletes who are in top condition play — even if it means cutting the others "I know our coaching staff would not play someone who's not physically ready to play.'' he said. IHSAA rules prohibit required practices during summer vacation. But the governing body does allow coaches to work with one or two athletes at a time during the summer So a quarterback and receiver, for example, could get together under the coach's direction for practice The other reason he and the other athletic directors oppose the plan —by far the secondary reason - is financial. Bymoving the first game to August 19, the IHSAA has eliminated money-making jamborees “This is secondary to the safety of the athletes,” Traviolia said Between SSOO to $1,500 can be earned at jamborees. Traviolia said. “Our jamboree has been a nice income each year for us We re in that SSOO to SBOO range ’ Last season, the football team had 15 days (including several two-a-day sessions > to prepare for the season-opener The jamboree involved only two quarters of contact. Most coaches use the preliminary scrimmage as an opportunity to see how their players, both veterans and rookies, react to game situations. The new 10-day format include three required non-contact days, creating seven contact days. The present schedule allows for 12 contact days. "If you know it is coming, you (coaches) will have to start your pre-season conditioning earlier and run it longer,” he explained. Wawasee. competing in the Northern Lakes Conference, is forced to take on some schools with larger enrollments and, consequently, larger football rosters. But Traviolia does not believe the Warriors will be anymore short-changed than the others. "I don’t think it is anymore of a
their frustration. They weren’t very successful and they don’t want anyone else to be very successful... LEWIS: Since you’ve been at Wawasee, what is your impression of the fan support? WYSONG: When 1 first applied for the job, I was told that a lot of times that the students weren’t very much behind the team. But I have not found that to be true. 1 think when we play a home game our gym is louder than most gyms. You know, they're cheering and they want to win. and they get excited. We have had pretty good crowds so we feel good about that...
Mk Al
TODD REIFF
far in tournament action this season Reiff is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Reiff of North Webster.
■Jwr *-iTm w A A ■’ j FQ B Ji Bh ’ 1-• -A (®B K. a lA>W'i *-A X w — — ’ TROJAN HOOPERS — Members of Coach Richard Bender's 19X2 Milford basketball team are; front row. Jason Brooks (mgr.), C.J. Harwood, Todd Boggs. Erik Sharp. Scott Baker. Gerrod Stoller, Kevin Grimm, Chad Berkeypile (mgr.). Back row. Derek Kreider. Harvey Melendez. Ben Beer. Terry Ryman. Joe Hernandez, Darin Hostetler. (Photoby Gary Lewis)
'Big Four' key in Wawasee attack
Wawasee’s “Big Four” statistical leaders have just about done it all for coach John Wysong’s 5-3 crew Seniors Kevin Smith, Brian Walls, Ron Spunar and junior Jon Vitaniemi are the offensive leaders, scoring the most points, grabbing the most rebounds and, consequently, getting the most playing time. It would seem these four will be the players Wawasee will be counting on the most when the second half of the season gets underway January 7 at Plymouth. But Wysong believes five other members of the Wawasee top nine will be the difference between a great season and an average season "The key to having a good year is for the rest to have a good year,” Wysong said, “We got to have these people to come in and do some things for us .. the four need to continue their leadership but we want the others to improve more.” The other five — Dick Doll. Jeff Atwood, Kim Zurcher, Joel Rhoades and Pat Hare — will be needed in crucial relief roles the rest of the way. Wysong said these relievers are needed because of his team's style of play. "The way we pressure on defense, we need to have these people do more for us They are going to be in the ball game,” he says. The Big Four Kevin Smith — The fourth
geec xnc : tfwi : anaraamnacnnik jmomkssktmk w jw «kwwctk wowwkssk jwj i The Mail-Journal 1982-83 | I BASKETBALL CONTEST I CONTEST RULES MfrrVl V M* ■■ and wr * ,e them in the spaces provided. w 1 R | | U_ Wl A,! Pick the winners of the tie breakers and ■ / fill in the difference in score in the box DDI7C provided i W I\ 2) All mailed entries must be received ■ no later than 4 p.m. on Friday of the week N All Weekly Winners Will Be Eligible For / w .' 'i of the contest to: "Basketball Contest", | A Grand Prise Contest I 1 \ The Mail-Journal. P.O Box 188 Milford. w -a. IN 46542 or submit your entry in person ■ /eeea ailk Moil-Journol office ot 103 East * I-If nN II M* dM MN MN nM* Mom Syracuse or 206 South Main Milford ■ a MllOll 1/ W B ■■ ■ ■ ,«» qM Be sure your entry reaches us before 4 " ’ I Illi pm Friday You may use the drop slot g pDljp 18e«e ot each office on Wednesday and Thurs- 8 I Iw lisle 1 day nights. Entries received after the M To Be Awarded To The Winner Os A , 13) Weekly winners will receive $5 and R Grand Prue Contest During The State Tournament KT K will be eligible to compete for the grand | a ' - prise of SIOO. In the event that a weekly " R , ' ', ' winner wins more than once he or she g 8 . / V/ \ \ will be allowed to submit one entry in the R X/ ,■ \ grand prue contest for each weekly con- jC -v >- \ test won The winner of the previous » week s contest will appear on this page. L R (J/ \ Each contestant may submit no more ■ g • \ i / than two entries. Submission of more ” 8 . than two entries will result in automatic g v I lAy HIFPMin UIIUBim disqualification of all entries by that perI — LAST WEEK 5 WINNER — son for that week. £ y \ 5) The entrant s name, address and ■ \ \ phone number must be clearly printed on Q —„ „ 9 \ k the entry blank. Tim nslilTfllsin *) Anyone ten years of age or older K I Illi 11 is eligible for the contest except employ- I 72255, SR 13, Syracuse ees of The Papers Incorporated and g their immediate families. 7) Decisions of the judges will be final I !! Sirs"""" ! Owe «o *• hoMsy •ocorw *h» wwh • »(««• «<lv4m an NtA ganw and *a r*«» coHaea. lay* and fwt* Khool gomat will ratwn fha January J lowa. ■ Baltimore □, Memphis State Cincinnati O t Louisville . ■ Mississippi O t Kentucky Nebraska at Arkansas | St John’s or Seton Hall Ball State O t Butler I Georgia at Tennessee Indiana a t Golden St ( nba) I. — 1| 5* | Tie Breakers Winner NAME | M t ADDRESS || BaltMore at Memphis State I aTY STA TE ZIP | | hMiMa Qt GeWeeSt NSA PHONE || IL - — Jj jtßao— c?—eat: —rrar • >Mc^ac.>oaK33*<wcMMW
leading scorer on the squad, Smith has been having trouble shooting the ball recently. But Wysong thinks the guard will come out of his doldrums quickly after the holidays. He has slipped to 12.6 points per game and is the team leader in assists with a 4.3 average Last season, in 27 quarters, he scored only 50 points with a 3.9 average. "He needs to score and be a consistent shooter ... a solid allaround game,” says Wysong. Jon Vitaniemi — Vitaniemi has been the team leader on the floor thus far this season. Averaging 14.3, he is the second leadmg scorer and second leading rebounder. He is shooting 63 per cent from the field and has 12 steals. "Vito’s an all-around player He needs to score inside, outside and guard the opponent's best player in about all of our games,” Wysong said. In comparison to last season's totals, Vitaniemi scored only 44 points (3.7 average) the entire season. Only a junior. Wawasee fans could have plenty to look forward to in 1983 84 Ron Spunar — At 6-10, Spunar represents just about all Wawasee has to offer in the form of a big man. As compared to last season. Spunar's efforts have been phenomenal. Wysong tried to play Spunar as much as possible last season with little success. He was a statistical standout in only one category — violations.
Those days are behind him now and after eight games he is the team's leading rebounder and scorer. Averaging 15.9 points per game, he shoots 60 per cent from the field and is the leading shot blocker on the squad. "Os course Ron has improved from last year. He needs to continue to develop and work for more intensity,” says Wysong. Brian Walls — Walls is another team leader for the Warriors. He is third in scoring with 13.9 and is a 50 per cent shooter from the floor. "He plays good defense and improved a great deal from last year. Passing has improved quite a bit . . . he's working at developing an overall game,” Wysong said. Walls development as a starter is remarkable when one considers his varsity experience. Last season, he scored 19 points. Atwood. Doll, Zurcher and Joel
School Calendar Week Os December 29 To January 5 MONDAY r FCA meeting 7 p.m.. Case Annex at Wawasee Music boosters’ meeting 7.30p.m., in Room 301
Rhoades have improved also, although their accomplishments don’t show on the cumulative statistics. All JV players a year ago, Wysong thinks they have improved greatly. In fact, Wysong thinks just about all of the players on the varsity is an example of vhat hard work can do. “They show what you can do when you uork hard.” Traviolia attends Indy AD convention Wawasee High School Athletic Director Hal Traviolia attended the annual National Athleti* Directors' Convention held ii Indianapolis December 13 and 14A Several seminars designed for the high school AD were! available. He attended seminars on organization and efficiency, liability in athletics and fundraising techniques.