The Mail-Journal, Volume 20, Number 22, Milford, Kosciusko County, 15 June 1983 — Page 8

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., June 15,1983

8

Sports

"A Conversation With..." Charles Parker: Cop becomes Palace director

NOTE: Charles Parker, former town marshal of North "Webster, was appointed this year as the first full-time director for the International Palace of Sports. Mail-Journal sportswriter Gary Lewis interviewed Parker about his new job and his plans for the Palace. LEWIS: For 10 years, during your military career and after your retirement as North Webster's town marshal, you have been involved in police work. Why are you now with an organization like the Palace of Sports? PARKER: The Palace of Sports has really enthused me ever since I saw it. From day one, I always thought that 1 would love to have a job like this — dealing with youth, and fund-raising type things. I saw over the past couple years where it wasn’t being run up to par, and it was nobody’s fault, because they have had part-time directors. This is not a three-month a year job. This is a 12-month a year job, if we are going to build it up to where I would like to see it. And there is quite a bit of money in the fund for scholarships so we can offer more scholarships to other schools . .. LEWIS: What have you done so far this year for the Palace of Sports? PARKER: All of the wax figures have been repaired. When we came in, we had a lot of damage to the wax figures. We brought in a gal from Vermont, and she repaired them. All of the tape recorders, except for about four of them, were out of order. All of those have been repaired. New tapes are being made now, so if one breaks we have a replacement to go right back. For anyone coming in, this is the highlight of the museum. People want to listen to those recordings. When they pick the phones up, they are very disappointed when they don’t work. We’ve done a lot of mail-outs in the five-state area in the radius around us. Every chamber of commerce in the fivestate area now knows we’re here. We gave them copies of our yearbook . . . I'm working very closely with “Wander Indiana,” Indiana travel group, and they are having our yearbooks sent out across the state. Our yearbooks are now available at every rest stop and

Sports Comment — Side Lines WAWASEE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Hal Traviolia's desire to increase the high school's recognition of its athletes resulted in a serious injury last week. Trav was attempting to hang banners displaying the wrestling team's sectional championship when the ladder he was standing on slipped on the gym floor and he fell about 15 feet. The accident resulted in a crushed heel which required a bone graph from his hip. Three screws were inserted to hold the bone in place and he’ll be confined in a cast for at least 12 weeks. “The ladder was supposed to have been non-skid, but apparently it didn’t work,” said Mrs. Traviolia. “The ladder slid out away from the wall and he rode the ladder all the way down. He thought about jumping off, but he didn't,” she explained. Swimming instruction at the pool was underway during the accident, but despite cries for help none of the parents in the area heard his shouts. “He laid there on the floor in considerable amount of pain before he was able to hobble to his office,” said Howard Hull. Wawasee principal. 1 Trav could not be reached for comment Monday, but Elkhart General Hospital listed his condition as good. Mrs. Traviolia did not know for sure when her husband will be released, however, she did expect him home sometime this week. Side Lines wishes Trav the best in his speedy recovery. SIDE LINES WAS saddened to learn about assistant football coach Dave Baumgartner’s decision to resign his position as teachercoach at Wawasee. Baumgartner, a popular and active faculty member, will be greatly missed this upcoming football season as coach Myron Dickerson prepares for what promises to be an extremely challenging campaign. Baumgartner has accepted a position with Bell & Howell Education Group. His new job will keep him in the area as a recruiter for the conglomerate’s 10 technical schools across the country. Dickerson was typically positive about the situation. “I’d hate to lose him, because he works so hard and is so loyal,” he said. “But it is just one of those things,” he added. No successor has been named, but principal Hull is accepting applications for the job. Any teacher-coach with driver’s education, physical education, social studies or any combination of those three can apply for the job. Hull said he is now interviewing candidates. 1982 KING OF SPORTS FUZZY Zoeller will not be making the trip to North Webster for coronation ceremonies. A golf tournament in Memphis, Tenn., has the former masters champion busy that day for qualifications. But Charles Parker, Palace of Sports director, said Jim Thorpe’s son may be included in the annual Mermaid Festival parade. Thorpe, the legendary all-sports star, recently received official notification of his athletic accomplishments when the U.S. Olympic committee finally agreed to give back to the Thorpe family the trophies he earned. Although Side Lines would like for Zoeller to be in attendance, Parker should be commended for his efforts to bring the legend’s son to North Webster. Next year, however, the board of directors should make sure the person selected will make it to the ceremonies. Instead of choosing a king based on the prior year’s accomplishment, the Palace could work to attract a recently retired sports figure based on his entire career. Soon to be retired Reds catcher Johnny Bench would make a perfect candidate in ‘B4.

tourist information center throughout the state. We mailed those down to them a couple of months ago. I think the word is really going to get out that it’s here, and it doesn’t take very long to get here . . . LEWIS: What are some of your short-term and long-term goals for the Palace of Sports? PARKER: Right off the bat, I got hold of a man in this county who has Rocky Marciano's gold belt. I thought it was a shame that it was sitting in a vault, where nobody could appreciate it. I contacted the individual and asked him if he would like to donate it to the palace, for people to view, and he could take a tax write-off. We’re still working on the fine details. I contacted Mike Richel, who works at Commodore Corporation. He had a lot of Rocky’s photographs and things of this nature, and a silver belt. He gave those to us on a loan. We have those up in the palace right now, and a bronze statue of Rocky. We’ve had a lot of comments on it since we’ve put them up . . . We’re planning on having, possibly, a five-state area auction if I can get everbody to cooperate. We’ve sent letters to all sports manufacturers, all professional teams and players, requesting them to donate something that represents them that would mean something . ~ and people would come in and bid on it. Like a Dick Butkus football autographed jersey, dr something like that. If they donate two of the item, and we need that item in the museum, like a basketball, we’d take that basketball and put it in Larry Bird's hands, with their name on it as advertisement for them. It’s a chance for us to make a lot of money at no expense to us and we can take that money we make and put in the scholarship fund . . . LEWIS: How many scholarships do you offer, and how many would you like to offer in the future? PARKER: Right now, for high school going on to college, we give four in the immediate area —two to Warsaw and two to Wawasee. We also give a tennis scholarship and a bridge scholarship. We also have a Tournament of Knights, we have the queens, if they go to college that money

would go to the college of their choice. Right now, I’d say we’re giving pretty close to $7,000 to SB,OOO per year in scholarships. I would like to get it extended to Tippe Valley High School. Whitko, (and) work from the center here outward to the five-state area. The bridge and the tennis scholarship could be from anywhere in the world. This year’s receipient is from New York . ~ LEWIS: Since you are now a full-time director, do you think the Palace of Sports is going to inW I Au NEW DIRECTOR — Charles Parker, former town marshal of North Webster, is the subject for this week’s “A Conversation With ...” — the first in a series of interviews with sports personalities. Parker is the director of the International Palace of Sports. U, :: T " =«A| :: Softball : A trio of games were played in last week's CTB slow-pitch softball league. In the first game, Woodling defeated Douglas by a 7-0 score. Bud Lantz tripled to spark Kitson to a 10-6 win over McDowell. Bud Seely hit a three-run homer for McDowell. Stu Baughart was the winning pitcher, with Jack Shrader taking the loss. In the third game, Mike Neer homered to lead Vance to an 11-9 victory over Thornsbury. Gary Thornsbury had three hits for the losers. Doug Graff, aided by superior defensive plays by Gary Shrader and Brian Eby, was the winning pitcher, while Harry Tailman took the loss. Vance leads the league after four weeks of play with a 4-0 record, followed by Kitson at 3-0. Woodling stands at 2-2. with Orn and Thornsbury at 1-2, while Douglas is at 1-3 and McDowell stands at 0-3. f Syracuse \ Fi Youth 1 j V League 7 In Syracuse Youth League action last week, American Legion topped Gropps 7-4, Pilchers downed State Bank 8-3, Pilchers topped Rotary 3-2, and State Bank edged American Legion 10-9. In Boys' Minor League action, Kiwanis downed Miller Brothers 9- KFC topped Ace Hardware 8-2, Miller Brothers defeated Fire Department 14-4, KFC edged Fire Department 6-5, and Kiwanis shut out Ace Hardware 10The Syracuse Boys’ Travel team lost a game to North Webster 7-6. In Babe Ruth League action, Syracuse lost a pair of games, to Westview 11-4, and to LaGrange 4-3. The Girls’ Softball Travel team fell to Milford 4-2. In Girls’ Minor League games, Sea Nymph topped Syracuse Rubber 22-15, and also topped Holley Park by a 18-8 margin. In T-Ball action June 7, Love downed T-Shirts 33-31, Thornburgs topped Quackers 27-13 and Sroufe defeated Bales 23-9. On June 9, Quackers and T-Shirts tied at Thornburgs downed Bales 20-10 and Love topped Sroufe 21-13.

crease, or better its relationship with the community? PARKER: I think so. 1 can see a turnaround already. People are really becoming aware that it is here, and let’s face it, it is here to say. It is a little bit harder to get contributions in this economy, but (everybody who) comes through that door is very willing to donate $5, $lO, sl, it’s just unreal. We’ve had a lot of new faces from the community that I have never seen here before, and I know they have never been here before . .. Basically, they are my communicators, really, the public. If they are in their stores shopping and they ask, “What’s that over there?,” they can tell them and people can come over . . . LEWIS: The selection of the King of Sports has been criticized by some in recent years because the appointed king could not make it to the ceremonies in North Webster. In future picks, what can you do to insure that the celebrity will make it to the festivities? PARKER: One of my ideas, and I haven't taken it to the board of directors yet, is (to) pick several names and categorize them one through whatever. In other words, the one we feel we want here most, out of all of them, he would be number one. We would go out and try to get that individual here, if he cannot make it. then we go to the next one. Providing they have all accomplished what they are supposed to have accomplished that year in their particular sport. Then again. I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. But I will do everything in our power to get that individual here. It does make a difference. If we have that person here on parade day. I’d say our population outside (during) the parade would probably increase another quarter of what we already have if the King of Sports is here.

Syracuse girls win separate road races

Carla Clouse, a senior and member of the Wawasee High School track and cross country teams, captured first place in the women’s division of the fifth an04 ""7 In Milford Youth League action June 3, the Pirates downed the Astros 9-2, and the A’s defeated the Cubs 11-5. On June 6, the Orioles topped the Cubs. 4-2, and the Astros defeated the Cards 11-2. In June 9 games, the A s beat the Pirates 6-5, and the Cards topped the Orioles 10-5. In Girls Major League action, the Giants beat the Indians 13-6, the Pirates edged the Mets 12-11, and the Braves topped the Giants 7-6. In Girls Minor League games, the Padres won a pair of contests, defeating the Phillies 15-5, and the Dodgers 8-7. In T-Ball games June 7, the Cards beat the Vikings 15-14, the Royals topped the Yanks 20-5, the Astros downed the Bears 36-23, and the Cubs topped the Athletics 30-22. In other T-Ball contests last week, the Angels defeated the Orioles 27-19, the Royals topped the Orioles 26-9, the Vikings downed the Bears 14-8, the Athletics and Angels tied at 26-26, and the Cubs topped the Astros 35-17. In Boys’ All Star action, Milford fell to Millersburg 16-8, while the Girls’ All Stars won a pair of games, edging Webster 19-18 in extra innings and defeating Syracuse 4-2.

Car Wash Saturday, June 18 10 A.M. To 4 P.M. (Rate Dot* Jvao 25) Located At ♦' Bethel Church Os The Brethren Catherine And East Sts. MILFORD Sponsored By Youth Group

——- nsjam _... h ; mmmm ■ - i -■ ~ *■ - w - = • Z? J : MB \ u__e_ *' . ■ r kg s; a ' BEBk KISSINGER TO DEFEND TITLE — Mike Kissinger, last year’s Tournament of Knights champion, has announced he will be defending his Sir Lancelot du Lac title in this year’s competition. Kissinger is pictured above accepting his award last year from 1981 Queen of Lakes Lisa Rudig. (Photo by Gary Lewis) Kissinger to defend title

North Webster native Mike Kissinger, who last year thrilled hometown spectators with an unanticipated win in the Tournament of Knights competition, has announced he will be defending his Sir Lancelot du Lac title when the honor goes up for grabs on June 25. Kissinger will again be representing the Wawasee Girls Basketball Booster Club, under the direction of Eve Payne. Dale Brannock, head coach of the Lady Warriors, said he was “delighted” to learn that Kissinger would again be competing for his team. “Mike did an outstanding job for us last year, and we’re very appreciative.” Brannock said. “He got us off to a good start financially, and really got the program rolling. We re behind

nual 5K Michiana Lung Run Saturday. Carla finished the South Bend race in 19 minutes and 59 seconds. Tony Clouse and John Connolly, both of Syracuse, also raced to victories to the 15K Lung Run event. Clouse finished second in his age group in 60:20. Connolly captured 10th place in his age group. Patty Dervin of Goshen won the 35-39 women's group of the 5K race in 23:17. Joe Dervin finished the longer race in 63:13. More than 890 runners competed in the two races. Bremen Park Days The mother -daughter team of Denise and Angie Garner of Syracuse also captured winning places at Bremen Park Days Saturday. Eight-year-old Angie was first in the 14 and under age group in 38 minutes flat in the four-mile race. Denise placed third in her age group also in 38 minutes. All-star football camp slated in July Marian College of Indianapolis is the host school for the Indiana All-Star Sports Camps. The camp begins July 10 with the “all positions" football camp for junior high and high school football players. Athletes in grades nine-12 can participate in the July 10 football camp which features experienced high school and junior high coaches. Starting July 31, another camp is slated for youngsters in grades four-nine. For more information, write to Football, P.O. Box 2525, West Lafayette, Ind., 47906,

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him 100 per cent this year, win, lose or draw.” Kissinger was hesitant to predict how he might fare in this year’s competition. “All you can do is go out and put forth your best effort,” he said. “I’m certainly not going to predict how things might turn out. The competition this year looks even tougher than last year's. I’ll be doing all I can to win. I sure enjoyed riding in the * parade last year. ” Kissinger said two fellow entrants he will be keeping a close eye on will be fellow Wawasee High School graduates Kevin Smith and Brian Walls. A graduate of Alpena (Mich.) Community College, Kissinger is employed as an assistant to the Kosciusko County surveyor. The 22-year-old son of Mr - and Mrs. Cecil Kissinger of Sechrist Lake was uncertain if his advanced years would be detrimental to winning the crown for the second consecutive year. / . Webster A I >' Youth LeagueJ\. In North Webster Youth League action last week, the Reds downed the Mets 12-7. Tim Lilly was the winning pitcher, with relief help from Jordan Carry. In another contest, the Reds topped the Cubs 19-10. again behind the pitching of Jordan and Carry. In a Boys’ Minor League contest. the Mets defeated the Reds 6-1 behind Steve Moore and Jason Mickley. In a Girls’ Major League game, UTS defeated Kountry Repair 18-5. In a Girls’ Minor League contest, Ace Hardware downed AAA Asphalt by a score oU 6-5. Christa Sincroft was the winning pitcher. The Girls’ Travel team split a pair of games last week, falling to Milford in extra innings. 19-18, and defeating Fairfield 14-10, behind the pitching of Michelle Miller. Gymnastic classes at Winona Lake Winona Lake Park will host a series of two-week gymnastics classes this summer. A total of five skill levels will be taught. The two-week session will begin on June 13 and 27, July 11 and 25, and August 8. Classes will be broken down into the following categories: beginner, advanced beginner, intermediate, advanced and adult.

Packer to attend college in lowa

Wawasee girls’ basketball star Maude Packer, one of the school’s most highly-recruited female athletes, will attend William Penn College in Oskaloosa, lowa, to play basketball and obtain an education degree. Packer averaged 12.0 points per game while leading coach Dale Brannock's team to its third sectional title. An all-NLC selection, she was named to the allstate honorable mention team this season. One of the major reasons she selected William Penn was the small size and strong academic program. “1 didn’t want to go to a really big school. William Penn is just big enough for me to go,” she said. William Penn has about 900 students. Packer said. Brannock says the college has a top-notch basketball program. “It’s a good school and it is an excellent basketball school. At one time it was a Division I college but now it is Division III,” he said. Division 111 schools cannot offer athletic scholarships, but Packer will be receiving academic aid. The lowa college plays a nationwide schedule which includes a west coast trip against teams in California. “I think she’ll have a chance to play out there. They did a lot of recruiting to get her," he added. Packer said she is relieved that the phone calls will now stop. “I’m glad it’s over. It was really hard deciding, every time the phone rang we would wonder who it was going to be,” she said.

Warriors fall in summer opener

The Wawasee Baseball team opened their summer season on a losing note Wednesday as they fell to Goshen, 6-2. Brian Henson doubled in both

'B3 events slated at Cindonway

The advent of summer brings out the best in local skiing enthusiasts. with area ski clubs gearing up for local tournaments. The Water Ski Inc., based at Cindonway Shores, has announced its tournament schedule: Sunday. June 12. novice tournament Saturday. June 18, two-round trick tournament Saturday, July 9. two-round jump tournament Sunday, July 10, two-round slalom tournament

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<IBBt' MAUDE PACKER Picks William Penn “I think I can play, even though they play some good schools. ” Head coach for the women’s basketball squad at William Penn is Garey Smith, a coach Packer described as a good coach. “He seemed to know his basketball, she said. “It is a good program William Penn is a four-year, independent. coeducational liberal arts college, located in south central lowa.. It has a strong tradition in women’s athletics, and the basketball teams there have been ranked nationally. In the last four seasons, William Penn has been ranked in the top three three times.

Warrior runs, one of four Wawasee hits in the game Losing pitcher Brian Henson pitched a complete game and gave up six hits.

Saturday. Aug. 6, two-round trick tournament Saturday. Aug. 27. Kosciusko County novice and fun tournament. After each of the Saturday events, the Dewart Ski Club and the Cindonway skiers will present a ski show if time permits. Scheduled time for the show is 6:30 p.m. each Saturday. Youth groups, families or clubs, can ski with a professional driver in a certified ski boat. Equipment is also provided If interested, the number to call is 658-9305.