The Mail-Journal, Volume 20, Number 46, Milford, Kosciusko County, 30 November 1983 — Page 8

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL - Wed.; November 30.1983

Sports

Warriors club Cavemen

By MARK WEINSTEIN Sports Writer Wawasee used a tight man-to-man defense, along with a rebounding edge over a taller Mishawaka Cavemen club to trounce its visitors 73-46 for the third straight win of the year. Giving up several inches to the Cavemen, Wawasee dominated the inside play as it rolled past Mishwaka. Wawasee out rebounded Mishawaka 35-18 in the rout. “Rebounding was the key to the win,” said a happy Wysong. “We never thought we would out rebound them, instead we just wanted to control the inside game and stay close.” The Warriors opened the contest just like it had its previous two games, quickly. Jumping out to a 20-4 first quarter lead, the Warriors had no problems as they pulled away early.

REACHING TOWARDS THE SKY — Jon Vitaniemi shoots over two Mishawaka defenders during the Warriors trouncing of the Cavemen Friday night. Vitaniemi scored 21 points in the victory. (Photo by Rich Rhodes)

Sports comment — Calling the shots

IT’S MAN VERSUS BEAST in our pick ’em contest as Mike Michael, faithful pet of M-J darkroom man Rich Rhodes, joins us as the guest picker. Mike, a German Shephard, has been with the Rhodes family for the past 12 years and is actively involved in a variety of outdoor sports. His favorite, however, is running; a sport which nearly cost him his life last August. As Rich recalls, he was jogging with Mike one foggy day when a GMC pickup hit the German Shephard, causing extensive damage. Rhodes thought it was the end of Mike, but was pleased to see him crawling home two days later. For the inquisitive reader we have included a photo of Mike Michael making his Central over Wawasee pick. Mike made the choice by picking a bone off the sheet of paper with “Central” written on it. Meanwhile, I was across the yard hoping that the canine didn’t take a liking to any portion of my skeletal structure. THE WARRIORS ARE OFF TO A FLYING start in the new basketball season. Although statistics can frequently be deceiving, there are a few items that are worth mentioning after the first three contests. As a team, the Warriors are shooting 60.2 per cent from the field (97-161). They presently enjoy a 30 rebound advantage over their opponents (88-58) and are averaging 16 turnovers a contest. Individually, Jon Vitaniemi has netted 64 points in the first three contests. He has been over the 20 point mark in all of the games thus far. Kim Zurcher is close behind Vito with 54 points. Brooks Koble is third on the team with 53. The real weak spot so far is free throw shooting. The Warriors are a dismal 34-63 from the charity stripe. That translates to 54 per cent —a statistic which could haunt the team if it gets in some close games. . TWO WAWASEE GRIDIRON STANDOUTS WERE honored this past week. Kris Cox was named to the AP class AAA All-State second team as a punter. He was the only local class AAA or AA player to be honored. He averaged

Senior Kim Zurcher’s outside shooting, and Jon Vitaniemi’s inside play, sent the Warriors into the lockerroom at half leading 38-27. Zurcher connected on eight of 11 from the field during the first 16 minutes to propel the Warriors. Mishawka, opening its season against Wawasee, never appeared to be in the game as the Cavemen were outscored and outplayed in every period. With the Warriors expanding their lead in the third quarter, Wysong had the confidence to go to his bench. “Our bench has done so well the last couple of games,” insisted Wysong. “Seth Swihart came in and played well in a relief role.” Vitaniemi, averaging 21 points a game, paced the potent Warrior attack with 21. In addition, Zurcher netted his average on the season, as the thin guard pumped

38.6 yards on 42 punts as well as contributing to the offense with six receptions for 62 yards. He was also selected to the All-NLC first team earlier in the fall. Kevin Tracey, a junior tight end, was named to the Bloomington Herald-Telephone’s Honorable Mention All-Junior team. He was one of 14 area players selected by the Bloomington publication. WHO ARE THE ST. JOSEPH’S PUMAS? What are they doing on the Notre Dame basketball schedule? The Fighting Irish get this week’s Travesty award twice over. First of all, they get the honor for scheduling the Pumas. Secondly, they win by virtue of their 104-56 Puma pounding! LAST WEEK’S RESULTS were: Warsaw 64, Concord 36; Tippe Valley 68, Rochester 59; Wawasee 73, Mishawaka 46; Plymouth 51, La Ville 42; Bremen 75, Northridge 52; Minnesota 96, Indiana State 70; IU 80, Notre Dame 72. Five boys’ basketball games are on tap for this week’s pickers. The area contests are Elkhart Memorial at Plymouth, North Wood at Penn, Huntington North at Warsaw, Concord at Wawasee and Bremen at Goshen. In area girls’ contests, it is Wawasee at Elkhart Central, Warsaw at Tippe Valley and Fairfield at Goshen. One item of note on last week’s picks: The NorthWood-Jimtown game was postponed due to Jimtown’s involvement in the state football playoffs. Last week’s records: Charles, 6 for 7; Kuhn, 6 for 7; Rhodes, 3 for 7; Weinstein, 4 for 7; Guest (Welborn), 5 for 7. Charles (.707) — The running game will enable Wawasee’s Lady Warriors to roll over Central in the feature game of the week. Boys’ winners: Plymouth, Penn, Warsaw, Wawasee and Bremen. Girls’ winners: Warsaw and Goshen. Kuhn (.707) — “I’m giving the nod to Central because of the home court advantage,” Derk announced in the job shop at The M-J offices. The avid Wawasee booster joins Mike Michael in predicting a Lady Warriors loss. His other boys’ picks: Plymouth, Penn, Warsaw, Wawasee and Bremen. Girls’ picks: Warsaw and Goshen. Rhodes (.512) — “Wawasee’s full-court press will do the job,” said Rich in reference to his Wawasee over Central pick. “Besides, I disagree with my dog’s pick.” Rhodes hopes he isn’t going to the dogs himself with these picks: Memorial, Penn, Huntington North, Wawasee and Goshen in boys’ action. Warsaw and Goshen are his girls’ picks. Weinstein (.647) - What? Weinstein FOR the Warriors? He predicts the Lady Warriors will win because “they are more skilled at each position, have a brilliant coach and a good-looking coaching staff.” As usual, he tabs the boys to lose their encounter — this week against Concord. His picks are Plymouth, Penn, Warsaw and Goshen in boys’ action. Warsaw and Goshen get the nod in girls’ contests. Guest (.612) —When asked to comment on his surprising Central over Wawasee pick, Mike would only offer a cryptic “woof” as an explanation. We’ll just have to attend the game to find out what that means. The “canine eager” also goes with Memorial, Penn, Huntington North, Wawasee and Goshen for the boys. Fairfield and Warsaw are his selections for the girls.

in 18 points. Brooks Koble, entering the contest with a 17.6 scoring mark, concluded the evening with 14 points. Statistically, the Warriors had the best of things, shooting 60 per cent from the field (27 of 45). From the charity stripe,

2i 4 ■ * - ZURCHER SHOOTS OVER CAVEMEN — Senior Kim Zurcher concentrates while shooting from the corner in the Warriors 73-46 rout of Mishawaka. Zurcher scored 20 points in Wawasee's third straight win. (Photo by Rich Rhodes)

w By TOM CHARLES

Wawasee converted just 19 of 28 for 68 per cent. Mishawaka, suffering through first game problems connected on 18 of 54 from the field for a shivering 34 per cent. From the line, the Cavemen hit on 76 per cent, 10 of 13.

Wrestlers zap Wildcats

Wawasee’s wrestling squad tuned up Tuesday, Nov. 29, for its December 3 match with Goshen by defeating Whitko 30-24* in South Whitley. Coach Rich Welborn’s grapplers dominated action in the lower weights in raising their record to 2-0. “Overall, I wasn’t pleased with our performance,’’said Welborn, “but, the underclassmen came through for us, and that was encouraging.” The Warriors, winning four of the first five matches, seemed to be looking past the Wildcats, and on to the Redskins, who are currently ranked number 15 in the state. “I hope we were looking past Whitko, the way we wrestled,” said Welborn. “To be able to get a win, and wrestle like we did would be good.” J.R. Noel, wrestling at the 98 pound class suffered his second straight defeat. The freshman dropped a hard fought 4-2 decision to Charlie Waters. But in the following four matches, the Warriors were successful, for the most part. Jeff Welborn pinned Adam Craig of Whitko in 4; 47; Jeff Dunithan defeated Whitko’s Bill Smith 9-1, while teammate Chuck Cotton and Whitko’s Dave Prescott tied at two-apiece. Rob DeSomer put the Warriors back on the winning track with a 14-6 decision over Keith Russell. Brad Traviola racked up Wawasee’s only other pin of the night as he took care of Byron LaLone in 1:14. Rich Troup, following Traviola’s performance had a rougher time of things. Troup was pinned in :58. Whitko’s Dennis Anweiler defeated Mike Hernandez 6-4, while Jason Keim lost to Chad Van Kirk 6-2. In the final two victories for the Warriors, Lance Lantz turned

Boys Cons. Total Warsaw 1-0 1-1 Wawasee 0-0 3-0 Bremen . 0-0 3-0 Plymouth 0-0 1-0 Rochester 0-0 1-2 North Wood 0-0 0-1 Goshen 0-0 0-2 Concord 0-1 0-2 Last week’s results* Warsaw 64 Concord 36 Elk. Central 82 Goshen 59 Wawasee 73 Mishawaka 46 Plymouth 51 La Ville 42 Bremen 75 Northridge 52 Games of the week Goshen at Warsaw Concord at Wawasee Plymouth at Mishawaka North Wood at Penn Bremen at La Ville

•Results listed are only for games of the week.

Sports Calendar Week Os November 30 To December? THURSDAY Milford Jr. High Seventh and Eighth Grade Boys’ Basketball flOp.m., at home vs North Webster Syracuse Jr. High Sixth Grade Boys’ Basketball 4:00 p.m., at home vs Nappanee Wawasee Boys* Swimming 6:30 p.m., at home vs East Noble Wawasee Girls* JV and Varsity Basketball 6:30 p.m., at Concord FRIDAY Wawasee Boys’ JV and Varsity Basketball 6:15 p.m., at home vs Concord SATURDAY Wawasee JV Wrestling 9:00 a.m., at Whitko Invitational Wawasee Boys* Swimming 2:00 p.m., at Goshen Relays Wawasee Boys’ JV and Varsity Basketball 6:30 p.m., at Elkhart Memorial MONDAY Milford Jr. High Sixth Grade Boys* Basketball 4:30 p.m., at Nappanee Syracuse Jr. High Seventh and Eighth Grade Boys’ Basketball 6:00 p.m., at home vs Pierceton Wawasee Girls’ JV and Varsity Basketball 6:15 p.m., at Elkhart Central TUESDAY Milford Jr. High Seventh and Eighth Grade Boys* Basketball 4:30 p.m., at Nappanee Syracuse Jr. High Seventh and Eighth Grade Boys Basketbail 6:00 p.m., at home vs West Noble Freshman Boys* Basketball 5:15 p.m., at Fairfield Freshman Girls* Basketball 6:00 p.m., at Whitko Wawasee Boys* Swimming 6:30 p.m., at home vs Tippe Valley Wawasee Wrestling 7:00 p.m., at home vs Goshen

back Erin Arnold 12-1, and Tim Fraser won over Jeff Low, 9-8. In the heavyweight division, Pat Inks and Darrell Mast tied 4-4. “Goshen’s match will be really tough,” informed Welborn. “They have great balance all the way down their lineup. I think the key to this match is how well our lower weights perform”. JV Action In junior varsity action, Whitko’s Doug Lude defeated Al Stricklin 17-8, while Wawasee’s Chris Yoder pinned Mike Wine in 4:06. Steve Yoder followed suit with a 3:42 pin of Scott Huff, as did Ned Hunsburger who pinned Rick Reith in 2:12. Don Kauffman concluded the near sweep as he pinned Mark Koontz in just 27 seconds. The JV’s will continue action Saturday, Dec. 3, as they do battle in the Whitko Invitational. Weigh-in for the match is at 8 a.m. Wrestling Summary 98 — Charlie Waters (WH) dec. J.R. Noel (WA), 4-2. 105 - Jeff Welborn (WA) pin Adam Craig (WH), 4:47; 112 — Jeff Dunithan (WA) dec Bill Smith, 9-1. 119 — Chuck Cotton (WA) tied Dave Prescott (WH), 2-2. 126 — Rob DeSomer (WA) dec Keith Russell (WH), 14-6. 132 — Brad Traviola (WA) pin Byron LaLone (WH), 1:14. 138 — Bob Koontz (WH) pin Rich Troup (WA), :58. 145 — Dennis Anweiler (WH) dec Mike Hernandez (WA), 6-4. 155 — Chad Van Kirk (WH) dec Jason Keim (WA), 6-2. 167 — Lance Lantz (WA) dec Erin Arnold (WH), 12-1. 177 — Tim Fraser (WA) dec Jeff Low (WH), 9-8. 185 — Boggs (WH) won by forfeit. Hwt. — Pat Inks and Darrell Mast tied, 4-4.

Around The NLC

Girls - Cons. Total Wawasee 2-0 4-0 Warsaw 1-1 1-2 Bremen 0-0 5-0 North Wood 0-0 3-0 Goshen 0-0 3-1 Plymouth 0-0 1-2 ' Concord 0-1 4-2 Rochester 0-1 1-2 Last week’s results* Warsaw 41 Concord 39 Wawasee 55 Rochester 31 Triton 49 Warsaw 48 S.B. Adams 53 Plymouth 38 Elk. Memorial 48 Goshen 47 Games of the week Wawasee at Concord Bremen at North Wood Goshen at S.B. Clay Warsaw at Bremen North Wood at Plymouth

Junior Varsity 112 — Doug Lude (WH) dec Al Stricklin (WA), 17-8. 119—Chris Yoder (WA) pin Mike Wine (WH),4:06. 155 — Steve YOder (WA) pin Scott Huff (WH), 3:42. 155 — Ned Hunsberger (WA) pin Rick Reith (WH), 2:12. 167 — Don Kauffman (WA) pin Mark Koontz (WH), :27.

E Serving our country RALPH TURNER Pvt. Ralph N. Turner, son of Raymond McNeill of r 1 Syracuse, and Brenda McNeill of r 9 Warsaw, has completed a combat engineer course at the US Army Training Center at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. During the course, students were trained in the techniques of road and bridge building, camouflage and demolition. They also received instruction in combat squad tactics as well as in the use of infantry weapons. Firemen called to Hansma home Syracuse volunteer firemen were called to the home of Lynn Hansma (the Ketering farm home) on the Milford-Syracuse road at 11:20 a.m. Monday to extinguish a chimney fire. It turned out there was no fire, but that fumes from a wood-burning stove had filtered through the house, causing the woman to turn in the alarm. Minor accident Michael Sharp, P.O. Box 278 Milford and Amanda Siegfried, Milford, were involved in a minor mishap on Syracuse-Milford Road Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 23. According to a report by Kosciusko County Patrolman Steve Knispel, Sharp’s 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit struck the rear of the Siegfried 1977 Chevrolet Van.

Warriors meet Concord and Memorial this week end

By MARK WEINSTEIN Sports Writer Everything has come up roses for John Wysong’s Warrior basketball team in the early stages on the basktball season. Yet, entering the fourth game of the season, Wawasee faces its first double week end action of the year, and uncertainties of its potential. “I am looking forward in seeing what will happen,** said Wysong. “Everybody thinks we will get tested Saturday against Memorial, and I know we will, but I also think we will be tested Friday night by Concord. The Warriors, 3-0, return to the hardwood as they entertain the Concord Minutemen Friday night. The Minutemen dropped to 0-2 on the campaign last Saturday with a hard fought 64-36 defeat to Northern. Lakes Conference power, Warsaw. “Hey, Concord stayed with Warsaw in the first half,” explained Wysong, in reference to his concerns about Concord. “They are a very young team with talent.** But, in the second half of the contest, Warsaw pulled away as two of Concord’s top players sat on the bench in the third quarter. Concord boasts 6*5” forward Steve Lovejoy, who scored 12 points in the Minutemen s defeat. With some young faces on the Concord side this year, anything could happen in the week end opener for Wawasee. “The problem when you go up against a young team like Concord, is that if things go right for them, we could be in trouble,” informed Wysong. “But if Concord has problems, then we have a good chance at beating them.” Concord plays a very tight man-to-man defense, thus causing some problems for the Warriors. “Concord will be coming right after us with their pressure

Athlete of the week Phil Zachary, a senior diver for the Warriors has been selected athlete of the week for his two first place finishes. » Zachary, who stepped into the. number one diver’s position .. this year, scored a personal best 236.0 as Wawasee drop- Ar ped to Huntington North. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Don jFv*** Zachary, he is a three-year lettermen with nigh ambitions WW 1' in the current season. “My goals this year are to continue the consecutive conference championship Wawasee has enjoyed in diving,” said Zachary. “Also, I •‘FI # -.y want to place in the top three ; f of our sectional, and 12 in the UgL State." , > Realistically, Zachary’s ' goals are in line from last year’s effort. Visualizing that PHIL ZACHARY he will need to improve on his personal best, Zachary finished fourth in the sectional last year. DUST A SON DECORATORS PAINTINS |WUWD INTERIOR. EXTERIOR FME ESTIMATES o RESIDENTIAL —COMMERCIAL ; ► 457-2313 Qvafity WorkmansWp Syracuse ► ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Now For Your Holiday Occasions | (Christmas Parties, New Year, Business) We Cater For All Occasions Large Or Small I boy al catering I Call ' I LtadaCn» I #W W Or rrmC—tettar 319*35-9133 J L '> Attention j b VFW 1342 Auxiliary J t SPECIAL ELECTION j D TRUSTIENO.I 4 b December 3, 1 P.M. 4 ► CHRISTMAS PARTY: Bring 1 P Finger Food And $5 Gift L V9A4 Does Are 800- J k PaySvoStifffor J

man-to-man defense,** said Wysong. “They also work well offensively, using a variety of options off the double pick.” With Wawasee enjoying great success in virtually everything they’ve done, Wysong is still unsure of his team. “We still don’t know about ourselves,” said Wysong. “But we should be able to get an idea this week end. Should the Warriors prevail Friday night, Saturday’s contest with Elkhart Memorial should prove pivitol. “I don’t see how we could be looking past Concord,” informed Wysong. “The way we approach the game, we know that anyone can beat anyone on any given night. Plus, we realize we have to play well to win. Elkhart Memorial, which lost three starters from last year’s 17-4 team has built a solid nucleus around 6’o”senior Ernie Jones and and 6’l” Larry Forrest. Jones, who has tremendous raw athletic ability averaged 11.5 points a game last year, while Forrest blossomed as a premier shot blocker for the Chargers. In addition, Forrest averaged 9.5 points a game. “Saturday night we will be tested,” said Wysong. “They blew out Northridge by 40 points, and we will have to be ready then.” “We are playing well as a team,” informed Wysong about his teams success in the early going. “The guys help each other out on defense, we shoot well from the outside and inside, and we’ve come out with the proper attitude.” The winning attitude has grown more as the Warriors’ confidence increases. “We have a good group of leaders on this team, and good followers too,” praised Wysong.“The leaders so far have corrected problems out on the court, while the followers have helped to correct the problems. Everyone has a role, and they have performed their roles well.”