The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 41, Milford, Kosciusko County, 24 October 1984 — Page 9

Sports

Girl harriers to regional, boys hang up spikes

By TOM CHARLES Sports Editor In a sport where individuate

I " w UMF i I .. I> H I ■ . ■ LI J r ■** KEEPING WATCH — Cart Rouch checks on the competition as he rounds a corner in Saturday’s cross-country regional at Ox Bow Park. Rouch, despite running with a broken hand, finished 18th to lead the boys. The team, however, placed sixth overall and failed to advance to the semistate meet. (Photo by Tom Charles)

f A jJM J < THROUGH THE PACK — Wawasee’s Amy Clouse. Patty Routson and Becca Stiver move through a pack of runners early in Saturday's sectional meet at Ox Bow Park. Routson and Stiver finished in the top five Wawasee runners, while Clouse was the sixth Lady Warrior across the line. (Photo by Tom Charles) V

Sports comment — Calling the shots CHARLES

THERE’S NO PLACE TO HIDE on a volleyball court and the action in this year’s Northridge sectional proved without a doubt that it takes a solid team effort to win in this sport. Nowhere was that more evident than in Saturday’s classic semifinal between NOrthWood and Wawasee. Although spiking creates most of the excitement in a match, games are mostly won or lost on a team's ability to pass. As Goshen found out in the championship match, a potent spiker <in Goshen’s case it's Marcy Bixler) is of no use if you can’t get her good sets And good sets are usually the product of good passes. Both North Wood and Wawasee passed extremely well in their confrontation and that’s what kept the match close. Consider the fact that Anita Swope had 108 sets in those three games and you know she had to be getting some help from the back row,On the other side of the net. North Wood’s Tracey Eby anchored her team’s back row with many perfect passes off some tough Wawasee spikes. So, hats off to both clubs and their coaches for a great show of fundamentally sound volleyball. It was a pleasure to watch and hopefully we’ll see more of it from the Lady Warriors in the weeks to come. THE WARSAW COACHING STAFF didn’t make many friends in the Wawasee cheering section with its decision to go for a field goal late in the Tigers’ 31-13 win over the Warriors on Friday night. According to coach Kevin Westover, the move was designed to give star kicker Chad Hopkins a chance for a school record and some notariety. Although Westover’s explanation is no doubt sincere, it should be noted that Hopkins was attempting a 45-yard boot — one yard shy of the school record which he already* holds. Whether or not one more field goal at this stage in the season will make an appreciable impact on college recruiters is another question altogether. Whatever the motive behind such a move, it didn’t show much respect for the host club. And judging from the way the two county schools get along, that play will be one more log on the fire that keeps this rivalry hot.

often stand out more than teams, the Lady Warriors cross-country team was a noticeable exception at Saturday’s sectional meet.

PIGSKIN PREDICTIONS Last week’s results were Warsaw 31, Wawasee 13; Goshen 10, Rochester 7; Plymouth 21. Bremen 19; North Wood 18, Concord 7; North Miami 28. Tippe Valley 14; South Carolina 36, Notre Dame 32; and Illinois 34, Purdue 20. Games on tap this week are Glenn at Wawasee. Goshen at Northridge, Concord at LaVille, Warsaw at Plymouth. Tippe Valley at Eastern. Jimtown at Triton, Notre Dame at LSU and Penn State at West Virginia. Some interesting results last week have sent our forecasters reeling as they fight for the top spot in the last three weeks of our football predictions poll. We’ll start with a clean slate when basketball season begins the third week of November. At the present time, defending champion Derk Kuhn and upstart Rich Rhodes are in a dead heat with 36-16 records. Tom Charles is one off the pace at 35-17. while the guest pickers are 34-18 overall and Mark Weinstein checks in at 33-19. Bobi Doll, owner of Bobi’s Shear Success jn Milford, joins the panel as this week’s guest picker. She is a 1977 graduate of Wawasee High School, but she tabs the Warriors to lose their home finale against Glenn. KUHN — (.652) Wawasee, Goshen, Concord. Plymouth, Eastern, Jimtown, LSU and W. Virginia RHODES — (.692) Glenn, Goshen, Concord. Plymouth. Eastern, Jimtown, LSU and West Virginia CHARLES — (.673) Wawasee. Goshen, Concord. Plymouth. Tippe Valley, Jimtown, Notre Dame and Penn State GUEST — (.654) Glenn, Goshen. LaVille, Plymouth. Eastern. Triton, LSU and Penn State WEINSTEIN — (.635) Wawasee. Goshen. Concord, Warsaw. Eastern. Jimtown. LSU and Penn State

Wawasee’s top five runners stayed together in a pack for most of the race and the strategy paid off as the team captured third place overall and advanced to this week’s regional at Shoaff Park in Fort Wayne. Sheila Kleinrichert finished 17th in 17:03 to lead the team effort. She was closely followed by Marcie Coy, 18th in 17:04; Becca Stiver, 20th in 17:12; Sherrie Mock, 23rd in 17:24 and Patty Routson. 25th in 17:34. Amy Clouse. Wawasee’s sixth runner, finished in 17:59. As a team, Wawasee compiled 81 points. Elkhart Central won the team championship with 43 points. Memorial was second with 72 and Goshen, the fourth team to advance to the regional, had 90 points. “I was surprised at the way Central ran,” noted Wawasee coach Jerry Minton. “We had beaten them earlier at the Goshen Invitational, but all their kids ran super races on Saturday.’’ “We have been bunched up pretty well in our last three meets and that’s just how we wnat to be running.” Minton added. “Now we just have to go out a little faster in the beginning.” Most of the girls turned in good times on the Ox Bow course which is not noted for its fast times. The one exception was Amy Clouse who was suffering from a cold last week had was not up to par. However. Minton thinks she should be ready to run by the regional. Last year, the Lady Warriors bowed out of action at the regional and Minton knows it will take a super effort to advance

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this year. “I haven’t seen the results from the Fort Wayne sectional, but I know there are some good teams in our regional,” Minton said. “We will probably have to have four or five runners in the in the low 16-minute range to advance.’* The regional is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Boys While the girls turned in a good effort, the boys had an off day and failed to advance to the semistate level. The Warriors finished sixth overall with a team total of 145 points. Carl Rouch, despite running with a broken hand, was the first Warrior across the line. He covered the course in 17:23, good enough for 18th place. Other Wawasee finishers were Mike Ballinger, 20th in 17:33; Troy Minton, 31st in 17:50; Brian Popenfoose, 35th in 17:57; and Jeremy Corson, 41st in 18:19. “The guys just didn’t run well,’’ said Minton. “Ballinger has been battling shin splints for the past two or three weeks and that's kept him down. But overall, we just didn’t have it.” Despite the disappointing team finish, several runners had fine individual efforts. “Troy Minton had perhaps his best race of the year,” Minton said. “He came on at the end and passed people and that’s pretty unusual for him. Jeremy Corson also did a good job.” Corson, a sophomore, was one of the surprises on this year’s team. He finished as the Warriors’ fifth man and proved to be a very steady performer throughout the year. “He gave us that fifth man that we needed at the beginning of the year,” Minton said. Rouch, who came on strong at the end of the season, was

Linesmen serve important role at Wawasee

By MARK WEINSTEIN Sports Writer Some things never change. At least they never seem to. That is the case withthree men who have played a big role in Wawasee’s football program — Phil Dick, Jim Hite arid Vernon Zurcher. When Wawasee played its first home varsity football game on Friday, Sept. 5 1969, against Northfield, (Wawasee lost 28-13) Dick, Zurcher and Jim Nelson were on the sidelines guarding the line markers. Hite was a statistician in the press box. Now, 15 years later. Dick and Zurcher continue to roam the sidelines the yard sticks and Hite has come down from the box to replace Nelson. In The Beginning The way the three started working the chains for the football program was a little sneaky, and behind the bushes, but it worked. Their approach proved that having contacts in high places are important. "Well, they were looking for someone to be linesmen in that first season,” recalled Dick. “Jim Nelson's wife worked in the central office and she asked Eldon Ummel, then Wawasee’s Athletic Director, if we could be linesmen. He said yes, and we’ve been herq ever since.” Although Dick, a teacher at North Webster Junior High for 16’2 years, has left the school system for Grace College, where he serves as Athletic Director, he still remains true to. Wawasee football. "I used to get a phone call, or letter prior to the season to see if I would work the chains,” says Dick. “But now, they just assume that I will be here, and I will.” The former North Webster teacher has always enjoyed football games on Friday evenings. Because of this love for the sport, it is natural that he works the games from the sidelines. "I really enjoy watching coaches and see how they handle their players," said Dick. "It is really fascinating to see how different coaches control their clubs." Just as Dick enjoys watching opposing coaches work, so does Zurcher. "It is a thrill to go to games and just watch how other coaches work." said Zurcher. a former basketball coach at Wawasee. “1 enjoy watching other coaches call the plays and handle their players." Coaches Insight The two former coaches in the school system have had plenty of opportunities to view such action. And during the lengthy time span, both have gained some insight about other coaches. "I think one of the most vocal and interesting coaches I have ever seen is Don Bunge of Bremen.” said Dick. "He has mellowed some over the years, but he still is quite vocal.” Dick recalled a game this

fl. V I II ® I LADY WARRIOR TRIO — Marcie Coy leads teammates Sheila Kleinrichert and Becca Stiver at this point in Saturday’s cross-country sectional race. Coy was 18th, Kleinrichert 17th and Stiver 20th in the overall standings. The team finished third and runs in the regional meet at Fort Wayne on Saturday. (Photo by Tom Charles)

another nice surprise for Minton. “Carl was a surprise at the end of the year,” Minton said, "he really came through for us at some of the big meets near the end.”’ “We finished a little short of where we had wanted to,” Minton concluded. “But its hard to get five runners to peak at the same time.” Times Here’s a look at the team's top

season in which Bunge was extremely vocal, particularly towards one of his players. With Wawasee leading Bremen 6-0, one of Bunge’s starting defen-sive-flayers, Rob Coffel, came along the sidelines after apparently spraining an ankle. That didn’t go over well with Bunge. Dick recalled the series of conversation between the player and coach. "What are you doing,” asked Bunge to his injured player. “Coach my ankle is really hurting, the tape doesn’t seem to be doing the job.” Bunge replied, “You’re hitting like a woman we can’t even use you, get out of there.” After walking by the coach, the player received another tongue chewing from Bunge. "Get the brace on,” shouted Bunge, "get the brace on.” With Coffel somewhat humbled by the whole encounter with his coach, he ripped off his helmet, threw it on the ground and put the brace on, just like the coach ordered, recalled Dick. A few minutes later Coffel walked by his coach and informed him that he was ready to go back in. But Bunge was not impressed. “I'm ready to go back in coach,” said the player. “No you’re not, you play like a woman, you don’t deserve to be out there,” added the coach. The episode went on two additional times before the climax to the story. "After pacing up and down the sidelines for the past few minutes, Coffel rushed to his coach and shouted, "I’m ready to go in, put me in coach," proclaimed the youngster. "Now you’re ready to go. Now I know you are going to hit. Get in there." “All that was a psych job by Bunge.” said Dick. “I don't coach like that and to tell you the truth. I don't know if I could play for a coach like that.” Ironically. Dick recalled the youngster making several key plays after the confrontation with his coach. “He was tough after that." In comparison. Zurcher recalls the' Plymouth game this year when the Rockies defensive coach lost control of his players, himself, and in turn.lost the game. With Wawasee driving late in the game, the defensive coach called a time out to try to settle his players down. But. instead of doing that, he tried to work an official. and his players were left unattended to on the field. Three plays later, Wawasee’s Brad Traviolia connected with Kevin Tracey on a long bomb. That play set up the winning touchdown for Wawasee. A though both Dick and Zurcher share the same the same type of stories concerning Wawasee football. the other part of the team looks at the game a little

eight runners and their best times of the year: Mike Ballinger • , 16:12 Carlßouch 16:47 Brian PopenfoOse 16:50 Troy Minton 16:59 Jeremy Corson 17:14 /Andy Miller 17:37 Troy Boyer 17:47 Steve Hapner 17:54

differently. Hite is more of an emotional sidelines worker. “I’m not a i cheerleader, but I can get excited on the sidelines,” said Hite. “Still, we have to be objective and keep things under control.” What Hite most enjoys is seeing players from both teams display pou’er football. By seeing that, Hite can think back to the days when he played football in high school and at Manchester College. “I can still feel my muscles tense up when someone makes a good tackle..ttyat really excites me,” said Hite. "Because I used to play football, I can really appreciate the power the kids have. That is what makes this job exciting for me.” Although the three have shared several exciting experiences the past three years, Dick and Zurcher have witnessed a change in the game at Wawasee lately. “I think the play of our quarterback has dictated how Wawasee will play football,” said Zurcher. "We have had some very fine quarterbacks in our time.” Trying to recall some of the signal-callers of the past, Dick remembers the performances of Tim Blue and Mark Smith, both outstanding players in Dick’s eyes.

ON THE SIDELINES — Vernon Zurcher. Jim Hite and Phil Dick work the sideline chains during Wawasee's game with Warsaw. Dick and Zurcher have become ritual linesman workers at all Wawasee home football games while Hite joined the legendary crew three years ago. < Photo by Mark Weinstein) i . > .

Wed., October 24,1984 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

Sports Calendar Week Os October 24 To October 31 WEDNESDAY Wawasee Varsity Football ' 7:30 p.m., at home vs Glenn THURSDAY s Wawasee Girls* Swimming 5:00 p.m., NLC meet at Concord SATURDAY " 7{ Wawasee Girls’ Cross-Country t J / 11:00 am., regional at Fort Wayne < / Wawasee Volleyball 2:00 p.m., regional at Mishawaka Wawasee Girls’ Swimming 9:00 a.m., NLC meet at Concord TUESDAY Wawasee Girls’ Swimming „ 6:30 p.m., at home vs Penn

READY TO GO — Pam Foyle begins to push off the starting block in the 50 yard freestyle against Warsaw. Foyle won the event as did the Warriors. (Photo by Mark Weinstein)

“If you look at the past, you will see that when we had a good throwing quarterback, we have had success,” added Hite. “Blue, Smith, and now Traviolia. Sure our record is not that good this year, but we have not been out of any ball game this year.” Memories In the early years Zurcher recalls Wawasee throwing the ball extensively. But the passing era left Wawasee during the reign of Hal Traviolia, as coach, according to Zurcher. When Traviolia took over as coach, the team became a more serious threat by flawlessly using the pass and option play. Incidentally, the only time Wawasee ever made the playoffs was when the 1973 Warriors played Blackford. In that contest, Wawasee, as it* did all season long, scored the first points in the game, but still lost 28-14. Wawasee finished the season with a 9-2 record, with one of the games being a forfeit. The night of the playoffs with Blackford, Wawasee was to host Warsaw. But the Warriors played the post-season game and forfeited the outright Northern Lakes Conference title. Wawasee has never won, or tied for the conference championship since. Over the years, particularly for

Dick and Zurcher, many things have happened that will always provide memories of their jobs on the sidelines. For Dick, he will probably remember the only post-season game that Wawasee was in. The score might lose its meaning but the touchdown that was called back against Blackford will not. "The worst call that I ever saw was in that state playoff game with Blackford,” said Dick. “The referee, after a run by the running back, whistled the play dead and the guy ran for a touchdown. He was totally confused and you felt bad for the ref, but that happens.” .“Fortunately, that play didn’t affect the outcome of the game,” Dick added. Zurcher on the other hand will always enjoy working with the different officials and trying to watch the opposing coaches. But for Hite, it will be the sound of pads popping and helmets clashing that will highlight his experience as a linesman. Whatever Dick, Hite and Zurcher take from the Wawasee High School football program, there’s little doubt that it is minimal compared to the benefits the football program has reaped over the years from their service.

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