The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 19, Milford, Kosciusko County, 7 May 1986 — Page 8

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., May 7,1986

8

Sports

Compiled 68-43 record Wysong looks back on coaching Wawasee

ByDAVESTRAUB Sports Editor After putting five good years into Wawasee High School basketball, John Wysong has recently decided to step down X from his head coaching position. He compiled a 68-43 record. His highlights were coaching the 1981- Warriors to a sectional championship, the second Wawasee has won; guiding the 1982- team to a Northern Lakes Conference co-title and a 17-6 record; and leading Wawasee to four straight winning seasons. What the numbers don’t tell are moments and memories that made Wysong’s stay special to him. “When I first came to Wawasee, I found that there were many fine people with substance and character whom I got to know as outstanding people,” he said. Team Memories ’ Wysong’s first year was an exciting one in disguise. The ’B2 Warriors started the season well, then struggled in the last stages to finish 11-9. Then came the Triton Sectional. “We had played so poorly the last month,” the coach recalled. “Then the team turned itself around and beat an excellent Rochester club (which was 18-3) and then beat Warsaw for the title. That was very special.” Wawasee ended the campaign 13-10 after being eliminated by Elkhart Memorial, 85-76, in regional play. What followed was another memorable season. “We lost six of our top scorers from the year before,” said Wysong. “The ’B2-83 club played good team defense and became NLC cochamps that year.” The Warriors won 17 games. A solid 15-6 year was next. “The ’B3-84 team was skillful, clever and fun to watch,” said the coach. “And they didn’t have much size either. ” Floor play and sound basketball earmarked the next class of Warriors. Wawasee finished 14-8. “That team played as sound basketball as anybody,” said Wysong. “Brooks Koble had a great year and added so much to our team. He could really penetrate the defense. ’ ’ Leadership keyed Wawasee this past season. It had to since the Warriors failed to win consistently. “The leadership factor

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was as good as its ever been,” recalled Wysong. “The leadership was there all of the time,., even when the team was haying a \ tough time winning games. ’ ’ Wawasee was still respectable with a 9-13 mark. “Each team I coached here had things I really enjoyed,” Wysong added. Notable Players Teamwork became a trademark for Warrior basketball. Wysong stressed it. His players did it. Yet, several Wawasee players excelled in the team concept because it brought out the best in their limited physical talent. Wysong looks back on this with pride, knowing that teamwork helped some of his former players succeed after their high schooldays. Names like Kirk Stichter, John > Hapner, Jeff Long, Brian Geiger, Kevin Smith, Brian Walls, Pat Hare, Ron Spunar, John Vitaniemi, Kim Zurcher, Brooks Koble, Travis Reiff, Jeff Taylor and Tim Mangas cross Wysong’s mind now and then. He remembers them as individuals who stood out as a result of what they did for the team concept. “I remember Stichter’s defense and Hapner’s rebounding,” he recalled. “I also remember Long and Geiger. They were really struggling late in the ’B2 season and turned themselves around. They were so instrumental in winning that sectional title.” Smith and Walls were “aggressive,” while Spunar, a 6-10 center, “rapidly improved and played great defense.” “John Vitaniemi was a very good all-around player,” said the coach. “He averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds his senior year. That’s quite an accomplishment for someone who is 6-2, getting 13 rebounds a game.” There was Zurcher (who recently signed a scholarship with Minnesota) and Koble, too. ‘ Zurcher had cleverness and real good court sense,” said Wysong. “His quick hands and perimeter skills were appreciated greatly. • ‘Koble had outstanding basketball knowledge and tremendous skill,” he added. “And I was pleased that Mangas came around and played as well as he did. He was one of the best juniors I’ve had.” Wysong also recalls players

who didn’t have impressive numbers and honors. “Reiff, Taylor and Hare gave us outstanding leadership,” he said. “They made a special committment to the team that is hard for anyone to make.” Did What He Could Coaching high school basketball in Indiana is a demanding task. Crowned as the state’s king sport, winning becomes more important with each game, each season. Often forgotten are the lessons learned by young athletes while competing. “I sure hope my players learned to be responsible and respectable people while they were here,” said Wysong. “At the same time, I feel the program at Wawasee is in good shape and moving in the right direction. I tried to do all I could in making it the best it could be.”

Warriors stage comeback in 4-3 win over Warsaw

Just when one-run losses were becoming a habit, the Wawasee team turned a new trick againsß Warsaw Monday at home. A two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning keyed the Warriors to a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Tigers. The victory upped Wawasee’s season record to 6-8 and improved its Northern Lakes Conference mark to 2-4. Down 3-2, the Warriors tied the game when Chris Yoder singled home Dave Kistler, who started things with a base hit. Kistler

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MOUND MEETING,— Pictured, from left are Dave Kistler (23), Chris Yoder, Bill Hutchinson (20) and Pitcher Kevin Parker (28). finding time to discuss strategy between innings. (Photo by Dave Straub)

In addition, Wysong mentioned that his work was far from enough in making a basketball program work. He appreciated the efforts of assistant coaches, managers, statistics people, cheerleaders, fans and parents in the community., “There is very good support here,” he said. Wysong plans to keep his teaching duties at Wawasee. He instructs accounting and typing classes. Regrets “It’s ironic,” the coach said. “One regret I have is that I badmouthed the Warsaw principal, in the Mail-Journal, about how the Tiger fans treated us after we were eliminated from the sectional. They had signs making insults about Wawasee and I was mad about this.” The next year, Wawasee’s basketball team received a stan-

later stole second base and took third on a wild pitch. Yoder then followed his hit by stealing second. , Scott Robinson provided the game-winner, lining a solid double to right field off Warsaw reliever Don Jones. Starter Doug Jones was lifted after Yoder’s single. “We lost four games in the NLC; three by one run and one by two runs,” said Wawasee Coach Scott Siler. “We were due.” The Warriors scored first when Yoder drove in Scott Baker from second base in the third inning.

Lady golfers hold opening brunch

The Maxwelton Ladies Golf Association members met in the dining room of Maxwelton Golf Club for its opening brunch on Wednesday, April 3. During a short business meeting Robert Carlson, golf professional and new owner of the club spoke to the group. Carlson clarified a few

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ding ovation from Tiger fans after getting beat by Warsaw in the sectional title game in 1984. "They made me eat crow after I told them to eat crow, but I appreciated it,” said Wysong, laughing “It was kind of an embarrassing thing for me.” Now, Wysong wishes the best for Wawasee basketball and stresses support for the new coach. “I hope things go well for the team and him,” he said. “The program is much better and next year’s team should be better. We played a lot of young kids this past season.” With all of his experience as a player and coach at Fairfield, along with 113 career coaching wins, Wysong offered some advice for future players. “The person most responsible for the player’s success and development is himself. He must doit.”

But the Tigers tallied three runs in the fifth to grab the lead. Wawasee hurler Kevin Parker then settled down and finished the game by pitching two scoreless innings. He moved his record to 2-1, striking out six and walking three. “They didn’t hit Kevin that hard,” said Siler. “He had good control today.” Nate Rhoades slapped a solo homer in the sixth to make it 3-2. But Parker got greater defensive support. With one out in the fifth, Warsaw was threatening to score with a runner at third base. Kevin Fraley hit a medium deep fly ball® to right while runner Dave Clements tagged up and headed towards the plate. Ben Beer made the catch an fired a strike to Baker, the cat-

Thursday Night Ladies hold bowling banquet

Members of the Thursday Night Ladies bowling league of Syracuse held their annual spring banquet last Thursday at Gropp’s. President Kathryn Knisley conducted the short business meeting when Helen Taylor and Jean Brown were re-elected as vice president and secretary, respectively. Mary Rose Henning received an all spare patch for rolling a game with all spares. Having bowled 100 pins over her average, Cathy Jefferies was awarded a patch. Judy Mullet received a triplicate patch for bowling three consecutive games of 156 and she also received an all spare patch. The league high series award went to Sherry Keim for her 649 series. Tammy Knisley received the most improved average award. The league championship was son by Jones Food Center. Team

of the rules and explained a few of the changes on the golf course Lorena Beth Carlson presented a style show of fashions from the pro shop. The show was narrated by Jackie Wortinger and models were Jeanne Keener, Pam Everingham Leilani Nemeth, Jane

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COACHED WARRIORS FOR FIVE SEASONS — John Wysong, who was head basketball coach at Wawasee High School for five seasons, recently turned in his resignation. He won 68 games. Including a sectional title in 1982. (Mail-Journal File Photo)

cher, who tagged Clements out on a close play. The Warriors collected 11 hits. Kistler, Yoder and Roberts each had two while Yoder had two RBI and sewed the winning run. Other Games Following a 3-2 loss to Plymouth and a 2-0 setback to North Wood, Wawasee pulled together and beat Elkhart Central, 6-4 last Saturday. Rhoades (1-1) got the pitching win while Chris Cotton and Yoder each had RBI singles to spark a five-run fifth inning. The Warriors continue league play at Goshen Wednesday. The game starts at 4:30 p.m. Home dates with Rochester and Concordia follow on Friday and Saturday. Tuesday, Wawasee travels to Bremen for a 4:30 p.m. contest.

members were Mary Pauff, Garnett Shepherd, Claudia Shepherd, Bonnie White and Ellen Slabaugh. Other league awards were: High Team Scratch Seriest— Jones Food Center, 2691. ‘ High Team Handicap Series — Golden Razor, 2618. High Team Scratch Game — Thornburgs, 931. High Team Handicap Game — Town and Country Grooming, 927. High Individual Scratch Game — Lilly Hawn, 256. Bowling Tourney Winners Fourth District V.F.W. Juniors Singles Division A — Chad Brower, third place. All Events Division A — Chad Brower, seventh place Singles Division B — Shane Kahle, fifth place. Doubles Division C — Jeff Simpson and Shane Kahle, fifth place.

Musser and Shirley Quinn. The fashions were from David Smith, Quantam, Jean Bell, Lady Hogan and Lady LaMode. Door prizes, provided by the pro shop, were won by Rose Mathew, Dot Wysong, Ginnie Lamont, Marge Yoder, Mary Jane Knudsen and Harriet Shannon. The first regular day of play will be Wednesday, May 7, with tee times at 9 a.m. for the 18-hole players and 9:30 am. for the nine-hold players during the month of May.

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FIRST RUN -» Scott Baker heads to third base with full speed. He scored on this play, courtesy of Chris Yoder’s single in the third inning to give Wawasee a 1-0 lead over Warsaw last Monday. (Photo by Dave Straub) .

Registration for summer swimming lessons set ?

Registration times for upcom ing summer swimming lessons at Wawasee High School have been set for all three sessions. Session One registration is slated for May 24, May 31 and June 7 for Wawasee corporation families only. Times will befrom 8:30a.m. to 10. \ Session Two registration is set for May 31 and June 7 for cor poration families only. Times are the same as Session One registra - tion. Session Three registration is scheduled for June 7 for corporation families only. Times will be the same as Session One and Session Two registrations. On June 9, sign-ups for all sessions will be held between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for in and out of corporation families. Swimming dates for Session One are from June 9-20. Session Two dates are from June 23-July 3. Session Three dates are from July 7-18. There will be no early registra tions, phone registration poor to

June 10 and no exceptions will be made. There will also be no refunds after the first session. Water temperature will be 84 degrees and all parents will watch from the balcony windows. In addition, all infants must have an adult iftthe pool with the child. The swim lesson schedule is from 9 a m to 3 p.m. Infants will swim from? a.m t09:30. Various groups of/beginners will swim from 9am to 1:45 p.m. Advanced beginners will swim from 9 a m. to 12:45 p.m. and advanced and intermediate swimmers will have the pool from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Pre-schoolers will swim from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and beginning divers will start at 2 and finish at 3 p.m.

Milford plans park clean-up for summer

Clean-up and park preparation for the Milford summer recreation program has been set for May 13. All parents and interested adults are encouraged to come to the school at 6 p.m with rakes and shovels. Uniform night will be May 20 at 7 p.m . also at the school. All 'students who have not paid should do so before in order to receive a uniform. Further questions should be directed to Bob Strieby at 658-4225, Barb Wuthrich at 658-4415 or Ken Beer.

Slow-pitch toumoy to bo held May 17-11

« Champs Sporting Goods softball team is sponsoring a men’s slow-pitch tournament May 17-lt at the Center Lake diamond, Warsaw. If interested, contact Jeff at 269-64 M, or Jim at 269-5837.