The Mail-Journal, Volume 28, Number 21, Milford, Kosciusko County, 5 July 1989 — Page 8

8

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., July 5,1989

Sports

Keener named high school All-American

IBy MITCHELL STINSON Sports Writer David Keener has accumulated lots of honors in his high school diving career and he's shooting for bigger and better things in the years to come. His most impressive accolade came recently when he became one of 30 divers nationwide to be named to the high school all-American team. Enthusiasm overcomes the recent Wawasee High School graduate when he talks about the award. He says it’s quite an honor to be recognized as an allamerican. "This is like the cream of the crop,” Keener said. Qualifications for all-American honors included a first through sixth place finish in a state meet, at least a 13.8 difficulty rating for six optional dives, and a score of at least 400 in any 11-event meet. Keener met all those requirements in a banner senior season that led him to a secondplace finish in the state in onemeter diving. With ■ his high school years behind him. the 18-year-old Keener has his sights set on a higher level of competition. He has turned down several scholarship opportunities at other universities for the chance to compete for Indiana University as a walk-on. It was a tough decision for him

Spring athletes at Wawasee receive honors

The naming of Rod Coy (baseball), Doug Nigbor (golf). Jennifer Brumbaugh (softball). Garrett Ponciroli (boys’ track), Lisa Mikel (girls’ track) and Nicole Neff (tennis) as most valuable players for their respective teams was the focal point of the spring sports awards handed out at Wawasee High School at the conclusion of the 1989 season. In addition to receiving MVP honors. Coy was named captain and also received an award for the most RBIs on the squad. Other players receiving awards from the baseball program wen : Chris Conkling (ERA Award,. Tim Lilly (Hustle), Erik Stevens (Batting Average). Adam Wilson (Strikeout-Walk Ratio), Jerry Smith and Ab Edmonds (JV Offense), Jason Mickley (JV Defense, and Aaron Sincroft (Freshman Award). Nigbor, who qualified for the state finals, was chosen as captain of the golf squad and received the Mental Attitude award. Others receiving honors from coach Gary Goshert’s squad were: Randy Cesco (Low Medalist), Mike Leedy (Comeback Award), David Schmahl (Most Improved) and Mike Tuttle (Coach's Award) Brumbaugh, the MVP for coach Mark Timpe's softball squad, was also chosen as team co-captain and was given the Academic Award. Other players receiving recognition from the squad were: Michelle Coy (CoCaptain and Pitching Award), Kris Gibson ( Most Stolen Bases>. Cari Glassburn (RBI Leader), Nicole Jones (Defensive Award), Stacey Lent (Coach’s Award) and Evelyn Stricklin (Batting Average). Ponciroli, a three-sport lettermen for Wawasee, received MVP honors as well as the High

Conference & Travel Services Incorporated S“You Can Expect The jAt/t JRJ World From Us ” Ronda Morris Sue Morris a Northgate Center U S 30/SR 15 WARSAW 269-7111 Or Toll Free ■ 1-800-759-7112 Patty Bender Deb Mangas

■ w® HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN' — Wawasee High School's David Keener is one of 30 prep divers nationwide to earn high school all-American honors. (Photo by Mitchell Stinson)

Point Award for the track squad. Jeff Carey and Tim' Edwards were honored as co-captains of the team while Andy Eberly was singled out as High Point Runnerup. Edwards, the school record holder in the high jump, also received the team's Outstanding Achievement Award. Mikel captured the MVP honors, as well as the Academic Award, for coach Troy Akers' girls' track squad while other honors were given to team members Jennifer Titus (Captain), Moni Lange (Most Improv-

Wawasee places two players on All-NIC baseball team

Rod Coy. a lefthanded pitcher for the Wawasee Warriors, was one of four hurlers selected to the 1988-89 All-Northern Lakes Conference baseball team announced recently. In addition to Coy. the Warriors were also represented on the 23-member team by Adam Wilson, who was an honorable mention pick for the squad. Five members of the 1989 conference champion Warsaw baseball team were selected to the squad Senior Brad Szymanski, a pitcher for the Tigers, along with teammates Jeff Fitzgerald (outfield). Kevin Thompson (infield> Troy Kintzel (utility) and Sherlock Harrison (infield) were all selected as all-conference performers after helping Warsaw capture the NLC title with an 11-3 conference mark.

ed). Amanda Shoemaker (Top Field Event), Wendy West (Top Rookie), Kriss Eisenhour (Coaches Award) and Julie Gunn (Coaches Award). Neff was chosen as the MVP as well as the captain of the Lady Warriors' tennis squad that finished the season 11-6. Kim Carmichael and Suzanne Parr, the number-one doubles duo for the team, were given the Mental Attitude Award in addition to receiving the Best Varsity WonLost Award.

Warsaw, which captured its second straight Columbia City Sectional title during the ‘B9 season, also saw its coach, Jim Dermody, named NLC Coach Os The Year. The 23-member all-NLC team includes pitchers Szymanski, Coy Eric Call (Northridge) and Troy Barber (Concord>. The catchers named to the squad were Eric Gouker (Goshen) and Jim Powell (North Wood Chosen as the top outfielders were: Fitzgerald, Rick Mirerand Jered Prough of Goshen and Lamar Helmuth ' Northridge). Infielders selected to the squad include: Thompson, David Solyom (Goshen), Roger Knepp (Northridge), Brad Rhoade (North Wood Brian Stankovich (Concord) and Tim Lawmaster (Bremen). Kintzel and Mike Miller of Northridge were chosen as the utility players for the all-conference squad Chosen honorable mention were: Harrison, Wilson, Ryan Huber (North Wood Mark Anderson (Concord) and Richard Moren (Bremen). The final standings in the NLC concluded with Warsaw on top with a 11-3 mark, followed by Goshen (10-4), Northridge (9-5), Concord (8-6), North Wood (8-6), Bremen (7-7), Plymouth (2-12) and Wawasee (1-13).

Clear Span Buildings ' Built For; Jerry Daniels — Syracuse — 40 x4B North Webster Const., Inc. „ „ AGRICULTURAL. COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL R. 1. Box 4 NORTH WEBSTER. IN am nnnw MON.-FRI. 8 A M.-5 P.M. IXIVJ

to make. He had always dreamed of being part of the school’s legendary diving program but he had also dreamed of getting someone else to pay for his college education. A third dream may have been the determining factor in sending Keener down the l That was the dream of competing in the Olympics some day. “If I was going to train anywhere to be in the Olympic trials, it would be 1.U.,” he said. So when the fall semester begins. Keener will be be burning the midnight oil in an Indiana University dorm as a criminal justice major. He has had regular contact with Jeff Huber, the university's dive coach, and

Rider overcomes f lat to win Flotilla Bike Race

By SCOTT DAVIDSON Sports Writer Howard Alderfer of Warsaw overcame a flat tire at the start of the race and then 30 other racers during the course of the race to win the 1989 Flotilla Bike Race Saturday in Syracuse. Alderfer, a student at Ball State University, almost didn’t get the opportunity to even race as the rear tire on his bicycle went flat just as the race was getting underway. "I thought that I wasn't even going to be able to race but luckily one of the other riders saved me since he had a spare tube that he let me have,” said Alderfer after the race. The 23.5 mile race attracted bike racing enthusiasts from Freshman hoop team wins two A basketball team, made up of Wawasee High School incoming freshmen, made a big splash at the White River Parks State games in Fort Waynen Saturday, June 24. The local squad advanced all the way to the championship game of its division before bowing out. The team started things off with a 37-34 victory over Lakeland at the Concordia Seminary gym on Friday, June 23. A 55-44 victory over Columbia City the following morning earned the Wawasee team a berth in the final against a squad from Hamilton. Wawasee's boys bowed out to the tough Hamilton squad, 50-38, Saturday night The victors advanced all the way to the Fort Wayne Regional championship before losing. Tippy Tuesday Niners hold golf play Nancy Boaz (class A), Carole Lowe (class B) and Rosalee Spear (class C) were the winners during golf action June 27. held by the Ladies Tuesday Nine.rs at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. Boaz recorded the low net score in class A while Sally White took second and Diane Burnett finished third In class B, Lowe was first, followed by Jeannie Van Meter and Nancy Williams. Spear registered the low net score in class C action with Gay Spillman taking second and Jo Lemon capturing third.

everyone is making him feel welcome. The team may not be offering Keener a scholarship but coach Huber has made it clear that he’s looking forward to having him on the team. Keener’s decision to attend LU. was made pretty late and it took some help from the swim team hierarchy to work out the enrollment details. With the level of competition he will be facing at the collegiate level. Keener knows he will need to improve over his high school days. But he thinks Indiana University has the facilities, coaching and tradition to help him reach his goals. And if the coaching staff likes what it sees.

throughout the Lakeland area as well as two out-of-state racers. Alderfer captured first with a time of one hour and two minutes as he held off the pack during the final stretch drive of the course. Capturing runner-up honors in the men’s division of the race was Bill Gates of South Bend while third place went toT. Alan Brown of Fort Wayne.

wWHJnrw®, MtfwMT 1 > T. ~ Wl > s —— r ■ MNrF AvLkZ 1 TKI w i " M * a ‘ *>.. 'kPEDAL POW ER — Some of the 31 participants who took part in the 1989 Flotilla Bike Race on Saturday are shown as they take off to begin the 23.5 mile course in Syracuse. (Photo by Scott Davidson) lane* .-cAv / 'V>t F V/ i* -JW 7 ~ /KnUT i / t fITWBI 1 jAx. *"> ■■*>' l r * f BIKE RACE WINNERS Shown are the top three finishers in the Pictured, from left, are: Lila Hammer, first; Rose Anderson, sewomen’s division of the Flotilla Bike Race that was held in Syracuse cond, and Pennie Anderson, third. (Photoby Scott Davidson) Saturday. ' & . V V It 'WIB r TOP THREE BIKERS The Flotilla Bike Race held Saturday in Shown, from left, are: Howard Alderfer. first; Bill Gates, second. Syracuse attracted 31 competitors with the individuals pictured cap- and T. Alan Brown, third. (Photo by Scott Davidson) turing the top three spots in the men’s division of the race.

Keener might just get that scholarship he’s dreamed about. Firestone Wins White River Park Regional Dawn Firestone earned regional championship honors in one-meter and three-meter diving at the White River Park State Games in Fort Wayne on Saturday, June 24. Dawn, an incoming junior at Wawasee High School, will participate in the finals in Indianapolis this weekend, where she has won nine medals over the past six years. She was last year’s champion in tower diving and placed fourth in one-meter diving. Dawn will be joined in Indianapolis by diving teammate Julie Gunn.

There were three women competitors in Saturday’s race, as Lila Hammer of North Manchester took the gold medal with a time of one hour, 12 minutes. Rose Anderson of Syracuse captured the silver medal in the women’s division while Pennie Anderson, also of Syracuse, finished third to take home the bronze.

fv •v • REGIONAL CHAMPION — Dawn Firestone, an incoming junior at Wawasee High School, recently captured a regional diving championship at the White River Park State games. (Photo by Mitchell Stinson)