The Mail-Journal, Volume 28, Number 24, Milford, Kosciusko County, 26 July 1989 — Page 8

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., July 26,1989

Sports

Alyson Mills —

Ten year old is a success on the track

By SCOTT DAVIDSON Sports Writer

Although favorably, and quite accurately, described by her parents as quite shy and modest. 10-year-old Alyson Mills of Syracuse makes a lot of noise and opens many eyes when she takes to the track to compete. Mills, who will be a fifth grader this fall at Syracuse Elementary School, is not only one of the top runners in her age group in the state but arguably in the entire country as well. Her list of victories and the collection of IKW ' ON TO CUBA — Craig Croy, son of Randy and Bonnie Croy of Milford, will be traveling to Cuba from August 1-9 to compete with the Indiana State Wrestling Association/VSA Indiana Cuban .Exchange Team. Croy, who will be a junior at North Wood High School this fall, placed fourth in Greco Roman and sixth in freestyle wrestling competition at the nationals in Atlanta earlier this year. A total of 10 wrestlers, two coaches and an official from Indiana will make the trip to Cuba next week. The wrestlers, while there, will compete for two days in Greco Roman wrestling and two days in freestyle, with a day for sightseeing and rest inbetween. Croy advanced to the semi-state level last year for .Northwood’s wrestling team while also competing in the state freestyle tournament.

Golf news

Ninety five take part in Tippy Ladies' Invitational

The Tippecanoe Lake Country Club 18-Hole Ladies Golf Association held its 1989 Invitational Golf Tournament last Thursday at the course in Leesburg. A total of 95 ladies participated in the invitational, with golfers representing the Elcona Country Club (Elkhart), Plymouth Country Club, Maplecrest Country Club (Goshen), Pine Valley Country Club (Fort Wayne i and Meshingomesia Country Club (Marion), as well as Tippy members. Twenty four prizes were awarded during the day’s action for low gross in four flights, and low net, using the point system

112 participate in Maxwelton Ladies' Invitational

One hundred and twelve ladies from 15 different golf courses took part in the Maxwelton Ladies Golf Invitational conducted on Wednesday, July 19. at the course in Syracuse The competition was scheduled for 18-hole play but due to rain delays prizes were given to the participants for nine holes of golf play The team of Judy Guthrie, Zarona Luellen, Lori Welty and

L TEAMS FOR MEN'S SLOW PITCH "CLEAGU2 A League Starts: Aug. 14 — Eads: Sept. 15 k Location: Vega Field, Syracuse 6 Sponsor Fee: $150.00 I k FOR MORE INFORMATION A APPLICATIONS ▼ L CONTACT AL EADES ▲

medals, certificates and trophies that she has collected for her ability are testament to the fact that she is a very gifted athlete. With her performance earlier this month at the Region IV AAU Track and Field Championships in Ohio, Mills qualified to travel to San Antonio, Texas, to participate in the XXIII AAU/USA Junior Olympic Games from August 5-12. With her many successes on the state, regional and national level of track competition, Alyson’s father/coach Jim Mills says that there are people who have really helped her improve. “The members of the St. Joe Valley Track Club (AAU) that Alyson has trained with, especially Justin Daugherty, have helped to push her to improve and have supported her too," said Mills, who along with Jim Garner serves as coach of the junior high track and cross country teams for the Wawasee school system. Mills said that she remembers taking part in her first race, a one mile family fun run in Fort Wayne, when she was just four years old. "I really enjoy running and it’s fun to get to travel to different places for the competitions and to meet a lot of other kids,” stated Mills. At age seven, Mills participated in her first state cross country meet as she captured first place, defeating the girls as well as the boys entered in the event. At age eight, although Alyson was competing in the girls’ 9-10 age group, she finished fifth in the state, seventh in the region and 52nd in the national meet in the 3,000-meter event. Mills, w’ho is currently attenGirls swim practice begins August 7 Girls high school swimming practice will begin Monday, Aug. 7. at Wawasee High School. Any girls interested should bring their physicals, along with suits and towels. Girls are encouraged to attend the practices even though they have no competitive experience.

Awards were also given for longest drive, most accurate drive and closest to the pin shots. Members of the Tippecanoe Ladies Association that were winners on the day included Marcia McNagny, Tammy Light and Vai Finkenbiner in A flight, Dory Wright and Grace Schmeiser in B flight play and Jan Morsches and Judy Calhoun in C flight action. Finkenbiner was also closest to the pin on the 13th hole. Beth Flinn and Deb Nicol served as co-chairmen for the invitational, with Mary Lee, Judy Carpenter, Pat Riley, Wright, Elaine Loser and Pat Trinkle comprising the committee for the event.

Esther Roth finished the day in a tie for first place with the foursome of Joy Farr, Alice Martin, Sholen Werstlef and Eline Weriting. Six teams concluded play in a tie for second place honors. The prize for the longest drive of the day was awarded to Sheri Martin and Alice Martin while Wendy Johnson and Farr tied for top efforts in the closest to the pin category.

ding a one-week All-Star cross country camp in Indianapolis, recently added to her list of accomplishments with several impressive performances. Earlier this month, Mills captured first in the 800 meter event in the White River Park State Games finals with a record time of 2:48. The previous weekend, she took first in both the 1,500 and 3,000 meter races during the AAU State Track and Field Championships in Evansville. She capped off a busy and successful month of July by qualifying for the Junior Olympics meet after winning the 1,500 and the 3,000 meter races at the Region IV AAU Track and Field Championships held July 15-16 in Springfield, Ohio. Alyson practices three times a week during the summer months with the other members of the St. Joe Track Club under the watchful eye of her father/coach. “We got involved with the club several years ago and after taking it over last year, myself and Bruce Daugherty, are trying now to get more local runners involved and to build the club up," the elder Mills said. With her running strength laying in the longer distance races. Alyson has recorded personal bests of 2:45 in the 800 meter. 5:37 in the 1,500 and 11:39 in the 3.000 meter runs. “Alyson has seen her confidence really improve in the last year and a half to the point where she is a lot tougher runner now in competition," stated her father. Even though training and competing in track takes up a lot of Mills' time, she also enjoys taking dance lessons and participating in gymnastics. The young athlete also enjoys reading while she maintains an A average in the classroom. “We believe that the hard work that Alyson

Ef'" fit ‘ JB .//CI z r v Wif’v ... " • - * ; TOP SWIMMERS — Twenty eight members of the Wawasee Swim Club were honored at an awards ceremony at Lakeside Park in Syracuse Monday. Those earning awards included, first row, from left: Jared Gaushorn, Kyle Metcalf. Jamie Corn. Mike Hay, Kassidy Biddle, Rachel Buhrt, and Sara Hoover. Second row : Katie Fisher, Brad Fisher, Scott Metcalf, Chandra Mathew. Amy Rheling, Jamie Farber, and Andy Napier. Third row: Stacy Neterer, Daniele Laub, Andy Krvder, Sherry Payne, and Eric Swartzendruber. Fourth row: Ben Bolles, Scott Berkey, Chris Ridings. Eric Schaekel, and coach Roger Karns. Not shown, but also winning awards were: Brandee Carlson, Stephen Farber, Krista Guimond, Tami Miller, and Todd Miller. Sixty four swimmers participated for the swim club this summer under the direction of Karns and Karen Weaver.

Pfl 36 R w-/ «A It > « ffit t * 1 S \_ffnX Jil lU & * 'A^. 1 t ' ' X_ MAJOR LEAGUE CHAMPS — The Rotary baseball team shows off the trophies it earned after capturing the regular season and tournament championships in Syracuse Major League play. Kneeling in the bottom row. From left, are Steven Lambert and bat boy Todd Lovellette. Standing in the middle row are: Matt I-ogan. Bobby Schisler, Casey Stump. Jeif Mullins and Jeff Jarrett. Back row: coach Jeff Ixjvellette, Pat Gargett, Tim McFarren, Andy Richardson, Vince Beasley. Kevin Darrah. Clint Beasley and coach John Darrah, fPhoto by Mitchell Stinson)

-|g| '*■ Fi Jr ft'/..'. U M S IW ' Ph -v Id t HLill * lit > I |r i > I \ I I > HH HEHL k —MH—I—I—JBEE SUCCESSFUL RUNNER — Ten-year-old Alyson Mills of Syracuse proudly displays the two medals that she captured earlier this month by placing first in the 1,500 and 3,000 meter events at the Region IV AAU Track and Field Championships in Ohio. Mills, who has been competing in track since she was seven years old. is now preparing to compete in the XXIII AAU/USA Junior Olympic Games in San Antonio, Texas, August 5-12. (Photo by Scott Davidson)

puts into her running also carries over into other areas, such as her school w’ork,” her father commented. With many first place finishes to her credit during the past cou-

ple of years, Alyson said that winning the regional meet in Illinois in 1988 as well as finishing 10th in the 3,000 meters in the cross country nationals in Reno, Nev., (also in 1988) are two accomplishments

that stick out in her mind. After competing in San Antonio, Mills will train with the middle school team this fall in preparation for the TAC and AAU national meets that will be held in Indiana later this year. “My goal this year is to finish in the top three in the na-

Jest "fits EiE , z. \Ew dllßln ■f U|l]U*W I Jb| —BL . ,j— F I E • * * v % WBer Z///IB .’vT I fl— IE AJi 111 IT H it Wwk r 1 HF Fl / \ I I 'A / • / i / \ \ \ | ME I I L_ MMMWt M STATE SWIM QUALIFIERS — Thirteen members of the Wawasee Summer Swim Program recently qualified to participate in the Junior Olympics/Age Group State competition to be held in Indianapolis, August 4-6. Shown in front, from left, are: Jenny Marty. Kassidy Biddle, Jennifer Ganshorn and Katie Fisher. In back are: Elizabeth Moore, Danielle Laub, Stacy Neterer, Eric Swartzendruber and Scott Metcalf. Not pictured, but also qualifying for the Indianapolis meet, are Andy Kryder, Eric Schaekel, Justin Banks and Brandee Carlson. (Photo by Scott Davidson)

£X •w w* V ml Lb fB |HMk Os zsOßkte fa S H ft NORTH WEBSTER REDS — Members of the 1989 North Webster Major League Reds are pictured above. Kneeling in front, from left, are: Scott Ous ", Edwin Bartels, Jason King, Steven Bartels and David Smith. Pictured in back are: coach Dennis Meyer, Scott Meyer, Josh Lambert, A.D. Gaston, Jeremy Walls and coach Todd Walls. mF . .KOBL- IP; _JT- ■ FHMn. u.* » - Wwh, «* jw*" WB WF vv J* w fl mb •„■ ;41 Kvv if i Ip. NORTH WEBSTER METS — Members of the 1989 North Webster Mets are pictured above. Kneeling in front, from left, are: Keith Galloway, John Hunziker. Eric Bowman and Michael Yotter. In the middle are: Nate Shoemaker, David Newcum. Billy Graber, Tony Vandiver, Todd Wells and Brent Farrell. Standing in back are coaches Bill Hunziker, Rex Hunziker and Alan Graber.

tionals,”she said. With so much success at such a young age, the question of what the future holds for a talented runner like Mills is a very intriguing one. “Alyson has the ability and the potential to go a long way and the main thing is for her to

use her ability to earn a scholarship to compete on the collegiate level,” stated her father. “I want to win the national meet in the future and compete in college but my goal right now is to go to San Antonio and try to win down there,” she concluded.