by Emily Armentrout

On May 28, Northfield’s athletic director, Geoff Salmon, and principal, Mike Keaffaber, held a meet and greet at the school for Northfield’s new varsity boys’ basketball coach, Patrick Hopkins. Hopkins is recent graduate of Indiana Wesleyan, where he not only had a successful basketball career but was also a youth mentor. He is licensed to teach physical education and health, and is currently seeking a teaching position around the area.

While at Indiana Wesleyan University, Hopkins was a two-time All American, conference player of the year, and was voted the IWU male athlete of the year.

“I believe in what I am going to coach. I had personal success at Indiana Wesleyan under the new National Coach of the Year, Greg Tonagel, so I’ve had great mentors and I believe in what we can do,” said Hopkins. “I love basketball and I love kids. I was helped, as a kid, through sports, to become a better person and my mentors really helped me out like that and so I want to return the favor to a younger generation by helping some boys turn into men by teaching them life skills.

by Gary Andrews

The Indiana Association of Track & Cross Country Coaches  (IATCCC) released their Boys & Girls Academic All State selections Saturday with three Southwood girls making the team.

First team selections were senior Amy Bowman and junior Grace Whitham.

Junior Haley Heath was selected Honorable Mention.

by Gary Andrews

Wabash played their first game of the sectional Saturday, struggling at the plate and falling to Oak Hill 3-1. The Apaches garnered just four hits with the Eagles taking advantage of some timely hits for the win.

The game was a pitchers dual for the first three innings as neither team scored. Oak Hill had two hits with the Apaches still looking for their first.

In the top of the fourth Wabash struck first. With one out Devin Hostetler roped a double and was followed by a Grant Sailors single to put runners on the corners. Jordan Floor then hit a deep fly ball to score Hostetler and the Apaches led 1-0. In the bottom of the inning Oak Hill led off with a single, taking advantage of a fielding error to reach second. After a walk the Eagles had runners on first and second. With one out the Eagles would get an rbi single, a walk and another rbi single to lead 2-1 before Wabash turned a 5-2-3 double play to get out of the inning.

Treavor Floor doubled with one out in the fifth and with two outs Jordan Holley walked but a ground ball out stopped the threat. In the bottom of the inning pitcher Roger Davis walked the first batter then attempted a pick off that was thrown to the fence with the Oak Hill runner making it to third. An Eagle double made it 3-1.

Wabash could muster just one base runner the last two innings, which was a Hostetler single in the sixth as they fell from the tournament 3-1.

by Gary Andrews

In their first season of playing up a class because of the success factor, the Northfield baseball is one win away from a sectional championship in 3A. After out lasting Eastbrook on Thursday the Norse rode the bat if Bryce Kendall in a 4-3 win over Columbia City Saturday to move to the championship game Monday against Norwell, who defeated Heritage 6-4.

The Norse had Shane Vigar on the mound, who held Columbia City to just one hit the first two innings while the Norse threatened to score both innings without a run.

In the bottom of the first Adam Roser reached on an error but was picked off first for the first out. Bryce Kendall then tripled and he was picked off third before a Drake Richter single. Shane Vigar then hit a line drive out.

In the second Nate Hembree singled with one out with Joseph Mitchell following reaching on a fielders choice. Mitchell would advance to second on a passed ball when Brad Bever singled to put runners on the corners, but again the Norse couldn’t score.

by Gary Andrews

The Southwood baseball team got on the field Saturday for their first sectional action, taking on the host Lewis Cass. The Knights wasted no time letting everyone know they meant business, scoring four runs in the first inning in route to a 9-1 win over the Kings. The Knights will play Oak Hill for the sectional title Monday.

The Knights were the visitors on the scoreboard and got busy early. With one out in the top of the first Nathan Hollars drew a walk, then stole second. After a fly out Christian Deeter and Jacob Lloyd drew walks to load the bases with two outs. Brandin Frazier then singled home Hollars to make it 1-0 and was followed by a three run Brennan Kelly double to take a 4-0 lead. Cass would get their one and only run in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-1.

In the top of the second Hollars would single with one out, advancing to third on a botched pick off throw. Robbie Cole then ripped a triple to score Hollars with Lloyd singling home Cole for a 6-1 lead. Frazier would single to put runners on first and second before a fly ball ended the inning. Left fielder Matt cox got the bottom of the inning started right with a diving catch.

The Knights couldn’t plate a run in the third, but did get a single from Jackson Blair.

Robbie Cole got the 4th inning started reaching on an error and promptly stole second. After a wild pitch moved Cole to third, Christian Deeter singled home Cole for a 7-1 lead. The Knights would threaten for more with singles from Lloyd and Kelly loaded the bases with one out. The Kings got a force out at home on a grounder before getting the third out on a ground ball. The other freshman in the outfieled, Zach Ball made a diving catch to start the bottom of the 4th.

by Gary Andrews

Three Wabash County girls’ runners are headed to the state finals at Indiana University after Tuesday’s regional. Rae Bedke, Manchester, broke her own school record in the 1600, placing second in a time of 5:02.97, Jenna Halderman, Northfield, was third in the 3200 in 10:57.09 and Northfield’s Jacklyn Peas was third in the 300 hurdles in 46.31, breaking the school record.

These three runners will represent Wabash County Friday, June 6 at Indiana University. Bedke is scheduled to run at 6:35 a.m. with Peas running at 7:20 a.m. and Halderman at 8:15 a.m.

by Gary Andrews

The girls’ track sectionals were held Tuesday with Wabash and Southwood participating at Marion, while Northfield and Manchester went to Rochester. The county had four sectional champions with numerous regional qualifiers.

An individual or relay team needed to finish in the top four to move on to regional.

At Marion the Southwood girls finished 6th as a team with Wabash placing 7th.

The Southwood 4×800 relay team won the sectional in 9:39.34, breaking the school record with the 4×400 placing second and setting a new school record. Both teams advance to the regional. Also advancing to regional are Ellie White of Southwood in the 400(2nd) and Lyndsie Thomas of Wabash (4th), Emily Lehner of Southwood in the 800(2nd), Kyleigh Hampton of Wabash in the high jump (3rd) and Katie McCauley of Wabash in the shot put (3rd).

At Rochester, Manchester finished 4th as a team. Northfield was

At Rochester the county had three sectional champions. Rae Bedke of Manchester won the 1600 in 5:12.19, breaking her own school record, while Jacklyn Peas of Northfield won the 300 hurdles in 49.28. Lindsey Dierks of Manchester won the high jump at 5’ 3’’. All three advance to the regional as sectional champions.

Also advancing to regional is Alex Shelton of Manchester in the 100(4th), Rae Bedke of Manchester in the 800(2nd), Jenna Halderman of Northfield in the 1600(2nd), Jenna Halderman of Northfield in the 3200(2nd), Karla Singer of Northfield in the 3200(3rd), Jacklyn Peas of Northfield in the 100 hurdles(4th), the 4×100 relay team from Manchester(2nd), the 4×400 relay team from Manchester(4th), the 4×800 relay team from Northfield(2nd).

by Gary Andrews

The Northfield Varsity golf team had a three-way match at Honeywell on Tuesday losing to Tipp Valley by 1 stroke 166 to 167. The Norse defeated Wabash 167 to 205. Medalist for the match was Braydon Schindler shooting a 38. He was followed by another good round by Austin Burns shooting a 40. Other Norse scores were Andrew Eckerley with a 44 and Caleb Kroh with a 45.

The JV also did battle with Valley losing 225 to 183. Kameron Cole was the medalist with a 40.

“I am very happy with how Braydon, Austin Burns, and Kameron played tonight. We just need to all click at the same time,” said Coach Terrell.