Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Bryce Biberstein receives award
Norwell senior football player Bryce Biberstein was one of 24 Indiana athletes named to the 2009 Indianapolis Colts’ Academic All-State Team.
Biberstein, son of Angela Vachon and Kraig Biberstein, will receive a plaque at halftime of the Colts’ game against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 13. Norwell coach Jeff Miller also will be receiving his Indianapolis Colts’ Coach of the Week award.
Biberstein was a three-year starter for the Knights at cornerback. He will be attending college next fall to become a medical doctor and plans to play football. He will be announcing his college choice in the near future.
He is the second Norwell student to receive this award. Kyle Gilbert received the award in 2002.
Recipients are ranked in the top two percent or better in their senior class.

Norwell 8th-grade girls win in OT
The Norwell 8th-grade girls’ basketball team defeated the East Jay Chiefs 28-23 in overtime Tuesday night at Norwell.
Kelsey Beer led the Crusaders with 12 points. Laken Chaney and Alicia Coleman each added five points. Olivia Geiger had four and Kylee Byerly two.
The 7th-grade Crusaders lost 21-17. Hanna Smith had nine points for Norwell. Madi Stinson had four. Erika Thornton and Liara Isnogle each had two.

Bluffton MS boys sweep Salamonie
The Bluffton Middle School boys’ basketball teams swept the Salamonie Rebels Tuesday night at home. The 7th-grade Tigers won 31-17 and the 8th-graders won 29-22.
Mike Pearson scored 13 points for the 8th-grade Tigers. Josh Streveler added nine points, Jake Garrett five and Malcolm Marshall two.
Kohl Buskirk scored 12 and Kevin Moser 11 for the 7th-grade Tigers. Ethan Kitt had four, James Spera three and Dane Hoffman one.

Bluffton MS girls top Salamonie
The Bluffton Middle School girls’ basketball teams defeated the Salamonie Rebels Tuesday night at Warren.
The 7th-grade Tigers won 32-9 with Erin McKinley scoring 20 points. Morgan Corle and Emma Thompson each had four points. Sierra Perry and Jenean Steffen each added two points.
The 8th-grade Tigers edged Salamonie 27-25. Taeler Meadows led the Tigers with 15 points. Sierra Steffen and Kaylynne Baublet both added four points. Laura Stroud and Mandy Davis each had two.

Parents fight cutting football teams
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Protesters have been unable to change the decision to stop fielding football teams at three Indianapolis high schools.
More than a dozen people asked the Indianapolis Public Schools board Tuesday night to stop the district superintendent from canceling football at Manual, Marshall and Washington high schools.
Superintendent Eugene White says those schools had too few students choosing to play, resulting in teams that weren’t competitive.
Parent Loren Sprowl said the decision sends a bad message and will hurt morale among students at the schools.
White said the three schools had been given extra resources over the last five years to improve turnout for football.