High School Sports Calendar

Monday, Aug. 10
GIRLS GOLF: Southern Wells at Marion Invitational, 9 a.m.; FW South Side at Norwell, 11 a.m.
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Tuesday, Aug. 11
GIRLS GOLF: Norwell at Snider Invitational, 9 a.m.; Whitko at Southern Wells, 4:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, Aug. 12
GIRLS GOLF: Southern Wells, Norwell at Bellmont Invitational, 8 a.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Crusaders to pick up football equipment
Norwell Middle School football equipment will be issued on Monday, Aug. 10, in the southwest corner of the second floor. The 8th-grade players should report from 3-4 p.m. and 7th-graders between 4-5. Please use Door 36. A coach will be taking groups outside to get speed times. Shorts and running shoes should be worn. Players will need to purchase a practice pack, consisting of a practice jersey, practice pants, mouth guard and navy game socks. Cost is $35. Players must have a completed physical on file to pick up equipment.

Pick up SW Jr. High football equipment
Southern Wells Jr. High School football equipment will be passed out to 8th-graders on Monday, Aug.10, from 6-7:30 p.m. and issued to 7th-graders on Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 6-7:30. The first practice will be Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 6-8 p.m. All players must have physicals turned in to the coach or office in order to practice. Physical forms are available in the high school office. Cost for football kit materials will be $25, which may be paid the day of equipment issue.
If there are any questions, call either Mike Carter at 765-728-5149 or Mark Lefebvre at 765-728-5708.

NMS girls’ CC practice set
The first Norwell Middle School girls’ cross country practice is Aug. 10 at 9 a.m. Physicals must be on file or can be brought to the first practice. Girls may continue to condition with high school team until Aug. 10.

SW Jr. High cross country start set
Southern Wells Jr. High cross country practice will start Monday, Aug. 10 from 6-7 p.m. Runners should meet in front of the high school gym. All runners in grades 6-8 must have a completed physical turned in before they can practice.

Bluffton MS volleyball to start
Bluffton Middle School volleyball practices will begin on Aug. 11 from 3:30-5 p.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Ackley, Hacker medal at state finals
Logan Ackley and Walter Hacker, members of the Huntington-Wells Otters Swim Team, recently medalled at the Indiana Swimming Age Group State Long Course (meters) Championships at Fishers High School.
Ackley and Hacker competed in the 11-12 year-old boys’ division for Team PRO, which is a partnership between Penn Aquatics, Team Robinson and Huntington-Wells.
Along with Anthony Verasco and Eric Huang, Ackley and Hacker took fourth place in the 200-meter medley relay in 2:23.81. They also placed fifth in the 200-meter freestyle.
Corbin Cozad of the Otters also placed 11th in the 10-and-under boys’ 200-meter medley relay in 2:54.07 and 13th in the 200-meter freestyle relay in 2:28.65.
Individually, Ackley was 24th in the 100-meter butterfly (1:23.83), 31st in the 50-meter butterfly (36.34) and 38th in the 400-meter freestyle (5:39.56). Hacker was 15th in the 100-meter butterfly (1:19.79) 24th in the 50-meter butterfly (35.71) and 33rd in the 200-meter individual medley (3:03.06).

Crusaders to pick up football equipment
Norwell Middle School football equipment will be issued on Monday, Aug. 10, in the southwest corner of the second floor. The 8th-grade players should report from 3-4 p.m. and 7th-graders between 4-5. Please use Door 36. A coach will be taking groups outside to get speed times. Shorts and running shoes should be worn. Players will need to purchase a practice pack, consisting of a practice jersey, practice pants, mouth guard and navy game socks. Cost is $35. Players must have a completed physical on file to pick up equipment.

Bluffton MS volleyball to start
Bluffton Middle School volleyball practices will begin on Aug. 11 from 3:30-5 p.m.

NMS girls’ CC practice set
The first Norwell Middle School girls’ cross country practice is Aug. 10 at 9 a.m. Physicals must be on file or can be brought to the first practice. Girls may continue to condition with high school team until Aug. 10.

SW Jr. High cross country start set
Southern Wells Jr. High cross country practice will start Monday, Aug. 10 from 6-7 p.m. Runners should meet in front of the high school gym. All runners in grades 6-8 must have a completed physical turned in before they can practice.

Pick up SW Jr. High football equipment
Southern Wells Jr. High School football equipment will be passed out to 8th-graders on Monday, Aug.10, from 6-7:30 p.m. and issued to 7th-graders on Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 6-7:30. The first practice will be Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 6-8 p.m. All players must have physicals turned in to the coach or office in order to practice. Physical forms are available in the high school office. Cost for football kit materials will be $25, which may be paid the day of equipment issue.
If there are any questions, call either Mike Carter at 765-728-5149 or Mark Lefebvre at 765-728-5708.

DNR Fishin' Pond awaits young State Fair anglers

Indiana DNR Release:

About 4,500 kids learned to fish for free during last year's Indiana State Fair at the DNR's 312,000-gallon Fishin' Pond.

This catch-and-release fishing program runs from 9 a.m. to noon, and 4 to 7 p.m., daily, Aug. 7-23 (except the mornings of Aug. 7-8 and 17-21).

As last year, 3,500 hybrid bluegill and 1,500 channel catfish will be stocked before and during the fair to keep the fishing fresh.

Friendly volunteers will again teach kids, ages 5-17, how to be safe and successful. These adults will also bait the hook and release the fish if needed. Kids must be accompanied by an adult to participate. After the fishing, participants will want to head over to the education table where kids can do crafts and adults have the chance to make an Angler’s Legacy pledge to take a kid fishing in the upcoming year.

Registration, which is required before fishing, is located next to the Natural Resources Building, outside the doors of Mother Nature's Mercantile, near the paddlefish pond (sorry, no fishing there).

Just like natural fishin' holes, the Fishin' Pond is most crowded on weekends. If you go to the fair on a Saturday or Sunday and want to fish, head to the Fishin' Pond registration site as soon as you get in the fair gates. On those busy days, the early birds get to cast the worms. Early anglers also are likely to have better luck on weekdays, since that the crowds are thinner in the morning and grow heavier late in the day.

New DNR Go FishIN program coordinator Clint Kowalik, formerly an assistant fisheries biologist for the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife, is eager to meet and ready to help the fair-going youngsters and youth fish safely and successfully.

DNR at the State Fair

Indiana DNR Release:

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources once again will have a large presence at the Indiana State Fair with daily activities planned at the DNR Building in the northwest corner of the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

The DNR has dozens of engaging stories to share with the media, including these:

– Kids Fishin’ Pond, daily from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (and 9 a.m. to noon every day except Aug. 7-8 and Aug. 17-21). (The DNR’s 312,000-gallon pond is well stocked with fish and gives thousands of children the chance to go fishing; some for the first time.)

– Taste of the Wild Cookout, 11 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 8), DNR Fishin’ Pond and Amphitheater. (Sample venison chili, beaver barbecue, fried fish, and other outdoor cuisine, including the DNR’s famous Creek Bank Potatoes.)

– Smokey Bear’s Birthday, 1 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 9), DNR Amphitheater. (Get your picture taken with this enduring icon of the great outdoors and hear his fire safety message.)

– Geocaching, 2 p.m. Friday (Aug. 14), DNR Building, front porch. (Find your bearings with this hi-tech, modern version of treasure hunting.)

– Archaeology “Road” Show, 1 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 16), DNR Amphitheater. (Bring your artifacts for identification by the DNR Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Meet the DNR’s own Dr. “Indiana” Jones.)

– Got Geese? Canada Goose Management, 2 p.m. Monday (Aug. 17), DNR Building, front porch. (An informative workshop that touches on the biology of this migratory waterfowl and legal methods to help manage the population.)

– DNR Division of Law Enforcement sponsors “Wear It Indiana Day” on Sunday, Aug. 9 to promote use of lifejackets while boating. Conservation Officers also will present SCUBA demonstrations from 2-4 p.m. Aug. 10, 14 and 21, and K-9 rescue dog demonstrations at 6 p.m. Aug. 14 and 22. Come meet the DNR dogs and their handlers.

SW football managers ready for the season

News-Banner Sports Editor Paul Beitler spoke with the Southern Wells Football Team managers on Thursday. Here's a snippet:

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Norwell girls’ fall to Carroll in opener
Three Carroll Chargers recorded nine-hole rounds in the lower 40s to spoil the season-opening golf match for the Norwell Knights girls’ team on Wednesday morning at Willow Ridge in Fort Wayne.
Ashley Kees led the Chargers with a 40, while Elizabeth Goings added a 42 and Erin Velpel finished with a 45. Katie Phipps shot a 50 to give Carroll a 177-205 victory in the battle of Northeast Hoosier Conference rivals.
Norwell was led by Kristen Springer with a 45. Megan Evans turned in a 51, followed by Hannah Porrata with a 54 and Cassie Herndon with a 55. Olivia Shapley rounded out Norwell’s varsity group with a 56.

Sluggers to hold baseball tryouts
The Summit City Sluggers baseball organization will be holding open tryouts for its 2010 teams Sunday, Aug. 16 at the Concordia High School varsity field, located just east of Zollner Stadium, 3500 N. Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Players should bring their own equipment and water. Teams are anticipated for age groups 12-and-under through 18-and-under. Eligible birthdates are May 1, 1991 through April 30, 1998. Players will be evaluated by high school coaches, college coaches and professional scouts. For more information, please call president Mark Flueckiger at 260-348-9332.

Derek Kinzer signs with Taylor
Taylor University head baseball coach Kyle Gould announced Tuesday that 2009 Homestead graduate Derek Kinzer of Fort Wayne has signed a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic careers with the Trojans.
Kinzer, an infielder and a pitcher, hit .402 and scored 20 runs as a senior as he helped Homestead (23-4) win a sectional championship.
As a junior, Kinzer played a role in guiding Homestead to the Indiana Class 4A State Championship game.
Derek is the younger brother of Taylor Kinzer, who played for the Trojans the last two seasons before signing a professional contract with the Los Angeles Angels this summer.
Matt Kinzer, father of Derek and Taylor, is Taylor University’s pitching coach. He is a Norwell graduate. He also pitched professionally for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers.

Coach needed for Bluffton MS football
A coach is needed for Bluffton Middle School football. Anyone interested should call Bluffton High School head coach Nick Nicholas at 765-372-1239 or send an e-mail to nnicholas@bhmsd.k12.in.us

Crusaders to pick up football equipment
Norwell Middle School football equipment will be issued on Monday, Aug. 10, in the southwest corner of the second floor. The 8th-grade players should report from 3-4 p.m. and 7th-graders between 4-5. Please use Door 36. A coach will be taking groups outside to get speed times. Shorts and running shoes should be worn. Players will need to purchase a practice pack, consisting of a practice jersey, practice pants, mouth guard and navy game socks. Cost is $35. Players must have a completed physical on file to pick up equipment.

NMS girls’ volleyball coach needed
Norwell Middle School is seeking a 7th-grade girls’ volleyball coach. Anyone interested in the position may contact Principal Tim Wilson at 543-2218, ext. 6002, or via e-mail at Tim.Wilson@nwcs.k12.in.us.

Bluffton MS volleyball to start
Bluffton Middle School volleyball practices will begin on Aug. 11 from 3:30-5 p.m.
NMS girls’ CC practice set
The first Norwell Middle School girls’ cross country practice is Aug. 10 at 9 a.m. Physicals must be on file or can be brought to the first practice. Girls may continue to condition with high school team until Aug. 10.

SW Jr. High cross country start set
Southern Wells Jr. High cross country practice will start Monday, Aug. 10 from 6-7 p.m. Runners should meet in front of the high school gym. All runners in grades 6-8 must have a completed physical turned in before they can practice.

Pick up SW Jr. High football equipment
Southern Wells Jr. High School football equipment will be passed out to 8th-graders on Monday, Aug.10, from 6-7:30 p.m. and issued to 7th-graders on Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 6-7:30. The first practice will be Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 6-8 p.m. All players must have physicals turned in to the coach or office in order to practice. Physical forms are available in the high school office. Cost for football kit materials will be $25, which may be paid the day of equipment issue.
If there are any questions, call either Mike Carter at 765-728-5149 or Mark Lefebvre at 765-728-5708.