High School Sports Calendar

Thursday, Dec. 10
SWIMMING: Blackford at Bluffton, 5:30 p.m.; Jay County at Norwell, 5:30 p.m.
WRESTLING: Bluffton at Southern Wells, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS FRESHMAN BASKETBALL: Norwell at Columbia City, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 11
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Bluffton at Woodlan, 6 p.m.; Heritage at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.; Norwell at Columbia City, 6:15 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 12
BOYS SWIMMING: Bluffton at Norwell Invitational, 9 a.m.
JV WRESTLING: Southern Wells at Adams Central Invitational, 9 a.m.
WRESTLING: Triple Dual (Bellmont, East Noble, DeKalb) at Norwell, 9:30 a.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Norwell at Southern Wells, 6 p.m.; Northfield at Bluffton, 6 p.m.

Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

WACHE hosts holiday tourney
The Wells Association of Christian Home Educators (WACHE) recently hosted the fifth Holiday Invitational boys’ basketball tournament at Life Church.
The WACHE Warriors took second place, losing to Kokomo 55-49 in the championship game.
Jordan Arnold led the Warriors with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Jade Cale had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Brett Robbins added 12 points, five steals and five rebounds.
In the first game, the Warriors defeated the Noble County Warriors 66-59. Arnold scored 19 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had six assists. Cale added 14 points and seven rebounds. Josh Bertsch tacked on 14 points.
In the second game, the Kokomo defeated Keystone 69-57. In the consolation match, Noble County defeated Keystone 87-72.
Arnold and Cale were named to the all-tourney team.

Norwell MS girls score victories
In middle school girls’ basketball action Tuesday evening, the Norwell 7th-grade Crusaders faced Maple Creek at Norwell and came away with a 43-16 victory. In the 8th-grade contest Norwell won 42-26.
Liara Isnogle, Erika Thornton, Arianna Cruz and Hanna Smith led the team in scoring. Smith and Thornton each had nine and Cruz added seven points. Smith had five rebounds and Caitlin Herndon had four.
In the 8th-grade matchup, Laken Chaney scored 13, Olivia Geiger 10 and Kelsey Beer seven. Alecia Coleman added five points.
On Monday, the 7th-grade Crusaders defeated Riverside 46-3 at Huntington. Isnogle led the scoring with 12 points. Thornton added 10, while Smith had five rebounds.

Crusaders split with Maple Creek
In boys’ middle school basketball action Tuesday, the Norwell Crusaders split with Maple Creek at Fort Wayne.
The 8th-graders won 30-26, led by Brent Bales’ 11 points, hitting three 3-point field goals. Jonah Patten had seven points, Drew Shively four and three assists. Brett Wilson and Cal Clouser each added three points and David Vogel two.
Norwell lost the 7th-grade contest 33-22. Andrew Oakes led the squad with six points, while Piercen Harnish added five and Nathan Allison four. Brandon Burch and Adam Nahrwald each had three and Reggie Hayes one.

Bluffton freshmen top Jay County
The Bluffton boys’ freshman basketball team defeated Jay County 25-24 in overtime on Tuesday. Seth Thompson led the Tigers with 12 points. Chandler Prible added nine and Jackson Lambert four.

Cougars games free to kids 14-under
FORT WAYNE — The University of Saint Francis has 14 home men’s and women’s basketball games over the rest of December and January and the Cougars are welcoming youths 14-and-under free.
All that is required is that they give the name of the school they attend. The Cougars’ teams are in the NAIA Top 25.
The next games are Dec. 14 at Hutzell Athletic Center with a doubleheader, starting at 5:30 p.m. On Dec. 18 the Cougars offer another back-to-back night, tipping off with the women’s game at 5 p.m.

Bargains make DNR the place to shop for holiday gifts

Indiana DNR Release:

Outdoor lovers on your gift list are sure to enjoy the holiday offers available from the Department of Natural Resources and so will your wallet.

Before you clip another coupon or fight crowds to get to another store on a given day by a given time, check these holiday specials available at InnsGifts.com.

The DNR $99 steal features a 2010 Annual Resident Entrance Permit, a $50 State Park Inns Gift Certificate, a one-year subscription to Outdoor Indiana magazine and the just-released-this-year DVD "Indiana State Parks: Treasures in Your Own Backyard." This holiday bargain saves the buyer $20 from what the items would cost if purchased separately. Order online or by calling (317) 233-2347 or (317) 233-3046, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., using Visa or MasterCard.

The annual permit gets a carload into 33 state parks and reservoirs throughout 2010. The Inns gift certificate can be used for lodging, golf (at Fort Harrison), meals at the Inns restaurants, and at gift shops at the seven Indiana State Park Inn facilities.

For those who want more specific items, Outdoor Indiana magazine subscriptions, 2010 annual entrance passes, Golden Hoosier passes, lake permits and horse tags are available for purchase at state park and reservoir properties, as are Inns gift certificates. See InnsGifts.com.

Inns gift certificates can be worth twice as much during Indiana State Park Inns 2-for-1 limited time special. Guests can stay two consecutive nights for the price of one. The offer is valid Sunday through Thursday, through Feb. 25, 2010, excluding Dec. 20 - Dec. 31, is subject to availability, and cannot be combined with other discounts. For reservations, contact 1-877-LODGES1 or IndianaInns.com.

From the BHs Blog

1. (Top) Boys' swimmer Sam Walburn is on his final turn to take the record breaking time in the 400 freestyle.
2. Lady Tiger Shark Ashton Krider chops through the water to gain the advantage in last night's match.
3. Lady Tiger swimmers, Deb Verduri, Haley Huffman, Rachel Emshwiller and Susannah Bates, exchange hugs after taking another record in the 400 Free Relay.


Last night's swim meet against Muncie Southside was a victory for both the Lady Sharks and the boys' swimming and diving team. With the Lady Sharks scoring 130-50, and the boys scoring 143-39, what's not to be happy about?

For the boys' swimming and diving team, first place finishers were Hunter Copeland in the 200 freestyle, Adam Butler in the 200 IM, Matt Dann in the 50 freestyle, Ben Miller in the diving competition, Jason Prible in 100 fly, Mitchel Meitzler in the 100 free, Ian Baumgardner in the 100 back and Ryan Coyne in 100 breaststroke. Winning relay team members were Sam Walburn, Hunter Copeland, Jason Prible, Matt Dann, Mitchel Meitzler, Skylar Schwartz, and Adam Butler. Outstanding record-breaking time was Sam Walburn in the 400 freestyle. The boys travel to Marion this Saturday for a swim invitational starting at 9:00a.m.

As the Lady Tiger Sharks propelled through the water against Muncie Southside, four records came down last night. Record breakers: 200 medley relay team of Deb Verduri, Susannah Bates, Lydia Bates and Rachel Emshwiller; Soloist in the 200 free style Rachel Emshwiller; 200 free relay Team, Haley Huffman, Rachel Emshwiller, Jessica Steffen and Susannah Bates; 400 free relay team consisting of Haley Huffman, Rachel Emshwiller, Deb Verduri, and Susannah Bates. Other First place winners in last night's swim meet were Audry Estill , Susannah Bates, Robin Butler, Haley Swain, Deb Verduri, Lydie Bates, Haley Huffman, Jessica Steffen and Rachel Emshwiller.


posted by Nick Huffman

Roush Lake shooting range to reduce winter hours

Indiana DNR Release:

Roush Lake shooting range will reduce its hours this winter, during slow times and when temperatures plunge.

The reduced hours will save labor, utility and snow removal costs while continuing to provide services at the times visitors have historically frequented the range. Plans are to revert to original hours around March 1, 2010, when the weather usually moderates.

The Roush Lake facility opened in August 2005. Visitation has increased each year since. More than 50,000 people have used this state of the art range since it opened.

Roush had an exceptionally good spring, summer and fall in 2009. Visitor usage increased 15-20 percent. In previous years, range usage has slowed during the winter months. The facility has closed in the past when temperatures dropped below 25 F.

From the time range opened, it has operated under a schedule of being closed on Mondays. That will continue this winter, but it will also be closed on Tuesdays.

Wednesday through Friday, range hours will be 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. On weekends, hours will not change, and the range will be open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Winter hours will be in effect from December 2009 through February 2010.

The property manager will continue to close the range each day temperatures drop below 25 F.

For additional information about the shooting range or other facilities at Roush Lake, visit www.dnr.IN.gov/parklake.

No such thing as safe ice, only safer ice

Indiana DNR Release:




With temperatures expected to plummet tonight, ice will be forming, tempting those who
enjoy ice fishing and other ice-related recreation to venture out too soon.

The DNR Division of Law Enforcement reminds those who enjoy such activities that there is no such thing as safe ice, only safer ice.

“It is a cold and painful lesson that Mother Nature teaches us” said Col. Michael Crider, head of the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division. “Ice fishermen aren’t fair weather fisherman that’s for sure. Anyone unprepared or uninformed is likely have a date with disaster sometime during their ice fishing years.”

To avoid such a situation, Crider suggested following these simple safety rules to minimize the risks associated with ice fishing and other ice-related activities.

- 4 in. of new clear ice is recommended for foot travel; if you go by snowmobile or ATV, 5 in. is the minimum.

-Don’t consume alcoholic beverages.

-Never fish alone. Always take a buddy and let someone know where you are going.

-Wear a life jacket under your winter gear. It not only will keep you buoyant should you fall through, but also will provide additional warmth.

-Carry ice picks or ice awls. These will allow you to pull yourself out of the water and onto the ice.

-Should you go through, remain calm. Turn in the direction you came from. Extend your hands and arms, forcing the ice picks solidly into the ice ahead of you. Kick your feet and pull yourself out onto the ice. Do Not Stand Up! By rolling away from the hole, you spread out your weight until you are able to reach solid ice.

-Carry a signaling type of whistle. Using it may be the only way to let someone know that you are in trouble. A cell phone can be a valuable survival tool but only as long as it remains dry. Carrying a length of rope also can be useful.

-Stay away from areas on lakes that have inlets or outlets. Be mindful about flowing water if fishing on a channel between two lakes. Ice fishing on Indiana’s reservoir impoundments can pose particular concerns; pay close attention to fluctuating water levels.

-Remember to think ahead and have a plan.

Southern Wells at Eastbrook

Southern Wells Raiders basketball posted their first win of the season at Eastbrook, 51-45.
Sports Editor Paul Beitler talks with their leading scorer and re-bounder Chase Harris about the game.

Check it out: