I'll Miss All My Senior Friends (WHS Orange & Black)

News/Feature Section

Written By: Matt Rider

What a fun-filled school year I've had in my 5th period journalism class. Along with all the articles that I've been able to wrote for our Orange & Black school newspaper, I've also been able to meet a lot of great people. With the help of a great Journalism teach in Mrs. Overmyer, Journalism has become one of the best and funnest classes that I've ever had during my entire school career. I am serious, my 5th period Journalism class is very fun.

Some of the great friends that I've been able to meet in my 5th period Journalism class include Matt Hicks, Katie Van Voorhis, Whitney Millspaugh, and Holli Novinger, a great Orange & Black newspaper editor. I already sort of remembered Nathan Zimmerman and Trent Osbourne a little bit from my past. See Nathan Zimmerman, Trent Osbourne, and I were on the same Community Service football team called the Eagles. I was in 4th grade when I joined the Eagles and Nath and Trent were both in the 6th grade, so my first full season was Nathan's and Trent's last year with the Eagles. The Community Service Eagles were coached by Frank Hayslip, Assistant Coach Darrell Cantrell and Allen Zimmerman. Let me tell you what, our football team was very, very good that year. In fact, we recorded a total of five shutouts, and we went undefeated for the entire season (6-0 in play). I remember the only tean we weren't able to shutout that year was our biggest rivals, the Bears. The Bears were only able to score a total of 7 points (one touchdown) that game against us and we won the game hands down. I will probably never forget the memory of Nathan, Trent, I, and all the other great football players, for as long as I live. I also already sort of knew Mallory Blocher because she attened many wrestling meets this year and I was part of the team.

My fifth period Journalism class has opened a lot of doors towards a real career choice in my life. Now I am seriously thinking about writing professional sports articles or taking professional sports photos for a large or small newspaper after I graduate from college. This fun-filled experience is why I like and want to work in Journalism someday.

It was a privilege to be able to work and meet these great people in my 5th period Journalism class, I really mean that. I've been able to meet and work with some great people throughtout this past school year. I hope these new and old friendships that I've been able to create this year will lead to great life-long friends through all of our lives.

Baseball Pride Is Alive (WHS Orange & Black)

Sports Section
Written By: Matt Rider

The Apache baseball team kicked off the 2005-2006 season with a home scrimmage against the Oak Hill Golden Eagles on Monday, March 28, 2005 at 4:30 p.m. The Varsity coach thisyear is Mr. Summers. He is excited about what the Apaches baseball team could bring to the table this season. He said, "I look for us to be very competitive and have a great year.

He said that "we should have pretty good hitting and our pitching staff is experienced." He further said that "we need to improve our pitching ERA (Earned Run Average), and defensive side of the ball." On the subject of who he thinks wil step up this season for the team he said that "we have several experienced players coming back to the team that should help us improve."

"Conference, our Conference is going to be tough," said Summers. "We have a good schedule this year but our Conference is going to be strong."

Summers said he "like(s) working with the players and seeing them improve...A good baseball player is competitive."

Coach Summers even has a message for everyone about this upcoming baseball season, "Come out and support the team...Apache fever, catch it."

Tennis Team Led By Many Seniors (WHS Orange & Black)

Sports Section
Written By: Matt Rider

This season the girl's tennis team is very competitive. There are a lot of seniors that help fulfill the leadership category for the team this season. This season the Lady Apaches are coached by Dan Ford and assistant coach Katie Cromer. The girl's tennis season has already started and the Lady Apaches have a great team record this season.

I recently had the opportunity ot interview the Lady Apaches tennis coach, Dan Ford. He said, "We have great leadership this season because we have six seniors on the team." He further went on to say, "Anytime thatyou have a lot of seniors on the team, then leadership will be a big thing on your team."

He said, "We would like to finish the rest of this season with no more loses, and win a Conference Title this season at Peru High School... One other goal is to beat Northfield and Southwood, so we can sweep the county schools this season."

And for next season, he said, "We will have two seniors on the team next year, Emily Bain and Heather Fox, to help provide the leadership for next year's WHS girl's tennis team," on the subject of next year's leadership.

There is still a lot of Lady Apaches tennis left to go in the season, so fan get out there, and cheer on your Lady Apaches tennis team to a hopeful Conference Title this season. If you would like to find out who the Lady Apaches tennis team plays throughout the season, you can pick up a 2005 WHS/WMS Spring Sports schedule in the WHS Athletic Office.

Track Teams Expect Good Seasons (WHS Orange & Black)

Sports Section
Written By: Matt Rider

This should be another great year for both the boys and girls track teams. There are a total of six events for both the boys and girs track matches. A new event was added to the girl's track team this year, pole-vaulting.

Last year both teams finished with great records, and the girl's track team finished as CIC Champions. The boy's track team finished with a second place finish at the CIC Tournament.

The boys track team also broke many school records last year. Senior AJ Morrison and Matt Helm, junior Tyson Good, and freshmen Trent Duhamell broke the 3200 meter relay race record while junior Kyle Cantrell broke the individual record in discus last year.

Senior Matt Helm and freshmen Trent Duhamell ran at Semi-State for the boys cross country team this year. They both will be running for our track team this upcoming season.

Some goals for this year's boys track team include winning both the County Tournament and the Conference Tournament. This season the girl's track team goals include winning the County Tournament and the Conference Tournament. They both have a lot of great runners returning to the team and hope to have another great season.

How High School Wrestling Has Changed My Life and Outlook (WHS Orange & Black)

Sports Column (**1st Column)
Written By: Matt Rider

I am a 10th grade wrestler. Whether you are an athletic person or not, you should try to get involved with a school sport or a school activity (school club or play).

Anyway, you can learn a lot of important values like dedication, responsibility, fellowship, determination, and hard work from the activities in our school. If you are planning to go to college, being in a school sport or school activity will look very good on your college application.

I am a first year wrestler. At the first few wrestling practice, I did not have a clue about wrestling, but I have great coaches and teammates that were willing to teach me wrestling moves I needed to know in certain times of wrestling matches.

I am not saying that high school wrestling or any sport you start is going to be a cake walk. I had to go through off-season conditioning and weights, practices and run stair laps. I lost a total of nine pounds to go where I needed to be as a wrestler this year. Fellow students, you don't exactly know what a wrestler does everyday after school and Saturday mornings. High school wrestlers have to watch what they eat, so they can make weight for a wrestling match. When I say high school wrestlers have to make weight for wrestling matches, they have to stay at or lose enough weight so when they weigh in before a match or meet, they are able to wrestle in their weight class.

First year's (for any sport or activity) will be difficult. Just remember, be friendly to all of your coaches and teammates, and be a good sport (you win some, you lose some). At first, I didn't fit in with the high school wrestling team. There is an adjustment period to fit in with any new sport or team. Although I don't like to admit it, it was hard for me ot adjust to my new wrestling team and the sport, but I did it. If you make a mistake your first time, you can learn from that mistake and get better. Do not expect to walk into your new sport and dominate your new sport. IT WON'T HAPPEN!!!

I think this wrestling experience is cool in a lot of ways. One way is I get to have the privilege of going and wrestling in high schools inside and outside the county during the wrestling season. Another cool thing that goes along with being a WHS wrestler is you get your locker decorated.

I've learned that if I continue to work hard in wrestling, I will eventually get to start a high school Varsity wrestling match. If I start five or more Varsity wrestling matches, win or lose, I will receive a wrestling letter for that year to put on my letter jacket. To continue in wrestling, I have to get good grades throughout my high school career. If I don't get good grades, I cannot continue to wrestle for WHS until I get my grades up. Fortunately, I am a good student and I get good grades. Grades are more important than wrestling for WHS.

So, I ask you, when you look back at your high school career, what will you think? If you at least try to get involved in a high school sport you won't regret it at all. It could change your life. You will always have great memories to look back on whenever you want. Great memories not just of that year, not just memories of that school sport, you will always have memories of friends you made while you played that sport. You will also have great memories of great teammates, coaches, fans, and opponents.

WHS Wrestlers in 2 Places at Once (WHS Orange & Black)

Sports Section
Written By: Matt Rider

Hey students, did you know that on Wednesday, January 26, 2005, the WHS wrestlers participated in two invites all in one night. JV Varsity wrestlers Matt Rider (112) and Anthony Griffin (119) went to the Junior Varsity "Mid-Week" Invite at Northfield High School, with the help of Mr. Bryan Bartoo fulfilling the role of coach in the absence of Coach O'Neill and Coach Blocher. The rest of the WHS Varsity wrestlers traveled all the way to Elwood High School to participate in CIC. The WHS Varsity wrestlers had to leave the school at 3:45 p.m. to get to Elwood High School ino order to start wrestling at 4:30 p.m. The JV wrestlers had to leave the school at 4:30 p.m. to get to Northfield High School in order to start wrestling at 6:00 p.m.

You wonder how this came about? Well originally CIC was supposed to be held at Frankton High School on Saturday, January 23, 2005 but was postponed due to threatening weather conditions. So they rescheduled CIC to Wednesday, January 26, 2005. There were a lot of teams that participated in both CIC at Elwood and the JV Invite at Northfield.

Each of the two WHS JV wrestlers wrestled a total of three times at the JV Invite at Northfield High School. The WHS JV wrestlers didn't do too bad at their invite. Combined the two WHS JV wrestlers went 1-6 but showed a lot of improvement.

Anthony Griffin, wrestling at 119 pounds for the Apaches, posted a pin against Peru High School's 119-pound wrestler in his JV match. Matt Rider, wrestling at 112 for the Apaches, narrowly missed a pin against Southern Well's 112-pound wrestler. Both of the WHS JV wrestlers look to improve next year.

Coach O'Neill and Mr. Bryan Bartoo spoke a few times between matches updating each other on how each event was going and how each wrestler (JV and Varsity) was doing.

Mr. Bryan Bartoo was a big help to the team for going and coaching the JV wrestlers in the "Mid-Week" Invite at Northfield High School and also taking time to even stop for dinner at McDonald's after the JV "Mid-Week" Invite at Northfield High School.

What a busy day for all the WHS wrestlers, (JV and Varsity) and even for all the mat maids, fans, and coaches. By the way, both of the WHS JV wrestlers and volunteer coach Mr. Bryan Bartoo arrived in Wabash at about 9:00 p.m. after their Invite at Northfield High School. All the rest of the WHS Varsity wrestlers and coaches arrived back at the school at 11:40 p.m.

Wrestling In Full Swing (WHS Orange & Black)

Sports Section
Written By: Matt Rider

Wrestling is a sport that Wabash High School excels at each year. Wrestling is a sport that takes a lot of muscle building and strength. Along with muscle building and strength, you have to have a lot of energy, determination, and heart.

Wrestling this year started practicing on November 1, 2004. Last year, senior Tyson Good, qualified for semi-state after the team had to suffer many forfeits due to lack of participants. This year Tyson hopes to go to State in wrestling. There are a lot of good, tough wrestlers stepping up this year though to help the team keep their numbers up.

The wrestling team can always use more wrestlers. It probably will be very hard to catch up to where the rest of the wrestling team is but if you want and are able to come and wrestle, please contact any of the wrestlers, Head Coach Jake O'Neill or Coac Blocher about wrestling.

O'Neill expects a great season this year. O'Neill said he also expects "to win wrestling matches during this upcoming season." O'Neill hopes to have everyone on the wrestling team go to State.

Recently there is a new fashion for the team. The captains of the team this year are having everyone participate in shaving their heads to show the team unity. Although some wrestlers don't want to do it, many art showing their support by displaying bald heads.

The Hearn family sponsored an Open House for the team November 21. Everyone gathered to drink coffee and various other drinks from Modoc's Market. Here the team listened to various music groups and got fired up for the season.