The Versailles Republican Sports
April 3, 2008

Annual Milan Indian basketball awards program is held

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer
The Milan High School basketball players, cheerleaders parents, coaches, school staff and guests gathered in the high school cafetorium for the annual awards and honors recognition program, on Tuesday evening, April 1.
Opening the event was Milan Athletic Director, Dave Wolferst, who initiated a welcome to those in attendance. His introduction of head cheerleader coach, Anne Marie Layden, began the first group to be recognized being summoned up on stage.
Cheerleaders honored
Coach Layden spoke of her cheerleader squad members and the hard work the girls had put forth over the year before presenting their earned certificates and awards to them.
Christina Holbert and Erika Painter were the freshman cheer leaders.
Junior Varsity cheerleaders included Molly Scudder, Becky Davis, Kelsey Reese, Elaina Voss, Stephanie Kirk and Lizzie Fuller.
The Indian varsity cheerleading squad included Kirby Alloway, Kady Alloway, Kim Atwell, Abby Bergman, Deborah Fryer, Jennifer Wullenweber, Lindsay Roell, Montana Winters, Heather Lambert and Ciera Ison.
Coach Stutler & the Lady Indian basketball players
Varsity Lady Indian Coach Jeff Stutler took center stage, where he spoke of the girl's program highlights this past season, the desired improvements he hopes to develop by next season's kickoff and the expectations for the future of Milan Lady Indian basketball.
JV Girls
Coach Stutler introduced JV coach, Karisa Voss, who continued with comments about the JV's season and presented certificates and awards to them.
The Lady Indian JV team of '08 included: junior - Montana Winters, sophomores - Ciera Ison, Cheyenne Winters, Brittany Lewis and freshmen: Elaina Voss, Arielle Noel, Stephanie Kirk, Elizabeth Fuller and Chelsie Ross.
Student managers for the Lady Indians were Samantha Stabile and Emily Reece.
Coach Voss thanked the athletes and those who had helped to make her first year's experience as the Lady Indian JV coach a positive one.

JV Most Improved Award
Chelsie Ross
"JV award - voted on by girls."

Lady Indian Varsity
Coach Stutler first thanked his wife for her patience and understanding, then introduced the members of the varsity squad, once back at center stage, calling them up as a group, where he deliberated on each one.
The Milan Lady Indian Varsity squad members included: five seniors: Kaity Barton, Kady Alloway, Kirby Alloway, Emily Schmaltz and exchange student Melanie Kaempf, five juniors: Kelly Stutler, Kayla Stutler, Jessica Wessler, Rebecca Haugh, Montana Winters, and sophomore Brittany Lewis. Student managers for the Lady Indian varsity were Emily Reece and Samantha Stabile.
"Individual awards for the varsity girls, chosen by the girls."
Most Valuable Player
Kady Alloway
Most Improved Player
Brittany Lewis
110% Award
Emily Schmaltz
In continuing, Coach Stutler expressed his appreciation for the dedication of the student managers, who really helped in keeping things in an orderly fashion for the teams.
Sophomores
Brittany Lewis began the season playing JV, and worked her way into the varsity lineup. She averaged 2 points per game, had 14 rebounds and shot 89% from the charity stripe in her 10 varsity games.
Ciera Ison also spent time on both the JV and varsity teams.
Juniors
Montana Winters spent time on the JV and varsity squads and developed improving skills through the season.
Kayla Stutler, a major varsity contributor and part time starter for the Lady Indians missed seven games due to foot problems. Coach jokingly labeled her the teams "best fouler".
Jess Wessler scored 200 points for a per game average of 9.5. She was the teams leading rebounder, averaging 6.2 boards per game. With those averages she was one of the ORVC top 10 conference scorers and rebounders for the '07-'08 season.
Rebecca Haugh scored 76 points to average 3.6 PPG along with a 2.5 rebounds per game average.
Kelly Stutler missed summer basketball due to foot surgery, but worked dilligently before school (6 a.m.) to develope her skills and get into the flow for the season. She led the team with a 13.6 PPG average, adding 5 rebounds PGA and dished out 64 assists. Kelly was selected to the All Sectional team, twice named the ORVC Player of the Week, and made four of the six statistical leader categories in the ORVC. She was sixth in overall scoring, eighth in assists, seventh in free throw % and fourth in 3-pointers made with 34.
Seniors
Kaity Barton averaged 2.1 PPG and pulled down a 2.7 rebounds per game average.
Emily Schmaltz averaged 3.2 PPG, 5.3 rebounds and has always been one of the hardest workers, leading by example and getting the most out of her abilities.
"Kirby Alloway will be missed", stated Coach Stutler. She has been a joy to coach and was ever ready to contribute when called upon. She averaged 2 PPG.
Kady Alloway was the teams second leading scorer with an average of 12.7 PPG. Kady led the team in assists with 93, and was selected to the All Ripley County team, named ORVC Player of the Week once, and made three of the six ORVC statistical leader categories. Kady finished eighth in scoring, fourth in assists and seventh in 3-pointers with 26. She was selected to the ORVC All Conference team.
Kady had a fine career with the Lady Indians, finishing fourth in overall scoring with 833, third in overall assists at 221, and third in steals with 213.
In closing, Coach Stutler, in his introduction of Indian boys Varsity Coach Randy Combs, spoke of his appreciation of the integrity brought back to the Milan basketball program and competitive level of play that his services had initiated
Accomplishments for the tribe while under Coach Combs lead include four Conference championships, three Sectional championships and two Regional titles. Stutler closed with a thank you to Coach Combs for his 14 years of dedicated service.
Coach Combs & the Indian basketball players and staff
Coach Combs, upon taking center stage, jokingly espoused on some of his and Coach Stutler's past conversations, giving lightness back to the festivities.
Acknowledging the boys high school basketball players, he called them up on the stage with him and Freshman boys team Coach Mark Garrett.
JV Coach Myers was at a function with his daughter and assistant Coach Prifogle was at home with a sick child, therefore unable to attend.
Freshman Indian Boy's
The Indian freshman boys team included Derek Hornberger, DJ Rogers, Alex Layden, Ethan Voss, Robby Shannon, Zach Schmidt and Joey Thompson.
JV Indian Boy's
The Indian JV team included junior Alec Lauber and sophomores: Bryan Peters, Neal Herzog, Grayson Miller, Sean Laub, Zach Turner, Alex Walter, Mike Brandes, Zach Elza and Derek Walker.
Indian Varsity Boy's
The Indian Varsity team included seniors: Tyler Kirk, Josh Baker, Jeff Werner, Andrew Dixon and Craig McKittrick, juniors: Jared Ison and Chris Walker, sophomore Zach Elza, and student managers Crystal Sawyer, Michaila Kolbinsky and Becky Roark.

"Varsity boys Individual awards"
Most Valuable Player
Tyler Kirk
Most Improved Player's
Josh Baker
Chris Walker
110% Award
Jeff Werner
Andrew Dixon

Other boy's awards
Free Throw %
Craig McKittrick
Most Assists
Jared Ison
Most Rebounds
Josh Baker
Highest Field Goal %
Josh Baker

Coach Combs in surmizing gave many appreciative thank yous to those who had been a part of his fourteen years as head boys basketball coach. He told the players that first impressions are hard to get past and to realize that as they meet whomever will be the new Varsity boys coach for the Milan Indians.
Encouraging them to continue working through the summer months to further there skill levels and to bring a positive attitude to the program daily.
Coach spoke of frustration handling and that there were but two ways to deal with them. One is to let it eat you up and give way to pity seeking, and the other, to take the situation and better it through work and dedication to better performance.

Many basketball players were absent from the program as they were participating in a triangular track & field meet at Batesville against the Bulldogs and the Rebels of Southwestern Hanover.
_______________________________________________________

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Senior Indian basketball award winners pictured from left are Jeff Werner, Andrew Dixon, Josh Baker and Tyler Kirk. Not pictured is senior Indian award winner Craig McKittrick.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Lady Indian basketball award winners pictured from left are senior Emily Schmaltz, senior Kady Alloway and sophomore Brittany Lewis.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Randy Combs addresses the Milan High School basketball awards program one last time as the Varsity Indian coach, leaving solid advice for the athletes to adhere to, both while in school and to carry with them in their lives thereafter.