The Versailles Republican Sports
January 15, 2009

Taking another quick peek at last year's sports highlights

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

Today we'll take a quick second look at some of the many special things that happened in and to Ripley County sports coaches, athletes and fans during the '07-'08 school sports season.
Raiders must find new stable
The closing of Tyson auditorium as a home base for the varsity South Ripley HS Boys Raider Basketball program, after serving as just that from the era of the Versailles Lions through the consolidation of what became SRHS, was probably one of the most memorable.
Through the last season's home games, many who had made their mark athletically were recalled to center court one last time to be recognized.


Among the many special guests honored was the 'Ole Coach, Wm. H. "Gus" Moorhead.

The coach would again be celebrated for his many lifelong accomplishments as a former educator, coach, husband, father and solid community leader and friend, following his passing on December 21. A celebratory memorial displaying the many facets of his life were viewable by the many hundreds of attenders at his final viewing held at the Versailles Baptist Church Life Center on December 26 and December 27.
Coach Roy Adams is inducted into the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame
Milan Indian Wrestling Coach Roy Adams was inducted into the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame on February 17. Continuing as the Indian wrestling team coach, Coach Adams had collected over 450 dual meet victories at the expense of many larger schools.


Coach Roy Adams is ever on the move when one of his wrestlers are in a match.
Coach Adams continues as an English teacher and wrestling head coach at MHS where he has a relatively young team for the most part this season due to many graduating last May.
His Indian wrestlers claimed five championship titles on Saturday, January 19 in a 5-way meet which included Rushville, Columbus East, Madison, New Washington and hosting Milan.
The six champion title winners were: sophomore Jared Huff @ 103#, senior Justin Miller @ 112#, senior Josh Dickey @ 135#, senior Nick Yatsko @ 160# and senior Tanner Roark @ 285#.
In following sectional action, the Indians were within six points of advancing the whole team to regionals, but proudly qualified six weight class champions and three as runner up contenders. Sectional champs included Jacob Huff, Jared Huff, Josh Dickey, Justin Miller, Tanner Roark and Brandon Davey. Advancing as runner-up were Nick Yatsko and Nathan Haugh with Zak O'Neal getting a pass due to the qualifiers inability to wrestle by the regional action date.
Indian wrestlers earning semi-state qualification status were stricken by the flu and were unable to compete at that time. Sadly four of the qualifier's were seniors, forcing them to pass on their last high school opportunity to be a state champ.
Coach Scott Smith was honored for his 100th JCD Lady Eagle varsity coaching career victory
Setting a new milestone in the coaches career, Coach Scott Smith was presented a plaque and the basketball that was used in winning him his 100th coaching career victory as the JCD Lady Eagle varsity team coach.
Smith's 100th coaching win came at the expense of the Switzerland County Lady Pacers by a final score of JCD 46-43 SC which also earned the Lady Eagles their fifteenth straight victory for the season.


Coach Scott Smith is pictured above after accepting some memorabilia given to him after being recognized by the JCD faithful for earning his 100th coaching career victory.
Smith's daughter Heather was a member of his first team that got him win number one, along with Alyssa Habart, Ashley Lord, Crystal Bonta, Cassidy Krieg, Courtney Vollmer, Michelle Williams, Trisha Huff, Amber Forkert, Ashley Payne, Bridgette Vankirk and Lindsay Horan.
Members of the team to strike blow #100 for Coach Smith were: Kara Harlemert, Kaylin Ploeger, Kiersten Young, Carissa Simon, Kristen Hicks, Valorie Wagner, Janine Huff, Allana Newhart, Samantha White, Alissa Stolze, Kristin Konradi, Becca Wagner and Alyssa Hammond.
Coach Smith and the '07-'08 varsity Lady Eagles mastered a 20-3 season for the year, with extended season plans ending abruptly during the South Decatur controlled sectional.
Coach Randy Combs steps down as the MHS Chief
After only recently announcing his decision to step down as the long time Milan Indian varsity boys basketball coach, Randy Combs was honored during the home town senior night festivities. The tribe had gone 0-for until that night and they were not going to let it continue for the entire season.
The Indians, so to speak, "killed the kitty" by defeating the Madison Shawe Memorial Hilltoppers by the final score of 60-55 following the Milan JV win.
Coach Combs continues as the Milan High School Dean of Students and as Defensive Coach for the Indian football team.


Coach Combs is presented a gift on behalf of MHS by Athletic Director Dave Wolferst.
Many other off season coaching changes were made
Many coaching changes were made, of which included the hiring of Rodney Hite as the South Ripley Raider head baseball coach, replacing long time SRHS coach Scott Holdsworth.
Coach Holdsworth stepped away from his baseball duties but held on to his basketball coaching position for the remainder of the year, which he later also gave up to take a coaching position at the Jennings County High School.
Shawn Halcomb was named to the SRHS position of JV baseball coach.
After the season was over, Coach Hite too found new employment, that being as the Athletic Director at North Decatur High School. Coach Hite was well liked and most respected while leading the Raider team's program.
After many years, Coach Maurice Meyers hangs it up
As a long time head coach, assitant coach and part of the JCD Lady Eagle basketball coaching staff, Coach Maurice Meyers announced his decision that this would be his final year serving in a coaching capacity for the Lady Eagles.
SR Lady Raider varsity coach Ashley Miller steps down
Long time Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagle varsity softball coach Brian Samples filled the vacated basketball coaching position at SRHS.
SRHS softball gets new head
SRHS Lady Raider softball program found a new head coach in Lindsay Payne and Ashley Miller was named the Lady Raider JV softball coach.
JCD Lady Eagle Varsity Softball Coach Brian Samples moved on
At the close of another good season, varsity softball coach Samples resigned his position as head of the Lady Eagle softball program. He was soon hired by SRHS as their new Lady Raider basketball head coach.
The Lady Eagle JV were coached for the first time by Lisa Hughes.

JCDHS JV baseball team coaching change
The Jac-Cen-Del Eagle JV baseball team found a new head coach when the season began in Travis Rohrig.

JCDHS Boys Golf
has new coach
David Espinda was named the Jac-Cen-Del Eagle Boys Golf Coach for the '07-'08 spring season.
SRHS names new varsity boys basketball coach
The South Ripley School Corporation hired Coach Travis Wrightsman to man the Raider basketball program.
MHS names new varsity boys basketball coach
The Milan School Corporation named Coach Wes Peek as the man to take charge of the Indian varsity basketball program.
BHS names new varsity boys basketball coach
The BatesvilleBulldog Varsity Boys head basketball coaching position has been named as Aaron Garrett, following the resignation of long time rroductive coach Melvin Siefert.
Siefert continues his duties with Batesville School system, just not as the basketball coach.
Coach Garrett and his Indian tribe went on a successful hunt
Coach Mark Garrett led his Milan Weightlifting Team to win double championships at the Cincinnati Winterfest Competitions. The team managed to take the prizes from the event which included approximately $2000 worth of Werk San weightlifting equipment for the school.
Individual Indian winners included:
(Women)
48K/ Erika Painter Gold
53K/ Julie Hoffrogge Gold
58K/ Deborah Fryer Gold
63K/ Kendra Bauman Gold
75K/ Jessica Wessler Gold
(Men)
56K/ DJ Rogers Gold
62K/ TJ Shannon Silver
69K/ Jason Garner Silver
77K/ Brandon Davey Gold
77K/ Garrett Fuller Silver
85K/ Travis Pennington Silver
94K/ Gary Kimla Gold
105K/ Michael Brandes Gold
105K+/ Caleb Ollman Gold