The Versailles Republican Sports

December 31, 2009

Local athletes leave mark in 2009

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

Thanks to all the high school athletes, their parents, coaches, staff and fans for keeping 2009 another memorable year. In this article I hope to hit on some of the high points, although likely, some will be missed if for no other reason than space allowed to cover them. Know all have had impact on the lives of those participating and those who watch them.
Be proud of your time to shine and continue to strive to make things better for yourselves and fellow man.
January
Last year's inductees into the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame included eight former players from Ripley County. They were: Garry Wayne Bailey, Tony Eisert, David Galle, Michael Tim Heller, Robert D. Moorhead, Melvin Siefert, Michael Scott Smith and Charles F. Bud Wagner.
On Saturday, January 31, behind first year SRHS Lady Raider Head Coach Brian Samples, the high school girls team played their last game in what was then the HS gym. The Lady Raiders defeated the Switzerland County Lady Pacer varsity 53-45, with expectations of future action in the newly constructed SRHS gym.
February
Battling hard on Saturday, February 14, Valentine's Day, the South Ripley Raider boys basketball team, behind the leadership of new Head Coach Travis Wrightsman, successfully made opening night of the new SRHS gym facility memorable in spite of a five point, 55-60 loss to the visiting Switzerland County Pacers.
March-a-Mania!
Eaglemania was magnified at Conseco Fieldhouse as the Jac-Cen-Del Eagle boys basketball team, behind Head Coach David Bradshaw, finished the task before them when their season began as the IHSAA Class 1A State Champions.
If that didn't put a smile on your face add to it a Ripley County Trester Award winner in senior JCD Eagle Gerald Hardesty!!
Katie bar the door, there is some serious basketball celebrating to be going on for a very long time in southeastern Indiana!
And the sports continued...