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...