Springfield Winter Sports Preview

Basketball, dance, indoor track & field, snowboarding and wrestling.

www.eagletimes.com    

2016-12-20 / Sports Springfield Winter Sports Preview Springfield’s Elijah Pianka is back to defend his VPA Division 2 indoor high jump state title. — TIM TAYLOR Springfield’s Elijah Pianka is back to defend his VPA Division 2 indoor high jump state title. — TIM TAYLOR Bowling Head coach: Mike Mullins Returning athletes: Haley St. Louis, Meghan Power, Alex Richardson, Matt Power Newcomers who could make an impact: Cierra Howe Boys Basketball Head coach: Michael Ruppel Assistant coaches: Brandon Kear, Scott Farr Last year’s record: 0-20 Individual accomplishments: Michael Messer, Marble Valley League Honorable Mention Returning athletes: GJ Scherington, Sr., PG, 5-9; Alex Naccarato, Sr., G, 5-10; Dakota Bushey, Jr., G, 5-11; Chris Hopkins, Sr., G, 5-9 Newcomers who could make an impact: Caleb Hunter, Sr., G, 5-10; Noah Zierfus, Fr., F, 6-1 Key personnel losses: Michael Messer Coach’s outlook: "Coming off a tough season in terms of wins and losses, I'm optimistic about the direction the program is headed in. Many of our guys had great summers and made great strides as shooters. We expect our team to play tough man-to-man defense and play hard every night. We are looking to seniors Caleb Hunter and GJ Scherington to lead offensively and expect Dakota Bushey and Noah Zierfus to improve throughout their first full varsity seasons." Dance Head coach: Ashley Hensel-Browning Team accomplishments: Placed first in Pom at home competition; competed in all competitions Returning athletes: Taylor Drinker, Sr.; Candace Hadwen, Sr.; Alyssa Jaime, Sr.; Lexis Wescott, So. Newcomers who could make an impact: Lucy Coutermarsh, Fr.; Grace Guy, Fr.; Allison Gibbons, Fr.; Aya Abdulvakhapova, Jr.; Xandrea Luurtsema, Fr.; Miranda Todt, Fr. Coach’s outlook: "We have a stellar group of freshman who have started practice with a lot of enthusiasm and strength. Looking forward to a competitive season with lots of travel." Girls Basketball Head coach: Joe Costello Assistant coaches: Brooke Willey and Heather-Lynn Laplante Last year’s record: 2-11 league, 5-16 overall Individual accomplishments: Brooke Willey, All-Marble valley League second team Returning athletes: Aunna Parker, Sr., F; Cassidy Otis, Sr., F; Emily Therrien, Sr., G; Madee Stagner, Jr., F; Hannah Crosby, So., G; Lizzy Parker, So., G/F Newcomers who could make an impact: Hailey Perham, Fr., G; Julianna Albero-Levings, Fr., G; Ashley Quelch, So., F; Ashley Chamberlain, Fr., G; Jessica Cerniglia, Fr., G Key personnel losses: Brooke Willey, Lizzie Mackenzie, Diamond Bruso, Arianna Rowe Coach’s outlook: "With plenty of new faces, the success of this season will turn on how quickly we integrate, gel and adapt to the speed of the varsity game. I look forward to a season of sustained growth and heavy competition in practice and games. Indoor Track & Field Head coach: Jim Fog Associate head coach: Stephen Lawrence Assistant coach: Mike Pianka Individual accomplishments: Elijah Pianka, Division 2 state high jump champ, NE championship qualifier; Samantha Metcalf, NE championship qualifier; Chris Gurney, second place D-2 triple jump. All three made All-Eagle team, along with Calista Polidor and Allan Poller. Returning athletes: Elijah Pianka, Sr., captain, jumps; Chris Gurney, Jr., jumps/middle distance; Allan Poller, Jr., jumps/sprints; Jenna Knight, Jr., throws/distance; Alexandria Grasely, throws, jumps Newcomers: Nathan Wardwell, Sr., mid-distance; AJ Aldrich, So., sprints/mid-distance; Austin McFadden, So., distance; Cadence Wheeler, Fr., jumps/sprints; Will Bishop, Fr., hurdles/mid-distance; Kim Phan, Fr., hurdles, sprints; Max Leninsky, Fr., sprints Note: Springfield competes as a club and cannot place or win awards as a team. Key personnel losses: Samantha Metcalf (captain) and Calista Polidor Coach’s outlook: "The team hopes to build on the individual successes of our veterans last year and provide our younger talent with competitive experience." Snowboarding Head coach: Derek Graham Assistant coaches: Griffen Lucas Team accomplishments: Springfield did not have enough members to compete as a team last season. Individual accomplishments: Alex Warner finished in the top eight in every competition last season. His individual successes were highlighted by his seventh place finish in Slopestyle and his eighth place finish in Giant Slalom at the state meets. He also took bronze in the state Halfpipe meet and was awarded the silver medal for his overall performance. Owen Kelly qualified for the state Halfpipe meet. Returning athletes: Alex Warner, Sr.; Owen Kelly, Jr. Newcomers who could make an impact: Bella Bortlein, Jr. Key personnel losses: Rissa Swan to graduation; qualified for all three events at the state meet and she placed in the top 10 in all three. Coach’s outlook: "I am looking for Alex Warner to step up, qualify for all state events, and I hope to see him place in the top five for each discipline. I also hope for Owen Kelly to qualify for three events and to be ranked in the top 20 for each event." Wrestling Head coach: Donnie Beebe Assistant coaches: Floyd Buck, Steve Meier Individual accomplishments: Two state qualifiers — Matt LaChapelle placed fifth, Mo Stettner participated, but did not place Returning athletes: Mo Stettner, Sr., 132 pounds; Gillian Guy, Jr., 138; Matt LaChapelle, Jr., 170; Matt Prosser, Jr., 195; JJ LeCouffe, Jr., 285; Bradley Bennett, Jr., (injured); Brandon Bennett, Fr., 152; Raymond Lacasse (not competing), Fr. Note: Springfield has two female wrestlers on the team, Stettner and Guy. Newcomers who could make an impact: Trent Lewis-Briere, Jr., 126; John Stafford, Jr., (injured); Mason Olney, Jr., 182; Peter Berlenbach, Jr., 160; Jayson Webster, Jr., 285; Tim Bapp-Cederholm, So., 145; Skyler Wallace, Fr., 220 (weight classes are tentative) Coach’s outlook: "This year we have an almost-full lineup, missing a wrestler at only three weight classes. We have a great team with great athletes. Moving forward, we are going to put them in the right place and have a chance to do very well at tournaments, possibly win one! The future looks bright as we have a very good youth program with a current state champion and many top finishers. They are very competitive right now, and the next two years should be successful starting a trend for the future."