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W's Jet Ride Not A Very Pressing Issue

A recent poll by the Pew Research Center shows more Americans are optimistic about the economy and a majority believe the war on Iraq helped in the campaign against terrorism. And W's approval rating remains near 70 percent in most polls. That's not particularly good news for Democrats, and I can understand their desire to drag W down. But this flap over the aircraft carrier? It's just nonsense. Bush flew out to the USS Abraham Lincoln to personally thank the troops and address the American people about the end of the war in Iraq. No big deal, right? Not according to some o' dem ol' Dems. Sen.Robert Byrd, of West Virginia, took to the Senate floor and made a very eloquent, impassioned - albeit inane - speech.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Valley Vikings Win Third Straight Sectional Title

FORT WAYNE -Ê"These girls have a goal in mind," said Tippecanoe Valley coach Gary Teel."They want to finish the season playing in Indianapolis.We're on our way." The Vikings moved one step closer to Indianapolis Saturday by winning the Fort Wayne Elmhurst Sectional championship game over Wayne 75-42.It was Valley's third sectional championship in a row. "It never gets old," said Teel."One of our goals was to win the sectional, and the girls have worked very hard to get here." The Vikings took control of the game early and never looked back. Rebekah Parker scored the first two baskets of the game, and Caty Patterson followed with a score of her own to go up 6-0 with 6:21 left in the first frame. Two straight baskets by Wayne's Kelsey Helmuth cut Valley's lead to two, 6-4, but that was as close as the Generals were all game. Patterson, Kara Kramer, Parker, Abby Shafer and Heather Rathbun orchestrated a 10-0 Viking run to put Valley up 16-4.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee Wrestlers Starting Journey

SYRACUSE - In the two weeks leading up to last Sunday's Super Bowl, Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren talked often about the "journey" his team took to get there, how the journey this season was different than last season. Increased expectations after winning the Super Bowl the year before make the journey rougher.Each loss is magnified even more. The journey by Wawasee's wrestling team ended at the state finals last season.One year ago, the Warrior wrestlers destroyed their competition yet toiled anonymously until the Northern Lakes Tournament, when they cracked the top 20 for the first time. That team, which received no recognition until the end of the regular season, won the sectional, regional and semistate. Now the expectations have been raised.The Warriors have been ranked eighth or ninth in the state throughout most of this season.The journey is expected to end deep in the tournament.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

No. 2 Bellmont Beats Wawasee

DECATUR - Scott DeHart and his Wawasee wrestlers may not have been able to see the bull's eye on their backs, but Bellmont fans, wrestlers and coaches had the target lined up in their sights. One year ago a 14-3 Wawasee team beat 20-0 Bellmont 31-30 in its home gym to win the semistate team title.Bellmont fans remembered.They filled the stands on one side of the gym and then spilled into other stands for Wednesday's semistate rematch.The juiced fans hollered from start to finish.They chanted.When Wawasee fans yelled, Bellmont fans yelled louder. The place crackled with an electricity normally reserved for the high school basketball postseason. And this time, a 25-1 Bellmont team ranked second beat a 17-1 Wawasee team ranked 10th 39-22.Bellmont won despite missing two key wrestlers to injuries, 130-pound junior Ryan Feasel (30-5) and heavyweight Tony Myers (30-7). "You hear about the extra man," Bellmont coach B.J.Faurote said."Our fans were that tonight.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Tigers Have Mishap In Marion

MARION -ÊThe matchup was supposed to be one of the best in the state: No.9 (4A) Warsaw at No.8 (4A) Marion in a battle of perennial powerhouses. Warsaw started strong, but faded in the second, however, falling by what is believed to be its biggest loss of the decade 73-41. Marion's Matt Backs started the game with a dunk as the Giants took a quick 4-1 lead, but Warsaw stepped up to the challenge as Ross Kesler nailed two baskets in 30 seconds to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead early in the first frame. The Tigers then went on to build a 13-6 lead with two mintues left in the quarter, but Marion scored eight points in a row to take a 14-13 lead with eight seconds on the clock. A Steve Siebenmorgen rebound basket at the buzzer gave Warsaw a 15-14 lead as the second quarter started. "We came out strong in the first quarter, but we got into some early foul trouble," said Warsaw coach Al Rhodes.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Boys Snap Losing Streak

Needing a win badly, as fourth-year coach Doug Ogle put it, Warsaw's varsity boys basketball team got one Tuesday night. Led by 14-point performances from juniors Miles Plumlee and Steve Lemasters, as well as a 43-point second half, the Tigers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 73-47 victory over visiting Fort Wayne Canterbury. "We needed a win badly," said Ogle, who earned his 50th career win as head coach of the Tigers."This gives us something to build on as we look to Huntington North and senior night." Warsaw, now 8-10 on the season, will play its final home game of the season Friday when it hosts the Class 4A No.8 Vikings (15-2). Tuesday's win was the first for the Tigers since a 15-point victory over conference foe Goshen Jan.13 and matched the second-most decisive win in Ogle's tenure. Warsaw beat Gary Wallace by 26 in 2003.In that same year, Warsaw beat Gary Wirt by 30, the most decisive victory in Ogle's tenure.
Dale Hubler, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Second Title Is Sweet For Valley

PLYMOUTHÊ-ÊThe first time is sweet, but the second time is sweeter - just ask the Tippecanoe Valley girls basketball team, which won the Plymouth Sectional by defeating the host Pilgrims 56-41 Saturday night. "This time it's better because I think we are ready to do more," said Viking junior Rebekah Parker."Last year was our first, but now we want more." "It feels a lot better this year," said Valley senior Sherise Denny."We really wanted to beat Plymouth again, we wanted to get them.It just feels great." And Denny had good reason to feel great.She caught fire in the first half, hitting 5 of 6 baskets, including a perfect 4 of 4 three-pointers. The Vikings struck early as Parker scored the first basket of the game.However, Plymouth fired back to tie the score at 2-all. Enter Denny.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Girls Fall In Regional Thriller

BERNE - South Adams High School was the scene for the 2A South Adams Regional.The Manchester Squires took on the Taylor Titans in Saturday's second semifinal game. Taylor was ranked third in the state and Manchester seventh coming into the game.The Titans held off the Squires 42-41 to advance to the final game against Fort Wayne Harding. First quarter action started in a typical state playoff fashion, as both teams traded baskets to keep matters close.The Titans started with a full-court press to force the Squires into six early turnovers. With the score tied at 11-11 with 2:05 left in the first quarter, Manchester's Sarah Purdy was called for an offensive foul as she drove to the basket.Neither team scored until less than a minute left in the first. Taylor's Brianne Weeks hit a three-pointer to go up 14-11.Denae Beavers then stole a Squire pass and scored on a lay up as time ran out to complete a 5-0 run.The Titans led at the end of the period 16-11.
Cliff Tanner, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Squires Capture Sectional In Overtime Thriller

NORTH MANCHESTER - Last year Manchester coach Mark Underwood and his Squire team went 4-17, which ended with a first round sectional loss to North Miami 35-20.What a difference a year makes.Manchester has gone from cellar dwellers to sectional champs and did so in exciting fashion with a 57-49 overtime win over Wabash on Saturday night.Valentines Day left the Apaches broken hearted as they fell to Manchester for the third time this season.
Daniel Riordan, TImes-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

When Freedom And Security Collide

I find myself seeing both sides of the argument when it comes to the issue of the New York Times publishing a story about a classified government program. Of course, some of the statements being made about the incident strain the limits of credulity. I must go on record as saying I am not a huge fan of the New York Times.To say that the newspaper promotes a liberal agenda is akin to saying the Pope is Catholic.It goes without saying. But the people who are saying that what the New York Times did is tantamount to treason are more than a little off base. If you haven't heard, the Times published a story about a "secret" program the W administration was using to track down sources of terrorist funding. Now, I used quotes around "secret" because before the Times story ever came out, I knew W was following the terrorist money trail.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Class Basketball Fight Is Back

All Al Rhodes would like to see happen is to just let the people speak. The Warsaw High School boys' basketball coach and president of the Indiana High School Basketball Coaches Association has long been an opponent of the class basketball tournament and he feels the people of Indiana have the chance to do what the IHSAA and principals of the state schools could not do - derail class basketball. A bill authored by state Rep.Lawrence Buell would suspend the class basketball tournament for two years and then allow a public referendum to get the opinions of the majority of the state populace. The bill is in the rules committee and the vote will be taken Feb.6 to try to get the bill into the full house. "People who wrote the bill felt like the people of Indiana were bypassed in the decision-making process," Rhodes said."They would like the IHSAA to hold up changing the tournament until there is a public referendum.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Kline Is Fine In Win Over Warsaw

HUNTINGTON -ÊGoing into Friday's basketball game against Huntington North, Warsaw knew Sean Kline would be a handful.He proved them right when he started the varsity contest off with not just one dunk, but two in the first 48 seconds of play. Kline continued to be a thorn in the Tigers' side as he scored 29 points and led the Vikings to a 73-64 victory over the Warsaw squad. After Kline scored the first four points on slam dunks, he netted a three-pointer to put the Vikings up 7-0. The Huntington North squad held the Tigers scoreless until the 4:24 mark when Ross Kesler put Warsaw on the board. In the last four minutes of the first frame, Warsaw #outscored Huntington North 15-8 to make the score 18-17 in the Viking's favor as the second stanza began. With 7:14 left in the second quarter, Ross Kesler nailed a two-point basket to give the Tigers their first lead of the game, 19-18.
Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

The Meaning Of July 4

I know this is a cop-out, but this week - since it's a holiday and all - I'm going to let somebody else write my column for me. It's an article about the meaning of the Fourth of July and I couldn't have said it better. I will tell you who wrote it after you've read it. No fair jumping ahead to page 2A to find out who the author is.Just read along.I don't want you to be tainted in any way. Here it is: "For one who was born and grew up in the small towns of the Midwest, there is a special kind of nostalgia about the Fourth of July. "I remember it as a day almost as long-anticipated as Christmas.This was helped along by the appearance in store windows of all kinds of fireworks and colorful posters advertising them with vivid pictures.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Tigers Clinch Conference Title

Coming into this season, the thought was no returning starters for the Tigers, no chance for any kind success.It was going to be a rebuilding year for Warsaw. This edition of the Tigers proved that wrong and wrapped up at least a tie for the NLC title with an 81-67 win over NorthWood Wednesday at the Tiger Den. Warsaw can win the title outright if Goshen beats Plymouth on Friday. "I am very proud of this group of seniors," Warsaw coach Al Rhodes said."We had a tough night at Plymouth.But looking at the overall picture coming into the season, for this group to end up conference champions is certainly quite an accomplishment, and something we are very proud of.A lot of teams had more players back, and we had no starters returning.This is a team that has had to fight for everything it gets.We are not pretty sometimes." With the win, Warsaw extended its home-court winning streak to 20 games, including all 12 games this year.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Viking Comeback Falls Short In Sectional Final

PERU - The Tippecanoe Valley Vikings girls basketball team overcame a 12-point deficit to start the fourth quarter and nearly pulled out a win in the Peru sectional final, but fell to Norwell in a 71-70 thriller at Peru High School's Tig-Arena Saturday night. The Vikings started the game as slowly as the Knights did fast.Norwell charged out of the gates and jumped out to a 15-0 lead with 4:01 left in the first quarter. Valley battled back and took its first and only lead of the game when sophomore Chelsy Rhoades hit a three-pointer from deep in the left-hand corner to put the Vikings ahead at 70-69. The Knights raced down the court and Mackenzie Warwick drew a foul from Valley's Rachel Sitts with the Vikings in the double bonus.Warwick was true on both attempts from the charity stripe to regain the lead for the Knights at 71-70.
DANIEL RIORDAN, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Area Wrestlers Place At State

INDIANAPOLIS - At the state wrestling championship Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Warsaw's Tom Lowe (171 pounds) and Justin Brooks (103) each earned fifth-place awards, while Whitko's Brett King (103) finished seventh and Warsaw's Matt Elvidge (135) finished eighth. Just getting there is satisfaction enough for any wrestler, but the championship is the ultimate goal.Fifteen qualifiers in each of the 14 weight classes must settle for something less. The four local medalists all won their matches on Friday evening. Lowe (171) tangled up Ft.Wayne Snider's Tanner Martin and gave him no second chances, scoring a fall in 1:28.Brooks and MaElvidge were hesitant at first, but as their matches continued they got stronger, both with high-scoring third periods to win and advance to Saturday.
Jim Brenneman, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Half Dozen Warsaw Wrestlers Moving On

Although wrestling is considered an individual sport, what type of program a school has goes a long way to determine how far an individual goes in the state tournament. That is one of the big things Warsaw coach Tony Boley has tried to establish since returning to his alma mater two years ago.
Greg Jones, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Tiger Boys Win In OT

Al Rhodes, the man the who has kept things virtually the same for 20-plus years, knew going in Tuesday was going to be different. Senior Night always seems to be that way, and Tuesday's 62-60 overtime win over Kokomo was no exception. The seventh-ranked Tigers started four players who normally come off the bench and then used a key free throw to seal the deal late in the overtime session. "One of the biggest things in the game I thought was the mental aspect," Rhodes said."It was the last game in the Tiger Den, it just wasn't a normal routine, and the basketball usually suffers because of that." Trailing by two, Warsaw senior Jared Shaw, the only normal starter that appeared in the opening lineup, connected on a three-point play with 1:13 left in the extra frame to give the Tigers a 59-57 lead.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Trojans Survive Culver Heroics

CULVER - Triton coach Mark Heeter had every reason to worry about his team's first-round sectional game against the Culver Cavaliers Wednesday. After all, his team had battled Culver in the regular season and came out on top on the strength of a big fourth quarter.Heeter was afraid that that might bring extra incentive to the Cavaliers. He also had reason to worry since this game would be on Culver's home floor.Although Triton was considered the home team, and it was technically a neutral court, the Cavaliers had the advantage of playing and practicing on that court throughout the season. Sure enough, Culver gave Triton all it could handle, but the Trojans won for the seventh time in their last eight games with a 68-60 come-from-behind win.Megan Sarber led five scorers in double-figures for Triton with 16 points.Jessica Kintzel added 11 points and 17 rebounds despite being in foul trouble for much of the game.
Jason Knavel, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Valley Girls Ready For Next Step In Tournament

AKRON - The words are printed on a sign, stapled to a bulletin board in the gym at Tippecanoe Valley High School. "The Most Important Game Is The Next One," it reads. Printed on a floppy piece of paper, yet somehow written in stone. For Valley's varsity girls basketball team, this sign screams the truth, and the reality is as simple as life can be in this farming community in southwest Kosciusko County - win and play again, lose and the season is over. The No.10 Vikings (21-2) play Calumet (16-7) at 11 a.m.in the first semifinal game of the Twin Lakes 3A Regional Saturday, with the winner to meet either No.6 Highland (22-2) or No.8 Northwestern (22-1) in the championship. A year ago, Valley won its first sectional title in school history, this year the Vikings are hungry for more.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016
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