NORTH MANCHESTER - Aaron Cripe has heard stories about successful Manchester High School boys basketball teams of the past.
It's now on Cripe's shoulders to produce the next one.Cripe, a 2004 graduate of Northridge High School and 2008 graduate of Manchester College, takes over Manchester's struggling program from veteran coach Gary Goshert.
The Squires, who have had seven consecutive losing seasons, open the season tonight when they host Mississinewa.
"When I've heard people talk about Manchester, they always said how awesome of a program it was," said Cripe, who was the junior varsity coach at Churubusco last season and who is a teacher at Huntington North High School. "I want to bring that back. I want Manchester to be successful again. I want to improve the program as a whole."
The Squires haven't had a winning season since they were 12-10 during the 2001-2002 campaign.
Last season, Manchester was 3-19 overall and 0-7 in the Three Rivers Conference. The Squires' three wins last season included a pair of wins over county and conference rival Wabash and a victory against Lakeland Christian Academy.
"I really want to improve the program as a whole," said Cripe, who played high school ball for highly successful and highly respected coach Steve Austin, who is now the head man at Concord. "I want to build a youth program and get my system in place."
This year's varsity roster at Manchester includes six seniors, five juniors and three sophomores.
Headlining the list of returners is junior Scott Baker.
Baker led Manchester in scoring with 11 points per game and in rebounds with six boards per game last season, earning him second-team All-Conference honors.
Senior Austin Crockett shot 48 percent from the field last season and averaged six points and five rebounds per game, while junior Austin Flack chipped in with six points per contest and senior Aaron Olinger contributed five points per outing.
"We're going to run an option offense where the kids have to make choices and react," said Cripe. "We're going to play hard-nosed defense, diving on the floor after loose balls. We want to be agressive."
Manchester's varsity roster also includes seniors Kyle Lahman, Austin Blankenship, Skylar Dingness and Jacob Walker; juniors Aric Howard, Trae Bruce and Coltin Jenks; and sophomores Conner McLaughlin, Logan Brunn and Derek Self.
"I want to bring Manchester basketball back," said Cripe. "We're going to have to work hard and then also put in the time in the offseason."
Following tonight's season opener with Mississinewa, the Squires host Oak Hill Saturday and Wabash Tuesday.
Manchester opens conference play Dec. 18 at Southwood.
