Goessel golf team looking to get back to state tourney

Written by Katie Morford Tuesday, 27 March 2012 15:10

Goessel has seven letter-winners returning from its state-qualifying golf team. They are: back row (from left), Trey Schmidt, Tyler Schulz, Davis Cook, Braden Unruh; front row, Shane Goerzen, Stephan Goertzen, Dan Smucker. The Goessel golf team welcomes a new coach but also a solid group of experienced players to lead the Bluebirds back to state this season.

“I feel we will be very competitive at the meets this year,” said coach Chad Lindeman. “I believe a number of the golfers will be able to shoot in the 80s to low 90s, which is always a plus for this level.”

GHS returns five members of the state-qualifying team among their upperclassmen-heavy roster of seven juniors and two seniors.

Seniors Braden Unruh and Stephan Goertzen will look to complete their high school careers with another state-qualifying effort.

Other qualifiers include juniors Shane Goertzen, Trey Schmidt and Davis Cook. Other letter-winners returning for Goessel are Dan...

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Goertzen, Buller return for GHS track and field

Written by Katie Morford Tuesday, 27 March 2012 15:09

The Bluebird track and field team will rely on the experience of returning state qualifiers Ali Buller and Tia Goertzen. Pictured are seniors and letter-winners, back row (from left) Tia Goertzen, Alex Schmidt, Ali Buller; front row, Grant Flaming, Makaila Schmidt and Brittny Czarnowsky. Returning state qualifiers Tia Goertzen and Ali Buller will set the pace this season for a young Goessel track team.

“We are looking forward to a good year again,” said coach Chad Guhr, who returns for his fifth year at the helm.

Goertzen, a junior, will be competing in the triple jump, 100-meter hurdles and the 4x100, while Buller, also a junior, will compete in the 4x400.

They will be aided by seniors Alex Schmidt, Brittny Czarnow­sky and Makaila Schmidt.

“I’m looking for some good things out of Makaila Schmidt and several other younger girls,” Guhr said.

The girls’ squad added four freshmen this spring: Chelsea Stika, Tara Race, Erin Brubaker and Makayla King.

Because of the smaller number of athletes...

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Six state qualifiers at the heart of Marion track hopes

Written by Katie Morford Tuesday, 27 March 2012 15:08

MHS boys return a core of seniors and letter-winners: back row (from left), Isaac Baldwin, Nick Meyer, Timothy Knolla, Dakin Ledford, James Jones; front row, Zach Hammond, Jordan Hett, Patrick McCarty, Colten Johnson and Brody Carroll. Not pictured: Jon Tacha. With six returning state qualifiers to anchor a solid squad across the board, the Marion track team looks to be on pace for a competitive season.

“We have a lot of kids who can run pretty decently,” said coach Grant Thierolf. “We’ll just let them mature and get faster.”

Though boasting fewer numbers overall, the girls’ team did not lose anyone to graduation and returns some strong contenders in both track and field events.

Senior Whitney Gordon, a state qualifier in the high jump last year, is back for that event and the hurdles.

“We look for her to be better this year,” Thierolf said. “We’re just going to put a little bit more time into hurdles this year, and we think she’s going to be much better...

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MHS softball looks to youth

Written by Katie Morford Tuesday, 27 March 2012 15:07

Marion’s young team will be led by these senior and letter-winners: back row (from left), Jaydee Schafers, Montana Percell, Annie Whitaker; (front row) Chelsea Voth, Andrea Nordquist and Megan Richmond. The Marion softball team will depend on young but hard-working players to make up for a lack of upperclassmen this season.

“We have a bunch of young girls who are working really hard,” said Chad Adkins, who moves up to head coach after being an assistant.

“We’ve asked them to do some things they’re not real fond of, and they’ve done everything we asked,” Adkins said. “They’re working really hard.”

The main challenge will be a lack of numbers, Adkins said. He won’t have enough players to field a junior varsity team.

Marion will rely heavily on its sophomores and juniors. The Warriors only have one senior returning and gained just two freshmen from a small class of nine.

“We’re not very big,” Adkins said...

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