"Half Season" Notes

     As I sit here to write this blog, it's hard to believe that the Christmas season is upon us and the first semester at Pike Central is about to come to a close.  Where does the time fly?
     For me, it's a great time for a break.  We all had a very busy fall sports season with "Bring It Back" as the theme (and it's continued into the winter).  Several of our athletes made All-Conference PAC or Honorable Mention.  Girls Soccer established a school record for wins in a season, while Cain Parker advanced to the semi-state in boys cross country.  Football snapped a long losing streak and looks to be better next year as well as volleyball which advanced to the championship game of the sectional.  So far this winter our boys swim team is excelling in every meet.  Brandon Bohnert has already broken his own 100 butterfly record-twice.  This teams is set to swim a conference title in January.  Our girls swim team is good, but only has nine swimmers.  Wrestling has held it's own so far with a new wrestling star emerging-Dalton Miller at heavyweight.  Boys and girls basketball has had marginal success, but certainly shows promise with the girls JV/freshmen bunch and the boys JV team.  Both groups (boys/girls basketball) work hard and look to improve in the 2nd half of the season.  Unfortuately, the "Classic at Assembly Hall" didn't work out due to NCAA rules.
     With that said, I wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  I hope to see all of you at upcoming games.  Go PC!
    
   

"The Classic at Assembly Hall"

     Many of you are Indiana Hoosier Basketball fans and probably have been fans of the "Cream & Crimson" as long as you can remember.  Here is an opportunity for you to come to Assembly Hall in Bloomington to see the actual court where the Hoosiers play their home games.
     It is "The Classic at Assembly Hall" on January 14, 2012.  Pike Central will actually play a game there against North Daviess on that date.  The "Classic" came about through a group called Compton Strategies from Indianapolis.  This group goes to various venues across the state putting together sporting events.  Compton has contracted with Indiana University for 6 high school basketball games (12 teams from all over the state) to play a game at Assembly Hall on January 14.  This is not a tournament the event will display a variety of basketball talent in the "Hall" on that date.  Compton will host the day's activities by allowing all schools to bring along their cheerleaders and pep bands (for us the PC Swing Choir will sing the National Anthem prior to our game). 
      So we will play North Daviess on that date (we regularly play them a week earlier in the season).  It will be only one varsity game, but tickets for the event are all general admission, meaning you can sit wherever you want!  Prices are $10, will special ticket prices of $8 for county youth basketball players (only).  Gate prices will be $12.  The event will begin at 11 am est and continue throughtout the day/evening.  PCHS will play around 4:15 pm that afternoon.  Tickets will be available in the athletic secretary's office during regular school hours and will be available at boys home games leading up to the event.
     Here is your chance to see a game in person at the Hoosier's home court.  Hope to see you at the "Classic"!

PCHS Fall Sports Accomplishments

     Can you believe it is almost time for winter sports at Pike Central High School?  Where does the time go?  Anyway, the purpose of this post is to discuss the accomplishments of our fall sports here at PC.
     Volleyball advanced to the finals of the sectional this year for the first time in many seasons.  The team will lose only one player and looks to really be good next season.  I'm happy to say that our lone senior was selected for the second year in a row to the PAC all-conference team; Shaley Jenkins.  Boys soccer also played in the championship game of the boys soccer sectional, before losing a close game; Jacob Western made all-conference and senior Eric McCord was named honorable mention.  On the girls side of soccer, Alisha Knight's girls had their most successful season in school history-winning four matches and having Krystal Greener selected to the first team all-conference.  It was Krystal's second selection to this group.  Football improved greatly this season.  The team won a game to snap a long losing streak and often time showed a competitive spirit.  Three players were named honorable mention-Dustin Meny, J.J. Howald, and Tyler Ennis, while Tanner Matteson was named to the first team all-conference.  The team only loses five players from this year's team and should be even better next year.  Boys Tennis had another successful fall, finishing 11-8 before bowing out in sectional play.  Senior Chantz Parson was named all-conference, while Jeffrey Estey was named honorable mention.  Girls Golf also concluded at rebuilding season and improved every match during the season, but once again a rebuilding effort will be in place with the departure of five senior girls.  Last, but certainly not least was boys and girls cross country.  The girls team suffered through many injuries off and on all season long; however, the boys team finished strong and even qualified for the cross country regional.  PC's Cain Parker qualified was the semi-state after finishing second in the PAC.  Christian Wilson was also honorable mention in the conference run.  Both groups should really improve over the year and be prepared to heavily compete next fall. 
     Thanks to all of the players/runners, coaches, assistant coaches, parents and workers at many of these events for helping us in our success.  I look forward to the winter sports season and seeing many of you at the games!

Bring It Back!!

     In a HUGE effort to gain or regain school and community spirit, PCHS has adopted the theme "Bring It Back".  This theme was presented to the student body on the first day of school.  The PCHS Student Government introduced the theme and showed a great slide show of previous accomplishments on the field of competition.  All-in-all, it was very effective.  This "Bring It Back" theme has been very apparent at both home volleyball games and the student numbers seem to be increasing.  I know the players have all really enjoyed the attention.  But "Bring It Back" is a theme for every sport, club or organization.  We truly want students to succeed and at least so far that has been apparent in athletics.
     Out boys tennis team defeated North Posey recently for the first time in 10 years, then turned around and won their own invitational.  Cain Parker in cross country (in 2 races so far) has a 1st and a 3rd and hopes to repeat a trip back to semi-state this fall.Girls soccer won their 2nd match of the season last week and set a school record for wins in a season and football snapped a 27-game losing streak last Friday night, beating Princeton in front of the home crowd at Weathers Field, 56-21-scoring more points than anyone could remember!!
     We all sincerely hope that this "Bring It Back" transcends to more victories in athletics and with clubs and organizations here at PCHS.  We hope all of you "get on board" with our theme.  Wear burgundy and gold every Friday with most of the rest of us and come to our games-home or away and cheer loudly and proudly for our school.  See you there!

It's School Time Again!!

     Wow, where did the summer go?? Despite the fact that we were out of school for the summer months, does not mean that PCHS Athletics aren't taking place.  Most of our head coaches and assistants are perhaps busier during the summer months than the actual season.  Most have had camps for younger kids in the county while girls, boys basketball and volleyball all had tournaments they hosted.  Football and cross country attended camps and both girls and boys tennis held camps in two sessions.  All one has to do is to drive by almost any day and you can see our athletes and coaches in action!
     With the 2011-12 school year approaching, I encourage all fans, parents and patrons to to purchase a PCHS Sports Pass and/or attend one or all of our 19 sports teams.  When you have time, please review the new "Fan/Patron" Policy and the "Chain of Communication" Policy.  Good sportmanship and proper communication are essential in ANY situation.
     I look forward to the 2011-12 school year and seeing many of you at PCHS Athletic events!  Go PC!!

PCHS End of Season Report

      Greetings viewers!  What a Spring!!! As the students would say OMG!  Rain (at times) daily and large amounts when it did rain, chilly weather, postponements, cancellations, you name it, we had it this spring.  However we did have spring sports and with it several accomplisments.  Post-season play has begun and we already have some athletes here that are having great springs-despite the weather.
      Girls track advanced 2 relays-7 girls altogether to the regional round while the boys team advanced 11. Sophomore Michal Ashby advanced in 3 events and Janessa Foster advanced for the 2nd year in shot put.  Tyler Asbell was the lone sectional winner, winning shot put in the sectional.
     Baseball and softball are gearing up for sectional play this week.  Juniors Hallie Richardson and Alexa Kluemper were both named PAC Honorable Mention in softball.
     Colton Reed of the golf team made all-conference in golf.  With sectional play a week away, Reed will be attending Vincennes University in the fall. 
     Girls tennis completed their season 11-8, 4-4 in the PAC and had one member named honorable mention; senior Brooke Riddle. 
     Rain and bad weather really hurt both the tennis and golf teams the worst.  The golf team many days can not only not play, but couldn't even practice because Prides Creek Golf Course was closed.  It was extremely difficult for both golf and tennis to get their matches finished.
     Despite all the setbacks, I wish all teams competing in post-season play the very best.  Thanks to all the student-athletes and coaches for their hard work and dedication.

PCHS Spring Sports

     Finally, warm weather has returned to Pike County!!  With farmers planting crops, baby birds singing, and one's wardrobe changing daily; this could mean only one thing...Spring has returned and with it the return of PCHS Spring Sports.  Pike Central offers six spring sports; softball, girls tennis, boys golf, baseball and boys/girls track.  Spring sports means a "return" to outside sports after a long cold and damp winter and offers the athlete a variety of sports to try. The arrival of spring also lets us know that prom isn't far away and with that comes the end of school and the beginning of summer.  Hopefully we will see you at the various home events this spring; come out and enjoy a pleasant afternoon with us and take in an event.  Our athletes love to see "fans in the stands" and spring sports is no different.
     Our Pike County Board of Education is also about to pass a "fan/patron" policy.  I will talk of this in a later blog.  The sports committee has been meeting all fall/winter long and have several suggestions to improve school spirit and with that, more success in athletics.  Until then, enjoy the spring weather and come out and support the spring sports season with us.

Winter Sports Summary

     Through all the snow and ice, the Pike Central Winter Sports season has finally concluded.  Our school has a lot to be proud of with all the accomplishments by the players and coaches.
     Our boys swim team finished undefeated in dual meets (11-0) and had a 2nd place finish in the conference swim meet.  Our girls team was very competitive all season long and finished 5th in the conference.
     In wrestling this winter, we had two young men win PAC All-Conference:  Cody Kendall and Derek Lunsford.  Both Cody and Derek also qualified for the semi-state before bowing out in state competition.  As a team, Pike Central finished 4th in the conference tourney.
     Though basketball on either the girls or boys side struggled for wins, both squads displayed young and inexperienced talent that showed a lot of potential for each program.  The girls team finished the season 3-18 and Lady Charger Lindsey Howes made PAC All-Conference Honorable Mention.  On the boys side, the team finished 4-19 but was represented by Colton Reed and Chantz Parson on the PAC All-Conference Honorable Mention team.
     A special thanks to all those involved with PCHS Winter Sports, whether you're a player, coach, parent or just a fan.  Together we help make Pike Central Athletics bettter.  Thanks to all of you and we'll see you this spring!

PCHS Coaches

     Often our PCHS athletes are praised for wins and accomplishments and well they should be; however, there are some individuals who often go unnoticed; our coaches.  I feel that we are very fortunate to have some truly wonderful coaches.  Our coaches work tirelessly throughout the year.  They conduct in-season and out-of-season practices, oversee weightlifting, attend clinics, hold camps for younger athletes and attend their games.  Our head coaches all oversee their entire program; the responsiblity is enormous.  Let's face it, some of our coaches aren't always successful (wins), but all one has to do is to attend a practice or sometimes just speak to our coaches to see the drive and determination they have; some even develop health problems associated with coaching-they all take their job seriously!
     Last summer none of out coaches received a stipend to coach (in the summer), but despite that, many of our dedicated coaches continued to work with our athletes.  What usually happens when we win?  Our athletes are praised (and well they should be), but only sometimes our coaches are.  What usually happens when we lose?  Most of the time our coaches are blamed.  Do our coaches make mistakes? Of course they do, but who doesn't?  We, as human beings make countless mistakes daily.  I feel like our coaches learn by making mistakes and learn not to make the same one again; that's what we teach our athletes. We strive to do our best, we want to learn from our mistakes, we seek the knowledge and understanding in order to achieve success, and we believe in dedication to our sport.
     So the next time you feel like being critical of our coaches, please keep in mind the countless time they spend with our student-athletes (some teaching 6 classes daily), and all the energy they put into their program. It's easy being a patron/spectator at a sporting event, but it isn't easy being a coach. I'm very proud of our athletes and coaches!