Back row l to r: Wyatt LaBuda, Lane Demonitney, Wylee Snapp, Jake Darlington, Lance Rutledge, Rusty Gasvoda, Kody Strutz, front row l to r: Austin Haugen, Tannin Baumann, and Eli Dixon.
Back row l to r: Coach Cheryl Strutz, Malaysia Phillips, Kylee Sternberg, Tavie Wortman, Savannah Jerrel, Amiya Griffith, Anna Allderdice, Caydence Pleninger, Coach Leah Grubb Griffith, front row l to r: Dani Burke, Hayley Schwenke, Daisy LaBuda, Natalie Dudenake, Mattie Gasvoda, Amy Gasvoda, and Eva Wagoner.
The fifth and sixth grade basketball season came to a close last weekend capping off a great six weeks. From 4:00 to 5:30 four days a week the gym was an anthill of activity with 25 kids fine-tuning their basketball skills. Both the boys and girls team were fairly young and had half their respective team mate up of new comers. The girls had 15 girls- seven 6th graders and eight 5th graders. The boys will only be losing one for next year as nine of the ten boys were 4th and 5th graders. Even with these young rosters, these kids competed well against other teams heavy in experience and older kids logging in some victories and losing some close ones.
For the girls; returning players included 6th graders: Anna Allderdice, Natalie Dudenake, Haley Schwenke, Savannah Jerrel, and Tavie Wortman. Joining them for the first time were 6th graders Malaysia Phillips and Amiyah Griffith; 5th graders Mace Bachoo, Dani Burke, Amy Gasvoda, Mattie Gasvoda, Daisy LaBuda, Caydence Pleninger, Kylee Sternberg and Eva Wagoner.
For the boys: returning players: Wyatt "Globetrotter" LaBuda. Joining him were 5th graders: Rusty "Meat" Gasvoda, Lance "Wrecking Bull" Rutledge, and Kody "Boombastic" Strutz. Finishing out the roster were first timers Tannin "Turbo" Baumann, Lane "Smalls" Demontiney, and 4th graders; Eli "Rook E" Dixon and Wylee "Coyote" Snapp.
Our focus this year was on fundamentals, attitudes/efforts and teamwork. The kids responded well and improved by leaps and bounds. They all added to their skills and even found some they did not know they had. The coach's feelings were it was over too fast. The kids were starting to click and it was exciting to see progress. It has been said that every farmer looks like a good farmer when it rains. The same applies here. These kids made their coaches look good. By their hard work, the coach's look like they knew what they were doing, and gave the community another thing to be proud of.
The coaches would also like to thank the parents, families and the community for their support and backing. It is a blessing to know that the parents have your back and are enforcing at home what you teach at practice. They not only traveled and supported the teams, they got on board and encouraged their kids to archive the team's goals. One of the coaches has said he would only coach at an orphanage. What a mistake that would have been this year and a great experience lost had he stuck to his guns. Thanks again parents, you helped make this season a success. There were others also who made special scarifies to help us this year. Pat and Dan Matthew volunteered their time to drive the bus for us. Brad Moore/school board and janitorial staff kept the gym clean and postponed a big maintenance project until our season was over. They also provided a bus for our trips. Dave and Deb Louvar again donated milkshakes to the kids for achievement awards. Finally the community supporting them in the bleachers. They worked hard and it was rewarded by you being there for them. Thanks again Big Sandy. You all did great!
