15 - Kokomo School

Kat Chatter
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Thought for the day
"Remember, if you are not playing your heart
out, someone else is. And when you meet him,
he will win.”
unknown
Today’s Athletic Events
SPORT
OPPONENT
Track (Boys V)
Westfield
Westfield
Postponed Due to Temp
Fishers
Fishers
Lafayette Jeff
Lafayette Jeff
Baseball (Boys Fr)
Baseball (Boys V)
LOCATION
TIME
5:00 PM
5:30 PM
6:00 PM
THE WILDKAT
SOFTBALL
The Kokomo-Peru softball game was postponed.
Heather Cusick, a guidance counselor for the International
Baccalaureate students in the Middle Years Program at
Kokomo High School and Central Middle International
School, was named the next girls’ basketball coach at KHS.
“I could not be more excited to be named the next head coach
of the Kokomo Lady Kats’ basketball program,” Cusick said.
“This is truly an honor to be able to return home to Kokomo
and have the opportunity to build upon the already storied
tradition that is Kokomo Basketball. Kokomo is a special place
and the Lady Kats receive incredible support from this
community, staff, and administration. I am so fortunate to
work, and now coach, in a place that has meant so much to
me.”
Cusick is a 1999 KHS grad and played for Coach Charlie
Hall’s Lady Wildkats that went 25-2, losing in the semi-state
to Fort Wayne Snider, 53-49. Heather averaged 17.9 points
per game to lead Kokomo and grabbed 6.8 rebounds a game,
sharing MVP-honors with Tia Davis. Cusick, who scored
1391 points in her high school career (third all-time) before
being named to the Indiana All-Star team, continued her
outstanding play at Miami University in Ohio.
Photo courtesy of Dean Hockney
At Miami, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Sport Studies and became the first and only
player in MAC (Mid American Conference) women’s basketball history to reach 1,700 points, 500
assists, 400 rebounds, 300 steals, and 200 three-point field goals. Heather served as a 3-time team
captain before becoming one of only two women at Miami to have their number retired.
After being selected as a Kodak All-American honorable mention in 2003, Cusick played for the BC
Shooters professional basketball team in the Netherlands during the 2003-04 season. One of the
statistics that makes Cusick the proudest is the fact that she appeared in 116 contests at Miami
University – never missing a game – while making 113 consecutive starts.
“We had an excellent pool of candidates for the position,” Athletic Director Jason Snyder explained,
“but Heather’s college level experiences and her college connections across the country will be a
great asset to our future Lady Kats, as well as the program. With Heather at the helm, I feel the
future is very promising for Lady Kats basketball in Kokomo.”
Cusick praised the hard work by Coach Snyder and his staff the past eight years.
“All the pieces are in place to continue to cultivate the work that has been completed by Coach
Snyder,” Heather explained. “My hope is to not only win games and develop basketball talent, but
also to lead and guide each young lady who goes through the Kokomo program from where she is to
where she wants to be.”
“I am optimistic about the future of the Lady Kats’ basketball program, and I cannot wait to begin
working with the young ladies who are, and will be, a part of the Kokomo Lady Kats’ basketball
program,” Cusick added.
K.H.S. LADY WILDKAT
BASKETBALL COACHES
THRU THE YEARS 1974-2014
COACH
YEARS COACHED
Sue Huggler
Mike McCroskey
Charlie Hall
Chris Huppenthal
Jason Snyder
19741984
19841997
19972004
20052006
20042005
20062014
19742013
W
L
PCT
Championships
(10)
88
-
74
.543
1 Sectional Champ
(13)
227
-
82
.735
12 Sec,7 Reg,4 SS, 2 ST
(8)
172
-
22
.887
5 Sec, 4 Reg, 1 SS, 1 ST
(1)
19
-
6
.760
1 Sec, 1 Reg
(8)
101
-
68
.598
1 Sectional Champ
(40)
607
-
252
.707
20 Sectnls, 12 Regnls
5 Semi-states, 3 State
Lady Kats Coaches by number of wins
COACH
Mike McCroskey
Charlie Hall
Jason Snyder
Sue Huggler
Chris Huppenthal
W
227
172
101
88
19
-
L
82
22
68
74
6
Lady Kats Coaches by winning percentage
COACH
Charlie Hall
Chris Huppenthal
Mike McCroskey
Jason Snyder
Sue Huggler
W
172
19
227
101
88
-
L
PCT
22
6
82
68
74
.887
.760
.735
.598
.543
BASEBALL
April 9, 2013
Kokomo hosted the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos at CFD Stadium in Highland
Park, and at the conclusion of the game, it was the Wildkats on top by the
score of 6-2.
The Bronchos came into the game on a hot streak. Not only had they won
seven of their eight games to start the season, but they had clobbered their
opponents, winning the last two games by the ten-run rule
Jacob McMain was Coach Tim Weeks’ choice to start the game on the
mound, and the senior responded in fine fashion. McMain pitched six
innings, gave up two hits, and allowed one earned run
Junior Dustin Gamblin pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Kats.
The senior class led the Kokomo nine on offense, too. Dylan Orbaugh
banged out a pair of hits, Preston Emmons had a two-run single, and Drew
Guge had a bases-loaded double in the sixth inning.
TAYLER PERSONS
Tayler was named to the Indiana All-Stars squad for 2014.
Tayler Persons is the first Indiana All-Star from Kokomo since D.J. Balentine was honored in
2012.
This will be the 76th Indiana-Kentucky All-Star series.
This year’s Indiana-Kentucky All-Star game will be played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on June
14th. The girls’ game will start at 5:00 p.m with the boys’ game to follow at approximately
7:00 p.m.
The Indiana All-Stars will also face the Kentucky All-Stars at Transylvania University in
Lexington on Friday, June 13.
Tayler will report with his teammates to the All-Star camp at Marian University on June 7th.
On June 9th, the Indiana All-Stars will take on the Junior All-Stars at the Berry Bowl in
Logansport. The girls game will begin at 6:00 p.m to be followed by the boys’ game. Two
days later, the All-Stars are back in action against the juniors at Columbus North.
At the June 14th game at Bankers Life, the ‘4’ years will be recognized (1944, 1954, 1964, etc.)
as the Reunion Teams. Gene Turner, KHS grad and former KHS teacher and JV basketball
coach, was a member of the 1944 squad, and Debbie (Benziger) Dudukovich was an All-Star
in 1994.
Kokomo has had two Mr. Basketballs –Tom Schwartz (1945) and Jimmy Rayl (1959).
The Indiana boys’ All-Stars have won the last eleven games with their Kentucky counterparts.
They have also been victorious in 18 of the last 19. Overall, the Hoosier boys have a 90-42
lead in the series with Kentucky.
The Indiana girls’ All-Stars won last year at Bankers Life by a score of 100-86, breaking a
three-game winning streak by the Bluegrass girls. Since the series began in 1976, Indiana
holds a 41-35 advantage.
Charlie Hall is the Indiana All-Star Games Director. Hall is a KHS grad, a basketball player
for the Wildkats, and former KHS coach in boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, and tennis.
Six Indiana All-Stars saw action at Memorial Gym this past winter. In addition to Tayler
Persons, Marion’s James Blackmon and Carmel’s Zach McRoberts led their teams against the
Wildkats, while Logansport’s Whitney Jennings, Fishers’ Alex Hochstedler, and Homestead’s
Sydney Buck all played in the Kokomo Girls Basketball Regional.
INDIANA ALL-STARS
FROM KOKOMO
1939
1940
1941
1942
1944
1945
1946
1952
1955
1956
1959
1961
1961
1962
1970
1988
1996
2012
2014
Neil Hercules
Chet Gabriel
Carl Campbell
Jack Turner
Gene Turner
Tom Schwartz
Maurice Conwell
Junior Phipps
Jim Butcher
Paul Conwell
Jimmy Rayl
Rich Scott
Ron Hughes
Jim Ligon
Bruce Rose
Brian Hogan
Lee Coomler
D.J. Balentine
Tayler Persons
1993
1993
1993
1994
1997
1999
2001
2003
2003
2006
2008
Tiffany Longworth
Mistina Oliver
Cari Stover
Debbie Benziger
Tamie Stiner
Heather Cusick
Hillary Beck
DeUnna Hendrix
Anne Thatcher
Audrey McDonald
Kayla Drake
2014 Indiana Boys All-Stars
(# Name, School, Height, Pos., PPG, College Choice)
1 Trey Lyles, Indianapolis Tech, 6-10, F, 23.7, Kentucky
2 James Blackmon Jr., Marion, 6-3, G, 33.6, Indiana
3 Grant Evans, Wapahani, 6-3, G, 25.5, Wright State
4 Tayler Persons, Kokomo, 6-2, G, 18.2, Northern Kentucky
5 D.J. McCall, Fort Wayne Concordia, 6-5, G, 18.5, IUPUI
6 P.J. Thompson, Brebeuf Jesuit, 5-11, G, 23.6, Purdue
7 Bryant McIntosh, Greensburg, 6-4, G, 14.3, Northwestern
8 Jeremie Tyler, Indianapolis Tech, 6-3, G, 16.2, Ball State
9 Zach McRoberts, Carmel, 6-6, F, 14.1, Vermont
10 Mack Mercer, Plymouth, 6-9, F, 17.1, Belmont
11 Trevon Bluiett, Park Tudor, 6-6, G/F, 36.2, Xavier
12 Sean Sellers, Greensburg, 6-6, F, 20.7, Ball State
13 Tyler Wideman, Lake Central, 6-8, F, 15.7, Butler
Head coach: David Benter, Brownstown Central
Assistant coaches: James Blackmon Sr., Marion; Clint Swan, Crown Point
2014 IndyStar.com Indiana Girls All-Stars
(# Name, School, Height, Pos., PPG, College Choice)
1 Whitney Jennings, Logansport, 5-5, G, 32.0, Iowa
2 Maura Muensterman, Evansville Mater Dei, 6-0, G, 22.7, Indiana
3 Alex Hochstedler, Fishers, 5-7, G, 16.1, Walsh (Ohio)
4 Lauren Whitlatch, Bloomington South, 5-11, F, 15.6, Penn
5 Sydney Buck, Homestead, 5-8, G, 17.8, Butler
6 Destiny Washington, Lawrence North, 5-11, F, 10.9, Loyola (Ill.)
7 Tayler Goodall, Columbus North, 5-9, G, 16.3, Florida Gulf Coast
8 Kayla Brown, Westfield, 6-2, G, 18.0, Miami (Ohio)
9 Danielle Cuttino, Ben Davis, 6-2, F, 12.8, Purdue
10 Ana Owens, Lawrence North, 5-6, G, 14.7, Cincinnati
11 Kindell Fincher, Fort Wayne Canterbury, 5-10, G, 25.8, Xavier
12 Erica Moore, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), 6-0, F, 8.0, Purdue
13 Caroline Buhr, Penn, 6-1, F, 11.2, San Diego
Head coach: Eric Thornton, Norwell
Assistant coaches: Amy Brauman, Brownsburg; Gretchen Miles, Washington
Jesse Goodnight is a sophomore at Wabash College in
Crawfordsville, Indiana. He is also a member of the wrestling
team for the Little Giants.
Jesse battled through some injuries and competed behind AllAmerican Reece Lefever at 157 pounds. Goodnight finished with
a record of 6-3 overall. His best individual finish came in the
54th Indiana Little State Tournament, placing third at 157
pounds.
Goodnight is a biology major and plans to one day be a surgeon.
Skylarr Shurn is a senior at the University of Saint
Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is also a member of
the women’s basketball team.
Shurn led the Lady Cougars to a perfect 38-0 season,
winning the NAIA National Championship. She was
named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and scored
30 points as USF defeated College of the Ozarks 75-68.
Shurn was also named the NAIA National Player of the
Year. She scored more points than any other NAIA
player (a USF record 780) and averaged 20.5 points per
game. She was also 12th in the nation in steals. Shurn
scored in double figures in 34 of the Cougars’ 38 games,
including six games where she surpassed the 30-point
barrier.
Shurn is a Health and Exercise Science major.
May 14,
2014
Kokomo High School will host the 2014 Howard County
Free Physicals on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 from 6:30 PM
to 8:30 PM at Kokomo High School.
The free physicals are offered to male and female studentathletes from Eastern, Kokomo, Northwestern, Taylor,
Western, and St. Joan of Arc/St. Patrick schools presently
enrolled in 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grades and have an interest
in participating in their respective high school athletic
programs during the 2014-2015 school year.
Prior to the May 14th date, the student athlete must pick up the IHSAA physical form from their
respective Athletic Director, complete the information requested and have the parent and student
signatures completed. Student-athletes will not be permitted to participate if the forms are not
completed correctly.
Howard County is one of the very few counties in Indiana that still provide
free physicals for prospective student-athletes. The Howard County Medical
Association has been instrumental in the success of the Howard County Free
Physicals. Also, registered nurses, physical therapists, EMT’s, coaches, and
administrators have volunteered their time to participate in the free
physicals.
Again this year, the Community Howard Regional Health’s Cardiovascular
Lab is offering free ultrasound screening during the Free Physical Night.
The ultrasound will only be for the limited purpose of detecting Marfan’s
Syndrome (a grossly enlarged aorta) and Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic
Stenosis (extremely large septum). The ultrasound screening is optional to
the student-athlete. Those student-athletes wishing to participate must sign a consent form. The
ultrasound screening consent form will be attached to the IHSAA physical form and must be
completed prior to Free Physical Night. The ultrasound screening will take place on May 14 th from
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Any questions regarding the ultrasound screening should be addressed to the
respective Athletic Directors.
Last year, nearly 1,000 student-athletes from Howard County took advantage of the Free Physicals.
Name the only major leaguer since 1900 to have a 1-hit, 2-hit, 3-hit, 4-hit, and 5-hit game
in his first seven games of the season.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
Derek Jeter
Wade Boggs
Joe DiMaggio
Pete Rose
Ty Cobb
Ichiro Suzuki
Emilio Bonifacio
Babe Ruth
Answer appears at the bottom of the page.
Name the former Lady Kat who was the Miami University (Ohio) Female Athlete of
the Year in 2005.
Answer will appear in the next Kat Chatter.
Answer to the last Wildkat Trivia
Name the former Wildkat who won six state championships in track.
Rut Walter
This Week in Wildkat Country
SPORT
OPPONENT
LOCATION
Tuesday, April 15 2014
Track & Field (Boys V)
Westfield
Baseball (Boys Fr)
Baseball (Boys V)
Fishers
Lafayette Jeff
Fishers
Lafayette Jeff
5:30 PM
6:00 PM
Wednesday, April 16 2014
Baseball (Boys V)
Baseball (Boys JV)
Track & Field (Girls V)
Baseball (Boys Fr)
Softball (Girls V)
Western
Northwestern
Westfield
Elwood
Tipton
Western
Northwestern
KHS
KHS
KHS
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
Thursday, April 17 2014
Golf (Boys V)
Tennis (Girls V)
Eastern
Twin Lakes
Kokomo Country Club
Twin Lakes
4:30 PM
5:00 PM
Friday, April 18 2014
Baseball (Boys V)
Baseball (Boys JV)
Frankfort
Lafayette Jeff
Frankfort
Lafayette Jeff
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Saturday, April 19 2014
Baseball (Boys V)
Track & Field (Girls V)
Track & Field (Boys V)
Harrison
Marion Relays
Marion Relays
KHS
11:00 AM
Indiana Wesleyan Univ 11:00 AM
Indiana Wesleyan Univ 11:00 AM
(Postponed) Westfield
TIME
5:00 PM
N.C.C. Student-Athlete of the Week
KHS Web Favorites
KHS Athletics
www.kokomohighschoolsports.com
Kokomo Tribune
http://www.kokomotribune.com/
Sports Journal of Central Indiana
www.indianasportsjournal.com
WIOU – Radio broadcasts
www.ihigh.com/wiousports
Kokomo Herald Sports
http://theheraldsports.com
Kokomo Perspective – Streaming Video Webcasting
www.kokomoperspective.com
Kat Chatter Archives
http://www.kokomoschools.com/Khssc/athletic/KC/KatChatter.htm
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
http://www.nccsports.org/Directions/Directions.htm