The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1092055
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, March 13, 2019 B-1 SPORTS Submit sports items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: sports@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg See CHAMPS on 3 See EDGE on 2 WE ARE PROFFESIONAL GRADE uebelhorgm.com 1-800-937-8721 Jasper, IN Swimmers edge Patriots at Pike Central By James Capozella Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Eight firsts for the boys and four for the Lady Char- gers propelled both teams to home standing wins over the visiting Heritage Hills Patriots last Thurs- day. The boys were easy win- ners in the 200 medley re- lay, 200 free, 100 individ- ual medley, 100 free, 200 free relay, 50 back and 50 breaststroke, compiling 93 points to 77 for the Patri- ots. Lady Chargers claimed wins in the 200 medley re- lay, 100 individual medley, 50 fly and 400 free relay. They edged out the Patri- ots 87-78 with strong finish- es in the last three swims that included three teams in the 400 free relay. Coach Danette Weisman commented on the meet and the season stating, "As far as a good meet, it is such a short season and all the swimmers and div- ers make progress in each practice and personal best times each meet as the sea- son goes on." "Our top swimmers re- ally pull points for us at every meet, but I am real- ly impressed at how well our younger swimmers are doing. They are get- ting the feel of how swim meets work and their role in helping out the team. I can ask almost any swim- mer to do an event in a meet that they have never done and they will accept By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central graduates played a big role in Oakland City University's Christian College National Invitation- al Tournament. Sophomore Tyler Toopes was named the Most Valuable Player af- ter scoring 69 points in the semi-fi- nal and final game of the tournament. Toopes had 31 points in the final game to lead the Mighty Oaks to a 105 -99 win over Wilberforce University on Saturday night. He was 9 of 15, including being three of six from three-point range. He was also 10 of 12 from the free- throw line and grabbed six rebounds and had seven assists. "He has been a great player for us and he never once tried to be the big dog," said Oakland City Coach Mike Sandifar, who coached at Pike Cen- tral in the 1970s. Pike Central grad Bryant Nalley had eight points for Oakland City in the championship game. "He has been our sixth man all season long," said Sandifar. Both Nalley and Toopes were start- ers for Pike Central's sectional cham- pionships in 2016 and 2017. A third local connection the area is Andrew Scott, a South Knox gradu- ate. Scott had 14 points in the champi- Pike Central grads Tyler Toopes, Team Manager Reid Craig and Bryant Nalley hold the banner after they played integral parts in Oakland City winning the national tournament on Saturday night. PC GRADS PLAY LARGE ROLE IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Jillian Bailey pops up during the breast stroke leg of her individual medley against Heritage Hills on Thursday night. Max Burkhart catches a breath while swim- ming the 200 freestyle. Corey Geoppner grapples with an opponent from Southridge during the Middle School PAC champi- onships. Goeppner placed third in the 195-pound class. He won this match by pin in the first period. See more photos on the next page. By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central placed sixth in the Middle School Pocket Athletic Conference tourna- ment on Saturday. They had 11 wrestlers place in the tournament, with one runner-up and six finishing in third place, for a total of 135 points. The tour- nament was won by South- ridge, who barely edged out Tell City, despite the Marks- men's eight individual win- ners. Southridge had 299.5 to Tell City's 294. Heritage Hills was third with 185, then Tecumseh 4) 145, 5) North Posey 143, 6) Pike Central 135, 7) South Spen- cer 103, 8) South Gibson 82, and 9) Forest Park 76. Pike Central's Isaac Marchino placed second for the Chargers. He was 2-1 on the day. The Chargers had six wrestlers in third place. They were Griffin Boyd at 85 pounds, Ryan Gladish at 117, Cole Parks at 135, Sky- lar Shelton at 140, Jackson Stuckey at 150 and Corey Goeppner at 195. Isaac Shimer at 175 placed fifth, while Dalton Kline at 90 placed sixth. "Very proud of how we wrestled this weekend. We were out four starters on Sat- urday. Having those kids out and still finishing in the top six is a victory to me. Sev- en wrestlers finishing in the top three is such a positive sign for the future of where we want this program to go. The future of Pike Central wrestling is very bright. It was a fun season," said Char- ger Coach John Thompson. Middle School wrestlers place 6th in PAC tournament Pike Central grad Tyler Toopes squares up a defender during Oakland City University's 105 to 99 win over Wilberforce University in the Christian College National Invitational Tournament. Toopes was the tournament's MVP. He scored 38 points in the semi-final game and 31 points in the cham- pionship game. Photo by Colin Dixon