The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, Januar y 15, 2020 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 PIKE CENTRAL RETURNS TO POOL AFTER NEARLY A MONTH See SWIM on page 6 See GREENE on 4 See SKID on 5 See BOHNERT on page 6 By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net It wasn't that long ago Natalie Bohnert was rewriting many of the Pike Central swimming and golfing record books. The former Charger standout is now adjusting to life as a college student and two-sport athlete at Southwest Minnesota State University. "College has been a great experi- ence so far," Bohnert said. "Golf was also a great experience; however, it did not go as well as I had wanted it to go. I am excited to get the next half of the season going to see where I am at. Swimming has been a quick season so far. Training has been really diffi- cult, but I feel stronger in the water. I am excited for conference and to see where I am at." Bohnert holds the Pike Central swimming records in the 100 -yard backstroke, 100 butterfly, 200 individ- ual medley and the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles. She also holds the Char- gers' golf records of lowest nine-hole and 18 -hole scores. "I have enjoyed getting to know each of the teams," Bohnert said. "I am a quiet person until you get to know me, unless I am around the swim team, then I start off as a talker. So this far into the school year, I have opened up a little with both teams. It has also been great having both of these teams because of all of the people you get to meet. You always have people to talk to and if you are bored, there is always someone that will have something they want to do. Each team is ready to push you to be the best you can be, but they are also there to have fun." Being nearly 800 miles away from home hasn't always been easy for Bohnert. She said she's battled some homesickness during her first year away from home, but her teammates and coaches are great at taking her mind off it and making her feel com- fortable. "I really miss not having my parents there, even though they come out as much as they can, the home cooked meals, and also not being able to see my dogs," she said. "I find myself try- ing to pet every dog I see now because I miss mine so much. The teams out here really make you feel like you are at home and will do anything they can if you feel homesick, which is really nice. The hardest thing swimming related would have to be not having my dad as the coach. He has been my coach all of my life and switching to someone else is a big change. Even af- ter an entire semester, I still call him everyday to tell him what we did, what my times were, how I felt and then I always ask to see what time I was at last year. He is by far one of my big- gest supporters and not having him at every practice is probably the hard- est part." On the other hand, a new environ- ment and fresh start has provided Bohnert with minimal distractions while balancing two sports and her academics. "The thing that has surprised me most would have to be how much free time I actually have," she said. "Leav- ing for college, people would tell me how busy I am going to be. Now that I am out here, although I am still busy, I have a lot more time than what I thought I was going to have. This still allows me to go to bed at my normal time. My coaches stress that if I feel too overwhelmed or if I am getting be- hind in something, then to tell them and they will adjust practice or give me a break It is really nice having two coaches too, because they keep a close eye on grades. They will do anything Natalie Bohnert juggling life as a two-sport athlete at SMSU Chargers earn first win at Greene County Tournament By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net There were some low moments, but the Pike Central boys' basketball team earned its first win of the season while compet- ing in the Greene County Tournament at White Riv- er Valley High School. The Chargers (1-7, 0 - 1 PAC) started the tour- nament with a match- up against Class A No. 6 Bloomfield (8 -2, 5 -1 SWI- AC) on Wednesday, Jan. 8. "We knew coming in they were a very sol- id team," Pike Central head coach Hunter Elliott said. "I really thought we matched up with them fair- ly well though and were capable of playing with them." The teams were tied 12- 12 after the first quarter, but it was all Cardinals af- ter that. Bloomfield went Lady Chargers continue skid By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central girls' basketball team played well against a gifted For- est Park team on Satur- day, Jan. 11, but the Rang- ers (13-6, 3-3 PAC) proved to be too much. The Lady Chargers com- peted well in the game that included five lead changes before Forest Park eventu- ally won 53-44. "We really did compete well and defended very well in the first half and, even in the second half, we com- peted," Pike Central head coach Kyle McCutchan said. "But we had about a four-minute stretch where we had a few turnovers and they capitalized by hitting a couple 3-pointers. We bat- Ethan Gorby looks for an open teammate during the Chargers opening round loss to Bloomfield in the Greene County Tournament on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Lauren Vaughn goes up for a shot against Forest Park on Saturday, Jan. 11. By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central swimming and diving teams were back action on Monday, Jan. 13, after being off for nearly a month. The Northeast Dubois boys were victorious with 133 points. They were followed by Gibson Southern with 88 and Pike Central with 78. Gibson Southern won the girls' competition with 138 points. Pike Central was sec- ond with 102 and Northeast Dubois was third with 60. "The meet went well," Pike Cen- tral coach Travis Cochren said. "We had several individuals come out very strong and put their hard work over the past month of practice to the test. Despite making a few roster changes, we had several individuals put up new personal best times in events through- out the night. With this being our first meet in a month, we have a few things to smooth back out this week, but both boys' and girls' teams have put in the hard work and now it will just be fine tuning some things and making a few small adjustments leading into PAC. We have three more meets this week, and by Saturday, we expect everyone to be setting new personal bests." The Lady Chargers' relay team of Jillian Bailey, Emma McKinney, Jen- na Meyer and Charlotte Dudenhoeffer won the 200 -yard medley relay with a time of 2:6.92. Dudenhoeffer also won the 200 individual medley in 2:49.17. "Charlotte Dudenhoeffer, despite not feeling 100 percent, had another strong night leading the way for the Pike Central girls with two first place finishes and two second places," Co- chren said. "Also not feeling great, but pushing through it for a good night was sophomore Emma McKinney. She had three second-place finishes and a third-place on the night. Sever- al other girls consistently placed in the top three all night. If we can keep ev- eryone healthy, and make a couple mi- nor adjustments, this girls' team as a whole is going to be a real force." Bailey and Madison Riley finished first and second in the 100 backstroke with times of 1:14.06 and 1:18.33, re- spectively. "Our backstrokers as a whole showed up big tonight," Cochren said. "The girls took first and second, and the boys took second and third with Brayden Cooper and Sam Theising." The boys had no individual winners, but were led by a few of their seniors. "These seniors really pushed them- selves over the winter break to get bet- ter," Cochren said. "Brayden Cooper and Coleman Henson both had very good nights tonight. Cooper finished the night with four second-place fin- ishes, and Henson finished with three second places and a fourth place." Pike Central will host Evansville Christian and Vincennes Lincoln on Wednesday, Jan. 15. They travel to Jas- per on Thursday, Jan. 16, for a triangu- lar meet with the Wildcats and Heri- tage Hills. The Chargers will also trav- el to Tecumseh on Saturday, Jan. 18, for a meet with Jasper and the Braves. PIKE CENTRAL RESULTS Boys Northeast Dubois 133, Gibson Southern 88, Pike Central 78 200 -yard medley relay: 2, Pike Central (Brayden Cooper, Coleman Henson, Michael Burkhart, A J Hill) 2:10.65; 4, Pike Central (Sam Theis- ing, Isaac Burdette, Draven Readle, Noah Russell) 2:16.51. 200 freestyle: 4, Burkhart (PC) 2:28.10 ; 6, Russell (PC) 2:42.99. 200 individual medley: 4, Readle (PC) 2:46.55. 50 freestyle: 2, Henson (PC) 26.57; 6, Burdette (PC) 28.93. 100 butterfly: 3, Sam Theising (PC) Jenna Meyer twists and turns while completing a dive during the Chargers swim meet Monday night. She was the lone diver in the three-team competition. She put up a score of 199.4 points. Lily Rice-Frederick pops out of the water during the girls 100 yard butterfly race. She finished third in the event for Pike Central in a time of 1:23.51. Gibson Southern won the girls meet with 138 points while Pike Central was second with 102 and Northeast Dubois was third with 60. Former Pike Central standout Natalie Bohnert competes for the Southwest Minne- sota State University golf team earlier this season. Below: Bohnert swims the breaststroke for Southwest Minnesota State Universi- ty. Submitted photos.