The Versailles Republican Sports
March 20, 2008

South Ripley winter sports athletes are honored

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

The South Ripley High School Cafeteria was once again the chosen site to pay honor to and recognize their sporting students of the winter basketball programs.
Jr. High Winter Sports Program
The Jr. High program got underway at 6 p.m., followed by the high school program around 7 p.m.
Coaches, school staff, athletes, their parents and guests were welcomed as SR Athletic Director Deb Jett opened the evening's festivities from center stage.
Introducing the cheer squads for the seventh and eighth grade boys teams was Jr. High Cheerleader Coach Kris Lafary. The seventh grade squad members included Brittany Begley, Rachel Hensley, Lindsey McFann, Staci Koger, Tori Rolf and Morgan Romans. The eighth grade team included Suzanne Fiset, Jessica Foster, Taiylor Howard, Kasey King, Bridgitte Taylor and Kaitlin Welch.
Coach Lafary beamed with excitement as she spoke of the effort by the girls, their parents, boy's coaching staff, SR custodians and bus drivers. She extended thank yous to all who had helped to make the work put forth by the girls a much happier and more fulfilling experience for everyone concerned over the season.
Coach Tony Lloyd led the seventh grade boys' basketball team again this season. Coach Lloyd followed the sentiments of Lafary with echoing remarks of praise for parents and athletes and all who had helped. Lloyd's team finished the year 10-8. This season's seventh grade team included Chad Anderson, Jason Dilk, Jacob Mullins, Cody Pence, Ryan Redwine, Brytton Rogers, Tyler Rolf, Peyton Ross, Trey Sparks, Jacob Steuver, Matt Strimple, Devin Tankersley and Levi Yocum with statisticians Whitney Walker and Brianne Taylor.
Coach Jason Gambrel led the eighth grade boys' basketball team this season who finished at 5-13. Coach Gambrel thanked Coach Lloyd for getting things together for practices and games as Gambrel's out of county job forced him to quite often arrive late. Team members included Lucas Adams, Brent Bradley, Jalen Brown, Ethan Cumberworth, Thomas Gray, Josh Huntington, Andy Landis, Nathan Meisberger, Brandon Sizemore, Amos Taylor and Kyle Taylor.
The Lady Raider seventh grade girls basketball team was coached by Indiana University graduate Mitchell Harrell. Coach Harrell expressed appreciation for the help in this, his first coaching assignment with young girls, to eighth grade Coach Tammy Tankersley. Harrell and the team experienced a fun and rewarding learning relationship as they finished their season at 13-3, which included a SEIT Runner Up finish. Harrell has begun his youth connection in a positive way with this team, and stated that he found new demands he had not had to realize before. That of nurse, doctor, dad, and confidant etc. Nice to see him with the Raider program!
Coach Harrell's seventh grade girls team included Ryan Cutter, Samantha Hansen, Rachel Hensley, Holly Keck, Stacie Koger, Allie Linkmeyer, Sarah McCauley, Kayla Mills, Morgan Myers, McKenna Prakel and Morgan Romans.
Coach Tammy Tankersley led the eighth grade girls basketball team which included Mindy Deaton, Jessica Foster, Megan Hensley, Tassyanna Hicks, Kasey King, Montanna Prakel, Lucy Rohrig, Brianne Taylor, Whitney Walker and Kaitlin Welch with team statistician Bridgitte Taylor.
The Lady Raider eighth graders enjoyed a 15-1 finish to their season which included the SEIT Championship title for their efforts.
Coach Tankersley praised the girls work ethic and reminded them that they would only improve with work over the summer months, while noting that the next step up the ladder to the JV or varsity level was within their reach, but that required them not to settle for less than their best effort.
High School Sports Program
The South Ripley Raider High School winter sports awards and recognition program was opened with a welcome by AD Deb Jett.
Lady Raider JV
Coach Thom Conover assumed the lead role for the SR Reserve Lady Raider team this season. He introduced the team which included three freshmen: Meredith Knollman, Rachel Mathes and Rebecca Bodenberg along with four sophomores: Kaitlyn Black, Lakin Davis, Kelly Borter and Rachel Yocum. Coach Conover also acquired assistance from the varsity squad with sophomores Sara Webster and Sealey Snyder and junior Katie Polly.
Conover noted that a total of 13 girls made up the entirety of the Lady Raider JV and varsity squads, requiring much work on the girl's part.
JV Lady Raider Award
Kelly Borter was named the Lady Raider JV Mental Attitude Award recipient.
Lady Raider Varsity
"Coach Ashlee Miller," in her first year at the South Ripley Lady Raider Head Basketball Coach position, "spoke of the new experiences, challenges faced with and the learning process she had shared over the season." Coach Miller added, "Of her joys was the fact that long time friend Thom Conover was at her side as they both learned different roles and life lessons with this first season."
She also stated that having an understanding husband, loving parents and grandparents and in-laws made her debut much easier to deal with, whether good or bad outcomes were dealt to the team.
The '08 Lady Raider Varsity team included: senior players Kellie Collier and Susannah Mann, juniors Erica Ester, Alex Snyder, Jordan Vinup and Katie Polly, sophomores Sarah Webster, Sealey Snyder, Lakin Davis and Rachel Yocum along with freshmen members Meredith Knollman and Rachel Mathes. Jordan Clements and Chelsea Durham were team statisticians and Derrick Wade and Blake Snodgrass were student managers.
At 4-16, the Lady Raider season was not what had been hoped for, but it was a beginning for a new basis to evolve from. The girls ended with a 3-3 ORVC record.
Varsity Lady Raider Awards
Mental Attitude - Jordan Vinup
Most Rebounds - Jordan Vinup
Most Improved - Alex Snyder
Best Defense - Alex Snyder
Free Throw % - Susannah Mann
Most Assists - Kellie Collier
Senior Academic - Kellie Collier
GPA of 4.1326 on a 4.0 scale
SRHS Raider Cheerleaders
Cheer Squad Coach Tammy Hartman introduced the '08 South Ripley Raider cheerleaders, following her acknowledgments and thank yous to Mrs. Nancy Durham and all who had helped to make their season once again a successful one.
Freshman Cheer Squad
The freshmen team members, which included Stephanie Broadus, Ashley Buchanan, Jordan Gardner, Olivia Gilpin, Miranda Wall and Renee Williams.
Jordan Gardner - Freshman Mental Attitude Award Winner
Varsity-Reserve Cheer Squad
The reserve squad included Britney Browning, Hannah Carlock, Lakin Davis, Hayley Demaree, Jessilyn DeWitt, Sealey Snyder and Sara Mathes.
Sealey Snyder and Sara Mathes began the season as alternates and were soon made a part of the regular line up when a couple of girls left the squad. Coach Hartman was proud of all the girl's work and especially of the job done by the late entries to learn the routines on shortened notice.
Hannah Carlock - Raider Reserve Mental Attitude Award
Varsity Cheer Squad
The '08 SR varsity squad included juniors Jordan Clements, Brittany DeWitt, Chelsea Durham, Erica Ester and Janna Lloyd, with sophomore Kyla Sexton and freshman Meredith Knollman.
Janna Lloyd - Raider Varsity Squad Mental Attitude Award
Freshmen Raider Boys
Coach Brad Samples proudly spoke of the young men he had to work with this year and the season they had managed to put together which included a 15-5 record and the freshman boys ORVC Championship Title. Members of the Freshman Boys team of '08 were Chris Allison, Cory Barnes, Casey Franklin, Jonathan Grossman, Dylan Groves, Cody King, Derek Koger, Patrick Scott, Sam Stratton, Dustin Toops, Jerod Walters and Jordan Walters.
Coach Samples gave special recognition to the efforts put forth by the Walters twins this season, Jerod and Jordan. Jerod led the freshman team in scoring with 188 points and Jordan collected 105 rebounds in their winning role examples.
Dylan Groves - Freshman Raider Mental Attitude Award
Varsity Reserve Raider Boys
Coach Kendall Sheets led the Raider reserve to a part of a 5-way ORVC Reserve tie with a 4-2 conference record. He spoke of opportunities they had to clinch the title, but they were just not to be this year.
He acknowledged the help of Coach Holdsworth and the other coaches and the support of the athletes, their parents and his own parents, as well as others that made his coaching opportunity rewarding and worthwhile.
The Raider reserve team included Andy Miller, Jordan Bodenberg, Thad Fleming, Chase Grider, Kile Huss, Tanner Tucker, Brian Thomas, Seth Leonard, Denny Mayes and Kevin Gullion.
Jordan Bodenberg - Raider Reserve Mental Attitude Award
Varsity Raider Boys
Coach Scott Holdsworth and the Raider varsity basketball team wrapped their season 9-12 including their third place ORVC conference season at a record of 4-2 earned with their defeat of the Jac-Cen-Del Eagles in the last game of the regular season, at the last game to be played at Tyson Auditorium, with it as the South Ripley Raiders home court, where they reclaimed the Ripley Publishing Pride Trophy the Eagles won in the first game of the season from the Raiders at JCD.
Coach Holdsworth introduced and thanked varsity statisticians Rebecca Bodenberg and Kellie Collier, making note that Collier is a role model in the IHSAA/Ripley County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program representing South Ripley High School. Coach stated he was reminded of the fact via a phone photo from Sheets and Lloyd where they were each standing on either of a poster of Collier in Indianapolis where they were enjoying a Big Ten competition.
Congratulations once again to Kellie Collier on being selected as a responsible role model for other youth.
Coach Holdsworth acknowledged the work of student managers Allie Dicken and Joy Asbury with a special appreciation being given to senior manager Anthony Gramaglia for his four years of devoted dedicated service to the team and coaching staff. Gramaglia was also acknowledged for his final tribute relayed at Tyson Auditorium on the SR vs JCD final closing night's game.
Coach Holdsworth acknowledged the five senior basketball players who have given much work and sweat in pursuit of betterment, stating he knows the world will be receiving five solid citizens into the adult roles they have been preparing for.
The Five Senior Players
Erik Demaree, Trent Tucker, Chris Miller, BJ Sieverding and Kyle Patrick.
Raider Varsity Awards
Patrick was recognized for his team spirit, his no quit attitude and the leader type contributions he made both on and off the playing court. Though faced with very serious medical and physical situations over the season, Patrick kept his faith strong, his beliefs in tact and returned to help the Raiders down the season's final stretch. Amidst the adversity, Patrick also maintained his prestigious academic labors.
Kyle Patrick -
Varsity Mental Attitude Award
Kyle Patrick -
Senior Scholastic Award Winner
GPA of 4.1913 on a 4.0 scale
Trent Tucker - Most Rebounds
Chris Miller - Most Assists
BJ Sieverding - 84% FT
BJ Sieverding - Most Improved
BJ Sieverding - Best Defense
BJ Sieverding, collected three varsity awards this year with Coach Holdsworth recognizing BJ's effort throughout the season. Not just for his 3-point shooting and scoring power, but for his willingness to defend the best shooter from the opposing teams in seven of the last nine games the Raiders would face in their home stretch.
Coach Holdsworth will have big shoes to fill next season with five of his proud Raider warriors graduating this year.
The rest of the '08 South Ripley Raider varsity basketball team included juniors Andy Miller, Jared Keck, Thomas Welch and Jordan Bodenberg along with sophomores Brian Thomas and Chase Grider.
Coach Holdsworth closed his portion of the '08 Raider basketball season awards program with this statement pertaining to Tyson Auditorium and the efforts of many who made a final season there possibly a little more meaningful in parting.
Holdsworth spoke, "Last year when I approached Mr. Snyder and Mr. Meyer about honoring the past Sectional Champs, Coaches and Administrators, I was hoping to be able to bring some attention to parts of the history of Tyson Auditorium and how they affected Ripley County and Indiana basketball.
This task, once we were given the OK, as a result of our building project, seemed a bit daunting. Locating and contacting all of those individuals was met with great energy by those folks aforementioned. They were instrumental in getting each of the team recognition nights in Tyson put together. Through their efforts, we were able to allow the friends of Versailles and South Ripley basketball and Tyson Auditorium to go back in time and remember special moments in its stored history.
I am sure many of you, as myself, were able to recall some of your fondest memories from the greatest basketball moments, to the many band, flag and majorette performances, to that of a first date and a dance. Maybe for you it was a moment from a 40/8 All-Star game or a faculty vs Bengals match-up from years past. Why, in Tyson, I've seen donkey basketball, circus acts and even Pumpkin Show cheerleader competitions that were forced inside due to inclement weather.
Whatever we chose to remember, we were able to honor some very special people, memories and a home away from home known as Tyson.
It is my hope that we can continue to keep a special place in our hearts in the remembrance of such a grand old gymnasium. As we close the door to the past of Tyson Auditorium, let us not forget the rich tradition of South Ripley basketball as it originated in Tyson.
But, with every door closed, another filled with great opportunity will open up to us. Next year, we will be opening the door to a new gym and many new educational opportunities for our students. I am hopeful that we can fill our new facility with the same spirit and tradition that has been molded by those that have gone before us."

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GARY FRANKLIN PHOTOS Senior South Ripley Raider basketball players honored at the '08 winter sports awards program are pictured from left, Susannah Mann, Kellie Collier, Kyle Patrick, Trent Tucker, Chris Miller and BJ Sieverding. Not present for photo was senior Erik Demaree.