Sunday, January 16, 2000
HIGH SCHOOL INSIDER
Board out to stop fans' bad behavior
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When spectators feel threatened at high school basketball tournament games, it's time to make some changes.
That's exactly what the Southwest District Board plans to do in an effort to avoid a repeat of last year's poor sportsmanship by fans during the sectional and district tournaments.
“Last year was one of the worst years I can remember,” said John Rossi, secretary of the Southwest District Board. “The players were fine, but some of the fans were out of control.”
Rossi was referring to several brief fights in the stands, obscene cheers from students, cursing of the officials and the throwing of objects onto the floor during the games.
“We're soliciting help from the principals,” Rossi said. “We want the schools' administrators to be visible and available if the tournament managers need them.”
The board will communicate with school officials as to what is expected before, during and after the games.
“We want people to cheer, make as much noise as they want and have a good time,” Rossi said. “Last year we had some great games. We want everyone to pitch in and help bring back sportsmanship.”
NORWOOD WRESTLING: It has been an eight-year struggle, but the hard work is finally paying off for Norwood's wrestling team.
“We've never cracked the (Division II) top 10, but maybe we will this year,” coach Rick Robisch said Tuesday after the Indians upset Ross (39-31), the No.6 team in the Division II-III poll.
“We've been around the top 10 in past years. But we've usually forfeited three or four weight classes because of not enough wrestlers. Filling the light weights has been easy, but the upper weights have been a problem.”
The solution to this is Luke Lancaster, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior football player who personally recruited several teammates for the upper weight classes.
“Wrestling is fun, because there's more of a sense of accomplishment than football,” Lancaster said. “A lot of the football players are my friends, and I talked them into wrestling.”
Robisch credits Lancaster's determination and leadership as an important factor in the success.
“Luke has wrestled more matches than all the heavyweights combined that we've had in the last five or six years,” Robisch said.
The youth program Robisch started six years ago is beginning to pay off.
Most of Norwood's athletes have four to five years' experience wrestling for the Little Indians youth team.
Norwood is loaded with underclassmen, including sophomores Buddy Cox (215 pounds), Andy McGinnis (140), Kevin Messer (125), Rodney Steadman (103) and Steve Shinkle (160).
“We have nine or 10 sophomores and some good wrestlers in the middle school,” Robisch said. “The future looks bright.”
MERCY VOLLEYBALL: After six years as Mercy's head volleyball coach, Sharon Kroger (89-60 record) has decided to step down.
Kroger will be replaced by Denise Ortman.
CLASSIFIEDS: Deer Park is looking for junior high track coaches. Call Mike Morgan at 891-0010.
Summit Country Day has the following coaching vacancies: head and assistant boys track, middle school head baseball and junior varsity softball. Send resumes to Terry McConnell at 533-5372 (Fax).
McNicholas is looking for a varsity volleyball coach and a reserve softball coach. Call Dave Boettger at 231-3500, ext.141.
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