[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=25209

FALL SPORTS! WE'RE READY!
Money On Mondays
Just short of the 2009-10 school year starting, that means a number of things.

Sadly, the temperatures will begin to drop, and the days get shorter. Blasted! But here's the good news. Football season is ready to kickoff, and the baseball playoffs are off on to the horizon.

In addition, the high school sports season is ready to get into full swing.

I've had discussions with Sports Editor Adam Parkhouse before about this. Even though it's a lot of work to get ready for a new high school sports season, getting ready for the football season is one of the most exciting times of the year for us. I still remember like it was yesterday, strapping on the pads and helmet and playing that night game every Friday in September and October.

I still have that feeling of getting revved up for a Friday football night. You should, too.

But outside of football, there's a lot things to keep an eye on this season.

Here are the ones I'm intrigued by:

• Kyle Whitaker's quest for 12 or more state championships. The Chesterton senior has nine in his first three years, winning three each year. He's already re-written the state high school record book, the state age group record book, and just finished off the junior national record book. Mark my words: He's a future Olympian.

• Chesterton boys swimming 3-peat? Speaking of swimming. Chesterton never seems to get enough praise from down south, but the past two years, they've proved them wrong. If they get the three-peat, the Trojans will be the first team since Carmel to do it (2001 to 2004). However, this one may be the toughest without some of their best distance swimmers, who've moved on to college.

• Cameron Miller's quest for a state title. OK, I know this all swimming, but stick with me here. Miller will be the top returner in the 100-yard breaststroke. He was runnerup at state last year to Lake Central's Chris Johnson, now at Notre Dame. Miller just took fifth in this event at junior nationals. If he pulls it off, Miller will be the first Michigan City swimmer to capture a state title in more than two decades.

• City girls soccer. Told you there was more than swimming. City's girls soccer team has a ton of scoring talent with Ashleigh Ellenwood, Julianna Rivich and Kelsey Pawloski. But can they play good enough defense? That's THE question. The Wolves went 10-7 last year, but 2-5 in the DAC. This is a very talented team, especially when healthy.

• Marquette volleyball. Of course. The Blazers aim for a sixth straight Class A state title and sixth in nine years. But that's not the only thing the Blazers are shooting for. Their goal is to have a 0 in that loss column. With another tough nonconference schedule, it'll pose challenges. And as the titles continue to stack up, the pressure to succeed and not let previous classes down gets heavier.

• Boys and girls City basketball. This could be very interesting to see how things play out with John Boyd leading the boys and Mike Megyese leading the girls. Both come with a loaded résumé in wins and state championships. But they take over two programs with big question marks on them.

For the boys, can they turn around a disheartening season where they lost the final 17 games and make this program something to be proud of instead of a joke?

And, for the girls, more than 70 victories in four years, DAC and sectional titles to go along with it, yet third coach in three years. What gives? There was some controversy surrounding Megyese's hire from community members. The pressure is on.

Saddle 'em up and get ready for the 2009-10 high school sports season.

Contact sports writer Nick Dettmann at ndettmann@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 447.

[MCFan]

"And, for the girls, more than 70 victories in four years, DAC and sectional titles to go along with it, yet third coach in three years. What gives? There was some controversy surrounding Megyese's hire from community members. The pressure is on."

Could it be the rumors about his involvement with a student right before he resigned from St. Joe?

[JHeath]

Has anyone heard how the Girls' Soccer team fared in last night's sectional game?

[Southsider2k12]

Has anyone heard how the Girls' Soccer team fared in last night's sectional game?

They won 11-1. They play Portage in the title game 2 pm Saturday.

[sprtsnck]

Has anyone heard how the Girls' Soccer team fared in last night's sectional game?

CITY EARNS TITLE GAME BERTH
Portage Sectional: Portage 2, Chesterton 1; City 11, Westville 1

Nick Dettmann
Staff Writer

PORTAGE, Ind. - Michigan City was hoping it would get this chance.

One more chance to prove to the Northwest Indiana soccer folks the Wolves are an improved program.

They earned that last shot by beating Westville, 11-1, in the Portage Sectional semifinals Thursday.

The victory sent the Wolves (10-7) to their second consecutive sectional championship game appearance. They will face Portage at 2 p.m. Saturday for a shot at the regional.

"They finally now realize how good they really are," City coach Stephanie Dege said. "It'll be great to show that to other people."

All year, the Wolves and Dege have preached in order to prove they are a better team - that they're not the Michigan City of old - they would have to win games they hadn't won in the past. They weren't able to achieve that goal during the regular season, finishing 2-5 in the Duneland just like in 2008.

But on Saturday, the Wolves will have one shot at sending an enormous wave throughout the region that Michigan City is not the Michigan City of old.

Dege and the Wolves can't wait.

"To come here and play them on their home field and be able to show them what kind of team we are," Dege said, "I think we'll be able to surprise a lot of people if we stay focused and play our game.

"... I'm super excited."

Things have turned around of late for the Wolves, thanks largely to time off. Three weeks ago, the Wolves were embarrassed, 8-2, on their home field by Crown Point. That was one of those games City had never won in the past and believed it could and wanted.

The film session the next day and the corresponding practice turned out to be the best thing to ever happen to the Wolves.

"We watched the tape right away," Dege said. "They sat and critiqued themselves very, very critically. ... They were upset with how bad they played."

Granted the Wolves did lose to Chesterton, 5-2, in the regular season finale - another team City has struggled against in the past. But it was 2-2 at one point before a couple unlucky breaks - not mental or physical errors - cost them the match.

Dege says she believes her squad is playing the best it possibly can right now, and believes her team can give the girls their first sectional title in school history.

The victory also gave City double-digit wins in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. The 10 victories last year set a school record.

One more sounds like Dege and the Wolves' cup of tea.

"The girls have been working really hard in the last week," Dege said. "We've had a lot of work done. We're excited.

"... They're very capable of winning this game on Saturday because they have been focusing very, very well on their work points. They've improved so much from that game."

Portage won the regular season meeting, 5-2.

It took a bit for City to break out on to the scoreboard. But when it did, it didn't take long to put the game out of reach.

Ashleigh Ellenwood scored in the 9th minute. Julianna Rivich quickly followed in the 10th minute. Ellenwood added two more goals to get the hat trick, and Kelsey Pawloski scored three second-half goals. Rivich added another goal, Alexis Meriweather had a pair of goals, and Elena Miller scored a goal.

Westville (2-13) got its lone goal in the 70th minute from Breanna McLane. The only senior the Blackhawks have is forward Kelly Salyer. They are slated to return eight juniors in 2010.

Portage 2, Chesterton 1

Portage's Tara Ellis scored on a header off a corner kick in the 78th minute to lead Portage to a 2-1 victory Thursday at the Portage Sectional.

Ellis, who's headed to Valparaiso University next year, got the perfect pass from Carly Bermes from the left-hand corner of the field right inside the 6-yard box.

Bermes scored in the 45th minute to give Portage (8-6-3) a 1-0 lead.

Chesterton responded in the 63rd minute when Tori Schroeder cleaned up a bouncing ball inside 12 yards.

Liz Koch played brilliantly in goal for the Trojans, who finished the season 9-6-2. She came on in relief early in the first half after starter Megan Behrendt went out with an injury following a collision. Koch made seven saves.