PREP ROUNDUP: Cougar runners get off to good start

Tuesday, August 21, 2018
South Putnam finished second in the team standings at Saturday’s Viking Invitational at West Vigo. Winners (from left) were Tanner Pistelli and Austin Arnold in No. 1 doubles, coach Johnny Briones and Thomas Fanning in No. 1 singles.
Contributed photo

North Putnam’s cross country teams got off to good starts last weekend, sweeping North Montgomery in dual meets on Friday and competing well in the Fountain Central Invitational on Saturday.

Against North Montgomery, Zach Huff won the two-mile boys’ race in 11:26 as the Cougars won 21-36.

In the girls’ meet, which also covered two miles, the Chargers had the first two finishers but Anna Haste placed third as the Cougars had the next six runners in winning 25-34.

“We were very excited about kicking off the season,” North coach Kevin Lutes said. “We fared pretty well on both sides. We have a solid base of kids returning, some great talent that has moved up from our middle school and have added a handful of athletes who have never done XC before.

“I look forward to seeing how they develop throughout the season.”

On Saturday, the Cougar girls placed fifth among nine complete teams and the North boys were seventh among 11 teams.

Grace Elmore was North’s top finisher in 20th place.

In the boys’ race, Huff was 17th overall

“Even with racing [Friday] night, I thought our teams finished well,’ Lutes said. “In both varsity races, we had respectable groups, although we’ll need to speed those groups up if we want to really compete in the championship season.

“At this point in the season and with what I see in practices, I’m confident we’re making improvements.”

Friday

Boys (two miles)

North Putnam 21, North Montgomery 36

North Putnam runners — 1. Huff 11:26; 2. Huffman 11:45; 4. Young 12:18; 6. Trotter 12:41; Lyons 12:44; 10. Bonebrake 12:48; 11. Hensley 12:51; 12. G.Jarboe 13:05; 13. S.Jarboe 13:11; 16. Farrington 14:25

Girls (two miles)

North Putnam 25,

North Montgomery 34

Winner — McClerkin (NM) 14:20

North Putnam runners — 3. Haste 14:37; 4. Day 14:47; 5. Elmore 15:05; 6. Fry 15:20; 7. Hensley 15:33; 8. Trotter 15:34; 11. Lyons 19:05

Saturday

Fountain Central Invitational

Boys

Team scores — Crawfordsville 49 (won tiebreaker), McCutcheon 49, Seeger 86, Fountain Central 113, Perry Meridian 115, Linton-Stockton 193, North Putnam 195, North Montgomery 203, Attica 257, South Vermillion 258, Covington 259

Winner — Josh Persin (M) 16:48

North Putnam runners — 17. Zach Huff 18:35; 39. Kyle Young 20:42; 43. Ellis Lyons 20:55; 46. Nic Hensley 21:17; 51. Matthew Trotter 21:37; 53. Adam Bonebrake 21:4768. Jacob Farrington 25:21.

Girls

Team scores — McCutcheon 46, Crawfordsville 58, Perry Meridian 90, Seeger 91, North Putnam 130, Covington 148, North Montgomery 156, Linton-Stockton 175, North Vermillion 271.

Winner — Madison Fry (C) 20:06

North Putnam runners — 22. Grace Elmore 24:18; 25. Anna Haste 24:28; 26. Jaden Day 24:32; 35. Madison Trotter 25:32; 39. Katie Fry 25:44; 43. Taylor Hensley 26:3764. Josie Lyons 31:56

Golf

Cougars cut strokes — North Putnam’s girls team competed in the Western Boone Invitational on Saturday. While team scores were not available, coach Linda Patrick saw improvement in her team.

“For not being on a golf course since last Monday against Northview, the Lady Cougars were able to transition some important tweaks to their game,” she said. “With some extra range practice and putting work, the Cougars managed to drop 55 strokes, carding a 444.”

There were several areas with which coach Patrick was pleased.

“Better striking with the driver, improved three-wood usage, chipping more under control, a large decrease in putts, better focus and better course management all played a role in this decrease,” she said. “This is a huge improvement within just one week, especially with outdoor practices being hampered by rain for several days.”

Abby Simmerman carded her best 18-hole ever with a 97. Patrick noted she was able to get 50 percent of her drives in the fairway and only had 26 putts.

Haylee Greene came in with a 108, largely due to hitting more greens on regulation. Nyiah Goff shot a 116, followed by Brittany Bonifacius with a 123. Grace Timm, playing her first 18-hole event this season, carded a 126.

“Overall, the Lady Cougars played well but will need to continue to improve the short game of chipping on for greens in regulation and getting fewer three putts,” Patrick said.

They will have three meets this coming week that will be critical to get them prepared for the WIC on Saturday.

Soccer

North Putnam 3, Cascade 2 (girls) — On Saturday, the Lady Cougars won their second game in a row by defeating Cascade.

Cascade scored twice in the second half on penalty kicks.

North’s Grace Fry, Sophia Lotzow and Kylee McCollough all found the back of the net for the second game in a row.

The Lady Cougars will be home today against Owen Valley.

Greencastle 10, North Putnam 1 (boys) — On Thursday, the Tiger Cubs scored five goals in each half to win the county championship.

Ben Parsons led the Tiger Cubs with four goals, while Hector Lezama had three goals and one assist, Jakob Foss had two goals and three assists, Sal Martoglio had one goal, Ivan Glotzbach had three assists, Jacob Baker had two assists and Matthew Muncie had one assist.

Covington 5, Greencastle 4 (boys) — On Saturday, the Tiger Cubs took a 3-0 halftime lead but were outscored 5-1 in the second half.

“The boys dominated the first half of the game,” Greencastle coach J.D. Sims said. “We had some great link-up play with several exceptional goals. Covington came out strong in the second half and put a goal in early.”

Sims said that at that point, his team “lost composure, communication broke down and emotions took over as Covington pounced on the lack of organization” by the Cubs.

“Greencastle will look to learn from the experience as we push forward in the toughest combination of games this season,” Sims said.

Hector Lezama had two goals to lead Greencastle, while Ben Parsons and Ivan Glotzbach each had one goal and one assist and Jakob Foss had one assist.

Tennis

Tiger Cubs split pair — On Saturday, Greencastle hosted both Sullivan and Parke Heritage and split on the day.

Greencastle topped Sullivan 5-0, while Parke Heritage topped the Tiger Cubs 4-1.

Greencastle 5, Sullivan 0

Singles — 1. Trent Ross (G) def. Keagan Meng (S) 6-0, 6-0; 2. Anthony Conley (G) def. Scott Fusco (S) 6-0, 6-0; 3. Greencastle won by forfeit.

Doubles — 1. Micah Hammond-Henry Carter (G) def. Jarod Couch-Brayden Cregle 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(12-10); 2. Eli Hardwick-Holton Miller (G) def. Carter Trowbridge-Noah Kincuid (S) 6-0, 6-0

Parke Heritage 4, Greencastle 1

Singles — 1. Clay Butler (PH) def. Trent Ross (G) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2; 2. Anthony Conley (G) def. Jack Gooch (PH) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(11-9); 3. Evan James (PH) def. Collin Gasway 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles — 1. Dylan Whitmer-Jorden Wood (PH) def. Micah Hammond-Henry Carter (G) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(11-9); 2. Riley Ferguson-R.J. Nelson (PH) def. Eli Hardwick-Holton Miller (G) 6-2, 6-3

Eagles place second — On Saturday, South Putnam finished second to West Vigo in the Viking Invitational.

Linton-Stockton placed third and White River Valley was fourth.

South’s Thomas Fanning (No. 1 singles) and No. 1 doubles team of Austin Arnold and Tanner Pistelli finished 2-0 and received medals for their positions.

“Everyone else finished 1-1 and finished third,” South coach Johnny Briones said. “Despite the warm temps and high humidity, everyone performed really well. I am proud of how everyone is performing and playing the thinking man’s game.”

South Putnam 5, Sullivan 0 — On Monday, the Eagles traveled to Sullivan won swept the Golden Arrows in a Western Indiana Conference match.

“Everyone played really well and with a lot of confidence,” South coach Johnny Briones said. “We were aggressive and served really well; all in all a great night for Eagle tennis.”

The Eagles won three matches by 6-0, 6-0 sweeps and only lost two sets in one match. The final match was forfeited by Sullivan.

Briones noted his team can’t rest, hosting West Vigo today and Northview on Wednesday.

South Putnam 5, Sullivan 0

Singles — 1. Thomas Fanning (SP) def. Kegan Meng (S) 6-0, 6-0; 2. Ty VanSickle (SP) def. Scott Fosco (S) 6-0, 6-0; 3. South Putnam won by forfeit

Doubles — 1. Austin Arnold-Tanner Pistelli (SP) def. Jared Couch-Brayden Cagle (S) 6-2, 6-0; 2. Trey Long-Brandon Rector (SP) def. Carter Trowbridge-Noah Kincaid (S) 6-0, 6-0.