MVP award winners: Front, left to right Mat Sommers (Diving), Margret Kleppe (Gymnastics), Carlie Frech (Diving) and Brittani Seely (Cheerleading). Middle row: Amber Vogan (Gymnastics), Myles Hiteman (Wrestling), Nick Oates (Swimming) and Jade Bowman (Cheerleading). Back row: Kelly Peller (Basketball), Stephanie Boyle (Basketball) and Christy Grcevich (Swimming). Not pictured: Matt Campbell (Basketball). (Tribune photo by Margaret Willis)

By JIMMY KISSEE

Chesterton High School held its 2004 Winter Sports Awards Banquet Tuesday night and once again, the Kevin Kinel led boys and girls swimming programs stole the show.

The Trojans swim teams, who placed 16 individuals combined on the all-Duneland Athletic Conference teams, each won sectional and conference titles, along with finishing in the top-10 at their respective state meets.

Kinel, who was honored with a standing ovation for being named the IHSAA Swim Coach of the Year, reflected on the careers of all of his seniors.

The Chesterton senior boys, led by Most Valuable Swimmer Nick Oates, who was also awarded the DAC MVP, ended their four-year tenure with a perfect dual meet record of 44-0. They captured conference and sectional titles all four years, along with ending in the top-10 at state all four years.

For the girls, senior captains Cortney Lipniskis, this year’s Mental Attitude Award winner, and Susan Johnson, winner of the Sportsmanship Award, along with fellow classmates Allison Koval and Sarah Rosiecki led the Lady Trojans to a dual meet record of 38-6 the past four seasons. They also claimed the sectional and conference championships all four years, and finished top-10 in the state three of the four years.

Christy Grcevich ended her special freshman season by picking up the Most Valuable Swimmer award after winning the state title in the 100 Fly and finishing runner-up in the 50 free, both were All-American times. She individually set school-records in the 200 IM, 100 Fly and 100 Breast. Kinel summed up Grcevich’s unbelievable season with one word - ‘Wow’.

Regional qualifier Carlie Frech and State qualifier Mat Sommers were each awarded the Most Valuable Divers after impressive seasons, while Ruth Bass was awarded the Most Improved Freshman, Kendra Prather was the Most Improved Sophomore, Lynzi Lorenz won Most Improved Junior and Ashley Fozkos earned the Most Improved Diver.

On the boys side, Kyle Pawlak received the Mental Attitude award, Jon Sichtermann won the Sportsmanship Award, Steve Oates was named the Most Improved Freshman, Casey Rosiecki earned the Most Improved Sophomore, Andy Schick was given the Most Improved Junior and Adam Alfaro claimed the Most Improved Diver award.

In basketball, the Trojans (13-8) whose season finished with a disappointing loss in the first round of the sectional, still overachieved most of the season.

Matt Campbell, who climbed all the way to fifth on the CHS all-time scoring list after scoring in double-figures 19 of Chesterton’s 21 games, was the easy choice for Most Valuable Player. Campbell’s senior campaign was a special one.

He averaged 19 points, six assists, six rebounds, while shooting over 40-percent from the three point land and over 80-percent from the free throw line. Second-year coach Tom Peller accredited Campbell as being one of the best players to ever wear the maroon and gold.

Josh Malone, who scored almost 200 more points from last year, earned the Most Improved Award, while three-sport standout Casey Martin, who totaled five double-doubles this season, secured both the Mental Attitude and Sportsmanship Award. Matt Maple was named the best defensive player and was given the Trojan Award.

In girls basketball, Chesterton coach Jack Campbell, who provided the comic relief for the night, earned his 200th victory this season, along with recently celebrating his 60th birthday.

The Lady Trojans, who finished the season 14-8, look to be even better next season as both the Co-MVP’s junior Stephanie Boyle and sophomore Kelly Peller each return.

Rachel Hargarten, who provided a much needed lift of the bench this season for CHS, received the Most Improved Award, while senior leaders Christine Vidimos and Cat Campbell won the Mental Attitude Award and Sportsmanship Award, respectively. Vidimos was also honored for her Academic All-State selection.

The Cheerleaders received special recognition for their hard work over the year.

CHS Athletic Director Garry Nallenweg extended his gratitude towards the team and said, “This is probably one of the most under appreciated groups for all the time and hard work they put in.”

Senior captains, Jade Bowman and Brittani Seely shared the Most Valuable Awards, while Lisa Christensen won the Most Improved, Allison Glock received the Mental Attitude and Ali Lawson earned the Sportsmanship Award.

In gymnastics, Kathy Wilburn extended her appreciation for all the support and help in her first year as head coach.

Wilburn took an inexperienced, but determined team all the way to a few points from qualifying for the team regional, which is rather remarkable considering what the Trojans lost from last season.

Senior teammates Amber Vogan and Margret Kleppe, Chesterton’s lone regional qualifiers, shared the Most Valuable Awards, followed by Jessica Pesut and Juliana Weaver taking the Most Improved honors and Mallory Mickus, who Wilburn explained was a doer, not a complainer, received the Mental Attitude Award.

Vogan, who earned a spot on Academic All-State team, also brought home the Sportsmanship Award. Jessica Kuehl, whose season fell short after tearing her ACL, was honored by an all-DAC selection.

Kristin Catherman and Laura Duda won the Maroon and Gold Award, and Catherman and Ashley Crepps were named the top Level II scorers.

In wrestling, Myles Hiteman, Chesterton’s first state qualifier since 2001, helped Chris Joll get off to a solid start in his first year as head coach.

Hiteman was 1-of-2 Trojan grapplers to post 30 wins which earned him the Most Valuable Award.

Ethan Newham received the Most Improved Award, while Ruben Lozano, whose past two season have ended early, took home the Mental Attitude Award.

Jon Evers brought back the Sportsmanship Award and Freshman Andy St. Germain, Chesterton’s other 30 match winner and sophomore Andy St. Germain received the Dedication Awards.

Other award winners include:

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

WINTER, 2004

(Based on a 1st semester final grade or cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better.)

BOYS SWIMMING

Gage Barry, Eric Foor, Patrick Glasgow, Sean Handley, Nick Oates, Kyle Pawlak, Troy Pawlak, Mike Schlundt, Doug Thorne.   GIRLS SWIMMING

Katie Cahillane, Ashley Furmankiewicz, Christy Grcevich, Kati Hollingsworth, Pam Johnson, Susan Johnson, Sarah Kehe, Allsion Koval, Kendra Prather, Emelie Sellberg, Talor Whitaker.

WRESTLING

Dave Evers, Jon Evers, John Hanson, Peter Horban, Ruben Lozano, Ethan Newham, John VanDenburgh.

CHEERLEADING

Alyssa Flisiak, Melissa Frye, Alessandra Horban, Rebecca Kharsa, Kate Nevitt, Brittani Seely, Tara Vogan.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Lindsey Andershock, Heather Banghart, Kate Bement, Kristin Chemma, Lyndi Fekete, Rachel Hartgarten, Kristin Kalita, Holly Melton, Kelly Peller, Katrina Pradzid, Katie Schneckenburger, Karli Smith, Katie Stahura, Katie Talbert, Christine Vidimos, Kate Wheeler, Maddie Wilk.

GYMNASTICS

Sarah Cohn, Laura Duda, Mallory Mickus, Jessica Pesut, Amber Vogan, Juliana Weaver.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Mark Babcock, Curt Bradford, Josh Cutter, Andrew Huddleston, Adam Hutnick, Ryan Hutnick, Kyle Lawrence, Casey Martin, Mike Miller, Bryan Povlinski, Chase Saylor, Evan Schmidt, John Torabi.

BOYS SWIMMING

VARSITY AWARDS SENIORS

Rafael Aguero, Kevin Black, Gavin McCarthy, Nick Oates, Mike Sheppard, Doug Thorne.

JUNIORS

George Grcevich, Kyle Pawlak, Andy Schick, Jon Sichtermann.

SOPHOMORES

Adam Alfaro, Gage Barry, Rob Fozkos, Larry Keppen, Casey Rosiecki, Matt Sommers.

FRESHMEN

Anthony Aguero, Thomas Darnell, Craig Hasbargen, Tim Hroma, Steve Oates, Troy Pawlak, Mike Schlundt.

JV AWARDS

Eric Foor (9), Patrick Glasgow (9), Sean Handley (9), Jake Norgaard (12).

CAPTAINS

George Grcevich, Nick Oates, Kyle Pawlak.

GIRLS SWIMMING

VARSITY AWARDS SENIORS

Susan Johnson, Allison Koval, Cortney Lipniskis, Sarah Rosiecki. JUNIORS

Kelti Cunningham, Lynzi Lorenz, Jessie Reeder.

SOPHOMORES

Jamie Detmar, Ashley Furmankiewicz, Pam Johnson, Sarah Kehe, Amber McCammon, Kendra Prather. FRESHMAN

Ruth Bass, Katie Cahillane, Kellie Cahillane, Cassie Calloway, Ashley Fozkos, Carlie Frech, Christy Grcevich, Stephanie Maggio, Nikki Pierce, Kate Stephens, Talor Whitaker, Lina Yanson.

JV AWARDS

Casey Freeman (10), Elizabeth Halpin (9), Kati Hollingsworth (9), Jackie Leach (12), Renee McCafferty (9), Emelie Sellberg (11), Katie Stauffer (9), Aleksaundra Vingradera (11).

CAPTAINS

Susan Johnson, Cortney Lipniskis.

BOYS BASKETBALL AWARDS

VARSITY AWARDS SENIORS

Matt Campbell, Josh Malone. JUNIORS

Matt Maple, Casey Martin, Jake Morton.

SOPHOMORES Curt Bradford, Adam Nallenweg.

FRESHMEN

Evan Schmidt

JV AWARDS

Chris Allison (11), Mark Babcock (9), Tyler Cawby (10), Jordyn Gorski (10), Adam Hutnick (9), Ryan Hutnick (10), A.J. Jones (9), Jason Kroh (10), Bryan Povlinski (11), Chase Saylor (9), Ryan Wells (9), Kyle Yelton (10).

FRESHMAN AWARDS

Mike Briggs, Eric Bunch, Josh Cutler, Andrew Greaves, Nick Holt, Andrew Huddleston, Simon Jeffrey, Kyle Lawrence, Mike Miller, Kyle Schau, John Torabi, Corey Valpatic, Josh Zimmerman.

MANAGERS

Jillian Evans and Michelle Moser.

CAPTAINS

Matt Campbell, Casey Martin.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

VARSITY AWARDS

SENIORS

Alicia Babcock, Cat Campbell, Holly Melton, Christine Vidimos.

JUNIORS

Heather Banghart, Stephanie Boyle.

SOPHOMORES

Rachel Hargarten, Kelly Peller, Katrina Pradziad, Molly Rau, Maddie Wilk.

JV AWARDS

Lindsey Andershock (10), Ali DeYoung (10), Ashley Knezevich (10), Kara Leonard (10), Tina Reid (10), Katie Stahura (10), Gabby VanDenburgh (10), Kate Wheeler (10).

FRESHMEN

Kate Bennett, Kristin Chemma, Brittany Craycraft, Julie Farmer, Lyndi Fekete, Meagan Gutierrez, Angela Hullinger, Kristin Kalita, Dawn McClellan, Keri O’Brien, Sabrina Pradziad, Katie Schneckenburger, Karli Smith, Stacy Stawitcke, Katie Talbert.

CAPTAINS

Stephanie Boyle, Cat Campbell, Kelly Peller.

CHEERLEADING AWARDS

VARSITY AWARDS SENIORS

Jake Bowman, Allison Glock, Brittani Seely. JUNIORS

Lauren Carr, Lisa Christensen, Alessandra Horban.

SOPHOMORES

Teresa Brunker, Jessica Kuehl, Ali Lawson, Kate Nevitt, Ashley Thomas, Veronica Walton.

JV AWARDS

Ashley Hanson (9), Kari King (10), Brittany McCoy (9), Amanda Roberts (11), Kari Ross (9).

FRESHMEN AWARDS

Lindsay Bieda, Alyssa Flisiak, Melissa Frye, Rebecca Kharsa, Susan Lowe, Shannon O’Reilly, Angela Stewart, Tara Vogan.

CAPTAINS

Jade Bowman, Brittani Seely.

GYMNASTICS AWARDS

VARSITY AWARDS SENIORS

Laura Duda, Margret Kleppe, Mallory Mickus, Amber Vogan.

SOPHOMORES

Kristin Catherman, Jessica Kuehl, Jessica Pesut. FRESHMEN

Sarah Cohn, Ashley Crepps, Juliana Weaver.

JV AWARD

Aimee Fasone (9)

MANAGERS

Erik Ledbetter, Doug Wilburn.

WRESTLING

VARSITY AWARDS SENIORS

Jim Bard, Myles Hiteman, Ruben Lozano, Tom Thorstad, Nate Tressler.

JUNIORS

Joe Brunsvold, Patrick Cubb-erley, Sam Doerr, Dave Evers, Jon Evers, John Hanson, Ethan Newham. SOPHOMORES

Matt Dutcher. FRESHMEN

Peter Horban, Alex Sanchez, Andy St. Germain. JV AWARDS

Jimmy Armstrong (9), Alex Chrzan (10), Myles Evans (9), Chris Hoenke (9), Matt Jackson (9), Kirk Johnson (9), Brandon Kniola (9), Jon Kritzer (9), Kevin Myrick (11), Josh Peterson (10), Anthony Rodriguez (11), Jacob Thornton (9), Scott Tully (10), John Van Denburgh (11).

CAPTAINS

Jim Bard, Myles Hiteman.

Posted 3/10/2004