MARCH 30, 2023

Sports The Bear

7
Another year of spring sports have begun
Girls Soccer forward to getting to spend my senior
season playing with a bunch of new Boys and Girls “going to Drake and State with our 4x1
squad.”
Caitlyn Harrison
Staff Writer
girls. I'm super excited that we have so
many people going out this year!” Track Schultes also had the fastest
100 on the team with 13.52.
This year, there are 26 girls Head Boys Coach Taylor Lar-
signed up! Emily Coleman son and Posivio both mentioned that
The girls soccer team finished Hosier said her goals for this Staff Writer
their last season with a record of 6-9. districts and RVC are the hardest meets
season are “to develop each player with because the teams are really outstanding
Head Coach Becky Hosier said better ball handling skills. As a team, we Track practice has just begun
in regards to last season, “Our goal in track and field.
want to be able to be more successful for both the boys and girls teams, and Kennedy Simpson is an in-
going into the season was to gain more with improving our fundamentals, being both teams are coming off of decent
interest for our program. We had 18 girls coming freshman on the team, and she
more conditioned than our opponents, seasons. Both teams made it to state and said, “I am most looking forward to
go out. Out of the 18 players, we had six and having fun.” they are hoping to be able to keep the
seniors and six first year players. Soccer meets. I love meeting new people and
Out of the 27 that went out, streak this upcoming season. getting to bond with my teammates.”
is a new sport in our town and myself many have never played before. Luke Posivio, head coach for
and Jose [Gongora] are happy to see She added, “I really hope my
First time soccer player and the girls team, said his goals for the sea- times in races improve and in high
more and more girls go out each season. Junior Peyton Braddock said, “I wanted son are to “have fun everyday, qualify
Every win we get is a bonus.” jump. I really hope I can clear five
to go out for soccer because a lot of my many events for Drake and State, and feet!”
Former WB sophomore Au- friends were participating in it; they all compete in meets as a top two finisher.”
gust Palmer was a standout for the team, Be sure to come and cheer on
said that it was really fun. Since I’m a Senior Avery Schultes said her the Bear track teams!
according to Assistant Coach Gongora. junior, I just wanted to try something favorite memory from last season was
He explained, “She was every- new and fun, so I thought that doing soc-
where, and we are going to miss her.” cer would be a good opportunity to do
Palmer transferred to Iowa City, City so!”
High School.
WB senior Isabel Pedersen
The coaches are excited to see
where this season takes their team. Their Boys Soccer Sophomore Timmy Hosier
said, “I would have to say Regina.”
said her favorite memory from last sea- first opportunity to showcase their new The team is a very cohesive
son was “knocking the same West Lib- and returning talent will be Monday, Emily Coleman group of people and in the end they all
erty girl down twice in ten seconds.” April 3 versus Tipton at Tipton City Staff Writer have one goal, to win. This year, some
Pedersen said, “I'm looking Park! players from Scattergood have joined
Soccer season is starting and and are hoping that they can put their
the team couldn’t be more excited to get knowledge of the game towards their
Girls Golf improve as a player!”
Assistant coach Angie Miller
on the field. Last season, the boys soccer
team ended the season with a 13 - 3
success.
Head Coach Ted Miller said, “I
said, “My goals as a coach are to help record and made it to the first round of am looking forward to seeing how we
Katey Noble build the girl's confidence and to not get playoffs, losing to Prince of Peace.
Staff Writer will overcome the loss of the four qual-
down after a bad round. Always moving In regard to who will be their ity seniors in Peyton, Gage, Luis, and
onward and upward!” Miller is con- biggest competition this year, junior Gavin. I am also excited to see the in-
As the 2023 season begins, the fident heading into the 2023 season, Cameron Gingrich said, “Not sure yet.
girls golf team looks forward to getting coming freshman on the pitch with the
saying, “We only lost one senior, so I A lot of teams around us lost key parts returning players. We have some talent
to know new members and helping am so excited to see what we can ac- of their team, so we don’t know much
them with their golf journey. in the freshman class.”
complish this year!” about other teams yet.”
Co-Captain Claire Jarrett said Head Coach Jan O’Neil said
she is looking to improve her “game and she is looking for the girls to improve.
continue to get better everyday!!” “Being consistent is a major goal for us
New member, also one of as well as getting the newcomers com-
WBHS’s three foreign exchange stu- fortable with the game and confident
dents, Tess Hammar said she is most ex-
Cooper Gates places 8th at state wrestling
with their contributions,” she said.
cited to “meet all the new people and

Boys Golf Junior Cameron Gingerich

said “I'm looking forward to seeing how
Maryam Martin
Staff Writer
far we can make it this year; the goal is
Katey Noble state.”
Staff Writer WBHS boys wrestling
Head coach Randy Sexton said season came to an end on a great
“I think it is going to be an exciting sea- note. The team sent the most ever
Coming off of a strong season son! For the first time in many years
last year, the boys golf team is looking qualifiers to state, Logan Wright
we're kind of approaching the season as earned his 100th win, and fresh-
forward to improving overall. the "hunters' vs. the 'hunted.’ My hope
Senior Will Bridges said he is man Cooper Gates placed 8th at
is that this will lead to our boys surpris- state.
looking forward to “seeing how the new ing others throughout the season for
faces do throughout the season.” While six total wrestlers
doubting us.” qualified for state, most of them
had hard competition and wished
they would have done better.
Freshman Logan Christ-
offel said, “I did really bad at
state and didn’t wrestle well.
There was also a lot of competi-
tion in my bracket.”
Although the wrestlers
don’t think they performed well
at state, they do agree they had a
great season but have some work
to do in the off season.
Gates said, “I think I did
really well this season. My goal
was just to make it to state, but
once I made it, I knew I had to
bring home a medal. I'm gonna
go to club practices and open
rooms this summer, and I'm also
gonna lift.”
The wrestlers plan to
come back next season even
stronger than this season. They
are all prepared to put in lots of
hard work in the off season.

Cooper Gates. Photo Contributed by Jake Slocum.

Girls and Boys basketball finish tough seasons

Caleb Pedersen so far. I feel that I met a lot of my
Staff Writer goals I had made at the beginning
of the season.” Stated Alyse
Boys and girls basketball Klinkkammer.
have ended with a challenging After coaching for 12
season. Boys finished with a 12- years, head coach, Jarod Tylee,
11 record and girls finished with and assistant coach, Rick Sexton
a 7-17 record. Although both have retired. Tylee says he is
girls and boys had tough seasons, stepping away for now to focus
the teams agreed there was a on helping out the youth teams
good amount of improvement. which his daughters are involved
“I feel the season went in.
well. I'm sure everyone wanted “I also think it’s a chance for the
more wins, but the improvement program to get a new voice, new
during the year really showed at ideas, and new energy.” Tylee
the end of the season.” Said girls pointed out.
assistant coach, Rick Sexton. “I'll miss the everyday in-
Lincoln Naber explained, teraction with the players and
“I finally got confident in scoring coaches. We've been blessed with
and could be a primary ball han- 12 years of good athletes and
dler.” great kids that were always a joy
“This season went very to be around and I can't thank
well for me personally. It was by them enough.” Described Sex-
far my best season that I have had ton.