Winter Sports Preview 2010
Wrestling
Jason Warthan, head coach of the University of Indianapolis men’s wrestling team, says that he has high expectations for his team this year. In his second year of coaching at the University of Indianapolis, he has set his goals high for the team.
Warthan said he would love to see his team finish in the top 10 and have more than five of his wrestlers competing in nationals come March 2011.
In order to reach these goals, he’s focusing on maximizing the time in practice with the team.
“Everything we do has a purpose,” Warthan said.
Team captains Matt Irwin and Ethan Harris share the same goals for the team as their coach. Both Irwin and Harris strive to push their team on and off the mats in order to make the top ten and each of them aspires to qualify for nationals individually, as well.
Senior Irwin and junior Harris agree that the talent is deeper this year and having some wrestlers that redshirted last year will “fill some holes” in the team.
“I think we’re going to do great. We’re pushing one another and no one’s afraid to speak up if someone’s not pulling their weight,” Harris said.
The UIndy team has a new schedule as regionals were realigned this year and will also be participating in two new tournaments.
The men’s wrestling team will officially kick off its season at the Michigan State Open on Nov. 14.
Swimming and Diving
Gary Kinkead is beginning on his 17th season as the University of Indianapolis’ men’s and women’s swimming head coach. Though his experience is vast at UIndy, Kinkead said his goals have remained much the same each year. Kinkead would like to see the team win conference titles and qualify for nationals, as he expects each and every season.
Without the high goals of conference titles and nationals, Kinkead said that he would feel, as if he were doing a “disservice” to the team if he were not pushing them to do their very best.
The captains for the 2010-2011 season are seniors Brad Rissler and Seth Smoker and junior Meghan Donahue. While all agree that they’d like to see team members qualify for nationals and place highly within the conference, the three captains also push their team outside of the pool as well.
Rissler said he would like everyone to be happy with the season and have fun.
“They’ve all been working really hard,” Smoker said.
Smoker has been pleased with the effort from the entire team. Donahue is the only captain for the women’s team this year. She recognizes the responsibility placed on her to push her team. While winning conference titles and ranking within the top 10 for nationals are certainly some of her top goals for the team, she also is pushing for “team bonding” and cohesiveness throughout the group.
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving team will have their next meet on Saturday, Nov. 6 at the Ruth Lilly Fitness Center.
Men’s Basketball
University of Indianapolis basketball is a time in transition said head coach for men’s basketball Stan Gouard.
According to Gouard after starting last season with a record of 7-3, the Greyhounds dealt with off-the-court problems and eventually finished with a 12-16 record.
This season the UIndy team only has four returning players from the 2009 squad. Senior guard Darius Adams, the leading scorer and 2nd Team All-GLVC guard, is among the four.
Adams has been named as a preseason 2nd Team All-American by the Sporting News and the Division II bulletin.
Senior forwards Nate Blank and DeWann Squires are returning as well as junior guard Paul Corsaro. The rest of the squad includes seven freshman and four transfers.
Adrian Moss, a junior transfer from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis [IUPUI], will get an opportunity to take over the point guard position for the Greyhounds’ offense.
Two junior transfers, forward Wilbur O’Neal and guard Cory Zackery, are players that Gouard says will help to solve the off-the-court issues.
“Cory Zackery and Wilbur O’Neal are two great model citizens that I’m really excited about,” Gouard said, “They’ve shown some great leadership skills, especially to our guys.”
Six of the Greyhounds first seven regular season games are at Nicoson Hall before the team heads down to Florida in mid-December. The season tips off Nov. 13 against IU Northwest.
Women’s Basketball
Last year, the Greyhounds started the season with 24 straight victories but faltered down the stretch and lost in the first game of the NCAA tournament. Now University of Indianapolis women’s basketball head coach LeAnn Freeland and senior forward Samantha Meissel must deal with the loss of Jessica Canary and Katie Dewey, both of whom graduated.
Even with several new players, the UIndy squad is ranked sixth in the country in preseason polls. Eight freshmen and one transfer joined the team and must learn Freeland’s motion offense before the season opener. Meissel has been named a preseason All-American by the Division II bulletin and will try to become the all-time leading scorer in Greyhound history only 364 points behind the first place current record holder Elizabeth Ramsey.
Alongside her are senior forward Katie Lyons and junior guard Cayla Keegan. Keegan will fill the position left by Dewey at the point guard position.
Sophomores Heather Gonser and Nickole Gonser, also returned this year and could see more playing time due to a year of experience under their belts.
“I think with the four seniors we lost, we definitely have some rebuilding to do,” Freeland said. “But I feel that we do have a very nice freshman group that have been challenged as high school players at the highest level.”
The Greyhounds will take to the road early on in the season with trips to Boston and Florida and a conference game in Northern Kentucky before the new year. The season opens with a home game against Saginaw Valley State on Nov. 17.
