Swim team season preview
By Megan Hatfield
The swim team started practicing and working hard in November for there for 2014-2015 season. Swim season goes from November to around February depending on how far the relay teams, and individuals make it in the state tournament.
The swim team’s home pool is New Albany, but they practice at Denison University’s aquatic center. They have meets almost every Saturday from December to February. February starts sectionals and from there it’s about who makes it to keep swimming. The swim team has weightlifting two days a week along with practice every night to prepare for the season.
The swim team has the same head coach as last year, Rachel Furr. They have a new assistant coach, Paul Demchak. Josie Bunstine (‘16) says “both of the coaches work really well with the teams, and they both have good insight on swimming workouts and tactics.” Bunstine said she was excited for the upcoming season because “there are a lot of new freshman who should be good additions to the team.” They also have eight seniors swimming for their last season.
Everyone on the swim team fills out goal sheets before the season starts. Chris Lindsay (‘15) says his goal is to beat the 50 free. Bryce Curtis (‘15) said his goal is to be on a relay team. Jason Dean (‘15) said he is still working on his goal sheet. Dean wants to swim in college. All three of the boys said they are excited for their senior swim season.
Curtis encourages everyone to swim because “the coaches are cool, it keeps you in shape, and is a lot of fun.” Curtis, Lindsay, and Dean all agreed that swimming throughout high school was a great experience and they encourage all underclassmen to try swimming.
Tori Strong (‘18) says “I swim because it’s fun and gets me in shape.” She said she is excited for this years season and thinks it will go well. Strong said her goal is to beat the breaststroke record.
Bunstine says her main goal this year is to “make it to states because she has been very close the past two year.” Bunstine joined a new club team, went to a new trainer, and to a nutritionist to get in the best shape possible to meet her goal. Bunstine works year round on swimming. Along with Bunstine, Katie Darby (‘18) and Maddie Griffith (‘18) swim club along with swimming for the school.
Everyone on the swim team is working to break their own personal records along with school records. They also will be working all season to meet their personal goals that they came up with in the beginning of the season. The swim team is striving for a successful and eventful season.
-Megan Hatfield ('15) is the Chief Photo Editor and a Staff Writer for the Viking Vault.
By Megan Hatfield
The swim team started practicing and working hard in November for there for 2014-2015 season. Swim season goes from November to around February depending on how far the relay teams, and individuals make it in the state tournament.
The swim team’s home pool is New Albany, but they practice at Denison University’s aquatic center. They have meets almost every Saturday from December to February. February starts sectionals and from there it’s about who makes it to keep swimming. The swim team has weightlifting two days a week along with practice every night to prepare for the season.
The swim team has the same head coach as last year, Rachel Furr. They have a new assistant coach, Paul Demchak. Josie Bunstine (‘16) says “both of the coaches work really well with the teams, and they both have good insight on swimming workouts and tactics.” Bunstine said she was excited for the upcoming season because “there are a lot of new freshman who should be good additions to the team.” They also have eight seniors swimming for their last season.
Everyone on the swim team fills out goal sheets before the season starts. Chris Lindsay (‘15) says his goal is to beat the 50 free. Bryce Curtis (‘15) said his goal is to be on a relay team. Jason Dean (‘15) said he is still working on his goal sheet. Dean wants to swim in college. All three of the boys said they are excited for their senior swim season.
Curtis encourages everyone to swim because “the coaches are cool, it keeps you in shape, and is a lot of fun.” Curtis, Lindsay, and Dean all agreed that swimming throughout high school was a great experience and they encourage all underclassmen to try swimming.
Tori Strong (‘18) says “I swim because it’s fun and gets me in shape.” She said she is excited for this years season and thinks it will go well. Strong said her goal is to beat the breaststroke record.
Bunstine says her main goal this year is to “make it to states because she has been very close the past two year.” Bunstine joined a new club team, went to a new trainer, and to a nutritionist to get in the best shape possible to meet her goal. Bunstine works year round on swimming. Along with Bunstine, Katie Darby (‘18) and Maddie Griffith (‘18) swim club along with swimming for the school.
Everyone on the swim team is working to break their own personal records along with school records. They also will be working all season to meet their personal goals that they came up with in the beginning of the season. The swim team is striving for a successful and eventful season.
-Megan Hatfield ('15) is the Chief Photo Editor and a Staff Writer for the Viking Vault.
Adkins prepares for next step in wrestling career
By Chad Campbell
NORTHRIDGE - While Jake Adkins is eager to begin his senior year wrestling for Northridge, he is very excited to begin the next chapter in his wrestling career at Princeton. “I often find myself daydreaming about what it’s going to be like at Princeton,” says Adkins.
Adkins, will be attending The Princeton University next fall to continue his wrestling career.
The Universities of Brown and Chicago were also interested in Adkins, but he felt his best match was at
Princeton.
Jake will be wrestling in the 125 weight class when he attends Princeton next year and will be wrestling
in the 113 and 120 weight class for his senior year at Northridge.
Adkins has really high hopes for his senior year of wrestling. “I have been training really hard all
throughout the off season and I’m really hoping all the hard work pays off this year." Adkins has high
hopes of winning the state tournament this year.
“I really think Jake has the potential to win states this year and I’m proud of him for working so hard this
off season” says junior Mason Royer.
His freshman year he qualified for states, took 8th place his sophomore year and took 4th place in
state his junior year.
“College wrestling will be a pretty big change compared to high school but I am looking forward to the
challenge and bettering myself” says Adkins.
Adkins was not able to get a scholarship to wrestle at Princeton because Ivy League schools are not able
to give sports based scholarships. Instead, they give need based scholarships which are based on how
much your family is able to pay and then Princeton pays for the rest.
Adkins is expecting a full ride and a certain percentage of room and board.
Adkins started wrestling when he went into kindergarten and has been wrestling ever since.
-Chad Campbell ('15) is the Sports Editor and a Staff Writer for the Viking Vault.
By Chad Campbell
NORTHRIDGE - While Jake Adkins is eager to begin his senior year wrestling for Northridge, he is very excited to begin the next chapter in his wrestling career at Princeton. “I often find myself daydreaming about what it’s going to be like at Princeton,” says Adkins.
Adkins, will be attending The Princeton University next fall to continue his wrestling career.
The Universities of Brown and Chicago were also interested in Adkins, but he felt his best match was at
Princeton.
Jake will be wrestling in the 125 weight class when he attends Princeton next year and will be wrestling
in the 113 and 120 weight class for his senior year at Northridge.
Adkins has really high hopes for his senior year of wrestling. “I have been training really hard all
throughout the off season and I’m really hoping all the hard work pays off this year." Adkins has high
hopes of winning the state tournament this year.
“I really think Jake has the potential to win states this year and I’m proud of him for working so hard this
off season” says junior Mason Royer.
His freshman year he qualified for states, took 8th place his sophomore year and took 4th place in
state his junior year.
“College wrestling will be a pretty big change compared to high school but I am looking forward to the
challenge and bettering myself” says Adkins.
Adkins was not able to get a scholarship to wrestle at Princeton because Ivy League schools are not able
to give sports based scholarships. Instead, they give need based scholarships which are based on how
much your family is able to pay and then Princeton pays for the rest.
Adkins is expecting a full ride and a certain percentage of room and board.
Adkins started wrestling when he went into kindergarten and has been wrestling ever since.
-Chad Campbell ('15) is the Sports Editor and a Staff Writer for the Viking Vault.
Northridge Wrestling
By Chad Campbell
(Photo: Jake Adkins, Forest Belli, Steele Strout, Mason Royer, Hunter Corbin, Tyler Holley, Jake Feyh. Photo by M. Dalton.)
NORTHRIDGE - With fall sports coming to an end, winter sports like wrestling will begin to start up and prepare for the season that lies ahead.
The wrestling season officially starts November 14 with their first official practice. The Vikings are coached by Head coach, Eric Potts, and assistant coaches, Bill Williams and Jack Adkins.
Potts is entering his 13th year of coaching wrestling programs. He has coached one year at Cameron High School in West Virginia, three years at Columbus Academy, four years for out middle school team and is starting his fifth year coaching at Northridge High School.
“I’m most looking forward to seeing how our wrestlers react to void created by the several influential seniors that have left in the past few years. All of our wrestlers will need to work hard to fill that gap, and I’m excited to see some new kids step up and become leaders on the team” says Coach Potts.
The Vikings look to have a good season ahead of them. The Vikings have put a lot of work into the off season to prepare themselves for the upcoming season.
“We haven’t spent very much time as a team on the mats up to now, we’ve been focusing more on strength and conditioning” says Jake Adkins (15’). The Vikings have also done a number of other things to prepare for the season.
“A few of us have been hitting the weight room pretty hard with a personal trainer that specializes in wrestling for the past few months” says Mason Royer (16’). A few of the wrestlers also participated in a technique session for wrestling at Ohio University on November 9th.
The Vikings might have a little tougher season this year with losing a few essential seniors last year says Adkins. “Some of the younger guys are going to have step up this year to help us reach our goal of winning an LCL title” says Royer.
“Unfortunately we just don’t have the numbers this year to be a threatening dual team, but we do have several great wrestlers. Because of this, we want to focus on raising individual records as high as they can be so that we can have about a 75% win ratio for the team when we combine all of the individual records” says Coach Potts.
“I’m looking forward to how we will compete as a team because I believe we are going to fill a lot of the empty holes in our line up from last year with the additions of a few young men that have wrestling experience and are eager to compete” says coach, Jack Adkins.
-Chad Campbell ('15) is the Sports Editor and a Staff Writer for The Viking Vault
By Chad Campbell
(Photo: Jake Adkins, Forest Belli, Steele Strout, Mason Royer, Hunter Corbin, Tyler Holley, Jake Feyh. Photo by M. Dalton.)
NORTHRIDGE - With fall sports coming to an end, winter sports like wrestling will begin to start up and prepare for the season that lies ahead.
The wrestling season officially starts November 14 with their first official practice. The Vikings are coached by Head coach, Eric Potts, and assistant coaches, Bill Williams and Jack Adkins.
Potts is entering his 13th year of coaching wrestling programs. He has coached one year at Cameron High School in West Virginia, three years at Columbus Academy, four years for out middle school team and is starting his fifth year coaching at Northridge High School.
“I’m most looking forward to seeing how our wrestlers react to void created by the several influential seniors that have left in the past few years. All of our wrestlers will need to work hard to fill that gap, and I’m excited to see some new kids step up and become leaders on the team” says Coach Potts.
The Vikings look to have a good season ahead of them. The Vikings have put a lot of work into the off season to prepare themselves for the upcoming season.
“We haven’t spent very much time as a team on the mats up to now, we’ve been focusing more on strength and conditioning” says Jake Adkins (15’). The Vikings have also done a number of other things to prepare for the season.
“A few of us have been hitting the weight room pretty hard with a personal trainer that specializes in wrestling for the past few months” says Mason Royer (16’). A few of the wrestlers also participated in a technique session for wrestling at Ohio University on November 9th.
The Vikings might have a little tougher season this year with losing a few essential seniors last year says Adkins. “Some of the younger guys are going to have step up this year to help us reach our goal of winning an LCL title” says Royer.
“Unfortunately we just don’t have the numbers this year to be a threatening dual team, but we do have several great wrestlers. Because of this, we want to focus on raising individual records as high as they can be so that we can have about a 75% win ratio for the team when we combine all of the individual records” says Coach Potts.
“I’m looking forward to how we will compete as a team because I believe we are going to fill a lot of the empty holes in our line up from last year with the additions of a few young men that have wrestling experience and are eager to compete” says coach, Jack Adkins.
-Chad Campbell ('15) is the Sports Editor and a Staff Writer for The Viking Vault
Indoor track season starts running
By Megan Dalton
NORTHRIDGE - Northridge High School is about to start their 2nd annual indoor track season. This season will be coached by the new coaches also coaching the spring outdoor track season.
Indoor track is held in January through the indoor state meet which is held March 7th. Northridge’s first indoor track practice will be held January 11th and will be either inside the school building or, if the weather permits, a nice outside run to prepare for the season.
The distances for indoor track events are slightly different than the distances ran for the outdoor season. A standard indoor track is 200 meters around, half the size of a standard outdoor track, but unlike outdoor tracks, indoor tracks vary in length depending on the floor space available.
The high school indoor meets are held in at colleges on their indoor track. The events vary due the size of the track, but they do still have most of the same track and field events. The season’s first meet will be held at Ohio Wesleyan on January 24th.
This year the distance and mid-distance runners, along with the long-jumpers, will be under the leadership of new coach and 10th grade English teacher, Ms. Murphy. Murphy ran outdoor track during her high school years and will share her knowledge from her years of long jumping to the young athletes. Murphy also worked alongside fellow English teacher, Mrs.Garee, and helped coach this year’s cross-country season. Murphy shares that she is, “very excited to help coach these upcoming track seasons.”
Mr. Featheringill is the head coach and will coach the sprints. Mr. Massimer will be coaching the throwing events, along with leading the workouts during the season.
Mr.Morgan is the new Athletic Director and Vice Principal and is also, “looking forward to the season.” Morgan knows the selection of kids who run indoor is slightly smaller than the selection of the outdoor runners but hopes that will change. “In order to have a great outdoor track season, we need to have a good indoor season. The indoor season helps train and shape the athletes to be the best they can be for the later outdoor season.”
The coaching staff, along with the participants, say they look forward to having a good season.
-Megan Dalton (’16) is the Jr. Sports Editor and a Staff Writer for the Viking Vault
By Megan Dalton
NORTHRIDGE - Northridge High School is about to start their 2nd annual indoor track season. This season will be coached by the new coaches also coaching the spring outdoor track season.
Indoor track is held in January through the indoor state meet which is held March 7th. Northridge’s first indoor track practice will be held January 11th and will be either inside the school building or, if the weather permits, a nice outside run to prepare for the season.
The distances for indoor track events are slightly different than the distances ran for the outdoor season. A standard indoor track is 200 meters around, half the size of a standard outdoor track, but unlike outdoor tracks, indoor tracks vary in length depending on the floor space available.
The high school indoor meets are held in at colleges on their indoor track. The events vary due the size of the track, but they do still have most of the same track and field events. The season’s first meet will be held at Ohio Wesleyan on January 24th.
This year the distance and mid-distance runners, along with the long-jumpers, will be under the leadership of new coach and 10th grade English teacher, Ms. Murphy. Murphy ran outdoor track during her high school years and will share her knowledge from her years of long jumping to the young athletes. Murphy also worked alongside fellow English teacher, Mrs.Garee, and helped coach this year’s cross-country season. Murphy shares that she is, “very excited to help coach these upcoming track seasons.”
Mr. Featheringill is the head coach and will coach the sprints. Mr. Massimer will be coaching the throwing events, along with leading the workouts during the season.
Mr.Morgan is the new Athletic Director and Vice Principal and is also, “looking forward to the season.” Morgan knows the selection of kids who run indoor is slightly smaller than the selection of the outdoor runners but hopes that will change. “In order to have a great outdoor track season, we need to have a good indoor season. The indoor season helps train and shape the athletes to be the best they can be for the later outdoor season.”
The coaching staff, along with the participants, say they look forward to having a good season.
-Megan Dalton (’16) is the Jr. Sports Editor and a Staff Writer for the Viking Vault
Girls' basketball shoots for another great season
By Jamie Swickard
(Photo: The Lady Vikes during The Star-Spangled Banner at Granville High School. Photo by S. Olmstead.)
NORTHRIDGE- With winter sports starting up, the girl’s basketball program wishes to perform as well as they did their previous season.
The Lady Vikes began practice at the end of October under the supervision of JV coach, Stacey Higgins and head coach, Joe Rucker.
When asked how Rucker prepared his girls for the season he said, “Coach Higgins had been running open gyms every Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the season. Since I coach football at Mount Vernon High School, I hadn’t been able to go to many of the open gyms but I know the girls worked hard”.
Rucker says in order to prepare the girls for the games to come, they will do a lot of conditioning, “Since we are low on numbers, girls will have to be able to play a lot of minutes without a lot of breaks”.
Along with having to play a lot of minutes Rucker says he expects his girls to work hard every practice and to get better everyday. “I expect my returning players to work even harder than last year and to show leadership for the younger players”.
Mikaela Pankuch (’15) and returning player says, “I’m eager to start playing games again this year. My goal is for our team to go even further in the tournament than we did the previous season. I want to apart of the first girls basketball team in at least 20 years to make it to the district finals”.
This season, Rucker says he is most looking forward to “seeing if we can take the next step in making Northridge girls basketball a power. We made huge strides last year, but this is a new season. We need to continue building this program with hard work, passion, and desire.”
Basketball player, Dayna Martin (’18) says, “I love the work ethic Coach Rucker asks from us; he demands 100% effort and that’s what will make us successful this year”.
The Lady Vikes season begins December 3rd with a home game against the Johnstown Johnnies.
Belinda Marcum (’15) says, “It would be awesome to beat our rivals the first game of the season. All the girls want that and are we are working hard everyday not only to beat them but to beat all the other teams that will underestimate us”.
Losing the seniors last year will be hard on the Lady Vibes this year. Rucker says, “I expect my players to come back this year and be able to fill the shoes of the seniors last year”.
The Lady Vike’s basketball team ended with a record of 11-9 last season as sectional champions and competed in the district semi-finals.
Rucker will be returning for his second year as the Northridge girl’s head coach and his fifth year as a head varsity coach for girls basketball.
-Jamie Swickard (’16) is the Web Junior Editor-in-Chief and a Staff Writer for The Viking Vault.
By Jamie Swickard
(Photo: The Lady Vikes during The Star-Spangled Banner at Granville High School. Photo by S. Olmstead.)
NORTHRIDGE- With winter sports starting up, the girl’s basketball program wishes to perform as well as they did their previous season.
The Lady Vikes began practice at the end of October under the supervision of JV coach, Stacey Higgins and head coach, Joe Rucker.
When asked how Rucker prepared his girls for the season he said, “Coach Higgins had been running open gyms every Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the season. Since I coach football at Mount Vernon High School, I hadn’t been able to go to many of the open gyms but I know the girls worked hard”.
Rucker says in order to prepare the girls for the games to come, they will do a lot of conditioning, “Since we are low on numbers, girls will have to be able to play a lot of minutes without a lot of breaks”.
Along with having to play a lot of minutes Rucker says he expects his girls to work hard every practice and to get better everyday. “I expect my returning players to work even harder than last year and to show leadership for the younger players”.
Mikaela Pankuch (’15) and returning player says, “I’m eager to start playing games again this year. My goal is for our team to go even further in the tournament than we did the previous season. I want to apart of the first girls basketball team in at least 20 years to make it to the district finals”.
This season, Rucker says he is most looking forward to “seeing if we can take the next step in making Northridge girls basketball a power. We made huge strides last year, but this is a new season. We need to continue building this program with hard work, passion, and desire.”
Basketball player, Dayna Martin (’18) says, “I love the work ethic Coach Rucker asks from us; he demands 100% effort and that’s what will make us successful this year”.
The Lady Vikes season begins December 3rd with a home game against the Johnstown Johnnies.
Belinda Marcum (’15) says, “It would be awesome to beat our rivals the first game of the season. All the girls want that and are we are working hard everyday not only to beat them but to beat all the other teams that will underestimate us”.
Losing the seniors last year will be hard on the Lady Vibes this year. Rucker says, “I expect my players to come back this year and be able to fill the shoes of the seniors last year”.
The Lady Vike’s basketball team ended with a record of 11-9 last season as sectional champions and competed in the district semi-finals.
Rucker will be returning for his second year as the Northridge girl’s head coach and his fifth year as a head varsity coach for girls basketball.
-Jamie Swickard (’16) is the Web Junior Editor-in-Chief and a Staff Writer for The Viking Vault.
Boys' Basketball season starting up
By Hunter Adkins
(Photo by M. Hatfield)
NORTHRIDGE- As the season fast approaches in December, the boys’ basketball team is busy with preparation. The team has been doing a variety of shoot outs and other preparation as well as open gyms, outdoor training, long distance training, shooting days, and four person workouts with a new coaching staff, including Brian Blume, Coach Chambers, and Coach Elliot.
Coach Blume is coming back from his last head coaching position for boys Varsity basketball from Northridge in 2005. Since then, he has been the girls Varsity basketball coach from 2005-2007. After that he was the Licking Valley Varsity boys’ basketball coach. From there he did a variety of middle school basketball coaching.
He is very glad to be back into the program. “I love the community, I love the kids, and I love teaching here. Eventually I would love to retire here as the boys Varsity basketball coach,” Blume said.
Some of the goals for the team he has, “are to win the league, make a run for the districts and make it far into the state tournament.” He went on to say that, “my more personal goals for the team are to improve defensively and rebound better. That will help us achieve the goals I have as a team. It will also help out us in a position for the league.”
He has helped prepare the team, and they had, “a good, active summer and we went to four or five shootouts and really worked on our skills. We did a team camp here at Northridge, and we did a variety of activities helping us improve.” Overall he wants, “a change in the culture here for the basketball program and wants to make an identity for the program.”
The team is looking for them to, "bring a positive change for the basketball program," Senior varsity starter Chad Campbell (’15) said. Campbell also said, "We have the potential to be pretty good this year, and I hope to have a positive record."
Daniel Hatfield ('17) said, "I like the new coaches a lot. They make us work hard, so hopefully it will pay off and we will do better and be more successful." He went on to say his goals for the year were to, "win the LCL title and win as many games as we can."
-Hunter Adkins (’15) is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer for The Viking Vault.
By Hunter Adkins
(Photo by M. Hatfield)
NORTHRIDGE- As the season fast approaches in December, the boys’ basketball team is busy with preparation. The team has been doing a variety of shoot outs and other preparation as well as open gyms, outdoor training, long distance training, shooting days, and four person workouts with a new coaching staff, including Brian Blume, Coach Chambers, and Coach Elliot.
Coach Blume is coming back from his last head coaching position for boys Varsity basketball from Northridge in 2005. Since then, he has been the girls Varsity basketball coach from 2005-2007. After that he was the Licking Valley Varsity boys’ basketball coach. From there he did a variety of middle school basketball coaching.
He is very glad to be back into the program. “I love the community, I love the kids, and I love teaching here. Eventually I would love to retire here as the boys Varsity basketball coach,” Blume said.
Some of the goals for the team he has, “are to win the league, make a run for the districts and make it far into the state tournament.” He went on to say that, “my more personal goals for the team are to improve defensively and rebound better. That will help us achieve the goals I have as a team. It will also help out us in a position for the league.”
He has helped prepare the team, and they had, “a good, active summer and we went to four or five shootouts and really worked on our skills. We did a team camp here at Northridge, and we did a variety of activities helping us improve.” Overall he wants, “a change in the culture here for the basketball program and wants to make an identity for the program.”
The team is looking for them to, "bring a positive change for the basketball program," Senior varsity starter Chad Campbell (’15) said. Campbell also said, "We have the potential to be pretty good this year, and I hope to have a positive record."
Daniel Hatfield ('17) said, "I like the new coaches a lot. They make us work hard, so hopefully it will pay off and we will do better and be more successful." He went on to say his goals for the year were to, "win the LCL title and win as many games as we can."
-Hunter Adkins (’15) is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer for The Viking Vault.
Senior welcomes college baseball contract
By Aili Barbee
(Photo: Wilson signing his letter of intent for ODU. Photo by M. Hatfield.)
Brad Wilson (’15) signed his contract to play baseball for Ohio Dominican University on November 18. Wilson’s family, friends and baseball coach, Jeff Wilson, cheered on Wilson in the high school media center where he signed his contract. Wilson is being offered not only an athletic scholarship of $15,000 a year for playing baseball for Ohio Dominican, but he is also being given an additional $15,000 scholarship for academics. Wilson smiled as he stated that he is “extremely grateful for the scholarships and can’t wait to attend and play his favorite sport for Ohio Dominican.”
-Aili Barbee ('16) is the Jr. Print Editor-in-Chief and a Staff Writer for the Viking Vault
By Aili Barbee
(Photo: Wilson signing his letter of intent for ODU. Photo by M. Hatfield.)
Brad Wilson (’15) signed his contract to play baseball for Ohio Dominican University on November 18. Wilson’s family, friends and baseball coach, Jeff Wilson, cheered on Wilson in the high school media center where he signed his contract. Wilson is being offered not only an athletic scholarship of $15,000 a year for playing baseball for Ohio Dominican, but he is also being given an additional $15,000 scholarship for academics. Wilson smiled as he stated that he is “extremely grateful for the scholarships and can’t wait to attend and play his favorite sport for Ohio Dominican.”
-Aili Barbee ('16) is the Jr. Print Editor-in-Chief and a Staff Writer for the Viking Vault