#1StudentNWI: Start of 2016 at Wheeler High School

Happy New Year to all Wheeler High School students and staff!

We finally say our goodbyes to the 2015 school year and welcome in the new 2016 school year. In regards to recent news at Wheeler High School, students who are interested in taking vocational classes next school year need to complete an application. The due date for second-year vocational students will be January 29th, and for first-year students, it will be February 11th; forms are in Mrs. Rittel’s office and should be turned into the Guidance Department as soon as possible.

Next, National Honor Society had a meeting in the cafeteria on Tuesday, January 5th to discuss volunteering opportunities for the month of January. Student Council Officers also had a meeting after school on Thursday, January 7th in Ms. Mak’s room.

For Wheeler High School’s academic teams, we will have practices throughout the week. Math Academic Team has already met during first resource on Thursday, January 7th in Mrs. Anderson’s room, English Academic Team will meet after school on Thursday, January 7th in Mr. Boruff’s room, and Science Academic Team has met during second resource in Mrs. Langston’s room on Friday, January 8th.

Lastly, all Wheeler High School seniors must submit their senior quotes to either their respective resource teacher or Miss DeVries in room 511 by the end of January; extra form sheets are located in room 511 as well.

We would like to congratulate all Wheeler High School athletics for an amazing 2015 season and wish the best of luck for the 2016 year. Sports results so far in January include swimming, bowling, wrestling, and basketball. The Bearcat wrestling team placed 8th out of 17 teams at the Lake County tourney this past weekend; Jose Diaz and Trey Buehler won 1st place, Clay Turpin won 3rd place, Hunter Cassoday won 5th place, Sam Turpin won 7th place, and Kyle Trathen won 9th place. Next, the Bearcat Girls swim team contended in a very competitive meet on Saturday, January 9th at Highland. Placing in the top ten were Lily Graske, Laura Wong, Morganne Marrs, and Riley Hall.

The Bearcat bowling team bowled on Thursday, January 7th at Inman’s; unfortunately, the Girls team lost to Valpo and the Boys team lost to Hobart. High rollers for the Bearcats were Halie Minard with scores of 157 and 156, Cassie Harris with a score of 158, Brittnie Beach with a score of 169, Cole Snuffer with a score of 187 and 183, and Kyle Snuffer with a score of 195 and 223.

Lastly, the varsity Bearcat basketball team took on North Judson in the 1st Annual D-One Norman Dale Classic in Knightstown, IN (where the movie Hoosiers was filmed). The Bearcats outscored the Blue Jays 74-55 in a very exciting game. Great job to all of Wheeler High School’s athletes!

I would like to give a big teacher shout out to Wheeler High School’s swim team coach Adam Klimczak. On January 16th, Wheeler’s Boys and Girls teams broke conference and pool records at the Greater Shore Conference Meet. Marks were broken in nine events, as the Bearcat girls won the team title and the boys placed second.

As coach Klimczak stated, “The girls did a fantastic job swimming today and set a few conference and pool records; I’m very happy for them.”

Bishop Noll was defeated by Wheeler 343-288 for the girl’s title, and Wheeler was defeated by North Newton 252-219 for the boy’s title. I would also like to give student shout outs to Rachel Metzger, Gabi Gilliana, Lily Graske, and Morganne Marrs, all members of Wheeler High School’s Girls Swim Team.

Rachel Metzger set conference records in the 200-yard freestyle (2:01.40) and 100 butterfly (1:01.22) on January 16th. Gabi Gilliana set league marks in the 200 individual medley (2:18.77) and 100 breaststroke (1:09.88).

The duo combined with Lily Graske and Morganne Marrs to set a conference, school, and pool record in the 200 medley relay (1:54.85).

Coach Adam Kilmczak commented, “That team has been very strong in that event (relay race) all year. They all really swam well (Saturday) and broke the record by more than 2 seconds."

Additionally, Wheeler High School’s Boy’s Swim Team set records in four events. Jack Fekete highlighted the performance by breaking the conference and pool record in the 50 freestyle (21.73), three-tenths better than Vic Sikorski’s mark in 2008.

Boy’s coach Robert Gass said, “I thought we did outstanding with only having six boys out there. We came close to catching North Newton but just ran out of bodies toward the end of the meet. We had solid swims from everyone, especially Jack Fekete, who took down a former state champion’s record: that should bode well for us a month from now.”

Congratulations to Wheeler High School’s Swim Teams on their recent remarkable performances, and to all the athletic divisions at Wheeler for an amazing start to 2016!