Swinging Into Another Season

The Lady Norsemen started with their season opener on August 30 against Aurora Christian. Looking at the schedule for the upcoming season, they have some tough competition ahead of them.

This year, there are 14 rostered players on the varsity team, including two seniors Emma Nelson and Jasmine Mitchell, returning juniors Mikayla Williams, Riane Tomsa, Alyssa Schofield, Cheyane Copeland, Caeley Larson, and volleyball newcomer junior Meghan Lehmann. The returning sophomores include Rachel Testin, Alyssa Gittins, and setter Olivia Nelson. New additions to the team are three freshmen: Mattie Chapman, Naomi Sweeney, and Meggie Scott. Their overall record is 4-5.

Over the summer, the team played in league and had some tournaments on the road. Many hours were spent in the gym in preparation for the season. This past week they have their first conference game and came out with a big win. Looking ahead further into the season, they have a lot of work ahead of them and huge goals to accomplish.

By Caeley Larson

Teeing off the Year

Senior Cameron Myre is confident in how the golf team is looking this year! He says, "We are cooking really good so far. We have yet to lose and could win conference."

The freshmen are doing well and are looking like solid players, Cameron said. This year we have two players from Serena; both of them are playing on the varsity. Returning from last year are Cameron Myre, Brett Myre, Corey Jacobson, James Martin, and Wyatt Snyder. Cameron is predicting the team to hit their toughest competition in the middle of the season against Indian Creek. The Norsemen are practicing at Prairie Lakes Golf Course this year.

Assistant Coach Machetta is also new this year. He said he became a golf coach because he enjoys golf and has a good relationship with the golfers. His goals for the season include continue to make improvement, get as far a possible as a team, and hopefully have some golfers make it to State this year.

By Kyle Scott

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!

Congratulations to the Newark Lady Norsemen softball team for your 12-5 Regional Championship Victory against Illinois Lutheran! The Lady Norsemen will now advance to the Sectional Semifinal game to be held on Tuesday, May 24th, 4:30 p.m. at Serena vs. Somonauk. Good luck Lady Norsemen!

Track

Newark athletes have been doing fantastic for their first track team. It is amazing how far the team has come from start to finish. There has been a lot of fun throughout the season with the athletes.

"The athletes who are dedicated about being at practices and take the workouts seriously have all improved a great deal. I am really thankful for those athletes and we will need them to be leaders next year as the program continues," said Coach McCoy.

From March to the end of the year there have been several personal records that have been broken. Breaking your own time, distance, or height is not a very easy thing to do, and it requires a lot of practice.

A couple team goals for the year were for the athletes to break their own time, distance, or height. Another goal that the coaches had for the athletes was to learn how track and field functions as a sport.

Most of the athletes have worked hard to break their personal record. The 4x800 relay team with Remington Kempiak, Kyle Scott, Antoine Dalle, and Chance Weismiller has been running the relay for several meets now. At the Yorkville meet, they broke their record by ten seconds. At the girls only meet in Oregon, there were eight girls, and each girl broke a personal record in at least one event.

There was a girls IHSA Sectional at Seneca High School on May 13. Newark came in sixth place out of the 15 teams at the meet. Unfortunately, none of our athletes proceeded to state. Kylie Eike received third pace in pole vault. She jumped 7 feet 9 inches. Second place got 8 feet.

"Our lives would certainly be easier if we did have a track, but I think we have done a very good job of getting quality workouts and learning without one. Doc Schutt has measured out a lot of different distances throughout the community, and we implement them well. We also take advantage of the facilities at Cross Lutheran, which is a big help. I know that next year there will be much stricter policies on not attending practices that will help the program have more successful practice times and really determine who is dedicated to the process of getting better,' said Coach McCoy.

This year has been a great experience for Newark. The athletes had a fun time in practice and still managed to get their workout in. I personally am very thankful for Dr. Schutt and Coach McCoy for coaching and Mrs. Navarro for making it possible for Newark to have a track program.

By Remington Kempiak

Newark Softball Senior Highlights

KELSEA ZITT
Favorite Game: My favorite team to play is Seneca because it is always good competition.
Game day traditions or superstitions: I always have grape big league chew for each game.
Plans for Next Year: Butler University

SHELBY HODDY
Favorite Game: My favorite team to play is Somonauk, even if we don’t win we always play a good game.
Game day traditions or superstitions: Visit my car
Plans for Next Year: Internship in South Africa

DELANEY DREW
Favorite Game: My favorite team to play is HBR because Coach just let us play wherever we wanted. It was like playing 10U softball again.
Game day traditions or superstitions: Eating my mom's delicious PB&J's
Plans for Next Year: I'm planning on attending NIU to pursue a degree in speech pathology to become a speech therapist.

EMILY OLDENBURG
Favorite Game: Freshman year when Kelsea hit a walk off homerun. My favorite team to play is Somonauk.
Game day traditions or superstitions: Play catch with Klesea, wearing a certain pair of socks and a certain hair style.
Plans for Next Year: I plan on attending Aurora University to study nursing and play softball.

MEGAN DICLEMENTI
Favorite Game: Favorite softball game was my freshman year first game in the sectionals and Kelsea hit a walk off wonder that won us that game!
Game day traditions or superstitions: I always tie my cleats and then retie them, because it makes me hit better.
Plans for Next Year: I plan on attending Aurora University to study sports psychology/athletic training and play softball.

by Maddie Friestad

Norsemen Baseball

Thus far this season, the Norsemen are playing with a record of 9-7, with 7 of the wins coming from conference games. The Norsemen will continue their season with regionals beginning on May 16. Senior pitcher Kevin Klock said, "It’s been a fun season this far and I am really looking forward to see what we’re capable of doing this postseason."

The boys had a large victory on May 3 against the Royals of Hinckley Big-Rock, winning 11-0. You can visit the school’s website for further information on game times and locations, and we encourage you to come watch the Norsemen play some ball!

By Evan Schomer

Track

The Newark track team had its first meet on March 31 at Plano High School. The boys took fifth out of six teams and the girls took third out of six teams. Newark did great, considering we are a little behind everyone else.

There are athletes in track and baseball or softball, which gets challenging for the coaches and athletes.

“As we get further into the season the baseball and softball coaches are going to help us make sure our sprinters are getting some sprints and conditioning in either before or after softball/baseball practice if those athletes couldn’t make it to track that day,” said Mrs. McCoy.

The track team is not where they need to be as far as conditioning. They have been working on getting the correct running form down and conditioning while getting the form down. Mrs. McCoy said, “Athletes have been working on Dynamic Range of Motion. We will get to where we need to be.”

Track sectionals are May 19 and 20 for both boys and girls. At sectionals the athletes are able to qualify for state. To qualify for state, competitors have to get the state time or the height/length for their event. If no one makes the time, height or length, and the athlete is in the top two, then he/she will still be going to state because they take the top two athletes.

Track meets this month will be May 3 at Yorkville, May 5 at Aurora Christian, May 7 the Moose heart relay meet, May 9 at Oregon, May 12 at TBA girls sectional meet, May 13 at TBA girls sectional meet, May 14 at Sandwich (boys only), May 16 at Oregon boys sectional prep, May 19 sectionals, and May 20 sectionals.

Come out to sectionals to watch the Newark athletes as they compete for state.

By Remington Kempiak

NEWARK NORSEMEN BASEBALL SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS

KENDALL ENDRES
Favorite Game: Leland-Earlville. I always hit well against them, as well as nearly throwing a no hitter against them three times. I always seem to pitch against them for whatever reason.
Favorite MLB Player: Scooter Gennett. He plays for my favorite team, the Milwaukee Brewers, and his name is Scooter. What more could you ask for?
Favorite Memory: I really enjoyed playing in Cooperstown, NY, but my favorite memories will be from the times in high school when we would stay after games and practices and just sit in the dugout and talk while playing the rock game. This was especially fun when Mr. Hacker and Mr. Randa would stay and hang out with us.
Plans for Next Year: I plan on attending Purdue University, or Kirkwood Community College and major in turf grass science.

JAKE PUTTY
Favorite Game: HBR
Favorite MLB Player: Adam Laroche
Favorite Memory: Having a perfect batting average freshman year
Plans for Next Year: University of Illinois

JACK CLAUSEL
Favorite Game: Leland- Earlville
Favorite MLB Player: Joe Crede
Favorite Memory: The 05 White Sox winning the World Series.
Plans for Next Year: Playing basketball at either North Central or Millikin.

MITCH SCHMIDT
Favorite Game: Somonauk
Favorite MLB Player: Joe Random
Favorite Memory: Getting knocked out in Cooperstown and waking up in a random hospital room.
Plans for Next Year: Welding

TYLER MULLIGAN
Favorite Game: Serena
Favorite MLB Player: Jose Altuve
Favorite Memory: Fikri’s fake ISA letter
Plans for Next Year: Go to Aurora University and play baseball.

AUSTIN PAGEL
Favorite Game: Marquette or Somonauk
Favorite MLB Player: Ichiro Suzuki
Favorite Memory: Jacksonville. I loved messing with Mr. Machetta at 2 am.
Plans for Next Year: Go to ETI Welding School

AUSTIN GREEN
Favorite Game: Kirkland-Hiawatha
Favorite MLB Player: Ichiro Suzuki
Favorite Memory: Being around all your friends every year.
Plans for Next Year: Attending NIU for a major in business management.

EVAN SCHOMER
Favorite Game: I really enjoy playing Somonauk. It tests my managing skills and what I need to do differently to compete.
Favorite MLB Player: Prince Fielder. Obviously.
Favorite Memory: Probably being drafted to the NWL and being a part of the Rapids organization. #Rapidsnation
Plans for Next Year: I plan on continuing my career in the NWL and going to college.

KEVIN KLOCK
Favorite Game: Somonauk. The rivalry is intense
Favorite MLB Player: Nick Swisher
Favorite Memory: Definitely the Jacksonville trip we took this year. It was a blast being able to be with friends. And also mess with Coach Mac.
Plans for Next Year: JJC or ETI

By Maddie Friestad