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

Track

Newark High School is bringing a track team to the school as of 2016. There was a paper that went around the school to see how many students would be interested in joining the team, and there were a ton of names on the list.

The track team will be practicing at the high school on the soccer field and in the gym, working around the baseball and softball schedule if the weather is bad. The team will be traveling to Cross Lutheran to use certain equipment there like the track for practicing relays. There will only be three to four times a month that Newark will be going to Cross Lutheran.

Mrs. Navarro and Coach Schutt worked hard to order all the equipment, except for pole vault. All field events will be available in practice but pole vault. Assistant coach Mrs. McCoy said, “If an athlete expresses a large interest in pole vault, they should talk to Coach Schutt or myself and we will try our best to make something work.”

There are approximately 30 athletes signed up. We have a good mixture of boys and girls, all ages, freshman to senior. “I personally have never started a track program from scratch before, but I know Coach Schutt has started successful programs in his career. My experience with track is as athlete in high school and junior high coach at Ransom Grade School,” Mrs. McCoy said.

As of now, Maya Wright is the only person who has offered to manage the team and help the coaches out with everything.

By Remington Kempiak

Boys Basketball Review

The boys basketball team finished their season in the Super Sectional held at ISU, losing to the LeRoy Panthers, 58-50. They finished their season with a record of 28-3, creating a historic year for the Norsemen. Winning the regional championship against the Leland-Earlville Panthers 66-47, they advanced to the sectional, which was hosted by Marquette.

They went on to beat the Flanagan Falcons in an exciting overtime finish with a score of 53-46. Junior guard Steve McGrath said, “It was a great season playing basketball with my friends. We wish we could have made it to our ultimate goal, but proud of my teammates for all that we accomplished.”

By Evan Schomer

Baseball Preview: Getting into Full Swing

Newark Baseball is just beginning! The roster consists of six seniors leading the way. There are five returning seniors: Austin Pagel, Mitchel Schmidt, Tyler Mulligan, Kendall Endres, Jake Putty, Ian Cerney, Kevin Klock, and Austin Green.

There is one newcomer that will be stepping out to the field for the first time since he was ten years old: Jack Clausel. All of those athletes have been a huge part of Newark sports the past four years and plan to go out strong. Also joining the Norsemen will be manager Evan Schomer. Evan says, “I am looking forward to helping out the team and being with his friends.”

The Norsemen are out for a winning season. Senior Austin Pagel says, “We are really looking to get a win against Somonauk. Beating them as a senior would make a lot of hard work pay off.” They have picked up some tough nonconference competition.

They will be going down to Jacksonville, Illinois, over spring break for a tournament. The boys will take on regionals in May. Senior Mitch Schmidt says, “Winning a regional this year is definitely possible. We’ll have to work hard, but we have a lot of talent this year.”

Besides the strong groups of senior veterans the Norsemen are also seeing the talent of some young athletes. Some key junior returnees are Conner Christian, Steve McGrath, and Cameron Myre. Freshmen Billy Gebhart, Corey Jacobson, and Jacob Slivka will be playing with the varsity this year also.

Come out and see the action live on opening day! The Norsemen will play March 16 at home against Marquette!
The Newark Norsemen baseball team takes the field for the first day of practice.

By Maddie Friestad

Newark Softball

Spring is right around the corner, which means softball is as well. This year Coach Krackel and Coach Akre are working the girls hard to accomplish big things this year. Last year, the girls went 15-7 and ended the season after winning regional semi finals.

The seniors will be Sara Hipsman, Kelsea Zitt, Shelby Hoddy, Delaney Drew, Megan DiClementi, five of those being returning veterans. Senior Megan DiClementi says some team goals are, “Going undefeated in conference, getting first in conference, and making it to sectionals.”

Sophomore Nikki Kala was asked what is the best part of softball and she said, “The team. The team is worth every long practice, hard games, black eye and bruise. We are a family and we win for each other.”

The first games this season will be March 21 at Aurora Christian, March 24 against West Minister Christian at home and March 30 against Ottawa Marquette at home. Come out and support your Lady Norsemen!

By Marissa Friestad

SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS!

Congratulations to the Newark Norsemen basketball team for your 53-46 (OT) Sectional Championship Victory against Flanagan-Cornell! The Norsemen will now advance to the Super-Sectional game to be held on Tuesday, March 8th, 7:00 p.m. at Normal (ISU) vs. LeRoy.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the Newark Norsemen basketball team for your 56-49 Sectional Semifinal Victory against Ottawa Marquette! The Norsemen will now advance to the Sectional Championship game to be held on Friday, March 4th, 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa-Marquette (Game played at 201 Chicago St., Marseilles) vs. Flanagan (F.-Cornell). Tickets sales on Thursday from 9-3 for the public. All Tickets $5.00. T-Shirts $10. Go Norsemen!