Interview Questions for Oak Hill's Kevin Renbarger

They may be the best team in Grant County but one things' for sure...they are the last ones standing in sectional action.  Tim Decker here, host of "The Windup.  Join me at 12:30 pm Friday as I'll chat with Oak Hill Golden Eagles Boys Varsity Coach Kevin Renbarger. We'll talk about the team's sectional semifinal game against Northfield and what the Eagles will need for the upset. All of that and more on "The Windup"...Friday at 12:30 pm...only on 94.3 the Fortress preparing you for the weekend in sports.

Check out the interview questions that will be discussed during Wednesday's interview!

“The Windup:” Week 8 Interview Questions for Oak Hill’s Kevin Renbarger

I.                    Update on the Season

a.       Since we last talked about your Golden Eagles at the end of January, what kind of progress has the team made in the last third of the season?

b.      Before we get to some sectional talk, I have got to ask about the 3-overtime thriller the Eagles played against Northwestern on February 21^st.  Even though your team lost by two, 77 to 75, how in the world did your team last that long and what kept the game going so long?

c.       Your team finished in a 4-way tie atop the Central Indiana Conference to get a share of the championship crown.  First off, in your coaching experience have you ever seen something as crazy as a 4-way tie in high school hoops and what does it say about the conference?

d.      Secondly, of the 4-teams in the tie, other than the Golden Eagles, which team surprised you the most to finish at the top and why?

II.                  Central Indiana Conference

a.       Due to how the sectional drawings came out and Tuesday’s first round sectional games, the Oak Hill Golden Eagles are the last team standing in Grant County.  How would you compare the other 4 teams in the county to Oak Hill and what’s the feeling like to be the last one standing?

III.                Sectional Match-up

a.       Your team received the bye in the sectional draw to guarantee you a spot in this Friday’s sectional semifinals.  What are the benefits of having this and was it something your team wanted or needed?  Has the extra time helped the Eagles get ready to start the postseason?

b.      The Golden Eagles play a Northfield team that is 19-3 on the year and on a 17-game winning streak.  What’s the game plan like to try and stop a red hot team like Northfield?

c.       Now, the Eagles did play Northfield earlier in the year on February 9^th and lost by four, 47 to 43.  What kind of things can you take away from the first match-up to prepare you for this game coming up?

d.      What is the message you are trying to send your seniors (if no seniors, then upperclassmen) to make sure they are mentally ready for this extremely tough test?

IV.                Future of Program

a.       Obviously you want a win for your team and a chance to play the sectional championship on Saturday, but win or lose, what are your thoughts on this season as a whole for the Oak Hill Golden Eagles?

b.      I know we talked about this the last time we spoke but sometimes opinions do change.  What’s the future of this program look like?

Fortress Sports Update: Week 8 (Updated)

Welcome to the Fortress Sports Update!  This is where we bring you a glimpse into the week's upcoming Grant County sporting events.  I'm Tim Decker.

On Thursday, March 1st -
In college track and field, members from the Indiana Wesleyan and Taylor University teams will participate in the NAIA National Track and Field Indoor Championships in Geneva, Ohio starting at 10 am.  The event runs through Saturday.

On Friday, March 2nd -  

The IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament will continue with sectional semifinal action.  Oak Hill will play Northfield at Manchester High School at 6 p.m.

All of our other local teams have been elmininated from the tournament.

In college softball, the Taylor Trojans will host Tennessee Wesleyan for a double header starting at Noon.

In college baseball, the Taylor Trojans will play at Union out of Kentucky for a double header starting at 1 p.m.

On Saturday, March 3rd -
In high school track and field, the first qualifier round for the Indoor Finals takes place at Taylor University starting at 10 am. Eastbrook and Oak Hill will be participating in the event.

In college baseball, the IWU Wildcats will be playing a double header against Malone out of Ohio.  The games are a part of the RussMatt Greater Pheonix Invitational in Pheonix, Arizona and start at 9:30 a.m.

On Sunday, March 4th -
There are no local sporting events taking place on this day.

On Monday, March 5th -
In college baseball, Indiana Wesleyan will play two games as part of the Tucson Invitational out in Arizona.  The Wildcats will play Jameston out of North Dakota for adouble header starting at 2 pm.

Dates and times of these events are subject to change.  Always contact your local high school or college for more information on specific events. This has been your Fortress Sports Update.  I'm Tim Decker wishing you a fun and competitive week!

Fortress Sports Update: Week 8

Welcome to the Fortress Sports Update!  This is where we bring you a glimpse into the week's upcoming Grant County sporting events.  I'm Tim Decker.

On Wednesday, February 29th -
In men and women's college basketball, the NAIA National Tournament Selection Show will take place and will let us know which local teams will be heading to the national tournament for Division II Men's and Women's NAIA basketball.

On Thursday, March 1st -
In college track and field, members from the Indiana Wesleyan and Taylor University teams will participate in the NAIA National Track and Field Indoor Championships in Geneva, Ohio starting at 10 am.  The event runs through Saturday.

On Friday, March 2nd -
The IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament will continue with sectional semifinal action.  Oak Hill is scheduled to play the winner of Northfield/North Miami at Manchester High School at 6 p.m.

In college baseball, the Taylor Trojans will play at Union out of Kentucky for a double header starting at 1 p.m.

On Saturday, March 3rd -
In high school track and field, the first qualifier round for the Indoor Finals takes place at Taylor University starting at 10 am. Eastbrook and Oak Hill will be participating in the event.

In college baseball, the IWU Wildcats will be playing a double header against Malone out of Ohio.  The games are a part of the RussMatt Greater Pheonix Invitational in Pheonix, Arizona and start at 9:30 a.m.

On Sunday, March 4th -
There are no local sporting events taking place on this day.

Dates and times of these events are subject to change.  Always contact your local high school or college for more information on specific events. This has been your Fortress Sports Update.  I'm Tim Decker wishing you a fun and competitive week!

Fortress Sports Update: Week 7 (Updated)

Welcome to the Fortress Sports Update!  This is where we bring you a glimpse into the week's upcoming Grant County sporting events.  I'm Tim Decker.

On Saturday, February 25th -
In men's college basketball, the MCC Tournament will move on to semifinal action as well.  This time the #1 seeded Indiana Wesleyan Men will play host to St. Francis for a 3 p.m. tip.

In college baseball, the Taylor Trojans will play a double header at Union out of Tennessee starting at 1 p.m. The IWU Wildcats will also be in Tennessee playing Trevecca Nazarene for a double header starting at Noon.

On Sunday, February 26th -
There are no local sporting events taking place on this day.

On Monday, February 27th -
If the IWU Lady Wildcats win on Friday, they will host the MCC Tournament Championship inside Luckey Arena at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, February 28th -
The 102nd IHSAA Boys Basketball State tournament will get underway with sectional play.

In Class 4A, the Marion Giants will play Lafayette Jeff at Kokomo High School starting at 8 p.m.

In Class 3A, the Eastbrook Panthers will play Whitko at Norwell High School starting at 6 p.m.  The Mississinewa Indians' sectional opener against Norwell is scheduled to follow at 7:30 p.m.

In Class 2A, the Madison-Grant Argylls will play Tipton at Tipton High School at 6 p.m.  The Oak Hill Golden Eagles received the bye in their sectional and will not play until Friday.

In Men's College Basketball, if the IWU Men win on Saturday, then they would host the MCC Tournament Championship game inside Luckey Arena at 7 p.m.

Dates and times of these events are subject to change.  Always contact your local high school or college for more information on specific events. This has been your Fortress Sports Update.  I'm Tim Decker wishing you a fun and competitive week!

The Opening Drive: Week 7

“The Windup:” “The Opening Drive” Week 7 Script

We start “The Windup” today with a brand new edition of our “Opening Drive” segment.  This is where we highlight some of the sport stories making news in the Grant County area. 

The week started off well for Taylor Trojans Junior ForwardCasey Coons as he won the Capital One Academic-All American of the Year award.  The Chronicle-Tribune reports that the College Sports Information Directors of America chose Coons for the award.  He was selected from a pool of candidates from the NAIA, junior college and Canadian institutions.  The Taylor star is the first to receive the award and became the school’s 16^th Academic All-American in history.  Coons averaged 20 points per game which led the Trojans for the 3^rd consecutive year and ranked in the NAIA Division II Top Ten for free throw shooting at just over 87% on the season.  The junior already ranks 12^th on the all-time scoring list with almost 1600 career points.  He scored 20 points in the team’s final game on Wednesday as the #7 seeded Trojans lost to #2 Grace, 76-53, in the first round of the Mid-Central College Conference Tournament.

In high school swimming, Senior Diver Jacobey Jones’ night started off well on Tuesday in regional action but did not end the way it started.  The Oak Hill Golden Eagle finished in 10^th place with just over 330 points after 11 dives.  This finish comes after Jones sat in second place going into his third dive.  According to Oak Hill Diver Coach Bobby Hart, the public address announcer misidentified Jones’ third dive which through him off and could never regain his focus.  He finished just over 20 points behind the 8^th place finisher, Fishers’ Austin Smith, who qualified for the last state final spot.  Jones does plan on diving in college and currently has an offer from two-year school Lincoln College out of Illinois.  The state finals for swimming are tonight and tomorrow at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis.

It may be hard to believe but the Indiana Wesleyan Men’s Basketball team has found itself back in the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Top 10 in the latest poll.  The Wildcats jumped from 14^th to 10^th in the polls released early this week.  This is the first time since the December 12^th poll that IWU can find itself inside the top 10.  Led by Coach Greg Tonagel, the Wildcats have won 8 of its last 9 games and have a semifinal date with the Saint Francis Cougars on Saturday afternoon in the MCC Tournament semifinals.  The #1 ranked Lady Wildcats stayed atop the latest poll and now sit at 29-and-2 on the year after defeating county rival Taylor in the first round of the women’s MCC Tournament.  The women will also play Saint Francis in a semifinal match-up in Luckey Arena at 7 p.m. tonight.

That does it for the drive today.  Make sure you listen for the Fortress Sports Update airing throughout the week updating you on all the local Grant County high school sporting events. 

(Special thanks to our friends from the Chronicle-Tribune for their great local sports coverage.)

Fortress Sports Update: Week 7

Welcome to the Fortress Sports Update!  This is where we bring you a glimpse into the week's upcoming Grant County sporting events.

On Friday, February 24th -
The boys high school basketball season will finish up tonight for 2 of our local teams.  At 7:30 p.m., Eastbrook will play host to South Adams.  A little bit later at 8 p.m. will have Fort Wayne Snider playing Marion in the Bill Green Athletic Arena.

In women's college basketball, the Mid-Central College Conference Tournament will get to semifinal action as the #1 seeded IWU Lady Wildcats will host St. Francis for a 7 p.m. tip.

On Saturday, February 25th -
In men's college basketball, the MCC Tournament will move on to semifinal action as well.  This time the #1 seeded Indiana Wesleyan Men will play host to St. Francis for a 3 p.m. tip.

On Sunday, February 26th -
There are no local sporting events taking place on this day.

On Monday, February 27th -
If the IWU Lady Wildcats win on Friday, they will host the MCC Tournament Championship inside Luckey Arena at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, February 28th -
The 102nd IHSAA Boys Basketball State tournament will get underway with sectional play.

In Class 4A, the Marion Giants will play Lafayette Jeff at Kokomo High School starting at 8 p.m.

In Class 3A, the Eastbrook Panthers will play Whitko at Norwell High School starting at 6 p.m.  The Mississinewa Indians' sectional opener against Norwell is scheduled to follow at 7:30 p.m.

In Class 2A, the Madison-Grant Argylls will play Tipton at Tipton High School at 6 p.m.  The Oak Hill Golden Eagles received the bye in their sectional and will not play until Friday.

Dates and times of these events are subject to change.  Always contact your local high school or college for more information on specific events. This has been your Fortress Sports Update.  I'm Tim Decker wishing you a fun and competitive week!

Interview Questions for Local Sports Personality Jim Brunner

As we start turning towards the end of February, it is becoming a great time of year in the world of sports.  Postseason basketball is here.  On this week's all-new episode of "The Windup," I (Tim) will talk with Local Sports Personality Jim Brunner as we preview the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament starting next week with sectional play.

Want to know what we talked about?  You will find the complete list of interview questions that I prepared for our interview.  Want to hear the interview?  Tune in this Friday, February 24th, to hear the full interview and so much more on an all-new episode of "The Windup" airing at 12:30 pm!

“The Windup:” Week 7 Interview Questions for Local Sports Personality Jim Brunner

I.                    Opening Question

a.       You’ve been covering high school boys basketball throughout the season.  How would you compare this season to others you’ve been a part of in your broadcasting career?

b.      Sectional play is starting next week.  When this second season begins, what’s it like to cover games and be a part of postseason basketball in the state of Indiana?

II.                  Boys Sectional Preview

a.       Well, let’s get to the part everybody wants to know about…your thoughts on each team’s sectional chances.  We start with the Eastbrook Panthers.  They finally got a W last week against Southwood to snap a 13-game losing streak…just 3-16 on the year.  They will play Whitko who is 11-8 on the year for their sectional opener.  What are your thoughts about the Panthers season and their sectional chances?

b.      We move now to the team in Gas City…the Mississinewa Indians.  The team is only 5-14 this season under first year coach Mark McFarland.  They may have got the toughest draw out of any of our local teams as they will play a 17-2 Norwell team.  What are your thoughts on the Indians season and their sectional outlook?

c.       Next up is a team you are very familiar with…the Marion Giants.  The second half of the season has been rough for them as they have lost 6 of the last 7 to drop to 8-11 on the year.  The Giants will play Lafayette Jeff who is 11-6 on the year for their sectional opener.  What do you think it is going to take for the Giants to get hot here late and make a sectional run?  Can it happen?

d.      We move to the teams above .500 this year for Grant County starting with the Madison-Grant Argylls.  Coach John Irwin’s team is 11-10 on the year and finished tied for 1^st in the Central Indiana Conference.  The Argylls didn’t catch a break in sectional draw as they will play an 18-3 Tipton team.  How would you describe the Argylls season and their sectional chances?

e.      The final team to look at here in Grant County is the Oak Hill Golden Eagles.  The team had the best record here in Grant County at 13-7, were the Grant 4 Champions this year, and finished tied for 1^st in the Central Indiana Conference.  They also caught a break in the sectional draw as they received the bye in the sectional 37 bracket.  They will play the winner Northfield/North Miami next Friday.  How would you describe the Golden Eagles season and since they have the best record, does that make them the best team in Grant County?

f.        Alright, we’ve looked at all the teams and their sectional match-ups.  Which Grant County team do you think could surprise people the most and potentially win a sectional this year?

III.                NAIA College Basketball

a.       We move to college basketball as they are in the middle of their postseason as well with the MCC Tournaments getting underway this week.  You’ve covered a lot of IWU Men’s Basketball games this season and seen the ups and downs of Coach Tonagel’s team.  What do you think the 19-10 team will need to do to win the MCC Tournament as their journey started Wednesday night?

b.      On the women’s side, the #1 IWU Lady Wildcats defeated county rival Taylor, 69-60 on Tuesday night in the 1^st round of the women’s MCC Tournament.  They will host St. Francis on Friday night in the semifinal round.  The team is 28-2, now 18-1 in conference play.  Just how far do you think Coach Steve Brooks team can go?

c.       Finally, the Taylor Men have struggled this season…getting only the 7^th seed in the men’s tournament but it still has been a historic season for Coach Paul Patterson.  You’ve seen a lot of different coaches in your time.  Where would you rank Coach Patterson among all the other coaches you’ve talked to or seen in the state of Indiana?

The Opening Drive: Week 6

“The Windup:” “The Opening Drive” Week 6 Script

We start “The Windup” today with a brand new edition of our “Opening Drive” segment.  This is where we highlight some of the sport stories making news in the Grant County area. 

We start in college basketball as the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats and Taylor Trojans Men’s and Women’s basketball teams wrote the latest chapters in the county’s great college basketball rivalry.  On Valentine’s Day, the Trojans upset #14 Indiana Wesleyan, 77-66 to snap the Wildcats 6-game winning streak.  Sophomore Ben Raichel only averages just over 5 points per game but led Taylor with a career-high 24 points as the Trojans dominated the majority of the game.  The Trojans improved to 19-10 overall and 8-9 in Mid-Central College Conference Action.  The next night, an instant classic happened inside Luckey Arena as the #1 IWU Lady Wildcats squeaked away with a 2-point win, 62-60, in a very tight match-up.  The game featured 11 ties and 15 lead changes but a Stephanie Burtch 3-point basket with just over a minute to go put the Wildcats in front for good.  IWU improves to 27-2 overall and 16-1 in the always tough MCC.  All four teams will finish the regular season on Saturday afternoon as the IWU teams will play Goshen and the Taylor teams will play Grace.

In college soccer, a former Marion High School standout is taking to the coaching ranks in the sport he once played.  The Chronicle-Tribune is reporting that Wheaton College named 2007 Giant Graduate Garrett Bireline as the assistant coach of the men’s college soccer program at the school.  The Division III College located in Illinois went 10-8-2 in last season’s action.  Bireline helped the Giants win a sectional in soccer in 2006 which actually started Marion’s current streak of six consecutive soccer sectional championships that is still active today.  He later played college soccer at Bowling Green University where he was an outside back and center back defender for the team.  The Giants graduate says he’s excited for the opportunity but is really looking forward to the administrative side of coaching as well. 

The drive finishes off today with cheerleading as another group from Grant County will be heading to a national competition. The group known as Pazazz qualified for the U.S. Finals Cheer and Dance competition in Virginia Beach, Virginia this season and will participate in the event coming in May.  The 35 members are primarily composed of students from Grant County schools ranging from age four to eighteen.  Pazazz Coach Brandy Horn says the season’s competition pushed them a bit harder than in previous years but it has helped them become more of a team this season because of the competitions.  The cheerleader team will have plenty of time to prepare as it does not have another competition until these nationals which are on May 5^th and 6^th at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. 

That does it for the drive today.  Make sure you listen for the Fortress Sports Update airing throughout the week updating you on all the local Grant County high school sporting events.