Mater Dei High School - Hi Lights Yearbook (Evansville, IN)

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26 S-T-R-E-T-C-H: Giving his all, junior Pat Russel prac- tices his serve before the Mt. Vemon match. In addition to being on the tennis team Russel also ran cross country. (Photo by Mary Ellert). ME COACH, YOU TEAM: Coach Dick Diggs and tennis backer Father Kenneth Hen. discuss team strategy as the players warm up before the match against Mt. Vernon. (Photo by Mary Ellert). ■ J? - ' r ' •■ !! Tennis netters ' Add-in 1 experience It ' s true that we improved, but so did every- one else. Still, we were losing matches 3-2 instead of 5-0, like we did last year. — Coach Dick Diggs Despite the fact that the Mater Dei boys tennis team finished with the same 3-9 record as the year before, second year coach Richard Diggs saw an improvement in the team. It ' s true that we improved, but so did everyone else. Still, we were losing matches 3-2 instead of 5-0, like we did last year, said Diggs. The team was greatly aided by the addition of Chau Nguyen at the second singles position. Chau added a degree of competitiveness to the team since he showed that size doesn ' t count; it ' s what you can and do out on the court that matter, Diggs added. Also new to the team was junior Pat Russel, playing at the second doubles position. Senior Kent Niemeier was the team ' s number one singles player this year. He was also the team ' s only four-year letter- man, starting at the third singles position his freshman year. Jeff Martin, who had the best overall record on the team for the second straight year, commented, I felt the team had much more depth than the past several teams. We gave a lot of good teams all they could handle. The sectional match against Bosse was typical of the way the season went. The third singles match went to three sets with Steve Scheller losing the final set 7-5. The second dou- bles team of Brian Johns-Pat Russel lost its final set 7-6 on a tie-breaker. The final result was 3-2 Bosse. Despite the fact that the team ' s performance sometimes tried patience. Coach Diggs focused on improving its mental as well as their physical skills throughout the season. — Brian Johns

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SQCCATS: In fine form They mixed business with pleasure by holding tough prac- tices as well as hosting team parties. They also added a new dimension by planning a team liturgy. Who are these mysterious they ' s? — boys ' head soccer coach Mr. Jim Duffy, assistant coach Mr. Warren Hankins, and reserve coach Mrs. Marie Hankins. These coaches and their team worked to close out the season with a 4-8-1 record. Two of the wins were against New Harmony and one each against Reitz and Central. The tie was with North. Coach Duffy was a big reason why the team had im- proved. He played for a semi-pro German team in Cleve- land, Ohio, his hometown, and his knowledge and experi- ence of the game affected the Wildcats ' play tremendously. All of the team members showed much enthusiasm but three of the most improved were Tony Bender, Mark Lamble, and Paul Dayton, said Hankins. That was the first year Mark had ever played soccer and he did an excellent job for us. Paul and Tony played real well during every match. The team was said to be strongest in defense. The boys are all good athletes but in order to have good offense they really need to play together five years or more, said Hankins. Looking back on the season as a whole, Robby Mead, sophomore, commented, ' It was a more victorious season than last year, yet we thought we could have done better! — Felicia Smith SOCK IT TO ' EM : Top panel : Senior Tony Morris puts his best foot forward during a soccer match against Castle. Bottom panel: Junior John Wolf dribbles the ball down the field as he prepares to make the goal. (Photo by Larry Schapker) KICKIN ' AROUND: Junior John Wolf passes to Chris Corcoran as Joe Mischler waits in the back- ground. (Photo by Larry Schapker) ■ BOYS SOCCER STATS-N-FACTS INDIVIDUAL HONORS SUPER SOCCAT: Junior Brad Brown received the honor of being named the Most Valu- able Player on the team. Brown was both the team captain and the goalie (Photo by Alan Burdette) MOST VALUABLE Brad Brown MOST DEFENSIVE Joe Mischler MOST OFFENSIVE Mike Minelli MOST IMPROVED John Wolf BEST ALL AROUND Tony Morris Bosse 1 Mater Dei Mater Dei 3 New Harmony Harrison 5 Mater Dei Mater Dei 1 Reitz Day School 5 Mater Dei Memorial 6 Mater Dei North 1 Mater Dei Mater Dei 2 Central 1 Castle 2 Mater Dei Day School 1 Mater Dei Mater Dei 4 New Harmony Mater Dei 2 North 2 Central 2 Mater Dei 1 25

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BOYS TENNIS TEAM : TOP PICTURE : Pat Russel , Kent Niemeier. and Randy Russel. BOTTOM PICTURE: FRONT ROW: Steve Scheller. Jeff Martin, and Bryan Nicholson. BACK ROW: Coach Dick Diggs. Dan Klausmeier, Brian Johns. Chau Nguyen, and Treavor Head. (Photo by Alan Purdette.) - ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE: AT TOP: Fr. Kenneth Herr and team members Dan Klausmeier. Brian Johns, Randy Russel. and Pat Russel, watch the action on the court during the Mt. Vernon match as they patiently await their turn. MIDDLE: Senior Jeff Martin warms up prior to his first doubles match. BOTTOM: Sophomore Chau Nguyen fol- lows through while returning the ball to his op- ponent. Although this is Nguyen ' s first year, Coach Diggs commented, Nguyen was the most im- proved player on the team. (Photo by Mary Ellert) +fc 1 1 t A m BOYS TENNIS STATS-N-FACTS INDIVIDUAL HONORS BEST RECORD Jeff Martin (5-7) Reitz 5 Mater Dei Mater Dei 3 North 2 Castle 4 Mater Dei 1 Bosse 5 Mater Dei Central 5 Mater Dei Memorial 5 Mater Dei u Mater Dei 3 Boonville 2 Princeton 3 Mater Dei 2 Mt. Vernon 5 Mater Dei U Harrison 4 Mater Dei 1 Mater Dei 4 North Posey 1 Mt. Vernon 3 Mater Dei 2 AWESOME: In appreciation for his leadership senior Kent N iemeier was awarded the coveted Awesome Award. He was the only four year letterman on the team. (Photo by Alan Bur- dette.)