Merrillville High School - Merrillvue Yearbook (Merrillville, IN)

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The Merrillville crowd gels into the sectional spirit” as they cheer their team on to victory. Cutting down the net is a privilege reserved for winners. Mike Meshede, junior, enjoys this moment after playing a hard game against Munster. W INNING: Enthusiasm backs Pirates When the basketball team started into the Sectional Tournament, it was like the beginning of a new season. The MHS student body began preparing for this new season during the week before the final game. Student Council sponsored a spirit competition between all three grades. The sophomores were assigned the upstairs math and science hall. The juniors were assigned the front English hall. And the seniors were assigned the main hall. Each class decorated their area with signs supporting the team. Carol Teeter, aide, Valerie Tanke, publications advisor, and Jim East, history teacher and basketball coach, judged which hall was decorated the best. The seniors won and received a plaque which now hangs in the main office. Lori Jeleski, Student Council president, got the idea of the sign competition from Pierce Junior High School. Anne Guba, Student Council vice president, said, “We used to have this type of competition at Pierce and it worked well, so Lori suggested that we try it here.” The Pirates won the first game of the Sectionals against Calumet. They then went on to face Lake Central and Munster over the weekend. Many fans traveled to Calumet to support the team and be a part of their victory. The Saturday night victory over Munster ended with the ceremonial cutting down of the net. The following week was filled with excitement and preparation for regionals. A car caravan on Saturday morning sent the Pirates off to West Side. Coach East came to the Student Council with the idea of the caravan. He got the idea from schools where he used to teach. All students and community members were encouraged to decorate their cars and drive in the caravan. Coach East explained, “I wanted to try the caravan at MHS to get community involvement. Merrillville is a large, spread out community, and sometimes it’s hard to get everyone involved. I think the caravan was very successful, especially for the first year.” The caravan followed the team bus and two fan buses to the game. It was police escorted non-stop to West Side. It was er a mile in length. Margaret Stallings, home economics teacher, Mrs. Tanke and Mrs. Teeter judged the cars. Ten dollar gift certificates to Hegewisch Records were given to the people with the best decorated cars. Michelle and Carri Broda, sophomores, won first place. Second place went to Phil Pardus, sophomore. Bill McCoy, junior, came in third. When asked if he thought the caravan helped the team, Coach East said, “I think it helped a lot. Instead of getting support from the school the day before the game at a pep rally, the team got support from the community on the way to the game, when they really needed it.” Dennis Metcalf, senior basketball player, said, “I think the caravan was great. It got everyone actually involved.” Besides sponsoring the caravan. Student Council also distributed signs to local businesses supporting the Pirates. Lori Jeleski said, “We tried to get support from the community as well as the school, and I think it worked out well.” The Pirates lost in the first game of regionals. The Lew Wallace Hornets managed to slip by the Pirates 52-50 in the final seconds of the game. But the Pirate fans still had a lot to be proud of. Jill Pennock Winning 29

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The MHS first caravan provided an exciting send off for the Pirates when they departed for the regionals at West Side. During the Gary Regional game against Lew Wallace, Lenny Schmidt, senior, shoots for two. Despite the Pirates valiant effort, the Hornets managed to slip by with a last second shot 52-50.

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Englehart Gym was full of thrills, and a strange smell filled the air as the Donkey Basketball game on Mar. 15. The students that played on each team were picked by class presidents. Each team had four people on the court at a time trying to shoot baskets Annette Thompson, junior, said, “They were funny to watch, and hope I can participate next year.” The teachers really had a difficult time keeping up with the sophomores and seniors. The reason for their defeat, as Roger Hankins, U.S. History teacher, saw it, most of the teachers had problems getting of their “jack asses!” Tom Cameron, assistant athletic director, said, “A victory could have been taken by the teachers if I could have had a shorter donkey.” These were just some of the excuses that the faculty stated. But, MHS knows the real truth. “As a senior I was really glad to participate in the game, my only regreat was I missed my layup,” said Sandy Merced, senior. Jeff Olejnik junior, said, “I hope the faculty will have the basketball game next year, It was one of the better events of the year.” Kathy Beckham Sandy Merced, senior, trying her hardest to stay on her donkey, finally missed her only scoring opportunity. The fast break of senior Don Engle ' s donkey is too much for the faculty ' s defense. 30 Donkey Basketball FUN: MHS gets off their 4 donkey s’