News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Sports

Related Photos

  • Ball control: Terre Haute North's Austin Lewis controls a Chris Barrett pass during the Patriots' first practice of the season July 30 at North. (Tribune-Star File/Joseph C. Garza)

    SPT 073012 LEWIS CATCH.jpg

  • Tough yards: Brother Scank (4) grinds out tough yards for Terre Haute North, running into North Central defender Sherrod Graham (55). (Tribune-Star File/Jim Avelis)

    SPTT101411THNFB scank.jpg

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
August 17, 2012

SEASON PREVIEW: Terre Haute North's experienced senior class looking to bounce back from 2-8 season

Andy Amey The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — It doesn’t take a genius to realize that this year’s senior class of high school football players at Terre Haute North is one coach Chris Barrett has learned to appreciate.

“A.J. Grady, Brother Scank, Lee Davis, Calvin Blank — these are all four-year letterwinners, and all of them but Brother started as freshmen,” the coach pointed out last week. “Austin Lewis and Charles Dillahunt are three-year starters, Vasco Billberry too.”

The best part about that list, the coach will be happy to tell you, is that it represents more than just experience. There are a couple of reasons why those players have played for so long.

One reason is talent, of course. Blank and Lewis have already made verbal commitments for Division I scholarships, and it would be surprising if at last a couple more from that group don’t do so as well.

But as the Patriots look to rebound from a 2-8 season a year ago, there’s probably a second reason that’s at least as important as talent.

“You can count on these guys to do all that’s needed,” coach Barrett said last week. “They give us outstanding leadership … and I know we as coaches will be able to sleep well at night because we know they will give us their all. We learned a lot of hard lessons last year.”

North opened its 2012 season with a controlled scrimmage at Bloomington North a week ago and was impressive, particularly on offense.

Junior quarterback Chris Barrett (6-foot-2, 185) had an impressive evening, although it could be pointed out that the coach’s son was also impressive in the 2011 controlled scrimmage. The position became a problem a year ago but seems doubly fortified this year with another junior, Austin Massey (5-11, 175), pushing the younger Barrett for playing time.

Finding targets for either quarterback is easy, with Lewis (6-4, 218) and Dillahunt (6-0, 165) on the outside and Blank (6-5, 230) at tight end. Junior Nate Carson (6-2, 175) and senior Cole Seward (6-2, 180) back up the outside receivers, and Massey could fill in there too.

Scank (5-7, 200) and junior Ricky Brookins (5-8, 170) both ran well at Bloomington — Scank from the running back spot, Brookins listed as a slotback — and junior Kai Stratten (5-10, 185) is a capable reserve for either. Davis (6-1, 230) is something of an offensive wild card, filling in a running back or tight end if additional blocking or short-yardage bulldozing is needed.

Grady (6-2, 295) is the unquestioned leader of an offensive line that is otherwise inexperienced — but not lacking in size. Junior Lucas Comer (6-5, 245) is the tackle opposite Grady, with juniors Austin Vermillion (6-4, 300) and Bryce Woodason (6-2, 272) at guards and junior Forrest Lowery (5-9, 265) at center. Junior Gerrit Tenbrink (6-3, 270), senior Joshua Bovenschen (5-9, 230) and some of the defensive linemen provide depth.

The Patriot defense wasn’t quite as impressive against the Cougars, but it’s far from a hopeless situation on that side of the ball.

The four years Davis has started have been at inside linebacker, where he’ll team with junior Wyatt Stoelting (6-1, 218) or sophomore Trey Grim (5-10, 175) in a good tandem. Outside backers are Billberry (6-0, 200) — who had a big performance at Bloomington — and senior Luke May (6-1, 215).

North’s three-man line starts with senior Chris Spencer (6-2, 252) at end, senior Alan Grayless (5-11, 220) at tackle and junior Ricky Scank (5-10, 240) at noseguard, with senior Ronnie McConnell (6-0, 270) also in the rotation. Seward and Stratten are the corners, with Massey at free safety and junior Ryan Moshak (5-11, 175) at strong safety. Senior Nate Jahn (5-9, 185), who has been a basketball specialist for awhile, is a promising backup in the secondary.

But here’s where the defense gets interesting: although coach Barrett tries to avoid having players go both ways, there will be tight spots in which the defense gets help from some of the offensive players. The wild cards here are Lewis, who could line up at outside linebacker or either safety spot, and Blank, who could fill a linebacker role or play most of the line positions. Grady will appear on the interior of the defensive line a few times too.

“We’re as close to having 22 starters [no one going both ways] as we’ve been,” coach Barrett said, “and the more guys we play, the fresher we’ll be in the fourth quarter.”

Sophomore Zach Potter (5-8, 155) will do both the kicking and punting. Captains elected by their teammates are Billberry, Grady and Scank.

“Depth is always a concern, and we’ve got to stay healthy,” coach Barrett concluded. “But I feel really good about this group … and the underclassmen want to win for [the seniors].”

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Sports
Page.jpg

Ethan Page is the race director for the Terre Haute Triathlon.

  • TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown

    Today is the day for the Thunder in the Valley, and the Terre Haute Triathlon is under new leadership in 2013, the 28th year for the event at Hawthorn Park.
    A former Terre Haute North track and cross country standout, Ethan Page is the race director as the race falls under the reign of Page’s new company, Crossroads Events.

    May 18, 2013 2 Photos

  • SPT0502113BB olds.jpg Olds pitches South to share of MIC baseball title

    Friday night, winning the second game 5-0 and earning a share of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title.
    Damon Olds was dominant on the mound for the Braves, striking out 14 and walking just one while pitching a three-hit shutout.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU

    Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
    ISU couldn’t do it.

    May 18, 2013

  • South wins first half of doubleheader against Lawrence North

    Host Terre Haute South kept its Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title hopes alive — and clinched no worse than second place in the process — by downing Lawrence North 4-1 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday night.
    The second game, which started after Senior Night festivities between games, ended past the Tribune-Star deadline.

    May 18, 2013

  • PREP ROUNDUP: Calleja pitches West Vigo past South Vermillion

    Brandon Calleja had 13 strikeouts to lead West Vigo to a 5-1 victory against South Vermillion in high school baseball Friday.
    Brandon Behringer went 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Vikings, who secured second place in the Western Indiana Conference.
    Kaden Lawson had double for South Vermillion (15-7), which finished 4-2 in the WIC.

    May 18, 2013

  • SPT0511613track keller.jpg Seibert returns from injury to win three events as Braves win sectional crown

    His baseball equivalent might be Rick Sutcliffe of the 1984 Chicago Cubs.
    When Tyler Seibert returned to the Terre Haute South track and field lineup Thursday for sectional action at Terre Haute North, it was like the midseason trade the Cubs made for Sutcliffe that earned them a playoff spot.

    May 17, 2013 4 Photos

  • SPT 051613 CAMP VOLLEY.jpg South switches up lineup to defeat North in tennis sectional

    Terre Haute South coach Bill Blankenbaker said two weeks ago that he would change the Braves’ lineup after the 3-2 dual-meet loss to Terre Haute North.
    The Patriots knew it was coming, but they couldn’t do anything to stop it.

    May 17, 2013 2 Photos

  • SPT0511613manaea4.jpg Behind 16 hits and Manaea's pitching, ISU beats Bradley

    Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
    First came the public announcement that Bob Warn Field would host the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Later, Sean Manaea’s availability to pitch ISU’s series opener against Bradley was in doubt.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Indiana State women add five transfers, including experienced D-I point guard

    Indiana State coach Teri Moren believes the addition of five more newcomers to the program — in addition to the five who had already joined the program earlier this calendar year — will provide her coaching staff the athleticism and depth it needs to play a successful, up-tempo brand of basketball next season.

    May 17, 2013

  • PREP ROUNDUP: North slips past Northview in eight-inning baseball game

    Colton Pittman drew a bases-loaded walk to score Zach Milam with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as host Terre Haute North edged Northview 8-7 in high school baseball Thursday at Jennings Field.

    May 17, 2013

Local Interest
High School
College
Sports Columns
Page.jpg

Ethan Page is the race director for the Terre Haute Triathlon.

Pro Sports
Terre Haute Rex
SPT 071512 DORSETT FILE.jpg

Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)

Colts
Auto Racing
Latest News
Multimedia

Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Front page
AP Video
Orb heads Preakness field Betting at the Preakness Amico: Grizzlies/Spurs series preview Three and Out: Knick's Bench Loud Mouths: Venting Machine Does Orb have a legit shot at the Triple Crown? Stuart: You gotta move on and win your home games Green: 'Winning is a mentality; we are not satisfied' UW Women's Golf team ready to shoot for more NCAA history Bogut: 'It was a roller-coaster of a season for me' Pavelski on 0-2 hole: 'We gotta put it behind us and move on' Curry on Jack & Landry: 'I want them back' Thompson: 'We've got all the right pieces to win a championship' Video: Blackhawks' Bickell on Game 2 approach Barnes: I want to improve by post game and ball-handling Curry: I don't look like the typical NBA player; I look 18 Baseball player returns $500 thousand overpayment to team Peter King's OTA watch Is help really on the way for the Yankees? Lacob: 'I'm happy we could give the fans a good product'
NDN Video
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Beyonce Is Pregnant! SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion Woman tricked into taking abortion pill Emma Watson Goes Pantless IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes Raw: Marines Come to Obama's Aid in the Rain CUTE: Monkey shares lollipop with dog, then HITS pooch on head with it Miranda Kerr Looks Sexy in a Bikini Photo Shoot
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity