Athlete of the month: Gloria Gonzales

Interview by: Blake Slunaker, staff writer
Photo by: Elizabeth Miller, staff photographer

Q: How did you get started in swimming?

A: “My mom put me and Eve (her sister)  in swim lessons when we were 4 because Eve didn’t know how to swim and almost drowned. Eve and I really enjoyed it, so we started at the YMCA for a while, then joined a summer league, then joined a club, and started swimming year round.”

Q: What are your interests other than swimming?

A:“The other interests I have other than swimming are art, watching sports, and hanging out with friends.”

Q: What are your plans for after high school?

A: “I am committed to swim at Eastern Illinois University and major in Environmental Management”

Q: What are your personal goals for this season?

A: “My personal goals for this season are to break a minute in the 100 back, break 2 minutes in the 200 free, and improve my turns.”

Q: What are your goals for the whole team this season?

A: “My goals for the whole team are halfway accomplished. We are such a close team. I am hoping for big time drops for all the girls at sectionals, and I am hoping for two of our relays to win at sectionals to advance to state

Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment in your high school career thus far?

A: “My biggest accomplishment in my high school career was probably when I made the senior state cut in the 100 backstroke at sectionals last year because it was a really big turning point for me. It was the beginning of getting into swimming competitive times and transitioning into the college level.

Winter sports update

Story by: Connor Curts, staff writer

The basketball, swimming, and wrestling seasons are officially underway at Mt. Vernon High School.

The girls basketball team got off to a solid start, and are 8-1 so far. The Lady Marauders are led by senior point guard Sydney Shelton and there’s a lot of hope for the team’s tournament chances this year.

“I think the girls have a really good team this year. They’ve been incredibly hot to start off,” said Oliver Mast, 11.

The boys basketball team is 2-0 so far, beating Whiteland and Hamilton Heights. Junior guard Michael Ertel has been solid so far, tallying 26 points and 6 assists in the game against Hamilton Heights.

Across the street in the pool, the girls swim team is 3-0, and started the season coming in 2nd place with 123 points, in a 5 team event at Franklin Community High School.

Unfortunately for the boys swim team, it’s a different story. They started with a win, but have since dropped their last 2 meets.

The wrestling team began the season with a win on December 2 against Daleville, crushing the opponent 75-6. They’ll be looking for a solid season this year, with lots of potential.

The future is certainly bright for many of MV’s teams, but it all requires teamwork and lots of effort.

Upcoming Events

Wed 11/25: Girls’ Varsity Basketball 7:30 pm against Westfield

Sat 11/28: Wrestling 9:00 am @Shenandoah Invitational
Girls’ Varsity Basketball 1:30 pm @Hamilton Heights
Boys’ Varsity Basketball   5:15 pm @ Hamilton Heights

Mon 11/30: Girls’ Varsity Basketball 6:00 pm @Lawrence North

Tues 12/1: Boys’ & Girls’ Swimming 5:30 pm @Warren Central

Wed 12/2: Boy’s Varsity Basketball 6:00 pm against Sheridan
Wrestling 6:00 pm against Daleville

 

 

More senior athletes

Interviews by: Logan Jennings, staff writer

Girls Soccer
Hannah Whitaker
Struggle: Being confident to take shots
Favorite: Winning conference junior year
Future: Attending Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee to major in nursing

Boys Tennis
Warren Gamblin
Struggle: Having the confidence to jump up and hit through my serve in big situations
Favorite: Playing (number) 3 singles in sectionals versus New Pal
Future: Go to the University of Southern Indiana to study political science and history and econ. Play college tennis

Girls Cross Country
Morgan Hayse
Struggle: The biggest struggle is mentally, you always need to be confident and not be afraid of the challenge and obstacles that lie ahead
Favorite: When I won the county (race) my senior year at our home course,…(when) the girls and boys won county as a team
Future: I plan to attend Marian University, I plan to run cross country and track. I plan to major in exercise science

Boys Swimming
Cole Case
Struggle: Going as hard as you can every single time
Favorite: Breaking four school records, three sectional records, and going to state
Future: Go to SIU(Southern Illinois University) to study architecture and (to) swim

Volleyball
Shelby Blair
Struggle: My back
Favorite: I knocked down a libero
Future:  (I plan on being an) American Sign Language Interpreter

Girls Track and Field
Savannah Ballard
Struggle: Running the 400, because it’s hard
Favorite: Hanging out with my friends
Future: (Go to) IUPUI for nursing

 

MV swimmers fight hard at state

Story by: Blake Slunaker, staff writer
Photo by: Mackenzie Carpenter, staff photographer

For the second year in a row, the Mt. Vernon Boys’ and Girls’ swim teams advanced to state. The girls participated on February 13 and 14 and the boys participated on February 27 and 28.

Before advancing to the state tournament, the boys and girls had to participate in the sectional tournament. Although the  Mt. Vernon boys’ and girls’ teams did not win their sectionals, they still had some of their swimmers advance to state. The top swimmers in their events were able to advance to state.

The swimmers who advanced for the boys were: Cole Case, Zane Smith, Dixon Tierney, Bryce Gray, Matthew Bauchert, Timothy Broaders, and Joshua Blackburn. For the girls, the people who advanced were Gloria Gonzales, Samantha Case, Lydia Tierney, Haley Moore, Riley Chambers, Anne Marie Keeler, Jennah Ruddick, and Ciara Tyndall.

The boys and girls who advanced swam relays and some did individual events. Although Mt. Vernon did not win, they still competed well and some even did better than their previous personal records.

“Even though we did not win, I was still pretty happy with the outcome and hope I can make it back next year,” said Gloria Gonzales, 11.

Dixon Tierney, 11 said, “I can’t wait until next season, I hope that we will have a little bit more success.”

So even though Mt. Vernon did not win the whole state competition overall, they still had great success and will look to continue their success for next season.