2014 Fall Awards Night

Fall Awards will be on Tuesday November 4th at 6:30 at the High School!

First Open Gym, at the AC

We will start back up again with our Open Gym at the AC (OG/AC) on Monday November 3rd. The time will be announced the week prior. Thanks to us making it to Regionals, the wait is only two weeks instead of the four weeks we had to wait last year.

Regional Semi Final Day....in pictures part 1

ONE BY ONE, TRICKLING IN.......

Regional Semi Final Day......in pictures part 2

TEAM BRUNCH AFTER THE WALK TROUGH/LIGHT PRACTICE

The 2014 Sectional Championship shirt

#together, 5 STARS!!

Regional Semi Final Goshen-NorthWood 6-0 (2-0)

BEFORE KICK OFF AND WELL BEFORE THE LARGE NW CROWD MAKES ITS WAY TO BAKER PARK. What will turn out to be NorthWood's last game of the season, the game will start off the same way it will end; with a goal. Goshen scores in the 4th and it takes the Panthers a while to get over the early deficit. But after about 12-13 minutes, we settle down and play okay. I was not impressed with Johnny Toupee in the middle but it did not cost us until about the 37th. When a NW player goes down with an injury, the Goshen coach screams at his team to kick the ball out (a ploy?- he would do the same again in the second half- or is it a team that does not listen to their coach?) but they do not. Some players kind of stop playing, Johnny Toupee puts the whistle in his mouth but does NOT blow it, Goshen keeps playing and attacks the box. They take a shot that seems to take the Panthers defense by surprise. The ball literally rolls in for the 2-0 lead. Two momentum killers; a goal in the 4th and three minutes before the tea. Granted we should have played til the whistle in the 37th but it seems odd that when the coach tells his team to kick the ball out (soccer courtesy/sportsmanship) but they keep on playing to gain advantage. You would have thought the team was told at the half to listen to the coach and the next time he calls for the ball to be kicked out, to place the ball over the sideline which they obviously did not do, twice! At the half coach Duerksen addresses the fact that we did outwork Goshen for a majority in the first half, that we need to do more of that and try to get back in to the game by scoring a goal to get within one. The second half starts with Goshen having most of the possession which results in their 3rd goal in the 57th. They would add 3 more to win decisively, 6-0. South Bend St. Joe defeats Penn 2-0 so the Regional Final tomorrow will be between Goshen and St. Joe. NorthWood finishes the season at 6-10-3 and a Sectional Championship. We lose Tanner and Ethan next year, all other players will be back. Having to play without two starting defenders (Pipp and David) obviously impacts the strength and depth of the team. Tanner did a nice job replacing Pipp. We wish Matt and David both a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing them and everyone else come out on Monday nights in the AC for Open Gym (OG/AC). Thanks to all the parents for their support and putting together the team dinners. Thank you Mrs. Eshelman for getting the Nike dri fit Sectional Champions shirts done before last nights game. The players love the shirts!Thanks to ALL the fans. They came out all season long and we packed the stands in Sectionals and Regionals. As Coach Duerksen said: "the future is bright!". I will put Awards Night and Open Gym information on the blog shortly.

Directions to Baker Park

You might want to plunk 811 S Byrkit Ave., Mishawaka in your GPS, just to be on the safe side. Looking at the map, take the Bypass to Elm Rd (331), once on Elm, EXIT at the Harrison Rd/E 12th exit. Go west or left on E 12th to the 12th street intersection with Fir Rd/Byrkit AV. Turn right or north on Byrkit and Baker Park will be on your left (west) side.

Game Day #18 Regional Semi Finals

Tomorrow is Game Day # 18. At 5 pm we will play #15 Goshen (MaxPreps rates them at #12 in the state, 45th in the nation) at Baker Park in Mishawaka. In comparison, Maxpreps rates us at 135th in the State (but still standing as one of 32 teams in 2A) and 1673rd in the nation. Goshen carries a 15-2-1 record into tomorrow's game, the Panthers have improved their record to 6-9-3 with the last two wins in Sectional play. It looks like the Panthers will not have David Eshelman and Matt Pippinger available due to injuries. So some more adjustments are necessary once again. If I manage to get some better directions to the park, I will post those here. Today's practice will run until about 5:15; tomorrow's practice (light) will be at 10 am at the game field and will conclude at 10:45. After practice the team will have a brunch in the cafeteria at the Nappanee ELementary School (thank you Mr. Cripe) and thanks to all parents for putting that together as well. The bus will leave around 3:45 pm, game starts at 5 pm. Hope to see a lrage crowd there. See you there! GO PANTHERS!!!!!

NW Soccer history............sold!

ONE OF THE ITEMS SOLD AT THE SCHOOL'S AUCTION YESTERDAY WAS NW SOCCER'S FIRST PRESS BOX (JACOB SMITH NAMED THE SHED AFTER HIMSELF -SEE PICTURE). HERE ARE SOME BLASTS FROM THE PAST.........................

Isaac Bowser to appear in Pilot News

An article about Soccer Sectionals and Regionals in the Pilot News will feature this picture of Isaac Bowser (seen here playing against Bremen earlier this season).

Today's Practice - parking

Use the front parking lot of Nappanee Elementary today; the usual parking lot is being used for the auction today.

Regional Semi Final Thursday

The gates will open one hour prior to the game. In past years, the seating capacity is low and people were sitting in their own lawn chairs along both sides of the bleachers that were brought in. Parking is also limited so car pooling would be a good option. The game starts at 5 pm. We play Goshen and the second game is at 7 pm on 10/16/14 as well (Penn-St Joe).

Cup Cake

From the Desk of Athletic Director Norm Sellers..........

From: Norm Sellers Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2014 7:59 PM To: WCS All Staff Distribution List Subject: NorthWood Boys Soccer - Sectional Champions Congratulations to Brad Duerksen, Egbert Dijkstra and the boys soccer team for winning the IHSAA Plymouth Sectional!! We defeated Plymouth with a gut wrenching, hard fought score of 1-0. So proud of this group of young men and coaches for dealing with adversity of losing one of our players to injury earlier in the year on top of being inexperienced at the varsity level but.........kept working and kept their eye on the prize!! See attached picture of a very happy group of NorthWood Panthers!! Our boys will travel to Mishawaka on Thursday for the Regional. Game information will be released once we receive it from the IHSAA. Go Panthers!!

TWINS

Today we practice at the game field. We will be there all week (Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu). Today's, tomorrow's and Wednesday's practices start at 3:30 and most will last til about 5 - 5:15ish. As usual during the play off season, there will be time for PK's at the end. Thursday we will have a light morning agility/warmup/possession practice like we did Saturday. We will announce the time later. After practice, a breakfast/brunch will be provided to the team in the cafeteria in the school (NES). The game on Thursday kicks off at 5 pm at Ward Baker Park, 811 S. Byrkit in Mishawaka (use this address for your GPS).. I will post additional information as it becomes available.

NORTHWOOD PANTHERS 2014 SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS

2014 Sectional Finals Plymouth-NorthWood 0-1 (0-0)

After preparing all day with a light agility and possession type practice, a meal at Dutch Village and the bus trip to Plymouth it is time to tackle boys soccer's biggest challenge in four years.FIRST HALF- The game starts on time under great conditions and with the season's largest crowd in attendance. An absolutely great fan base from the NorthWood community has made the trek to Plymouth to support their fellow Panthers. The game starts with two teams trying to settle in and settle down. The play goes back and forth with NW controlling the first ten or so and Plymouth controlling the next 15 minutes of play. In the 25th, a great shot by Plymouth needs a stop by Cody. Isaac receives a yellow in the 28th and Brayton is a recipient of the caution with the same color later on as well. The yellow cards must be on sale today, the ref is almost giving them away for free. In general center referee Meija does a decent job. In the 34th, Derek gets possession of the ball on the left flank. He weaves thru half of the Rockies defense and takes a nice shot. When it leave his foot, it is reminiscent of the shot in the game against Wawasee that found the net. This shot nearly misses wide. In the 35th, a Tanner Fervida cross reaches Eli who probably should have put it away but it would not have mattered since he was flagged for off side. The AR on the bench side is very eager to raise his flag when off side is "suspected". Either way, the ball does not go in........... HALF TIME- A few minor adjustments are addressed such as targeting on free kicks and keeping the ball near or over the Plymouth defense since their defense seems to be their weakness. We also have to be aware of their strength: offensive speed but the bottom line according to Coach Duerksen is work rate. He promises the team that the hardest working team will walk off a winner in 40 minutes. SECOND HALF- NW's effort does not let up. We work hard and a lot of battles are fought out on the stand side of the field. Pipp runs so hard when defending their outside mids and forwards that it looks like his legs might fall off. It is the fourth game in a row that we play hard for 80 minutes. We play attractive and somewhat direct but are able to combine well at times.In the 56th, Ethan comes in to give Derek a well deserved break. Three minutes later, Ethan takes the ball into the left corner and crosses it with his left tight and hard into the box. The ball is handled by a Plymouth defender with his hand instead of his feet and the referee has no option but to point at the dot. Dennyz Barahona gets ready to take his and arguably NorthWood's most important PK ever. As he has in practice all week, he sends the keeper the wrong way for the 0-1 lead. With a little over 21 minutes to play, NW wants to keep the lead but not play to defend it. Plymouth tries to attack more and does so especially in the last 5 minutes. Cody has to come up with several saves. Brayton plays hard to the last whistle as does AC. AC was double marked all night (that happens when you get scouted on a night you score a hat trick) but kept working hard to go thru the defense and when we lost the ball, he helped out defensively. Eli worked hard, Tanner and Derek did as well. Pipp, Juan, Josh, Dylan and Connor were solid. Dennyz has had 4 great games in a row. Ethan contributed when he came in. Isaac worked hard but both Isaac and Brayton have to make sure not to get carded anymore. Cody was very solid and recorded his fourth shutout of the season. The win improves our record to 6-9-3 and gives us our first Sectional Championship in 4 years. This is NorthWood's 5th Sectional Championship overall (2006,2007,2008, 2010, 2014). After the game and picture taking, we boarded the bus where the Nappanee Police were waiting for us at McCormicks to escort us thru town with lights and sirens! Once off the bus, Coach Duerksen told his team how proud he was of all of his players!!!! The Cripes arranged for the team to have pizza at Pizza Hut after the game (THANKS!!!!). Next up: Regional Semi Final vs. Goshen at Baker Park in Mishawaka on Thursday 10/16 at 5 pm. Penn and St Joe play at 7. The winners of these two games will face off on Saturday night at 7 pm.

2014 Sectional Champions - the day in pictures part 1

JUAN AND COACH ARRIVING AT THE MORNING PRACTICE. REST OF THE TEAM TRICKLING IN.

Sectional Champions- pics part 2

THE TEAM AT BURKHOLDER'S DUTCH VILLAGE EATING LUNCH AFTER THE LIGHT MORNING PRACTICE. THANK YOU MR. AND MRS CRAVEN!!!!