by Alexis Sisson/Staff Writer

Photo by Taylor Gibson- Hunter Gulden, 11, takes on his opponent.

The boy’s wrestling team here at GC is off to a great start and feeling positive about the rest of the season. Their season record so far is 3-1. They recently finished with a second place at the New Pal 6-Way Tournament. 

Hunter Gulden, 11, has been on the wrestling team for 5 years now. He is happy with the direction the season is taking. “The season is going very well and we are running through other teams. I’m doing the best I’ve ever done so far,” he said.

Micah Ballenger, 12, has been on the wrestling team for 4 years. He said he likes that the wrestling team works really hard. He also said that a hard-working team not only makes you a better wrestler but makes you a better person. “The biggest obstacle I have faced so far and am still facing is the ankle fracture I had a couple months ago. It has affected my season but i am hoping to get back to wrestling soon to help the team during sectionals.”

Gulden also spoke about the team being close and helping each other. “I like how we’re all family. There’s not a stronger bond than we have.”

Coach Josh Holden thinks that the season is good so far. He said the boys are working very hard and getting better. “I’m always proud of my boys unless they don’t give effort.  I can take losing.  I can’t tolerate giving less than your best effort.  One of the things I love the most about wrestling is that you don’t have to be big or fast or a great athlete.  If you work your tail off and are coachable you usually do pretty well, and that’s something to be proud of.”  Some team goals are to get better every day, be great teammates and win conference and sectionals.

Some of Gulden’s future goals are to make state and hopefully win. “Our team goals are to send at least 6 to state and win our first sectional title under Coach Holden,” Gulden said.

Ballenger’s objectives were along the same lines.  “The only goal I am shooting for the future is to be a state champion,” Ballenger said.

With all the hard-working boys and coaches the boys’ wrestling team is off to a good start. On Nov. 30 they won 59-16 against Franklin Central. Since that event the boys have worked even harder to be better and to win their next event.

by Alexis Sisson/Staff Writer

Photo Caption: Jessica Farrell, 12, brings the ball down for a layup. 

The girls’ basketball team is five games into their new season and feeling positive about how things are progressing.

Jessica Farrell, 12, sees the season going well. “We got a new coach this year, but we are all adjusting well to his coaching style,” she said.

Hannah Farrell, 10, said she was also happy with the way practice is going. “I feel like we are getting better and we have a lot of fun while doing it. I think we are going to surprise people.”

Jessica said she likes how positive the new coach, Joshua Means, is.  Hannah said Coach Means brings energy to the court.

Hannah said some goals the team has are to slow down the pace of the game and to have minimum turnovers. Jessica said another team goal is winning their conference. “As a team we are definitely getting better and we are creating a great team dynamic,” Jessica said.

One of Jessica’s goals is to get better after an injury last season. She said,  “My goal for this year is to remain healthy all season, to get better each day and always give (my) personal best effort.  I am looking forward to being out on the floor and playing this year after being forced to sit out all last season from an injury.”

For team-building outside of practice, they plan to have dinner before every conference games, and decorate their lockers. “Inside of practice we try to really be positive and give high-fives. We always break on center court after practice and end with giving everyone high-fives,” Jessica said.

Both Jessica and Hannah think HSE will be among the hardest competitors. Hannah said, “They are very skilled overall and have a great program.”

Jared Manning, athletic director, said that Coach Means brings both playing and coaching experiences to the team. Manning looks forward to seeing the positive growth of the team and the entire program under Means’ leadership.

by Hailey Hall/Staff Writer

Photo Caption: Daniel Joven, 11, practices on the swim team after school.

The GC girls swim team, sectional winners four times in a row now, is preparing for their new season. Their first meet is Nov. 18 at 10:00 am, the Turkey Breast Invitational. 

Alexis Zell, 12, a veteran of the swim team, and Anna Seal, 9, who is new to the girls swim team, are among the many people participating on the girls swim team.   

When you’re on a team such as swim, having goals for yourself and the team is very important, especially when the team is also a two-time Hoosier Heritage Conference winner. 

“My individual goals for this season are to break 1 minute in the 100 free and 26 seconds in the 50 free. As a team we hope to win a 3rd conference title and 5th sectional title, as well as send multiple individuals to state,” Zell said.

“My individual goal would be to get a proper stroke to get faster times. As for my team goals would be it would be to get to state,” Seal said.

While having goals is always good, it can be tough to achieve those goals.

“To attain these goals my teammates and I will continue to practice both in and out of the pool. We will work to build our endurance and technique in order to be our best in competition.” Zell said.

“Both the men and women’s swim teams recently made goal boards with each one of each team member’s’ goals written on them. When goals are put in writing it easier to hold yourself and your teammates accountable.” Zell said.

According to Zell , the girls swim team’s biggest competition is Pendleton; they played very well last year.  

Being mentally prepared for the upcoming season is very important as well.

“I think the biggest thing I’ve done to mentally prepare for this season is to consider my goals and focus on having fun while still working hard to achieve those goals,” Zell said.

Staying focused on your goals can be challenging.  “My team stays focused on our goals by helping and encouraging each other before and during every practice and reminding each other that we are always there for one another,” Seal said.

by Mariam Elassal/Staff Writer

Photo Caption: Photo retrieved from @gccougarsvolleyball from instagram

This picture shows Makayla Price, 9, in action. Price was named HHC Co-player of the week after tallying 19 kills and 17 digs against Lafayette Central Catholic on September 9.

With their recent win over Decatur Central, the GC volleyball girls have had a great first half of their season. The Cougars beat Decatur with a score of 2-0. The Cougars stand at 11-8 on the season.

Alissa Knecht, 9, who plays setter on varsity,  is taking on her first season of high school volleyball and has many goals. “One of my main goals this season is to just grow as a player, and to learn and improve from my mistakes.”

Knecht, who has been playing volleyball since she was in fourth grade along with club volleyball, has her own strengths and weaknesses just like any other player. “A weakness of mine is that I am only a freshman and don’t have much high school volleyball experience and I am only 5’5, so not as tall as other players.”

All athletes have bad days. Grace Silcox, 10, plays outside attacker on the junior varsity team. “It’s hard when I have a bad day, I usually talk it out with my mom and focus on how I could’ve done better. I also focus on how I’m going to fix it the next game,” she stated.

A volleyball practice generally consists of an individual practice, called the toolbox, followed by the varsity and junior varsity teams splitting off into their individual courts. As a warm up, the teams will pass and hit. Once the players are warmed up, Coach Travis Fuller will have the team work on scenarios and rotations depending on what needs to be strengthened at the team.

The team practices 6 days a week, if one of those practices hasn’t been a game. By the end of the week, the team devotes about 18+ hours to volleyball, not including team bonding. At the moment, the Greenfield Central volleyball team has a season record of 11-8.

After games, Coach Fuller will talk to the team about what he thought of the game. “If team wins, our tradition for an away game is for the bus to take laps around the roundabout.”

In one of their most recent games, varsity player, Molly Broome, 11, recorded her 2,000th career assist. She was 168 short of the all time record.  Price, who plays outside attacker, recorded 13 kills. The Cougars will play Southport High School on Sept. 25.

by Alexis Sisson/Staff Writer

Photo Caption: Logan Hager

The boy’s tennis team have had some struggles in their season, but they keep fighting. They are 5-10 right now.

Both varsity and JV came in 3rd place at county on Sept. 9. They also came in 3rd place at the Triton Central Invitational on Aug. 26.

Important wins for the Cougars include: Scecina Memorial, Cardinal Ritter and Morristown.

Garrett McKee, 11 said the opponents this year have been pretty tough.

“I think that the boys tennis team has faced some challenging teams like Delta, New Pal, and Franklin,” McKee said.  “Although we lost against those teams, there are other teams that are more our skill level so we will have a better chance of winning.”

McKee said the coach and the new players have added a encouraging effect.

“Some highlights for the tennis season so far are meeting new freshman and seeing what they bring to the team,” McKee said. “Another highlight is having a good coach that will show you how to improve any way possible.”

Mason Bussell, 11, said he was feeling positive about the season overall.

“I feel we are doing good for where we are at with our depth,” Bussell said. “Win or loss, we always come out with the same exact attitude the very next day to get better. We have had some big team moments and big team wins.”

Bussell said the team has put in a lot of work so far.

“We practice 3 hours a day so we get plenty of work in at practice,” Bussell said. “Tennis is not an easy sport nor something for everyone, tennis takes time and effort.”

Steven Roland, 11, agreed with Bussell about the work involved.

“Tennis for me personally gets a little easier every year. You get more in shape every year,  and you start finding new things to improve or work on.  Now if you look at the work some players including me, go out and get lessons, and we play year round and tennis is our main sport.”

He also added that the team starts workouts around the start of July.  

“It all really depends on how much work you want to put in,” Roland said.  “Sometimes we will go home sore, drenched in sweat, tired to the point if you sit down you’re going to fall asleep.”

McKee said he tries to come out to practice every day and give 110%. There are some days where he may not be feeling the best, but he said he still tries to contribute something to our tennis team.

McKee also said, “Tennis is definitely something that everyone can master with time. We all have to start somewhere and usually that start is not good but as we put in time and effort we become varsity level tennis players.

Roland said, “I wouldn’t say tennis is hard but it’s definitely not easy.  By the end of the year we are surprised at how much you can improve your tennis game in a short amount of time.”