Members of the
Wauzeka-Steuben baseball team are, front row, from left, Joe Huber, Nick Oswald, Austin Kapinus and Grant Kapinus. Middle row, Teagan Cornell, Casey Oswald, Curtis Groom,
Josh Emery and Nathan Friar. Back row, Coach Jim Wagner, Brett McCullick, Dayton Folbrecht, John Huber, Christopher McCullick, Tyler Wagner and Head Coach Anders Kronberg.
(Photo courtesy of Penny's One-Hour Photo)
Fresh start Hornets look to win conference
"Our goal is to win a conference championship," said Head Coach Anders Kronberg, who is in his first season at the helm of the Wauzeka-Steuben baseball
team. "It has been 20 years since the Hornets last. We need our young guys to contribute and have solid leadership from the upper classmen. We need to cut down on errors and
have our players make the routine plays."
As the they look to improve upon last season's 10-4 conference record, the strengths for the Hornets this season will be being able to build upon
togetherness, unity, hustle, and discipline, said Kronberg. The Hornets will have to overcome being a relatively young team and inexperience at some positions. Kronberg said
that the players will have to learn quickly and cut down on mental errors.
Kronberg said that the Hornets are looking to make a fresh start with a whole new philosophy and excitement. Returning letterwinners who will be looked
upon to provide leadership include Casey Oswald, Curtis Groom, Tyler Wagner, Christopher McCullick, Dayton Folbrecht and Josh Emery.
Helping Kronberg to prepare the Hornets will be assistant coaches Jim Wagner and Nick Lenzendorf, who are each in their first season.
Goal for Lady Hornets to finish in top three
Members of the
Wauzeka-Steuben softball team are, front row, from left, Alyssa Burke, Hayley Degnan, Kaylee Mullikin and Krystal Boylen. Middle row, Manager Tabitha Check, Danica Sander,
Rachel Krachey, Melissa Kiley, Tayler Kapinus, Brooke Degnan, Alexie Cornell, Manager Kelsey Kapinus. Back row, Head Coach Lisa Wallin-Kapinus, Amber Lund, Ashley Harris,
Ashley Kirchner, Kaci George, Stephanie Check, Lexie Sander, Megan Heisz and Coach Angie Check. (Photo courtesy of Penny's One-Hour Photo)
Lisa Wallin-Kapinus has been the head coach for the Wauzeka-Steuben softball team for 12 years and she's ready to coach the team to the top once again.
2009's conference record for the team was 11-3.
"My hope is that we are able to finish in the top 3 of our conference," states Wallin-Kapinus.
Helping Wallin-Kapinus manage the team is Assistant Coach Angie Check. Returning starters include Tayler Kapinus, Danica Sander, Rachel Krachey, Kaci George, Kaylee Mullikin,
Lexie Sander, Brooke Degnan, Melissa Kiley, Megan Heisz, Hayley Degnan and Ashley Harris.
Keys to keeping the Hornets successful this year will be to stay healthy and stay mentally positive during every game.
"As a team, we must be able to adjust to the changes of the game and work hard to battle through the doubleheaders put forth by our conference," said Wallin-Kapinus."
Wallin-Kapinus believes that De Soto will be a tough team for them to beat in the conference and playing doubleheaders in the conference is a new challenge for the team.
Adjusting the pitching distance from 40 feet to 43 feet has also become somewhat of a challenge to the game.
Wallin-Kapinus adds, "We have had to fill many key positions, many of our players are first-time starters in their position or learning to play a new position. But the girls
are keeping open minds and are willing to be very versatile."
Wauzeka-Steuben looks for continued improvement
Members of the
Wauzeka-Steuben track team are, front row, from left, Managers Kace Wagner, Patrick Marfilius and Drew Mezera. Middle row, Jamie Pulda, Jack Fortner, Kyle Bayne, Ashley
Mezera, Katelyn Bruegmann, Johnna Coleman, Jenna Wagner, Macey Kuykendall and Kaila Adkins. Back row, Tyler Beers, Austin Marfilius, Dan Molini, Dylan Flansburgh, Lisa Umann,
Corey Kuykendall, Kevin Dryer, Dustin Flansburgh and Curtis Pulda. Dylan Shafer, Mike Molini, Lydia Burgus and Anjel Seely are not pictured.
A young Wauzeka-Steuben High School girls track team will be looking for continued improvement during the 2010 season.
"We hope to improve every meet and turn in our best performance at the conference meet," said Head Coach Dave Petrowitz. "We are very young. Seven out of our 10 girls are
first-year participants, so their development is critical."
The Lady Hornets have a great team chemistry, they work hard and want to get better, said Petrowitz. "We need some long distance runner and more numbers," he said about the
upcoming season.
The Wauzeka-Steuben girls and boys finished fourth in the Ridge and Valley Conference last season and will look to improve throughout as they take on top conference rivals
such as Ithaca, North Crawford and Seneca.
The Lady Hornets have one returning letterwinner in Ashley Mezera.
Quick development of the first-year team members, a good team chemistry and the attitude to want to be good will be the keys to success for the Wauzeka-Steuben High School
boys track team this season, according to Head Coach Dave Petrowitz.
"North Crawford is always the team to beat, but with steady improvement throughout the year, we should move into the upper tier of the conference," said Petrowitz.
Petrowitz said that the Hornets are very hard working and love to compete. The team will need to overcome a lack of numbers this season.
Leading the way will be returning letterwinners Austin Marfilius, Dan Molini, Dustin Flansburgh, Corey Kuykendall and Curtis Pulda.
Helping Petrowitz to prepare the girls and boys teams will be assistant coaches Jolene Mitchell and Bill Marfilius.
