A PHS tennis tradition continues

By

James Costello

Pilot News Sports Editor

PLYMOUTH — It’s sometimes easier to maintain a tradition than to restore one.

Expectations play a big role in sports, and in tennis in particular, confidence can often win the day.
Plymouth seniors Connor Flynn and Jordan Scheetz were in eighth grade the last time the Pilgrims sent a doubles team to the state finals. On Saturday, the duo beat DeKalb’s Landon Miller and Brandon Fruits 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 to win the LaPorte Regional and advance to Friday’s Doubles State Championship.

“At the time I was going pretty crazy,” said Flynn of Saturday’s regional championship. “I’d never been that excited and nervous at the same time in my life. As soon as we did it, it was a huge relief. Especially with tennis not being our main sport, it’s crazy that we’ve made it this far. Now thinking back on it, it’s still hard to believe that we’re actually doing it and we’re still going, but we’re practicing hard and we’re going to try to make a run at the finals.”

“Plymouth’s No. 1 doubles is known greatly for moving on through the individual tournament,” said Scheetz. “We’re in a great state to be up on the Wall of Fame in the athletic hallway. That was our first goal is we wanted to get there, and we knew we were coming together and we were playing well. Really, we just went into Saturday with the mindset that we’re not thinking anything but wins here so we just went for it and focused hard and played our best.”

While the Pilgrims are known historically for deep runs in the doubles tournament, it’s been awhile since anyone in the program has gone as far as Flynn and Scheetz.

Plymouth sent a doubles team in Matt Hunter and Matt Langfeldt to the final four in 2001 in the second year of the IHSAA’s non-team doubles tourney and afterward enjoyed frequent appearances at the finals for several years, including sending six tandems to state in an eight-year span from 1998 to 2005, the last time the Pilgrims reached the finals.

Plymouth bowed out of the team tournament with a Culver Military Academy Regional championship loss to the host Eagles on Oct. 5, but Flynn and Scheetz stayed alive in the individual tourney with a straight-set win over CMA’s Quinlan Smith and Jorge Segura. They advanced to Saturday’s LaPorte Regional with another straight-set win over Warsaw’s A.J. Herendeen and Sam Rice at CMA Oct. 6, then beat Wheeler’s Jordon Long and Lucas Jessen in Saturday’s semifinal before battling back from a 4-1 deficit in the opening set to put away Miller and Fruits in three sets for the regional championship, breaking a five-year dry spell in state berths for Pilgrims doubles teams.

“It really has been a few years,” said Plymouth Head Tennis Coach Michael Delp, who finished runner-up for Plymouth with partner Scott Hunt as a senior in the 1993 doubles tourney. “When we had a string of so many guys in a row it really was helpful for some of our younger guys to go down and watch that big tournament, maybe dream a little bit that hey, that could be me someday, and when they finally make that 1 doubles team to kind of have that expectation that this is what we kind of do. For Connor and Jordan to do that on their own, I think there was an element of surprise for them this weekend, but they played really well and just restoring that tradition was something I wanted to see for our guys, especially our younger guys. But they had to be the first, at least the first in awhile, so for that I’m really proud of them. It’s sometimes easier to kind of follow the guys before you.”

Part of the surprise for Scheetz and Flynn is that neither is primarily a tennis player. Respectively a pitcher and an infielder for both Plymouth High School and American Legion Post 27, the duo was busy playing baseball last summer while many of their opponents were focusing on tennis.

“With (American) Legion, playing baseball together all summer, we didn’t play tennis. I played tennis one time this summer, and that was the day before two-a-days,” said Scheetz. “We really didn’t play tennis together this summer, but baseball kept us close.”

“Me and Jordan have been in school together since the fifth grade at St. Mike’s,” said Flynn. “Baseball and basketball have brought us closer together, but baseball, definitely in this previous summer playing together on Post 27 brought us a lot closer. I’m glad he decided to come out this year because I knew it was up in the air, but as soon as he did I knew something special could happen this year.”

While Scheetz and Flynn may have been a bit surprised at their tennis run given their pedigree as multi-sport athletes, Delp said they’re well within Plymouth’s doubles tradition in that respect as well.

“We’ve been kind of blessed since the start of the tournament with having strong doubles teams throughout there,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of guys that are strong athletes. Maybe tennis might be their first sport, but a lot of them, it’s their second or third sport, and they just kind of love the action that you get in doubles — the aggressiveness, the quick reflexes — and it just allows them to be successful on a tennis court… Some of that’s just suited the athletes that we’ve had, but we definitely have a strong tradition, both girls and guys, of teams that have made the state finals.”

While the state series may have started with sectionals Sept. 28, Scheetz’s and Flynn’s run really began a week before at the start of the Northern Lakes Conference Tournament.

Two days prior, the duo took a heartbreaking loss to visiting Northridge on Senior Night at Plymouth. After that loss, they regrouped to go undefeated at NLCs for the conference doubles championship and have continued gaining momentum with eight straight wins in the IHSAA tournament.

“Their last loss was the Monday before NLCs. It was Senior Night and a really heartbreaking loss,” said Delp. “Since that time they’ve really kind of come into their own. Maybe that loss kind of got their attention and we just kind of got back to some basics. For them, they had the ability — it was more realizing what it takes to be successful. They always had the aggressiveness; it was more about being consistent. Keeping the ball in play on returns and first serves in play instead of giving up easy points where they were going for a little much or not moving their feet well. So I kind of convinced them of that, but a lot of it has just come with confidence since that weekend. They step on the court, and they believe they’re the best team. As long as you have that confidence and that belief, you have a chance to win every match. That’s what I love. Right now, it’s pretty easy to get nervous in some of these matches where you lose and your season’s over. These guys just kind of step on the court and played the tennis in front of them and had confidence, you could just tell.”

“Northridge, it was an experience that I wouldn’t want to have, but now that I’ve had it I’m glad I did because it reiterated that sense that losing is not fun at all and winning is so much better,” said Flynn. “That you just have to do whatever it takes to win. The NLC tournament that weekend really got some momentum for us. We started getting our returns in, and we really started clicking. That was the turning point in our season I guess you could say, and we haven’t lost a match since that Northridge match and hopefully we don’t lose any this upcoming weekend.”

Whatever happens at Friday’s state finals, Flynn and Scheetz have already come a long way for Plymouth. They’ve helped bring back a tradition five years dormant, and both the players and their coach are hoping it can help raise expectations for younger Pilgrims tennis players.

“It’s pretty much a program-boost for the upcoming 1 doubles and the whole team really, I think,” said Scheetz. “Us getting there was a good example of what hard work, determination and all those things can do for you as you play tennis. Not only tennis, but sports and pretty much life. It sets a good example for the people under us.”

“The team next year, it’s going to be different with all the spots that are opening up, but looking down in practice at what the team has to offer, they can definitely make a run,” said Flynn. “It may seem like a down year but it’s definitely not. Like Coach says ‘With adversity comes opportunity,’ and you know what Plymouth tennis is; it’s about winning. We’re just glad that we could restore that a little bit and get the underclassmen hungry about victory.”

Reprinted by permission of the Pilot News

PHS Basketball Newsletter - October 2011

Grad Stories - Homer Marsh

Sponsored by the Pilot News

*Note - In going through nominations for the PHS Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, the stories of accomplishment are astounding. Some of them are so beautifully and elegantly told by the nominator that they stand on their own. I am going to share some of these stories with you in the next few newsletters and I think you'll agree they will make you even more proud of the school and community you come from.

Our first story is told by nominator Gates Thompson about Homer E. "Pete" Marsh from the class of 1931.

Homer E. "Pete" Marsh was born in Plymouth Indiana on April 19, 1912 the youngest of three sons born to Marion and Pearl Ritter Marsh. From friends and neighbors that are yet living it seems the family lived on Pennsylvania Avenue across from the Abrasive Mining Building. Pete's brothers Merle and Ed may have been born here also.

The Marsh's were building a new home on the north side of Williams Street which runs parallel to the then Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. It was a large, two story house and the year was after World War I about 1918.

Both parents had asked the boys to stay out of the new home until it was finished. It was dangerous to cross the railroad tracks and there were nails, loose boards and much, no doubt yet to be done. As often happens, the boys went in through a window and one of the brothers says that the youngest boy, Homer, slipped on a board. When they learned later that their little brother had a splinter in his leg, probably the knee, they knew they might have to tell their parents or let it go. when the parents learned of the mishap, infection had already set in. Blood poisoning meant that amputation would be necessary.

At this time no drugs or medicine were available to fight infections and it was necessary for Homer's leg to be severed above the knee cap. The operation was performed by Dr. Aspinall, a well known local doctor at the time.

It is not known if Homer started school before or after his misfortune. At the time he was about seven years old and school is a new world to a young, healthy, growing lad, and more so to him. He had to start over again and with help from family and friends was an inspiration to all.

When I first met him in 1925 he had overcome all obstacles. He was in Boy Scouts, had a paper route for the Pilot News, rode a bicycle, mowed lawns, played ball and went swimming at Dixon Lake.

He went to Scout Camp during the summer of 1926 and passed his swimming and Red Cross Life Saving test. Homer was always among the first to be chosen in all games. In sports that required running he had learned to use his good leg and one crutch - nothing was impossible to him.

He worked at  the Dixon Lake Bath House and Resort for Bill Baseler during the summer of 1928. Mrs. Baseler had died unexpectedly on January 12 of 1928. This left Bill the task of raising four young children and running one of the most popular places around on hot summer days.

One hot summer evening Clifford Kain and I were going to sleep out in a tent under the huge cottonwood tree near the beach at Dixon Lake. Before midnight a sudden thunder and lightening storm came up. The Baseler's home was on a hill south of the road along the lake. Bill came with a kerosene lantern and we followed him to his home. He was concerned for our safety.

When we entered the house, we both learned a wonderful thing was about to happen. Homer was staying at Bill's house and had not gone to bed yet. Bill had purchased a new artificial leg for Homer. He put it on and tried to walk around the dining room table. It was a happy occasion as he awkwardly stumbled about the room displaying his new limb. He also had new socks and shoes and wore them.

Homer was in Lincoln High School and graduated with the class of 1931. He was class President all four years of his high school days. After graduating from high school he met his wife while working. They were married May 24, 1941.

He attended Indiana University for his undergraduate and graduate study, and was an instructor in the Indiana University school of Business Administration in 1935 and became the director of research and statistics for the unemployment compensation division of the state of Indiana from 1936 to 1944. From there he became the the director of labor statistics for the U.S. Department of Labor and director of research for the National Tax Equality Association of Chicago.

From 1960 to 1970 he held many prestigious national positions and authored many groundbreaking books on cooperatives, marketing and tax law.

While living in Washington D.C. Homer and his wife Hazel Gladys Monce bought a home at 405 Beerenbrook in Plymouth over the telephone. It was 1977 and Homer was retiring. They spent one winter in Florida.

Hazel lived in the home until she was forced for health reasons to move to Pilgrim Manor in the north part of Plymouth.

Homer died on November 5, 1978 at the age of 66. He and Hazel had no children but left a host of friends and admirers.

Much could be written about this wonderful person who to my knowledge never let on that he was disabled or handicapped and never used it for sympathy or gain. He certainly stands tall in his achievements and is worthy of recognition.

*Note- Homer Marsh is surely a Plymouth grad worthy of recognition, and Gates, thanks to your heartfelt narrative he will receive it.

Life on the sea leads him to music and hometown

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs
PLYMOUTH - It's highly unlikely that Chad Van Herk has ever suffered from boredom.

The PHS grad and Marshall County native and singer/songwriter has just released his second album of songs "Daydreaming Days Away" but his musical pursuits are just part of an amazingly eventful young life. Born in the British Virgin Islands, Van Herk has probably spent more of his life on the sea than dry land.

At the ripe old age of six months, Chad and his parents circumnavigated the globe on the family sailboat. After graduating from Ball State University Chad bought a sailboat of his own and lived another dream of returning to the sea for a time, taking a sabbatical to sail as far as Grenada.

After their adventures circling the earth, Chad's parents moved to Plymouth to be sure their children received a good education without the distractions of the sea and it was here that he discovered music.

"I wanted to learn to play some Led Zepplin," he said with a laugh. "It started with piano lessons in junior high and I didn't like it all that much. It always seemed I had found something fun to do outside when my mom would call me in for my lesson. I wouldn't hurry in all that fast."

His hobby eventually led him to the guitar, but it was then still just a hobby.

"You know it really was just a way to relax after work," he said. "I started coming up with a bunch of lyrics and then put them down on paper."

"The sea has inspired me a lot. Of course Jimmy Buffet is a big influence and bands like the Grateful Dead. A lot of things inspire me, mostly personal experience. If it inspires me I'll get words in my head. My brain has always kind of worked like that."

A banker by profession, Chad has no real intention of giving up the "day job".

"It's really not something that I planned to do (a musical career) but I admit it is kind of snowballing really," he said. "A guy in California heard one of my songs on Pandora and he wanted to make a music video of it. That was a really neat experience."

The 1997 graduate of Plymouth feels life in his hometown with his wife Elizabeth - a 1998 Plymouth graduate - has had a big influence on his music.

"I feel like the last five or six years I'm really a lot more grounded," he said. "I'm a lot more at ease living in the moment and a lot more grounded spiritually to go along with that.

"Oh, and I want everybody to know that there IS surfing on Lake Michigan too."

You can hear and purchase Chad's music at his website http://www.chadvanherk.com/ or on iTunes and Napster.

Plymouth native continues to 'spread the wave'

By Rusty Nixon
Correspondent

ERIE, PA - While the world mourned the passing of Apple creator and visionary Steve Jobs to cancer, his death had an added significance to Plymouth's Mark Neidig.

"I was at a fundraising event when I heard the news," he said. "I couldn't help but think if we had worked a little harder, if we were further along in the research we might have been able to save him."

Neidig is the Executive Director of the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation that is working on a ground breaking non-invasive cure for cancer using radio waves. The technique has had very encouraging early success at treating pancreatic cancer - the type that Jobs and the creator of the treatment John Kanzius fought against.

"I've worked for a lot of great causes in my life," said Neidig. "But cancer hits us all. It's what wakes you up and gets you working in the morning, realizing that it's still not enough, people are depending on you and you have to keep working harder to help them."

Research continues to bring the treatment to a point where it can be tested in humans. Early research has been very positive, but the process is a painstaking one. Every variable must be accounted for in the lab before it can be used in public.

"The greatest news is that we have had literally no obstacles in the tests and we've seen very consistent results in the data," said Neidig. "We learn something new everyday and we get closer every day  but we have to be 100 percent certain that every part the treatment is documented to be safe before we ask the FDA for approval to begin trials in humans."

The PHS grad has had a whirlwind year, bouncing around the country tirelessly "spreading the wave" for Kanzius Foundation research. He has had the opportunity to meet with top ranking political and community leaders, celebrities and others to gain support for the exciting research being done for the treatment.

"We've had a record year in fundraising and that enables us to increase the number of research projects that we can support," said Neidig. "People who support us know they are a part of history. We really can change the world and we are able to give tremendous hope to people for a cure."

More information on the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation is available at http://www.kanziuscancerresearch.org/

Former Plymouth star at home in Beirut

Phil Wendel in the Bakaa Valley near Syria

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

BEIRUT, LEBANON - Playing a game that he loves has taken 1982 Plymouth grad Phil Wendel a long way - halfway around the world to be exact.

A starting guard and Trester Award winner on the Pilgrims 1982 state championship basketball team, Wendel now calls Beirut, Lebanon his home doing something else he loves - teaching.

"It was getting to the point in my life where I either had to do it or or give up and just stop talking about it," said Wendel. "I think I always had a real desire to see different places and experience different cultures. There is no doubt that without basketball I never would have gotten here. It's always amazing to me to realize how everything is linked together. I would never have been able to travel abroad if I hadn't played basketball."

After his outstanding career at Plymouth Wendel used basketball to get a scholarship to DePauw University where he played on several nationally ranked teams and never lost a home game in his four year career. He pursued a degree in education and his first stop was at Jasper High School in Indiana where he was a teacher and assistant basketball coach.

He moved on to Atlanta's Galloway School - a private, independent school - and had found "home" for 20 years. For 10 of those years he was varsity basketball coach, and cross country coach for 15 years. He was also principal of the school's junior high.

During that time at Galloway he had the opportunity to take his basketball teams on overseas trips to Spain, Austria, the Czech Republic and Cambodia. He developed a strong desire for something more.

"I was there for 20 years (Galloway) and it was really a great place to be, but traveling abroad let me know that I really wanted to experience living in a different culture," he said. "The year before last it just seemed like the time was right to do that."

But what culture? And what job? Teaching seemed the obvious fit and Wendel had no shortage of offers. They came in from Thailand, Moscow and Germany, but it was an American School in Beirut that he decided on.

"It's really very similar to Atlanta - its a very cosmopolitan city that's more European than Middle Eastern," said Wendel. "When you mention Beirut to most Americans they have visions of the civil war that was fought here. There is still a lot of aftermath from that but its been 15 years since the war ended."

"Everybody has a story from the war. Some of them are very horrible and sad, and because it was only 15 years ago things are still a little more disorganized than in America. Nobody follows any traffic rules - for example - so driving can be very interesting."

The school that Wendel teaches at has also undergone a dramatic change.

"During the war the school was really organized for American Embassy kids, United Nations workers, expats living in Beirut - almost all American," said Wendel. "Now I would guess that 70 percent of my students are Lebanese. They speak English and Arabic."

Wendel says that the acceptance of Americans is great by the Lebanese but the level of friendliness differs from place to place.

"I live in a section of the city where it's mostly intellectuals and very highly educated people, many of whom were educated in America," he said. "I volunteer at several Hezebollah refugee camps on the weekends and sometimes there when they find out you are an American they will be a little more guarded in how they speak in front of you, maybe a little more reserved.

"Generally speaking people here like Americans they just don't like some of our policies."

"Traveling and now living abroad has really been an eye opening experience. I mean you grow up thinking we're (Americans) the best and why don't people like us, but you realize there are a lot of different ways to live and just because it's different than us doesn't mean it's wrong."

"You also get a great view of just how all prevailing American culture is. There is American music, American clothes, American movies, American television literally everywhere. I have to tell you the first time you see some one from Lebanon walking down the street in Beirut wearing an Atlanta Braves jersey it really hits you just how far reaching our culture is."

It all somehow comes back to home.

"Growing up in a small town made me curious. I always knew I wanted to go to college, I wanted to see different places, I wanted to live in a city," said Wendel. "But growing up in a small town also grounded me. It gave me a solid foundation as a person and I think that's very important. You have to be very comfortable with who you are and have a good sense of self and Plymouth gave me that early in my life."

"I would have to encourage everybody to follow your interests no matter what they are. Be passionate about them and pursue them and don't quit. That's what is going to make you happy."

One last time to Rock On for the Rockies

PLYMOUTH — Friday night will be the last time for fans to Rock On for the Rockies this season as Plymouth plays their final home game taking on Goshen in a traditional Northern Lakes Conference battle.

The Plymouth Alumni Association welcomes Plymouth High School grad singer/songwriter Chad Van Herk to the tent to encourage fans to get behind a Rockie victory. Chad released his first album in 2009 and his second earlier this year. You can learn more about him and get a sample of his music at http://www.chadvanherk.com/.

WTCA's pre and post game shows will be under the tent at the Rock starting at 5:15 p.m. with the Tailgate Show. The Alumni feature is scheduled to be Bill Nixon, former Plymouth Athletic Director, football and baseball head coach and a member of the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame.

The post game show on AM-1050 will have the spotlight on Plymouth Head Football Coach John Barron and the Rockie "Player of the Game".

The Plymouth Athletic Booster Club will be grilling for the fans enjoyment and the Music Boosters have a great selection of concessions for every taste.

For more information, visit the Plymouth Alumni Association at http:/plymouthalumniblogspot.com or on Facebook: Search for Plymouth Alumni Association, or follow @PlymouthAlumni on Twitter.