2009-10's Most Memorable Moments

Last night, baseball state championship games wrapped up IHSAA-sanctioned interscholastic sports for the 2009-2010 academic year. In just more than six weeks, fall sports teams will take to the field, course, and court to begin the 2010-11 year. But for those 42 days, we at Bleeding Bruin Blue will attempt to bridge the gap between seasons by looking back at the year that was.

Thus begins our attempt to chronicle the most memorable moments of this year. It was a year that saw one team win a sectional title and four more reach the finals, a set of seasons bookended by a four-goal performance from Emma Gerig and a pair of seven-run innings in a doubleheader against Howe.

These were just a pair of the events on my personal first list; having run out of digits on which to count them, I can assure you that there are more than enough to choose from.

To make your voice heard in this retrospect, send me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com and list your picks. You can put them in any order your choose; if you list the moments in order from the most memorable on down, please indicate that and the votes will be counted accordingly. If you feel the need to comment, go ahead and do that too. The deadline to nominate events will be 7:07 p.m. Goshen time on Wednesday, July 7, and the next week, we'll start counting them down one at a time.

You can nominate any number of events; all you have to do is list them.

Click here to put the wheels in motion.

Trivia Answers

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June

1. Mikey Kelly and Scott Bodiker
2. Anders Weaver
3. Brandi Schroeder
4. Jim Buller
5. Tom Lantz
6. Six
7. Hochstetler (Ali) and Kauffman (Johnny, Seth)

July

1. 2-0
2. James Earl Carter, Jr. (Sept. 22, 1980; attendance 1,171)
3. JD Nafziger
4. Brent Miller (eight)
5. NorthWood (Mar. 2, 1993, at Goshen) or White's (Feb. 14, 1978 at White's in Wabash)
6. Luke Slagel (17:59)
7. Marissa Weldy, Ryan Snyder

Composite Trivia Listing

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

The July trivia contest will end on Tuesday, August 11 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. The winner gets two tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To enter, send an e-mail to senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line. (Feel free to look up the answers—it makes your score look better if you can find them.) The questions for July are as follows:

• 1. In the event of a forfeited basketball game, what is the final score?
• 2. Since their last World Series win in 1908, the Chicago Cubs have gained a reputation as lovable losers. But this has not always been the case. Who was president the last time the Cubs had a home game with attendance lower than the seating capacity of the Menno Lands? (Doubleheaders not included. Hint: The Menno Lands didn't exist, but Bethany did.)
• 3. When Argos traveled to Bethany for the de facto Northern Indiana Soccer Conference boys championship game Oct. 6, 2007, what Bruin player had his head stepped on?
• 4. Today is the day before Major League Baseball's all-star game, which means it is the day of the home run hitting contest. Who is Bethany's career leader in home runs (baseball or softball)?
• 5. Against whom did Bethany play a quadruple-overtime boys basketball game? There are two possible correct answers; either one will work. (Hint: look below the "Bleeding Bruin Blue is on Facebook" ad on the right side.)
• 6. Outside of two-time state participant Ali Hochstetler, who ran the fastest 5K time in 2008 for Bethany's cross country teams?
• 7. Of the incoming senior class, two athletes played an IHSAA-sanctioned varsity sport in the winter of their freshman year (2006-07). Name them.

Although June's contest ended almost a month ago, here are that month's questions as well.

• 1. Name the two players in Bethany baseball history with a batting average of .500 or better in a season (minimum 40 at bats).
• 2. During the 2008-09 basketball season, Seth Kauffman dunked on four different occasions. Before Kauffman, who was the last Bruin to dunk in a game?
• 3. Who has the most doubles in the history of Bethany's softball program?
• 4. Who was the first coach of Bethany's boys tennis team?
• 5. During the 1983-84 boys basketball season, one player made exactly 14 field goals in a game on three different occasions. Who was he?
• 6. How many wins does volleyball coach Lois Mast need to become the all-time winningest coach in Bethany volleyball history (by number of wins, not percentage)?
• 7. Since its inception last August, the Bleeding Bruin Blue Athlete of the Week award has been given 39 times. What are the two surnames to receive the award in consecutive weeks?

Again, the e-mail address is senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

Trivia Thursday #7

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of July's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

Remember that both Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday are part of the same contest, so this is the seventh question of July and the fourteenth overall.

The seventh Trivia Thursday question is:

Of the incoming senior class, two athletes played an IHSAA-sanctioned varsity sport in the winter of their freshman year (2006-07). Name them.

1. (June 11) During the 2008-09 basketball season, Seth Kauffman dunked on four different occasions. Before Kauffman, who was the last Bruin to dunk in a game?

2. (June 18) Who was the first coach of Bethany's boys tennis team?

3. (June 25) How many wins does volleyball coach Lois Mast need to become the all-time winningest coach in Bethany volleyball history (by number of wins, not percentage)?

4. (July 2) In the event of a forfeited basketball game, what is the final score?

5. (July 9) When Argos traveled to Bethany for the de facto Northern Indiana Soccer Conference championship game Oct. 6, 2007, what Bruin player had his head stepped on?

6. (July 16) Tonight's post, which I write at 11:10 p.m., is a bit late. Against whom did Bethany play a quadruple-overtime boys basketball game? There are two possible correct answers; either one will work. (Hint: look below the "Bleeding Bruin Blue is on Facebook" ad on the right side.)

Monday Minutiae #7

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions and again after July's, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

Remember that both Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday are part of the same contest, so this is the 13th total question and not just the seventh.

The seventh Monday Minutia is:

Outside of two-time state participant Ali Hochstetler, who ran the fastest 5K time in 2008 for Bethany's cross country team?

6. (July 13) Today is the day before Major League Baseball's all-star game, which means it is the day of the home run hitting contest. Who is Bethany's career leader in home runs (baseball or softball)?

5. (July 6) Since their last World Series win in 1908, the Chicago Cubs have gained a reputation as lovable losers. But this has not always been the case. Who was president the last time the Cubs had a home game with attendance lower than the seating capacity of the Menno Lands? (Doubleheaders not included. Hint: The Menno Lands didn't exist, but Bethany did.)

4. (June 29) Since its inception last August, the Bleeding Bruin Blue Athlete of the Week award has been given 39 times. What are the two surnames to receive the award in consecutive weeks?

3. (June 22) During the 1983-84 boys basketball season, one player made exactly 14 field goals in a game on three different occasions. Who was he?

2. (June 15) Who has the most doubles in the history of Bethany's softball program?

1. (June 8) Name the two players in Bethany baseball history with a batting average of .500 or better in a season (minimum 40 at bats).

Trivia Thursday #6

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

Remember that both Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday are part of the same contest, so this is the fifth question of July and the twelfth overall.

The sixth Trivia Thursday question is:

Tonight's post, which I write at 11:10 p.m., is a bit late. Against whom did Bethany play a quadruple-overtime boys basketball game? There are two possible correct answers; either one will work. (Hint: look below the "Bleeding Bruin Blue is on Facebook" ad on the right side.)

1. (June 11) During the 2008-09 basketball season, Seth Kauffman dunked on four different occasions. Before Kauffman, who was the last Bruin to dunk in a game?

2. (June 18) Who was the first coach of Bethany's boys tennis team?

3. (June 25) How many wins does volleyball coach Lois Mast need to become the all-time winningest coach in Bethany volleyball history (by number of wins, not percentage)?

4. (July 2) In the event of a forfeited basketball game, what is the final score?

5. (July 9) When Argos traveled to Bethany for the de facto Northern Indiana Soccer Conference championship game Oct. 6, 2007, what Bruin player had his head stepped on?

Monday Minutiae #6

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions and again after July's, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

Remember that both Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday are part of the same contest, so this is the eleventh total question and not just the sixth.

The sixth question of Monday Minutiae is:

Today is the day before Major League Baseball's all-star game, which means it is the day of the home run hitting contest. Who is Bethany's career leader in home runs (baseball or softball)?

5. (July 6) Since their last World Series win in 1908, the Chicago Cubs have gained a reputation as lovable losers. But this has not always been the case. Who was president the last time the Cubs had a home game with attendance lower than the seating capacity of the Menno Lands? (Doubleheaders not included. Hint: The Menno Lands didn't exist, but Bethany did.)

4. (June 29) Since its inception last August, the Bleeding Bruin Blue Athlete of the Week award has been given 39 times. What are the two surnames to receive the award in consecutive weeks?

3. (June 22) During the 1983-84 boys basketball season, one player made exactly 14 field goals in a game on three different occasions. Who was he?

2. (June 15) Who has the most doubles in the history of Bethany's softball program?

1. (June 8) Name the two players in Bethany baseball history with a batting average of .500 or better in a season (minimum 40 at bats).

Trivia Thursday #5

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

Remember that both Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday are part of the same contest, so this is the third question of July and the tenth overall. The trivia winner for the month of June is 1988 alumnus Scott Bodiker.

The fifth Trivia Thursday question is:

When Argos traveled to Bethany for the de facto Northern Indiana Soccer Conference championship game Oct. 6, 2007, what Bruin player had his head stepped on?

1. (June 11) During the 2008-09 basketball season, Seth Kauffman dunked on four different occasions. Before Kauffman, who was the last Bruin to dunk in a game?

2. (June 18) Who was the first coach of Bethany's boys tennis team?

3. (June 25) How many wins does volleyball coach Lois Mast need to become the all-time winningest coach in Bethany volleyball history (by number of wins, not percentage)?

4. (July 2) In the event of a forfeited basketball game, what is the final score?

Monday Minutiae #5

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions and again after July's, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail atsenorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

Remember that both Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday are part of the same contest, so this is the ninth total question and not just the fifth. Thanks to a slight auto-posting problem, several posts last week did not appear correctly. Therefore, the deadline for June's questions is moved back to Tuesday, July 7 at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

The fifth question of Monday Minutiae is:

Since their last World Series win in 1908, the Chicago Cubs have gained a reputation as lovable losers. But this has not always been the case. Who was president the last time the Cubs had a home game with attendance lower than the seating capacity of the Menno Lands? (Doubleheaders not included. Hint: The Menno Lands didn't exist, but Bethany did.)

4. (June 29) Since its inception last August, the Bleeding Bruin Blue Athlete of the Week award has been given 39 times. What are the two surnames to receive the award in consecutive weeks?

3. (June 22) During the 1983-84 boys basketball season, one player made exactly 14 field goals in a game on three different occasions. Who was he?

2. (June 15) Who has the most doubles in the history of Bethany's softball program?

1. (June 8) Name the two players in Bethany baseball history with a batting average of .500 or better in a season (minimum 40 at bats).

Trivia Thursday #4

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

Remember that both Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday are part of the same contest, so this is the first question of July and the eighth overall. The deadline for June's questions is Monday, July 6 at noon Eastern Daylight Time.

The fourth Trivia Thursday question is:
In the event of a forfeited basketball game, what is the final score?

1. (June 11) During the 2008-09 basketball season, Seth Kauffman dunked on four different occasions. Before Kauffman, who was the last Bruin to dunk in a game?

2. (June 18) Who was the first coach of Bethany's boys tennis team?

3 (June 25) How many wins does volleyball coach Lois Mast need to become the all-time winningest coach in Bethany volleyball history (by number of wins, not percentage)?

Monday Minutiae #4

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail atsenorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

Remember that both Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday are part of the same contest, so this is the seventh total question and not just the fourth. The deadline is Monday, July 6 at noon Eastern Daylight Time.

The fourth question of Monday Minutiae is:

Since its inception last August, the Bleeding Bruin Blue Athlete of the Week award has been given 39 times. What are the two surnames to receive the award in consecutive weeks?

3. (June 22) During the 1983-84 boys basketball season, one player made exactly 14 field goals in a game on three different occasions. Who was he?

2. (June 15) Who has the most doubles in the history of Bethany's softball program?

1. (June 8) Name the two players in Bethany baseball history with a batting average of .500 or better in a season (minimum 40 at bats).

Trivia Thursday #3

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

Remember that both Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday are part of the same contest, so this is the sixth total question and not just the third. The deadline is Monday, July 6 at noon Eastern Daylight Time.

The third Trivia Thursday question is:
How many wins does volleyball coach Lois Mast need to become the all-time winningest coach in Bethany volleyball history (by number of wins, not percentage)?

1. (June 11) During the 2008-09 basketball season, Seth Kauffman dunked on four different occasions. Before Kauffman, who was the last Bruin to dunk in a game?

2. (June 18) Who was the first coach of Bethany's boys tennis team?

Monday Minutiae #3

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

(Note to self: put correct month on auto-post date.)

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

The third question of Monday Minutiae is:

3. During the 1983-84 boys basketball season, one player made exactly 14 field goals in a game on three different occasions. Who was he?

2. (June 15) Who has the most doubles in the history of Bethany's softball program?

1. (June 8) Name the two players in Bethany baseball history with a batting average of .500 or better in a season (minimum 40 at bats).

Trivia Thursday #2

NOMINATE FOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail atsenorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

The second Trivia Thursday question is:

Who was the first coach of Bethany's boys tennis team?

1. (June 11) During the 2008-09 basketball season, Seth Kauffman dunked on four different occasions. Before Kauffman, who was the last Bruin to dunk in a game?

Monday Minutiae #2

NOMINATE FOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

The second question of Monday Minutiae is:

Who has the most doubles in the history of Bethany's softball program?

1. (June 8) Name the two players in Bethany baseball history with a batting average of .500 or better in a season (minimum 40 at bats).

Trivia Thursday #1

NOMINATE FOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

The first Trivia Thursday question is...

During the 2008-09 basketball season, Seth Kauffman dunked on four different occasions. Before Kauffman, who was the last Bruin to dunk in a game?

Monday Minutiae #1

NOMINATE FOR MENNO LANDS MEMORIES

Today's first edition of Monday Minutiae was postponed from its usual Monday date so I could finish the Menno Lands Memories concept.

Monday Minutiae and Trivia Thursday combine to make one set of trivia. At the end of June's questions, whoever has accumulated the most correct answers will win a pair of tickets to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle. To submit answers, shoot me an e-mail at senorloco1908 (at) gmail (dot) com, with "trivia" in the subject line.

The first question of Monday Minutiae is:
Name the two players in Bethany baseball history with a batting average of .500 or better in a season (minimum 40 at bats).

Menno Lands Memories: A 20th Anniversary Retrospective

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On the evening of November 17, 1989, Bethany's boys basketball team hosted Westview in its traditional season-opening game. Though the Bruins had hosted the Warriors before, on seven different occasions in the previous 13 years, they had been at such places as Concord Junior High (three times), Syracuse Junior High, Goshen College, and even the home gym of their opponent in Topeka twice. But on this night, something was different. For the first time since February 10, 1967, Bethany hosted a boys basketball game; for the first time in the history of humankind, Bethany hosted a boys basketball game in its brand-new gym east of the school building.

Indiana isn't captivated by swimming between November and March, and Gene Hackman didn't coach a 1951 or 1954 wrestling team in a tiny gym in Knightstown. As the home of the Bruin basketball teams, the Menno Lands reaches its 20th anniversary as the center of the Bethany athletic universe this fall. To commemorate this anniversary, Bleeding Bruin Blue's Menno Lands Memories contest will attempt to determine, in order, the 20 most memorable moments in the gymnasium's history. Anyone may nominate events until September 15, 2009, when all nominated events will be ranked into the top 20 using a method yet to be determined. You may nominate as many or as few events as you like; prizes may be given for especially helpful contributions or in an attempt to ramp up support. The countdown will begin in October, with the Menno Lands' most memorable moment revealed on November 17.