With a new all-time leading scorer, an upset of the state’s best gymnastics team and a shocking turnaround from one win to 10, the Portage High School winter season was anything but boring.
The accomplishments and achievements of Portage High School athletes this winter were recognized at the annual PHS Winter Sports Awards Banquet on Thursday night. This winter, the six varsity teams racked up a remarkable amount of accolades.
The only winter sports team whose season has not yet come to an end is the varsity gymnastics team, which will compete in the Valparaiso Regional on Friday night in hopes of securing its second straight state appearance. Seniors Lyndsey Cunningham and Mackenzie Barcelli were recognized as three year letter winners, while Barcelli also notched the team Most Valuable Player award.
The highlight of the gymnastics season was an upset of Valparaiso to propel the lady-Indians to an undefeated 8-0 mark and regular season conference championship. Barcelli, junior Danielle Solis and sophomore Madison Kurtz have been named to the all-conference team.
First year cheerleading coach Blake Mattan recognized three year letter winners Emily Jahoda and Jena Alaniz. The cheer team placed third at Jamfest Nationals, first at Jamfest Mega Jam and first at Six Flags Great America this season.
Dance team coach Ember Montozzi, who guided her team to a sixth place finish in regionals, said she was very proud of her 15 member squad for sticking through a long season.
“Most people don’t realize how dedicated these girls are,” Montozzi said. “We performed at six football games, 12 boys basketball games, 10 girls basketball games and have had three invitationals.”
Mackenzie Widener captured the team MVP award in addition to being a four year letter winner.
The boys swim team quietly posted one of the most impressive seasons at PHS this winter. According to head coach Eric Mundt, the team’s 7-3 record was Portage’s best in over a decade, the Indians knocked off Lake Central for the first time in 15-20 years and 13 new top 20 times were recorded. In addition, the boys swimmers’ grade point average is over 3.0.
“A lot of people stepped up for us this season,” Mundt said.
Tim Huber was recognized as a three year letter winner, while Kevin Elkins, Jeremy Mendoza and Cole Ozbolt were all four year winners. Alex Schreier was named the team’s MVP.
The girls swim team finished above .500 at 6-5 overall. Jordan Parker snagged the MVP, with Lauryn Sanders becoming a three year letter winner.
“I knew our success this year was going to come down to freshmen and sophomores,” head coach Greg Mundt said. “Luckily, our freshmen exceeded all expectations.”
The wrestling team finished the year 21-8 at the varsity level, while putting together a spotless junior varsity mark of 15-0. The sectional champions sent Gaige Torres, Dylan Logsdon, Danny Roach and Exvonte Jones to the state meet. Torres placed seventh at state.
“This program is moving in the right direction, but we have a lot of hard work left to do,” head coach Leroy Vega said.
Logsdon was honored as the squad’s MVP. According to Vega, the 126-pound senior did not win a match as a sixth grader at Willowcreek Middle School, showing how far he came to qualify for state this season. Jake Wright, Danny Roach, Jason Spence and Julian Torres were all four year letter winners, while Exvonte Jones was a three year letter winner.
The girls basketball team posted 13 wins this season in the final go around for seniors Alyssa Tampier, Nicki Monahan, Hannah Glos and Heather Zengler. Monahan, who was the recipient of the Top Indian Award, finished her career as the school’s all-time leading scorer. Head coach Chris Seibert described Monahan as “relentless.” The 13 wins tied for the fourth most in program history.
The Portage boys basketball team made a nine win improvement this season, the second biggest turnaround in the state of Indiana.
“There were a lot of doubters a year ago, and I don’t blame them,” Snodgrass said. “We won one ball game.”
The underclassmen filled team silenced those doubters with a 7-1 nonconference mark, Portage’s best in 15 years, and by playing a competitive game in 22 of the 23 games this season after a 2011-2012 campaign that was filled with lopsided losses.
Sophomore point guard Jordan Collazo received the Most Complete Player Award for orchestrating the team on the floor. Next year, he will lead a cast of returning characters that also includes juniors Jacob Bearss, Michael Lattanzi, Luke Kizer and David Clegg and sophomore sharpshooter Jordan Simpson.
Perhaps the most prestigious honor of the night was the Team GPA Award, which was presented to the girls swim team for its 3.37 grade point average.
Athletic Director Kelly Bermes, Assistant Athletic Director Todd Strom and Principal Caren Swickard were all on hand to witness the student recognition.
Click here for more photos from the banquet!