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SPORTS
Appleton, Wisconsin February 2017 Volume XXII
Issue IV Page 12
Basketball athletes of the month
By Maddie Clark
Callie Pohlman - Senior - Girls’
Basketball
Jacob Hiltunen - Senior - Boys’
Basketball
Photo used with permission by
Callie Pohlman
1. How did you get in-
volved in basketball?
I started playing basket-
ball when I was 5 at the Y.
Both of my parents played
in high school and my mom
played in college as well,
so basketball is definitely a
shared interest in my family.
2. What are your per-
sonal and team goals for
basketball?
Personally, I want to be
the best defender on the
court at all times as well as a
leader on and off the court.
As a team, we want to con-
stantly focus on getting bet-
ter every day in practice and
giving our best effort all the
time.
3. What do you love
most about basketball?
Basketball is a great sport
because it is so competitive
and complex. It is such a
physical and mental game-
you need to be a good ath-
lete, but you also have to
have basketball IQ. Also,
basketball is a team sport.
A team is only as good as
the sum of its parts. All of
my teammates are my best
friends so it is so enjoyable
to be able to work with them
every day in practice. All of
the hard work we put in to-
gether makes winning that
much better.
4. Why do you feel peo-
ple should come to bas-
ketball games?
The Appleton North girls’
basketball team plays fast
and aggressive which
makes games fun to watch.
5. Finish this sentence:
At the end of the season,
Appleton North Girls’
Basketball will be...
The best team we can
possibly be through hard
1. How did you get in-
volved in basketball?
My dad loves sports so
he got me into basketball.
2. What are your per-
sonal and team goals
for basketball?
They both go hand in
hand as our team and
I try to get better every
day.
3. What do you love
most about basketball?
The relationships [I’ve]
built with my teammates.
4. Why do you feel
people should come to
basketball games?
Because every Apple-
ton North team deserves
to be supported.
5. Finish this sen-
tence: At the end of the
season, Appleton North
Boys’ Basketball will
be...
Another team to re-
member.
Jacob Hiltunen, number 5, playing in a game against Appleton West.
Photo by Olivia Molter
Wrestling: A new passion
for student from Mexico
You may have seen him
walking the halls at Apple-
ton North, you may have seen
him practicing on the wrestling
mats after school, or you may
have also seen him dominat-
ing at tournaments or meets.
Aldo Coronado, who recently
returned to Mexico, made his
mark on the wrestling team.
Originally from Mexico,
Aldo Coronado didn’t know
any English before coming to
the United States two years
ago. He also didn’t know what
kind of sport wrestling was.
Mexico, according to Coro-
nado, is nothing like the United
States. In schools, they don’t
have any extra-curricular ac-
tivities, so the idea of school
sports and clubs was a new idea
to him. They also don’t have
gym class, which made it even
harder for Coronado to get into
shape for wrestling, since he
didn’t have any prior experi-
ence in working out or getting
“in shape.”
However, as soon as he hit
the mats, he was a natural. It
didn’t take him long to earn a
spot on North’s wrestling team.
According to Coronado, “If
it wasn’t for my gym teacher,
Mrs. Rivers, I would’ve nev-
er tried out for the wrestling
team and got that spot.” When
asked about how he got on var-
sity right away he said, with
a subtle smirk, “Some of the
guys took me under their wing.
They taught me really well, and
I am thankful for them. I also
got lucky in a few of my first
matches.”
“I wanted to prove to my-
self that I could do something
like this. I wanted to be able to
stand out since I was new and
no one really knew me,” said
Coronado when asked why he
decided to listen to Mrs. Riv-
ers’ advice. He said once he
goes back to Mexico he is ex-
cited to tell all of his family and
friends how wrestling made a
huge impact during his time in
the United States.
Aldo Coronado talks
about his newfound love
for wrestling
By Kyle Hoffenbecker
Wrestling team philosophy:
All about personal success
This year’s Appleton North
wrestling team is guided by
a new philosophy and many
wrestlers are in favor of it.
Head coach of the wrestling
team, Coach Scott Clough
stated, “Our new philosophy
is focused less on state and
conference titles, but rather
individual accomplishments
like daily effort and personal
wellness goals.”
Many wrestlers are in favor
of the change, including one
of the captains of the wres-
tling team. “The new philoso-
phy allows us to perfect our
technique. We also able to
learn more about each other
and become closer as a team,”
said senior captain Weston
Verhoff. “We are able to bond
more, that is something I en-
joy,” said junior wrestler Bryt-
ton Goymerac. “The focus on
personal success will lead to
team success. We need to be
better individuals before we
can become a better as a team.
To become better all starts in
practice, we push each other
to become better technically,
physically, and most impor-
tantly, mentally,” said junior
wrestler Zach Fischer.
The wrestlers all have high
hopes for the upcoming sea-
son. They all hope that this
new philosophy will lead to
more success in the long run.
For now, expect each wrestler
to give their all every day. Ex-
pect them to push themselves
more than they ever have, in
order to become more suc-
cessful.
Coach focuses on
daily effort and
personal wellness
By Kyle Hoffenbecker
Senior captain Weston Verhoff during a match. Verhoff com-
ments about how new philosophy helps perfect technique.
Photo
by Gabe Retzlaff
Aldo Coronado wrestling in a
match against Neenah.
Photo
courtesy of North Wrestling