Staff Spotlight: Sam Antkiewicz - Hanover’s new head softball coach
When the head coaching position at Hanover Central was available, Sam Antkiewicz knew it was his time. As a long-time coach, it has always been a dream of his to take on the head position. Antkiewicz had previously held the position of assistant coach at Hanover under both Amanda Suarez and Jason Bolden. He said that being able to observe great coaches has prepared him to take on the job. As for his goals for the season, Antkiewicz hopes to be able to push the girls to improve on their accomplishments from the previous season. He will inherit a very successful team. Eleven returning players, seven of which are now seniors, will vie to win back-to-back sectional and regional titles. The team is also hoping to make a run at a state title under Coach Antkiewicz’s leadership.
It was no surprise to the girls that their former assistant coach was going to take over the reins. At the coach reveal, even before he walked into the room, the players were already chanting “Sam, Sam, Sam!”. He walked into the room only to be met with exuberant cheering. Adored by the players, there is no doubt they will rally behind him to put together yet another impressive season. Good luck, Coach Antkiewicz and the Wildcats!
Student Spotlight: Tyler Chambers
Meet Tyler Chambers, a senior at Hanover Central. Her immense passion for softball allows her to stay active in both her school and community. Every Monday night throughout the winter, Chambers can be found helping coach younger players. She demonstrates incredible leadership, serving as a role model for the up-and-coming generation of players. In addition, Chambers is a member of the varsity softball team and played a key role in the sectional and regional championship wins. With the help of her high school team, she also gives back to her community by doing maintenance on the Cedar Lake softball fields.
Chambers is as hardworking as one can be. Whether she’s in the classroom or the weight room, she will give it her absolute all. This work ethic rubs off on everyone she encounters –her teammates specifically. She pushes everyone to be the absolute best they can be and to never settle for anything less. For that, she is truly inspiring.
After high school, Chambers’ plans include playing softball at Aurora University and pursuing a major in nursing. There is no doubt that she will go on to achieve great things. With her strong intellect, great work ethic, and positive outlook, nothing will stand in her way.
What’s Coming up: Homecoming Week at Hanover Central
There is nothing more exciting at Hanover than Homecoming week! Next week, students will partake in Spirit Week - four days of dressing up according to various themes to show their school spirit. Seniors kicked it off last Friday with Jersey Day. Seniors flooded the building that morning sporting their favorite teams, inciting pride and togetherness within the class. Next week, all students can enjoy themed days including Meme Day, Decades Day, Class Day, and Hanover Spirit Wear Day. All of this excitement leads up to one of the most anticipated events of the school year - the spirit games. All four classes gather in the main gym to compete with each other.
The next night, the Wildcats will take on the Wheeler Bearcats in the Homecoming game. There, the king and queen will be announced in front of a raving student section, cheering the Wildcats to victory. Finally, Saturday marks the day of the dance. The school gym will align with the theme of “Dancing Through the Decades”, decorated immaculately with memorable trends and nuances from the past. Homecoming is sure to be a great time!
What’s happened? Hanover defeats Griffith in an offensive showdown
Hanover Central football took part in a dual with conference rival, Griffith, on September 20. It was a hard-fought battle on both sides. Griffith was in search of their first win of the season after being defeated in their first four games of the season. Hanover was also looking for a big win to serve as a confidence booster.
The offensive line stole the show. The Wildcats accumulated 464 total yards on offense, complete with six touchdowns. They did not miss a beat. However, the Griffith Panthers were not going to go down without a fight. They were able to amass 292 offensive yards, but that would not be enough to take down the Wildcats. After a hard-fought battle, the final score was 44-21, securing yet another Wildcat victory. The win improved Hanover’s record to 3-2.
The Wildcats then followed up that win with a loss to Boone Grove and an impressive win against the Whiting Oilers. They hope to start a winning streak next week when they take on the Wheeler Bearcats at the Wildcat Den in this year’s Homecoming game. Wildcat nation is ready to cheer on their favorite team! This will mark another win against a conference opponent if they succeed. Good luck with the rest of the season boys!