From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society

Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.

Information for this retrospective series is courtesy of the Kosciusko County Historical Society. For more history of Kosciusko County in the news visit yesteryear.clunette.com

August 1986 — They’re still wrangling over whether Rick Fox will play basketball at Warsaw Community High School next season.

“They” are coaches, lawyers and members of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, whose executive committee in mid-June ruled the 6’7” senior ineligible for high school athletics for the 1986-87 school year.

The IHSAA decision, backing initial findings last September by Commissioner Gene Cato that Fox would be ineligible under the Association’s eight-semester eligibility rule, gained statewide attention Friday when the Indianapolis News carried details of the decision, along with comments from major participants.

Fox has had two years of basketball playing time for Warsaw after coming to the United States in 1984 from the Bahamas. He averaged 21 points and a school record 11.8 rebounds last season in helping Warsaw compile a 21-4 record.

This spring, Fox was a state qualifier in track, reaching the finals in the high jump. He also competed for the Tigers in the discus, long jump and 1600 relay at times during the season.

Cato, after personally interviewing school officials, Grace College basketball coach Jim Kessler and Fox, ruled the student ineligible under organization bylaws that prohibit interscholastic participation for students who have been enrolled in high school for more than eight semesters. The decision was affirmed by the IHSAA executive committee in its June 13 meeting after Warsaw officials formally filed an appeal of the ruling.

Fox was enrolled at a private academy in the Bahamas before coming to Warsaw, where he has attended school for four semesters, or two years.

In appealing Cato’s decision, Warsaw officials said Fox’s final four semesters in the Bahamas weren’t the equivalent of four semesters of academic work here. They contended he should be given another two semesters of athletic eligibility while completing the academic work needed for a high school diploma in Indiana

August 1983 — Nine area water skiers have qualified for the U.S. National meet, with seven earning a nationals berth at last weekend’s Midwest Regional water ski tournament in Decatur, Ill.

Among those who advanced are Russ Clifford and Anita Folk, both of Warsaw. Clifford, manager of the Ski Hut, won the men’s I slalom competition with a score of 3-1/2 buoys at 32 feet offline at 36 mph.

Folk placed fourth in women’s I slalom with 1/2 buoy at 28 feet at 34 mph.

Jan Karr of Syracuse totaled 2,800 points in women’s II tricks to advance to the nationals, to be held Aug. 18-21 in DuQuoin, Ill.

Five Camelot Lake skiers – from two families – also advanced. Todd, Brad and Paula Smith each qualified, with Todd earning a spot in boys’ jumping, Brad in junior boys’ jumping and Paula in girls’ jump and tricks. Also, Jill and Jane Tally advanced in all-events, Jill in women’s competition and Jane in girls’.

Kris Golden of Milford did not place in the regionals but had already qualified for the nationals in tricks by virtue of her E.P. rating.

Another area skier who barely missed earning a spot in the national tournament was Kim Contos, who was two buoys short in men’s I slalom.

Aug. 14, 1970 — Thanks to a new athletic complex at the Warsaw Community High School, Tiger football teams starting this season will have a home all of their own.

Workers have transformed the area directly south of the high school into one of the finest prep football fields in the state. The complex also accommodates a baseball diamond and several practice fields. Future plans call for the inclusion of tennis courts.

Since the late 1930s, Warsaw football teams have performed before the hometown crowd at Fisher Field, named after the late George Fisher. However, the first home of the Tigers was at Old Riverview Field, located at that time on West Fort Wayne Street extended. From there, the Bengals moved to Hillary Field on South Buffalo Street before a second move took them to Beyers Field on East Center Street.

Fisher Field was the next site for the Tigers, who made it their home for more than 40 years. No official name has been released yet for the new complex, which gets its baptism Sept. 5, when Coach Don Geozeff’s squad meets Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger at 2 p.m.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels