Ex-RHS boys basketball coach Smith dies at 84

Rochester wrestling briefs: RHS to host Peru Dec. 22, not Western

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Boys basketball

Former Rochester boys basketball coach Galen Smith died Nov. 28 at age 84.

Smith coached the Zebras from 1972-80 and again from 1985-87. He won 125 games, including sectional titles in 1975 and 1978.

He also coached cross-country, baseball and track and worked as chapter leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at RHS, where he played a vital role in organizing summer retreats.

He spent 46 years in education, including 32 at Rochester. Smith was also a Rochester High School Athletic Hall of Famer.

A 1954 graduate of Chili High School, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Western New Mexico University in 1958 and a master’s degree from Ball State in 1965.

He also had teaching and coaching stints at Clayton, North Miami, Darlington and Oak Hill high schools.

He is survived by Joyce, his wife of 63 years, and children Susan, Kerry and Greg, as well as five grandchildren.

RHS at Taylor, ppd.: The RHS-Taylor boys basketball game scheduled for Dec. 22 has been postponed.

North Miami at RHS, ppd.: The North Miami-RHS boys basketball game scheduled for Friday has been postponed to Dec. 23. Start time is 6:15 p.m./7:45 p.m. (JV/Varsity) at RHS.

RHS at Logansport, ppd.: The RHS-Logansport boys basketball game scheduled for Saturday was postponed. No makeup date has been set.

Logansport scheduled a game with South Bend Career Academy as a substitute opponent.

Wrestling

RHS to host Peru Dec. 22: The Rochester wrestling team will host Peru on Dec. 22, not Western. Start time is 1 p.m.

RHS was scheduled to wrestle with Peru at Whitko Wednesday as part of a dual that also included North Miami, but Peru dropped out due to a positive coronavirus test, according to RHS coach Clint Gard.

RHS’ next event is a home dual against Northfield at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. RHS will host the Rochester John McKee Memorial Invitational at 8:45 a.m. Saturday.

RHS will also host a dual that will include North White, South Adams and Plymouth at 1 p.m. Dec. 23.

Northfield JV Invite canceled: The Northfield JV Invitational scheduled for Jan. 9 has been canceled. RHS was among the teams scheduled to compete.

RHS 46, Manchester 35 (Nov. 20): The RHS wrestling team won its season-opening dual against conference and sectional rival Manchester on Nov. 20.

Mitchell Shafer (138), Wade Shafer (152), Alex Deming (195) and Marshall Fishback (HWT) all won by fall. Greyson Gard (145) and Brady Beck (220) won by major decision. Tyler Wolfe (106) and Ethan Holloway (113) won by forfeit.

Swimming

RHS postpones 3 meets: The RHS swimming team postponed three meets due to coronavirus concerns. The Wabash meet scheduled for Dec. 8 was postponed to 4 p.m. Dec. 22 at Wabash. The Manchester meet scheduled for Dec. 10 was rescheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 4 at RHS.

The Culver Academy meet scheduled for Monday was not rescheduled. The Zionsville Invitational, which was scheduled for Saturday and at which RHS was scheduled to compete, has been canceled.

Girls basketball

Mac-RHS JV game only 2 quarters: The Maconaquah-RHS JV girls basketball game will start at 6 p.m. Dec. 22 at RHS. The game will consist of only two quarters.

The varsity game will start at approximately 7 p.m.

Freshman boys basketball

Rochester 41, Peru 19 (Dec. 3): Thatcher Sampsel scored 16 points to lead the Rochester freshman boys basketball team to a win over visiting Peru in their season opener Dec. 3.

Eric Eikenberry and Robert Bozzo added six each, Dylan Hook had five, Colton Ferverda had four, and Gavin Young and Kaleb Lutz had two each.

RHS was scheduled to play at the Southwood Invitational Dec. 5, but the tournament was canceled.

A freshman game at Logansport scheduled for Dec. 8 was also canceled.

A freshman game originally scheduled for Dec. 9 against North Miami has been rescheduled for 6:15 p.m. Jan. 27 at North Miami.