Indians set to roll with new coaching staff

BY WILLIAM WHISLER

Sentinel correspondent

MIFFLINTOWN — The Juniata High School girls basketball team enters the 2022-23 season without one of the league’s best players from a season ago, but with four returning starters and a good bit of depth, new Indians’ coach Jim Fosselman expects his team to be able to hit the ground running from the opening tip.

The Indians proved to be a stout team last year, finishing second in the Tri-Valley League at 16-7, including a 13-3 mark in league contests. The Indians reached the District 6

Class 4A playoffs last season before falling to Westmont Hilltop.

Gone is 1,000-point scorer Mackenzie Bennett, but the Indians return the rest of their starting lineup from a season ago, including top returning scorers Ava Shearer and Regan Lowery. The Indians also return Haley Mummah, Mariska Beward and Shalelyn Armstrong, who all will be counted on to be key contributors this season.

Seniors Aliza Rivera, Chloe Beckenbaugh, Cora Musser, Malare Rusho and Francis Fitzgerald are expected to play different roles for Juniata as well.

“We really have some experience back with four of the five starters from last year returning,” Fosselman said. “It’s a really good group and when you add in some of the newcomers in Grace Reinhold and Molly Landis, there are a lot of people who are going to be able to contribute this year.”

Fosselman returns to the bench this season after a few years of calling Juniata basketball games for Juniata County Radio. Fosselman is no stranger to the sidelines as he served as a longtime assistant coach to Kevin Kodish at Lewistown, Mifflin County and

See New / Page 26 elementary, so that’s exciting.”

New on the schedule for the Indians is the return to the Gary Woodruff Duals. The event features 12 teams from various districts. Throw in some individual tournaments, both Juniata Duals, and the Tri-Valley League (TVL) schedule, and the Indians will be well-seasoned come districts.

“The last time we were in it was 2013. We are heading back to that one. We’ll get five matches. It’s a mix of District 4 teams, District 2 teams, and District 11, so you get a good mix of different styles of wrestling,” Barrick said. “It’s a good way to start the season. We’ve put together a good schedule to get everybody ready. I’m looking forward to that.”

The goals for the season start with staying healthy. If they can do that, the coaching staff believes all their other goals will fall into place.

“We want to keep everybody healthy. If we can go throughout the season and keep them healthy. That’s when goals and achievements can happen. We want them to be physically and mentally ready and start from there,” Dressler said.

“We have big goals for the postseason, and I agree with Jared; we must stay healthy. I believe we can make an appearance in the District 6 team duals for the first time and win some matches there,” Barrick said.

Juniata Indians

Record: 10-7 (1-3 in TVL).

Coaches: Adam Barrick and Jared Dressler. Assistants: Jeremy Smith, Ray Barrick, Anthony Conte, Cole Walters, Mike Robinson.