History in the making

It’s been 20 years.
A lot changes over the course of two decades.
The names, most of them anyway, are different. The style of basketball has evolved. And the Indians are playing in Division III rather than Division IV.
But, it seems, the keys to winning, have basically stayed the same.
“Not being selfish and working as a team definitely,” said Kate (Schoenherr) Jutte Wednesday of what it takes to win a state championship.
Jutte was one of three players, along with Lynn (Bihn) Hughes and Jenny (Etzler) Fledderjohann, who were members of both the 1990 and ’91 Fort Recovery High School girls basketball Division IV state championship teams. She and Etzler also both played for the 1990 state championship volleyball team, and she has seen this year’s Tribe team play several times this season.
“You can tell that they’re almost like a family,” said Jutte. “They work so well together. You can tell too, that they’re not selfish. When I was in school, it never really mattered who scored, as long as we did. Nobody is selfish, just as long as you do it together.”
At practice Tuesday, junior Olivia Schwieterman discussed the reasons she feels her team has achieved so much success this season. At 23-2 and riding a 14-game winning streak, the Indians will take on No. 3 Anna in the Division III state semifinal game Friday at 1 p.m. at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center.
“I think we’ve been successful just because we’re dedicated and we all have really strong teamwork,” she said. “We have great team chemistry. … We’re friends on and off the floor.”
Chemistry, team work and belief in the ability to achieve the goal of a state title are all recurring themes when talking to those who won back-to-back state titles and those who are trying to earn the school’s third trophy this season.
Fort Recovery’s 1989-90 squad was a juggernaut, finishing the regular season at 20-0 and rolling through its first four tournament games with double-digit victories. But a trip to the state finals was anything but a foregone conclusion.
Two-time defending state champion Kalida, who had knocked the Indians out of the tournament in back-to-back seasons, stood in their way. Fort Recovery had defeated Kalida by 12 during the regular season, but things looked grim as the Tribe trailed by five with just over a minute to go and four starters sitting on the bench with five fouls.
However, the Indians’ reserves, led by Etzler, rallied back for a four-point win, and FRHS went on to defeated Middletown Fenwick 54-41 for its first state title.
“You really do have to have that bench,” said Diane McClung, who coached the Indians from 1979 through ’92. “Those girls that stepped in for us, such an important factor there was that they really believed that they could win the game.”
Doug Bihn, coach of the current Indian squad, said he learned that lesson while watching two of his sisters — Tina and Lynn — win the first state crown. That’s why he believes in building a deep bench, which has been a key to his team’s tournament run.
McClung said that it was Etzler, moments after the first state championship win, who told her coach that the team would repeat a year later. And, it did.
The 1990-’91 Indians suffered two regular-season defeats — to Jay County and Crestview — and had closer calls in the sectional and district rounds of the tournament.
But they were at their best when they needed to be, defeating Kalida again in the regional finals, thumping Zanesville Rosecrans by 23 in the state semifinals and knocking off McDonald 63-58 for another state title.
“I think it’s believing that you can do it,” said McClung. “Our team motto was, ‘See it in your mind, believe it in your heart, and you will achieve.’ That’s really, really big.”
As the Indians of two decades ago had to overcome Kalida, the current group has also cleared a couple of hurdles on its tournament road to Columbus.
The first of those came with a win over Tinora in the district semifinal round, where Fort Recovery had lost by two to St. John’s in 2009 and a single point to Archbold in 2010. The team took another giant step Saturday, when it defeated sixth-ranked Africentric Early College in the regional championship game to earn their state berth.
Africentric had been to the Division IV state finals three times in the previous four years, winning state championships in 2007 and ’09.
“It’s just amazing,” said Schwieterman of making the state finals. “We never thought we’d get a chance. It’s been 20 years. … Not everybody gets this opportunity, so it’s just an outstanding feeling.”
Hughes said she was impressed with the team the lone time she saw it play this year, in the district championship win over Evergreen. She complimented the Indians’ shooting, defense, depth and especially their unselfish style of play.
She also had a piece of advice for her brothers’ group.
“Enjoy,” she said, remembering the purple-and-white-clad crowd, the celebration after the state championship wins and the bus ride home with the fire truck escort. “Make sure to absorb everything in. It’s been 20 years, and it just seems like it was yesterday. …
“I remember the welcome home ceremony, walking into the gymnasium at Fort Recovery. There was barely room for us to get in there (because) there were so many people … That’s not something many high school kids get a chance to experience.
“What a feeling. Talking about it now, I get goosebumps.”
Jutte, who was in attendance Saturday for the Indians’ win in the regional championship, could not agree more.
She said it’s been hard to watch the games, and not be able to get out there on the floor. But, she is still trying to do her part.
After purchasing her state finals tickets Tuesday afternoon, Jutte dropped off a card for Doug Bihn and his team. Inside, she included a piece of the net she got to help cut down after winning one of her state championships.
She said she hoped it would give the current Indians a bit of inspiration, and maybe bring them a little luck.
“It’s awesome,” she said of their accomplishments already. “The feeling that I’ve been getting this week, I’ve been in tears a few times because it brings back so many memories. It’s just so overwhelming.”
This year’s team is hoping to create a similar set of memories. They want to finish off their tournament run in a way that will have them looking back fondly 20 years from now, remembering this weekend, getting goosebumps and crying happy tears.
“It feels good knowing that our hard work is paying off and we’re getting compared to a great team,” said senior Nicole Dilworth. “But we’re also a great team and hope to (make our own mark). This is our time.”
“It would be an incredible feeling,” said Kelly Nietfeld, a junior. “It would be awesome just to win it all. We made it this far, we may as well just go all the way.”[[In-content Ad]]