The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Welton, Mutchler make All-Cascades
League academic and team awards presented to Manchester teams
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 20, 2008
Although both teams fell short of their ultimate goals, the Manchester varsity boys and girls basketball teams had several players receive recognition for their efforts on the court throughout the season.
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Seniors Justin Welton and Amanda Mutchler both represented Manchester on their respective All-Cascades Conference and All-Cascades Academic teams.
Along with Welton, the varsity boys team also had senior Jarod Sawyer receive All-Cascades honorable mention. Julie Fielder joined Mutchler on the All-Cascades Academic Team for girls basketball.
Since there are no multiple All-Cascades teams in boys basketball, Welton is one of only 10 players from the entire conference to receive the honor.
"All of our seniors contributed a lot to the team," Manchester boys basketball coach Bryan Barnard said. "Justin was a captain and a strong leader on the floor. He played point guard for us and you need to be a good leader in that position."
For the season, Welton averaged 12.3 points per game. He led the Dutchmen in assists and earned the most trips to the free-throw line on the team, making 73 percent from the stripe. Defensively, he was second on the team behind Sawyer in steals.
Welton also moved up in the Manchester history books by hitting 42 three-pointers on the season. That makes him second all time in school history for made three-pointers in a season (the record is 60 set by Brent Lirette).
"That's a big accomplishment for Justin," Barnard said.
Along with leading the Dutchmen in steals, Sawyer also was the team leader in blocks and finished second on the team in rebounding.
Mutchler and fellow senior Fielder teamed to give the Manchester girls basketball team strong play in the post. Mutchler has recently caught the attention of NCAA Division III basketball power Hope College, while Fielder recently received the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Scholar-Athlete Award for Class C.
"Julie has definitely worked hard her whole career academically and is a great model for others to look to," Manchester girls basketball coach Cori Kastel said.
The entire Flying Dutch team received the Cascades Conference's Scholar-Athlete Award.
"It's really nice to have all 10 of our players honored for their academics," Kastel said.
Both teams recently handed out team awards during their end-of-the-season banquets. Mutchler was named the Most Valuable Player for the girls team. Fielder was named the team's Most Improved Player, while senior Laura Coltre received the Coach's Award. Tracy Schaible and Megan Bossory, both sophomores, received the team's Sportsmanship Award.
Welton was named the Most Valuable Player of the boys team. Sophomore Clayton Every was voted as the Most Improved Player after finishing third on the team in made three-pointers, while senior Sam Brown received the Coach's Award. Sawyer was named the Dutchmen's Defensive Player of the Year.
"With his size and quickness, Jarod covered the post and the perimeter, which is not common," Barnard said. "Sam has a good work ethic and practices hard. Clayton improved from the beginning to the end of the season."
The Manchester boys team finished the season with a 10-13 record. The Dutchmen scored victories over Jonesville and Hudson to advance to the Class C district finals, where they were stopped by Hanover-Horton.
The girls team posted an 8-13 record before having their season ended with a 63-53 loss to the host Clinton Redskins in the opening round of the Class C district tournament.
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