Northridge athletics touts postseason gains, adds trainer and expands safety work

Mister Bales, the Northridge athletics director, presented a year-end review to the Middlebury Community Schools board on Aug. 4, highlighting conference titles, deeper postseason runs and program-level awards. "But, I think playing for your school and your community, there's a difference," he said, urging continued community support and team engagement.

Bales credited coaches and support staff — naming Brad Frank and Samantha Hartsell — for a balanced season in which girls finished first in the NLC and several teams advanced into regionals, semi-state and state top-10 finishes. He announced the district added a second athletic trainer through Goshen Health (joining Alexis Holthus) and that trainers are reviewing emergency action plans and on-campus signage with Dr. Muldar and Officer Pettis to improve AED and evacuation information. Bales also described mental-skills sessions for coaches and an expanded strength-and-conditioning staff, citing Coach Rouse and new weight-room coach Coach Amstutz as resources for student athletes.

The presentation noted academic performance among athletes, with Bales reporting student athletes earned a 4.0 or higher "84 times" during the season. He thanked community partners such as the Exchange Club and named several honorees, including Brady Scholl and Alex Roeschle; the board and members praised the program's balance of competitive and academic success.

Looking ahead, Bales said the athletics office will update record boards and banners at the Middlebury Activity Center to better recognize championships and individual achievements and asked board members to share community-service opportunities for teams.