Jimtown High School

Jimmies gearing up for new season By Red Williams Freelance Sportswriter ELKHART - There are some mighty big shoes to fill, but Ryan Varga, new head basketball coach at Jimtown High School, is ready to take a swing at it. The Jimmies graduated four of last year’s starters, including 28 points per game from the top two players, but Varga has a good nucleus for rebuilding. That crop of Jimmies from 2024-25 had a 16-11 season and took the team to the semi-state level for the first time in many moons. Missing are Branden King, the Jimmies big at 6-foot-7 and top scorer with and 17.3 points per game average (9.1 rebounds/game), now competing at Spring Arbor (MI), along with Dylan Fey, a three-point specialist (11 ppg), now at Olivet, Ed Potter (St. Francis), (3.9), and speedster Javen Jackson (8.3) at Trine. Returning for Jimtown are four lettermen who saw plenty of action last season. “Our practices are going well,” he said while being interviewed recently in his classroom. “Everything is brand new for the guys, but they’re catching on and competing well. Several of them have worked hard over the summer, and I’m pleased with the progress.” Here’s the potential starting five: Will Spurgeon, a 6-0 senior, finished with a 9.5 average last season as the Jimmies’ fifth starter. “He’s a ‘gym rat’,” Varga said, “and will step in as our team leader. He worked hard in the off-season, and wants to play at the next level, and I believe he will.” Dom Fey (Dylan’s brother), a 6-3 soph. "He's able to score at all three levels,” Varga said. “He drives well and has grown some, is stronger. He’ll be a shooting guard.” Jackson Woolwine, another soph at 5-9. “He’s our floor general at point guard with a high basketball IQ,” Varga related. “He sets the table for us, handles the ball well and is a good shooter.” Zander Whitaker, a third soph at 6-1. “He’s our Swiss Army knife, a tremendous athlete with one speed ‘go hard’,” Varga remarked. “We’ll use him to guard the best on the other team. He also worked hard over the summer.” This year’s “big,” is Tre Baldwin, a muscular 6-4 senior. “He had a great summer,” Varga said, “and is working hard now at several aspects of his game: Around the rim, the post moves. He’s one of our most improved players.” Varga also believes he’s got a good bench with several players who saw significant floor time last year on the varsity and junior varsity level: Tucker Sahlhoff, Ethan Creech, Max Ganger, Carson Gingerich, and Murphy DiPrio. Several will have to iron out the left over wrinkles from the gridiron, just shedding their football pads a two weeks ago. Varga’s basketball philosophy starts with defense, he said. “That creates a better offense when we’re shutting down the opponent’s scoring.” He also focuses on training: “We want to be in better shape than any other team. We want to be tough and wear down them down.” As far as offense goes, Varga plans to utilize the strengths he finds in each player. “There needs to be a bit of unpredictability, and with this group I think we can run with anyone.” Assisting Varga on the bench are Derek Fey, Sam Spurgeon, Gabe Johnson, Ryan Woolwine and Randy Varga, his father. The Jimmies open their season on Tuesday, Nov. 25, with a visit from Prairie Heights. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm.