Ida B Wells Athletics Weekly

“What I love about the game is the game doesn’t know who is supposed to win.” -Sue Enquist

Guardian Athletics

Be Courageous

Be Encouraging

Be Helpful

Be Gracious

Be Energetic

Be A Guardian

• Each day is a quest to understand the essence of what it means to be made for something more.
• Living and leading an uncommon and meaningful life on your own terms doesn’t come from following the crowd, but from daring to be different.
• In life, it doesn’t really matter why you get an opportunity—only what you do with it.
• Sometimes, our greatest breakthroughs don’t come from grand events, but from quiet moments—the decisions made when no one is watching.
• Our past experiences can shape—and sometimes limit—our perception of future opportunities.
• A leader must be able to take criticism. No person in a position of authority is immune to it.

Greetings Sports Fans!

We are well under way in the Spring Season and what a Spring Season it has been! We have student athletes competing in new emerging sports like Flag Football and Men’s Volleyball. Our Track Program is in the middle of their season battling it out in league meets. Our Baseball Program kicked off their league play with two pivotal games against Lincoln splitting the series 1-1. Our Softball Program is deep into league play sitting at 4-3. Both of our Golf Programs are competing week in and week out in a very competitive PIL with some amazing golfers. Our Tennis Programs are now into league play after a productive pre-season with some quality wins under their belts. Our JV Tennis Coaches from across the league were able to host a JV Tournament this past weekend at Gabriel Park. A tradition that has had huge benefits for the league as a whole. Both of our Lacrosse Programs are chugging along with the Men’s Team sitting at 3-5 overall and the Women’s Team is 8-0. We have over 500 student athletes competing in a Spring Sport and that is a great testament to our community of student athletes, coaches, and community as a whole!

Great To Be A Guardian!

You can find our spring schedules on our website here: https://www.ibwathletics.com/this-week In the event of weather cancellations or delays, this schedule will be updated.

Use this QR code for our 2026 Spring Season Media Guide that includes links to team pages, schedules, team photos and more!

In two games vs Lincoln, freshman Finn Noveshen had four hits in six at-bats including a double and an amazing Grand Slam at Clopton Field. On the mound he pitched four innings and didn’t allow any runs while striking out five.

Once again we have a come from behind player to make a significant improvement in his performance. Crey Wieber played an amazing round during the April 14th tournament at Heron Lakes Greenback Course. He shot a team leading score of 81 but unfortunately he was our number 6 seeded player which means his score did not count. He still placed 5th as an individual in an otherwise tough field with stormy wet conditions. His performance is a personal best and with that he's earned the Men's Golf Guardian Athlete of the Week.

Women's Golf is proud to highlight freshman Amelie Porozni for her outstanding contributions to the varsity lineup. Amelie has played in all three varsity matches this season, consistently proving herself to be a vital contributor to our team scores. Stepping into a varsity role as a freshman can be a daunting task, but Amelie has handled the pressure with remarkable poise.

Her growth in confidence and technical improvement throughout these first few weeks has been truly impressive. Amelie has a very bright future ahead of her, and we are excited to watch her continue to develop as she helps the varsity squad chase an elusive PIL championship. Her emergence as a reliable varsity player adds incredible depth to our roster and underscores the promising future of our golf program.

Junior midfielder Kannon Walter is the men’s lacrosse athlete of the week. Kannon is our do-it-all midfielder, playing defense, clearing the ball and dodging on offense. We can always trust that Kannon will empty the gas tank and compete no matter who we play. Kannon has done just that to enter league play against 3 top-12 teams in the state. He’s been our leading scorer in each of those games and gained a lot of respect and attention from rival teams. Good job as always, Mr. Walter!

This week Softball has two athletes of the week:

Congratulations Zara Eshelman and Riley Grace, who both hit grand slams for the Guardians!

Due to injuries, Zara has stepped up in a big way, contributing on both Varsity and JV. In the JV game against Benson, she delivered a perfect performance at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a single, a double, and a grand slam, totaling 6 RBIs. She has been working behind the plate, keeping balls in front and preventing extra stolen bases. At the Varsity level, Zara added 2 RBIs and made two key plays in right field that prevented McDaniel from scoring. Her versatility in the field and impact on both sides of the ball have been huge for us.

Riley Grace has bounced back strong after a slow start at the plate, batting an impressive .667 this week. Her performance included three well-timed singles and a grand slam, also totaling 6 RBIs. At first base, Riley has been rock solid all season—saving outs for the Guardians and emerging as a key presence in high-pressure moments, helping keep the defense focused and composed.

They are both sophomores, and the best is yet to come from these two.

Emma and Layla reached the final of the annual PIL JV tournament that featured over 20 other JV teams from across the PIL. In the final they matched up against a strong pair from Grant High School. In the preliminary rounds, Layla and Emma faced the same team and lost convincingly. So they were understandably a little nervous about their chances going into the final. Well, they put in a stellar effort in the final and came very, very close to completely turning the table on the Grant pair narrowly losing a tightly contested and entertaining final by 7 games to 5. Huge Congratulations to Emma and Layla for their achievement and for representing Ida B. Wells with distinction.

Max ran some great races at Sunset on Friday afternoon. He had a breakout performance winning his heat in the 100m running 11.57. He also ran a really impressive leg in the mixed 4x200m. He has really started to put it all together this season and has been an impressive leader as well. He has jumped right into elite varsity competition and has really responded well to high expectations.

Millie had an outstanding meet at Sunset. She had a terrific lead off for our 4x400m relay which ran a state leading time of 3:57. She also had a great race in the 800m running a time of 2:19 which puts her number 9 all time for Ida B Wells. She has made an amazing commitment to her running development and is one of the best leaders we have had.

Spring sports are underway and we need volunteers to allow the concessions stands to open! Teams rely on these funds to pay for gear, admissions, training, etc - so keeping them open for as many events as possible is essential! Find a spot that works for you here: https://signup.com/go/ycboLia

Seniors, if you are going on to play a sport in college (any level), please notify the Athletic Department so we can be sure to include you in our College Signing Day which is scheduled during FLEX on May 13th.

Photo: 2025 College Signing Day

Get Your IBW Sports Button! Show your school spirit by purchasing a IBW sports button for just $5-- add up the amount of buttons needed and pay that x5 ! Once your button is ready, we’ll deliver it directly to your student to bring home or you can email ecaldwell@pps.net if you prefer to pick it up from our school. Purchase on SchoolPay today
https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/Photo-Buttons-w-IBW-Athlete-Photo/SeywSvE

-"Your becoming doesn't require permission, only your willingness to begin."

“Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take everyone on Earth to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.” - Clarissa Pinkola Estés

I. Trust What You Already Know

There is a voice in you that already knows.

• It doesn't compete with your obligations, your doubts, or the opinions that fill the space around you. But it speaks in the early hours, in the pauses between the doing, and it’s telling you something true.
• The work is not to find that voice. You have always known it. The work is to stop drowning it out with reasons why now isn't the time, why you're not quite ready, why someone else must know better.
• What you have been second-guessing in yourself might be the most accurate thing about you.

Come back to your knowing. It has been waiting patiently.

Source: Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak

II. At The End of the Day

At the end of the day, I want to have been someone worth knowing.

• Not famous, not finished, not without fault. But someone who tried, someone who looked honestly at themselves and asked hard questions and didn't always look away.
• At the end of the day, I want to have used my time for something that mattered to me, not only something that looked like it mattered from the outside.
• I want to have been gentle with people who were struggling, even when I was struggling too. To have offered something real: a presence, a word, a willingness to stay.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is not what I built or what I earned. It’s whether I was true to what I was given.

Source: Cleo Wade, Heart Talk

III. For the Tender and the Tired

Gentle reminders for anyone who needs them today:

• You are not obligated to set yourself on fire to keep others warm.
• Healing is not linear, and neither is becoming. Give yourself grace for the days that feel like backward movement. They are still part of the journey forward.
• The gap between who you are and who you want to be is not a failure. It’s the space where growth lives.
• You are allowed to want more for your life. Wanting more does not mean you are ungrateful for what you already have.
• Some seasons are for planting. Some are for waiting. Both require the same faithfulness.

Source: Morgan Harper Nichols

IV. Question

Where have I been listening to everyone except myself, and what is the truth I already know?

V. This Week, I Will

• Give my full attention to whoever is in front of me; no half-presence, no divided mind.
• Ask for help in one place where I have been carrying something alone.
• Let one expectation go, not in defeat, but in freedom.
• Move my body, feed my mind, and make space for silence every day.
• Choose one thing that is true for me and honor it, even if no one else understands it yet.

The Last Words

“The sound of the genuine is flowing through you. Don’t be deceived and thrown off by all the noises that are a part even of your dreams, your ambitions, so that you don’t hear the sound of the genuine in you, because that is the only true guide that you will ever have, and if you don’t have that you don’t have a thing." — Howard Thurman, The Sound of the Genuine

Website: https://ibwathletics.com
Phone: 503-916-5280, ext 75318

Athletic Director, Mike Nolan, mnolan@pps.net
Athletic Assistant, Leanne Van Horn, lvanhorn@pps.net
Instagram: ibw_athletics
Facebook: Ida B Wells HS Athletics
Trivory App: A great way to see the daily Athletic Schedule

Thank you to all of our sponsors - both to those who are continuing on this year and to some brand new sponsors! It's not too late if you are Interested in being a sponsor this year? See the different options below and contact Athletic Director, Mike Nolan, at mailto:mnolan@pps.net