By BEAU WICKER
Caston’s Wes Rigney is a former Loganland Player of the Year who was a key part of last year’s memorable sectional championship run.
So he, along with Comet coach Andy Firth and many Comet fans, can’t believe the Comets are off to an 0-13 start his senior season.
“It’s a big surprise because of the way last year ended,” said Rigney, a 6-foot-4 forward who is averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds per game. “Everyone’s spirits were at a level that was unreachable. We had a great summer. Everyone came in. We had 27 kids there working hard. I don’t understand what is going on right now. It’s hard to believe.”
Last year the Comets entered the postseason with a 1-19 record before they got hot and reeled off three straight wins to win their sectional, including an epic win over arch-rival Pioneer in the final. They then gave highly-ranked Bowman Academy of Gary a much more competitive game than many expected.
“Last year we’d take two steps forward and then so many steps backward,” Rigney said. “This year everyone keeps going forward. We’re getting better on the defensive end. But our focus and lack of energy and experience closing out games is losing games for us. If you take away Rochester and North Miami, we’ve been in every game, but we’re not finishing games.”
Rigney doesn’t want to let last season stand as a blueprint for this season. He’d rather get the winning started now, and if last weekend’s overtime loss to Pioneer is any indication, the Comets could be on their way. They played the Panthers to the narrow OT loss despite being without second-leading scorer Alex Herd, who was out with mono.
“I hope it doesn’t run through everyone’s head that we don’t have to do so hot and then we can just take the sectional,” Rigney said. “I hope we don’t feel that way. We just have to keep working hard in practice.
“We’ve just got to be confident. The confidence has got to be there. That’s huge.”
Herd could be back for this weekend’s games, but a variety of illnesses are still going around the school and the team. Regardless, Rigney still wants his squad to get on the winning track soon.
“We need to get on a run,” he said. “It’s essential right now.
“We need a couple freshmen to step up as guards.”
Rigney was the Loganland Player of the Year as a sophomore and was an All-Loganland performer as well as a junior.
“I think he’s trying to do everything he can,” Firth said. “He’s always nice at school and has a big smile on his face. He works hard in practice. For this season, with all the sicknesses we’ve had, he’s been our one kid who’s been consistently solid. He’s a great kid.”
The following is a question-and-answer session with Rigney.
Q. Do you have any family members who played sports?
A. My dad [Dan] played football and basketball. My cousins Brandon and Stacy Herrold were both great at football and basketball.
Q. How do you feel you’ve improved as an athlete since you first started playing?
A. The experience. I’ve started since my freshman year and I feel that I’m still improving. I played AAU in Fort Wayne this past summer which really helped me develop into a more mature player.
Q. Who do you try to emulate in your life?
A. It’s honestly a toss-up between my parents [Dan and Michelle] and my brother-in-law, Aaron Tribby. All three work very hard to keep their families together and still have time to have fun.
Q. What experiences have you had in sports that have made you the athlete you are today?
A. Growing up watching sports, whether on TV or Caston games, I saw how great those teams were and knew the hard work that they gave allowed them to be great.
Q. What is something that not everyone knows about you?
A. I love to watch football. My favorite team is the Minnesota Vikings.
Q. What is your favorite memory of playing sports at your school?
A. Winning the sectional last year. I still have chills when I think about how excited everyone was.
Q. What’s your favorite music, movie, TV show, etc.?
A. Music: I listen to anything. Movie: The Hangover. TV show: SportsCenter. Video game: Madden. Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan. Favorite basketball team: Cleveland Cavaliers.
Q. What are your future plans after high school?
A. I plan on going to college but I’m not sure where or what I will be doing.
• Each week during the school year the Pharos-Tribune recognizes an athlete from one of five area high schools. The recipients are selected by each school’s athletic department.
