MAKING OUR STATEMENT 2019 New Palestine Football Media Guide 2019 DRAGONS FOOTBALL Aug. 23 at Kokomo 7 p.m. Aug. 30 at Center Grove 7 p.m. Sept. 6 YORKTOWN* 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 MT. VERNON* 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 PENDLETON HEIGHTS* 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Greenfield-Central* 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 SHELBYVILLE (HC)* 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 NEW CASTLE* 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Delta* 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1, 8: Sectional 7 p.m. Nov. 15 Regional 7 p.m. Nov. 22 Semistate 7 p.m. Nov. 29 5A State Finals at Lucas Oil 7 p.m. 2019 NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS FOOTBALL TABLE OF CONTENTS 2019 SCHEDULE NPHS athletics/media info ................................. 2 Aug. 23 at Kokomo 7 p.m. Kelso Stadium ................................................... 3 2019 season preview ........................................ 4 Aug. 30 at Center Grove 7 p.m. Coach Kyle Ralph bio ........................................ 8 Sept. 6 YORKTOWN* 7:30 p.m. Meet the Dragons .............................................. 9 Sept. 13 MT. VERNON* 7:30 p.m. Dragon opponents ............................................. 15 Sept. 20 PENDLETON HTS.* 7:30 p.m. 2018 in review ................................................... 22 Sept. 27 at Greenfield-Central* 7:30 p.m. History and records ........................................... 25 Oct. 4 SHELBYVILLE* 7:30 p.m. FAST FACTS Oct. 11 NEW CASTLE* 7:30 p.m. New Palestine High School Oct. 18 at Delta* 7:30 p.m. Nickname: Dragons *-HHC game Colors: Red and white Town: New Palestine IHSAA TOURNAMENT County: Hancock Nov. 1/8 Sectional 7 p.m. School district: CSC Southern Hancock County Nov. 15 Regional 7 p.m. (Sugar Creek & Brandywine Townships) Nov. 22 Semistate 7 p.m. Enrollment: 1,175 (2018-19) Nov. 29 5A State Finals at Lucas Oil 7 p.m. Conference: Hoosier Heritage IHSAA member since: 1915 2019 DRAGONS FOOTBALL FOOTBALL INFO Varsity football began: 1968 Head coach: Kyle Ralph (Cincinnati St. Xavier ‘02, North All-time record: 356-194-2 Carolina ‘06) Home stadium: Kelso Stadium (since 1968) Career record: 74-4 (6 years, all at NPHS) Field: Shepler Field 2018 record: 14-0 (7-0 HHC), Class 5A state champion Playing surface: Sprinturf (installed 2018) Offense: Power spread Defense: 3-3 stack ADMINISTRATION Superintendent: Dr. Lisa Lantrip FOOTBALL HISTORY Principal: Keith Fessler State championships: 2 (2014, 2018) Associate principal: Amy Dawson State Finals appearances: 4 (1990, 2014, 2015, 2018) Assistant principal: Nicholas Mitchaner Regional championships: 6 (1987, 1990, 2013, 2014, 2015, Athletic director: Allen Cooper 2018) Assistant athletic director: Jeff Wright Sectional championships: 10 (1987, 1989, 1990, 2004, Athletic secretary: Melissa Tillage 2005, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018) Sports information director: Andrew Smith Conference championships: 20 Hoosier Heritage Conference: 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, MEDIA 2014, 25015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Online: NewPalestineAthletics.com Rangeline Conference: 1991, 1992 Twitter: @NPHSDragons Big Blue River Conference: 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, Broadcast: NewPalRadio.com (audio webcast, Andrew 1984, 1986, 1988 Smith, Mike Jackson). 1 ABOUT NPHS COVERING ATHLETIC DIRECTOR THE DRAGONS Allen Cooper The NPHS athletic department has seen much success The New Palestine High School athletic under Allen Cooper’s tutelage. In his eight seasons as athletic department welcomes media coverage of director, NPHS athletes have won five team state titles and six all of our athletic programs throughout the individual state championships. In addition, he has led signifi- season and school year. Please contact cant upgrades to several athletic facilities, including the Kelso Sports Information Director Andrew Smith Stadium renovation in 2018 and a new softball field for 2020. ([email protected] or 317-861- Cooper has been honored as the IIAAA District 4 Athletic 4417 x2132) with all media requests. Director of the Year in 2017. Email is preferred. Cooper is a 1979 graduate of NPHS, where he was a three-sport athlete. He went on to play baseball collegiately at Indiana Central (now the University of Indianapolis). He Credentials will be issued Credentials: coached girls basketball at NPHS from 1988-2005, winning to media covering games for a newspa- 228 games and four sectional titles. In 10 seasons as baseball per, radio or television station. Please coach from 2002-11, his teams went 242-56 and won five contact Andrew Smith at least five days in sectional titles. He led the Dragons to the 2003 baseball advance of the game. Credentialed media State Finals, and the 2004 state championship. Prior to being members will have access to the Kelso named the school’s athletic director in 2011, he taught English Stadium press box and the sidelines. The at NPHS. pass gate is on the west side of Kelso Sta- dium, just south of the home bleachers. All spaces in the Kelso Stadium press box are reserved. Each credentialed me- dia member will receive pregame media notes and access to a pregame hospitality area. Internet will also be available to media members covering games. Please note the press box is a working area that includes game workers, broadcasters and print reporters and no cheering is allowed. Broadcasts: All stations wishing to originate live or tape-delayed broadcasts of NPHS athletic events (radio, televi- sion or internet streaming) must request permission to broadcast regular season Jeff Wright Melissa Tillage Andrew Smith games through the athletic office at least ASST. ATHLETIC ATHLETIC SPORTS seven days in advance of the contest. IH- DIRECTOR SECRETARY INFORMATION SAA Tournament rights must be arranged through 360 Group. There is one courtesy telephone line NEW PALESTINE HIGH SCHOOL in the press box for visiting radio stations, available on a first-come, first-served basis New Palestine High School has been Todd Yoder, by contacting Andrew Smith in advance of the game. Internet connections are a member of the IHSAA since 1915, on longtime col- available, and cellular service is strong if property that has housed a school since lege football needed. 1884 and high school classes since coach and cur- Interviews: Please contact Andrew 1895. rent Maryland Smith with any midweek or pregame inter- Located in Hancock County in the head coach view requests. We will try to accommodate southeast suburbs of Indianapolis, Matt Canada, all reasonable requests. Coach Ralph will be available to media in the press box ap- New Palestine has received many track and field proximately 10 minutes after each game, awards for academic excellence – in- world champi- after his live interview with New Pal Radio. cluding a U.S. News and World Report on Pat Feeney Pregame notes: Pregame notes are “Best Buy” High School and many “A” and undefeat- emailed to media during the week prior to and Four-Star ratings from the Indiana ed four-time each game. Please contact Andrew Smith Department of Education. In 2012, New state wrestling to be added to the weekly distribution list. Keith Fessler Palestine was named a National Blue champion PRINCIPAL Directions/parking: To access Kelso Ribbon School by the US Department of Chad Red. Stadium on game days, please enter from Education. NPHS has won nine IHSAA team and Gem Road (CR 500W). The school en- NPHS is the lone high school in the eight individual state titles. NPHS has trance off U.S. 52 is closed to thru traffic at Community School Corporation of South- also appeared in 13 IHSAA state cham- all times and provides very limited access ern Hancock County, which covers Sugar pionship games in its history, all since to the stadium. Creek and Brandywine Townships in 1990. From the west (I-465) or east (IN 9, U.S. 52): Take U.S. 52 to Gem Road (CR Hancock County. Includes three elemen- Keith Fessler is the current NPHS 500W). Turn south onto Gem Road at the tary schools (Brandywine, New Palestine principal. A graduate of Richmond High stoplight. Turn left at the entrance between and Sugar Creek), one intermediate School and Purdue University, Fessler New Palestine Elementary and the South- school (New Palestine Intermediate) and has been an administrator at NPHS ern Hancock administration building. one junior high school (New Palestine since 2006 and principal since 2011. Amy From the north (I-70): Exit I-70 at Mt. Junior High). Dawson serves as the associate principal Comfort Road. Follow south to U.S. 52, then turn left (east). Follow for 1.1 miles to Among New Palestine’s notable alum- and Nicholas Mitchaner as the assistant Gem Road, then turn south to the entrance ni are former Burberry CEO and Apple principal. Both are in their first years in between NPE and the administration senior vice president Angela Ahrendts, their current roles. building. Super Bowl champion and NFL veteran 2 KELSO STADIUM/SHEPLER FIELD The Dragons’ home turf Is named for two New Palestine luminaries. The stadium underwent its most significant facelift in 2018. An Kelso Stadium was dedicated in honor of former NPHS principal Robert artificial playing surface replaced the old grass field, allowing Shepler Kelso shortly after he passed away in 1983. Field to be used year-round by multiple sports and activities. In addition, The playing field was named Shepler Field in 2003. Its namesake a new entry plaza, concession building and two sections of bleachers is Hall of Fame football coach Marvin Shepler. The team’s first varsity were installed in the south end zone. A new track is being installed for coach, Shepler led New Palestine to three sectional titles and the 1990 2019-20. State Finals. Between 1986-92, the Dragons won 38 consecutive home Entering 2019, the Dragons are 181-90-1 all-time at Kelso Stadium. games on what would become Shepler Field. Shepler coached the The Dragons have two long winning streaks on the turf.