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Tri-Village
senior Kyle Pipenger got point number 1,000 in December
at the Jet Tournament. CNO file photo
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Tri-Village seniors hit huge milestones
Pipenger
eclipses 1,000 point mark
By George Starks
NEW MADISON- While most players at the high school level can only dream
of achieving goals in a four year time span, Tri-Village senior, Kyle
Pipenger as done it in three.
Unlike his female counter-part, Shaye Thomas, Pipenger had no idea that
he had even hit the 1,000 point mark as a scorer.
Seemingly, few others knew of the achievement as well. Pipenger got the
milestone bucket in the Jet Tournament at the end of December.
Not knowing was only part of the story for Pipenger. The rest of the
story came in the way he found out,
“I never even knew until I got home that night from Franklin Monroe,”
admitted Pipenger. “I told my mom I needed some of my gear washed and
she looked at me and said, ‘just because you scored your thousandth
points doesn’t mean you can boss me around.’ I looked at her kind of
funny and said what? She told me I had scored my one thousandth point
that night. So that’s how I found out.”
With no one around except his parents, Pipenger said he wasn’t sure
what to think.
“I had no idea how to react because I thought I was a few points off,”
said Pipenger. “My parents knew and figured I would get it there but
they never told me until that night. Before the game, nothing was ever
said.”
The historic night for Pipenger came in the championship game against
the Jets as the Patriots scored 41-29 victory over Franklin Monroe.
In that game, Pipenger netted 29 points to lead all scorers.
“That was a very low scoring game and most games with Franklin Monroe
usually are like that,” said Pipenger. “Both teams know each other so
well. To get it on that night, it wasn’t easy.”
As a child, Pipenger’s dream was to wear the red, white and blue of the
Patriots.
“I use to watch all those older boys and I wanted to wear the uniform
they were wearing,” said Pipenger. “I put that uniform on now and
there’s a sense of pride that comes with it. My dream has always been
to play on that court.”
Throughout the course of time, the name of Pipenger has always been
synonymous with not only Tri-Village but with the then, New Madison
Mohawks.
The influence was there.
“I watched all my cousins’ play,” said Pipenger. “My dad (Joel) was a
big influence on me. My whole family had me playing since I was five
years old when they had me playing at the church.”
With his final home game being played tonight against Brookville, head
coach Josh Sagester’s alma mater, Pipenger’s career is coming to an end
but he’s looking down the road.
To date, Pipenger has not committed to any collage.
Currently, the Patriots are undefeated with an 18-0 mark and four games
remaining, Pipenger and Shaye Thomas are trying to stay focused on the
rest of the season and the upcoming sectionals.
However, they both admit that it would be sweet to see both teams make
it to state.
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