end. I had to bend over to do it!” After because they don’t have a whistler of
that, school officials insisted on having their own. Several years ago when the
a couple of spotters next to the pyraIndiana High School Athletic Associamid for safety reasons.
tion (IHSAA) tightened the rules by
Following graduation in 1984,
prohibiting artificial noise makers,
Byler headed to Manchester College in Dan wondered if that would mean the
North Manchester, Indiana. Four years end of The Whistler. Nothing was ever
later he graduated with dual majors in said; besides Byler’s whistle is anything
Math and Computer Science, staying
but artificial. “If the IHSAA ever says
on for two additional years as hall
I have to quit, well, I guess that will
director. In 1990, along with his bride
be it.” However, Westview Athletic
Dawn, he found his way home, accept- Director, Darlene Mathew and the
ing a job at the Times Sentinel newspaAthletic Department have always been
per in Shipshewana. Three years later
supportive.
the paper folded. For the next three
Dan Byler is much more than,
years he worked for Mel Riegsecker.
“The Westview Whistler.” WorkWhile working for Riegsecker, Dan ing from their home Dan and Dawn
signed on with WQKO-FM (Howe,
started Aurora Services, a publishing
IN) as the color commentator for
service, in the early 1990s. The growth
broadcasts of 1995-96 Westview H.S.
of Aurora allowed Dan to fulfill his
basketball. Jerry Hostetler joined the
dream of being self employed by the
broadcast team following the back to
age of thirty. Aurora, which published
back state championships, taking over The Hometown Treasure and The People’s
for Dan Caskey as the play by play
Exchange was recently purchased by
voice of Westview basketball. Jerry and LaGwana Printing, another company
Dan spent one year together at WQKO. the Bylers helped to start. LaGwana
For the past three years they have currently does all the printed material
been webcasting Westview games over for the Westview Music and Theater
the internet. Unlike radio where you
Department at no cost to the school.
have no idea if anyone is listening,
The Bylers have seven children
the internet allows them to see how
ranging from just out of college to kinmany people are listening and they get dergarten. Dan and Dawn are members
feedback from listeners from many
at Marion Mennonite Church.
different parts of the
United States, as well as 1984
around the world. Area
residents wintering in
Arizona and Florida
regularly listen in. The
broadcasts have gone
global with listeners
from as far away as
China.
While there have
been discussions about
doing live video streaming, that appears to still
be somewhere in the future. For now the only
video is a clip of “The
Westview Whistler” on
YouTube.
According to Byler, Top to Bottom, left to right: Dan Byler, Harlan Kauffman, John
he has friends in other Chupp, Wade Miller, Dallas Mishler, ____________, Lowell Miller,
Kevin Monroe, Niles Richards, Ernie Slabach, Tony Miller, Roger
school districts who
Growcock, Jerry Merhley, Leon Schwartz,, and Ross Miller. Spotters:
are a little jealous
Hoosier Hysteria
Terry Miller and ______ Miller (Northridge friend).
Westview Girls
Basketball
Championships
Sectional (7):
1976, 1977, 1978, 2005(2A),
2006(2A), 2010(2A), 2013(2A)
Regional (1):
2006(2A)
Semi-State (1):
2006(2A)
Westview Girls
Championship
Coaches
Darlene Mathew (3 Sectionals):
1976, 1977, 1978.
Randy Yoder (4 Sectionals):
2005(2A), 2006(2A), 2010(2A)
2013(2A); (1Regional): 2006(2A);
(1 Semi-State): 2006(2A)
2010 Sectional Champs
The Hometown Treasure · March ‘13 · pg 19