News
Coach Heidi Zickgraf’s Delta Eagles (33-6) took home their third state championship by defeating the Mishawaka Marian Knights (33-7), 25-21, 25-18, 25-19 Saturday evening at Ball State’s Worthen Arena.
Delta started things off by winning the first set 25-21, led by senior outside hitter Darcy Dorton’s nine kills. The Knights kept it close throughout the second game until a kill by Dorton sparked a four-point Delta run and a 21-15 advantage. After a Marian time out, the Eagles were able to stretch their lead to eight (24-18) before junior outside hitter Kaitlin Walton finished off the game with a kill.
Delta found itself at a 3-2 deficit in the third game but reclaimed the lead at 5-4 and never relinquished it. The Eagles took the deciding game 25-19 to clinch the crown. Their previous championship victories came in 2001 and 2002.
Dorton finished the night with a match-high 23 kills and nine digs. Freshmen setter Morgan Bergren added 34 assists and five digs, while junior outside hitter Kaitlin Walton contributed seven kills and nine digs.
Marian sophomore Meredith Farkas registered seven digs and a team-high 10 kills. Senior Claire Farkas had nine digs and seven kills for the Knights, while senior Maggie Pajakowski added seven kills and six digs.
Marian settled for the state runner-up spot for the third consecutive year and fourth time overall (1999). The Knights won the 1973 state championship.
Delta advanced to the championship match by defeating Brebeuf Jesuit in a hard fought contest, 27-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-25, 15-7. Mishawaka Marian, led by head coach Dan Anderson, reached the final for the fifth time in program history by defeating Boonville in three games.
DELTA’S DARCY DORTON NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER
Darcy Dorton of Delta High School was named the winner of the Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A following the state championship match by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.
The award is presented annually to a senior participant in the state finals who was nominated by her principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.
She maintains a 3.4 GPA while taking a rigorous course load that includes classes in AP Microeconomics, Calculus, Fine Arts and Honors English. She also acts as a Cadet Teacher working with elementary students each day in the afternoons.
Dorton was inducted into the National Honor Society as a junior and held positions with the Student Council during her first two years in high school. She served as part of the NCAA Ambassadors program as a sophomore and junior and has volunteered time working junior volleyball camps with the Munciana Volleytots.
Dorton was a Prep All-American and a member of the USA Junior National Team the last two years and is a three-time First Team All-State selection. She currently is a candidate for the Gatorade National and State Volleyball Player of the Year and has accepted a volleyball scholarship to Penn State University beginning next fall. She is undecided on her field of study.
She is the daughter of Joe and Juli Dorton of Muncie.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Delta High School in the name of Darcy Dorton.