News

Two individual state champions and the defending team champion return when the 41st Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals convene this Saturday in Muncie. Opening ceremonies begin at 12:30 pm ET / 11:30 am CT at Ball State’s Worthen Arena with competition in the four events to follow 30 minutes later.

Valparaiso’s Morgan Algozine, who has won four state titles in the last two years including last year’s all-around championship, will look for more hardware on Saturday. The senior won every event but the bars during last week’s Valpo Regional helping the Vikings to their 11th straight team appearance in the state finals.

Also returning is Angola’s Alex Nickel, who won the state bars and beam competition in 2012. The junior will compete as an individual again this year after taking third in the all-around last week at the Valpo Regional.

A total of 28 schools are represented in the meet with eight – Columbus East, Columbus North, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Homestead, Logansport, New Palestine, Portage, Valparaiso – in the running for the team title.

Five of those are returnees from last year when Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger captured its fifth state championship. Joining the Saints once again are top-ranked Portage, which has finished second to Valparaiso the last two weeks, Columbus North and Valparaiso, both tied for No. 3, and unranked Homestead.

Bishop Dwenger will make its 14th consecutive trip as a team after easily outdistancing its competition the last two weekends. The Saints are led by junior Katy Linvill, who won all but the vault in the Huntington Regional last Friday and also won two events and the all-around in the sectional.

Valparaiso, which won it all in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, is expected to contend for top honors as well with a veteran team and coach in Lorie Cook, who has led the Vikings to nine state titles.

Logansport, which is making its first team appearance in the gymnastics state finals after winning the team title each of the last two weeks, is led by freshman Kelley Platt. Platt swept the events at last week’s Lafayette Jeff Regional and won three of four, including the all-around, at the sectional.

The 41st Annual Gymnastics State Finals
Date: Saturday, March 16, 2013.
Time: Opening ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. ET; Competition at 1 pm ET.
Admission: $9.
Site: Worthen Arena, Ball State University, 1699 W. Bethel Avenue, Muncie.

Media Information

Media Host: IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille will be on hand to assist you in your coverage of the event.

Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT. The 2012-13 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential issued previously this school year is accepted for admission. For those outlets without credentials and planning to cover the gymnastics state finals, please apply for credentials by e-mailing IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org. Please include name of individual(s) to be credentialed. E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: yahoo.com, aol.com, gmail.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Approved requests may be claimed at the ticket windows inside Lower Level, Gate 1 of Worthen Arena. Please have proper identification available.

Media Services: Members of the IHSAA staff will be on hand to assist in your coverage. Complimentary copies of the official state finals program will be available and includes the order of participants in each event. The facility also is equipped for free wireless internet access. Worthen Arena’s Media Work Room is located at Room 203 on the Main Level. Electrical power and phone lines will be available for use there.

Media Seating: An open seating policy will be used on Saturday.

Photographers: During the event, please use discretion when photographing the athletes as your camera strobe can pose a danger to the safety of the athletes during their performances. With the exception of the IHSAA’s Official Photographer from “Visual Sports Network”, all photographers should remain off the floor until all competition has concluded.

Results: Copies of the official results will be distributed at the meet’s conclusion and will also be posted to the IHSAA website at IHSAA.org.

Notables

Teams Represented (28)
Angola, Bloomington North, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Chesterton, Columbus East, Columbus North, Connersville, Crown Point, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Northrop, Franklin Central, Hamilton, Heritage, Homestead, Huntington North, Jay County, Lafayette Jefferson, Logansport, Michigan City, Morgan Township, New Palestine, Noblesville, Northwestern, Owen Valley, Portage, Richmond, Rushville, Valparaiso.

Competing for Team Championship (8)
Columbus East, Columbus North, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Homestead, Logansport, New Palestine, Portage, Valparaiso.

Returning Teams from 2012 (5)
Columbus North, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Homestead, Portage, Valparaiso.

State Coaches Poll (Competing for Team Championship)
1. Portage; 2. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger; T3. Columbus North; T3. Valparaiso; 5. Columbus East; 9. New Palestine; 10. Logansport; NR: Homestead.

Former State Champions in the Meet
Morgan Algozine, 12, Valparaiso. 2012 AA, Floor, Vault; 2011 Bars.
Alex Nickel, 11, Angola. 2012 Bars, Beam.

State Finals History Among Team Competitors

Columbus East
State Champion: (1) 1990
Runner-Up: (1) 1991
Appearances: (15) 1979, 1983, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2010, 2013

Columbus North
State Champion: (2) 1973, 1974
Runner-Up: (3) 1986, 1987, 2008
Appearances: (17) 1973, 1974, 1977, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger
State Champion: (5) 1995, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2012
Runner-Up: (7) 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2011
Appearances: (18) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

Homestead
State Champion: (6) 1983, 1984, 1985, 1996, 1999, 2001
Runner-Up: (1) 1989
Appearances: (13) 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2012, 2013

Logansport
First Appearance

New Palestine
Appearances: (3) 2004, 2005, 2013

Portage
State Champion: (1) 1975
Runner-Up: (1) 1973
Appearances: (5) 1973, 1974, 1975, 2012, 2013

Valparaiso
State Champion: (9) 1981, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Runner-Up: (5) 1992, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2012
Appearances: (20) 1977, 1981, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

 

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Boys Basketball Semi-States
Date: Saturday, March 16, 2013.
Admission: $8.
Home Team: The winners of the odd-numbered regionals will be the designated home teams.

Huntington North
Class 2A | Tipton (25-2) vs. Bowman Academy (16-9) | 1 pm ET
Class 3A | Fort Wayne Concordia (22-4) vs. Andrean (22-3) | To follow
Lafayette Jefferson
Class A | Lafayette Central Catholic (18-8) vs. Triton (19-5) | 4 pm ET
Class 4A | Carmel (23-2) vs. Merrillville (22-3) | To follow
Richmond
Class 2A | Linton-Stockton (23-3) vs. Speedway (21-4) | 1 pm ET
Class 3A | Greensburg (24-1) vs. Mt. Vernon (Fortville) (24-1) | To follow
Seymour
Class A | Borden (22-3) vs. University (15-11) | 4 pm ET
Class 4A | Jeffersonville (24-3) vs. Indianapolis Cathedral (24-5) | To follow

 

State Finals
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2013.
Site: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis.
Admission: $15.00 per session.
Reserved single session tickets may be purchased at the participating schools the week of the state finals. Contact participating schools for ticket distribution hours. Any remaining tickets will be available game day at the ticket office at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Home Team: The winners of the south semi-states will be the designated home teams.
Television: All four state championship games will be televised live throughout the state on the IHSAA Champions Television Network.
Radio: The IHSAA Championship Radio Network will broadcast all four games to affiliates statewide. 

Class A | 10:30 am ET
Class 2A | Follows Class A game
Class 3A | 6 pm ET
Class 4A | Follows Class 3A game
 
Notables

Seeking First State Finals Appearance
4A: None.
3A: Fort Wayne Concordia, Mt. Vernon (Fortville).
2A: Linton-Stockton.
A: Borden, University.

Seeking to Break State Finals Drought (Five or more years since last appearance)
82 years: Greensburg (1931).
78: Tipton (1935).
18: Jeffersonville, Merrillville (1995).
15: Indianapolis Cathedral (1998).
13: Andrean (2000).
11: Speedway (2002).
10: Lafayette Central Catholic (2003).

Seeking to Repeat as Semi-State Champions
4A: Carmel.
3A: None.
2A: Bowman Academy.
A: None.

Seeking First Semi-State Championship
4A: None.
3A: Fort Wayne Concordia, Greensburg, Mt. Vernon (Fortville).
2A: Linton-Stockton, Tipton.
A: Borden, University.
Note: 1935-36 was the first year for semi-states.

Most Consecutive Semi-State Championships
4: Ben Davis (1993-96).

Top 10 All-Time Semi-State Championship Leaders
14: Marion.
13: Muncie Central.
12: Lafayette Jefferson.
11: Anderson.
8: East Chicago Washington, Kokomo, New Albany.
6: Elkhart Central, Evansville Bosse, Gary Roosevelt, Jeffersonville, Washington.
Note: 1935-36 was the first year for semi-states.

Current Winning Streaks
18: Indianapolis Cathedral.
13: Greensburg.
11: Triton.
10: Jeffersonville, Lafayette Central Catholic.
8: Borden, Carmel, Linton-Stockton, Speedway.
7: Andrean, Bowman Academy, Merrillville, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), Tipton.
5: Fort Wayne Concordia, University.

Top 10 Teams Still Alive (AP Poll)
4A: 1. Carmel; 7. Indianapolis Cathedral.
3A: 1. Mt. Vernon (Fortville); 2. Greensburg; 3. Andrean; 7. Fort Wayne Concordia.
2A: 2. Tipton; 7. Bowman Academy; 10. Linton-Stockton.
A: 6. Lafayette Central Catholic; T10. Borden; T10. Triton.

Ranked Teams Still Alive (State Coaches Poll)
2. Carmel; 11. Jeffersonville; 13. Indianapolis Cathedral; 14. Mt. Vernon (Fortville); 15. Greensburg; 17. Merrillville; 19. Andrean.

2012 State Champions Still Alive
4A: Carmel.

2012 State Finalists Still Alive
4A: Carmel.
2A: Bowman Academy.

Former State Champions Still Alive (7)
3: Lafayette Central Catholic: 1998 (A), 2000 (A), 2003 (A).
2: Carmel: 1977, 2012 (4A).
1: Bowman Academy: 2010 (A).
1: Indianapolis Cathedral: 1998 (3A).
1: Jeffersonville: 1993.
1: Speedway: 2002 (2A).
1: Triton: 2008 (A).

First-Time Regional Champions
A: University.

Regional Championship Droughts Broken (Five or more years)
67: Linton-Stockton (1946).
22: Mt. Vernon (Fortville) (1991).
15: Indianapolis Cathedral (1998).
13: Andrean, Fort Wayne Concordia (2000).
11: Speedway (2002).
10: Merrillville (2003).
5: Borden (2008).

Repeat Regional Champions
4A: Carmel.
2A: Bowman Academy, Tipton.

 

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Boys Basketball State Finals Credentials
The deadline for requests is Thursday, March 21, 4 pm ET/3 pm CT. Credentials will not be granted after that time. For media outlets intending to cover the boys basketball state finals, please apply for credentials by e-mailing your request to IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille (jwille@ihsaa.org). E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: yahoo.com, aol.com, gmail.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Please include the name of individual(s) to be credentialed. Approved requests will be available for pickup at media will-call at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on game day. Credentials will not be mailed.

 

Boys Basketball State Finalist Coaches Interviews on Monday
Coaches from the eight schools in the 2013 IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals will gather Monday, March 18, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the pre-tournament administrative meeting with media interviews to follow. The school personnel meeting will be closed to the news media. At approximately 11 am ET / 10 am CT, the coaches will be available to answer questions from the media in a round-table setting in the media work room.

Members of the media should go to the Employee/Media Entrance on Delaware Street where Fieldhouse personnel will be on hand to escort you to the meeting area.

Updated statistics, rosters and other team information as submitted by the schools will be distributed at the interview session. For outlets that cannot attend, a special state finals information package will be available on the IHSAA.org website later that day.

 

 

News & Notes from Around the State
Athletic directors and coaches, if you have an interesting note - perhaps a conference or school record, coaching milestone or something else - please feel free to e-mail IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org and we’ll be happy to send it out on the IHSAA’s twitter account or just tweet it to us at @IHSAA1. Thank you!

Caston's Jake Howdeshell set a new school record with 94 made 3-point field goals this season to lead the state in that category.

Jay County High School senior Brock McFarland became the Patriots' all-time scoring leader Friday with a 19-point effort in a 66-25 win over Bellmont. McFarland broke the record of 1,155 points held by 1993 JCHS graduate Dan Ferrell, who played baseball at Indiana University and was drafted by the Florida Marlins. McFarland and Ferrell are the only players in Jay County boys basketball history to have broken the 1,000-point mark.

 

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About the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. (IHSAA)
Founded in 1903, the purpose of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. (IHSAA) is to encourage, regulate and give direction to wholesome amateur interschool athletic competition between its 410 member schools. The Association provides state championship tournament series in 20 sports, 10 for girls and 10 for boys. Approximately 160,000 student athletes participate in IHSAA sports on an annual basis.