News

VALPO ON THE VERGE OF GYMNASTICS HISTORY?
Top-ranked Valparaiso could be on the verge of history this Saturday when the 39th Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals are contested in Muncie.

The Vikings will be chasing an unprecedented fourth consecutive team title at Ball State’s Worthen Arena which will serve as host venue for the first time. Opening ceremonies begin at 12:30 pm ET / 11:30 am CT with competition in the four events to follow 30 minutes later.

Coached by Lorie Cook to each of its state-leading eight state championships, Valparaiso will be making its ninth consecutive appearance as a team and record 18th overall. The Vikings won their fourth straight regional crown at home last Friday. In addition to Valparaiso, Perry Meridian (1978-80) Connersville (1987-89) and Homestead (1983-85) each have won three straight team titles.

A total of 25 schools are represented in the meet with eight – Chesterton, Columbus North, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Northrop, Franklin Central, Hagerstown, Roncalli, Valparaiso – in the running for the team title.

Individual state championship honors are wide open as no previous winners return to the 2011 state meet.

Second-ranked Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger won its state-leading 12th consecutive sectional crown on March 5. The Saints also returned to the top spot in last weekend’s regional and will be appearing for a record 12th straight time in the state team competition.

Roncalli, which has finished second to Valpo the last two seasons, also returns to the team competition for a third straight year. The ninth-ranked Rebels won their third straight regional crown last Friday at Lafayette Jefferson.

Columbus North was the other regional winner from the weekend capturing the Columbus East Regional for the fourth straight year.

The 39th Annual Gymnastics State Finals
Date: Saturday, March 19, 2011.
Time: Opening ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. ET; Competition at 1 pm ET.
Admission: $8.
Site: Worthen Arena, Ball State University, 2000 W. University Avenue, Muncie.

Order of Participants: State Finals Order of Participants
Warm Up Schedules: Friday | Saturday

Media Information

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

Media Parking: There is no designated parking area for media at the venue. Please be aware that Ball State University does charge a $5 all-day parking fee in the Worthen Arena lots.

Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT. The 2010-11 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 wireless internet access. See Sports Information Director Jason Wille on site for guest account information.

Worthen Arena Media Work Room: 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 www.ihsaa.org.

Notables

Teams Represented (25)
Angola, Chesterton, Columbus East, Columbus North, Connersville, DeKalb, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Northrop, Fort Wayne Snider, Franklin Central, Hagerstown, Huntington North, Jeffersonville, Lafayette Jefferson, LaPorte, Logansport, New Castle, New Palestine, Oak Hill, Portage, Roncalli, Seymour, Valparaiso, Washington Township, Western.

Competing for Team Championship (8)
Chesterton, Columbus North, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Northrop, Franklin Central, Hagerstown, Roncalli, Valparaiso.

State Coaches Poll (Competing for Team Championship)
1. Valparaiso; 2. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger; 3. Chesterton; 4. Columbus North; 7. Hagerstown; 9. Roncalli; 13. Fort Wayne Northrop; 15. Franklin Central.

Former State Champions in the Meet
None.

 

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SEMI-STATE SATURDAY READY TO GO
Three teams that participated in last year’s state finals remain in the hunt for a return trip including defending state champions North Central of Indianapolis (4A) and Washington (3A) as the semi-state round of the boy basketball tournament tips Saturday afternoon.

Four sites will host a doubleheader on Saturday with the Huntington North and Southport semi-states beginning at 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT. The Lafayette Jefferson and Seymour sites will tip off at 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT. The winners of each game punch their ticket to the 101st State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse on Saturday, March 26.

North Central (22-2) meets Bloomington South (24-2), the 2009 winner, in the second game at Southport while Washington (22-4) takes on Batesville (18-6) in the second game at Seymour.  Washington topped Batesville in this round in 2008.

Park Tudor (24-2), which finished as the state runner-up in last year’s 2A championship game, will face undefeated Forest Park (25-0) for the second straight year at Seymour.  The Panthers won last year’s meeting, 47-45, in a four-overtime marathon.

Forest Park is one of three unbeatens remaining along with Munster (25-0) and Hammond Bishop Noll (25-0).

Munster meets Kokomo (22-2) in the second game at Lafayette Jefferson while Bishop Noll takes on Tipton (24-2) in the Huntington North opener.

The opening game at Lafayette Jefferson calls for a square off between Rockville (21-6) and Triton (22-3). Triton will be looking for its third semi-state championship in four years while Rockville will attempt to make its first trip to the state finals since 1918. If the Rox win, it would be the longest period between two appearances in state tournament history (93 years). Rossville went 88 years between two visits – 1914 followed by its 2002 Class A state championship.

Also Saturday, Columbia City (19-5) meets Culver Academies (18-6) at Huntington North and North Daviess (22-3) meets Indianapolis Metropolitan (20-6) in the Southport opener. Culver and Metropolitan both won their first sectional championships two weekends ago.

Results from each game will be posted to www.ihsaa.org on Saturday as scores become available.

Boys Basketball Semi-States
Date: Saturday, March 19, 2011.
Admission: $7.
Home Team: The winners of the odd-numbered regionals (second teams listed below) will be the designated home teams.

Brackets: 4A | 3A | 2A | A

North

Huntington North
Class 2A | Tipton (24-2) vs. Hammond Bishop Noll (25-0). 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT
Class 3A | Columbia City (19-5) vs. Culver Academies (18-6). To follow

Lafayette Jefferson
Class A | Rockville (21-6) vs. Triton (22-3). 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT
Class 4A | Kokomo (22-2) vs. Munster (25-0). To follow

South

Southport
Class A | North Daviess (22-3) vs. Indianapolis Metropolitan (20-6). 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT
Class 4A | Bloomington South (24-2) vs. North Central (22-2). To follow

Seymour
Class 2A | Forest Park (25-0) vs. Park Tudor (24-2). 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT
Class 3A | Washington (22-4) vs. Batesville (18-6). To follow

 

State Finals
Date: Saturday, March 26, 2011.
Site: Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis.
Conseco Fieldhouse | Seating Chart
Admission: Session $15.00; Season $25.00.
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 Conseco Fieldhouse.
Home Team: The winners of the south semi-states will be the designated home teams.

Session I
Class A | 10:30 am ET
Class 2A | To follow

Session II
Class 3A | 6 pm ET
Class 4A | To follow

Facts & Figures

Seeking First State Finals Appearance
4A: Munster.
3A: Culver Academies.
2A: None.
A: Indianapolis Metropolitan, North Daviess.

Seeking to Break State Finals Drought (Five or more years since last appearance)
93 years: Rockville (1918).
76: Tipton (1935).
23: Hammond Bishop Noll (1988).
14: Kokomo (1997).
10: Batesville (2001).
7: Columbia City (2004).
5: Forest Park (2006).

Seeking to Repeat as Semi-State Champions
4A: North Central (Indianapolis).
3A: Washington.
2A: Park Tudor.
A: None.

Seeking First Semi-State Championship
4A: Munster.
3A: Culver Academies.
2A: Tipton.
A: Indianapolis Metropolitan, North Daviess, Rockville.
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, New Albany.
7: Kokomo.
6: Elkhart Central, Evansville Bosse, Gary Roosevelt, Jeffersonville.
Note: 1935-36 was the first year for semi-states.

Current Winning Streaks
25: Forest Park, Hammond Bishop Noll, Munster.
17: Triton.
15: North Daviess, Washington.
14: Rockville.
13: North Central (Indianapolis).
12: Park Tudor, Tipton.
10: Bloomington South, Culver Academies.
8: Columbia City, Kokomo.
7: Batesville.
6: Indianapolis Metropolitan.

Ranked Teams Still Alive (State Coaches Poll)
1. Munster; 3. Bloomington South; 4. North Central (Indianapolis); 9. Kokomo; 11. Forest Park; 16. Hammond Bishop Noll; 18. Washington; 20. Park Tudor.

Top 10 Teams Still Alive (AP Poll)
4A: 1. Munster; 2. North Central (Indianapolis); 4. Bloomington South; 10. Kokomo.
3A: 1. Washington.
2A: 1. Forest Park; 2. Hammond Bishop Noll; 3. Tipton; 4. Park Tudor.
A: 2. Triton; 5. North Daviess.

2010 State Champions Still Alive
4A: North Central (Indianapolis).
3A: Washington.

2010 State Finalist Teams Still Alive
4A: North Central (Indianapolis).
3A: Washington.
2A: Park Tudor.

Former State Champions Still Alive (6)
6: Washington: 1930, 1941, 1942, 2005 (3A), 2008 (3A), 2010 (3A).
2: Bloomington South: 1919, 2009 (4A).
2: Forest Park: 2005 (2A), 2006 (2A).
2: North Central: 1999 (4A); 2010 (4A).
1: Kokomo: 1961.
1: Triton: 2008 (A).

First-Time Regional Champions
3A: Culver Academies.
A: Indianapolis Metropolitan, Rockville.

Regional Championship Droughts Broken (Five or more years)
22: Tipton (1989).
14: Kokomo (1997).
10: Hammond Bishop Noll (2001).
7: Columbia City (2004).

Repeat Regional Champions
4A: North Central (Indianapolis).
3A: Washington.
2A: Forest Park, Park Tudor.

 

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BOYS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS MEDIA CREDENTIALS
The deadline for requests is Thursday, March 24, 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 the state finals meeting on Monday, March 21, (please indicate your intentions to do so), otherwise they will be available at media will-call at Conseco Fieldhouse on game day. Credentials will not be mailed.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL STATE COACHES INTERVIEWS ON MONDAY
Coaches from the eight schools in the 2011 IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals will gather Monday, March 21, at Conseco 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 10:45 am ET / 9:45 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 off 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 website later that day. If you would like to pick up your state finals credentials at the press conference, please indicate that on your request.

 

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INDIANA CONNECTIONS TO NCAA TOURNEYS
A total of 44 men and 21 women with connections to the state of Indiana are on the rosters of teams that will participate in this week’s NCAA tournaments.

Thanks to IHSAA intern Craig Garvin for compiling the following information from each respective university’s website.

Men’s Tournament
Belmont
Jordan Campbell	6’5”	Sr.	G/F	Indianapolis, IN (North Central Indianapolis)
Butler
Alex Anglin	6’5”	Sr.	G/F	Kokomo, IN (Kokomo)
Garrett Butcher	6’7”	Jr.	F	Ellettsville, IN (Edgewood)
Erik Fromm	6’9”	Fr.	F	Bloomington, IN (Bloomington South)
Zach Hahn	6’1”	Sr.	G	New Castle, IN (New Castle)
Chrishawn Hopkins	6’1”	Fr.	G	Indianapolis, IN (Manual)
Matt Howard	6’8”	Sr.	F	Connersville, IN (Connersville)
Emerson Kampen	6’9”	So.	C	Yorktown, IN (Yorktown)
Grant Leiendecker	6’5”	Sr.	G	Fort Wayne, IN (Homestead)
Andrew Smith	6’11”	So.	C	Indianapolis, IN (Covenant Christian (Indianapolis))
Chase Stigall	6’4”	So.	G	New Castle, IN (New Castle)
Clemson
Jonah Baize	6’6”	Sr.	F	Evansville, IN (Veritas Academy (NC))
Duke
Miles Plumlee	6’10”	Jr.	F	Warsaw, IN (Christ School (NC))
Mason Plumlee	6’10”	So.	F	Warsaw, IN (Christ School (NC))
Indiana State
Aaron Carter	6’4”	Sr.	G	Cannelton, IN (Perry Central)
Jake Kelly	6’6”	Sr.	G	Terre Haute, IN (Carmel)
R.J. Mahurin	6’8”	Fr.	F	Rockville, IN (Rockville)
Jake Odum	6’4”	Fr.	G	Terre Haute, IN (South Vigo)
Louisville
Kyle Kuric	6’4”	Jr.	G	Evansville, IN (Evansville Memorial)
Stephan Van Treese	6’9”	So.	F	Indianapolis, IN (Lawrence North)
Michigan
Zack Novak	6’5”	Jr.	G	Chesterton, IN (Chesterton)
Stu Douglass	6’3”	Jr.	G	Carmel, IN (Carmel)
Michigan State
Russell Byrd	6’7”	Fr.	G	Fort Wayne, IN (Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian)
North Carolina
Tyler Zeller	7’0”	Jr.	F	Washington, IN (Washington)
Northern Colorado
Chris Kaba	6’8”	Sr.	F	Gary, IN
Notre Dame
Scott Martin	6’8”	Sr.	G	Valparaiso, IN (Valparaiso)
Ohio State
Deshaun Thomas	6’6”	Fr.	F	Fort Wayne, IN (Bishop Luers HS)
Pittsburgh
Gary McGhee	6’10”	Sr.	C	Anderson, IN (Anderson Highland)
Purdue
Terone Johnson	6’2”	Fr.	G	Indianapolis, IN (North Central)
Bubba Day	6’0”	Jr.	G	West Lafayette, IN (West Lafayette)
Robbie Hummel	6’8”	Sr.	F	Valparaiso, IN (Valparaiso)
Kelsey Barlow	6’5”	So.	G	Indianapolis, IN (Indianapolis Cathedral)
Dru Anthrop	6’0”	So.	G	Lafayette, IN (Lafayette Central Catholic)
Kyle Coleman	6’4”	So.	F	Tipton, IN (Tipton)
D.J. Byrd	6’5”	So.	G-F	Crawfordsville, IN (North Montgomery)
JaJuan Johnson	6’10”	Sr.	C	Indianapolis, IN (Franklin Central)
John Hart	6’2”	So.	G	Beech Grove, IN (Beech Grove)
Patrick Bade	6’8”	So.	F	Indianapolis, IN (Franklin Central)
Travis Carroll	6’9”	Fr.	F	Danville, IN (Danville)
E’Twaun Moore	6’3”	Sr.	G	East Chicago, IN (East Chicago)
Richmond
Zak Estes	6’4”	Jr.	G-F	Indianapolis, IN (Brebreuf)
UNLV
Todd Hanni	6’4”	Jr.	G	Danville, IN (Danville)
Xavier
Joe Hughes	6’6”	Sr.	F	Indianapolis, IN (Cathedral)
Jeff Robinson	6’9”	So.	F	Indianapolis, IN (Lawrence North)
Women’s Tournament
Arkansas - Little Rock
Taylor Ford	5’9”	Fr.	G	Indianapolis, IN (Warren Central)
Bowling Green
Chrissy Steffen	6’0”	So.	G	Carmel, IN (Carmel)
Danielle Havel	6’2”	So.	F	Carmel, IN (DePaul University)
Connecticut
Kelly Faris	5’11”	So.	G	Plainfield, IN (Heritage Christian)
DePaul
Jasmine Penny	6’1”	Fr.	F	Logansport, IN (Logansport)
Kelsey Reynolds	5’9”	So.	G	Mishawaka, IN (Boston College)
Marquette
Gabi Minix	5’9”	Fr.	G	Grovertown, IN (Oregon-Davis)
Michigan State
Bryonna Davis	5’7”	Fr.	G	Merrillville, IN (Merrillville)
Navy
Chey Arvin	5’9”	So.	G	Noblesville, IN (Noblesville)
Notre Dame
Becca Bruszewski	6’1”	Sr.	F	Valparaiso, IN (Wheeler)
Skylar Diggins	5’9”	So.	G	South Bend, IN (Washington)
Penn State
Alex Bentley	5’7”	So.	G	Indianapolis, IN (Ben Davis)
Purdue
Brittany Rayburn	6’0”	Jr.	G	Attica, IN (Attica)
Courtney Moses	5’7”	Fr.	G	Sweetser, IN (Oak Hill)
Dee Dee Williams	6’0”	Fr.	G	Indianapolis, IN (Ben Davis)
Alex Guyton	6’3”	Jr.	F	Bloomington, IN (Bloomington North)
Tennessee
Briana Bass	5’2”	Jr.	G	Indianapolis, IN (North Central)
Sydney Smallbone	5’10”	Sr.	G	Granger, IN (St. Joseph's)
Xavier
Amber Harris	6’5”	Sr.	F	Indianapolis, IN (North Central)
Sabrina Johnson	6’2”	Jr.	C	Jeffersonville, IN (Gulf Coast CC)
Ta'Shia Phillips	6’6”	Sr.	C	Indianapolis, IN (Brebeuf Jesuit)

 

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STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
The following lists of statistical leaders are compiled by VarVee.com, the IHSAA’s official statistics gathering partner. The IHSAA encourages each of its member schools to participate by registering at www.varvee.com and updating statistics by each Monday through the end of the season.

Girls Swimming & Diving: State Leaders
Boys Swimming & Diving: State Leaders
Wrestling: State Leaders
Girls Basketball: State Leaders
Boys Basketball: State Leaders

 

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NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE STATE
Have an interesting note? A conference or school record, coaching milestone or something else of interest? Please e-mail IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org.

Myyon Barnes, a long-time member of the Palladium-Item sports department, died from a sudden illness on Thursday, March 10. He was 36. A 2003 graduate of Wayne State University in Michigan, Barnes started with the P-I sports department in 2004 and was promoted to prep sports coordinator. He leaves behind a wife and a son.

After 29 years on the sidelines, Boonville High School volleyball coach Mary Cox has announced her retirement from coaching. Cox will continue teaching physical education at Boonville High School as well as being the Assistant Athletic Director. Under her leadership, Boonville compiled a record of 714-253, good for fifth on the state coaches wins list. Cox coached 12 Big 8 Conference Champions, 17 IHSAA Sectional Champions, eight IHSAA Regional Champions, two IHSAA Semi-State Champions, three IHSAA State Finalist teams in addition to two IHSAA State Runners-up teams. Cox was named Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association South Class 3A Coach of the Year in 2004 and Indiana Coaches of Girls Sport Association Class 3A Coach of the Year in 2008. 

Kellen Dunham of Pendleton Heights scored 41 points in the Arabians’ 58-53 victory over Fort Wayne Northrop in last Saturday’s Marion Regional semifinals. It was the highest state tournament scoring output since Tyler Zeller of Washington scored 43 in the Hatchets’ 3A state championship game victory over Harding in 2008.

Max Landis of Perry Meridian scored 21 points in its March 1 sectional win over Greenwood to go over the 1,000 point mark for his career. Landis will attend Gardner-Webb College in the fall.

Mo Moriarity, a three-time state champion coach and former Indiana University football assistant coach, was hired this week by Salem High School as its new head coach. Moriarity won two state championships (1993, 1998) while coach at Bloomington South and another Carmel (2007). Moriarity's overall record is 241-56, which ranks eighth in the state for career wins among active coaches.

The Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association will induct five outstanding journalists into its 16th Hall of Fame class at an April 16 banquet at the Wyndham Hotel in Indianapolis. Two of the journalists are veterans of the Indianapolis Star & News -- Dick Denny and Phil Richards, who have covered many beats at the state's largest newspaper. Joining them in the class are three people whose voices are familiar to many Hoosiers. Joe McConnell has been the voice of the Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts, and just recently retired as the play-by-play voice of Purdue University football. Bob Lovell has hosted Indiana Sports Talk for more than two decades, discussing scores and games with coaches from throughout the state. Dean Pantazi is a familiar face in Fort Wayne TV news, as the sports anchor for WPTA-TV.

Also being honored are four annual award winners:
Bill Beck, Elkhart Truth (Corky Lamm Indiana Sportswriter of the Year) Myron Rainey, WBIW-Bedford (Marv Bates Indiana Sportscaster of the Year) Jason Wille, IHSAA (Bob Williams Helping Hand Award) Ted Throckmorton, New Albany/Jeffersonville (Distinguished Service Award).

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. at the Wyndham Hotel near the Indianapolis International Airport.