News

WRESTLING SECTIONALS MARK START OF WINTER STATE TOURNAMENTS
The opening event of the winter state tournament season begins this Saturday as sectional action comes to 32 sites in the 72nd Annual IHSAA Wrestling State Tournament Series.

Three hundred and nine schools will be represented this weekend and the top four contestants in each of the 14 weight classes will advance to one of 16 individual regionals on Saturday, Feb. 6.

While competing as individuals, participants also will be accumulating points for their school on Saturday as the championship school will advance its entire team into the separate team tournament. The 15th annual team tournament begins with regionals on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at eight locations. Pairings were announced last Thursday.

Results from Saturday’s wrestling sectionals will be posted at www.ihsaa.org as they become available from the host sites.

As a friendly reminder, the IHSAA does not issue media credentials to sectional, regional or semi-state competitions. In those cases, please contact the host school’s athletic department.

72nd Annual Individual Wrestling State Tournament
Sectionals
Date: Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010.
Admission: $5.
Advancement: The top four place winners in each weight class advance to the regional tournament. Also, the championship team in the individual sectional tournament advances to the regional round of the team tournament.
Individual State Tournament | Team State Tournament

Notables

Defending Sectional Team Champions
Avon, Bellmont, Bloomington South, Carmel, Castle, Columbus North, Crown Point, Delphi, East Central, East Noble, Elkhart Memorial, Evansville Mater Dei, Fountain Central, Hamilton Heights, Indianapolis Cathedral, Jeffersonville, Marion, Martinsville, Merrillville, Mishawaka, Munster, New Castle, New Haven, Perry Meridian, Peru, Plymouth, Portage, Roncalli, Southridge, West Central, Whitko, Yorktown.

Active Sectional Championship Streaks (3 or more years)
33: Evansville Mater Dei.
19: Bellmont.
10: Mishawaka, Perry Meridian.
8: Elkhart Memorial.
7: Castle, Crown Point.
5: Columbus North, Merrillville.
4: Indianapolis Cathedral, New Castle, New Haven, Yorktown.
3: Peru.

Most Consecutive Sectional Championships
33 by Evansville Mater Dei, 1977-2009.

Top 10 All-Time Sectional Championships
39: Evansville Mater Dei.
35: Bellmont, New Castle.
32: Bloomington South.
30: Lafayette Jefferson.
29: Hobart, Indianapolis Cathedral, Logansport.
28: Castle, Richmond.

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GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS SHOW MONDAY
Sectional and regional matchups for the upcoming girls basketball state tournament will be drawn and announced on the IHSAA State Tournament Pairings Show next Monday, Feb. 1, at 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT.

The show, originating from the Clarian Health Entry Pavilion at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, will be streamed in live video and audio over the internet at www.ihsaasports.org and may also be heard on any of the affiliates of the IHSAA / Methodist Sports Medicine Championship Radio Network.

Upon conclusion of the 90-minute broadcast, the complete draw will be placed on the IHSAA website at www.ihsaa.org.

The girls sectionals run Monday, Feb. 8, through Saturday, Feb. 13. Regionals are Saturday, Feb. 20, semi-states are Saturday, Feb. 27, and the state finals on Saturday, March 6, at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne.

The boys basketball tournament pairings will be announced on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT.

IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament Pairings Show
Date: Monday, Feb. 1.
Time: 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT.
Site: Clarian Entry Pavilion, Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.
Webcast: www.ihsaasports.org
Radio: IHSAA / Methodist Sports Medicine Championship Radio Network | Affiliates
Show Hosts: Bob Lovell, Charlie Hall.

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SEVEN CONFIRMED FOR SEATS WITH IHSAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
During last month’s annual elections for the IHSAA Board of Directors, six incumbents were re-affirmed and one individual was elected for the first time.

Monica Maxwell, East Chicago Central Assistant Athletic Director, was newly elected to the 19-person board filling the minority seat from the northern district. She will begin her three-year term on July 1, 2010.

Those currently serving on the Board and winning additional three-year terms were Manchester Principal Nancy Alspaugh (female seat, northern district), Indianapolis Crispus Attucks Principal Robert Faulkens (minority seat, southern district), Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran Principal John Marks (private school seat), Connersville Athletic Director Pam Noble (female seat, southern district), Evansville Central Athletic Director Paul Neidig (urban seat, southern district) and Merrillville Athletic Director Janis Qualizza (urban seat, northern district). Each will begin their new terms July 1 as well.

The Board of Directors election is conducted annually from Dec. 1-10 with ballots cast by each member school principal for candidates within their respective district.

The Board is comprised of 19 seats which are filled by administrators or full-time teachers of grade nine or above from a member school in good standing or central office. Twelve board seats are filled by any qualified individual (open seats) from each of the three legislative districts, and six board seats are filled by two qualified female representatives, two qualified minorities and two qualified urban school representatives from the northern and southern districts. Additionally, one seat is reserved for a private school representative. It is the duty of the Board of Directors to establish the rules and By-Laws of the Association.

Each Board member also serves on the Executive Committee which meets monthly and is responsible for regulating and controlling all athletic contests between and among member schools, conducting state tournaments sponsored by the IHSAA, determining penalties and forfeitures for violations of the By-Laws, and giving interpretations of the rules and By-Laws of the Association.

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DESHAUN THOMAS CONTINUES CLIMB UP STATE SCORING CHARTS
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers’ Deshaun Thomas continues to move up the list of the state’s all-time leading scorers in boys basketball.

Through 14 games this season, the 6-7 senior forward has poured in 483 points for a state-leading 34.5 per game average. Thomas currently sits third among the state’s career leaders with 2,737 points. Only Damon Bailey of Bedford North Lawrence (3,134) and Marion Pierce of Lewisville (3,019) have scored more during their high school career.

Thomas poured in 36 on back to back nights last weekend beating Harding, 99-78, last Friday, and falling at nationally-ranked Columbus Northland (Ohio), 88-67, on Saturday. The Knights (10-4) host Fort Wayne Elmhurst (9-3) on Friday night. His high game this season was a 52-point performance against Muncie Southside on Jan. 2.

Bishop Luers is ranked fourth in this week’s Associated Press poll and is chasing a third consecutive state championship in Class 2A.

IHSAA Career Scoring Leaders | Complete List

Rank	Player, School, Final Year	Total Points
1.	Damon Bailey, Bedford North Lawrence, 1990	3,134
2.	Marion Pierce, Lewisville, 1961	3,019
3.	Deshaun Thomas, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 2009	2,737
4.	Brody Boyd, Union (Dugger) 2000	2,632
5.	Rick Mount, Lebanon, 1966	2,595

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BLOOMINGTON SOUTH BOYS, BEN DAVIS GIRLS KEEP ON WINNING
Both of last year’s Class 4A state basketball champions completed perfect seasons a year ago and have maintained those perfect marks to this point in their respective seasons.

The top-ranked Ben Davis girls, 19-0 this year, have won 49 straight games dating to the start of last season and could tie the current state record of 57 held by Fort Wayne Northrop or set the new mark of 58 if they run the table to a second straight state championship. It all could depend on whether they draw the bye in the seven team sectional at Indianapolis Manual next Monday night. Assuming the Giants win their remaining two regular season games beginning with conference rival Carmel this Saturday, the team could set the record with a seven-game post season run. If they earn the sectional bye, only six post-season games would be available to them.

The Giants also have won 56 straight regular season games dating back to Jan. 10, 2008. They currently sit fifth in state annals in that category. Bedford North Lawrence won 88 consecutive from 1988-92.

In the boys game, top-ranked Bloomington South, currently 14-0, is tied for the third longest winning streak in state history. The Panthers are just five wins away from equaling Indianapolis Crispus Attucks’ mark of 45 straight from 1955 and 1956 and another five from tying Lawrence North’s state record of 50 consecutive from 2005 and 2006. They have six regular season games remaining beginning with a home game against Conference Indiana rival Pike on Friday.

Argos holds the boys state record for most consecutive regular season victories winning 76 straight from 1977 through 1982.

Top Five Girls Consecutive Overall Victories

57	Fort Wayne Northrop, 1985-87
55	Bedford North Lawrence, 1990-92
55	Martinsville, 1996-98
50	North Vermillion, 2001-03
49	Ben Davis, 2008-10

Top Five Girls Consecutive Regular Season Victories

88	Bedford North Lawrence, 1988-92
70	Winamac, 1989-92
64	East Chicago Roosevelt, 1975-79
60	Alexandria, 2000-03
56	Ben Davis, 2008-10

Top Five Boys Consecutive Overall Victories

50	Lawrence North, 2005-06
45	Indianapolis Crispus Attucks, 1955-56
40	Bloomington South, 2008-10
40	Marion, 1984-86
39	Michigan City Elston, 1966-67

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THREE HOOSIER HIGH SCHOOL CONNECTIONS TO SUPER BOWL XLIV
Three players who prepped in Indiana high schools dot the 53-man rosters of the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints who will square off in Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday, Feb. 7, in South Florida.

Members of the NFC champion Saints include wide receiver and kick returner Courtney Roby of North Central (Indianapolis) and backup defensive end Paul Spicer of Indianapolis Northwest.

Backup quarterback Curtis Painter, a Vincennes Lincoln product, is a rookie with the AFC champion Colts.

Three others that played collegiately in-state include Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who led Purdue to the 2001 Rose Bowl, New Orleans cornerback Tracy Porter, who was a standout defensive back and special teams player at Indiana, and Colts practice squad player Terrail Lambert, a rookie from Notre Dame.

Thanks to IHSAA Athletic Administration intern David Rusk, a Frankfort High School and Indiana University graduate, for researching this information.

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STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS

ATTENTION BASKETBALL COACHES / STATISTICIANS
Please be sure to report your final statistics of the season at DigitalSports.com upon your team’s elimination from the state tournaments so that your players will continue to appear in the weekly state leaders listings through the end of the state finals. The last compilation will follow the Tuesday after each sport’s state finals.

Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders | Boys Basketball Statistical 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 for consideration.

The 2008-09 Avon Boys Soccer team was recently rewarded for their efforts in the classroom at the 2010 National Soccer Coaches Association Convention in Philadelphia.  The team was awarded an "NSCAA Team Academic Award" for achieving an average GPA of 3.52 during the 2008-2009 school year.  Avon was one of only three schools from Indiana to receive the annual award in boys soccer.  The program also received the award following the 2007-08 school year.

North Posey football coach Joe Gengelbach was inducted into the University of Evansville Hall of Fame on Jan. 16.  The former Tell City Marksmen graduated from the University of Evansville in 1969.  He was a three-year starter for the Purple Aces football team on the offensive line. Gengelbach has been the varsity football coach at North Posey for the past 40 years.

Barr-Reeve boys basketball coach Bryan Hughes picked up career wins 400 and 401 last weekend after victories over Wood Memorial on Friday and North Daviess on Saturday. Also, son Trey Hughes surpassed 1,000 career points in Saturday’s game. The elder Hughes is in his 25th season as a head coach, 18 of which have been at Barr-Reeve. He also serves as the school’s athletic director.

Avon football coach Dave Shelbourne recently announced that he will be retiring from his football coaching position. In his eight seasons at Avon, Shelbourne’s teams posted a 61-31 record, with Hoosier Crossroads Conference titles in 2004, 2005 and 2008. The 2005 team was a Semi-State finalist and ranked second in the final Sagarin ratings. The 2008 and 2009 teams advanced to the sectional finals. He had an overall record of 211-142 in 33 years as head coach with stints at Avon, Highland and Warren Central.

Cambridge City Lincoln senior Brett Singer became the seventh varsity boys basketball player in school history to score 1,000 career points during a 82-54 victory vs. Cowan on December 12.