MEDIA INFORMATION

March 18, 2009

VALPARAISO, CENTER GROVE’S FERNANDES GO FOR GYMNASTICS RECORDS SATURDAY

Four former state champions, including one going for a record-setting fourth consecutive title, are among those competing in Saturday’s 37^th Annual IHSAA Gymnastics State Finals at Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis.

The opening ceremonies begin at 12:30 pm ET / 11:30 am CT with competition in four events beginning 30 minutes later.

A total of 31 schools are represented in the meet with eight – Chesterton, Columbus North, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Snider, Hagerstown, Lawrence Central, Roncalli, Valparaiso – in the running for the team title. All but Fort Wayne Snider, Hagerstown and Roncalli are repeat entries from 2008.

Center Grove’s Katelyn Fernandes has a chance to do something no other individual has ever achieved in tournament history and that’s win four consecutive state championships in the same event. The 2007 All-Around state champion has won the state title in the vault each of the last three seasons sharing the honor last year with Valparaiso’s graduated Abbey Sutton. Fernandes tied for first at this year’s sectional meet but tied for third at last Friday’s regional competition both at Columbus East.

Lawrence Central junior Camille Hayes also returns to defend last year’s state championship in the bars. She won the event at both the Warren Central sectional and last week’s Harrison (WL) regional and hope to help the Bears improve on last year’s seventh place finish.

Fort Wayne Concordia’s Brannon Springer is expected to contend for the bars championship as well. The 2007 state title winner did not compete in last year’s state meet having suffered an ACL injury early in the year. She finished fourth in the event at this year’s sectional but won the regional crown last Friday.

Also returning is Kellie Kidd of Valparaiso, the 2008 All-Around state champion who also took home the top prize in the balance beam last season. Kidd won All-Around honors at both sectional and regionals winning the bars, floor and vault the first weekend and the beam and vault last weekend.

Kidd also will attempt to lead top-ranked Valparaiso to its second consecutive team title this weekend which would also be a state record seventh overall. The Vikings accumulated a record number of points in last year’s state meet becoming the first team in state finals history to surpass the 114-point mark and this year’s squad has exceeded that mark at both levels of the state tournament.

The 37th Annual Gymnastics State Finals

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009.

Time: Opening ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. ET; Competition at 1 pm ET.

Admission: $8.

Site: Perry Meridian High School, 401 W. Meridian School Road, Indianapolis | Website

Order of Participants: All-Around | Bars | Beam | Floor | Vault

Friday Warm Up Schedule | Saturday Warm Up Schedule | Meet Program

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 19, 4 pm ET. The 2008-09 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 or faxing your request on company letterhead (with name of individual applying) to IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille (jwille@ihsaa.org or 317-575-4244). E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: yahoo.com, aol.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Approved requests may be claimed at the entrance to the gymnasium from the school’s east side entrance. Please have proper identification available.

Programs: Complimentary copies of the official state finals program will be available for members of the media and include the order of participants in each event as well as some history behind the event.

Working Space: Tables, chairs and electrical power will be available in the balcony area for use by the media. The school’s athletic office will have an available phone line for filing stories and photographs following the meet.

Photographers: With the exception of the IHSAA’s Official Photographer from “Visual Sports Network”, all photographers should remain off the competition floor during the event. The lower level bleachers are available for your use. After the event, you will be welcome on the floor for the award ceremonies. Also, 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. Your cooperation is appreciated.

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.

Facts & Figures

Teams Represented (31)

Carroll (Fort Wayne), Center Grove, Chesterton, Columbus East, Columbus North, Crown Point, DeKalb, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Concordia, Fort Wayne Northrop, Fort Wayne Snider, Franklin Central, Fremont, Hagerstown, Harrison (West Lafayette), Huntington North, Jay County, LaPorte, Lawrence Central, Logansport, Marion, McCutcheon, Merrillville, Morristown, New Castle, Oak Hill, Portage, Roncalli, South Dearborn, Valparaiso, Western.

Competing for Team Championship (8)

Chesterton, Columbus North, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Snider, Hagerstown, Lawrence Central, Roncalli, Valparaiso.

Former State Champions in the Meet

> Katelyn Fernandes, 12, Center Grove (2007 All-Around champion; 2006, 2007, 2008 Vault champion).

> Camille Hayes, 11, Lawrence Central (2008 Bars champion).

> Kellie Kidd, 12, Valparaiso (2008 All-Around champion; 2008 Beam champion)

> Brannon Springer, 11, Fort Wayne Concordia (2007 Bars champion).

TRIP TO BASKETBALL STATE FINALS ON THE LINE SATURDAY

Saturday’s semi-state round of the boys basketball state tournament involves five former state champions, two winners from 2008, and five teams looking to advance to the state finals for the first time in school history.

Four sites will host a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT with the winners of each game punching their ticket to the 99^th State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Fort Wayne Bishop Luers and Triton, last year’s state champions in Class 2A and 1A, respectively, both survived regional challenges on Saturday and will attempt to defend their semi-state titles this weekend. Other former state champs still alive are three-time Class A winner Lafayette Central Catholic (1998, 2000, 2003) along with Bloomington South (1919) and Delta (2002, 3A).

Five teams, three in Class 4A and two in Class A, are seeking to break through to the state finals for the first time. Fort Wayne Snider and Munster meet in the second game at Warsaw while Franklin Central will take on Bloomington South in the finale at Southport. Jac-Cen-Del and North Daviess face one another in the Seymour Semi-State opener. Snider, Munster, Franklin Central and North Daviess each claimed the school’s first regional crown last Saturday.

Three teams hope to end long droughts that have reached 70+ years since their last appearance in the state finals. Greensburg, which faces top-ranked and undefeated Princeton in 3A, is a victory away from ending the longest dry spell of the teams involved – 78 years. The 1931 Pirates were a part of the state finals when it was a 16-team affair but were defeated in their first game at Hinkle Fieldhouse, then just four years old. North Judson, which faces Luers this weekend, hasn’t advanced to state in 75 years and Rochester’s last trip came in 1937.

Several long winning streaks will be put on the line Saturday, too. Princeton owns the longest as the Tigers are perfect in their 27 outings this season. Bloomington South has won 24 straight, Fort Wayne Snider 19 consecutive, Winchester 17, Jac-Cen-Del 16 and North Daviess 15 in a row.

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

Boys Basketball Semi-States

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009.

Admission: $7.

Home Team: The second team listed in each game is the designated home team.

North

1. Lafayette Jefferson

Class A – Lafayette Central Catholic (20-6) vs. Triton (23-2). 1 pm ET

Class 3A – Delta (22-4) vs. Rochester (22-3). To follow

2. Warsaw

Class 2A – Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (21-4) vs. North Judson (20-5). 1 pm ET

Class 4A – Fort Wayne Snider (24-1) vs. Munster (24-1). To follow

South

3. Southport

Class 2A – Brownstown Central (19-6) vs. Winchester (21-3). 1 pm ET

Class 4A – Bloomington South (24-0) vs. Franklin Central (21-5). To follow

4. Seymour

Class A – North Daviess (21-5) vs. Jac-Cen-Del (23-2). 1 pm ET

Class 3A – Princeton (27-0) vs. Greensburg (16-8). To follow

State Finals

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2009.

Site: Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis.

Conseco Fieldhouse | Seating Chart | Driving Directions | Parking | Fieldhouse History

Admission: Session $15.00; Season $25.00.

Reserved tickets can be purchased at the participating schools the week of the state finals. Contact participating schools for ticket distribution hours. Tickets also will be available game day at the ticket office at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Home Team: In each state championship game, the winner of the south semi-state is the designated home team.

Session I

Class A State Championship – 10:30 am ET.

Class 2A State Championship – follows Class A game.

Session II

Class 3A State Championship – 6 pm ET.

Class 4A State Championship – follows Class 3A game.

Facts & Figures

Seeking First State Finals Appearance

4A: Fort Wayne Snider, Franklin Central, Munster.

3A: None.

2A: None.

A: Jac-Cen-Del, North Daviess.

Seeking to Break State Finals Drought (Five or more years since last appearance)

78: Greensburg (1931).

75: North Judson (1934).

72: Rochester (1937).

49: Bloomington South (1960).

26: Princeton (1983).

7: Delta (2002).

6: Lafayette Central Catholic (2003).

5: Brownstown Central (2004).

Seeking to Repeat as Semi-State Champions

2A: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Winchester.

A: Triton.

Seeking First Semi-State Championship

4A: Fort Wayne Snider, Franklin Central, Munster.

3A: Greensburg.

2A: North Judson.

A: Jac-Cen-Del, North Daviess.

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.

Best Records in the Field (Two losses or less)

4A: Bloomington South (24-0), Fort Wayne Snider (24-1), Munster (24-1).

3A: Princeton (27-0).

2A: None.

A: Jac-Cen-Del (23-2), Triton (23-2).

Current Winning Streaks

27: Princeton.

24: Bloomington South.

19: Fort Wayne Snider.

17: Winchester.

16: Jac-Cen-Del.

15: North Daviess.

12: Lafayette Central Catholic.

11: Delta.

10: Munster.

7: Rochester, Triton.

6: North Judson.

5: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Franklin Central.

4: Brownstown Central, Greensburg.

Ranked Teams Still Alive (State Coaches Poll)

1. Bloomington South; 5. Fort Wayne Snider; 7. Munster; 8. Princeton; 15. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers; 20. Franklin Central.

Ranked Teams Still Alive (AP Poll)

4A: 1. Bloomington South; 6. Fort Wayne Snider; 8. Munster.

3A: 1. Princeton; 7. Rochester.

2A: 2. Fort Wayne Bishop Luers; 4. Winchester.

A: 1. Jac-Cen-Del; 3. Triton; 6. Lafayette Central Catholic; 7. North Daviess.

2008 State Champions Still Alive

2A: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.

A: Triton.

2008 State Finalist Teams Still Alive

2A: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Winchester.

A: Triton.

Former State Champions Still Alive (5)

3: Lafayette Central Catholic, 1998 (A), 2000 (A), 2003 (A).

1: Bloomington South, 1919.

1: Delta, 2002 (3A).

1: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, 2008 (2A).

1: Triton, 2008 (A).

First-Time Regional Champions

4A: Fort Wayne Snider, Franklin Central, Munster.

3A: None.

2A: None.

A: North Daviess.

Regional Championship Droughts Broken (Five or more years)

66: Rochester (1943).

26: Princeton (1983).

25: Greensburg (1984).

14: North Judson (1995).

9: Jac-Cen-Del (2000).

7: Delta (2002).

5: Brownstown Central (2004).

Repeat Regional Champions

4A: None.

3A: None.

2A: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Winchester.

A: Lafayette Central Catholic, Triton.

BOYS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS MEDIA CREDENTIALS

The deadline for requests is Thursday, March 26, 4 pm ET. 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 or faxing your request on company letterhead (with name of individual applying) to IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille (jwille@ihsaa.org or 317-575-4244). E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: yahoo.com, aol.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Approved requests will be available for pickup at the state finals meeting on Monday, March 23, (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. Also, because this event requires media seating assignments, please indicate in your request which game(s) you will be attending.

BOYS BASKETBALL STATE COACHES INTERVIEWS ON MONDAY

Coaches from the eight schools in the 2009 IHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals will gather Monday, March 23, at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the pre-tournament administrative meeting with media interviews to follow. The school personnel meeting will be held in “The Lockerroom” but will be closed to the news media. At approximately 11:15 am ET / 10:15 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.

COLUMBIA CITY BREAST CANCER EVENT NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL AWARD

The Columbia City girls soccer team was recently nominated by the Indiana High School Athletic Association for the National High School Spirit of Sport Award, an award sponsored annually by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

The award seeks to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the positive spirit of sport that represent the core mission of education-based athletics. The Columbia City event will be entered into regional competition with the eight regional winners being considered for the national award. The overall national winner will be recognized at the NFHS Summer Meetings in Chicago this June.

In the late spring of 2008, a discussion occurred between Columbia City’s girls soccer coach Bill Duffy and September McConnell, the director of the Whitley County Community Foundation. What resulted was a collaboration between the school and the foundation to reach out to the community for a new project to be called “Lady Eagles vs. Breast Cancer”. The idea was to designate one home game on the team’s schedule for the 2008 season in which the team would wear pink jerseys which would be auctioned off. All proceeds earned from the auction would be donated to Women’s Giving Circle, a program of the community foundation that provides mammograms free of charge to women in need.

A summer of planning and preparation ensued with Duffy conducting his summer camp for young girls in pink t-shirts. The athletes then walked in Columbia City’s summer festival parade in those same t-shirts and passed out fliers to town residents announcing the project. A visit to the local Rotary Club brought forth several club members who sponsored various parts of the project and the local hospital also donated $500 to the cause.

As the new school year began, publicity began nearly immediately with the school volleyball team, cross country team and a number of different school clubs getting involved to raise money for the cause. The project was scheduled for Homecoming Week and the day of the game was designated as “Pink Day” with huge numbers of staff and students supporting the project in different ways including wearing pink clothing to school.

The night of the soccer game enjoyed a festival-like atmosphere with tables and booths set up with the major focus being on the bidding for the jerseys. The final total for the project totaled $7001 with the donation to the Women’s Circle doubling the funds for mammograms from the previous year.

The IHSAA wishes to extend sincere congratulations to the Columbia City girls soccer team, the school and community on this accomplishment and for setting a wonderful example for all to learn from.

FORMER INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS IN NCAA TOURNEYS

A total of 35 men and 28 women who played high school basketball in the state of Indiana are on the rosters of teams that will participate in the upcoming NCAA tournaments.

East Chicago Central, Evansville Memorial and South Bend St. Joseph’s each have three alums playing this week, while Bloomington North, Brownsburg, Carmel, Huntington North, Indianapolis Cathedral, Kokomo, New Castle, North Central (Indianapolis), Pike, and Valparaiso each boast two former players.

Thanks to IHSAA sports administration intern Kristina Catt, a Monrovia HS graduate and current student at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, for compiling the following information from each respective university’s website.

Men’s Tournament
American
Steve Luptak	6'3	So.	G	Munster/Munster
Butler
Alex Anglin	6'4	Jr.	G/F	Kokomo/Kokomo
Garrett Butcher	6'7	Fr.	F	Ellettsville/Edgewood
Zach Hahn	6'0	So.	G	New Castle/Chrysler
Gordon Hayward	6'8	Fr.	G/F	Brownsburg/Brownsburg
Matt Howard	6'8	So.	F	Connersville/Connersville
Emerson Kampen	6'9	Fr.	C	Yorktown/Yorktown
Grant Leiendecker	6'3	Jr.	G	Fort Wayne/ Homestead
Nick Rodgers	6'1	Jr.	G	Noblesville/ Noblesville
Chase Stigall	6'3	Fr.	G	New Castle/Chrysler
Chattanooga
Stephen McDowell	5’11	Grad.	G	Indianapolis/Lawrence North
Clemson
Jonah Baize	6'6	So.	F	Evansville/North
Cleveland State
George Tandy	6'8	Sr.	F	Indianapolis/North Central
Cornell
Adam Gore	6'0	Sr.	G	Monrovia/Monrovia
Dayton
Dan Fox	6’4	Jr.	F	Wolcottville/Lakeland
Stephen Thomas	6'1	So.	G	Indianapolis/Cathedral
Duke
Miles Plumlee	6’10	Fr.	F	Warsaw/Warsaw/Christ School
Kansas
Tyrone Appleton	6’2	Jr.	G	Gary/Roosevelt/Bridgeton Academy
Louisville
Kyle Kuric	6'4	Fr.	G	Evansville/Memorial
Marquette
Dominic James	5'11	Sr.	G	Richmond/Richmond
Memphis
Angel Garcia	6'11	Fr.	F	East Chicago/East Chicago Central
Michigan
Stu Douglas	6'3	Fr.	G	Carmel/Carmel
Zach Novak	6'5	Fr.	G	Chesterton/Chesterton
North Carolina
Tyler Zeller	7'0	Fr.	F	Washington/Washington
Ohio State
Walter Offutt	6'3	Fr.	G	Indianapolis/Warren Central
Mark Titus	6'4	Jr.	G	Brownsburg/Brownsburg
Pittsburgh
Gary McGhee	6'10	So.	C	Anderson/Highland
Purdue
Chris Kramer	6'3	Jr.	G	Huntington/Huntington
Robbie Hummel	6'8	So.	F	Valparaiso/Valparaiso
Bobby Riddell	5'9	Sr.	G	Lafayette/ Harrison (West Laf.)
JaJuan Johnson	6'10	So.	F/C	Indianapolis/Franklin Central
Mark Wohlford	6'0	Jr.	G	Columbus/Columbus East
John Hart	6'2	Fr.	G	Beech Grove/Beech Grove
E'Twaun Moore	6'3	So.	G	East Chicago/East Chicago
Robert Morris
Dallas Green	6'8	Jr.	F	Indianapolis/Northwest
Wake Forest
Jeff Teague	6'2	So.	G	Indianapolis/Pike
Xavier
Joe Hughes	6'6	So.	F	Indianapolis/Cathedral

Women's Tournament
Austin Peay
Darcie Warner	5'6	So.	G	French Lick/Springs Valley
Ball State
Porchia Green	5'9	Sr.	G	Indianapolis/Arlington
Kiley Jarrett	5'4	Sr.	G	Bloomington/Bloomington North
Kyleigh Jones	5'8	So.	G	Elwood/Elwood
Audrey McDonald	5'8	Jr.	G	Kokomo/Kokomo
Amber Clark	6'3	Fr.	C	Huntington/Huntington
Connecticut
Cassie Kerns	6'3	Sr.	C/F	Valparaiso/Valparaiso
DePaul
Danielle Havel	6'2	Fr.	F	Carmel/Carmel
Evansville
Chelsea Falkenstein	6'0	Fr.	F	Evansville/Evansville Memorial
Jordan Lewis	5'8	Fr.	G	Greenfield/Greenfield Central
Hannah Singleton	6'2	Jr.	C	Rockport/South Spencer
Florida State
Mara Freshour	6'1	Sr.	G	Nashville/Brown County
Minnesota
Kristen Dockery	6'4	RFr.	F	Granger/South Bend St. Joseph's
Norte Dame
Ashley Barlow	5'9	Jr.	G	Indianapolis/Pike
Becca Bruszewski	6'1	So.	F	Valparaiso/Wheeler
Melissa Lechlitner	5'7	Jr.	G	Mishawaka/South Bend St. Joseph's
Purdue
Alex Guyton	6'3	Fr.	F	Bloomington/Bloomington North
Jodi Howell	5'11	Jr.	G	Alexandria/Alexandria Monroe
FahKara Malone	5'3	Jr.	G	Evansville/Evansville Memorial
Brittany Rayburn	6'0	Fr.	G	Attica/Attica
Tennessee
Briana Bass	5'2	Fr.	G	Indianapolis/North Central
Sydney Smallbone	5'10	So.	G	Granger/South Bend St. Joseph's
Texas – San Antonio
Valencia Cottom	6'0	Jr.	F	Gary/East Chicago Central
Xavier
Amber Harris	6'5	Jr.	F	Indianapolis/North Central
Dee Dee Jernigan	6'0	Jr.	G	East Chicago/East Chicago
Brittany Moore	6'3	So.	C	Merrillville/Merrillville
Ta'Shia Phillips	6'6	So.	C	Indianapolis/Brebeuf Jesuit
Jerri Taylor	5'7	Sr.	G	South Bend/South Bend Washington

STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS

Girls Basketball State Leaders | Boys Basketball State Leaders

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.

Jan Conner, who coached Martinsville to state championships in 1997 and '98 and also coached at Warren Central for several years, resigned her coaching position at Lafayette Jefferson. Conner has a career record of 485-102 in 26 years.

South Bend Washington senior guard Skylar Diggins has been named the Gatorade National Player of the Year for 2008-09, just days after being named Naismith National Player of the Year and Gatorade Indiana Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She becomes the fourth Indiana player to earn the honor since its inception in 1986, joining Vicki Hall of Brebeuf (1988), Stephanie White of Seeger (1995) and Shyra Ely of Ben Davis (2001). Diggins averaged 29.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 5.4 steals and 2.2 blocks per game and led the Panthers to their fourth consecutive state championship game on March 7 where they finished as the state runner-up. She finished her career with 2,790 points to rank third on the state’s all-time scoring list. Additionally, Diggins has set the new state career record for steals by a girls player with 475. The previous record was held by Sara Nord of Jeffersonville who accumulated 458 from 1997-00 and the top boys mark is 410 by Larry Stone of Howe.

IHSAA 08-09/29