To say Allison Hostetler is actively involved is an understatement.  The Fairfield junior has set her expectations high and has met them in nearly every instance, whether in school, athletics, the arts, or in her personal life.

Academically, Hostetler maintains an intense course schedule and is a High Honor Roll student, Student Council and Key Club member, and has served as class president each year throughout her high school career.  She owns a 4.0 GPA.

She is a member of both the varsity golf and track and field teams.  She was named MVP of the Falcons’ golf team her sophomore and junior years, and was a regional qualifier in 2008.  In track and field, she earned the MVP award as a result of her success in discus and shot put.

The busy 16 year-old enjoys the arts as well; she is a three-year member of the Fairfield Show Choir, captain of the dance team, and has portrayed the lead role in several musicals and productions, most recently starring as Cinderella.  Outside of school activities, Allison is a long time 4-H member and was named “Miss Congeniality” at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair’s Queen Contest in 2009.  She has volunteered countless hours at her church and participated in mission trips to Los Angeles and the Dominican Republic. 

During her sophomore year, Allison began experiencing excruciating headaches.  After many medical tests, it was determined that Allison had a tumor in the middle of her brain.  It was determined by doctors that surgery was too dangerous, but the tumor was growing and something needed to be done.  The cancer center in Bloomington was the only treatment center in this part of the country equipped with a proton machine that could pinpoint radiation treatments in order to shrink the tumor. 

On November 16, 2009 Allison began the radiation treatments which would continue daily for the next six weeks.  At the same time, she began attending rigorous Pre-Calculus and Spanish III classes at Bloomington South High School.  Throughout all of this, Allison did not let the nausea, severe headaches, or blurred vision prevent her from coming to school every day and keeping up with her school work.  She displayed an exemplary attitude even when she was in significant amounts of pain. 

Throughout this extremely challenging time, Allison's drive never diminished.  She states, “I continue to hold high expectations for myself despite my condition. It is physically difficult for me to complete the challenges of athletics, especially since I am highly competitive. However, I find that through participation, I benefit immensely. Even small accomplishments seem great because of the struggles I face. I am also fortunate to have supportive teammates to encourage me. This experience has shown me the unexplainable peace one can receive from one's faith and prayer. It has renewed my desire to share my faith and live life like each day matters. I am secure in my faith and know God has a plan for my life.”

Submitted by Principal Phil Hoskins and Athletic Director Mark Hofer, Fairfield H.S.
 

The Whitko Lady Wildcat and Rochester Lady Zebra Basketball teams are members of the Three Rivers Conference in North East/North Central Indiana.  At the time of this game each team was 2-1 in conference play, with the winner of the game positioning themselves in sole possession of second place with a chance at the conference championship later in the season.

On January 9, 2010 the Whitko Lady Wildcat and Rochester Lady Zebra Basketball teams joined together with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® to “TURN THE NIGHT PINK” with the goal of granting the wish of Tatiana, a 14 year old teenager from nearby Warsaw Indiana.  Tatiana suffers from ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia).  ALL is a fast-growing cancer of the white blood cells which causes damage and death by crowding out normal cells.  This disease had qualified Tatiana as one of over 250 seriously-ill children in the Indiana region of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® who are in need of volunteers and financial support to make their wishes come true.  Tatiana’s wish, which shows the true character of the young lady, was to be able to travel, with her family, to the Dominican Republic, the birthplace of her father.  According to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® the cost for this wish would be approximately $6,000, which became the goal of the two teams.

The weeks leading up to the event involved a lot of planning by Coaches Bell and Stesiak, as well as the two teams, their schools and communities.  There were fundraising sales at the boys’ basketball games, T-shirt sales to commemorate the night, along with organization of various school groups, donor sponsors, and community involvement to advertise and raise funds for the event.  The idea was that both schools and communities would come together on this evening as ONE team, donning one team color for support, to play for the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, but more importantly for Tatiana. 

The game was a typical hard fought battle between two conference rivals but at halftime the crowd was again reminded as to the real reason we had all gathered on this evening, as Tatiana, and two other local Make-A-Wish® children spoke on what it meant for this community support. 

As the teams took the floor and completed the game, with a hard fought, ten point win by Rochester, there was the typical emotions from each team after the game.  Sadness on the side of Whitko and elation on the side of Rochester, both emotions that would quickly be trumped in probably the most fitting moment of the entire evening.  As the teams gathered again around Tatiana, the initial, estimated total of the earnings was announced, and the total of $9,700 echoed through the gymnasium.  The girls from each team immediately began high-fiving, hugging, and jumping around together, like they had just won the state finals.  There were players, who had just physically beaten on each other during the contest now jumping into each other’s arms, celebrating their victory in granting Tatiana’s wish.  The two teams remained together in the gym for a long time, finally circling up at half court, with Tatiana and her family, in a circle of prayer for the young lady that they had just met, but immediately became a member of the family with.

As the money continues to trickle in, the two schools have raised nearly $11,000 for the cause.  This event surpassed the expectations of everyone involved and was a true reminder of what communities can do when they come together for a common cause.  Coach Bell, Coach Stesiak, and their teams showed people all around the state of Indiana that basketball is simply a vehicle by which we are able to provide so many life lessons, to so many people.

Submitted by Athletic Director Rob Irwin, Whitko H.S.