2015-16 State Finals Recap

June 4, 2016

Upperclassmen Lead Carmel to Back to Back Track and Field State Titles
A late surge led by Carmel’s veterans helped the Greyhounds claim their second straight Boys Track and Field State Championship.

The 113th Annual State Finals was a close event throughout the day. The Greyhounds eventually came out on top with 43 points, closely followed by Ben Davis and Michigan City, who tied for second place with 41 points apiece.

Senior Ben Veatch took home two state titles on the day, finishing first in the 1600 M as well as winning his second consecutive 3200 M crown. Junior pole vaulter Ryan Lipe also won first place with a height of 17-00 to help pace the Greyhounds.

The event was dominated in the early stages by Michigan City and Ben Davis. Christian Powell, a Ben Davis senior, led the Giants 400 M Relay team, who finished with a time of 41.60, to a first place victory. He also won the Long Jump event with a distance of 24-02.25. Both Powell and the Ben Davis 400 M Relay team won the same events at the 2015 State Finals.

Not to be deterred, Michigan City junior High Jumper Daniel Armstrong and 110 M Hurdler Makiyah Smallwood took first place in their respective events, helping the Wolves to a second place tie. Armstrong cleared 7-00 while Smallwood finished with a time of 14.11.

Senior repeat champions were the theme of the day’s finals, though. Cooper Williams of West Lafayette helped lead his 3200 M Relay team to its second consecutive state title. Williams also won the 800 M with a time of 1:54.03.

Senior sprinter D’Wayne Eskridge of Bluffton took home first place in both the 100 M and 200 M dash. Eskridge was also last year’s 200 M champion. Center Grove senior Cameron Tidd battled the rain early in the day to win his second consecutive title. The Trojan discus thrower earned the top podium spot with a distance of 181-11.

This was Carmel’s third state title in Boys Track and Field, and the school’s 130th State Title overall in all sports combined.

Saturday’s attendance was 4,863 for a two day total of 9,349.

State Champions
3200 Relay: West Lafayette (Mitchell Curl, 9; Dylan Williams, 12; Evan Johnson, 12; Cooper Williams, 12), 7:44.45
100 Meters: D'Wayne Eskridge, 12, Bluffton, 10.51
110 Hurdles:  Makiyah Smallwood, 11, Michigan City, 14.11
200 Meters: D'Wayne Eskridge, 12, Bluffton, 21.54
1600 Meters: Ben Veatch, 12, Carmel, 4:08.38
400 Relay: Ben Davis (Josiah Edwards, 12; Chris Evans, 12; Julian Ladd, 11; Christian Powell, 12), 41.60
400 Meters: Travis Sperry-Allison, 12, Valparaiso, 47.87
300 Hurdles: Dushawn Tunstall, 12, Lawrence North, 37.59
800 Meters: Cooper Williams, 12, West Lafayette, 1:54.03
3200 Meters: Ben Veatch, 12, Carmel, 8:58.18
1600 Relay: Center Grove (Logan Bontrager, 11; Tyler Boyer, 11; Zak Smith, 12; Jackson Hohlt, 12), 3:18.66 
Discus: Cameron Tidd, 12, Center Grove, 181-11
Shot Put: Ryder Emberton, 11, Whiteland, 62-00.50
Long Jump: Christian Powell, 12, Ben Davis, 24-02.25
High Jump: Daniel Armstrong, 12, Michigan City, 7-00
Pole Vault: Ryan Lipe, 11, Carmel, 17-00

Cooper Williams of West Lafayette Wins Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award
Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Cooper Williams of West Lafayette High School as the winner of this year’s Robert S. Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award in Boys Track and Field.

Williams is a back-to-back state champion as a member of West Lafayette’s 4x800-Relay team, and he is also the 2016 Champion in the 800 M Run. He holds numerous school records, including those in the 1600M Relay, 3200M Relay, 800M and 1600M runs. Williams was also a swimmer and cross-country runner, having placed 3rd at State in Cross-Country in 2014, while being a member of the 2014 State Championship team.

Outside of the track, Williams is a leader in the classroom and the community. He was a member of the National Honor Society at West Lafayette. Cooper is also active in his school’s music department, performing in several choral ensembles and musical productions, while earning the opportunity to perform the National Anthem at this year’s Girl’s Track State Championship.
The son of Kipling and Cynthia Williams of West Lafayette, Cooper will attend Indiana University next fall.

The IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, presented a $1,000 scholarship to West Lafayette High School in the name of Cooper Williams.