Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.

9150 North Meridian Street, PO Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240–0650

Phone: 317–846–6601    Fax: 317–575–4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

________________________________________________________________________________

MEDIA INFORMATION                                                                                      October 26, 2006

Contact: Jason Wille, Sports Information Director                                                                    

E–Mail: jwille@ihsaa.org

 

 

CROSS COUNTRY STATE FINALS IN TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY

One of the most colorful spectacles in all of high school athletics takes place this Saturday as the 61st Annual Boys and 26th Annual Girls Cross Country State Finals are contested in Terre Haute.

 

For the third year, the event will be run on the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course as 174 girls (20 teams of seven plus 34 individuals) and 177 boys (20 teams of seven plus 37 individuals) will compete for state championship honors in team and individual categories. The 4,000 meter girls race begins at 1 pm EDT with the 5,000 meter boys race to follow at 1:45 pm.

 

In the girls race, seven of last year’s top 10 and 12 of the top 20 overall individuals return to this year’s event while Westfield, the defending champion, and Valparaiso, which won each of the three years prior, should again be in the hunt for team honors. Westfield returns four of its five scoring runners, while Valpo returns three. Northridge and Tell City, which won its first semi-state last Saturday, are two more of the top teams.

 

Junior Alexandra Banfich of Culver Academies is the defending state champion after becoming the first sophomore to win the title since 1996. She ran away with the New Prairie Semi-State last Saturday in a time of 14:26.33 and will attempt to become the first individual to win two consecutive state championships since Brebeuf’s Courtney Adams won back-to-back crowns in 1992 and 1993. Finishing second and third, respectively, behind Banfich last Saturday were Valparaiso senior sisters Lauren and Amanda Hardesty, both of whom finished in last year’s top seven in the state meet. Westfield’s top two runners are also back in junior Maggie Bingham and senior Kristina Krasich. The pair finished third and fourth, respectively, at last year’s state meet spurring the Shamrocks to the school’s first girls cross country championship since 1998. Bingham won the Franklin Central Semi-State last Saturday while Krasich took third place.

 

Six of the top 10, all seniors, and 11 of the top 20 overall finishers from last year return to this year’s boys state meet.

 

Defending team champion Warren Central returns three of its scoring five from last year when the Warriors won their first cross country title. Warren finished third at the Franklin Central Semi-State on Saturday as 2005 state runner-up De’Sean Turner took individual honors by more than 12 seconds.

 

Four others who finished in the top 10 last year competed at the Franklin Central site last weekend and hope to better their finishes this weekend. Adam Green of the semi-state champion Flashes finished third overall on Saturday and will attempt to better his fourth place finish at the 2005 state meet. Ondraius Richardson of Warren Central finished seventh on Saturday (7th at 2005 state), Greencastle’s Andy Weatherford was 11th (10th in 2005) and Michael Disher of Southport placed 13th at semi-state (6th in 2005).

 

Fort Wayne Northrop’s Robert Moldovan won the New Haven Semi-State by nearly 24 seconds and will try to build upon last season’s eighth place finish in Terre Haute.

 

Bloomington North, McCutcheon, which won its first crown, and Northridge each captured the other semi-state titles over the weekend.

 

State Finals

Date: Saturday, October 28, 2006.

Times: (Girls) 1 pm EDT; (Boys) 1:45 pm EDT.

Admission: $5.00 per person.

LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, Wabash Valley Sports Center, 599 S. Tabortown Road, Terre Haute, IN  47803.

Course Layouts and Driving Directions

 

Boys State Lane Assignments | Girls State Lane Assignments

 

Boys Roster | Girls Roster

 

Semi-State Results

 

2005 State Finals Results: Boys | Girls

 

State Finals Media Credentials – The 2006-07 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential issued previously for the girls golf and boys tennis state finals is good for admission. For those outlets without credentials and planning to cover the cross country state meet, please fax a request on company letterhead containing names of the working individuals to Sports Information Director Jason Wille at 317-575-4244 as soon as possible. Approved requests will be available for pickup at the Wabash Valley Sports Center adjacent to the course beginning at 11 a.m. EDT. Please have media identification available and enter the grounds using the east gate nearest the Sports Center.

 

Media Services – IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille will be on site to assist in your coverage of this year’s state finals. Official programs will be available along with computer-generated results following both races. Electrical power and phone lines will be available in the Wabash Valley Sports Center adjacent to the course for filing stories and photographs. The building will close promptly at 8 pm EDT.

 

 

 

SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS ON SATURDAY

Four girls teams and four boys teams lead the charge this weekend into the 13th Annual IHSAA Soccer State Finals on Saturday at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis.

 

The girls semifinals will be played first this year on adjacent fields beginning at 10 am EDT and be followed by the boys semifinals at 12 pm. The winning girls teams will return to play for the state championship at 6 pm with the boys title match scheduled for 8 pm.

 

Defending state champion Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (21-0-2) returns after surviving a pair of 1-0 battles in the semi-state last Saturday, including the championship match with West Lafayette that went to penalty kicks. The Saints will battle first-timer Portage (17-2-1) which edged 2005 finalist Lake Central and Mishawaka Marian in the semi-state.

 

The other match features North Central of Indianapolis (19-2-2) against Evansville Memorial (15-5-2). North Central has earned its way back to the state finals for the first time since its state championship season of 1999, while Memorial heads to Indianapolis for the seventh time in 13 years and first since 2001. The Tigers won the state title in 1996 and were runners-up in 1995 and 1998.

 

In the boys tournament, Elkhart Central (19-2), which has outscored its tournament opposition 24-2, finds itself in the state finals for the first times since 1995. The Blue Blazers hope to get over the semifinal hurdle which is Fort Wayne Canterbury (14-6-1). The Cavaliers have been one of the most successful teams in the 13 years of the IHSAA state tournament. This will be the eighth trip to state for Canterbury having been to the final match five times. They took home the big trophy in 1997, 1998 and 2001.

 

The other semifinal is a re-match of last year between Evansville Memorial (19-1-2) and Carmel (21-0). Memorial joins its girls team in the state finals and will be making its fourth trip overall and third in five seasons. Carmel won last year’s encounter between the two teams, 3-2, and comes in looking for its first state crown. The Greyhounds were runners-up in 1997 and last year after giving up the winning goal to North Central of Indianapolis with 29 seconds remaining in the championship match.

 

Team rosters, statistics and results are available in this PDF file: Meet the Teams

 

State Finals

Date: October 28, 2006.

Admission: $8.00 per session; $12.00 both sessions.

Kuntz Memorial Stadium, 1502 West 16th St., lndianapolis | Stadium website | Map.

Girls Semifinals

Match 1 – Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (21-0-2) vs. Portage (17-2-1). 10 am EDT

Match 2 – North Central (Indianapolis) (19-2-2) vs. Evansville Memorial (15-5-2). 10 am EDT

Boys Semifinals

Match 1 –  Elkhart Central (19-2) vs. Fort Wayne Canterbury (14-6-1). 12 pm EDT

Match 1 –  Evansville Memorial (19-1-2) vs. Carmel (21-0). 12 pm EDT

Girls Championship 6 pm EDT

Boys Championship 8 pm EDT

 

State Finals Media Credentials – The 2006-07 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential issued by request is good for admission. For those outlets without credentials and planning to cover the soccer state finals, please fax a request on company letterhead containing names of the working individuals to Sports Information Director Jason Wille at 317-575-4244 immediately. Approved requests will available for pickup at the ticket building near the entrance to the stadium.

 

Media Services –Official programs will be available along with computer box scores following all six contests during the day. Interviews may be conducted with players and coaches on the sidelines following the semifinals and after the award ceremonies in the evening. Electrical power and phone lines will be available in the press box for filing stories and photographs.

 

 

AURORA’S JOHN METZ TO BE HONORED AS SOCCER’S TOP OFFICIAL

In an annual presentation during the state finals on Saturday, John Metz will be honored for his officiating work as the 2006 recipient of the Interscholastic Officials Association Award in soccer.

 

An Aurora resident, Metz has been a licensed official for 14 years in Indiana and also maintains soccer licenses in Kentucky and Ohio. He has earned assignments in 14 sectionals, 12 regionals, five semi-states and four state championship tournaments in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005.

 

Metz has served as Vice President of the Southeast Indiana Officials Association, worked as a clinician since 2003 and also assisted at recertification clinics as an instructor.

 

The Indiana High School Athletic Association, in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association, annually recognizes and honors an outstanding official in each of 11 sports during the academic year.

 

Metz was nominated by his peers from the Southeast Indiana Officials Association, one of 26 associations located throughout the state, and selected for this award by a committee of representatives. Statewide, the IHSAA licenses more than 8,000 officials in 11 sports.

 

Metz is a graduate of Colerain High School in Cincinnati and also holds advanced degrees from the University of Cincinnati in the field of Mechanical Engineering. He owns his own business, Custom Metals Finishers, in Cincinnati.

 

He and his wife of 30 years, Barbara, have two grown children, Christopher and Andrea.

 

 

FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT HEADS TO SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL ROUND

Eighty games are scheduled for Friday night as the 34th Annual IHSAA Football State Tournament Series enters its second week of six weeks.

 

Four teams were knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten last weekend in first round action. In Class 4A, Sectional 14, Franklin (4-5) edged Northview (8-0), 54-51; in Class 3A, Sectional 24, Evansville Mater Dei (7-2) defeated Heritage Hills (9-0), 30-7; in Class 2A, Sectional 28, South Adams (3-6) beat Oak Hill, 21-10 and in Sectional 31, Clarksville triumphed over Triton Central (9-0), 28-21.

 

Based on record alone, some of the premiere games in the state include the following:

 

Class 5A

Sectional 3 – Fort Wayne Snider (8-2) at Marion (9-1).

Sectional 4 -- Lafayette Jefferson (9-1) at Hamilton Southeastern (10-0).

Class 4A

Sectional 13 -- Indianapolis Cathedral (8-2) at Zionsville (8-2).

Sectional 14 -- Mooresville (9-1) at Whiteland (8-2).

Class 3A

Sectional 17 -- Andrean (8-2) at Griffith (9-1).

Sectional 19 -- Mishawaka Marian (8-2) at New Prairie (9-1).

Sectional 23 -- North Harrison (7-1) at Greensburg (9-1).

Class 2A

Sectional 26 -- Eastside (8-2) at Fairfield (10-0).

Sectional 27 -- Cass (10-0) at Heritage (10-0).

Sectional 29 -- North Putnam (10-0) at North Montgomery (8-2).

Sectional 31 -- Brownstown Central (8-1) at Indian Creek (8-2).

Class A

Sectional 35 -- Lafayette Central Catholic (10-0) at Seeger (9-1).

Sectional 40 -- Perry Central (8-1) at Linton-Stockton (8-1).

 

 

Sectionals

Dates: Friday, October 27, 2006 (semifinal games); Friday, November 3, 2006 (championship games).

Times: 7 pm local time or as determined by host school.

Admission: $5.00.

Determining Home Team

First Round – The second-named team in the blind draw is host school unless the two teams agree to switch the site.

Semifinals – The team without a home game will host. Exception: The bye team will always be the visitor. If both teams were home or both were visitors, the second-named team in the quarter bracket will host.

Championship – The host team will be the team that has played the most away games. If both teams have played the same number of away games, the bottom bracket team shall host.

Pairings: AP-style | 5A 4A 3A 2A A PDF

 

 

ELEVEN OF 16 DEFENDING REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL CHAMPS STILL ALIVE

Sixty-four teams head to regional action as the 35th Annual IHSAA Volleyball State Tournament Series continues this Saturday, Oct. 28.

 

The format calls for four teams at 16 sites across the four classes of competition. The regional champions will earn a spot in the state finals on Saturday, Nov. 4.

 

Eleven of the 16 defending regional champions will be in action Saturday, including all four of last year’s Class A state finalists. Also of interest, Michigan City Marquette (Class A) and Muncie Burris (Class 2A) will each attempt to win their 10th consecutive regional title, which would tie Mishawaka’s record string from 1985-1994.

 

Regionals

Date: Saturday, October 28, 2006.

Times: Times determined by host school.

Admission: $5.00 per session; $7.00 both sessions.

Brackets: 4A | 3A | 2A | A

 

Defending Regional Champions Still Alive (11 of 16)

4A: Indianapolis Cathedral, Martinsville, Muncie Central.

3A: Bellmont, Brebeuf Jesuit.

2A: Brownstown Central, Muncie Burris.

A: Cowan, Loogootee, Michigan City Marquette, Northeast Dubois.

 

Active Regional Championship Streaks (three or more years)

9 – Michigan City Marquette, Muncie Burris.

7 – Indianapolis Cathedral.

4 – Brownstown Central, Muncie Central.

3 – Cowan.

 

Most Consecutive Regional Championships

10 by Mishawaka, 1985-94.

 

Top 5 All-Time Regional Championships

21 – Muncie Burris.

18 – Mishawaka.

15 – Indianapolis Cathedral.

14 – Jasper.

13 – Columbus East.

 

 

FOOTBALL

 

ATTENTION FOOTBALL COACHES

Please be sure to report your final statistics of the season at Athlistics.com upon your team’s elimination from the state tournament so that your players will continue to appear in the weekly state leaders listings through the end of the state finals. The last compilation of the season will be announced on Monday, Nov. 27.

 

 

STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS

Information as of Monday, October 23, 2006

The following lists of statistical leaders are compiled from information contained at Athlistics.com, the IHSAA’s exclusive athletic statistics reporting and publishing service. The IHSAA encourages each of its member schools to participate by registering for free at Athlistics.com and updating team and individual statistics by 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT each Monday through the end of the season. Subscribers to the site will be able to assist their favorite school’s athletic department as 25 percent of subscription revenue benefits the school designated by the individual.

 

Rushing Yards per game

 

Name

Grade

School (Class)

Games

Rush

Yds.

TD

YPG

1.

Darren Evans

12

Warren Central (5A)

10

184

1852

41

185.2

2.

Michael Woodsmall

11

North Central (Farmersburg) (A)

10

251

1839

15

183.9

3.

Craig Ray

12

Plainfield (4A)

9

198

1614

18

179.3

4.

Ray Byers

11

Fort Wayne Wayne (4A)

10

192

1690

14

169.0

5.

Elliott Dutra

11

Whiteland (4A)

10

261

1653

33

165.3

6.

Airrence Shark

12

LaPorte (5A)

10

258

1580

24

158.0

7.

Joe Leach

12

Wawasee (4A)

10

202

1492

20

149.2

8.

Albert Evans

11

Portage (5A)

10

218

1467

12

146.7

9.

Andrew Jackson

11

Hobart (4A)

10

268

1377

24

137.7

10.

Nick Driskill

10

Southwood (A)

10

212

1359

18

135.9

11.

Derrick Karaszia

12

Greensburg (3A)

10

196

1314

24

131.4

12.

Cory Lamb

11

Clinton Central (A)

10

193

1297

12

129.7

13.

Chase Simmons

10

Clinton Central (A)

10

192

1290

14

129.0

14.

Alex Turner

11

Columbus North (5A)

10

233

1233

13

123.3

15.

Ivan Murray