News
An Update on Inclusion
Letter From the Commissioner
In last year's winter edition of The Spectator, I discussed the concepts of unity with respect to our newly formed "Champions Together" program and our partnership with Special Olympics Indiana. One year removed from those pronouncements, I am happy to provide you an update of our progress. Since the inception of the collaboration, forty-three school assemblies at forty-two different schools have been conducted. Additionally, twenty-six member schools earned their "Champions Together" banner by fulfilling the requirements of four distinct categories. Furthermore, one hundred and thirty-seven schools have conducted some type of unity event, which include, but are not limited to, unified track and field, unified sport clinics, and unified intramural competitions. Finally, eighty-one schools participated in "servant leadership" training for Special Olympics. All told, thousands of young Hoosiers are joining the inclusion revolution and embracing the concepts of unity among all individuals.
Last year marked the first Unified Sports Track and Field tournament series. Thirteen schools participated in two sectionals statewide. The top five schools from each sectional advanced to the state finals in Bloomington to participate in the inaugural state championship for Unified Track and Field. The Tigers from Warsaw High School captured the crown on a glorious day. However, every participant and spectator enjoyed victory. It was truly the perfect launch of a program that will change the culture of this state and redefine how we think about individuals with intellectual disabilities. As we continue our preparations for the upcoming spring season, I am delighted to report that fifty-seven schools to date have committed to participate in this year's Unified Track and Field program. The Association will increase the number of sectionals from two to five statewide and our Unified Sports Track and Field State Championships will once again be staged at Indiana University in Bloomington on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. We hope you will join us in our second celebration of inclusion.
The Canadian-born author Brian Tracy probably captured our initiative best in these words: "The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance."
Cordially,
Bobby Cox
Commissioner
Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.
Unified student-athletes race toward the finish line in the first ever Unified Track and Field Championships held in Bloomington, Indiana in June 2014.
Cloverdale Coach Pat Rady Honored as National Coach of the Year
Cloverdale boys basketball coach Pat Rady is one of 21 high school coaches from across the country in their respective sport to be selected as 2014 National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association.
The NFHS, which has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982, honors coaches in the top 10 girls sports and top 10 boys sports (by participation numbers), and in one other sport that is not included in the top 10 listings. The NFHS also recognizes a Spirit coach as a separate award category. Winners of NFHS awards must be active coaches during the year for which they receive their award. This year's awards recognize coaches for the 2013-14 school year.
Rady is in his 51st year of coaching and 11th at Cloverdale, which sits midway between Indianapolis and Terre Haute in west central Indiana. With more than 750 victories, he has more than any other active coach in the state of Indiana and ranks second in the state in career victories.
To learn more about Rady's recognition, click here.
IHSAA Sportsmanship Program
The IHSAA is proud to recognize three outstanding member schools that achieved the Sportsmanship Award during the past year: Oak Hill, North Knox, and Richmond High School. A restructured sportsmanship program was instituted in 2013-14, offering additional tools to member schools specific to course work and video reminders related to citizenship and sportsmanship. With this new program, higher expectations were set for member schools. An intentional focus regarding sportsmanship and citizenship will remain a constant point of emphasis. The IHSAA will continue to arm each member with the tools necessary to teach these lessons.
IHSAA Officials: Communication and Continuing Education
The IHSAA will be conducting its 3rd Annual Officials' Summit on July 18 and 19, 2015, at Zionsville West Middle School. The purpose of this conference is to continue to provide an occasion for our licensed contest officials to engage in meaningful conversations with fellow officials, coaches, athletic administrators, and the IHSAA staff. The conference also provides informative workshop sessions on issues important to our officiating community along with an opportunity to recognize officials who have provided noteworthy and dedicated service.
What Are the Students Saying?
At the recently completed state football championships, the IHSAA hosted their alumni. Former members of the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee joined us for a luncheon and recognition during the 1A state finals halftime. The reunion of these outstanding young people was both enjoyable and rewarding. We asked our guests to reflect on their experience as members of the SAC. Here are a few of those testimonials:
Hope Jordan
The IHSAA Student Advisory Committee was a hidden gem of my high school career. It wasn't until I graduated that I truly understood what a privilege it was to be on a board with student-athletes from around the state whom I greatly admired. Being on the advisory committee reminded me that there is so much more that goes into sports than what you see on game day—there are people who work tirelessly to make sure things run smoothly, and you are taken care of as an athlete and a person. I am thankful for the experience and hope that high schoolers continue to apply to be part of this incredible group!
Anthony Douglas II
Being a part of the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee will probably be the most memorable part of my high school experience. The relationships I forged with my peers on the Committee and the IHSAA staff will be something I will treasure forever. I can't say enough about how pivotal being on the SAC was for my professional development and leadership development. From leading a handful of the area principal meetings, to networking at state championships, all the way to speaking at the student leadership conference—the skills I acquired being on the SAC are invaluable. The SAC also taught me and my peers the importance of servant leadership. Being a part of the class that kicked off the partnership with Special Olympics of Indiana and the class that raised money for the Henryville Hornets, we fully understood the importance of service. Thanks to the SAC, I've been able to apply these skills at Wabash College along my journey to get to medical school. I am very proud of where the Student Advisory Committee is today, and I think it will accomplish even more great things.
Brett Williams
It is never just a game. Growing up playing sports on the youth, high school, and college level has made an invaluable impact on my life well beyond the field of play. Sports provided me an opportunity to learn and grow outside of the classroom and develop tangible qualities that will carry with me my entire life.
Sports became more than just a game after I had the privilege to serve as a member of the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee. The SAC opened my eyes to the influence that sports can have on a school and community and the value of getting student-athletes involved outside of their respective sport.
I chose to continue to be a student-athlete on the collegiate level, because I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself. Having graduated and entered the working world, I chose, once again, to continue my path in athletics. Looking back on my athletic career, it is clear that many of the attributes I use on an everyday basis were instilled within me by my experiences on the playing field. I learned the significance of athletics from serving on the SAC, and that involvement continues to shape where I currently am and where I hope to be in the future.
"Molding the leaders of tomorrow, one student at a time."
The New Palestine Dragons scored a record-setting 77 points in their 4A Football State Championship victory. The presenting sponsor of our football tournament is the Indianapolis Colts.
2014-15 State Champions: Fall
Girls Golf
- Team: Evansville North
- Medalist: Cherise Otter (11), Bloomington South
Boys Tennis
- Team: North Central (Indianapolis)
- Singles: Danny Rayl (12), Park Tudor
- Doubles: Matt Quammen (12) | Radha Vishnubhotla (12), Carmel
Girls Soccer
- 1A: Fort Wayne Canterbury
- 2A: Fishers
Boys Soccer
- 1A: Guerin Catholic
- 2A: Goshen
Girls Cross Country
- Team: Carmel
- Medalist: Anna Rohrer (12), Mishawaka
Boys Cross Country
- Team: West Lafayette
- Medalist: Ben Veatch (11), Carmel
Volleyball
- 1A: Wes-Del
- 2A: Providence
- 3A: Fort Wayne Concordia
- 4A: Carmel
Football
- 1A: North Vermillion
- 2A: Rensselaer Central
- 3A: Tri-West Hendricks
- 4A: New Palestine
- 5A: Indianapolis Cathedral
- 6A: Ben Davis
Carmel's Nate Thompson was named the Eskew Mental Attitude Award winner immediately following the IHSAA's 6A state championship football game.
2014-15 Mental Attitude Award Winners: Fall
Girls Golf
- Lauren Tibbets, Oak Hill
Boys Tennis
- Radha Vishnubhotla, Carmel
Girls Soccer
- 1A: Emily Bradley, Evansville Mater Dei
- 2A: Maddie Peebles, Fishers
Boys Soccer
- 1A: Trevor Waite, Tri-West Hendricks
- 2A: Isaac Huerta, Goshen
Girls Cross Country
- Anna Rohrer, Mishawaka
Boys Cross Country
- Zack Snider, Brebeuf Jesuit
Volleyball
- 1A: Kristen Lansing, Wes-Del
- 2A: Patricia Mattingly, Providence
- 3A: Tionna Williams, Fort Wayne Concordia
- 4A: Mckenzie Kiesle, Carmel
Football
- 1A: Parker Englert, Pioneer
- 2A: Rylan Arihood, Rensselaer Central
- 3A: Nick Sprecher, Tri-West Hendricks
- 4A: David Walbring, New Prairie
- 5A: Jared Thomas, Indianapolis Cathedral
- 6A: Nate Thompson, Carmel
- February 20-21: Wrestling State Finals
- February 27-28: Boys Swimming & Diving State Finals
- March 7: Girls Basketball State Finals
- March 21: Gymnastics State Finals
- March 28: Boys Basketball State Finals