News
The Bucket List
by Bobby Cox, Commissioner
The term “Bucket List” was popularized from the Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman movie entitled The Bucket List (2007). Two terminally ill men escaped a cancer ward and set off on a journey to cross off some “to-dos” before they died. Today, I hear folks articulate their own bucket lists chronicling potential adventures and excursions to accomplish in the days ahead. While we all could come up with our own special trip or event to achieve, my thoughts turn to a bucket list for school-based sports. What would my bucket list be for high school sports in Indiana?
Initially, I would qualify my list by stating high school sports in the Hoosier State are in a great place. Over 400 schools providing opportunities for 160,000 students annually to learn valuable life lessons through interscholastic participation is both rewarding and challenging. The challenges are what create thoughts of the bucket list. In no particular order or preference, here are some of my wishes:
I WISH FOR EVERY SCHOOL TO HAVE AMPLE RESOURCES...
...to provide the programming and services they deem appropriate and necessary to service every student in their charge. This can be accomplished by motivated communities pulling together in support of the local high school and leaders who make these critical decisions affecting students their highest priority.
I WISH THAT HOOSIER STUDENT-ATHLETES COULD PERFORM IN ENVIRONMENTS FREE FROM...
...boorish behavior, vulgar language, and unrealistic expectations from impractical adults. While the vast majority of our students enjoy a very positive experience, we can all cite those occurrences where we wish we could apply the proverbial eraser.
I WISH FOR EVERY SCHOOL TO HAVE...
...both athletic training services to tend to the physical aspects of interscholastic participation and a dedicated individual to help young people navigate the mental health issues of the 21st century. Adolescents face different challenges today than their parents and grandparents. We must be cognizant of these realities.
I HOPE THAT MORE SCHOOLS EMBRACE THE NOTION OF INCLUSION.
Think about when you have felt excluded in a particular scenario. This is a daily existence for far too many of our students.
I LONG FOR A DAY WHEN KIDS CAN SIMPLY BE KIDS.
It was fun to play multiple sports, participate in numerous school activities, or even just hang out at the local Dairy Queen. Oh, the good ole’ days!
I FEEL WE MUST FOCUS MORE ON THE CULTIVATION OF OUR FEMALE COACHES AND CONTEST OFFICIALS.
Title IX was passed in 1972 and co-authored by our own U.S. Senator Birch Bayh. Title IX assures that no person shall be excluded from participation on the basis of sex. Many positive strides have been made over the past several decades to create plentiful and equal opportunities for our female students to experience interscholastic athletics. Where I feel we have fallen short is the cultivation, promotion, and growth of female coaches and contest officials. Our young female athletes thirst for these role models. We have an opportunity and a need to get better.
As I trek down the 18th fairway of a blessed and rewarding career, I have great optimism for this enterprise we call education-based athletics. There is truly no better environment to teach the valuable life lessons our young people need to carry forward and be productive, happy citizens. The chairman and chief creative officer of Siltanen & Partners, Rob Siltanen once stated, “People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” Here’s to the crazy ones!
Cordially,
BOBBY COX
Commissioner
Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.
A Salute to Methodist Sports Medicine
If, as the saying goes, “you’re known by the company you keep,” then the IHSAA is extremely fortunate. That’s because the company we keep couldn’t be any better—especially when it comes to our corporate partners.
We continue to be especially grateful for our long-standing partnership with Methodist Sports Medicine, the orthopedic specialists who have been serving young and old alike for more than 30 years.
Methodist Sports Medicine provides athletic trainers for all 22 IHSAA state final events. In addition, an orthopedic surgeon is on-site for every event where the risk for injury is considered higher, including football, basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, track, cross country, volleyball, and soccer.
To get an even greater sense of Methodist Sports Medicine’s commitment to the IHSAA, take a look at these numbers:
48
Approximately 48 athletic trainers from MSM are needed every year to assist with the IHSAA’s state finals events.
15
A total of 15 athletic trainers from MSM were on hand for state finals events this winter.
10+
10-12 athletic trainers from MSM were on-site for the wrestling state finals alone.
In addition, it’s important to note that the trainers and orthopedic surgeons who assist the IHSAA are not only on-site for every state final event, but also for the entire event. This adds up to hundreds of hours of service dedicated to supporting the 160,000 student-athletes in our state. And on weekends, no less!
Do you know someone in need of orthopedic care? The 26 Methodist Sports Medicine doctors located at six convenient locations are standing by to help. And when you see them, be sure to say “thank you” for their unparalleled support of high school sports in Indiana.
Say Hello to Three New Corporate Partners
Not only are long-standing corporate partnerships valued by the IHSAA, but new ones are needed and appreciated, too. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Franciscan Health, the Indiana State Department of Health, and Kinetico Water Systems to the IHSAA’s family of corporate partners.
If you are an administrator or athletic director located at a school in one of the 150+ Hoosier communities served by Franciscan Health, you’ll soon be receiving material to post in your school’s hallways that encourages every student, whether an athlete or not, to exercise on a regular basis. The research is clear. Teenagers who exercise regularly not only have fewer physical problems, they also feel better mentally. And, as you know, mental health among teens is an issue that is very much at the forefront these days.
Another issue that, unfortunately, is gaining momentum in Indiana is vaping. Did you know that our state leads the nation in lung-related diseases caused by vaping? That’s why the Indiana State Department of Health has asked the IHSAA to help educate high school students and their families about vaping and the life-changing risks associated with it.
And how appropriate it is that the IHSAA’s third new corporate partner is engaged in an industry that is near and dear to every coach and athletic director’s heart: hydration. You’ll be seeing and hearing a lot about Kinetico Water Systems and its partnership with the IHSAA in the months and years ahead.
A big IHSAA welcome—and thanks—to Franciscan Health, the Indiana State Department of Health and Kinetico Water Systems!
2019-20 Fall Sports State Champions
⛳️ GIRLS GOLF (TEAM)
Homestead
⛳️ GIRLS GOLF (INDIVIDUAL)
Faith Johnson, Homestead
🎾 BOYS TENNIS (TEAM)
Carmel
🎾 BOYS TENNIS (SINGLES)
Presley Thieneman, Carmel
🎾 BOYS TENNIS (DOUBLES)
Uday Lomada and Jones McNamer, Carmel
👟 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY (TEAM)
Carroll (Fort Wayne)
👟 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY (INDIVIDUAL)
Erin Strezelecki, FW Bishop Dwenger
👟 BOYS CROSS COUNTRY (TEAM)
FW Concordia Lutheran
👟 BOYS CROSS COUNTRY (INDIVIDUAL)
Gabe Sanchez, Lowell
⚽️ GIRLS SOCCER
1A: Park Tudor
2A: Evansville Mater Dei
3A: Noblesville
⚽️ BOYS SOCCER
1A: Argos
2A: Evansville Memorial
3A: Zionsville
🏐 VOLLEYBALL
1A: Cowan
2A: Heritage Christian
3A: Brownstown Central
4A: New Castle
🏈 FOOTBALL
1A: Lafayette Central Catholic
2A: Western Boone
3A: Indianapolis Bishop Chatard
4A: Evansville Memorial
5A: New Palestine
6A: Carmel
2019-20 Fall Sports Mental Attitude Award Recipients
⛳️ GIRLS GOLF
Morgan Dabagia – Homestead
🎾 BOYS TENNIS
Carter Bailey – North Central (Indianapolis)
👟 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Claire Koscielski – Indianapolis Cathedral
👟 BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Luke Combs – Lapel
⚽️ GIRLS SOCCER
1A: Lauren Hack – Lafayette Central Catholic
2A: Abigail Buczak – FW Bishop Dwenger
3A: Olivia Fray – Carmel
⚽️ BOYS SOCCER
1A: Caleb Ellis – Argos
2A: Samuel Hodge – Evansville Memorial
3A: Bryce Gross – Lake Central
🏐 VOLLEYBALL
1A: Hannah Sabot – Trinity Lutheran
2A: Alyvia Smith – Wapahani
3A: Rachel McBride – Bellmont
4A: Lillian Leiner – Hamilton Southeastern
🏈 FOOTBALL
1A: Kyle Onken – Lafayette Central Catholic
2A: Wyatt Stephenson – Eastbrook
3A: Cole Sigler – Heritage Hills
4A: Bailey Parker – East Noble
5A: Josh Fedorchak – Valparaiso
6A: Jalen Goines – Center Grove
WINTER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
🏊♀️ FEBRUARY 14–15: Girls Swimming and Diving
IUPUI Natatorium
🤼♂️ FEBRUARY 21–22: Wrestling
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
🏊♂️ FEBRUARY 28–29: Boys Swimming and Diving
IUPUI Natatorium
🏀 FEBRUARY 29: Girls Basketball
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
🤸♀️ MARCH 14: Gymnastics
Worthen Arena, Ball State
🏀 MARCH 28: Boys Basketball
Bankers Life Fieldhouse