Mayer: Appreciation for Wabash Valley High School Sports

It's a fun week for Wabash Valley sports. All kinds of great spring sports matchups are happening leading up to Big 4 day this Saturday. Terre Haute South, Terre Haute North, West Vigo, and Northview will play in baseball, softball, and track. This got me thinking about high school sports around the Valley in general. The attention the community gives to high school athletics is awesome.

There are endless examples of how much high school sports mean to the area. Big 4 day along with the Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic and the consistently large and rowdy crowds at basketball games are just a few. It may seem normal to people who grew up here to have two television stations and a paper constantly reporting on high school events. All of this should be cherished.

I'm a California kid, born and raised in Los Angeles. I love LA, but since coming to Indiana it's interesting to see the contrast between amateur athletics in the two places. Obviously this is true for most major cities compared to smaller cities. While Indianapolis puts a great deal more emphasis on high school athletics than New York or Chicago, a city like Terre Haute (and the surrounding areas) take it to another level.

For instance, my freshman year playing baseball a new coach was hired. He happened to be former two time Cy Young Award winner and World Series MVP Bret Saberhagen. Not only that, around the same time there was an anonymous donation (I wonder who???) to create a brand new baseball field. I'm not saying there was zero coverage, but it was minimal. If a coaching hire of this magnitude happened in the Valley, it would be a gigantic story that would be covered from all angles.

We had an awesome cheering section in basketball for about two years while the team was good. People still showed up to make solid crowds, but it wasn't the same my junior and senior years. Students went to football games as a social activity more than to support the team (although being one of the worst  teams in the entire state of California didn't help). For other sports the crowds usually were family and some friends. If you asked most students how the baseball team was doing, who the best tennis player was, or what the water polo team's record was they would not have the slightest clue.

Obviously, Indiana is known as THE basketball state and after experiencing this past season (especially playoffs) I can understand why. To see community after community come together every Friday to support the school and team was exhilarating. The student sections only make the atmosphere that much more charged. When I drove to the other side of the state covering girl's regionals and was met by countless fans making the journey it was hard for me to fathom. I'm not sure I can ever recall a student in high school talking about attending a girl's basketball game.

The support goes beyond basketball though. Obviously the crowds are not as big for other sports. Football is a big deal, but still can not compare to the ecstasy of basketball season. Crowd numbers are not the point though. People in the Valley care. There is civic pride when the swim team beats a rival and when a golfer finishes first. The amount of demand is so great for high school sports that it is a no brainer for all media outlets to make amateur athletics a priority.

I know there are many places all around the country that care a great deal about high school athletics. Kentucky for basketball and Texas for football are just two other well known examples. However, I'm sure many people grow up with the coverage and community fan fare being normal. For me it's not normal at all. It is hard to imagine having one of my baseball games covered by two TV stations and a newspaper. I never would have thought to attend the high school basketball games until I was in high school. It's just a completely different frame of mind.

So take a second to appreciate the rich history and support for high school sports around the Valley.

National Signing Day in The Wabash Valley

We'll update as the day goes along, but here is a list of the Indiana State Football signings and high school athletes from across the Wabash Valley that are making their college choices today. It's a very exciting day for student athletes and Sycamores across The Valley.

  Terre Haute South Braves:
  Danny Etling: Purdue Football- Quarterback
  Logan Hambrock: Indiana State Track
  Tyler Seibert: Indiana State Track
  Alex Davis: Indiana University Diving

  Terre Haute North Patriots
  Calvin Blank: Ball State Football
  Austin Lewis: Western Michigan Football
  Lee Davis: Army Football
  Chanli Mundy: Indiana University Cross Country

                  

                         Linton-Stockton Miners:
                         Clayton French: Marian Univeristy Golf

South Knox Spartans:
Adam Elkins: University of Saint Franics Soccer





                                                    

Vincennes Lincoln:
                                                    
 Gannon Brochin:  Georgian Court Soccer
 Eric Ramirez: University of Southern Indiana Soccer





  




  Indiana State Football:
  (Courtesy of ISU Athletics: http://tinyurl.com/a2sxkzt)

Name Pos. Height Weight Class Hometown/Previous School Highlight Video Matt Adam QB 6-1 210 Fr. Camino Capistrano, Calif./Tesoro HS Highlights Justice Berry WR 6-2 205 Jr. Coffeyville CC Highlights Zach Borens OL 6-8 350 Fr. Marion, Iowa/Marion HS Highlights Antonio Broadus DE 6-3 230 Fr. Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit HS Highlights Lonnell Brown DB 5-7 155 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS Highlights Juice Davis WR 5-10 185 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS Highlights Rhys Felton P 6-3 210 Jr. Melbourne, Australia/John Curtin HS/Grossmont CC Highlights Kyani Harris WR 5-10 170 Jr. Daly City, Calif./Jefferson HS/San Francisco City College Highlights Jordan Jackson LB 6-1 230 Fr. Indianapolis, Ind./Decatur Central HS Highlights Miguel Johns WR 5-11 185 Jr. Newton, Kan./Newton HS/Hutchinson CC Highlights Aaron Killebrew DB/KR 5-10 165 Fr. Evansville, Ind./Harrison HS Highlights Dejuan Lang CB 5-9 180 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS Highlights Tyler Lee CB 6-2 180 Fr. Xenia, Ohio/Xenia HS Highlights Sampson Levingston WR 6-1 200 Fr. Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS Highlights Weston Painter DT 6-3 260 Fr. New Haven, Ind./Snider HS Highlights Braxton Shirley TE 6-3 245 Fr. Canyon, Calif./Mission Viejo HS Highlights Dimitri Taylor RB 5-10 190 Fr. Wheaton, Ill./Montini Catholic Highlights Jameer Thurman DB 6-0 195 Fr. Hillside, Ill./Proviso West HS Highlights T.J. Tuuu OLB 6-2 215 Jr. Seaside, Calif./Seaside HS/Monterey Peninsula College Highlights

Pensky: TH North/South: The Rivalry

Jason Pensky looks at the rivalry between Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South days before the boys and girls basketball teams face off at The Hulman Center.

Mayer: Rivalry Games in the Playoffs Are Special

 Rivalry games are consistently some of the most epic and memorable contests in any sport. The passion from fans and players are raised to another level, often with more then a victory on the line. There's always bragging rights, but the pride factor is consistently elevated in match ups against a chief rival.

The list of best rivalries will change depending on who you talk to. I always start with Dodgers vs. Giants and Packers vs. Bears because of my favorite team biases. If I jog my memory, The Yankees and Red Sox have had a few memorable games over the years. Flyers vs. Penguins, Michigan vs. Ohio State, Nadal vs. Federer, Ali vs. Frazier, Lakers vs. Celtics, Duke vs. North Carolina,  you get the point.

Rivalry games often ignite that extra sense of urgency and passion that can only be brought out by higher stakes. Higher stakes...like the playoffs perhaps. The atmosphere is charged, the venue is packed, and everyone feels like the game is life or death. That description could be used for both a rivalry game and a playoff game. So, what happens when serious rivals get the rare opportunity to face off in the playoffs? Often, fireworks and moments we never forget.

This thought obviously stems from the sectionals match-up the Wabash Valley will be tuned into this upcoming Friday. Through a random draw, the Terre Haute North Patriots and Terre Haute South Braves were aligned and high school football fans across Terre Haute squealed like little girls receiving a pony as a birthday present. Really? We get the Victory Bell battle 2.0? YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!! Ok, I had to get that out of my system.

I've been working at NBC 2 for just over two months now. You would think that with my limited exposure to high school football in The Valley that a rematch wouldn't get me so excited. You would be wrong. The lead up to the first game was too much fun. The passion from both sides is contagious. This football season has been filled with all kinds of story lines, drama, and great games. In fact, one of the biggest plot lines going is the Terre Haute North Patriots. What a season North has put together compiling a winning record in the MIC alongside the monster schools of Indianapolis.

I'll never forget the build up in week two for the Victory Bell Battle won by the Patriots in front of a huge crowd at Memorial Stadium. So here we are, just a couple of days away from two fierce rivals facing off to extend their seasons. Winner goes on loser goes home. This is do or die. It's gut check time. *Other cliche sports saying to get my point across*. Throw the week two contest out the window now, whoever wins this game will not only have bragging rights, but a place on top of the rivalry record books as well. Any playoff game would be critical for both teams, but the emotions will be on another level before the first ball is kicked. The Braves and Patriots will have a moment to stare each other in the face and understand what they're playing for. #HEREWEGO

Mayer: Battle for the Victory Bell Approaches

Bears vs Packers. IU vs Purdue. Yankees vs Red Sox. Lakers vs Celtics. Red Wings vs Blackhawks. Ohio State vs Michigan. Terre Haute South vs Terre Haute North.

Alright, so maybe the entire nation won't be transfixed to their televisions watching the battle for the Victory Bell, but everyone in the Wabash Valley understands the significance of Friday's match-up between North and South.

The game goes far beyond a win or loss in the early part of the high school football season. This is about pride and bragging rights for the year. This game may mean more to the players and coaches then any other all season.

The entire Wabash Valley has been waiting for Friday since the thrilling ending to the contest last year resulting in a 14-7 Braves win in overtime.

 Some background: (Courtesy of TribuneStar)

• The all time series between the Braves and Patriots is close. South leads 25-22.
• The game has gone into overtime the last two years. South won 14-7 after a Tyler Evans rushing touchdown last year and North won 22-21 in 2010 after a second half comeback and touchdown/two point conversion by Daniel Gabbard. 
• The last OT game before 2010 was in 1976.
• In the last ten meetings the Patriots have won six, but the Braves have won three of the past five. 

Records/Schedule: (Courtesy of John Harrell, http://indianahsfootball.homestead.com/)
In the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference in the last five years Terre Haute South has finished above Terre Haute North three out of five times. The highest finishing position for either team was the Patriots in 2010 (5th place).

TERRE HAUTE NORTH PATRIOTS Coach: Chris Barrett, 38-71 in 11th year at school

DATE	OPPONENT	EASTERN TIME	OA 24.0, DA 35.0
Aug. 17	at Castle {5A}	L 24-35
Aug. 24	(n)Terre Haute South {5A}‡	7:00 pm	ISU Stadium
Aug. 31	Northview {4A}	7:00 pm
Sep. 7	Center Grove {5A}‡	7:00 pm
Sep. 14	at Ben Davis {5A}‡	7:00 pm
Sep. 21	Warren Central {5A}‡	7:00 pm
Sep. 28	at Lawrence North {5A}‡	7:00 pm
Oct. 5	Carmel {5A}‡	7:00 pm
Oct. 12	at North Central (Indianapolis) {5A}‡	7:00 pm

‡METROPOLITAN INTERSCHOLASTIC CONFERENCE GAME

TERRE HAUTE SOUTH BRAVES Coach: Mark Raetz, 13-38 in 6th year at school

DATE	OPPONENT	EASTERN TIME	OA 34.0, DA 24.0
Aug. 17	at Indian Creek {3A}	W 34-24
Aug. 24	(n)Terre Haute North {5A}‡	7:00 pm	ISU Stadium
Aug. 31	at Vincennes Lincoln {3A}	7:00 pm
Sep. 7	at Carmel {5A}‡	7:30 pm
Sep. 14	at Center Grove {5A}‡	7:00 pm
Sep. 21	Ben Davis {5A}‡	7:00 pm
Sep. 28	North Central (Indianapolis) {5A}‡	7:00 pm
Oct. 5	at Warren Central {5A}‡	7:30 pm
Oct. 12	Lawrence North {5A}‡	7:30 pm

‡METROPOLITAN INTERSCHOLASTIC CONFERENCE GAME

2011: Braves: 3-7            Patriots: 2-8
2010: Braves: 2-8            Patriots: 6-5
2009: Braves: 2-8            Patriots: 4-6 
2008: Braves: 3-7            Patriots: 2-9
2007: Braves: 2-8            Patriots: 3-8 
2006: Braves: 0-10          Patriots: 3-7
2005: Braves: 3-7            Patriots: 5-7
2004: Braves: 2-8            Patriots: 4-8
2003: Braves: 0-10          Patriots: 5-6
2002: Braves: 3-8            Patriots: 4-6
2001: Braves: 3-7            Patriots: 3-8
2000: Braves: 2-8            Patriots: 4-7
1999: Braves: 6-5            Patriots: 4-6
1998: Braves: 5-6            Patriots: 4-6
1997: Braves: 2-7            Patriots: 5-4 
1996: Braves: 3-6            Patriots: 7-4
1995: Braves: 1-8            Patriots: 3-6
1995: Braves: 3-7            Patriots: 6-3

Historic Team Leaders and Records: Courtesy of Max Preps
Braves Notable Alumni:

Cam Cameron 1979
    Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator
Trent Miles 1982
    Indiana State University Head Football Coach
Mark Jackson 1982
    Former NFL Wide Receiver
Tony McGee 1989
    Former NFL Tight End

Patriots Notable Alumni:
Steve Weatherford 2001
    New York Giants Punter
 Anthony Thompson
    Phoenix Cardinals Running Back
Ernie Thompson
    Kansas City Chiefs Running Back


- Lucas Mayer