Time to celebrate the Bull Dogs
North High School is inviting the Columbus community over for a celebration of the state-bound Bull Dogs girls basketball team with a pep session planned at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the North gym. The Bull Dogs also will be celebrating Michael Brinegar’s state championship in swimming, according to North Athletics Director Jeff Hester. The event will be conducted as long as weather permits, as snow is expected later today in Columbus.
It’s a caravan to Indy … and back
There will be a loud and boisterous send-off for the team starting at 5 p.m. Saturday. The North bus plans to leave the high school at 5:30 p.m. for the 8:15 p.m. state championship game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis. Columbus police officers have a squad of cars designated to escort the team, with lights and sirens going. When the team returns to Columbus, the Columbus Fire Department will escort the team bus back into town from the city limits — probably without the sirens, considering the hour.
Get the ticket
Columbus North is selling state championship game tickets through the athletics department, located inside the school at 1400 25th St. The 2,000-seat Columbus North section will take up about one-fourth of the Bankers Life seating. Tickets are available until 5:30 p.m. today at North and also will be available during Thursday night’s pep session. Tickets are $15, and North receives a dollar from every ticket sold if purchased from the school.
Take the bus
North is providing a free fan bus for students who have a game ticket but need a ride to cheer on the team. The fan bus will leave about 6 p.m. Saturday from the high school, just after the team bus. Students who want to take the bus must sign up in the athletics office.
Wear the Bull Dog colors
Fans who want to help a good cause can visit Hoosier Sporting Goods for a special Bull Dogs shirt and a chance to help the #joshstrong effort. The store at 611 Washington St. has combined a royal blue T-shirt with a limited-edition Lady Bull Dog logo to help the family of Josh Speidel, a standout on the boys team who was seriously injured in a Feb. 1 car accident. Shirts are $15 for short sleeve, $19 for long sleeve, with $5 from every sale going to the #joshstrong fund on gofundme.com. The fund, started by North senior Keirsten White, has raised more than $60,000 as of Tuesday to help with medical expenses for the Speidel family.
