Some late-season heroics from its boys track and boys golf teams turned out fruitful for Columbus East.
The Hoosier Hills Conference championship in boys track and a runner-up finish in boys golf gave the Olympians the HHC All-Sports Championship for the first time since 2008.
East edged Jeffersonville 66-64 1/2 for the boys title. Floyd Central was third with 58.
“It is a really big accomplishment for the school, especially when you look at the history of prestigious schools in the HHC,” said Pete Huse, who just completed his first year as East’s athletics director.
In addition to track, the boys won HHC titles in football and soccer. The Olympians were runners-up in wrestling and golf and took third in tennis.
Going into the HHC Tournament in boys golf, the Olympians trailed Jeffersonville by 2 1/2 points and led Floyd Central by 2 1/2. While East claimed the runner-up spot, the Red Devils finished fifth, and the Highlanders were sixth.
“The ultimate goal is what I stress with all the programs is to finish in the top three,” Huse said. “If you can consistently finish in the top three in all your sports, that’s what it takes to win it.”
Floyd Central won the girls All-Sports title with 73 1/2 points. Seymour edged the Olympians 56-55 for second.
The East girls won the HHC championship in volleyball and tied for the title in soccer. The Olympians took second in tennis and track and third in golf.
“Our girls are right there,” Huse said. “They had their share of solid programs, too. With Floyd being so dominant over the years, it just shows you how tough it is to win one of them. Our ultimate goal is to win the whole thing, so it just gets us one step closer to doing that.”
Floyd Central was the overall All-Sports champion with 131 1/2 points. East took second with 121, and New Albany was third with 100 1/2.
Jennings County finished seventh overall with 76 1/2 points. The Panther boys took fifth with 48 1/2, and the girls were seventh with 28.
Senior named North MVP
Senior Paige Littrell, who was named Columbus North’s girls basketball MVP this winter, has been selected as the Bull Dogs’ girls tennis MVP.
Aubrey Smith won the Mental Attitude/Sportsmanship Award. Hannah Frey took the Bull Dog Award.
Smith, Littrell and Madelyn Sanders were honored for being named All-District and honorable mention All-State. Smith and Littrell made All-Conference Indiana, and Littrell and Frey made Academic All-State.
North also was honored as an All-State Academic Team.
Olympians honor players
Senior Takahiro Yamada has been named MVP of the Columbus East baseball team.
Kyle Weiss won the Jay Lemmon Everyday Award, Nick Andrie took the Lou Giovanini Leadership Award and Harry Crider was the Quality At-Bat Champ. Andrie and Joey Back were honored as captains.
Yamada was honored as an All-District player; and Andrie was an Academic All-State selection. Yamada, Jon Crawford and Drew Hasson made the All-HHC first team, and Charlie Burton was an honorable mention selection.
Alec Burnett was named East’s JV MVP, and Wyatt Fleming won the JV Mental Attitude Award. Hunter Dickmeyer is the Freshman MVP, and Dawson Ramsey won the Freshman Mental Attitude Award.
Senior named Jets MVP
Senior Jared Schoen has been selected as Hauser’s baseball MVP.
Schoen also was named Most Outstanding Pitcher. Cameron Hartog was honored for having the top batting average, Sean Miller was named Most Improved and Will Rose won the Finke Award, which is given to a senior.
Schoen, Sam Meek and Aaron Fields were honored as All-Mid-Hoosier Conference selections. Schoen also was an Academic All-State pick.
Chase Hollman won the award for top JV batting average.
