Columbus High School and Columbus North have a rich basketball tradition, and Bull Dogs coach Paul Ferguson wants his current players to feel a little bit of that.
So Ferguson is inviting all former Bull Dog players back to Memorial Gym. Alumni Night will be Dec. 9 for the boys game against Franklin Central.
“The purpose of the evening is to help our current players and families understand the great legacy and tradition that they’re a part of,” Ferguson said. “We want to help them get connected to the alums of the past and give those two groups a chance to get to know each other better.”
Ferguson said he is going to do a scouting report before the game and invite all of the former players in attendance to be a part of that. The alums will be announced at halftime.
The program will have reception for current and former players and their families in the cafeteria. The coaches have been splicing together some old Bull Dog game footage to show.
Former players are welcome. No RSVP is necessary.
Ferguson thinks the last time North did something like this may have been on Pack the Place night when longtime coach Bill Stearman retired in 1996.
The committee for Alumni Night includes former athletics director Hedy George, along with Dave Horn, David Welmer, Rory Glick, Scott Wilson, Bill Russell and his son Brian Russell.
“We’ve been working pretty hard on this the last couple of months, drumming up support to try to get people back,” Ferguson said. “We’re hoping it’s a special night.”
Olympians, Jets seniors named All-State
Two seniors who led their teams to regional titles have been selected to the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association All-State volleyball team in their respective classes.
Columbus East senior Cortney VanLiew in Class 4A and Hauser senior Brea Metz in Class A made the first team. Hauser junior Sydney Schoen and Edinburgh senior Mara Cox are honorable mention selections in Class A.
North senior takes 38th
Columbus North senior Rachel Brougher finished 38th in 19 minutes, 43 seconds for 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) in Saturday’s Mideast Cross Country Championships in Kettering, Ohio.
Brougher was part of and Indiana girls team that finished fourth with 108 points. Michigan won with 41, while Illinois edged Ohio 46-49 for second.
Indiana finished second behind Michigan in the boys competition.
Senior selected MVP
Senior Addy Lang has been named MVP of the Columbus North girls soccer team.
Tanner Johnson was selected Offensive Player of the Year, and Marina Hughes was named Defensive Player of the Year. Natalie Teo won the Bull Dog Award, and Elise Whitley was named the Most Improved Player.
Reeya Chenanda was selected MVP of the junior varsity team.
Junior, senior named MVPs
Junior Charlie Allen and senior Rachel Brougher have been selected MVPs of the Columbus North boys and girls cross-country teams.
John Sluys and Olivia Morlok won the Bull Dog Awards. Elijah Brooks, Alec Embry and Eli Fischer were recognized as boys team captains; and Sydney Perry, Ana Singhal, and Arig Tong were honored as girls team captains.
