The Hauser boys basketball team will try to bring home a regional title on Saturday, but one of its alums already has accomplished that feat this year.
Gordy Gruhl, a 1969 Hauser graduate, led Deerfield-Windsor High School in Albany, Georgia, to a Class AAA private-school region title. He has won seven state titles as a head coach in Georgia.
Gruhl, who played baseball at Valdosta State, began his basketball coaching career at Worth Academy in Sylvester, Georgia. After four years there, he spent four years at Edmund Burke in central Georgia.
In 33 years at Deerfield-Windsor, Gruhl has posted 925 wins. His next victory will be his 1,100th overall.
“We’ll have to hopefully get that next year,” Gruhl said. “If not, it’s going to be an awfully long year.”
Gruhl also has been Deerfield-Windsor’s athletics director for the past 31 years. He has no plans to step away anytime soon.
“I still like it,” Gruhl said. “Some people, retirement is really appealing, but it would drive me nuts. I like what I do. I still have five or six years in me, barring any health concerns. I’m going to keep on doing it.”
Bull Dog is scholar athlete
Columbus North senior David Redding has been selected as a top football student-athlete by the National Football Foundation’s Central Indiana Chapter.The offensive tackle was named to The Associated Press Class 6A All-State first team and the Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 All-State squad. He has a 4.04 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and has committed to play at Miami (Ohio).
Redding and the other central Indiana honorees will be recognized at a banquet April 22 at the Indianapolis Colts’ complex.
Junior selected East MVP
Junior Britney Ballard has been named Most Valuable Player of the Columbus East girls basketball team, as voted on by the sectional roster players.Ballard also was named Top Offensive Player. Junior Kristen Lyons was named Top Defensive Player and team captain and shared the Spirit Award with Korin Humes.
Kary Horner and Maredeth Sims shared the Mental Attidude Award. Whitley Rankin won the Top Newcomer Award, Sarah Park took the Hustle Award, Claire Cunningham was named Most Improved and Addy Galarno won the Olympian Award.
JV awards went to Olivia Linnemann (Mental Attitude), Nicole Reisinger (Most Improved) and Katie Dougherty (Olympian Award). Freshman winners were (Maycie Porter (MVP) and Ciera Simpson (Most Improved).
Senior named North MVP
Senior Josh Larson has been selected as MVP of the Columbus North wrestling team.Brigham Kleinhenz won the Bull Dog Award and Larry Perkinson Mental Attitude Award. Keandre Watson and Morgan Smith shared the Most Improved Award.
Watson also won the Brandon Shehan Award, which goes to the outstanding freshman who also displays excellent sportsmanship and a strong work ethic. Andrew Chapman had the most pins, and Nick Miller had the most takedowns.
All-Star games scheduled
Columbus Christian will host the third annual All-Area All-Star Games, featuring boys and girls from The Republic All-Area teams, on March 27. The girls game will start at 5:30 p.m., followed by the boys game at around 7 p.m.This year’s event will benefit Columbus Christian junior Levi Sallee, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident last fall.
Rules meeting public
Indiana High School Golf RULES!, a website (inhsgolfrules.com) dedicated to rules education for high school coaches, players, and parents will hold four rules meetings across the state, including on at 6:30 p.m. April 3 at Shadowood Golf Course.A USGA official conduct the meetings, and rules books will be available.
Those attending must RSVP with the number attending and school affiliation to [email protected] by five days before the meeting. Questions can be directed to the same email address.
Ted Schultz is sports editor for The Republic. He can be reached at [email protected] or 812-379-5628.
