Soccer teams looking to ‘Kick Cancer’

The Columbus East girls soccer program has been hit by tragedy in the recent past.

Four current or former Olympians have lost parents or relatives in the past three years. Three of those died of cancer, and one died in a car accident.

“It’s tough, but it makes us grow up,” East girls soccer coach Ilya Schwartzman said. “It makes us realize the priorities in life, and I’m incredibly proud of how these young ladies have been able to manage through all the hardships and tribulations.”

The East girls program, along with the East boys and North boys and girls teams, are conducting a “Kicks for Cancer” fundraiser. They are selling T-shirts that say “Two teams. One goal. Let’s kick cancer together.”

The Bull Dogs and Olympians are playing each other Saturday at Richard Wigh Soccer Complex. The junior varsity boys game starts at 2 p.m., followed by the JV girls at 4 p.m., varsity boys at 6 p.m. and varsity girls at 8 p.m.

Between the boys and girls varsity games, East girls captains Addy Galarno and Morgan Martindale will present a check for the American Cancer Society.

“We look forward to the North-East game because it brings the whole community together,” Martindale said. “It’s just a fun experience that not a lot of towns get to experience.”

Sectional 14 unchanged

The baseball and softball sectionals in which Columbus East and Columbus North play will be the same as in the past several years.

The IHSAA announced the 2018 alignments Tuesday. The Columbus schools still are in Class 4A Sectional 14 with Bloomington North, Bloomington South, East Central and Shelbyville.

Hauser, however, will be playing its baseball sectional at a new location since Madison Shawe has been moved to Class A Sectional 62. The Jets are in Sectional 60 with South Decatur, North Decatur, Jac-Cen-Del, Oldenburg Academy and Rising Sun.

The Hauser softball team remains in Sectional 60, which has been played at Rising Sun.

Sectional locations for 2018 will be announced at a later date. The state softball tournament has been moved from Ben Davis to Purdue University.

Tennis, golf rescheduled

Columbus North was rained out of its boys tennis match at Plainfield on Monday. The Quakers now will visit the Bull Dogs around noon Saturday, following Plainfield’s 10 a.m. match at Columbus East.

Also, North’s girls golf match at Seymour that was rained out has been rescheduled for Monday at Shadowood.

North to host special night

Columbus North football will host Youth/Middle School Football Night for all area players at its Sept. 1 home game against Bloomington North.

Players are encouraged to wear their game jerseys or team T-shirts, enter the stadium through the team gate and are welcome on our field during pregame warmups from 6:15 to 6:40 p.m. The game begins at 7 p.m., and middle school and youth players will be recognized on the field at halftime.