When Kathy (Klein) Smith was a kid, her parents told her and her three sisters that they could either get a job or play golf all day every day all summer in hopes of landing college scholarships.
The Klein sisters appear to have made the right choice by playing golf. All four played in college, and now all four have been inducted into the Northwestern High School Athletics Hall of Fame.
Smith, who lives in Columbus, was a regional qualifier as an individual at Northwestern. She graduated from the Kokomo-area school in 1985.
At Indiana University, Smith was an Academic All-American and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. She helped the Hoosiers to a pair of Big Ten Conference titles.
Smith’s sisters Crissy Klein and Mary Tuck, both of whom played at Notre Dame, already had been inducted into Northwestern’s Hall of Fame. Smith and her other sister, Susie Fulp, who played at Purdue, were inducted Friday.
“I went to a small country high school, and a lot of people went on to do good stuff,” said Smith, a doctor with Columbus Adult Medicine. “It’s fun that all four of us are in.”
Smith’s husband Jeff, is a golf pro, and they have three golfing children. Daughters Caroline and Rebecca play at Loyola of Chicago and LaSalle, respectively, while son Drew is about to begin his junior season at Columbus North.
Crusaders in conference talks
Columbus Christian athletics director Kevin Roth has been in talks with seven other southern Indiana schools about forming a conference beginning with the 2018-19 school year.
The Southern Roads Conference would include at least six schools — the Crusaders, Cannelton, Dugger Union, Evansville Christian, Madison Christian Academy and Medora. Madison Shawe and Washington Catholic also have been approached about joining.
The conference would have a round-robin regular-season schedule and a tournament for volleyball and boys and girls basketball and a meet for cross-country. Columbus Christian currently is the only one of the six schools with soccer and one of only three with baseball and softball.
North coaches, athletes cited
Three Columbus North winter sports coaches have been named Conference Indiana Coach of the Year in their respective sports.
Girls basketball coach Pat McKee and gymnastics co-coach Sandy Freshour, who led the Bull Dogs to conference titles, were honored. Logan Schaefer, who led the North boys and girls swimmers to runner-up finishes, was named Coach of the Year for boys swimming.
Seniors Jenna Borger and Kenzie Patberg and junior Tessa Lomax made the All-Conference girls basketball team. Sophomore Annie Anderson was an honorable mention selection.
Senior Jaylen Flemmons is on the All-Conference boys basketball team. Seniors Bailey Hester and Trey Vincent made honorable mention.
East junior makes All-HHC
Columbus East junior Matt Frost has been named to the All-Hoosier Hills Conference boys basketball team.
East seniors Drew Hasson and Thomas Myers are honorable mention selections. Jennings County senior Travis Wilson also made honorable mention.
North names swimming MVPs
Junior Sam Russell and sophomore Olivia Morlok have been named MVPs of the Columbus North boys and girls swim teams.
Freshman Christopher Lee and junior Abbey Landini won the Most Improved Awards. Senior Thomas Goble and sophomore Caroline Swenson won the Bull Frog Awards.
Panther sets school record
Jennings County junior Kayla Truesdell set a school record in the shot put in Friday’s Whiteland HSR Qualifier at University of Indianapolis.
Trusdell threw 41 feet, 9 inches to win the competition.
