About 1,000 runners will be at Ceraland on Saturday for the Columbus North Classic, but no fans will be permitted because of COVID-19 concerns.
Columbus North, Columbus East, Jennings County and Brown County will be among the roughly 40 boys and girls teams that will compete. The varsity girls race begins at 9 a.m. followed by varsity boys at 9:30 a.m., JV girls at 10 a.m., JV boys at 10:30 a.m., junior high girls at 11 a.m. and junior high boys at 11:30 a.m.
The high school boys race could come down to a battle between North and Noblesville for the second consecutive year. Last year, the Bull Dogs edged the Millers on the sixth-man tiebreaker.
Columbus North is ranked No. 1 this week, as it has been all season, while Noblesville is No. 3. Other ranked teams in the field include No. 9 Floyd Central, No. 14 Northview and No. 19 Bloomington North.
“I think Noblesville has been looking really tough,” Columbus North boys coach Danny Fisher said. “It will be fun to get matched up against them and see where they are at this point in time. It will be good to see a lot of teams we’ll race against at semistate, as well — Northview, Floyd Central, Bloomington North.”
That also will be the case on the girls side. The No. 3-ranked Bull Dog girls could face tests from No. 10 Bloomington North, No. 14 Floyd Central, No. 16 Edgewood and No. 25 Northview.
“Edgewood and Brown County will bring in some really strong individuals that will challenge our top girls,” Columbus North girls coach Rick Sluder said. “We’ve been training hard, so we’ll be a little tired, but we’re excited and ready to go.”
Meanwhile, Sluder on Wednesday added boys track head coaching duties. He was to be the Bull Dogs’ girls track head coach in the spring, but that season was canceled. He now will coach both the boys and girls track teams in addition to girls cross-country.
“I am excited to take on both the boys and girls head coach positions in track and field,” Sluder said. “Track and field and cross-country have been a passion in my life for more than 25 years, and I am looking forward to taking on this role at a school with such a rich history and high expectations. I feel very fortunate to be in charge of three of the best programs in the entire state.”
East boys swim coach out
Columbus East is looking for a new boys swimming coach.
East athletics director Pete Huse said in a text message Monday that David Fribley will not be the swim coach this season. Both Huse and Fribley declined to elaborate.
Fribley has coached the Olympians since 1968, with the exception of a 10-year hiatus during the 1990s.
Volleyball players make lists
Two Trinity Lutheran volleyball seniors have been named to the 2020 Under Armour All-American Watch List. Kennedy Hoffman, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, and 6-2 middle hitter Sydney Jaynes made the list.
Meanwhile, 10 local players have been named to the AVCA Underclassmen Watch List. Columbus East juniors Cadence Gilley and Katy Jordan and sophomores Gabby Dean, Libby Dippold and Megan Tracy are joined by Columbus North juniors Sarah Bennett and Reagan Kane and Trinity juniors Kamzi Gross and Stella Kleffman and sophomore Bailey Tabeling.
Hauser games rescheduled
Hauser has rescheduled two of its volleyball games. The Jets haven’t played since Aug. 22 because a junior varsity player tested positive for COVID-19.
Hauser’s home game with Indianapolis Lutheran, which was scheduled for Aug. 27, has been rescheduled for Sept. 23. The Jets were to return to the court coming up on Tuesday against Morristown, but that game has been moved to Sept. 16.
Ted Schultz is sports editor for The Republic. He can be reached at [email protected] or 812-379-5628.
