While the Columbus North boys and girls are solid favorites to defend their Brown County Regional cross-country titles, the Columbus East and Jennings County boys and girls and Brown County boys will look for top-five finishes.
The top five teams advance to the Oct. 22 Brown County Semistate. From there, the top six qualify for the Oct. 29 state finals at Terre Haute.
The sixth-ranked North girls and ninth-ranked Bull Dog boys are coming off easy wins in Saturday’s Brown County Sectional.
“I think we’re still working to concentrate on what we’re doing and to be able to use the competition as a method for us getting better and better,” North coach Rick Weinheimer said. “We had a really spirited practice (Monday) morning, and I think we’re excited about all the rest of the steps in the tournament.”
Jennings and Silver Creek, the top two teams from the Southwestern (Hanover) Sectional, likely are the second- and third-best boys teams in the 10-team field. East coach Ryan Burke thinks his team will battle Seymour and Austin for the fourth and fifth spots.
The Olympians beat Seymour in the Hoosier Hills Conference meet, but finished behind the Owls in the sectional. East has not raced against Austin.
“We’re coming off our best race of the year, so we have some good momentum,” Burke said. “I definitely feel if we go out and run our best race, we’re going to be in very good position.”
Like the Olympian boys, the East girls finished third in the sectional behind North and Seymour. Brownstown finished only five points behind the Olympians, and Jennings won the Southwestern Sectional.
Those five teams are the favorites to qualify for semistate.
“That’s been one of our goals for the season — to qualify as a team — so we’re shooting for that top-five spot,” East girls coach Jesse Shoaf said. “It’s going to be really tight with (Brownstown). We could be as high as third or as low as fifth. We’re going to have our best race.”
Dogs, Highlanders to meet
Two boys soccer teams riding a streak of momentum will meet tonight in the semifinals of the Columbus North Sectional.
The host Bull Dogs (13-5-1) have won four consecutive games, the past three by shutout, heading into their 6 p.m. battle with Floyd Central (10-3-4). The Highlanders have won seven in a row since a 0-0 tie with Columbus East on Sept. 21.
“They’ve obviously advanced to this level of the tournament because they’re a competent team,” North coach Andy Glover said.
Richmond (5-9-3) and East Central (13-1-1) will meet in tonight’s second semifinal at 8 p.m. The sectional title game will be at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Sophomore Alex McGill leads North with 18 goals. Junior Rico Hollenkamp has six goals and a team-high nine assists.
“I think the team is on a steady incline to find their peak performance,” Glover said. “We’re consistently searching for the ceiling.”
Senior to host volleyball camp
Columbus North senior Hannah Weaver, with the help of her volleyball teammates, will host a volleyball camp for her senior project Saturday at North High School. Third- and fourth-graders will be from noon to 2 p.m., and fifth- and sixth-graders will be from 3 to 5 p.m.
Instead of cost, campers are asked to bring baby wipes, baby bottles, baby lotion or baby wash. All donations will be given to Clarity (Pregnancy Care Center) for families in need.
For more information, contact Weaver at [email protected]
Golf outing to benefit autism
Columbus Signature Academy-New Tech senior and Columbus North golfer Matthew Vorndran is organizing a golf outing for his senior project to raise money for Columbus Autism Network, to benefit Columbus Families with Autism.
The outing will take place at 1 p.m. Oct. 22 at Otter Creek Golf Course, following registration at 11:30 a.m. and lunch at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday is the registration deadline.
The entry fee is $100 and includes greens fees, cart, lunch and prizes. Golfers will have a chance to win a new car for a hole-in-one.
For information about participation or sponsorship opportunities, contact Vorndran at [email protected].
North senior hosting clinic
Columbus North senior basketball player Imani Guy will host the “No Dog Left Behind” one-day basketball clinic Oct. 29 at Memorial Gym for her senior project.
The clinic is open to boys and girls in Grades 5 to 8. Fifth- and sixth-graders will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m., and seventh- and eighth-graders will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $15, with net proceeds to be donated to the Bartholomew County Humane Society.
Registration forms can be picked up at the North athletics office or by emailing [email protected] to request one. Registration forms should be submitted by Oct. 20 to be guaranteed a T-shirt.
