Columbus East football coach Bob Gaddis called senior wide receiver Cody Horner to his office on Monday morning.
In most cases, it could potentially be bad news, but in Horner’s case, it wasn’t.
Once Horner arrived, Gaddis told him of the news that he was selected to represent the South in the annual Indiana Football Coaches Association North/South All-Star Game scheduled for July 12 at North Central High School in Indianapolis.
"I was super-excited to find out that I made it," Horner said. "I knew that a few of my teammates were also on the ballot, but didn’t make it, and it kind of stinks that they weren’t able to get it. I’m very happy to be representing East in the All-Star Game and play with some of the best players from the state."
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Columbus North senior quarterback Trenton Kelley also was selected to the All-Star Game, but will be unable to play because he will be attending summer school at Morehead State.
Horner caught 32 passes for 748 yards and eight touchdowns in his senior year. He was named All-Hoosier Hills Conference honorable mention and also earned Class 5A All-State honorable mention by the Associated Press.
One of the biggest accolades for Horner his senior year was being named the Most Valuable Player of the Columbus East football team, an award that is voted on by the players.
Even though he was injured his freshman year, Horner’s tenure with the program turned out to be successful. During the four years Horner was with the program, the Olympians had a cumulative record of 49-7 that included a Class 5A state championship his junior year.
"Coach Gaddis and the staff here had put together some really great teams, and I’m lucky enough to be a part of one of those few teams," Horner said. "I wouldn’t have wished a different experience at all throughout high school."
Horner has received attention from several colleges and has narrowed the field to Franklin College, DePauw and Hanover. He says that he’d like to continue running track, as well as playing football, in college.
Horner plans to embrace the opportunity once he steps onto the field among the state’s best players.
"It’ll be a dream-come-true," Horner said. "It’s like playing another high school game against people I’ve played against and people I’ve never met before, but meeting new guys up there is going to be a great experience."
Kelley, the 2018 Republic Football Player of the Year and first-team All-Conference Indiana selection, completed 145 of 230 passes for 1,772 yards and 16 touchdowns and added three rushing scores as a senior in helping the Bull Dogs to an 8-2 season and their first conference championship in 14 years.
