Malachi Parks isn’t sure what position he’ll play, but he knows where he will be playing his college football next year.
The Columbus East senior signed last week to continue his career at Hanover. Parks played wide receiver and defensive back and was the backup quarterback as a sophomore and junior before taking over as the Olympians starting quarterback this season.
Parks completed 45 of 92 passes for 932 yards and nine passing touchdowns, with only one interception in 11 games, and led East with 161 carries for 1,229 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns last fall in leading the Olympians to the Hoosier Hills Conference title and earning All-HCC and The Republic co-Football Player of the Year honors.
Bull Dogs earn academic honors
All four seniors on the Columbus North girls basketball team have been selected to this year’s Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association Academic All-State squad.
Emily Herndon, Kanon Matsuno, Alexa McKinley and Madison White all made the first team.
Lauderbaugh lauded again
South Decatur senior Lane Lauderbaugh has been named Indiana Basketball Coaches Association District 3 Boys Player of the Week for the second consecutive week.
Lauderbaugh recorded 23 points, eight rebounds and two assists in an 82-50 loss at Columbus North. A night later, he put up a school-record 49 points to go along with nine rebounds and three steals in a 92-66 win at Columbus East. On Saturday, Lauderbaugh had 40 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a 73-49 win against North Decatur.
Lauderbaugh is the first boy or girl in any of the three districts this season to win back-to-back Player of the Week honors.
North softball sets callout
Columbus North will hold a callout meeting for all middle school softball players (Columbus Blue) that are planning on attending North High School from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the North cafeteria.
For more information, call Joe King at 812-350-5964, Kevin Lovelace at 812-603 3317 or Ron McDonald at 812-344-6993.
Ted Schultz is sports editor for The Republic. He can be reached at tschultz@therepublic.com or 812-379-5628.
