Tucker Smith
Tucker Smith broke the all-time state record and the state meet record in the shot put last season.
In his first indoor meet this season, the Columbus North senior has broken the state indoor record.
Smith threw 68 feet, 5 inches, last weekend to win the Louisville Indoor games. That throw ranks first in Indiana and second in the country this year.
Last fall, Smith committed to continue his track and field career at Oklahoma.
Sluder named Coach of Year
Rick Sluder
The awards keep rolling in for Rick Sluder, who led Columbus North to the girls cross-country state championship in the fall.
Sluder has been named Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Class 3A girls coach of the year. Last month, he was named the USA Track and Cross Country Coaches of America Indiana Coach of the Year for girls cross-country.
Sluder has coached the Bull Dog girls cross-country team for four years and is entering his third year as head boys and girls and track coach (the first season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic). He recently completed a term as president of the Indiana Track and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Wrestlers set for semistate
Twenty-two area wrestlers will compete in Saturday’s Evansville Semistate at Ford Center. Action begins at 10 a.m. EST (9 a.m. CST).
Columbus East has 13 entrants in the 14 weight classes with Liam Krueger (113 pounds), Noah Lykins (120), Bo Wagner (126), Nate Anderson (132), Reece Fisher (138), Kenton Wilson (145), Eli Pollitt (152), Kade Law (160), Tristan Statler (170), Jaden Durnil (182), Josh Schrader (195), Tommy Morrill (220) and Ashton Hartwell (285).
Columbus North will be represented by Liam Curfman (106), Justice Thornton (126), Liam Phillips (152), Keller DeSpain (170) and Jared Slocum II (182). They will be joined by Jennings County’s Lane Kirchner (120), Teagan Trotter (170), Gage Gasper (220) and Peyton Hayden (285).
The top four in each weight class will advance to the state finals Feb. 19-20 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Trinity girls headed to regional
Trinity Lutheran is the lone area girls basketball team who will be competing in regional action on Saturday. The Class A co-No. 11 Cougars advanced with a 47-34 win against host West Washington in Tuesday’s sectional final.
Trinity (16-8) will return to West Washington to face No. 7 Tecumseh (16-8) at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. No. 2 Lanesville (25-1) will face No. 6 Vincennes Rivet (20-6) in the second semifinal at 12:30 p.m., and the regional final will be Saturday night.
North, Hauser to hold signings
Columbus North will hold a signing ceremony for at least 10 seniors who are planning to continue their athletic careers in college at 5 p.m. today at the school.
Hauser will hold a signing ceremony at 3:15 p.m. Feb. 17 for senior Andie Clark, who plans to play volleyball at Bethany College.
Ted Schultz is sports editor for The Republic. He can be reached at [email protected] or 812-379-5628.
