Columbus North’s Flynn Keele poses for a photo with his parents Seth and Mandy Keele after being given the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award after the Class 3A IHSAA Boys Soccer State Finals soccer match at Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium in Indianapolis, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
INDIANAPOLIS — Even though the Columbus North boys soccer team fell one win away from its first state title in a decade, the Bull Dogs didn’t leave completely empty handed.
At the conclusion of Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Noblesville in the Class 3A Boys Soccer State Finals, the ISHAA presented the C. Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Award to North senior Flynn Keele.
The award is annually presented to a senior, who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during his four years of high school. The award is named after Cato, who served as the fifth commissioner of the IHSAA from 1983 to 1995. During his tenure, boys and girls soccer became the 19th and 20th sports to be sponsored by the IHSAA.
Keele has been with the Bull Dogs’ program for four years and was a team captain for both his junior and senior years. He was one of the team’s leading scorers this season.
“It definitely feels pretty special,” Keele said. “I thank my coaches, the administration, everyone that has helped me through this journey. It’s been a wild ride. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
Keele plans to attend Indiana University in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.
