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Indiana High School Sports Awards show honors 400 athletes statewide

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Indiana High School Sports Awards show honors 400 athletes statewide


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  • The Indiana High School Sports Awards honored 400 athletes at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
  • Roncalli senior Brayden Collins, a leukemia survivor, received the Courage Award.
  • Specialty awards recognized the Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, and a Trailblazer Award winner.

The Indiana High School Sports Awards, presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, honored 400 athletes Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, including Players of the Year in 16 sports, overall winners for boys athlete of the year and girls athlete of the year, and several other specialty awards.

Roncalli senior Brayden Collins capped the night with a touching speech after he was named the recipient of the Courage Award. Collins was diagnosed with leukemia in June 2024 but was able to return to the Roncalli basketball team and even played on the team as a senior, making a 3-pointer in his first appearance back on the court in January.

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“After missing my whole junior year (of school), my friends surprised me at my front door to welcome me back and ride with me to school,” Collins said during his speech Monday night at the sports awards show. “It was something I’ll never forget and helped me gain the confidence to know school was going to be OK. That is my ‘why.’ It’s why I get up every single day with the determination to not let the cancer get me. It’s why I practically worked myself to death to get the opportunity (to get) back on the basketball court. It’s why I will never take another day for granted ever again. And it’s why I will be forever grateful for the path God has led me down.

“It doesn’t take a huge gesture to change someone’s life. Sometimes knowing they have your support is all it takes.”

Julie Roe Lach, executive vice president of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, was the guest speaker for the show, sharing her experiences in high school athletics and how it shaped her career, which included five years as the commissioner of the Horizon League.

“The leadership lessons you learn – it’s hope, it’s community, it’s unity – and now that I’ve hired a lot of people at a lot of different levels, you know if you are hiring an athlete,” Roe Lach said at the sports awards program. “Be proud that you are a student-athlete. That means something. There’s some grit there, there’s some work ethic, there’s some determination. So, always put that high on your resume … make sure you showcase what you’ve done on the court, on the floor, in the field, because that is going to carry you so far down the road.”

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Theresia Wynns was named winner of the IndyStar Trailblazer Award, which honors women’s sports administrators and athletes who paved the way for the next generation.

“The benefits that (kids) reap from being involved in high school sports are developing teamwork, developing camaraderie and developing the ability to work with people in different situations,” Wynns said. “Those are places they can move from athletics to whatever they decide to do within their world of education.”

Here are the other award winners:

Boys Athlete of the Year, presented by the Indiana Pacers – Michael White from Lawrence North High School

White, a state champion with a 47-0 record in the 190-pound weight class, also became the first wrestler from Indiana to win the Ironman meet as the nation’s top wrestler. White overcame major obstacles in his life, including six months of homelessness, to become of the most talented wrestlers in the country.

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Girls Athlete of the Year, presented by the Indiana Fever – Molly Sweeney from Carmel High School

Sweeney is the daughter of Butler Hall of Fame soccer players Joy (Aschenbrener) Sweeney and Casey Sweeney but made her mark in swimming. As a senior, Sweeney won the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke, and helped Carmel win the 200-meter medley relay. As a senior, she increased her total state titles to 13, the fifth most in IHSAA history. 

Courage Award – Brayden Collins from Roncalli High School

Collins was diagnosed with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in June of 2024, following his sophomore year of high school. He lost 55 pounds and went through many dark days, told he would be unable to play sports for nine months. Collins was able to be part of the Roncalli basketball team as a junior, but was fully involved as a senior last season. In a January game against Perry Meridian, Collins entered the game and swished a 3-pointer on his first shot. “A divine moment,” said his father, Steve Collins.

Team of the Year – Carmel boys soccer

The Greyhounds started the season unranked with only three returning starters from their 2024 sectional championship team. They finished the year with only one loss, 10 goals against and the program’s first state championship since 2006. The title was Carmel’s first title under longtime coach Shane Schmidt. 

Coach of the Year – Christina Erazmus, Roncalli girls volleyball

The Royals were dealt a devastating blow when senior setter Addie Haberthy tore her ACL a week before the season opener. Erazmus pulled up freshman defensive specialist Norah Bell and reconfigured her system accordingly, then held the team together through some early growing pains. By season’s end, Roncalli was 33-5 and back-to-back 3A state champions. 

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IndyStar Trailblazer Award

Theresia Wynns had a 50-year career in education at the local, state and national levels prior to her retirement in 2021. Wynns is a native of Easley, S.C., graduating from Clear View High School in Easley before going to South Carolina State. She came to Indianapolis in 1971 and spent the next 26 years as a teacher and administrator in Indianapolis Public Schools and Warren Township Schools. Wynns officiated the state girls’ basketball championship games in 1977, 1981 and 1986. She went on to a role with the Indiana High School Athletic Association from 1997 to 2012, administering the sports of boys and girls soccer, girls basketball and girls and boys tennis. She also handled the licensing of more than 8,000 IHSAA officials. She took a position with the National Federation of State High School Associations in 2012.

IndyStar Miss Basketball, presented by the Indiana Fever – Gracyn Gilliard, Center Grove

The Stanford-bound Gilliard was voted IndyStar Miss Basketball following a sensational senior season that saw her average 26 points, 4 rebounds and three steals as she led Center Grove to an undefeated state championship. Gilliard finished with nearly 1,900 career points.

IndyStar Mr. Basketball, presented by the Indiana Pacers – Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon

Ertel, a Purdue recruit, was voted IndyStar Mr. Basketball after leading Mt. Vernon to the Class 4A state championship, including posting a triple double with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Mt. Vernon’s 77-69 win over New Albany in the semistate championship. Ertel was named on 207 of 230 ballots for Mr. Basketball. He averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals as a senior. 

IndyStar Mr. Football – Myles McLaughlin, Knox

The Murray State recruit attracted national attention as a senior, setting national records for rushing yards in a single season with 4,846 yards and 71 rushing TDs. He helped 13-1 Knox to the semistate in Class 3A. McLaughlin finished his high school career with 11,839 rushing yards to rank third nationally. He also had 66 tackles and eight interceptions as a senior. 

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Girls wrestling – Corabella Wesley, Hobart

Wesley won the state championship at the second sanctioned IHSAA meet in the 125-pound weight class, completing a remarkable 42-0 season. Wesley is also the 16U Folkstyle Nationals Champion.

Boys wrestling – Michael White, Lawrence North

White completed his remarkable season with a state championship in the 190-pound weight class and a sparkling 47-0 record. White will wrestle at Oklahoma State. 

Girls swimming and diving – Molly Sweeney, Carmel

Sweeney is the owner of 13 state titles. She struggled with burnout as a junior but returned to finish off her remarkable high school career with the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke titles. She also helped Carmel win the 200-meter medley relay. She adjusted her workout regiment to again become one of the nation’s top swimmers.

Boys swimming and diving – Peter Kovacs, Bloomington South

Kovacs, a sophomore, swept the sprint freestyles at the state meet, winning the 50-yard freestyle in 20.12 seconds and the 100-yard freestyle in 43.79 seconds. Those are the first two state titles for Kovacs, whose older brother David was the state champion in the IM and backstroke last year. 

Girls gymnastics – Jillian Creager, Homestead

Creager, a junior, won the uneven bars and the all-round competition at the state meet. She tied for the state championship in the bars, took third on the balance beam, tied for fourth in the floor exercise and finished fifth in the vault to accumulate 37.975 points and earn the all-around crown. Creager is the first Homestead all round winner since 2000. She also won the vault as a freshman. This is the second consecutive year Creager won the award.

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Girls volleyball presented by the Indy Ignite – Bailey Sinish, Fort Wayne Carroll

Sinish, a senior outside hitter, was named Miss Volleyball and the Gatorade Player of the Year in Indiana after leading the Chargers to a 37-0 record and Class 4A state championship. She compiled 557 kills and 219 digs, including 17 kills in the sweep of Plainfield in the state finals. Sinish concluded her career with 1,808 kills and 854 digs. She will continue her volleyball career at IU Indy. 

Girls soccer presented by the Indy Eleven – Adalyn Cameron, Carmel

Cameron closed out her high school career with a bang, scoring a school-record 40 goals for the 19-2-1 state runner-up Greyhounds. The senior striker had multiple hat tricks and a couple four-goal games, finishing her career with nearly 100 goals in 56 games played. 

Boys soccer presented by the Indy Eleven – Christian Zermeno, Guerin Catholic

The senior midfielder helped the nationally ranked Golden Eagles win their third state championship in program history this fall, netting a team-high 23 assists and 19 goals. He also aided a defense that allowed just 18 goals in 22 games. Zermeno scored six goals in six state tournament games, including two goals vs. Hanover Central at semistate. 

Girls golf – Taylor Snively, Zionsville

Snively staged a second-round comeback at this year’s state championship to repeat as individual medalist with a two-day score of 3-under 141. It’s the fourth-best 36-hole total in event history and helped Zionsville secure its second straight team title. Snively was the eighth golfer in IHSAA history to win back-to-back state championships this fall and the first to do so as a freshman and sophomore. 

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Girls cross country – Libby Dowty, Indian Creek

Dowty won the state championship in cross country last fall, winning her second state championship in three years. Dowty finished with a time of 17 minutes, 10.2 seconds. She is the three-time winner of the Gatorade cross country runner of the year for Indiana. Dowty, a University of Louisville recruit, finished sixth in the 3,200 meters as a junior and second as a sophomore. Dowty is also a state champion in girls’ wrestling with a title in the 110-pound weight class. 

Boys cross country – Calvin Seitz, Springs Valley

Seitz, a junior, went head-to-head with one of the state’s top distance runners, Westview’s Noah Bontrager, dueling down the stretch to win the state meet by two-hundredths of a second with a time of 15:01.22 to Bontrager’s 15:01.24. As a freshman, Seitz took 12th at state. Seitz was second behind Bontrager in the 3,200 meters at the state track meet this spring.

Boys tennis – Joe Garrean, Homestead

Garrean led the Spartans to a runner-up finish at the team state championship event in October. He made history a week later, becoming the first freshman in IHSAA history to win the singles state championship, doing so with back-to-back Saturday sweeps. Garrean is the second Homestead Spartan to win a singles title. 

Girls flag football – Alivia Dawson, Penn

In the first IHSAA girls flag football state championship, Penn defeated Lawrence North 35-12. In the championship game, Dawson had four interceptions and also caught a touchdown pass. Dawson caught 46 passes for 638 yards and 14 touchdowns during the season and had six interceptions on defense. She also averaged 8.0 points per game for her basketball team. 

Athletes of the year in the spring sports of baseball, softball, boys golf, girls and boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, girls tennis, boys volleyball and girls and boys track and field, will be announced by July 1.

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Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.



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State Fair announces next wave of free concerts

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State Fair announces next wave of free concerts


INDIANAPOLIS – A country star, an “American Band” and a Fleetwood Mac tribute act highlight the second wave of free concerts at this year’s Indiana State Fair.

Organizers revealed five more acts for the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage: Trace Adkins, TUSK – The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute, Josiah Queen, Grand Funk Railroad and the Happy Together Tour.

All shows are free with paid fair admission and start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Tickets are available here.

Photos via Indiana State Fair

Here’s a look at the free concert schedule (newly announced shows in italics):

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  • The Beach Boys: Friday, Aug. 7 – Opening Day
  • TUSK – The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute: Saturday, Aug. 8
  • Josiah Queen: Sunday, Aug. 9
  • Busta Rhymes: Thursday, Aug. 13
  • Grand Funk Railroad: Friday, Aug. 14
  • Trace Adkins: Sunday, Aug. 16
  • Happy Together: Wednesday, Aug. 19
  • Gene Simmons: Thursday, Aug. 20
  • Don McLean: Saturday, Aug. 22
  • Tasha Cobbs Leonard: Sunday, Aug. 23

Here’s more about the upcoming acts, according to the Indiana State Fair:

Image via Indiana State Fair

TUSK – The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute (Aug. 8)

TUSK has been crisscrossing the country since 2008 as The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute. Five pro musicians turned into masters of their trade through decades of individual music study, live performance, creative risk, and devotion to the art. TUSK features note-perfect renditions of both the solo and full band songs, with each member specializing in one of the core lineup of Fleetwood Mac (Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood). They possess an electric stage presence that can only come from well over a decade touring together. Truly the best at what they do, TUSK is unmatched in their tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time.

Image via Indiana State Fair

Josiah Queen (Aug. 9)

Josiah Queen has quickly become one of the most impactful voices in Christian music, blending raw authenticity with deeply resonant melodies. With over 1.3 billion combined global streams, his music continues to inspire a wide-reaching and rapidly growing audience. Following the breakout success of “The Prodigal” (200M+ streams), Josiah’s single “Dusty Bibles” became a defining moment in his career becoming his first Billboard Hot 100 hit, and certified Gold in under six months from release. The song also climbed to the top tier of streaming performance, landing in the Top 3 Christian/Gospel Streaming Songs in the U.S., charting on the Spotify Viral 50 in over 15 countries, and reaching the Shazam Top 200 in multiple territories.

Image via Indiana State Fair

Grand Funk Railroad (Aug. 14)

Affectionately known as The American Band, Grand Funk Railroad continues to pack venues across the country, connecting generations of fans with their unmistakable mix of hard-driving rock, soulful vocals, and anthemic hits. Founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, and writer/singer of the iconic “We’re an American Band”) and Mel Schacher (bass, the thunder behind the groove) are joined by guitar slinger and veteran of Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band Mark Chatfield; and the ever-versatile Tim Cashion (affectionately known as “Dr. Tim”), who – in the past – has hit the road with Robert Palmer and Bob Seger, on keys. Their influence can still be heard in the DNA of rock icons like Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Foreigner, and Journey.

Grand Funk’s music endures not only on the airwaves—thanks to mega-hits like We’re an American Band, I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home, The Loco-Motion, and Some Kind of Wonderful—but also on big screens and TV campaigns. From Disney’s The Country Bears to General Motors commercials, and blockbuster films like Radio and Sahara, their songs remain a cultural touchstone. With more than 25 million albums sold, 19 charting singles, 8 Top 40 hits, and two No. 1 smashes, Grand Funk has earned 7 gold and 10 platinum certifications—including 2022 platinum awards for both We’re an American Band and Some Kind of Wonderful. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering Grand Funk for the first time, there’s no better time to experience one of rock’s most enduring bands.

Image via Indiana State Fair

Trace Adkins (Aug. 16)

Over the course of his three-decade reign in Country music, Trace Adkins has emerged as a full-fledged icon whose reach spans far beyond the genre’s borders. A multi-award-winning singer and actor who’s scored 40 hit singles on Country radio, the Louisiana native is now nearing the 30th anniversary of his trailblazing debut album Dreamin’ Out Loud—a 1996 LP that delivered his No. 1 “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” and “Every Light In The House” (a Top 5 entry on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart). With 12 million albums sold to date, the superstar entertainer recently followed his featured spot on Blake Shelton’s Friends & Heroes Tour with his own What Color’s Your Wild Tour (a hot-ticket headline run named for his hard-driving anthem released in early 2025) and is currently on his 30th Anniversary headline run in 2026. A true American legend whose powerhouse catalog includes 14 studio albums, Adkins continues to embody the fiery spirit of traditional Country while moving the genre forward with his ever-evolving sound.

Image via Indiana State Fair

The Happy Together Tour (Aug. 19)

The Happy Together Tour 2026 consists of eight acts: The Association, The Troggs, Chicago Lead Singer 1985-2016 Jason Scheff, Gary Puckett, The Fortunes, Rone Dante of The Archies and The Turtles, The Vogues and The Cowsills.. These artists had their biggest hits in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and brought timeless sounds and songs of that time period. These bands combined have multiple No. 1 hits making this tour an iconic homage to an era of music that has influenced many of today’s artists. The tour has consisted of several different bands and artists throughout the nearly 40 years it has been running.

The Indiana State Fair runs from Aug. 7 through Aug. 23 and is closed on Mondays. Get tickets here.



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LIVE: Severe storms sweep through central Indiana

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LIVE: Severe storms sweep through central Indiana


INDIANAPOLIS — A line of severe storms swept through central Indiana Tuesday night.

Ahead of the system’s entry into The Hoosier State, the National Weather Service issued a severe weather outlook. That outlook indicated that central Indiana was at a marginal, one out of five risk for severe weather.

The NWS outlook also suggested damaging winds exceeding 65 mph and heavy rain were the primary threats the systems posed. The timeframe the NWS outlined for the storms to move through the area was 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

FOX59/CBS4 tracked the storms and the damage they caused. Find the latest updates on Tuesday’s storms below:

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Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. confident Chicago Bears will move to Indiana

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Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. confident Chicago Bears will move to Indiana


The Chicago Bears announced last week they are making Hammond, Indiana, their priority for a new stadium, and while it’s not a done deal yet, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said he’s confident the Bears will soon be moving there.

“It’s vague for a lot of complex reasons, but the Bears are working on Hammond right now. I’m happy to see what the Bears are putting into our city right now. We’re going to be the home stadium,” McDermott said at Monday night’s city council meeting.

The Bears are still playing in Soldier Field for now. Last week, their board of directors voted to move forward with plans to build a new stadium in Hammond, but acknowledged they have yet to pick a specific site.

The decision came just days after Illinois state lawmakers wrapped up their spring session without approving legislation aimed at keeping the Bears in Illinois.

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In April, the Illinois House voted to pass a so-called “megaprojects bill” that would have allowed the Bears or other developers investing at least $100 million in a project to negotiate property tax breaks with local governments. The Illinois Senate never voted on that legislation, instead passing a bill on Monday that would have allowed local municipalities in Cook County with a population of more than 70,000 to set up their own stadium authorities. Arlington Heights and Chicago both meet that threshold.

Under that plan, the Bears would have put up the cash to build the stadium but the local government would officially own it and the Bears would lease it from them — thus avoiding property taxes altogether. However, the Illinois House adjourned for the summer without taking up that proposal.

Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), who has led negotiations on legislation aimed at keeping the Bears in Illinois, said the Bears have left the door open to staying in Illinois. He said team president Kevin Warren called him on the day the Bears announced they were focusing on Hammond to say the Bears are still open to discussions on a new stadium in Illinois.

Buckner also noted that the Bears have yet to pick a specific site in Hammond for a new stadium.

“That’s not a criticism. It’s simply an acknowledgment that the Bears’ own language leaves additional flexibility and does not represent a final decision. The carefully crafted statement also uses words that describe a process that is continuing, rather than reaching a conclusion,” Buckner said last week.

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On Tuesday, Illinois state Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) announced he was crafting a new version of the megaprojects bill to keep the Bears in Illinois.

His proposal would raise the threshold for a so-called “megaproject” from $100 million to $500 million. Like the original megaprojects bill, developers could negotiate with local governments for “payments in lieu of taxes” that would lower their property tax bills but still provide revenue to local governments.

Ugaste’s plan would also provide statewide property tax relief for homeowners by requiring any tax referendum questions up for a vote to appear on general election ballots. Currently, tax referendum questions are allowed to appear on primary election ballots, when fewer voters typically cast ballots.

“We need to get this done,” Ugaste said. “Illinois can keep a historic sports franchise that means so much to the people of the state, remain competitive for major economic development projects, and also provide relief for homeowners and businesses who are carrying one of the highest property tax burdens in the nation. We do not have to choose between economic growth and taxpayer relief. We can, and should, have both.”

Ugaste said he plans to introduce his proposal in the Illinois General Assembly later this week.

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Indiana lawmakers have approved legislation to pave the way for a Bears move to Hammond. The proposal would commit up to $1 billion in public funding towards a stadium, and create a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority with the power to issue bonds, acquire land, and finance construction.

While Indiana has agreed to help finance a Bears stadium, the team plans to commit $2 billion towards the construction of the facility. Indiana officials have yet to lay out how they plan to help fund the project, or what taxes would be needed to pay for it.



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