Indiana
Indiana High School Sports Awards show honors 400 athletes statewide
See 2026 Courage Award winner’s speech at IndyStar High School Sports Awards
Brayden Collins was honored with the Courage Award and gave an incredible speech.
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Fire responders say Marion County has seen an “alarming” number of drownings this year
The Indianapolis Fire Department and an Indiana Conservation Officer explain what to know for those planning on being on the water this holiday weekend.
Frank’s Paddlesports Livery is gearing up for one of their busiest weekends this fourth of July.
“This weekend is booked up, not completely sold out, we’d love to have you,” Peter Bloomquist, owner and operator at Frank’s Paddlesports Livery, said.
Visitors will receive a safety course first because with the fun comes some risk.
“Summer is heating up. People are getting in the water, and with that, we are starting to see those accidental drownings. They’re coming from boat-related, they’re coming from people just swimming in retention ponds, and so it’s just imperative that everyone uses some common sense and some safety guidelines if they’re going to get in the water,” Indiana Conservation Officer Lieutenant Angela Goldman said.
This year, Marion County has already seen nine fatal drownings and three non-fatal drownings, where people were successfully resuscitated. First responders call it an astounding number. Last year, the county had six.
“As a father, my heart just breaks for these families who experience loss,” Bryan Fleck, dive commander for the Indianapolis Fire Department said.
Take it from first responders.
“The easiest way and the best way to take care of your loved ones is to wear a life jacket. Wear a PFD,” he said.
“Even if you are a good swimmer, we see drownings all the time with people who say, ‘I don’t understand how this happened. He was a good swimmer.’ hese accidents happen. It’s fast. There are a lot of different things that can happen to a person when they’re in the water. Absoltely number one is wear a life jacket,” Lieutenant Goldman said.
First responders also urge people to limit alcohol and always have someone watching the water.
“If your children are around water, always make sure a responsible adult is watching your children,” Fleck.
Rain is also creating higher water levels.
“Don’t take some of these small, big box store kayaks out onto a swollen river. They’re not made for that, and you’re going to get yourself in trouble,” Lieutenant Goldman said.
Back on the White River, Bloomquist, and his team are ready for a fun Fourth of July weekend, with safety first.
“So, it’s just so important that everyone watches their kids, watches themselves, makes sure that you have those life jackets on and stay safe on the water,” Lieutenant Goldman said.
First responders said activating an app called, what3words is very helpful if you go missing in the water. You provide the 911 dispatcher with three words, and first responders can find you anywhere in the world, in any body of water.
First responders also say the Friends of the White River website is also helpful in navigating the water.
Indiana ranks among the most dangerous states for backyard fireworks use heading into the Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to a new national analysis.
The study, conducted by the Action Network, places Indiana at No. 2 for the highest risk of at-home fireworks accidents, according to a community announcement. Researchers combined trade shipment data, online search trends and state regulations to estimate where incidents are most likely to occur.
Indiana participants face a 2.93% chance of a mishap, injury or property damage during the holiday period — roughly 1 in 34 odds — based on the study’s findings.
Ohio tops the list with a 3.54% risk rate, or about 1 in 28 odds, making it the most hazardous state for backyard fireworks use.
Heavy use and cross-border access drive risk
The announcement highlights Indiana’s strong demand for fireworks, with imports reaching $3.89 per person. That level of consumption contributes to the state’s elevated risk profile.
Indiana also serves as a regional destination for fireworks purchases because of differing laws across state lines. Neighboring Illinois prohibits certain aerial fireworks, and the study indicates that residents often travel to Indiana to buy those items.
That combination of high usage and out-of-state demand contributes to what the announcement describes as a “pyrotechnic juggernaut” within Indiana.
Study blends multiple data sources
The Action Network said it developed its rankings by analyzing three primary factors: shipment volumes, consumer behavior and legal restrictions.
By combining those inputs, researchers estimated the probability of accidents tied to backyard celebrations during the holiday period.
The findings rank all 50 states based on implied risk levels, offering a snapshot of where fireworks-related incidents may be more likely to occur.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It’s a scorcher with temperatures climbing over 90 degrees. One local hardware store says its items are flying off the shelves as customers try to keep themselves cool.
At Fusek’s Hardware in downtown Indy, the excessive heat has brought additional customers.
Steve Fusek has owned the store for more than 20 years. “We kinda knew it was all coming, and as soon as the hot humid weather hits, it has been this constant procession of people keeping themselves cool.”
Lemmecca Polk has come in to get a filter for her AC. “Because it’s hot and they say it’s going to get even hotter.”
Fusek says they are sold out of many items. “The kid pools are gone already, and the heat is just starting.”
Another hot buy are hoses and sprinklers, and of course, everyone is a fan of fans. “We got a few fans in the apartment, and we’re making sure they’re still plugged in,” said Sydney Maciejewski. “I would like to get those personal fans that I could wear when walking around to stay cool.”
And while the Fusek’s hardware store is great for those items that keep you cool, some customers want to add something a little sweet to the mix. “Popsicles for the kids and also making homemade lemonade,” said Polk.
The local hardware store won’t be in this location for long. Beginning July, they’ll be moving to 609 North Delaware Street, just a few blocks away from the store’s current location.
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