We are just days away from the birthday of the United States of America.

Every so often, we’re reminded that sports fandom isn’t always a steady, year-round commitment. Sometimes, it arrives in waves.

I hope you are enjoying the World Cup matches as much as I am.

Sunday is Father’s Day, and I wanted to use my space today to not only celebrate my dad but to encourage current dads in their everyday lives.

I’ve heard stories of families traveling to Walt Disneyworld, and how the parents realized upon return from the happiest place on Earth all the kids could talk about was how much fun they had in the pool.

Private Equity (PE) firms are circling like vultures around major college athletic programs who – despite revenue exceeding expenses in football or basketball – operate completely in the red after all sports are funded, staffed, and effectively managed.

Even though it’s summer in Indiana, the IHSAA has a lot of work to do, and the end of June is the deadline to get it done.

The high school track and field season concluded this season with the State Meet held in Indianapolis.  Ten girls and six boys earned the prestigious honor of qualifying for the meet.  Of note, track and field remains one of the few IHSAA sports that is unclassed, meaning all athletes must compete and earn their spot amongst all high school athletes. 

There is so much going on in June this year in local, national, and global sports.

I realize that Father’s Day is still a couple weeks away, but my dad popped into my head this week.

With Indiana Northern State Conference foes Tippecanoe Valley and John Glenn having already met twice this season, splitting the first two matchups, Tuesday night’s 3A softball regional game served as a perfect rubber match for the two teams. Both pitchers were outstanding, giving up a combined seven hits while striking out 19. Only one run was scored, and it belonged to the Lady Falcons, who advanced to the first semi-state in school history with a 1-0 victory. 

A second straight sectional championship for the Triton baseball team did not come to fruition on Monday evening, as the Trojans fell 4-2 to hosts South Central in the title game. The Satellites scored all four of their runs in the third inning, taking advantage of one too many miscues made by the visitors to end the season of one of the top 1A teams in the state. 

I am glad the College Football Playoff (CFP) expanded to the 12-team field, but I hear national sports pundits say the job isn’t finished. I completely agree with them.

For the second time in a week, track and field athletes from all over Northern Indiana converged with a spot in the state finals on the line. This time, it was the boys' turn with Warsaw hosting the festivities. With over 40 athletes from five local schools in attendance, there was no shortage of action. When the dust settled, seven of those competitors were able to punch their tickets to the state finals.

Having dropped both regular season games to Northern Lakes Conference champions Goshen, the Warsaw baseball team went into their sectional opener at the RedHawks facility hoping luck would turn the other way this time around. It almost did, as the Tigers led from the third inning onward. However, one final push by the hosts was enough to steal the game in the final inning, as Goshen advanced with a 3-2 walk-off win.

Last Thursday, the breaking news alert that NASCAR champion Kyle Busch had died in a non-racing related incident was quite jarring.

The girls track and field season continued its race towards the finish line on Tuesday evening, with 39 area athletes from all seven local schools competing at the IHSAA Regional 2 at Goshen. It was a largely successful night, with eight of those athletes punching their ticket to the state finals.

Having already defeated Concord twice in the regular season, the Warsaw softball team looked for an all-important third victory over the Lady Minutemen as the two teams met at Northridge High School to begin sectional play on Memorial Day. The game was close and well-played for six innings, but it was a five-run seventh by Concord that put green and white in front for good as they ended the Lady Tiger season with a 6-1 win. 

In late 2024 I worked two different events at high school sports venues outside of our reading area, closer to or in Fort Wayne.

Friday night’s rivalry game between the Warsaw and Tippecanoe Valley softball teams was a tale of two contests. The Lady Vikings began the game on fire, scoring 10 runs in the first three innings. However, the Lady Tigers never gave up, scoring 14 straight runs to take a late lead. Seven innings wouldn’t be enough to decide this one, with Valley coming back from down four runs in the seventh and five in the eighth to win it 20-19.

Three out of the four teams still competing in Thursday’s semifinal round of the Warsaw girls tennis sectional were local representatives, as the host Lady Tigers took on Tippecanoe Valley, while Whitko faced off against Columbia City. The Lady Vikings were able to pull off the upset of the day, defeating Warsaw 4-1 to advance to the sectional championship on Friday. The Lady Eagles will be their opponent after taking down the Lady ‘Cats 4-1 as well. 

New things usually don’t work perfectly, but I think baseball has gotten the Automated Ball-Strike system (ABS) just right.

A press conference was held at Warsaw Community High School’s Tiger Den to welcome Kyle Hartman as the seventh head coach in the illustrious history of Lady Tiger Basketball. He was approved for the position at a school board meeting on Monday night. 

With Memorial Day fast approaching, it is sectional season for spring sports in Indiana. Beginning postseason play on Tuesday was girls track and field, with three local schools representing the area at Warsaw’s Fisher Field. Seven total records were set, but the end result was the same as usual: The Lady Tigers’ 112.50 points edged out Elkhart by 12.50 as the hosts claimed yet another sectional championship. 

The Do Indiana Off-Road (D.IN.O) Mountain Bike Racing series has called the Winona Lake Trails home since 2002, a full three years before partnering with the Fat & Skinny Tire festival in 2005 to make the first in a series of six races a headliner of a three-day festival that celebrates those who love to get their exercise and fun done on two wheels.