Sports in La Porte County was taken to new heights in 2014. With a pair of high school football teams making unprecedented runs to the state championship and another prep basketball team giving Michigan City their first high school state boys basketball title in 48 years, 2014 will no doubt go down in history as a remarkable year for local teams.
Here we take a look back at the top 10 sports stories in the County this year. With a lot to choose from, the decision was difficult. Without further ado, here’s your top 10!
Marquette Basketball Wins State Title; Looks for Return Trip to Capital City
For the first time since Elston High School won it all in 1966, Michigan City was home to a boys basketball state champion when Marquette Catholic brought home the 1A state title in March.
Brian Snow of the Arena Sports Network was courtside for the historic win at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and updated us regularly of the team’s accomplishments. In this article, Snow recaps the title run and forecasts what could be a repeat performance by the Blazers and star player Ryan Fazekas.
MCHS Basketball Star Michal Miller Picks Arizona
It was an emotional gathering at the Wolves Den at Michigan City High School on Wednesday as senior girls basketball player Michal Miller announced where she will be playing college basketball. Flanked by her family and coaches, a tearful Miller announced that she will be attending the University of Arizona after she graduates from Michigan City High School.
Miller stopped several times overcome with emotion as she addressed the large crowd who attended the signing. Miller thanked many supporters including her family, mentor Toi Baylor, and Head Girls Basketball Coach Mike Megyese.
Tryon Farm 50K Will Include 11-Year-Old Runner
The annual Tryon Farm 5K/10K/50K is a unique race, one that features a 10K loop through rolling native prairie grassland, towering beechwoods and sloping dunes through the beautiful Tryon Farm in Michigan City.
As usual, the 50K “ultra” race, set for Saturday, May 17 at 8 a.m., will feature only the most hard-core runners. This year, one of them will be 11-year-old Oliver Bohac-Datz, a youngster who, according to Race Director Will Noonan, will be the youngest ever participant in the Tryon Farm 50K.
New Prairie Fans Pumped for State Championship; Cougars Head to Indy for First Time
The New Prairie Cougars football team made it all the way to the Class 4A state title game this year, their first appearance in the big game in school history. New Prairie student Katelyn Marciniak captured Cougar pride at its best.
For the first time in the history of New Prairie High School, the Cougars' football team is going to state. They will face the New Palestine Dragons in Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday. The Cougars' record this season is currently 13-1, losing only their first game of the season to long-time rival, La Porte High School, who is also traveling down state this year.
Michigan City Wins Double-Overtime Thriller, Olivia Glowacki Named Homecoming Queen
It was a cool, crisp evening for the Michigan City High School Homecoming and what an exciting night it was for the Wolves. Family, friends, parents, students and faculty packed the seats to partake in the homecoming festivities at Ames Field this evening and enjoy a great night of football between two longtime rivals, the Michigan City Wolves and the La Porte Slicers.
5th Annual United Way Dodgeball Fundraiser Connects Organizations Across La Porte County
Hundreds came out to the Scholl Student Center at Marquette Catholic High School in Michigan City on Saturday, May 17 for the 2014 United Way of La Porte County Corporate Dodgeball Challenge.
23 teams represented businesses and organizations throughout La Porte County at the event, which is expected to raise around $5,000 to support the United Way of La Porte County and its initiatives.
Playing for Jake, Slicers' Ultimate Goal Comes Up One Step Short
The story of the La Porte High School football team was the feel-good story not only in La Porte County, but the entire region and even statewide. Coming off a one-win season in 2013 and having a sub-.500 4-5 record in 2014, the Slicers caught fire in the playoffs and advanced to the state title game for the first time in school history. With the mottos of “Play for Jake” and “We are LP,” our Kaitlin Edquist captures just how special this football season was for the entire La Porte community.
All around me I heard chants of “Let’s go Slicers” and “We are LP.” All around me I saw an ocean of orange and black flowing throughout Lucas Oil Stadium. All around me I felt an extremely strong sense of Slicer pride and a surge of pure excitement.
A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Brooke Westphal
Brooke Westphal is a born leader. Having played competitive volleyball since age 11, the now senior at Michigan City High School has always had a knack for improving her team’s chances on the court.
But lately, Westphal has been forced to lead the Wolves in another way. Four weeks ago, the four-year varsity star suffered a right shoulder injury during a multi-team invitational that required season-ending surgery. Her volleyball playing days at MCHS were over, but her leadership skills were about to reach another level.
Harlem Globetrotters Entertain Crowd at Michigan City High School
As the sound of “Sweet Georgia Brown” was ringing through the rafters at the Michigan City High School gymnasium on Thursday, the Harlem Globetrotters made their first appearance in the city in more than four decades.
And despite a hazardous driving day that canceled all other events in the area, finding a seat proved difficult for an excited crowd that witnessed the Globetrotters’ world-famous routine at the Wolves Den.
“This is such an excited crowd,” said Robert “Bear” Falls, athletic director at Michigan City High School. “I don’t think the weather had too big of an impact, but if we had fantastic weather, (the crowd) would be even larger.”
La Porte, New Prairie High Schools Combine For Massive Pep Rally Ahead of State Championship Games
It’s not every day that two rival schools are found in the same gymnasium on the same night, cheering for each other and wishing each other good luck. But that is what happened with the La Porte High School Slicers and the New Prairie High School Cougars in the LPHS gym on Tuesday. A flood of orange and black covered one half of the gym, while another flood of blue and gold covered the opposite side. Chants of “We are LP” matched those of “We are NP,” and fans cheered and clapped along to the opposing school’s songs.
So there you have it, the top 10 sports articles of 2014. Make sure to send in your sports tips and stories to share@laportecountylife.com to have your story considered for next year’s list!