IHSA football in full swing. We've completed the regular season. Now it's state tournament time. It's going to be fun to see how the story lines kind of play out from what we thought. Like Brownsburg, can they win their third in a row? Playerwise, what has stuck out to you?
Look at what Zay Moore has done over the last four years. I compare him to like a Barry Sanders at the high school level. You get him boxed in and somehow he gets out. I've asked him. I don't know how he does it. I don't think he thinks about it.
That is a sectional preview. Are you excited for the state tournament? Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you are, however you may be listening. Thanks for tuning in to the Get Indiana podcast network. My name is Dominic Miranda and I've been covering sports for nearly a decade. Most of which right here in Indianapolis.
This is the Get In Sports Podcast. We're going to be covering everything in the Hooser State, high school, college, pro, in the sports capital of the universe in the greatest state on planet Earth. Thanks so much for coming on this journey with us. Let's get into [music] it. On today's episode of Get In Sports, we have a sectional preview. IHSA football in full swing.
We've completed the regular season. Now it's state tournament time. Most exciting time of the year. And we can think of no one else better to have on to preview sectionals for us than Kyle Neden Rip of the Indie Star. His 19th season covering high school sports in the state of Indiana. a busy time of year for you, but we are very very happy to have you on and just go through what I believe has been an awesome awesome season of Indiana high school football.
Would you agree with that? I would agree. Yeah, I think it's going to be fun to see how the story lines kind of play out from what we thought going into the year and and kind of the the dominance of some teams like Brownsburg. Can they win their third in a row? And uh you know, all those things, fun things that kind of figure themselves out as we get through the tournament. It has been such a fun season.
And I mean the the running backs in this state. Brandon Sharp the way he's been playing and that's just in Indianapolis. I mean when you go into small a ball which I know I mean saw you at Eastern Hancock Lapel earlier in the season. That was a fun game. I mean 1 AA 2 A 3A have a lot of great teams as well as we get through this. Before we do get into though to sectional talk and football talk and what we expect out of the state tournament, I do want to know just a little bit about you because I know a ton of people rely on your coverage on Friday nights.
I mean, you are as on it as there is in our state, in our in Indianapolis and beyond. When did you get to Indianapolis? It's been 19 years at the Indie Star. Kind of talk us through your journey of getting there and what stuck out to you about getting into this career as well. Yeah. So, I started out I was at Missouri State University and uh got into writing there and covering a lot of different sports in college.
you know, women's basketball was I was lucky enough to cover Jackie Styles, who was one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. And uh she held a lot of records. So, I was lucky enough to to do that. And then I got on with the Daily Paper in Springfield, Missouri, the news leader, and through college, I was working there in my last two years of college and got that was kind of the the great experience of on the job training, going out at football games and doing all kinds of stuff. And, you know, eventually, you know, I covered high school sports there for a while. while I was there probably 8 years and then came here like you said almost 20 years ago.
It's hard to believe now but I love it here. I mean as you know high school sports is as good as it gets here in Indiana. Um I knew once I got here was like the audience is great. Being able to cover big schools is fun. Also having the chance to go out and cover smaller schools is fun too. So you get a good mix of that.
And you know I'm a basketball guy. Like I love basketball. Uh but I also love football. You know I played three sports growing up all through high school. Uh, so I like the change of season and being able to cover different things. Um, but yeah, it's just it's a great place to be.
I mean, as you know, Indiana is a great place to be and I consider this home now. I've been here long enough. I feel like this is it's not where I'm from, but it feels like it feels like home to me. So, we've raised two kids here and it's been a a great thing. All right. You you've been an awesome awesome addition through that almost two decades of covering high school sports.
I'm sure many would agree. through that time, what has most stuck out to you about what you do for a living and and the importance of it in Indiana or players you've come across or anything like that? What is it when you look back like this is why it's been so enjoyable for me? Well, I I feel like covering high school sports, it's like it's an entryway into, you know, telling somebody's story that people aren't really doing as much. you get you get to know and man there's been so many great players I've covered it'd be hard to even uh you know it's been so fun to to do that but you get to kind of tell their story before they get into college before there's all the the the media that is everywhere and the you know and obviously once you get to pro it's even more so but uh but yeah so getting to know you know I think about so many different kids you know over the years like you know Yogi Frell to Gary Harris to uh even now like Mark Zachary who's playing in Notre Dame now and and players like that.
It's just it's fun to I was just talking to Aaron Henry's brother out of Ben Davis and Aaron of course he's playing over in Japan now but played at Michigan State and getting to know people like that uh and their families too uh over the years that's that's always enjoyable. But I feel like in high school sports, you know, it's a little different where you're not you're not criticizing um you know like you might in in college and pro. um you're trying to tell who they are and and you know and also give people information on what happens in a given night. But uh to me it's about being able to tell their stories, be fair to them, you know, and and uh hopefully you gain people's trust and respect over over time and uh that's sort of what I hope to do and and hope to uh you know teach other people who are working at the Star those sorts of things too. But yeah, I mean there's been so many people I've got to know and um you know I wrote a book many years ago on old high school gyms and that was a blast just getting that's how I got to know the state so well was that was early in my tenure and um you know I just driving all around the state was just really I learned a lot.
So there's been a lot of great things about it but uh but yeah I I still enjoy what I do. It's a lot uh but it's uh but I I've really enjoyed this job. That's awesome. and and uh DeMarco Henry, is that who you were talking to? I went to uh I played football with him at Depal actually. Really great guy.
And uh I believe he's on staff over there. He's the strength coach there now. Yeah. I mean, yeah, that guy's that guy's a beast. Um you did write a book on all the high school gyms in Indiana or what? Can you talk to us a little bit about that?
So, that started as a project for the Star. It was a it was about old high school gyms that are no longer used. Okay. So, it could be like uh you know the the there's a lot of different ones that you know they're like community centers or elementary schools now or they're sitting there falling apart and I was kind of like I it started out as a project for the star. Uh we had a map with all the different dots and then pictures of each one and we had probably had like 200 of them and it turned into I got a um someone called me about hey do you want to turn this into a book and I narrowed down to 100 and uh told the story on each page about that gym and and took pictures of it all by you know we ended up getting somebody to shoot the cover shot at Sullivan which they did a great job with that. I I'm not a photographer but uh but that was a blast.
I mean, it was I'm glad I did it because there a lot of those gyms have since just fallen apart or been torn down. So, those hundred it was it was fun to do that. And, you know, there's other people out there now kind of doing same thing and and it's fun to see and I I've been in touch with some of them and I don't have the capacity to do that anymore or get out and really uh want to see every gym in the state, but it's fun to kind of sit back and see what they're learning and and how many gyms are out there that are still around that are being used in some. you know, there's a lot out there that are just being used in some different way. You might not even know they're there, which is kind of fun. So, a lot of those people who played in those gyms have since passed away or, you know, even people I talked to in the book have since passed away.
So, I was I felt glad I was able to get their story down and and tell their story before that happened. It's sort of the uh the the Hickory Husker type thing or the Milin type stories that that kind of make the the basketball history in this state. And uh and a lot of those were those little gyms that people played in back then. That's so cool. What was the most unique story or part of the state you came across during all that? Yeah, man.
There were some really good ones. The the the gym in Economy, Indiana. I think that might have been the first one I went to. And I happened to drive by it. Didn't even know uh it was even there. And it's like a little barn off the side of the road.
And it looked like people were playing in there. You could see the light shining through the the windows. And there's maybe four windows on the side. And I was like, I'm just going to stop and see what's going on in here. And there's bunch of people playing pickup basketball. And this gym is probably It can't be more than 60 feet long.
I mean, it is tiny. And they play actually played high school games in there. No way. Yeah. And then there's a little peanut gallery where the a little bench where people would sit up above and they would talk they talked about their shoes the having snow on their shoes and it would fall onto the floor, you know, when the when the game was going on. And I just I I walked in there and I was like, I can't believe this was at one time a high school gym.
Uh, so that's one that that I think it's probably because one of the earliest ones I went to that kind of sticks with me, but there's a lot of them that that have a special and the thing that I learned going to these places, you'd try to find people who like, hey, can you tell me more about this place? And they'd be and you'd end up talking to all kind they, hey, I can bring uh so and so up here to talk to you and, hey, town over there's another one. And so it just kind of one led to another. And that was kind of the fun part of it, too, is everyone wants to tell their story about this place because it's so meaningful to them. Um, so I didn't have any trouble. And some places you go like, "Hey, I went to uh Versailles and the town hall had the key and they're like, hey, just let yourself in, take the key, bring the key back and and uh, you know, so they, you know, people are very welcoming and that that uh that was a cool part of it, too.
That's very very cool. Okay, so definitely everybody go read that book. What's it called?" Uh, historic gyms. It's uh it's still out there and I've um it's on uh History Press is who published it, but uh I know it's out there on on Amazon and stuff like that. So, historic gyms, definitely get that book in there.
Okay. So, we're talking about high school football in the state of Indiana. What I want to know from you is after a regular season has been completed, there are a ton of storylines and we can get into every class or whatever. However, when you look at it, it can be 1A through 6A just in what you've been able to see, been able to cover, and maybe preconceptions going into the season as opposed to how the season went. Just any sort of storylines or players just kind of surface level that have stuck out to you through a whole regular season here in 2026. I mean, I would start with uh probably the Brownsburg story and the the ability of them trying to win a third championship, which I I thought, you know, three, you know, what is it?
It's probably been five, six years ago when Center Grove did it. And I did not think at the time that was possible for a 6A program to do that. I mean, it had changed hands, you know, almost every year someone different would win and it was hard to repeat. Center Grove did it and now, you know, Brownsburg's on the cusp of maybe being able to do that, too. Um, I've covered two I've covered three of their games this year and two of them I felt like, you know, Lawrence North was right there at halftime. Uh, Westfield was right there at halftime.
And at halftime of that Westfield game, I was like, this is a this is a heavyweight fight. This is going to go down to the wire. Well, the third quarter, you know, couple mistakes and Brownsburg takes advantage and then the game's over basically. I am curious if they play each other again. I think that game would be closer kind of like it was last year in the state finals. Um, I just don't know.
You know, Brownsburg doesn't have very many weaknesses, I would say. So, if they can finish it out, I mean, that would be, you know, and if they don't finish it out, it's a story either way. Uh, so I'm curious how that ends up going. I'm curious this week, and we can probably get into this, but the the Cascade South Putham game, you know, two defending champions in different classes, you know, playing against each other. Uh, I cannot wait to to go out to that game, and it's reminiscent of last year when they played Gibson Southern when Cascade did in the semi-state, and that that was an incredible atmosphere. So, I think it'll be similar type atmosphere.
Don't know who's going to win. I think South Butam's got a great team. Um, that's going to be a fun and two teams that are very close in proximity, too. So, a lot of familiarity there, uh, between the two schools. But, I've got to know, you know, the Cascade, some of their players, you know, Lucas Farmer, who's been a great player for them the last couple years. TJ Turner, you know, I covered their game last week.
He was a beast in that game against Western Boon. So, you know, that'll be a fun one to see, too. But, you know, there's a lot I I would say the the 5A with New Pal and Cathedral and Pendleton Heights, you know, whoever comes out of that sectional could be the favorite to win state. Um, so that'll kind of play itself out. You know, 4A has been a great class this year and and I'm curious about the potential of a Chitaard Ronali rematch in that class in the regional potentially, you know, but there's a lot of teams in 4A, I think, that can challenge them as well. So, I think that's a deep class where 5A is maybe not quite as deep.
The fun, I mean, it's all of it's fun. And the 6A is always I've always kind of drawn to that just because those schools are we see them play each other a lot during the year. Um and I really like this Warren Central team. You know, can this be their year maybe? Uh so there's a lot of I mean there's probably a million storylines we could talk about, but I'm I am curious if if Warren can get to that semi-state, play Brownsburg again, you know, what does that game look like? Because I felt like last year kind of just getting there was a good feat for that Warren team.
Now can they take the next step and and potentially beat Brownsburg? I think that'll be a big uh and they got to get there. Both of them got to get there first, but I would be curious to see how that game would turn out. No doubt. Brown, when I watch Brownsburg play, I I can't remember watching a more efficient offensive team. Oscar Fry and Brandon Sharp are on the same wavelength.
It seems like they just churn running backs out, too. I mean, Brady Lewis has been fantastic. It's by committee, though. They have a ton of them. And the Cascade South Putinham is something we've been talking about. I remember talking to Greg Rickstro about this before the season started.
3A state champ, 1A state champ, now both in 2A in the same sectional. Yeah. I mean, that's just insane. And then, of course, they draw each other. Like, why wouldn't they to start out? And have you have you seen South Putinham play this season?
I've not seen them this year. I saw them last year and it's a lot of the same, you know, a lot of the same players. They are just dominating everyone that they play. And I I even put them in our we do a super 25 of all the uh teams in the state. I I put them in there because I feel like they they're legit. Even though they're 1A, you know, they were 1A last year and they're 2A this year.
I feel like they're they're one of the best teams in the state. I think Cascad's right there as well. But yeah, this is they are uh they they've got about a little bit of everything. Yeah, this the Tai Benton running back has had an awesome season. A ton of people have talked to me about him. I have his stats right here.
1,400 yards, 25 touchdowns. And then the Keenan Mauy Shields. I've heard a ton about this kid. 116 tackles, 33 tackles for loss is just out of this world to me. I mean, and like you mentioned, they are outscoring folks on average 56-4. And I someone wrote in a couple weeks back to us saying their varsity doesn't even play second half of games.
Yeah. So, those stats are a lot largely just first halfs of games, which is even crazier. Like that that's wild. That that's going to be a knockdown dragout. I'm really excited for that game. But you're absolutely right too with Warren Central first year under JT Whitaker last year.
you know what were they going to be and they end up getting the semi-state certainly impressive no doubt about that but uh and then yeah to your point of 4A I we made this remark earlier 4A is so deep I mean you're talking about teams like you know Danville's an afterthought and and then you got East Noble and Northridge in the northern part of the state and of course Ronali Chitaard East Central uh East Central beating new pal then losing to Roni Roni getting smoked by Chitaard you just don't know that there's a ton of teams in that class who can get it done player wise, what has stuck out to you? Because I I know we've talked about Brandon Sharp, he's unbelievable, but it's the running backs for me that have been so impressive. Zay Moore, Keon Thomas, especially these last six weeks have been really, really impressive. Yeah, those two uh you know, when you talk about Mr. Football race, you obviously you mentioned Oscar Fry, Brandon Sharp, I think are very deserving.
And if Brownsburg wins, I'd be hardressed to think one of I'm curious, you know, which one you take. They're both really good. Uh but at the same time I'm like man look at what Z Moore has done over these last four years and I I compare him to like a Barry Sanders at the high school level. I mean he is you get him boxed in and somehow he gets out of out of I don't know how I've asked him. I don't know how he does it. I don't think he thinks about it.
You're just doing what you you know he's doing fun stuff that we all wish we could do. But he is incredible. um you know, so strong and so powerful at that size and to have four 1,00 yardd seasons at the 6A level is very rare. So, he's done that. He's already got there this year. Um you know, so I think that that LN team, you know, as far as he can take them and Darren Prather's been really good this year, too.
Uh but Warren Central with Keon Thomas and he's a guy I think's underrated, super strong as well. He's a weight room warrior. um you know leads them in almost every lift or he's in the top level for every lift and um his goal this year was to get 2,000 yards and I don't know if he'll get there but he's on a pretty good track to do that depending on how far they make it and that's a very good uh schedule obviously that they play. So, you know, yeah, when you talk about running backs, I mean, those two guys are exceptional. Be fun to see what they do at the at the Big 10 level, but also be fun to see what they do these next few weeks as well. But, yeah, there's other, you know, you mentioned that.
I I agree with you. I think running backs are really strong. You know, look at what um you know, Michael Lewis has done this year at Caramel, you know, stepping in and having a great season for them. He's over a thousand yards. There's a lot of teams that have really good, you know, the Parker Condan kid who's only a sophomore for Brownsburg, he's very good as well. So, not only the senior class, Xavier Dangerfield, I was going to mention him, too, from Cathedral.
So, just a lot of really good running backs this year. I think you're dead on with that point. Yeah. Okay. So, small schools, I know we we get sucked into this indie metro and like rightfully so, as you mentioned, like 6A is unbelievable. And then you got Ronali and Chitaard there in 4A and some some exterior schools as well.
when you do get out to the 1A 2A level and we did talk about South Putham quite a bit, but what have you seen? I know this that that Eastern Hancock lapel game really sticks out to me that felt like a turning point game for those both those programs, but has there been anything that stuck out to you through this regular season in that level that maybe people aren't talking about or have noticed? Man, I really wanted to go to the Pioneer. I wish I could have gone to the Pioneer North Judson game the other night. Pioneers been a great program. you know, Jack Kaiser obviously played there, but even beyond Jack, I mean, they have been phenomenal.
They beat North Judson pretty handily on Friday, but but instead, I went to uh I watched Cascade play against Webo, very good small school game there. Um, but to your point, I would say Eastern Hancock and Lapel. Uh, that was a fun game and Lapel was missing some some players that game. you know, not to say Eastern Hancock wouldn't have beat him anyway, but you know, they did have some guys out, including Jack Miller, their starting running back, uh, who has since come back. Uh, but I think that was an interesting game because Lapel is going to go north on their side of the bracket. Eastern Hancock will go south.
Uh, so those teams usually meet in the sectional. You often play twice. Uh, that will not be the case this year. So, if they meet again, it'll be for the state championships. That' be an even bigger game. But obviously, there's a lot to get through there.
And I would say, you know, Lutheran has always been one of those teams that, you know, Dave Pash always has great program there and they would play Eastern Hancock in the sectional. So that would be a huge game if those two teams meet, which I think they will. Um, and there's some also some other teams out there. We talked about South Pam and Cascade. Uh, Browntown Central made it to the state finals last year and I think they're going to be a team to that's going to be tough to handle. A lot of people have tal been talking about East Side too and East Side up north.
They uh they I think have a chance to make it from that side of the bracket as well. They're 9 and0. Uh 2A is kind of like 4A. A lot of there's just a lot of depth in that class. Eastern Greentown's another team I think that that has a chance to go far and they play Tipton in the first round and Tipton they played a wild game last year. I think it was 4140 in the sectional.
So that could be a game to watch on Friday. Yeah. Seven unbeaten teams I believe in 2A which is just yeah a class that a ton of great matchups in sectional. Could be the semi-finals, could be first round, could be the final. It's just like not a lot of separation there. Okay, let's get into what you're looking forward to.
Okay, so this first round of sectional. All right, 6A and 5A. I think there's just one game a piece. Is that correct? Okay, so and that's that's new cuz usually everybody had a buy. Sometimes there's been a 5A game.
I don't I think this is the first year there's been a 6A game because Decar has moved up and if if it's kind of the weird thing where they could if they don't win enough what I think they have to win a regional uh to to stay in 6A but if they lose they're going to go back to 5A. I see that's really interesting. So no just very few 6A in 5A going on this week. So 1A through 4A, we talked about Cascade South Putham. That's probably the headliner, but what sticks out to you not only this first round, but when you're looking at sectionals, you're like, "Oh, that could be really interesting here." Yeah, to me that's that's the game of the uh the weekend is the uh the Cascade South Putham game.
But yeah, I would say I mean when you look at the totality of of this upcoming uh sectional I think you know to me like I was talking to Greg about this on the if it was during the draw or before the draw, but to me it looks like in 6A you have a pretty clear favorite in each of the uh each of the sectionals in 6A. So, I think that bodess well for a, you know, regional. You know, you should have some really good regional matchups and it's almost like a seated bracket, which I think a lot of us would love to see in some in some form or fashion, but I think it actually kind of works out uh that way this year. So, um we mentioned uh or I mentioned, you know, just briefly there, the the sectional I'm really curious about Cathedral New in 5A. Uh that was a phenomenal game last year. The atmosphere was incredible.
uh walking up to the stadium that night, the energy uh was electric. And I think that'll be the same way this year if those teams meet. Pendleton Heights does throw a you know, they're going to they're going to play New Pal. And I think uh you know, they're a potential sleeper type team that's having a really good year. They got a quarterback Brent Gray who can really throw it and and run it and Joel Weaver at running back who's really good as well. Uh can they stop New Pal?
That'll be the question. But at le they're at least in that uh mix again. They're a top five team in the state for a reason. So, uh, but I think the, you know, it's fair to say Newound Cathedral are the teams to beat in 5A. So, I think that will be one to, uh, you know, to watch. And then I think you're looking for like who can be the the the upset team or the team we're not talking about.
You know, you mentioned Danville. I mean, may is Danville that team. They're 9 and0, gain a lot of confidence. Jamie Comr's got a really senior heavy team this year. I would be curious if they can step up and and maybe give Chitaard a game if that if that happens. And again, Danville's got to get through Lebanon, which they're not a they're not a bad team either this first round of the sectional, but um yeah, I think you're looking for those like who are those sleeper type teams who can rise up and Hamilton Heights is another one.
I they've won six games in a row. Yeah. Uh really putting up a lot of points in class 3A. Again, they have a very tough game right out of the gate with Miss Sen, but uh I think they're a team to watch as well. So yeah, the I I it's always kind of the fun part is to see these huge matchups, but also see like, oh, we maybe we weren't talking about this team. All of a sudden, they're playing for a sectional title or winning a sectional title, which is which is always fun.
Yeah. You got in 4A again, I mean, I can't say this enough. You got Dwanganger, Ronali, Chitaard, East Central. Okay. But then you got a crop of unbeatens like East Noble, Northridge, Danville, Logansport, not to mention Evansville, Wright, South Bend, St. Joe.
It it's just so deep to me that the so much can happen there. Danny Adams is back. Yes. For Chitaard which is huge that the complexion of that Cathedral game could have changed I think maybe if he had suited it up but uh and then 3A there there is one a couple teams I want to talk about and I I forget um remind me were you at the Indian Creek Tri West game? I was not. We had someone there at that game but I wasn't I wasn't there personally.
Okay. Cuz that was the game I feel like um for those two teams. Tri West 7 and2 I believe losses to Wrights and Indian Creek. Jack Sorggy I I remember talking to Jason Ward before the season. He said if we're not playing, you know, Thanksgiving weekend, it's a it's a bust. We we got to get there.
We're try West. Uh 3A is a tossup to me. I mean 3A there there's a lot of teams who can do damage. Maybe not a separator. I know Evansville Memorial is really good and they are battle tested. I mean, if you look at their schedule, talking like modern day and writes and Floyd Central and teams like that, it's really impressive.
But, uh, can Tri West here kind of near Indie, can they make a run in 3A? I know a lot of people would love to see Sorggy there at Lucas Oil Stadium. Yeah. Yeah, to me the the the power in 3A normally you look at that that Southern Evansville Memorial and Gibson Southern like whoever comes out of there is always going to be if not the team to beat they're going to be a huge stumbling block. Uh and I would say Indian Creek is maybe the team I'm curious to see because if they win their sectional they'll play the winner of that Memorial Gibson Southern uh bracket. So you know are they up to that level this year?
To me that's a big question. I feel like any creek's got their best team Max Gooden's had there in in his tenure which is only three years but they've kind of been building up to this. Uh Evan Clark really good quarterback and he'll be back next year. So not that they'll lose everything after this season but yeah Tri West I think offensively with Sorggy he can run and throw. He's he's really strong runner as well as passer. Uh their issue has been stopping people and and getting the getting the defense off the field.
So they it may have to be sort of a you know high-scoring game that they have to win and and I agree with you. I think 3A and I from people I've talked to in Evansville, Memorial was expected to be a little bit younger this year and not as experienced. Well, they've turned out to be just as good [clears throat] as they they always are. Uh so but I I think maybe there's an opportunity for a Tri West or an Indian Creek to to get through there. Um I just don't know. You know, Tri West case, it's just been hard sometimes.
They plays better teams defensively. Uh, so they would have to really rise up and play a great defensive game, but they can score. Sorgg is as talented as any quarterback around. And he'll make it fun. I know that because he he can he can uh he can do a lot. He's very talented player.
Yeah, no doubt. We would get a Memorial Gibson Southern sectional semifinal. Okay. Which I think would be just outstanding. Uh, no question about that. And yeah, what we've learned just in going through it every week is every single week in 3A we are talking about that southern part of the state.
It's it's really impressive down there. Okay. You mentioned this and I I want to kind of dig deeper into this seating potential seating in uh for the state tournament in football and and maybe other sports as well. Do do you think that that would be a positive change? Do you think that is is realistic to happen? The PR guy for the Colts, Matt Ki, said he wants to he wants to create a commission of Greg Rickstraw, Kyle, you know, you and Kevin Bowen and just be like, let's let's fix this.
What What do you think about that? Hey, I I I would love that. Um, the IFCA, the coach association, had a good proposal, I thought, a couple years ago, and their idea, and I completely was on board with this idea in for whatever that's worth, which is nothing, but I they they wanted to seed 1 through 16, a north and south in 5A and 6A. So, you'd basically take you'd split the state in half, whatever the sectionals are, 1 through four, and seed them. Basically, you wouldn't have what's necessarily called a sectional. You could still call it that, but it wouldn't be just geography wise.
So, uh, and in that case, you're not driving from Crown Point to Jeffersonville. You're only going from Crown Point to maybe Westfield. And with football only being once a week, I feel like that's a legitimate that you could do that. Not sure not basketball or baseball where you're playing multiple times in a week. So the other four classes, the idea was to to seed the top two in each class, leave the sectionals as they were, so you'd at least get the top like South Putnham Cascade instead of playing this Friday, they'd be lined up to play in the championship round of the sectional, which again I I like that idea. I don't think you could seed a total bracket.
There's too many teams in 4A on down to 1A. So I don't think that's legitimate. I don't think that would be realistic. But I do like that idea. At least you're playing for something during the season. you're playing for maybe a one or two seed in the sectional.
Yeah. It gives a regular season a little bit more juice to me. Um so all of those things make a lot of sense to me. Uh but I don't we're really the only state I think that doesn't have any type of seating and I feel like it would enhance and not take away. You could still do the blind draw. You know, you'd still have the it'd be a seating release or whatever and then you'd seed the obviously 4A on down.
You'd still do a blind draw for those other uh six teams or five teams or whatever. Uh, so I like that idea. It didn't uh it didn't have enough juice to to get to the stage where they're voting on it, right? Uh, but I thought that was a good idea. At different points kind of given up on even talking about it because I feel like it's just not going to happen and it's like what's the what's the point of even uh bringing it up constantly and I don't I don't mean to bring it up and it's just something that I feel like it would be good for football. I don't know if it'd be good for other sports um because the nature of football, you're just playing that one game on Friday.
So I I think it would enhance the tournament. But again, like I I feel like it's just I don't feel like we're to the point where it's probably going to happen. Uh maybe it's not realistic, but I know there's a lot of people in favor of it who aren't in uh charge, but I I you know, again, who knows? Who knows what the future holds, but I feel like right now it's probably not going to happen. Yeah, that you're not, believe me, you're not the only one bringing it up. I know a lot of people are like, man, that could work.
Same thing with uh a potential having to qualify for the state tournament. Where do you land on that? because I actually think it's kind of cool how every team gets in, you know, you always have something to look forward to, a playoff appearance, you know, when the end of your season could be or you know that you're going to have a shot at least everybody gets a shot. Uh do you think because I know there's states around that that do have that and I mean they they've kind of boiled it down to a science. What do you think about qualifying for the playoffs potentially in like a football? I kind of like the way we have it here where even if you're 0 and nine, you get a shot to to play a game.
And I don't know that you necessarily should get a shot to, you know, play another 0 and9 team. I I don't know if that's the best, you know, scenario, which is kind of what we have now. Um, you know, it's just kind of random who you're going to play, right? Uh, but yeah, I think it's cool when those teams do at least get a chance to play for something at the end of the year. So, I'm not against that at all. Um, when I was in Missouri, you kind of would play it out to the end of the regular season.
and they would kind of shuffle you in at the end of the year based on how you've done during the season and line up. Your last regular season game would kind of be like, you know, its own playoff in a way. And it I think you want to keep it to where you don't want to change the tournament so much where people don't recognize or don't understand how it works. That's that's the fear I think of of changing things. But I think I do like the all-in uh part of it. I think that's a good uh feature that we have here that I don't think you want to get rid of that.
Um, but I do think there's a way to kind of have the best of both worlds and and do some seating and also have every team still play. I guess if we make this commission, we we'll just have to figure we'll just have to figure it out. Uh, what what intrigues you most about high school sports in the state of Indiana? I guess what I mean by that is do you think it's in a good spot? It's certainly changed a lot. I think you would probably agree over your time covering it and just in re recent years.
Uh do we think like it's still the pure nature that we've come to know and love about why high school sports is so awesome in this state? Yeah, I mean for the most part I think I think it is. You there are different things that have happened over the last few years that have changed it. You know, NIL obviously which uh they call it PBA, but that has changed things. I don't think it's changed a lot. I don't think it's necessarily like made anything worse u or better necessarily.
Uh what I do worry about is is um you know the the prep school stuff is is definitely becoming more prevalent I would say and not necessarily not we don't have a bunch of kids just leaving all of a sudden or getting out of here but the option to do so is definitely more than it used to be. Now bringing PBA into I say and allowing PBA NIL I think can keep maybe keep some kids from leaving. So I think that can be good. uh the transfer rule has changed some, you know, in the last uh couple years and then the one-time transfer is is is again for better or worse. I think there are some good things with that, too. Not it's not all bad uh by any means, but I do think that has changed a little bit.
Um so, if you're kind of the old school types, maybe you're and I know some coaches who are kind of like, man, I don't want to I don't want to do this anymore. It's just and that's their prerogative, I think. But I'm always kind of, you know, let's have an open mind and, you know, you kind of have to change with the times and you can't be so uh stuck in your ways that you can't evolve with the way the world works. I don't think you want it to become like an NCA where there just seems to be no, you know, just no rules at all. Uh you need something um you know, someone kind of overseeing what's best for high school sports. So, you know, so I'm kind of in the middle.
I feel like there are some good things happening. I do worry about the, you know, the future of high school sports in some way where, you know, does be a AAOU and the travel sports does that become the more dominant thing and does that become what kids gravitate? I think there's again you can have the best of both worlds. My own kids have played travel sports. It's not all terrible, you know, it's it is it is what it is. and uh you you can still I think have that community aspect of high school sports that is more important, you know, to the to the community and to your kids and also have that travel stuff that helps you get better for your high school season and it can be a good component uh together.
Uh but yeah, I mean I don't know. I I don't have all the answers for I know that for a fact. But I I do feel like there's always going to be a place for high school sports. And in states like ours, you know, the Midwest states, I feel like it's not it's not uh you know, dying or by any means. I feel like, man, it's it's it's really good. And you you can't go to a Cascade South Pnham game on Friday and think it's, you know, people are going to be there and loving it.
So, I think that's something every kid every kid who's there watching that game who's in fifth, sixth grade is going to be, I want to be TJ Turner. I want to be, you know, Lucas Farmer someday. So, you know, I think that kind of keeps keeps it going. Yeah. No doubt. I think that's a that's a great way of putting it.
There's always going to be a place for it, right? And there's always the younger generation looking up like, I want to do that. I want to represent my community, my school, all things like that. I think that's what makes high school sports great. And and the emphasis that local media put on it and the way it's covered is such a big deal. And I think that's so important and I think that's something Indiana does very well.
Um, no doubt about that. Okay. I wanted to ask Greg this and I forgot to, so I will ask you another walk in encyclopedia here of high school sports. Southp putt won 1A bumped up could win 2A. When has is that more common than I'm thinking that that's happened where a team wins in a class, bumps up, and immediately wins that class? If so, who has done that in recent memory?
Or is that maybe not as common? I don't know. Well, I will say first, Greg's more of an encyclopedia of mind than I am by any means. He I don't know how he remembers stuff the way he does, but but I I think that I what who comes to mind mostly is Cathedral. Uh because they have gone they're actually a 4A program and it's been a long time since I played 4A, so you kind of forget that. But uh they have bumped up and won 5A uh before and they were in 6A for for a while there.
So, but in back-toback seasons, I don't know about that. I'd have to go back and look at that and see what they, you know, when they did what they did, you know, and shoot, they were a good 68. They didn't win 6A, but they were good in that class, too. So, that is a good question. I would have to uh look at that there. Cathedral is the one that comes to mind, though.
I I if if anybody's done it, I think it might be them. Tart has also bumped up um you know, between 3A and 4A and and had success obviously in both classes. So, uh but the one I would probably have to research is Cathedral. M that I think that's a safe bet. Okay. Secondly here in class 4A, I want to put you on the spot a little bit.
Again, I I mean I can't say it enough. This this class is so stinking deep. If if you had to go with your gut about a team that could could [clears throat] make this happen because I don't think there's really a wrong answer here. Who who do who are you feeling most confident in here in this class of 4A? I mean I after watching that Chitaard team play and I covered the Ronali Chitaard game earlier this year. I think it was week three and they just dominated the second half of that game.
Yeah. And I think if they played again, I don't think it would be that lopsided. I think Ron Collie is trending in the right direction right now to uh to make that a much better game, if not potentially win it. Uh, but seeing Chitard at full speed when when Danny Adams was playing and and he actually got hurt in that game. Yeah. Uh, but has since come back, I feel like they're the best team and I I think that, you know, that even that Cathedral loss, you know, kind of showed how close they are and Cathedral's they're number one in 5A right now.
So, uh, you know, to only lose that game by two points and they had a field goal chance to win it there at the end. So, and that was without Danny playing. So, I feel like Chitaard is the best team in the class. I was wrong last year because I thought Roni was they ended up losing to Dwinger uh in the state finals in a great game. I really felt like Roni was going to win that. Um so, you know, Dwinger, I'm not sleeping on them either.
I feel like they're, you know, they're one of those programs kind of like Chitaard and Ronali where they're always good. They have a lot of confidence uh from last year. Uh East Noble, they're another team that Dinger's going to have to get through them. And they have a sophomore, Austin Phillips, who's one of the best. If if people haven't heard about him yet, they will. He's really, really good.
And you know, you can never sleep on East Central. And then Northridge up north. Yeah. Um you know NLC baby. Yeah. And Northridge is a team that they were I think two and seven last year.
So they have completely turned it around and and having a great season. So uh yeah, speaking to the depth of that class, but I I would say I I mean to me Chitaard would be slightly the favorite, but I again there's a lot of teams in there I think that could win it, including Ron Ki, which uh you know we we were very likely to see that game down the road. Yeah. I mean, what what a fun fun state tournament this is going to be for class 4A. All right, so you're going to be at South Putt Cascade this Friday. Really looking forward to that game.
But all roads lead to Lucas Oil Stadium and you've covered state championships in this state for football for quite some time. What makes state championship weekend in Indiana so special? And what what excites you most? Do you still get really pumped up to cover that weekend? Because it really is just those two days are so much fun to cover. Yeah.
Yeah. I love it. It's uh it's a super busy time of year because it's like you got basketball starting, you got all you know, holidays obviously, you know, I always feel like I'm trying to fit like 10 days of work into like two days. Uh so that's kind of what it feels like to me. But once you get to the games like on on Friday and Saturday, uh it it does feel it's kind of the culmination of the stories, how let's see how they unfold now, how how you know what's going to happen um that weekend. And and that's kind of the fun part of it to me is to just enjoy, you know, you are busy working and writing, but you also kind of enjoy, you know, how these stories unfold, who's going to, you know, what stars are going to kind of rise to the occasion and and be the stars in those moments.
And, you know, to me, that's the fun part of it. It's always like a it's kind of like a big reunion, too. You see a lot of people that you see every year at the games, like, you know, the a lot of the coaches who work the state finals who are with the ICA and and things like that. So, it does feel that way to me, too. And it's it's uh you know, I don't spend a lot of time with my family on Thanksgiving weekend. That's pretty much the job.
But, uh but you I you know, obviously Thursday I will. But, uh but yeah, that's kind of where you're always at though is Lucas Oil and there's so many cool things that have happened over the years. so many great games and you know I think back to even like the first year Lucas Oil was open and they had the uh the Center Grove Caramel game and it was and Center Grove is down 19 points in the fourth quarter they get two onside kicks and win 3633 the first game ever at Lucas Oil and I was lucky enough to cover that you know very first one and and it's been you know it feels like we've had a lot of games like that over the years and and u that was definitely one I'll never forget But but yeah, the uh you know, just seeing who ends up on top is always fun and I feel like that's going to be no different this year and we're going to see some surprise team that we didn't think was going to be there and and that's kind of the fun of it too.
Yeah, we had Andre in Brownstown Central 7 nothing last year. We had Dwanganger a fake field goal. Roni a a chance at the end zone the last play of regula. I mean it was just an a every single year never disappoints. I want to say what was it two years ago? Westfield chucked it up to the end zone to incomplete.
I mean it's just it never disappoints. There's no question about it. Kyle, this has been awesome. Thank you again for making so much time. Now I do ask every guest that comes through here and again you would be very well positioned to answer this, but what makes sports in Indiana so special in your opinion? Man, high school sports.
I guess that's what you you'd be asking me. I I I feel like it's the you know the the it's kind of a cliche I guess but the community aspect of it is to me is that's always been the fun of of high school sports to me. You know my dad was a he was a coach when I was growing up and that's how I kind of grew up in the in the gym and watching games and you know that's the fun of when you see teams get on a run and people get behind them and um you know that's the fun whether you're big school, small school, you know medium size. I mean, that's sort of the fun of the the high school sports to me where you don't have that in, you know, maybe a travel situation or, you know, that sort of thing. So, uh, to me, that's what makes it special. That's what I enjoy the most is is kind of the, you know, being able to tell those stories and and the people around those stories and and, um, you know, that's to me why I do what I do.
Yeah, it's it's so much fun and we very much appreciate your service. I know a lot of people feel that way. So, thank you for what you do and everything you've contributed to high school sports in the state of Indiana. That is a sectional preview. Are you excited for the state tournament? I am.
Yeah, I'm going to be fun. I got more work to do before it starts, but let's get to I think it'll be a lot of fun once we get it going here. And high school basketball right around the corner, man. It's going to be all sorts of fun. Well, Kyle, thank you. That's Kyle Nenrip of the Indie Star.
He's been covering sports for quite some time here in the state of Indiana. And that is a sectional preview. Spangle and I got you covered as far as each week, what sticks out to us, how we go forward in the state tournament, and who's going to ultimately hoist that state championship trophy and drink the milk. Now, that's a tradition. So, that's so fun. Kyle Nen RIP, everybody, buy his book.
It's it's it will be worth your time. Okay. Absolutely. So, thanks so much and we'll see you next