Valley to visit struggling LaVille; Caston to host winless S. Central; NM to visit surging No. 2 Pioneer; Culver gets No. 3 N. Judson; Winamac seeks to end 4-year skid vs. Triton BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Ethan Bailey Rochester (3-1, 2-0 Three Rivers Conference) at Lewis Cass (2-2, 2-1), 7 p.m. While the spotlight might have shone brighter on Kale Shotts after rushing for 197 yards and three touchdowns in a half in last week’s 56-26 win over Clinton Prairie, Roche

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys soccer Caston 2, North Miami 1 (Tuesday): The host Comets edged North Miami at the Comet Crater Tuesday to earn their first conference win. Caston extended their unbeaten streak to five games and improved to 5-1-2 overall and 1-1 in the Hoosier North. Caston’s only loss was to conference and sectional rival Argos at home on Aug. 29. North Miami fell to 1-9 overall and 0-4 in the Hoosier North.

Teammate Blackford joins her on all-conference; Pioneer’s Cobb, Winamac’s Shell make honorable mention BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls golf Led by medalist Bryanne Sturch’s 89, the North Miami girls golf team shot a 412 to win the Hoosier North title at Round Barn Golf Club at Mill Creek Saturday. The Lady Warriors beat runner-up North Judson by 11 strokes for the second conference title in school history. Among other area schools, Winamac was fourth out of even c

Rochester 56, Clinton Prairie 26 Tippecanoe Valley 21, Knox 18 Pioneer 35, Caston 7 Winamac 32, Culver 14 North Judson 46, North Miami 0 Three Rivers Conference Rochester 56, Clinton Prairie 26 (nonconference) Lewis Cass 34, Manchester 14 Northfield 52, Southwood 18 Maconaquah 57, Whitko 6 Northwestern 40, Peru 26 Hoosier North Pioneer 35, Caston 7 Winamac 32, Culver 14 North Judson 46, North Miami 0 Triton 37, South Central 6 Indiana Northern State Conference Tippecanoe Vall

Valley will look to shake off mistakes against winless Knox; Caston seeks first 4-0 start since 1974, but can they slow Panther offense?; Culver seeks another Hoosier North road win at Winamac; NM heads to No. 3 N. Judson BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Rochester (2-1) at Clinton Prairie (3-0), 7 p.m. In baseball, a gopher ball is slang for giving up a home run. In Indiana high school football, a gopher ball is slang for giving up nothing. Specifically, that would be th

Rochester frosh Conliff top area girl, Pioneer senior Bowditch top area boy BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Pioneer senior Dane Bowditch finished third overall in 18:04 at the Caston Invitational Saturday FULTON — With both teams led by freshmen, the Rochester girls and boys cross-country teams each finished third at the Caston Invitational Saturday. The girls scored 88 points and finished third in an eight-team field. Pioneer was fourth with 89, Caston was fifth with 1

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Culver will host a Class 1A girls soccer sectional from Oct. 5-10, Argos athletic director Damon Binkley told RTC in an email Wednesday. Argos was originally scheduled to host Sectional 36 for girls and boys when the IHSAA released fall sports postseason sites in June. Though Argos has often hosted both the girls and boys sectionals in the same week, including last year, this year offered a unique logistical dilemma with each sectional ha

Late second quarter flurry helps Caston past NM; Rine scores 4 TDs as Pioneer handles Winamac; Bush, Carr help Culver blank Triton BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Football Owen Omondi Adams Central 33, Tippecanoe Valley 12 (Friday): Hunter Paxton ran for 43 yards and a touchdown, and he also threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Owen Omondi in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings lost to visiting Adams Central at Smith-Bibler Memorial Field: Home of Death Valley Football Fri

North Miami to host boys hoops sectional BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Tippecanoe Valley and Culver are among area sites that will host girls basketball sectional sectionals from Feb. 2-6, according to the minutes from the IHSAA Executive Committee meeting Aug. 25. Valley will host Class 3A, Sectional 20 on Rita Price Simpson Court for the second straight year. Valley lost to Fairfield in the sectional final last February. Culver will host Class 1A, Sectional 51 at Jo

Rochester 46, Whitko 6 Adams Central 33, Tippecanoe Valley 12 Caston 28, North Miami 14 Pioneer 50, Winamac 7 Culver 34, Triton 0 Three Rivers Conference Rochester 46, Whitko 6 Peru 19, Lewis Cass 0 Maconaquah 47, Northfield 24 Manchester 35, Benton Central 14 (nonconference) Southwood vs. Northwestern, 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Taylor Hoosier North Caston 28, North Miami 14 Pioneer 50, Winamac 7 Culver 34, Triton 0 North Judson 63, South Central 6 Indiana Northern State Conferen

After shutout in Bell Game, Valley defense hopes to bug Adams Central’s All-State QB Roach; Caston, NM’s productive rushing attacks to square off; Pioneer to face Winamac in Panther Pit opener; Culver to travel to Triton BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Whitko (0-2, 0-1 Three Rivers Conference) at Rochester (1-1, 1-0), 7 p.m. The themes for the Rochester football team going into their home game against Whitko center around simplification and self-improvement. As for the

W. Central blanks Culver; NM gets first win vs. Taylor; Wolford, Rugg both go over 100 yards in rout of Frontier; Pioneer holds off Knox BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Tucker Woolever Landen Rigney Football Caston 45, North White 0 (Friday): Landen Rigney ran for 78 yards and a touchdown, caught a 34-yard pass and had two sacks on defense for the host Comets in a rout of North White Friday. Ashton Bowy

Tippecanoe Valley 30, Rochester 0 Caston 45, North White 0 West Central 36, Culver 0 North Miami 54, Taylor 16 Winamac 41, Frontier 6 Pioneer 34, Knox 26 Three Rivers Conference Tippecanoe Valley 30, Rochester 0 (nonconference) Lewis Cass 37, Northfield 8 Peru 40, Whitko 0 Tipton 49, Manchester 18 (nonconference) Madison-Grant 36, Southwood 0 (nonconference) Maconaquah 26, Carroll (Flora) 7 (nonconference) Eastern (Greentown) 49, Northwestern 20 (nonconference) Hoosier North

Culver seeks to bounce back vs. W. Central; Taylor, NM coming off opening losses; Winamac seeking first 2-0 start since 2021; Pioneer to face Knox coming off rare shutout BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC North White (1-0) at Caston (1-0), 7 p.m. Caston beat Whitko 54-14 last week. Caston has not started a season 2-0 since 2009. Caston beat North White 55-0 last season in Monon. That was Caston’s largest margin of victory in Chris Ulerick’s 24 years as coach. Four of Nort

NM takes 6th, Valley places 7th, Caston takes 12th BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC DENVER — The Winamac and Rochester volleyball teams showed they might be among the most improved teams in the area at the Tomahawk Invitational at North Miami Saturday. Among area teams, Winamac went 3-1 and finished third, Rochester went 3-1 and placed fifth, North Miami went 2-2 and finished sixth, Tippecanoe Valley went 2-2 and finished seventh, and Caston went 0-4 and finished 12th. S

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC From Left to Right: 1st: Rochester senior Leandro Javier runs at the Jacob Graf Invitational at Logansport Saturday, Javier finished 45th in the field of 127 runners in 19:07. 2nd: Tippecanoe Valley freshman Andrew Wise runs at the Jacob Graf Invitational at Logansport Saturday. Wise placed 72nd in 20:24. 3rd: Pioneer freshman Brylie Caudle runs at the Jacob Graf Invitational at Logansport Saturday. Caudle took 14th place in the field of

Enyart’s punt return for TD keys Caston win; turnovers plague NM in loss to Northfield; Culver falls to pass-happy C. Noble; Pioneer rallies, beats Lewis Cass for 4th straight year; Winamac’s Rugg burns W. Central in Davis’ debut as coach BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Owen Omondi Braxton Enyart Football Tippecanoe Valley 22, Plymouth 14 (Friday): Owen Omondi ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns on ni

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys soccer Mack Mappin Caston 3, Rochester 1 (Thursday): Simon McGrew and Mack Mappin each had a goal and an assist, and Reed Sommers also scored for the visiting Comets in a win over Rochester at the Brent Blacketor Memorial Sports Complex Thursday. Carson Harness had three saves in goal. Caston led 1-0 at halftime. Rochester tied the game on an own-goal in the 65th minute when Camdyn Furnivall’s direct kick deflected off a Caston playe

Rochester 46, Southwood 0 Tippecanoe Valley 22, Plymouth 14 Caston 54, Whitko 14 Central Noble 35, Culver 7 Northfield 28, North Miami 14 Pioneer 20, Lewis Cass 15 Winamac 34, West Central 20 Three Rivers Conference Rochester 46, Southwood 0 Northwestern 27, Manchester 14 Caston 54, Whitko 14 (nonconference) Northfield 28, North Miami 14 (nonconference) Pioneer 20, Lewis Cass 15 (nonconference) Logansport 61, Peru 20 (nonconference) Maconaquah 42, Sheridan 27 (nonconference)

Valley to host Plymouth; Caston to play Whitko for first time since 1978; Culver begins series vs. C. Noble; NM seeks more rushing success vs. Northfield; Pioneer seeks 4th straight win over Lewis Cass; Winamac hopes to gain home momentum vs. W. Central BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Southwood at Rochester, 7 p.m. The difference in coaching experience at Barnhart Field Friday is stark. Southwood coach Larry "Bud" Wright is coaching in his 684th career game, and Rochest

Ulerick on line: ‘probably one of the most experienced’ that we’ve had BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Caston football team will open its season with a road game against Whitko at 7 p.m. Friday. The home opener is against North White at 7 p.m. Aug. 28. Caston went 3-7 last year. They are seeking their first winning season since 2012. One Mollenkopf has replaced another at quarterback for the Caston football team. Gavin Mollenkopf graduated in June and is now playing

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The following RTC area girls golf matches scheduled for Tuesday were canceled due to inclement weather: The three-way match between North Judson, DeMotte Christian and Caston at Pond View Golf Course in Star City has not been rescheduled. The three-way match between Tippecanoe Valley, Peru and host Northwestern at Green Acres Golf Course in Kokomo has not been rescheduled.

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Savana Miller Lyla Gebhardt STAR CITY — Savana Miller shot a 42, and Aly Brown added a 45 to lead the Tippecanoe Valley girls golf team to a three-way win over Caston and Pioneer at Pond View Golf Course Monday. Valley shot a 201, Pioneer had a 227, and Caston had a 242. Brystal Sands added a 56, Brie Scott had a 58, and McKinley Burton had a 59 for the Lady Vikin

Caston finishes 6th, Winamac 7th BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC WINAMAC — The North Judson girls golf team shot a 420 to win the 10-team Winamac Invitational at Moss Creek Golf Club Tuesday. Among area teams, Pioneer was third with a 450, Caston was sixth with a 477, and Winamac was seventh with a 479. Grace Cobb led Pioneer with a 108, Ali Tribbett had a 117, Kassandra Martinez had a 118, Addie Tabler had a 122, and Selena Johnson had a 123. Audrey Ault was Caston’s l

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Baseball Player of the Year Carson Paulik It was a standout season for two high school baseball teams in particular in our area in 2026. North Miami won just their third sectional title ever and then followed it with their first regional title. Caston also won their third sectional title. But our RTC4 Baseball Player of the Year, Rochester senior pitcher-infielder Carson Paulik, did not attend either of those schools. Paulik singleha

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Softball Player of the Year Dalynne Bussard We had a pretty good idea whom we were picking for RTC4 Softball Player of the Year before sectionals week started. What happened during sectionals week only confirmed what we had already been thinking: Dalynne Bussard deserves it again. Bussard, a senior from Tippecanoe Valley and a University of Indianapolis recruit, is the first two-time winner in the six-year history of the award. She a

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Boys Golfer of the Year Ivan Reyes Once again, our RTC Boys Golfer of the Year is from Pioneer. But this time, it is a different player. Last year, it was Micah Rans. This year, it is Ivan Reyes. A junior, Reyes is our pick after winning medalist honors and leading his Panthers to a Hoosier North title. He also shot a 76 at the Logansport sectional to lead his team to a third-place finish and a return trip to the regional. This was a

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Boys Track Athlete of the Year Harrison Dunwoody Harrison Dunwoody added the 100 meters and the long jump to his track repertoire in 2026, but the event in which his name will be listed on the record board inside the hallway above the concession stand at Rochester High School is the 110 hurdles. And thanks to that record-breaking performance, he is our RTC4 Boys Track Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. Dunwoody is a gi

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Girls Track Athlete of the Year Betty Shepherd For the third straight year, our RTC4 Girls Athlete of the Year is a 300-meter hurdler. And for the second time during that span, it is Tippecanoe Valley’s Betty Shepherd. Shepherd also was our Girls Athlete of the Year in 2024 when she made state as a sophomore. She did not make state in 2025 as friend and rival Audrey Wagner from Rochester was our Athlete of the Year. But that did not

Team includes Caston’s Johnson, Long, Winamac’s Cotner, Pioneer’s Grandstaff BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Indiana Aces travel softball team won the 12-and-under B Great Lakes National Tournament in Columbus, Ind., from July 6-10. The team went 6-1-1 over eight games to top a field of 22 teams. Front, from left – Elizabeth Grandstaff, Caroline Cotner, Aubriella Garcia, Skylar Hudson, Teagan Long. Middle – Harper Johnson, Delta Mayhill, Lillie Ridenour, Bray Byer,

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Skyler Painter Skyler Painter’s time in 4-H is coming to an end, but his career farming is just beginning. Painter is finishing his 10th year in 4-H at this week’s Fulton County 4-H Fair, and he just graduated from Caston High School. “It has meant working with my animal every year and learning responsibilities on how to deal with it,” Painter said of the meaning of 4-H just prior to the Spotlight Sale at Jud Hudkins Arena Friday. He was

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Madi Douglass won the Supreme Master Showmanship Contest at the Fulton County 4-H Fair Thursday. Madisyn Douglass became the first two-time winner of the Supreme Master Showmanship Contest at the Fulton County 4-H Fair Thursday. Douglass, who is in her ninth year in 4-H and who will be a senior at Caston in the fall, also won the Contest in 2024. McKinley Burton was the Reserve champion. To be eligible, a contestant had to win Master Show

Rochester’s Miller, Winamac’s Wegner make girls honorable mention BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Grant Bailey Kale Shotts Track Rochester senior Grant Bailey and junior Kale Shotts have been named First Team Academic All-State in boys track. In order to be honored, an athlete must be a junior or senior, must be on the sectional roster and must have a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Seniors mu

Caston’s Logan, Winamac’s Werner make third team BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Bria Rensberger Maggie Keller Lois Layer Softball Rochester’s Bria Rensberger, Winamac’s Maggie Keller and Pioneer’s Lois Layer have been named to the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana Class 1A/2A second team All-State. Rensberger went 15-2 with a 1.34 ERA in the circle. Her only losses were to Class 3A, No. 5 Roncalli a

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball The Rochester softball team earned Team Academic All-State honors for the 2025-26 season. Rochester compiled a 3.92 team GPA on a 4-0 scale, ranking 11th in the state. Both Caston and Winamac had 3.71 team GPAs and also earned the honor. The Softball Coaches Association of Indiana compiles team GPAs and gives out individual and team academic honors.

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Logan Mollenkopf London Herd Parker Zimpleman Gavin Mollenkopf Four players from sectional champions Caston were named to the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A Honorable Mention All-State team. The four players included sophomore center fielder-pitcher Logan Mollenkopf, sophomore first baseman London Herd, sophomore third baseman Parker Zimpleman and senior catcher Gavin Mol

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Gage Thomas LOGANSPORT — Gage Thomas switched it up this year at the Cass County 4-H Fair. Thomas, who will be a senior at Caston and who is in his ninth year in 4-H, had previously raised dairy wether goats almost exclusively. This time, he showed boer wether goats. He finished second and third in his two categories at the Boer Goat Show Tuesday. He called the switch from dairy to meat goats a learning experience. “I learned how to brace

Former Caston star misses softball, but has helped Bethel women in basketball turnaround BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Isabel Scales (photo provided) It happened again. A basketball team got better once Isabel Scales joined the team. Scales was one of the transformational players in the history of Caston girls basketball. She scored 1,423 points, overpowering defenders in the post, driving to the basket and showing off a sweet touch from 3-point range. She guided Cast

List includes Caston’s Mollenkopf brothers, Culver’s McCuen brothers, 3 from regional champ N. Miami BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Logan Mollenkopf Parker Zimpleman Gavin Mollenkopf Baseball Twelve RTC area baseball players were named first-team All-Hoosier North in voting done by the conference’s coaches and released to the media Monday. In addition, another seven players were named honorable mention All-Hoosier North. Of

All-conference team includes 5 Winamac, 3 Pioneer, 3 Culver, 2 Caston, 1 NM players BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Hoosier North MVP Maggie Keller Winamac shortstop Maggie Keller was named Hoosier North MVP in voting done by the conference’s coaches and released to the media Wednesday. Keller was one of five players from the conference champion Lady Warriors picked first-team All-Hoosier North. In addition, three Pioneer, three Culver, two Caston and one North

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Caston baseball team lost to Fort Wayne Blackhawk 12-6 Saturday in a Class 1A regional at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne to finish 21-5. Caston’s sectional title was their third in school history. Caston is 99-55 with six straight winning seasons, a conference title and two sectional titles since the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic. FORT WAYNE — The Caston baseball team was leading Fort Wayne Blackhawk 2-1 in the third

Rochester’s Musselman, Heishman advance as individuals; Caston’s Chapman eliminated in playoff BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Micah Rans Ivan Reyes Owen Chapman LOGANSPORT — The Pioneer boys golf team is no fluke. One year after the Panthers advanced to the regional as a team for the first time in school history, they did it again Friday, shooting a 318 to finish third at the Logansport sectional at Dykema

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC REMINGTON — The Caston baseball team had many heroes on its way to a sectional championship. Here is a look at some of them: Eli Holloway Caston senior shortstop Eli Holloway got a second chance in his at-bat against West Central’s Teagen Holle in the bottom of the seventh inning of their Class 1A, Sectional 50 baseball final Monday, and he came up with perhaps Caston’s biggest hit. After the West Central first baseman dropped his foul po

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys track Harrison Dunwoody After setting the Rochester school record in the 100 hurdles at the Warsaw regional Thursday, senior Harrison Dunwoody now prepares for his second state finals. The state finals begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Dunwoody will take to the track at approximately 5:15 p.m. for the trials. The top nine advance to the state finals, which will occur at approximately 6:15 p.m. Dun

NM-Monroe Central game sent to Oak Hill BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball The Caston baseball team will play its Class 1A regional game against Fort Wayne Blackhawk at Carroll High School at 11 a.m. Saturday, according to an IHSAA media release Tuesday. Carroll High School is located at 3701 Carroll Road in Fort Wayne. Meanwhile, North Miami will play its Class 1A regional against Monroe Central at Oak Hill High School at 11 a.m. Saturday. Oak Hill is located at

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Caston baseball team celebrates with the sectional trophy following a 6-5 win over West Central in the Class 1A, Sectional 50 final at Tri-County’s Remington Community Park Monday. Ranked No. 5, the Comets will play Fort Wayne Blackhawk in a regional Saturday. Site and game time are to be determined. REMINGTON — For the love of all that is holy – or should we say for all that is Holle – it was time for the Caston baseball team to come

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Tucker Woolever Eli Holloway Baseball Caston 6, Tri-County 0 (Saturday): Carson Harness and Brodie Howard combined on a two-hitter, and Tucker Woolever and Lucius Edson had two hits each for the Caston baseball team in a Class 1A, Sectional 50 semifinal win over host Tri-County at Remington Park Saturday. Logan Mollenkopf added a hit and two RBIs, and Eli Holloway and L

Howard, Mollenkopf brothers all have multihit games BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Gavin Mollenkopf Carson Harness Brodie Howard Caston 6, South Newton 1 (Thursday): Brodie Howard had three hits and an RBI, and leadoff hitter Logan Mollenkopf reached base four times on a single, a double and two walks as the Caston baseball team eliminated South Newton from Class 1A, Sectional 50 for the second straight yea

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball The Caston softball team suffered a season-ending 10-4 loss to North Newton in a Class 1A, Sectional 50 quarterfinal at North White Tuesday. The team finished 11-10. Front, from left – Alex Mersch, Wrigley DeBarge, Hadlie Coffing, Jordyn Middleton, Avery Baldwin, Mia Mersch. Middle – Lexie Field, Kylee Logan, Bella Girton, manager Ellie Zartman, Audrey Ault, Abigail Apperson, Emily Rodas. Back – assistant coach Brian Logan, Ava R

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Rochester QUARTERFINALS (MONDAY) Eastern (Greentown) 8, Wabash 3 Lewis Cass 17, Manchester 3 (5 innings) SEMIFINALS (TUESDAY) Rochester 11, Eastern (Greentown) 0 Oak Hill 5, Lewis Cass 2 FINAL: Rochester vs. Oak Hill, 7 p.m. Thursday Class 3A, Sectional 20 at NorthWood QUARTERFINALS (MONDAY) Fairfield 11, Wawasee 0 (5 innings) Tippecanoe Valley 6, NorthWood 1 SEMIFINALS (TUESDAY) Fairfield 22, West Noble 1 (5 innings) Tippecanoe Valley 5, Columbia Ci