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 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

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball South Central (Union Mills) 7, Culver 0 (Thursday): Mitch Ramski had two hits and a walk in three plate trips, but the Culver softball team lost to host South Central in a Class 1A, Sectional 51 quarterfinal Thursday. Kael Buschman also had a hit for Culver, who finished 4-15. Jonas McCuen took the loss on the mound, allowing seven hits and seven runs (three earned) in 5 ⅔ innings. He walked three and struck out nine. Caleb McCue

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball South Central (Union Mills) 9, Culver 0 (Wednesday): Aiden Molebash, Maddie Kitts and Alexis Gasanovas each had a hit, but the Culver softball team could not overcome seven errors in a loss to host South Central in a Class 1A, Sectional 51 semifinal Wednesday. Pitching for the first time since her no-hitter against Oregon-Davis in the quarterfinals Monday, Molebash took the loss in the circle, allowing 12 hits and nine runs in si

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

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Aiden Molebash Brianna Schlemmer Brooke Davis UNION MILLS — If you do not think a high school softball pitcher and catcher are smart enough, dedicated enough and mature enough to call their own pitches, it is possible that you have not met Culver’s Aiden Molebash and Gracie Milam. Molebash and Milam do just that with no input from the coaches, and they put their heads together to good effect

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Rochester QUARTERFINALS (MONDAY) Eastern (Greentown) 8, Wabash 3 Lewis Cass 17, Manchester 3 (5 innings) SEMIFINALS (TODAY) Rochester vs. Eastern (Greentown), 5:30 p.m. Oak Hill vs. Lewis Cass, 7:30 p.m. FINAL, 7 p.m. Thursday Class 3A, Sectional 20 at NorthWood QUARTERFINALS (MONDAY) Fairfield vs. Wawasee, 5:30 p.m. Tippecanoe Valley vs. NorthWood, 7:30 p.m. SEMIFINALS (TODAY) West Noble vs. Fairfield, 5:30 p.m. Columbia City vs. Tippecanoe Valley,

Valley’s Shepherd takes 300 hurdles title, also advances in 100 hurdles, discus; Calloway, Bailon, Sailors, Hoover also reach regional BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Kyra Doran Betty Shepherd Kyra Doran of Rochester won the long jump at the Bremen sectional Tuesday, and she also qualified for the regional in two other events by finishing in the top three. In addition, teammates Allyson Callow

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Rochester seniors Harrison Dunwoody and Mason Hisey both won Three Rivers Conference titles in a field event at Wabash May 8. But the experiences they have in their events differ greatly. Dunwoody just started long-jumping this year, and he soared 21-3 to win the title at Wabash. Given that he made the state finals in the 110 hurdles last year, it could be said that long jump is not even the event for which he is most well-known. He also

Keller also homers; Molebash, Milam homer for Lady Cavs BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Adrianna Hall Maggie Keller CULVER — Maggie Keller and Adrianna Hall hit back-to-back homers as part of a four-run first inning, and Hall struck out 11 batters in the circle to lead the Winamac softball team to an 11-3 win over host Culver at Cavalier Park Monday. Winamac clinched a share of the Hoosier North title

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Kyra Doran WABASH — This was happening to Kyra Doran again, and it was getting aggravating. She finished second behind Whitko’s Emerson Harper in the long jump at both the 2024 and 2025 Three Rivers Conference track meets. And going into her final jump at this year’s TRC meet at Wabash May 8, she was in second place again. Sometimes it’s about perfecting the slightest flaws in your technique. And sometimes, you just have to want it more.

Coffing, Logan hit back-to-back homers for Lady Comets BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Gracie Milam Aiden Molebash FULTON — The Culver softball team was playing a game for the ninth straight weekday against host Caston Friday. Gracie Milam is Culver’s senior catcher, and she said you can play through fatigue when you are playing for your sisters. Milam went 4 for 4 with six RBIs, including a tiebreaking g

Pioneer’s Bowditch claims 800; NM’s Towles wins long jump BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Nathan Pierzchalski Winamac’s Nathan Pierzchalski won the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, and he also ran a leg on the victorious 4 x 800 relay, and Charles Disinger won both the discus and shot put to help the Winamac boys track team finish second out of eight teams at the Hoosier North boys track meet at Culver Tuesday. Winamac scored 120 points. Triton won with 135 points. Among other a

Sprinter Popejoy, distance runner Wegner win 3 titles each for Winamac; high jumper Sailors, shot putter Hoover win for NM; Caston repeats as 4 x 400 relay champs BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Aspen Moolenaar Pioneer senior Aspen Moolenaar won the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump and pole vault at the Hoosier North track meet at Culver Tuesday, helping the Lady Panthers finish in second place. Pioneer scored 109 points. Triton won with 123.5 points. The other Pione

Culver’s McCune wins 300 hurdles in girls meet, Carrington shares long jump in boys meet BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Owen Omondi Hudson Shepherd Track Tippecanoe Valley’s Owen Omondi won the 100 meters in 11.35 seconds and the 200 in 23.48 seconds, and teammate Hudson Shepherd captured the high jump and tied for first in the long jump at the Jimtown Coed Classic Friday. Culver’s Theron Carrington also

Valley draws NorthWood; Caston gets state champs; Pioneer to face No. 6 Tri-County; Argos to match up with Elkhart Christian; Culver to take on O-D BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Of the three ranked RTC area softball teams, two of them received byes during the release of the IHSAA softball draw Sunday. Meanwhile, Caston drew the defending state champions, Pioneer drew a ranked team, and undefeated Culver drew a conference rival. This is the 41st annual IHSAA softball t

Valley to meet Columbia City; Caston to face S. Newton; Pioneer to meet W. Central; Argos to face No. 2 Triton; Culver gets S. Central; Winamac to meet Jimtown after bye; NM draws defending sectional champs BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Playing in a sectional with three ranked teams, the Rochester baseball team drew one of them in their postseason opener but not before receiving a bye, according to the IHSAA draw released Sunday. Meanwhile, Class 1A, No. 6 Caston, the

Hampton goes 4 for 4, C. Sparks hits 2-run HR for Lady Warriors in loss BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Savannah Schlemmer Gracie Milam Chloe Sparks CULVER — Culver coach J.B. Overmyer said he considers himself a defensive coach, but his players might be changing his reputation. They might be becoming an offensive juggernaut. Savannah Schlemmer went 3 for 3, including the go-ahead two-run single as part of a five-run fifth

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys golf Ashton Musselman Jack Reffett Rochester 188, Winamac 220, Culver 260 (Monday): Jack Reffett and Ashton Musselman each shot a 44 to share medalist honors as the Zebras won a three-way dual against visiting Winamac and Culver over the front nine at Round Barn Golf Club at Mill Creek Monday. Isaac Heishman added a 47, Adam Reinhold and Brevin Nicholson each shot a 5

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Football Tippecanoe Valley’s Wes Parker and Culver’s Jonas McCuen and Caleb McCuen received scholarships at the 51st Moose Krause Scholar Athlete Awards in South Bend. Six scholarships were awarded, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.

Molebash: 3 RBIs at the plate, 4 innings of relief for the win BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Culver 13, LaVille 5 (Thursday): Abigayle Zehner singled, doubled and hit an inside-the-park homer and drove in two runs, and Savannah Schlemmer had three hits and two RBIs for the visiting Lady Cavs as they improved to 2-0 Thursday. Aiden Molebash added two singles and three RBIs at the plate, and she allowed one run over the final four innings in the circle for the

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Culver 17, Argos 3 (5 innings, Tuesday): Gracie Milam went 3 for 3 with five RBIs, including a homer, and Aiden Molebash pitched a one-hitter with no walks and 12 strikeouts for Culver in a season-opening win over host Argos Tuesday. Abigayle Zehner singled, doubled twice and drove in two runs. Molebash also went 2 for 3 with two RBIs at the plate. Brooke Davis singled and tripled and drove in a run. Alyviah Miller, Savannah Schl

Triton’s Patrick named conference MVP BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Lane Hook Logan Mollenkopf Ryan Meredith Karston Black Eight RTC area boys basketball players, including three from runner-up Winamac, were selected first-team All-Hoosier North in voting done by the conference’s coaches and released to the media. The eight players included Winamac’s Justin Potthoff, Will Malchow and Jaybin Hines; Caston’s Lane Hook and Loga

Caston, N. Miami, Pioneer in same 1A football sectional BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Rochester girls and boys basketball teams both lost to Oak Hill in their respective sectional finals, and they might see them again the next two years. They will also remain in the same volleyball sectional with powerhouse Southwood. Those were among the revelations when the IHSAA released new sectional assignments for fall and winter sports for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school yea

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC Boys Basketball Player of the Year Logan Mollenkopf It was early in the Caston boys basketball team’s sectional quarterfinal game against North White in which Logan Mollenkopf dribbled quickly down the court and dunked. One could say that it was a microcosm for Mollenkopf’s season. He did things all year that put him head and shoulders above everybody else – literally. And for that, the sophomore guard-forward is our RTC4 Player of th

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC Girls Basketball Player of the Year Kandace Kroft One can tie the improvement with Winamac’s girls basketball program with Kandace Kroft’s improvement as a player. Winamac won four games her freshman year. They won 14 in both her sophomore and junior years. And as a senior in 2025-26, Winamac won 19 games. It was Winamac’s most wins in a season in 14 years. Their team scoring average increased by almost nine points per game. Kroft had

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC4 Boys Wrestler of the Year Hartley Hoover North Miami senior Hartley Hoover is everything one might want in a wrestler. He is strong enough that he can overpower most opponents. And if you are one of the few that can match him in strength, he moves so well that he is a great defensive wrestler. It all clicked to the point where he became the first wrestler in the history of his school to make it to a state championship match. Hoover l

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC Girls Wrestler of the Year Laine Peppler Laine Peppler could have rested on her laurels after her junior year. The Rochester wrestler had just finished sixth at the IHSAA state finals at 170 pounds. Her performance was more than admirable. Instead, she spent more time in the weight room and worked on her technique to become a better offensive wrestler. Matched with her formidable defensive skills and positioning, she went from being o

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC Boys Swimmer of the Year Tucker Whetstone Tippecanoe Valley junior Tucker Whetstone narrowly missed going to state in both the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, but his times were more than good enough to be our RTC4 Boys Swimmer of the Year. Whetstone finished second in the 200 freestyle at both the Indiana Northern State Conference and sectional meets. He won the 100 butterfly by nearly seven seconds at conference, and then improved

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC RTC Girls Swimmer of the Year Hayden Lute With rare exceptions, Culver’s Hayden Lute was dominant in the distance events, and as a result, she is our RTC4 Girls Swimmer of the Year for the second straight year. Lute won the 200 freestyle at the Hoosier North meet by nearly 27 seconds. She beat the runner-up in the 500 freestyle by a minute. And after swimming a 2:06.95 in the 200 freestyle at conference, she cut more than 3.7 seconds off

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Culver’s Abigayle Zehner signed with Calumet College of St. Joseph Wednesday to continue her softball and academic careers. Front, from left – Scott Zehner, Abigayle’s father; Abigayle; Criston Zehner, Abigayle’s mother. Back – Mike Zehner, Culver athletic director and Abigayle’s uncle. Urged by her friends, Abigayle Zehner did not start playing softball until she was an eighth-grader. She is a senior at Culver now, and her career is not

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys basketball North Judson 63, Culver 36 (Wednesday): Caleb McCuen hit five 3-pointers and scored 18 points, but the host Culver boys basketball team lost to North Judson in a Class 1A, Sectional 51 quarterfinal at John R. Nelson Gymnasium Wednesday. McCuen scored 15 of his points in the second half. Braylon Jackson added eight, Jonas McCuen had six, and John Carr had four. Zander Nowak scored 10 of his team-high 12 in the first half f

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Manchester QUARTERFINALS (TUESDAY) Wabash 68, Eastern (Greentown) 62 Oak Hill 73, Manchester 30 SEMIFINALS (FRIDAY) Rochester vs. Wabash, 6 p.m. Lewis Cass vs. Oak Hill, 7:30 p.m. FINAL, 7:30 p.m. Saturday Class 3A, Sectional 20 at Columbia City QUARTERFINALS (TUESDAY) Columbia City 75, West Noble 33 Wawasee 49, Tippecanoe Valley 38 SEMIFINALS (FRIDAY) Fairfield vs. Columbia City, 6 p.m. NorthWood vs. Wawasee, 7:30 p.m. FINAL, 7:30 p.m. Saturday Clas

BOYS Rochester 56, Maconaquah 48 Elkhart Christian 70, Argos 41 Bremen 65, Culver 22 Tri-County 61, Pioneer 46 Three Rivers Conference boys Rochester 56, Maconaquah 48 Wabash 71, Peru 62 Tri-Central 53, Northfield 45 (nonconference) Southwood 67, Bluffton 52 (nonconference) Mississinewa 48, Manchester 47 (nonconference) Lafayette Central Catholic 59, Lewis Cass 46 (nonconference) Whitko 53, Lakeland Christian 26 (nonconference) Hoosier North boys Elkhart Christian 70, Argos 4

Popejoy, Iverson, Culver’s McCune, Berndt, Caston’s Douglass, Pioneer’s McKaig, Argos’ Bollenbacher also make first team BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls basketball Kandace Kroft Winamac senior Kandace Kroft was named the Hoosier North MVP in voting done by the conference’s coaches and released to the media. Kroft averaged 18.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.2 steals per game for the Lady Warriors. She led the team in scoring, assists and steals and guided

Valley to see former teammates vs. Wawasee; Caston draws N. White for home sectional while Pioneer gets DeMotte Christian; Argos gets O-D while Culver gets N. Judson; Winamac to face Knox; NM draws Southern Wells BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Rochester was the only RTC area team to receive a bye in the boys basketball draw released Sunday. In addition, the Zebras would not have to face No. 2 Oak Hill until the sectional final. Also, Tippecanoe Valley will not have to

Rochester’s Wachtmann finishes 3rd in 500 free, 6th in 50 free BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Tyson Wachtmann Tucker Whetstone Boys swimming Tippecanoe Valley junior Tucker Whetstone finished second in both the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly at the Warsaw sectional finals Saturday, but senior teammate Gavin Leininger finished third in diving to advance to the regional. Meanwhile, Rochester freshman Tyson Wa

Hellums scores 27, Austin adds 10 for Dragons BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Culver players and students celebrate at midcourt with the Bell at Phil Weybright Gymnasium at Argos High School following the Cavaliers 55-50 win over the Dragons Thursday. The win broke Culver’s 15-game losing streak to Argos. ARGOS — The Culver boys basketball team overcame nine years of frustration in approximately four minutes against host Argos at Phil Weybright Gymnasium Thursday. Becau

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls basketball Ashlynn Berndt Elkhart Christian 37, Culver 27 (Saturday): Ashlynn Berndt scored 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals, but the Culver girls basketball team scored only two points in the fourth quarter and lost to Elkhart Christian in the Class 1A, Sectional 51 final at Oregon-Davis Saturday. Ava McCune added six points, and Brooke Davis had four points and six rebounds. Kyla Yordy scored a game-high 16 po

L. Horn wins 4th regional, joins Beck, Gard, Robbins, Holloway, Winamac’s Wolford as champs BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Layne Brant Declan Grant Jackson Horn Beck Gard Holloway Robbins MISHAWAKA — Led by four-time regional champion Layne Horn and three-time champion Brant Beck, the Rochester boys wrestling tea

Valley 200 free relay finishes 2nd to Culver Academy; Parker has pair of top 3 finishes in sprints BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls swimming Culver senior Hayden Lute finished second in the 200 freestyle at the Warsaw sectional Saturday, missing out on going to state by 0.63 seconds. Warsaw junior Matilda Granger won in 2:02.59, and Lute swam a 2:03.22. Meanwhile, the Tippecanoe Valley 200 freestyle relay team that qualified first in Thursday’s preliminaries, finis

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Ava McCune Brianna Schlemmer Girls basketball Culver 37, Triton 30 (Friday): Ava McCune scored a game-high 14 points, Ashlynn Berndt added 11, and Brianna Schlemmer had 10 for Culver in a win over Triton in a Class 1A, Sectional 51 semifinal at Oregon-Davis Friday. McCune only had one field goal but sank 12 of 22 free throws. She also had eight rebounds and four steals. Bern

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Wabash QUARTERFINALS (TUESDAY) Rochester 56, Manchester 55 Wabash 44, Eastern (Greentown) 41 SEMIFINALS (FRIDAY) Rochester 38, Lewis Cass 36 (2 OT) Oak Hill 70, Wabash 43 FINAL: Rochester vs. Oak Hill, 7:30 p.m. today Class 3A, Sectional 20 at Tippecanoe Valley QUARTERFINALS (TUESDAY) Columbia City 58, West Noble 26 Fairfield 46, Wawasee 38 SEMIFINALS (FRIDAY) Valley 54, Columbia City 41 Fairfield 43, NorthWood 20 FINAL: Valley vs. Fairfield, 7:30 p.

Culver’s Lute qualifies 2nd in 200 free, 4th in 500 free BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Tippecanoe Valley 200 freestyle relay team qualified first at the Warsaw sectional preliminaries Thursday, and three members of that team also qualified for the finals in an individual event. Meanwhile, Culver senior Hayden Lute qualified for the finals in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. No swimmers from Rochester or Pioneer advanced to an individual final, but the Roc

McCune adds 12, Davis 11; Lady Cavs force 38 turnovers BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Ashlynn Berndt Girls basketball Culver 51, South Central (Union Mills) 25 (Tuesday): Ashlynn Berndt hit four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 16 points to lead three players in double figures as Culver routed the Lady Satellites in a Class 1A, Sectional 51 quarterfinal at Oregon-Davis Tuesday. Ava McCune added 12 points, and Brooke Davis had 11. Davis and Eliana Andrzejewski tied for

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC CULVER — Culver boys basketball coach Kyle Evans sees the confidence developing in his team coming off a runner-up showing at the Bi-County Tournament and a 27-point conference road win over Oregon-Davis, but Washington Township momentarily interrupted that confidence with a 65-43 win over the Cavaliers at John R. Nelson Gymnasium Monday. Kolton Howard scored 17 points off the bench to lead Culver. Braylon Jackson added eight, all in the

Class 2A, Sectional 38 at Wabash QUARTERFINALS (TUESDAY) Rochester vs. Manchester, 6 p.m. Eastern (Greentown) vs. Wabash, 7:30 p.m. SEMIFINALS (FRIDAY) Lewis Cass vs. Rochester-Manchester winner, 6 p.m. Oak Hill vs. Eastern (Greentown)-Wabash winner, 7:30 p.m. FINAL, 7:30 p.m. Saturday Class 3A, Sectional 20 at Tippecanoe Valley QUARTERFINALS (TUESDAY) Columbia City vs. West Noble, 6 p.m. Wawasee vs. Fairfield, 7:30 p.m. SEMIFINALS (FRIDAY) Valley vs. Columbia City-West Noble

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls basketball Eliana Andrzejewski Culver 39, West Central 25 (Thursday): Eliana Andrzejewski led Culver with 14 points and seven rebounds, and Ava McCune added nine points for the visiting Lady Cavaliers in a win over West Central Thursday. Ashlynn Berndt added seven points and six steals for Culver (15-6), who bounced back from a loss in the Hoosier North championship game to North Miami Wednesday. Culver led 28-23 after three quarter

McCune scores 13, Andrzejewski adds 11 for Culver in loss BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The North Miami girls basketball team recalled the era of Ruth Riley when it beat Culver to win the Hoosier North title Wednesday. Grace Sailors scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Kayden Donaldson added 11 as the Lady Warriors prevailed 52-41. Ava McCune scored 13 to lead Culver. Eliana Andrzejewski added 11. The 11-point final margin represented North Miami’