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

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Hailey Howell Eliana Andrzejewski CULVER — The result might have been the same, but how the Rochester and host Culver girls soccer teams handled their 2-2 tie Thursday was much different. Rochester found it to be a big step forward. Culver was not so happy. Taylor Navara scored both Rochester goals. Freshman Hailey Howell assisted on both with through balls that sprung

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

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The following RTC area sporting events were postponed or rescheduled due to the heat: Girls golf The three-way match between Rochester, Lewis Cass and Maconaquah at Rock Hollow Golf Club in Peru has not been rescheduled. The North Miami-Culver match has not been rescheduled. Girls soccer The Tippecanoe Valley-Argos game scheduled for Thursday has been moved to Argos and will now start at 7 p.m. It will follow the Valley-Argos boys game, w

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The following sporting events scheduled for Tuesday were postponed due to heat: Boys soccer The LaVille-Argos game has been rescheduled for Sept. 14. Start time is 6 p.m. at Argos. The Lakeland Christian-Winamac game has not been rescheduled. Girls soccer The Culver-Washington Township game has not been rescheduled. Cross-country The Rossville Invite has not been rescheduled. Pioneer was among the teams scheduled to compete. The Winamac-L

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

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

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

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC It might be hard to tell identical twins Jonas and Caleb McCuen apart, but it might take awhile to imagine the Culver football team without them. Jonas McCuen was Culver’s quarterback the last three years, passing for over 2,100 yards. He also had seven career interceptions on defense. Caleb McCuen had over 700 career receiving yards. Jonas and Caleb were also the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of Culver’s Class of 2026. Th

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

Culver to host volleyball sectional, regional; Argos to host girls, boys soccer sectionals BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Rochester will host a volleyball sectional, and they will no longer be in a sectional with Southwood, according to the IHSAA Executive Committee meeting minutes released Monday. Southwood was moved from Sectional 38 to Sectional 36 in Class 2A, according to the IHSAA’s release of the meeting minutes. That will put Southwood in a sectional with Manch

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