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 Carson Paulik Rochester’s Carson Paulik has been named to the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A All-State team as a pitcher. Paulik went 4-2 with a 0.81 ERA in eight mound appearances covering 52 innings. He allowed just 37 hits and six earned runs while walking 12 and striking out 79. He allowed just one home run. To be eligible to be honored, a coach must be an IHSBCA member, and the coach must nominate

‘This is something I can envision myself doing for 15 to 20 years’ BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Isaac Shaffer was born into a football life and has continued to live it. It goes back to his days as a ballboy at Lewis Cass games to his days as a high school player to his days as a quarterback, running back and defensive back for the Kings to playing at the University of Indianapolis to jumping right into coaching. And after five years as an assistant coach at Rocheste

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC AKRON — The Rochester girls basketball team ended the pre-Moratorium portion of its summer schedule with losses to Warsaw and Manchester at the Tippecanoe Valley Summer League at Rita Price Simpson Court Thursday. The Lady Zs fell to Warsaw 20-14 and Manchester 38-28. Each game consisted of two 16-minute halves with a running clock. Games were played width-wise at both the main gym and the auxiliary gym at Valley. After a rough-and-tumble

NM relying on newcomers to replace 4 graduated seniors BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC High school basketball teams spend their summers figuring out who might replace those players that graduated from the previous season. That figures to be no small task for the Rochester and North Miami teams that met at the RHS gym Friday night. Rochester needs to replace leading scorer and rebounder Jonas Kiser, point guard Carson Paulik, starting forward Jack Reffett and top reserve

Lady Warriors looking to replace Musall, Sailors BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Rochester girls basketball team can get stops with their 2-3 zone defense, but can they turn those stops into baskets at the offensive end? The North Miami girls basketball team is coming off a Hoosier North title and back-to-back regional titles, but how will they replace the graduated Laney Musall and Grace Sailors? The teams met at the RHS gym Tuesday in a summer game that had decide

Rochester’s Heishman shoots 79, Musselman 87 in last round of season BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Pioneer junior Ivan Reyes studies a putt on the ninth hole at Sandy Pines Golf Club in DeMotte during Thursday’s regional. Reyes shot a team-low 79. Pioneer finished in 11th place with a 337 and did not advance. DEMOTTE — The Pioneer boys golf team improved their score from the 2025 regional, and they beat rival Logansport, but it was not enough to continue their season

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Lake Central boys golf regional When: 9 a.m. Eastern today Where: Sandy Pines Golf Club, 10527 Bunker Drive, DeMotte Who: Top three teams and top three individuals on non-advancing teams from the Valparaiso, Lake Central, LaPorte, South Bend Riley and Logansport sectionals FROM VALPARAISO SECTIONAL: Valparaiso 319, Boone Grove 322, Chesterton 329 FROM LAKE CENTRAL SECTIONAL: Lake Central 300, Crown Point 316, Kankakee Valley 321 FROM LAPO

Parks, Casper make honorable mention BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Carson Paulik Brady Coleman Conner Dunfee Baseball Rochester baseball players Carson Paulik, Brady Coleman and Conner Dunfee were named first-team All-TRC in voting done by the conference’s coaches and released to the media Tuesday. In addition, Zakk Parks and Parker Casper were both named honorable mention All-TRC. Paulik, a senior, went 4-2

Gonzalez makes honorable mention BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Bria Rensberger Aubrey Miller Aubrey WIlson Jadyn Field Adalyn Gonzalez Rochester softball players Bria Rensberger, Aubrey Miller, Aubrey Wilson and Jadyn Field were all named All-Three Rivers Conference in voting done by the conference’s coaches and released to the media Tuesday. In addition, Adalyn Gonzalez was named honorable mention All-TRC. Rensberger went 15-2 on t

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Carson Paulik Rochester’s Carson Paulik has been selected to play in the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association North/South All-Star Games. Paulik went 4-2 with an 0.81 ERA in eight appearances covering 52 innings this spring for the Zebras. He also hit .247 with three homers and 22 RBIs and an .846 OPS. The games will be played June 26-27 at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette. Paulik is the third Rochester player to be selected

Musselman, Heishman to tee off on front 9 BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys golf The Pioneer boys golf team will tee on the back nine at the Lake Central regional at Sandy Pines Golf Club in DeMotte Thursday. Cole Franklin will tee off at 10:40 a.m. Eastern with Brady Price, Dane Bowditch, Micah Rans and Ivan Reyes teeing off at 10-minute intervals. Reyes will tee off last at 11:20 a.m. Pioneer players will be paired with players from LaPorte and Marquette Catholic.

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys track Rochester senior Harrison Dunwoody finished in 24th place in the 110 hurdles in 14.89 seconds at the IHSAA state finals at North Central High School in Indianapolis Saturday. Dunwoody was competing in the state finals for the second straight year. He ran a 15.36 and finished in 27th at the state finals in 2025. Dunwoody broke the Rochester school record with a 14.52 at the Warsaw regional nine days earlier. That came a week aft

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

Good on Rochester’s future: ‘We’re going to have some spots to fill’ BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC GREENTOWN — The Rochester baseball coaching staff was familiar with Eastern (Greentown) coach Erik Hisner. Formerly the coach at Three Rivers Conference rival Whitko, they knew he likes to play small ball, full of bunting and running. Despite the preparation, it did not pay off in a 6-5 loss in a Class 2A, Sectional 38 semifinal loss to the Comets Saturday. In Eastern’s

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

The Rochester Zebras Softball team picture after their 3rd straight sectional title. Unfortunately their season ended Tuesday night at home with an extra inning loss to Western Boone at Fansler Field J. Field’s 2 clutch hits produce 3 RBIs; Wilson adds inside-the-park homer BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC It was warm and dry at Fansler Field Tuesday for the Class 2A softball regional between Western Boone and Rochester. Every time a player ran a step or every time the

Parks has 3 hits, Paulik steals home in sectional semifinal loss BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Rochester baseball team lost to Eastern (Greentown) 6-5 in a Class 2A, Sectional 38 semifinal at Eastern to end their season. The Zebras finished 13-16. Front, from left – Braylon Smith, Callen Ferverda, Brant Beck, Zakk Parks, Conner Dunfee, Brady Coleman. Back – Trenton Meadows, Carson Paulik, Parker Casper, Liam Spence, Linden Wilburn, Brayson Flory, Mitchell Clark. G

Fredel tops Winamac with a 46 BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Ashton Musselman Isaac Heishman Boys golf Logansport 153, Twin Lakes 159, Rochester 174, Winamac 201 (Tuesday): Both Isaac Heishman and Ashton Musselman each shot a 39, but the Rochester boys golf team finished third in a four-way dual over the front nine at Dykeman Park Golf Course in Logansport Tuesday. Jack Reffett and Parker Brown each added a

Heinzmann ejected after rough collision at third base; next: vs. Western Boone, Tuesday night BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Rochester softball team beat Oak Hill 5-3 in the Class 2A, Sectional 38 final at Fansler Field Thursday. The sectional title is Rochester’s third straight and their seventh in school history. Rochester (22-3) will host Sectional 37 champion Western Boone at 6 p.m. Tuesday in a regional at Fansler Field. Front, from left – assistant coach Rach

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys track Harrison Dunwoody Rochester senior Harrison Dunwoody finished second in the 110 hurdles at the Warsaw regional Thursday to advance to the IHSAA state finals for the second straight year. The top three in each event advanced to state. Dunwoody’s time of 14.52 seconds broke the Rochester school record. It also beat the boys state qualifying standard of 14.62 seconds. Manchester’s Carson Heath won the race in 14.32 seconds. Dunwoo

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls tennis Emily Bailey Lowell’s Aubrey Fleming defeated Rochester’s Olivia Bailey 6-3, 6-1 in a state singles sectional match at Crown Point High School Wednesday. Bailey finished with a 12-6 record. Her 2-0 record at the Culver Academy sectional allowed her to continue on in the singles state tournament even though the team had been eliminated. Rochester coach Jesse Atkinson called the match “extremely well-played” in a statement. “We

Wilson, Gonzalez have 2 hits each in 5-inning triumph over Eastern BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Mylee Heinzmann Adalyn Gonzalez Rochester junior softball pitcher Bria Rensberger had a plan on how to deal with Emilia Andrews going into their Class 2A, Sectional 38 semifinal against Eastern (Greentown) Tuesday. Throw in on her hands. Andrews, Eastern’s shortstop and leadoff hitter and an Illinois State recruit

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

NM’s Hoover finishes 2nd in shot put, earns first trip to state BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls track Betty Shepherd After a two-year wait, Tippecanoe Valley senior Betty Shepherd earned a return trip to the IHSAA girls track state finals by finishing third in the 300 hurdles at the Goshen regional Thursday. Shepherd was timed in 45.67 seconds, breaking her own Valley school record. She had the previous record of 45.97 seconds at the 2025 regional at Warsaw, but s

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

Wilburn goes 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Connor Dunfee Linden Wilburn Rochester 8, Bremen 3 (Thursday): Conner Dunfee pitched four scoreless innings in relief for the win, and he also had a double and three RBIs at the plate as the Rochester baseball team beat host Bremen Thursday for their third straight win. Sophomore and cleanup hitter Linden Wilburn went 3 for 3 w

Logan has both Lady Comet hits BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Emma Mathias Gabby Medina FULTON — Aubrey Wilson and Gabby Medina had RBI singles as part of a four-run fifth inning, and Emma Mathias and Bria Rensberger combined on a two-hit shutout as the Rochester softball team handled host Caston 5-0 Thursday in the regular season finale for both teams. Medina went 3 for 4, and Wilson went 2 for 3 fo

Bailey to continue in singles tourney BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls tennis Olivia Bailey Emma Murphy Knox 3, Rochester 2 (Thursday): Olivia Bailey won in straight sets at No. 1 singles, and Emma Murphy won in straight sets at No. 3 singles, but the Rochester girls tennis team’s season ended with a loss to Knox in the sectional semifinals at Culver Academy Thursday. Bailey won 6-1, 6-2. B

Coleman goes 4 for 4, Beck adds 4 RBIs BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Carson Paulik Brant Beck The Rochester baseball team celebrated their seniors prior to their game against Lewis Cass Wednesday and revealed their blonde ambitions for the future. Carson Paulik clubbed a three-run homer as part of a four-RBI night, and fellow senior Brant Beck also had four RBIs as the Zebras drubbed

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls tennis Olivia Bailey Ellie Straeter Emma Murphy Rochester 4, North Judson 1 (Wednesday): Olivia Bailey, Ellie Straeter and Emma Murphy all won in straight sets at singles, and J.J. Graber and Abriella St. Martin won in straight sets at No. 1 doubles for the Lady Zs in a win over North Judson in a sectional quarterfinal at Culver Academy Wednesday. Ella Ramsey and Sav

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

Miller, Medina, Wilson each have RBI BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The 2026 Rochester Zebras softball team poses for a picture after their 3-1 victory over Lewis Cass on Wednesday. The Zebras finished the TRC at 9-0 for the second straight season to take back to back conference titles. Bria Rensberger pitched a two-hitter with no walks and 12 strikeouts, and Aubrey Wilson doubled and drove in a run as the Rochester softball team beat Lewis Cass 3-1 to win the Three R

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Brady Coleman SOUTH WHITLEY — Rochester junior Brady Coleman had not pitched in a game in 10 days, and he said his arm felt great as he returned to the mound against host Whitko Tuesday. He showed off his rejuvenated arm by pitching perhaps the best game of his career and flirting with the single-game accomplishment that all pitchers dream of in a 7-2 win. Coleman came within an out of a no-hitter before eventually settling on a combined

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys golf Ashton Musselman Rochester 182, LaVille 225 (Tuesday): Ashton Musselman claimed medalist honors with an even-par 36 as the visiting Rochester boys golf team defeated LaVille over the front nine of the Black Course at The Golf Club at Swan Lake Resort Tuesday. Isaac Heishman added a 45, Jack Reffett had a 49, Brevin Nicholson had a 52, and Adam Reinhold had a 56. Lucas Kreske led LaVille with a 43. LaVille had only four golfers.

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Aubrey Wilson Bria Rensberger Aubrey Miller SOUTH WHITLEY — The Rochester softball team is one win away from another undefeated run through the Three Rivers Conference. Aubrey Wilson had two extra-base hits and four RBIs, and Bria Rensberger pitched a three-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts as the Rochester softball team clinched a share of the Three Rivers Conference title with a 10-0 win

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Baseball Callen Ferverda The Rochester baseball team went 0-2 at the Twin Lakes Classic Saturday, extending their losing streak to six games and dropping their record to 10-15. Rochester lost to Twin Lakes 6-4 and to North Central 16-6 in five innings. Callen Ferverda went 2 for 3 with a single and a double, and Parker Casper had a hit and two RBIs in the loss to North Central (Indianapolis). Brady Coleman, Linden Wilburn, Conner Dunfee a

Northwestern repeats as conference champs; Whaley takes medalist BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys golf Isaac Heishman Ashton Musselman Led by all-conference players Isaac Heishman and Ashton Musselman, the Rochester boys golf team shot a 359 and finished fourth out of 10 teams at the Three Rivers Conference tournament at Round Barn Golf Club at Mill Creek Saturday. Heishman was Rochester’s low scorer

Gonzalez, Wilson homer for Lady Zs, but 11-game winning streak ends BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Dalynne Bussard Minda Shriver KC Shriver AKRON — Dalynne Bussard already owns the Tippecanoe Valley softball record for strikeouts. That is old news. A senior now, she broke that record when she was a sophomore. In fact, she has more strikeouts than the pitchers who are Nos. 2 and 3 on Valley’s all-time list comb

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Rochester softball seniors, from left, Mylee Heinzmann, Aubrey Miller and Jordyn Hackworth were honored in pregame ceremonies before the team’s 17-0 win in five innings over Academy at Fansler Field Saturday. Rochester then traveled to Tippecanoe Valley and lost 5-3. Rochester is ranked No. 7 in this week’s Class 2A coaches poll. Kyleigh Little highlighted a 12-run first inning with a two-run triple, Brailyn Hunter went 3 for 3 with three

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.

Valley gets matchup with Wawasee at Warsaw BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC The Rochester girls tennis team will play North Judson in a Sectional 48 opening round match at Culver Academy, according to the IHSAA draw released Sunday. The Rochester-North Judson match is set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Rochester-North Judson winner will play Knox, who received a bye, in the semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. In the other half of the draw, Culver Academy drew Triton with the

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Carson Paulik LOGANSPORT — Carson Paulik had a double and a single, and Brant Beck drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, but the Rochester baseball team lost to Logansport 8-1 at Jim Turner Field Thursday. Rochester lost their fourth straight game and fell to 10-13. Logansport bumped their record to 13-8. Rochester took the lead on Beck’s RBI, but Logansport laced three triples and a double in a span of nine batters in

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Rochester 7, Peru 0 (forfeit, Thursday): Rochester defeated Peru by forfeit Thursday to improve to 7-0 in the Three Rivers Conference. Peru forfeited due to a lack of available players. Peru lost 13-9 to Maconaquah Wednesday. It is believed that a Peru player suffered a serious injury during the game that would not have allowed Peru to field a team at Rochester Thursday. The Rochester Community High School Athletics social media

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Softball Adalyn Gonzalez Gabby Medina Rochester 4, Northwestern 1 (Wednesday): Bria Rensberger pitched a five-hitter with no walks and nine strikeouts, and Adalyn Gonzalez highlighted a four-run fifth with a two-out, two-run single as the Lady Zs improved to 6-0 in the Three Rivers Conference with a home win at Fansler Field Wednesday. Rensberger outdueled Northwestern’s

Paulik fans 14; Coleman has 4 hits, including HR BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Carson Paulik Brady Coleman Kade Dill drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the 10th inning, and Ayden Garcia added an RBI on a squeeze bunt as the Northwestern baseball team beat Rochester 4-2 in an extra-inning marathon at Bob Copeland Field Wednesday. Northwestern won their 10th straight game and improved

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Boys golf Ashton Musselman Southwood 179, Rochester 180, Manchester 196 (Wednesday): Ashton Musselman shot a 40 to share medalist honors, but host Rochester settled for second in a three-way match against Southwood and Manchester over the front nine at Round Barn Golf Club at Mill Creek Wednesday. Isaac Heishman had a 43, Jack Reffett had a 47, Brevin Nicholson had a 50, and Parker Brown had a 54 to round out the Rochester scorecard. Grif

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS Sports Editor, RTC Girls tennis Olivia Bailey Northwestern 4, Rochester 1 (Wednesday): Olivia Bailey won at No. 1 singles on senior night, but the host Lady Zs fell to Northwestern at the RHS courts Wednesday. Ellie Straeter and Emma Murphy both lost in straight sets at Nos. 2 and 3 singles, respectively. J.J. Graber and Abriella St. Martin lost in straight sets at No. 1 doubles, and Shelby Pearson and Savannah Wolters lost in straight sets at No. 2 doubles