Indiana High School Athletic Association

     9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

____________________________________________________________________

MEDIA ADVISORY                                                        February 24, 2004

Contact: Jerry Baker, Sports Information Director                                                          

E-Mail: jbaker@ihsaa.org

BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING FINALS THIS FRIDAY & SATURDAY

The 67^th Annual Boys Swimming & Diving Tournament Series moves into the state finals this Friday and Saturday at the Indiana University Natatorium on the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis.  Action begins on Friday, February 27, at 6:00 p.m. with the swimming preliminaries.  The Saturday schedule has the diving preliminaries and semifinals at 9:00 a.m., followed at 1:00 p.m. by the consolation and finals in all events.  Single-session tickets are priced at $8.00.  A season ticket is $12.00.

Heat sheets for this year’s finals are on the web at 2004 Boys Swimming Heat Sheets.

Carmel is the all-time leader in IHSAA Boys Swimming State Championships with 10, followed by Hammond and South Bend Central, each with eight.  The top-ranked Greyhounds advanced twenty individuals and three relay teams to the 2004 state finals.

You may check out last year’s state champions in each event at 2004 Boys Swimming State Champions.

MEDIA:  Your 2003-04 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential will allow you entry into the State Finals at the I.U. Natatorium.  Please be prepared to show identification if requested.

                        IHSSCA BOY’S SWIM TEAMS FINAL 2004 RANKINGS

BOYS DIVING REGIONALS TONIGHT

The IHSAA Boys Diving Regionals are slated for this evening at four sites across the state, with the first through fourth place sectional winners qualifying for tonight’s regional competition.

The first through eighth place regional winners will then qualify for the boys state finals on February 28 at the Indiana University Natatorium at IUPUI, 901 West New York Street in Indianapolis.

Date:                Tuesday, February 24

Time:               6:00 p.m.

Admission:       $4.00

FIELD SET FOR TEAM WRESTLING STATE FINALS

Evansville Mater Dei will go in search of its eleventh IHSA Team Wrestling State Championship this Saturday at Center Grove High School in Greenwood.  Admission is $8.00.

Since the event became a separate competition from the individual tourney in 1995-96, the Wildcats have captured eight titles in a row, outscoring the competition 324 (40.5)–133 (16.6).  Prior to 1995-96, as part of the individual action, Mater Dei had claimed the team titles in 1985-86 and 1994-95.

SCHEDULE

• Doors Open for Teams at 8:00 am  -  Southeast Doors of Main Gym  (Door # 7)
• Weigh-In for Teams will begin at 8:30 am in the West balcony.
• Doors Open to the Public @ 8:45 am.  (Door # 7 or Door # 9)
• Media, IHSAA Affiliates, Workers, Officials, and Administrators Should Park in Southwest Lot (Reserved Area) and Enter Southwest Doors of Main Gym.  (Door # 6)
• The "Circle of Champions" and Individual Introductions will begin at 9:35 am, with the Quarterfinal Matches to Begin at 10:00 am on Four Mats.

QUARTERFINALS

10:00 a.m.

Match 1

Perry Meridian vs. Mishawaka  (mat 1)

Match 2

Columbia City vs. Bellmont  (mat 2)

Match 3

Portage vs. Evansville Mater Dei  (matt 3)

Match 4

Bloomington South vs. Lawrence North  (mat 4)

SEMIFINALS

30 minutes following the conclusion of the quarterfinals, at approximately 12 p.m.

Match 5

Perry Meridian-Mishawaka winner vs. Columbia City-Bellmont winner

Match 6

 Portage-Evansville Mater Dei winner vs. Bloomington South-Lawrence North winner

CHAMPIONSHIP

30 minutes following the conclusion of the semifinals, at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Media:  A reminder that your 2003-04 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential will allow you entry into the Team Wrestling State Finals at Center Grove.  Please be prepared to show identification if requested.

BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNEY FIELD SET

Pairings for the 94^th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament were drawn on Monday at Galyan’s in Castleton Square.  The tourney will get underway next Tuesday, March 2, at 64 sectional sites.  Sectional admission is $5.00 for a session ticket and $9.00 for a season ticket.

The complete draw is on the IHSAA website at 2004 Boys Basketball Tourney Pairings.

2004 BASEBALL TOURNEY SITES FINALIZED

Meeting at the IHSAA offices in Indianapolis on Friday, February 20, the IHSAA Executive Committee unanimously approved the sites for the 2004 baseball tournament.  Those sites are available at 2004 Baseball Tournament Sites.

Tournament play must begin on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2004, with competition at 64 sectional sites.  The State Championships in each of the four classes will be decided at Victory Field in Indianapolis on Saturday, June 19, 2004.

CROSS COUNTRY MOVES TO TERRE HAUTE

Due to a conflict with an Indiana University football game, the IHSAA Executive Committee has unanimously approved the move of the 2004 IHSAA State Cross Country Championships to the LaVern Gibson Championshp Cross Country Course in Terre Haute on October 30, 2004.  The course is located at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center, approximately 10 miles east of Terre Haute.  The venue was the site of the 2002 NCAA Division 1 Championships and will be the home for future NCAA championship events.  A decision as to the home of future IHSAA cross country events will be forthcoming.

The Terre Haute Area Chamber of Commerce, local Road runners Club and other community groups have all agreed to volunteer their time and efforts for the event.

GIRLS BASKETBALL HEADS TO SEMI-STATE

A field of 16 of the state’s top teams will head into semi-state play of the 29^th Annual IHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament this Saturday at four sites across the state, with the winners advancing to the state finals at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Saturday, March 6.

The field of 16 has a combined won-lost record of 343—59 (.853).  Only one defending state champions remains alive in this year’s tourney.  Tri-Central (19-6), last year’s Class A winner, will meet Fort Wayne Canterbury (17-8) in the opening game at Plymouth Saturday afternoon.

Date:                           Saturday, February 28           

Times:                         1:00 p.m., and immediately following

Ticket Information:      Session:  $7.00

WARSAW

Game 1 – Class 3A       South Bend St. Joseph’s (17-8) vs. Fort Wayne Luers (21-3)

Game 2 – Class 4A       Valparaiso (23-2) vs. Warsaw (25-2)

PLYMOUTH

Game 1 – Class A         Fort Wayne Canterbury (17-8) vs. Tri-Central (19-6)

Game 2 – Class 2A       Rochester (23-2) vs. Garrett (24-1)

SOUTHPORT

Game 1 – Class 3A       Brebeuf Jesuit (24-3) vs. Evansville Memorial (21-3)

Game 2 – Class 4A       North Central (Indpls.) (21-3) vs. Mooresville (21-5)

SOUTHRIDGE

Game 1 – Class A         Southwestern (Shelbyville) (20-4) vs. Washington Catholic (21-3)

Game 2 – Class 2A       Heritage Christian (20-5) vs. North Knox (26-1)

Kokomo and Valparaiso are the all-time leaders in semi-state titles won total semi-state titles won, with five.  Past girls basketball semi-state winners are available at Girls Basketball Semi-State Champions.

ICGSA Girls Basketball Final Polls

MEDIA:  A reminder that the 2003-04 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential will not provide entry into the 2004 IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 6, 2004.

Applications for credentials to this event must be faxed to our offices on company letterhead.  E-mail requests will not be honored.  Please provide the name of each person for whom you are requesting a credential, as each credential will be assigned only to that individual and he or she should be prepared to show identification from your organization if it is requested.

The credential form is also on the IHSAA website under Girls Basketball at Girls Basketball 2004 Credentials.

GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE FINALS MEETING MONDAY

Representatives of each of the final-eight teams will be on hand at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Monday morning, March 1.  The business portion of the meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.  A press conference featuring the championship coaches will follow, at approximately 10:45-11:00 a.m., in the Indiana Pacers Press Conference room.  Each coach will talk briefly about his team for the general media in attendance and then will be available for one-on-ones.

You are requested to enter Conseco Fieldhouse via the main lobby entrance.  Please check in at the hospitality desk and you will be escorted to the press conference area.

GIRLS BASKETBALL RADIO NETWORK CLIMBS TO 46

The IHSAA Radio Network total has been updated to 46, with the latest additions.  WIBC Radio in Indianapolis will again anchor the network and provide live coverage of each of the four state title contests, with pre and post-game interviews with players, coaches and tournament officials.

Those outlets wishing to become a member of the IHSAA Radio Network for the 2004 Girls Basketball State Finals on March 6, should contact Mark Higdon of Associated Sports Productions, Inc., 36 South Pennsylvania Street, Suite 190, Indianapolis, Indiana  46204.  Phone 317-633-1462.  Fax 317-633-1461.

Broadcast information is available at 2003-04 IHSAA Broadcast Regulations and 2003-04 IHSAA Broadcast Request Forms.

A complete listing of the current network is available at 2004 IHSAA Girls Basketball Radio Network.

Television coverage of the finals will also be on a statewide basis, with WHMB-TV, Channel 40, providing a live feed of all four games to a number of cable systems throughout Indiana.  For the listing of the cable system in your area, log on to 2004 IHSAA Girls Basketball Television Network.

MILESTONES

Brown County junior Mara Freshour scored her 1000th career point against Edgewood on February 10th.  She is only the 2nd female in school history to reach that level.

Chelsea Miller, Shenandoah junior, went over the 1000 point mark in career scoring during last Friday’s girls sectional semi-final against Alexandria.

The Warsaw girls basketball team set a school record for victories with their 23^rd in their sectional championship game.

East Central boys swim team captured its first sectional championship in school history, thus equaling the same accomplishment of the girls swim team two weeks ago.

James Hardy of Fort Wayne Elmhurst became the city’s all-time leading scorer on February 18, scoring 34 points in a 65-62 win over Homestead.  Tom Baack of Fort Wayne Concordia had held the mark, with 1,623 points.

Knightstown’s Greg Freeman scored his 1000^th career point against Hagerstown on February 21.

2003-04 Boys Basketball Plateau Achievers: 

IHSAA OVERTIME

Keith Wilkins has been hired as head football coach at Pike, replacing Ken Coudret.  Wilkins had been head coach at Huntington North the past two seasons.

After three seasons, Jennifer Marlow has resigned as girls basketball coach at Carmel.

Ralph Shrader has resigned as boys basketball coach and Assistant Principal at Fountain Central effective at the end of the season.  He will take over as Principal at Seeger, replacing the retiring Ed Corbin.

Mike Megyesi announced his resignation as girls basketball coach at South Bend Riley, after eight seasons on the job.  He will continue as the girls golf and boys track coach.

New Albany girls basketball coach Dave Rarick has resigned after three seasons with the Bulldogs.

Elkhart Central has announced that Bill Erlacher has resigned as head coach of the girls’ basketball program effective March 17, 2004.

Bob McConnell has announced his resignation as head football coach at Bloomington South.

After a dozen seasons, Ismail Attallah has resigned as boys soccer coach at Chesterton.

Brad Smith as tendered his resignation as girls basketball coach at Carroll (Flora).

Perry Meridian has hired Doug Bradburn as its new head football coach, replacing Craig Potter, who resigned following the 2003 season.

IHSAA ----- LOOKING AHEAD

IHSAA 03-04/30