It may still feel like summer outside but make no mistake fall sports season is here.
The time between the end of baseball season and the start of the girls’ golf year seems like an eternity and it’s exciting to get back into the swing of it all.
After covering sports in the greater-Indianapolis for the past six years, I’m excited to get started in Jackson County. I’ve been given a rundown on what to expect but here are the top-three things I’m looking forward to this fall.
Football
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Need I say more?
Basketball has always been the sport Indiana has been known for but it seems like football has strengthened its foothold in this state every year.
Looking at past seasons, it looks like I’m in for a treat this football season.
I remember a few years ago, covering Danville football and seeing Brownstown Central as a possible opponent at the regional level. I recall looking at some of the lopsided wins the Braves secured and thought they’ll be a tough game for the Warriors.
Unfortunately, that matchup never panned out and, after all I’ve heard about coach Reed May and his team, I’m looking forward to finally getting the chance to see the Braves in action.
And that’s not to say I’m looking forward to seeing Seymour.
It looks like the Owls have made great progress under third-year coach Michael Kelly, going from four wins in 2017 to six wins in 2018. If the trend continues, the Owls are looking at at least an eight-win year.
Deep postseason runs by area volleyball teams
I was spoiled at my first job with the quality of volleyball teams I got to cover. In my three years in Hendricks County, I went to the volleyball state finals twice and covered a state champion in the Avon Orioles in 2017.
It looks as though I might get that opportunity again in 2019 with the Trinity Lutheran Cougars, who aim to bring back almost every one of their players from last year’s group that went to the regional final. Another potential deep tournament run appears to be in the cards for the Cougars.
But there’s more to the area than just Trinity.
Seymour and Brownstown bring back teams that hope to build off their double-digit winning seasons. The Braves rattled off 29 wins last year as well as a perfect 9-0 record in the Mid-Southern Conference. They return all but three players from last year’s varsity squad, including their top-five kill leaders.
The Owls will look to replace six seniors, including their top-two kill leaders from 2018, but have a strong nucleus to lead them ahead this fall.
Crothersville and Medora, too, will look to build around fresh faces and experienced players.
Who will head back to Terre Haute for XC state?
Some might find this odd but I really enjoy going to the cross country state finals in Terre Haute.
I know it can be crazy with all of the parents and coaches there roaming the area, let alone all of the athletes, but it’s one of the cooler state championship atmospheres I’ve been to.
Jackson County will have at one returning state finalist from last year in Crothersville’s Kaylyn Holman, who finished in the top 100 as a freshman.
That is no small feat considering the amount of talent that graces the LaVern Gibson Cross Country course in October. My hope is Holman, and many others, return to Terre Haute this fall.
Lest I forget
No, I didn’t forget about everyone else.
I’m looking forward to soccer, tennis and golf in Jackson County as well.
I’ve already gotten the chance to see the Owls on the links at Shadowood and it looks like they’re well on their way to competing for a sectional title next month. I’ll get out to Hickory Hill on Monday to see Brownstown Central.
I love football but I’m also a big soccer fan as well and I’m excited to see how Seymour and Trinity fare this year. There’s been some recent successes for both teams and I feel more hardware will fill the trophy cases after the season is over.
And I can’t wait to see if the Owls can hoist another sectional trophy in boys’ tennis or if the Braves will dethrone them and halt their chances. Seymour has won two in a row while Brownstown is looking to win their first sectional since 2011.
Regardless of what transpires this fall, I can’t wait to get started.