Perfection
Thumbs up to the members of the Lutheran Central School volleyball squad, who capped off a perfect 32-0 season by winning the 2021 Indiana Lutheran Schools Athletic Association State Volleyball Tournament held Oct. 8 to 10 in Seymour. Members of the squad, who earned the school its first state championship, were Harley Toppe, Erica Warren, Maddie Adams, Emily Keller, Olivia Fritz, Sophie Wischmeier, Kassidy Wischmeier and Hunter Trueblood. The Saints, coached by Julie Warren and Jessica Wischmeier, also won the Owen Valley Invitational Tournament, St. John’s Sauers Eighth Grade Round Robin Tournament and Brownstown Central Eighth Grade Tournament this season.
Unblemished
Thumbs up to the Brownstown Central Middle School eighth grade football squad, which finished the season with a perfect record of 7-0. The roster consisted of 22 players: Preston Garrison, Kameron Cunningham, Linkan Brittain, Wade Mathena, Jaxon Johnson, Trevor Branaman, Trey Owen, Evan Stahl, Taylor Stevens, Micah Sheffer, Owen Wischmeier, Jack Pace, Caden Wischmeier, Maddox Ross, Grayson Cassidy, Joseph Gray, Sloan Stuckwisch, Ty Brown, Drew Shelton, Isaac Hutchinson, Anthony Elliott and Preston Maines. It’s the first time an eighth grade squad from the school has gone undefeated since 2012. The Braves shut out five of their opponents, outscoring them 202-32.
Regional champs
Thumbs up to the Trinity Lutheran High School volleyball squad for winning the Class A Loogootee Regional title — the school’s second in three years — Saturday. The regional roster consisted of Stella Kleffman, Ruthie Bingham, Kamzi Gross, Bailey Tabeling, Kiley Zabel, Drew Hubbard, Olivia Cain, Laina Klinge, Morgan Brewer, Allison Ward, Natalee Martinez, Carson Bowling, Casey Jenkins, Sydney Fillenworth, Addison Darlage, Ava Blomenberg, Cheyenne Campbell, Jordan Brewer, Laura Roeder, Madison Keith and Taylor Spicer. Trinity is coached by Faith Wilder-Newland.
Fighting domestic violence
Thumbs up to everyone who participated in the Clothesline Project on Oct. 15 outside the Cummins Seymour Engine Plant on East Fourth Street Road in Seymour. The annual event is designed to bring awareness to domestic violence, which has risen substantially since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020. From July 1, 2020, to June 30 of this year, there were 98 victims of domestic violence in the state compared to 2019 when there were 57 victims. Turning Point Domestic Violence Services organizes the event each year, and Cummins has participated the past eight years. Teens for Change, a dating violence awareness and prevention council, also participated by decorating 12 shirts for this year’s project. A related thumbs up to the winners of three awards given to people supporting Turning Point in Jackson County. The winners were Zach Spicer, Community Impact award; Malaine Lampkin, Teen Volunteer of the Year; and Amanda Schrader, Mission Partner of the Year.