Viking Sports Report, June 1, 2018

Viking-Sports-Report-June-1-2018 The Valparaiso Unified Track and Field team competed in the northern regional at Kokomo High School. The Vikings finished 6th overall missing out on advancing by five points. The Vikings were led once again by their undefeated 4x1 team placing first with a time of 48.21. Jamie Leftridge earned 8 points placing 2nd overall with a jump of 20-06.25. Nicole Bednar picked up 8 points in long jump with a jump of 13-06. Luke Balash placed 2nd overall in the 400m dash with a time of 55.00 and Caleb Yanna placed 2nd in his heat scoring 8 points. The Vikings finished off a great season making it out of their sectional for the 2nd year in a row.

The Varsity baseball team defeated Portage in the first round of the IHSAA Sectional 7-2 on Friday. Zack Zborowski led the way pitching a CG allowing only 4 hits. Marcus Gholston led the offense with 3 doubles and 4 RBIs. Gunnar Pullins also had 2 hits. Unfortunately, the Vikings fell to Chesterton in the sectional championship 7-0. Matt and Jindra and Noah Comstock both pitched very well limiting the Chesterton offense to only 2 hard hits. Once again Marcus Gholston led the way with another double and Michael Jovanovic also had a hit. The Varsity finishes with a record of 14-11 and will be losing 10 seniors to graduation. All players fought hard until the last out throughout the entire season making for a memorable one.

Nick Caputo, Cameron Brice, Alex Coil, and Ryan Vendl all earned IHSBCA Academic All-State 1st team honors. Congratulations!

The golf team played host to Hobart over the Memorial Day weekend at Forest Park Golf Course for an IHSAA sectional tune-up. The Vikings easily outpaced the Brickies 303-327. Andrew Karr led the way with medalist honors and a 73 followed by Mark Civanich in 2nd place with a 75.The Vikings host the IHSAA Sectional at Forest Park this Friday with a shotgun start at 8:30 AM.

Congratulations to Alexis Orlich, Ema Gilliana, and Keeley Evans for being named to the Duneland Athletic Conference All Conference Tennis Team. Ema and Keeley were also the top #1 doubles team in the DAC with a 6-0 record.

The Duneland Athletic Conference announced the winners of the All Sports competition for the 2017-18 school year. The award tabulates the end of season finish for all teams throughout the year. The Valparaiso High School girls’ sports teams combined to win the DAC All Sports award and the boys’ finished in 3rd place. Congratulations and great job student-athletes!

At the end of each school year the Athletic Department selects one senior girl and one senior boy athlete who have exhibited outstanding scholastic and athletic achievement in their four years of high school to receive an Athletic Academic Scholarship.

The 2017-18 male Athletic Academic Award recipient is Reece Staples. Reece is ranked 34th in the senior class, has a grade point average of 4.33 and scored a 1360 on the SAT. He has been a part of the football, track, and basketball teams while at VHS. He has been a team captain for football and named to the Academic All State Team. Reece has been involved in National Honor Society, Spanish Club, and UNICEF while at VHS and will attend Purdue University in the fall.

The female Athletic Academic Award recipient is Ari Gerdt. Ari is ranked 31st in the senior class, has a grade point average of 4.33, and scored a 1350 on the SAT. She has been a four year varsity letter winner in basketball. She has been a part of Student Athletic Advisory Committee, National Honor Society, and Team LEAD mentor while at VHS. Ari will attend Indiana Wesleyan University in the fall on a basketball scholarship.

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