It was the Elizabeth Wagner show as the Wildkat hurler struck out 14 and made a fielding assist for the 15th and final out in a 20-0, 5-inning win over host Muncie Central Monday afternoon. With outstanding pitching, fielding and hitting, Kokomo stayed near the top of the North Central Conference with a 3-1 record.
Kokomo’s girls team earned a runner-up finish in the North Central Conference track and field meet Friday night at Marion. Kokomo’s boys team came in fifth place.
Tri-Central and Taylor split a wild baseball doubleheader at Taylor’s Phares Field with the Trojans winning the opener 9-7 and the Titans taking the closer 17-16 in nine innings.
The hits were too few and far between for the Eastern baseball team Monday as visiting Tri-Central left town with a 3-0 victory.
Josh Copp hurled the gem for the Trojans, blanking the Comets on three hits.
The Wildkats lost eight seniors from a 15-8-1 squad, so the challenge for second-year coach Lisa Tate is to get the inexperienced Kats up to speed by the time the postseason begins.
Of all 100 teams in the IHSAA’s Class 4A, only three improved their won-lost record from last season to this season any more than the Kokomo Wildkats.
Heading into Friday night’s regular season finale at Memorial Gymnasium, Wildkat coach Brian McCauley had two primary objectives.
Kokomo’s first family of aquatics returns to the IU Natatorium this weekend for the IHSAA’s 71st annual Boys Swimming and Diving Championship intent on making a big splash.
HUNTINGTON — Brian McCauley’s 40th game as Kokomo boys basketball coach won’t be remembered for any last-minute heroics or record setting performances, but it will certainly be remembered as a turning point for the Wildkats program.
After Kokomo’s girls basketball sectional championship victory over Logansport last Saturday night, senior Kayla Drake noted that the tournament was the team’s primary focus from Day 1 — that the regular season was almost like “practice games.”
FORT WAYNE — The early rounds of the IHSAA Fort Wayne Individual Wrestling Semistate marked the end of the road for 17 local wrestlers Saturday, leaving seven locals still alive in the state tournament.
Over the past quarter of a century for the Kokomo Lady Wildkats and more recently for four-year starter Kayla Drake, IHSAA sectional championships have become a pleasurable way of life.
LOGANSPORT — Coaches will tell you that tournament basketball is all about survival and advancement.
Kokomo utilized a 15-0 run over an eight-minute span to break away from a determined Logansport squad as the Wildkats won 49-38, in North Central Conference play Thursday night at Memorial Gymnasium.
For local wrestlers hoping to advance to the state finals at Conseco Fieldhouse, there has been one clear path as of late — standing atop the podium at the Peru Regional.
Winning sectional championships has come almost commonplace in the Kokomo High School girls basketball program, but not necessarily taken for granted.
The field of swimmers for the IHSAA’s 34th Annual Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals has been filled by way of at-large invitations and Kokomo junior Katie Hingst will be among those vying for individual honors Friday and Saturday at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
The Kokomo Lady Kats made a statement Tuesday night at Memorial Gymnasium.
The Lady Kats, hosting Class 4A No. 5-ranked North Central, rose to the challenge and out-toughed the Panthers for a 43-40 upset. In the process, Kokomo served notice that it will be a force to be reckoned with in postseason play.
ANDERSON — The Kokomo girls basketball team seemed out of the North Central Conference race at the holiday break. The Lady Kats stood two games out of the lead after splitting their first four league games.
The boys basketball teams from Kokomo and Anderson stared at each other for four minutes in the first overtime at Kokomo’s Memorial Gym Friday night, daring each other to make a move. Anderson held the ball, Kokomo held its ground.
One hundred.
That’s the number Rico Duke is focused on every day, every match. One hundred, as in 100 percent effort.
At Christmas, following a party at her parents’ home, Hillary Beck welcomed another set of guests who rarely have the chance to gather in person. Tia Davis stopped by, as did DeUnna Hendrix, and Ashley Hayes, along with a few other former Kokomo High School basketball luminaries.
Over nearly a century of boys basketball, Tipton High School has enjoyed its share of regular season banner weekends — few however, have been any more significant than this one.
Kokomo became the most recent victim of Lafayette Jeff’s athleticism.
The Wildkats began Tuesday night’s boys basketball game in a zone defense hoping to take away Jeff’s 3-point shooting. The Bronchos responded with dribble penetration and good ball movement during a 77-59 win.
After a 52-42 upset of heavily favored New Castle on Friday night, the Kokomo Wildkats had a chance to pull off another boys basketball shocker on Saturday against the Class 4A No. 3-ranked Carmel Greyhounds.
Kokomo’s stunning 52-42 victory Friday over New Castle at Memorial Gymnasium will officially go down in the books as the Wildkats’ sixth of the season against four losses, their first in the North Central Conference in three tries and their 11th overall in coach Brian McCauley’s two-year tenure.
An impressive team effort keyed by senior guard Kelcey Ackison’s career-high 16 points helped the Kokomo Lady Wildkats defeat the visiting Lafayette Jeff Lady Bronchos 75-59 in girls basketball action at Memorial Gymnasium Tuesday night.
Second-year Kokomo coach Brian McCauley is still looking for that coach’s dream — a 32-minute run of basketball excellence.
He didn’t get it Friday night at Memorial Gymnasium, but he did see his team close in on the quest for quality.
FRANKFORT — The Kokomo basketball team made sure this New Year’s would ring in a lot happier than last year’s with a well-deserved 63-60 victory over Frankfort at Case Arena here Friday, ensuring the Wildkats (4-3) a winning mark entering 2008.
Christmas 2007 was a whole lot better than Christmas 2006 for Kokomo High School’s Brian McCauley.
After tough losses to Class 4A powerhouses Muncie Central, Marion and North Central in their last three games, the Kokomo Wildkats were looking to get well against winless Westfield Saturday night at Memorial Gym.
INDIANAPOLIS — North Central’s boys basketball team was in a giving mood Friday night. Unfortunately, the Kokomo Wildkats were unable to capitalize on the host Panthers’ generosity.
The Western Panthers boys swim team went on the road and lost a close one to Maconaquah, 95-9, Monday night.
The Marion Giants ascended to the top spot in the Class 4A poll this week and looked nothing short of top flight in a 69-51 victory over Kokomo Friday night in Memorial Gymnasium.
The Kokomo Lady Kats had the Class 4A No. 4-ranked Carmel Lady Greyhounds right where they wanted them Tuesday night at Memorial Gym.
With the score tied 37-37, the Kats had possession of the ball with a chance to win.
The Katfish got good performances from their athletes, but lost to West Lafayette 100-80 in boys swimming Monday night.
MUNCIE — Kokomo’s boys basketball team gave itself plenty of chances to stop Muncie Central Friday night. The problem for the Wildkats was that over and over, Central swooped in and took those chances away.
Kokomo girls basketball coach Jason Snyder didn’t like what he was seeing at the start of the fourth quarter of his team’s game against Western Tuesday night. He sure liked what he saw at the end though.
The Wildkats withstood a furious rally by the Panthers in Memorial Gym, holding the visitors scoreless in the final two minutes to post a 54-44 victory.
Western sophomore Billy Heady won the 125-pound match by decision to lift the Panthers past Northwestern 38-36 in a Howard County wrestling clash Wednesday night.
The Kokomo Lady Wildkats lost the better part of a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter, yet managed to hang on to defeat the visiting Muncie Central Lady Bearcats by a final count of 52-48 Saturday afternoon at Memorial Gymnasium.
Rivalry games aren’t determined purely by conference affiliations or geography. It’s a fact that games have to be competitive for a rivalry to exist.
Until 2002, the Kokomo-Western boys basketball series wasn’t anything close to that because it generally lacked the most important element of any game — suspense.
Class 2A, No. 2 ranked Oak Hill and its 6-foot-4 center Ashley Pickering were just too good for the Kokomo Lady Wildkats Friday night at the Huntington North Invitational.
No. 10-ranked Western topped No. 13 Kokomo 107-79 in a girls swimming dual meet Tuesday at Western.
“Hello, I’m Kelly Hopkins.”
That was the statement made, not in words, but on the court by Kokomo’s 6-foot-3 freshman center in the Lady Kats’ 50-48 opening night win against the Noblesville Millers at Memorial Gym Friday night.
Kokomo’s 2007 football team will be remembered for winning the North Central Conference championship in flawless 7-0 fashion and for producing the school’s first winning season since 2000.
Who would have guessed it?
Heading into this season, Kokomo High School’s football program was knee-deep into its biggest funk ever.
Kokomo’s girls soccer team needed just one moment to make all the effort of Saturday afternoon’s Kokomo Sectional championship game worthwhile. The Kats swam upstream nearly all game, fighting against the current of waves of Logansport attacks, but despite the pressure against them a single opportunity turned the game.
MARION — Years from now, when the current Kokomo football players look back on the fall of 2007, the chilly Friday night of Oct. 12 will loom large. The scrapbooks and video collections will be stuffed with eye-catching numbers and highlight reel moments.
Rematch.
Logansport beat Kokomo 5-3 last season in the championship of the Kokomo Girls Soccer Sectional, a loss that still stings for the Kats. Thursday, both Kokomo and Logan booked passage to Saturday’s final with lopsided victories in the semifinal round.
If the Western boys cross country team wasn’t running so well this season, it would be easy to look ahead to next year when the Panthers’ top five runners all return.
But Western, with 60 points, showed that this year isn’t over yet — not by a long shot — finishing second to champion Oak Hill (46) here at Tuesday’s Logansport Sectional.
The drive for five — five straight cross country sectional championships — ended happily for the Western girls here Tuesday, and they certainly had a long drive to do it.
Kokomo’s boys soccer team was in agony Saturday night.
One might think a four-touchdown performance would be cause for a little celebration — perhaps even relaxation for most players.
Eleven years ago tonight, Kokomo High School’s football team wrapped up a share of the North Central Conference championship by beating Logansport.
As it turns out, the Wildkats haven’t had the opportunity to play an NCC game of that magnitude since.
Until now.
The start of Kokomo’s home football game against Richmond got off just a few minutes late Friday night as the Red Devils took a long time to emerge from their lockerroom in the school and make it onto the turf at Walter Cross Field.
The No. 1 doubles points Tipton and Northwestern got a measure of satisfaction Thursday afternoon, winning the final points of the opening round of the IHSAA Kokomo Boys Tennis Sectional. Kokomo and Western weren’t giving those points away, but the day’s tension had ended by then.
It’s no secret that Kokomo football standout Alston Andrews is enjoying his senior season — considerably more than he might have expected. From a team standpoint, the Wildkats have already exceeded their win total from the previous six seasons and they are sitting atop the North Central Conference at 4-0.
NEW CASTLE — October 12, 1979.
That was the last time the Kokomo Wildkats football team lost to the New Castle Trojans. Since, the North Central Conference rivals have faced each other 28 times, and after Friday night’s game here, Kokomo has come away the victor in each of the 28 games.
All things considered, Bryce Robinson had a pretty good weekend.
Earlier this week, Kokomo football coach Brett Colby paid the ultimate compliment to Huntington North when he said he hoped his Wildkat program was at North’s level in two to three years.
MUNCIE — In case the Wildkats didn’t already know they were in the cat bird seat going into halftime of their football game here at Muncie Central Friday night, they got an objective opinion at the break that let them know just what was going on.
ANDERSON — In his third game as mentor of the Kokomo football team, Brett Colby was presented with what could almost be considered a signature win for the Wildkats.
Almost.
CARMEL — There’s a reason Carmel’s football team is rated as the No. 1 team in Class 5A this season.
During 26 years of coaching as many as four sports at Kokomo High School, Hall of Fame coach Charlie Hall had several opportunities to get out the door and venture to new sites and sounds.
INCLUDES VIDEO CLIPS
In 18 years of coaching varsity football, Brett Colby has learned — among other things — how to recognize players who have the skills to make his life a little easier.
Kokomo’s boys soccer team showed why the Wildkats are so optimistic about the new season Tuesday afternoon.
The Wildkats aren’t yet at cruising speed, but showed a great first step by beating key rival Eastern 3-0 in the opening game of the season for both teams.
If first-year Kokomo football coach Brett Colby could send one message to Red and Blue fans it would be a reminder that style points don’t count in his chosen sport.
FORT WAYNE — Kokomo’s girls golf team shattered the recently set school record for 18 holes Thursday, putting a 306 on the board to win the Fort Wayne Snider at Noble Hawk G.C. The Kats shaved eight strokes off the record they set Tuesday and needed every stroke to beat DeKalb, which posted a 307 to finish second in the 18-team invite.
INDIANAPOLIS — The IHSAA Class 4A baseball state championship game featured a pair of outstanding left-handed pitchers in Indianapolis Cathedral senior Anthony Agnew and Kokomo junior Bryce Robinson.
INDIANAPOLIS — Kokomo High School senior Andrew Quinnette became the second Wildkat to be honored with the Mental Attitude Award here at Victory Field Saturday night.
The Kokomo Wildkats stand one win away from a baseball pinnacle.
No. 3-ranked Kokomo (28-3) faces No. 5 Indianapolis Cathedral (28-4) in the Class 4A championship at 8 o’clock tonight under the bright lights of Victory Field in Indianapolis.
Andrew Quinnette, Nick Sale and Evan Skiles lead the Southside six. Cameron Cunningham and T.J. Weir headline the large UCT contingent. And Corey Ringley and Bryce Robinson proudly represent Northside.
The Kokomo baseball program has produced a long line of outstanding left-handed pitchers including Tom Underwood, Pat Underwood, Anthony Shumaker and Joe Thatcher.
SOUTH BEND — Kokomo’s baseball team captured three straight one-run contests in reaching the Elite Eight round of the IHSAA’s Class 4A State Baseball Tournament.
If Kokomo High baseball players want a glimpse of IHSAA Class 4A South Bend Semistate opponent Homestead prior to Saturday’s game at Coveleski Stadium, they need only look in the mirror. These teams seem cut from the same cloth.
LAFAYETTE — The Kokomo Wildkats dramatically ended their baseball sectional championship drought Thursday night.
Steve Edwards had a clear vision when he took over the Kokomo Wildkats’ baseball program. Quite simply, he planned to build one of the best programs in the state.
Two outstanding Howard County athletes have accepted partial athletic scholarships to Bethel College, an NAIA Division II school in Mishawaka.
The Kokomo baseball team owns Howard County bragging rights once again.
Kokomo whipped Western 11-1 in five innings Monday at CFD Investments Stadium in Highland Park to complete a sweep of its county rivals for the third straight season.
Kokomo golfer Kylie Cardwell visited IUPUI’s campus and liked what she saw. But open to the idea that something else might catch be better, she visited Wofford College in South Carolina.
Kokomo’s softball team was blanked for six innings Monday at Cass before the Wildkats came alive for five runs in the top of the seventh to come away with a 5-3 victory.
The Northwestern boys basketball team dominated the local headlines in the 2006-07 season.
The Kokomo baseball team posted a 21-7 overall record and won a share of the North Central Conference championship last season. Still, the Wildkats came up short in pursuit of their biggest goal.
The spring sports season got into full swing Monday as several local squads hit the fields and tracks.
On the softball diamonds, Class 2A No. 3 Eastern opened with a victory at No. 5 Frankton and Taylor fell to Elwood.
Three years ago, when the Kokomo High School varsity football job opened, Brett Colby looked into the position with considerable interest, but for one reason or another, the move just didn’t materialize.
Kokomo High School made an excellent choice in hiring Brett Colby as its football coach.
Colby is a proven winner who turned around the South Newton and Frankfort programs. South Newton hired him in 1990 to revive a program that had won just three games combined the previous three seasons.
LOGANSPORT — Those close to the Kokomo High School boys basketball program will tell you of improvements over the past four months. The Kats’ record alone points in that direction
During 96 years of IHSAA boys basketball sectionals, there have been more than a few beaten-down teams that have simply gone through the motions — glad to see disappointing seasons end.
BUNKER HILL — After 23 seasons at the helm of Maconaquah, Rick Clark’s final home as the Braves coach looked to be shaping up as a rout, with his team on the wrong end Friday night. But by the end, what could have been a bitter game, turned out to just be bittersweet.
INDIANAPOLIS – The 70th annual IHSAA State Swimming and Diving finals got underway Friday night from the IUPUI Natatorium and it was an expected rough night in the preliminaries for the contingent from Kokomo High School.
ZIONSVILLE – Eighteen point deficits with nine minutes to go in basketball are difficult to wipe out. That same deficit when a team is missing one of the state’s top-10 scorers is nearly impossible to overcome. Still, here Tuesday night, Kokomo nearly pulled off an amazing comeback, fueled by sophomore Alan Arnett.
INDIANAPOLIS — Western senior Trevor Dickey will carry the flag for local wrestlers today. Alone.
Dickey was the lone survivor of the four Howard County wrestlers and 11 Tribune-area grapplers entered in the first day of the IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals here at Conseco Fieldhouse Friday night.
A disastrous 12-0 Richmond run to start the second quarter spelled doom for the Kokomo Wildkats Friday night in their North Central Conference finale against the Red Devils.
FORT WAYNE — Western assistant wrestling coach David Shepherd saw his opportunity and pounced Saturday evening.
Walking behind the curtain where the IHSAA Fort Wayne Semistate honored place-winners, his pace quickened as his son D.J. Shepherd and the other three 125-pound wrestlers were about to be honored atop the podium.
WEST LAFAYETTE — Kokomo’s four-year reign in IHSAA Class 4A sectional play is history.
WEST LAFAYETTE — Jason Snyder likely needed only a fraction of his allotted halftime to make his point here Friday night in the IHSAA Class 4A Harrison Sectional
The Fort Wayne Semistate can be a real shock to the system for local wrestlers. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is huge, chaotic and intimidating. And that’s all before a wrestler hits the mat.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Kokomo-area contingent at the 33rd annual IHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals represented itself well Friday night at the Indiana University Natatorium.
LOGANSPORT — For any basketball team that starts its season with nine straight losses, winning three of four games must feel like cause for celebration.
