Latest news with #IndyStar.com
Indianapolis Star
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana grandma's viral TikTok reaction to Caitlin Clark surprise yields VIP Fever ticket upgrade
A TikTok video of an Indiana grandma's Christmas gift − a Caitlin Clark shirt and surprise Indiana Fever tickets − has gone viral with more than 65,000 comments and 4,500 shares. "Caitlin Clark shirt," the stunned grandma exclaimed, and that's just where the fun begins. A TikTok video update shares the Indiana grandma's bucket-list experience with a twist − an Indiana Fever upgrade against the New York Liberty. The Fever may have lost to the Liberty, but "grandma had the time of her life" and is "forever grateful". Hopefully, you enjoy her reactions as much as we did: A TikTok video of an Indiana grandma receiving a Caitlin Clark gift for Christmas went viral: A TikTok video update showed the Indiana grandma's VIP bucket-list experience − crossing a Caitlin Clark basketball game off her list − that received an Indiana Fever upgrade earlier this month. Yes, Caitlin Clark was injured against the Liberty. Caitlin Clark suffered a left quad strain, according to IndyStar reporter Chloe Peterson's report. Caitlin Clark will miss the first official game of her college and WNBA career when the Indiana Fever play the Washington Mystics at 7:30 p.m. ET, May 28, according to Clark is expected to miss at least two weeks, including the next four games. The guard will be re-evaluated on June 9 before the Fever visit the Atlanta Dream on June 10. Here is the entire 2025 Indiana Fever schedule. All times are ET: * − Commissioner's Cup
Indianapolis Star
19-05-2025
- General
- Indianapolis Star
Vote for IndyStar Student of the Week for May 19-23
Welcome to the last Student of the Week competition for the 2024-25 school year! Each week, readers vote on central Indiana students who were nominated by their schools for their excellence in the classroom and beyond. Readers can vote for their favorite student throughout the week at the bottom of this story on with polling closing at noon on Thursday, May 22. Winners will be announced every Friday. This contest aims to introduce readers not just to the student who winds up winning but to all of the highly accomplished nominees. Here's what school leaders had to say about this week's nominees: More school news: 2025 graduations dates for Indianapolis and surrounding high schools Venita is a wonderful example of Christian kindness. She is a person who leads by example, always speaking to others with kind words and being inclusive to everyone she meets. She is also a person of strong faith who lives it each day. We are blessed as a community to have someone like her who truly tries each day to love her neighbor as herself. First off, Henry helps our in-school food pantry - Sparky's Closet. He works tirelessly to move items from delivery trucks to storage inside the school. Then, twice a month, he assists with doing a food distribution to local families as they drive up to the school. He and his teacher, Courtney Wilkerson, helped make this program a success. Second, he is an active participant in our IHSAA Champions Together program. He participates in our Unified Soccer and Basketball games. He also comes to the Unified Skills Basketball Clinic. He is a tremendous teammate and always brings enthusiasm to all the events. Ahbisak's dedication and strong work ethic earned her a spot at the Kelley School of Business, where she will pursue a degree in accounting. Her academic excellence has also earned her the distinguished title of a Southport High School STAR, a recognition given to students maintaining a GPA above 4.0. Beyond the classroom, Ahbisak shines as a member of the tennis team, and her involvement in MSA, Spell Bowl Club, and Key Club showcases her commitment to leadership, service, and school spirit. Ademikun exemplifies all the qualities we value in our classroom community. Ademikun is incredibly inquisitive, curious, and hardworking. He approaches each day with enthusiasm and a strong desire to learn, always showing respect to his peers and teachers alike. His positive attitude and dedication to his studies make a noticeable difference in our classroom environment. When he is present, our class is brighter, more focused, and filled with thoughtful questions and meaningful discussion. His eagerness to grow and contribute truly inspires those around him. Roncalli Communications teacher AJ Ablog said, "Simon has a sharp understanding of what makes a video work. It's more than just knowing the technical stuff, he gets it. You'll always see him involved in lectures; he gives his thoughts and participates, which makes class way more interesting. On top of that, he's super productive and seriously talented when creating videos. He's not just going through the motions; he's passionate and puts a lot of skill and effort into everything he makes, making him a standout student in my classroom." Intellectual curiosity within the classroom and creative approaches to problem-solving situations were also cited. Oyin is the epitome of the type of student that high school teachers wish for. She is an independent thinker. She questions and analyzes material well. She took on the toughest form of debate this year as a novice and did her best while representing our school well. Oyindamola worked to promote the Riley Marathon event. She was a state finalist and is nationally bound in the business department. Daily, she persists to come to school even on a crowded school bus, which sometimes passes her; she then has to get rides to school to be here to complete her studies. On paper, she holds a high grade point average, but beyond that, she is no average student. Oyindamola is the student who would make you want to teach for years to come. Marco is an excellent student whose commitment to academic and personal growth is impressive. He is curious, reliable, and eager to improve, consistently implementing feedback and striving for success. His dedication to the band mirrors his academic drive. Marco is the kind of student every teacher wants in class. Jameson is PASSIONATE about learning Spanish, and it's impressive. Jameson gives 100% effort in class daily, solid participation and a near-perfect grade, but that's not what led to his nomination. The way he seeks out more information about Spanish to learn as much as he can is both rare and admirable, and I LOVE having Jameson in class. Thank you for being awesome, "Alejandro"!
Indianapolis Star
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
IHSAA softball Fab 15: New Palestine maintains top spot; Franklin Central re-enters
Parity among Central Indiana's top softball teams continues to reign, but there has been one constant over the past couple weeks, at least, and that's New Palestine. The Dragons added five more wins to their ledger last week, including a come-from-behind triumph over sectional rival Roncalli on Wednesday. With sectionals fast approaching, let's take another look at the area power rankings. Last week: 1 The Dragons continued their impressive run with wins over Franklin, Roncalli, Greenfield-Central, Jennings County and Columbus North. The win over the Royals involved some craftiness from coach Ed Marcum involving his pitching staff (specifically ace Sadey Hughbanks, read more at and the Greenfield-Central game less than 24 hours later felt like a potential trap game — Katie Hirschy, Jersi Gross both collected three hits, Maddie Engle and Cat Trebley added two apiece to ensure there was no drama in a 6-2 win. This weekend will provide a must-see matchup with the Dragons playing Crown Point in Munster. LW: 4 The Trojans' pitching staff was an unknown entering the season. That is no longer the case. They're very good, with coach Alyssa Coleman cycling through Riley Fughr, Sarah Riley and Kara Biever, all of whom have thrown 30-plus innings and boast sub-3.00 ERAs. They have combined for 92 strikeouts as a staff (five pitchers total), and the defense has been rock-solid behind them, boasting a .949 fielding percentage on 430 chances (22 errors). Center Grove allowed just two runs on nine hits against Carmel, Zionsville and Noblesville. Most impressive. LW: 2 The Eagles were held to two hits in a 2-0 loss to Center Grove (both runs were unearned), but bounced back with wins over Western Boone (7-6) and Guerin Catholic (10-0). Leah Helton did not pitch vs. WeBo, but she did hit, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs scored and the game-winning home run in the bottom of the sixth. Zionsville has an interesting week ahead with Avon, Franklin Central, Cathedral and Danville. It will be interesting to see how they handle their pitching staff with sectionals just a couple weeks away. LW: 3 The undefeated Irish opened the week with another signature win, riding a four-run third inning to a decisive 7-2 triumph over Roncalli. They out-hit the Royals, 9-5, with Sidney Feczko accounting for two hits (a homer and a double) and four RBIs, while also allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Cathedral rallied for a 9-6 win over Carmel (four hits for freshman Jordyn Hazelwood; six strikeouts in five innings for Shelby Johnson), then breezed through Heritage Christian and Bishop Chatard to capture the City championship. McCutcheon on Wednesday and Zionsville on Friday should provide quality tests this week. LW: 5 The Royals registered four hits but were unable to scratch across any runs in a 2-0 loss to Noblesville. They overcame five fielding errors to rally and beat Lapel, 3-2, then outlasted Brownsburg, 1-0, in a nine-inning marathon. Carly McCall (winning pitcher, four strikeouts in 4.2 innings) and Addy Richmond both had two hits against Lapel; Makena Burlingame hit a game-winning sac fly to beat Brownsburg. Grace Swedarsky pitched a five-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts and only one walk vs. the Dawgs. HSE has a conference clash vs. Westfield before heading north this weekend for games against South Bend St. Joseph and Fort Wayne Carroll. LW: t-6 The Millers' week ended with a thud vs. Center Grove (lost, 10-1), but began with another signature win, a 1-0 triumph over HSE. Delaney Rundle led the offense vs. the Royals with a pair of hits, while Addison Retzinger spun a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and zero walks. Izzy Zapp (2), Haley Schatko, Delaney Rundle and Bella Hughes all logged hits against Center Grove; three of Retzinger's runs allowed were unearned. LW: 8 The Quakers added a bit of shine to their resume, rallying with a three-run seventh to down sectional foe Brownsburg, 4-3. Kenzi and Kami Arnett both had a pair of hits (Kami had a double, an RBI and a run scored), Ayva Mayes drove in two runs and Kate Hilton allowed one unearned run on two hits with a couple strikeouts over seven innings pitched. These teams will likely meet again in the sectional semifinals. Plainfield has a home-and-home against Mooresville this week. LW: t-6 The Royals led New Palestine twice Wednesday night, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after the first half inning and maintaining a 3-2 advantage with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. They out-hit the Dragons, 7-4, with Addy Poe and Eva Hurrle both clocking two hits apiece, and their defense was very good, making plays on a number of well-hit balls in the outfield. A postseason rematch between these two would be fascinating. Roncalli vs. Franklin Central for the Marion County championship on Monday. LW: 9 A couple more solid wins for the Cadets, who shutout Indian Creek, 6-0, then rallied to beat Danvillle, 6-2. Grace Gray totaled 16 strikeouts between the two outings; Grace Parks homered and drove in three runs as part of a two-hit game vs. IC; Tara Gruca (three hits), Macey Pugh (two hits) and Gray (two hits) all had two RBIs vs. Danville. The Cadets have a big weekend doubleheader upcoming with Fishers and McCutcheon on Saturday. LW: 10 The Bulldogs were extremely competitive in their two losses. They surrendered three runs in the top of the seventh in a loss to Plainfield (two hits for Izzy Neal; two RBIs for Tatum Hunt; eight strikeouts for Avery Toole), then maintained a scoreless stalemate with HSE through eight-plus innings (another two-hit game for Neal, plus hits for Kensly Larkin, Zaelyn Miles and Ashley Slyvia). Brownsburg has a trio of notable games this week with Noblesville, West Lafayette Harrison and Franklin Central lined up. LW: 11 Laylah Gore registered a couple RBIs and Addison Bodenhorn pitched a two-hit shutout to lift the Bulldogs to a 2-0 win over Madison Grant. They took an early 2-0 lead over HSE and were tied at two entering the bottom of the seventh (three hits for Paige Stires), then notched a run-rule win over Eastern Hancock. Gore tallied three hits, Stires notched three RBIs and Taylor Mroz and Ella Reed both had two RBIs apiece vs. the EH Royals. LW: 13 The Golden Bears bounced back from a 10-1 loss to Yorktown (the Tigers were responsible for New Pal's lone loss this season) with a 5-3 triumph over Mooresville on Saturday. Addison Stieneker had two hits, an RBI and three runs scored against the Pios, while Kali Laycock tripled and drove in a couple runs. Gracie Crafton allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts and zero walks. Shelbyville travels to Roncalli on Tuesday. LW: 12 The Tigers' bats fell silent against Avon's Addie Forst, mustering just one run on three hits in an 11-1 loss. Kendall Jordan accounted for two of those hits; Azstryd Alexander notched the other. Fishers was charged with four errors in the field and will look to bounce back this week with games against Carmel, Franklin Central, New Palestine, McCutcheon and Cascade. LW: NR Moving the Flashes in ahead of Monday's Marion County championship game. They have won five straight and eight of their past nine, with the lone loss coming against Cascade, 6-4. That run was preceded by an 8-6 setback vs. Noblesville in late April. Audrina Yorn, Jadyn Tinsley and Sarah Miller all have 30-plus hits; Adelaide Hubbard, Tinsley and Kiley Renick all have 20-plus RBIs; and Renick has 67 strikeouts over 70 innings pitched. This is a big week for the Flashes, whose game against Roncalli will be followed by Fishers, Zionsville, Brownsburg and Hamilton Southeastern. LW: 14 The Saints took an 11-0 loss to Perry Meridian in the Marion County tournament, but that setback was preceded by a win over Southport. Leyla Miller and Avery Langston both have over 20 hits on the season, while freshman Shae Olson and sophomore Lilly Schultz lead the team with 13 and 12 RBIs, apiece. Gracie Boggs and Brooklyn Barger anchor the pitching staff.
Indianapolis Star
12-05-2025
- General
- Indianapolis Star
Vote for IndyStar Student of the Week for May 12-16
Each week, readers vote on central Indiana students who were nominated by their schools for their excellence in the classroom and beyond. Readers can vote for their favorite student throughout the week at the bottom of this story on with polling closing at noon on Thursday, May 15. Winners will be announced every Friday. This contest aims to introduce readers not just to the student who winds up winning but to all of the highly accomplished nominees. Here's what nominating school leaders had to say about this week's nominees: Cody Martin is an outstanding student leader in both Key Club and National Honor Society. He's helped raise thousands for service projects, served breakfast to WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans, and led a project installing Little Free Libraries in our community. He helped host a carnival for individuals with disabilities and is often seen playing with children while parents connect with support organizations. Cody planned and led a breakfast for local veterans and has worked hard to become a confident presenter, earning several scholarships. His heart for service, leadership, and kindness make him a deserving Student of the Month. Tom Gallagher embodies our promise: "Lead with humility, serve with love, trust in Providence." A four-year GCHS football player, Tom led quietly with grit and sportsmanship, even after an injury sidelined him in his senior season. He remained committed, supporting teammates in practice and on the sidelines. In class, Tom shows love through respectful, kind interactions. Though not always front and center, his steady, humble presence is a model of quiet leadership. Saymon has grown and matured so much during the last three years at Speedway High School. He is working very hard this quarter to make good choices and to do his best. For his hard work and desire to do the right things, Saymon was selected as a Student of the Quarter. Additionally, he helps our in-school food pantry, Sparky's Closet. He works tirelessly to move items from delivery trucks to storage inside the school. Then, twice a month, he assists with doing a food distribution to local families as they drive up to the school. He helps to make this program a success along with his teacher, Mrs. Courtney Wilkerson. Lily is a compassionate and driven student leader whose dedication to service and excellence shines in every aspect of her life. As managing editor of The Journal, senior officer of Key Club, and national honor society member, Lily consistently leads with integrity. She balances academics, a 20-hour workweek, church volunteering, and multiple leadership roles, all while pursuing her dream of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner. Whether mentoring 5th graders at Cards@Camp or organizing school events, Lily uplifts others with empathy and commitment. Her future in nursing will no doubt reflect the same heart and purpose she brings to Southport. Cadet Lt. Col. Angelo Hogan has served exceptionally this year as the Battalion Commander of our Army JROTC program. Additionally, Angelo was recently selected by a brigade leadership board to serve next school year as the Brigade Command Sergeant Major for all of the IPS Army JROTC programs, an exceptional achievement considering he is a second-year cadet. He is the class president of the sophomore class, has a 3.96 GPA, and ranks 9th out of 206 students. A quiet leader, Ryan never seeks attention but is always first to help, whether through four years of baseball, three years in band, or volunteering at Douglas MacArthur Elementary to support kids in their 'Specials' classes. He's a dedicated member of FLOTS, serving with heart and humility. Ryan leads by example, giving his time simply because he cares. His actions define his character. Perry Meridian is better because of him. Roncalli Band Director Laura Gottman states, "Xochitl is an amazing student at Roncalli. She constantly volunteers her time with the band, jazz band, lab band, and the South Deanery elementary band on top of her already being in band and her busy schedule. Xochitl's humor and personality light up a room. Every day, I know that Xochitl will make me laugh and put others at ease. High degrees of participation in learning activities and intellectual curiosity within the classroom were also cited. Sophie has been such an amazingly hard worker. She is so persistent through her academic challenges. We love the high, achievable, academic goals she sets for herself. She takes advantage of the resources our school offers all students, such as study tables, to make sure she understands topics well. She doesn't hesitate to work hard for her goals and understanding. Her persistence and questioning are contagious to her classmates, too. No one is afraid to ask questions in her class and a large part of it is due to her boldness and bravery, to always ask focused, clarifying questions that many students benefit from too. Ian exemplifies leadership and effort both in and out of the classroom. In Spanish, he engages in conversation and continually improves. He was also instrumental in organizing the first Junior Giveback Day, managing multiple responsibilities with confidence and maturity. Glory has truly shone with incredible dedication to our classroom community. Her creativity and initiative brought our class play to a whole new level! Glory's always ready to help others, share ideas, and contribute in meaningful ways. Her positive attitude, leadership, and willingness to go the extra mile make her an outstanding role model to her classmates. Ava Hess is the President of the Class of '25 at Martinsville High School and was voted Homecoming Queen. She has been a varsity cheerleader on the Conference Champ M.H.S. cheer team, and she has assisted with Sparkle Cheer. She is a member of F.F.A. and is a 10-year 4-H Member. Ava is a member of our "Red Blue Crew," which helped the School earn the "WTHR Operation Football Spirit Award." She is a Peer Tutor and was a Delegate to Hoosier Girls' State. Ava will attend Franklin College to major in Business and will be a member of the Cheer Team there.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Vote for IndyStar Student of the Week for May 5-9
Each week, readers vote on central Indiana students who were nominated by their schools for their excellence in the classroom and beyond. Readers can vote for their favorite student throughout the week at the bottom of this story on with polling closing at noon on Thursday, May 8. Winners will be announced Friday. This contest aims to introduce readers not just to the student who winds up winning but to all of the highly accomplished nominees. Here's what nominating school leaders had to say about this week's nominees: Gabby Deer is an active and engaged participant in class, demonstrating strong leadership skills that inspire her peers. What truly sets her apart is her genuine care and concern for those around her. She consistently goes out of her way to offer support, encouraging others to recognize and embrace their strengths. Gabby's positive influence fosters a sense of confidence and community in the classroom, making her an invaluable presence. Her kindness and leadership are appreciated by everyone with whom she interacts. Gurshan is a creative prodigy! Between his dual credit creative writing pieces, the fantasy novel he is writing on his own, or the YouTube channels he creates, Singh makes learning cool. I am so proud of not only his intellectual curiosity, but also how kind he is to his peers. His positive energy in the classroom is contagious, and the school clubs he is involved in thrive because of his leadership. Uriel Cabrera is the salutatorian for the class of 2025. He wants to be a surgeon after graduation. He loves helping people, and surgery has always seemed so challenging and special to him. He is a leader in the school and is passionate about his education. We are nominating him because he represents what it means to be a Giant. He is making giant strides every day to make the world a better place. Roncalli Nutrition teacher Jeff Richardson states, "Callie is a wonderful student! Always receptive to any new ideas and an overall pleasure to be in class with!" A high degree of participation in learning activities, encouragement and support of school activities are also cited. Naomi is a three-year member of Student Publications, was yearbook editor last year, and is editor-in-chief this year. She is a three-year member of the Student Council and co-president this year. Naomi has done outstanding work in MBassadors (Advanced Choir) and MProv (vocal Jazz). She volunteers at Poston Road, South, and Smith Elementary Schools in various capacities, as well as helping build a house with the M.H.S. Habitat for Humanity Build. She performed as Ronette in our AWESOME musical "Little Shop of Horrors" and has performed with M.H.S. Madrigals. Naomi plans to obtain a master's degree in communication and become an investigative journalist. Our staff appreciates her kindness, selflessness, always helping, and her drive. Keep up with school news: Sign up for Study Hall, IndyStar's free weekly education newsletter. Brody has made tremendous progress in his second year at SHS. He tells great jokes and makes us laugh every day. Additionally, he helps our in-school food pantry, Sparky's Closet. He works tirelessly to move items from delivery trucks to storage inside the school. Then, twice a month, he assists with doing a food distribution to local families as they drive up to the school. He helps to make this program a success along with his teacher, Courtney Wilkerson. Contact IndyStar K-12 education reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@ Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Vote for IndyStar Student of the Week for May 5-9
