Center Grove Magazine May 2024

TERRIFIC TONES CENTER GROVE PROGRAMS SHINE AT SHOW CHOIR NATIONALS

Super Seasons

Center Grove High School Ends Winter Season With a Slam Dunk and Begins Spring Season With a Home Run

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TERRIFIC TONES

CENTER GROVE PROGRAMS SHINE AT SHOW CHOIR NATIONALS

More than 100 Center Grove High School (CGHS) students traveled to Nashville, performed at the historic Grand Ole Opry, and left as Grand Champions.

Under the direction of Jennifer Dice and Jared Norman, Sound System, the varsity mixed show choir performing “The Crown,” and Debtones, the varsity female show choir performing “Eve,” both took home additional awards, including Best Tech Crew and Best Visuals. Sound System was also named Show Choir of the Year by industry social media authority Showchoir. com.

Dice, Sound System director, is celebrating her 18th year at Center Grove overseeing

the choir program. Under her leadership, CG Show Choirs have earned a staggering number of awards and championships. They are nationally recognized as consistently exceptional choirs, and outstanding in every category - music, vocals, choreography, technical, and imagery, just to name a few.

Aside from the awards at Show Choir Nationals, Sound System also got to experience a professional venue at the Opry.

“Show Choir Nationals is always a hotbed for some of the best show choir programs from across the country,” Dice said. “I think for me, the best part of the experience for the students is that when they exit the stage, they feel so great about their performance because it’s a performance

that they have not had before, with a level of professionalism that they don’t get in a regular high school auditorium.”

Norman, Debtones director, agreed that witnessing the performers’ feeling of pride is a reward in itself.

“With awards it’s that anxiety and anticipation, but then it’s instant pride and joy for the girls,” Norman said. “They work extremely hard all year long for this competition show, and for them to receive these awards on the Grand Ole Opry stage is hopefully a memory they’ll hold onto and cherish.”

Norman is in his 12th year as Debtones director and is an alum of Sound System.

Writer / Michelle Kaufman Photography / Becky Lollar; Show Choir Nationals; Provided

After graduating from DePauw University, he returned to Center Grove schools to guide the next generation.

“I just love the Center Grove community,” he said. “I loved the program that I grew up in. It was always a program that I wanted to come back to and impart my passion for music, choir and dancing to my potential students.”

Dice is quick to give credit to other teams rounding out the choir department. Notable among them is Greg Sanders. Sanders is their pianist, music arranger, band director and third choral director, holding a Master of Choral Conducting degree from Butler University. He is also the vocal director for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and director of the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus.

“To say that Greg Sanders is in demand in the Indianapolis music scene is an understatement,” Dice said. “Having him as the third part of our team is such a blessing. His talents are what help to make our students so successful.”

Dice also sung the praises of the tech team. “We have a crew of parent volunteers who

are absolutely amazing,” Dice said. “They communicate with host high schools and work to ensure that our set can be assembled and moved in a safe and efficient manner. The lead parents are Kerry and Amy Williams, and Brent Lollar. In addition, Greg Rainbolt is our semi driver and has done so for the past 15 years. Miles Hall and Austin Teike are the final pieces to the tech puzzle. Miles handles all sound equipment. He makes sure it is correctly set up for all home shows and competitions, and then mixes the band during our competition shows. Austin Teike, also a CGHS alum, runs our video boards during the competition season.”

The costume team and hair moms are integral to the program - so much so, you’ll read about them separately in this issue.

The Center Grove Choir Parent Organization (CGCPO) Executive Board, in Dice’s words, consists of the folks who make it all happen.

“Our budget relies heavily on them, as our fees are the lowest of any group like ours in this area,” Dice said. “They are committed to providing the students with an exceptional experience in music education

Greg Sanders

Jared Normam

Jennifer Dice

by supporting our program’s vision through fundraising, volunteerism and advocacy.”

Students involved in show choir have rehearsals both during the school day and outside of class. The choirs put on four different shows for the community throughout the year, and show choir competition season begins in December.

“In math or science class, you have building blocks and you have to go step by step through the process,” Dice said. “We treat our curriculum the same way. We don’t just start with a competition show. We want the students to gain confidence, skills and technique over the course of the year.”

“We strive to give each one of our students excellent opportunities in music education,” Norman said. “They work really hard all year, but I think they take a lot of pride and joy, not only when we come out as victors in a competition set, but in every show that they do. They know that the things that we’re doing at the fall show are the building blocks that will make us a great competitive choir.”

Next year, students in the Debtones and Sound System will be able to earn a physical education credit for their involvement in show choir. Dice and Norman encourage the performers to exercise and build stamina to prepare for the 20-minute competition shows.

Cameron Peters, a junior in Sound System, said participating in show choir has taught him how to make friends with people who are different from him.

“For the past three years I’ve gotten to see how a true show choir group should interact and how they can depend on one another,” he said. “I’ve never been more grateful to find friends who can show their hidden talent and be themselves in front of an audience. That’s what makes this program unique, because no one has a problem with it. I think it can also help our audiences work through social differences and realworld challenges of being kind to others.”

Cameron’s mom, Nicole, said she’s not only amazed by the talent throughout all of Center Grove’s choral programs, but also by seeing the happiness each student shows on stage.

“Beyond the talent, the pure joy that these students radiate on stage is what blows me away,” she said. “You can tell they are truly happy in their element. We are beyond happy Cameron has had an opportunity to work with Directors Mrs. Dice, Mr. Norman and Mr. Sanders. They are creative geniuses. We are forever thankful Cameron has had an opportunity to be himself and make lifelong friendships doing what he lovesperforming.”

CONGRATULATIONS SOUND SYSTEM AND DEBTONES!

2023 graduate and Debtones alum Carys Habig reflected on her experience and how it continues to impact her beyond high school.

“Being under the direction of Jared Norman, Jenn Dice and Greg Sanders has been a meaningful experience,” she said. “I didn’t anticipate how much I’d learn from show choir to use beyond high school, but it’s taught me how to intermix discipline and fun. They hold you to a very high standard. Achieving the goals we worked towards makes for some of my best high school memories.”

Sound System went undefeated in this year’s competitions, beating other schools from Indiana, California, Ohio, Illinois and across the country. Dice said her seniors help motivate other choir members to work hard and also let loose when the moment is right.

“The thing that I think I will remember about this group more than anything else is that every time they won a competition, they were genuinely surprised and genuinely humble about winning,” Dice said. “We teach them confidence, but at the end of the day we tell them that we’re talking about groups that are essentially the same, and you’re asking a judge for their opinion about what it is that you’re putting on stage. They

also know that the opinions of people who are giving the scores, while important, are not as important as the student’s personal feeling when it comes to answering the questions of, ‘How do you feel about what you’re doing? Are you giving 100%? Do you love your show?’”

Center Grove’s choral programs will perform their Spring Spectacular May

1 through 3. Seventh- and eighth-grade students have the opportunity to participate in a show choir experience called Sound FX. They perform with the high school during Noel and Spring Spectacular to get a preview of what the high school program is like. Elementary and middle school students can also join CGHS choirs each summer in Show Choir Boot Camp Jr., which is the week of Memorial Day each year.

To learn more and get updates on upcoming performances, visit centergrovechoirs.org.

BEHIND THE SEAMS

DEDICATED AND DILIGENT COSTUME AND HAIR TEAMS KEEP CG CHOIR MEMBERS LOOKING THEIR BEST Writer / Fredda Kovacs Photography Provided

Ja’Nean Rau and Tracey McMahen with Lily Rau

While Sound System and Debtones take center stage as the pride of CG Show Choirs, there is a behind-the-scenes group of dedicated individuals ensuring that Center Grove High School’s choirs look as perfect as they sound.

These unsung heroes are two groups of ladies affectionately known as the Costume Closet and the Hair Moms. The Costume Closet volunteers their sewing talents to create, enhance and repair costumes, accessories and props, while the Hair Moms help design the look and style of the hair to align with each show’s theme, costumes and overall artistic vision. Their contributions play a vital role in the success of the shows.

Wendy Webb, costume director, is a 1985 Center Grove graduate, where she was a four-year member of the marching band. Twenty-five years and three children later, she became a show choir mom and learned there was a need for a seamstress. It was a perfect opportunity to be involved with her kids’ passion, while also putting her remarkable skills and talent to good use.

The pathway to the Costume Closet was much the same for the others. Julie Smith joined the team in 2011. Penny Buechter joined in 2013, as did Martha VanBuskirk. Judy Williams and Lynda Branham joined in 2014 and 2015 respectively, as grandmothers of choir members. While their children and grandchildren have all grown and gone, these ladies remain as enthusiastic and committed today as they were on day one.

“We started out doing it for the kids but we kept coming back, eventually realizing that we’re also doing it for each other,” says VanBuskirk.

“We enjoy the work, we enjoy this department and we enjoy each other,” says

Branham.

For Director Jennifer Dice, their contribution is immeasurable.

“I can’t emphasize enough how valuable this team is to the program,” says Dice. “Their talents, their time, the magic they performit’s beyond words. I am always amazed and truly grateful.”

As they gather together to sew and share ideas, fostering friendships and a sense of camaraderie, they also serve as mentors to the students. Smith notes that many times, the students have come to the area for something specific, but wind up spending much more time with the team. They notice the work that is being done, they ask questions and they engage.

“What is impressive to me is that every

single one of them says ‘Thank you’ when they leave here,” says Williams. “Every year it’s a great group of kids.”

“A unique thing about this space is that we have kids who find a home here,” says Dice. “These ladies provide that for them. It’s cool to observe the kids connecting with the team on this level.”

As for the work that’s been done through the years, each has several standout memories. One particular project was handsewing thousands of rhinestones on dresses to make them shine under the stage lights.

“That season, the choir had dresses that required 3,500 beads,” says Buechter. “That’s 3,500 on just one dress, and there were dozens of dresses.”

Smith recalls being duly impressed with Webb’s ingenuity when Webb fashioned an elegant headpiece out of a lawn fan rake for the 2016 “Opera” show.

Dice was wowed by the telephones that Webb created.

“In a Debtones show, many moons ago, we had these old-fashioned telephones in

Julie Smith, Lynda Branham, Martha VanBuskirk

the show,” recalls Dice. “Wendy went to a home improvement store and found random parts that, when put together, became an amazing, spot-on replica of old-fashioned telephones. They were fantastic!”

The actual Closet is a large room on the second floor of the choir room. Inside the main area are worktables, sewing

machines and supplies. Further back and lining a hall is a jaw-dropping “museum” of costumes from years past. One walk down this hallway is like a stroll down memory lane - a reacquaintance with past shows. Directly opposite are shelves housing the accessories for the costumes. All are still very important, as pieces of them can be repurposed for current needs.

Through the years, the ladies of the Costume Closet have created, sewn, assembled, adorned and repaired not just costumes, but also sashes, belts, bracelets, buckles, head pieces, capes, leggings, stockings and even shoes. Anything and everything that was worn and adorned has lovingly passed through their crafty and careful hands. The teams’ attention to detail ensures that the choir’s appearance is as polished and professional as their performance.

The crowning touch is the contribution of the Hair Moms. Once the costumes for

the next season’s shows have been decided, Ja’Nean Rau and Tracey McMahen design the hair style that most appropriately and best enhances the overall artistic vision.

Executing this vision is the result of another team effort.

“We are fortunate to have great parental volunteerism,” says Rau. “No one needs to be a professional stylist. We’ll teach them how to achieve the look.”

On performance day, each Hair Mom sees four to five kids in her chair over the course of two to three hours.

“It’s a great opportunity to get to know the kids better and to be part of this organization,” says Rau. “I don’t know what we would do without the volunteer team. This entire program is truly phenomenal. To experience how this all comes together - I am just in awe. It starts with the theme of the shows, the music,

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then on to designing the costumes, and the choreography. To see it from inception to final production, it’s pure artistry. Jennifer and Jared [Norman, director] are just incredible.”

For Dice, the feeling is mutual.

“Just as with Costume Closet, our Hair Mom team is an extremely valued group in our program,” says Dice. “Ja’Nean and Tracey collaborate with us and Wendy, our costume director, to ensure the students look and feel their very best for every performance. Collectively there are over 200 students in the competitive choirs. That’s a lot of heads of hair to complete. We are grateful to both teams for their coordination, communication and desire for perfection in their area of expertise.”

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Penny Buechter and Wendy Webb, Costume Director

For the Costume Closet and the Hair Moms, lending their time and talents is a labor of love. They take great pride in seeing the students perform in costumes and coifs they have crafted and styled, knowing that their efforts contribute to the overall success of the show. The joy on the faces of the students, the audience response and the judges’ scores are the ultimate rewards for their detailed work and dedication.

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MIKE DAGGETT, PRESIDENT OF FOLDS OF HONOR INDIANA QA &

We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Mike Daggett, president of Folds of Honor (FOH) Indiana, to learn more about the organization and its mission.

Describe the mission of Folds of Honor.

Our mission is to ensure we meet sacrifice with hope, by providing spouses and families of our fallen and disabled military and first-responder families financial scholarships to pursue their educational goals.

How did you get involved in Folds of Honor and what led you to start the Indiana chapter?

I met Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney as we were both traveling for work in 2005. We sat right next to each other on a commercial flight. We started chatting and he sold me on his vision. Lieutenant Colonel Rooney is an F-16 fighter pilot with the U.S. Air Force.

Discuss the recent decision by FOH to include first responders as a class they intend to support, alongside military veterans’ families.

Members of our community have a strong desire to give back to those who serve us. By expanding our reach to include first responders, it gives our supporters a great chance to see their local dollars being used right here in Indiana.

Oftentimes people are reluctant to

donate to charitable causes because they are unsure where the money goes. Can you talk about how the money is used at FOH to support the mission directly, versus the administration of the organization?

Stewardship of the funds we are trusted with is at the very core of every decision we make. Ninety cents of every dollar that we collect are converted directly to scholarships. This gives us a four-star rating on Charity Navigator and we are rated Platinum by GuideStar. Our Indiana board is 100% volunteer because we believe your donation needs to go directly to the families who depend on us to deliver.

Historically, how many scholarships have been funded by FOH Indiana?

Writer / Terry Mullins

Photography Provided

Each year around 50 applicants totaling about $250,000 are distributed directly to Indiana families. Unfortunately, each year we have applicants who we are not able to approve, simply because we do not have the funding secured to do so.

Does FOH Indiana focus on supporting only Indiana students?

The Indiana chapter specifically works to bring awareness to the state. The money we raise locally is used first for all those who apply locally. In the past we have relied on the national effort to cover the needs of Hoosiers.

Who is eligible to apply for FOH scholarships?

As our program has evolved, the best resource is the Folds of Honor website, indiana.foldsofhonor.org. If you are the spouse or dependent of a military member or first responder, we salute you.

What are the primary ways FOH Indiana raises money to fund scholarships?

We host many fundraising events throughout the year. It’s a full schedule that keeps our volunteers busy. By participating

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SUPER SEASONS

CENTER GROVE ENDS WINTER SEASON WITH A SLAM DUNK AND BEGINS SPRING SEASON WITH A HOME RUN

BASKETBALL SENIORS LEAVE THEIR MARK

The Center Grove High School (CGHS) boys basketball team used their rough start to the 2023-2024 season to fuel their resolve for the rest of the season. That start included losses in three of their first six games.

“Each year I come up with a season motto for our team,” said CGHS Head Coach Zach Hahn. “I spend a lot of time thinking about this and how it will be the catalyst for team success. Our motto this year was ‘Care, Commit, Trust.’ Even with a veteran group, it took a while to establish that culture.”

Just six games into the season, the Trojans were already at a crossroads.

“No season is smooth and sometimes tough times create tough people,” said Hahn. “Our team rebounded with great resiliency. Most programs would crumble, but our players

came together and sacrificed the ‘me’ for the ‘we’ in team success.”

Not only did CGHS turn it around, but the Trojans also finished the season with a 21-5

record and ranked number nine in the final Class 4A Associated Press poll.

“We were able to win 16 consecutive games,” said Hahn. “Winning a championship in Indiana high school basketball is never easy. This group was able to win three with the county, sectional and regional. They had the second-best two-year 4A record at 43-8. They cemented their legacy in the Center Grove basketball program.”

The Trojans were led by eight senior players: Jalen Bundy, Joey Schmitz, Will Spellman, Dylan Meador, Peyton Byrd, Ben Chestnut, Carson Newell, Grant Long, and 6-foot, 10-inch junior newcomer Michael Ephraim,

Writer / Kevin Conrad, CG Sports Network Photographer / Mason Lee & Provided

CG Head Coach Zach Hahn, the Trojans’ winningest coach, cheering on his team in the Semi-state Semifinals versus Ben Davis at the New Castle Fieldhouse

CG senior Jalen Bundy named Large School All-State Honorable Mention

CG senior Will Spellman named Academic All-State Honorable Mention

Bundy ended his career with the third-most career assists at CGHS.

“[Bundy is an] ultimate team guy,” said Hahn. “[He] could have easily scored 15 points per game but loved making plays for others - has multiple college offers and will be choosing in the coming weeks.”

Schmitz was CGHS’s sharpshooter, setting the school record for the most made threes in a game with nine, and the most made threes in a season with 83.

“Best shooting display I’ve ever seen, at any level,” said Hahn. “He shot over 54% from three. Joey should have been an Indiana allstar. He was selected as all-state and will get

his picture put in the CG Hall of Fame. Joey is committed to Rose-Hulman.”

Spellman was an all-around contributor as a scorer, rebounder and defender.

“Will was a huge reason our team had success,” said Hahn. “Him getting injured in the regional really hurt our team’s chances at a semi-state championship. His understanding of the game as a post player with spacing, angles and screening is as high of an IQ as I have seen. He was a relentless worker, often shooting at six in the morning before school started. Will is committed to Franklin College.”

Byrd improved his game immensely and still has a high ceiling for future growth.

“Peyton developed into a defensive stopper and took it as a challenge to guard the opposing team’s best player,” said Hahn. “I don’t know that I have seen a player improve as much as he did from one year to the next. His best basketball is yet to come and he

will be playing at Indiana Wesleyan.”

The Trojans received great energy from Meador, Chestnut, Long and Newell.

“Dylan was one of our most consistent players and gave us a ton of energy off the bench,” said Hahn. “He shot 51% from three. Ben worked hard on his body and shooting the basketball. He was a big reason we had versatility on the offensive and defensive end. His 8 points against Franklin in the regional were huge. He will continue his basketball career at Saint Mary-of-theWoods. Grant was as special of a player as I have ever coached - ultimate team player. Carson was injured but became an assistant coach on the bench - was monumental in gauging the energy of our team and individual players. He wants to coach basketball.”

Big Mike was a welcome addition to the program.

“Michael’s growth and improvement from

aka Big Mike.

CG senior Joey Schmitz named First-team Large School All-State and First-team Academic All-State

CG junior Michael Emprhaim cutting down the net at Bloomington North following the Trojans’ Sectional championship win over Martinsville

October to March was second to none,” said Hahn. “He started becoming a double-double machine and really changed the game on the defensive end. His injury at the end of the season really hurt his production and our team. He showed great toughness playing through it. He is a fantastic teammate, hardworking and humble. Michael will have the opportunity to play college basketball after his senior season.”

Schmitz earned first-team, large-school all-state honors, and first-team academic all-state. Bundy was named honorable-mention, large-school all-state, and Spellman was honorable-mention academic all-state.

Hahn became CGHS’s most successful boys basketball coach this season, achieving many milestones in just his 10th year at the helm. Hahn has the most CGHS wins (157), sectionals (5) and regionals (2), is tied for the most county championships (6), and is the only CGHS coach to have four seasons with 20 or more wins.

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CG seniors #3 Noah Coy, #12 A.J. Beggs, and #7 Connor Liford.

BASEBALL WINS COUNTY FOR FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW

The Center Grove baseball program is coming off its best finish in school history as the Class 4A state runner-up in 2023. With the loss of many talented players through graduation, the expectations remain high for the 2024 team, as the team sets its sights

on winning five championships: county, sectional, regional, semi-state and state. The Trojans team achieved its first goal of the season, defending its Johnson County title for the fourth year in a row, beating Franklin in the finals 5-1 and shutting out Indian Creek in the semifinals 9-0.

“Being county champs for four consecutive years is an incredible achievement,” said CGHS senior shortstop Noah Coy. “It

speaks volumes about the dedication and talent of our team over the years. It’s been an honor to be a part of such a successful program, and I know that the program’s success is not slowing down any time soon.”

“Winning the county tournament was great,” said CGHS Head Coach Keith Hatfield. “We have a lot of new faces, so getting that first trophy out of the way was good for them.”

Coy, a Notre Dame commit, said the Trojans have more goals to achieve this season.

“Winning the county was our first major goal, and it feels great to accomplish that,” said Coy. We’re not satisfied yet. Our sights are set on bigger goals, like making a deep run in the state playoffs and ultimately competing for a state championship. Before we get there, our plan as a team is to cherish every single opportunity to get better. There are still many areas that we can build on, and we want to be playing our best baseball at the end of May.”

Before the season started, high school baseball prognosticators said CGHS’s strengths would be athleticism, defense and pitching. As such, CGHS’s offense was in question.

“Going into the season, I was concerned about scoring runs,” said Hatfield. “The guys have shown me a lot of toughness at the plate. It is great to see all of their hard work from January and February showing through in the season.”

Through the first 10 games of the season, the Trojans were averaging 10 runs and 10 hits per game. With that kind of production, CGHS can win a lot of games.

“Everyone has really bought into their roles and is contributing in their own way to help us win games,” said Coy. “The camaraderie and chemistry among all the players is very strong and it’s a big reason for our success. Lots of new faces and younger guys have taken bigger roles and elevated us to an elite-level team.”

“We still have a lot of season left,” said Hatfield. “I’m really excited to see how they evolve through the meat of our schedule.”

CGHS began the season ranked number four in the 4A coaches’ poll, but jumped

to number one in the state after two weeks into the season. The Trojans have a very challenging schedule in May leading up to the state tournament. Coy said the team will continue to work hard and improve daily to prepare themselves for the postseason.

“It’s been a pleasure taking on a leadership role with this team,” said Coy. “Seeing the dedication and drive of our younger players who are always eager to improve

is awesome. Our coaching staff pushes us every day to never be satisfied, and to always strive for more, and that mindset has been instrumental in our success. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a motivated and determined group.”

CG senior A.J. Beggs dives into third base with a triple.