Center Grove Magazine June 2023

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023

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SUPERINTENDENT DR. RICHARD ARKANOFF MESSAGE TO THE CLASS OF 2023 7

PRINCIPAL DR. JEFFRY HENDERSON MESSAGE TO THE CLASS OF 2023 8 CGHS CLASS OF 2023

16 SENIOR SHOUTOUTS 19 SENIOR MEMORIES 22 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR & LEGACY AWARD WINNERS 25 WINNING WAYS

CGHS Junior Joey Schmitz Is a Player, Student, Coach and Leader

CGHS TOP 20 STUDENTS 13

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CGHS SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS AND ALL STUDENT BODY EXECUTIVE BOARD

enter Grove High School’s Class of 2023 had barely started their high school careers when COVID shut down the world. They have learned resilience and a true appreciation of a world without those restrictions. This class is very talented, not only academically, but also athletically and musically. Over their four years, they have enjoyed numerous successes from county titles to state and national championships. We have enjoyed celebrating their victories and look forward to watching them flourish in the next phases of their lives.

I wish every senior the very best as they start the next chapters in their lives.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Arkanoff, Ed.D. Superintendent

I WISH EVERY SENIOR THE VERY BEST AS THEY START THE NEXT CHAPTERS IN THEIR LIVES.

ue to your talent and hard work, the 2022-2023 school year was one filled with continued successes in our classrooms, extra-curricular activities, and our athletic competitions. We were finally able to have a year without COVID protocol interruptions or alterations to our school setting. It was nice to be back to “normal”.

As 2023 CGHS graduates, heading off to pursue your post-high school plans, whether that be a college or university, a technical or trade school, an apprenticeship, military service, or employment, I am confident that your last four years at CGHS have prepared you well for what you will encounter next.

You have all developed tremendous skills in goal setting, perseverance, critical thinking, and problem solving. Whether it was through a writing assignment in an English class; an experiment in Science; a project in Engineering and Technology or Project Lead the Way; a complex problem in Math; a performance in Band, Choir, Orchestra or Theater; a portfolio of work in Art; challenging your health and physical stamina and fitness in PE/Health; learning to care for yourself and your family in FACS; learning about our own society in Social Studies; examining the language and culture of another society in World Language; or learning about personal and business finance in a Business class, you have grown tremendously as learners.

As graduates, you possess brilliant minds capable of critical analysis of the world. You have compassion for others as evidenced by the many community service projects you have been involved in, either individually or as a member of a school club or organization. You have a remarkable capacity to make a positive impact on our community, or on any community in which you choose to live. I want to challenge you to use that capacity to its fullest. Leverage your intelligence, compassion, and perseverance to leave a positive mark wherever you go.

I wish you success, good health, and happiness as you graduate from Center Grove High School. I hope you will stay in touch with us and let us know how you are doing in future years. Remember to respect and care for yourself, respect and care for others, and remember… It’s Great to be a Trojan!

Jeffry M. Henderson, Ed.D. Principal

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023

Ethan Adams

Sydney Adams

Obapese Akinfeleye

Ali Alabbas

Salah Ali

Madison Allen

Derik Alting

Jonathan Alvarez-Berrios

Jordyn Amacker-Smith

Ruby Anderson

Marcus Ankney

Anthony Arambula

Owen Armstrong

Simon Atkins

Alana Aucremanne

Elijah Auld

Lucas Ault

Cole Baker

Owen Baker

Grant Baldwin

Garrison Barile

Olivia Barnett

Page Barr

Brooke Bartlett

Maxwell Barton

Savannah Battle

Nikolas Baugh

Tarnjoit Bawa

Camry Bay

Kennedy Beckner

Madison Bell

Sadie Bemis

Quentin Bence

Ethan Benoit

Brayden Bergen

Ethan Bernius

Brock Berry

Katherine Bertram

Kendyll Bigsbee

Carly Bilek

Savanna Bischoff

Jacob Bishop

Adex Bixler

Ainsley Blazek

Caleb Boles

Benjamin Boushehry

Alivia Bowers

Zachary Boyer

Adam Brandow

Amelia Brandon

Jonah Brandon

Ciarra Breckenridge

Kayla Briant

James Bridges

Anna Maria Briggs

Haidyn Brooks

Allison Brown

Bethany Brown

Blake Brown

Christian Brown

Emilia Brown

Kendyl Brown

Mya Brown

Samantha Bruce

Logan Buckmaster

Gavin Bufalari

Kayley Burchett

Summer Burcham

Rocky Burda

Chloe Burdine

Chloee Burkert

Jordyn Burkhardt

Avriana Burnett

Stephen Burns

Joshua Burris

Brianna Buskirk

Kaysan Byrd

Micaela Cacho Del Valle

Jeramiah Calhoun

Nicole Camargo

Christian Canchola

Nolan Canfield

Liana Cardona

Grant Carlson

Lauren Carpenter

Jayden Carr-Bright

Christian Carrington

Collin Carroll

Joseph Carson

Emily Carter

Raymond Castro-Melendez

Harmanpreet Chahal

Donovan Chandler-Okey

Kaysen Chapman

Michael Cherry

Siddhartha Chhettry

Tommy Claiborne

Christian Clark

Alexa Clayton

Amelia Cleveland

Karaline Colby

Kaydence Collins

Claire Combs

Logan Combs

Connor Conkin

Wyatt Connelly

Taina Content

Allie Copenhaver

Caden Cornett

Deniz Coskun

Madison Cox

Peyton Cox

Jaelynn Cox-Thacker

Micah Coyle

Rosalyn Cranney

Logan Cravens

Isabella Crickmore

Olivia Crickmore

Fabio Cruz

Rex Culbertson

Dylan Cunningham

Faith Curry

Kristina Cutsinger

Lindsey Dalton

Lal Dama

Ryden Dang

Samuel Davidson

Aubri Davis

Brady Davis

Evan Davis

William Davis

Amanda Dawson

Hunter Dean

Ezra Deckard

Madeline Deem

Andrew Deer

Jenna Delp

Grace DeLuna

Lea Denney

Suhani Desai

Mackenzie DeVries

Aminata Diagana

Alexandra Dieterle

Addison Doane

Kaydence Doane

Alexis Dodson

Isabelle Donica

Eva Donville

Emma Dortch

Sabrina Douthit

Charles Dowell

Jonah Downen

Parker Doyle

Callie Due

Logan Duke

Evan Dunkle

Emily Duran

Thomas Duran

Lauren Durbin

Corbin Dwigans

Lincoln Eads

Liam Ealy

William Eberhart

Rylie Ebert

Hope Eberwine

Emily Eck

Nora Eley

Hannah Ellinger

Luke Elliott

Jacob Ellis

Ariel Emberton

Grant Embrey

Curtis Entwistle

Brooke Epperson

Allison Erickson

Ryker Etchison

Abigail Evans

Emma Fair

Hunter Falks

Stephen Falls

Ram Fangmawia

Kayli Farmer

Levi Farmer

Kaylynn Faul

Aliviah Faurote

Nicholas Feinman

James Feitl

Isabelle Felke

Courtney Ferling

Maleia Field

Samuel Findley

Sophia Findley

Isaak Fischer

Preston Fisher

Wyatt Fite

Bryce Fleetwood

Stephen Fleischman

Shane Folco

Nolan Foley

Jack Forrest

Will Fosnot

Timothy Foust

Mariell Fowler

Dru Franklin

Grace Freeland

Kathryn Freeland

Haley Fuhr

Kenzie Fuhr

Paige Fulton

Grace Gagne

Ava Gandolph

Leonardo Garcia Rojo

Selena Garcia

Alec Gardner

Charles Gardner

Tristan Gardner

Jacob Garmon

Ty Garrett

Eric Gemeinhart

Elizabeth Gettum

Michala Gibson

Kate Gilardi

Elijah Gillard

Bradley Gilliam

Catherine Gilman

Amare Gonzalez

Sydney Gooding

Benjamin Gordon

Gurleen Gosal

Madison Gradert

Avery Graham

Elise Greenberg

Zachary Greller

Jaymin Griffo

Jacob Guajardo

Jacob Guilkey

Carys Habig

Bailey Hadley

Hayden Hadley

Gianna Hahn

Abbigale Haider

Alexander Haines

Dennon Hale

Gannon Hale

Addison Hall

Spencer Hall

Camryn Hanger

Benjamin Hanna

Maisy Hanner

Gabriella Hanquier

Bailey Hardin

Hailey Hardin

Nathaniel Hardin

Joseph Harold

Braden Harper

Amelia Harrigan

Madison Harrigan

Vaden Hartleroad

Hannah Hasenour

Elijah Hatfield

Mackenzie Hausdorfer

Samantha Hawkins

Elizabeth Hayden

Samuel Haynes

Griffin Hennessy

Katelyn Henselmeier

Alexis Hernandez-Alpizar

Evan Hernandez

Ella Herron

Nicholas Hestand

Cody Hewitt

Amara Hill

Aubree Hill

Ethan Hill

Raelyn Hinds

Harrison Hite

Elijah Hitz

Bawi Hmung

Ella Hobson

Zachary Hoffman

Sydney Hohenstein

Eli Hohlt

McKenna Holdeman

Braeden Holland

Lauren Holmecki

Mary Holzer

Raegan Hommel

Carson Hood

Hailey Horner

Alexia Hoskins

Aiden Houck

Ethan Hough

Tyler House

Madeline Howell

Alison Hubbard

Keenan Hubbard

Haley Hull

Harrison Hummel

Logan Hunsicker

Elliot Hunter

Cole Hyzer

Rachel Ingle

Adia Ingram

Conner Inman

Jonah Irons

Grace Ison

Regan Jackson

Yasir Jasim

Alexis Jeffries

Alora Johns

Christopher Johnson

Derek Johnstone

Munachi Johnson

Timothy Johnson

Xavier Johnson

Robert Jude

Ashlin Kalvar

Emily Karr

Shawn Keck

Damean Keen

Lily Kelsheimer

Caroline Kendall

Aidan Kennedy

Taryn Kennedy

Chelsea Keusch

Aman Khatri

David Kidwell

Elijah Kio

Abe Kirkpatrick

Matthew Kish

Laiken Knafel

Geordean Kokeh

Genevieve Konijisky

Caleb Krauth

Katherine Krouse

Mitchell Kuebel

Cole Kukelhan

Sahil Kumar

Isaac Ladisich

Eliza LaFavers

Blake Laing

Kelsey Lakes

Ryan Lamb

Hayden Lambert

Raymond Landis

Samuel Landreth

Jericho Laney

Anastasios Lasaru

Ashley Lauffer

Angelo Lawrence

Jessie Leach

Connor Lee

Margaret Lee

Summer Lee

Jasper Lenglade

Lauren LePage

Kailey Lewis

Ivan Li

Ronald Lian

Tanner Liffick

Bryce Lindsey

Cassidy Linville-West

Emmeline Lockhart

Luke Logan

Jocelynn Lomeli

Anthony Long

Gabriella Lopez

Manuel Lopez

Logan Lowe

Aaron Lucas

Makenna Lulfs

Braxton Lunsford

Aidan Lyness

John Lyon

Tanner Lyon

Abigail Madlem

Jack Maled

Gowthamm Mandala

Andy Mang

Ryan Mang

Jessica Marqua

Addison Marshall

Rylan Martin

Zoe Martin

Eric Matei

Connor Mathers

Mason Matherly

Kylie Matteson

Nathaniel McAllister

Mason McCann

Grace McCarty

Taylor McCartney

Maci McClurg

Ethan McComb

Wesley McCrea

Jacob McCullen

Luke McDaniel

Mallory McDonald

Royal McGairk

John McGee

Alexis McGlaughlin

Molly McIntyre

Sarah McKinney

Lauren McLeish

Matthew McRoberts

Seth Mehling

Dena Mello

Andre Merritt

Garrett Messer

Ava Meyer

Oscar Milch

Brooke Miller

Kaylee Miller

Matthew Miller

Walker Millhoff

Zachary Mills

Parker Mimbela

Ethan Miner

Jake Miner

Megan Minnemann

Kaiya Minniear

Ashley Mitchell

Sophie Mohr

Landen Montfort

Sophia Moon

Paige Morford

Cameron Morgan

Megan Morgan

Gavin Morris

Indigo Morrow

Starley Moses

James Mueller

Madeline Mulder

Benjamin Murphy

Jacob Murphy

Madison Myers

Tanvi Nadimpalli

Carly Neal

Sarah Neeson

Matthew Neff

Brenden Nellans

Mack Newby

Kendall Newman

JoLynn Nichols

Nikki Norris

Logan North

Finnegan Nowacki

Dylan O’Brien

Sydnie O’Neill

Gavin Oakes

Marek Oganowski

Alexis Orr

Nydia Otero

Dawt Par

Aleks Parsetich

Sage Parsetich

Mitul Patel

Blayzek Patterson

Zane Patterson

Allen Patton

Benjamin Peters

Lillian Peterson

Jackson Pio

Mary Marie Pittman

Gracie Plikuhn

Hayden Polson

Brinna Porat

Kamryn Poteat

Joshua Powell

Brady Poynter

Bryce Poynter

Macy Price

Peyton Price

Oliver Profancik

Cooper Rakow

Lorenzo Ramos

Gracie Ratliff

Silas Ratliff

Hannah Rau

Claire Reckert

Bre’Anna Redden

Sarah Redden

Konner Reed

Gage Rees

Alyssa Reichelt

Noelle Reimer

Brianna Reynolds

Kaleigh Rice

Erin Richardson

Haley Richardson

Adam Richie

Kylee Riddle

Hunter Riffle

Hunter Riley

Brady Ripberger

Isaac Ritchie

Kira Roberts

Mikaela Roberts

Micah Robertson

Cole Robinson

Jarret Rockwell

Ryne Roehling

Austin Rogers

Logan Rohlfing

Joshua Rollings

Baileigh Rowan

Owen Rumple

Gryffin Sabo

Michel Saget

Benjamin Salyers

Grant Sawa

Lily Sawyer

Mikhail Scalf

Lance Schabel

Jillian Schemmel

Malia Schembra

Brady Schier

Jacob Schmelzle

Braedon Schmit

Taylor Scholl

Braden Schroder

Sarah Schubert

Blake Scott

Tauley Scott

Shreyas Seerum

Rhori Selburg

Abigail Seslar

Nevaeh Shackleford

Kiara Shadley

Savannah Shaffer

Shae Shaw

Dylan Shelley

Payton Shimansky

Evan Shirer

Kendra Shirrell

Madison Siemons

Michael Siemons

Luke Silva

Joseph Simpson

Ashley Simulia

Jaden Singer

Jaskaran Singh

Eyler Slater

Alexa Smith

Brayden Smith

Garrett Smith

Nicholas Smith

Samuel Smith

Caden Smitty

Alex Snead

Joseph Sowers

Andrew Spomar

Evan Spomar

Madelyn Sponsel

Madeline Sprouse

Victoria St Louis

Ryan St Pierre

Andrew Stanley

Meghan Stanley

Alexia Steele

Amory Steinke

Tara Stephen

Taylin Stephens

Nathan Stewart

Skylar Stewart

Jennifer Stinson

Jason Stoddard

Ethan Stout

Riley Straeter

Alix Straumins

Fenton Strickland

Lilyana Stricker

James Studebaker

Gillian Styers-Barnett

Carsyn Summit-Stanford

Skylar Sutton

Isabella Swango

Rahber Syeda

Quentin Tackitt

Koli Talla

Molly Tapak

Christian Tauffener

Bradin Taylor

Reaghan Teague

Jesus Tello-Perez

Bawi C. Thang

Bawi N. Thang

Jalen Thomeson

Ava Thompson

Grady Thompson

Ruby Thompson

Jacob Thornton

Anthony Tinnirello

Travis Tinsley

Giovanni Tougas

Harrison Towne

Brett Trammell

Aaron Tugan

Isiah Turner

Kyle Upchurch

Caleb Vansickle

Zoey Varney

Korbin Velasquez

Samuel Venegas

Carson Vican

Jake Wahl

Brady Walker

Jaiden Walker

Lindsey Walker

Samiria Walker

Tre’ Walters

Garrett Wasson

Declan Watson

Haley Watson

Ethan Watt

Nicholas Weatherholt

Jacob Weaver

Julianna Weems

Sarah Wehrle

Jessa Weilhamer

Katelyn Wetherholt

Drew Wheat

Emma Wheatley

Elijah Whitaker

Ellie White

Addison Whitman

Chenel Whorton

Joshua Wicker

Austin Wiese

Alexis Wiesmann

Noah Wikel

Aina Williams

Cara Williams

Jack Williams

Janeick Williams

Kyle Williams

Randy Williams

Abigail Wilson

Brendan Wilson

Colin Wilson

John Wilson

Justin Wilson

Natalie Wilson

Riley Wilson

Shelby Wingler

Ethan Winnett

Alyssa Wischmeyer

Allison Wiseman

Ashlynn Wolff

Griffin Worley

Skylar Wrege

Elizabeth Wright

Kolyn Wright

Owen Wright

Hyatt Yeager

Trent Yeager

Caden York

Michael Young

Michael Yurs

Evan Zapp

Duh Zathang

Nicole Zhang

Amanda Zheng

Biak Zi

Ashley Zimmer

McKenzye Zollman

Oleg Zook

CGHS TOP 20 STUDENTS

Maxwell Barton University of Notre Dame

Stephen Burns Indiana University

Suhani Desai Indiana University

Evan Dunkle Purdue University

Lauren Durbin Purdue University

Grant Embrey Purdue University

Cody Hewitt Purdue University

Rachel Ingle Ohio Northern University

Ashley Mitchell Purdue University

Mitul Patel Purdue University

Benjamin Peters Indiana University

Gracie Plikuhn University of Cincinnati

Brinna Porat Purdue University

Senior Class Officers

All Student Body Executive Board

Madelyn Sponsel - President Elizabeth Hayden - Vice President

Rahber Syeda - Secretary

Deniz Coskun - Treasurer

Ashley Mitchell - President Hope Eberwine - Vice President

Suhani Desai - Secretary

Ella Herron - Treasurer Lily Sawyer - Historian Sophia Moon - Parliamentarian

ELIZA LAFLAVERS

There are no words to describe the love and admiration that we have for you!  You have grown into a compassionate, driven, and incredibly smart young woman.  We are here to love and support you on this next incredible journey!  Love, Mom and Dad

JESSIE LEACH

Congratulations Jessie Jo! We are so proud of you and all you have accomplished! We know you will continue to work hard and achieve great things at University of Southern Indiana. Make your next chapter in life your best! We love you!!!

LILY SAWYER

I am so incredibly proud of the young woman you have grown to be.  I have such respect for how you have grown and used the wins and challenges in your life to shape who you are.  I cannot wait to see how Miami University continues to form the amazing adult I know you will become.  I am so proud and thankful that I was chosen to be your mom!  I love you, Mom

TRISTAN GARDNER

We are so proud of you!  You are such a kind, loving, and compassionate young man.  Don’t ever change!  We can’t wait to see where your next adventures take you!

Mom & Dad

CLAIRE RECKERT

We are so proud of you Claire, your strength, discipline, and service are evident in all you do. We pray for your success at the Citadel and that God lays your dreams at your feet. Semper Fi.  We love you!  Dad, Mom, and Quentin

MADELYN REESE SPONSEL

We are so proud of Maddi Reese! As you head to Indiana University this fall, let your light continue to shine brightly! Your future is bright, sweet girl! We love you! Mom, Dad & Paigey

LAIKEN KNAFEL

Laiken, we are so proud of you!! Congratulations on your incredible high school career and your Presidential Scholarship to Purdue! We love you- Dad, Mom, Lana & Landon

ISIAH “ZAY ZAY” TURNER

Way to go Isiah! Your Senior Year is finally here! You have accomplished so much this year. We are proud of the young man you have become. As you finish your Senior year and head off to Ball State, always remember where home is and that we love you the most! Tim, Mimi and Sissy xxox

COLLIN CARROLL

We could not be more proud of the man you’ve become, and we’re so excited for you to study and play lacrosse for BYU! With your work ethic and talent, we can’t wait to see what you do next!

WILL FOSNOT

We are so proud of you Will!  Looking forward to supporting and watching the next chapter of your life.  Dream big!  We love you! Mom, Dad, Meg & Max

ADAM RICHIE

One chapter ends and a new one begins.  It’s a thrilling time as you begin your journey into your adult life.  Live it to its fullest.  With Love, Your Family

ETHAN MCCOMB

Ethan — We are so proud of the person that you are and all you have accomplished. We couldn’t be more excited to watch you live out your dream of playing basketball at Butler next year and can’t wait to see what your future holds. We love you so much. Mom, Dad, and Max

SOPHIE MOHR

We are so proud of you and we can’t wait to see you take your next step at Arizona State! The best is yet to come! Love, Dad, Mom, Charlie & Phoebe

NOLAN CANFIELD

You’re ready to soar!!  Enjoy your college adventure that awaits!  Go do great things…and reach for the stars. Love, Mom, Dad, Jill and Ashley

BRINNA PORAT

Congratulations Brinna! Shining on stage and winning Nationals with Debtones, leading Red Alert Robotics to State/Worlds, Academic All Star—we are so proud! Go do good things and have fun at Purdue!! Love, Mom and Dad

ISAAC LADISICH

Congratulations to Isaac Ladisich for graduating with the CG Class of 2023!  Isaac will be attending Vincennes University to study Law Enforcement.

Senior memories

TEACHERS OF THE YEAR & LEGACY AWARD WINNERS

Center Grove Community School Corporation (CGCSC) awarded Courtney Hess, Sugar Grove Elementary, the 2022-23 Teacher of the Year during the district’s annual Teacher Celebration on Wednesday, May 10. Mrs. Hess is a Kindergarten teacher at Sugar Grove Elementary School. She has been a teacher for 15 years, eight of those at Center Grove.

“I am humbled and honored to be recognized as an exemplar teacher in a school district that goes above and beyond to do what is best for our students every day.” said Hess. “Teaching the whole child fuels my soul and I will be forever grateful for this recognition.”

As Teacher of the Year, Hess will receive $1,000, courtesy of Wallman Financial, LLC to spend in her classroom. She will represent Center Grove in the Indiana Teacher of the Year competition.

Along with the district’s Teacher of the Year award, each school’s Teacher of the Year was awarded and recognized for making an extraordinary impact on students and colleagues in his/her building.

Additionally, Center Grove honored current, former, and retired teachers with Legacy Awards. Center Grove High School seniors nominate the teacher they believe had the greatest impact on them during their time in Center Grove schools.

Additional information about the award winners and photo galleries from the evening are available at www.centergrove.k12.in.us/teacherawards.

Amy Wingler Mathematics Center Grove High School

Anthony Bell Grade 8 Language Arts Middle School Central

Brandy Johnson English as a New Language Maple Grove Elementary

Susan Campbell Grade 4 Center Grove Elementary

Ciara Hunter Grade 4 Pleasant Grove Elementary

Lisa Fisk Special Education Walnut Grove Elementary

Patrick Clady Grade 8 Language Arts Middle School North

Courtney Hess Kindergarten Sugar Grove Elementary and 2023 Teacher of the Year

Deborah Norris Special Education Sugar Grove Elementary

Working together.

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Great care starts here.

CGHS JUNIOR JOEY SCHMITZ IS A PLAYER, STUDENT, COACH AND LEADER

The Center Grove High School (CGHS) boys basketball team had one of its most historic seasons with 22 wins, the most victories since the Trojans’ 24 wins in 1933-34. CGHS junior guard Joey Schmitz was a vital part of this year’s team’s success, averaging 12 points per game, making 41 three-pointers, and hitting 88% of his free throws. Schmitz’s on-court excellence earned him first-team all-county honors and underclassmen honorable mention all-state.

He also excels in the classroom with a 4.68 grade point average, ranking him in the top 20 of his class. Schmitz is truly the epitome of an elite student-athlete.

With all of his success on the hardwood and in the classroom, Schmitz made time to be a volunteer coach in the Center Grove Boys Basketball League (CGBBL) for the past two seasons, as an assistant coach last year and as a head coach this year.

His third-grade boys team went undefeated this season, winning the championship game by one point.

Writer / Kevin Conrad Photography Provided

“It was very, very cool to have Joey coach me,” says Center Grove Elementary thirdgrader JT Lidy. “He was fun to watch play for CG and it was great that he was also teaching us about basketball. He made basketball fun and taught us to work hard.”

“I volunteer because I enjoy coaching the kids and it is always fun to see their progression,” says Schmitz. “I also volunteer because I like anything related to basketball, and teaching kids is as entertaining as it gets.”

“Coach Joey really helped us be a better team and to use teamwork,” says JT. “He also taught us plays. That was fun. He also taught me how to be a better dribbler to get to the basket. The best part was that I got to see him as a player and learn from him as a coach. I got to learn his ways. I watched him play in the high school games and tried to be like

SMITH VALLEY SHUTTLE SHOWDOWN

Recently, the local Domino’s Pizza got a new electric delivery vehicle for their store on Smith Valley Road. When the shop’s next-door neighbors at My Baby Detailing saw the colorful little Chevy Bolt, they compared it to their own Courtesy Shuttle Vehicle, a customized GMC Envoy, and expressed their opinion that they still had the coolest company vehicle at their shared residence. The challenge was on!

Both businesses decided to let the community decide who has the best shuttle vehicle. Guests at either shop may vote on their personal favorite. To raise the stakes and make the friendly competition a bit more meaningful, each shop has agreed to serve the White River Township Fire Department in a unique way if they win the competition. If the My Baby Detailing Shuttle gets the most votes, the shop will perform a free Interior Detail on Chief Pell’s Dodge Durango (no small task given that this vehicle also serves as Rosie the Fire Dog’s personal limousine). If Domino’s Delivery Vehicle receives the most votes, the restaurant will provide free pizza for the entire Fire Department.

Additionally, when all the votes are finally tallied on June 30, one ballot will be drawn from the winner’s ballot box. If My Baby Detailing prevails, one voter will win a free Exterior Detail. If Domino’s comes out on top, one voter will win a free pizza. Stop by either shop before the end of June and cast your vote. Any way you slice it, in this competition, everyone comes out a winner.

him in our games. Joey never gave up and was always the hardest worker on the court.”

“At the beginning of the year, you never know what you will get skill-wise, and this year my kids really progressed,” says Schmitz. “Throughout the year, you can find a place where every kid improved, whether it was their ball handling or defense.”

The parents were appreciative that Schmitz took the time to share his knowledge of basketball with their sons.

“As a parent, it was great to see Coach Joey give his time, energy and talent in working with the boys,” says Jaime Lidy, JT’s mother. “The boys obviously look up to him already, being a member of the high school team they may want to play on someday, but we parents were able to see how our sons got to interact with him, and one another, in a different way than

with a parent coach. It was a really cool experience.”

Some things are just bigger than the game of basketball. Schmitz is a great role model for the boys.

“JT learned that it’s possible to not only be a good student like Joey, but also a great athlete, and still have the time and

passion to pass things on to others,” says Jaime. “JT comes from a coaching family and plays sports year-round, so he knows how hard coaches work, even volunteer coaches like Joey. Specific to basketball, JT learned that inbound plays beneath the basket really do work if you do what the coach says.”

“Joey’s heavy involvement in the youth

league is the type of culture we want to endorse within our program and in our community,” says CGBBL Board President Brad Smith. “We hope that others will follow in Joey’s footsteps in being this involved. We are beyond thankful for his coaching and mentorship with our youth, and we are lucky to have him in our community.”

CGHS boys basketball head Coach Zach Hahn knows Schmitz is a high-character young man.

“Joey’s dedication to the basketball program is second to none,” says Hahn.

“He shows up early and stays late to work on his game. He rebounds for teammates and is always trying to get better. He volunteer coaches in our CGBBL to be a good role model for the players.

It’s a rare character trait that allows someone to be selfless and passionate about others the way Joey coaches in our youth program when he has so much going on currently in his life as a high school student-athlete.”

How does a high school student-athlete have time to be a top-notch student and basketball player and also carve out time to be a volunteer coach?

“It’s hard to balance because they all come at you in the same winter season,” says Schmitz. “I’ve always been good in school with getting my work done on time and keeping my grades high while balancing basketball at the same time. Though this year I learned that with coaching, I have to stay on top of things even more.

We only practice one day a week and have a game every Saturday, so it’s not a huge time commitment. But there are other aspects such as sending messages to parents with dates, places and times, while also making sure that I have people to fill in for me when I have another basketball conflict. I had to learn to become a better communicator.”

Schmitz says, at the moment, he doesn’t

have any ambitions to pursue coaching. He just relishes the opportunity to share his basketball knowledge and wisdom with the youngsters. With that said, he adds that he has learned a lot from this experience.

“By helping the kids, it made me realize how much of a role model I can be for them, and that made me appreciate coaching even more,” says Schmitz.

“Additionally, this has given me a new perspective on leadership. Going into my senior season, I feel that I need to be a bigger leader and coaching has definitely helped me.”

On the day of the championship, Schmitz wasn’t sure he could coach his team as he had a high school practice at the same time. His high school teammates voted to have practice earlier in the day so he could coach his team. Many of his high school teammates and coaches attended the championship game to support him, his team and the league.

“Joey and his [high school] team created such a great atmosphere on championship Saturday,” says Smith. “It created such a buzz that it was talked about across elementary schools all the way up to the high school. I lost count of how many players and coaches were there supporting not just Joey’s team, but the other team as well. I truly believe Joey’s involvement was the main driver in not just the atmosphere, but the level of great fundamental basketball displayed.

You can tell he brought what even he was practicing at high school to these kids, and this will go a long way for the kids and our program. I am pretty sure if Joey decides to coach next year, we will have a long wait list requesting Joey to be their coach.”

“Throughout the season I tried to make the game as fun as possible for the kids, and usually winning means you will have more fun,” says Schmitz.

“To go undefeated was amazing because

it kept the team morale high all year and it made the game super enjoyable for the kids. And then to end the season with a championship win in our closest, most intense game of the year was the best way to top it all off. Plus, having all my [high school teammates] there to support that game and make the energy in the building that much higher created such a great atmosphere.”

“I admire Coach Joey because he is more than just a really good basketball player,” says JT. “He is kind, smart, strong and fast, and he has a really good three-point shot. I really liked it when we played knockout in practice. That was fun. He may not remember it, but I’m pretty sure I beat him once.”