We’re bringing out the best. Through the next few days, the Daily Reporter sports staff is taking our readers back, sharing a few of our favorite memories and highlighting some of Hancock County’s top achievers.
Up first, the Daily Reporter sports staff is dishing out some well-deserved recognition. We’re going back through the 2020-21 school year and shining the spotlight back on a few of our previously named Fall, Winter and Spring Athletes of the Year, while revealing our Best Male Athlete of the Year and more.
BEST MALE ATHLETE
Aiden Tierney, Mt. Vernon swimming
• After the conclusion of his senior season at Mt. Vernon High School, Aiden Tierney was jokingly called the “GOAT” of Marauders swimming by his friends. They weren’t necessarily wrong. Named the Daily Reporter’s 2020-21 Boys Swimmer of the Year, Tierney concluded his prep career in near state-championship fashion and helped the Marauders swim program dominate en route to its first sectional team title since 2005 and a Hoosier Heritage Conference championship. Individually, Tierney capped the season at the IHSAA state finals with a school-best, second-place finale in the 100-yard breaststroke (54.11). He also added an eighth-place finish in the 100 butterfly (48.87) and was 13th with the 200 medley relay team (1:35.62). All three times set new school records. A three-time state finalist for the Marauders, Tierney medaled in consecutive years with a sixth-place swim in the 100 breaststroke in 2019-20. Over the course of four seasons, Tierney set several new standards with school records in the 200 IM, 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke and the 200 medley relay to rightfully earn the title of “Greatest of All Time.”
BEST MALE SPORTS TEAM
Mt. Vernon baseball
• Records are meant to be broken and so are droughts. This season, the Mt. Vernon baseball team took care of both. Led by head coach Brad King, the Class 4A Marauders reached the IHSAA state tournament’s final four by setting a program record for wins in a single season at 26, while also vanquishing several longstanding team-title dry spells along the way. The Marauders’ sectional title this spring marked the team’s first since 2011, while its outright Hoosier Heritage Conference championship was the squad’s first ever. Without a regional title since 1971, the Marauders ended their 50-year drought by toppling state powerhouse Cathedral in comeback fashion during the regional finals. Beforehand, they won their first regional game in 49 years during the semifinals with another come-from-behind win against Franklin Central. The Marauders’ run ended to host Jasper, the eventual 4A state champion, at semistate, but they raised the bar for years to come.
BEST MALE SPORTS COACH
Brad Grieshop, Mt. Vernon boys swimming
• “Awesome.” When asked to describe his Mt. Vernon boys swim team’s achievements in 2020-21, no other word came to mind for Marauders head coach Brad Grieshop. Historic would be another, and the Marauders upheld both by finishing the season undefeated in dual meets while also capturing the program’s first Hoosier Heritage Conference team title and first sectional championship since 2005. When senior Aiden Tierney’s second-place, school-record state swim in the 100 breaststroke is included, it’s only fitting to share Grieshop’s sentiment. The Marauders put together a season to remember under Grieshop’s guidance, punctuated by Tierney, who set three school records during the IHSAA state meet on the campus of IUPUI. The team’s senior leadership and collective depth halted Greenfield-Central’s 10-year stronghold on the HHC and at the sectional meet, while also riding their momentum wave to a 16th overall placement for the school at state.
BEST MALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER
Avery Wills, Eastern Hancock wrestling
• The makings of a great athlete often requires a mixture of strength, speed and agility. Eastern Hancock’s Avery Wills personified all three on the wrestling mat routinely, and he relied on one more key attribute to breakthrough this past winter: perseverance. A senior in 2020-21, Wills put together one of the most productive seasons in his four-year career, leading to his first IHSAA wrestling state finals appearance. Wills became the school’s fifth state finalist overall and first state qualifier in program history since former Royals wrestling coach Keith Oliver achieved the feat in 2001-02. At 152 pounds, Wills finished the season with a 30-12 record, a sectional runner-up, a third-place finisher at regional and fourth at semistate. The two-time semistate qualifier advanced to the state meet by reaching 102 wins for his career, which ties him for fourth all time in program history with Brian Borgmann (102) and ahead of Robert Whittington (100).
BEST SPORTS NEWCOMER
Tanner Koziol, Mt. Vernon football
• A distinction typically reserved for up-and-coming freshmen, Mt. Vernon’s Tanner Koziol was a true standout newcomer at a towering 6-foot-6 despite only providing Marauders football fans with one varsity season. Koziol’s arrival as a senior transfer was a game changer for Class 4A Mt. Vernon (12-1) and proved significant to the program’s No. 1 state ranking, first Hoosier Heritage Conference title since 2012, second straight sectional championship and first-ever perfect regular season at 9-0. Crossing the state line from Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, Ill., Koziol, a Ball State recruit, provided the Marauders with an effective down field and red zone target. Koziol didn’t lead the team in receptions (35) or yardage (389), but the tight end/wide receiver was productive when quarterback Gehrig Slunaker connected with him. Overall, Koziol hauled in 13 of the team’s 24 touchdown receptions and he rushed for another for 14 TDs in total. Koziol had at least one touchdown catch in 10 of Mt. Vernon’s 13 games.
BEST SPORTS ATMOSPHERE
Greenfield-Central vs. New Palestine, Richmond Boys Basketball Sectional
• “Let’s go!” Over the thunderous applause, jovial chants and heart-pounding music blaring from the Greenfield-Central locker room within the Richmond Tiernan Center, those two words rang out above the rest after the Cougars’ Class 4A Sectional 9 quarterfinals upset win, 72-59, over rival New Palestine on March 3. With crowd restrictions lifted for the hoops postseason following a season-long atmosphere of COVID-19 attendance limitations, the Cougars boys basketball team came to play and despite an initial first-quarter deficit, it produced its best game in a huge moment. Greenfield-Central’s 72 points marked its highest offensive output of the year and not only avenged its bitter loss to New Pal, 60-45, earlier during the regular season, but it also snapped a five-game losing streak to their rivals and evened the overall series at 28-28 since 1984-85. The loss ended New Palestine’s quest at three straight sectional titles while also renewing a rivalry that was felt throughout the arena before the Cougars left the court to a victorious standing ovation.
Wednesday: 2020-21 Sports Best in Show, Part II
• The distinctions continue on Day 2 as the Daily Reporter sports staff announces its Best Breakout Female Performer, Best Female Athlete and a few more surprises.
Thursday: 2020-21 Sports Photos of the Year
• One day isn’t enough, but staff photographer Tom Russo has chosen his selects and is ready to share all the memories and thrilling sports moments captured this past school year. Tom Russo has been there for the heartbreak, elation and all those amazing performances. Get ready as he unveils the best in show!
2020-21 Daily Reporter Athletes of the Year
FALL
Football – Blake Austin, New Palestine (Offense)/Rylan Cole, Mt. Vernon (Defense)
Volleyball – Cecilia Bulmahn, Mt. Vernon
Boys soccer – Abe Buescher, Greenfield-Central
Girls soccer – Anna Isger, Mt. Vernon
Boys tennis – Chris Hays, Mt. Vernon
Girls golf – Caroline Gibson, Greenfield-Central
Boys cross-country – Austin Rush, Mt. Vernon
Girls cross-country – Brenna Shaw, New Palestine
WINTER
Boys basketball – Amhad Jarrard, Mt. Vernon
Girls basketball – Lexi Shelton, Mt. Vernon
Boys swimming – Aiden Tierney, Mt. Vernon
Girls swimming – Norah Johnson, Greenfield-Central
Wrestling – Avery Wills, Eastern Hancock
Gymnastics – Kennedy Garrett, New Palestine
SPRING
Baseball – Hunter Dobbins, Mt. Vernon
Softball – Madison Taylor, Mt. Vernon
Girls tennis – Lydia Ruegsegger, Mt. Vernon
Boys track runner – Cody Hargett, Greenfield-Central
Girls track runner – Kayana Maroska, Greenfield-Central
Boys golf – Sam McWilliams, Mt. Vernon
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