That time of year is here – it’s time to take a look back at some of the best stories to grace the ValpoLife Sports Section in 2011!
We posted well over 600 articles to the ValpoLife Sports pages this year, our most ever! With over 600 GOOD stories across all areas of sporting LIFE, we covered middle schools, club sports, parks departments, high school, college, and some professional sports!
It’s easy as ever to share your sports story with us too! If you’re the coach, team mom, manager, on the Board of a sports organization, Athletic Director, or involved in any way with a sports team in Northwest Indiana, we want to share your registration information, fundraiser, shout-out, score/result, championship photo, and anything else you can think of. If it’s good, we want to share it! Just send us an email at contribute@valpolife.com and we can get started today!
Without further ado (and in no particular order), here are the Top 10 ValpoLife Sports Stories of 2011!
Does Sport Participation Build Character?
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Did sports participation build the character of the professional football player who funded a dog fighting ring? Did sports participation build the character of the high school athletes who sexually assaulted their younger teammates in a hazing activity? Beyond these actions are the constant news stories of cheating and unsportsmanlike behavior by athletes, coaches and parents.
For years, we have justified athletic programs in our academic institutions by stating that athletic participation builds character.
Vikings Upset Pirates, Bring Home Sectional Championship 
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“I believe that we will win!”
The Valparaiso High School student section started off the night, right before tip-off, with a chant that became a rallying cry for the Vikings, as Valparaiso overcame a sizable deficit to defeat Merrillville 53-47 in overtime to capture the Class 4A Sectional 2 Championship.
The Pirates couldn't miss early, as Merrillville shut down the Vikings 22-4 at one point in the first quarter. Going into the half down 26-10 to the fourth-in-the-state ranked Pirates, it seemed the Vikings had too much on their plate to emerge victorious.
But they believed they would win. And win they did.
VHS Gymnastics Captures Fourth Consecutive State Title
Click here to read the article! | Click here to see the team receive their rings!
A huge CONGRATULATIONS to the Gymnastics team on their fourth consecutive State championship, the first time this has ever been achieved! The Vikes now have a record-setting 9 State team titles. Junior Steffanie Long won All-Around, Vault, and Floor, with Morgan Algozine winning Uneven Bars, placing second on Floor and Vault, and taking third All-Around. Props to all team members:
Seniors Alyssa McDonald and Kaitlyn Neis Juniors: Allyson Kraft, Allis Lazerwitz, and Katelyn McBride Sophomores: Morgan Algozine, Emily Crosmer, Hannah Erwin, Kassidy Swenson Freshmen: Amanda McDonald and Heather Novak
Bryce Drew Hired as Head Coach for Valparaiso University Men's Basketball | Homer Drew Retires, Leaves Legacy of Success and Passes the Torch to Son Bryce
Click here to read the Homer article! | Click here to read the Bryce article!
This year saw one of Valparaiso's longest-running institutions, Homer Drew, retiring after over 20 years in the Valparaiso University Men's Basketball Program. His son, local Valparaiso High School and Valparaiso University basketball legend Bryce Drew was pegged as his successor in an exciting press conference.
Many Mudathletes Run "A Muck" in 2011 Mudathlon
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On Saturday, July 23, 2011, nearly 1,600 thrill-seeking Mudathlete participants made their way to the Chicagoland/ NW Indiana's 2nd annual Mudathlon at Graeber Family Farms in Valparaiso, Indiana to have "A Mucking Good Time!"
This particular Mudathlon is the second of four Mudathlon Series and had participants who came from 4 different countries and 22 different states. All participants had to be 14 years of age or older.
Valparaiso HS Football Coach Mark Hoffman Announces Retirement at the End of 2011 Season
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"I've had the opportunity to do this for forty years. Forty years! I’ve had great players, but more importantly, I’ve had great kids."
Valparaiso High School Head Football Coach Mark Hoffman announced his retirement as head coach following the 2011 football season during a ceremony Tony’s Pizza, in front of his team, friends, family, former players, and colleagues on Thursday, August 11, 2011.
"Valpo Football is very important to me, my wife Sue, and our family," Coach Hoffman began. "It’s something I have loved since 1972 since Mr. Risk and Mr. Doane’s dad hired me in."
Steve Osburn: Unsung Leader in Valparaiso Youth Sports 
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Steve Osburn. He's a math teacher and athletic director at Ben Franklin Middle School. He's coached football for 34 years. Basketball for 20+ years. He hosts summer and winter open gyms 3-4 days out of the week. He's coached AAU basketball teams in the spring for the last 15 years and led his players to summer camps at Depauw and Indiana Wesleyan. His response to the loaded schedule of coaching and leading youth sports?
"It's like anything else, it's a hobby. Some people golf, some people do this and that. It's just my hobby," said Steve Osburn in his laid-back, casual tone.
2nd Annual Valpo Half Marathon Attracts Multitude of Runners
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Over 700 people banded together Sunday, November 13 to run in the Race 13.1 Valpo Half Marathon which supported the United Way of Porter County. Runners from all over Northwest Indiana took part in this challenging but rewarding race despite the strong headwinds coming from the north and east. Fleet Feet Sports of Schererville and T&H Timing did their part in sponsoring, promoting, and of course, timing the runners' finishing times. Even Fleet Feet Pete was present in cheering runners on and giving kids high fives!
Proceeds from the race were given to the United Way and specifically their Power of Youth council, which consists of 20 high school students from every high school in Porter County. The Power of Youth's mission is dedicated to improving and creating a positive perspective of youth through the performance of valuable services that benefit others.
More than 2,000 Participate in 8th Annual Turkey Trot 
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Over 2,000 people participated in the 8th Annual Valparaiso Turkey Trot 5k run/walk and 10k run on Nov. 24, 2011 Thanksgiving morning. For the second year in a row, the event was hosted by the Porter-Starke Services Foundation with the proceeds from the race to benefit mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention and prevention services in our community.
Since taking over hosting duties of the race, the Foundation has seen the number of participants double in just two years; from just over 900 participants in 2009 to over 2,000 in 2011.
Valparaiso High School Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2012 to be Inducted January 28th, 2012
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The Valparaiso High School Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2012 will be inducted in a ceremony at the Strongbow Inn Banquet Center on Saturday, January 28, 2012.
The following athletes will be honored in this year’s induction: Mark Allen, Charles E. “Skip” Bird, Ellison (Tipton) Carter, Shannon (Swanson) Dominco, Thomas Hampson, Collette (Douglas) Huffman, Adolph (Adie) Jankowski, Greg Kirby, Sarah (Stricklett) Mosher, Rebekah (Porter) Peterson, The Reggie Family, Amy (Shurr) Agema, and Sue (Watts) Collins.