Sports

Wow! I have compiled a great list of sports accomplishments from the Whitley County schools over the past decade and I must say our county stands tall to the rest of the state. I have been in the sports reporting world for the better part of this decade, doing work with the Post and Mail, South Whitley Tribune-News, and most recently, Talk of the Town sports and this list is my personal opinion of the best team sports feats for the three high schools in the county.  Although, it should be dually noted that there have been many great individual accomplishments and I would like to congratulate all athletes for positively representing our county for the last decade. Now to the list...

10.) CC girls golf wins back-to-back sectional titles for the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons.

10.) Whitko softball racks up three sectional championships in 2000-01, 2003-04, and 2004-05.

9.) CC softball builds a powerhouse winning sectional titles in 1999-00, 2000-01, 2004-05, and 2007-08.

8.) CC girls track returns to the spotlight with sectional championships in 2000-01, 2003-04, and 2007-08.

7.) 2008-09 marks the first time Whitko picked up a sectional wrestling title since the 1989-90 season.

6.)Churubusco football builds a dominating football program through the decade and win a sectional championship in 2007.

5.) Churubusco baseball brilliance, through the decade the Eagles scooped up 5 sectional titles in 2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-2008 and 3 regional titles in 2003-04, 2006-07, and 2007-08. Worth noting, through 2005-2008 they were 3-peat sectional champions and back-to-back regional champs in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Now the list gets tough...

4.) Columbia City Girls' Cross Country represents Whitley County in another State finals appearance in 2009, their first since 1986, led by a fast-footed junior class.

3.) How soon we almost forget, but a decade ago the Columbia City Lady Eagles basketball team had a magical run to the State finals game with a date against Indianapolis Cathedral. The Lady Eagles fell to Cathedral in a 58-44 contest and haven't returned since.

And my top two could be a tie...

2.) How does it feel when you are able to say, "I've played basketball against NBA stars?" Just ask the hometown Columbia City Eagles 2003-04 basketball team as they had a date with destiny in the State finals game against Greg Oden and the Lawrence North Wildcats. Even though the Eagles loss in a 29-50 battle, not many can say they've played against some of the best. Let's not forget, the Eagles also had a Regional championship in 2000-01.

1.) Columbia City's Wrestling Dynasty, of the 10 years in the decade the Eagles dominated 8 of those years controlling 8 back-to-back sectional titles, 6 regional titles (one span of regional titles being back-to-back and the other span being 4-time defending champions), 3 semi-state titles, and 3 state finals appearances in a 3-peat run, not to mention countless conference championships.  During this decade, CC saw some of the state's best wrestlers and a coaching legend walk through its halls.

By the numbers: Sectional titles from 2000-2008, Regional titles in 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-2006, State finals appearances in 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06.