WestfieldRocks

Same can be said of Kokomo and Lafayette Jeff. Jeff had the advantage of playing not only much smaller schools, but also playing both the sectional and regional on their home court.

The NCAA got caught with their pants down on the NIL issue. I remember the first year with some local IU and Purdue players getting some spending money from t-shirt sales with their name and likeness. The NCAA had no idea that these collectives would quickly form and bring in huge $$$ to essentially buy players.

Agreed. The old Butler sectional in the 60's was a monster with 14 teams. Southport I believe had 11 teams during that time. All Marion County schools north of Washington St. played at Butler, and south of Washington St. played at Southport. Today teams can win a sectional by just winning two games. In fact, with a bye, a team can win a class tournament by winning only 6 games. That old Butler sectional took 4 wins just to get out of there. Most all other sectionals were 8 teams, thus three wins were required, so 9 wins to win state.

Exactly! Westfield played down there for a 2A semistate title in the 90's. The parking lot had a lot of vehicles with Kentucky license plates.

Won't they just recruit a few more of those kids from across the border :)

Actually it probably makes that sectional a bit stronger. Noblesville moving in with HSE, Fishers, and Homestead takes out possibly the weakest of the prior six teams in that sectional. Noblesville would often get off to a good start to the season in non conference, but fizzle out in the HCC, then sectionals.

I still remember during the debate over whether or not basketball should go to class, and if so, how many classes, etc. Former Indy Star sports writer Bill Benner, ending a column after it was decided to go to a four class tournament, said "the sound you are hearing are the private schools adding on to their trophy cases" :)

In Westfield's case, more likely a Freshman Center, such as Carmel and Zionsville have. I've heard that the HSE split in 2006 caused division in the community and that Westfield wants to avoid that. Then again, I've heard from someone that should know that the current super wants a second high school. I suppose time will tell.

I don't know about the enrollment. The high school just went through another renovation and addition which was completed prior to last school year. It's built out as much as it can be. There is talk of a freshman center being built to relieve the student population at the high school. For sure there is another middle school already approved, as well as an 7th elementary school. As for future Westfield population, it was around 50K after the last census in 2020. It's already nearing 60K now, and with new housing permits already issued, is expected to be close to 80K by the end of this decade. That is really the number that officials want as a max. There is already a push back on issuing any major new housing projects.

From the Indy Star article link at the top of this thread. This pretty much answers the question about the former assistant now head coach: The plan is already in place for Gilbert’s replacement. Josh Miracle, an assistant for Gilbert the past 13 years, will take over for Gilbert. Miracle has been the associate head coach and defensive coordinator for the past decade and was named the Frank Broyles Award winner for the top assistant in Indiana last season.

Not really a surprise to the locals here. Coach Gilbert ran for Westfield mayor last year, but lost to current mayor Scott Willis in the May Republican primary. With Coach Miracle taking over, a long time Gilbert assistant, the program is in good hands.

The HCC did not want another schedule against all conference teams. They had that back when the three Lafayette schools, pre Franklin Central, were in the conference.

Westfield has another "cupcake" schedule :) Opening game at Center Grove Week 2 home against Carmel Then that always easy HCC schedule

Agreed! Plus I love those late daylight hours in the summer.

Has their enrollment considerably dropped, or are they the "victim" of other schools like Avon having huge increases. I wonder where all of those new people now in the Avon district came from.

Unless your the smallest, Chatard :)

As part of a renovation and addition Westfield High School, which was completed several years ago, a new weight room was built, along with a renovation of the gym. A new aquatic center was also built as part of a partnership with the new Westfield YMCA. Currently 10 new outdoor tennis courts are under construction. Growing school districts need to keep up their facilities.

I know your joking, but that $9.5 million construction you see next to the stadium at Carmel is an indoor center for the band. They are also constructing a $43 million addition/renovation to the existing natatorium, so that they can continue to recruit the state's top girls swimmers. Lord knows, some other school may someday win the girls state swimming championship. Or perhaps hey are jealous of Westfield's new natatorium that opened two years ago. :)

Westfield and Sheridan had the second longest streak in Indiana from 1923-2004. Westfield dropped them after that season after joining the HCC and wanting to pick up larger opponents. Sheridan has always been 1A, while Westfield went from 1A - 4A in 2004. Bud Wright was so PO"d about this that in that last game in 2004, at Westfield, he put a 53-7 beating on the Rocks. This was after Westfield had won the last four straight years, very unusual, since Sheridan had dominated the series, especially when the two schools were similar in size.

Indiana high school football coaches

Unless they would split into two high schools. As for Carmel, you can bet you're life savings that will never happen. A guy I knew who used to be one of the higher ups in that system told me they will keep adding freshmen/senior centers and whatever to avoid a second high school. The main reason - SPORTS! Imagine if the HSE District had not done this. Both HSE and Fishers High Schools have over 3,000 enrollment. So a 6-7,000 enrollment high school.

Here is the list of Mr. Football position winners, just released earlier this morning: WIDE RECEIVER Donovan Hamilton, Hamilton Southeastern TIGHT END Aidan Steinfeldt, Bloomington North OFFENSIVE LINE Ian Moore, New Palestine QUARTERBACK Tyler Cherry, Center Grove RUNNING BACK Josh Ringer, East Central KICKER Spencer Porath, Brownsburg DEFENSIVE LINE William Goodvine, Westfield LINEBACKER Will Clark, Crown Point DEFENSIVE BACK Jo’Ziah Edmond, NorthWood PUNTER Quinn Warren, Brebeuf Jesuit

Yes, some of coaches called it the AAU "me first" mentality that then goes over to their high school teams.

The Indy Star high school sports columnist just this week did an anonymous poll of some central Indiana high school coaches on what were they biggest issues facing Indiana high school basketball. The top concerns that probably would be mentioned if these were football coaches were, in no particular order: Shortage of officials, Unrealistic parents, recruiting and transfers.

From the Indy Star: This year was highest average margin of victory in state championship games since #IHSAA went to six classes: 2013: 15.7 2014: 25.0 2015: 21.2 2016: 16.0 2017: 18.5 2018: 19.8 2019: 16.2 2020: 18.7 2021: 14.2 2022: 17.5 2023: 25.8