Top 10 Sports articles on Valpo.Life in 2025

Football, basketball, volleyball, golf, soccer, cross country, gymnastics, wrestling, swimming, track & field, and more filled our feeds this past year, featuring all the good news about our Valpo athletes in their respective sports. There is so much talent to go around in our area, and we had a blast attending games, matches, meets, and more to help others see the action from a unique perspective.

Whether it was deep dives into clubs and sports, national gatherings, awards ceremonies, or anything in between, we shared it all in 2025 on behalf of the high schools, colleges, and clubs that make the Region proud.

In no particular order, here are the top 10 sports articles on Valpo.Life to recap the good news in 2025!

Rylee Kruck joins Wheeler High School Athletics as new Athletic Director

Wheeler High School has named Rylee Kruck as its new athletic director. Kruck, who previously served as the transportation director and athletic director at Westville High School, is looking forward to the new position and the challenges it will bring.

“I’m excited to begin my newest endeavor as the Athletic Director at Wheeler,” she said. “I’ve loved my time at Westville and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity, but my passion lies in athletics. Being able to focus solely on that at Wheeler is something I know will be fulfilling and rewarding.”

Sports and Clubs in Northern Indiana: Bowling

High school bowling is a prominent and growing sport in Northern Indiana, with numerous schools participating in organized leagues and achieving notable success. The Lakeshore Indiana High School Bowling Conference (Lakeshore IHSB) encompasses several schools in the Region, including Valparaiso High School, Michigan City High School, Munster High School, Lowell High School, Wheeler High School, and La Porte High School.

Sports and Clubs in Northern Indiana: Girls Wrestling

Girls’ high school wrestling in Northern Indiana has experienced significant growth in recent years, with increased participation and the establishment of official tournaments.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) officially sanctioned girls’ wrestling, leading to the inaugural State finals held at the Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis on January 17, 2025. This historic event marked the first time girls’ wrestling was recognized and sanctioned by the IHSAA, putting the sport on the main stage under the IHSAA banner.

Valparaiso University welcomes Courtney Boyd as new Women’s Head Basketball Coach

Students, athletes, coaches, and members of the community gathered together to celebrate Courtney Boyd as the new head coach of the Valparaiso University (VU) Women’s Basketball team. The university held an introductory press conference for Boyd in the VU Athletics-Recreation Center (ARC) on Monday, April 14. 

Boyd has been coaching collegiate basketball since 2009. She has experience coaching at Dixie State University (now Utah Tech University), Iowa Wesleyan University, Grand View University, Augusta University, AIB College of Business, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Clarke University, and Quincy University.

Sports and Clubs in Northern Indiana: Unified Track & Field

Unified Track & Field has been steadily gaining momentum in Northern Indiana, uniting students across ability levels to compete, connect, and celebrate the power of inclusive athletics. Launched under the guidance of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), this unique program merges students with intellectual disabilities—referred to as athletes—and students without disabilities—known as partners—into a single team that competes without distinction.

Sports and Clubs in Northern Indiana: ESports

Esports has experienced significant growth in Northwest Indiana high schools, providing students with opportunities to develop teamwork, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills. Several organizations and institutions have been instrumental in fostering this expansion.

The Indiana Esports Network (IEN) is a volunteer-driven, educator-led organization comprising over 80 school districts across Indiana. IEN aims to engage students not typically involved in traditional athletics by using esports as a medium to enhance academic performance and social growth.

Valparaiso community celebrates ground-breaking State championship victory with Valparaiso High School baseball team at recognition ceremony

On Wednesday, June 25, the Valparaiso High School (VHS) Vikings Baseball team held a celebration for its historic Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) 4A State Championship win. This marks the first State championship in the VHS baseball program’s decades-long history. 

Not only did this team win the school’s first ever state championship, but they won VHS’ first-ever IHSAA Regional Championship as well. The 15 Vikings baseball players were joined in the Urschel Pavilion in downtown Valpo by their coaches, families, friends, and devoted fans – all decked out in Viking green – from throughout the community for this celebration.

Purdue University Northwest celebrates 9th Annual Homecoming Sports Fest with community members and fans

On Saturday, Sept. 13, Purdue University Northwest (PNW) brought together campus community members and the public to celebrate Homecoming Sports Festival and rally around PNW athletics teams at Dowling Park and the Kube in Hammond, Ind.

Attendees were treated to a day filled with food, music, activities, and a lineup of exhilarating sporting events. While the athletics schedule dominates the day, the PNW Homecoming Sports Fest always finds a way to give everybody an opportunity to participate in the fun. This year’s event gave people an opportunity to try cornhole, play minigames, and meet PNW’s mascot, Leo the Lion.

Catch 22 Table & Tap welcomes College Football Hall of Famer Rocket Ismail for meet and greet autograph session with the community

It’s not every day that a polished professional athlete comes to the Region to celebrate the sport and give back to the community. On Saturday, September 22, Catch 22 Table & Tap in Merrillville hosted a meet and greet autograph session to spend the afternoon with College Football Hall of Famer Rocket Ismail. The session was a ticketed event, although the restaurant was open to the public for all who wanted to see the fastest player to ever come from the University of Notre Dame.

Sports and Clubs in Northern Indiana: Boys & Girls Tennis

Tennis has steadily grown into a powerhouse sport across Northern Indiana, with schools consistently producing top-tier talent. As the 2025 spring season approaches, teams across the Region are gearing up for another year of fierce competition. From Chesterton High School to Munster High School and all other schools in between, each program brings unique strengths and storylines to the court.