What's recently happened?
Washington High School (WHS) recently hosted a recognition to honor a former coach who is to be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame this April. On January 11, the ceremony was held in the Great Western Forum during a Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity (JV) Basketball game.
Marilyn Coddens, former Girls Basketball head coach at WHS, is honored to be inducted and praised her players who she saw again for the first time in years at her recognition. Coddens was a coach at WHS from 1994 to 2008 and a math teacher for the South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) from 1976 to 2013.
Her accomplishments include winning six sectional championships, one state championship, five Northern Indiana Conference (NIC) titles, three regional titles, and two semi-state titles. She made a huge impact on Girls Basketball in her time coaching, with a win rate of 77%.
What's coming up?
As winter sports are almost through at WHS, teams are wrapping up their seasons and preparing for the last months of the school year. Homecoming, Spirit Week, state tournaments, and other events are sending the athletes out with a bang.
The Boys Basketball Homecoming game and senior night was on January 26, when the Panthers faced off against Marian High School (MHS). January 22 to 26 was also Boys Basketball Spirit Week; students and staff enjoyed dressing up for the occasion and showing their school spirit. Some of this year's themes included student/teacher swap, superhero VS supervillain, and school spirit, with students dressing in their WHS gear.
The Indiana High School Athletics Association (IHSAA) state tournaments, sectionals, and regionals will keep WHS Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, and swim team busy until the end of March, which will mark the end of their respective seasons.
With winter sports ending, spring sports are around the corner. This year's spring sports include baseball, softball, golf, tennis, and track. Spring sports are due to start in April and run until the end of May, just before the start of the summer. WHS is looking forward to seeing its athletes on the court and the field this April.
Staff spotlight:
Rachel Parker is a science teacher and the swim coach at WHS. Parker has worked at WHS for four years and has been a teacher for eight. She loves the students and thinks WHS has a great atmosphere.
“I think it's a cool place – the teachers really care about the students and I think most of the students know that,” Parker said.
She teaches Biology, AP Environmental Science, and Project Lead the Way, which is a project-based freshman class that gives students an overview of different medical careers.
Parker attended Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington for secondary biology education. Before becoming a teacher she spent some time working at Camp Ray Bird, a Christian summer camp near WHS. She also runs a farm with her husband during the summer and has been selling produce for three years.
As a swim coach, Parker has a busy schedule during the season. She plans each swim meet, figuring out what events her swimmers will do. There are roughly 10 events, involving different swimming styles and techniques. At the meetings, she takes notes on their performance to help them improve certain things.
Parker wants her students to know that their teachers at WHS care about them.
“Your teachers are here because they care. If you have any questions, need help, or you want to just talk something through with them, we’re a good place to start if you feel comfortable.” Parker said.
Student spotlight:
Robert Caradine is a sophomore at WHS and attended Dickinson Fine Arts Academy in South Bend, as well as Schmucker Middle School in Mishawaka. Caradine is a high-achieving student with a long list of clubs, sports, and academic achievements.
Caradine has been a Student of the Month seven times and received academic honors, as well as numerous sports awards. He participates in multiple sports, including football, golf, track and field, wrestling, baseball, and swimming. He is also involved in drama club and social media club.
Caradine has a very friendly and outgoing personality, and he has made many friends in his time at WHS.
“My peers at Washington really helped me out through some tough times. I really could never have done it if I didn’t take the initiative to be here,” Caradine said.
His goal after high school is to get into Princeton University, a prestigious university located in New Jersey. As a bright student, Caradine is working hard towards his goals with much determination.
Caradine's favorite part about his school overall is the community.
“Washington is a very friendly community. You really feel at home here.” Caradine said. “All of the staff are very nice, and when it's that time to give a pep talk, they always have a solution. They have good sports and clubs here.”