Region athletes brought the excitement in 2021 as they took the field, court, track, mat, course, stage, and so much more to show off their skills and prove that their hard work has paid off. With so many different games and matches happening across high school and college teams in our area, it can be hard to keep track of all the memories and incredible moments in action.
We have summarized the best sports articles from this past year so you don’t have to. These are the highlights from basketball, football, swimming, running, gymnastics, volleyball, wrestling, baseball, tennis, softball, golf, and many more.
In no particular order, here are the top 10 sports articles from NWI.Life in 2021:
NSA Fastpitch World Series comes to Northwest Indiana with opening ceremony in Crown Point
Young athletes, coaches, parents, and families from across the country gathered in Crown Point on Wednesday as the city and South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (SSCVA) hosted the opening ceremony for the National Softball Association (NSA)2021 “Open - B - C” North World Series Softball Tournament.
Hammond hosts Midwest Region Crossover Tournament, the largest collegiate volleyball tournament in the nation
Over 600 athletes gathered in Hammond on Friday for the 2021 Midwest Region Crossover Tournament, the largest collegiate volleyball tournament in the nation.
Hosted in the Hammond Sportsplex & Community Center, the tournament features 38 NCAA Division II teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The conferences chose Hammond over competing bids from a number of cities, including Indianapolis. The pick was largely inspired by the observations of GLIAC Commissioner Kris Dunbar when she saw the Sportsplex while their basketball teams used it for practice during a tournament last year.
Hanover Central rallies late in the game to win softball sectional championship against Griffith
A four-run lead, in the first three innings of the Griffith sectional championship, wasn’t enough to cage the Lady Wildcats as they rallied in the fifth inning to beat the Lady Panthers on Saturday.
This is the third time the two teams have met this season and Griffith was looking to prove they had it in them to hold their own against Hanover Central. Griffith earned four runs right off the bat but wasn’t able to keep the lead as Hanover Central scored five runs during the bottom of the sixth inning to win the game, 6-5. Hanover Central previously beat the Lady Panthers at the end of the year during two conference games, with a score of 6-1 and 15-0.
Merrillville Boys Track & Field comes out on top for 2021 Regional Championship
Regionals is an important day for all sports as it determines who gets to go to state, and for all teams, that is the ultimate goal. On Thursday, the Regional Boys Track & Field meet was held at as Crown Point High School and hosted schools across the Region.
A big sectional win for Andrean Softball
Monday afternoon, Wheeler High School hosted Andrean High School 59ers and Whiting High School Oilers for the first softball sectionals game this week.
Monday’s match was an easy and quick win for the 59ers softball team as they won 10-0 in five innings. The pitchers for today's game were #28 Leah Navarro from Andrean and #25 Alexandra Ruiz from Whiting.
Proud competitors from around the Region at Girls Duneland Athletic Conference Track & Field Meet
On Tuesday athletes from all around the Region gathered in Chesterton to compete in the Duneland Athletic Conference Track & Field Meet. This event was just the girls, with the boys competing on May 12 in Crown Point.
While the weather was freezing and athletes cowered in blankets and jackets, when they arrived on the starting line their shivers faded away into complete focus.
New Prairie High School hosts double header for sectional basketball, comes away with win
It was luck for the designated home teams tonight as the Hanover Central Wildcats defeated the Kankakee Valley Kougars 58 to 36, and the New Prairie Cougars defeated the River Forest Ingots by a whopping 89-35. Both winners of the night were hitting basket after basket with a fire beneath them that could not be outmatched. Especially New Prairie, where every starter and a number of players off the bench managed to down more than a few points for the team.
Munster Men's Swim Team takes home the 2021 Northwest Crossroads Conference Title
The 2021 Northwest Crossroads Conference was hosted by Hobart High school. Swimmers from Lowell, Highland, Kankakee Valley, Munster, and Hobart high schools participated. From the start it was clear the Munster swim team was going to come out on top as they took first in every event but one. An exhilarating day all around, Swimmers gave it their all with many breaking personal records.
River Forest High School Wrestling wins GSSC Duals Championship for second straight year
River Forest High School put on another strong showing at the Greater South Shore Conference Wrestling Dual Championship, held this year at Edison High School in Lake Station Indiana. The conference match boasted an impressive lineup of the best wrestlers from ten area schools. The Ingots held off against a strong challenge from Wheeler, but ultimately took the championship once more with a 48-30 win over the Bearcats.
Respect for competitors motivates athletes at the Northwest Crossroads Conference Championship Meet
While some shy away from competition, the athletes at the Northwest Crossroads Conference (NCC) Boy and Girls Track & Field Championship, embrace it. Athletes from Andrean, Highland, Hobart, Kankakee Valley, Lowell, and Munster gathered to compete at Kankakee Valley High school on Tuesday evening. The conference, comprising 32 events, went well into the night.
