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 Region 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 state championships, basketball invitationals, gymnastics sectionals, regional tournaments, new clubs, or anything in between, we shared it all in 2023 on behalf of the high schools and colleges that make our Region proud.
In no particular order, here are the top 10 sports articles on NWI.Life to recap the good news in 2023!
LA PORTE HOSTS TOP BASKETBALL TALENT IN NIBC LA PORTE INVITATIONAL
One of La Porte County’s newest, and biggest events returned for another year of incredible action on the hardwood.
The National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC) brought the nation's top high school basketball players back to La Porte for another weekend of spectacular basketball. This event served as a way for the people of Northwest Indiana to see the talent that will be featured in big Division I college schools, and even the NBA. Not only was the event great for basketball fans, but it also brought people from all over the country to La Porte County and it showed all of the good La Porte has to offer.
HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING TEAMS ALL ACROSS NORTHWEST INDIANA ARE ON A ROLL
Bowling in Northwest Indiana (NWI) is a hot commodity, especially in a high school environment. Schools like Valparaiso High School, Michigan City High School, Munster High School, Lowell High School, Wheeler High School, La Porte High School, and much more are competing in the Lakeshore Indiana High School Bowling Conference (Lakeshore IHSB).
GYMNASTICS TAKES EVERY VICTORY WITH RESILIENCE AS THEY TAKE OVER THE REGION
Sports all across the Region continue to blossom and grow into something incredible, and gymnastics is one of those sports that continues to succeed.
The gymnastics teams all over Northwest Indiana (NWI) have made a lot of triumphs this 2022-23 season. Valparaiso High School won its 14th state title, Portage High School ended the season with great numbers, Crown Point High School placed 3rd after there state championship, Merrillville High School continued showing resilience and a great attitude, Lake Central High School placed 5th in the state at the end of the season and so on. Each team in NWI and beyond worked hard to get where they are, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
SPORTS & CLUBS IN THE REGION OPEN DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY STUDENTS
In the Sports & Clubs in the Region series, we are touching on a lot of different sports: some well-known ones, some that are moving up on the spectrum, and much more.
This article was the start of the series and encapsulated the passion and drive for the series moving forward. Hockey is a sought out sport that isn’t as prevalent in the Region, but it is in the surrounding states such as Michigan and Illinois. However, the Region has hockey programs and hockey teams in the school setting, and Northwest Indiana (NWI) has a lot to offer for aspiring hockey players so they do not have to travel to different states to compete.
EMBRACING ESPORTS IN HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE WITH SKILL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY, AND ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES
The phenomenon of esports, or competitive video gaming, has gained worldwide popularity and is now being recognized and valued in high schools. In this article, we will explore the presence of esports in high schools, highlighting the numerous benefits for students, the scoring systems utilized, the sense of community fostered, and the opportunities created for personal and academic growth.
The captivating nature of esports is evident in the field’s rising popularity among high school students. The availability of video game live-streaming platforms and organized competitions has significantly contributed to this surge. High schools have begun to recognize the value of embracing this digital phenomenon and have started establishing esports programs. These programs provide students with a structured platform to compete, develop skills, and connect with like-minded peers.
170 TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE MIDWEST VISIT REGION FOR 2023 NSA FASTPITCH WORLD SERIES
For the next week, the Region is the softball capital of the Midwest, with 170 teams from states as far as Pennsylvania congregating along the South Shore for the annual National Softball Association (NSA) Fastpitch World Series.
Organized by the NSA in collaboration with the South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority (SSCCVA), as well as cities and towns across the Region, the World Series sees hundreds of girls of all ages from 8u to 18u take to the fields and play for fun and glory. Tuesday marked the start of the festivities, with coaches gathering for meetings while the athletes took part in skills competitions at the Crown Point Sportsplex.
TIPPY TRI CHALLENGE RACES INTO TIPPECANOE RIVER STATE PARK, HEARTS OF WINAMAC
Tippecanoe River State Park’s Tippy Tri Challenge serves as an excellent opportunity for families to get into the park and experience all it has to offer. On Saturday, July 29, competitors hiked, biked, and paddled their way to the finish line in the eighth challenge.
“It starts out with the option of a one-mile run/hike or a 2 1/2 mile run/hike,” said Property Manager of Tippecanoe River State Park Vernon Gillum. “That goes from our playfield area to the fire tower parking lot. In the parking lot, there's a transition point where you go on bicycles for four miles and end up at the river tent area where we will transition again into the kayak and canoe course. That will be a three-mile course down the river on canoes and kayaks until you finish at the Nature Center.”
12TH ANNUAL FOUR WINDS CASINOS INVITATIONAL MAKES A LASTING IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY
On Thursday, August 10 the LPGA Epson Tour held the first round of its 12th annual Four Winds Invitational. 144 of the most promising female golfers from all around the world gathered at South Bend Country Club to take part in a fierce competition as well as raise money for a great cause.
The Four Winds Invitational is a tournament that is part of the Epson Tour, one of the most established women’s qualifying tours in the world. Female athletes take part in the competition to work their way to the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour. For 12 years, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s Four Winds Casinos has worked hard as the title sponsor of the competition to shine a spotlight on the city of South Bend and support its fundraising efforts in the community.
PURDUE NORTHWEST CELEBRATES THE FALL SEASON AT 2023 HOMECOMING AND SPORTS FEST
Generations of Purdue University Northwest (PNW) athletes, students, and alumni came together at the seventh annual Sports Fest on September 9. Hundreds packed Dowling Park in Hammond to enjoy an action-filled afternoon as they watched many of the university’s sports teams, such as soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, hockey, and others, hit the fields and courts.
Multiple vendors, such as Domino’s and PepsiCo, were also present and offered fun recreational activities for people to enjoy throughout the day. With spirit wear booths, cheer routines, and games being played on every field, Sports Fest continues to be an event loved by everyone each year.
HAMMOND, SOUTH SHORE CVA HOST NEARLY 650 ATHLETES AT MIDWEST REGION VOLLEYBALL CROSSOVER TOURNAMENT
One of the largest single collegiate sporting events in the nation returned to the Hammond Sportsplex on Friday, as the facility hosted the annual Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover Tournament for the third year in a row.
Featuring 36 NCAA Division II teams and nearly 650 athletes from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), and the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), the tournament has called the Hammond Sportsplex home since 2021 – when the city defeated bids from other communities including Indianapolis for rights to host the event.
