JIM HUNSLEY: Coasting not an option for Valpo senior golfers

The starting rotation for Valparaiso's boys golf team mainly originates from a list of six seniors, and none of them seem to be taking off their final season of prep golf.

JIM HUNSLEY: Coach 'D' springs for volleyball

Kelly Dickensheets is coaching the state's top-ranked volleyball program for the first time in her extensive career, a position that seemed impossible a year ago.

JIM HUNSLEY: Chesterton heats up in cool temperatures

Chesterton's LouAnn Hopson, like most area coaches this spring, was concerned how the colder preseason temperatures would affect her softball club.

JIM HUNSLEY: Gymnastics regional a state finals preview

Friday's Valparaiso Regional is little more than a warmup for the gymnastics state finals.

JIM HUNSLEY: Chesterton boys swimmers best in program history?

Less than a month after predicting Chesterton would win the program's third boys swimming state title, I don't mind jumping ahead of myself again.

JIM HUNSLEY: Aguilera wants to extend Boone Grove's season

Paige Aguilera's competitive basketball career is quickly nearing its end, while her collegiate athletic endeavor is in its infancy stage.

JIM HUNSLEY: Title hopes strong for Chesterton boys swimmers

The state swimming and diving finals are almost a month away, but I don't think it's too early to make a prediction.

JIM HUNSLEY: PCC tourney title not a given for S.C. girls

South Central's girls basketball team appears to be in position for the program's first Porter County Conference Tournament crown.

JIM HUNSLEY: State swim polls bring authenticity to rankings

Debates about sports rankings can bring some of the most volatile discussions. College football's Bowl Championship Series has normally been a hot-button topic for fans. At the local level, I've received my fair share of questions about the prep polls I help produce.

JIM HUNSLEY: Coroses look forward to the New Year

This year has been very trying for Westville eighth-grader Jimmy Coros and his family.

JIM HUNSLEY: Kraushaar strikes gold with bowling committment

The fall national signing day was two weeks ago, but I feel Paige Kraushaar's commitment is worth a well-deserved second look.

JIM HUNSLEY: Bush embraces the college game at PNC

Matt Bush doesn't mince words. He's a confident guy who's sure of his abilities as a basketball coach.

JIM HUNSLEY: Area soccer season has highs and lows

The 2012 area prep soccer season is over, and I believe its premature conclusion can be viewed as a disappointing ending.

JIM HUNSLEY: Team chemistry crucial to Valpo soccer team's success

A few minutes after winning the Class 2A Valparaiso Sectional title, the host Vikings boys soccer team posed for a photo.

JIM HUNSLEY: Grassel impresses on, off golf course

Kelly Grassel made history Saturday afternoon at the IHSAA girls golf state finals, but that moment has hardly consumed the Chesterton senior.

JIM HUNSLEY: Postseason golf format could be flawed

Beechwood Golf Course isn't the site for Saturday's girls golf regional, a fact that is up for debate with some local coaches.

JIM HUNSLEY: Coaching stability possible for Wheeler soccer

I guess I'm pretty fortunate, playing a high school sport with just one head coach.

JIM HUNSLEY: Valpo soccer team scores with volunteer activity

Valparaiso boys soccer coach Danny Jeftich is understandably busy during his prep season, but he and his team have still found time for a local volunteer project.

JIM HUNSLEY: Aces now a part of Drummond's golf game

Randy Drummond bought lottery tickets last weekend, and I don't blame him for trying to extend his good fortune.

JIM HUNSLEY: Canterbury's long-dstance dedication

"That was it, no more of them."

JIM HUNSLEY: Senior golfers find a reason to smile

Three area seniors were part of the local contingent who didn't qualify for Wednesday's championship round of state boys golf finals, but I wouldn't call their final prep rounds were a total negative experience.

JIM HUNSLEY: Chesterton softball postseason not a surprise to all

Chesterton's postseason softball victories against Lake Central and Crown Point caught me off guard, since the Trojans were 0-4 in the regular season against their Duneland Athletic Conference foes.

JIM HUNSLEY: Loss offers DAC golf perspective

Tuesday's results from a Duneland Athletic Conference boys golf match at Palmira left me shaking my head.

JIM HUNSLEY: Wheeler's Barthold, Dixon unwavering with their free time

Wheeler tennis coach Mike Rosta has lately learned that assistants Gary Dixon and Bob Barthold won't just volunteer their free time for court activities.

JIM HUNSLEY: Valpo golfers make early impressions

Just two weeks into the boys golf season, it might be premature of Valparaiso coach Wayne Lichtenberger to make future down state hotel reservations.

JIM HUNSLEY: Youthful Portage softball makes early impression

I didn't blink about leaving Portage's softball team off The Times preseason Top 10 poll.

JIM HUNSLEY: Valparaiso gymnasts show class in defeat

The sting of a heartbreaking loss was still fresh in the minds of Valparaiso's gymnastics team, but coaches and athletes alike wasted no time congratulating the new state champions from Fort Wayne Dwenger.

JIM HUNSLEY: Beam the difference at Valpo Regional

A 4-inch wide surface will definitely play a huge role in Friday's Valparaiso Gymnastics Regional.

JIM HUNSLEY: Charlesworths primed for NBA All-Star weekend

Riley Charlesworth said his younger sister Justene hasn't claimed braggin' rights in the household.

JIM HUNSLEY: Local girls swimmers peaking at right time

Chesterton girls swimming coach Kevin Kinel expects this weekend's IHSAA state finals to be a "pretty wild tournament," and I can't disagree with him.

JIM HUNSLEY: Memories to be shared at S.C. throwback event

Jim Jessup believes he can get into one of the arms of his old South Central letter jacket. Earl Cunningham believes he might fit into his, but he just cannot locate it.

JIM HUNSLEY: PCC hoops tourneys open to questions

Next week the basketball tournaments for the Porter County Conference commence, and once again I shake my head with their blind-draw.

JIM HUNSLEY: Resolving to enjoy the new year

With 2012 only a few days away, I resolve to change some of my ways.

JIM HUNSLEY: State title ahead for Chesterton boys swimmers?

Three years have passed since Chesterton won its last boys swimming state crown.

JIM HUNSLEY: Portage's Cole finds national soccer attention

In the case of Portage senior center midfielder Donovan Cole, statistics don't truly explain his abilities on the soccer pitch.

JIM HUNSLEY: Ticket punched for tennis roller-coaster ride

One boys tennis match continued to peak my interest Tuesday.

JIM HUNSLEY: Time for a change in soccer overtime format

I'll admit that penalty-kick shootouts in soccer are thrilling for players, coaches and fans, but that doesn't mean I endorse the format.

JIM HUNSLEY: Boone Grove's Sherwin torn about multi-class boys soccer tourney

The prep soccer season is only 10 days old, but it already feels different for Boone Grove boys coach Brian Sherwin because of graduation losses, new additions to the lineup and the debut of the two-class postseason soccer tournament.

JIM HUNSLEY: Victory Christian Academy's Chirch builds Lions' athletic programs

Victory Christian Academy athletic director Derek Chirch wants his school to be a member of the Indiana High School Athletic Association.

JIM HUNSLEY: Women's World Cup a teaching tool

JIM HUNSLEY: Patz throws himself into L.I.F.T. fundraiser

Carl Patz is once again behind a throwing project. This time, the objects being tossed are a lot lighter. On July 17, the Let It Fly Throwing track club will run a beanbag tournament at Pav's Restaurant in Hebron. The event is a fundraiser for the squad's trip to the USATF Junior Olympic Nat…

JIM HUNSLEY: Local underclassmen golfers hopeful for another state chance

No local teams advanced to the championship round of the IHSAA state golf finals Tuesday, but there were more than a few underclassmen who deserve a return trip to the Legends of Indiana in Franklin next season.

JIM HUNSLEY: Hebron softball maintains its postseason appetite

Hebron's softball team made program history Tuesday with its Class 2A Regional crown, but that doesn't mean this team is now satisfied with their season.

JIM HUNSLEY: Freshmen softball foursome provide a spark at Washington Twp.

Opposing softball coaches talk to Washington Twp. coach Jack Corley about his bright future, since the first-year man has four freshmen in his starting lineup.