Quick starts pushes Bishop Noll past Wheeler

WHITING | Bishop Noll has answered the call to all competition on its way to a 24-3 record. Not that Warriors coach Paul Wirtz wants to hear anything about it.

Penn too much for Valparaiso

LAPORTE | Tim Shideler expected a tough challenge from Penn and that's just what the Valparaiso girls tennis team faced on Wednesday afternoon.

Valparaiso girls advance to LaPorte tennis regional finals

LAPORTE | With Kelly Kennedy icing her back on a picnic table, the rest of the Valparaiso girls tennis team had no choice but to play a little harder.

Yadron delivers game-winning single in sixth inning as Boone Grove tops Hebron

ROCHESTER | Kirsten Spangenberg's rough defensive day suddenly didn't matter when the Boone Grove junior lifted a blast to left field in the sixth inning on Monday night.

Crusaders thankful for NCAA golf experience

As Austin Gaugert walked off the course for the last time as a collegiate golfer, the Valparaiso senior felt more satisfied than anything else.

Rybarczyks find another way to compete with each other at Times/Pepsi Bowling Classic

HAMMOND | Will Rybarczyk could only grimace as he opened his fourth game of the 64th annual Times/Pepsi Bowling Classic with a gutter ball Saturday afternoon.

Crusaders falter late at NCAA regional

A poor finish disrupted an otherwise solid day at the Scarlet Course for the Valparaiso men’s golf team on the second day of the NCAA regional in Columbus.

Mustangs capture 37th straight girls tennis sectional title

MUNSTER | By the time Jessica Rooth took the court for her sectional championship match against Hammond's Cynthia Rodriguez, the Munster junior had already accomplished a career first Thursday night.

NCAA berths bring national attention to Valparaiso University teams

VALPARAISO | When Valparaiso recorded the final out of the Horizon League softball tournament last weekend, Jordan Stevens earned a special distinction that has eluded even the men’s basketball program the last 13 years.

Middle holes doom Crusaders at NCAA regional tournament in Ohio

The Valparaiso men’s golf team started strong and finished strong at the NCAA tournament in Columbus on Thursday afternoon.

Freshmen pitchers have Valparaiso University Crusaders back in NCAA tournament

VALPARAISO | Prevailing wisdom led many to believe Valparaiso softball would rebuild in 2013.

Alabama's Moussa Gueye transfers to Valparaiso

VALPARAISO | It’s coming two years later than expected, but Moussa Gueye will finally put on a Valparaiso uniform next season.

Fast start propels Valparaiso past Trojans

PORTAGE | Having won a sectional title last season and beaten Valparaiso earlier this season, the Chesterton girls tennis team knew the value of a fast start against the Vikings in Wednesday’s sectional opener.

Ichiyama’s return helps lead Valparaiso

VALPARAISO | When Joylyn Ichiyama walked off the field following Valparaiso’s season-ending loss to Kentucky in the NCAA tournament last season, the senior believed she was walking away from the softball for the final time.

Pitcher Ryan scores winning run as Andrean defeats Hobart

HOBART | Zac Ryan was frustrated that he couldn't get Times No. 1 Andrean a win on the mound, so the senior pitcher settled for scoring the winning run Monday.

Crusaders heading NCAA softball tournament at U-M

VALPARAISO | The Valparaiso softball team is going back to the NCAA tournament and this time the Crusaders are bringing along some experience.

Crusaders headed back to the NCAA tournament

CHICAGO | When it comes to thriving under pressure, the Valparaiso softball team sure knows how to deliver.

Starcevich’s two triples push Boone forward in PCC softball tourney

BOONE GROVE | Winning ugly might not look the best, but when it comes to the Porter County Conference tournament, advancing to the next round is all that mattered to Boone Grove coach Ron Saunders on Friday.

Seymour guides Lake Central past Portage softball team

Lake Central coach Jeff Sherman learned Thursday morning that the Times No. 2 Indians drew rival Munster in the first round of the upcoming Highland Sectional.

Ranieri easing into key role for Valparaiso University softball

VALPARAISO | Kat Ranieri can’t pinpoint the moment when she stopped feeling like a freshman, but the Valparaiso newcomer has a newfound confidence heading into the postseason.

Oakland accepts invitation to Horizon League

VALPARAISO | The newest member of the Horizon League is an old Valparaiso rival.

Crusaders heading to Ohio for NCAA Championships

VALPARAISO | Hitting the links in college was only going to be for recreation after Chesterton product Josh Kalita finished his high school career four years ago.

Everyone hits for Noll in GSSC baseball win over Wheeler

UNION TWP. | Larry Crisler had four hits for Bishop Noll, but it was Danny Pobereyko that delivered the blast that got everyone off their feet on Tuesday.

Portage's Haley Hodges comes up big against Chesterton

CHESTERTON | Haley Hodges has had plenty of big hits in plenty of big games during her varsity career. The Portage senior topped them all on Monday afternoon.

Wallace leads Hebron boys to runner-up finish at Kouts track invitational

KOUTS | Blake Wallace woke up Saturday morning not even sure if he’d be able to give 100 percent at the Kouts Invitational.

Lake Central freshman shines against Portage baseball team

PORTAGE | Fresh off a heartbreaking loss to Chesterton on Thursday afternoon, Lake Central coach Jeff Sandor decided to shake up his lineup.

Turnovers and touchdowns mark annual Valparaiso scrimmage

VALPARAISO | Depending on point of view, the annual Valparaiso football spring game featured plenty of reasons for optimism on both sides of the ball Saturday morning.

Karungi finds new family at Valparaiso

VALPARAISO | When Sharon Karungi talked on Friday about the reasons she decided to play basketball at Valparaiso, the JUCO transfer highlighted family among the key factors that played into her decision.

Otis moves from Valparaiso boys hoops program to girls

VALPARAISO | Joe Otis has done a little bit of everything in his coaching career, so the move the Valparaiso coach made Tuesday night shouldn't come as any surprise.

Region runners react to blasts at iconic race's finish

There were about 20 runners from Northwest Indiana competing Monday in the 117th Boston Marathon overshadowed by a terrorist attack.

VU punter participates in workout with Bears

VALPARAISO | Greg Wood doesn’t expect to hear his name called during the NFL Draft later this month. The Valparaiso senior punter is only hoping for an opportunity to get into training camp.

Confident Mustangs make short work of 59ers softball team

MUNSTER | Staring down a week that included games against three of the top teams in the area, Munster softball coach Beth Thornburg just wanted her team to play with a little confidence.

Louisville heading back to the Final Four

INDIANAPOLIS | As Kevin Ware’s leg was being immobilized on the sideline following a horrific injury, the Louisville sophomore had a message for his teammates: “Win the game.”

Gerardot among three players leaving VU women's basketball team

VALPARAISO | Tabitha Gerardot headlined a trio of roster defections that were announced by Valparaiso women’s basketball coach Tracey Dorow on Friday afternoon.

Redshirt-junior among leaders hoping to guide Valparaiso back to NCAA tournament

VALPARAISO | Jessie Marinec has been through plenty of speed bumps in her softball career that have forced her to cherish every opportunity she has to take the field.

Crusaders find new pitcher with tragic connection to former ace

VALPARAISO | Cole Webb was looking for a school and Valparaiso was looking for a pitcher. Once the pair found each other, it became a perfect match in more ways than one.

Crusaders turn to the future following NCAA loss

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. | Tomorrow starts today for the Valparaiso men’s basketball team.

Jeanette Gray steps down as VHS girls basketball coach

VALPARAISO | Basketball has dominated Jeanette Gray’s life for as long as she can remember and it has come at the expense of her family.

Valpo falls to Michigan State 65-54, ending NCAA hopes

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. | Valparaiso couldn’t hit open shots and couldn’t stop Derrick Nix.

Valparaiso seniors hold heads high in final game

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. | Tears ran down Ryan Broekhoff’s cheeks while blood poured from Kevin Van Wijk’s elbow.

Izzo had Spartans ready for the upset

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. | Tom Izzo wasn’t shy about addressing the talent differential between his Michigan State squad and Valparaiso after the Spartans won 65-54 in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Crusaders focused on business

AUBURN HILLS | Ryan Broekhoff’s entire Valparaiso career has been geared toward today.

Wood provides bond between Valparaiso and Michigan State

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. | Brandon Wood was watching Selection Sunday unfold from Hungary when he saw the names of his two former schools flash across the TV screen.

Brokehoff hopes for chance to face former Australian teammates

AUBURN HILLS | It would take two significant upsets, but Valparaiso’s Ryan Broekhoff can’t help but think about what a potential Round of 32 matchup with No. 11 St. Mary’s would be like.

Van Wijk and Eksten’s relationship has helped push the Crusaders to the NCAAs

VALPARAISO | Kevin Van Wijk was ready to quit.

Valparaiso coaching staff brings NCAA experience to the table

VALPARAISO | Bryce Drew isn’t the only member of the Valparaiso coaching staff that has made some memories in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Janet Drew was deemed cancer-free last month by doctors in Chicago

VALPARAISO | The Drew family was having a great start to the 2013 calendar year long before the Valparaiso men’s basketball team earned a trip to the NCAA tournament.

Dawson growing into a leader at Michigan State

CHICAGO | It had been two years since Branden Dawson had played in the postseason and the Michigan State sophomore was feeling the opportunity slip away last Friday at the Big Ten tournament in Chicago.

Drew family makes some NCAA history

VALPARAISO | The last time Valparaiso men’s basketball earned a No. 14 seed in the NCAA tournament was when the Crusaders played No. 3 Arizona in 1996.

Brackets up in the air as Selection Sunday arrives

CHICAGO | Jerry Palm has been projecting NCAA tournament brackets since 1994, and the Schererville native has never seen this kind of confusion leading up to Selection Sunday.