Tim Bishop

Bishop, a 1994 grad, is considered by many to be Valparaiso High School's greatest all-around athlete. He starred in football, basketball and baseball, earning nine letters. Bishop was the first Viking selected as an all-star in football, basketball and baseball. Bishop was selected by The Times as its Athlete of the Year, an award that now bears his name. He received a full-ride scholarship to Indiana for football. He was drafted by the New York Mets and played for their minor league affiliate, the Class A Columbia City Bombers.

Bob Comeford

Comeford, a 1963 grad, lettered four years in track and cross country. He set numerous school records in track, competing in the high jump, long jump, hurdles and middle distance. Comeford also put in many hours coaching middle school and elementary students. He attended Southern Utah State College, where he ran track and received his teaching degree. He was the 1972 Track Athlete of the Year for Southern Utah State. In 1966, while in the military, he ran for the U.S. Army track team in the Balboa Relays in Panama. Comeford, who coached and taught for 31 years, led teams to five Utah state championships and four runner-up finishes.

The Copper Family

Walt and Barb Copper contributed to Valparaiso athletics from 1960 to 1985. For nearly 30 years, Viking basketball players honed their skills on the outdoor court at Gardner Elementary School, which was just outside the back door of Coppers' home. The school's summer weight program was run out of the Coppers' garage.

Their son Mike, a 1965 graduate, competed in basketball, baseball, cross country and track. Mike was voted Valpo's outstanding athlete in 1965. He was captain and leading scorer on the basketball team as a senior and was named to the all-sectional and all-regional teams. During his time at Indiana State, Mike was MVP and captain and earned honorable mention Small College All-America. Mike is part of the 2010 class for the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as well as a member of the ISU Hall of Fame.

Nephew Tom, a 1964 VHS grad, competed in basketball, golf, football, cross country and track. He was class president and voted all-conference in basketball. Tom attended Washburn University and Indiana University, playing basketball and golf.

Erin Doelling

Doelling, a 1982 grad, earned five varsity letters, two in basketball and track and one in cross country. She was a member of the school's first cross country team, helping the Vikings qualify for state in 1981. Doelling was track MVP as a junior. She was the leading scorer and team MVP on Valparaiso's state runner-up 1982 girls basketball squad. She was a member of the all-state finals squad and was named Academic All-State. At Purdue University, she lettered four years in basketball and was the team's captain for two seasons. She was named most valuable freshman, defensive MVP as a junior and senior and MVP as a sophomore. She was both an Academic All-Big Ten and All-America selection as a junior and senior. She graduated as the school's career leader in free throw percentage (74.1). She also received the Red Mackey Award.

Bryce Drew

Drew, a 1994 grad, starred in tennis and basketball. He helped the 1993 tennis team advance to the semistate championship. He was the leading scorer on the greatest boys basketball team in VHS history. The Vikings finished 28-1 in 1994 and finished as the state runner-up. Drew won the Arthur Trester Mental Attitude Award and was named Mr. Basketball. He played for his father, Homer, at Valparaiso University, leading the Crusaders to four Mid-Continent Conference titles and three straight NCAA tournament appearances. In the 1998 NCAA tourney, Drew hit "The Shot", a last-second 3-pointer that edged Mississippi in the opening round and earned an ESPY award. The Crusaders advanced to the Sweet 16 for the lone time in school history. Drew also was a member of Team USA for the World Games in Italy in 1997. He was selected 16th in the NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. Drew played six seasons in the NBA, including a season with the Bulls. Drew, who is an associate coach at VU, is also a member of the VU Hall of Fame and holder of numerous Crusaders scoring records.

The Furlin Family

The Furlin family children were outstanding athletes at VHS from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. As a family, the Furlins totaled 18 letters in basketball, baseball, track, tennis and gymnastics.

Jeff, a 1980 grad, attended Ball State and lettered all four years in basketball, helping the team win a Mid-American Conference crown and berth in the NCAA tournament.

Joe, a 1989 grad, attended Indiana University and graduated from the IU School of Medicine as an OB/GYN.

Laura Furlin, a 1990 grad, attended IU and received her MBA from the University of Chicago.

Lisa, a 1992 grad, played in the state semifinals as a senior. She attended IU and lettered all four years in basketball for the Hoosiers. Lisa's teams made the NCAA tournament twice. She is a member of the 1,000-point club at IU.

David, a 1995 grad, played with Bishop and Drew on the state runner-up squad in 1994. He attended Bowling Green and played there for three years.

They had lots of dedication and support from their parents, Sam and Bunny.

Jeanette Gray

Gray, a 1999 grad, lettered 11 times, in volleyball, golf, basketball and softball. In basketball, she was a three-time all-Duneland Athletic Conference selection and MVP her junior year. Gray was an AAU All-American and Indiana All-Star selection in 1999. In golf, basketball and softball she was an academic all-state selection and was second team all-state her senior year in softball. She was the VHS academic/athletic award winner her senior year. Gray attended Valparaiso University and lettered four years in basketball -- three years a captain. She was named VU's Athlete of the Year in 2003. She was a two-time Academic All-American. She's also a member of the VU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Stacey Hrabota Westbrooks

Westbrooks, a 1993 grad, earned six letters in volleyball and softball. Westbrooks was named the first-ever Indiana Miss Softball in 1993 and played on the North All-Star team. Westbrooks was all-DAC, all-state and MVP her senior year. She still holds 18 softball records at VHS. She attended Austin Peay State University, playing both volleyball and softball. Westbrooks is a member of the ICGSA Hall of Fame and has been inducted into the Indiana Softball Hall of Fame.

Pat Murphy

Murphy, a 1961 grad, was a three-sport standout in football, basketball and baseball. "Murph" graduated from St. Joesph's College and returned to Valparaiso in 1965. He coached the VHS baseball team for 32 years, the last 28 as head coach. He is the Vikings' winningest baseball coach with 483 victories. His teams won two DAC crowns and 13 sectional titles. He also was a football assistant for 19 seasons, including Valpo's 1975 Class 3A state title club.

Chuck Oliver

Oliver graduated from VHS in 1977. He played football and basketball and ran track, earning nine letters. He played on the 1975 Viking state champion football team. In football he was all-DAC and all-state and made the North All-Star team and was a Parade All-American. Oliver attended Purdue University and played quarterback.

Bob Punter

Punter coached and taught in the Valparaiso school system for 38 years. He served many years as a football, golf and track assistant coach but is best known for his 18 years as the varsity boys basketball coach. He's the school's winningest boys basketball coach with 302 victories. His teams won nine DAC crowns, nine sectional titles, two regional crowns and a semistate title. He coached the 1994 state runner-up team. In 2002, he was an assistant coach on the Indiana All-Star team. Punter has degrees from Indiana State and Valparaiso University. In 1986, he was named teacher of the year.

R. James Risk

Risk served as superintendent of Valparaiso Community Schools from 1970 to 1990. Risk, a 1945 Milan High School grad, attended Indiana University. He earned his teaching degree in math in 1948. He oversaw the staffing and equipment issues during the construction of the current Valparaiso High School, which opened in 1972. He was the driving force behind the construction of auxiliary gyms at Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin middle schools, which were completed in the late 1970s. In 1987, he pushed for construction of the fieldhouse and fitness room at VHS. Since his retirement, he has remained a devoted fan.

Scott R. Schroer

Schroer, a 1984 grad, starred in cross country and track. He helped the Vikings capture the state cross country title in 1983, finishing sixth and winning the IHSAA's mental attitude award. Schroer was an all-DAC runner from 1981 to 1983 and the MVP as a senior. He lettered twice in basketball and was a member of Valpo's Sweet 16 team. He attended Bradley University, setting the school's 3,000-meter steeplechase record. He graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in engineering physics.

-- Bios courtesy of Valparaiso High School