On April 16, Roncalli High School gathered 20 seniors to recognize their intent to compete at the collegiate level.
Collin Ash: baseball at Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, Indiana), to study marketing, son of Katie and Chad Ash, members of St. Roch Catholic Church; two-time all-conference, all-county, preseason all-state baseball player and all-conference, all-county and all-state football player.
Carrington Pitts, baseball at University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne, Indiana), to study physical therapy, son of Carrie and Shane Pitts, members of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi Catholic Church.
Luke Baker, baseball at Marian University (Indianapolis, Indiana), to study civil engineering, son of Stacy and Michael Baker, members of St. Barnabas Catholic Church; all-conference football player.
Elise Baker, softball at Central Michigan University (Mount Pleasant, Michigan), to study biochemistry, daughter of Joann and Jim Baker, members of St. Jude Catholic Church; all-conference and all-county softball player.
Andrew McHugh, baseball at Franklin College (Franklin, Indiana), to study sports management, son of Angie and Steve McHugh, members of St. Roch Catholic Church; wrestling two-time sectional champion and four-time conference champion.
Sarah Hofmann, softball at Marian University (Indianapolis, Indiana), to study exercise science, daughter of Lori Noble and Otto Hofmann, member of St. Barnabas Catholic Church; mental attitude and sportsmanship awards, two-time leadership award and academic all-state.
Joe Taylor, basketball at Purdue Northwest (Hammond, Indiana), to study business, son of Lori and Chip Taylor, members of St. Jude Catholic Church; Roncalli’s rebound record holder (535), three time all-conference, all-county, top 60 workout and top 100 workout basketball player.
Bennie Leffler, softball at Ohio University (Athens County, Ohio), to study accounting, daughter of Ali and Nate Leffler, members of Nativity Catholic Church; all-county and all-conference softball player.
Alex Toth, football at Franklin College (Franklin, Indiana), to study business, son of Elizabeth and Andy Toth, members of Nativity Catholic Church; mental attitude award and captain for football and captain for track.
Blake Getz, wrestling at Marian University (Indianapolis, Indiana), to study physical therapy, son of Regan and Nick Getz, members of St. Jude Catholic Church; Roncalli record for most pins in a season (31), three-time sectional, regional, semi-state champion, 5th, 7th, 7th state placer, two-time Mater Dei champion and four-time Marion County champion.
Zane Baker, football at Marian University (Indianapolis, Indiana), to study business, son of Andi and Zach Baker, members of St. Roch Catholic Church; all-conference, all-county honorable mention, Indiana super team, Region 7 all-star, all-state and North-South all-star football player.
Alex Beard, track at Bellarmine University (Louisville, Kentucky), to study biology, son of Brenda and Andrew Beard, members of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi Catholic Church; National Merit Commended Scholar, National Honor Society member, state qualifier, three-time track national qualifier and holder of four Roncalli records in track.
Madelyn Kitchens, cross country and track at Hanover College (Hanover, Indiana), to study kinesiology, daughter of Cathy and Robert Kitchens, members of St. Jude Catholic Church; top 25 in Roncalli history, academic all-state, MVP and leadership award, all-sectional runner and member of the National Honor Society.
Cole Huf, soccer and track at Hanover College (Hanover, Indiana), to study computer science, son of Nikki and Joe Huff, members of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi Catholic Church; all-state in track and all-county, conference and district in soccer.
Ava Shirley, cross country and track at Marian University (Indianapolis, Indiana), to study nursing, daughter of Angeline and Matthew Shirley, members of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi Catholic Church; Roncalli’s fifth all-time 5K, fourth all-time 3200, academic all-state and sportsmanship and leadership award.
AJ Morris, men’s volleyball at Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Indiana), to study pre-medicine, son of Toni and Mike Morris, members of St. Barnabas Catholic Church; team captain, two-time academic all-state and all-conference and regional volleyball player.
Gabby Nolting, track and Wittenberg University (Springfield, Ohio), to study neuroscience, son of Andrea and Josh Nolting, members of Nativity Catholic Church.
Sam Purdy, soccer at Hanover College (Hanover, Indiana), to study biology, son of Monica and Jeff Purdy, members of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi Catholic Church; all-conference soccer player.
Claire Frank, cross country at Ozark Christian College (Joplin, Missouri), to study children’s ministry, daughter of Chasity Frank.
Jonny Harlow, soccer at Hanover College (Hanover, Indiana), to study pre-law, son of Jamie and Tom Harlow, members of St. Jude Catholic Church; two-time academic all-state, two-time all conference, all-county, all-district first team, and all-state honorable mention soccer player.
“This is a very hardworking and humble group of student athletes. The Roncalli community wishes them well in their future endeavors,” said David Lauck (Roncalli 1994), athletic director of Roncalli High School.
