With hopes of a July 1 return to high school athletics per the IHSAA, coaching staffs are doing what they can to keep student-athletes motivated, in-shape and prepared for what they hope is the approaching fall season.

Culver Community Head Football Coach Mike Zehner says technology is keeping the coaching staff in contact with the football team during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coach Zehner explains how having this extra time and technology to be able watch old film might be helpful.

IHSAA has set a preliminary date of July 1 for athletics to resume practices provided everything goes as outlined in the Governors plan. 

Tippecanoe Valley High School announced at the May 14, 2020 Board Work Session

that an E-sports Club is in the works for the 2020-2021 school year as Tippecanoe Valley High School will join the Indiana High School E-Sports League (IHSEN).

E-sports describes the world of competitive, organized video gaming. Competitors from different leagues or teams face off in the same games that are popular with at-home gamers: Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Brothers and Madden NFL, to name a few.

IHSEN is a statewide competitive video gaming league with Tippecanoe Valley joining the eighteen schools across the state currently involved:

– Anderson High School

– Carmel High School

– Clinton Central High School

– Clinton Prairie High School

– Elkhart High School

– Munster High School

– Kankakee Valley High School

– Kokomo High School

– Mississinewa High School

– Munster High School

– Noblesville High School

– Portage High School

– Rossville High School

– Salem High School

– Seeger Memorial Junior/Senior High School

– Tipton High School

– Western High School

Brandon Kresca, TVHS Principal shared, “At Tippecanoe Valley, we are always looking for new ways to provide inspiring opportunities for our students, we are pleased to announce that Tippecanoe Valley High School plans to join the Indiana High School E-sports Network and bring an organized E-sports Gaming Club to our school and community. I just feel very strongly that momentum is building in E-sports gaming and this is a way to reach even more of our students. I know there will be a great interest for many students to join this club whether or not they participate in athletics, music, and other various extra-curricular activities at Valley. This may give these students a niche, and the hope is it may even help them with career planning and future goals.”

The TVHS E-sports coaches named is Jonathan Tinkey and Nick Deranek. “I am excited and looking forward to Tippecanoe Valley becoming one of the first schools in our area to bring E-sports to our school. E-sports will open up additional opportunities for our students. The future is bright for this new adventure for Tippecanoe Valley students,” stated Jonathan Tinkey.

Follow the TVHS Facebook Page or contact Jonathan Tinkey at tinkeyj@tvsc.k12.in.us.

Starting the week of May 18, most DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife-owned shooting ranges will begin to reopen.

All facilities will be following COVID-19 social distancing and cleaning requirements. Restrictions will reduce the number of recreational shooters on the shooting ranges at a given time.

Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area’s shooting range will open by appointment only May 15-17 and resume normal operating hours the week of May 18. Shooters wishing to schedule an appointment should call 812-526-6552.

All other FWA shooting ranges, except the one at Willow Slough FWA, will reopen starting the week of May 18. Shooting range hours differ between ranges. Check open days and hours before visiting. Willow Slough FWA’s range will remain closed until further notice. Shooting range hours and information can be found at wildlife.IN.gov/3648.htm.   

For the most up-to-date information on DNR’s response to COVID-19, including what is open and closed, visit on.IN.gov/dnrcovid19. 

The 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will begin next month in Texas.

The season will begin Saturday, June 6 with the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, the racing series announced Thursday. The green flag for the race is at 8:45 p.m.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, INDYCAR will run a condensed schedule with practice, qualifying, and the race all in one day.

There will also be no fans in attendance.

“We’re excited and ready to kick off the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season at Texas Motor Speedway,” INDYCAR President Jay Frye said.

“America needs live sports and they are not going to believe what they see when the Genesys 300 storms into their living rooms on TV from Texas,” said Eddie Gossage, president and general manager of Texas Motor Speedway.

Frye said public health officials have put together protocols for the race to protect the well-being of participants. These include:

-Strict access guidelines limiting the number of personnel on-site

-A health screening system administered to all participants

-PPE equipment provided to everyone entering the facility, along with guidelines on usage

-Social distancing protocols in place and carefully maintained

-Revised competition layout to increase distancing

The remainder of the updated, 15-race INDYCAR calendar, announced April 6, remains on schedule for competition.

The IHSAA issued a statement allowing for the resumption of school sponsored activities on July 1.