The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition bobblehead featuring Loyola University Chicago’s Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM.

The bobbleheads, which are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, are officially licensed by Loyola University Chicago and are being produced in conjunction with the Loyola University Chicago’s Athletic Department.

This marks the third bobblehead of Sister Jean, the 101-year-old chaplain for Loyola’s Men’s Basketball team. In 2018, Sister Jean was thrust into the national spotlight when the Ramblers advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. The 2018 bobblehead, which sold out this week, was the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s best seller of all time until it was surpassed in April 2020 by a bobblehead of Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The bobblehead features Sister Jean in her wheelchair wearing a maroon and gold Loyola letter jacket. Each bobblehead will be individually numbered and they are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads are $25 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order and are expected to ship in July. A portion of the sales of Sister Jean’s bobblehead benefit Sister Jean’s religious order, the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as Loyola University’s Athletic Department.

“I am truly honored that the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum is creating another Sister Jean bobblehead,” said Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM. “This has been a unique and unforgettable season for Loyola’s Men’s Basketball, both on and off the court, and we are excited to go and dance at March Madness in Indianapolis. I am excited to watch my beloved Ramblers in-person in Indy on Friday, March 19. May this March Madness provide our country with great joy and may our Ramblers and other basketball athletes experience the thrill of the game during this tournament.”

On March 7, Loyola became the fourth team to punch its ticket to the 2021 NCAA Tournament with a 75-65 victory over Drake in the championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference tourney in St. Louis. This marks Loyola’s first NCAA Tournament since its run to the Final Four in 2018 as a No. 11 seed. In a Cinderella performance in 2018, the Ramblers knocked off Miami (Fla.), 64-62, and Tennessee, 63-62, to advance to the Sweet 16. They then toppled Nevada, 69-68, and Kansas State, 78-62, to move on to the Final Four. In the national semifinals, Loyola’s magical run finally ended with a 69-57 loss to Michigan.

Sister Jean became an instant celebrity after Loyola’s first-round victory over Miami. Her fame continued to grow with each upset victory and the then-98-year-old nun became the star of the tournament as the Ramblers reached the Final Four for the first time since 1963. Due to her popularity, her original bobblehead sold for more than $300 on eBay leading to the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum producing her second bobblehead which became available following Loyola’s two upset wins during the first weekend in the NCAA Tournament. Within 48 hours, that bobblehead became the Hall of Fame and Museum’s best-selling bobblehead ever.

After his team’s victory over Drake in the MVC tourney title game this year, Loyola coach Porter Moser said that Sister Jean had been calling the team with pre-game prayers. Unable to travel to the 2020-2021 games because of COVID-19 restrictions, she admitted it was difficult to be apart from the Ramblers during the regular season, but she remained in contact with phone calls, emails and Zoom meetings.

“Once again, Sister Jean and Loyola University Chicago have returned to the public eye with another run to the NCAA Tournament,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “We are thrilled to be working with the University so that more fans across the country can have a Sister Jean bobblehead. Everyone needs some of Sister Jean’s positive attitude and great spirit in their lives, and this bobblehead will be a great way to have that!”

Ticket information has been released for Rochester's trip to the boys basketball Lapel Regional.

The IHSAA Boys' Basketball Regional at Lapel HS Saturday will feature the Rochester Zebras will vs Rossville in the second semifinal scheduled for a 12:30 tip.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) had to cancel all spring sports last year because of the coronavirus. They are doing everything they can to make sure that doesn’t happen this year.

That impacts boys golf, girls tennis, boys and girls track, baseball, softball, and unified track.

“I would say ‘Get ready to watch your child because we’re going to play,” said Paul Niedig, commissioner of the IHSAA. “We’re going to have to continue to watch what’s going on nationally with the different strains of the virus and the positivity rate. I can’t tell you exactly what it’s going to look like, but I know we’re going to play.”

Niedig said the virus typically operates on a “two-week timeline” so both he and his staff will continue to monitor the pandemic on that timeline and make the best decision necessary with safety being the highest priority.

“We’re going to deal with the parameters that are facing us and make appropriate decisions in a timely manner to get to state championships in all of our spring sports,” said Niedig.

The IHSAA has been allowing limited fans to be in attendance and watch many fall and winter sports contests. Niedig believes coronavirus vaccines are a game-changer.

“As we move to more people receiving the vaccine later in the year, I am hoping to celebrate state championships with the maximum amount of attendance as we have in the past,” said Niedig.

With most spring sports happening outdoors instead of indoors, Niedig said that will make it easier to manage to virus protocols and allow more fans to be in attendance.