Johnson County’s top 10 sports stories of the year

<p>Though no Johnson County high school teams won state championships in 2018, teams, athletes and programs still made news throughout the year. Here’s a look back at the 10 biggest:</p><p><p><strong>1</strong><strong>Destrampe, Grizzly Cubs reach new heights</strong></p><p>Led by a victory in the 200-yard freestyle by junior Jacob Destrampe — the first individual state swim champion in school history — Franklin’s boys swimming and diving team powered its way to a runner-up finish at the state meet, easily the best-ever showing by the Grizzly Cubs. Two weeks earlier, the Franklin girls also notched the highest state finish in program history, placing fourth.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p><p><strong>2</strong><strong>Trojan boys golfers</strong> <strong>narrowly miss repeat</strong></p><p>Center Grove’s bid for a second consecutive state championship in boys golf came up one stroke short when Carmel pulled out a thrilling victory on the final hole of action. Senior Noah Gillard, who joined classmate Sam Jean on the All-State team, tied for low individual score before his bid to become the first repeat state medalist since 1995 came up short in a playoff.</p><p><p><strong>3</strong> <strong>J</strong><strong>ackson-Davis makes big leap forward</strong></p><p>2018 was a breakthrough year for Center Grove basketball star Trayce Jackson-Davis, who earned a gold medal playing for Team USA at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship in Canada. The 6-foot-9 forward, who committed to Indiana University on Nov. 30, led the Trojans to a second straight sectional title as a junior and began his senior season as the clear front-runner for Indiana Mr. Basketball honors.</p><p><p><strong>4</strong><strong>Milligan calls</strong></p><p><strong>it a career</strong></p><p>Longtime Center Grove softball coach Russ Milligan stepped down after leading the Trojans to a 30-2 mark and a semistate final appearance in the spring. In his 27 seasons at the helm, Milligan posted a sparkling 741-95 record (an .886 winning percentage). He collected five state championships, the last coming in 2015, along with 19 sectional and 15 regional crowns.</p><p><p><strong>5</strong><strong>Another big prize</strong></p><p><strong>for Shepherd</strong></p><p>Erica Shepherd capped off another solid year of golf by helping the United States win the Junior Ryder Cup, which was held in Paris in September. The Center Grove senior also competed in a pair of LPGA events, starting her summer playing in the U.S. Women’s Open and then qualifying and making the cut at the Indy Women in Tech Championship at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in August.</p><p><p><strong>6</strong><strong>Cougars land on probation</strong></p><p>The Greenwood Christian boys basketball program was placed on probation for the 2018-19 season by the IHSAA, which determined that the school had provided improper benefits to an incoming student and prospective basketball player. The violation was self-reported by the GCA administration, and while the player was ruled ineligible for the season, the Cougars will likely still be able to participate in the state tournament.</p><p><p><strong>7</strong><strong>Trojans christen</strong></p><p><strong>new field in style</strong></p><p>During the summer, Center Grove installed a new $800,000 artificial turf surface on its varsity soccer field. The Trojan girls took full advantage of their first season at the upgraded facility, winning 19 matches and pitching five straight state tournament shutouts to advance to the Class 3A semistate. Greenwood High School debuted its new student activity center earlier in the year.</p><p><p><strong>8</strong><strong>Braves sparkle on baseball diamond</strong></p><p>A talented Indian Creek baseball team made an impressive run under first-year coach Steve Mirizzi, advancing all the way to the Class 3A semistate. The Braves (24-6) won their first Johnson County championship in 25 years, then claimed a third consecutive sectional before beating West Vigo for the first regional title in school history.</p><p><p><strong>9</strong><strong>Trojans fall in epic semistate</strong></p><p>After a tumultuous offseason away from the field (see page A1) and a 2-3 start to the season, the Center Grove football team battled back to win seven in a row, claim its eighth straight sectional title and shut out Avon in the regional round before falling to eventual Class 6A state champion Warren Central in the semistate, 27-20, on a goal-line stand in the final minute.</p><p><p><strong>10</strong><strong>Blazek, Hardin earn All-Star nods</strong></p><p>It was a banner year for Johnson County in girls basketball, as Whiteland center Mackenzie Blazek and Center Grove guard Cassidy Hardin were both chosen as Indiana All-Stars. The pair combined for 22 points in the team’s June exhibition win over Kentucky, with Hardin earning game MVP honors. Both are now playing in the Big Ten, with Blazek at Illinois and Hardin at Purdue.</p>