Recap
March is a month that usually brings much excitement to areas like Northwest Indiana. Spring is just a few weeks away, baseball fields are getting prepared for thrilling games and for students spring break is right around the corner. For the Indians of Lake Central, however, it is what is going on in school that has students ready to buckle up for an exciting ride to the end of the school year.
On Wednesday, March 1, the Lake Central boys varsity basketball team took the trip to East Chicago to kick off Sectionals. The Indians came in as heavy underdogs in their Class 4A Sectional, but the “Tribe” soon began to stun their opponents. The team's first game was against the Lowell Red Devils. With 17 points from junior Conor Tomasic and a double-double for junior Justin Graciano, the Indians took home an exciting 43-39 victory. The next game was then on Friday, March 3, against arguably the school's biggest rival-- the Munster Mustangs. That game, however, was not nearly as exciting as the previous one. LC would take home a dominant win with a final score of 53-40.
Up next were the hosts, the East Chicago Cardinals, in the Sectional championship. Despite holding a lead for most of the game, the Indians saw the win slip away at the very end and were sent home with a final score of 67-62. The student section for all three games was some of the largests the school has seen in recent history. After each game multiple students performed their usual postgame ritual of cleaning up the bleachers. What stood out this time was the fact that those students cleaned both student sections of the first two games and even helped clean the garbage left behind by the East Chicago fans in their own stadium at the final game. Through the exciting wins and upsetting losses, the Indians forever show their respect.
Following the defeat to the East Chicago Cardinals on Saturday, March 4, many students, especially seniors, held their heads low and had tears running down their faces. It seemed as if the excitement of cheering in the LC fan section was officially done for the year and the realization of graduation was getting closer. That would not be true.
On Tuesday, March 7, the Lowell Red Devils held their fourth annual special olympics at “The Pit.” There the Red Devils took on the LC West Lake basketball team in what was a very exciting match. All proceeds from the event went to help special needs athletes. Students and community members from Lowell and Lake Central came out to cheer on the team. Donations were accepted in all kinds of ways-- through a 50/50 raffle, buying shirts or just simply donating to a fish bowl.
Prior to the basketball game against the Mustangs, Lake Central School Corporation invited three state legislators-- state Rep. Hal Slager, state Rep. Julie Olthoff and state Sen. Rick Niemeyer-- to discuss updates on state funding to the school. The event took place in the Kay Trapp room in the high school and was open to anyone in the community that was interested in joining.
Along with the public was the LCSC school board and previous school board members. Following what seemed mostly like a discussion about current events with the legislators and the school board members of the public were allowed to ask questions. There were few political disagreements throughout the 90 minute session, but overall the mood was very positive and hopeful. The goal was for the legislators to hear what LCSC was and has been saying, and ultimately there is hope that the goal was reached.
Some of the main topics discussed were funding, new suicide prevention training for teachers and other bills that have been passed or proposed such as the one to require schools to start classes closer to September.
St. Baldrick's this March
St. Patrick’s day in the Chicago area is usually highlighted by the parade held downtown, but this year LCHS is adding a new event to look forward to. During “PtE” class on Friday, March 17, students will be dismissed into the gymnasium for the first ever school-wide St. Baldrick’s assembly. Numerous students have offered up their heads to be shaved in front of the entire school for the cause.
The main goal of the event is for each person to raise money to go to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation which aims to “conquer childhood cancer.” The goal for the entire school is to raise over $10,000 but one group of students has decided that they wanted to raise that same amount on their own. To donate to those students you must go to St. Baldrick’s site and search “Senior Baldricks” or simply go to @LCHSNews on Twitter and look for their pinned tweet.
Coming up...
Starting on Friday, March 10, the Lake Central Theatre Company will begin performances of its spring play-- “Into the Wild.” Also, with spring sports just weeks away fans are welcome to come out and enjoy the sports as the weather gets nicer. Updates for all things Lake Central can be found on the Lake Central News Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat accounts.