Lipperd named one of 20 finalists for Indiana High School Heisman

Josh Barnett - Sports Editor

South Ripley's Julie Lipperd was recently honored for being selected as one of 20 finalists in the state of Indiana for the Wendy's Indiana High School Heisman.

The High School Heisman was created in 1994 in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Heisman Memorial Trust. The Wendy's High School Heisman has been recognizing outstanding, well-rounded students for more than 10 years.

The process starts with nominations, which includes 14,875 students, then is reduced to the state finalists which is 20, then 12 national finalists and eventually the national winners (one boy and one girl). The eventual winners from the state of Indiana were Jill Threewits from Union City Community High School and Cameron Brancock from Mississinewa High School.

Lipperd, along with the other nineteen finalists, were honored at an Indianapolis Colts football game on December 5 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, where they received a medal for their accomplishments. The day consisted of a luncheon at the RCA Dome, which was followed by a pre-game ceremony and each individual was escorted to the field where they were shown on the titan-tron. The students also got to stay and watch the Colts take on the Tennessee Titans.

Of the twenty state finalists, three of the individuals were from this area. Joining Lipperd were Batesville's Jim Turchyn and South Dearborn's Whitney Taylor.

Lipperd has been a standout athlete for the past four years at South Ripley in Volleyball, Basketball and Track. Along with outstanding performances on the court she is also one of the top students in her class, a member of the National Honor Society, the Vice President of the Student Coun
cil and the Math Club. She will be attending the University of Eastern Illinois next year on a full basketball scholarship and is the daughter of Ernie and Amy Lipperd of Versailles.

Plans underway for annual River Town Classic

Josh Barnett - Sports Editor

Returning for its fifth consecutive year, the River Town Classic Basketball Tournament will be played the fisrt full week of January at South Dearborn High School. Four boys and four girls from high school teams will compete in the tournament, which is sponsored by the Dearborn County Hospital Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Department and Swanson Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine.

Participating teams are the Lawrenceburg Tigers, Rising Sun Shiners, South Dearborn Knights and Switzerland County Pacers. The tournament takes place on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings January 5 through 8.

This tournament is always the first big family event at the start of the new year, announced Foster Harris, South Dearborn High School Athletic Director. The teams have been planning this for weeks.

The schedule is as follows:

On Wednesday, January 5 at 6:00 pm, the South Dearborn and Switzerland County girls play, followed by the Lawrenceburg and Rising Sun girls' game at 7:30 pm.

The South Dearborn and Switzerland County boys meet at 6:00 pm on Thursday, January 6. The Lawrenceburg and Rising Sun boys' teams will compete at 7:30 pm on Thursday.

On Friday, January 7, the girls' consolation game begins at 6:00 pm, followed by the boys' consolation game at 8:00 pm. The championship games will be played on Saturday, January 8, with the girls meeting at 6:00 pm and the boys' game at 8:00 pm.

Cheerleading squads will compete on Friday, January 7. Cheerleading competitions will take place between the consolation games. On Saturday, the runner up cheerleading squad will perform during half time of the girls game and the winning squad will perform at half time during the boys game.

Varsity basketball players and cheerleaders will receive a knitted cap showing the River Town Classic logo, donated by Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon Jim Swanson, M.D., and the Dearborn County Hospital Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Department.

Ticket prices will be $5.00 for single session and $10.00 for a tournament pass. Tickets and passes are being sold in advance at the four high schools or they can be purchased at the gate. For more information contact Foster Harris at South Dearborn at 926-3772.