Indy Star

 

By Nat Newell

 

The schedule Hamilton Southeastern High School girls track coach Julie Alano uses doesn't mark Wednesday's meet at Fishers with the name of the program's in-town rival.

"It says, 'Mudsock Meet,' " she said.

Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern compete for Mudsock -- an earlier name for the town -- trophies in each sport throughout the school year. The first school to win 10 competitions claims possession of a foot-tall, bronze representation of a muddy sock for its trophy case as the overall champion. The boys and girls track teams meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday with the Royals holding a 9-5 edge.

"We take a lot of pride in winning (the Mudsock trophies)," said Hamilton Southeastern hurdler Portia Bailey, who was upset by Fishers as a member of the Royals' volleyball team earlier this year. "(Being able to clinch the overall trophy) does add something (to this meet), especially because of the whole volleyball incident.

"I want to make up for that."

Hamilton Southeastern currently owns the big Mudsock Trophy after winning the inaugural competition last season 11-8.

Fishers will need to sweep the remaining five matchups between the schools to earn the trophy. The 10th-ranked Tigers' boys track team will be favored Wednesday, but the No. 14 Hamilton Southeastern girls will be expected to wrap up the competition.

"It's a rivalry, the (kids) want to win and they like to say, 'There's this thing,' " Alano said. "Where with some dual meets you're not that concerned about the score because you're working toward other things, they really pay attention to the score (against Fishers). It's exciting to the girls that we're the ones that can clinch the whole thing.

"That's something we'll talk about."

Hamilton Southeastern already has won in girls golf, girls basketball, boys tennis, girls swimming, girls soccer, football, girls cross country, boys basketball and girls tennis. Fishers picked up individual Mudsocks in boys soccer, volleyball, boys cross country, boys swimming and wrestling.

Fishers boys coach Nathan Warneke expects there to be additional emphasis on Wednesday's meet, but that it will have little to do with the Mudsocks. He emphasizes this meet as the start of the post-spring break schedule and buildup to the postseason. Both Alano and Warneke expect the four teams to take advantage of the rivalry and extra rest provided by a boy-girl meet to match up their best athletes in many events.

 

"We haven't brought (the Mudsock) up much (but) after spring break, the season goes full tilt," Warneke said. "This is a good first step. We'll load up a lot of boys and have them competing in multiple events. It's five weeks to sectionals so it'll be interesting to see where we're at."

Mudsock it to 'em

The Hamilton Southeastern High School boys or girls track team can wrap up the second all-sports Mudsock Trophy with a victory over in-town rival Fishers at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Here's a look at how the Royals have taken a 9-5 lead and the remaining competitions between the schools:

Aug. 18: Girls golf, Hamilton Southeastern, 149-165.

Aug. 26: Boys soccer, Fishers, 3-0.

Aug. 27: Boys tennis, Hamilton Southeastern, 4-1.

Aug. 27: Girls soccer, Hamilton Southeastern, 3-0.

Aug. 28: Volleyball, Fishers, 3-1.

Aug. 29: Football, Hamilton Southeastern, 24-17.

* Sept. 2: Boys cross country, Fishers, 61-118.

* Sept. 2: Girls cross country, Hamilton Southeastern, 92-115

Nov. 25: Boys basketball, Hamilton Southeastern, 81-69.

Nov. 26: Girls basketball, Hamilton Southeastern, 49-38.

Jan. 6: Girls swimming, Hamilton Southeastern, 126-60.

Jan. 6: Boys swimming, Fishers, 101-85.

Jan. 14: Wrestling, Fishers, 37-19.

April 1: Girls tennis, Hamilton Southeastern, 5-0.

April 15: Boys and girls track at Fishers, 5 p.m.

April 20: Boys golf at Stony Creek, 3:30 p.m.

April 20: Baseball at Fishers, 5 p.m.

May 8: Softball at Hamilton Southeastern, 5:30 p.m.

* -- Hamilton County Meet