When Center Grove took the field in their quest for another state championship, former players from across the country were cheering them on.
If they couldn’t make it to Lucas Oil Stadium, they tuned in on TV or had relatives sending them updates so they could follow their alma mater.
Some, including former Center Grove defensive tackle Joel Hale, are years removed from their time as a Center Grove player.
But team means family, and the family is paying close attention.
Hale, also a former Ohio State University player who continues to live in Columbus, Ohio and works in medical sales for Zimmer Biomet, made plans weeks ago to attend the Buckeyes’ showdown against detested rival Michigan today.
But Hale, 24, was still cheering on his alma mater Friday evening as the Trojans faced Carmel for the Class 6A state championship. He received frequent text message updates from his mother, Dawn, on how Center Grove was faring.
Hale was a sophomore backup in coach Eric Moore’s football program the first time Center Grove captured a state title in 2008, and he isn’t surprised the Trojans made it this far.
Again.
“I expect it,” Hale said. “Other people might be amazed when they see Center Grove making it to state, but I’ve been through the program and know what’s expected. There’s nothing like it.”
Former Trojans running back Conner Stapleton was one of the program’s numerous alums who had made plans to be at Lucas Oil Stadium.
A sprinter/hurdler for the men’s track team at the University of Notre Dame, Stapleton was a three-year varsity football player for Center Grove from 2010-12.
“It’s convenient that it’s over Thanksgiving break so that I can come home and go. I’m also looking forward to Center Grove winning two straight championships,” Stapleton said. “It’s an incredible feat — and what better way to do it than against Carmel?”
“Coach Moore continues to make me a proud alum. It’s impressive that he’s only lost one game over the past two years.”
Indiana University redshirt freshman players Drew Conrad and Nathanael Snyder were with their Hoosier teammates Friday evening in Bloomington in preparation of the following day’s Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue. But Conrad, the punter for the 2015 state champion Trojans, and Snyder, the team’s kicker, watched the Center Grove-Carmel game on television.
The leaders of last season’s Trojans defense, Stanford University freshman Jovan Swann and Vanderbilt’s Cameron Tidd, were nervously keeping tabs on their former program from many miles away. Tonight, Stanford hosts Rice and Vandy hosts in-state rival Tennessee.
Connor Steeb, who a year ago made two tackles as a starting defensive back in Center Grove’s 28-16 victory over Penn in the 6A final, is one of last year’s seniors who was there voicing support in person. Others included Chris Barnett, Jackson Hohlt, Jacob Limbach, John Richardson, Zak Smith, Jackson Sodrel, Quinton Stirsman and Devon Wilson.
“A bunch of us are going to tailgate and then go to the game,” said Steeb, a redshirt freshman at Marian University, along with Sodrel, one of the Trojans’ starting linebackers a year ago.
“It’s going to be kind of weird looking out on the field and seeing the players.”
And not being one of them.
Granted an elevated vantage point was Joey Siderewicz, the starting quarterback during Center Grove’s undefeated 2015 season.
Twelve months removed from leading the Trojans offense against Penn, Siderewicz, now a freshman at Franklin College, was charting offensive plays from the press box as a Trojans volunteer assistant coach.
