BricksCenter
DaDaDa DaDaDa
November 29, 2020
21 Sports ... 1 Team ... WE ARE HOBART!
A Fox Sports TRADITION is to share turkey legs on THANKSGIVING with outstanding accomplishments in sports. With the Hobart Brickie football team the only one in action over break, combined with the fact that our boys were competing in the STATE FINALS for the 1st time since 1996, they get ALL OF THEM!! Fortunately, Hall of Fame coach & legendary broadcaster John Madden is here to deliver the goods!
(John Madden voice) BOOM - you see right here ... it's time for BricksCenter!
Football
Originally made famous by ABC's Wide World of Sports, each Saturday audiences were promised the ability to experience the THRILL of VICTORY or the AGONY of DEFEAT. These are natural emotions that flow from ALL athletic contests .... that's what draws us to them time and time again ... we want to see the drama unfold. On Friday afternoon, our #7-ranked Brickies played #4-ranked Indianapolis Roncalli for the IHSAA Class 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. 7 days after experiencing the THRILL by defeating Marion in the Semi State Championship to advance to STATE for the 1st time in 24 years, our boys unfortunately felt the AGONY against the Rebels. Roncalli's powerful running attack, anchored by an enormous offensive line, combined with the ability to strike quickly through the air was too much for Hobart to overcome. The Rebels built a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Our boys BATTLED for 48 minutes and NEVER quit ... scoring on a short run by senior Tyler Turley late in the game after a SPECTACULAR 30-yard reception from senior Zach Vode set the Brickies up inside the 10 yard line. Turley finished the game with 138 yards rushing on 26 carries ... Vode led the defense with 15 tackles.
Final Score: Hobart 7, Roncalli 49
In the end, the scoreboard never defines success. Win or lose, success is defined by giving the total effort to be the best of which you are capable. No doubt ... the Hobart Brickies gave their total effort. Their goal all along has been to #PLAY15, which in football means advancing to the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. Goal accomplished.
AGONY was felt over those 48 minutes on Friday afternoon, but more importantly, THRILL was the overwhelming feeling experienced by our community over the last 21 weeks ... starting back on July 6th when the Brickies were finally able to begin their quest to #PLAY15. What a season ... what an AMAZING group of young men. The obstacles they had to overcome on a daily basis ... not only preparing for opponents week in and week out, but to also literally tackle COVID-19 protocols daily and successfully navigate nearly 5 months is absolutely incredible. They lifted the hopes of an entire town on their backs and carried them all the way to the Indiana High School football "Promised Land", Lucas Oil Stadium. It had been 24 long years since the Hobart Brickies played on this stage and the story they wrote in Purple & Gold is definitely one for the history books. FAMILY is something they preached from day 1 and it showed ... not just on the field, but throughout this blue-collar town with a foundation built on toughness and embedded in a deep-rooted love for the Brickies.
CONGRATULATIONS to Coach Osika, his outstanding staff, and this amazing group of boys for taking us all on such a fantastic voyage through the fall season. A voyage that took us back in time to the "old days". So much PRIDE was displayed on the field, in the stands and through Hobart. These kids played with their hearts on their sleeves and reminded us of what is possible with a lot of hard WORK WORK WORK and a strong sense of togetherness. The WE definitely came before ME with these boys - an approach we should all employ in our daily lives. The goal was to #PLAY15, but the purpose is so much more. THANK YOU for keeping the Friday Night Lights SHINING BRIGHT all the way to Thanksgiving!!
The 2020 Brickies finished 11-3 and earned the distinction of being Sectional, Regional, & Semi State CHAMPIONS ... and STATE FINALISTS for the 12th time in school history!!!
THANK YOU to all the fans for showing SO MUCH support to this team - it was absolutely AMAZING to be a part of the this unbelievable journey!!
#PLAY15
READ ALL ABOUT IT!!
Check out the articles leading up to and after the Brickies competed for the Class 4A Football STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!
PRE GAME
POST GAME
BRIGHT FUTURE
Alumni Spotlight
2007 HHS grad Josh Miracle teaches social studies and serves as the defensive coordinator for the Westfield High School Shamrocks. Westfield lost to Center Grove in the Class 6A final Friday night 38-14 ... their 3rd appearance in the state championship since 2013, winning the Class 5A crown in 2016. Josh was a 2-sport athlete at HHS, playing quarterback on the gridiron and point guard on the hardwood for the Brickies. Josh attended Wabash College for his undergrad and played football for the Little Giants before launching his career at Westfield.
2016 HHS grad Isaiah Gransberry was on the sidelines Friday as well serving as a videographer and photographer for both Region Sports Network (RSN) and Golf Plus. Isaiah was also a 2-sport athlete for the Brickies, playing football and basketball at HHS. Isaiah recently graduated from Benedictine University where he continued to lace them up on both the gridiron and the hardwood for the Eagles!
#ALLMYLIFE
Fall Sports Season
CONGRATULATIONS to all of our coaches & student athletes for finding ways to do what we've always done in a completely different way and successfully navigating completely unchartered waters thanks to COVID-19. It truly was a FANTASTIC fall season with both soccer teams advancing in post-season play, boys tennis finishing as a sectional finalist, girls golf advancing two Lady Brickies to the regional, cross country taking 6 harriers to the semi state, and the Brickie football team playing all the way to Thanksgiving weekend and the STATE FINALS!!
#WEAREHOBART
Winter Sports
Beginning Monday, November 30th, IHSAA events will be limited to participants, support personnel, and parents/guardians only. Therefore, only 2 spectators will be allowed per student athlete. Only those parents/guardians on the list at the ticket gate will be able to purchase tickets for entry until further notice. There may even be some events that are closed to spectators. The most important thing is for our kids to continue having opportunities to participate. HHS will make every attempt to livestream indoor home events for FREE. We ask for patience and understanding as we continue to paddle upstream against this pandemic.
If and when Lake County moves back into an ORANGE distinction, capacities will open back up to 25%.
Stay tuned in for updates through the SCOH and Hobart Athletic Department social media outlets as well as individual team communications.
#HOBARTSTRONG
Sports Schedule This Week
9th Wrestling @ Crown Point
9th Boys Basketball vs. Morton - Cancelled
Tuesday
Girls Swimming/Diving vs. KV/Lowell *
Boys Swimming/Diving vs. KV/Lowell *
Girls Basketball vs. Portage
Wednesday
9th Boys Basketball @ Portage - Cancelled
Thursday
Girls Swimming/Diving @ Knox
Boys Swimming/Diving @ Knox
Girls 9th Basketball vs. East Chicago - Cancelled
Friday
Girls Basketball vs. Munster *
Saturday
Wrestling @ River Forest
Girls Diving @ Western Invite
Boys Diving @ Western Invite
* = NCC Opponent