The 14th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through Indiana on Thursday, January 31 to recognize
Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) High School and its football team for winning a state championship and earning a high national ranking.
After compiling an impressive 9-0 record in the highly competitive Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC), Warren Central upended MIC rival Carmel 27-7 in the
IHSAA Class 6A state championship contest. With the win the 14-0 Warriors claimed their ninth state football championship, earned the No. 33 ranking in
MaxPreps' National Rankings and played their way into the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Writers' Poll at No. 10!
Photo By Precision Sports Entertainment
MaxPreps and the Indiana Army National Guard were on hand to honor Warrior football with a fourth Army National Guard national ranking trophy. Warren Central also received recognition from the Tour of Champions in 2005 (14-1, ranked 5th), 2006 (15-0, ranked 7th) and 2015 (11-3, ranked 34th).
Staff Sergeant Leslie Lopez of the Indiana Army National Guard set up shop in the cafeteria, visited with students about the Army National Guard national ranking trophy and distributed Army National Guard material during the school's lunch period.
As tipoff of the boys basketball games neared, SSG Lopez and the Indiana Army National Guard moved their display closer to the gym, drawing even more attention to the prestigious trophy. Students, parents and fans stopped by to get an up close look at the trophy and to take pictures.
With halftime of the varsity contest quickly approaching, head coach Jayson West and the Warriors posed for formal photos with the trophy and were interviewed by several media outlets. The Indiana Army National Guard distributed commemorative Tour of Champions t-shirts to the Warriors as they made their way to center court.
Then the Warren Central public address announcer introduced MaxPreps representative Todd Townsend and SSG Lopez. Townsend welcomed the championship team, and its coaching staff, to half-court to the cheers of the fans. Soon a standing ovation erupted as everyone in the gym acknowledged what a remarkable season the Warriors had just had. SSG Lopez congratulated the Warriors on a successful season before quickly presenting West and Warren Central with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy.
MaxPreps and the Army National Guard congratulate Coach West and the Warren Central Warriors on a great season, a state championship and a national ranking! Now they need one for the thumb! Click
here to view the Warren Central TOC photo gallery and for more information about the Football TOC, please visit the
MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.
Photo By Precision Sports Entertainment
Photo By Precision Sports Entertainment