Chesterton Rolls to Second Soccer Crown in Three Years
A record-setting performance led Chesterton to a 7-1 rout of Castle in the Class 3A boys state championship game.
The Trojans claimed their second title in three seasons by scoring early and often, breaking six all-class team and individual records and tying or setting 11 Class 3A records in the process of completing a 21-2 season.
Coach Lucas Sabedra’s squad opened the scoring in the ninth minute on the first of three goals by Zack Bowser before Josh Wadowski netted what proved to be the winning goal in the 10th minute.
Chesterton eventually led 6-0 at halftime as Ryan O’Dell and Bowser each scored twice in the first half, while Bowser assisted on Wadowski’s goal and Nick Biel’s tally, which closed the first-half scoring in the 30th minute.
Bowser completed his hat trick in the 60th minute. His three goals tied the all-class record for goals in a game, set by North Central’s Kei Tennyson in 1996. His two assists set a 3A record, while it tied the all-class record set by three other players. He recorded a 3A mark of nine shots – seven of which were on goal, tying the all-class record held by Tennyson and Chesterton’s Owen Hallas in 2016.
Trojans goalkeeper Charlie Eaton played the first 73 minutes of shutout soccer, marking three saves.
Castle’s only score came as the result of an own-goal recorded in the 78th minute. Coach Mike Reiter’s squad finished 17-3-1.
Chesterton’s Nick Biel receives Cato Mental Attitude Award
Following the match, the IHSAA Executive Committee named Chesterton’s Nick Biel as the recipient of the C. Eugene Cato Mental Attitude Award presented by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.
The award is annually presented to a senior, who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during his four years of high school.
He is the son of Tom and Claudia Biel of Chesterton. He will be attending Western Michigan University and will study Sports Management in pursuit of becoming a college coach.
Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, a proud corporate partner of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Chesterton High School’s general scholarship fund in the name of Nick Biel.
