First Brownstown Central team to win a state championship in any sport
After four tries in program history, Brownstown Central finally reached the pinnacle with a 3-0 (23-25, 25-21, 34-32, 25-19) win over Bellmont in the Class 3A championship match.
The second-ranked Lady Braves (33-5) had lost in the title match in Class 2A in 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2003 before the comeback victory over the Squaws.
Coach Jennifer Shade’s club had earlier beaten Bellmont in two sets on Oct. 12, but after the Squaws took the opening set behind five kills by Sophie Krull.
Brownstown began its comeback in set two as it overcame a 21-17 deficit by scoring the final eight points of the set to even the match. Kendra McCory had 10 of her match-high 22 kills in that set.
The pivotal third set proved to be a marathon with both teams having several opportunities to take control. There were 15 ties and nine lead changes in that set before Reagan Nuss closed the set with back-to-back aces.
Bellmont, coached by Craig Krull, took an early lead in the final set, but Addie Wilkerson had four kills and Kayla Guthrie added three to lead the BC attack.
Unranked Bellmont, which started the season 3-7, finished 25-11.
Rachel McBride of Bellmont selected for Mental Attitude Award
At the conclusion of the state finals, the IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, named Rachel McBride of Bellmont High School as the winner of the Class 3A Mental Attitude Award.
Academically, Rachel is ranked 9th in her senior class with a GPA of 4.16. She is a part of Bellmont Early College, National Honor Society, Student Athletic Leadership Team, and Student Council. McBride is a 4-year Letter Winner, 1st Team All-Conference Selection of 3 years, 2019 Team Captain, 2019 IHSVCA Academic All-State, and All-Time School Digs Leader with 1,554. Rachel also takes time as Chair for Best Buddies Kickball, a Canned Food Drive volunteer, filled Trick-or-Treat Bags for Decatur Dental Offices, organized Decatur Dental Safety Park, volunteers for Calithumpian Canter 5K, helped with the Cookie Drive at Bridge Community Church, a volunteer for Decatur Park and Recreation Clean-up, Chair of Senior Breakfast, and is a Bingen Easter Breakfast volunteer.
In addition to volleyball, she is also a member of the Bellmont softball team.
Rachel is the daughter of Todd and Jodi McBride of Decatur, Ind. and has received a full ride offer to play volleyball at Bellmont University and plans to pursue a degree in education.
Each year the IHSAA Executive Committee selects a senior player who was nominated by her principal and coach and was determined to have best demonstrated mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, presenting sponsor of the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award in Class 3A Volleyball, will donate $1,000 to Bellmont’s general scholarship fund in the name of Rachel McBride.