By: Gloria Morelia

News

All-Stars from Lawrence North, South Knox recognized for outstanding citizenship Superior athletes. Strong students. Outstanding citizens.

(6-92-5) In a phrase, those labels accurately describe Indiana All-Star basketball players and recent high school graduates Azavier Robinson of Lawrence North and Ella Bobe of South Knox. Thus, each athlete has been named a winner of a Wooden/MCL Citizenship Award for 2025 as presented by the IndyStar Indiana All-Stars.

Robinson, a 6-2 guard, averaged 18.2 points, 3.8 reobnds, 4.1 assists and 2.1 steals as a senior in keying Lawrence North to a 22-7 season that included Class 4A sectional and regional titles. For his career, he totaled a school-record 1,885 points as well as 476 rebounds, 315 assists and 222 steals in 105 games.

The Butler University signee was a 2025 McDonald’s All-America nominee, three-time IBCA Supreme 15, three-time AP All-State (2023 honorable mention, 2024 second team, 2025 first team); three-time IndyStar Super Team (2023 third team, 2024 and 2025 first team); three-time all-Marion County (2024, 2025) and two-time Marion County Player of the Year (2024, 2025); three-time all-MIC (2023, 2024, 2025) and two-time MIC Player of the Year (2024, 2025).

Robinson earned Distinguished Honors scholastically at Lawrence North and was named to National Honor Society. He also was a part of LN’s Dance Marathon, Project Santa (a holiday toy drive), served a volunteer coordinator for Westminster Retirement Village and was a youth basketball camp leader.

He plans to major in sports communications at Butler.

Bobe, a 5-9 guard, tallied 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 steals as a senior in propelling South Knox to a 28-2 ledger and the Class 2A state championship. While with the Spartans, she set school records for career points (1,756), season points (581 as a senior), points in game (37 vs. White River Valley on Nov. 1, 2022), career 3-pointers (183) career assists (418) and season free throw accuracy (.875 as a sophomore). She also had career totals of 561 rebounds and 222 steals.

The University of Southern Indiana recruit is a three-time IBCA Small School All-State selection (2023, 2024, 2025), 2025 AP high honorable mention All-State, four-time all-Blue Chip Conference, three-time Vincennes Sun-Commercial first-team All-Area and Player of the Year and two-time Evansville Courier & Press all-Southwestern Indiana. She also was an all-tournament choice in the 2024 Hall of Fame Classic.

Scholastically, Bobe was IBCA first-team Academic All-State, her class valedictorian and in National Honor Society. She also was president of her school’s Business Club, a class vice president and participated in Student Council, Key Club, Interact Club, her church’s Youth Group and Youth Leadership Knox County.

Bobe plans to major in physical therapy at USI. 

Indiana All-Star games director Mike Broughton

“Azavier and Ella are great representatives for the Wooden/MCL Citizenship Award for the 2025 Indiana All-Stars,” Indiana All-Star games director Mike Broughton said. “Both Azavier and Ella had strong high school careers on and off the court. We wish them well as they take their talents to the college level.”

The Wooden/MCL Citizenship Awards have been presented to one All-Star boy and one All-Star girl annually since 1992. The awards are named for the late John Wooden, an outstanding player at Martinsville High School and Purdue University and later a 10-time NCAA championship coach at UCLA.

Wooden said when the award was established in 1992 –

 “Since I am a strong believer in academic and citizenship awards, I am honored that MCL desires to use my name for this honor.”

MCL Restaurant & Bakery, based in Indianapolis, has sponsored the Wooden Citizenship Award for all 33 years that it has been presented. MCL also has supported the Indiana All-Star program for more than 35 years. The Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, organizers of the Indiana All-Stars, thanks MCL for its continued support.

A list of Wooden/MCL Citizenship Award winners from over the years follows.

INDIANA ALL-STAR BASKETBALL

Wooden/MCL Citizenship Award Winners

            Year: Boys Winner, School; Girls Winner, School

            1992: Billy Wright, Richmond; Kristin Mattox, Charlestown

            1993: Kelcey Mucker, Lawrenceburg; Regan Seybert, Anderson Highland

            1994: Tige Darner, Anderson Highland; Tiffany Gooden, Fort Wayne Snider

            1995: Damon Frierson, Ben Davis; Lisa Williams, Carmel

            1996: Mickey Hosier, Alexandria; Janette Jaques, Lafayette Jeff

            1997: Michael Menser, Batesville; Katrina Merriweather, Cathedral

            1998: Patrick Jackson, Delta; Amber Schober, Plainfield

            1999: Jon Holmes, Bloomington South; Kristen Lowry, Logansport

            2000: Aaron Thomas, Northridge; Sara Strahm, Ben Davis

            2001: Chris Hill, Lawrence North; Ebba Gebisa, West Lafayette

            2002: Seth Colclasure, Bellmont; Candace Dark, Fountain Central

            2003: Andrew Hershberger, Goshen; Amanda Norris, Shenandoah

            2004: Peter Minchella, Harrison (West Lafayette); Kristen Miller, Tri-Central

            2005: Derek Drews, Elkhart Central; Dana Beaven, Corydon Central

            2006: Brandon Hopf, Forest Park; Ashley Barlow, Pike

            2007: E’Twaun Moore, East Chicago Central; Sha’la Jackson, Fort Wayne South

            2008: Tyler Zeller, Washington; Brittany Rayburn, Attica

            2009: Errick Peck, Cathedral; Courtney Osborn, Hamilton Southeastern

            2010: Erik Fromm, Bloomington South; Dee Dee Williams, Ben Davis

            2011: Austin Richie, Lowell; Amanda Corral, Hobart

            2012: D.J. Balentine, Kokomo; Alex Morton, Penn

            2013: Collin Hartman, Cathedral; Andrijana Cvitkovic, Culver Academy

            2014: Tayler Persons, Kokomo; Tayler Goodall, Columbus North

            2015: Joel Okafor, Richmond; Ali Patberg, Columbus North

            2016: Tucker Blackwell, Bloomington South; Cameron Onken, Lafayette Central Catholic

            2017: Jack Nunge, Castle; Madison Wise, Greenfield-Central

            2018: Dean Tate, Warren Central; Emily Kiser, Noblesville

            2019: Jesse Bingham, Warren Central; Maddie Nolan, Zionsville

            2020: Dre Davis, Lawrence Central; Madison Layden, Northwestern

            2021: Kooper Jacobi, Silver Creek; Courtney Blakely, Hammond Bishop Noll

            2022: Connor Essegian, Central Noble; Ally Madden, Blue River Valley

            2023: Zane Doughty, Ben Davis; Amber Tretter, Forest Park

            2024: Isaac Andrews, Wapahani; Camryn Runner, Hamilton Heights

            2025: Azavier Robinson, Lawrence North; Ella Bobe, South Knox

# END #

Details

By Zuni Youth Enrichment Project

June 09, 2025

The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project’s 2025 Basketball League wrapped up on Friday, May 16 for 203 Zuni youth ages 7-12 who engaged in eight weeks of regular practices and weekly games as well as a midseason tournament on Apr. 15-17. Shepherding them through the experience were ZYEP’s physical activity team and 43 community coaches. 

Made possible with support from Nike, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the New Mexico Department of Health and the Zuni Public School District, the ZYEP Basketball League is the most popular of the youth project’s sports leagues, which also include soccer, flag football and T-ball. According to Tyler Sice, ZYEP’s physical activity coordinator, this year’s league saw increased interest and significantly higher numbers at registration.

“With the rising numbers for this year, we were able to host 10 full teams in both divisions — Shiwi League for ages 7-9 and Zuni League for ages 10-12,” Sice said. “Interest hasn’t been this high in many years.”

With help from nonprofit organization ND42 Camps and founder Noah Dahlman, the youth project provided a skills camp on the weekend of Mar. 22-23 at Zuni High School. The camp introduced the children to basketball fundamentals prior to their first practice on Monday, Mar. 24.

Practices took place Monday to Thursday each week, with the Shiwi League at Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School and the Zuni League at Zuni Middle School. Zuni High School hosted the weekly games on Fridays. 

“The practices and games were well received by participants and community members,” Sice reported. “We had a lot of families coming out to support their teams!” 

The ZYEP team did run into a challenge when Zuni High School was unable to make its gymnasium available for games on Apr. 11 and 18. So the team pivoted, and with Physical Activity Leader Esther Suitza at the helm, they held a midseason round-robin tournament on Apr. 15-17, keeping the Shiwi League at STE and the Zuni League at ZMS.

“No score was kept, and spirits were high,” Sice said. “The participants couldn’t wait to play their next games. It was crazy and amazing, with 15 games each night played across two courts.” 

At the STE gym, ZYEP Basketball League coaches refereed the games. At the ZMS gym, the youth project arranged to have local referees help officiate the games for the older children. 

“On the first day, the 10 teams were moving fast with 10-minute games and 2-minute transition time,” Suitza said. “The youth were excited and ready to play, but some also were a little nervous. They commented, ‘Tournaments are serious to the real ballers, and I’m scared to play against them.’ We encouraged them to do their best, gain experience, and most of all, have fun!” 

Additional ZYEP staffers were on hand throughout the tournament to provide support, including Food Sovereignty Leader Zachary James, Food Sovereignty Coordinator Brittny Seowtewa and interns Malcom Kaskalla and Lorenzo Chavez. The Food Sovereignty team also provided snacks for players and spectators. 

After the tournament, the league resumed regular practices and games for the remaining four weeks of the program. Looking back, Sice said the season was a resounding success despite any challenges the league might have faced along the way.

“In the youth surveys, 92 percent of the kids said they had fun during basketball season, and 87 percent said this year’s season helped them feel more confident,” he reported. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the spaces provided and the many coaches, players and families wanting to be part of it!” 

Families agreed that the season was a success, with 100 percent indicating that their children’s participation improved their self-confidence. They also shared their own highlights from the experience.

“It sure was an awesome season,” one parent reported on their survey. “Thank you to the coaches for teaching our children respect toward one another as well as coaching basketball. My daughter had a great season. She’s gained more confidence and courage to play basketball.”

“Our whole family loved ZYEP basketball — a huge thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make it possible,” said one survey respondent, while another remarked, “ZYEP is a blessing to our community. It gives our children a chance to learn new activities, gain experience and meet new people.” 

For their part, the community coaches also indicated that the basketball season was a positive one, with one coach calling it “the most rewarding experience of my life,” and another expressing joy in seeing “the children learn, develop new skills and show so much respect to each other.”

“This season helped me connect with my youth, which was really fun,” another coach said. “I loved building new relationships with the kids and their families, as well as the other coaches. This helped me get out of my comfort zone. It was a great experience.” 

“This season was very heartwarming to me,” said another. “The kids made every day joyful.” 

Through its Youth Sport initiative, ZYEP connects with more than 500 youth annually. In addition to basketball, young people also are able to take advantage of seasonal leagues in T-ball, soccer and flag football. More importantly, they have access to mentorship through ZYEP’s staff and coaches, camaraderie with teammates throughout the leagues, and powerful community spirit.

Now that basketball season has concluded, the ZYEP team is shifting gears to prepare for Wellness Week on June 23-26; Summer Camp, which kicks off June 30; and the annual T-Ball League, which will take place in July. 

STEWARTVILLE, Minn. (KTTC) – Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch in Stewartville hosted its 39th Annual National Wheelchair Sports Camp—the nation’s largest and most dynamic wheelchair sports camp. This event, happening until Thursday, had participants of all ages and backgrounds.

“You get to hang with peers on multiple levels,” camp director Craig Blanchette said. “We usually are in an environment where there’s people walking around us all day. We’re looking up to everybody. One of the things about being [a] wheelchair camp is we get to see everybody eye-to-eye and it’s just a subtle, unique thing that’s really cool.”

According to Blanchette, the 6-day camp features more than a dozen activities from water-skiing to zip-lining. He said, “We’ve got a full camp. It is an opportunity for you to experience a lot of different sports.”

On Sunday afternoon, campers had a chance to meet with Daniel Romanchuk, an American Paralympics athlete who visited the event as a keynote speaker. He shared his life experiences as an international athlete who broke records as a racer. Blanchette shared one of his favorite parts about the wheelchair sports camp is the bonds that people create during their time here.

“I love it when the new campers come, and they might be young, they might be in their teens or 20s, and they’re socializing and interconnecting with people in their 50s and 60s,” he said. “We all have our love for sports, and we’re all in wheelchairs. We just have all these things that bond us.”

Next year, the National Wheelchair Sports Camp will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. Along with special activities to mark this milestone, Blanchette shared he aims to bring more veterans to the camp.

“We’re hoping to have a lot of campers that are veterans that haven’t been here in a while,” he said. “We’re trying to get the old guard back together again. Next year, we’re open to have a lot of new people back and we’re going to make some special things for the 40th anniversary celebration.”

On Monday, a highlight of this year’s camp will be a live performance by world-renowned Christian recording artist Jason Gray. For more information on the National Wheelchair Sports Camp, visit Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch’s website.

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By Jessica A. Taylor
•
June 9, 2025

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — As summer heats up along the Alabama Gulf Coast, the week ahead offers a full schedule of activities for locals and visitors alike. From aerial tours and live performances to educational programs, food festivals, and community clean-ups, there’s something happening every day across the region. Whether you’re seeking adventure, a learning opportunity, or a moment of quiet reflection by the water, the coast continues to deliver diverse experiences for all ages.