WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Historical Society hosted a celebration of women in sports Saturday outside the Kosciusko County Jail Museum. 

The event honored the achievements of Kosciusko County’s female athletes over the past 50 years, when the IHSAA elevated girls' sports to the same as boys

Members of the Warsaw Lady Tigers state girls’ basketball champion teams from 1976 and 1978 were called up on stage and recognized, as was the 2015 Tippecanoe Valley girls’ runner-up state champion basketball team and the Warsaw girls basketball runner-up from last year.

WRSW’s Rita Price, herself a sports broadcasting legend, emceed the event and took time to recognize Wawasee graduate Shanna Zolman as possibly one of the greatest athletes in Indiana history.

"She scored 3,085 points, held many national records, including 92 percent at the free throw line, and she carried that over the the WNBA and Tennessee," Price said. "Shanna Zolman will always be remembered as one of the best in Kosciusko County."

Many of Warsaw’s championship teams in 1976 and 1978 attende the ceremony, including head coach Jan Soyez and standouts Judi Warren and Chanda Kline.

Sue Loher, a member of the 1978 state championship team who lives in Colorado, attended Saturday’s ceremony.

Luckily, her 45th reunion coincided nicely.

“I was going to be on the road by six this morning, but I couldn’t pass this up,” Loher said. “It’s a great event.”

Loher went on to have a career in the judicial system in Colorado. She said athletics paid off later in life.

“Team sports help me in my workplace, coping with people,” Loher said.

“I wanted to see the team again. The ’78 team, we’ve stayed pretty tight. I stay in touch with the ladies. But it’s wonderful to see everybody. It’s very heartwarming, and we’re all very close still,” she said.

Price also put into perspective how far girls' sports have progressed.

"Maybe I should say it, but I’m going to — one of the members of the IHSAA board actually thought it would be unhealthy for girls to run up and down the court full court because it might inhibit them from having children,” said, drawing hoots and hollers. “That’s how far we’ve come, ladies and gentlemen, in 50 years!”  

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Warsaw girls basketball team lost a heart-breaker Saturday in the state finals against Lawrence North, but it was still a huge day for Warsaw sports legends. 

[caption id="attachment_106038" align="alignright" width="370"] Warsaw basketball legends Chanda Kline (left) and Judi Warren were honored Saturday by the IHSAA. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

IHSAA put together a series of tributes Saturday honoring 50 years of girls basketball including top teams and standouts that also happened to be chronicled by the voice of Rita Price during that span.

The WRSW radio sports broadcasting legend was honored repeatedly at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis during the day and top teams and players from the past five decades were also spotlighted.

As always, Price and her broadcasting partners (for many years it was Tim Keffaber and now it is Baylen Hite) broadcast championship games as the best in girls' basketball collided in Indy.

[caption id="attachment_106017" align="alignright" width="420"] The IHSAA highlighted 50 years of girls basketball by spotlighting previous state champions and standout players, including Judi Warren (third from left) and Chanda Kline (second from left).[/caption]

At one point Saturday, players from Waraw’s 1976 state champions and others were honored at center court and then immediately headed over to press row to say hello and congratulate Price on her 50 years of broadcasting.

Jane Schott, assistant commissioner of the IHSAA, put it into perspective.

"In that first state championship they played at Hinke Fieldhoue, people said, 'Oh, you won't have over 500 fans,' and we had over 5,000 fans and she was doing the game from the very beginning and never left it. She has definitely elevated the level of our game," Schott said.

[caption id="attachment_106041" align="alignright" width="420"] WRSW radio legend Rita Price was recognized several times on Saturday for 50 years of broadcasting, including covering every state championship since 1976. Along with several tributes, she was greeted with a floral arrangement as she arrived to begin work on Saturday morning.[/caption]

Warsaw won two of the first three state championships beginning in 1976.

Along the way, Price has covered championship games featuring Triton, Tippecanoe Valley, Wawase and Northwood while broadcasting at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Market Square Arena, Lucas Oil Stadium and what is now known as Gainbidge Fieldhouse.

News Now Warsaw caught up with Warsaw legends Judi Warren (the 1976 Miss Basketball recipient) and Chanda Kline, (the 1978 Miss Basketball recipient) both of whom attended Saturday's ceremony.

"She was as much of a pioneer as people say we are," Kline said. "She was there the whole way. I consider her part of the team," Kline said.

She and Price mentioned the camaraderie that came as they rode the bus to games together in the early years.

"I can tell you about those bus rides you'd never believe," Price said. "The fact that these women are women now, I won't."

"It was a special collaboration that we had," she said. "We were like a family doing new things. I always said we didn't think we were making history, we just thought we were having fun, and we did."

Warren reflected on that first state championship when she was a senior.

"I feel very fortunate that it started in '76 and not '77 ... and how it changed my life and the career path and everything," Warren said.

Price was asked to name a few of her favorite players over the years.

"Well, it will always be Judi Warren. She was the first ever, from Claypool, Indiana, who learned to play ... with her brothers. It will always be that one person that stands out. Chanda Kline was that second," she said.

Saturday was the second consecutive weekend in which Price was honored for her broadcasting longevity, the first being an extensive tribute by Tippecanoe Valley High school. The school commemorated her for the 4,000-plus games she's broadcast while also serving as the voice of Valley football and basketball.

"I've been blessed by so many people in so many ways by this game they call basketball," Price said. "I've been at the right place at the right time, which I used to think was luck. Now I think somewhere along the line, there must have been a plan for my life and it's been nothing but good things all around."

Price said she was honored and touched by how former players who reached out to her Saturday.

"When they come back, it just brings it all back," she said. "All the fun comes back. It's been a great day."

[caption id="attachment_106044" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Rita Price (center) is pictured with broadcast partner Baylen Hite. Together, they both broadcast all four of Saturday's class game championship games Saturday. Price has been covering girls championships since they were first sanctioned in 1976. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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Here are photos highlighting the Warsaw Girls trip to the 4A state finals in Indianapolis.

The Warsaw team fell short against Lawrence North in a 65-59 loss in the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Tigers were down by 18 in the third quarter but closed the gap to three points twice in the final minute. The Wildcats (19-8) added a few points in the final minute.

Warsaw benefited from a huge crowd and was the focus of attention as the state honored 50 years of girls basketball.

News Now Warsaw photos by Dan Spalding.

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By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

MENTONE — Rita Price took in the moment without saying a word.

The sports broadcasting legend who has spent 50 years providing play-by-play, insights and heartfelt analysis for Tippecanoe Valley High School sports, found herself Friday night sitting on the basketball court named after her — The Rita Price Simpson Court — absorbing speeches acknowledging her place in the school's history.

[caption id="attachment_105624" align="alignright" width="475"] Standing behind Rita Price, from left, are Girls Basketball Coach Rebekah Parker, Football Coach Steve Moriarty, Athletic Director Sam Sturtevant, and Boys Basketball Coach Joe Luce. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The 82-year-old Price, who continues to work for WRSW radio, heard a series of short speeches from Girls Basketball Coach Rebekah Parker, Boys Basketball Coach Joe Luce and Football Coach Steve Moriarty as well as compliments from a spokesman for 3rd District Congressman Marlin Stutzman whose comments were entered into the Congressional record earlier in the week.

Price’s sports broadcasting career began in 1975 and paralleled the emergence of Indiana girls high school sports.

Parker praised Price’s talents.

[caption id="attachment_105625" align="alignright" width="370"] Free shirts honoring Rita Price were available to everyone at Friday's game. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

“You are so good at what you do, it’s absolutely like you bring the game to life, like you're right there watching it,” she said.

Luce and Parker both conveyed messages from Indiana sports dignitaries and several former standout players for Valley, including Trey Eaton, the boys basketball's all-time scoring leader.

Eaton's message: "Rita, your voice was more than just commentary. It is the heartbeat of every Valley basketball game, the soundtrack of Valley’s greatest moments, and the steady presence through every high and low throughout the last 4,000-plus games. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Valley.” 

Moriarty talked about the bond his family shares with Rita and her family and the far-reaching impact her words have had.

“From the back streets of Burket, all the way to Athens, Sevastapol, even to Atwood and the main streets in Akron — and even the Java Jacks with your Pink Flamingo — they’ve always been there for you and you’ve been there for us. You’ve been embedded in our community.”

He added, “Those crisp fall nights, you have (been) the voice of Death Valley Football. You are the voice of Death Valley Football.”

Pat Miller, representing Stutzman’s office, expressed appreciation for Price's legacy.

Miller reminded the audience that Price has been with WRSW radio for 65 years and is a Hall of Fame inductee with the Indiana High School Basketball, Indiana Broadcasters Association, Kosciusko County Basketball — and on top of that — is a former Woman of the Year recipient with Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce

"That's quite a milestone and Rita is truly a remarkable woman," Miller said.

Mentone sits in the middle of Indiana's 2nd Congressional District which is represented by Rudy Yakym.

While Stutzman's Third District covers northeast Indiana, Miller explained afterward that the two Congressional offices agreed to allow Stutzman to honor Price because the old 3rd District used to include the school before redistricting years ago.

Shirts commemorating Price's impact on Valley sports were distributed before the game and worn by fans, staff and the basketball team during warm-ups.

The ceremony was held shortly before the start of the varsity game against Huntington North, which was won by Tippecanoe Valley, 58-38.

Asked why she chose not to address the crowd, Price said she was eager to get the game started.

After Friday night’s game, She and her broadcast partner, Baylen Hite, would be headed to Logansport Saturday morning to cover all three games of the girls semi-state that includes Whitko for the first time in school history.

Price downplayed her legacy just a bit.

"It is true, if you stay around long enough, good things will happen to you," Price said.

"I'm very humbled by all of it," she said. "You know, I never did this for that, but it sure is nice."

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WARSAW — Semi-state basketball action revs up Saturday for two local teams.

Warsaw and Whitko girls basketball teams will be in action this Saturday, battling for a spot in the Indiana Girls Basketball State Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday, March 1.

The Warsaw Lady Tigers (24-1)  will take on McCutcheon (24-3) at noon from Frankfort High School. The winner will play for a semi-state championship against either Hamilton Southeastern (26-0) or Valparaiso (19-7) at 7:30 pm.

Roger Grossman will be on the radio call of the semi-final matchup and championship round should the Tigers advance. You can hear the games on 1480AM and 99.7FM NewsNow Warsaw.

Fans can also catch the game online or through the News Now Warsaw app.

Pregame coverage will start 30 minutes before each game. The Tigers are trying to chase down their first semi-state championship since 2004 and its fifth in school history.

In Logansport, 107.3 WRSW will broadcast all three 2A semi-state matchups with the Whitko Lady Wildcats making their first-ever appearance in semi-state. Whitko captured their first-ever sectional, and regional championships over the last two weekends.

Whitko (21-4) will play Eastside (26-1) at 10 a.m. In game two Sheridan (25-1) will play Rensselaer Central (24-2) at noon

Rita Price and Baylen Hite will be broadcasting the games. You can listen to the pregame show starting 30 minutes before each tipoff time on 107.3 WRSW, online, or through the 107.3 WRSW app.

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WARSAW — Arrangements are still pending for Harvey Miller, the former longtime general manager at 107.3 WRSW who died Dec. 21 at the age of 84.

Tuesday, Dec. 26, would have been Miller’s 85 birthday and former colleagues are looking back at his career.

Miller was born in St. Paul, Minnesota married the love of his life, Juanita E. Crapson soon after high school. They moved to Warsaw, and Miler began working at WRSW in the 1950s. They were longtime members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warsaw.

They were the parents of three sons and a daughter.

Miller was known by listeners of having a smooth delivery but former workers remember him even better as a kind soul.

He became general manager of WRSW AM-FM in 1976.

Former general manager Patrick Brown said he learned much from his former boss.

"And he loved people," Brown said. "I didn't know anybody who didn't love Harvey?"

"He had a tremendous sense of humor and he had a great sense of the community," Brown said.

He especially liked Miller’s emphasis on providing the community with public affairs programming.

"He wanted the people in the community to hear from their leaders and know from them —  right from the horse's mouth — what was going on and what they were doing," he said.

Rita Price, a longtime radio voice and sports broadcasting legend, has fond memories.

"I think one of the things that I liked about Harvey the most, is if he was your friend, he was really your friend, and that never changed," Price said. "He was really good to me in many cases, to kind of stick up for me as the woman in the group. Always very supportive of me wanting to do sports and continuing in that part, and I guess I didn't appreciate that as much then as I do now, looking back."

Sports Director Roger Grossman said Miller was extremely patient with radio newcomers, including himself when he arrived as an intern in 1991.

He wanted you to succeed in every way possible and he certainly did that with me," Grossman said.

"He invested a lot in me and he expressed to me that last time I saw him that he felt like it paid off," Grossman said.

Arrangements are pending with Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.

You can find his obituary by clicking here.

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