The Times' best photos from a memorable year of prep sports in the Region.

The Times staff breaks down the top girls teams in each sport from the 2016 calendar year.

The Times breaks down the Region's top female prep sports athletes in 2016.

PORTAGE — A two-time shot put state champion with a 4.35 grade point average, Portage s Victoria Farley was the complete package of a student-athlete.

LAKE STATION — Jh Rome Tuggle graduated a star athlete from Merrillville High School more than a decade ago, but the 30-year-old remained a familiar face in the Region s athletic community up until his death Wednesday.

Riley Popplewell may have been an unknown when she entered South Central, but it took just two games for girls basketball fans to know her name.

BLOOMINGTON -- This old baller still loves high school athletics. I did when I had bangs and still do to this day. Watching young athletes give all that they have without the boring trappings of pro, and even college sports, was something to see. And s...

An LSU freshman at the time, Tori Bliss first started thinking about the 2016 Olympics not long after the 2012 London Games.


Some twists of fortune are leading the Portage graduate to Rio in August, though not as an athlete. LSU s most accomplished s...

BLOOMINGTON — It was supposed to go a little better. Expectations were higher for Lake Central s 3,200-meter relay team of Cole Easterday, Casey Garvey, Clayton Goldman and Takoda Potts at the 113th IHSAA state championships Saturday at the Rober...