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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 34, Number 20 Thursday, May 24, 2018 TO THOSE WHO COURAGEOUSLY GAVE THEIR LIVES… AND THOSE WHO BRAVELY FIGHT TODAY… THANK YOU THE Page 2 May 24, 2018 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 %HDFKHU&RPSDQ\'LUHFWRU\ e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] 'RQDQG7RP0RQWJRPHU\ 2ZQHUV email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.thebeacher.com/ $QGUHZ7DOODFNVRQ (GLWRU 'UHZ:KLWH 3ULQW6DOHVPDQ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by -DQHW%DLQHV ,QVLGH6DOHV&XVWRPHU6HUYLFH TM %HFN\:LUHEDXJK 7\SHVHWWHU'HVLJQHU Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS 5DQG\.D\VHU 3UHVVPDQ 'RUD.D\VHU %LQGHU\ Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also 0LNH%RUDZVNL+RSH&RVWHOOR&KHU\O-RSSHN 3URGXFWLRQ delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. -RKQ%DLQHV.DUHQ*HKU&KULV.D\VHU'HQQLV0D\EHUU\ 'HOLYHU\ Rewriting School History by Kayla Weiss “When that final buzzer sounded, and we knew we had won, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was keeping in until that moment.” The Lady Blazers, celebrating their state championship. File photo by Bob Wellinski In any year, clinching a berth in Indiana’s state basketball champion- ship is cause for celebration. Katie Collignon achieved something even more remarkable, guiding Marquette Catholic High School’s Lady Blazers to their first state title Feb. 24. They beat Class A No. 2 Vincennes Rivet in the Indiana High School Athletic Association Class A title game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, 38-31. When you consider that Collignon is only in her second year as Mar- quette’s athletic director and girls basketball head coach, well, that’s quite a first two years. “Both teams were nervous going into the game, and it was showing,” Collignon told The Beacher about the championship game. “Once we got into the second half, though, we realized we needed to adjust our strategy, and so we honed in and started playing more our style – more like we would when we were practicing back home.” The two teams were tied at 31 with two minutes left in the game when Katie Collignon is photographed by The Marquette came out and owned the floor. Scoring seven points in those Beacher’s Paul Kemiel in the Marquette final minutes, the girls went on to seal the Blazers’ first championship Catholic High School Scholl Center. THE May 24, 2018 Page 3 trophy in girls basketball. With Marquette’s school year coming to a close, Collignon spoke with The Beacher not only about that thrilling game, but also her fi rst two years at the school. “The IHSAA runs just like a Pacers game would,” she said. “The atmosphere was top notch, and it was a great experience.” Indeed, Collignon has made her mark at Mar- quette, giving the girls basketball team the tools it needed to become state champs. Katie Collignon with the Lady Blazers on Feb. 24 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. File photo by Bob Wellinski “The girls were so excited just to be there,” she said, “and that’s just what you want walking into a state championship.” And when the game came to a victorious close? “All of our family and friends were holding their breath with us,” she said. “The girls have such a good energy about them – such a fresh air and op- timism about them. They worked so hard to get to that game, and I was so proud of all the hard work and dedication they showed to the game. It was an incredible experience.” Born and raised in Woodhaven, a suburb of De- troit with a population hovering near 13,000, Col- lignon was always deeply involved in sports. Her mother, a teacher, and father, a probation offi cer, made sure Katie and her brother remained active starting at a young age. Katie, in fact, played t-ball, basketball, volleyball and eventually soccer. “I remember always wanting to play soccer when I was younger,” Collignon said. “I enjoyed playing other sports as well, but I think watching my broth- er get to play soccer, and being a typical sibling, I Tour de La Porte proceeds benefit local wanted to do everything my brother did. “Finally, my parents signed me up for it, and I community members with cancer. loved it.” For more information: 219.326.2471 Collignon’s love of sports grew throughout high school. She participated in soccer, basketball, vol- leyball and track. After graduating from high school, she earned a basketball scholarship at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., where she received a degree in marketing. With dreams of working for a sports-marketing company and graduation ap- Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 May 24, 2018 She is not afraid to go with the fl ow and learn from Continued from Page 3 Rewriting School History other athletic directors who have been in the posi- proaching, Collignon settled for a desk job in an ac- tion longer than her, especially when it comes to counting offi ce back in her hometown. things like scheduling. “I was not meant to work a desk job, so on a whim “I inherited a really great group. I give all the and much to my mother’s dismay, I moved out to credit to them and their dedication to the sport. New Jersey, where I had some friends,” Collignon They weren’t your average high school basketball said. “I got really into health and fi tness while I was players,” Collignon said. “I came from a Division 1 out there, and even ended up on an MTV show. college, so I put into play the drills and practices we “Then, one day, the head coach I had played for in used to use, and I think they really took to my style college got the head coaching position at Valpo (Uni- of coaching. versity), and she called me up and asked me to become “They had some adapting to do, but they really the assistant at Valpo,” Collignon said. “She wanted seemed to love it,” she continued. “I’m really ener- someone who was going to be good getic, so it wasn’t at conditioning the athletes, really hard to and with my background motivate in health and fi tness them. from moving to Jer- sey, I was her fi rst pick.” The victorious Lady Blazers participate in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. File photo by Paul Kemiel Collignon gladly accepted the position, moving Last year, they lost in double overtime at the semi- back to the Midwest, remaining in that position for state, so I think that was still fresh in their minds four years. and worked as a good motivator as well. I believe “I met a lot of really great people while I was that every day, every game and every play is very im- there,” Collignon said. “I wasn’t really looking for portant. I feel very blessed to have such great kids.” a change, but there are a lot of family overlaps be- Collignon also has immersed herself in getting tween Valpo and Marquette, and that’s how I heard to know the staff, alumni and the community. She about the opening at the high school for a new ath- jokes that now, it feels as if her head is properly se- letic director.” cured on her shoulders, that she’s not playing catch- Not wanting to get pigeonholed as a basketball up, running around like a “crazy person.” She feels coach, Collignon took the position at Marquette. She more comfortable in the position, thankful to work was eager to learn more about coaching all kinds of with what she calls a great coaching staff. sports, so she leapt into her work. “It’s really great to be able to see the kids grow “Marquette has grown over the years,” she said. and accomplish things they thought they might nev- “Being brand new, you have to get used to every- er be able to,” she said. “Our students, our coaches thing and everyone all over again. and our program are growing every year, and I look “The nice thing about Marquette is that at least forward to being a part of it. 50 percent of the students play some kind of sports, And that coveted state basketball championship? which gives me a unique opportunity to get to know “I think it’s great to be able to put basketball on a vast majority of the students.” the map in this school and rewrite school history a As her second year comes to a close, Collignon little bit,” she said. “It’s been great seeing how much has eased into the position with a laidback energy. this has meant to the community as well.” THE May 24, 2018 Page 5 Bobbie Cavic 219-874-7267 [email protected] Visit my website at bcavic.com AFFILIATED Licensed in IN & MI #1 WORLDWIDE Woodlands....the alternative you’ve been looking for. 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