Local Hoops Teams To Play For Traveling Trophy
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
From the 1940s through school consolidation in 1968, the 14 high school boys basketball teams in the county played for the Silver Horseshoe, a traveling trophy that became a sought after prize.[[In-content Ad]]That tradition is back, though it will only be for five schools that have kids from Kosciusko Country enrolled in their schools - Warsaw, Tippecanoe Valley, Wawasee, Whitko and Triton.
"If you had the Silver Horseshoe, that generally meant you were the best team in the county," said former Atwood High School player Jim Irwin. "That was quite an honor back then, and I think doing something like that now will spark new interest."
Unlike in the past, because girls basketball wasn't an IHSAA sport until 1976, girls teams will play for the Golden Horseshoe.
The Golden Horseshoe will be put into circulation Friday night when Warsaw plays at Tippecanoe Valley.
"It'll be something new, having a horseshoe for the girls to play for," said Irwin. "It's a history lesson for these young kids, and I really think it'll spark some new interest. I know it's means a lot to the older generation that played years ago."
The boys' Silver Horseshoe will be put into circulation on Wednesday, as Warsaw plays at Tippecanoe Valley in the season opener for both schools.
"It's nostalgic," Irwin said with a smile. "It makes us old guys think about a time when we weren't so old."
The original Silver Horseshoe, which is now on display in the Kosciusko County Jail Museum, came from Atwood High School principal Doyle Swanson and was plated at Warsaw Plating Works.
"The principals back then decided they wanted to have a traveling trophy," said Irwin. "It really became a big thing."
Irwin and the rest of the group of county basketball enthusiasts that are getting the tradition started again hope that it becomes a big thing again.
To go along with the tradition of the Silver - and now Golden for the girls - Horseshoe, there is now a Kosciusko County Basketball Hall of Fame.
When a player is inducted he will be presented with a plaque and also have a plaque on display at the hall of fame, which will be at the North Webster Community Center.
The first class of inductees will be announced on Dec. 12 in South Whitley at the boys basketball game between Whitko and Wawasee.
The first class will include one member from each of the 14 county schools, representing the era from World War II through school consolidation in 1968.
Along with the Silver and Golden Horseshoes and the Kosciusko County Hall of Fame, there will also be a county tournament in the summer.
The tournament is tenatively scheduled for June 18 & 19 at Grace College's Orthopaedic Capital Center.
From the 1940s through school consolidation in 1968, the 14 high school boys basketball teams in the county played for the Silver Horseshoe, a traveling trophy that became a sought after prize.[[In-content Ad]]That tradition is back, though it will only be for five schools that have kids from Kosciusko Country enrolled in their schools - Warsaw, Tippecanoe Valley, Wawasee, Whitko and Triton.
"If you had the Silver Horseshoe, that generally meant you were the best team in the county," said former Atwood High School player Jim Irwin. "That was quite an honor back then, and I think doing something like that now will spark new interest."
Unlike in the past, because girls basketball wasn't an IHSAA sport until 1976, girls teams will play for the Golden Horseshoe.
The Golden Horseshoe will be put into circulation Friday night when Warsaw plays at Tippecanoe Valley.
"It'll be something new, having a horseshoe for the girls to play for," said Irwin. "It's a history lesson for these young kids, and I really think it'll spark some new interest. I know it's means a lot to the older generation that played years ago."
The boys' Silver Horseshoe will be put into circulation on Wednesday, as Warsaw plays at Tippecanoe Valley in the season opener for both schools.
"It's nostalgic," Irwin said with a smile. "It makes us old guys think about a time when we weren't so old."
The original Silver Horseshoe, which is now on display in the Kosciusko County Jail Museum, came from Atwood High School principal Doyle Swanson and was plated at Warsaw Plating Works.
"The principals back then decided they wanted to have a traveling trophy," said Irwin. "It really became a big thing."
Irwin and the rest of the group of county basketball enthusiasts that are getting the tradition started again hope that it becomes a big thing again.
To go along with the tradition of the Silver - and now Golden for the girls - Horseshoe, there is now a Kosciusko County Basketball Hall of Fame.
When a player is inducted he will be presented with a plaque and also have a plaque on display at the hall of fame, which will be at the North Webster Community Center.
The first class of inductees will be announced on Dec. 12 in South Whitley at the boys basketball game between Whitko and Wawasee.
The first class will include one member from each of the 14 county schools, representing the era from World War II through school consolidation in 1968.
Along with the Silver and Golden Horseshoes and the Kosciusko County Hall of Fame, there will also be a county tournament in the summer.
The tournament is tenatively scheduled for June 18 & 19 at Grace College's Orthopaedic Capital Center.
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