Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
LAPORTE - Ben Tonagel, a senior at LaPorte High School, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Grace College in the fall.
Tonagel led the Slicers to the boys basketball Final Four this year when LaPorte lost to Delta in the semifinals.
Tonagel led the Duneland Athletic Conference in rebounding this year, was named All-DAC twice and participated in the Top 40 workout and the South Bend Tribune All-Star game. He was named this year to the All-Sectional, All-Regional, All-Semi-State and All-State teams this year. He was voted LaPorte's Most Valuable Player and was named Area Player of the Year by the LaPorte newspaper.
"Ben is the All-Sectional, All-Regional, All-Semi-State, All-State player in school history," LaPorte coach Joe Otis said. "And yet, I really think Ben's best basketball is still ahead of him. Ben will make an immediate impact at Grace because he is a great perimeter player as well as a great rebounder. Grace is a great program, and I think Ben will fit in well there."
Lancer coach Jim Kessler agreed.
"Ben exemplifies what Grace College basketball is about, and is the kind we want and need in our program for us to be a championship team. He is a great rebounder and he shoots on the move. Ben could play anywhere, and I'm glad he will be witgh us next year. He has been well-coached and knows how to play the game. Ben is a winner and a competitor."
Basketball is not all Tonagel is about.
A member of the National Honor Society, he also served as vice president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was a student rep in the school's drug awareness program and received the American Legion leadership/citizenship award and the outstanding senior at LaPorte this year.
"I try to have an impact on others wherever I am," Tonagel said. "I feel like I must live by example in order for people to listen.
"This decision was the toughest of my life, and I have been praying about it for a long time," he said. "I decided on Grace because it is close to home, and I wanted to play under a great coach in a good system. There is a lot of respect for the Grace basketball program. This proves that hard work pays off. I've always dreamed of receiving a college basketball scholarship. My dream came true."
