#9 Lake Central Indians
State runner-up: 2007, 2008
State finalist: 2006 (8), 2009 (15)
Semistate champion: 2007, 2008
Regional champion: 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Sectional champion: 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Fab five: Tiffany Redlarczyk (2), Dana Payonk (2), Rachel Zajac (13), Megan Plenus (23), Anna Kacius (48)
Lake Central racked up the rings in the latter part of the decade with back-to-back runner-up finishes
Somewhat dominant in their small pocket of the state, the Indians won eight sectional and regional titles in ten years but only qualified to four state meets in that time. Lake Central sure made those years worthwhile, though. The Indians finished second to the juggernauts at Westfield and Carmel in 2007 and 2008 respectively. The 2007 campaign also saw LC make a trip to Portland for Nike Cross Nationals as a team. In fact, Lake Central was so dominant for most of 2007 that one self-proclaimed expert even predicted the Indians would upset two-time defending state champ Westfield at the state finals that year. Lake Central did put five runners in the top 15 at the semistate in 2007, and that year’s Indians are one of the best teams of the decade not to win a state championship.
Tiffany Redlarczyk was definitely the Indians’ signature runner. She finished second in three consecutive state meets in 2000, 2001 and 2002, making the trip as an individual. Dana Payonk tied that with her runner-up finish this year after a mini-upset by Terre Haute North’s Tapring Goatee at the state finals. Payonk twice won the New Prairie Semistate, something that Redlarczyk did just once. All-Staters Rachel Zajac and Megan Plenus were also key to LC’s resurgence during the latter years of the decade.
Injuries to some key runners derailed the Indians this year in their last bid for a title with Payonk and Plenus. Still, four runners return from that varsity, including up-and-coming sophomore Shelby Carroll.