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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Pat McKee, 317-403-1665
April 28, 2026 IBCA Director of Special Projects
40 Indiana high school seniors win IBCA scholarships
Crawley, Mannies, Aikman and Witty awards announced for 2026 by statewide coaches' group
Forty Indiana high school seniors have been named winners of 2026 scholarship awards from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, it was announced Tuesday (April 28).
The IBCA -- a statewide coaches group with about 2,400 members -- this year is presenting a grant of $500 to each recipient in the names of Marion Crawley, Junior Mannies Pat Aikman and Steve & Jeanie Witty.
Through the years, the IBCA has awarded about $840,000 in scholarships to Indiana student-athletes.
"I would like to congratulate you for being selected as a recipient," IBCA executive director emeritus Steve Witty wrote in informing winners of the various selections. "... Thank you for your contributions to Indiana high school basketball, and best of luck as you move on to the college of your choice."
A total of 34 Crawley Scholarships were presented to 12 boys' players, 16 girls' players, four student managers, one cheerleader and one student trainer/team statistician.
The boys' player recipients for 2026 are Caleb Ferguson of Columbus North, Landyn Keiser of Centerville, Kash Kendall of Jasper, Damien Maldonado of Gary West, Cecil Newton of Southwestern (Shelby), Lane Pendleton of Brownstown Central, Maddox Rees of Connersville, Ethan Smith of Greensburg, Lance Smith of Evansville North, Tate Smith of Floyd Central, Chance Spencer of Sheridan and Brady Webber of Mt. Vernon (Fortville).
The girls' player recipients for 2026 are Precious Anuka of Indianapolis Cathedral, Bailey Bonde of Trinity Lutheran, Sydney Bonds of Carmel, Lillian Burks of North Harrison, Kenna Conrad of Columbus North, Nya Dame of Princeton, Meredith Deaton of West Washington, Izabel Ford of New Washington, Norah Haverkos of Oldenburg Academy, Addie Maiben of Maconaquah, Mylee McQueary of Madison, Anna Roberson of Knightstown, Addison Smith of Eastern (Pekin), Grace Swank of Central Noble, Ella Welsh of White River Valley and Ella Williams of Washington.
The student manager recipients for 2026 are Alyssa Clay of Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Kira Ropes of Maconaquah and Lilly Spindler and Maci Spindler of Gibson Southern. The cheerleader recipient for 2026 is Victoria Wadsworth of Edgewood. The student trainer/statistician recipient for 2026 is Wyatt Wilczynski of LaPorte.
Criteria for the Crawley Scholarship includes achievement in basketball, achievement in academics, participation in extracurricular activities and service to one's school and community. Crawley was a former four-time boys basketball state championship coach -- two with the Washington Hatchets and two with the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos -- who amassed 644 career wins. He later became the first executive director of the IBCA, serving in that role from 1970-74. He then served as the IBCA assistant executive director from 1974 until he passed away in 1982.
Noah Cupp of Brownsburg and Jacob Emerick of Manchester, student managers at their respective schools, are winners of 2026 IBCA Junior Mannies Scholarships.
Mannies Scholarships are presented to students who have a physical handicap but have contributed to their school basketball program. Mannies posted a 309-301 record in 29 seasons as a boys' basketball coach at Delphi, Mississinewa, Lewis Cass and Elwood. He later served as athletic director at Danville and as the IBCA Job Placement Director from 1977-83. From 1983 through 2026, 76 students have been awarded Mannies Scholarships.
Two players -- Grace Behny of the Knightstown girls' team and Jack Guerre of the Mt. Vernon (Fortville) boys' team -- are recipients of the 16th annual Pat Aikman Character and Leadership Awards. This scholarship is named for Aikman, the Indiana All-Star games director from 1988-2007 and former IBCA Coordinator of Special Projects.
Criteria for the Aikman Award include achievements and contributions in basketball, scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities, and service to school and community. Also, those considered for the Aikman Award are students who plan to enter the fields of journalism, sports management, athletic training or physical therapy. Behny and Guerre are the 43rd and 44th recipients of Aikman Awards presented since 2011.
Lincoln Garrett of Batesville and Leah Shappell of Leo, both players for successful programs, are 2026 winners of the Steve & Jeanie Witty Scholarship, named for the IBCA's current executive director emeritus and his late wife. Steve Witty posted a 266-68 record and was a two-time boys' basketball state champion coach at Ben Davis, then served from 2002 to 2022 as IBCA executive director. Jeanie Witty was a registered nurse who upon retirement became Steve's administrative assistant. Jeanie passed away in April 2023 after serving the IBCA for 18 years.
The Witty Scholarship awards go to student-athletes who are the child of a current-year IBCA-member coach who plans to pursue a career in education/coaching or a something in a medical field such as a physician, physician's assistant, nurse or medical technician. This award was started in 2024, and this is the third year for it.
Garrett, son of Batesville boys' coach Aaron Garrett, and Shappell, daughter of Leo girls' coach Carrie Shappell, are the fifth and sixth winners of the Witty Scholarship. Past winners are J.D. Lynch of Brownsburg and Kaitlin White of Columbus North in 2024 as well as Abigayle Clayton of Hamilton Southeastern and Nate Luce of Wapahani in 2025.
"These are deserving young people who help make coaching a great profession," Witty said of the 40 winners for 2026.
A list of the 2026 IBCA Scholarship winners is below.
MARION CRAWLEY AWARDS (34)
Student, School, Coach, Role
Precious Anuka, Indianapolis Cathedral, Lisa Finn, girls' player
Bailey Bonde, Trinity Lutheran, Matt Trimnell, girls' player
Sydney Bonds, Carmel, Jessica Darmelio, girls' player
Lillian Burks, North Harrsion, Dakota Brooks, girls' player
Alyssa Clay, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Derrick Williams, student manager
Kenna Conrad, Columbus North, Brett White, girls' player
Nya Dame, Princeton, Travis Connor, girls' player
Meredith Deaton, West Washington, Kristin Messmore, girls' player
Caleb Ferguson, Columbus North, Paul Ferguson, boys' player
Izabel Ford, New Washington, Kirsti Holloway, girls' player
Norah Haverkos, Oldenburg Academy, David Disbro, girls' player
Landyn Keiser, Centerville, Brian Keiser, boys' player
Kash Kendall, Jasper, John Goebel, boys' player
Addie Maiben, Maconaquah, Ray Davis, girls' player
Damien Maldonado, Gary West Side, Christopher Buggs, boys' player
Mylee McQueary, Madison, Adam Dennis, girls' player
Cecil Newton, Southwestern (Shelby), Chris Ingels, boys' player
Lane Pendleton, Brownstown Central, Dave Benter, boys' player
Maddox Rees, Connersville, David McCollough, boys' player
Anna Roberson, Knightstown, Dusty Magee, girls' player
Kira Ropes, Maconaquah, Ray Davis, student manager
Addison Smith, Eastern (Pekin), Taylor Drury, girls' player
Ethan Smith, Greensburg, Collin Rigney, boys' player
Lance Smith, Evansville North, Jason Roach, boys' player
Tate Smith, Floyd Central, Michael C. McBride, boys' player
Chance Spencer, Sheridan, Bill Bowen, boys' player
Lilly Spindler, Gibson Southern, Kyle Brasher, student manager
Macy Spindler, Gibson Southern, Kyle Brasher, student manager
Grace Swank, Central Noble, Sam Malcolm, girls' player
Victoria Wadsworth, Edgewood, Matt Wadsworth, cheerleader
Brady Webber, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), Joe Bradburn, boys' player
Ella Welsh, White River Valley, April Settles, girls' player
Wyatt Wilczynski, LaPorte, Adam Neace, trainer/statistician
Ella Williams, Washington, Gretchen Miles, girls' player
JUNIOR MANNIES AWARD (2)
Student, School, Coach, Role
Noah Cupp, Brownsburg, Steve Lynch, student manager
Jacob Emerick, Manchester, Pat Lepper, student manager
PAT AIKMAN AWARDS (2)
Student, School, Coach, Role
Grace Behny, Knightstown, Dusty Magee, girls' player
Jack Guerre, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), boys' player
STEVE and JEANIE WITTY AWARDS (2)
Student, School, Coach, Role
Lincoln Garrett, Batesville, Aaron Garrett, boys' player
Leah Shappell, Leo, Carrie Shappell, girls' player
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