Bulldog Review 2021: Record-breaking year with unprecedented challenges

By Keelen Barlow 

Brownsburg student athletes came together for one of the most successful years in school history during the 2020-2021 athletic year. The Bulldogs overcame the unique challenges of competing during a global pandemic to succeed on the playing field and in the classroom. Brownsburg won a school-record 13 IHSAA team Sectional championships, three IHSAA team Regional championships and two IHSAA team Semi-State championships, which also ties a school record. Three Brownsburg program's were IHSAA State Finalists during 2020-2021, the most for a single athletic year in Brownsburg history. 

The Bulldogs also crowned an IHSAA Wrestling State champion, Kysen Montgomery, and a two-time IHSAA Track & Field State champion, John Colquitt. 

Fall 2020 Highlights 

• Brownsburg Volleyball snapped a 31-year drought with its 2020 Sectional championship. The Bulldogs won nine consecutive games heading into the first Regional final appearance in program history. Brownsburg posted a second consecutive 20-win season under Head Coach Katie Maples.
• Boys tennis won a Regional and Semi-State championship for the first time, punching the program's first ticket to the State Finals. Senior Petar Petrovic finished his senior season as the State-Runner up after making Brownsburg's first individual appearance (Boys' or Girls') in the Singles State championship match. 
• Another Sectional championship drought was snapped with a 3-1 OT defeat of Avon in the Girls' Soccer Sectional. The Bulldogs won their first Sectional championship since 2012 and the first under Head Coach Josh George.
• Girls golf senior Kamary Leaf made her first appearance in the Girls Golf State Finals at Prairie View Golf Club.
• Girls cross-country won its fourth consecutive Sectional title while the Brownsburg boys claimed the program's third consecutive Sectional championship. Senior Trevor Nolan was a State placer and recieved Indiana All-Star honors following the season. Girls' senior Abby Lynch was named the fourth IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner in Brownsburg history at the State Finals. 

Winter 2020-2021 Highlights

• IndyStar Miss Basketball finalist Ally Becki led Brownsburg to its first Girls Basketball State Finals appearance in the class basketball-era. Girls basketball won a second consecutive Sectional championship before claiming Regional and Semi-State crowns for the first time since 1991. The Bulldogs finished as State runner-up for the first time. 
• Montgomery won the first wrestling State championship of his career, capping off a 144-25 career-record. As a team, Brownsburg Wrestling extended program-record streaks for Hoosier Crossroads Conference, Sectional and Regional championships this year. 
• Brownsburg Boys and Girls Swim/Dive moved their Sectional championship streaks to eight consecutive seasons, combining for 22 State Finals qualifiers. Boys' Swim/Dive finished 10th in the State Finals and netted five individual/relay top tens. Emma Wolf was a Diving State placer on the girls side.
• Boys basketball won a share of the HCC championship and senior Pierce Thomas was selected for the IndyStar Indiana All-Star team. 

Spring 2021 Highlights

• Boys track finished as State Runner-up for the first time in program history. Colquitt was a State champion in the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles. Seniors Marcos Barbosa and Tyray Lackey were also state placers to round out their careers.
• Brownsburg swept Sectional championships in Boys and Girls Track & Field for the first time in school history. On the girls side, Lynch, Eva Altschul, Jordan Griffin and Paige Kirtz all competed at the State Finals. The Brownsburg boys won the HCC championship for the second straight year.
• Weston Ogden was Brownsburg's first Boys Golf State medalist since 2006 (Seth Fair). Ogden and fellow junior Kevin Amalraj were the first pair of Brownsburg teammates to punch their Boys Golf State Finals ticket in more than three decades. Boys Golf won a Sectional championship for the second straight time and narrowly missed out on the program's first State Finals berth since 2005.
• Brownsburg Unified Track & Field also won the first Unified Sectional championship in Brownsburg history this spring.