Seniors Lauren Klem and JD Sever represented Franklin at the Johnson Memorial Hospital 2024 Johnson County Scholar Athlete of the Year Banquet. One senior boy and senior girl from each Johnson County school was honored at the event which was held at The Garment Factory in Franklin.
Klem competed in cross country, basketball, and track and field all four years at FCHS. She was a state finalist in each sport. In cross country, she set the school record for 5,000 meters and helped lead the way for the girls team’s only team State Finals appearance in 2020. She won the Johnson County Meet and Mid-State Conference Meet twice over her four years and earned All-County and All-Conference all four years. During the basketball season she was a 4 year starter during a run of 4 consecutive Sectional championships. In 2022 she helped lead the team to the State Finals. This past season she was selected to the All-State team by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. She was a 4-time All-County and All-Mid-State Conference selection. On the track she is just the second person to qualify for the IHSAA State Finals all four years. She holds school records in the 400, 1600, 3200, 4×400 Relay, and 4×800 Relay. This past season she earned All-State honors as a member of the 4th place 4×400 Relay team.
She plans to study marketing at Xavier University.
Sever pulled double duty in the fall as a member of the boys soccer team and the kicker for the football team. He earned All-County and All-Conference recognition three times for soccer. In 2024 he was named All-District and Honorable Mention All-State soccer. On Friday nights, his kicking exploits earned him All-County honors. In the Spring, JD was a key member of the track and Field team. He was a two-time IHSAA State Finalist and in 2023 he placed 9th in the 300 hurdles to earn All-State honors. He set the school record for the 300 hurdles this spring. Last week, JD represented Franklin as an IATCCC Indiana All-Star where he finished runner-up in the Midwest Meet of Champions.
At the 2024 IHSAA Track and Field State Finals, JD received the Robert S. Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award. He’s the 13th recipient of the Mental Attitude Award in Franklin history and the first for track and field.
He plans to study engineering at Purdue University.
Bios of all the 2024 Scholar Athlete of the Year Recipients
CENTER GROVE HIGH SCHOOL
Female Name: Lara Phipps
Extracurricular Activities:
Swimming,Cross Country,Track and Field
Athletic Achievements:
4x MVP and Varsity letter winner
3x All-State swimmer (11 All-State medals)
2024 State Runner up 100 Free
2024 State Runner up 200 Free Relay
2024 Johnson County Swimmer of the Year
School Record Holder: 200 Free, 100 Free, 50 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Free Relay, and 400 Free Relay
2022 Track and Field State Qualifier in the 4×800 Relay
2023 Track and Field State Qualifier in the 4×400 Relay
2021 Cross Country Semi-State Qualifier
Future Plans:
Lara will attend Purdue University to study biomedical health sciences as a stepping stone to go into PT and become a pediatric physical therapist. She will also swim at Purdue University.
Male Name: Charlie LaRocca
Extracurricular Activities:
Wrestling,Editor for Center Grove’s publications department and student-run website, trojaneer.com
Athletic Achievements:
2024 120 pound State Champion
2023 113 pound State Champion
4 time Sectional Champion (106#, 113#, 120#)
3 time Regional Champion (106#, 113#, 120#)
2 time Semi-State Champion (113#, 120#)
3 time Johnson County Champion (106#, 113#, 120#)
2021 and 2022 106-Pound MIC Wrestling Champion
2021 and 2022 MIC Scholar Athlete Award Recipient
2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Academic All-Trojan Athlete Award Recipient
2024 IHSWCA Senior 1st Team Academic All-State Award Recipient
2023 IHSWCA Junior 1st Team Academic All-State Award Recipient
Future Plans:
Charlie will attend United State Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO where he will wrestle and study aerospace engineering.
EDINBURGH HIGH SCHOOL
Female Name: Kyah Streeval
Extracurricular Activities:
4 years Varsity softball, basketball, and volleyball
Athletic Achievements:
4 year softball team captain
2 year basketball team captain
2 year volleyball team captain
MHC All-Conference softball 4 years
MHC All-Conference volleyball
Scholar Athlete award recipient for basketball and softball
2021 All-County Honorable Mention softball
2021 All-Freshman Team softball
Supreme Lancer Award recipient
Miss Lancer Award recipient
Eugene Cato Scholarship recipient
IBCA Marion Crawley Scholarship recipient
Future Plans:
Kyah plans to attend the University of Evansville to major in Exercise Science, then plans to go to graduate school to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
FRANKLIN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
Lauren Klem
Academic Achievements:Mid-State Scholar Athlete, FCHS Top Scholar, S.A.G.E(Set A Good Example) Award Recipient
Extra Curricular Activities:National Honors Society, Riley Dance Marathon, Franklin Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council, Student-Athlete Advisory Council
Athletic Achievements:
Earned 12 Varsity Letters in Cross Country, Basketball, and Track & Field.
4x All-County in Basketball and Cross Country
4x All-Conference in Basketball and Cross Country
2x All-County Track & Field
School Record Holder in 400m, 1600m, 3200m, 1600 relay, 3200 relay, and Cross Country.
2020 Cross Country State Finalist
2021 &2023: 1600 State Finalist
2022: 4×400 Relay State Finalist
2024: 400 Dash State Finalist; 4×400 Relay All-State (4th Place)
2023 IATCC Junior All Star
2024 IBCA All-State
Future Plans:Lauren will attend Xavier University to continue her academic and running career.
J.D. Sever
Academic Achievements:Mid-State Conference Scholar Athlete, FCHS Top Scholar, 2023 Rising Star, AP Scholar, S.A.G.E.(Set A Good Example) Award Winner, Academic All-State in Track, Soccer and Football, and A Honor Roll throughout his four year career.
Extracurricular Activities:National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Harvard Model Congress, and Cubs to Grizzlies Mentoring Program.
Athletic Achievements:
All-County Football
Honorable Mention All-Conference Football
3x All-Conference Soccer and Track & Field
3x All-County Soccer
2023 Track & Field All-State (9th place – 300 hurdles)
School Record Holder – 300 hurdles and 60 hurdles.
2024 All-District Soccer
2024 Honorable Mention All-State Soccer
2024 IATCCC Senior All-Star
Future Plans:J.D. will study Engineering at Purdue University.
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Female Name: Isabella Cameron
Extracurricular Activities:National Honor Society, Key Club, Spanish Club, Church Youth Group
Athletic Achievements:
All Conference Honorable Mention – Bowling
Sectional and Regional Champions – Bowling
All Time school assist leader
3 x All Conference Soccer
3 x All County Soccer
Academic All State – Soccer and Football
Indy Star Super Team
Future Plans:Izzy will attend Anderson University next year where she will study elementary education and continue her soccer career.
Male Name: Max Booher
Extracurricular Activities:National Honor Society, Key Club, Great Harvest Food Pantry Volunteer, Marlin Academy Basketball Instructor
Athletic Achievements:
1268 Career Points,
Sectional Championship,
Regional Championship,
Top 60 Hoosier Basketball Magazine,
Academic All-State,
Indiana All-State,
2 x 1st Team All-Conference,
2 x 1st Team All County
2x Prep Hoops Class A 1st Team AllState,
Indy Star Supreme 15 High Honorable Mention
Future Plans:Max plans to attend Quincy University to continue his basketball career
GREENWOOD COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
Female Name: Amy Luttrell
Extracurricular Activities:SAAC member,Greenwood Ambassador
Athletic Activities:
Mid State Conference Champion Pole Vault- 2024
Three time Johnson County Champion Pole Vault
Two time Sectional Champion Pole Vault
Two time Regional Champion Pole Vault
Two time State qualifier Pole Vault (12th in 2022, 5th in 2023 All State)
Cougar Chase invitational 2024 Female athlete of the meet
All Johnson County 2022 and 2023
School Record Holder 12’6”
2023 Regional qualifier long jump
Future Plans:ISU commit for track and field and study applied medicine
Male Name: Brock Riddle
Extracurricular Activities:Broadcast,Student council – Class Vice President,Student Athletic Advisory Committee,Mid-State Leadership Representative
Athletic Activities:
All-County
All-Conference
Team Captain
Team MVP -24
Most Improved- 21
All Time Leading Passer
3 Year varsity letter
Records broken (Yards and TDs):
Game: 434 Yards & 6 TD’s
Season: 2023-2900 yards & 32 TD’s
Career: 21-23-4393 yards & 49 TD’s
Future Plans:Indiana State University studying business and playing football
INDIAN CREEK HIGH SCHOOL
Female Name: Phoebe Dowty
Extracurricular Activities:Cross Country,Wrestling,Track and Field
Athletic Achievements:
3 Time 3rd place finisher at Girls State Wrestling
7 ISWA Girls State placements
All American 4th place -Girls Wrestling
Regional Champion-Girls Wrestling
2 Time Fargo Qualifier
Freestyle State Champion
3 Folkstyle State Titles
3 Time Sectional 5th place finisher -Boys Wrestling
Semi State Champion-Girls Wrestling
47-4 Career Record
3 Time Regional Qualifier-Track
2 Time State Qualifier -Track
School Record 4 x 800
School Record 4 x 400
1st place at Indoor State
4 Time Regional Qualifier -Cross Country
4 Time All County-Cross Country
4 Time All WIC Team -Cross Country
Future Plans:Planning to go to work in Real Estate, Property Management and Business Management.
Male Name: Jalen Sauer
Extracurricular Activities:Baseball,Track,Football
Athletic Achievements:
3A All State-Football
2023 All County-Football
2023 All WIC Conference Team
Week 9 Indy Star Player of the Week
Week 7 Indy Star Nominee of the Week
Week 6 Southern Indiana Sports Network top player of the week
2023 MVP-Football
Team Captain
3A total yards accumulated
2023 WIC Champions-Football
4 x 100 Relay School Record- Track
Future Plans:Attend Franklin College to study Psychology and play football.
WHITELAND COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL
Female Name: Victoria Jackson
Extracurricular Activities:President of Athletic Leadership Council,Member of Shades of Blue Jazz Choir (2x State qualifier)
Athletic Achievements:
Cross Country:
4xAll Conference
4x All County
2023 Johnson County Individual Champion
2023 Mid-State Conference Individual Champion
2x Cross Country State qualifier
2022 Regional Individual Champ
Track:
Johnson County 2024 Team Champions
3x Mid-State Conference team champs
2023 3200 Mid State Conference Champion
2024 1600 and 800 Mid-State Champion
2024 and 2023-800 County Champion (county record holder)
2023 1600 county champ
2023 Regional and Sectional 800 Champ
2023 all state 800 (4th place)
2021 state qualifier in 4×800 and 800 (placed 13th in the 800)
Future Plans: Attend Ball State University on a Track & Field Scholarship to major in accounting with an intent on attending Law School to become a corporate lawyer.
Male Name: Matthew Wray
Extracurricular Activities:Athletic Leadership Council
Athletic Achievements:
2 time Sectional Track Champion
3 time Regional Track Champion
4 time State Track Qualifier
School Record Holder: 200m, 400m, 4x100m
Johnson County 400m Record Holder
Mid-State Conference 400m Champion
2023 IHSAA 3rd Place in 200m
Future Plans: To attend Indiana State University on a Track & Field scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering.
