Elkhart Christian's Aiden Hibbard wins South Bend Tribune Athlete of the Week vote
Not only was Aiden Hibbard the first Elkhart Christian athlete nominated for the South Bend Tribune Athlete of the Week poll, but he won this week's vote, spanning from Feb. 26 - March 3, 2024. Hibbard received close to 35% of the vote to edge out the other five nominees from this week.
Here's more on Hibbard, plus the other athletes who had tremendous showings last week.
WINNER: Elkhart Christian Academy boys basketball senior Aiden Hibbard
Hibbard had a sectional to remember. It started with a 41-point performance in a 59-52 overtime win against Bethany Christian Tuesday night. After scoring 22 points in a sectional semifinal win over LCA Friday, Hibbard punctuated the week by hitting the game-winning shot as time expired to lift the Eagles to a 47-45 victory over Lakewood Park Christian in Saturday's title game. He scored 23 points against LPC, giving him 86 points across the three sectional games.
OTHER NOMINEES
Brandywine boys wrestling senior Gavin Schoff
Schoff finished off a decorated career by winning the MHSAA Division 4 individual state title in the 157-pound weight class. It completed a perfect 49-0 season, making him the first wrestling state champion for the school since 1992.
Brandywine girls wrestling junior Maddison Ward
Schoff's reign as the most recent state champ in Brandywine history lasted one hour, as Ward made history by becoming the first girls wrestling state champion in school history by winning in the MHSAA 170-pound weight class. She finished her season with a 37-1 record.
John Glenn boys basketball senior Joe Chrapliwy
Chrapliwy was a catalyst for a second-straight sectional title for the Falcons. He had 16 points and nine rebounds in a quarterfinal win over Culver Academy Tuesday, 15 points and 11 rebounds in the semifinal over Bremen Friday and nine points — including five key ones in the fourth quarter — to upset Tippecanoe Valley, 35-30, in Saturday's title tilt.
Mishawaka boys basketball senior Brady Fisher
Fisher helped the Cavemen defend its home court, winning a second-straight sectional title in the process. He started the week with 16 points and six rebounds in a 50-44 win over LaPorte Tuesday. Fisher then had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds in a 41-37 semifinal victory against Adams Friday. Arguably his biggest contribution came Saturday, sinking three free-throws with 2.1 seconds left to tie the game with Riley, forcing overtime. Mishawaka went onto win, 45-43, with Fisher finishing with 14 points.
Saint Joseph boys basketball junior Chase Konieczny
Konieczny was locked in for both sectional games for the Huskies. He had 21 points and seven rebounds in a 65-48 semifinal win over Marian Friday, then scored 36 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in an 81-47 victory over Clay in the sectional championship game Saturday night. It was the Huskies' first sectional title since 2021.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Elkhart Christian's Aiden Hibbard wins SB Tribune Athlete of the Week
