The Southsider Voice
Visit us at these places!
  • Home
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Sports
    • Car Nutz
    • Stilley Goes Trackside
    • Southside Deaths
    • Personal Recollections
    • Reminiscing
  • About the Voice
  • Advertising
  • Contact
  • Newspaper Archive
  • Classifieds

Court named in honor of coach

11/1/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY English met several supporters and spoke briefly Saturday at the unveiling of Matt English Court. He is with wife Angie and assistant coach Mike Renfro.
Picture
SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY AL STILLEY Matt English (left) and assistant coach Mike Renfro share a moment with supporters at the unveiling of the new basketball court.
Picture
A lunch pail and a hard hat signify English’s mantra of hard work on the court and in the classroom.
By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Friends of Matt English showed their support for his ongoing battle against cancer Saturday at the unveiling of the new court named in his honor at Beech Grove High School. The event attracted former and current basketball players, athletic directors, coaches and hundreds of supporters. E

nglish, who coaches boys basketball at the school and continues to fight cancer after several chemotherapy treatments, was “humbled and grateful” for the honor. He fist-bumped supporters and spoke briefly while seated at a table with wife Angie, who teaches at nearby Hornet Park Elementary, and assistant coach Matt Renfro.

“I couldn’t trade my experience here for anyplace else,” English said. “There is none better than Beech Grove parents, students and players. … You give me five Beech Grove players who come out and play basketball hard, and that’s heaven for me.”

The court has been redone with improved lighting, a huge basketball depicted as the center jump circle, a honeycomb design in each free-throw lane and lettering “Matt English Court” on both sides of the floor with his famed slogans, “We Before Me” and “The Journey Begins Here,” and his signature. A letter from Beech Grove native and Marian University women’s basketball coach Katie Gearlds also praised English, who was presented with a Marian hoodie. Gearlds led Beech Grove to the 2003 3A girls basketball championship and was named Miss Indiana Basketball. Patrons mingled in the lobby before the gymnasium doors were opened. Many purchased

“Standing Tall Together” T-shirts with proceeds to benefit the English family. English is beginning his 11th season as head coach at Beech Grove where he also has served as athletic director since 2012. His teams have reached the sectional championship game for two consecutive years.

He was diagnosed with a brain tumor seven years ago and recently underwent another round of surgery. He returned to an early season practice last week. The first boys basketball game on the new court is tentatively scheduled Nov. 24 against Scecina, but that depends on how far the Crusaders advance in the state football tournament. The opener could be Dec. 8 against Manual.
Picture
The basketball court at Beech Grove is named for athletic director/ coach Matt English and bears one of his favorite quotes, “We Before Me.”
Picture
Hornet Park Elementary School teachers Megan Mazur (left) and Sarah Taylor sign replica courts depicting the previous Beech Grove gym floor and the new one.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    Arts & Entertainment
    Lead Story
    Sports: 500
    Sports: Basketball
    Sports: Track

    RSS Feed

 DROP OFF: The Toy Drop 6025 Madison Ave., Suite D
Indianapolis, IN  46227  |  317-781-0023
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 17187, Indianapolis, IN 46217

ads@southsidervoice.com | news@southsidervoice.com
Website by IndyTeleData, Inc.