Grace Opinker
graceopinker.bsky.social
Grace Opinker
@graceopinker.bsky.social
Sports Feature Writer for The Times of Northwest Indiana⚽️🏈🏀⚾️ Indiana University Alum🔴⚪️
Email news tips: Grace.Opinker@nwi.com
Dominque Murphy, EC Central pull away from Griffith in sectional opener Tuesday night🏀 #nwipreps @nwitimes.com
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Dominique Murphy, East Chicago Central pull away from Griffith in sectional opener
East Chicago pulled away from an upset-minded Griffith side to win its sectional opener.
www.nwitimes.com
March 5, 2025 at 4:16 AM
The 1976 East Chicago Roosevelt girls basketball team was honored at the 50th IHSAA girls basketball state tournament this past weekend🏀 @nwitimes.com #nwipreps #lataunyapollard
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
1976 East Chicago Roosevelt players honored as IHSAA celebrates girls basketball milestone
The first IHSAA girls basketball state champion was crowned 50 years ago. East Chicago Roosevelt was honored Saturday as part of the milestone celebration.
www.nwitimes.com
March 4, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Looking to watch high school boys basketball tonight or tomorrow? Check out the Top 5 sectional matchups tipping off this evening🏀 @nwitimes.com #nwipreps
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
5 matchups to watch in the first round of boys basketball sectionals
Here are five games to watch for in the opening round of the 115th annual IHSAA boys basketball state tournament beginning Tuesday.
www.nwitimes.com
March 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Former MLB pitcher and Gary native LaTroy Hawkins was the Hall of Fame speaker at the Calumet Region 71st Annual Sportsmanship Dinner🏀 @nwitimes.com #nwipreps
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
LaTroy Hawkins advises Region hoopers to 'Chase your dreams, not someone else's approval'
"Have you ever heard the saying, 'you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with,'" LaTroy Hawkins said. "That's not just old school wisdom."
www.nwitimes.com
February 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Grace Opinker
Three Region teams played for berths in the state championship Saturday. See how Northwest Indiana schools performed with The Times' semistate coverage.
Check out all The Times' coverage from girls high school basketball semistates
Three Region teams played for berths in the state championship Saturday. See how Northwest Indiana schools performed with The Times' semistate coverage.
www.nwitimes.com
February 23, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Marquette Catholic’s season comes to a close in last night’s Class 1A North semistate championship game🏀 #nwipreps @nwitimes.com
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Marquette Catholic falls short of state final berth with overtime loss
Marquette Catholic found itself trailing at the half for the first time in over a month Saturday. The Blazers responded, sending the game to overtime but ultimately came up short.
www.nwitimes.com
February 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Check out the latest on the three Region teams remaining in the IHSAA’s 50th annual girls basketball tournament🏀 @nwitimes.com
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
How Highland made an unlikely run to the state's final eight and more NWI semistate previews
Highland, Marquette Catholic and Valparaiso are the Region's three remaining teams in the state tournament. Check out insights from each team before game day.
www.nwitimes.com
February 21, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Grace Opinker
Dominique Murphy became the all-time leading scorer for East Chicago Saturday evening against Cathedral. Murphy surpassed former NBA guard E'Twaun Moore.
EC's Dominique Murphy becomes all-time leading scorer
Dominique Murphy became the all-time leading scorer for East Chicago Saturday evening against Cathedral. Murphy surpassed former NBA guard E'Twaun Moore.
www.nwitimes.com
February 17, 2025 at 11:03 PM
EC Central senior Dominique Murphy became the school’s all-time leading scorer on Saturday night🏀 Check out some of the legends Murphy passed on his way to the top of the record book at @nwitimes.com #nwipreps
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
EC's Dominique Murphy becomes all-time leading scorer
Dominique Murphy became the all-time leading scorer for East Chicago Saturday evening against Cathedral. Murphy surpassed former NBA guard E'Twaun Moore.
www.nwitimes.com
February 18, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Hammond Central wins first sectional crown in program history after a 30-26 win against Lake Central🏀 Check it out @nwitimes.com
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Late shot lifts Hammond Central to its 1st sectional title
Hammond Central celebrated its first sectional title in program history with a 30-26 win over Lake Central on Saturday evening at Crown Point.
www.nwitimes.com
February 9, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Reposted by Grace Opinker
Thaal focuses on vegetarian dishes and will remove paneer cheese and butter to make them vegan.
www.nwitimes.com/news/state-r...
NWI Business Ins and Outs: La Loteria, Indian eatery and brewery open; Southlake Mall restaurant closes
NWI Business Ins and Outs: La Loteria, Indian eatery, Pop's and brewery open; Byrd's Chicken and Southlake Mall restaurant close
www.nwitimes.com
February 9, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Reposted by Grace Opinker
Cadynce Clark, Lillian Barnes key Valparaiso’s fourth-quarter ‘spurt’ to win sectional title
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Cadynce Clark, Lillian Barnes key Valparaiso’s fourth-quarter ‘spurt’ to win sectional title
“Basketball is a game of runs,” Valparaiso coach Kelly Kratz said. “Every team kinda goes on their little spurt… It happens one possession at a time.”
www.nwitimes.com
February 9, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Washington Township’s center Brooklyn Campbell had 20 points against Morgan Township Friday night to assist in a 50-36 final and spot in the 1A sectional championship🏀 #nwipreps @nwitimes.com
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Washington Township advances to sectional championship
The Senators will play Marquette Catholic at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Bowman Academy for a shot at the Class 1A sectional crown.
www.nwitimes.com
February 8, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Marquette Catholic sophomore Marissa Pleasant sunk five 3-pointers in the Blazers 54-43 sectional semifinal win over Westville Friday night. Check it out @nwitimes.com
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Marissa Pleasant sinks 5, 3-pointers in Marquette win
Sophomore Marissa Pleasant buried four 3-pointers in the first quarter of Marquette Catholic's sectional semifinal against Westville. The Blazers won 54-43.
www.nwitimes.com
February 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Washington Township clinched the opening round of Class 1A Sectional 49 Thursday night with a 47-37 win over Kouts. Check it out @nwitimes.com #nwipreps
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Brooklyn Campbell, Washington Township ‘take step above’ to take sectional-opening win
Washington Township's Brooklyn Campbell scored nine of her game-high 16 points in a third quarter as the Senators pulled away from Kouts.
www.nwitimes.com
February 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Take a look at sectional draws for NWI girls basketball🏀 Sectionals tipoff Tuesday, Feb. 4. #nwipreps
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Take a look at sectional draws for NWI girls basketball
There's still a week left in the regular season but Northwest Indiana high school girls basketball teams learned their postseason paths on Sunday.
www.nwitimes.com
January 27, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Tri-Township girls basketball advance to semifinals of 53rd annual Porter County Conference Tournament🏀 Check out my latest article on the Tigers! #nwipreps
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Tri-Township punches ticket to PCC Tournament semifinal
Tri-Township, the reigning champs of the 2024 Porter County Conference tournament, defeated Kouts by four points in a thrilling matchup Tuesday night.
www.nwitimes.com
January 22, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The LaPorte boys swim team recently had a defeat that will go down in the Slicers’ program history. Check it out!🏊🏻‍♂️ #nwipreps
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
LaPorte boys swim team makes a splash with senior leadership
LaPorte boys swim beat Chesterton last week for the first time since 1992.
www.nwitimes.com
January 18, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I never guessed Zumba would be so fun to watch! Check out today’s article at @nwi on Indiana’s youngest Zumba instructor Armani Perez. #zumba
www.nwitimes.com/news/local/l...
State's youngest Zumba instructor connects with all ages — including a 96-year-old
Armani Perez, 17, of East Chicago is the youngest Zumba instructor in Indiana and the Chicagoland area. One of the regulars at his classes is 96-year-old Mary LeVan.
www.nwitimes.com
January 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Highland’s Aleks Bastaic is not only a top wrestler in the state of Indiana, but also across the nation🥇🤼‍♀️
#nwipreps #girlswrestling #ihsaa
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Highland's Aleksandra Bastaic can't be kept off the mat
Aleksandra Bastaic heads to the inaugural IHSAA girls wrestling state finals as one of the best wrestlers in the nation.
www.nwitimes.com
January 16, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Check out the latest happenings in Region girls basketball for the week!🏀 #nwipreps
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Andrean's Lindsay Arcella hits 1,000 points
Senior point guard Lindsay Arcella became Andrean's sixth female basketball player to surpass 1,000 career points last week.
www.nwitimes.com
January 16, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Breaking: Hanover Central hires longtime Region coach Tony Bartolomeo as new head football coach🏈 #nwipreps
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
Hanover Central names Tony Bartolomeo as its football coach
"I just felt like I needed to do it," Tony Bartolomeo said. "I've been a Region coach for 25 years. It's just what I do and who I am."
www.nwitimes.com
January 15, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Check out my latest story on Merrillville guard Charles Hardiman on @nwitimes.com The 6-foot-3 freshman is averaging 19.3 ppg🏀⚪️🟣 #nwipreps
www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-...
'Mamba Mentality' sets this Merrillville freshman apart from his opponents
Charles Hardiman pushes himself to be his best every time he steps foot on the court. Merrillville coach Bo Patton said it's because he has the "Mamba Mentality."
www.nwitimes.com
January 15, 2025 at 4:10 PM