For most of the 21st century, wrestling has been the standout sport for Mishawaka High School.
It’s no surprise then that several Cavemen wrestlers occupy spots on the list of the best athletes from the school in the last 25 years.
While the wrestling team’s state championships in 2008 and 2010 are the only team titles for the school in the century so far, several other teams and athletes have had stellar careers wearing the maroon and white. With that being said, here are the 10 best Mishawaka athletes since 2000, listed in alphabetical order. Honorable mentions are listed at the bottom as well.
Nick Banke, class of 2009
Banke became the first Mishawaka boys track and field athlete to win a state title in 52 years when he reigned as the state discus champion in 2009, winning with a throw of 179-2 feet. Banke also competed in shot put at that year’s state finals, placing sixth. Banke won three sectional titles in discus and two in shot put, plus regional championships in discus his sophomore and senior campaigns. He added a regional title in shot put his senior year as well.
Jenny Black, class of 2006
Black was one of the last great volleyball standouts under legendary coach Steve Anderson. In what would be Anderson’s final season of his first stint with the program (he returned from 2016-23), Black totaled 515 kills, 369 digs and 62 blocks to lead the Cavemen to the Class 4A state semifinals in 2005. Black was named the Northern Indiana Conference volleyball MVP and an All-State selection for her efforts. She earned a college scholarship to Kennesaw State University as well.
Tommy Forte, class of 2015
Forte was a state wrestling champion as a sophomore in the 138-pound weight class and as a senior at 152 pounds, going unbeaten in both seasons. His junior year saw him finish state runner-up at 145 pounds, giving him a three-year record of 109-2.
Chris Harness, class of 2019
While his 5-foot-7, 180-pound frame made him look unassuming, Harness was anything but that on the football field. Harness set a Mishawaka career record with 4,163 rushing yards, including a single season program record of 2,705 yards in his senior campaign of 2018. In helping lead the Cavemen to a semistate appearance, Harness was named the Class 4A Player of the Year by the Indiana Football Digest magazine.
Josh Harper, class of 2009
Arguably nobody had a more dominant wrestling career in this area’s history than Harper. He went undefeated in his first three seasons, winning the state championship at 103 pounds in 2006 (47-0 record), 112 pounds in 2007 (39-0) and 125 pounds in 2008 (45-0). An injury midway through his senior year of 2009 unfortunately derailed him slightly, but he was still able to compile a 35-5 record and finish fourth in the 130-pound weight class.
Ian Hinton, class of 2007
Hinton went undefeated in his last two seasons on the wrestling mat. After finishing state runner-up in the 171-pound weight class in 2005 (with a 43-2 record), Hinton went 42-0 to win the 171-pound state title in 2006 and 48-0 in the 189-pound weight class to reign as state champ in 2007. That’s a three-year record of 133-2.
Andrea Horban, class of 2004
Horban excelled in the field events at track meets, winning regional championships in both shot put and discus in 2004 before finishing third and fifth, respectively, in those events at the state championship meet the following week. She was also a regional champion in shot put in 2003. Horban then excelled collegiately at the University of Indianapolis, winning a Division-II national championship in shot put at the 2006 Indoor Track & Field finals and taking runner-up honors at the 2009 Outdoor meet. She was a six-time All-American for the Greyhounds.
Anna Rohrer, class of 2015
Few runners in South Bend area history can match what Rohrer did during her Caveman career. In cross country, Rohrer not only won two IHSAA state championships (2012 and 2014), but two national high school titles as well. She was then a four-time track and field state champion, winning the 3,200-meter run three times and the 1,600-meter run once. Her 41-second victory in the 2014 cross country state finals is the second-largest margin of victory in the history of the championship meet. Rohrer was also named the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner for cross country her senior year as well.
Steven Sandefer, class of 2009
The late 2000s/early 2010s were the glory days of Mishawaka wrestling, and Sandefer was one of the many reasons why. Sandefer was also a multi-time state champion, winning the 140-pound title in 2008 and 2009. His record those two seasons was a combined 87-3. Sandefer now serves as the head coach of the Cavemen wrestling program.
Sam Schrader, class of 2013
Mostly known for his work on the gridiron, Schrader is one of the best football players in Mishawaka history. Playing quarterback in a run-heavy offense, Schrader rushed for 1,749 yards and 29 touchdowns in his senior year, earning him Gatorade Indiana Football Player of the Year honors. Team success was part of that, too, as Mishawaka reached the Class 4A state finals that season. For his career, Schrader rushed for 3,842 yards and 69 touchdowns while also passing for 2,259 yards.
Honorable mentions
Liam Bauschke (active; class of 2025), Beau Brabender (class of 2024), Pat Day (class of 2006), Brady Fisher (class of 2024), Miguel Lozano (class of 2012), Chris Mitchell (class of 2013), Craig Padgett (class of 2008), Cooper Pritchett (class of 2024), Trent Johnson (class of 2021), Joseph Walker (class of 2020), Zar Walker (class of 2024).
Special thanks to Mishawaka historian Pete De Kever for his help with this list.
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