Winning state starting to sink in for Parke Heritage

Parke Heritage boy's basketball coach Rich Schelsky has always felt his Wolves had the ability to play for a state championship.

After all, Parke Heritage had captured four straight sectional championships and had advanced to the semi-state for four straight years.

However, the monkey remained on the back of the Wolves as great seasons were stopped short by disappointing finishes.

All that changed last week, when Parke Heritage defeated Westview, 57-56, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to win the Class 2A state title. It was the first state title in any sport for the school, which has been around for eight years.

"I am not sure you ever envision a state championship. There are a lot of things that have to go your way, the ball has to bounce right, you have to be lucky and when you are talking about being the best, I always felt we could compete for them. To win one, takes a lot of luck and chance. Fortunately for us, our guys made their own luck this year and got it done," Schelsky told The Parke County Post.

Being a school for eight years and having success last week, Schelsky said the state championship means "everything" to his community.

"We have been a school for eight years, and from day one, our school has done a great job with the consolidation. There were some trials and tribulations, but through the process, it became very apparent that we became close as a community. We put aside the old Rockville and Turkey Run rivalry and everyone became one. The one thing missing was we hadn't won a state championship in anything yet as Parke Heritage. The expectation and hoping for and all of that, it was a great gift for our community and a thank you to our community. This doesn't happen if that doesn't happen first. We have players whose parents played for Rockville or Turkey Run, and when you do something controversial like consolidate two schools, that can be an issue, but it has never been. This doesn't happen without their support and backing, and I am thankful that everyone in our community got to experience this together," Schelsky said. 

The veteran coach said he had a feeling all season long his team was a state championship contender, especially coming off of the disappointing finish last year against University. 

"With what we had coming back, we felt strongly that if we stayed healthy and had a good season, we would put ourselves in a position to do it. I think it was a year long deal, and there wasn't any one moment. We had a good summer and we played some really good teams and big schools, and we won some of those. We knew we prepped and ready to make a run if things went our way, and, obviously, they did," he said. 

In addition, Parke Heritage beefed up its schedule, adding the likes of Fishers and Ben Davis. Schelsky said the addition of those games are a "big reason" why his team is a state champion.

"You have to put our guys in as many adverse situations as possible. If you are a state championship caliber team, you don't want to win every game by 50 points. You want to be tested, you have to see different things and I think that plays a huge part in our run. All the way through, I talked a lot about how we played really good teams. We played Greencastle in the sectional, Centerville in the regional, Triton Central and Linton in semi-state and Westview in state. Those teams were very good, but they weren't  going to be the best team we had seen all season in a game. In retrospect, we  were the best team each of those teams had played all season. I think that played a huge factor and our schedule helped play a huge factor," Schelsky said. 

Schelsky said the themes of family and toughness were on display all season long when he looks back at his team. 

"That is the approach for us. Our program has never been about one guy. Everyone has bought into that, and the family piece is true. They all sit together at lunch and they are at my house a lot. They are around each other all the time because they are very close friends outside the court. When you have something like that, it is unique and allows you to be bonded together. You can't coach that," Schelsky said. 

The veteran coach added he isn't soft and is big on toughness, something that was on full display in the postseason. 

"You have to be tough to play for me. I am going to hold you accountable, and I am going to get on you some. I am going to be tough at times, but it is the only way I know how to do it. These guys bought into it and accept coaching. In 2026, you don't get a lot of kids and parents that accept hard coaching, and we have never had an issue with that around here. They also know I have their back, and when they flourish, I will be the first one to tell them. We have a great dynamic, and I look forward to continuing that," Schelsky said. 

With his first state title under his belt, Schelsky has his sights set on next year and maintaining the standard for the Wolves. 

"I don't see it changing. The faces may change a little bit, but the attitude, the mantra and what we stand for, that's what it will probably always be around our program. It is really cool to be a part of the history. I told the guys no matter what, and we expect to continue to be successful, they will always be remembered as state champions. It is pretty dang cool, and nobody can ever take that away from you. Indiana is a basketball state, and rich in tradition, and to be part of that is humbling and rewarding. It is what we are all about and what we are passionate about. It was our goal, we achieved it and we reached the pinnacle," Schelsky said.