State championship 'special' for Parke Heritage father-son duo

For as long as he can remember, Treigh Schelsky has been in a basketball gymnasium.

And, he has been around his father, Parke Heritage boys basketball coach Rich Schelsky. 

The two were together when the elder Schelsky was the girls basketball coach at Western Boone High School.

The two were together in 2021 when Schelsky led his Wolves to the state championship game and the younger Schelsky was a water boy for his father.

And, the two were together last week as medals were being handed out, sharing a special moment as father and son and Class 2A state champions. 

"It is unbelievable. As the coach, you don't play the dad card, and I don't think about it during games, but when the game ended and there was the realization that we won, that was really special. The way the state finals are, they come get you right away so I couldn't get to any of my guys to enjoy the moment, but Treigh and I had a special moment. As a dad, that is a very special and meaningful time and place in our history as father and son. The game of sports brings that opportunity and not everyone gets to experience that," Rich Schelsky told The Parke County Post. 

For Treigh, who averaged 15.9 points and just under three rebounds per game, playing for his father came with expectations immediately. 

"He has been the face of our program," his father said.

And, he answered every expectation, helping lead the Wolves to a Parke County record four straight sectional championships, four straight regional titles and four straight trips to the semi-state. 

When it is all said and done, the elder Schelsky said his point guard was one thing -- a winner.  

"Obviously, Indiana high school basketball is rich in its tradition and history, and there are a lot of guys go through their careers and be highly decorated as winners and post season success and Treigh is in that list. He has won four straight sectional championships, four straight regional championships, now a semistate championship and a state championship to go out on top. There couldn't have been a better ending for him and what he has done for our program. That last offensive possession is the epitome of Treigh Schelsky because he is a winner. He was going to make the right play, three guys came right at him on defense and he found Isaac. He made the play that won us the game, and that is the epitome of his career as a high school basketball player," Coach Schelsky said. 

The assist on the game winner was something Treigh had dreamed about ever since he stepped foot on a floor and knew he would play for his father. 

"The last four years have been better than I could have imagined. Before I got into high school, I knew he would be my coach and I had high goals for us. I always dreamed of winning a state championship, but to have the success we had all four years and to go out the way we did, it doesn't feel real. It was tough playing for him at times. The toughest was probably my freshman year because I had so much to learn and I was handed the reigns and he was the hardest on me. As I learned and got better at some things, the next few years, I didn't mess up as much, but he does a great job. He is good at preaching toughness in our program, and I think that is what a lot of our culture is about. Playing for him has been great. One of the big things was our trust. He could bounce ideas off me and I would trust him with any type of game plan, and I think he trusted me with the ball in my hands," Treigh said.