MEN’S DIVISION RESULTS — Shown from left are Luke Griner, first place; Rex Kirchenstien, second place; Ben Vincent, third place; and Ryan Hale, fourth place. Photo provided by Mermaid Festival Tournament of Champions.

News Release

NORTH WEBSTER — The 2022 Tournament of Champions was held Saturday, June 18, at North Webster Elementary School. This annual competition showcases athletic prowess in a multitude of areas.

In a transitional year, ToC saw the passing of the torch, so to speak, from former director Mitch Willaman. Together with his wife, Gretchen, and two children, they had the tournament running like a finely oiled machine for the past decade and a half.

After 13 years of service as a staff member, Jace Stewart graciously received said torch and ran with it. Along with some more well-known Mermaid Festival events such as the Cutie Parade and Pageant, and Queen of Lakes Pageant, ToC is a local gem in the philanthropic scholarship arena. Like the aforementioned, it has been taking place for nearly three quarters of a century. Juxtaposed to the Cuties and Beauties, who also benefit from this tremendous offering from Homer J. Shoop and his legacy, Tournament of Champions participants are all currently enrolled in institutions of higher education or skilled trades.

The 11 events this year were the Mile Run, Free Throws, Shuttle Run, Pull Ups, Standing Long Jump, Soccer, Obstacle Course, Football/Softball Throw, 40-Yard Dash, Indoor Obstacle Course, and 3-Point Contest. The Tournament of Champions has historically been an incredible spectacle of not only athletic achievements, but also tremendous attitudes and fantastic sportsmanship. Athletes are always encouraging one another, and while the friendly spirit is obvious, the competitive currents definitely rush deeply within.

Perhaps the truest display of sportsmanship, though, came after all events were completed, and results were shared. As athletes were viewing the scoreboards, St. Francis’s Kiersten Parker pointed out a discrepancy. Originally, it appeared she and Taylor University’s Audrey Grimm finished in an overall tie for third place, when in actuality, Grimm had edged out Parker in the Pull Ups event, resulting in Grimm’s clear, stand-alone third-place distinction, and Parker settling in at fourth. This is a prime example of integrity which ToC expects from its participants.

With a healthy mixture of new participants and veteran returners, this year’s campaign exhibited one of the most competitive fields in recent memory, with nearly everyone placing in at least one event.

Men’s Division results were Luke Griner, West Point, first, with 23.75 points; Rex Kirchenstien, IU East, second, with 18.5 points; Ben Vincent, Cedarville University, third, with 14 points; and Ryan Hale, Huntington University, fourth, with 12.25 points. Women’s Division results were Madison Schermerhorn, Purdue University, first, with 28.5 points; Kendall Wayne, Taylor University, second, with 27 points; Audrey Grimm, Taylor University, third, with 18 points; and Kiersten Parker, University of Saint Francis, fourth, with 17 points.

A special thanks goes out to staff members and volunteers who assisted in making this year’s competition a success. They are Dina Coverstone, Dino Coverstone, Andrew Hepler, Scott Richey, Dallas Russell, and Jason Worrell.

Also, a special thanks to North Webster Elementary School and Wawasee Community School Corporation for allowing the ToC to be hosted on its grounds.

The Tournament of Champions continues to evolve and is working toward a more digital presence. Looking ahead, expect to see digital registration, online payment for registration fees and a centralized digital location for sharing information and updates.

WOMEN’S DIVISION RESULTS — Shown from left are Madison Schermerhorn, first place; Kendall Wayne, second place; Audrey Grimm, third place; and Kiersten Parker, fourth place. Photo provided by Mermaid Festival Tournament of Champions.