boys basketball, girls basketball
(4-29-25) Crawley, Mannies, Aikman and Witty awards announced for 2025 by statewide coaches’ group
Forty Indiana high school seniors have been named winners of 2025 scholarship awards from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, it was announced Tuesday (April 29).
The IBCA — a statewide coaches group with about 2,400 members — this year is presenting a grant of $500 to each recipient in the names of Marion Crawley, Junior Mannies Pat Aikman and Steve & Jeanie Witty.
Through the years, the IBCA has awarded about $820,000 in scholarships to Indiana student-athletes.
IBCA executive director emeritus Steve Witty wrote in informing winners of the various selections.
“I would like to congratulate you for being selected as a recipient… Thank you for your contributions to Indiana high school basketball, and best of luck as you move on to the college of your choice.”
A total of 34 Crawley Scholarships were presented to 16 boys players, 12 girls’ players, four student managers and two team statisticians.
The boys recipients for 2025 are Mason Bales of Northridge, Keyton Barnes of Gary West Side, Logan Boone of Union County, Zac Buell of Northview, Jack Campbell of Mt. Vernon (Posey), Tyler Champion of Hamilton Heights, Fletcher Cole of Paoli, Charlie Cross of Mt. Vernon (Fortville), Gentry Groves of Cowan, Peyton Hofer of East Central, Kai Kunz of Jasper, Zander McHenry of Connersville, Colton Phillips of Perry Meridian, Josiah Rice of Lakeland Christian, Colton Stowers of Washington and Caleb Wright of Sheridan.
The girls recipients for 2025 are Addison Bowsman of Twin Lakes, Alexus Bryant of Christian Academy of Indiana, Addisyn Lambert of Oldenburg Academy, Emily McCrea of Prairie Heights, Keragan Spry of Madison, Brynna Walton of White River Valley, Lauryn Adamson and Lydia Maurer of Gibson Southern, Shelby Allen and Hadley Crosier of Lanesville, and Kalissa Jackson-Dietzer and Mylie Walton of Speedway.
The student manager recipients for 2025 are Andrea Davidson of White River Valley, Natalie Hudson of Mt. Vernon (Fortville), Meghan Jackson of Indianapolis Cathedral and Dudley Smith of East Central, The statistician recipients for 2025 are Drew Bush of LaPorte and Myles Susott of Tecumseh.
Criteria for the Crawley Scholarship includes achievement in basketball, achievement in academics, participation in extracurricular activities and service to one’s school and community.
Crawley was a former four-time boys basketball state championship coach — two with the Washington Hatchets and two with the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos — who amassed 644 career wins. He later became the first executive director of the IBCA, serving in that role from 1970-74. He then served as the IBCA assistant executive director from 1974 until he passed away in 1982.
Ben Ferguson of Columbus North is the lone winner of a 2025 IBCA Junior Mannies Scholarship. Ferguson has battled cystic fibrosis to be a key member of the Bull Dogs’ team.
Mannies Scholarships are presented to students who have a physical handicap but have contributed to their respective school’s athletic program.
Mannies posted a 309-301 record in 29 seasons as a boys’ basketball coach at Delphi, Mississinewa, Lewis Cass and Elwood. He later served as athletic director at Danville and as the IBCA Job Placement Director from 1977-83. From 1983 through 2025, 74 students have been awarded Mannies Scholarships.
Three players — Meah Dalrymple of the North Daviess girls’ team, Clara Hawk of the Eastern Greene girls’ team and Dylan Springer of the Northridge boys’ team — are recipients of the 15th annual Pat Aikman Character and Leadership Awards. This scholarship is named for Aikman, the Indiana All-Star games director from 1988-2007 and former IBCA Coordinator of Special Projects.
Criteria for the Aikman Award include achievements and contributions in basketball, scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities, and service to school and community. Also, those considered for the Aikman Award are students who plan to enter the fields of journalism, sports management, athletic training or physical therapy. Dalrymple, Hawk and Springer are the 40th, 41st and 42nd recipients of Aikman Awards presented since 2011.
Abigayle Clayton of Hamilton Southeastern and Nate Luce of Wapahani, both players for successful programs, are winners of the Steve & Jeanie Witty Scholarship, named for the IBCA’s current executive director emeritus and his late wife.
Steve Witty posted a 266-68 record and was a two-time boys’ basketball state champion coach at Ben Davis, then served from 2002 to 2022 as IBCA executive director. Jeanie Witty was a registered nurse who upon retirement became Steve’s administrative assistant. Jeanie passed away in April 2023 after serving the IBCA for 18 years.
The Witty Scholarship awards go to student-athletes who are the child of a current-year IBCA-member coach who plans to pursue a career in education/coaching or a something in a medical field such as a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse or medical technician. This award was started in 2024, and 2025 is the second year for it. Clayton and Luce join 2024 inaugural recipients J.D. Lynch of Brownsburg and Kaitlin White of Columbus North as winners of Witty Scholarships.
Witty said of the 40 winners for 2025-
“These are deserving young people who help make coaching a great profession.”
A list of the 2025 IBCA Scholarship winners is below.
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