Suzi Dillon did something that she never thought she’d have to consider: The North Central head coach held tryouts for this year’s varsity and JV sides. The nine-time Indiana state champion has claimed the previous six titles, and the lure of wearing the Panther jersey is being reflected in surging participation numbers. Those numbers will continue to swell, as the township has just launched a middle school rugby program.

“We normally have about 40 [players], but we had so many show up this year that for the first time in 15 years, I decided to have tryouts,” Dillon said. “I feel it made the team that much stronger because they had the confidence knowing they were good enough to actually make the team, and now they can bond over that and grow together even more.”

At the core of North Central is a group of junior and seniors who hold a special place with the coaching staff. In 2012, the program graduated 16 seniors, and three of the best underclassmen relocated. So 2013 was supposed to be a rebuilding year, as rookie freshmen and sophomores comprised the bulk of the team.

“Well that group of young newbies surprised everyone, including me, by being undefeated state champions that year,” Dillon reminisced. “I remember when the final whistle blew at the state championship. I cheered like crazy and then looked at my assistant coach and asked, ‘What just happened?!’ Those girls are all junior and seniors now, and have a lot of experience and a lot of success under their belts.”

That senior leadership is rooted in players like hooker Helen Mercado, No. 8 Yami Hernandez, flyhalf Lauren Lad and inside center Akiya Harris. None of them have lost a game since playing with North Central, and they helped keep that winning streak alive in the league-opener against Pike High School (56-5 win). The next league game occurs on April 10, and Dillon expects good competition out of Arsenal Tech, which is “another really strong team with great sportsmanship and really hard hitters,” the coach said.

But the game to watch will likely occur in the playoffs. A state finalist the previous two years, Warsaw is the heavyweight in the North division and opened up its season with a 78-5 win over Westfield High School. The team is looking strong again and eager to snap North Central’s impressive unbeaten record.

“I think it’s going to be a really great and fun season this year. I can feel it in the air,” Dillon looked ahead. “I think we have a good chance [at the state championship], but if we don’t always work our hardest at practices and in the games, there are lots of really great teams out there who are working hard too and could take a win from us at any second.”

North Central’s influence is being felt outside of the high school realm as well. When Indiana University qualified for the DI fall final four – the farthest the Redstorm has ever advanced in playoffs – six North Central alumni made the travel squad, including tournament all-stars Masie Duncan and Alli Hale, as well as influential try-scorer Karen Strunk, Drew Mack, Missy Mattson and Mariana Mesa.

North Central has the opportunity to do those alumni proud on May 30, when the Panthers – should they advance – attempt the program’s 10^th state title.