Julie Roe Lach to speak at IndyStar High School Sports Awards

Julie Roe Lach gave the IndyStar High School Sports Awards a speaker who sits squarely at the center of Indiana basketball power. The Pacers Sports & Entertainment executive vice president was the guest speaker for the annual event Monday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, a setting that tied the state’s high school honors directly to the Pacers, the Fever and the building that anchors so much of Indiana’s hoops identity.

The awards are built as more than a one-night ceremony. IndyStar describes them as a statewide, nine-month student-athlete recognition program that culminates in a live show honoring Indiana’s top high school athletes, teams and coaches. That structure matters for basketball families because it extends the season’s meaning beyond the final buzzer, turning individual performances and team runs into a larger public record of what a school year produced.

Roe Lach’s presence added another layer. She joined Pacers Sports & Entertainment in October 2025 after nearly five years as Horizon League commissioner and more than 15 years with the NCAA, including work as vice president of enforcement. The Horizon League said her PS&E role connects her to the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Noblesville Boom, Pacers Foundation and Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which made her a fitting voice for an event that sits at the intersection of prep sports and the professional game.

That connection has been part of the awards’ identity for years. In 2024, the show handed out 23 statewide awards, with East Central’s Josh Ringer named Boys Athlete of the Year and Hamilton Southeastern’s Lauren Harden named Girls Athlete of the Year. Fishers basketball won Boys Team of the Year, while Hamilton Southeastern volleyball claimed Girls Team of the Year. Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston served as the speaker that year, underscoring the event’s link to the state’s pro basketball stage.

The awards continued to grow after that. The 2024-25 show moved to Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University and honored more than 300 athletes, showing how widely the program reaches across Indiana high school sports. For 2026, the event returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse and was presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever.

This year’s program also recognized Theresia Wynns with the IndyStar Women’s Sports Trailblazer Award, adding another notable Indiana name to a night already built around visibility and legacy. For the players, coaches and families in the room, Roe Lach represented more than a ceremonial appearance. She linked the state’s prep stars to the organizations and venues that help define where Indiana basketball goes next.