![](\"https:\/\/www.13thregionmedianetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/untitled-june-01-2026-at-17.04.41-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s been a long and winding road to Whitley County\u2019s third region title, and it all started this past fall when Jeremy Shope\u2019s squad began its quest to get back on track in the 13th Region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Colonels did just that, posting a program-best 38 wins while playing one of the toughest slates in the state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce fall sports begin, we begin working with some open fields,\u201d Shope said. \u201cWe also have in school weightlifting five days a week with Coach Jacobs. He\u2019s done a fabulous job with our guys. He is actively involved with our guys on a daily basis. He talks the talk and walks the walk. We also begin working on fundamentals right from the beginning and continue to do so all year long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSometimes we have good numbers in the fall and sometimes we don\u2019t,\u201d he added. \u201cWe are very open to guys playing multiple sports, but will continue to work the guys who choose not to play. Our staff has a belief in making every guy better through out our program. Every player gets the same amount of reps. This philosophy instills belief amongst our whole team. From day one, every player in our program believes that they can win a state championship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To prepare his team for a region and state title run, Shope put together one of the toughest schedules in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Games against Boyle County, Danville, Sayre, Murray, Glasgow, LaRue County, Yates Creek, Great Crossing, Frederick Douglass, and many others along with the Colonels\u2019 games against 13th Region opponents, challenged Shope\u2019s players day in and day out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere were no days off,\u201d he said. \u201cFor us to be sitting here with 38 wins is phenomenal. It speaks volumes to how tough our team is. We\u2019ve sat at number two in the state poll for much of the year. That\u2019s a tough place to be. You get everyone\u2019s best day in and day out. We play in a very tough district where someone is going home early during the district tournament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe had the number one RPI in the state,\u201d he added. \u201cWhile all these are huge honors for our program, I know that there is pressure with it. Again, it shows the toughness and resilience of this team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur schedule was relentless,\u201d Shope continued. \u201cIt just kept coming at you with good teams and getting their best shot. We played a tough spring break, tough district games, 2A State Tournament beating a Sweet 16 team in the championship game and an another team that just recently lost a close one to another Sweet 16 team. We understand how hard it is to win a 13th Region title. We were battle tested and we knew that even if we didn\u2019t win it, we would have no regrets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shope said a lot of his program\u2019s success can be credited to \u201call of our alumni and all the people who are actively involved in our program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA lot of sacrifices are made when you pour your heart and soul into this special program,\u201d he admitted. \u201cOur guys know how much blood, sweat, and tears have been put in before they even got there. Our alumni come around often talking smack. It\u2019s a challenge for our guys to always want to be better. I love that part of our program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere have been heartaches and tears of joy,\u201d Shope said. \u201cAt the end of each season, and career, I want our guys to have no regrets. Two things we always stand on is play for the guy next to you and have no regrets when it\u2019s all over. I believe that this builds the never say die mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After finishing as runner-up in the 13th Region Tournament last season, Shope said he knew early on he was going to field a good team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n