gotchanewsdaily.com 
HANCOCK COUNTY — Girls golf teed off the 2024 high school sports fall season at the beginning of August, the majority of the remaining sports get underway today.
High School football will start Friday, but boys and girls cross country, boys and girls soccer, boys tennis and girls volleyball are all set to have at least one county team in action today.
A full schedule of today’s events is on page B3.
On the pitch, Greenfield-Central’s girls soccer team will have its 11th Annual Kickin’ Cancer tournament scheduled to be played on its new artificial turf field. The Cougars open with Class 2A No. 7 Lawrenceburg at 9 a.m. Warren Central and Batesville are scheduled to go at 10:30 a.m.
In between semifinal games and the consolation/championship round (1 p.m. approximately), the Cougars will have a ceremony in recognition of those fighting, and those that have won and lost battles with cancer.
The annual tournament raises money and awareness for breast cancer with proceeds going to the Sue Ann Wortman Cancer Center in Greenfield.
It’ll be a special day on the pitch at Mt. Vernon, too.
The boys team will play host to Hamilton Southeastern at 10:30 a.m.
The team will recognize junior Shawn Houser, an All-Hoosier Heritage Conference performer as a sophomore last year, before the varsity game.
Houser is recovering from a serious car accident earlier this summer. Family, teammates and their families — both from Mt. Vernon and Shawn’s club team — have banned together to help raise money for the Housers with #ShawnStrong bracelets, t-shirts and have set up a GoFundMe page for the family.
After a number of days in the hospital and rehabilitation center, Shawn has been able to do recovery from home and has also been able to come out to some practices and kick the ball around with his teammates.
Opening day will also have a few county vs. county matchups.
On the tennis court at Eastern Hancock, the Royals host New Palestine.
In Terre Haute on the state championship cross country course, both boys and girls teams from Greenfield-Central and Mt. Vernon will be competing amongst the top teams in the state.
At the Edgewood Golf Club, Greenfield-Central, Mt. Vernon and New Palestine will compete in the Lapel Invitational.
