Hanover Central junior Beau Wiancek has worked his way up the ranks.
The 6-foot-1 guard is a first-year starter for the Wildcats after playing on the freshman and junior varsity teams in his first two seasons.
“I went from the bottom all the way to the top,” Wiancek said. “I went through the experience. Freshman year compared to varsity year, it’s quite the jump. The speed of the game is completely different.”
But Wiancek didn’t need much time to get up to speed. Hanover Central coach Chandler Spring, who is in his first season after two as the JV coach and varsity assistant, saw Wiancek’s potential.
“We knew the whole time, since summer, when we were trying to find an identity, that Beau would be a huge part of that,” Spring said. “We knew he had ability. We knew he was talented. It was about whether or not he could keep the same level all the time.
“It seems once we hit tourney time, really right before tourney time, he seemed to hit his stride and find it. He’s been a huge part of our success, whether it’s coming up with big baskets with how we scheme on offense or defensively coming up with big steals to seal the game. He’s a joy to coach. He’s been a huge part of our success down the stretch.”
Indeed, Wiancek and the Wildcats won the Class 3A Hanover Central Sectional title by defeating Lowell in the championship game last week.
“It took a lot of time to prepare to win the sectional, so it feels great — especially beating Lowell, with it being a rivalry,” he said.
Next up, Hanover Central (12-14) will play Columbia City (22-4), which is ranked No. 6 in USA Today’s 3A poll, in the Plymouth Regional on Saturday. The Wildcats have reached that stage for the second year in a row but have yet to win a regional title in their history.
Last season, Wiancek’s older brother Max helped the Wildcats win their first sectional title since 2020. He was a three-year starter and one of six seniors on that team.
“He’s helped me a lot,” Wiancek said. “He’s a big role model for me.”
As part of a revamped roster, Wiancek, who also plays baseball, will try to help Hanover Central spring an upset against Columbia City. The Wildcats likely will rely on the traits that brought them here.
“We share the basketball,” Wiancek said. “We listen to the coaches, but we share the basketball. That’s something we prioritize on offense — don’t settle for jump shots. And our defense has been one of our strong suits all year.”
Spring noted the team’s development during the course of the season.
“Beau has been big, and it hasn’t just been him,” Spring said. “It’s been our group as a whole. They’ve bought into their preparation. Down the stretch, it’s been buying into their preparation and buying into each other and making plays for one another. They see the overall team goal, and it’s carried them this far.”
Spring praised Wiancek for his part in that.
“He’s a great kid,” Spring said. “He wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s a fine player. He’s a very dynamic and versatile kid. He can be one of your best defenders. He can be your best guy on offense in games.
“His growth this year has been about finding his consistency. He’s really starting to hit his stride there more than anything.”
