The clock striking midnight each year brings with it renewed optimism for better days ahead.
Following a month where the Valparaiso men’s and women’s basketball teams failed to defeat a Division I opponent, perhaps its best for all involved to leave 2025 in the rearview mirror.
Before the ball drops to usher in 2026, it’s time for an annual tradition at The Victory Bell where I look back at the biggest stories of the previous 12 months.
From the retirement of one president to the hiring of another. From watching a special run to the semifinals at Arch Madness to watching a disappointing flock to the transfer portal just days later. From the optimism of new hires in two of Valparaiso’s marquee programs to the harsh realities of transitioning to the Division I level.
There was good and bad in 2025 when it came to Valparaiso athletics, but if you haven’t figured this out by now, I’m ever the optimist. When there’s a tough defeat, I see opportunity for fulfilling redemption. When star players transfer, I see new people to meet and new stories to be told.
I was blessed to chronicle 190 stories at The Victory Bell during 2025 and I was only able to do that through your support. I know I say this often, but I also don’t say it enough. Thank you for your support, both financially and personally. Obviously, the financial support helps keep the site going, but it’s the kind words you share with me at games or emails that give me renewed optimism when the losses stack up.
This site exists to tell the stories of Valparaiso University. The student-athletes. The coaches. And the fans. Thank you, and have a Happy New Year.
Without further adieu, here are some of my favorite memories of 2025.
25-for-25: A look back at The Victory Bell
No. 1 - José Padilla: The Athletics President (Jan. 22)
There’s something fitting about 2025 being bookended by a pair of presidential profiles. Padilla announced early in the year he was planning on retiring when his contract was up at the end of the calendar year. This prompted me to take a look back at the various athletic moments that have occurred on Padilla’s watch. While his vision of the Victory Village never came to fruition during his time in office, it’s also fair to say that Padilla served during one of the most turbulent eras of collegiate sports.
No. 2 - TVB: The Podcast - What happened in Terre Haute? (Feb. 6)
Stealing the idea of the “Ride Home” podcast from Murray State play-by-play announcer Jeff Bidwell, I simply hit record and started talking as I drove back from Terre Haute. Watching All Wright carve through Indiana State’s defense was a glimpse of things to come from Valpo, but it certainly didn’t feel that way that evening.
No. 3 - The One Who Made Valpo His Home, and The One Who Returned Home (Feb. 27)
There’s something special about Senior Day stories. I love looking back on a career, no matter how long or how short. Watching Darius DeAveiro blossom from a quiet freshman to the trusted leader of the Valparaiso men’s basketball program was something I’ll never forget. The same goes for Tyler Schmidt coming home to Valparaiso and bringing 50 of his closest family and friends to every game at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
No. 4 - The ball is tipped. (Mar. 2)
In the aforementioned loss at Indiana State, I wondered if the Valpo men’s basketball team, namely Cooper Schwieger and All Wright, would ever figure out how to play off of each other in a way that would benefit the team. Oddly enough, it was another Schwieger - Carson - that helped turn the tide. While Valpo lost its regular-season finale at UIC, the pieces finally appeared to be in place for an Arch Madness run.
No. 5 - Column: Is this the end, or the beginning? (Mar. 6)
There was just something about the vibe surrounding the Valpo men’s basketball team that had me thinking the Beacons were primed to make some noise in St. Louis. Cooper Schwieger and All Wright spent the better part of the year learning how to play with one another and entering Arch Madness, I felt like it was all going to come together. This column was written in the middle of a brutally cold snow storm in St. Louis, but there was definitely optimism on the Horizon.
No. 6 - Eleventh Heaven (Mar. 8)
Valparaiso’s victory over Northern Iowa in the Arch Madness quarterfinals was easily the most fun I’ve had covering a basketball game since Valpo knocked off Loyola in the 2020 quarterfinals. From calling the game on the radio with Todd Ickow to standing outside an elated locker room, and everything All Wright in between, Valparaiso’s victory over Northern Iowa was my favorite moment of 2025.
No. 7 - Forged by Fire (Mar. 8)
I can’t really explain the adrenaline that kicks in as a reporter when the team you cover starts to do something extraordinary. I was a senior in high school when Valpo went to the Sweet Sixteen, so I missed out on that experience. The Horizon League years were a bit different because the title game was three days after the semifinals. Valpo’s Arch Madness runs in 2020 and 2025 were both special in their own way, but what I’ve loved more than anything else are those moments at 3:00 a.m. when you realize you have to crank out a preview for the next day. The fingers float over the keyboard in a way I really can’t explain. Again, the adrenaline, it’s a drug.
No. 8 - TVB: The Podcast - Ride Home Podcast: Arch Madness Edition (Mar. 9)
Sometimes I need to keep my mouth shut. After an emotional few days in St. Louis, it was time to drive home. A handful of things occurred over the weekend that had me fired up. Some of them valid. Some of them blown out of proportion. I put it all on the line in this podcast, a pod that reached the offices of the Missouri Valley Conference which led to some good discussions and one big hug with Jack Watkins at the Valley women’s basketball tournament the following weekend. My love for the Valley runs deep.
No. 9 - Who asked for this? (Mar. 20)
“I hate college basketball.” It was the thesis of a column that sat in my drafts for nearly two weeks. From the moment the first player hit the portal, each day was another reminder of why I’ve fallen out of love with the love of my life. I reread this column recently and I still believe in every single word. This story spread quickly after I published it. I heard from several Division I coaches not at Valpo telling me how much they appreciated it. Apparently you all did as well as this story was the most viewed story of 2025.
No. 10 - TVB: The Podcast - The Silver Anniversary Episode (May 26)
Unlike the other two podcast episodes on the list, this one was produced in the studio along with Todd Ickow, the Voice of Valparaiso Athletics. Todd and I took a trip down memory lane as we debated the best athletes to compete in each sport over the last 25 years. We nailed a lot of them and missed some key names for others. Todd and I heard from Valpo fans and former athletes for weeks about this episode after it was published. If you’re new to Valpo athletics, I strongly recommend a listen.
No. 11 - “We’re Valparaiso” (June 4)
There’s really nothing better than getting to see Valparaiso’s coaches interact with each other. It’s hard to explain. I have one-on-one relationships with so many of them through covering their sports. Some coaches, like Carin Avery, John Marovich and Brian Schmack, I’ve known for the better part of my professional life. Others, such as David Gring, Maggie Kroemer and Vincent Walker, I don’t see as much as I’d like. Then there are the new coaches such as Mike Armitage, Courtney Boyd and Andy Waddle. Throwing all of them on a tour bus and having them drive around Valpo promoting the school is a fun day. Better yet, throwing them behind the counter at Valpo Velvet and having them serve up some ice cream is even better.
No. 12 - Krikke returns to Valparaiso (July 18)
The harsh reality of covering collegiate athletics is knowing the players eventually move on (some quicker than others these days). The joy of covering collegiate athletics is when those players come home every now and again. The TBT has been an absolute joy over the last several years. Watching guys like Ben Krikke come back and put on the brown and gold one more time is a treat. Seeing Krikke team up with Cory Johnson and Jubril Adekoya, among others, was like Valpo basketball fantasy camp.
No. 13 - The Eagle has Landed (July 28)
Getting the chance to walk the course with Anthony Delisanti and Caleb VanArragon on the Korn Ferry tour was something I truly enjoyed. Forget the fact it was 125 degrees at the height of the summer (that was an exaggeration) or the fact I drank seven Gatorades (that was not). Watching Delisanti get a taste of professional golf was only topped by VanArragon’s incredible eagle to close the final round.
No. 14 - “The Shot” lives on at The National (Aug. 4)
You never know where stories are going to come from. A simple tweet from Darren Rovell led to me sending him a direct message which led to an interview while he was sitting on a plane getting ready to depart O’Hare. Rovell and I had both attended The National, the annual heaven for sports memorabilia collectors, and he finally secured a ticket stub from Valpo’s upset of Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA tournament. This was a fun story that took shape in a little under two hours from conception to execution.
No. 15 - Heart of a Champion (Aug. 14)
On the flip side, some stories take years to come together. I knew for some time that I wanted to share the story of Molly O’Rear’s comeback from a scary medical condition…but only if she wanted to share her story. I mentioned her in a podcast earlier in the year and within an hour of publishing the episode, she texted me and said she was ready to talk. It was an emotionally gutting interview with one of my favorite athletes to ever put on a Valparaiso uniform. Each year I submit a story to the Chicago Headline Club for award consideration. This will be my entry for 2025.
No. 16 - Beacons pay tribute to Marovich Sr. with impressive home opener (Aug. 24)
I think one of the reasons I’ve found a home at Valparaiso for all these years is the family atmosphere. Talk to any of the Valpo athletics lifers that show up to the ARC or Brown Field each year and we’ll talk about the people that matter. The Marovich family are among those people. John, Susan, Mack and Kacey are people I’ve enjoyed getting to know over the years and John Sr. was also in that group. His presence is sorely missed on the left side of the bleachers at Brown Field, as well as in the hearts of all those he touched through his life.
No. 17 - Two for (QB) One (Aug. 30)
When I first thought of launching TVB, one of the things I always envisioned writing about was preseason position battles for the football team. I grew up reading season preview stories on Wisconsin and Green Bay football and I cherished each day a new position preview came out where it would list who the starters and backups would be. What I didn’t know as a child was how difficult it would be to write those stories once you realized they were real people battling with each other to win the starting job. Rowan Keefe and Caron Tyler are two of the finest people I’ve come across and the fact they never let their competition affect their friendship is something I’ll always remember about them.
No. 18 - Delgado finds new home at Valparaiso (Oct. 4)
Another example of a story landing in my lap. I’ve interviewed Valparaiso tennis star Moira Silva countless times and following an early season match, I wanted to shake things up a little bit. I asked Silva who on her team I should talk with and before the question was out of my mouth, she replied with Andrea Delgado. I’m glad I listened to her.
No. 19 - Column: Old memories flood back with championship reunion (Oct. 27)
This one was personal. I truly enjoyed a look back in time, not only of a great Valparaiso football team, but also how that team rearranged my own professional goals. Spending the afternoon, and hell, the late evening, with the 2000 PFL champs was up there with my favorite days of the year.
No. 20 - One & Not Fun (Nov. 12)
Then there was my least favorite. Driving 11 hours round trip to watch Valparaiso get its brains beat in by Kentucky and its $22 million payroll wasn’t fun in any way. After kicking some thoughts around in my head for a few days, I sat down and wrote a lengthy column about how the new landscape of college basketball was leaving a lot to be desired. Consider this one a sequel to the March column “Who asked for this?”
No. 21 - Forever Teammates (Nov. 14)
I really should have more about the Valparaiso volleyball program on here. Carin Avery’s group has been the most competitive team on campus for the last two years. I wrote a handful of features about volleyball this year, but none more meaningful than a look at the longtime partnership of Addy Kois and Emma Hickey. They’ll certainly be missed around the ARC.
No. 22 - Déjà Valpo (Nov. 15)
I can’t believe what I just saw. Again. One year after an improbable victory over Davidson on Senior Day, the Valparaiso football team outdid itself with a historic comeback over Stetson. Three second half touchdowns and three two-point conversions and that was just to get to overtime. Then another touchdown and another two-point conversion to win it. What a game.
No. 23 - Who is Rakim Chaney (Nov. 27)
It’s easy for anyone associated with Valparaiso men’s basketball to play the victim card these days. They can complain about lack of available resources or complain about how players are bound to leave for the next best offer when the time comes. While all of that is true, one should never lose sight of living in the moment. I don’t know if Rakim Chaney will play his entire career at Valparaiso, but I do know that I’m enjoying watching him play for the Beacons now.
No. 24 - A little crazy and a little delusional: Inside the mind of Courtney Boyd (Dec. 7)
I don’t know when the first win is going to come for the Valparaiso women’s basketball team this year. I’m optimistic (there’s that word again) that it will come sooner rather than later. What I do know is that Courtney Boyd is a good interview. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind and she wears her emotions on her sleeve. Her quote about needing to be a little bit delusional was easily the most candid a first-year coach has ever been with me before. You can’t help but cheer for someone like that.
No. 25 - Introducing Valparaiso’s new President (Dec. 6) & Konkol brings a passion for athletics to Valparaiso (Dec. 8)
We end the year with two stories that ranked second and third among the most read stories on the site in 2025. I wasn’t even sure if I’d write a story about Valparaiso’s new President, but as soon as I found out he was an old college basketball player from Wisconsin, I knew we’d have a connection. As the calendar flips to 2026 and Rev. Konkol officially takes office on Jan. 1, he brings with him a strong optimism for the future. That sounds like something we could all use around here.
(Photo courtesy of Valpo Athletics)
Keep telling it, Paul!
Thanks Paul, it’s people like you that make sports personal and VU sports in particular still worth following. Have a blessed New Year.