Mishawaka High School celebrates gym's 100th anniversary with historic basketball game

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Mishawaka High School is preparing for a monumental event this weekend as “The Cave,” Indiana's oldest active high school gym, celebrates 100 years of history.   

Dec. 27, 1924, was the gym's inaugural game, where the Mishawaka Maroons fell to the Brazil Red and White, 33-15, now known as Northview.  

Despite the loss, that game marked the beginning of a legacy that has gone on for nearly a century.

"I'm just excited to see all the people who show up, to hear their stories about what happened in this gym with them. Obviously, the basketball game is going to be great. The two teams are going to compete, it's going to be a great environment, but I think just the community coming together as a whole celebrating the special day," Mishawaka Athletic Director Mark Polsgrove said. 

The rematch this Saturday promises a day of nostalgia, with throwback uniforms, wooden benches, a PA announcer, and alumni involvement, all celebrating 100 years of memories. 

"I just think it's a neat thing that this gym has continuously been running for the last hundred years. We're still playing games in it, we still have activities in it, which is a neat thing," Mishawaka High School Boys Basketball Head Coach Bodie Bender said. 

Polsgrove says tickets are still available online on the school's website for just $1, as fans old and new can come together to commemorate the legacy of The Cave. 

Anyone who is attending is urged to arrive early to secure a seat, as they are expecting a capacity crowd. 

Gates will open at 12:45 p.m. 

The JV game will begin at 1:45 p.m. with tip-off for varsity scheduled for 3 p.m.