Pettit Park was a flurry of activity Saturday with 21 teams competing at the third annual Tyler Scheidt 3V3 Memorial Tournament. It was the biggest 3V3 yet held on the basketball court dedicated to the lovable and beloved Highland High School graduate, who was killed after being hit by a car in 2021 weeks before he was headed back to begin his junior year at Wabash College.
Saturday was not a day of mourning, but a celebration of Tyler’s life, which his mother Donna said was filled with laughter and joy at the park where her son spent an abundance of time playing ball and growing up with friends. “There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t miss Tyler but this event - here today - makes me proud of the life my son lived and the people who loved him,” she said. “This town – and the people in it – are so special. Tyler loved Highland.”
The 3V3 was an all-volunteer event. It included individuals, like Public Works Director Mark Knesek, who helped by manning a grill to local businesses – Amici Grill and Pizzeria, Fuzzyline Brewing Co. and Growlers on Highway – that donated gift cards to the winning teams and event organizers Alyce Van Drunen and Trever Kinley, who work by day at Highland Parks and Recreation.
“Tyler was special to all of us here and countless others who couldn’t be here today,” said Van Drunen, recreation supervisor at the parks department. “We are looking into expanding the tournament to include younger brackets and keep Tyler’s legacy – and memory – alive.”
