Dinerpod 43: Nick Wheeler-North Central Football Coach

Host Red Velvet is back in the studio for a deep dive into the rising football program at North Central (Farmersburg). Joining the show for his third visit is T-Bird Head Coach Nick Wheeler, but first, we sit down with a rising star on the offensive line—his son, Eli Wheeler.

We kick things off with Eli to discuss the high-stakes life of a Left Tackle (the "blindside" protector), the perks of being a coach's kid on the sidelines, and the ultimate family rivalry: who is actually better at Fortnite?

Then, Coach Wheeler joins the desk to pull back the curtain on the T-Birds' massive Year 2 turnaround. After a culture-building first season, North Central exploded for a 6-game win streak and their first sectional victory in years. Coach breaks down the "Red Velvet" play—a trick reverse flea-flicker he promised (and delivered) on game day—and explains why he wants his quarterback rocking an old-school cowboy collar.

We also get real about the mental side of coaching. From the "Energy Bus" leadership philosophy to the challenges of running a program with a small roster, Coach Wheeler shares his journey of building a "tough kids on the block" identity in one of the state's most competitive 1A sectionals.

What’s Inside the Episode:

The "Blindside" Life: Eli Wheeler on protecting the QB and out-gaming his dad.X's & O's: The mechanics of the "Red Velvet" trick play.

The Streak: How a 7-4 season changed the expectations in Farmersburg.

Culture Shock: Adding fireworks, PA antics, and "college-level" energy to Friday nights.

Looking Ahead: Spring break lifting, roster growth (42 and counting!), and the 2026 outlook.

Thank you to our sponsors:Wabash Valley Plumbing RJs Formalwear Varsity House Outfitters Ever Haute Co.

Youth Sports Chowdown 127

Spring sports have officially arrived in the Dinerverse, and host Red Velvet is feeling the heat! With a massive expansion to 38 high school baseball and softball teams across Indiana and Illinois, Episode 127 is a marathon through the box scores.

From professional updates in the NBA and Hungary to record-shattering performances on the track and "video game numbers" on the diamond, this episode covers the absolute best of local and next-level talent.

What’s Inside This Episode:The Big Reveal: Red discusses the logistics of covering nearly 40 high school teams and 15 college squads—plus a special announcement for Diner Podcast subscribers regarding the first-ever All-Dinerpod Boys Basketball teams.

Next Level Athletes: Updates on Craig Porter Jr. (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jalen Moore (Hungary), and a sweep of college baseball and softball standouts including Nick Sutherlin (ISU), Peyton Lear (IU Kokomo), and Sophie Moshos (App State).

The Varsity Special: * Baseball: Sullivan stays perfect at 3-0, West Vigo shuts out a rival, and South Putnam’s Hayden Tencher puts on a baserunning clinic with 5 stolen bases in one game.

Softball: Tori Detro (North Put) puts up a "cheat code" stat line (15 Ks and a HR), while Edgewood outscores opponents by a staggering 29-1 to start the season

.Track & Field: A massive shoutout to Ava Williamson (Greencastle) for obliterating a 21-year-old discus record and a recap of the Northview girls' dominant showing at the inaugural Mayor’s Cup.

The Rookie Report: Recapping the Looney Toons Showdown with hardware for the Riley Rebels, CYL 8U Knights, and the Mooresville 12U Pioneers.

Power Performers: The debut of the new Red Velvet Power Performers segment highlighting the week's most explosive athletes.

Community Links:Podcast Drop:

Catch the full interview with North Central Football Coach Nick Wheeler this Wednesday!

Soccer Alert: FHS Soccer is looking for two high school players for their travel team—don't miss the $40 deal!

"Don't miss the wave. Of course, if you miss the wave, I’ll still pick you up."

Thank you to our sponsors:Wabash Valley Plumbing RJs Formalwear Varsity House Outfitters Ever Haute Co.

#sports #sportsshow #youthsports #highschoolsports #dinerpodsports

Dinerpod 42: Patrick Rady-Executive Director of Hoosier Basketball Coaches Association

In this episode, Red Velvet welcomes Coach Patrick Rady, Executive Director of the Hoosier Basketball Coaches Association (HBCA), for a powerful conversation that goes far beyond basketball.

Coach Rady dives into the mission of the HBCA—highlighting and promoting talented athletes across Southern Indiana who might otherwise be overlooked. From organizing All-Star games to providing scholarships and academic recognition, the HBCA is all about giving student-athletes the spotlight they’ve earned both on and off the court.

The conversation takes a deeper turn as Coach Rady shares his personal journey growing up as the son of a legendary coach, learning the game from a young age, and eventually building his own successful coaching career. From being cut by his own father to winning sectional championships and coaching high-level talent, his story is filled with lessons about perseverance, humility, and growth.

Red Velvet and Coach Rady also break down what’s missing in today’s youth sports culture—emphasizing the importance of playing for the love of the game, learning through pickup competition, and developing real basketball IQ instead of relying solely on structured systems.

They highlight standout local athletes selected for the HBCA All-Star Game and discuss how recognition—especially hearing your name—can make a lasting impact on young players.

The episode wraps with a meaningful discussion about the sacrifices behind the scenes, especially from coaches’ families, and the life lessons sports teach: accountability, teamwork, and passion.

🔥 Bottom line: This episode is about more than wins and losses—it’s about building people, celebrating effort, and keeping the love of the game alive.

Youth Sports Chowdown 126

Red Velvet went LIVE to kick off Episode 126 after a long, action-packed weekend at the Squared Circle Expo, featuring a special appearance from wrestling legend Buff Bagwell. Running on energy drinks and adrenaline, the show delivered another full slate of local sports coverage, community shoutouts, and standout performances.

The episode opened with major announcements, including an upcoming podcast featuring Patrick Rady, Executive Director of the Hoosier Basketball Coaches Association and a highly respected Indiana coach. Community highlights followed, with shoutouts to Studio One by Cindy, race winner Trip Lewis, the Outkast Kent team, and track standout Zane Catlin.

In the Next Level Athletes segment, Craig Porter Jr. and the Cleveland Cavaliers split games against the Heat, while Jalen Moore continued to shine professionally overseas in Hungary. The Marian Knights captured the NAIA National Championship with an impressive win over the top-ranked team in the country.

The Varsity Spotlight was loaded with opening-week baseball and softball action across Illinois and Indiana. Programs like Newton, Marshall, and Richland County saw strong performances at the plate and on the mound, while Terre Haute North, West Vigo, Parke Heritage, and Franklin Central kicked off their seasons with statement wins.

A major highlight came on the hardwood, as the Park Heritage Wolves secured their first-ever state championship, edging out Westview in a thrilling 57-56 finish.

In the Rookie Report, youth programs brought the heat. Chaos Baseball and the Level One Training Warriors both went undefeated in tournament play, while the Blue Jays captured a championship in their first season as a team.

The Knights, Outkast squads, and several others also competed hard across multiple tournaments, showing the future of local sports is bright.

The show wrapped with a massive list of Red Velvet Power Performers, recognizing top athletes from across all levels who delivered standout performances throughout the weekend.

Despite the exhaustion, Episode 126 proved once again that the Youth Sports Chowdown is the go-to source for local sports coverage—bringing energy, recognition, and community together every single week.

Dinerpod 41: Kam McCoy-State Champion Wrestler

Dinerpod 41 brings the energy as Red Velvet sits down with a rising young star in the wrestling world, Kam McCoy — a 2-time Indiana State Champion who’s already proving he’s built different.

Kam shares what it was like capturing his latest state title at 59 pounds, admitting the moment didn’t even feel real at first. But once the adrenaline kicked in, so did the celebration. He walks us through his tournament run, including a tough finals match where he had to dig deep, stay composed, and fight his way back to victory.

The conversation dives into Kam’s wrestling roots, growing up in a family where the sport is a tradition. From starting in kindergarten to developing a high wrestling IQ (literally award-winning), it’s clear this isn’t just a hobby — it’s a lifestyle.

Kam also breaks down the differences between folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco wrestling, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the technical side of the sport. Along the way, he shows off an impressive collection of hardware, including multiple state medals and an eye-popping 92 career pins — and counting.

But it’s not just about what he’s already accomplished. Kam talks about what’s next, including a personal goal to face and defeat a rival that previously got the best of him. That competitive fire? It’s real.

Outside of wrestling, Kam stays busy competing in football, all-star baseball, and even dirt bike racing — proving he’s an all-around athlete who never slows down.

The episode wraps with laughs, shoutouts to family and coaches, and a fun challenge laid down for the future — because if Kam becomes a 3-time state champ, something big might be happening on Dinerpod.

One thing’s for sure: Kam McCoy isn’t just winning now — he’s building something special.

KEEP POOSHIN!

Thank you to our Sponsors:

Wabash Valley Plumbing

RJs Formalwear

Varsity House Outfitters

Ever Haute Co.

#wrestling #youthwrestling #statechampion #youthsports #dinerpodsports

Youth Sports Chowdown – Episode 125

Red Velvet is back with another packed edition of the Youth Sports Chowdown, celebrating a huge milestone—125 episodes of spotlighting local talent and community sports!

After a great weekend, the show kicks off with a recap of a big night in wrestling, as Donovan Cecil climbs the ladder and captures the Race for the Case briefcase. From there, we go global with Cloverdale’s Jalen Moore, who delivered a double-double performance overseas in Hungary.

The show rolls through a loaded slate of college baseball and softball, featuring standout performances from Indiana State, Murray State, Huntington, IU Southeast, and more. On the hardwood, we highlight an incredible postseason run as Park Heritage captures the Semi-State Championship, while other local teams leave it all on the court.

In the Varsity Specials, Illinois high school baseball and softball seasons get underway with strong showings from Newton and Richland County. Then it’s time for the next generation, as the Rookie Report features big wins from the Junior Knights, Warriors, and Chaos.

We also break down results from Havoc at the Hive, recognizing young wrestling standouts making noise on the mat.

The episode wraps up with the Red Velvet Power Performers, honoring athletes who delivered big-time performances this week.

Plus, don’t miss this week’s upcoming interview with State Champion Kam McCoy, and updates from FHS Youth Soccer as they look to finalize their roster.

125 episodes strong and still growing.
Thank you to all the players, coaches, parents, sponsors, and subscribers for the continued support.

👉 Subscribe for early access and exclusive content.

Power Slam Platter #56 – BEA Chaos Continues & RESET Takes Shape
Episode 56 of the Power Slam Platter brought the energy, the laughs, and a whole lot of frustration as Red Velvet, Mr. H, and Adam Gage broke down the fallout from To The Top 3.
Right out of the gate, the crew dives into what many are calling one of the best shows in Signal Ten Wrestling history—but also one of the most controversial. The BEA once again made their presence felt in nearly every major moment, leaving fans and management fed up.
The biggest talking point?
Brandon Day nearly becoming champion—only for confusion and interference to flip the outcome, allowing Elijah Eros to escape with the title once again. For a brief moment, the crowd believed they had a new champion… but it wasn’t meant to be.
From there, the episode rolls through the stacked card:
A high-energy opening with Edrys Wolff setting the tone
Donovan Cecil proving he’s a monster—but raising questions about BEA involvement
J.J. Frost shocking everyone with a lightning-fast breakout win
Eric Surge continuing to dominate as one of the most dangerous forces in the company
The Race for the Case ladder match delivered pure chaos, destruction, and highlight-reel moments, with bodies flying and ladders breaking—cementing it as one of the wildest matches in recent memory.
Outside the main event, the BEA’s interference reached a boiling point:
Ashton Adonis and Brandon Baretta both robbed of opportunities
Carter Kauffman attacking after the women’s title match
Constant disruptions that overshadowed clean competition
But then… everything changed.
Mr. H dropped two HUGE announcements for RESET (May 2nd):
Elijah Eros vs. Brandon Beretta for the Heavyweight Championship
Sophia Rose vs. Carter Kauffman in a No Disqualification match
And most importantly…
🚫 NO BEA INTERFERENCE ALLOWED — or they forfeit.
The episode wraps with excitement for the future, including the move to a new venue and appearances at Squared Circle Expo featuring Buff Bagwell and Sophia Rose.

Dinerpod 40: Anthony Spinks-FHS Youth Soccer

What happens when a baseball-weary kid and a persistent wife inspire a local dad to start a soccer league from scratch? You get FHS Youth Soccer, a program that is currently taking the Wabash Valley by storm.

In this episode, Red Velvet sits down with Anthony Spinks, the driving force behind the rapidly growing soccer scene in Hymera and Shelburn. Anthony shares the "grassroots" story of the league’s humble beginnings—starting with 84 kids and a few bags of equipment—to its current explosion of over 150 players across multiple counties.

In this conversation, we dive into:

The "Good Problem": How the league handled doubling its size in a single season and the constant hunt for volunteers.

Beyond the Rec League: The exciting expansion into Middle School and High School travel teams, giving local athletes a competitive "school-like" environment they didn't have before.

The Power of Community: From "field cleanup days" to local sponsors keeping registration fees at an unbeatable $40, find out how the community rallied to turn old baseball fields into a soccer hub.

Coaching Philosophy: Anthony explains why a "win" isn't found on the scoreboard, but in the smile of a kid who decides to come back for another season.

Whether you're a "soccer junkie," a sports parent, or just someone who loves a good story about community spirit, this episode proves that if you build the pitch, the kids (and the butterflies they chase) will definitely come.

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#youthsports #youthleague #youthsoccer #soccer #dinerpodsports