GAMES

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Bryan Herta wants to enter Robert Wickens in the Indianapolis 500 as early as 2024 — a year longer than preferred as work continues on the hand controls needed for the paralyzed driver.

Wickens suffered a spinal cord injury in a crash at Pocono Raceway in his 2018 IndyCar rookie season. He's worked as a driver coach for the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team since, but last year with Bryan Herta Autosport and Hyundai he returned to racing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

The 33-year-old Canadian won a pair of races driving a Hyundai Elantra N-TCR that is fitted for Wickens to race strictly through hand controls. Herta said Thursday that perfecting that technology for an Indy car in the biggest race in the world has slowed the project he's determined to do with Wickens.

"I'd love to take Robbie back to Indy because I know he could do that and I think that would be a next step for him in his journey," Herta told The Associated Press. "We've spent a lot of time looking at the logistical side of things, hand controls, and I think we have solutions for that."

Herta said Honda has been supportive of the process.

"We actually looked at doing it this year, but the logistics of it, the timing, it just wasn't enough," Herta said. "That's not something you can rush. There's some things that we have to work very closely with IndyCar on and things we just have to get right. It's a process, but I can see a path to it."

Wickens, when told his boss was openly discussing the Indy 500, grinned widely. Herta as a team owner won the Indianapolis 500 with Dan Wheldon and Alexander Rossi.

"That'd be fun," he said of running the Indy 500.

But like Herta, Wickens said the effort has to be both done correctly and be competitive.

"We'd like to do it right. If we started right now, can we get a car ready for the open test in April? Probably," Wickens told the AP. "But I don't know where the systems would be and I want to get on proper simulators to make sure its correct.

"We all want to do a proper, professional effort," he added. "I don't want to do it for a marketing campaign. I want to do it for a chance to win."

Wickens in 2021 did a demonstration in Canada that marketed advancements for paralyzed drivers and gave him a chance to again drive. His entire life had been upended 14 races into his rookie IndyCar season, just three months after winning top rookie honors at the Indianapolis 500.

Wickens has since married, returned to racing and welcomed the birth of his first child, a son named Wesley who is infatuated with both race cars and the trip to Disney he took this week during the off days at Daytona International Speedway.

Wickens, who uses a wheelchair but can stand with some support, marks a full year back racing on Friday in the season-opening IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race. Despite success last season, Herta made changes to his lineups and Wickens this year will be teamed with Harry Gottsacker.

At Bellmont

Girls Meet Bellmont 103 Bluffton 73 1M Diving

1. Rachel 130.70

200 Medley Relay

1. Bluffton 2:12.63

2. Bellmont 2:13.45 McCray-LengerichBrownlow-Stetler

4. Bellmont 2:37.56 Howell-Brames-MurrayBonifas

200 Free

1. Ella Hockemeyer-B 2:15.19

2. Annika Linderwell-Blf 2:21.73

5. Emma 2:36.77

6. Morgan Brames-B 2:41.65

200 IM

1. Shaylin McCray-B 2:40.75

2. Olivia 2:41.52

3. Cami Stetler-B 2:46.46

5. Isabelle Lengerich-B 2:50.99

50 Free

1. Madison Witte-B 27.98

2. Karah Myers-B 28.33

4. Addie Kintz-B 30.17 100 Fly

1. Brooklyn Brownlow-B 1:16.61

2. Olivia 1:18.57

3. Courtney Juengel-B 1:25.38

6. Langley Murray-B 1:41.43

100 Free

1. Madison 1:01.89

2. Karah 1:02.75

5. Addie Kintz-B 1:06.39 500 Free

1. Annika Linderwell-Blf 6:06.79

2. Ella Hockemeyer-B 6:12.28

4. Cami 6:33.94

5. Emma 7:00.34

200 Free Relay

Bonifas-B

Howell-B

Priester-Blf

Priester-Blf

Witte-B

Myers-B

Stetler-B

Howell-B

1. Bellmont 1:53.40 Hockemeyer-StetlerMyers-Witte

2. Bluffton 2:01.86

3. Bellmont 2:06.59 Kintz-Juengel-BramesHowell

100 Back

1. Shaylin McCray-B 1:11.82

2. Lydia 1:18.95

4. Brooklyn Brownlow-B 1:23.48

6. Lauren 1:35.47

100 Breast

1. Libby 1:24.79

2. Isabelle Lengerich-B 1:27.75

3. Courtney Juengel-B 1:31.68

4. Morgan Brames-B 1:34.73

400 Free Relay

1. Bellmont 4:14.90 Hockemeyer-KintzMyers-Witte

2. Bluffton 4:27.25

3. Bellmont 4:42.29 Brownlow-JuengelLengerich-McCray

Boys Meet Bluffton 131 Bellmont 52

1M Diving

1. Mason Mankey-B 336.25

2. Austin 178.55

200 Medley Relay

1. Bluffton 1:51.91

2. Bellmont 1:58.94 Goble-Werling-RoopShort

200 Free

1. Dalton Rodgers-B 2:03.34

4. Evan 2:19.43

5. Konner 2:29.78

6. Gaven Pritchard-B 2:31.82

200 IM

1. Isaac Wheeler-Blf 2:15.45

4. Oliver 2:42.47

50 Free seed and a bye and dominated the New York Giants in the divisional round.

This game pits the two top defenses in the NFL, two of the best rushing offenses and plenty of playmakers on both sides. Miles Sanders, AJ Brown, Devonta Smith and Dallas Goedert for the Eagles. Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk for San Francisco.

It should be a tough, physical game involving teams who are no strangers to reaching this point. The Eagles are in the NFC championship game for the seventh time in 22 seasons and are seeking their third trip to the Super Bowl in that span. They won it all after the 2017 season.

The Niners are making a record 18th appearance in the NFC title game, second in a row and third in four years. They’re 7-10 overall.

Home-field advantage is the difference in this one. Purdy

Athan-Blf

Goble-B

Arnett-Blf

Davis-Blf

Padgett-B

Colwell-B

Goble-Blf

1. Noah Short-B 24.24

2. Gavin Yergler-Blf 24.76

5. Cole Sipe-B 29.87

6. Jared Franklin-B 32.79

100 Fly

1. Isaac Wheeler-Blf 1:00.50

3. Oliver 1:11.67

4. Cole Sipe-B 1:18.97 100 Free

1. Gavin

54.59

2. Noah Short-B 54.74

5. Evan Padgett-B 1:02.73

6. Konner 1:08.16

500 Free

1. Griffin Linderwell-Blf 5:57.72

4. Zayne Roop-B 6:19.50 200 Free Relay

1. Bluffton 1:41.11

3. Bellmont 1:56.87 Mankey-Colwell-SipePadgett

100 Back

1. Dalton Rodgers-Blf 1:04.13

2. Oliver 1:11.76

3. Zayne Roop-B 1:13.28

6. Jared Franklin-B 1:33.52

100 Breast

1. Elija 1:09.91

2. Oliver 1:13.70

5. Gaven Pritchard-B 1:36.47

400 Free Relay

1. Bluffton 3:51.29

2. Bellmont 3:55.93 Goble-Roop-WerlingShort

4. Bellmont 4:38.23 Padgett-Franklin-Colwell-Sipe

Werling-B

Yergler-Blf

Colwell-B

has only made two road starts in Seattle and Las Vegas. Philadelphia is just different. The Eagles have hostile fans who won’t let up.

Joe Burrow is 3-0 against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, including a comeback win in overtime last year in the AFC championship game also played in Arrowhead Stadium.

The Bengals are slight favorites because Mahomes has a high ankle sprain. He returned from the injury to help lead the Chiefs to a win over Jacksonville last week, but there’s no doubt it should limit his ability to do superhuman things on the field.

The Chiefs are making their fifth straight appearance in the AFC title game with all five at home. They’re 2-2 in that span with one Super Bowl victory.

Before last season, the Bengals hadn’t won a playoff game in 31 years. Now, they’re 5-1 over the past two seasons with Burrow leading

Goble-B

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Tuesday Wabash 67 Bluffton 50 Lakeland 61 Columbia City 55

Norwell 83 FW Bishop Luers 64

Adams Central 69 Eastbrook

18 DeKalb 52 Heights 41 Yorktown 56 Winchester 45

Fremont 50 Eastside 28 FW Concordia Lutheran 61 Central Noble 51 FW Bishop Dwenger 64 FW Blackhawk Christian 61

FW Northrop 59 FW Canterbury 57 Muncie Burris Southern Wells 48

Prairie 72

Tuesday

FW Snider 58 DeKalb 33 FW Wayne 53 Lakewood Park 40

Wayne Trace (OH) 41 Heritage 34 South Adams 55 Churubusco 24

East Noble 48 West Noble 47 Mississinawa Valley (OH) 71 Union City 50 Bluffton 55 Manchester 42

Garrett 50 Fremont 27 Jay County 61 Richmond 26

Carroll (FW) 67 FW North Side 18

Oak Hill 34 Eastern (Greentown) 17 Huntington North 42 FW South Side 14 Norwell 51 Blackford 49 FW Blackhawk 53 Eastside 48

FW Bishop Dwenger 39 Leo 33 Columbia City 73 FW Northrop 69 North Miami 67 Maconaquah 39 Whitko 48 Lakeland Christian 40

Wednesday Southwood 50 Southern Wells 47

Thursday Eastside 51 Westview 24 Woodlan 59 Prairie Heights 33 Bluffton 58 Whitko 43

the way. He has plenty of help in Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Joe Mixon.

Cincinnati’s banged-up offensive line held up well against Buffalo. The Chiefs will look to take advantage this week.

The Chiefs will have to protect Mahomes and give him time to stay in the pocket so he’s not trying run around on a gimpy ankle. Expect Mahomes to target fellow All-Pro Travis Kelce quite often. Kelce had 14 catches last week.

Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo designed a scheme to confuse Josh Allen and held Buffalo’s dynamic offense to just 10 points. He’ll have to do it again against one of the top play-callers in the NFL.

Kansas City’s Andy Reid is coaching his 10th conference championship game, but only has one Super Bowl trophy on his mantel. He’s going to need Mahomes to be magical at some point.

If anyone can be spectacular with an injury such as the one he has, it’s Mahomes.