Kaiti Sullivan/The Herald
Heritage Hills' Cole Sigler accepts the Mental Attitude Award after Friday's Class 3A state championship football game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. For more photos from the game, click here.

By JONATHAN SAXON
jsaxon@dcherald.com

INDIANAPOLIS ― There isn’t much that can soften the blow of missing out on a state championship in your final game, but there was a silver lining for Heritage Hills senior quarterback/defensive back Cole Sigler, who was awarded the Blake Ress Mental Attitude award on Friday following the Patriots’ 34-3 loss to the Bishop Chatard Trojans.

Sigler became the third Patriots football player to receive the award, following Adam Kress (2000) and Bryce Pund (2004).

“I was happy,” said Sigler. “I was thankful for everyone that nominated me. It’s a great award, I couldn’t be happier to accept it.”

The mental attitude award recipient is nominated by their principal and coach for their characterization of leadership, scholarship, athletic ability and mental attitude. The award is named for Blake Ress, who served as the ISHAA’s seventh commissioner from 2000-2011. The Indianapolis Colts sponsor the award and will donate $1,000 in scholarship money to Heritage Hills High School.

“We had a few really good nominees on our team,” said Patriots coach Todd Wilkerson. “But when we looked at what Cole did for our team this year, we felt like he had the best opportunity to win that award. He’s a really bright, great student. His academic work, leadership and what he did on the field, I think he’s an outstanding package.”

Heritage Hills' Cole Sigler passes the ball during Friday's Class 3A state championship football game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Bishop Chatard defeated Heritage Hills 34-3. For more photos from the game, click here.

In addition to football, Sigler also plays basketball and baseball for the Patriots, and has been in the top 10 percent of his class for four years. Sigler is also involved in a slew of community and volunteer activities. He volunteers time for Feed My Starving Children, Relay for Life and Santa Clause UM Youth Public Service Hours. He is a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Publications, the Santa Claus United Methodist Church Youth Group and is a ten-year member of the Spencer County 4-H.

Sigler is a soft-spoken young man who prefers to let his actions do the talking, but he was grateful to be nominated to join such a small group in Patriots' history.

“I’ll be up there with those other two guys that got it and that’s that,” said Sigler.

Sigler finished the season with 1,135 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns and 687 yards passing with nine more scores. He was also named this season’s Pocket Athletic All-Conference MVP. Last season he earned All-Conference recognition at quarterback, as well as All-Southwest Indiana Defensive Back and All-State Defensive Back honors. Sigler hasn’t decided on where he will attend college, but wants to major in accounting.