IU’s Sean Mockler finishes 15th in the Hammer Throw at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Four Hoosiers made their debut on the National stage on Wednesday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Sean Mockler started off the day earning Second Team All-American honors after he finished 15th in the hammer throw. He saw his best mark on his second attempt of 67.92m/222-10. A native of Thurles, Ireland, Mockler is now a 2x All-American after he claimed Second Team All-American honors in 2022.
Camden Marshall won his 800-meter heat to advance to his first NCAA final, indoor or outdoor, with a time of 1:48.17. Tyler Carrel finished 22nd in his second outdoor nationals’ appearance in the pole vault. He vaulted a height of 5.07m/16-7.50 to earn honorable mention accolades. Skylar Stidam made his first appearance at the NCAA Championships in today’s 10k race. He finished 23rd in the race with a time of 30:23.47, earning honorable mention. He capped off his final season with the Hoosiers with the 10k school record, a gold medal in the 5k race at the Big Ten Outdoor Championship and a fourth-place finish in the 10k race. Up next, Marshall will run in the 800-meter championship race tonight at 10:14pm Bloomington Time.
Indiana University Football’s D’Angelo Ponds named to the Lott Trophy Preseason Watch List
After Earning Freshman All-America honors as a true freshman at James Madison in 2023, transfer defensive back D’Angelo Ponds is the first Indiana football student-athlete to earn preseason honors as the Lott IMPACT Trophy has named him to its preseason watchlist. As a true freshman in 2023, Ponds appeared in 13 games with 10 starts and was tabbed a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and was a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. He was a second-team All-Sun Belt pick after he posted 13 pass breakups and two interceptions. His 15 passes defended ranked No. 11 in the FBS, and he finished with 51 tackles – 32 solo – to go along with 2.0 sacks. Ponds made his collegiate debut against Bucknell in Week 1 and scored a touchdown off of a blocked punt in Week 2 at Virginia. In Week 4, he made his first collegiate start came at Utah State in Week 4 which was accompanied by his first collegiate interception against the Aggies. He broke up at least one pass in eight games and added a second interception versus Appalachian State. Overall, he posted four takeaways, with two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
The Lott IMPACT Trophy is presented by the The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation and is in its 21st season. The 42-man preseason watchlist is comprised of 18 defensive backs, 13 defensive linemen and 11 linebackers, which includes 12 Big Ten student-athletes. The award is the only major college football award that considers character. Named after former NFL Hall of Fame star Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy annually goes to the Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year, a player who has had the biggest impact on his team both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity, all characteristics exhibited by Lott during his illustrious playing career. The annual winner is selected by a national voter panel, consisting of former winners, members of the media, coaches, and members of the Board of Directors of The IMPACT Foundation. The winner will be announced at a gala, black-tie event at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, California, on December 8.
Jane Schott Named Assistant Commissioner of the IHSAA
Jane Schott, an assistant athletic director and the girls basketball coach at West Lafayette Junior Senior High School, has been approved by the IHSAA Executive Committee to become an assistant commissioner. Schott will begin her role July 1 and she will administer the sports of girls’ soccer, boys’ soccer, girls
basketball, girls track & field, and boys track & field. Schott was one of several finalists interviewed for the position and fills the vacancy left by Janie Ulmer who is leaving to become assistant principal at Fishers High School.
She joins the IHSAA having spent the last 30 years teaching and coaching at four different high schools, including the last 17 years at West Lafayette. Since arriving at West Lafayette, she has been a chemistry and eighth grader science teacher, coached the varsity girls’ basketball team to more than 239 victories over 17 seasons (307 overall), and served as assistant athletics director since 2019. “I am extremely pleased to announce that Jane Schott has joined
the IHSAA Executive Staff,” said Commissioner Paul Neidig. “Her experience as a leader in education will prove invaluable to our association. We look forward to her contributions as we continue our efforts to promote the ideals of education-based athletics for all Hoosier students. Please join me in welcoming Jane to the team.”
She has been an active member of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association serving as an assistant director since 2019 and a district representative from 2015-19. Broadcasting also has been a prominent part of Schott’s career at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. She has served as a television analyst for the IHSAA Girls Basketball State Finals since 2010, the radio analyst for Purdue Women’s Basketball since 1997, and radio analyst for the Indiana Fever from 1999-2010. “I am excited to join the devoted leadership team and staff at the IHSAA,” said Schott. “It is a tremendous honor to represent education-based athletics for the state of Indiana. I look forward to supporting the coaches, administrators and officials who afford our student-athletes the treasured opportunity to compete in sports, learn lifelong skills and create lasting memories.”
Schott earned a B.S. in Chemistry in 1992 and an M.S. in Chemical Education in 1997, both from Purdue University and attained a Building Administration License from Purdue in 2021. The Tipton, Ind., native graduated as Valedictorian from Tipton High School in 1987 where she played basketball, volleyball and threw shot put and discus for the Blue Devils. She was named to the prestigious Indiana All-Stars basketball team her senior year and went on to play basketball for the Boilermakers (1987-91) and Hall of Fame coach Lin Dunn, the current GM for the Indiana Fever. She was a three-year Academic All-Big Ten selection and was awarded Purdue’s Red Mackey Award for academic and athletic excellence. Jane and her husband, Tom, have two adult sons, August and Sam.
The Indianapolis Colts Sign their Final 2024 NFL Draft Pick
The Indianapolis Colts Thursday signed wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, who was selected by the team in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Colts have now signed all nine of their draft picks from the 2024 NFL Draft. Mitchell, 6-2, 205 pounds, saw action in 35 career games (28 starts) at Texas (2023) and Georgia (2020-22) and compiled 93 receptions for 1,405 yards (15.1 avg.) and 18 touchdowns. In 2023, he played in 14 games (13 starts) and totaled 55 receptions for 845 yards (15.4 avg.) and 11 touchdowns as well as two carries for one yard. Mitchell’s 11 touchdowns tied for the fifth-most in a season in program history and led the Big 12 Conference. He earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors. Mitchell was selected Big 12 Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press and Offensive Newcomer of the Year by the Big 12 coaches. His first name is pronounced ADD-an-I.
Indiana Junior All-Star Girls upset the Indiana All Stars in Kokomo
When Laila Abdurraqib hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first half of the Indiana All-Stars Juniors vs. Seniors game, she was mobbed by her teammates as if the group of 12 had been playing together for an entire season. Some could say it even looked similar to Abdurraqib’s 2024 state championship Lawrence Central squad. But this was only the Junior All-Stars’ second time playing in an official game together. After the first 10 minutes of play, the seniors were ahead of the juniors 27-6. Led by 2024 Indiana Miss Basketball and Alabama commit Chloe Spreen of Bedford North Lawrence, it looked like the “super team” was going to run all over its younger counterparts. And yet, once Abdurraqib hit that electric 3-pointer 10 minutes later, the juniors only trailed by six points. Maya Makalusky, an IU commit who averaged 26.1 points per game as a junior, said she and the entire junior team felt confident after the first quarter despite trailing by 21. By the time the third quarter had ended, the juniors had momentarily tied the score and cut the lead to just four points once the buzzer sounded.
With 4:02 left to play, the juniors finally took their first lead. For the brief time remaining in Kokomo’s Memorial Gymnasium, the two sides traded leads until the final seconds. It came down to a senior possession, controlled by Spreen. Jaylah Lampley, a Lawrence Central junior who was named the 2024 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year, picked up Spreen on defense in the post. At first, Lampley said she considered trying to draw a charge. But she stuck to her defensive assignment, forcing a missed layup, grabbing the rebound herself and instantly calling a timeout. Makalusky was fouled out of the timeout, hit a free throw and the juniors grabbed the lead, secured further with two more free throws before time expired as the Indiana Juniors won 83-80 over the Seniors. LC teammates Lampley and Abdurraqib have been together for a plethora of statement wins over the course of the past year, but their bond goes much further back. Abdurraqib said she and Lampley have been playing basketball together since second grade, and being side-by-side for all of their on- and off-the-court accomplishments has been something Abdurraqib doesn’t take for granted.
As for Lampley, she said her on-court approach and relationship with her teammates started in her hometown. She learned from her parents turning defense into offense is what wins championships, made evident through her junior year averages of 18.9 points and 2.1 steals per game. On Wednesday, Lampley finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Abdurraqib did come off the bench, dropping five points in her effort. While Abdurraqib started most games for LC, she didn’t approach a supporting role in the All-Stars game with any animosity. She even said it is indicative of the talent the class of 2025 has in girls basketball. Abdurraqib, who has earned offers from Division-I programs like Ball State, further cemented the future of girls basketball in Indiana is in good hands.
Mr. Basketball Flory Bidunga dominates the Indiana Seniors vs Junior All Star Game in Kokomo
Flory Bidunga’s last game at Memorial Gym was memorable even before it started. Bidunga, this year’s IndyStar Mr. Basketball, returned to Kokomo after two days at his college home at Kansas to a rousing ovation as his name was announced for the Indiana All-Stars game vs. the Junior All-Stars on Wednesday night at Memorial Gym. Then, in the building where he provided so many thrills and highlights over the past three years, the 6-9 Bidunga turned in one more outstanding performance. The Kokomo star finished with 34 points and 22 rebounds — the latter number breaking the record he shared with Cody Zeller in a Junior All-Star game — to lead the All-Stars to a 104-96 over the Junior All-Stars in front of a crowd of 3,407.
The All-Stars, coached by Kokomo’s John Peckinpaugh, clearly made it a priority to play through Bidunga, who was rarely stopped in shooting 15-for-23 from the field. His most impressive shot, though, was a top-of-the-key 3-pointer in the waning seconds of the first half. How unusual was that shot? In Bidunga’s high school career, he was 1-for-9 from the 3-point line. His one make came on senior night. Bidunga also finished with five assists and three blocked shots as the All-Stars turned back a talented Junior All-Star team that every intention of knocking off the All-Stars, taking a one-point lead late in the first half when Trent Sisley of Heritage Hills heated up, scoring 16 of his team-high 18 points. But Bidunga’s 3-pointer helped the All-Stars take a 10-point lead into halftime.
The All-Stars stayed comfortably ahead most of the second half. The Juniors pulled within five points early in the half before the All-Stars pushed the lead to 18. The Juniors rallied again, this time behind a flurry from East Chicago Central’s Dominque Murphy, who scored 12 of his 17 points after halftime, to get as close as eight points. But that was that. Bidunga was pulled from the game with 67 seconds left. But he made his last shot count. With New Palestine’s Julius Gizzi guarding him at the top of the key, Bidunga dribbled to his right, then crossed to his dominant left hand, spun back to the middle of the lane and shot a 12-footer over the extended arm of Cathedral’s 6-9 Brady Koehler.
Purdue recruit Jack Benter of Brownstown Central finished with 19 points, including 5-for-8 from the 3-point line, and added five rebounds. Bidunga’s 34-point effort was second highest in the history of the seniors against the Juniors that dates to 1996, trailing only the 44 points scored by Trevon Bluiett of Park Tudor at Columbus North in 2014. The All-Stars finished with 26 assists as a team on 42 field goals. New Palestine’s Gizzi added 14 points for the Junior All-Stars and Braylon Mullins of Greenfield-Central provided several highlights in his 13-point night (he was 6-for-8 from the field).
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