Indiana University Track and Field’s Sklyar Stidam and Nathan Stone Named CSC Academic All-Americans Distance runner Skylar Stidam and pole vaulter Nathan Stone were selected on the 2023-24 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America honors lists, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon. Stidam was named a second-team All-American while Stone earned third-team All-America honors. The 2023-24 Academic All-American Cross Country and Track & Field Teams, selected by CSC, recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
Stidam was named to CSC Second Team All-America holding a 3.94 GPA while pursuing his master’s in epidemiology. On the track, he set the 10,000-meter school record in his outdoor season debut this season and finished fourth in a tight 10k race at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships. The f Floyds Knobs, Ind., native claimed his first Big Ten medal with a first-place finish in the 5,000 meters, posting a time of 13:56.43. Stidam qualified for his first NCAA Outdoor Championships and finished 23rd in the 10k race, earning Honorable Mention All-America honors. During cross-country season, Stidam saw two personal bests in the 6k (18:12.0) at the Redhawk Rumble and the 8k (23:52.7) at the Arturo Barrios Invite. He finished 39th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in the 10k with a time of 30:40.2.
Stone posted a 3.85 GPA while pursuing a graduate degree in Business Management. He had a great career with the cream and crimson after he earned his fifth Big Ten Title. Stone holds three indoor and two outdoor Big Ten titles. He won his fifth gold medal at the 2024 Indoor Big Ten Championships and vaulted a personal-best of 5.50m/18-0.5 at the Meyo Invitational. His vault ranks fifth in the program’s all-time top-10 list. A native of Indianapolis, Ind., Stone is a three-time All-American and has received First Team All-Big Ten honors four times. Stone is also accomplished in the classroom and is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. He closed out the outdoor season finishing T-13th at the NCAA East First Round.
Indiana University Football Moves Hep’s Rock and announces additional Gameday Experience Updates As the Indiana football program and first-year head coach Curt Cignetti inch closer to the start of the 2024 season and a new-look Big Ten schedule, Memorial Stadium will undergo some enhancements to its gameday experience prior to the opening kickoff versus FIU on Aug. 31. Some of the upgrades have been covered here and will include a new team entry, upgraded dining options via IU’s partnership with Levy, the addition of more outdoor suites, relocation of Memorial Stadium’s in-house DJ and a more fan-accessible location for The Rock.
With approval from the Hoeppner family, Hep’s Rock, a three-ton limestone remnant from the original Memorial Stadium construction, will be relocated from its north end zone location to the east concourse of Memorial Stadium to make it an even larger part of the IU gameday fan experience. In 2005, then-first-year head coach Terry Hoeppner brought two great traditions to the Bloomington campus in The Walk and The Rock – which the team touched before every game of his tenure. After his passing in June 2007 after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer, the 2007 team dedicated it as Hep’s Rock on its way to the Insight Bowl, its first bowl appearance since 1993. The Rock sat in the north end zone from 2005 through the 2023 season, and changes to the structure of Memorial Stadium limited fan access over time. In its new location, Hep’s Rock will now be a formal part of The Walk, with players, coaches, and staff, each interacting with the touchstone prior to entering the stadium. It’s location also makes Hep’s Rock accessible to students, alumni, and fans at any time.
With Hep’s Rock moved to its new home, the gameday team entrance will also be revamped. The group from Thomas James Productions will expand and enclose the tunnel, along with added pyrotechnics and a new, fan-immersive experience. The addition of field-level outdoor suites debuted inside Memorial Stadium during the 2023 season and the overwhelming response was so impressive the offering has been expanded for the 2024 season. The eight field-level suites will be accompanied by eight more outdoor suites on The Rooftop at The Rock. The premium suite experience expands on the partnership between IU Athletics and REVELXP, the U.S. sports and entertainment brand that has worked with nearly 100 collegiate and professional properties nationwide. REVELXP provides fans with elevated gameday experiences. Fans interested in securing a field level suite or suite on The Rooftop for the 2024 season can contact Chris Minderman at 812-855-2438 or cminderm@indiana.edu.
Indiana athletics’ new partnership with Levy, the sports and entertainment hospitality leader, will oversee every aspect of hospitality on gamedays at Memorial Stadium, including concessions and premium seating areas. Renovations on the Memorial Stadium concourse have already begun and will allow for an elevated food and beverage experience for patrons this fall. On top of the addition of some exciting new food partnerships with local restaurants, Levy will offer the traditional person-to-person concession options that fans are accustomed to in IU’s venues and new Grab and Go touch points that will make the concessions experience more convenient for patrons. More information on food options and locations for traditional/Grab and Go vending will be announced at a later date.
Washington Mystics hold on to beat the Indiana Fever in Wednesday Afternoon Battle at Gainbridge Fieldhouse The Indiana Fever (9-14) dropped Wednesday afternoon’s game to the Washington Mystics in an 89-84 loss at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Wednesday was Indiana’s first loss this season to Washington before the final meeting on September 19. Indiana outscored Washington in paint points, 42-38, and fast break points, 26-9. Indiana outscored Washington, 29-13 in the fourth quarter and went on a 16-4 run for more than three minutes at the end of the game, trimming a 22-point deficit to three points in the final minute of regulation. Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark led the way on Wednesday and became the first player in the NBA or WNBA since the 1973-74 season to record at least 29 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, five made 3-point field goals and three steals. Wednesday was Clark’s seventh double-double of the season and fourth consecutive double-double as her 13 assists tied her franchise record for the third time this season.
Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell followed with 15 points, three rebounds and two assists. Mitchell moved into third place in franchise history in free throws made with 561, passing Briann January with 560. Fever forward NaLyssa Smith led the reserves with 11 points, two rebounds and two blocked shots and Fever forward Katie Lou Samuelson recorded a career-high nine rebounds while recording eight points. Former IU Star Grace Berger did not play. For Washington (6-17), five Mystics players scored in double figures, led by guard Ariel Atkins’ 26-point performance. Atkins also tallied three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Mystics center Stefanie Dolson and rookie guard Julie Vanloo both put up 13 points, and Dolson dished out six assists and five rebounds in the win as well. Off the bench, Mystics rookie forward Aaliyah Edwards recorded 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes of play, and reserve guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough added 10 points. The Mystics’ bench outscored Indiana, 35-21, and had 16 turnovers compared to Indiana’s 23. The Fever welcome the Phoenix Mercury to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday at 7:30pm and the game will be broadcast on ION.
Noel VanderWall Named Taylor University’s Female Athlete of the Year Standout sophomore, Noel VanderWall, added yet another accolade to her resume on Wednesday, being named the Taylor Female Athlete of the Year after her record-setting 2023-2024 performance for the TU cross country and track teams. “Noel had a very successful year,” stated Taylor head cross country coach Quinn White. “To run at that level for three hard seasons (cross country, indoor track, outdoor track) is very difficult. She takes care of the little things, so she can succeed with the big things. She puts team before herself and does it with sincere kindness and respect.”
“Noel is only a sophomore and I see no signs of her slowing down,” added TU head track and field coach Derek Gay. “What an incredible achievement, but it is a little crazy that she was able to do what she did this year as an underclassman. We are excited to see her continue to develop under the direction of Coach White.” VanderWall excelled for the Trojans during all three seasons of her 2023-2024 year, helping the cross-country team to an 11th-straight Crossroads League Championship and a seventh-straight top-six showing at the NAIA National Championships. Moving to the track, VanderWall helped TU finish inside the top-15 in each of the Indoor and Outdoor National Championships.
On the individual side, VanderWall posted five NAIA All-American and five All-Crossroads League performances, doing so in each of her three seasons. The sophomore set four new TU program records, one new CL record and raced to CL Championships in the 1,500-meters and distance-medley relay. In addition to the athletic achievements, VanderWall’s academic excellence yielded multiple honors, including a CSC First-Team Academic All-American nod, a USTFCCCA and NAIA Scholar-Athlete award and an Academic All-CL recognition. The Taylor Female Athlete-of-the-Year Award is designed to recognize TU’s top female student-athlete among freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors based on athletic accomplishments throughout the 2023-2024 year. Athletes are nominated for the award by their head coach and voted on by members of the TU Athletics Department.
Aidan Craig Honored as Taylor University’s Male Athlete of the Year Aidan Craig was recognized on Wednesday for his record-setting season with the Taylor men’s lacrosse program, being named the Taylor Male Athlete of the Year. “What an incredible honor for Aidan,” stated TU men’s lacrosse head coach Chad Newhard. “From day one this fall Aidan and his teammates were committed to seeing our program continue to grow. He had an incredible year capped off by being named an All-American and he would be the first to say that his teammates also played a big part in him receiving this award. He played with a big heart and a humble spirit. What makes it more impressive was that he played the final half of our season with a major injury and never took a play off. It was an honor to watch Aidan and our team compete this year.”
Craig made history for the TU men’s lacrosse program during the 2024 campaign, becoming the first in program history to earn NAIA All-American honors with a spot on the Second Team. Prior to becoming an All-American, Craig was named the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year after breaking the WHAC and Taylor records for most assists in a single-season and a career. During his spectacular senior season, Craig dished out 71 assists over his 15 contests, piling up 80 points and becoming the first player to eclipse 200 points in a career at TU. In addition to averaging a WHAC and TU record of 4.73 assists per match, Craig also posted nine goals, 32 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers for the Trojans. The Taylor Male Athlete-of-the-Year Award is designed to recognize TU’s top male student-athlete among freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors based on athletic accomplishments throughout the 2023-2024 year. Athletes are nominated for the award by their head coach and voted on by members of the TU Athletics Department.
Indiana University Football Lands Two More Commitments for the Class of 2025 Indiana picked up a commitment from class of 2025 interior offensive lineman Baylor Wilkin on Tuesday evening. He announced the decision on his social media pages. Wilkin was at IU on multiple occasions in June, both for a camp and later in the month for an official visit. Indiana was his first Power Four offer. The 6-foot-4 and 275-pound Findlay, Ohio product has a 3-star ranking at 247Sports. Last month, Wilkin told 247Sports national reporter Allen Trieu IU offensive line coach Bob Bostad, and the business school stood out to him. Wilkin has been a bit of a late bloomer. All of his FBS offers have come since May 31, and he earned his three-star prospect rating in mid-June. Wilkin also had offers from Cincinnati, Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green, Ball State, Marshall, Central Michigan, Western Kentucky and Akron. He’s the third offensive lineman in the class, joining Matt Marek from Illinois, and Evan Parker from Indiana.
Class of 2025 linebacker Paul Nelson has flipped his commitment from Cincinnati to Indiana football, he announced Tuesday on social media. The Cincinnati native committed to the Bearcats in early June. But Nelson visited IU two weekends later, which led to the quick change of heart. He had other Power Four offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Kentucky, Boston College, and West Virginia. Nelson checks in at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds. He’s rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports Composite, which also ranks him as the No. 112 linebacker in the class of 2025. This gives Indiana 21 commits in the class of 2025. He’s the second linebacker in the class, joining three-star North Carolina native Jamari Farmer.
Indy Eleven Men’s Soccer Upsets Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals After a major upset in the U.S. Open Cup, the Indy Eleven is celebrating a pair of milestones. With Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Atlanta United, the Indy Eleven are advancing to the semifinals of the tournament for the first time. It’s also the first time the United Soccer League Championship side defeated a Major League Soccer opponent. Atlanta won the tournament in 2019. The U.S. Open Quarterfinal win also marks the team’s second road victory of this year’s tournament. Indy forward Augi Williams scored the first goal of the match in the 31st minute, his third for the competition. The go-ahead goal came from an own goal knocked in by Atlanta defender Dax McCarthy 52 minutes later. Atlanta tried and ultimately failed to make a comeback with a late goal by midfielder Nick Firmino after two minutes of stoppage time in the second half. Notably the match was played in Kennesaw, Georgia at Fifth Third Stadium, home of the Kennesaw State Owls. The Eleven will play the winner of Wednesday’s match-up between MLS teams Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas. The semifinals are slated for Aug. 27 or 28. Indy returns to USL Championship play on Saturday hosting Loudoun United. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.