Anna Peplowski and Carson Tyler named 2023-24 Indiana University Athletics Athletes of the Year The Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced its winners of the IU Athlete of the Year award for the 2023-24 school year on Wednesday, recognizing two athletes from the Indiana swimming and diving program. Juniors Carson Tyler and Anna Peplowski led the men’s and women’s programs to Big Ten Championships and elite national finishes and combined for 10 All-America performances at the NCAA Championships. Both will represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Tyler is the first U.S. male diver since 2000 to qualify for the Olympics in both the 3-meter and 10-meter individual events in diving after winning the platform event and finishing second on the springboard at U.S. Olympic Trials in June. Tyler had one of the most successful individual diving seasons in NCAA history, winning NCAA and conference championships on the both the 3-meter springboard and platform as well as medals on the 1-meter board at each level. His 56 points earned at the NCAA Championships outscored every other diving team. He was named the CSCAA Diver of the Year, Big Ten Diver of the Year and Big Ten Diver of the Championships.
Peplowski’s fifth-place finish in the 200-meter freestyle at U.S. Olympic Trials earned her a spot-on Team USA’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay, using the momentum of a career-best year at the collegiate level. The freestyle specialist is now a school record holder in six short course events following her junior season in which she medaled in two events and totaled seven All-America honors at the NCAA Championships. Peplowski highlighted her NCAA program with a silver medal in the 200-yard freestyle and bronze in the 500 free. Peplowski led the IU women to their first Big Ten Championship since 2019, finishing runner-up or better in six events – including four individual or relay conference titles. The junior led off IU’s dramatic 400-yard freestyle relay result that clinched the Big Ten team title by one-half of a point.
Indiana University Football’s James Bomba Selected as an AFCA Good Works Team Nominee The American Football Coaches Association announced on Wednesday that Indiana football redshirt-junior James Bomba has been nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their “good works” off the field. This year’s 178 nominees champion causes including mental health awareness, youth mentorship, hunger relief, domestic abuse prevention, and many more. In addition to being actively involved with a charitable organization or service group, each player must also maintain strong academic standing to be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Of his many volunteer opportunities, Bomba has spent his time on a volunteer mission trip to the Dominican Republic with Indiana football and Score International. He is also active with Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, Hoosier Ticket Project and the program’s Holiday Toy Drive. He has also served as a volunteer coach for football and men’s basketball at Bloomington South High School. He has also teamed up with GO Bloomington to help the organization promote better mobility options and Stop the Violence Indianapolis, Inc., which acts as a catalyst for social change – empowering people to take action with the greater Indianapolis area to ensure safety, justice, accountability and healing for people whose lives are affected by violence and poverty.
On the field, Bomba redshirted his first season on campus and appeared in 20 games with 10 starts over the last two campaigns. The tight end owns 11 receptions for 75 yards (6.8 ypr) and one touchdown. His first collegiate touchdown came on a 3-yard catch in the third quarter against Michigan State to knot the score at 14-14. A third-generation Indiana football letterman, Bomba follows in the footsteps of his father, Matt Bomba, a walk-on that earned a scholarship between 1990-92, and both grandfathers, Brad Bomba (1954-56) and Bob VanPelt (1964-66) who were scholarship football student-athletes at IU.
14 Indiana University Track and Field Athletes earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors The United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced their 2024 All-Academic teams and honorees. The men’s and women’s teams achieved Academic All-American after posting a combined GPA of 3.0 or higher. The women posted a season GPA of 3.282 while the men held a 3.239. Individually, 14 Hoosiers were selected for their achievements inside the classroom. To be eligible for the All-America accolade, student-athletes must hold a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or above while also being among the top-96 in your respective event according to the NCAA indoor list or in the top-48 on the NCAA outdoor list.
Indiana Honorees– Men-Micah Camble, Tyler Carrell, Nico Colchico, Camden Marshall, Garrett Messer, Sean Mockler, Skylar Stidham, Nathan Stone, Parker Raymond and Keefer Soehngen. Women- Paola Fernandez-Sola, Jessica Mercier, Ryann Parrish and Maddie Russin.
Tyrese Haliburton and Team USA Beat Serbia in Pre-Olympic Tune Up Tyrese Haliburton and the United States men’s national team won their third straight exhibition in preparation for the upcoming Olympics in Paris, rolling to a 105-79 victory over Serbia on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Wednesday’s game was the latest stop in the five-game USA Basketball Showcase to prepare for Paris. Haliburton played 14:23 off the bench on Wednesday, tallying three assists, one rebound, and one steal. Stephen Curry led the Americans with 24 points, going 8-for-13 from the field and 6-for-9 from 3-point range. Bam Adebayo added 17 points and eight rebounds, Anthony Edwards scored 16 points, and LeBron James finished with 11. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic led Serbia with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The two nations will meet again in 11 days in Paris, as they are both in Group C and scheduled to face off on Sunday, July 28 to open group play. The United States will next head to London for two more exhibitions, facing South Sudan on Saturday and reigning world champions Germany on Monday.
Taylor University Softball announces Summer Prospect Camp The Taylor softball program is set to host a prospect camp on Saturday, August 17, with check in beginning at 9:30 am at Gudakunst Field. The cost of the camp is $86 per individual and all campers will receive instruction from TU coaches and players. The camps will consist of skill instruction in the morning and live scrimmages in the afternoon. The prospect camp is open to girls entering grades 9-12 and will begin at 9:30 am and last until 4:00 pm including lunch with the Taylor coaches and players. Camps have had a profound effect on the team as many of the current Taylor softball players have attended camps prior to committing to play for the Trojans. The Taylor softball program has reached the NAIA Opening Round two of the past three seasons, reaching the Crossroads League Tournament title game to secure a spot. For additional information on the camp, please contact Doug Gower at 765-998-4748, or via email at douglas_gower@taylor.edu.
Indiana Pacers win their First Summer League Game in Las Vegas Indiana came out hot against the Summer League Suns and overpowered the winless Phoenix squad 98-94 to earn their first win this summer. The Pacers jumped out to a quick 15-7 lead early in the first quarter behind efficient starts from rookie Johnny Furphy and second year forward Jarace Walker. Furphy, a Kansas product, tallied seven points in the first frame as he hit two of his five shots, but Indiana trailed Phoenix by two at the close of the quarter, 26-24. Phoenix opened the second quarter on an 8-0 scoring run, but the Pacers rallied and rode the hot hand of Oscar Tshiebwe to get back within two points Phoenix with five minutes to play in the half. Phoenix went on to outscore the Pacers 15-7 to close the half in the lead, 54-44. Though Indiana trailed by 10 points at the break, both Furphy and Tshiebwe finished the half in double figures – Furphy with 12 points and Tshiebwe adding 11 – to lead the Blue and Gold at halftime. Furphy also grabbed six rebounds in the first two frames, including four offensive boards.
The Pacers flipped the momentum in the third quarter as they opened the second half on a 12-4 scoring run. Eight third-quarter points from Kendall Brown and seven from Walker kept the Blue & Gold competitive down the stretch of the third, a statement quarter for Indiana as they outscored the Suns 29-18 to recapture the lead going into the fourth. Walker followed his strong third quarter with a similar fourth as he notched seven more points and a game-sealing free throw to lead Indiana to victory with a game-high 19 points on 71% shooting.
Walker paired five assists, a steal and a block with his 19-point performance. He grabbed four rebounds as well. Indiana boasted six double-digit scorers – Furphy (18), Tshiebwe (16), Walker (19), Tristen Newton (10), Brown (10) and Dakota Mathias (11). Phoenix was led by Quinndary Weatherspoon’s 17 points off the bench and David Roddy’s 16-point effort. All three of Indiana’s new draftees had solid outings, but were led by Furphy’s 18 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and a block in just under 33 minutes of action. Newton’s 10 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals showed the all-around potential of the UConn product, while Enrique Freeman’s five points and nine rebounds helped the Pacers dominate the glass. The Pacers will be back in action at 4:30pm This Afternoon as they meet up with the 0-2 Denver Nuggets on ESPN2.