Nick Itkin brings home another Medal for Norte Dame and Team USA in Paris
Nick Itkin who competed at Notre Dame won the Bronze Medal in the Fencing Men’s Foil Event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris France Monday. Itkin beat Iimura Kazuki of Japan 15-12 In the Bronze Medal after losing to Filippo Macchi of Italy 15-12 in the Semifinals. Earlier in the Day Itkin beat Alex Tofalides of Cyprus 15-10, Abderlahman Tolba of Egypt 15-5 and Gullaume Bianchi of Italy 15-14 to make the Semifinals. Itkin is 24 years old and competing in his second Olympics after winning bronze in the Men’s Team Foil event at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Gerek Mienhardt beat Chen Haiwai of China 15-7 in the Round of 32 and Lost Enzo Lefort of France in the Round of 16 by a score of 15-10. Meinhardt is 34 Years old and competing in his fifth Olympics. He won a bronze in the team foil event in 2016 and 2020 and competed in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London. Magda Skarbonkiewicz who attends Notre Dame lost to Nisanur Erbil by a score of 15-11 in the Women’s Sabre Round of 32.
In Women’s Swimming Evansville Indiana Native and Indiana University Graduate Lilly King Tied for fourth in the finals of the Women’s 100 Meter Breaststroke with a time of 1:05.32 finishing in a dead heat with Benedetta Pilato of Italy. South Africa won the Gold, China the Sliver and Ireland the Bronze. King won the Gold in this event in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and won the Bronze at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. In the Men’s 800 Meter Freestyle Prelims Incoming Indiana University Transfer Zalan Sarkany of Hungary swam a personal best 7:48.90 to finish 14th overall. Noblesville, Indiana Native Luke Whitlock who is 18 Years Old finished 15th overall with a time of 7:49.26 and Indiana University Graduate Marwan Elkamash finished 27th overall with a time of 8:07.00. Elkamash who is 30 years old is competing in third Olympic Games for Egypt after he competed at 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Games in Tokyo.
In Beach Volleyball Former Indiana Pacer Player Chase Budinger who has moved over to the sand instead the Court won his first match with his partner Miles Evans over Yousef Krou and Arnaud Gauthier-Rat of France 21-14 and 21-11. Budinger played Basketball for the University of Arizona and played the Indiana Pacers from 2015-16. Rajeev Ram of Carmel and his partner Austin Krajieck won their opening round Men’s Doubles Tennis match 6-2 and 6-3 over Alex de Minuar and Alexei Popyrin of Australia. Ram is 40 Years old won a silver medal in Mixed Doubles at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Ram Competed at 2020 Games in Tokyo. Molly Bruggeman of Notre Dame helped the United States to a 4th place overall finish in the Rowing Women’s Eights Heats out of seven teams.
China beat the United States 3-2 in Women’s Volleyball. China won the first two games 25-20 and 25-19 before the Americans rallied back to take the next two games 25-17 and 25-20. China took the fifth and final set 15-13. Elkhart Indiana Native and Purdue University Graduate Annie Drews had 29 Points with 26 Attack Points and 3 Blocks along with 8 Digs. The 25-Year-Old is in her second Olympics after winning the gold in Tokyo in 2020 and has been with the United States National Team since 2017. Drews played at Purdue from 2012-15 and went to four NCAA Tournaments. Hungary best Canada 12-7 in Women’s Water Polo. Indiana University Graduates Jessica Gaudreault and Shae La Roche both started for Canada. Gaudreault played all 32 minutes in goal facing 19 Shots and Saving 7 of them along with two steals and a rebound. La Roche played 26 minutes and 45 seconds and had 2 shots along with two rebounds.
In Women’s Basketball the United States beat Japan 102-76. Jackie Young, who is from Princeton, Indiana and went to the University of Notre Dame scored 7 points, a rebound, an assist, a steal, a block in 12 minutes of action off the bench. Young won a gold medal in the women’s 3×3 basketball event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Jewell Loyd, who went to the University of Notre Dame scored 2 points in 11 minutes along with 2 rebounds and an assist. Loyd won a gold medal as part of the U.S. women’s team at the 202 Tokyo Olympics. France beat Canada 75-54. Natalie Achonwa who played for Notre Dame and the Indiana Fever scored 4 points, pulled down 5 rebounds and assists in 21 minutes and 22 seconds of action and starter for the Canadians. Cassandre Prosper who is going into her Junior Season at Notre Dame had 1 steal in 3 minutes and 22 seconds of playing time. Kayla Alexander who played with the Indiana Fever during the 2018 Season scored 6 points, pulled down 10 Rebounds and a assist in 35 Minutes and 16 Seconds as a starter for Canada. Nigeria beat Australia 75-62. Tomi Taiwo played at Carmel HS and graduated in 2018 did not play for Nigeria. Taiwo played at Iowa from 2018-22 and TCU for the 2022-23 season as graduate transfer. Indiana Fever Player Kristy Wallace played 13 minutes and 16 Seconds off the Bench scoring 2 points, a steal and an assist. Former Indiana Fever Player Alana Smith scored 15 Points, pulled down 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Smith who played with the Fever during the 2022 Season started and played 26 minutes and 58 seconds. Team USA leads the overall medal count with 20 including 3 Gold, 8 Sliver and 9 Bronze. Japan has the most Gold Medals with 6.
Golfweek Hoosier Amateur Women’s Tournament Starts This Morning at the Indiana University Pfau Course
The Golfweek Hoosier Amateur Women’s Tournament is set to get underway this morning at 8:30 am at the Indiana University Pfau Golf Course in Bloomington. The Format is 54 Holes and three Rounds of Stroke Play that will continue through Thursday to determine a winner. 41 Golfers Representing 11 States plus Canada, Australia and China are competing, and most are College and High School Players. There are 13 Groups of Three and One Group of Two and they will be teeing off every ten minutes with the last group teeing off at 10:40 AM. Indiana University Junior Madison Dabagia will be competing in this event along with other golfers that represent Indiana, Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee, Iowa, Ohio, Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama Missouri and Minnesota. 9 other Golfers besides Dabagia hail from the Hoosier State. This will be the fifth tournament as Erica Shepherd won the inaugural tournament in 2020 followed by Eleanor Hudepohl in 2021, Siarra Stout in 2022 and Jocelyn Burch won in 2023.
Southern Indiana Bobcats Head Coach Daniel Ponce Named Mid Central Football League Class 2A Coach of the Year
Southern Indiana Bobcats Head Coach Daniel Ponce has been Named the Mid Central Football League Class 2A Head Coach of the Year. Ponce and the Bobcats finished with a 9-3 Regular Season Record in 2024 after a 3-8 record in their first year in 2023. The Bobcats dropped a non-league game to the Racine Raiders 30-3 last Saturday Night at Edgewood High Schools. The Raiders are the longest running Semi Pro Football Organization in the Country and brought their number 2 national ranking to South Central Indiana to take on the Bobcats and went Back to Racine Wisconsin with the win and 9-0 record on the season.
The Bobcats were named the Best Offense in Class 2A and won the MCFL Most Improved Award. The Bobcats were Runners Up for MCFL Organization of the Year, Best Defense in Class 2A and Quarterback Floyd Johnson was Runner Up for League MVP. The Bobcats are scheduled to host the Indiana Assisians in the first round of the Mid Central Football League Class 2A Playoffs this Saturday. The Bobcats dominated the Assassins 59-0 on July 6th in Indianapolis as the game was called at the start of the Fourth Quarter due to injuries. The Bobcats have the number 2 seed in the playoffs and have scored 329 points and given up 95 on the season and are looking for a MCFL League Championship Title this season.
Indy Eleven’s Ella Rogers Named USL W League Valley Division Player of the Year
After leading Indy Eleven to its third straight division title, Ella Rogers has been named Valley Division Player of the Year by USL W League. Midfielder Rogers registered a career-high six goals for the Girls in Blue this season. Along with one assist, she earned a total of 13 points for Indy in 2024. Playing in 11 out of 12 matches, Rogers registered the most minutes played on the team this season with 798. With the second-most goals this season, Rogers put up two multi-goal performances. The captain contributed two goals to the team’s 4-0 victory over Lexington SC (6.2.24). She also registered two goals and an assist in a road win against St. Charles FC (5.29.24). Rogers aided the team in earning a 7-1-2 regular season record. The Girls in Blue clinched the Valley Division title after a 1-1 draw against Kings Hammer FC. The newly transferred Arkansas Razorback leads the team in career minutes played, games played, and games started. Throughout her three seasons with Indy Eleven, Rogers has played in 38 games with 24 starts and 3,078 minutes. Indy Eleven is one of three teams to make all three years of W League playoffs.
Indianapolis Colts Defensive End Samson Ebukam to miss the 2024 Season with Torn Achillies
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that Indianapolis Colts defensive end Samson Ebukam will likely miss the entire 2024 season with a torn Achilles. Ebukam went down during Sunday’s practice. Last year, he signed a three-year deal with the Colts and started every game. In total, Ebukam tallied 57 tackles, 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Those sacks were a career high for Ebukam. Before the Colts, he played for the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. The Colts may need to turn to their first-round pick, Laiatu Latu, earlier than planned. He is one of the team’s defensive ends, alongside Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, Tyquan Lewis, Genard Avery and Titus Leo.
Former Purdue University Quarterback Mark Herrmann named Purdue Football Radio Color Analyst for the 2024 Season
When Purdue University football fans listen to Boilermaker games on the radio this year, they will hear a familiar voice. College Football Hall of Famer and former Purdue quarterback Mark Herrmann was named the new color analyst for Purdue games this season on the Boilermaker Sports Network. He takes over the role after Purdue football alum and longtime Boilers radio analyst Pete Quinn retired. Quinn spent 32 seasons as part of the Boilermaker football radio broadcasts. “I am extremely excited to join the Boilermaker Sports Network this fall,” Herrmann said in a news release. “It is an opportunity to be a part of a great team that is passionate about bringing the best coverage and insight into the Purdue football broadcast every week. I am hoping to add my personal touch as a former player, announcer and fan. It promises to be a fun-filled, challenging schedule and I can’t wait for the opening game on August 31.”
Herrmann will join The Voice of the Boilermakers, Tim Newton, in the radio booth for the games. “Mark and I were in school at the same time, and I worked on his Heisman Trophy campaign when I was a student in the sports information office,” Newton said in the news release. “It’s really fun to have a chance to work with him to bring the excitement of Boilermaker Football to our listeners. He has big shoes to fill, but I know he’ll be up to the task.” Herrmann played for Purdue from 1977-80. In 1980, he was named a unanimous First Team All-American and the Big Ten’s Most Valuable Player. He finished his Boilermaker career with 71 touchdown passes. Thirty years after his Purdue playing career ended, he was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2010. Herrmann, who graduated from Carmel High School prior to attending Purdue, was ultimately drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He played 11 seasons in the NFL.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mark to the Purdue radio team as our full-time football color analyst,” Mark Walpole, general manager of Purdue Sports Properties, said in the news release. “His deep understanding of the game and Purdue Athletics and his extraordinary journey from college star to NFL veteran make him uniquely qualified to offer insightful and engaging commentary. We look forward to hearing his perspective as he brings his expertise and passion for Purdue Football to our listeners this fall.” Herrmann has previously served as an analyst on Colt’s radio broadcasts. He has been a part of the Boilermaker Sports Network in the past, filling in as an “analyst and sideline reporter several times over the past few seasons.” Purdue begins its regular season on Aug. 31 against Indiana State inside Ross-Ade Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12pm. The Boilermakers are picked to finish 18th in the Big Ten Conference this season, according to the league’s preseason media poll.
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