Edgewood Graduate and 2 Two-Time Champion Jackson Cowden Inducted into the Bloomington City Golf Hall of Fame Jackson Cowden has been a winner at every level of his golf career. In 2009, he helped lead Edgewood to a rare sectional title. At Vincennes University, Jackson and the Blazers won the 2013 National Junior College Athletic Association championship at Chautauqua Golf Club in New York. Closer to home, he earned a pair of Bloomington City Golf Tournament titles, winning the Juniors in 2011 and adding a crown in the Men’s Championship flight in 2016. His role with the City Golf Tourney has changed, from player to ensuring those who still have the best experience possible. Sunday Cowden’s contributions were honored with enshrinement into the City Golf Tournament Hall of Fame at the awards ceremony following the final rounds of the city tournament.
Cowden’s grandmother Joann Gann introduced the game to him when he was a kid and eventually, it outbid travel baseball for his attention heading into his freshman year. At Edgewood, he played for Jeff Carmichael and Missy Ringler and was teammates with 2025 semifinalist and course superintendent Brad Scroggins. Cowden beat Ian Bailey 2 and 1 for his Junior title in 2011, won the Men’s Qualifying Tournament in 2013 with a 133 and made to the Men’s finals in 2014, falling to Mitch Oard 5 and 3. Two years later, he broke through and added his name to the list of players who also won a Men’s title by outlasting Nick Burris over 37 holes. Cowden began working at Cascades in various roles since 2010 and is currently Golf Programs Coordinator.
Indiana University Track and Field Announces the Addition of Jake Jacoby to the Coaching Staff Indiana University track and field head coach Ed Beathea announced the hiring of a new assistant coach for the 2025-26 season. Jake Jacoby will join the coaching staff, overseeing the jumpers following two seasons with Illinois State University. “I am truly honored to be associated with such a historic track and field university,” said Jacoby. “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Coach Beathea for this exciting opportunity. I am eager to work alongside the outstanding Indiana coaches and to contribute to bringing this university back to the top of the Big Ten Conference.”
Coach Jacoby has a proven record of success, producing two NCAA national champions, three national runners-up’s, and several All-Americans over the past two decades. “I have known coach Jacoby for years and have always been impressed with his results and knowledge of the jumps,” said coach Ed Beathea. “I am pleased to add Coach Jacoby to the staff and look forward to him getting started. He has the ability to be very successful in our conference and at the national level.”
During his short stint with the Redbirds, he coached the jumps and multi athletes and saw quick success with those groups. He saw multiple individual champions during his time in the Missouri Valley Conference. Prior to his time in Europe, Jacoby spent time at The University of Louisville where he coached NCAA National champions, All-Americans, and Big East Champions over his tenure. During the 2007 season, Jacoby helped lead Tone Belt (Triple Jump) and Andre Black (Long Jump) to national titles. These two athletes also rank in the top three in school history for their respective events.
Jacoby also spent four years coaching at his alma mater Boise State. During his tenure, he led the Broncos to 12 individual conference titles, three NCAA All-Americans, and four school record holders. The 2007 National jumps coach of the year, regional coach of the year, and USATF performance coach also had a standout career at Boise State. Jacoby became the school’s first track and field national champion in the high jump in 1984. He would also earn All-American honors three times throughout his collegiate career. The 1985 graduate of Boise State, Jacoby’s best collegiate mark in the high jump was 7 feet, 6 inches (2.29m) in 1984. He is an eight-time Big Sky Conference champion, winning the high jump title seven times, etching his name in the Big Sky Conference record books. In 1983, Jacoby ran a time of 7.14 in the 55-meter hurdles that still stands as the all-time mark in the conference. The three-time All-American is also a member of the Boise State Hall of Fame for the class of 1984.
Coaching Journey- Jacoby has made three coaching stops prior the Indiana and has also taken the opportunity to serve as a strength and conditioning coach overseas. 2023-2025: Illinois State, Assistant Track & Field Coach – Jumps/Multis. 2005-2012: Louisville, Assistant Track & Field Coach – Jumps. 2002-2005: Boise State, Assistant Track & Field Coach – Jumps.
Indy Eleven records another shutout taking down Rhode Island FC at Carroll Stadium Two of the top scorers in USL Championship history combined for a goal and the Indy Eleven defense recorded its fourth clean sheet in the last six matches as the Boys in Blue defeated Eastern Conference opponent Rhode Island FC, 1-0, at Carroll Stadium. Indy Eleven moved up to fifth in the USLC Eastern Conference, finishing the first half of the season with four wins in its last six matches.
Cam Lindley started the scoring sequence in the 55th minute with a one-touch pass from midfield to Jack Blake. Blake settled it quickly and delivered a pass wide to captain Aodhan Quinn. From just outside the area on the left side, Quinn centered it to the penalty spot where Romario Williams finished it inside the left post for his fourth goal of the season and the 64th in his USLC career. Williams is tied for the team lead in goals this season and he moved up into a tie for 13th on the USL All-Time list. Quinn recorded his team-best sixth assist of the campaign and he moved into sole possession of third place all-time in the USLC with 56 career assists. Goalkeeper Hunter Sulte recorded his second consecutive clean sheet and his fourth this season. It marks the fourth time in his two-year career with the Boys in Blue that he has recorded consecutive shutouts in USLC play. He now has 13 clean sheets in 40 matches for Indy Eleven.
The Boys in Blue travel to Eastern Conference opponent North Carolina FC on Friday at 7:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Golazo Network. The next home game for Indy Eleven is Christmas in July and the final round of USL Jägermeister Cup group play on Saturday, July 26 vs. FC Tulsa at 7 p.m. at Carroll Stadium. The Boys in Blue lead Group 3 with a 2-0-1 record and can clinch a berth in the quarterfinals of the 38-team event with a victory.
Billy Cook’s Two Homers Lead the Indianapolis Indians in a 6-1 Win over the Gwinnett Stripers at Victory Field Billy Cook’s two homers accounted for half of the Indianapolis Indians runs as the Indians pitching staff combined to hold the Gwinnett Stripers hitless for the first 6.1 innings in Saturday night’s 6-1 triumph at Victory Field. The win clinched the series for the Indians, marking their first series win against Gwinnett since they took two of three at Gwinnett from July 7-9, 2017. The contest was all Indians from the jump. Ronny Simon reached on a hit by pitch to kick off Indy’s (12-5, 54-37) half of the first inning and Cook clubbed his first homer of the day to give Indy a 2-0 advantage that would prove to be enough to put away Gwinnett (8-9, 37-55).
Indy added to its advantage in each of the next three frames. Malcom Nuñez and Matt Fraizer each reached scoring position with no outs in the second. Nuñez came around to score on a fielder’s choice from Tsung-Che Cheng and Ronny Simon capped the second at a 4-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to plate
Fraizer. Cook clubbed his second home run of the game in the third frame to extend Indy’s lead. His multi-homer game was the sixth of his career and his first since July 21, 2024, vs. Nashville while with Norfolk. Additionally, it is the second multi home run game by an Indian this season, joining Matt Gorski on April 19 vs. Toledo.
Indianapolis managed to scratch across one more run in the fourth inning, thanks to a Ji Hwan Bae sacrifice fly, but were held scoreless past that point. Eddys Leonard prevented an Indians shutout with a solo home run in the eighth, but the early offense from Indy was too much for Gwinnett to overcome. Drake Fellows (W, 6-2) tossed 5.0 hitless and scoreless innings for Indy. It was the first start of 5.0 or more innings with no hits for an Indians pitcher since Eric Lauer also allowed no hits across 5.0 innings on April 21, 2024, vs. St. Paul. Randy Labaut kept the no-no alive with a clean sixth inning before Ryder Ryan allowed the first hit with one out in the seventh. Brett Sears (L, 0-1) took the loss for Gwinnett in his Triple-A debut, allowing all six of Indy’s runs.
Indiana Pacers Fall to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League Twenty days after the two teams played in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder met yet again. Shooting 54 percent as a team, the Thunder (2-0) dealt the Pacers (1-1) their first Las Vegas Summer League loss of 2025 on Saturday by beating the Blue & Gold 104-85 at Cox Pavilion. Harvard product Robert Baker topped the Pacers with 16 points on 5-for-6 shooting, second year forward Enrique Freeman had 15 points and nine rebounds, rookie Taelon Peter scored a personal best 15 points, and Johnny Furphy had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Blue & Gold. Chris Youngblood led the Thunder with 21 points, Brooks Barnhizer had 17 points and six steals, Jazian Gortman scored 17 points, and Malevy Leons posted 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Thunder converted 20 Pacers turnovers into 32 points while also holding Indiana to 40 percent shooting. “Last game I felt like we started bad and ended up the aggressors at the end,” Pacers Summer League coach Isaac Yacob said. “Today, we started on our toes …. it’s just about how can we sustain it for a full 40 minutes.” Indiana two-way guard Quenton Jackson, who scored 24 points in the Pacers’ Summer League opener, didn’t play against the Thunder due to left leg soreness. After starting the game 1-for-12 shooting from the field, the Thunder made 15 of their next 17 attempts to build a 52-38 halftime lead. Barnhizer shot 6-for-6 for 12 points to lead the Thunder in the first half while a trio of Pacers had seven points at the break. Neither team could get much scoring done in the first quarter, with both teams shooting under 36 percent, but the Pacers led 16-14.
Indiana led 10-2 seven minutes into the game thanks to five points by Freeman and a stifling defense. The Pacers maintained the lead the rest of the frame, but a 6-0 burst by the Thunder in the final 1:13 of the first quarter made it a one-possession game. Shaking off the rough start, the Thunder shot 13-for-17 (76.5 percent) in the second quarter to go up by double digits. Oklahoma City made its first nine shots of the second quarter, including five 3-pointers, to lead 41-26 with 4:33 left in the half. Indiana finally got going later in the frame, as Phillip Wheeler scored seven points in the final five minutes of the half, and rookie Kam Jones, Furphy and Freeman each added baskets to cut it to 52-38 at the break. The Thunder continued its hot shooting out of the locker room, starting the third quarter on a 13-4 run to go up 65-42. Oklahoma City then led by as many as 26 points in the third quarter before taking a 19-point lead into the final frame. The Pacers never went back in front in the fourth quarter as the Thunder held on for the win.
Saturday marked the first full Summer League game for Furphy — a player to keep an eye on going into the 2025-26 season. He played 29 minutes against the Thunder after an injury limited him to just one quarter of action in the Pacers’ Summer League opener. Furphy, coming off a rookie season where he appeared in 50 games for Indiana, could soon become a regular rotational player for the Pacers. The 6-foot-9 sharpshooter said he has put on around 20 pounds in the offseason, and last year’s Finals run provided him with a wealth of experiences with his teammates. “I’ve just got to keep working,” Furphy said. “I’m pretty excited about where I can get to.” Indiana is back in Summer League action this evening when they take on the Chicago Bulls at 6 p.m. ET.
Saint Mary’s of the Woods College in West Terre Haute announces transition to NAIA Football in 2026 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) announced it will transition its sprint football program to full NAIA football beginning with the 2026 season. “This move reflects our continued commitment to growing opportunities for our students while aligning with our long-term strategic plan,” said Brennan Randolph, president of SMWC. “SMWC Football will recruit Indiana heavily, while also maintaining high academic expectations that align with NAIA standards. We’re proud to offer a football program that reflects the excellence of our institution and the strength of our mission.” The Pomeroys will compete in the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) as members of the Midwest League, joining a competitive slate of institutions including Marian (Ind.), St. Francis (Ind.), St. Francis (Ill.), Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), Saint Xavier (Ill.), and Judson (Ill.).
“This is a significant moment in our program’s evolution and a testament to the commitment of our student-athletes and coaches,” said Kevin Lanke, associate vice president for athletics. “The move to NAIA football opens the door to expanded opportunities for competition, exposure, and recruitment, while maintaining the values that define SMWC athletics.” The Mid-States Football Association, established in 1994, is one of the premier NAIA football conferences in the nation. The MSFA features 13 teams divided between the Midwest and Mideast Leagues, spanning four states and including institutions located in the metropolitan hubs of Chicago, Detroit, and Indianapolis.
“The Mid States Football Association is excited to announce and welcome the addition of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College for MSFA league membership,” MSFA Commissioner Ron Korfmacher said. “We welcome Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in this strategic and bold step and are looking forward to a growing and competitive future together.” Each MSFA member plays every team within its own league and participates in crossover contests with opponents from the opposite division. The champion of each league earns an automatic berth to the NAIA Football Championship Series, provided they are ranked among the top 20 in the final NAIA Coaches’ Poll.
The MSFA has produced nine NAIA national champions, including Marian (Ind.), Saint Xavier (Ill.), and Saint Francis (Ind.), with six national titles since 2011. “As president of Marian University and former four-year collegiate football player, I understand well the influence that football plays in a student’s development and campus life,” Dan Elsener, Chair, MSFA Council of Presidents said. “As a faith-based institution dedicated to academic excellence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will be a great addition.”
Before making its NAIA debut in 2026, SMWC will compete in its final season of sprint football in 2025 as a member of the Midwest Sprint Football League (MSFL). The Pomeroys, led by Head Coach Blaine Powell, have built a championship pedigree in the MSFL, posting a 20-4 overall record, appearing in three straight MSFL Championship Games, and winning the 2022 title. SMWC has also captured three MSFL regular season championships and has never lost a road game under Powell’s leadership. “This program is built on grit, character, and belief,” said Powell, who enters his fourth season at the helm. “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in sprint football, and we’re ready for what’s next. We will recruit Indiana hard—because it’s home—but we’re also going to build a national program that draws talent from across the country. We’re going to do things the right way, the Pomeroy way.” Recruiting for the inaugural NAIA roster will begin immediately, with the program slated to debut in fall 2026.