Indiana University Volleyball Hoosiers Add Two AVCA All-Americans in 2025 Two names will be added to the wall next year in Wilkinson Hall. Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and freshman setter Teodora Krickovic was named Honorable Mention All-Americans by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), as announced by the selection committee on Wednesday morning. After a trip to the NCAA regional semifinals for the first time since 2010, the Indiana volleyball team had four players selected to the AVCA Midwest All-Region team. Those four players advanced to the national ballot where a committee of coaches selected Tatum and Krickovic as Honorable Mention All-Americans ahead of this week’s national semifinals. It’s the first time in program history that IU has had multiple players selected as All-Americans in the same season. Prior to 2025, just four different IU players had ever earned at least one honor. With Tatum and Krickovic joining former setter Camryn Haworth in the prestigious club, head coach Steve Aird is the first coach in program history to coach three different All-Americans in Bloomington.
Tatum set out to leave a legacy on the program during her senior season. She did that and more – captaining the Hoosiers to single-season school records for wins (25) and Big Ten wins (14) during the NCAA era. The Solana Beach, California native provided career highs in kills (359), points (405.5) and hitting percentage (.315). During her three seasons in Bloomington, Tatum developed into one of the premier right-side attackers in the country. She tallied 936 kills in an IU uniform and 1,151 overall during her collegiate career. The Hoosiers went 61-35 with Tatum on the team. She finishes her career with the ninth highest hitting percentage (.273) in school history. After 115 collegiate matches, Tatum is off to begin her professional career. She was drafted in the fourth round of the Major League Volleyball (MLV) draft in November by the Columbus Fury. She will head to training camp this week before the season begins in January. Tatum is set to graduate next spring with her undergraduate degree.
There were few players that made more of an immediate impact than IU’s freshman setter, Krickovic. The 6-foot-2 rookie started every match for the Hoosiers. She recorded 1,212 assists, 201 digs, 54 kills, 50 blocks and a team-best 38 aces. With her running the offense, IU broke a single-season program record (.281) for team hitting percentage. All of IU’s primary attackers experienced career highs in hitting efficiency. In November, Krickovic became the first freshman in program history to earn First Team All-Big Ten honors. She was a Midwest All-Region selection and is now the first IU freshman to ever earn AVCA All-American honors. In totality, Krickovic was one of seven true freshmen to earn an All-American nod. She was one of three freshman setters to be named to a team. Krickovic is the third setter in program history to earn All-American honors and the second in the last three seasons. In total, IU has now had six players in program history named to an AVCA All-American team. Former middle blocker Ashley Benson remains the only student-athlete in Bloomington to make one of the First, Second or Third teams.
AVCA All-Americans – Indiana
Avry Tatum – Honorable Mention (2025)
Teodora Krickovic – Honorable Mention (2025)
Camryn Haworth – Honorable Mention (2023)
Ashley Benson – First Team (2010)
Ashley Benson – Third Team (2009)
Erica Short – Honorable Mention (2008)
Karen Dunham – Honorable Mention (1985)
Indiana University Field Hockey’s Ines Garcia-Prado named NFCHA All-American Indiana Field Hockey junior Inés Garcia Prado was named an All-American by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). Garcia Prado earned the national honor after a stellar junior season where she helped lead the Hoosiers to their second-straight Big Ten Tournament appearance and nine-win season. The Madrid, Spain native started all 18 games for Indiana and charted seven goals, nine assists and nine defensive saves. Of her 56 shots taken, 67.9% of them were on goal. Against Lock Haven (Sep. 12), she had a hat trick, then recorded two goals in the win at Penn State (Oct. 19) before logging five defensive saves at No. 14 Michigan (Oct. 31). Garcia Prado is the program’s seventh All-American and the first since 2016 when Kate Barber was honored as a First Team All-American by both the NFHCA and Synapse Sports. Her fantastic play also earned her NFHCA West Region First Team and All-Big Ten First Team. She also is a member of Spain’s U-21 National Team.
Former Indiana University Football Star Tracy Porter Inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame One of the great defensive backs in IU football history, who made one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history, officially went into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame this weekend. Tracy Porter, a Saints cornerback from 2008-11 was an NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XLIV hero during the 2009 season. “Words can’t describe what that means and how excited I am that my hometown team, that I helped bring our first championship to, is recognizing me in this way and giving me these accolades,” he said during his induction speech.
During his four seasons in New Orleans, Porter had seven interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 37 pass breakups and 227 tackles in 43 games, with 39 starts. He etched his name in franchise history with an interception against the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game to force overtime in a 31-28 victory, and a pick against the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV he returned 74 yards for a touchdown in the 31-17 win. Briefly after the Super Bowl victory, his hometown of Port Allen, La., became “Porter Allen.”
Porter was a four-year starter at IU from 2004-2007. “Blessed to go to Indiana, go Hoosiers,” Porter said in his opening remarks this weekend. He became the first player in school history to return a punt, an interception and a fumble for a touchdown in his career. As a senior, Porter became the first Hoosier since Mark Sutor in 1982 to record six or more interceptions in a season. He would close out his career with sixteen interceptions, three short of the school all-time record of nineteen by Tim Wilbur (1978-82). He amassed 413 yards on those interception returns, breaking the previous Indiana career-record of 360 yards by Wilbur. He also became just the third player in Big Ten Conference history to gain over 400 yards on interception returns. He was drafted in the second-round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Saints. Porter played a total of nine NFL seasons (2008-16), also spending time with Denver, Oakland, Washington and Chicago. He amassed 13 interceptions and three touchdowns over his pro career.
Chicago Bears Considering Northwest Indiana during Stadium Site Search The Chicago Bears are expanding their search and evaluating opportunities for a new stadium site throughout the Chicagoland area, including northwest Indiana. Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren published the following open letter on the official Chicago Bears website Wednesday:
“Dear Chicago Bears Fans: On the Monday night of our home opener, September 8, 2025, the passion in every corner of Soldier Field was palpable and powerful. Today, 100 days later, that feeling is even stronger. We had a strong win this past weekend at Soldier Field in record setting cold temperatures, with your support and encouragement. We have won five of our six home games this season. Your support lifts this team. With two regular season home games remaining, we are focused on building a championship organization worthy of you.
The same standard has guided our work on a new world-class stadium. Earlier this season, we shared that Arlington Heights is the only location in Cook County that meets the requirements for a world-class NFL stadium. We still believe it offers the best and only path forward in Cook County given there are no other viable alternatives. Over the past several years, we have worked in good faith with Illinois leaders and made clear our commitment and readiness to invest more than $2 billion by the Chicago Bears, one of the largest private investments in state and NFL history.
We have not asked for state taxpayer dollars to build the stadium at Arlington Park. We asked only for a commitment to essential local infrastructure (roads, utilities, and site improvements) which is more than typical for projects of this size. Additionally, we sought reasonable property tax certainty to secure financing. We listened to state leadership and relied on their direction and guidance, yet our efforts have been met with no legislative partnership.
The stakes for Illinois are significant: thousands of union jobs, year-round attractions and global events made possible by a fixed roof stadium that would provide long-term revenue for the State. For a project of this scale, uncertainty has significant consequences. Stable timelines are critical, as are predictable processes and elected leaders, who share a sense of urgency and appreciation for public partnership that projects with this level of impact require. We have not received that sense of urgency or appreciation to date. We have been told directly by State leadership, our project will not be a priority in 2026, despite the benefits it will bring to Illinois.
Consequently, in addition to Arlington Park, we need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana. This is not about leverage. We spent years trying to build a new home in Cook County. We invested significant time and resources evaluating multiple sites and rationally decided on Arlington Heights. Our fans deserve a world-class stadium. Our players and coaches deserve a venue that matches the championship standard they strive for every day. With that in mind, our organization must keep every credible pathway open to deliver that future.
The Bears have called Chicago home for more than a century. One certainty is that our commitment to this city will not change. We will continue to provide unwavering support to the community. We need to secure a world-class venue for our passionate fanbase and honor the energy you bring every week. The Chicago Bears are a founding franchise, playing in the oldest and smallest stadium in the NFL.
As we move forward, our goal is clear: build a world-class football team that has a world-class stadium worthy of our world-class fans – a stadium that reflects the future we are building together.
Every home game we are reminded of one thing. Bears fans are the best fans in all of sports. We appreciate you.
You cheer. You care. You love your Chicago BearsTake care, and Godspeed.
Sincerely, Kevin Warren
President & CEO
Chicago Bears Football Club”
Butler University Men’s Basketball announces details for the “IMS Checker Out Game” Butler University Athletics announced on Wednesday details for its third annual “IMS Checker Out Game.” The “IMS Checker Out Game” is a collaboration between Butler and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This season, it will be held on Friday, Jan. 23, when the Bulldog men’s basketball team hosts Marquette inside Hinkle Fieldhouse. Tip-off for the Big East matchup is set for 8 p.m. EDT. Fans attending the game are asked to “checker out” Hinkle Fieldhouse by wearing a dark or white shirt based where their tickets are located. There will be a big INDYCAR and IMS presence inside Hinkle Fieldhouse as well for the contest: INDYCAR show car in the front concourse, Borg-Warner Trophy will be on-site, Photo opportunities and INDYCAR driver activations and Butler basketball will wear special IMS-themed jerseys. More details will be announced later. To purchase tickets for the game, click here.
Mark Fairley Set to Take Reins of the Taylor University Cross Country Programs Taylor University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Kyle Gould, announced on Wednesday that Mark Fairley had been hired as the new head coach of the TU men’s and women’s cross-country programs. “After a thorough and competitive search process, we are excited to announced Mark Fairley as our next cross country coach,” said Gould. “His experience as a successful athlete, along with his time working with the prestigious distance program at Liberty University, has prepared him well to lead our programs into the future. We are excited to welcome Mark and his wife, Adelyn, to campus and look forward to him getting started.” Fairley comes to Taylor from NCAA Division I Liberty University, where he served in various roles within the Flames’ cross country and track programs for the past eight years. Most recently, Failey helped the LU women’s cross-country team claim the Conference USA Championship on November 1, while the men’s team scored a runner-up finish.
“I am humbled and excited to join the coaching staff at Taylor University,” said Fairley. “I want to thank Kyle Gould and his staff for the opportunity. I will strive to be faithful with the mission, vision and culture of the program and university. Coaches and athletes come and go but the mission of what we are doing will stay the same.” In his role as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s cross country and track teams at Liberty, Fairley worked specifically with the distance athletes and steeplechasers, while also assisting with the recruiting for the distance programs. In addition to those duties, Fairley also served as LU’s meet director and track and field facilities manager. In Fairley’s eight years on staff, Liberty never finished below second place as a team at a league meet, piling up a combined 27 team championships in 40 appearances at Conference USA and Atlantic Sun Championship meets in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.
The Liberty women’s cross country team’s Conference USA title was its fourth league championship in the last five showings, while the LU women’s track program swept the Conference USA and A-Sun Indoor and Outdoor Championships in each of Fairley’s final three seasons with the Flames and the men’s squad swept the league titles in six of his last seven seasons with the program. Prior to working up the ranks on staff at Liberty, Fairley was a decorated student-athlete at NCAA Division III Central College, where he won the men’s steeplechase national title in 2018 and finished runner-up in 2017. Fairley notched a third All-American honor by placing 26th at the 2017 NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships.
As a seven-time Iowa Conference event champion, Failey broke CC’s steeplechase record with a time of 8:57.39 and posted personal-best marks of 4:16.42 in the mile, 8:23.87 in the 3,000-meters and 14:42.67 in the 5,000-meters. Fairley was named the USTFCCCA Central Region Men’s Cross Country and Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year as a senior in 2018 and also secured CoSIDA Academic All-American and USTFCCCA Scholar-Athlete recognition that year. Fairley continued his athletic training from 2019 through 2022 as a triathlete for Liberty’s Triathlon Club, earning his professional triathlon racing license after winning the Claremont EDR Race in 2019 and taking sixth place in the draft legal race at the 2022 Collegiate Triathlon National Championships. Fairley holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Central, a master’s degree in sport management from Liberty and has progressed toward a second master’s degree in biblical studies. Fairley is married to his wife, Adelyn, who was also a standout collegiate distance athlete at Liberty with 20 all-conference honors, nine individual league titles and the A-Sun’s 5,000-meter record time of 15:54.