By Nick Jenkinson-SCINN Sports Director
As we come to the end of 2025, I did this before and wanted to do this again my top moments in sports that I covered or attended this season.
1. Indiana Football-There is no bigger story in sports then Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers. 13-0 Big Ten Champions number 1 team in the country a Heisman Trophy Winner in Fernando Mendoza and playing Alabama in the Rose Bowl and favored. Covered every home game plus the Purdue Game at Ross Ade and the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil and every other road game I watched with friends and was losing my mind. It’s has been amazing two year run and not done yet. But have talked about how my dad would be losing his mind if he saw was happening as hard as it is to believe he would love every moment of it.
2. The Trips to Purdue-Most IU fans have no desire to attend any game in West Lafayette but as most people know it hits different for me with my family connections that I have up there with a lot of family still living up there. I was fortunate to attend three IU-Purdue games there in 2025 the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Games at Mackey Arena and the Football Game at Ross Ade. Like meatloaf two out of three wins isn’t bad. Mackey Arena is the loudest place ever and that men’s game was nuts and I lot of fun to be part of. I love this rivalry and there will be more trips up there in 2026 to see the Hoosiers and the Boilermakers.
3-Big Ten Championships-Not only did I get to cover Both Big Ten Basketball Tournaments I was at Lucas Oil Stadium for the Big Ten Championship between the Number 1 and 2 Teams in the Country and Indiana won the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 1967 and just third conference title with the other coming in 1945. The atmospheres are electric and it’s fun to see all the teams in one place and Indianapolis is the best host City.
4-Seeing UConn Women’s Basketball in Hinkle Fieldhouse-I was able to see Paige Bueckers Geno Auriemma and the top ranked UConn Huskies against Butler in a sold-out Hinkle Fieldhouse in February. We knew the game was going to be a blowout but it’s the most iconic brand in Women’s College Basketball and best player in the game and now in the WNBA. When a team like that plays close to home you have to take the opportunity to go and see them play and that was a cool moment for not only me but my friend who wanted to go with because it’s UConn, so I was glad to see them live.
5-The Little 500-of course if you think of Bloomington and IU besides basketball you think of The Little 500 and since 2022, I have covered both women’s and men’s races and this year was awesome because they had back-to-back champions on both sides. The Women’s race was sprint to the finish and the Men’s was a runaway. Covering it gives me a new perspective and it’s awesome to see the behind the Scenes of how hard they all work to make it all happen.
6-IU Volleyball hosting the First Two Rounds of the NCAA Tournament-For the first time since 2010 the Indiana Hoosiers made the NCAA Tournament and hosted the first two rounds, and the first round was on my birthday beating Toledo and then the next day beating Colorado. Had a lot of fun celebrating with Hoosier the Bison along with Lenee Beaumont and Sydney Fenn who were there for the Toledo game and wished me a happy birthday. Steve Aird has done a great job, and this team is on the rise and IU Women’s Volleyball could be a fixture in the postseason for years to come.
7-The Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet-as most know I have attended every Banquet since it started in 2011 and since September 2022, I have been a board member and the last three have been as board member. It means so much to me being born and raised here and all the hard-working board members and we worked year around to make it all work. We are getting ready for the 2026 Banquet on July 24th, and we will be announcing another great class for 2026 very soon. It’s been honor and pleasure and they do a great job and it’s an awesome night and circle your calendar event.
8-The Indiana Class Basketball All-Star Classic-Every father’s day weekend the top underclassmen from around the State of Indiana play in the Indiana Class Basketball All-Star Classic at Anderson University which was co-founded by my friend Steve Stremming and I have been helping out the last two years doing the scorebook for all eight games which boys play on Friday and the Girls play on Saturday and it’s a well-run event and the kids love playing in it and some have played for two and three years if invited. It was cool for me in June because there was a girl from Bloomington North and one from Owen Valley and I work with her aunt so it was fun go back and forth with the folks on the table because we all are from different parts of the state but we love the game rooting on the kids that are from our local area and will be helping out this coming June.
9-Covering the GIECO HS Nationals Basketball Tournament-For the second year in a row the ESPN GIECO HS Nationals Basketball Tournament came to Central Indiana and this time it was at Hamilton Southeastern HS after it was Brownsburg the year before. Teams from all over the country mainly prep schools compete to become the “National Champion” this year I saw Cameron and Cayden Boozer who are at Duke Kyian Anthony at Syracuse and Daryn Peterson at Kansas among others and a lot of talented players in the Girls Side. Sitting on the baseline I was on national TV a few times and I was getting pictures sent to me which was cool. With the Final Four in Indianapolis this coming April the plan is for them to come back because in 49 States it’s just basketball but this Indiana.
10-The Rosey Roundup-Twice a year the Rosey Roundup is held at Stookey’s Restaurant in Thorntown Indiana and it’s an annual gathering of former Coaches, Players Media and fans from all over the state talking basketball and sharing a meal. The last couple of times I have been asked my the moderator to get up and speak about my experiences covering the National HS Basketball tournament and IU Football. So it’s a lot of fun and a lot of people I have been able to meet through the event former players and coaches and looking forward to the next one in April 2026.
Honorable Mentions
WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium-In February the Royal Rumble came to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and it was awesome to see in person. I have been to several WWE Live Events though the years in Indianapolis, Chicago and Cleveland and this was the second premium live event I have been to as I went to Survivor Series in Cleveland years ago. The last royal rumble for John Cena and everyone thought he would win and Jey Uso won and the crowd went nuts. It was a lot of fun and loved crowd reactions when people came out or where about to be eliminated.
IU Soccer-I cover Both IU Men’s and Women’s Soccer, and it was a lot of fun this year. The men had several exciting games and the Women under a new coach and former IU Player improved and had a huge win over Penn State. The coaches and players have been awesome to talk to on both sides and appreciate it.
IU Basketball-The Women lost in the Second Round at South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament and we know that men got a new coach in Darian DeVries and the rebuild that he has ahead of him along with the women’s team. But still growing up my whole life as an IU fan and now covering this team all the time it’s something I never take for granted.
Visiting Chuck Crabb-When I started my podcast in January 2021, I was asked who is your first guest going to be and I knew it had to be none other than Chuck Crabb who was the Voice of IU Athletics forever until he retired a couple years ago. Chuck watched me grow up and he and my dad had the upmost respect for each other and Chuck helped me out on some school projects throughout the years. So, when I told him was starting a podcast and I wanted him to be my first guest he was happy and honored to be part of it. Chuck is in Florida now, but Every time I see him, we swap stories and have a good time catching up. He was home in April, and I was down in July and it’s always a blast and he tells me all the time you are my source for all things IU sports so i appreciate the support and he will always be the GOAT of IU Athletics.
Having Friends and Family in Town for IU Games-a lot of my friends say when they come to Bloomington even family and we go out they say you know everybody and yes that is true with the amount of people and things I have gotten to do over the years. Some of my friends call me the mayor which is Awesome and I love it. And we tailgate before football games when they are here. They get to see some of the advantages of knowing everybody in IU Athletics events like getting shuttled to the press box and going into the press room before IU basketball games because the security people know you and you ask hey I can I do this and they say yeah it’s okay but do it now since It’s not busy. So, it’s always important to treat people with respect because they will do good things in return for you and it’s a lot of fun and more to come in 2026.
Hoosier The Bison-For the first time in a long long time the Indiana Hoosiers have a mascot and it’s Hoosier the Bison and I love it. Mascots are fun and they have done a great job with him, and the fans love it. I have two pictures with him and when I told him it was my birthday, he was cool to do a picture flexing our muscles and I appreciate it. I know Hoosier Nation loves having a mascot and we love Hoosier The Bison.
The Oregon Duck-We all know that I love Mascots and since Oregon is now in the Big Ten is no secret that he is one of my favorite mascots ever and seeing him in person at the Big Ten Basketball Tournaments and all of his antics was awesome. I hope to be able to get a picture with him one of these days and it’s going to happen. But he is a classic and yes some think I am obsessed but Mascots make College Sports Better and the Oregon Duck is one of the best of all time and who would have thought a few years ago he would be a part of the Big Ten but I love it and he is going to keep being the one and only Oregon Duck.
So, there you have it my top sports moments of 2025. It’s been a blessing and privilege to get to be part of all these incredible moments. 2026 is going to be a big year and a lot more memorable moments to come. So I appreciate all of you for following my stuff. It’s been quite the year and 2026 is about to be another great year. So Happy New Year to all of you and here is to an awesome 2026.