Former Indiana University Quarterback Brendan Sorsby Entering Gambling Addiction Program, Bet on IU Games in 2022 Former IU football quarterback Brendan Sorsby is entering a gambling addiction program. His current team, Texas Tech, said in a Monday afternoon release Sorsby is on an indefinite leave of absence. A highly sought after quarterback in the most recent transfer portal cycle, Sorsby is reportedly under investigation by the NCAA for a long-term pattern of sports gambling. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Sorsby’s sports gambling does include bets on Indiana games when he was a freshman at IU in 2022. “According to ESPN sources, Sorsby bet on Indiana football while redshirting for IU as a true freshman in 2022, a season in which he played in a single game as a reserve,” Thamel said on X. “The bets in 2022, per sources, were on Indiana to win and none came in a game in which Sorsby appeared.” Indiana Athletics provided the following statement to The South-Central Indiana News Network: “Today, we were made aware of a media report regarding a student-athlete who last competed for our football program in 2023. Indiana University has no further comment at the time.”
Then Indiana coach Tom Allen recruited Sorsby to Bloomington after Josh Hoover, who is now IU’s anticipated 2026 starter, decommitted from the program in late 2021. Sorsby only appeared in one game in 2022, a 45-14 loss to Penn State. According to Thamel’s report, Sorsby did not gamble on that contest. The 6-3, 230-pound native of Denton, Texas split time at quarterback for IU with Tayven Jackson in 2023. He threw for 1,587 yards in 10 games for Indiana with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He rushed for 477 sack adjusted yards with four touchdowns. His completion percentage was 57% and his quarterback rating was 129.88. He started the last six games of the season and appeared in 10 contests for the Hoosiers in 2023. After Allen was fired in late 2023, Sorsby entered the transfer portal. He played for Cincinnati in 2024 and 2025. Sorsby’s future at the college level is in jeopardy. The NCAA has a policy against any type of gambling by athletes on “intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competition.”
Indiana University’s Avery Parker Named the Big Ten Softball Player of the Week Indiana Softball senior Avery Parker was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Week for her outstanding play over from April 22-26 against Valparaiso and at Michigan. Parker led the Hoosiers to a 3-1 week with a 14-1 win over Valparaiso and a 2-1 series victory at Michigan, including an 11-2 (F/5) run rule on Sunday. Individually, she hit .500 (6-for-12) on the week with five home runs and a double. She totaled 10 RBI and nine runs scored while also drawing a walk and was hit by pitch twice. She did not strike out once all weekend. In the Sunday win at Michigan and against Valparaiso, she had two home runs in both of those games.
Indiana University’s Owen ten Oever Named the Big Ten Baseball Freshman of the Week Following a fantastic week at the plate, freshman designated hitter Owen ten Oever was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday afternoon. During the Jeff Mercer era in Bloomington, ten Oever is the 15th different player to earn the honor. It’s the fifth-straight season that at least two IU players have been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week in the same year. During last week’s action, ten Oever was the most productive player in the IU lineup. He hit .533 in four games with eight hits, two home runs and six RBIs. He hit a grand slam in the first inning of a win over Ball State and provided his first career three-hit day in Sunday’s contest with Iowa. Of IU’s nine starting position players over the weekend, six of them have now earned a Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor in the last two seasons. The young, designated hitter joins redshirt freshman catcher Brayden Ricketts among the conference’s best young players this year. Sophomores Hogan Denny, Jake Hanley, Will Moore and Cooper Malamazian all win the award a season ago.
Four Indiana University Wrestlers Place at the 2026 U.S. Open in Las Vegas Indiana Wrestling had 10 wrestlers competing at the 2026 U.S Open in the Senior and U20 levels over the weekend. The tournaments took place at The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas from Thursday to Sunday. Four of Indiana’s participants finished on the podium. Hunter Sturgill took second place at 72 kg in U20 Greco-Roman. By finishing in second, Sturgill claimed a spot on the U.S. team for the Pan American Championships. In addition to Sturgill on the Greco-Roman front, Lucas Peters claimed All-American status at 63 kg in U20, taking fifth place. Two Hoosiers earned All-American honors in U20 Freestyle as Jackson Blum got fifth (61 kg) and Chris Crawford got sixth (79 kg).
The Hoosiers’ entire competitor list is listed below: U20 Greco-Roman: Lucas Peters, Marlo Clark and Hunter Sturgill Senior Freestyle: Joey Buttler, Gabe Sollars and Jacob Bullock U20 Freestyle: Gavin Jendreas, Jackson Blum, Marlo Clark, Lucas Peters, Hunter Sturgill, Christopher Crawford and Caleb Marzolino
Katherine Legge Aims for her Fifth Indy 500 Start Katherine Legge announced plans to race in the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Her entry will bring the field to 33 cars. She’ll take the wheel for HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing. Her primary sponsor will be e.l.f. Beauty. Legge aims to qualify for her fifth Indianapolis 500. In 2023, she became the fastest woman to qualify for the race after posting an average speed of 231.07 mph during her run. Her best finish in the 500 was in 2012, when she was 22nd. “We worked incredibly hard to be back at this year’s Indianapolis 500, and I don’t take a single moment of it for granted. I’m beyond grateful to e.l.f. Cosmetics for believing that women deserve to take up space in every arena—including this one,” Legge said in a statement.
“Together, we’re proving that when you invest in a woman’s dream, there’s no limit to what she can achieve. It honestly feels like Christmas being back at the 500,” she said. “Every time I return, I gain a deeper appreciation for what it takes—not just to compete here, but to earn the opportunity to be here in the first place.” Legge spent the 2025 season in NASCAR, racing in ARCA, the Xfinity Series and Cup Series.
Taylor University’s Nathan Frady Named the Crossroads League Baseball Pitcher of the Week Taylor University’s Nathan Frady has been selected as the Crossroads League Baseball Pitcher of the Week, the conference office revealed on Monday. Frady, a junior from Bloomfield, Indiana, fired seven shutout innings (career high) for No. 1 Taylor in its 6-5 win at No. 24 Marian to clinch the CL Championship. The right-hander entered the game in the sixth inning and held MU scoreless with just four hits, no walks and seven strikeouts (career high) until the Trojans won in 12. Following his stellar outing, Frady has now logged five straight mound appearances without surrendering an earned run, with the scoreless streak spanning 18.1 combined innings.
The recognition marks the ninth Crossroads League Baseball weekly award earned by a Trojan this season and the fifth CL Pitcher of the Week selection. Taylor Athletics has now garnered 60 Crossroads League, WHAC and MSFA Player-of-the-Week awards and six NAIA National Athlete-of-the-Week honors during the 2025-26 campaign. No. 1 Taylor will open the CL Tournament on Thursday, with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch at Spring Arbor’s Hank Burbridge Field. The Trojans will match up against the lowest-remaining seed following Today’s play-in games.
Noblesville Boom name veteran sports and media executive Chris Defendis president of business operations The Noblesville Boom today announced the selection of Chris Defendis as president of business operations, bringing more than two decades of senior leadership experience across sports, media and live entertainment to the organization. Defendis most recently served as president of Xtreme One Entertainment/XFC Global, where he led all aspects of the organization’s business operations, including ticketing, sponsorships, marketing, media distribution, partnerships, live events and community engagement.
In his new role, Defendis will oversee all business operations for the Boom, including ticketing, marketing, corporate partnerships, community outreach and fan experience. “Chris brings the kind of well-rounded experience that is critical as we continue to build the Boom’s business and presence in Noblesville,” said Chief Operating Officer of the Noblesville Boom Barry Gibson. “He has led revenue strategy, built high-performing teams and delivered strong fan engagement across a variety of platforms. Just as important, he understands how to connect a team to its community.”
Prior to his current role, Defendis held senior leadership positions with WWE, Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO, where he led large-scale revenue portfolios, managed key partnerships and drove audience growth initiatives across global platforms. Defendis’ background spans traditional sports, media and emerging entertainment properties, with deep experience in revenue strategy, sponsorships, media rights and live event execution. He has also served as a primary representative with league offices, media partners, sponsors and civic leaders throughout his career. “I’m excited to join the Boom and be part of building something meaningful in Noblesville and Hamilton County,” Defendis said. “There is an exciting opportunity to create a strong connection with fans and the community while delivering a great experience on and off the court. I look forward to supporting the vision Mayor Chris Jensen has helped shape for Noblesville as a vibrant, growing community, and for the Boom to contribute in a meaningful way.” A Hamilton County resident, Defendis is actively involved in the Hamilton County community. He previously served on the board of Westfield Youth Sports and has coached youth baseball for several years. He and his wife have two children. The Boom recently wrapped their first regular season at the newly renamed Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile. Fans can visit NoblesvilleBoom.com for more information and sign up for updates for the upcoming season.