
Eleven Indiana University Athletic Programs earn perfect APR scores
Indiana University students who compete in intercollegiate athletics continue to excel in the classroom according to the latest NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) data released today. Eleven of IU’s 22 programs earned perfect 1,000 APR scores for the 2021-22 academic year. The eleven IU programs that earned a perfect APR score for the 2021-22 academic year are Men’s Basketball, Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Golf, Rowing, Men’s Soccer, Softball, Women’s Swimming and Diving, Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis, Women’s Track and Field, and Volleyball.
As a department, IU’s combined single-year APR score was 984, and all of IU’s 22 programs easily met the required four-year average of 930 to be eligible for NCAA Championship competition during the 2023-24 season. The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance.
The most recent APR scores are based on a multi-year formula of scores from the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 academic years. To compete in 2023-24 NCAA championships, teams must earn a 930 four-year average APR. The goal of the NCAA’s academic performance program is improvement, not punishment. Not only does the program ensure accountability for student-athletes, teams and institutions, but it also provides fairness by considering individual circumstances.
IU Athletics Program – 2021-22 APR/Multi-Year APR (2018-19 thru 2021-22)
Baseball 979/975, Men’s Basketball 1,000 /1,000, Men’s Cross Country 980/976, Football 965/976, Men’s Golf 1,000/1,000, Men’s Soccer 1,000/995, Men’s Swimming 951/984, Men’s Tennis 1,000/992, Men’s Track 945/958, Men’s Wrestling 990/982, Women’s Basketball 978/ 990, Women’s Cross Country 1,000/1,000, Women’s Rowing 1,000/995, Field Hockey 987/983, Women’s Golf 920/983, Women’s Softball 1,000/1,000, Women’s Soccer 990/988, Women’s Swimming 1,000/998, Women’s Tennis 1,000/1,000, Women’s Track 1,000/991
Women’s Volleyball 1,000/986 and Women’s Water Polo 967/978.
Indiana University Football lands its Second Commitment for 2024
Indiana picked up its second commitment in the class of 2024 on Tuesday morning. Mitch Verstegen, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound offensive lineman from Kaukauna, Wisc., announced his decision to join the Hoosiers on Twitter. Playing right tackle, Verstegen was a unanimous first-team all-region selection at Kaukauna High School, contributing to the Ghosts’ run to the state semifinals.
Verstegen chose Indiana over an offer from South Dakota State, and he also received interest from Minnesota, North Dakota, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Verstegen is not currently ranked on any recruiting sites. Indiana offered Verstegen during the program’s Spring Football Saturday event on April 15, and he committed to the Hoosiers a few weeks later. Along with coach Tom Allen, new offensive line coach Bob Bostad played a role in Verstegen’s recruitment. Bostad enters his first year at Indiana in 2023, bringing prior experience at Wisconsin and in the NFL.
Indiana University Softball’s Regular Season finale against Michigan State to be televised on Big Ten Network
Indiana softball’s regular season finale against Michigan State on Sunday, May 7, has been selected as the Big Ten Network’s wild card game and will be broadcasted live on BTN. The first pitch has been rescheduled to 12pm instead of its originally scheduled time of 1pm. The Hoosiers will face the Spartans on Friday at Andy Mohr Field with a 6pm first pitch and the teams will meet Saturday at 2pm. The Hoosiers are 37-15 overall and 15-5 in the Big Ten.
IHSAA tables Four Class proposal until June 22nd
During its annual review of the by-laws on Monday afternoon, the Board of Directors of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. tabled a proposal that changes the way schools are classified in the four-class sports. The Board of Directors, led by this year’s President Chris Conley of Delta High School and Vice President Kye Denney of Wes-Del High School, approved 12 proposals, three (3) failed to receive enough support, and several others were tabled during the meeting in Indianapolis.
All proposals are considered in the order that the rule appears within the current by-laws. The Board of Directors has four options on each proposal: affirm, deny, table or amend a rule. A simple majority is necessary to act on any measure and all approved measures become effective immediately unless otherwise noted. After lengthy conversation, the Board opted to table the proposal for further study which would begin classifying schools in the four-class sports of baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball using fixed enrollment figures. Since 1997-98, the rule has required equally distributing schools among the four classes.
The proposal, which will now be taken up at the June 22, 2023, Executive Committee meeting, was submitted by Commissioner Paul Neidig on behalf of the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (IIAAA). It calls for the following breaks:
Class 4A: 1,400 enrollment and up, Class 3A: 600-1,399 enrollment, Class 2A: 325-599 enrollment and Class 1A: 324 enrollment and down. Due to the above tabling of the four-class proposal, the other proposals affecting the Tournament Success Factor one from Yorktown Principal Stacy Brewer and another by Board member and Barr-Reeve Principal Jeff Doyle – were subsequently tabled as well.
Three Indiana University Wrestlers finish on the podium in Las Vegas
After four days of wrestling, a handful of athletes from Indiana Wrestling’s program and Indiana’s Olympic Regional Training Center (Indiana RTC) have concluded competition in the 2023 U.S. Open in the Senior and U20 levels. There were four Hoosiers who competed at the Senior level, Cayden Rooks (65 kg), Derek Gilcher (74 kg), Donnell Washington (79 kg) and Jacob Bullock (125 kg). Indiana RTC athlete Isaiah White also competed at 74 kg of the Senior level. Cole Rhemrev (65 kg), Tyler Lillard (74 kg) and Gabe Sollars (92 kg) competed at the U20 level. All eight athletes competed in freestyle in their respective divisions. Additionally, Indiana alum Nate Jackson competed at 92 kg in the Senior Freestyle division for New York Athletic Club.
Of the group, three Hoosiers found their way to the podium. Gilcher went 7-2 to earn fifth place at 74 kg at the Senior level. Jackson also placed at the Senior level, taking third at 92 kg. With a Final X spot still available at 92 kg., Jackson has qualified for the Senior level World Team Trials. In the U20 Nationals, Sollars worked his way through the bracket to finish in sixth at 92 kg. Sollars also qualified for the U20 World Team Trials with his placing. The Senior World Team Trials will be in Colorado Springs, Colo. on May 20. The U20 World Team Trials will take place from June 2 to June 4 in Geneva, Ohio.
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