Record 115 Indiana University Athletes receive Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award
The Big Ten Conference announced Tuesday that a school record 115 Indiana University student-athletes have been named recipients of the 2022-23 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award. The number includes 20 Indiana student-athletes that maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA during the previous academic term. 2023 marks the third straight year in which at least 100 Hoosiers received the award.
“This is a special day as we recognize and celebrate the record 115 IU student-athletes who have been honored as Big Ten Distinguished Scholars for the 2022-23 year,” said IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson. “These individuals have achieved at the very highest levels academically, all while juggling the significant demands that come with being a Big Ten student-athlete. Congratulations to these students for this tremendous accomplishment. We are proud of how well they represent not only our department and their programs, but Indiana University as a whole.”
Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades. The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher for a student-athlete’s academic career.
The full list of Indiana’s Big Ten Distinguished Scholars for the 2022-23 academic year can be found below.
Baseball- Austin Bode, Ty Bothwell, Phillip Glasser, Evan Goforth, Gabe Levy and Adrian Vega
Men’s Basketball- Anthony Leal
Women’s Basketball-Grace Berger, Kiandra Browne, Mackenzie Holmes and Mona Zaric
Women’s Golf- Valerie Clancy, Morgan Dabagia and Beatriz Junqueira
Field Hockey-Taylor Etling, Kayla Kiwak, Arabella Loveridge and Kennedy Reardon
Football-Nicholas Grieser, Cooper Jones, Beau Robbins, JH Tevis and Trey Walker
Rowing-Abbey Armstrong, Madeline Anderson, Jessica Bastos, Sophie Carmosino, Ara Cowper, Alyse Franklin, Jania Hackett ,Lily Haupt
Nicole Killeen, Libby Krueger, Avery Thorpe and Reagan Walhof
Men’s Soccer- Luke Boha, Andrew Goldsworthy, Quinten Helmer, Austin Himebaugh, Alex McGill, Daniel Munie, Bryant Pratt, Nyk Sessock and Ben Yeagley Women’s Soccer-Ava Akeel, Anna Bennett, Sofia Black, Jen Blitchok, Megan Wampler and Paige Webber
Softball-Aaliyah Andrews, Cora Bassett, Brooke Benson, Tatum Hayes, Heather Johnson, Macy Montgomery
Men’s Swimming and Diving-Luke Barr, Mikey Calvillo, Mason Carlton, Jacob Destrampe, Quinn Henninger, Josh Matheny, Joseph Radde
Maxwell Reich, Carson Tyler and Jassen Yep
Women’s Swimming and Diving-Megan Carter, Morgan Casey, Mariah Denigan, Anne Fowler, Tarrin Gilliland, Elyse Heiser, Mackenzie Looze, Cat Minic, Grace Pangburn, Noelle Peplowski, Mia Ristic, Margaret Rogers, Zain Smith and Ashley Turak
Men’s Tennis- Nishanth Basavareddy, Carson Haskins, Mac Rogers and Jagger Saylor
Women’s Tennis-Mila Mejic
Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country- Micah Camble, Tyler Carrel, Tristan Forsythe, Dustin Horter, Camden Marshall, Tyler Sierks, Hunter Smith, Skylar Stidam and Adam Strouf
Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country- Jenna Barker, Madelyn Dalton, Emily Herndon, Taylor Jarosinski, Audrey Mendrys, Claire Overfelt
Mikaela Ramirez, Sarah Schmitt, Alyssa Skorge, Elizabeth Stanhope and Mariah Wehrle
Water Polo-Zoe Crouch, Lanna DeBow, Robyn Greenslade, Grace Hathaway, Katherine Hawkins and Sophia Sollie
Wrestling- Nico Bolivar and Santos Cantu Volleyball-Haley Armstrong and Kaley Rammelsberg
Indiana University Men’s Basketball officially announces 2023-2024 non-conference schedule
The Indiana men’s basketball program will host a seven-game non-conference home slate, highlighted by a matchup with preseason No. 1 Kansas. “I think our non-conference schedule will prepare us for the toughness of the Big Ten,” said IU head coach Mike Woodson. “I am thrilled with the chance to return to Madison Square Garden and Atlanta for three great games against high-major opponents. “Playing in Indianapolis is always a priority for us, and we are excited for the matchup with a well-coached Harvard squad. I know our fans cannot wait to see Kansas at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It should be a great battle between two of the most historically significant programs in the country.”
Indiana, who will not face a true road game until Big Ten Conference play, opens the season with three-straight home tilts at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall as hosts to Florida Gulf Coast (Nov. 7), Army (Nov. 12), and Wright State (Nov. 16). The next four scheduled non-conference games will be neutral site locations beginning with the Empire Classic on Nov. 19 and 20 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The four-team tournament will feature the ninth-ranked UConn Huskies according to ESPN’s Way Too Early Top 25, No. 25 Texas, and border rival Louisville. Semifinal matchups, television coverage, and the on-sale date for tickets will be announced in the future.
IU will then head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for a date with Harvard on Nov. 26. The game will mark the 49th-straight season in which the Hoosiers have played a game in Indianapolis. Indiana will travel to Atlanta for a Holiday Hoopsgiving showdown with Auburn on Dec. 9 at the State Farm Arena. The Jayhawks will make their return trip to Bloomington on Dec. 16. The Hoosiers close the month of December with games against Morehead State (Dec. 19), North Alabama (Dec. 21), and Kennesaw State (Dec. 29) in front of Hoosier Nation. Hoosier Hysteria presented by Smithville is scheduled for Oct. 20. For the second-straight season, Indiana will host a pair of exhibition games prior to the official start of the year. IU will take on Indianapolis on Oct. 30 and Marian on Nov. 3. The Big Ten schedule, tip times, and television designations will be made at a later date.
Former Indiana University Men’s Soccer player Aidan Morris named Major League Soccer All-Star
Former Indiana men’s soccer student-athlete Aidan Morris continues to trend in his young career as the fourth-year pro was named an Major League Soccer All-Star on Tuesday. The MLS All-Stars will face Premier League side Arsenal on Sunday, July 19, on Audi Field in Washington D.C. Fans can watch the match on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Morris is the 11th Hoosier, 10th player, to make an MLS All-Star roster and first since Drew Moor in 2015. Indiana men’s soccer players have totaled 12 appearances in all-star matches. Morris is currently representing the United States Men’s National Team in Gold Cup competition after he earned his first cap in February. The Hoosier started the United States’ first Gold Cup opener versus Jamaica on Saturday, playing all 90 minutes. The Columbus Crew midfielder has led his club to fifth in the Eastern Conference, starting 18 of 19 matches his lone absence due to national team duty. Morris ranks second in the league in tackles won (41), fifth in accurate pass percentage (92.1 – min. 50 percent games played) and 12th in interceptions (31).
Hoosiers in the MLS All-Star Game- Aidan Morris (2023), Drew Moor (2015), Caleb Porter (2014 Manager), Kevin Alston (2010)
Chris Klein (2004), Pat Noonan (2004), Juergen Sommer (2002), Dema Kovalenko (2001, 2002, 2004), Chad Deering (2001, 2002), Mike Clark (2000) and Brian Maisonnueve (1999, 2002)
Bloomington North Graduate Will Klein selected for Sirius/XM Baseball All Star Futures Game
Bloomington North Graduate and Omaha Storm Chasers relief pitcher Will Klein has been named to the American League’s roster for the 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Saturday July 8. Klein is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 22 prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization. This marks the second season a Storm Chaser was named to the Futures Game roster, after Nick Pratto was originally selected to participate in the game in 2022, before he was recalled by the Royals for his Major League debut.
The 24-year-old was drafted in the 5th Round by Kansas City in the 2020 MLB Draft, 135th overall, out of Eastern Illinois University. Across 91 appearances over the last three seasons, Klein has struck out 231 batters in 149.1 innings (13.92 strikeouts per nine innings), giving him the 5th-highest K/9 in Minor League Baseball since 2021 (minimum 140.0 innings pitched). Klein earned first team All-Conference honors, and first team all-area honors. During his senior year Klein pitched 17.2 innings holding an ERA of 1.98 and collected 30 strikeouts while playing for Head Coach Richard Hurt at Bloomington North. After beginning the year back with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, Klein earned his first promotion to Triple-A Omaha earlier this month, on June 13. In 4 games with the Storm Chasers since, he’s allowed just two earned runs in 6.0 innings (3.00 ERA) and had recorded 11 strikeouts. In his Triple-A debut on June 14 vs. Columbus, Klein fired 2.0 scoreless innings and struck out five, including striking out his side in his first inning with Omaha.
Klein’s fastball has averaged 97.5 mph over his six innings with Omaha and he has thrown the five fastest pitches by a Storm Chaser pitcher this season and 13 of the fastest 20, including a team-best 100.7mph fastball in his outing on June 21 at Rochester. Between the two levels this season, Klein has pitched in 25 games of relief with a 3.31 ERA (13 ER in 35.1 IP) and 55 strikeouts (14.01 K/9), with the highest K/9 among Royals minor league pitchers that have thrown at least 35.0 innings in 2023. Prior to getting called up to the Chasers, Klein compiled six consecutive outings in Double-A of 11.0 scoreless innings with 17 strikeouts and just four walks in that span. The 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game takes place at 7pm at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, featuring a seven-inning contest between the American League and National League. Fans can tune in to watch Klein represent the Royals and Storm Chasers with the game airing exclusively on Peacock.
Las Vegas Aces complete the regular seasons series sweep of Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever (5-9) fell to the Las Vegas Aces on Monday night, 88-80, in the third and final matchup of the regular season. Despite three losses to Las Vegas this season, Indiana fell by an average of 8.3 points per contest against the Aces. Approaching Monday night, the reigning WNBA champions previously were outscoring opponents by an average of 15.9 points per game, the largest scoring differential in league history after the first 13 games of a season. The Fever conclude the four-game road trip on Thursday at the Phoenix Mercury at 10pm. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page and NBA TV.
Indiana was led in the scoring column by guard Erica Wheeler and WNBA All-Star Aliyah Boston, who both notched 20 points on the night. Both were followed by Kelsey Mitchell with 14 points and NaLyssa Smith with 13 points. Smith also contributed 14 rebounds to record her eighth double-double of the season, while Wheeler dished out three assists to go along with her season-high offensive output. Boston recorded her fourth double-double of the season as she pulled-down 14 rebounds to go along with three assists, two steals and two blocks. The occasion marked only the 13th time in WNBA history a player has recorded a 20/14/3/2/2 stat line and only the second time for a rookie, per Across the Timeline. Former Indiana Hoosier Grace Berger missed her third consecutive game due to a left ankle injury.
After opening the matchup on a 7-2 scoring run, the Fever gained momentum to start the matchup. The Indiana defense forced four Aces turnovers within the first three minutes of play and held Las Vegas to shooting 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from the floor throughout the quarter. Led by Mitchell, who recorded 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting during the quarter, Indiana maintained the lead and finished the first frame ahead, 23-20. Though the Aces started to find rhythm offensively to begin the second quarter, the Fever offense continued to roll as well. Six Fever players contributed in the scoring column in the second quarter, highlighted by Boston’s seven points and Smith’s six points. After a quarter of back-and-forth play, the Fever were successful in hanging on to a 49-48 lead going into the intermission.
Both teams opened the second half with a quick pace, as the third quarter featured seven lead changes. Boston notched 10 points within the quarter on 3-of-5 shooting and pulled down four rebounds to lead the scoring attack in the pursuit of the Aces lead. Indiana remained in close reach of the lead though trailing the Aces, 69-64, at the end of the third. Indiana held Las Vegas to only two points within the first five minutes of fourth quarter play as the Aces finished the fourth frame shooting 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from the court. The Fever were successful in erasing an eventual 10-point deficit with a 10-1 scoring run in the fourth quarter. Las Vegas quickly returned the favor and regained the lead, closing out the game on an 11-2 run over the last 2:14 of the game.
For Las Vegas, Chelsea Gray was the leading scorer of the matchup as she notched a season-high 25 points on the night, followed by A’ja Wilson who recorded 24. In addition, Kelsey Plum had 17 points and Princeton Indiana native Jackie Young had 16 points in the winning effort. Wilson tallied 22 of her 24 points in the first half, which tied her career high for most points in a half but was held to only two points in the second half by the Indiana defense. The Aces center also recorded a double-double on the night, as she pulled down 10 rebounds while also earning three assists, three blocks and three steals. Las Vegas, who converts the least number of turnovers in the league, was forced to 15 turnovers on the night, while Indiana recorded a season-low eight turnovers. The Aces also completed a season-high 27 free throws, shooting 96.4 percent (27-of-28) from the charity stripe.
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