2023 Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame Class announced
Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson announced Tuesday that IU Athletics will welcome six new members to its Athletics Hall of Fame. The six individuals comprise the 40th class, bringing the roster of inductees to 249. Derek Drouin (Men’s Track and Field, 2010-13), Aleksey Korol (Men’s Soccer, 1996-99), Christina Loukas (Women’s Diving, 2006-09), Tina McCall-Waters (Women’s Tennis, 1978-81), George McGinnis (Men’s Basketball, 1970-71), and Larry Rink (Team Physician, 1980-present) will be officially inducted at the annual Hall of Fame dinner on Friday, Sept. 22, and will be recognized at halftime of the Indiana-Akron football game at Memorial Stadium the following day. A limited number of tickets are available to Friday’s induction ceremony and can be purchased here.
“Indiana University Athletics has a tradition of excellence that rivals any other intercollegiate athletic program in the country, and this year’s class is evidence of that rich history,” said Dolson. “The 2023 class includes multiple Olympians, NCAA individual and team champions, pioneering students and staff, and an iconic figure in the sport of basketball. We are proud to be associated with such a world-class group, I extend my most sincere congratulations and thanks to these individuals, their families, and their loved ones.” The IU Athletics Hall of Fame, established in 1982 by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics in conjunction with the Varsity Club and the I-Association, recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the prestige of IU both on and off the field of competition.
Derek Drouin (Men’s Track and Field, 2010-13)- One of the most decorated student-athletes in IU Track and Field history, Drouin won an Olympic gold medal in the high jump in 2016 and a bronze medalist in 2012 while representing his home country of Canada. By winning Olympic gold, he became the first IU Track and Field alum to win an individual Olympic gold since Milt Campbell (decathlon) and Greg Bell (long jump) in 1956. Drouin’s Olympic successes were mirrored by his dominance at the collegiate level. He is the only student-athlete to ever win five NCAA high jump titles (three indoor, two outdoor). He also won seven Big Ten titles, was a seven-time All-American, and a three-time IU Male Athlete of the Year. In his senior season in 2013, he won the Bowerman Award as college track and field’s top performer, regardless of event, as well as the Jesse Owens Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year.
Aleksey Korol (Men’s Soccer, 1996-99)- Korol was a dominant offensive force during arguably the greatest four-year stretch in IU Men’s Soccer history. Indiana went 82-9-3 during Korol’s four years with the program, a run that included Big Ten titles each year, Final Four berths in his final three seasons, and NCAA championships in his final two. As a senior he was named Soccer America’s National Player of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year after becoming one of only seven IU players to score 20 goals in a single season. Korol was at his best when it mattered most, as his 12 career goals and five assists in 17 NCAA Tournament contests made him the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Tournament history. He ranks fourth in IU history in scoring with 149 points on 57 goals and 35 assists. He was also named to Soccer America’s Team of the Decade for the 1990s, one of only five IU Soccer players to earn a spot on an All-Decade team.
Christina Loukas (Women’s Diving, 2006-09)- At both the Big Ten and NCAA levels, Loukas was a dominant force for the Hoosiers. She’s the only female to ever win four Big Ten Diver of the Year awards (2005-07, 2009), and the only female to earn Big Ten Diver of the Championships honors four times as well. Her Hall of Fame career included six Big Ten individual titles, 11 All-America honors, three NCAA runner-up finishes, and an NCAA championship on the three-meter board as a senior in 2009. After capturing the NCAA title at her final national meet she was also tabbed as the 2009 NCAA Diver of the Year. A two-time IU Female Athlete of the Year, Loukas’ accomplishments extended to the international level, where she was a two-time Olympian in three-meter diving in both 2008 (where she placed ninth) and in 2012 (eighth).
Tina McCall Waters (Women’s Tennis, 1978-81)- The first Black female to receive an athletic scholarship at Indiana University, McCall Waters was one of the pioneers that built Indiana Women’s Tennis into a dominant force under Hall of Fame Coach Lin Loring in the 1970s and 1980s. McCall Waters was a two-time First-Team All-American and a three-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection who helped lead Loring’s teams to three Big Ten Championships. The 2020 winner of the Leanne Grotike Award, McCall Waters was inducted into the American Tennis Association’s Black Tennis Hall of Fame in 2020 and received the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service award from Kappa Alpha Psi in 2011.
George McGinnis (Men’s Basketball, 1970-71)-In his one year of varsity basketball at IU, McGinnis put together one of the most dominant seasons in Big Ten history. The Indianapolis product led the Big Ten in both scoring (29.9) and rebounding (14.7) as a sophomore in 1970-71, becoming the first sophomore to lead the Big Ten in both categories. He bypassed his final two years of eligibility as a hardship case and enjoyed a Hall of Fame career as a professional in both the ABA and NBA. McGinnis first signed with the ABA’s Indiana Pacers, where he spent four years playing for former Hoosier Bobby Leonard. He led the team to two ABA championships, and in 1974-75 he was named the ABA’s co-MVP with Julius Irving after averaging 29.8 pounds, 9.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. McGinnis went to the NBA in 1976, and during his seven years was named All-NBA First Team twice and an NBA All-Star three times. Overall, he scored 17,009 points in 11 years of pro basketball. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, becoming the seventh person with IU Basketball ties to be inducted (Bobby Leonard, Isiah Thomas, Everett Dean, Bob Knight, Branch McCracken, Walt Bellamy).
Larry Rink (Team Physician, 1980-present)- A pioneer in the medical field and in particular the area of cardiovascular health, Rink has served as the team physician for the IU Men’s Basketball program for 43 years. In addition to his role with the basketball program, Rink is also a consultant to the IU Athletic Department, the Executive Director of the Lawrence D. Rink Sports Medicine and Technology Center, and a clinical professor of medicine with the IU School of Medicine. His relationship with IU Athletics began in 1980, when he launched a cardiovascular testing program with IU’s men’s basketball student-athletes. Rink is a graduate of the IU School of Medicine and a practicing physician in the areas of cardiology and sports medicine in Bloomington. He has worked extensively on the international level, serving as the Team USA team physician at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, as well as at past U.S. Olympic Trials, Olympic Sports Festivals, World University Games, and Pan American Games competitions.
Three Indiana University Women’s Soccer players named to the Big Ten Preseason watch list
The Indiana Hoosiers women’s soccer team had three players selected to the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players to Watch List, the league announced on Tuesday afternoon. Junior keeper Jamie Gerstenberg, senior defender Zoe Tiger and Graduate forward Paige Webber were amongst the 43 student-athletes voted upon by the conference’s coaches. The Hoosiers will kick off the regular season with Illinois State on Thursday followed by a match against Virginia Tech on Sunda at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
Jamie Gerstenberg, Jr., GK- This marks the second straight season that Gerstenberg has made the list. The Birkenwerder, Germany, native played in 14 games last season totaling 52 saves with .77 goals against average. She also totaled six clean sheets leading the Hoosiers to eight straight shutouts and recorded a career-high eight saves in a 0-0 result at Virginia Tech. Gerstenberg was named the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week twice last season and was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team at the conclusion of the season. She has been a standout between the post and was a member of the 2021 Big Ten All-Freshman Team after she tied the Indiana program record with nine shutouts in her rookie campaign.
Zoe Tiger, Sr., D-Tiger played in 14 games, making eight starts for the Hoosiers her junior year and played over 800 minutes to aid the Indiana’s defense. Tiger, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, helped the team to eight shutouts and a defensive record of 788 minutes without conceding a goal. Tiger played a season high 90 minutes in Indiana’s win over Michigan.
Paige Webber, Gr., F- Webber played in 17 games and made 13 starts last season. The Grand Blanc, Mich., native recorded 771 minutes on the pitch last season. Webber, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, netted the game winner over Indiana State and leads the Hoosiers offense. She posted a team-high 23 shots and nine shots on goal.
Indiana University Volleyball opens with Cream and Crimson Scrimmage
Indiana fans will get their first look at the 2023 volleyball team on Saturday at 2 pm inside Wilkinson Hall for the program’s annual Cream and Crimson Scrimmage. The Hoosiers will split into two teams and play two sets to 25 points and a final set to 15 points before opening up the floor for autographs for fans. Admission to the Cream and Crimson Scrimmage is free and will be the only public event for the program before the 2023 season opener on August 25th at home against New Hampshire (7:00 PM).
IU will feature a veteran group in 2023 with 10 juniors and seniors on the roster including graduate student middle blocker Kaley Rammelsberg who enters her fifth season of college volleyball. 2022 All-Big Ten setter Camryn Haworth, who was named to the 2023 Preseason All-Big Ten team, returns to run the Hoosier offense and is surrounded by a plethora of big arms. Junior outside hitter Mady Saris and senior outside hitter Morgan Geddes trained with their respective national team programs over the summer. Senior middle blocker Savannah Kjolhede has appeared in all 82 matches of her IU career so far. Among the newcomers to the program include Ramsey Gary (Under Armour All-American libero), Ava Vickers (three-time club National Champion with Munciana) and Avry Tatum (Cincinnati transfer with 215 kills in ’22).
Indiana Pacers Announce Schedule for the new In-Season Tournament that stars in November
The Indiana Pacers announced on Tuesday the four games that will consist of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament, beginning at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, November 3 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7pm. The other games as part of the tournament will take place on Tuesday, November 14 at Philadelphia 7pm, Tuesday, November 21 at Atlanta 7:30pm, and will conclude on Friday, November 24 vs. Detroit 8pm. Pacers tickets for games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse will be on sale on Wednesday, September 27 at 2:00pm. Fans can register for pre-sale access to single game tickets by signing up for Pacers Insider emails. Additional information on season tickets, group sales, suite rentals, and more can be found here. The Pacers full 2023-24 regular-season schedule will be released at a later date.
As part of a random draw to determine the six groups for the In-Season Tournament, the Pacers were assigned to the “East A” group, which also consists of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers. The teams with the best standing in Group Play, as well as two “wild cards” (the teams from each conference with the best record in Group Play games that finished second in its group), will advance to the Knockout Rounds, beginning with the single-elimination Quarterfinal games to be held in NBA team markets on Monday, December 4 and Tuesday, December 5. Winning teams will then progress to the Semifinals on December 7, and then the Championship on December 9, both of which will be played in Las Vegas, NV.
In each conference, Quarterfinal games will be hosted by the two teams with the best record in Group Play games, and the team with the best record in Group Play games will host the wild card team. In the event two or more teams are tied for the higher seed in a conference, the tie among the teams will be broken following the same tiebreaker protocol as described above. During the Knockout Rounds on days when In-Season Tournament games are not scheduled (Wednesday, December 6 and Friday, December 8), the 22 teams that do not qualify for the Knockout Rounds will each play two regular-season games.
A formulaic approach will determine the matchups for these games using the Group Play standings in each conference (5th-15th). Two of the 22 games will be scheduled cross-conference since there will be an odd number of teams in each conference that do not advance to the Quarterfinals. These cross-conference games will be scheduled between bottom-finishing teams in the Group Play stage subject to travel constraints, and no team will play more than one of its two games cross-conference. The other 20 games will be scheduled within conference featuring teams that are otherwise scheduled to play each other three times over the course of the season wherever possible. The four teams that lose in the Quarterfinals will each play a regular-season game on Friday, December 8, against the opponent in their same conference.
Indianapolis Colts name Anthony Richardson the Starting Quarterback for the 2023 season
Anthony Richardson is the guy. Coach Shane Steichen announced Tuesday that Richardson will be the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts this season. While Steichen previously named Richardson the starter for the team’s first preseason game, he didn’t commit to starting Richardson in the regular season opener. That all changed after Tuesday’s practice in Westfield, with the head coach officially naming Richardson as QB1.
Richardson debuted in the preseason against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, finishing 7-12 for 67 yards and an interception. He also had two rushes for 7 yards, although he and the Colts offense failed to generate any points. The Colts have a pair of joint practices against the Chicago Bears today and tomorrow at Grand Park. They’ll play Chicago in their sole preseason home game at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Kokomo HS Basketball player Flory Bidunga heading to The University of Kansas in 2024
Flory Bidunga, the top-ranked center in the 2024 class, announced his commitment to Kansas Last Saturday. Bidunga, who made his announcement at the UA Next Elite 24 game in Atlanta, chose the Jayhawks over Auburn, Duke and Michigan. Duke appeared as the favorite in Bidunga’s recruitment coming out of July, although Kansas maintained a strong position. Auburn made a push down the stretch, but the Jayhawks were able to land the big man’s commitment. Originally from Congo, the 6-foot-9 Bidunga is ranked No. 4 overall in the ESPN 100 and is the No. 1 center in the class. He burst onto the scene last spring and summer, then backed that up with another dominant showing on the grassroots circuit in July. In six games at the Sportradar Showdown in Las Vegas with Indiana Elite, Bidunga averaged 18.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks.
Bidunga, who plans to also play soccer this season at Kokomo High School (Indiana), moves exceptionally well and plays with constant energy and effort. In the open court, he runs with long strides and great open-court speed. A high-level athlete who possesses strength, bounce and agility, Bidunga is at his best when finishing plays at the rim, rebounding and blocking shots. His shot-blocking range is impressive, as his willingness to seek rebounds outside of his area. His touch is developing as is his go-to move, a left-handed jump-hook on the right block going toward the middle of the paint. He scores with post-up angles inside and he has the hands to catch and score in the high-low game. The next area of improvement will be his face-up game. Bidunga is Self and Kansas’ first commitment of the 2024 class and the program’s highest-ranked pledge since Josh Jackson (No. 2) picked the Jayhawks in the 2016 class.
Earlier at the UA Next Elite 24 game, ESPN 100 guard Nasir Mohammed from Meyers Park High School in Charlotte North Carolina announced his commitment to Notre Dame. The son of former Kentucky star and first-round NBA draft pick Nazr Mohammed, the 6-foot-5 wing chose the Fighting Irish over finalists Marquette, Stanford, Virginia Tech and Villanova.
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