Girls Basketball State Tournament Draw announced Pairings were announced for the 50th annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament on Sunday evening. The Sectionals will run next Tuesday February 4th through Saturday February 8, with 64 Sectional Champions crowned in four different classes. The Regional Championship will be one game on February 15, with the two-game Semi State on February 22, and The State Championships on March 1st at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Downtown Indianapolis.
Class 4A at Martinsville will have the host Martinsville 6-14 take on Terre Haute South 8-13 in the single game on Tuesday at 7 pm with the winner facing Bloomington North 10-11 in the second semifinal on Friday at 7:30 pm. Terre Haute North 10-13 will face Bloomington South 19-2 in the first semifinal at 6 pm with the winners battling in the championship game Saturday evening at 7;30 pm.
Class 3A at Northview 14-7 Owen Valley will open against 7-11 Speedway on Tuesday at 6 pm with the winner take on Indianapolis Washington 4-11 in the first semifinal on Friday at 6 pm. Edgewood 11-8 will take on Northview 16-6 in the second game Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm with winner take on Cascade in the second semifinal on Friday at 7:30 pm. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday evening at 7:30 pm.
Class 1A at Clay City Lighthouse Christian 0-18 will battle 15-4 White River Valley in the first game Tuesday night at 6pm with Dugger Union 5-12 and Cloverdale 5-16 battling in the second game at 7:30 pm. The winners will face off at 6 pm on Friday night in the first semifinal. On the other side of the bracket 3-16 Bloomfield will face 19-3 North Central (Farmersburg) on Wednesday at 6 pm with 12-9 Shakamak and Clay City 5-15 facing off in the second game at 7:30 pm. The winners will advance to the second semifinal on Friday at 7:30 pm and the Championship is scheduled for Saturday evening at 7:30 pm.
Date and Time Set for the Indiana University Football Spring Game Indiana football’s 2025 spring game will be on Saturday, April 19 at Noon inside Memorial Stadium. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, IU used a unique approach to the spring game in 2024, pitting the offense against the defense. The offense beat the defense 34-25 last April. If the same format is used this year, the contest will feature two 15-minute periods in an offense vs. defense format with each side accumulating points based on the following scoring system:
Touchdown – 6 points
Extra Point – 1 point
Field Goal – 3 points
Turnover Gained – 4 points
Defensive Stop – 3 points
Safety – 2 points
Last year’s game was the only time Indiana tackled throughout the spring and fall camp. It was the first public spring game in several years. It will also be the first opportunity for Indiana fans to see new transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza, running backs Roman Hemby and Lee Beebe, Jr., and many other new additions.
More details on the game, including broadcast information, admission, and other special opportunities will be announced at a later date. Cignetti stood on the field behind the offense the entire game a year ago. Attendance at the spring game was relatively light in 2024, but the enthusiasm for Cignetti and the program following an 11-2 season and a College Football Playoff appearance might lead to a significant crowd.
Former Indiana University Football star Antwaan Randle-El headed to the Chicago Bears as an Assistant Coach Former IU football star Antwaan Randle El is headed home. And he’s one step away from becoming an NFL head coach. ESPN reported Friday that the Chicago Bears are finalizing a deal to make Randle El their new receivers coach and assistant head coach. Randle El is following Ben Johnson to the Windy City. Johnson was the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions for the last three years. Randle El was with the Lions as a receivers coach since 2021 after spending two seasons (2019-20) as an offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helping the team capture Super Bowl LV. Randle El played in the NFL for nine years with Pittsburgh and Washington. He was a key player for the Steelers in 2005 and threw the game-winning touchdown pass for them in Super Bowl 40.
One of the most dynamic offensive performers in Big Ten history, Randle El came to IU from Riverdale, Ill. He played for IU from 1998 to 2001 and earned All-Big Ten distinction in 1999, 2000 and 2001, and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1998. He was named Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 2001, and 1st team All-American in 2001. He finished 6th in Heisman Trophy balloting in 2001, after finishing 13th in 2000. Randle El was the first player in NCAA history to score 40 touchdowns (45) and throw for 40 touchdowns (42), first to record over 2,500 total yards in four seasons, first to pass for over 6,000 yards and rush for over 3,000 yards. A tremendous all-around athlete, while at Indiana Randle El also played on the IU men’s basketball and baseball teams.
Indiana University Softball’s Bri Copeland Named to USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year Top 53 Watchlist Indiana senior Brianna Copeland was announced to USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year Top 53 Watchlist. The senior utility standout for the Hoosiers is one of 53 players nationally and one of nine players in the Big Ten to be selected for the preseason honor. Throughout the season, USA Softball will narrow it to a list of Top 25, Top 10 and Top 3 until the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is awarded. In 2024, Copeland was the ace in the circle and hit at the top of the lineup for the Hoosiers. In the circle, she had a 2.88 ERA, 174 strikeouts and recorded 20 wins. At the plate, she hit for a .325 average with eight home runs, 10 doubles and 36 RBI while also stealing 18 bases. She was named an NFCA Second Team All-Region selection.
Indiana University Baseball’s A.J. Shepard to take Medical Wavier and end his College Baseball Career AJ Shepard, a three-year member of the Indiana Baseball team, has elected to take a medical waiver and will not return to the baseball program ahead of the 2025 season. He intends to return to Bloomington to finish out his undergraduate degree next school year. “I have the utmost respect for AJ and his family,” head coach Jeff Mercer said. “He persevered through a lot during his time with our program. He gave everything he had to the team and did it with class. He is everything you want in a student-athlete and teammate. He is a Hoosier for life.”
Shepard, a native of Manassas, Virginia, was a top 400 recruit by Perfect Game in the Class of 2022. He suffered a season ending injury in his final year of high school baseball, causing him to miss both the 2022 and 2023 baseball campaigns. He returned to full health ahead of the 2024 season but suffered his second season-ending injury in the third game of the year. He recorded his first career hit against Duke on Feb. 16, 2024, and homered in back-to-back games against Coastal Carolina (Feb. 17, 2024) and George Mason (Feb. 18, 2024).
Indiana University Men’s Soccer player Quinton Elliot leaves after one season Indiana men’s soccer’s Quinton Elliot left the program, according to a post on his Instagram account Friday. The junior fullback is pursuing a professional opportunity, per a source close to the program. “Although it was shorter than expected, I’m beyond grateful for all the memories made over the last year in Bloomington,” Elliot said in the caption of the post. “I’m honored to have been able to be a part of this program. Thank you to everyone who welcomed me into this family with no hesitation. Always a Hoosier.”
During his one season for the Hoosiers, Elliot scored three goals and contributed three assists in 21 starts. His efforts earned United Soccer Coaches second-team All-America honors as well as first-team All-Big Ten. Before transferring to Indiana, Elliot played two seasons for the University of Louisville. For the Cardinals, he started 38 of his 39 appearances, totaling two goals and eight assists. Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, Elliot played five years with the Columbus Crew SC Academy. Elliot joins center back Jansen Miller and goalkeeper JT Harms as three key Hoosier defender departures. Freshman center back Josh Maher, sophomore left back Alex Barger and redshirt junior defender Breckin Minzey, all critical members of the 2024 Big Ten regular season title winning squad, are still part of the program.