Spring Sports Guide

2019 Spring Sports Guide | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

BASEBALL

IDS FILE PHOTO

Then-sophomore, now-junior Pauly Milto pitches for IU against Xavier University during the 2017 season.

Milto’s play on mound vital for IU By Jared Rigdon jmrigdon@iu.edu | @RigdonJared

Pauly Milto was born to lead. From high school to college and every other stop in between, the IU senior pitcher has been dealt high pressure situations and handled them with ease. It’s in his nature. Milto is now tasked with perhaps his toughest leadership role yet. The 6-foot-3-inch veteran arm will be asked to lead a pitching staff that will replace two MLB draft picks, Jonathan Stiever and Tim Herrin, while also facing some of the top teams in the country. “Pauly was born older. God made him different,” IU baseball Coach Jeff Mercer said. “I don’t think it matters if he was a freshman or senior if he threw Friday or Sunday. I don’t worry one bit about his ability to lead a staff.” Milto has been at the center of the IU rotation since he arrived in Bloomington after a successful prep career at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis. As a freshman, Milto went 4-1 in 26.2 innings pitched across 14 appearances. The

next year he cracked the rotation for a brief period, posting a 6-3 record with a 3.92 ERA in 10 starts and 20 appearances. That sophomore campaign ended with him being named third team All-Big Ten and earning IU’s pitcher of the year award. His junior year was where he started to put it all together. Joined by Stiever and Herrin in the rotation, IU found success on the mound. The Hoosiers ranked seventh in the nation for team earned run average while producing eight shutouts on the season. Milto was the anchor of that rotation, going 8-2 with a 2.03 ERA on the way to an All-Big Ten second team selection. Milto would appear to be the clear-cut ace heading into this season, but for now he’s not worried about what role he’s given. He just wants to help the team win. “I’m willing to be in whatever role they need me to be in,” Milto said. “Obviously, being the Friday night starter would be awesome but wherever they need me to be, I’ll go in and do my job.”

Senior catcher Ryan Fineman has been Milto’s battery mate since the two came in together in 2016. The two had an immediate effect on the IU program. Fineman’s confidence in Milto hasn’t wavered even as Milto attempted to navigate his way through the conference’s top talent. “Pauly has always been good,” Fineman said. “He handles pressure well. He’s our No. 1 starter. He’s going to be huge for us as a veteran leader.” The physical tools have always been there for Milto. At the end of high school, he was firing at speeds in the low 90s. The last year or so has been spent more on the analytical aspect of the game. Alongside new pitching coach Justin Parker, Milto has learned to read the hitter and game situations to get a better understanding of what’s going to happen. “It’s just about knowing the game as a whole, being able to understand situations ahead of time,” Milto said. “It’s not so much thinking about it now, it just comes natural.” Milto understands that his pitches will never touch the

speeds that guys like Stiever or junior Tanner Gordon will reach in the upper-90s. However, with his developed approach and the precision that has always impressed teammates like Fineman, Milto’s pitching is perhaps better than his All-Big Ten level last year. “I’m more of a command pitcher,” Milto said. “Breaking several planes and being able to keep the hitter guessing by me knowing which way the pitch is going.” Milto has been instrumental to Mercer and his staff in their first season in Bloomington before ever playing a game. Milto, Fineman and junior outfielder Matt Gorski have set the example for how the IU baseball program is run. “The biggest they’ve done is that they’ve given their support,” Mercer said. “They’ve really been invested into continuing the winning culture and to working hard.” Despite being left out of most preseason polls, Mercer is keeping IU’s morale high. From IU’s fall world series, where the losing captain had to dye his hair green, to their iron man challenge, the buzz around the

program continues to grow. Outlets such as D1Baseball and College Baseball Daily have pegged the Hoosiers to finish in the top three of the conference alongside Michigan and Minnesota. Milto believes there’s no reason the Hoosiers can’t do more. “The vibe is very good. Everyone is very positive, everyone is upbeat, everyone has really bought in,” Milto said. “We’re going to do some special things this year.” Pressure has never fazed Milto. He’s pitched in travel ball tournaments, high school state tournaments and backto-back NCAA Tournaments. His expression and demeanor never changes. Whether it’s his experience, thick beard or deep voice, Milto is the definition of a veteran, one that Mercer will need this season. “Pauly is a guy that doesn’t have emotion,” Mercer said. “He just goes out and has a plan and executes that plan. Whether he’s taking BP before games and hitting home runs or pitching, he’s just unflappable. We have a lot of confidence in him.”

Five Hoosier baseball players to watch this spring season By Stefan Krajisnik stefkraj@iu.edu | @skrajisnik3

Despite losing key players from last season to graduation or the MLB Draft, IU baseball still has highly respected athletes on the 2019 roster. IU has key pieces ranging from the bullpen to the outfield that could lead the team toward the top of the Big Ten this season. Here are five players to keep an eye on. Matt Gorski — Junior, Outﬁelder With draft boards already listing Gorski as a top-40 prospect, his junior season could be his final one with the Hoosiers. The 6-foot-4-inch outfielder showed potential to be a five-tool player. Gorski led IU with a .356 batting average along with eight home runs and 40 runs batted in last season. He stole 24 bases, had five outfield assists and zero errors. Gorski’s athleticism was on full display April 25 when he hit an inside-the-park home run at Purdue. In the 5-3 loss to the Boilermakers, Gorski had two hits and a stolen base. Among returning players, Gorski was tied for second on the team in home runs and could be utilized in numerous spots throughout the lineup. IU’s strong top of the lineup card could force pitchers to have to attack Gorski rather than pitching around. Matt Lloyd — Senior, Utility Player IU’s biggest returning power threat produces strength in the middle of the lineup as well as late in games on the mound. Lloyd hit nine home runs

ANNA TIPLICK | IDS

Then-sophomore Matt Gorski scores the second run for IU after a teammate hits a line drive out against Purdue during the 2018 season.

along with 41 RBIs in the heart of IU’s lineup. He added numerous flashy plays in the field while playing first and second base. But where Lloyd showed his full potential was when being used out of the bullpen. Lloyd was the closer for IU last season where he picked up seven saves while having a sub-two earned run average. Pauly Milto — Senior, Starting Pitcher With Jonathan Stiever getting drafted, Milto now

takes the role of the Fridaynight starter for IU. But being a leader is nothing new for Milto. While pitching a 2.03 ERA last season, Milto was also one of the team captains. He picked up two complete game shutouts last season in 13 starts. IU’s roughest stretch last season came when Milto was out with an injury, and without the comfort of a pitcher like Stiever on the team, Milto’s importance increases.

Cal Krueger — Junior, Relief Pitcher Lloyd’s opportunities to pick up saves came in large part due to the dominance of Krueger in the setup role. Krueger, who often came into games during the seventh or eighth innings, pitched a 3.02 ERA last season while also picking up three saves. Krueger saw the biggest workload among relief pitchers with 44.2 innings pitched in 27 appearances.

With Krueger and Lloyd closing out games, IU’s pitching staff could continue to be one of the best in the nation. Logan Kaletha — Junior, Outﬁelder In the middle of IU’s outfield and top of IU’s lineup card is Kaletha, who surprised many fans last season. Kaletha quickly showed his potential in his first season after transferring from John A. Logan College.

In his third game with IU, Kaletha hit a walk-off grand slam against then-No. 17 University of South Alabama. Despite his batting average falling with a late-season slump, Kaletha still led everyday starters with a .429 on-base percentage. While playing center field, Kaletha had just one error while regularly making highlight plays. Kaletha’s ability at the top of the lineup could create RBI opportunities for Gorski and Lloyd again this season.

2019 Spring Sports Guide | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

BASEBALL

TRACK AND FIELD

IU’s ﬁve series to watch By Jared Rigdon jmrigdon@iu.edu | @RigdonJared

As IU baseball’s season is underway, the team will travel from Washington to Tennessee, battling some of the best teams in the nations. Here are five series to watch as the Hoosiers go for their third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. IU at University of Tennessee — February 22-24 After opening the season against the University of Memphis, IU will return to back to Tennessee to play the University of Tennessee. While the Volunteers went 29-27 a season ago and finished last in the SEC East, the team figures to be much improved this year. Led by junior infielder Andre Lipcius, a .315 hitter last year, Tennessee will provide an early season road challenge for IU. Any wins against SEC teams will help the rating percentage index come NCAA Tournament time. The Hoosiers have a chance to sweep the Volunteers and earn backto-back road series wins early in the season. Safeco Tournament — March 8-10 While it isn’t a three-game series against one team, the Safeco Tournament in Seattle, will pit IU against some of the nation’s top teams in a roundrobin style tournament in early March. IU will play two teams that made the College World Series a year ago in the University of Washington and defending champion Oregon State University. IU will also play a game against the University of San Diego, a team it took three of four from last year on the road. Oregon State is No. 8 in the preseason D1 Baseball poll while San Diego and Washington are consistent powers. The Hoosiers get three chances for résumé-building wins, but the west-coast trip will wear on IU. This trip to Washington will show fans a lot about the leadership and talent of this baseball club. IU vs. Iowa — March 22-24 IU will start with Iowa to open the conference season af-

ter closing out a difficult nonconference slate. The Hawkeyes struggled to find consistency last season but figured things out near the end of the season, finishing 13-9 in conference play and making the Big Ten Tournament. Iowa loses its top two hitters but will look to build on the momentum that they ended with last year. Iowa and IU opened up with each other in conference play last year, splitting a pair in Iowa City in a rain-shortened series. The Hoosiers will need a strong start to conference play as a trip to Maryland follows the opener with Iowa. COLIN KULPA | IDS

IU vs. Minnesota — April 26-28 As classes start to wind down for the year, IU will play arguably its toughest home series of the season. Minnesota comes in as the defending conference champions. After a NCAA Super Regional appearance a year ago, the Golden Gophers appear to have the pitching staff to take them far again. Led by 6-foot-7-inch sophomore Patrick Fredrickson, who was 9-0 with a 1.86 ERA a year ago, Minnesota has one of the deepest rotations in the league. Minnesota embarrassed IU in a three game sweep last year. So, expect IU to come out with a sense of purpose in a series that will have major implications for NCAA tournament chances and the conference title race. IU at Michigan — May 10-12: IU’s second-to-last conference series will have a huge impact on the season as it heads to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the middle of May. Michigan has made a constant appearance in preseason polls and returns a host of talent from a team that just missed the NCAA tournament a season ago. Michigan returns junior Dominic Clementi, a .368 hitter last season. IU and Michigan didn’t play last year but will get a shot at each other this year as they battle for postseason positioning.

Haley Harris, number 4, waits before the start of the women’s 1-mile run Jan. 26 at the IU Relays at Gladstein Fieldhouse. Harris won the event with a time of 4:43.44.

Athletes to watch for track and ﬁeld By Brady Extin bextin@iu.edu | @BigB_1

With plenty of returning individual Big Ten Champions and NCAA Championship participants, there is an array of athletes to watch out for this season on the IU track and field team. As a team, the Hoosiers saw top-five finishes at the Big Ten Championships during both the indoor and outdoor season last year. At the indoor championships, both the men and women’s teams grabbed third place, and at the outdoor, the men took home second while the women grabbed fourth. This season they’ll look to improve on that mark. These six athletes are going to play a big role in making that happen. Women’s: Maggie Allen — Senior Allen, one of the team’s best distance runners, will look to improve on a season in which she saw high finishes at both the indoor and outdoor Big Ten Championships. Allen competed in two events, the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter, at last season’s Indoor Big Ten Championships. She finished in fourth and sixth place, respective-

ly. In the outdoor portion of the season, Allen also competed in two events at the Big Ten Championships — the 10,000-meter and the 5,000-meter. She crossed the finish line in third place at both races. After racing in the in the NCAA prelims and finishing fourth, Allen advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 10,000-meter. Haley Harris — Senior Another skilled distance runner for the Hoosiers, Harris saw good finishes at the Big Ten Championships and raced in the NCAA Championships last season. The indoor Big Ten Championships saw Harris compete in the mile, where she took fifth place. She was also a part of the distance medley relay team which took fourth place at the NCAA Championships. On the outdoor side, she grabbed seventh place in the steeplechase, as well as a top-ten finish in the 1,500-meter at the Big Ten Championships. Her top-ten finish earned her a spot in the 1,500-meter at the NCAA Championships where she

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finished in 24th place. Kelsey Harris — Junior Harris finished her indoor season by taking fourth place as part of the 4x400-meter relay team at the NCAA Championships. Prior to that, she was the runner-up at the Big Ten Championships in the same event. In the other meets throughout the season, she took home multiple firstplace finishes in events such as the 600-meter, 800-meter and 1,000-meter. She capped off her outdoor campaign by advancing all the way to the NCAA quarterfinals after running a personal best time of 2:03.89.

Kyle Mau — Junior Mau saw almost all of his success in the indoor portion of last season. He took home a firstplace finish in the mile at the Big Ten Championships as well as a 14th-place finish in the 3,000-meter at the NCAA Championships. Mau also saw plenty of success as a member of the distance medley relay team. The team set the stadium record at the Power Invitational last season as well as earning a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships. To start off this season, Mau and the team have continued their success by setting a new school record in the event.

Men’s Adam Coulon — Junior Coulon is the team’s best pole vaulter, proven by his success last season. In the indoor season, he finished second place at the Big Ten Championships. He concluded the outdoor season with a fifthplace finish at the Big Ten and then a top-ten finish at the NCAA Championships. His height of 5.45 meters at the NCAA Championships was also his personal best.

William Session — Junior Session is a master of all trades for the Hoosiers, evident by the nine events that he competed in at last season’s outdoor Big Ten Championships. The most notable of the nine was the 110-meter hurdles where he qualified for the NCAA Championships. For his efforts at the championships, he earned the Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship award as well as All-Big Ten Second Team honors.

2019 Spring Sports Guide | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

SOFTBALL

MATT BEGALA | IDS

Then-freshman catcher Maddie Westmoreland yells to the outfield in the final inning of IU’s game March 18 against the University of Illinois at Chicago. Westmoreland and teammate Tara Trainer earned Big Ten weekly honors after sweeping Penn State last season.

Westmoreland a key player for Hoosiers By Phillip Steinmetz psteinme@iu.edu | @PhillipHoosier

Sophomore Maddie Westmoreland has been primarily known as a power hitter. As a freshman, she earned First Team All-Big Ten honors after leading IU softball with 10 home runs and having the secondmost runs batted in for a single season in program history with 52. “Pretty early on she showed power and the ability to drive the ball,” IU Coach Shonda Stanton said. “I would say it was about 1012 games in that you could see that.” In 2018, Westmoreland earned Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week twice. The only other Hoosier to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors last season was senior pitcher Tara Trainer, who did it once.

The first time Westmoreland got the recognition was March 26 after IU swept then-No. 18 Ohio State to begin to turn the season around. She had a .429 batting average, 1.429 slugging percentage, seven RBIs and two home runs in the series. The second time came April 23 after IU swept Penn State. Westmoreland had a .857 batting average with nine RBIs, six hits, three runs and two home runs that week. She also had a career-high five RBIs in the series opener. Westmoreland made her presence felt early on as a Hoosier and is now primed to build on that success as a sophomore. “For me personally, I was so driven to make a change here at Indiana,” Westmoreland said. “I think with Coach Stanton here, it’s been awesome to start. I

think last year I was just really into being with the program and changing the face of Indiana softball, making us more legitimate as a program.” Despite the ability to hit it deep, it was her small-ball play that helped the Hoosiers mount a comeback against then-No. 6 Georgia in the 2019 season-opening weekend. Earlier in practice before the season started, Stanton had her team get into groups and coach themselves. Their primary goal was to manufacture runs. Westmoreland’s team put her into an RBI situation during the drill rather than one that would have her want to hit it as hard as she could. Stanton mentioned how after the drill, they told their team that Westmoreland was its best bunter. With IU down 2-0 to Georgia, West-

moreland put that ability to the test. After back-to-back hits by sophomore Grayson Radcliffe and junior Bella Norton gave IU runners on the base paths, Westmoreland then laid down a bunt. It brought in the first run of the game and sparked the offense to eventually score five more runs and take the 6-4 statement victory. “She was seeing some pitches, the first pitch we wanted to jump on in a bunt situation rather than swinging away,” Stanton said after the Georgia game. “It really just opened things up for us. Maddie had a great moment, she executed and owned it.” Stanton didn’t sound surprised by the big play from Westmoreland and that’s due to her reliability in the heart of the lineup last season. This season Stanton ex-

pects Westmoreland to be in that similar position in the lineup, but now other teams are more prepared for the big play from her. In order to adapt this offseason, Westmoreland focused on her bat speed, getting more in rhythm and being ready for more offspeed pitches to come. “I think the really big expectation for myself is to be in the present,” Westmoreland said. “Sometimes you look at your old stats and want to always be better than that but my expectation this year is to go out and have fun. In the offseason, I’ve trained enough to become a bigger hitter and a better player.” After a third-place finish in the Big Ten standings last season and a strong start to the 2019 campaign, IU is expected to be back in the middle of the conversation for another top-4 seed in the

conference tournament. If IU wants to continue building on the success that was found in the second half of last season, Westmoreland figures to play another big part again as a consistent threat in the lineup. As the No. 24 team in the country, the rest of the nation is just now learning how good IU can be. With that, Westmoreland has become a key foundation in how special the Hoosiers can truly be when it’s all said and done. “We as an entire team have proven that we are committed to this team and committed to move forward,” Westmoreland said. “We’re looking forward to getting better and just setting up our expectations athletically, academically and even socially. We really want to impact the community and change IU softball as a whole.”

Five Hoosier softball players to watch this spring season By Phillip Steinmetz psteinme@iu.edu | @PhillipHoosier

IU softball is off to a hot start in the 2019 season highlighted by a win against then-No. 6 University of Georgia. As the season continues to progress, here are five players to watch as the Hoosiers look to finish toward the top of the Big Ten again. Natalie Foor — Freshman, Pitcher Coming into the season, junior Emily Goodin and senior Tara Trainer were expected to carry a majority of the load in the circle. In the opening weekend, Foor proved that she’s capable of being a solid starter in the circle for IU this season. In two starts against BethuneCookman University and Florida Atlantic University, Foor pitched in 11 innings while only allowing eight hits to go with a 0.62 earned run average. Grayson Radcliffe — Sophomore, Shortstop Radcliffe is in her first season as a Hoosier after transferring from the last school that IU softball coach Shonda Stanton was at, Marshall University. She started in 53 games at shortstop in 2018 for Marshall and had 30 hits with 16 runs scored. Radcliffe started in all five games at shortstop for IU in the opening weekend and had a .400 batting average with six hits and three runs scored. She also had a huge two-run home run in the seventh inning to help IU defeat Georgia.

BOBBY GODDIN | IDS

Then-junior pitcher Tara Trainer pitches against Michigan Friday evening at Andy Mohr Field. Trainer gave up four earned runs and walked five batters in IU’s 5-1 loss to Michigan.

Bella Norton — Junior, Catcher Norton solidified herself as the usual starting catcher her freshman season with a .991 fielding percentage behind the plate. She only has a .211 career batting average but has come up big in key spots for the Hoosiers multiple times. Against Georgia, Norton hit a double to left

center that gave sophomore Maddie Westmoreland the opportunity to bring in a run with an RBI bunt the next play. Gabbi Jenkins — Junior, Outﬁelder As a second team All-Big Ten Team honoree last season, Jenkins led the Hoosiers with a .369 batting average,

66 hits and 39 runs. She’ll be the leadoff batter for the majority of the 2019 season and primarily is a slap hitter or bunts to use her speed to get on base. She went 6-for-15 in the first five games of the season which included three stolen bases. Her .334 career batting average ranks sixth all-time in program history.

Tara Trainer — Senior, Pitcher As the clear ace for the Hoosiers this season, there’s a lot riding on the shoulders of Trainer for her senior season. Last season, Trainer earned All-Big Ten First Team honors with a 2.64 earned run average, 216 strikeouts and 17 wins. She registered five shutouts

and had nine or more strikeouts in seven games. Trainer picked up where she left off in the opening weekend this season with a 2.19 ERA and 16 strikeouts. She only allowed 13 hits in four appearances. If she has similar numbers to the ones she had last season, Trainer could finish second in program history for career strikeouts.

2019 Spring Sports Guide | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

TRACK AND FIELD

Effort, religion, waffles lead Michalski to success By Brady Extin bextin@iu.edu | @BigB_1

Daniel Michalski’s life on the track has been a journey filled with both highs and lows. Now a graduate transfer at IU, Michalski’s first taste of track and field didn’t even begin until his senior year at Xenia High School in his hometown of Xenia, Ohio. “Going into my senior year, I decided I was gonna put all my eggs in one basket and try this running thing for real,” Michalski said. He dropped baseball and basketball to focus on track his final year in hopes of proving himself as a legitimate prospect for colleges around the country. It worked. Michalski joined the Cedarville University track and field team to begin his collegiate career. The university, a private Christian school just 12 miles away from his parents home, was a perfect fit for the religious Michalski. “My relationship with Jesus Christ informs so much of what I do and how I approach my decisions,” Michalski said. Whether it was the proximity to his childhood home or his relationship with Jesus, Michalski left no doubt that he made the right decision. He left his mark on Cedarville by becoming the school’s first men’s national champion after winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 2017 at the Division II NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Along with that, Michalski holds the school record in both the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 4x800 relay. In his time at Cedarville though, Michalski also suffered two major injuries, one on each foot. In his junior season of cross country, he sustained a tibial stress reaction knocking him out for the whole season. The following year he

TY VINSON | IDS

Graduate transfer Daniel Michalski owns the Cedarville University records in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and as a member of the 4x800-meter relay team. He graduated from Cedarville with a degree in exercise science, and he is now a member of the IU cross-country team.

sustained a metatarsal stress reaction in the opposite foot, which kept him from competing in track his final season. “I really love this sport, I have a lot of fun with it, and I’ve been successful so to have it taken away really sucked,” Michalski said. “But I was trusting that something good would come of it.” Now, Michalski is the first to say that something good did in fact come of it — an opportunity to continue school and run track at IU. After graduating from Cedarville in the spring of 2018,

Michalski knew he was ready to explore his options as a graduate transfer, so he personally reached out to IU assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Andrew Poore and expressed his interest in becoming a Hoosier. Michalski’s said he was looking for not only a school where runners had developed from good to great, but also a school where he could see himself thriving in academically. In his opinion, IU fit that mold perfectly. “I felt really good about IU after I came here to visit,” Michalski said. “Just a first-

class athlete experience.” Coming off of a major injury like that, finding a school willing to take him on as a transfer was tough, but for IU Coach Ron Helmer the decision to add Michalski was easy. “We saw someone who just wanted to get good,” Helmer said. “He seemed to be a good kid who was very excited about getting better.” But nobody — not Helmer, not his teammates, and not even Michalski himself — knew just how good things would turn out. Now, just a year removed from his

major injury and as a member of the men’s distance medley relay team, Michalski holds an IU school record and the seventh fastest time ever ran on an indoor track in the NCAA. “To get to be a part of the DMR was an awesome experience,” Michalski said. “There’s something really special about doing it as a team.” As much fun and success as Michalski has had on the track, there’s something else he gets very excited about at IU: bacon-infused waffles. One of Michalski’s pas-

sions outside of the sport is cooking. Whether it’s with friends, his girlfriend or his teammates, he loves to cook and try new things. “When I do cook, I like to share it because then you can share the experience,” Michalski said. His love of cooking doesn’t change even when he eats in the athletes cafeteria inside Memorial Stadium. He still manages to find his own unique way of cooking. He takes bacon and lines the waffle iron with it. He then proceeds to pour pancake batter over the top of the bacon. This new creation is something that Michalski said he’s been trying to spread the word on. With the way Michalski’s been running, it may just be the key to his success. With the Big Ten Championships just around the corner and the indoor season coming to a close, Michalski’s looking to end his journey on top. Fueled by both hard work and bacon-infused waffles, Michalski has run qualifying times in multiple events — the 5,000-meter, 3,000-meter, mile and distance medley relay. This gives the coaching staff leeway as to what event he will partake in come championship time. “The goal there is to win as a team and see what I can do as an individual to contribute to that,” Michalski said. Michalski hasn’t taken anything on this journey for granted. He said he’s happy to be where he’s at in his collegiate career and gives credit to God. Before each race, he tries to find quiet time to focus in on the things that matter. “Part of that quiet time is just centering in and humbling myself,” Michalski said. “Acknowledging that God is the giver of the gifts that I have.”

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2019 Spring Sports Guide | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

MEN’S TENNIS

Vikash Singh’s move from India to Indiana By TC Malik tcmalik@iu.edu | @TCMalik96

Nobody really knew where freshman Vikash Singh would end up when he came to the United States from India just a few years ago. The tennis player bounced around states from Florida to South Carolina but ultimately ended up in Bloomington for the spring semester in January. Singh grew up playing tennis down the street from his home in Koppal, India. He has loved the sport since he put his hands on a racket when he was 7. After a few years of playing for enjoyment, Singh began to play competitively in tournaments when he turned 10, and that’s when he decided this sport could lead to more. “I knew I wanted to pursue my tennis further,” Singh said. “My parents also wanted me to go further with my tennis.” The only problem was Singh’s location. College tennis is almost nonexistent in India, making it close to impossible for Indians to sustain a future in tennis. That is why he ultimately made the decision to move to the United States and leave his family in India at the age of 14. What made this choice even harder was the unfamiliarity Singh was about to enter. Singh said his family never knew anybody who moved to the U.S. for any sport in college.

COURTESY PHOTO

Freshman Vikash Singh plays against the University of Central Florida on Feb. 8 at the IU Tennis Center. Singh grew up playing tennis down the street from his home in Koppal, India.

So Singh set his sights on a goal he had dreamed of his entire life: to play collegiate tennis in America. “It’s definitely difficult being away from your family for so long,” Singh said. “I try to keep in touch with them and visit as much as I can.” Singh only visits home once or twice a year because of expensive flights. While Singh can travel back to India sparingly, none of his family members have ever been to the States, not even his parents. Singh said he hopes one day his family can travel from India to Bloomington and watch him play a col-

legiate tennis meet for the first time. * * * While transitioning to the U.S. from a foreign country like India is monumental in anybody’s life, all Singh wanted to do was settle in. Singh’s journey began at the Bishop Gates Tennis Academy in Florida. As friendships were made and bonds with coaches were formed, Singh and the rest of the students were informed the academy would be closing the next year. Singh was left alone in a foreign country. This was a truly a turning point in his life.

Singh and most of the students and coaches at Bishop Gates moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for the Smith-Stearns Tennis Academy. While the transition was easier, it wasn’t as seamless as it could’ve been. Singh had to pack up and move from Florida to South Carolina in a matter of days while still looking for a place to live. This was similar to his experience at Bishop Gates because he had to move in with people he barely knew. It was like moving into college and walking into your dorm room without even knowing who’s going to be

on the other side of that door. He went through that twice in two years. After the move to Hilton Head, Singh really began getting noticed by colleges and offers started to roll in the door, but he had to work for it. Coming from India, Singh was only allowed to play in the International Tennis Federation tournaments because he was considered an international player. This decreased his chance of exposure to college coaches because he wasn’t allowed to play in the bigger tournaments like many of the top recruits in the country. Additionally, college coaches

weren’t able to judge his talent against other top players because they weren’t playing on the same courts. Ultimately, Singh received offers from IU and other colleges in the U.S. because of his involvement in ITFs and connections with coaches through the Smith-Stearns Tennis Academy. When it came time for Singh’s college decision, there was no doubt in his mind that IU was the place for him. “IU really stood out to me,” Singh said. “I really loved the campus and felt like I was really at home.” While his journey from India to IU was long and detailed, his career as a studentathlete in Bloomington has just begun, and his teammates look forward to playing with him. “We’re just excited to see the future with him,” freshman Patrick Fletchall said. “It should be fun.” While Singh continues to get used to his new life, Fletchall said he had no issues getting along with his fellow freshman. “Vikash is a great kid and brings so much energy and fight to the team,” Fletchall said. “It was a pretty easy adjustment.” Singh saw his first action against Middle Tennessee State University on Feb. 1 and led IU to a victory after winning his singles match against Pavel Motl. For the first time in his life, Singh can say he accomplished his lifelong goal of playing collegiate tennis. But this is just the beginning.

MEN’S TENNIS

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Three matches to watch for IU By TC Malik tcmalik@iu.edu | @TCMalik96

IU men’s tennis will have a tough schedule ahead of them in order to have a successful 2019 season. The Hoosiers will be roadtested on numerous occasions while also facing difficult competition at home. Here are three matches to keep an eye on.

IDS FILE PHOTO

Head coach Ramiro Azcui talks with then-sophomores, now seniors, Madison Appel and Natalie Whalen in February at a match against DePaul. This will be Azcui’s third season as head coach.

Azcui maintains Hoosier excellence By William Coleman wicolema@iu.edu | @WColeman08

It’s his third season at the helm of the women’s tennis team, but IU Head Coach Ramiro Azcui has been a part of the program for longer than any of his eight athletes have been alive. Azcui came to Bloomington in 1992 for his first full-time assistant coaching gig. He was an assistant coach for one year at his alma mater, Abilene Christian University, and the same at Baylor University while he earned his master’s degree. Azcui said he knew he wanted to be a head coach around the time of his graduation from Abilene Christian. Azcui got his chance at Truman State University, but it came with a twist: He would coach both its tennis programs. “Very different experience leading and coaching both men and women at the same time,” Azcui said. “But it was fun because I was young, almost as young as the players.” Azcui said this was when he found his passion as a women’s coach because of his personality, but it may have been because his women at Truman State were winners. While the men went 30-24 under Azcui, the women boasted a 42-20 record. After seeing success at his previous schools, Azcui turned around both programs at Truman State to

open up his coaching career. None of those jobs compared to the opportunity he had at IU because of who the head coach was at the time. “Working under Coach Loring, the reputation and work ethic he had, it was a tremendous experience for me,” Azcui said. “His preparation and attention to detail prepared me well to conduct this program.” Lin Loring was an NCAA head coach for 44 years, and he capped off his career at IU in 2016. Then-freshmen Madison Appel, Caitlin Bernard and Natalie Whalen were on the 15-11 squad that concluded Loring’s storied tenure at IU. Loring came to IU in 1977 at the front end of his long coaching career and never looked back. Through 40 seasons in Bloomington, he produced 16 Big Ten titles, 28 NCAA Championship tournament appearances and a 104-match conference winning streak stretching over eight seasons. He ultimately became the winningest coach in D-1 women’s tennis history. Fifteen years into Loring’s storied stretch, Azcui joined him. The two had a similar compassion for the program and stuck together as a coaching duo for 25 seasons. Azcui helped his predecessor contribute to what he now calls the program’s tradition. “The tradition that Coach Loring and I built around

this program, I wanted to be able to come back and continue it myself,” Azcui said. In almost three decades as an IU assistant, Azcui gained national recognition as a coach. He was a threetime winner of the Midwest Assistant Coach of the Year and in 2004 he received ITA Assistant Coach of the Year honors. A resume with 400 wins and five Big Ten titles as an assistant led to various head coaching opportunities across the country, but Azcui never budged. He said turning down those openings was the best decision he made. “I stayed here for a long time so I could have the opportunity to lead this program one day,” he said. Azcui waited patiently and took over the program after the 2016 season. He knew if he wanted the Hoosiers to continue competing at the same level, Azcui would have to take a page or two from Loring’s playbook. “I’ve tried to keep everything similar to how it was with him just because he ran a first-class program,” Azcui said. “I try to do everything that he did and I made a few changes, but I’ll always be keeping his tradition alive.” Out of all these traditions Azcui preserves today, none stand out more than the program’s emphasis on academic excellence. Loring would remind his athletes they came to Indiana to get a degree, and IU’s coaching

staff does the same today. “I never changed anything with that because I think the importance of the players to go to classes and finish their degree and to graduate from such a prestigious institution is definitely a big plus,” Azcui said. On the court, the women’s tennis team continues to excel. In his first two seasons as head coach, Azcui has guided IU to 14- and 17-win seasons. None of Azcui’s success would be possible without assistant coach Ryan Miller. A former student manager under Loring, Miller returned to IU as a volunteer assistant for the women’s team in 2012 and 2014. After his 2014 stint, Miller left for an opportunity at Hanover College, where he’d coach both men’s and women’s tennis, just like Azcui at Truman State. With that and their love for helping players improve in common, Miller and Azcui certainly have a few parallels as coaches. “We share a similar passion with the development of the players because we want them to excel in everything they do,” Azcui said. “I think he’ll have opportunities down the road. In a selfish way, I hope not too soon. I hope he can stay with me for a few years.” In just his second full season as an IU assistant, Miller will have the opportunity to be a head coach some day, but he may just be Azcui’s coach-in-waiting.

March 10 at No. 14 Illinois IU’s first opportunity for a ranked win comes on the road in Champaign, Illinois, against a surging Illini team. Illinois has steadily moved up the rankings since the beginning of the season and will look to give IU everything it has during the first weekend of spring break. March 31 vs. No. 16 Michigan This matchup wouldn’t have seemed that crucial a few weeks ago, but Michigan has since moved into the ITA rankings amid an impres-

sive 5-2 start. A win over No. 18 University of Oklahoma pushed Michigan up in rankings. The Wolverines have continued to improve, reeling off four straight wins since Michigan fell to No. 11 Baylor University. April 21 at No. 2 Ohio State Arguably IU’s most important match comes in its regular season finale. Ohio State has comfortably sat in the No. 2 spot all year long. IU and Ohio State have one common opponent thus far and that’s Arizona State University. The Hoosiers lost to the Sun Devils 4-2, while the Buckeyes dominated en route to a 6-1 win. One disadvantage for IU during this tough stretch of matches is that two of the three come on the road, and IU has yet to win a true road match this season. However, the coaches and players have time to prepare for the talent they will see on the court in conference play.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Four players to watch in conference play By William Coleman wicolema@iu.edu | @WColeman08

IU women’s tennis will look for a strong season in 2019, and experienced players could lead the way to success. Here are three players to keep an eye on this year. Madison Appel — Senior Appel has led the way for IU this season at No. 1 singles and doubles. At the beginning of the year, the senior found herself inside the season’s first Oracle/ITA Division I Women’s Rankings for DI individuals. Her mental strength and resilience are always apparent on the court. Appel has showed progression each year, so expect her to come out big as her time at IU comes to an end. Natalie Whalen — Senior Appel’s senior counterpart

plays right behind her at No. 2 singles and doubles. A pedestrian junior year has Whalen motivated to finish her collegiate career off strong, and the numbers show. In 2018, Whalen went 17-16 at singles and 10-10 with her primary doubles partner, then-freshman Olga Zavarotnaya. This season, Whalen is off to an 11-2 start at singles and a 13-4 record at doubles. Jelly Bozovic — Sophomore Bozovic is a dark horse contributor to the the program this season. With seniors Appel and Whalen in the spotlight, Bozovic produces in their shadows. The sophomore already has three wins to her name at singles, where she typically plays in the No. 4 spot. Playing No. 1 doubles with Appel is where Bozovic has really turned it on. The team’s goto pairing is 10-2 thus far.

2019 Spring Sports Guide | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

WATER POLO

TY VINSON | IDS

Junior Emily Powell is the captain of IU’s water polo team. Powell is from Brisbane, Australia

Evolution of IU water polo’s Emily Powell By Jacob Toppen jqtoppen@iu.edu | @JaketoppenSP

Bloomington might just be the perfect place for junior captain of Indiana women’s water polo’s Emily Powell. It’s ironic because Powell, a 20-year-old from Brisbane, Australia, had never heard of IU. “It’s hard at home to play water polo and study, so I wanted to come to the States to play high quality water polo and get a good education,” Powell said. “I don’t even know how I heard about IU, actually. Me and my mom just started emailing schools, and things started happening

from there.” Once Powell received a scholarship to play at IU, she had to start prepping to come to the U.S. by taking the SAT and learning about the training methods. Although it was a lot of work, it was worth it for Powell. “It was an amazing opportunity, and it wouldn’t have been possible without that scholarship,” Powell said. “So it was very rewarding because our family had started that process about a year and a half in advance.” Although Powell looked at other schools including Michigan and Brown University, she didn’t think those schools had what IU had to offer.

“I feel like I did make the right choice with choosing IU,” Powell said. “We still play some of the schools I looked at originally, and I don’t think they have anything on their team that we don’t in terms of culture.” It wasn’t always an easy journey for Powell. She was a much smaller athlete when she got to IU for her first semester. “When I first got here I wasn’t used to the physicality or the jump-in training, so I struggled a lot my freshman year,” Powell said. “I also came straight into season, so I didn’t have that first semester to get used to my new routine, being in America and at a new university.”

And after the struggles, Powell decided to give IU another chance. “I really didn’t think I would make it through, but I’m glad I gave myself another chance and came back for another semester because I would have regretted it if I had left IU,” Powell said. Now in her third season at IU, Powell is a team captain. “It’s been really rewarding,” Powell said. “When I first got here I was really shy and didn’t really know my place on the team, so it’s just been nice to see my development and see myself grow as a person these past couple of years, so it’s been great.”

Powell was honored in January at the IU women’s basketball game with other international student-athletes during halftime. “America celebrates success very well, and it was really nice to be there with one of my best friends on the team who is also an international student from Canada,” Powell said. “It just showed the big step we both took to come to the United States, and it was really nice to be recognized for the hard work we are putting in here at IU as well.” After winning their season opener this year, the Hoosiers have lost their last six games. It’s the first year of Coach Ryan Castle’s ten-

ure at IU that he hasn’t had a senior on the team, “This year we really just want to build a good culture within the team,” Powell said. “We are really new, we lost a lot of seniors last year and we are playing in a new conference with tougher competition, so I think our goal is just working on ourselves as a team and making progress every time we play with each other this year.” Through the struggles and triumphs, Powell’s journey to Bloomington continues to provide results for her team. With two more seasons left, the once shy freshman a long ways from home has made her presence felt in the pool.

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2019 Spring Sports Guide | Indiana Daily Student | idsnews.com

ROWING

IU welcomes new faces to coaching staff this season By Stephen Walker walkersc@iu.edu | @VictorOlaSteveo

More than an athlete PETER TALBOT | IDS

Senior Maddie Pierce has been rowing at IU for more than three years. Pierce has helped the team finish in the top five every year at the Big Ten Championships and has been a part of three NCAA Championship qualifying teams. By Stephen Walker walkersc@iu.edu | @VictorOlaSteveo

Maddie Pierce has been rowing at IU for more than three years. In that time, she’s helped the team finish in the top five every year at the Big Ten Championships, has been a part of three NCAA Championship qualifying teams and was recently inducted into one of the nation’s most prestigious academic societies. Pierce, a speech and hearing sciences major, will graduate this spring. After graduation, she plans to pursue her master’s degree in speechlanguage pathology. She has twice been named a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Scholar Athlete. She was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. “Being inducted to Phi Beta Kappa was a huge honor,” Pierce said. “There have been many influential people throughout American history who were Phi Beta Kappa

members, so it is very exciting to join such a prestigious organization.” The Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded in 1776. Its eligibility requires a 3.85 GPA with 75 hours of coursework in the liberal arts and sciences, or a 3.75 GPA with 105 hours of liberal arts and sciences coursework. “I could not have done it without the help of the IU Athletics Academic support staff,” Pierce said. “I am so thankful that IU Athletics recognizes that we are students before we are athletes and for the academic support that I received from the department during my undergraduate career.” On top of her studies, Pierce has volunteered her time to help people in need. Her freshman year, she participated in the Coach for College program. Coach for College is a service learning program where student-athletes from the United States partner with Vietnamese university students to teach aca-

demics, sports and life skills to disadvantaged children at summer camps in rural Vietnam. She said the trip made her cherish how life is in the U.S. compared to other countries. “The experience was definitely humbling for me,” said Pierce. “It’s amazing that people live like that and it was eye-opening for me to see that I live in such luxury. We have so many blessings over here that we don’t even think about, but at the same time people in countries like Vietnam live their lives without thinking about what we have.” Pierce returned from the trip with a better appreciation for IU and rowing. She gained perspective into how other people around the world live. Pierce started her freshman year in the first novice eight. She helped the team get second in four events, as well as fourth in the Big Ten Championships and 15th in the NCAA Championships.

After her freshman year, Pierce was moved to the second varsity eight. There she won two events and finished second in two others. Midway through the year she got moved up to the first varsity fours. The team struggled after the switch, third place being their highest finish. They did manage to finish first at the NCAA Championship semifinal, before placing 14th overall. Pierce went back to the second varsity eight her junior year and stayed there the whole season. The second varsity eight didn’t have a finish below fifth place, including five second place finishes and a first place finish in the Dale England Cup in Bloomington. In her third NCAA Championship appearance, the team placed 16th overall. While top-five finishes and going to the NCAA Championships every year of her career is something she Pierce said she is proud of, it is her work outside that water that fulfills her the most.

When the IU rowing season begins, the team might look the same, but the coaching staff will look different. The Hoosiers welcome three new assistant coaches to their staff this year: Katie Bitz, Haley Yeager and Emily Fekete. IU has qualified for the NCAA Championships the last five seasons, and head coach Steve Peterson said he is confident these new coaches will keep the team in the national conversation. “I am extremely excited about these additions to our coaching staff,” Peterson said. “All three bring a wealth of successful collegiate rowing experience as athletes and coaches that will have a positive impact on our athletes and team. I can’t wait to get started working with them.” Bitz was responsible for leading the novice rowing program at Michigan State since 2012. She will assume the same role at IU. Prior to coaching at Michigan State, Bitz was an assistant coach with the U.S. National Team for four years. From 2010-11 she served as an assistant coach at Princeton University for the lightweight crew, where the varsity eight finished the regular season undefeated. “She is an extremely competitive and passionate coach, and it shows in the way her crews race and the success they have had,” Peterson said. “I have coached crews who raced against her when she was an athlete and then later as a coach, and I am very happy to finally have her working with me rather than against me.” The 2008 Michigan State graduate earned Academic

All-Big Ten honors three times and won two Big Ten team titles in 2005 and 2008. In 2007 she earned second team All-Big Ten, and in 2008 she achieved first team AllBig Ten as well as first team All-Central Region. “I am most excited about working with a fantastic staff where I know I will learn and grow from each individual,” Bitz said. Yeager joins the IU rowing program to oversee the varsity fours. She joins IU after spending the last three seasons at her alma mater, the University of Washington. She helped lead the Huskies to the 2017 National Championship as well as a runner-up finish in 2018. She was also part of the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Coaching Staff of the Year in 2017. “Working with this team and these athletes is an unbelievable opportunity,” Yeager said. “They work so hard and are hungry to take the next step on the national stage, and I look forward to being a part of taking that step.” Yeager also helped the novice eight at Washington capture the gold medal at the 2017 Pac-12 Championship. Fekete will be a graduate assistant coach and help out with the novice program in her third year in Bloomington. She competed as a coxswain for the first varsity eight before becoming a student assistant coach last year. “I’m very excited to be stepping into this new role with the team,” Fekete said. “It is a great opportunity to be able to work with the novice rowers this season.” Fekete helped the first varsity eight win a bronze medal at the Big Ten Championships two years ago. She was also named to second team All-Big Ten.

2019 LITTLE 500

This is April Women April 12 Men April 13 iusf.indiana.edu

Happy 152nd birthday,

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