Indiana
Indiana women’s soccer hires Jennifer Wandt as assistant and goalkeeper coach
Indiana women’s soccer hired Jennifer Wandt as its assistant coach and goalkeeper coach, according to an IU Athletics release Thursday.
Meet our new assistant goalkeeper coach, @JennferWandt!
Welcome to Indiana! ⚪️?
— Indiana Women’s Soccer (@IndianaWSOC) January 4, 2024
“Jennifer’s ability to develop and recruit goalkeepers sets her apart, making her an invaluable asset to our team,” Indiana women’s soccer head coach Erwin van Bennekom said in the release. “Beyond her professional expertise, it was Jennifer’s ambition and, most notably, her mindset that resonated deeply with (assistant coach) Tim Verschuren and I. It is this alignment of vision and values that solidified our decision to bring her on board. We eagerly anticipate Jennifer’s contributions and are confident that she will hit the ground running and help continue to elevate the program.”
Wandt spent 2023 as an assistant goalkeeper coach at Illinois State University — her first season as a coach. She played at Baylor University from 2017-2020, leaving the program as the all-time career and season record holder for shutouts and wins. In her sophomore and senior seasons, Wandt made All-Big 12 Second Team before moving on to play professionally for two seasons in Sweden for Trelleborgs FF.
“I am thrilled to join the Indiana coaching staff this spring,” Wandt said in the release. “I am grateful to Erwin for giving me this opportunity. I am excited and ready to continue to develop the goalkeepers at this incredible institution and to be a part of this program’s success on and off the field.”
Wandt will begin her tenure in Bloomington with one of the program’s best goalkeepers on the roster. Jamie Gerstenberg, the 2023 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, will return for her senior season after setting the program record for most career shutouts in 2023 with 24.
Indiana
‘Foul play’ suspected in death investigation on Indiana-Ohio state line, Wayne County officials say
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating the death of a person who died in the emergency department of Reid Health in Richmond.
Wayne County Coroner Brent Meadows was notified of the death Wednesday evening, according to a media release. Evidence has reportedly indicated that foul play is involved.
Officials believe the incident may have occurred in the area of the Petro Travel Center in New Paris, Ohio, just across the Indiana-Ohio state line.
The coroner’s office said the deceased person has been transported to the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, for a forensic autopsy and identification.
The office is still working the locate and identify the victim’s family.
This remains an active investigation.
News 8’s Michaela Springer contributed to this report.
Braden Smith spent four seasons with Purdue basketball proving all the power conference programs who overlooked him missed out.
Now the former Boilermaker point guard has a chance to do the same in the NBA.
Smith, a Westfield native, is headed to the Pacers after Indiana traded for him when the Chicago Bulls selected him with the 38th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a source confirmed to IndyStar.
Smith is Purdue’s third draft pick in five years, joining lottery picks Jaden Ivey and Zach Edey among a group of now 11 NBA draft selections to play at Purdue under Matt Painter.
Here’s a look at Smith’s Purdue career and what he brings to the Pacers.
Before capping a career that includes two Big Ten regular season and two Big Ten Tournament championships, along with helping Purdue end a 44-year Final Four drought, Smith broke former Duke guard Bobby Hurley’s all-time NCAA assists record.
Along the way, Smith took home the 2025 Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard in a season where he also was the Big Ten Player of the Year. A two-time consensus first-team All-American, Smith finished his Purdue career eighth in career points (1,932), third in steals (249) and has the top three assist seasons in school history that helped add to his NCAA record total of 1,103.
Smith’s knock is his 5-foot-10 1/2 height measurement, but that didn’t deter him from being one of college basketball’s top players.
What Smith lacked in height, he made up for in basketball IQ. He’s lethal with a midrange jump shot and showcased an unblockable fadeaway that allowed him to shoot over lengthier defenders. He mastered manipulating defenses while playing with marquee big men the last four seasons.
His role in the NBA likely will be not require him to be the team’s primary playmaker immediately. Smith’s awareness of that fact pushed a more defensive-minded approach in preparation for the next level. At the NBA Draft Combine in May, Smith showed he’s capable of defending elite guards.
Smith is an elite competitor who never showed to shy away from the dirty work, which is something that can help him earn NBA minutes as a rookie while trying to find his footing in an unfamiliar backup role.
Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar’s Boilermakers newsletter.
The body of a 13-year-old boy was recovered from Lake Michigan during a multiple-day search near a beach in Michigan City, Indiana.
Officials did not provide further details.
A search has been underway since Monday night after witnesses reported seeing a child wearing red shorts enter the water.
Michigan City police said officers responded to a possible drowning just before 5:40 p.m. on Monday near Washington Park Beach.
Police said the child disappeared underwater just south of the lighthouse and did not resurface.
A search was initiated with dive efforts, a fishing boat, drone technology, and a medical helicopter deployed.
The Michigan City Fire Department said three divers suffered minor injuries during the search and are being treated at Franciscan Health. Fire officials said divers encountered “challenging water conditions” before the search was suspended.
Officials have not identified the body recovered.
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