US Olympic Trials: Hoosiers Lead the Way in Swimming Events

18-year-old Luke Whitlock traveled just approximately thirty minutes from his hometown of Carmel to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to compete in this year’s US Olympic trials in swimming. 

The University of Florida commit was successful in posting a record breaking time in the men’s 400 freestyle, previously set by Olympic medalist, Michael Phelps, almost two decades ago. 

His freestyle time of 3:46.26 beat out the 3:46.73 time set by Phelps in 2003 for the 17-18 year old age group. 

Amongst his competitor’s in this year’s trials, 17 of them have Indiana ties.  

Just two days into the competition five of them had already punched their ticket to the 2024 Olympic games in Paris, France. 

Fellow Carmel swimmer Drew Kibler became a two time Olympian after finishing third in the men’s 200 meter freestyle.

The Shackell siblings, Alex and Aaron, Lilly King and Blake Pieroni are the other four to qualify for this year’s Olympic games. 

“We’re a swimming state. And we’re really, really proud of that,” King told NBC’s Elizabeth Beisel. 

This year’s Olympic competitors tied the record number set in 2021 and Indiana was only second to California who had seven native competitors. 

Although the final roster won’t be set until the trials conclude Sunday, the top six in both the 100 and 200 freestyles qualify for Paris. 

Indianapolis last hosted the trials back in 2000 and has already set the largest attendance record ever in the history of the trials seeing 22,209 spectators Wednesday. 

The trials continue through Sunday, June 23rd. 

Led By Boston’s Career High 27 Points, Fever Beat Dream

Aliyah Boston led the way for the Indiana Fever Thursday night defeating the Atlanta Dream 91-84 in front of another large home crowd. 

She tied her all time career high in points with 27 and finished with 13 rebounds. Veteran Kelsey Mitchell added 24 points. 

The Fever are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Connecticut Sun. A game where head coach Christie Sides voiced her frustration about the team’s lack of effort and even benched several starters.  

Boston put the team on her back and had her best overall performance of her 2024 campaign. 

“She was undeniable tonight,” said coach Sides following the game. 

This Fever team has faced much adversity early in the season having played 11 games in 20 days, most of any other team in the league. 

Offensively the team struggled to start the second half and had even allowed the Dream to tie it late in the fourth quarter after leading much of the game. 

The Fever shot 54% from the field, Atlanta just over 42%. 

Boston is quickly staking her rights to a second consecutive All Star game and it comes on the same day that voting for this year’s game opened to fans. 

Indiana has won 3 of their last 5 games and hopes to keep the momentum going Sunday as the Chicago Sky return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for a 12:00 p.m. matinee on CBS. 

Fever’s First Home Win Comes with Drama in Reese v. Clark Rematch

By Lindsay Burke

A sold out crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse didn’t leave disappointed as the Fever came out with a 71-70 win over Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky, the team’s first at home this season. 

It did however get chippy between both teams, particularly between the Sky’s Chennedy Carter and the Fever’s Caitlin Clark. 

Carter was tagged with a technical foul after blindsiding Clark prior to an inbound pass knocking her to the floor. 

The home crowd was more than displeased – and they weren’t the only ones as the play quickly went viral on social media pressuring the league to better protect Clark from shots she has taken from other players early in her WNBA career. 

Clark got up and continued playing the game as if it never happened. 

“It just wasn’t a basketball play,” she said. “It is what it is. It’s a physical game. Go make the free throw and execute on offense, and I feel like that’s kind of what we did.”

On Sunday, the league announced that after further evaluation the foul on Carter had been upgraded to a flagrant. 

The WNBA rules include a point system for flagrant fouls on players that can lead to suspension and potential fines. 

Clark finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds, helping her become only the second player in WNBA history to reach 150+ points, 50+ rebounds and 50+ assists in their first 10 games as a rookie. 

Veteran Kelsey Mitchell contributed 18 points while NaLyssa Smith added 17 points. 

The Fever have already surpassed last year’s attendance total (81,336) after reaching 82,857 in just their first five home games. 

They return to action Friday as they take on the Washington Mystics at 7:30 p.m.