Purdue Sports Update May 13

BASEBALL DROPS MICHIGAN SERIES, ENTERS FINAL WEEK TWO BACK

Keenan Spence hit two long home runs and also robbed a homer defensively in right field, starring in support of a quality start from Jordan Morales as Purdue shutout Michigan 4-0 Friday for its ninth consecutive road win.

The Boilermakers (33-17, 13-6 Big Ten) held their ground one game behind Illinois (14-5 Big Ten) in the Big Ten standings with five games remaining in the conference schedule. The Fighting Illini visiting Alexander Field next weekend (May 16-18).

Purdue won its fifth straight series opener in league play and posted its fifth shutout victory of the season, both marks being the program’s best since the 2012 Big Ten championship season (6 shutouts, 8-0 in Big Ten series openers). Morales (7-4) struck out four over 7 2/3 innings of five-hit ball, matching his longest outing of the year and the longest by any Boilermaker.

Connor Caskenette hit his team-leading 13th home run and Purdue eclipsed its team RBI record that had stood since 1986, but both achievements came in a 7-6 walk-off loss at Michigan on Saturday.

The game ended on a bases-loaded walk to pinch hitter AJ Garcia with one out in the ninth inning. After cleanup hitter Collin Priest’s fourth hit of the day gave U-M (27-24, 12-6 Big Ten) runners on second and third, the Boilermakers (33-18, 13-7 Big Ten) issued an intentional walk to load the bases.

Purdue stranded 11 runners on base, one shy of the team season high in Big Ten play, which also came in a walk-off loss on a Saturday. That March 30 game at Ohio State marked the last time the Boilermakers had lost on the road.

Caskenette connected for a solo blast in the fourth inning, matching Jacson McGowan (2018) and Cam Thompson (2022) for the most homers by a Boilermaker in the BBCOR bat era (2011-present). Caskenette also doubled and walked twice, scoring three of Purdue’s six runs.

Michigan hit three home runs in the sixth inning to break a 4-4 tie and defeat Purdue Baseball 8-6 in Sunday’s rubber game of the series.

The Boilermakers (33-19, 13-8 Big Ten) did not hold the lead at any point for the first time since a March 23 loss to Iowa, game No. 2 of the Big Ten season. But they lost two of three after winning on Friday for the second weekend in a row. Meanwhile, the Wolverines (28-24, 13-8 Big Ten) improved to 6-0 in rubber games this season, a big reason why they’re now tied with Purdue in the standings.

Michigan scored in each of the first three innings, opening up early leads of 2-0 and 4-2. The Boilermakers pulled even again in the top of the sixth but could not overcome U-M’s four-run frame. They did bring the tying run to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning.

The Wolverines lineup scored 15 runs on 25 hits over the final two games of the series after Purdue won the opener via a five-hit shutout from ace Jordan Morales. Sunday, the first three hitters in the U-M lineup – Jonathan Kim, Mitch Voit and Stephen Hrustich – were a combined 7-for-13 with four extra-base hits, seven RBI and five runs scored. Voit and Hrustich hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning after 9-hole hitter Kyle Dernedde’s two-run blast had given the home team the lead back.

The Boilermakers will enter the final week of the regular season in three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten standings with Indiana and Michigan. They host first-place Illinois (15-6) for a Thursday-Friday-Saturday series while Indiana and Michigan play each other in Bloomington. Second-place Nebraska (14-7) plays at Michigan State.

The top eight teams qualify for the Big Ten Tournament and Purdue has essentially clinched a bid. Only a four-, five- or six-team logjam at 13-11 in which a complicated tiebreaker would come into play would have the potential to exclude the Boilers – with the chances of that happening being minuscule at best. One Purdue victory or one loss by any of the three teams currently tied for seventh place at 10-11 – Maryland, Ohio State and Michigan State – would make it officially official.

SOFTBALL CLOSES FREZZOTTI’S DEBUT SEASON

Despite controlling the second half of the game, the Purdue softball team (25-26, 11-12 Big Ten) concluded its season with a 3-6 loss to Indiana in the first round of the Big Ten Softball Tournament.

The No. 9 seed Boilermakers out-hit the No. 8 seed Hoosiers 5-0 over the final three frames and held the Hoosiers scoreless after the first two innings. In total, Purdue and Indiana each left seven runners stranded, committed one error. Indiana out-hit Purdue, 7-9 in the game.

The Boilermakers trailed the game from the opening frame after Indiana registered three runs in the first inning. Purdue responded by loading the bases on a pair of walks and a double by Sage Scarmardo in the second, however was unable to convert with just one out remaining in the inning. Indiana added a trio of runs in the second for the 0-6 lead.

Purdue found its rhythm in the fifth inning, posting three runs and four hits while capitalizing on Indiana miscues by scoring on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch. Purdue turned to the bottom of the frame with a quick three up, three down performance, which included a strikeout tossed by Kendall Klochack.

The outfielders registered each of the three runs for Purdue. Leading the day was All-Big Ten Defensive Team (outfield) honoree Moriah Polar, who registered an RBI single and run. Meanwhile, runs were scored by senior Kiara Dillon and Khloe Banks. Additionally, senior Hailey Hayes earned an RBI on the hit-by-pitch.

Led by first-year head coach Magali Frezzotti, the Boilermakers conclude their season after setting a program record for consecutive Big Ten wins, tying the program record for triples in a season (18) and 96 stolen bases, just three shy of tying fifth-most in Purdue history. The team’s 11 Big Ten wins were the most since 2014 (excluding the Big Ten-only season due to COVID-19).

Moriah Polar was voted to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, announced by the conference office.

Polar, a freshman out of Pearland, Texas, earned her first Big Ten award recognition after leading all Big Ten outfielders this season with 130 catches and 122 putouts. The Boilermaker has been an integral member of the squad, starting in all 51 games in left field.

Defensively, Polar’s efforts have culminated in numerous diving catches and a double play at Illinois for an out at home. Moreover, she has matched the Purdue record for most triples by a Boilermaker in program history (7) and leads a team that has set a  Polar has helped Purdue set a program record for most Big consecutive conference wins and the highest Big Ten Tournament seed since 2017.

Polar’s nod marked the second time a Boilermaker has earned All-Defensive Team honors, joining outfielder Kasey Wilhoit who earned the nod in 2019.

MEN FINISH SIXTH, WOMEN 10TH AT BIG TEN OUTDOOR TRACK

 The Purdue track & field team won three individual Big Ten titles on Sunday to conclude the 2024 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Graduate student Cameron Miller won the 200-meter, junior Praise Aniamaka repeated as the triple jump champion with a meet-record mark and sophomore Seth Allen claimed the title in the discus. The trio of gold-medal-winners were joined by the men’s 4×400 relay, who took bronze on the third and final day of the three-day championships. Additionally, freshman Andreas Hantson was the runner-up in the decathlon on Saturday.

The Boilermakers earned 10 top-eight finishes on Sunday and totaled 19 trips to the podium on the weekend. Among Purdue’s point-scorers, graduate student Safin Wills and junior Zoe Sullivan reached the podium in multiple events. Wills was fifth in the triple jump on Sunday after he also placed fifth in the long jump on Saturday. Sullivan notched a fourth-place finish in the 100m hurdles and helped the 4×100 relay to a sixth place showing.

As a team, the Purdue men were sixth with 64 points and the women tied for 10th with 25 points. Both teams improved on their finishes from last season, as the men rose six spots in the standings, into the top half of the Big Ten, with a 42-point improvement. The Boilermakers’ three individual titles are the team’s most since 2019.

“Our men had a very good showing,” Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. “They moved up several places from this past indoor season, and we finished with three high-quality wins by Cam, Praise and Seth. Our women showed great promise, but we have lots of room to improve.”

A meet-record jump helped Aniamaka defend his Big Ten triple jump title as Purdue won its fifth consecutive championship in the event. A jump of 16.49m tops the previous meet record of 16.18m set in 2000 and is No. 2 in Purdue history and the best since 2000. It came on Aniamaka’s fifth attempt and moved him into first place from fourth. The jump was a PR for the junior by 0.39m.

As Aniamaka won his second straight gold medal, he claimed his fifth career Big Ten medal, all in the triple jump. His two golds go along with one silver and three bronzes. Purdue has won nine outdoor men’s triple jump titles, including the last five in a row. Aniamaka’s last two were preceded by Wills in 2022 and Tamar Greene in 2019 and 2021.

Miller won the 200m in 19.97-w. He was victorious by 0.08 seconds and medaled by a 0.36 second margin. The first-year Boilermaker won his first Big Ten title and second Big Ten medal and claimed his second conference championship, along with a 200m win indoors a year ago in the ACC. It’s Miller’s seventh career conference medal and fourth individually. Miller already owns the school record in the event, and if today’s time weren’t wind-aided, it would be the first legal time by Purdue under 20.00 seconds.

The Boilermakers have now won five Big Ten championships in the 200m, with the last coming by Raheem Mostert in 2014.

Allen’s victory in the discus came with a personal-best throw of 60.95m. His day was powered by strong throws on his final two attempts, with his fifth mark moving him up to second from fourth. Allen’s sixth attempt then was what clinched the title and a spot at No. 2 in the Boilermaker record books. Allen won by 0.99m, improved his PR by 1.63m and posted Purdue’s best mark since the record was set in 2018.

On the podium for the first time in his career, Allen won the 10th discus title in school history. It’s the first gold medal since Bill Hardcastle won his second championship in the event since 2010.

The day concluded with a bronze-medal showing in the men’s 4×400 relay. Purdue ran a season-best time of 3:06.97, a mark that is No. 5 in school history and the best since 2019. The finish was earned by senior Jahn Riley, junior Brett Otterbacher, freshman Nickens Lemba and sophomore Connor Czajkowski.

Sullivan’s second event of her day was the 100m hurdles, where she was fourth in 13.37. A personal-best in all conditions, she topped her prelim time of 13.38 on Saturday to improve her mark at No. 5 in program history. Sullivan recorded her third Big Ten podium finish and sixth of her career, third outdoors.

Wills posted his second fifth-place finish of the weekend in the triple jump. A jump of 15.95m on his sixth and final attempt moved him up from sixth place. It was Wills’ best jump as a Boilermaker and put him into the top-10 list at No. 8. Sunday’s performance comes after Wills was fifth in the long jump on Saturday. With this weekend’s showings, Wills now owns seven Big Ten podium finishes and 11 career conference top-eight placings both indoors and outdoors.

Junior Nathan Walker used a strong finish to the 5,000m to finish sixth in 14:16.85. He was in 11th place with 1,600m left but rose to sixth in the next 1,200m and crossed the finish line in sixth by almost three seconds. Walker earned his second career Big Ten podium finish.

Freshman Alexia Smith also was sixth in the 400m final. She crossed the finish line in 53.58 and edged out the seventh-place finisher by 0.09 seconds. It is Smith’s first time on the podium.

Action on the track began with the 4×100, where the women were sixth in 44.80 seconds. The season-best time was run by Sullivan, freshmen Nia Wilson, Jada Lee and Alyssa Tate.

Junior Grant Gogel cleared a personal-best 5.01m in the pole vault to reach the podium in eighth place. As a placed in the top eight for the first time in his career, Gogel benefited from a second-attempt clearance at 5.01m to earn the spot on the podium on misses.

On Saturday, Hantson was the runner-up in the decathlon as eight Boilermakers stood on the podium. On Friday to begin the three-meet championships, junior Cale Ayers was seventh in the hammer throw.

In two weeks, qualifying Boilermakers will compete at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Lexington, Kentucky, from May 22-25. The list of those that qualified for the regional meet will be announced next week.

VOLLEYBALL JETS OFF FOR EUROPEAN TOUR

The volleyball team is set to take off for its two-week European Tour on Sunday, visiting several cities during their time abroad in the countries of Italy, Croatia and Türkiye. The trip will run May 12-25.

The Boilermakers are slated to spend time in Milan, Venice and Como, Italy; Pula and Zagreb, Croatia and Istanbul, Türkiye.

Six matches are on the docket throughout the team’s travels, with the Boilermakers to compete against both national and professional volleyball squads.

Purdue returns nearly its entire 2023 roster after a thrilling season that culminated in a No. 13 national ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) final poll, an NCAA Regional Semifinals appearance and a third-place finish in the Big Ten. Led by head coach Dave Shondell, who received a contract extension in January, the Boilermakers finished with a 23-9 overall record, including 15-5 in Big Ten play. All three AVCA All-Americans return for the 2024 season with Eva Hudson (Second Team), Chloe Chicoine (Third Team) and Raven Colvin (Honorable Mention) in addition to All-Freshman Team selection in setter Taylor Anderson. Meanwhile, the entire fall 2024 squad will play together in Europe, with the three members of the freshmen class included: defensive specialists #6 Sienna Foster and #3 Ryan McAleer and setter #11 Allie Shondell.

MATCH SCHEDULE
Subject to change
May 15 | vs. Italian Federation | Milan, Italy
May 16 | vs. Italian Federation Team | Milan, Italy
May 19 | vs. OK Pula | Pula, Croatia
May 22 | vs. Vakifbank TBC | Uskudar, Türkiye
May 23 | vs. Fenerbahce | Istanbul, Türkiye
May 24 | vs. Eczacibasi | Istanbul, Türkiye

BOILERMAKERS LOOKS TO ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS; HOSTS REGIONALS AT KAMPEN-COSLER

NCAA REGIONALS INFORMATION
May 13-15, 2024
Kampen-Cosler Course | West Lafayette, Indiana
ADMISSION: FREE
TEE TIMES: 8 a.m. ET (hole 1); 8:30 a.m. ET (hole 10)
NOTE: PURDUE’S MONDAY TEE TIMES START AT 8:30 A.M. ET OFF HOLE 10

Purdue Aims for Return to NCAA Championships
• The Purdue men’s golf team aims for its first NCAA Championships appearance in seven years when it plays host to the NCAA West Lafayette Regional at the Kampen-Cosler Course on May 13 through 15. 
• The last time Purdue advanced to Nationals, it advanced out of the West Lafayette Region in 2017, placing fifth at the Kampen-Cosler Course. The 2017 appearance marked the third National Championships appearance in four years for the Boilermakers. Purdue was the No. 7 seed in the 2017 Regionals, ranked 38th entering Regionals.
• The Boilermakers are in search of its fourth NCAA Championships appearance in the last 10 tournaments. The top-five finishers from the regional will advance to the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa’s North Course in Carlsbad, California, for the National Championships on May 24-29.
• Purdue is one of six Big Ten teams to advance to regionals, joined by Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Northwestern and Ohio State.

Purdue on Record-Breaking Run
• Purdue will play in its ninth NCAA Regional in the last 10 chances after missing Regionals in 2021 — although we contend that Purdue would have played in Regionals if it played in the fall season of 2020. It’s the best stretch for the Boilermaker program since the 50s and 60s. 
• Purdue made 19 straight NCAA Championship appearances from 1949 to 1967, winning the National Championship in 1961. 
• Purdue’s nine Regionals appearances in the last 10 years are the second most in the league (Illinois – 10; Purdue – 9; Ohio State – 8; Northwestern – 7). 

The Underdog Role Fits Well
• In five of the eight previous years, Purdue has exceeded their seeding expectations at NCAA Regionals advancing to the NCAA Championships three times and losing in a playoff once in the process. Now in 2024, Purdue hopes to play better to its seed or better to reach its fourth National Championship in 10 years.

Boilermaker Team Notes
• Purdue’s 18-hole team average of 285.79 is the best in school history.
• Purdue has had five of its six possible golfers shoot 67 or better this year.
• Purdue has had all six of its possible golfers record top-9 finishes this year.
• Two players have won events in the same season for the first time since 2018.
• Purdue owns seven top-3 finishes in its 10 events this year. 

Boilermaker Individual Notes
• Herman Sekne … ranks 18th on the PGA Tour U. rankings and 21st in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) … voted Big Ten Golfer of the Year … first-team All-Big Ten for third straight year (1-of-3 players in Purdue history) … on pace to break his own school record for stroke average (70.27; last year was 70.41) … has 18, top-10 finishes in his 36 career events (71.32 career stroke average) … has just four double-bogeys (or worse) in 468 holes this season.
• Nels Surtani … second on the team in stroke average (72.21 — 10th in a season at Purdue) … voted second-team All-Big Ten … won the elite Puerto Rico Classic … has four top-19 finishes in five events this spring … 13 rounds of par or better with six rounds in the 60s this season. 
• Peyton Snoeberger … owns a 72.67 stroke average and has 10 rounds of par or better with five rounds in the 60s … narrowly missed a top-10 finish at the Big Ten Championships (T-11) … has three top-18 finishes in his last four events.
• Kent Hsiao … has come on late, owning a 72.80 stroke average with 10 rounds or par or better … finished tied for 11th at the Big Ten Championships … finished tied for ninth at the Calusa Cup and eighth at Windon … three straight top-25 showings.
• Sam Easterbrook … talented freshman has three top-10 finishes in his last six events … has 13 rounds of par or better (2nd on team) … his 72.93 stroke average is best by a freshman in Purdue history.
• Nick Dentino … played the most rounds of anyone on team (121) … finished T-4 at the Hootie at Bulls Bay … advanced out of U.S. Open local qualifying.

REGIONAL RUNNER-UP FINISH SENDS WOMEN’S GOLF TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS; BRUCH LEADS BOILERS IN FINAL ROUND WITH HOLE-IN-ONE

Purdue Women’s Golf secured a berth to the NCAA Championships for the 19th time in program history, placing runner-up at the NCAA Las Vegas Regional at Spanish Trail Country Club. On a day where the scoring average was 77.5 due to cooler conditions and 20-25 mph winds with gusts up to 30 mph, the Boilermakers battled to finish 4-over for the tournament and maintain the second-place position they held heading into the final round.

Purdue was second behind No. 9 Arkansas (E), as both teams shot 304 (+16) during the final round. Baylor (+8), No. 4 UCLA (+12) and No. 19 Florida State (+14) finished behind the Boilermakers and claimed the final three spots to the national championship stage. All five teams head to Carlsbad, California for the 2024 NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California (May 17-22).

Jocelyn Bruch fired a 74 (+2) for Purdue’s lowest round of the day, highlighted by a hole-in-one on the 203-yard par-3 seventh. The Carmel, Indiana, native played the final 46 holes of the tournament 2-over par, the best by any Boilermaker during that stretch. Bruch made 41 pars to lead the 69-player field.

Freshman Jasmine Kahler led the Boilermakers throughout the week, tying for eighth at even-par (71-70-75—216) for her second Top 10 of the season and her first Top 10 as part of the Purdue lineup. With her stellar play, Kahler ensured Purdue a trip to her hometown of Carlsbad next week.

All-Big Ten golfers Momo Sugiyama (+1) and Ashley Kozlowski (+2) recorded Top 15 finishes on the individual leaderboard. Sugiyama placed 11th, while Kozlowski was 13th. The pair of Boilermakers led the team through the first two rounds, playing the 36 holes 4-under before contributing to the team’s final round with scores of 77 (+5) and 78 (+6), respectively.

The Boilermakers’ runner-up performance was their best in an NCAA Regional since also finishing second in 2013.

BIG TEN UNVEILS WBB CONFERENCE MATCHUPS

The Purdue women’s basketball team received its league matchups for the 2024-25 season, as the Big Ten Conference unveiled the home and away designations for its first 18-game season with 18 teams.

Remaining at 18 league games for the sixth straight season, the Boilermakers will face 16 single-play teams, split eight at Mackey Arena and eight on the road, with one home-and-away series.

HOME AND AWAY
Indiana

HOME ONLY
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Wisconsin
UCLA
USC

AWAY ONLY
Illinois
Iowa
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State
Rutgers
Washington
Oregon

SCHEDULE NOTES
• Purdue will play out on the west coast for the second straight year, after traveling to UCLA to start the 2023-24 season.
• The Boilermakers will meet Oregon for the first time in history.
• Purdue is 3-1 all-time against Washington with three wins in Mackey Arena, including two in the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers dropped their only matchup with the Huskies at Hec Edmundson Arena in December 2007.
• Purdue played at Washington’s Hec Edmundson Arena in the 2004 Sweet 16 during head coach Katie Gearlds‘ freshman season.
• After opening the year at UCLA last year, Purdue is tied 2-2 all-time with the Bruins. UCLA’s lone visit to Mackey Arena was in the first and second rounds of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Purdue won the second round 61-54, behind a 15-point, 8-rebound, 6-assist performance from Gearlds as a junior.
• USC will make its first trip to Mackey Arena, after the previous matchup coming in 2017 at the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu.
• The Boilermakers will travel to Illinois and Ohio State for the first time since 2022-23 when they knocked off the No. 22 Illini and No. 2 Buckeyes in back-to-back road contests.

PURDUE DAY OF GIVING 2024 SHATTERS ATHLETICS FUNDRAISING RECORD

This year’s Purdue Day of Giving, held April 24, shattered records for Purdue Athletics. After the historic run by the Purdue men’s basketball team to the national title game, which followed the squad winning the regular season Big Ten Championship for the second consecutive year, Purdue Day of Giving offered Boilermaker fans an opportunity to commemorate the team’s season and bolster the entire department’s unprecedented momentum. The Boilermaker community together raised more than $13 million for Purdue student-athletes with record participation of more than 2,700 gifts.
 
The Purdue for Life Foundation’s annual 24-hour experience brings together more than 70 campus units, including all 18 Boilermaker sport programs. For the first time, the John Purdue Club (JPC), which is part of Purdue for Life, shared its stage with the Boilermaker Alliance in support of Purdue student-athletes. In accordance with Purdue’s long-held values, Boilermaker Alliance exists to empower Purdue student-athletes to utilize their name, image and likeness to become champions in their sport and community. On Purdue Day of Giving, Boilermaker Alliance raised $1.3 million, which will significantly impact the way the organization is able to connect Purdue student-athletes with local charitable partners like Food Finders and A Kid Again for service projects.
 
Purdue Day of Giving also provided a platform for the JPC fundraising team to further educate its members on the Forging Ahead project that launched in September 2023. Forging Ahead is a campaign aimed at raising $18.69 million to fund a data-driven approach to recruit, retain and develop championship teams. Paying homage to Purdue’s founding in 1869, the fundraising goal allowed for an immediate launch while also establishing a substantial endowment that will annually produce capital to support programming and staffing needs. To reflect the importance of the campaign to Purdue Athletics, those who give to Forging Ahead are rewarded with double Priority Points (two Priority Points per $100 for all cash gifts).
 
To recognize the men’s basketball team’s recent success, for one day only on Purdue Day of Giving, men’s basketball 2023-24 season mementos were given exclusively to those who donated to either the JPC’s Forging Ahead campaign or the Boilermaker Alliance. Mementos ranged from authentic confetti from the 2023-24 season to NCAA Final Four team-issued watches.
 
Boilermakers everywhere rallied around the John Purdue Club and Boilermaker Alliance in exceptional volume. Record-breaking statistics for Purdue Athletics on Purdue Day of Giving 2024 include:

• $13,001,766 committed (previous record was $9.3 million in 2022)
• 2,775 gifts
• Second leading campus unit in participation and amount raised

“When we returned from Phoenix, we asked ourselves if we were going to sit back and allow this moment to be a great run that we will remember forever or if we were going to challenge ourselves to build the Boilermaker momentum,” said Tim House, executive senior associate athletics director and associate vice president for development. “Ultimately, we unanimously agreed that our time is now. The results speak for themselves, and we were not alone in our approach. The engagement shown on Purdue Day of Giving is a testament to Boilermakers’ commitment to advance our mission in operating as a championship-caliber organization that is excellent in all respects.”
 
With two months left in the fiscal year, JPC fundraisers are aiming to fully support the annual $13.5 million student-athlete scholarship bill yet again as the athletics department continues its relentless approach to provide every student-athlete with an opportunity to excel in the classroom, competition and community.
 
To celebrate JPC members and kick off the new 2024-25 membership year, the John Purdue Club will bring back its annual JPC Day to the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex on Saturday, June 1. The party will start with a golf scramble and pickleball tournament and conclude with a 19^th hole barbeque and live music. Special guests are expected to make appearances at each event as a way to say thank you for the unwavering support JPC members show to Purdue student-athletes.