Purdue Sports Update July 28

EDEY, HUDSON SELECTED PURDUE MALE & FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

After setting numerous Purdue records, men’s basketball’s Zach Edey and volleyball’s Eva Hudson were selected 2022-23 Purdue Male and Female Athletes of the Year.

Together, the pair led the Big Ten in scoring/points and propelled their respective teams to top-five national rankings over the course of their seasons, with men’s basketball earning the No. 1 spot and volleyball climbing to No. 5.

In Hudson’s first year on the collegiate scene, she became the first freshman in program history to receive an All-America Honorable Mention nod. The most decorated freshman in Purdue volleyball history was also named Midwest Region Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten Freshman of the Year and unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman Team after leading the entire league in kills (503) and points (570.5).

Hudson’s status as the most accomplished freshman Purdue has ever seen is not confined West Lafayette – in fact, she is one of the most accomplished freshmen the Big Ten has produced, having earned more Big Ten Player of the Week awards than any newcomer before her, all in addition to her six Freshman of the Week accolades.

She is Purdue volleyball’s first newcomer to make an All-Big Ten or honorable mention list since 2005.

Hudson is one of four Boilermakers to post at least 1,420 attacks in a single season and one of five Boilermakers to register 515 kills this century. Meanwhile, she is the only one to accomplish the feats during her first year.

The Fort Wayne, Indiana native produced at least 15 kills in 21 matches this season and recorded a hitting % of .300 or better 11 times, including six at a hitting clip of .400% and above. She averaged 4.78 points per set, 4.22 kills per set and 2.04 digs per set while tallying seven double-doubles over the campaign. Nationally, Hudson ranked eighth in total attacks (1,420), 14th in total points (583) and 16th in total kills (515).

Hudson joins the ranks of fellow volleyball players Grace Cleveland (2021), Sherridan Atkinson (2018) and Ariel Turner (2012) as recent representatives for Purdue Female Athlete of the Year.

Edey, the most-dominant player in college basketball during the 2022-23 season, won all six National Player of the Year awards, winning the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy, The Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA), Associated Press (AP) National Player of the Year, National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) National Player of the Year and The Sporting News National Player of the Year. In addition, he has won the Pete Newell Big Man of the Year Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the nation’s top center.

He was named a first-team All-American by every outlet and recently was named a finalist for the top Male College Athlete ESPY award by ESPN.

Edey became the first Boilermaker since Glenn Robinson in 1994 to win National Player of the Year accolades. He is also the fifth Big Ten Player in the last 14 years to be named National Player of the Year joining Evan Turner (2010), Trey Burke (2013), Frank Kaminsky (2015) and Luka Garza (2021) as National Players of the Year.

Edey earned Big Ten Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year after a remarkable junior season at Purdue. He was named a consensus first-team All-American, the second straight season that Purdue has had a consensus All-American (Jaden Ivey, 2022), after averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.5 assists per game.

He became the first player in NCAA history (since blocks became an official NCAA stat) to record at least 750 points, 400 rebounds, 70 blocks and 50 assists in a season, ranking sixth nationally in scoring, second in rebounds, 19th in blocked shots and 21st in field goal percentage (.607), the only player in the NCAA database to rank in the top 25 of all four categories in the same season.

He finished the season ranking sixth on Purdue’s single-season chart for points (757), first in rebounds (438), fifth in field goals made (290), 14th in field goal percentage (.607), first in dunks (76) and second in double-doubles (27).

Both Edey and Hudson return for the 2023-24 campaign. Edey looks to lead the Boilermakers to back-to-back Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles. The men’s basketball team is ranked in the top five of all the “way-too-early” top-25 polls. Volleyball preseason rankings will be announced in August.

NEWMAN ON BOARD AS BASEBALL’S PITCHING COACH

Bringing with him longstanding Big Ten Conference ties via his time at Ohio State and Penn State, former big leaguer Josh Newman has been hired as the new pitching coach for Purdue baseball, head coach Greg Goff has announced.

Newman served as Penn State’s pitching coach for six seasons from 2018 to 2023. A three-time All-Big Ten honoree for the Buckeyes from 2001 to 2004, Newman coached at Ohio State (2011-13) and Marshall (2014-17) after his playing career ended. He has helped develop 13 pitchers into MLB Draft picks.

Penn State had seven pitchers drafted during Newman’s tenure. That group featured the highest-selected lefty in program history (Dante Biasi, 6th round in 2019), another top 10 rounds selection in 2021 (Conor Larkin, 9th round) and Daniel Ouderkirk (18th round) this month. The Nittany Lions were one of only four teams nationally to have all three members of their weekend rotation drafted in 2021.

“We’re thrilled to add Josh to our program to leading the pitching staff at Alexander Field,” Goff said. “His staffs at Penn State and Marshall always made things tough on the lineups I put together. Josh’s pitchers are well prepared and demonstrate a relentless mentality. He does an excellent job of developing pitchers, teaching them what it takes to excel at our level and professionally. His experiences in pro ball and the big leagues will also be beneficial to our players. He’s a family man and has demonstrated a remarkable worth ethic. Josh is an essential addition to complete our coaching staff.”

Penn State set a program record with 503 strikeouts (9.24 K/9) in 2022, marking the third time in the last four full seasons the pitching staff reached the 400-K mark. In their 55 games that season, the Lions racked up 10-plus strikeouts 21 times and surrendered three earned or fewer 16 times. The team strikeout record was initially eclipsed with 491 Ks in Newman’s second season (2019), leading the Big Ten and ranking ninth nationally with 10.1 K/9.

Newman’s instrumental role in Penn State’s pitcher development dovetailed with his use of cutting-edge technology, including TrackMan, Edgertronic, K-Vest and Rapsodo systems. The Lions were also renowned around the league the last few years for their balanced pitching approach. In 2022, eight PSU pitchers made at least one start and earned at least one save. This past season, that same list was at six pitchers.

Goff and Newman were also in opposite dugouts during league play in 2015 and 2016, first crossing paths in Conference USA. Newman’s pitching staff helped Marshall win a team-record 34 games and finish second in the C-USA standings in 2016, ahead of Goff’s 40-win NCAA Regional team at Louisiana Tech. Three of the Thundering Herd’s pitchers were named all-conference that season, headlined by all-time wins leader Chase Boster. JD Hammer was one of the three Marshall pitchers drafted that year and made it to the big leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies.

“My family and I are excited about this opportunity in West Lafayette,” Newman said. “Greg Goff, Purdue and the Big Ten makes for an elite trio of factors that attracted me to this position. Going back to our weekend series against each other in Conference USA, I’ve admired the way Greg runs his program and prepares the players. I’m eager to begin working with the pitching staff and lead the development of Boilermakers on the mound.”

D1Baseball.com has named Newman among its list of “top, up-and-coming” assistant coaches.

Newman was selected in the 2003 and 2004 MLB Drafts and pitched professionally for six seasons. He made his big league debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2007 and was on the active roster for the World Series that fall. He pitched for the both the Rockies and Kansas Royals the following season.

A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and 2004 graduate of Ohio State, Newman returned to Columbus in time for the 2010-11 school year when he joined the new coaching staff assembled by Greg Beals. The Buckeyes’ overall win total improved every year he was on staff, highlighted by a 35-win campaign in which OSU finished second in the Big Ten in 2013. Ohio State had three pitchers drafted during his years on staff and saw its ERA drop by 1.70 points over the three seasons, highlighted by a 3.24 mark in 2013.

Newman was in the visiting dugout when Purdue’s Alexander Field hosted its first games in March 2013. He also coached at Alexander with Penn State in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

Newman was a workhorse and four-year member of OSU’s weekend rotation from 2001 to 2004, finishing his career ranked among the top three in team history in wins (32), innings pitched (369) and strikeouts (291). The Buckeyes compiled a 161-84-1 record (77-42 Big Ten) during his career, winning the league’s regular-season title by a half-game over Purdue in 2001 and consecutive Big Ten Tournament titles in 2002 and 2003. The Buckeyes finished no worse than second in the standings all four years and qualified for three consecutive NCAA Regionals (2001-03).

Selected in the 31st round of the 2003 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds a few days after Ohio State had won an NCAA Regional at Auburn, Newman opted to return for his senior season. He went on to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors, striking out 100 batters in 103 1/3 innings. The Rockies drafted Newman in the 19th round in 2004. He was also a Freshman All-American in 2001.

As a Buckeye, Newman pitched at Purdue’s Lambert Field in both 2003 and 2004.

Newman and his wife, Sarah, are the parents of three children – daughter Ayda and sons Kash and Miller.

SWIM-DIVE WELL REPRESENTED AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Purdue swimming & diving is set to be well represented with seven Boilermakers competing in as many as 15 events at the top international showcase of the year, the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Three current student-athletes and four alumni are slated to represent their countries. Associate head coach for diving David Boudia (2009-11) – a five-time medalist at the World Championships during his decorated career – is on the coaching staff for USA Diving. Alumnus Steven LoBue (2004-07), a two-time World Championships medalist, is also serving as the coach of the U.S. high divers.

Divers Jordan Rzepka, Brandon Loschiavo (2017-21), Greg Duncan (2019-22) and David Colturi (2008-10) are all slated to represent the United States. Kate Beavon’s open water success earned her a berth for South Africa. Fresh off winning a pair of diving medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games, Maycey Vieta returns to Worlds for Puerto Rico. Two-time Olympian Jinq En Phee (2017-20) is slated to race in the breaststroke events at her third World Championships for Malaysia.

Beavon and Vieta are both slated to return to Purdue’s active roster this fall as fifth-year student-athletes.

Formerly known as the FINA World Championships, the biennial international showcase became the World Aquatics Championships after FINA was rebranded as World Aquatics in December 2022. It’s also being held in consecutive years – Budapest hosted in June 2022 – due to the Olympic Games being postponed a year until 2021.

Headlined by diving, for many sports the World Championships serves as an opportunity for countries to earn quota spots for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games. As USA Diving’s reigning national champion and World Championships entry in 10-meter synchro, Loschiavo and Rzepka will be aiming to assure the U.S. competes in the event again at the Olympics. Steele Johnson and Boudia won silver together in the event at the 2016 Olympic Games but the U.S. did not qualify for the event in Tokyo.

Loschiavo swept the 10-meter individual and synchro events at the USA Diving National Championships in May. He’s slated to compete at the World Championships for the third time (2017, 2019) but was not part of USA Diving’s roster last year in Budapest. Duncan, Rzepka and Colturi are all veterans of the World Championships, although an injury hours before his event prevented Duncan from competing last year.

Beavon won silver the open water 5K at the African Beach Games in Tunisia in June. During spring break, she was victorious in the same race at the South African Open Water Nationals.

Since the Tokyo Olympics, Phee has won three medals in the Southeast Asian Games. She has set Malaysian records in the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke during her career.

Colturi is set to compete at his fourth career World Championships. High diving was not part of the program last year in Budapest. He finished fourth in 2015. Colturi remains active on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, representing the U.S. on the international tour since 2012.

NINE SWIMMERS SET TO RACE AT NATIONALS IN SOCAL

Nine Boilermakers – six men and three women – are set to close out the summer long course season on the national stage, returning to Southern California for USA Swimming’s TYR Pro Championships.

Purdue’s events are set for Thursday to Saturday, with prelims daily at noon ET and finals at 8 p.m. ET.

Andrew Alders, Masy Folcik, Brady Samuels and Andrew Witty are representing at nationals in Irvine to close out the month of July for the second year in a row. They’re joined this year by Hannah Hill and rising sophomores Max Blume, Dylan Burau, Kelsey Cooper and Raymond Whittaker.

Samuels also raced at USA Swimming’s Phillips 66 National Championships the final week of June, where he posted career bests in all five of his events and posted a pair of qualifying times for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He’s entered in a team-high five individual events and is likely to race as part of both relays as well.

Highlighted by event victories from Kelsey Cooper (200m back) and Raymond Whittaker (200m breast), five of the Boilermakers racing this week won medals at the Indiana Senior State Championships two weeks ago in Indianapolis. Masy Folcik posted an Olympic Trials cut while claiming silver in the 100-meter breaststroke. Blume (silver in 100m breast, bronze in 200m breast) and Hill (bronze in 50m free) were also medalists while qualifying for nationals.

The Boilermakers are slated to compete in 10 events over the three days. Friday’s 100 breast features a team-high five Purdue entries.

CUNEIO RECLASSIFIES AND WILL JOIN PURDUE SOCCER THIS FALL

Purdue soccer coach Drew Roff has announced that Zoe Cuneio has committed to the program and will join the team for the 2023 season.

Cuneio, who had originally verbally committed to Purdue to be a member of the 2024 signing class, will join the Boilermakers a season early after she graduated from high school in three years.

Ranked No. 8 nationally among defenders and 37th overall in her class by Top Drawer Soccer, Cuneio is from Wildwood, Missouri. She is a four-star recruit by TDS and No. 2 in the Heartland region.

“Zoe is a special player who comes from an excellent soccer environment and a very supportive family,” Roff said. “She has all the characteristics of a top flight modern-day center back. She is physically strong, reads the game well and is very comfortable bringing the ball out and connecting passes through the lines. I have no doubts that Zoe is ready for the next step in her career, and we are very excited to have her join us this season.”

“The atmosphere and culture at Purdue is something special,” Cuneio said. “The coaches, the staff members and the players make it feel like a place where I belong. Purdue is the place I believe can help me accomplish my dreams and more. I am excited and ready to see what the future holds!”

SEKNE RANKED NO. 17 IN INITIAL PGA TOUR U. RANKINGS

Purdue senior Herman Sekne is ranked No. 17 in the initial 2023-24 PGA Tour U. rankings, the PGA Tour announced Wednesday afternoon.

PGA Tour U. (all players are eligible) players earn points based on college, amateur and professional golf and will earn PGA Tour membership if they amass at least 20 “accelerated points”. Accelerated points are given for winning season-ending awards (Haskins Award, Hogan Award, etc.), ranking in the top 5 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), tournament wins (NCAA Championship, U.S. Amateur, etc.) or participating in one of the following national team competitions (Walker Cup, Palmer Cup, World Amateur Team Championship).

To be elevated, eligible players must exhaust four years of collegiate eligibility or complete four years of college academics, with a minimum of two years of collegiate athletics.

The No. 1 ranked player next June in PGA Tour U. rankings earns PGA Tour membership for the remainder of the current season and benefits range all the way down to players ranking 11^th through 20^th earning full membership on the PGA Tour Americas tour.

Sekne is currently ranked No. 28 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and already has international match-play experience under his belt this summer, competing for the European squad in the prestigious Arnold Palmer Cup in June. He will play in the prestigious Bollanack Trophy on Aug. 3-5 – a Ryder Cup-style competition between the best players in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

He finished fourth this summer at the elite Sunnehanna Amateur and with his WAGR ranking, will qualify for the U.S. Amateur in August in Colorado.

Last June, Sekne became Purdue’s first All-American since 2002 (Lee Williamson) and was named first-team All-Big Ten for the second straight season in May. He was selected as the Big Ten Golfer of the Week three times while owning seven top-10 finishes in 10 events. His seven career Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors are the fourth most in Big Ten history.

He finished tied for ninth at the Big Ten Championships, but set the tournament record, a school record and a Galloway National course record with a 9-under par 62 in the second round.

The Oslo, Norway, native became just the fifth player in school history with at least three victories when he earned co-medalist honors three weeks ago at the Boilermaker Invitational, leading the Boilermakers to a stunning, come-from-behind victory over No. 11-ranked Oklahoma by one shot.

Sekne totaled a 54-hole tally of 11-under par 202 (69-69-64) to earn the victory. He birdied his final two holes to rally for the medalist share and his 202 score is the fourth-best tournament score in school history, while his 64 in the final tied for the third-lowest round in Purdue history.

He posted a school-record 14 rounds in the 60s, while his seven top-10 finishes are second in school history, coming in just 10 events played. He owned a 70.41 stroke average, ranking first in school history – almost a half-stroke better than Williamson in second place (70.78).

Sekne’s career stroke average of 71.66 is tops in school history, more than a stroke better than second place (Austin Eoff – 72.82). He has set the career record for most rounds in the 60s (25) and ranks tied for seventh in career top-10 finishes with 13, coming in just 27 events played.

BASEBALL EARNS ACADEMIC MARK

Purdue baseball’s 3.02 team grade-point average during the 2022-23 school year again earned the program a Team Academic Excellence Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association.

The ABCA recognizes college and high school teams around the country that make the grade to the tune of 3.0-plus cumulative GPAs for the academic year.

The Boilermakers’ 3.10 team GPA during the fall semester matched a program high dating back to the beginning of the 2018-19 school year.

Team Marx won the program’s Academic Bowl for both semesters during the 2022-23 school year. Team Marx was comprised of Jonathan Blackwell, Jackson Dannelley, Weston Gingerich, Kyle Iwinski, Griffin Lohman, Jake Parr, Jake Stadler and CJ Valdez.

INDIVIDUAL GPA HIGHLIGHTS
Boilermakers with…
• 3.5+ GPA – Fall: 10, Spring: 9
• 3.0+ GPA – Fall: 24, Spring: 21

Individually, the Boilermakers had three Big Ten Distinguished Scholars (3.7+ GPA for 2022-23) and 18 Academic All-Big Ten honorees (3.0+ cumulative GPA). Freshmen are not eligible for either honor. Brody Chrisman earned a 4.0 GPA during the spring semester of his freshman year.