The IU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics celebrated the Spirit of Indiana Showcase on April 27 via Facebook Live. Despite limitations on social gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 10th annual ceremony acknowledged the achievements of more than 50 student-athletes.
Director's Award: Brenna Wise, basketball and Nick Westbrook, football
Wise and Westbrook received the Director’s Award, given by Vice President and Director of Athletics Fred Glass to two seniors who best exemplified the mantra, “24 Sports, 1 Team.”
After redshirting the 2017-18 season following her transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, Wise started all 66 games for IU women’s basketball. As a junior, Wise topped the Big Ten with a 91.6 free throw percentage while netting four double-doubles. She also led her team in rebounds and 3-point percentage.
Wise’s efforts manifested in the win column during her senior campaign, with the Hoosiers totaling a program-record 24 victories. Although IU was denied a chance to contend in the NCAA Tournament, it proved itself against top-tier competition. This included a 71-57 victory over then-No. 5 University of South Carolina, wherein Wise scored 16 points.
In the classroom, Wise concluded her career with a 3.89 GPA and a degree in professional sales and marketing.
In his time with IU football, Westbrook saw action in 52 games as a wide receiver — a feat previously unaccomplished by any other player. He corralled a total of 144 receptions for 2,226 yards and 16 scores. Westbrook was the Hoosiers’ premiere wideout in 2018 with 590 yards.
School record books feature Westbrook’s name as sixth in catches and seventh in both yardage and touchdowns. He is just the seventh Hoosier to reach 125 receptions and 2,000 yards.
Westbrook also collected four Academic All-Big Ten recognitions and graduated in December 2019 with a degree in business marketing.
Jake Gimble Award: Sean Caulfield, soccer
The Jake Gimble Award is given to a male senior displaying exemplary "scholarship, athletic performance and mental attitude." In more than 14 hours protecting the net for the Hoosiers, Caulfield allowed only eight goals.
His senior accolades include a combined seven saves in double-overtime victories against Pittsburgh and the University of California, Los Angeles. He logged his first shutout versus Seattle University and clinched another against Sacramento State University with six saves.
Caulfield also leaves Bloomington as a recipient of three Academic All-Big Ten awards.
Big Ten Medal of Honor: Emily Powell, water polo
The Big Ten Medal of Honor has been granted to 28 of the nearly 10,000 Big Ten student athletes every year since 1915. A two-time water polo team captain, Powell tallied 37 goals, 59 assists and 69 steals for the Hoosiers. Her play in 2020 contributed to wins over ranked opponents such as Pacific University, Marist College and the University of California, Davis.
Powell’s leadership roles extended beyond the pool. She represented IU water polo on the Athletic Director’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion, which met regularly with Glass.
A member of the honors society Chi Alpha Sigma, Powell earned academic recognition from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches, Collegiate Water Polo Association and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
The Brisbane, Australia, native intends to continue her studies in the field of law back in her Oceanic homeland.
