EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Golf completed play Monday afternoon with its split-squad schedule for the week at the Wright State University Invitational and Vincennes University Spring Invitational, wrapping up the regular-season slate for the Screaming Eagles.
At the Wright State Invitational at Heatherwoode Golf Club, USI finished seventh out of 12 teams with a three-round score of 853 (286, 286, 281) and one stroke over par. After sitting in eighth place following 36 holes and down to ninth early in the final round on Monday, the Screaming Eagles made a solid charge late in the day to jump a couple of spots up to seventh and shoot their best team-round score by five strokes. The third-round 281 was one stroke away from tying the team’s best round total of 2024-25, which was a 280 in the fall at the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate.
Senior Sam Vertanen paced the team with a sixth-place finish on the individual leaderboard, his first career top-10 finish while at USI. Vertanen posted a USI career-best 208 (70, 70, 68), three strokes better than his previous career mark at USI. The senior had a strong start in round one, totaling five birdies with four birdies coming in a five-hole stretch. Vertanen’s third-round 68 tied his season-best round from the Grover Page Classic in the fall.
Fellow senior Jason Bannister also had a solid finish with a third-round 68. Overall, Bannister shot even par at 213 (72, 73, 68) for a top 25. The third-round 68 was Bannister’s fifth time shooting a 68 and 10th time shooting in the 60s in 2024-25. The senior single-round best this year is a 66 at the season-opening Dolenc Invitational in the fall. Bannister’s final round on Monday featured an eagle on the card and matched Vertanen with only a single bogey in the final 18 holes.
Junior Carter Goebel shot three over par for a 216 (71, 73, 72). It was the second week in a row that Goebel shot a 216, matching his best 54-hole total of the spring slate which he shot at last week’s Big Blue Intercollegiate. Freshman Alex Peck had another impressive week, shooting his best 54-hole score of 2024-25 with a five-over-par 218 (75, 70, 73). Peck once again set a new career-low round score with his 70 in the second round. Sophomore Hunter Reynolds shot his best 54-hole score of the spring with a 223 (73, 77, 73), two strokes off his career-best 54-hole score of 221 from the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate in the fall. Reynolds has shot a round of 73, one off his career-low round, five times in 2024-25. Reynolds also carded an eagle in Monday’s final round. Senior Wade Worthington tallied his best 54-hole score of the 2024-25 season with a 229 (77, 75, 77).
At the Vincennes Spring Invitational at Sultan’s Run Golf Club, USI had three individuals competing in the two-round tournament. Freshman Chandler Ornelas led the way for the Screaming Eagles by tying for a top-10 finish after logging 155 (78, 77). Freshman Tye Boone shot 158 (79, 79) to finish in the top 15, and fellow freshman Coen Bauschek scored 161 (85, 76). Bauschek’s nine-stroke improvement from round one to round two led to his best single-round score of 2024-25 with 76, which was highlighted by four birdies in Monday’s round.
Next, USI Men’s Golf will make its final preparations this week before traveling to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship on April 20-23 at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The tournament will begin with stroke play before the top four teams after the final round of stroke play will battle it out in a match-play bracket for the championship.
USI Men’s Golf concludes regular season at Wright State and Vincennes Invitationals
Ahead of Tax Day, Governor Braun Seeks to Remove Tax Penalties on Marriage
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THUNDERBOLTS PREPARE FOR SEMIFINALS REMATCH WITH RIVERMEN
- Peoria Rivermen:
- Record: 40-10-6, 86 Points, 1st Place
- Leading Regular Season Goal Scorer: Jordan Ernst (37 Goals)
- Leading Regular Season Point Scorer: Alec Baer (67 Points)
- Primary Regular Season Goaltender: Colby Muise (23-3-4, .933 Save %)
- Thunderbolts 24-25 Record vs PEO: 4-7-1
- No Transactions to Report
HOR JOBS
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Burdette Park Reopens Following Temporary Flood Closure
Evansville, IN – Burdette Park is pleased to announce that it has officially reopened to the public following a temporary closure due to historic flooding. While the park has resumed general operations, a few temporary adjustments remain in place to ensure guest safety.
At this time, the main entrance and exit to the park remain closed due to lingering floodwaters. All visitors are asked to enter the park via the Discovery Lodge entrance until further notice. Additionally, the Anchor Playground will remain closed until further notice.
Guests who have upcoming events scheduled and are concerned about potential impacts from the recent flooding are encouraged to contact the Burdette Park office at 812-435-5602 for the most up-to-date information and assistance.
“We’re grateful for the community’s patience and understanding as we worked through this historic flood event,” said Park Director, Zach Wathen. “The safety of our guests remains our top priority, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back to the park.”
Aces host Indiana State on Tuesday
Game time set for 5 p.m.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Another home game is on tap Tuesday when the University of Evansville softball team plays host to Indiana State at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James and Dorothy Cooper Stadium. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
Aces host Indiana State on Tuesday
Over the weekend, the Purple Aces faced off in a 3-game series against Drake. Taylor Howe and Jenna Donohoo led the offense, each batting .429 with three hits in seven at-bats. Howe added two runs and three walks in the series on her way to a .600 on-base percentage.
Morgan Adams provided the power numbers, recording a home run and three RBI against the Bulldogs. Adams reached base 66.7% of the time on the strength of four walks.
Prior to the weekend series against Drake, UE faced the Sycamores in a doubleheader last Tuesday in Terre Haute. After dropping the first game by a final score of 5-3, the Purple Aces rallied to take the second contest by a final of 6-0.
Gracie Hollingsworth tossed a gem, allowing just four hits in the complete game shutout. She set a new career high with eight strikeouts. Highlighting the offense was Morgan Adams, who recorded a 3-run home run.
Trailblazers sign German hitter Lili Palenczat
VINCENNES, Ind. – The four-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University Trailblazers made another big addition to their 2025 recruiting class this past week, with the addition of six-foot tall outside hitter Lili Palenczat.
“We are always looking for front row players and as often as we can, we are also looking for players who can play good back row,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “Above all, we are looking for players who can play multiple positions. That’s kind of our theme when we recruit and it can be at any position. Even the defensive specialist/liberos we have brought in this year are all former hitters.”
“Specific to Lili, she’s someone who can both hit and block well at all three positions,” Sien added. “At the moment she is playing opposite for her club team in Germany. She also has quite a bit of experience playing in the middle as well. On top of that, she is another consistent and exceptional back row player who also plays Beach volleyball. The true volleyball players play Beach because there are just two players to a side, playing outside in the elements in the sun and wind, the sand itself. Your quickness has to be outstanding because you can go up to hit a ball and the wind can move it any number of ways. She is quite impressive with her experience as a player that has played both beach and indoor.”
“Lili is another one that comes from a big volleyball family,” Sien said. “Her sister has already played here in the states at an NAIA school. Her father has been a coach for a number of years and until recently coached both Lili and her sister. You can’t go wrong when you have that kind of background. When you are brought up around the sport, it becomes second nature.”
Palenczat comes to VU after closing out her club career with SV Karlsruhe-Beiertheim in Karlsruhe, Germany near the board of Germany and France, which plays in the Second League in Germany.
Palenczat was a part of several winning programs in Germany, winning over 20 Regional titles during her time with the U12 through U20 National teams and won the Rhineland-Palatinate and Southwest German Championship multiple times.
She was a regular participant in the German National Championships for both indoor and beach volleyball and most recently placed sixth in the 2024 German U20 Indoor Championships.
Palenczat’s school teams also saw success, finishing fourth at the 2018 German School Championships and finishing Top 10 in the 2023 German School Championships.
Palenczat also brings a wealth of experience on the beach volleyball court, winning the State Championship at the U14, U16, U18 and U19 levels, while also holding a Top 10 finish at the National U18 Championships and Top 15 finish at the U20 National Championships.
Palenczat comes from a very solid volleyball background, with both of her parents, Eric and Bettina Palenczat, being volleyball coaches and having an older sister Luise who played one season at NAIA Westcliff University in California.
Palenczat will have some big shoes to fill in the front row for the Trailblazers next season as VU graduates several key pieces of their offense.
Palenczat is an excellent student and will graduate as Valedictorian of her graduating class at Hans-Purrmann-Gymnasium Speyer and plans to major in Information Technology at Vincennes University.
“Lili can play middle, which not every hitter can do,” Sien said. “That’s why we really love recruiting players that can play middle. But because of her ball control ability we would more likely like to see her on one of the pins. But I can only predict right now. It could be a different situation once you are able to get them all in the same gym.”
“We
University of Evansville Receives Transformational $500,000 Estate Gift from Emeritus Trustee M. Stephen Harkness
EVANSVILLE, IND. A generous $500,000 estate gift from Emeritus Trustee M. Stephen (Steve) Harkness ’70, H’06 will provide additional enduring support for multiple established endowed scholarships, previously established by Harkness at the University of Evansville (UE), ensuring future generations of students have access to transformative educational opportunities. To date, Steve’s lifetime giving to the University of Evansville includes nearly $1.2 million for several areas of the University such as scholarships, capital projects, and operational funding.
Harkness, a longtime supporter and advocate of the University, has designated this planned gift to benefit five endowed scholarships named in memory and in honor of family and loved ones.
Reflecting his deep commitment to education and student success, Harkness’ gift will provide vital financial assistance to students, with a special emphasis on those from Wood Memorial High School in Oakland City, Indiana, and the surrounding region. A 1966 graduate of Oakland City High School – later named Wood Memorial High School – Harkness maintains strong ties to the area and has long sought to support students from his hometown. His philanthropic legacy will strengthen UE’s ability to attract and retain students who demonstrate academic promise, leadership, and financial need.
“Steve Harkness’ generosity has already made an immeasurable impact on the University of Evansville. His friendship to us has been invaluable as he has provided graciously through his philanthropy, volunteerism, and as an active alumnus,” said Abigail L. Werling, Vice President for University Advancement. “This gift ensures that his dedication to student success will continue in perpetuity, creating significant opportunities for generations of Aces. We are truly grateful for Steve’s commitment to UE and for his life-changing investment in our students.”
Harkness earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from UE in 1970 and later a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Indiana University, and has enjoyed a distinguished career in financial and operational positions. He retired as President of Duke Energy Generation Services but has remained actively involved with the University during his retirement. Harkness delivered the keynote address to UE’s 2006 graduating seniors and received an honorary Doctor of Business Administration from UE. In 2011, the UE Alumni Association awarded him the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Harkness served on the UE Board of Visitors before joining the University’s Board of Trustees in 2006 and served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2014 until 2017. He was named an Emeritus Trustee in 2024 in recognition of his years of dedicated service.
“I am proud to support the University of Evansville and its students,” said Harkness. “UE played a pivotal role in shaping my career and values, and I want to ensure that future students have the same opportunities for success.”
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Women’s golf in second place at MVC Championship
First of three rounds complete
WATERLOO, Ill. – Completing Sunday’s opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship with a team score of 298, the University of Evansville women’s golf team is in second place at Annbriar Golf Course.
Leading the way for the Purple Aces was Louise Standtke. Her 1-over 73 has her in a tie for 6th place. She is just three off the lead. Elizabeth Mercer is in a tie for 10th place with a 2-over 74.
Two-time league individual champion Kate Petrova carded a 3-over 75 on Sunday. Her score is tied for 12thplace. Trinity Dubbs and Mallory Russell both finished the day with scores of 76 and are tied for 19th.
Evansville enters Monday’s second round eight strokes behind leader Illinois State. Four of the Redbirds five players are in the top six. UE is three ahead of a third-place tie between Drake and Southern Illinois.
Erika Holmberg of Drake is the individual lead with a 2-under 70.