Indianapolis Greyhounds Explained

Indianapolis Greyhounds
University:	University of Indianapolis
Association:	NCAA
Conference:	Great Lakes Valley Conference
Division:	Division II
Location:	Indianapolis, Indiana
Teams:	23
Stadium:	Key Stadium
Basketballarena:	Nicoson Hall
Baseballfield:	Greyhound Park
Arena2:	Ruth Lilly Center
Nickname:	Greyhounds
Mascot:	Grady (live), Ace (costumed)
Pageurl:	http://athletics.uindy.edu/

The Indianapolis Greyhounds, also the UIndy Greyhounds, are the athletic teams that represent the University of Indianapolis (UIndy), located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Greyhounds compete in NCAA Division II as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) for all 23 of their varsity sports. Indianapolis has been a member of the GLVC since 1978 and, as of 2022, was the only remaining charter member of the conference.

The university was known as Indiana Central from its founding in 1902 until the adoption of its current name in 1986. The Greyhound nickname for athletic teams dates from 1926.^[1] The original school colors, cardinal and grey, predated the athletic program, and eventually gave way to crimson and grey. The current "flying I" athletic department logo dates from 2007, when it was adopted as the helmet logo for Greyhound football.

In recent years, the Greyhounds have emerged as one of the top all-around athletics programs in Division II. Since 2011-12, Indianapolis has placed in the top ten of the Division II Learfield Directors' Cup standings ten times, and has won every GLVC All-Sports Trophy.^[2] As of spring 2023, when they earned their first GLVC wrestling and women's swimming & diving titles, the Greyhounds have won at least one GLVC championship in each of the program's 23 sports.

Varsity teams

Varsity sports records date from 1922–23, with the hiring of the first full-time coach and athletic director. (First season of varsity competition in parentheses)

Men's sports

• Baseball (1922)
• Basketball (1922–23)
• Cross country (1947)
• Football (1924; dropped 1932; restored 1946)
• Golf (1948)
• Lacrosse (2016)
• Soccer (1981)
• Swimming and diving (1984–85)
• Tennis (1924)
• Track and field, Outdoor (1926)
• Track and field, Indoor
• Wrestling (1955–56)

Women's sports

• Basketball (1947–48)
• Bowling (2024–25)
• Cross country (1982)
• Field Hockey (1964; dropped 1976)
• Golf (1987)
• Lacrosse (2016)
• Soccer (1994)
• Softball (1963)
• Swimming and diving (1986–87)
• Tennis (1971–72)
• Track and field, Outdoor (1971–72)
• Track and field, Indoor
• Volleyball (1963)

National championships

Greyhound teams have won five NCAA national championships.

NCAA	Division II	Women's Golf	2015	Rollins	1212 (+60) – 1217 (+65)	^[3] ^[4]
		Women's Golf	2018	California Baptist	1157 (+5) – 1195 (+43)	^[5] ^[6]
		Women's Lacrosse	2022	East Stroudsburg	11–9	^[7] ^[8]
		Men's swimming and diving	2023	Drury	527–450.5 (+76.5)	^[9]
		Women's Golf	2024	St. Mary's (TX)	2–2–1 match play (sudden death tiebreaker)	^[10]

Conference championships and postseason play

Conference affiliations

• Indiana Intercollegiate Conference (IIC) 1923–1947
• Hoosier College Conference (HCC) 1947–1970
• Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) 1970–1978
• Heartland Collegiate Conference (Heartland) 1978–1990 (football-only 1985–1989 seasons)
• Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (football-only 1990–1998 seasons)
• Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) associate member in football, 1999–2011; M/W swimming & diving, 2000–2013; women's lacrosse, 2016–2019
• Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) 1978–present

Men's teams

• Baseball – 19 conference championships: nine HCC (1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1964), two ICC (1971, 1973), two Heartland (1981, 1982), and six GLVC (1981, 1982, 1984, 2001, 2012, 2016). Postseason play includes four appearances in the NCAA D2 World Series (2000, 2012, 2023, 2024).
• Basketball – 12 conference championships: three IIC (1933–34, 1940–41, 1941–42), eight HCC (1948–49, 1950–51, 1955–56, 1959–60, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67), and one GLVC (1996–97). Eight NAIA national tournament appearances (1948–49, 1955–56, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69) and twelve NCAA D2 tournament appearances (1995–96, 1996–97, 2002–3, 2003–4, 2004–5, 2011–12 through 2015–16, 2022–23, 2023–24). David Logan named 2004–5 NCAA D2 National Player of the Year.^[11]
• Cross Country – 14 conference championships: eight HCC (1950, 1951, 1952, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965), five ICC (1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977), and one GLVC (2000). Individual HCC champion James Langford (1947). Individual GLVC champions Erhard Bell (1979) and John Parson (2003).
• Football – 16 conference championships: five HCC (1947, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1960), two Heartland (1978, 1981), and nine GLVC (2012 through 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020–21, 2022, 2023). One NCAA D3 playoff appearance (1975) and eight NCAA D2 playoff appearances (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023).
• Golf – 18 conference championships: one Heartland (1978–79) and 17 GLVC (1978–79, 1987–88 through 1992–93, 1996–97, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2001–2, 2007–8, 2008–9, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2017–18, 2023–24). Postseason play includes national third-place finish in D2 tournament (2022–23). Individual NCAA D2 champion Keegan Bronnenberg (2020–21).
• Lacrosse – Three GLVC championships (2018, 2019, 2021). Five NCAA D2 tournament appearances (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024). National semifinal appearance in 2019 (16-3 record), in just the fourth year of the program's existence.
• Soccer – Four GLVC championships (2014, 2017, 2021, 2023). Seven NCAA D2 tournament appearances (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023). National semifinal appearances in 2019 and 2021.
• Swimming and Diving – Five GLVC championships (2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24). (NOTE: program competed as independent, 1985 through 2000). NCAA D2 postseason action includes one national championship (2022–23) and five national third-place finishes (2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24). 20 individual NCAA championships including seven by Orel Oral (1999–2000 through 2002–3), plus two relay championships. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Cedric Buessing became the first active Division II swimmer to qualify for an Olympic final (in the 400m individual medley), as a member of the German Olympic team.^[12]
• Tennis – 15 conference championships: two HCC (1954–55, 1959–60) and 13 GLVC (1978–79, 1988–89, 1990–91 through 1994–95, 2015–16 through 2018–19, 2022–23, 2023–24). Postseason play includes D2 national semifinal appearance in 2022–23.
• Track and Field – Outdoor: 13 conference championships, including three HCC (1951, 1962, 1963), one ICC (1973), two Heartland (1980, 1981), and seven GLVC (2002, 2003, 2010 through 2013, 2019). (Note: program competed as independent, 1986 through 1995). Indoor: Six GLVC championships (2010 through 2013, 2018, 2019). Twelve individual NCAA championships (10 outdoor, 2 indoor) including three by Randy Heisler in the discus (1982, 1983, 1984).
• Wrestling – 12 conference championships: five HCC (1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970), six ICC (1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978), and one GLVC (2023). (Note: program competed as independent, 1956 through 1964 and 1986 through 2016). Postseason NCAA D2 action includes a national 6th-place finish (2022) and a national 7th-place finish (2023). Individual NCAA D2 champions Nick Walpole at 149 (2011) and Derek Blubaugh at 197 (2024).

Women's teams

• Basketball – Two GLVC championships (1992–93, 2002–3). 11 NCAA D2 tournament appearances (1992–93, 1993–94, 2002–3, 2003–4, 2004–5, 2007–8, 2008–9, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14).
• Cross Country – Two GLVC championships (1992, 2018). Individual GLVC champions Kathy Casey (1988) and Lauren Bailey (2020).
• Golf – 16 GLVC championships (1999–2000, 2000–2001, 2001–2, 2008–9, 2009–10, 2011–12 through 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24). Three NCAA D2 national championships (2014–15, 2017–18, 2023–24), one national second-place finish (2015–16), three national third-place finishes (2008–9, 2016–17, 2018–19). Individual NCAA D2 champions Lyndsay McBride (2008–9) and Katharina Keilich (2017–18).
• Lacrosse – Six conference championships: two GLIAC (2018, 2019) and four GLVC (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024). Six NCAA D2 tournament appearances (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024). National champions in 2022 (22–1 record), in just the seventh season of the program's existence. Peyton Romig named 2021 D2 National Player of the Year. Abby Lagos named 2022 D2 National Player of the Year.
• Soccer – One GLVC championship (2006). Four NCAA D2 tournament appearances (2006, 2009, 2019, 2021).
• Softball – Two GLVC championships (2012, 2016). 16 NCAA D2 tournament appearances (2008 through 2019, 2021 through 2024). Three appearances in the NCAA D2 World Series (2009, 2015, 2024).
• Swimming and Diving – Four conference championships: three GLIAC (2002–3, 2003–4, 2004–5) and one GLVC (2022–23). (NOTE: program competed as independent, 1987 through 2000). NCAA D2 postseason action includes two national second-place finishes (2021–22 and 2022–23), one national third-place finish (2020–21), and one national fourth-place finish (2023–24). Eight individual NCAA championships, including three by Marizel van Jaarsveld (2020–21, 2021–22), plus five relay championships.
• Tennis – 15 GLVC championships (1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1996–97, 2002–3, 2004–5, 2005–6, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24). Postseason play includes two D2 national semifinal appearances (2020–21 and 2021–22).
• Track – Outdoor: eight GLVC championships (2002, 2004, 2009 through 2013, 2015). (Note: program competed as independent, 1972 through 1995). Indoor: One GLVC championship (2009). Seven individual NCAA championships (4 indoor, 3 outdoor) including two by Vijitha Amaresakara in the javelin (outdoor, 1994 and 1995) and two by Berenice Cleyet-Merle (indoor 800m in 2021, indoor mile in 2022).
• Volleyball – Four GLVC championships (2003, 2009, 2011, 2013). Ten NCAA D2 tournament appearances (2003, 2007 through 2014, 2019), including two Elite Eight appearances (2009, 2012).

Facilities

• Athletics and Recreation Center (M/W indoor track & field) – known as the ARC – Built in 2011 as the practice site for the New York Giants prior to their victory in Super Bowl XLVI. Features a 68000square feet air-supported dome covering indoor track & field facilities, a training room, baseball batting cages, and an expanded weight room. The adjacent building includes locker rooms for football, men's and women's track and field, softball, and baseball, athletic training facilities, and of office space for the coaching staffs of football, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, softball, baseball and men's and women's golf.
• Key Stadium (football, M/W soccer, M/W lacrosse) – Originally built in 1970, Sprinturf playing surface added in 2004, lights added in summer of 2005, seating capacity of 5,500 with standing room only space for approximately 1,500 more. Locker rooms for men's and women's soccer and men's and women's lacrosse are under the home grandstand.
• Nicoson Hall (M/W basketball, wrestling) – Opened in 1960, seating capacity of 4,000 with standing room only space for approximately 1,000 more, named for long-time basketball coach and Athletic Director Angus Nicoson.
• Ruth Lilly Court (volleyball, wrestling) – Opened in 1982, seating capacity of 500.
• Ruth Lilly Center Pool (M/W swimming & diving) – Opened in 1982, seating capacity of 300.
• Greyhound Park (baseball) – seating capacity of 750.
• Baumgartner Field (softball) – seating capacity of 300, built in 2012, named for Mary "Wimp" Baumgartner who played in the Women's Professional Baseball League during the late 1940s.
• UIndy Tennis Center (M/W tennis) – Seven indoor courts located at the UIndy Tennis Center. Info can be found at www.uindytenniscenter.com.

Notes and References

1. Frederick D. Hill, Downright Devotion to the Cause: A History of the University of Indianapolis and its Legacy of Service (Indianapolis: University of Indianapolis Press, 2002), page 211.
2. UIndy All-Sports Success, https://athletics.uindy.edu/sports/2012/3/29/GENERAL_0329123537.aspx, University of Indianapolis Athletics. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
3. News: Women's golf makes history, captures school's first NCAA championship. University of Indianapolis Athletics . May 16, 2015 . December 6, 2023.
4. News: UIndy women win NCAA D-II title . The Indianapolis Star . May 17, 2015.
5. News: Women's golf captures second-ever national championship. University of Indianapolis Athletics . May 19, 2018 . December 6, 2023.
6. News: Local native joins UIndy in championship . The Tribune . . May 21, 2018.
7. News: UIndy Crowned 2022 NCAA DII Women's Lacrosse National Champion. University of Indianapolis Athletics . May 22, 2022 . December 6, 2023.
8. News: How UIndy women won LAX national title . The Indianapolis Star . Matthew . VanTryon . May 25, 2022.
9. News: UIndy Men Crowned Swim/Dive National Champions, Women Runners-up. University of Indianapolis Athletics . March 11, 2023 . December 6, 2023.
10. News: Greyhounds Claim 2024 Women's Golf National Championship. University of Indianapolis Athletics . May 25, 2024 . May 25, 2024.
11. News: Logan honored as D-II Player of the Year . The Indianapolis Star . March 23, 2005.
12. News: Cedric Buessing Becomes First NCAA Division II Swimmer to Make Olympic Final . July 28, 2024.