Indiana University Athletics
Hometown Hoosiers: Louisville, Ky.
11/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
Nov. 30, 2006
Story by Ryan Sheets
As part of an ongoing series, IUHOOSIERS.com will take a look at the hometowns of Hoosier student-athletes throughout the year. The fourth in the series is Louisville, Ky.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - - Located along the banks of the Ohio River, just south of the Indiana border, the city of Louisville, Ky. is home to numerous events and attractions for both visitors and residents to enjoy. The city houses the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, minor league baseball with the Louisville Bats, the Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom amusement park and the world famous Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. Louisville has been the home of the Kentucky Derby since 1875, but eight Indiana University student-athletes also call Louisville their home.
The Derby Festival highlights an entire week of celebration leading up to the famous horse race each spring. It offers a number of events, including the city's popular fireworks show, "Thunder Over Louisville," along the river. Freshman rower Elizabeth Young (Sacred Heart Academy) believes that Derby week is the highlight event of the year in Louisville.
"I love the Derby Festival," Young said. "While I have never been to the actual Derby, all of the festivities, such as the marathon, the balloon glow, and my favorite, "Thunder Over Louisville," might be more fun than the actual horse race. The city attracts many visitors at that time of year, and it's always clean and welcoming. Everyone is excited for spring, and it is no doubt my favorite time to declare myself a Louisvillian."
Sophomore field hockey player Katie Kiper (Sacred Heart Academy) agrees that parts of the Derby Festival shouldn't be missed by those who have never witnessed it.
"I look forward to the Kentucky Derby as well as `Thunder Over Louisville,'" Kiper said. "If someone has never been to either one, I suggest going at least once in your lifetime, it would be worth it."
The Kentucky Derby just makes up one part of the city along the river. The Louisville Slugger baseball bat factory has made it's home in Louisville for over 100 years. According to company legend, the first bat produced with the Louisville Slugger name was manufactured in 1884. There have been numerous challenges to whether or not that is true, but nonetheless, Louisville Slugger is a household name to any baseball enthusiast.
Beyond the famous Derby and the Louisville Slugger factory, the city of Louisville offers a great place to live for its residents. Although it may be considered a city, freshman baseball pitcher Chris McCombs believes it still has a small, hometown, feel.
"My favorite thing about living in Louisville is just the great community that I live in with my family and friends," McCombs said. "I grew up in an area where I knew just about everyone and my entire family lives there as well."
Young believes Louisville offers both the city atmosphere and the small town feel alike.
"The city is small enough to feel like a hometown, without everyone knowing everyone else, and large enough that there are always new people to meet," Young said. "That being said, it is funny how when one Louisvillian meets another for the first time, the two can almost always find a mutual acquaintance."
Diversity is something that Indiana University feels is important for students to be a part of during their college experience. An IU education gives students a chance to learn about different cultures that they may not have ever experienced before. Louisville also takes pride in the diversity within the city. There are many restaurants, shops and boutiques that house many different types of people and culture. It is something many residents enjoy.
"One of the things that I love about Louisville is its diversity," Young said. "There are all different types of people in the city. Bardstown Road would be an example of this - there are numerous shops and restaurants where one can find crafts and food from many different cultures. Louisville also seems very tolerant of all different types of people. I find most of the residents to be courteous and just willing to have a good time."
Along with Young, Kiper and McCombs, five more Hoosiers call Louisville their home. Freshman field hockey player Elizabeth Schmidt (Sacred Heart Academy), senior rower Dana Powell (Assumption), senior men's soccer player John Michael Hayden (Trinity), his redshirt freshman teammate Darren Yeagle and freshman swimmer Frazier Miller (Saint Xavier) all have journeyed across the border to become student-athletes at IU.
Players Mentioned
