Sports in Evansville, Indiana facts for kids
Evansville, Indiana, is a city full of exciting sports! It's home to professional and amateur sports teams, plus two big college teams. You'll also find nine high schools that play in the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Evansville even hosts cool annual events like the Hoosier Nationals and Demolition City Roller Derby.
Contents
Professional Sports Teams in Evansville
Evansville has some awesome professional sports teams. Check out this table to see who plays here:
| Club | League | Sport | Home Venue | Started | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville Otters | Frontier League | Baseball | Bosse Field | 1995 | 2 league titles • 5 division titles |
| Evansville Thunderbolts | SPHL | Ice hockey | Ford Center | 2016 | None |
| Midwest Hooligans | UPSL | Soccer | Double Cola Soccer Complex | 2021 | None |
Meet the Evansville Otters Baseball Team
The Evansville Otters are a professional baseball team. They play in the west division of the Frontier League. Since they started in 1995, the Otters have won two league championships (in 2006 and 2016). They also have five division titles!
The Otters play their home games at Bosse Field. This historic ballpark has been used for professional baseball since 1915. It's actually the third oldest ballpark in America still regularly used for pro baseball! Before becoming the Otters, the team was known as the Lancaster Scouts from 1993 to 1994.
Cheer for the Evansville Thunderbolts Hockey Team
The Evansville Thunderbolts are a professional ice hockey team. They are part of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The Thunderbolts play all 28 of their home games at the Ford Center.
The Thunderbolts team started in 2016. They took the place of a previous team, the Evansville IceMen.
Amateur Sports Teams in Evansville
Evansville also has some exciting amateur sports teams. Here's a quick look at them:
| Club | League | Sport | Home Venue | Started | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition City Roller Derby | WFTDA | Roller derby | Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum | 2007 | None |
| Evansville Legends FC | OVPL | Soccer | Old National Bank Field | 2021 | OVPL title (2021) |
Demolition City Roller Derby: Fast-Paced Fun
Demolition City Roller Derby is a women's flat-track roller derby league. Roller derby is a contact sport where two teams skate around a track, trying to score points. This Evansville team is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association. They compete at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum.
Dynamite Dolls: The A-Team
The Dynamite Dolls are the main team for the Demolition City Roller Derby league.
Destruction Dames: The B-Team
The Destruction Dames are the second team for the Demolition City Roller Derby.
Evansville Legends FC: Soccer Stars
The Evansville Legends FC is an amateur soccer team. It was started in 2021 by Steve McCullough, who used to play soccer for Marquette University. The Legends play in the River Conference of the Ohio Valley Premier League. Their home games are held at Old National Bank Field at Goebel Sports Complex.
Collegiate Sports in Evansville
Evansville is home to two universities that are part of the NCAA. These are the University of Evansville (known as the Purple Aces) and the University of Southern Indiana (known as the Screaming Eagles). Together, these schools have won 9 national championships!
| School | Team | Started | Division | Conference | National Titles | Championship Sport/Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Evansville | Evansville Purple Aces | 1854 | Div I | MVC | 5 | Men's Basketball: (5) 1959,* 1960,* 1964,* 1965,* and 1971* |
| University of Southern Indiana | Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles | 1965 | Div I | OVC | 4 | Men's Basketball: (1) 1995*
Baseball: (2) 2010,* 2014* Softball: (1) 2018* |
*These titles were won when the teams were in NCAA Division II.
University of Evansville Purple Aces
The University of Evansville (UE) is a member of NCAA Division I. They are part of the Missouri Valley Conference. UE has 14 NCAA Division I sports teams. Eight of these are for women and six are for men.
The University of Evansville's sports program became famous for its success in men's basketball. They won NCAA College Division (now Division II) national championships in 1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, and 1971. A legendary coach named Arad McCutchan led the Purple Aces from 1946 to 1977. He helped them achieve an amazing 515 wins and 313 losses. In 1977, UE began playing in NCAA Division I.
University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
The University of Southern Indiana (USI) Athletic Department is currently in NCAA Division I. They are a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. USI supports 15 different sports teams. USI used to be in NCAA Division II as part of the Great Lakes Valley Conference from 1970 to 2022. They moved to the Division I Ohio Valley Conference on July 1, 2022.
Since 1990, all 15 Screaming Eagles teams have either played in their national tournaments or been ranked nationally. USI has won four national championships: men's basketball in 1995, baseball in 2010 and 2014, and softball in 2018. They also finished as national finalists three times and earned one third-place finish.
Past Sports Teams in Evansville
Evansville has a long and interesting history with professional sports teams. In the past, the city had teams in the NFL, Triple-A minor league baseball, arena football, minor league ice hockey, and professional basketball. These past Evansville teams, including major league, minor league, and semi-professional, have won a total of 17 championships!
Baseball Teams of the Past
| Team | Sport | League | Years Played | Home Venue | Class | Affiliation | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville River Rats | Baseball | Three-I League
Central League |
1901-1910 | Louisiana Street Park | B | None | Central League title (1908) |
| Evansville River Rats | Baseball | Central League | 1914–1915 | Bosse Field | B | None | Central League title (1915) |
| Evansville Braves | Baseball | Three-I League | 1946–1957 | Bosse Field | B | Boston Braves | Three-I League title (1946, 1948, 1956, 1957) |
| Evansville Triplets | Baseball | AA | 1970–1984 | Bosse Field | AAA | Minnesota Twins (1970)
Milwaukee Brewers (1971-1973) Detroit Tigers (1974–84) |
AA title (1972, 1975, 1979) |
| Evansville Outlaws | Baseball | NSPBA | 1990–2007 | Various | Semi-pro | N/A | US Baseball Congress Semi-Pro World Series Champions (1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007) |
Football Teams of the Past
| Team | Sport | League | Years Played | Home Venue | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville Crimson Giants | Football | NFL | 1921–1922 | Bosse Field | None |
| Ohio River Bearcats | Football | GMFL | 2008–2010 | Reitz Bowl | GMFL title (2008) |
Ice Hockey Teams of the Past
| Team | Sport | League | Years Played | Home Venue | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville IceMen | Ice hockey | CHL (2010–12)
ECHL (2012–16) |
2010-2016 | Swonder Ice Arena
Ford Center |
Davidson Cup title (2010) |
Exciting Sports Events Hosted in Evansville
NCAA Events: College Sports Action
From 1957 to 1975, Evansville hosted the final rounds of the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament. This "Elite Eight" event took place at Roberts Municipal Stadium. The city hosted it again in 2002 and was scheduled to host it at the Ford Center in 2014.
Roberts Stadium also hosted the Great Lakes Valley Conference basketball tournaments from 1999 to 2007. The Ford Center hosted the same event in 2013 and 2014. Since 2018, the Ford Center has been the home for the Ohio Valley Conference men's and women's tournaments.
Evansville has also hosted several NCAA Division I events. In 1983, Roberts Stadium hosted the first round of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. In 1980 and 1983, it hosted the Midwestern City Conference (now Horizon League) men's basketball tournament.
Thunder on the Ohio: Hydroplane Boat Racing
From 1938 to 1940, and then again from 1979 to 2009, Evansville hosted Thunder on the Ohio. This was a thrilling hydroplane boat race that was part of the H1 Unlimited season. The races happened on the Ohio River right in downtown Evansville.
The winner of Thunder on the Ohio received the Four Freedoms Trophy. This trophy was named after the nearby Four Freedoms Monument along the Ohio River. The race was often shown on TV channels like ESPN and SPEED.
Thunder on the Ohio was a big part of the Unlimited hydroplane circuit for 30 years in a row. Evansville took over from Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1979. Bill Muncey, a famous racer, helped Evansville get its first race.
Evansville HydroFest: Racing Returns
Hydroplane racing made an exciting return to Evansville in 2017. This new event is called the Evansville Hydrofest, and it's an American Power Boat Association event.
The Refrigerator Bowl: College Football History
From 1948 to 1956, Evansville hosted an annual college football game called the Refrigerator Bowl. Evansville is the only city in Indiana that has ever hosted a college football bowl game!
| Date played | Winning team | Losing team | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 4, 1948 | Evansville College | 13 | Missouri Valley College | 7 | |
| December 3, 1949 | Evansville College | 22 | Hillsdale College | 7 | |
| December 2, 1950 | Abilene Christian College | 14 | Gustavus Adolphus College | 7 | |
| December 2, 1951 | Arkansas State College | 46 | Camp Breckinridge | 12 | |
| December 7, 1952 | Western Kentucky State College | 34 | Arkansas State College | 19 | |
| December 6, 1953 | Sam Houston State Teachers College | 14 | College of Idaho | 12 | |
| December 5, 1954 | University of Delaware | 19 | Kent State | 7 | |
| December 4, 1955 | Jacksonville State Teachers College | 12 | Rhode Island | 10 | |
| December 1, 1956 | Sam Houston State Teachers College | 27 | Middle Tennessee State College | 13 | |
High School State Championships: Local Pride
Evansville has a strong history of high school sports. Local high schools have won a total of 88 team championships! There are nine active high schools in Evansville that play in the Indiana High School Athletic Association.
These 88 team titles include 26 in soccer, 17 in football, 13 in wrestling, 9 in basketball, 6 in tennis, 9 in golf, 5 in baseball, 2 in softball, and 1 in bowling. Some past high schools from Evansville that are no longer active include Evansville Rex Mundi and Evansville Lincoln.
| School | Started | Conference | State Team Titles | Championship Sport/Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville Bosse | 1924 | SIAC | 3 | Boys Basketball: (3) 1943–44, 1944–45, 1961–62 |
| Evansville Harrison | 1962 | SIAC | 2 | Girls Golf: (1) 1988–89
Boys Golf: (1) 2011–12 |
| Evansville Mater Dei | 1949 | SIAC | 23 | Baseball: (1) 1998–99
Softball: (1) 2015–16 Boys Basketball: (1) 2003–04 Girls Basketball: (2) 2011–12, 2012–13 Football:(2) 2000–01, 2022–23 Wrestling: (13) 1985–86, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2020–21 Girls Soccer: (3) 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20 |
| Evansville Memorial | 1922 | SIAC | 38 | Baseball: (3) 1977–79, 1988–89, 1992–93
Football: (4) 1937–38*, 1958–59*, 2017–18, 2019–20 Boys Soccer: (16) 1979–80*, 1980–81*, 1981–82*, 1983–84*, 1984–85*, 1986–87*, 1988–89*, 1989–90*, 1990–91*, 1992–93*, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21 Girls Soccer: (7) 1988–89*, 1996–97, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2017–18, 2021–22, 2022–23 Softball: (1) 2001–02 Girls Tennis: (6) 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2011–12 Girls Basketball: (1) 2010–11 |
| Evansville North | 1956 | SIAC | 9 | Baseball: (1) 1961–62*
Boys Basketball: (1) 1966–67 Boys Golf: (1) 1999-00 Girls Golf: (6) 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22 |
| Evansville Reitz | 1918 | SIAC | 13 | Girls Basketball: (1) 1980–81
Football: (11) 1933–34*, 1940–41*, 1948–49*, 1953–54*, 1956–57*, 1957–58*, 1960–61*, 1961–62*, 1971–72*, 2007–08, 2009–10 Bowling: (1) 2011-12+ |
* = indicates title won before the IHSAA State Tournament officially started.
+ = indicates sanctioned by the Indiana High School Bowling Association.
Famous Athletes from Evansville
Baseball Stars
Basketball Legends
- Arad McCutchan, basketball hall of fame coach
- Calbert Cheaney, NBA basketball player
- Don Buse, NBA basketball player and former All Star
- Jerry Sloan, NBA coach
- Walter McCarty, NBA basketball player
Cycling Champion
- Frank Kramer, 18-time national sprint bicycling champion. He was the first American to win the World Professional Sprint Championship. He is in the US Bicycling Hall of Fame.
Football Greats
Golf Pros
- Bob Hamilton, PGA Tour professional golfer; won the 1944 PGA Championship
- Brian Tennyson, PGA Tour, Asian Tour golfer; won the 1987 Indian Open & 1987 Philippine Open
- Jeff Overton, PGA Tour professional golfer
Ice Hockey Player
- Kira Hurley, professional ice hockey player for Evansville IceMen. She is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Horse Racing Star
- Hillsdale ((Thoroughbred)), one of only 5 horses in history to win the prestigious Santa Anita's Strub Stakes Series.
Soccer Players
- David Weir, European club soccer player and Scotland national team captain. He was an All-American at the University of Evansville.
- Josh Tudela, MLS and USL soccer player
- Scott Cannon, MLS soccer player
Swimming Champion
- Lilly King, swimmer and gold medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the 100m Breaststroke.
Tennis Aces
- Byron "Buddy" Buckley, in the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Famer.
- Sara Turber, once ranked second in the world in Lawn Tennis.
Track & Field Athletes
- Charles Hornbostel, United States Olympic Track & Field team member in 1932 and 1936.
- Roger Brown, 1984 Big Ten Outdoor champion for Indiana University in high jump.
Wrestling Personalities
- Andrew Thomas, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling producer and referee.
- Rudy Charles, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling referee.
