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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Monday was another record-setting day at the AC Golf Classic.

The annual AC Golf Classic, put on by WISH-TV Sports Director Anthony Calhoun, raised $450,000 for Teachers’ Treasures, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit store where teachers can obtain school supplies for students in need.

“AC is an inspiration and a model for all of us.  I mean we all know, he has this magnetic personality and he’s just a giver, so I’m happy to be a part of it,” Frank Reich, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, said. “This touches home with me; my parents were school teachers their whole lives. It’s very meaningful.”

Since the first AC Golf Classic in 2013, athletes, coaches, educators, celebrities, and business and community leaders have helped raise nearly $3 million for Teachers’ Treasures.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Only 75 days ago, Purdue’s Trevion Willams was exiting the court after a heart-breaking loss to St. Peters in the Sweet 16. Now, he is traveling the country in hopes of boosting his NBA Draft stock to teams around the league.

The latest stop on Trevion Williams’ pre-draft journey has landed him back in the Hoosier state for a workout with the Pacers this week. The former Boilermaker forward has worked out with 9 different teams over the last couple of weeks, and has more trips planned for the coming weeks.

“I’ve been to 4 states this week,” said Williams.  “So I’m trying to take something from each team and be better at the next workout.”

Williams shared some of the feedback he has received from teams around the league, saying many scouts have drawn pro comparisons to 2012 second-round pick, Draymond Green. Their unique passing skillset stands out among other forwards.

“My passing ability, I think that’s probably my strongest asset. My dream has always been to play with a bunch of shooters,” Williams added, “We walked through my film from college and you look at some of the passes I throw, and some of them are missed opportunities, but a lot of people translate it as, ‘when Trevion gets to the league, those will be assists.”

Most mock-drafts have Williams coming off the board in the second-round, or potentially finding his landing spot as an undrafted rookie.  Either way, the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year believes it is better for his focus if he blocks out the pre-draft predictions.

“I actually told my agent not to tell me anything about it.  I’m going to control what I can control. All the articles. I haven’t read any article about the draft. I’ve tried to stay away from it as much as possible, because I can only focus on what’s ahead,” said Williams.

The 2022 NBA Draft will be held on June 23rd at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The driver of the No. 25 car joined Olivia Ray live on WISH-TV to describe his struggles on Day 1 of Qualifying.

Engine trouble sent his crew scrambling during Saturday’s morning practice session, and Stefan Wilson was never able to turn four-laps thanks to a weather shortened qualifying day.

He will start in the back row next Sunday at the 106th Indianapolis 500.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The buzz around the IndyCar paddock all month has been about how strong Chip Ganassi’s cars are.

Their star-studded cast of drivers backed that up by placing all five cars in Sunday’s Fast 12 event, meaning all five members of the powerhouse program will start on the first three rows for the 106th Indianapolis 500.

Olivia Ray has more on their 500 rookie, Jimmie Johnson’s, qualifying attempt which had landed him the 6th fastest four-lap average from Day 1 of Qualifying.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — May is Mental Health Awareness month and another opportunity for the Irsay family to continue their efforts in kicking the stigma associated with mental illness.

“We want to reach as many people as we can and save lives, but we are warriors against it because like we always say with stigma, you know, you’re not alone. We’re right here. We want to do everything we can,” said Colts Owner and CEO Jim Irsay.

In collaboration with Julien’s Auctions, Kurt Cobain’s family will auction off the iconic guitar used in Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video.  The Cobain family then plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Kicking the Stigma initiative.

Jim Irsay is thrilled to use his love of Rock N’ Roll to reach another massive audience outside of the professional sports scene.

“This guitar is big and it relates so much to the stigma. Because you know, when you have a mental illness, people die. There are people right now all over the world who are living in darkness.  These are fatal diseases,” Irsay said.

Kalen Jackson, Colts vice chair and owner, said, “We’re not stopping anytime soon and that’s why this was such a nice pairing to with Mental Health Awareness Month in the work that we’re doing you know, we’re really using this month as a good foundation that can spring more this into you know, the right direction.”

The auction will take place from May 20-22 in New York.  Jim Irsay already started the bidding at $2 million for the Fender Mustang electric guitar.

Closer to home, the Irsay’s have also kicked off the second round of their Kicking the Stigma Action Grants, which support nonprofits and organizations that provide mental health treatment services or raise awareness about mental illness. Grant applications are currently available now through June 3, 2022.

For more information, visit Colts.com/KTS.

The Colts organization will also take part in their second Mental Health Action Day on May 19, where they will take part in a service project with Find Your Anchor, a nonprofit that works in suicide prevention, awareness, and education.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — How is Dallas Clark handling retirement from the NFL?

The former Colts player isn’t sitting back and relaxing.

He’s currently working toward an Ironman competition.

“It’s not getting ready play the Patriots or the Titans, or something like that. It’s obviously different. But, the mindset is there: the attack, the approach,” Clark said.

The former Horseshoe tight end is now tackling a triathlon. Clark’s retirement project entails a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike race, and a 26.2-mile run in an Ironman competition this October.

Clark said, “It’s full circle here, but it’s definitely a complete different challenge, and that’s the part I’ve really liked and kind of a tight end race where there’s all three. It’s not just a run, right?”

As part of his training, Clark will return to Indianapolis to participate in the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Saturday’s race is part of a much larger mission. Clark hopes to enlist the help of his Hoosier friends and fans.

While training for the Ironman competition, he also hopes to raise awareness for two organizations that inspired him during his football career. His other goal is to raise $2 million for Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

“I was talking to Peyton, and he said, ‘So you think you can raise a million dollars?’ and I’m like, ‘Peyton, I don’t … I don’t know if … I don’t try right, you know, so let’s do it.’ I mean, this race is insane. Why don’t we see what we can do,” Clark said.

Project 44 is underway.  For more information, or to donate to Clark’s cause, go online.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Colts made eight selections in rounds two through seven of the 2022 NFL draft. 

General manager Chris Ballard traded twice on Friday night to double the number of original picks. The Colts took offensive players three times in a row, and followed it up by adding depth on the defensive line and the secondary. 

Here’s the full list of the Colts’ class of 2022:

Alec Pierce, Wide Receiver

The Colts’ second-round selection is a 6-3 receiver out of Cincinnati who appeared in 45 games for the Bearcats, finishing 15th in school history in career receiving yards.

In 2021, Pierce played in all 14 games and led the team in receiving with 52 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged a depth of target of 17.5 yards in his college career. In high school, he also played volleyball and basketball and ran track.

“We think he’s got a chance to really ascend. Just put on the Notre Dame game. I mean he played about as well as you could play against a top-five college football team,” Ballard said. “I think he can do both. I think he can play both inside and outside. He’s tough, he blocks. He was a really good special teams player early in his career. The one thing you notice about (Alec) Pierce is he gets behind people. I mean this kid can really, really run and really adjust to the football.”

Pierce says he is excited to play with a veteran quarterback like Matt Ryan.

“He’s a guy that I grew up watching a lot. The Falcons, I loved watching Julio Jones as a kid, so that was really awesome to watch Matt Ryan with him, and hopefully, I can be like a new Julio for him.”

What does the 21 year old hope to learn from his new Colts wide receiver coach, Reggie Wayne?

“Just trying to soak in everything, learn how to become a great wide receiver like he was, and play for that long and be that successful for that long in a career,” Pierce said.

He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 3.5 years from Cincinnati.

Pierce wasn’t the only Luke Fickell product added to the roster; his former Cincinnati teammate Curtis Brooks was also drafted by the Colts. 

Brooks was singing the praises of his fellow Bearcat, saying about Pierce: “First off, he’s a freaky athletic — one of the most athletic receivers I’ve ever seen. Really top of the line jump ball receiver. I think that’s what makes him the best receiver in the draft.”

Jelani Woods, Tight End

At 6 feet, 7 inches tall and 253 pounds, Jelani Woods was selected in the third round by the Colts.

In 2021, Woods competed in 11 games where he registered 44 receptions for 598 yards and eight touchdowns.  He ranked fourth in the country in touchdown receptions among tight ends in 2021. 

The Virginia tight end actually began his college football career at Oklahoma State as a quarterback, but made the transition after redshirting in 2017.

Woods said, “For me, it was easy. Going from quarterback from tight end, all you really had to do was learn the technical side of it, the technique and stuff. So, like, mentally, it was very easy. I got through that smooth and then I just had to learn the technique and develop that over time, pretty much.”

At Cedar Grove High School in Georgia, he was ranked as the No. 20 dual-threat quarterback prospect by Rivals. 

During his senior season, he led Cedar Grove to its first state championship and a 13-2 overall record after he threw for 2,316 yards and 26 touchdowns. They defeated current Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills and Greater Atlanta Christian in the title game. He also received Division I offers in basketball before choosing football. 

Bernhard Raimann, Offensive Tackle

At No. 77, the Colts selected a potential replacement at left tackle out of Central Michigan University. 

Bernhard Raimann is listed at 6 feet, 6 inxches tall and 303 pounds. He made the transition from tight end to left tackle after his 2019 season, making 18 starts at left tackle and 11 starts at tight end for the Chippewas.

Raimann only played one season of high school football at Delton Kellogg High School in Michigan as an exchange student during his junior year.  He returned to his home in Steinbrunn, Austria, where after high school graduation, he had to complete a six-month military service obligation in Austria and officially grayshirted the 2017 season at CMU.

Raimann was introduced to football at age fourteen.

“It all happened pretty randomly, to be honest. I grew up playing soccer and then other sports, but one day when I was 13 years old, I saw some guys down the road playing catch with a football down by my dad’s house. I ended up joining them and I had just a ton of fun just rolling around with them, tackling, throwing the ball. So, on my 14th birthday, there was a tryout for the Vienna Vikings, a club American football team in Vienna. I ended up trying out, worked out, and just went from there.”

Raimann says he’s thrilled to have the opportunity to play next to Quenton Nelson. 

“That’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. His nastiness, his ability to finish, is something that I look forward to in my game as well. Obviously, Quenton Nelson is one of the best guards in the game. I’ve been watching him. So, getting the chance to practice with him, learn from him and getting to work with him every single day is a huge opportunity for me and I’m just looking forward to every single day.”

Nick Cross, Safety

Maryland safety Nick Cross came off the board at No. 96.  Ballard traded into the third round to grab the Terrapins leader in interceptions and forced fumbles.

In his Maryland career, Cross appeared in 29 games and compiled 135 tackles (89 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 18 passes defensed, six interceptions and three forced fumbles. 

Cross described his Friday draft night: “It was a roller coaster of emotions, I would say, standing there, waiting for your phone to ring. Once I got the phone call, it was a lot of joy and a lot of relief knowing that the hard work paid off. I’m grateful to Mr. Irsay, Coach Reich, and Mr. Ballard for giving me the opportunity to represent this team. The Colts have a history of great players. Reggie Wayne, Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark, Bob Sanders — guys who I grew up watching. It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of this organization.”

Cross also competed on the indoor track team at Maryland and he plays the saxophone.  

What does he believe he brings to the table for the Horseshoe’s defense? 

“I bring high energy. I fly around and make plays. I’m physical on the back end and I’m able to come downhill and make solid tackles. I’m someone who can play the middle of the field and intercept the ball. Make sure no one makes any big plays down the field. I want to be someone who can take the ball away and cause havoc for the offense.”

Cross’ father, Michael, emigrated from Jamaica and his mother, Anna Awah-Cross, is from Trinidad and Tobago. 

Eric Johnson, Defensive Tackle

Draft pick No. 159 is a Chris Ballard specialty — another FCS Standout gets an invite to Indy.

Eric Johnson of Missouri State University is a fifth round pick. At 6 feet, five inches tall and 300 pounds, he’s the first MSU Bears player to hear his name called since 2011.

As a five-year starter at Missouri State, he compiled 131 tackles (56 solo), 19.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two passes defensed, two blocked field goals and two blocked extra points.

Johnson’s Twitter handle is@TheCreature93. 

“I know me and my dad, we always talk about personas,” Johnson explained. “You know, playing the game, when you’re going out there, what do you want to play like? Like a creature, like an animal. That’s just kind of how it came about.”

Andrew Ogletree, Tight End

The Colts selected Youngstown State University tight end Andrew Ogletree at No. 192. 

Ogletree, listed at 6 feet, 7 inches tall and 250 pounds, played in 17 games in two seasons at YSU, hauling in 40 receptions for 391 yards.

What should fans in Indy know about his game?

Ogletree said, “I’m a big body, but also, I can run routes like an F. So, I feel like being the best of both worlds. I can go in there and block a defensive end and I can go over there and route up a defensive back, linebacker, or safety, whoever they want to put on me. So, I feel like a lot of mismatches can come my way.”

Ogletree was a football and basketball standout at Northridge High School in Ohio and began his collegiate career at DIII University of Findlay, also in Ohio.

“I thought I was going to be drafted around sixth, seventh round, something like that. Once I saw the Colts took a tight end, I was like, ‘Oh man.’ I was bummed out because they’re only an hour-and-a-half away from my hometown, so it would have been a great experience to play over there. Then, I received a call, and I was just in there with my family, and I couldn’t be more blessed,” Ogletree said.

Curtis Brooks, Defensive Tackle

At No. 216, the Colts selected another Cincinnati standout: 6-foot-2-inch, 285 pound defensive tackle Curtis Brooks.  

Brooks played in 61 games at Cincinnati and totaled 162 tackles (85 solo), 23.0 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.  Last year, he led the Bearcats in tackles for loss, with 12.5, and sacks, at 7.5. 

Brooks says he loves the Colts’ defensive scheme and believes he will be a good fit after a breakout season with the Bearcats last year. 

“I put that extra work in. I took care of my body a little bit better, cut back on my weight a little bit, worked on my pass rush every day, every other day with my trainers. We’re getting after it every other day and it showed off on the field and paid off on the field.”

Rodney Thomas II, Cornerback

The Colts’ seventh-round selection adds some youth at cornerback with Rodney Thomas II out of Yale University, the first Bulldog to be drafted since 2018.

Thomas played in 33 games at linebacker and defensive back in four seasons at Yale, compiling 134 tackles (95 solo), 8.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 21 passes defensed and six interceptions. In 2021, he was a first team All-Ivy League selection.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — With the month of May upon us, IndyCar drivers will make their way to Indianapolis in the next week to get their rides ready for the GMR Grand Prix.

Ed Carpenter Racing has partnered with Building Tomorrow, a nonprofit that supports literacy and numeracy in Uganda.

Together, they have launched the Ride with Rinus campaign, which lets racing fans see their names on the side of the No. 21 Building Tomorrow Chevrolet in the GMR Grand Prix.

“It was a crazy, wild idea to get us on a car, and here we are, Ed Carpenter Racing and Building Tomorrow, two Indy-based organizations,” said George Srour, co-founder of Building Tomorrow.

With a $75 donation, supporters will have their names featured on the car of Rinus VeeKay, the defending Grand Prix winner.

Donations will go toward Building Tomorrow’s Roots to Rise program, an initiative that teaches basic literacy and numeracy skills in a 25-day camp. A donation of $75 will allow five children to enroll in the Roots to Rise camp in Uganda.

“This is the first time that fans have had a chance to put their name on a car. All of that money goes to help the work the Building Tomorrow is doing. It’s a first-of-its-kind partnership,” Srour said. “We are really excited about it. We have over 650 folks who have put their name on the car, which we think is really sweet. They are going to Ride with Rinus here in a couple weeks.”

To have your name featured, make a donation to Building Tomorrow at https://www.buildingtomorrow.org/racetolearn/.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — On Wednesday night, Marian University inducted WISH-TV Sports Director Anthony Calhoun as the newest member of Clayton Family Circle of Honor.

Past winners of this prestigious aware include Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Tamika Catchings, and Chuck Pagano.

Each year the Clayton Family honors outstanding members of our community who both inspire and serve in athletics, which AC has done for nearly a quarter century in covering local Indiana sports along with extensive volunteer charity work.

“Nobody’s more deserving than AC. He just has so many people’s respect, all of the fans, plus he has such respect in the locker room because guys know that he’s just not a reporter trying to get a story or something, but he genuinely cares about us as people. He genuinely cares about the community Indianapolis,” said former Colts offensive lineman Joe Reitz.

Marian University raised $500,000 at the Clayton Family Circle of Honor night.  Portions of that money will go towards a scholarship endowment in Anthony Calhoun’s name. 

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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 is just over a month away.

If you need a reminder that the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” is right around the corner just look up.

Alexander Rossi was the first IndyCar driver to see his name on the street signs in downtown Indianapolis.

The annual tradition of “renaming” the streets near Monument Circle kickstarted the monthlong celebration that transforms Indy into the “Racing Capital of the World.”

“This town, this city really comes alive when we get to the month of May. The past two years have been abnormal, for obvious reasons. I think we as drivers have really missed that experience,” Rossi said. “That’s what makes the Indy 500 what it is, everything and the build up and the tradition, and it’s great to be here hanging street signs and kind of signaling the start of the month.” 

IndyCar kicks off the month of May this Sunday in Birmingham, the final race before the first green flag drops here at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.