Local Sports Heroes
Vic Aldridge
• Moved to Terre Haute when he married Cleta Wadsworth
• Played professional baseball from 1916 to 1931 , nine years in the majors
• Pitching hero for Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925 World Series
• Served in state legislature
• Inducted into Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame
Ray Arcel
• Born in 1899 in Terre Haute
• Trained over 2,000 boxers including 19 world champions
• Came out of retirement twice to lead Roberto Duran and Larry Holmes to world titles
• In every existing boxing hall of fame
Evan Austin
• Three-time Paralympian ( 2012 , 2016 , 2020 ), two-time Paralympic medalist ( 1 gold , 1bronze )
• Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 , Bronze ( 400-meter freestyle ), 5th ( 200-meter Individual Medley ), gold ( 50-meter butterfly )
• Paralympic Games Rio 2016 , 6th ( 34 pt . 4x100-meter freestyle relay , 34 pt . 4x100-meter medley relay ), 8th ( 100-meter butterfly ,
100-meter breaststroke )
• Paralympic Games London 2012 , 6th ( 100-meter breaststroke , 34 pt . 4x100-meter freestyle )
• Most recent : 2019 – gold ( 50-meter butterfly ), 5th ( 100-meter breaststroke ), 6th ( 200-meter individual medley ), 7th ( 400-meter freestyle )
• Years of Participation : 2019
• Medals : 1 ( 1 gold )
• Gold – 2019 ( 50-meter butterfly )
• 2015 CanAm Para Swimming Championships , gold ( 100m breast ), bronze ( 50m free ), 4th ( 200m IM )
• 2014 Pan Pacific Championships , silver ( 100m fly , 100m breast , 34 pt . 4x100m medley ), bronze ( 50m free , 100m free , 34 pt . 4x100m free ), 4th ( 200m IM )
• 2014 CanAm Para Swimming Championships , gold ( 100m breast , 100m fly ), silver ( 100m free , 200m IM ), bronze ( 50m free ), 4th ( 400m free )
Axtell
• Established world record for stallions and three year olds in Terre Haute in 1889
• Terre Haute syndicate headed by
William Ijams of Terre Haute purchased the horse for $ 105,000 after setting the record , the most ever paid for horse at that time
• He was retired to Warren Park until his death in Terre Haute at age 20
Bruce Baumgartner
• Exceptional wrestling career at Indiana State University winning the 1982 NCAA heavyweight title after a 44-0 season
• Was runner up in NCAA in 1980 and 1981
• Most decorated American wrestler in history with four Olympic medals ( two Gold ), nine world championship medals ( three gold ) and four Pam Am Games medals ( three gold )
• Received James Sullivan Award in 1995 as America ’ s best amateur athlete
Dr . Greg Bell
• Attended Garfield High School and graduated in 1948
• Graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington and won three NCAA titles , three AAU titles and Olympic gold in 1956 in the long jump .
• Got dentistry degree and became director of dentistry at Logansport State Hospital
• Inducted into IU , Indiana and U . S . Track and Field halls of fame
Larry Bird
• Led Indiana State University to a 33-0 record going into 1979 NCAA National Championship game
• Played 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics winning seven conference titles
• Won three NBA world championships with the Celtics and was league MVP three years consecutive
• Member of 1992 gold medal winning
U . S . Olympic team
• Inducted into the ISU Hall of Fame 1999
• 1998 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 2010 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as member of “ Dream Team ”
• Named both Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year with Indiana Pacers
Max Carey
• Attended grade school at Immanuel Lutheran Church School in Terre Haute
• Signed with South Bend of the Central League in 1909 and played 20 years in the major leaguesa
• Led Pittsburgh Pirates to 1925 World Series title by hitting . 458
• Ranked 9th in stolen bases in major league history
• Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961
24 • Guide to Terre Haute | SPORTS