TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State redshirt freshman safety Mark Sewall knows comparisons are inevitable.
Sewall’s older brother, Alex, played at ISU from 2008-11 and was also a safety. Alex was a four-year starter, was an all-conference standout for the Sycamores and was a major building block in ISU’s rise to respectability.
No matter, says Mark. As he continues his maiden season as a Sycamore, he wants to forge his own legacy — one that exceeds that of his big brother.
“There’s definitely a little bit of burden to have his name in front of you. It casts a shadow, but I think it’s nice to have a goal to work towards. I know Alex had a great career here, I tell him that all of the time, but I think I’ll be better than him,” Mark said.
Alex Sewall, a graduate assistant for ISU who is recovery from a spring knee injury that delayed his professional aspirations, has no problem being used as a barometer of Mark’s success.
“I like that. I like that he’s using me as something to shoot for or even do better. If that’s what he can accomplish, I think it’s great. Other players look to me that way as well. They want to follow in the footsteps of what last year’s seniors got going,” Alex Sewall said.
So far, Mark is on the right track. After sitting out the 2011 season with a torn ACL in his left knee, Mark Sewall is blazing a very similar path that Alex did. Mark is, in effect, the co-starter at free safety with Donovan Layne as they rotate plays. Layne missed the second game of the season, so Mark has seen more a few more snaps.
“[ISU defensive coordinator Jesse] Minter decides how and when we play. We usually switch off on each possession and we’re both on the field for nickel and dime situations,” Mark Sewall said.
Mark Sewall is part of a secondary that’s been stingy against the pass. ISU is ranked 36th in the nation in pass defense as ISU has conceded 175.25 yards per game. Sewall himself has 12 tackles — including one for a loss — three pass break-ups and he had a 77-yard return on an interception against Quincy on Sept. 8.
Though they play the same position, Mark plays it differently than Alex Sewall did. Alex was renowned for his hitting ability and his acumen at playing downhill. Mark is more a pass-defending drop-back safety who isn’t necessarily going to make the highlight hit, but who’s more likely to tip a ball or take a receiver out of a play.
“He’s a physical, open-field tackler. I think I can make more game-changing plays in the back end against passing … and I can step up in the box when needed,” said Mark, who is already halfway to Alex’s career total of two picks.
ISU coach Trent Miles doesn’t feel the beat has been missed as the torch was passed to the younger Sewall sibling.
“He’s doing a good job. He’s playing well for us on special forces [teams] and defense. He’s very athletic, he’s smart and he’s tough. He’s a valuable guy because he can play either safety spot. It’s big that he’s here,” Miles said.
The interesting dynamic between Mark and Alex Sewall is the state of the ISU program when each got their start. When Alex arrived in 2008, it was every freshman for themselves. ISU had very few veterans to fall back on and Alex was one of several first-year players who were thrust into a sink-or-swim situation. Alex was an immediate standout, giving ISU’s pass defense an intimidating edge from jump.
Mark Sewall arrived in 2011 as the finished product was beginning to develop. His knee injury occurred during two-a-days last summer, which took away the possibility that the Sewall brothers could play side-by-side.
“Alex had to come in and play and learn on the play. Mark didn’t get a chance to do anything until spring football. It’s good because he’s better physically than he was. Mark is the way we want to do it — bring them in for five years and let them develop physically. Alex had to be a player right away, and he was, but think of all of those seniors, you wish you had them this year,” Miles said.
The motivation that Alex Sewall provides to Mark Sewall to have the better ISU legacy is one that has served Mark well throughout his football career.
“Having him as an older brother helped me push myself to being better at what I can. He’s a hard worker and he’s always pushing me to be better,” Mark said.
As for Alex — whose left arm was in a sling Wednesday after a pectoral injury — he is hoping his professional career can get back on track come next spring.
“I’m definitely looking forward to getting fully healthy and get into the shape I was last spring. If I’m in shape and 100 percent healthy, I’ll definitely have a shot at the next level. I still believe that. I had a good career here, I love the game and that’ll catch someone’s eye,” Alex said.
College
Related Photos
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Block the pass: Indiana State defensive back Mark Sewall (right) covers receiver Dyris Haywood in practice Wednesday at Memorial Stadium. (Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza)
Discussion
Family tradition: ISU’s Sewall doesn’t mind comparisons to older brother
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ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
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Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.
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Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
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ISU couldn’t do it. -
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Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
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Mission accomplished.
The Sycamores were aggressive from the opening inning at the plate and starting pitcher Devin Moore gave them eight valuable and effective innings on the mound as ISU defeated Alcorn State 14-2 at Bob Warn Field.
“It was a really good experience for everybody. It felt great to finally come out here and put some things together. It’s also really nice when your offense puts a lot of runs on the board,” Moore said.
Moore’s eight innings of work were as valuable as gold to an ISU team that is short on quality arms due to injury and ineffectiveness. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and one of the two runs he conceded was unearned. -
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ISU earns badly-needed win
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ISU’s Mascari and Hope win MVC track & field titles
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ISU pole vault tradition continues with help from its author
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To catapult oneself about 14 feet into the air with a large $500 fiberglass pole on a daily basis is a risky endeavor.
“We have to be fearless. You can’t be afraid at all,” said Hope, who has also catapulted herself into the NCAA’s elite in the event, ranking 15th in the NCAA with her leap of 13-feet, 9 1/4. -
Sycamores searching for answers after seventh loss in eight games
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METRO ROUNDUP: ISU men's track picked first in MVC Championships, women second
The Indiana State men’s track team has won the last two Missouri Valley Conference outdoor championships, but the women have not stood on the top podium since 1999.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman wins HCAC all-sports trophy
Rose-Hulman has won the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference men’s all-sports trophy for the fifth time in the past six year, the league announced Monday.
Rose tallied 66.5 points for its finishes in 11 men’s sports, just ahead of Franklin with 66. Hanover was third with 53 points. -
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Manaea fights off bad hip, wet weather to toss four innings
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ISU track enjoys big night at IU's Billy Hayes Invitational
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ISU baseball gets back into rhythm with victory
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Mother Nature took that rhythm away from Indiana State’s team last week. After a 7-1 loss to Indiana on April 24, ISU was supposed to play a three-game series at Tennessee-Martin, but it was wiped out by rain.
So the rhythm was disturbed, but perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing.
ISU was in a five-game losing streak before its unintended vacation and the Sycamores made a move in the right direction Wednesday with a 7-0 win over DePauw at Bob Warn Field.
“It was a disappointing weekend. We went all the way down to Tennessee and didn’t get to play. We sat around in the hotel room. We came here and it was still raining. It was nice to get out and see some live pitching,” ISU center fielder Landon Curry said. -
Metro roundup: ISU hands out spring awards
The Indiana State University athletic community, along with family, friends and fans, paused Tuesday night to honor the spring sports teams at the Terre Haute Savings Bank Spring Sports Banquet.
Most of the ISU teams are still in competition with the baseball team having 13 games left of its regular-season schedule before beginning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament May 21, the softball team with just three games left of the docket this coming weekend against Southern Illinois and the track and field program with just one more meet before beginning its postseason events.
The ISU women’s golf team is the team that has ended at this time, with the group recording a sixth-place finish at the MVC championships one week ago. -
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ISU relay teams enjoy strong day at Drake Relays
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
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Indiana State loses 2 in MVC softball
Indiana State aspired to upset Illinois State to get at least a doubleheader split in Missouri Valley Conference softball Thursday at Price Field as the Sycamores opened an eight-game season-ending homestand.
Paige Schreiner hit a two-run blast over the left-field fence in the fifth inning and junior Shelby Wilson delivered a sizzling RBI triple down the right-field line in the sixth as ISU ended the day playing well against the league’s highest-scoring offense.
The result was still a 5-3 loss to the Redbirds (26-18, 11-6 Missouri Valley Conference) as freshman Halle Humphrey gave up four runs in the first two innings. Humphrey, called upon to pitch the opener as well — she’s the only full-time pitcher remaining on the team — gave up six runs and eight hits as the Sycamores dropped a 6-1 game to start the day. -
Sycamores fall: Slumping ISU drops 8-1 decision to No. 19-ranked IU
The margin in baseball between success and failure is so tight.
Indiana State learned that lesson the hard way against No. 19-ranked Indiana on Wednesday.
For most of the contest, ISU matched IU hit-for-hit, but couldn’t match the Hoosiers run-for-run as IU took maximum advantage of its baserunners to post an 8-1 victory at IU’s new Bart Kaufman Field.
IU — winners of four in a row and owners of a 19-game win streak earlier this season — proved its quality by putting the foot on the gas in the last three innings of the contest. The Hoosiers scored five of their runs in that period.
But up until that point, the game was in either team’s hands, but the Hoosiers took it with better situational hitting. IU’s first baserunners in three separate innings came around to score; two of them did so with two outs on the board. - More College Headlines
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