Southridge multisport standout Saydee Arnold signs to row at Indiana University

Saydee Arnold’s path out of Southridge High School did not follow the usual script. The 2026 graduate from Huntingburg signed her National Letter of Intent to row at Indiana University, turning a strong multisport background in basketball, volleyball and tennis into a place on one of the state’s most demanding college teams.

Local sports director Kris Norton announced the signing, underscoring how unusual Arnold’s route is for a Dubois County athlete. Recruiting listings identify Arnold at 5-foot-10, and they list her as a rower headed to Indiana University after building a résumé far beyond one sport. Her profile shows how college recruiting can reward height, athletic range and competitive repetition, even when a student-athlete has never been confined to the standard football-and-basketball pipeline that often dominates small-town attention.

At Southridge, Arnold’s athletic footprint was broad. MaxPreps and Hudl list her on the girls varsity basketball and volleyball rosters, and Prep Girls Hoops identifies her as a class of 2026 Indiana girls basketball player. That mix of court sports, along with tennis, helped shape the kind of coordination, footwork and conditioning that college rowing programs often value when they search for athletes who can be developed on the water.

Arnold’s profile also reached a wider state audience. A 2025 Indiana Girls Basketball Report All-Indiana Showcase prospect list included Arnold among Southridge athletes, a sign that her name had already circulated beyond Huntingburg well before the rowing commitment came together. FieldLevel’s recruiting information lists her as a port, starboard and scull athlete and ties her commitment directly to Indiana University.

For Dubois County families and coaches, Arnold’s signing is a reminder that scholarship opportunities do not always come from the most visible sports or the most obvious position groups. A student-athlete who stands 5-foot-10, competes in multiple sports and keeps developing different skill sets can draw college interest in places many local athletes never consider.

Indiana University’s women’s rowing program shows the level Arnold is stepping into. The Hoosiers’ active 2025-26 roster and 2026 spring schedule reflect a program that recruits nationally and internationally and expects athletes to arrive ready for a demanding transition in Bloomington. For Southridge, Arnold’s move extends the school’s reach well beyond the usual recruiting map, and it gives other Dubois County athletes a concrete example of how a less traditional path can still lead to a major university scholarship.