Over 250 NCAA member institutions sponsor Division I track and field teams, and each year, these teams hope to compete in the championship meet. With over 20 events for both men and women, the championship meet will cap off an exciting outdoor season. 

LIVE UPDATES: Click or tap here to follow along for live updates from the first round through the championship

The final site championships are from June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon.

Here’s all you need to know about the 2025 NCAA outdoor track and field championships.

Where are the 2025 NCAA outdoor track and field championships?

The 2025 NCAA outdoor track and field championships will be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. It will be the 16th time the outdoor championships have been held in Oregon.

You can purchase tickets to the 2025 championships here.

When are the 2025 NCAA outdoor track and field championships?

The 2025 NCAA outdoor track and field championships are from Wednesday, June 11 through Saturday, June 14. Both the men’s and women’s championships are held simultaneously.

MORE: Here’s how the outdoor track and field championships work

What is the schedule of events?

The NCAA has announced the 2025 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships schedule of events. Times are subject to change.

Click or tap here for the schedule of events in pdf form

How to watch the 2025 NCAA DI outdoor track and field championships

The 2025 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships will air on the ESPN family of networks.

2025 NCAA DI Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field championships
Round	Date	Time (ET)	Site	Network
Men’s Day 1	Wednesday, June 11	7:00 PM	Hayward Field	ESPN
Women’s Day 1	Thursday, June 12	7:00 PM	Hayward Field	ESPN
Men’s Day 2	Friday, June 13	8:30 PM	Hayward Field	ESPN2
Women’s Day 2	Saturday, June 14	6:00 PM	Hayward Field	ESPNU

* All broadcast times and networks are subject to change.

Click or tap here for the latest updates to broadcast information including how to watch combined events.

 When is the championship field selected?

The 2025 DI men’s and women’s outdoor track and field final site selections will be announced on Tuesday, June 3.

First round selections

Qualifying performances for the 2025 first rounds can begin March 1. The qualifying window closes for every meet that isn’t a conference championship on Sunday, May 18. The qualifying window closes for conference championship meets on Monday, May 19.

Athletes accepted into the first rounds will be announced on Thursday, May 22.

Selections for the first round were May 22. Click or tap here to view the selections.

Championship selections

Combined event athletes (heptathlon and decathlon) accepted into the championship meet will be announced on Thursday, May 22.

The top 12 competitors from each individual event and the top 12 teams from each relay event advance from each first round. The list of qualifiers from each event contested in the first rounds will be announced by 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 1. The final list of the championship competition participants will be announced by 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 3.

Click or tap here to view the selections

How are championship participants selected?

The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Committee will select and announce the participants for the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The top 48 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the first-round competitions for each individual event. The top 24 declared relay teams will be accepted into the first-round competitions for each relay event.

Combined events do not attend the first round. For combined events (Heptathlon and Decathlon), the top 24 declared student-athletes in each event based on their position on the national descending-order list will be accepted directly into the Championships. 

There are two first rounds, one for the east region and one for the west region. The qualifiers out of these two regions will compete in the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

: Here are the DI track and field teams with most NCAA championships

 

When are the 2025 NCAA first rounds?

The NCAA first rounds run Wednesday, May 28, through Saturday, May 31. Both the DI men’s and women’s first rounds are held simultaneously.

Click or tap here to recap first round action

Where are the 2025 NCAA first rounds?

The meets will be held in two locations for the east and west regions. The NCAA East first round will be located in Jacksonville, Florida, with North Florida serving as the host school. The NCAA West first round will be located in College Station, Texas, with Texas A&M serving as the host school.

: Here are the future dates and sites for DI outdoor track and field through 2026

What is the schedule of events for the first rounds?

You can find the schedule of events for the 2025 NCAA East and West first rounds below:

• East: May 28-31
• West: May 28-31

What are the current outdoor track and field rankings?

Click or tap here to view the latest men’s track and field USTFCCCA rankings. Click or tap here to view the latest women’s track and field USTFCCA rankings. Both will be updated throughout the season.

Who are the past outdoor track and field team champions?

Here are the previous winners of the NCAA outdoor track and field championships. The women’s championship began in the 1982 season while the men’s championship began in the 1921 season.

DI women’s track and field championship history

YEAR	CHAMPION	COACH	POINTS	RUNNER-UP	POINTS	SITE
2024	Arkansas	Chris Johnson	63	Florida	59	Oregon
2023	Texas	Edrick Floréal	83	Florida	51	Austin, Texas
2022	Florida	Mike Holloway	74	Texas	64	Oregon
2021	Southern California	Caryl Smith Gilbert	74	Texas A&M	63	Oregon
2020	Canceled due to Covid-19	—	—	—	—	—
2019	Arkansas	Lance Harter	64	Southern California	57	Austin, Texas
2018	Southern California	Caryl Smith Gilbert	53	Georgia	52	Oregon
2017	Oregon	Robert Johnson	64	Georgia	62.2	Oregon
2016	Arkansas	Lance Harter	72	Oregon	62	Oregon
2015	Oregon	Robert Johnson	59	Kentucky	50	Oregon
2014	Texas A&M	Pat Henry	75	Texas	66	Oregon
2013	Kansas	Stanley Redwine	60	Texas A&M	44	Oregon
2012	#LSU	Dennis Shaver	76	Oregon	62	Drake
2011	Texas A&M	Pat Henry	49	Oregon	45	Drake
2010	Texas A&M	Pat Henry	72	Oregon	57	Oregon
2009	Texas A&M	Pat Henry	50	Oregon	43	Arkansas
2008	LSU	Dennis Shaver	67	Arizona State	63	Drake
2007	Arizona State	Greg Kraft	60	LSU	53	Sacramento State
2006	Auburn	Ralph Spry	57	Southern California	38 1/2	Sacramento State
2005	Texas	Bev Kearney	55	South Carolina, UCLA	48	Sacramento State
2004	UCLA	Jeanette Bolden	69	LSU	68	Texas
2003	LSU	Pat Henry	64	Texas	50	Sacramento State
2002	South Carolina	Curtis Frye	82	UCLA	72	LSU
2001	Southern California	Ron Allice	64	UCLA	55	Oregon
2000	LSU	Pat Henry	58	Southern California	54	Duke
1999	Texas	Bev Kearney	62	UCLA	60	Boise State
1998	Texas	Bev Kearney	60	UCLA	55	Buffalo
1997	LSU	Pat Henry	63	Texas	62	Indiana
1996	LSU	Pat Henry	81	Texas	52	Oregon
1995	LSU	Pat Henry	69	UCLA	58	Tennessee
1994	LSU	Pat Henry	86	Texas	43	Boise State
1993	LSU	Pat Henry	93	Wisconsin	44	New Orleans
1992	LSU	Pat Henry	87	Florida	81	Texas
1991	LSU	Pat Henry	78	Texas	67	Oregon
1990	LSU	Pat Henry	53	UCLA	46	Duke
1989	LSU	Pat Henry	86	UCLA	47	BYU
1988	LSU	Pat Henry	61	UCLA	58	Oregon
1987	LSU	Sam Seemes	62	Alabama	53	LSU
1986	Texas	Terry Crawford	65	Alabama	55	Indianapolis
1985	Oregon	Tom Heinonen	52	Florida State, LSU	46	Texas
1984	Florida State	Gary Winckler	145	Tennessee	124	Oregon
1983	UCLA	Scott Chisam	116 1/2	Florida State	108	Houston
1982	UCLA	Scott Chisam	153	Tennessee	126	BYU

#Participation in the championships vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions
History of scoring in championships—1982-84 (15-12-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1); 1985-present (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1).

DI men’s track and field championship history

YEAR	SCHOOL	COACH	SCORE	RUNNER-UP	SCORE	SITE
2024	Florida	Mike Holloway	41	Auburn	40	Oregon
2023	Florida	Mike Holloway	57	Arkansas	53	Austin, Texas
2022	Florida	Mike Holloway	54	Texas	38	Oregon
2021	LSU	Dennis Shaver	84	Oregon	53	Oregon
2020	Canceled due to COVID-19	—	—	—	—	—
2019	Texas Tech	Wes Kittley	60	Florida	50	Austin, Texas
2018	Georgia	Petros Kyprianou	52	Florida	42	Oregon
2017	Florida	Mike Holloway	61.5	Texas A&M	59.5	Oregon
2016	Florida	Mike Holloway	62	Arkansas	56	Oregon
2015	Oregon	Robert Johnson	85	Florida	56	Oregon
2014	Oregon	Robert Johnson	88	Florida	70	Oregon
2013	Florida, Texas A&M	Mike Holloway, Pat Henry	53	Arkansas		Oregon
2012	Florida	Mike Holloway	50	LSU	48	Drake
2011	Texas A&M	Pat Henry	55	Florida State	54	Drake
2010	Texas A&M	Pat Henry	55	Florida	54	Oregon
2009	Texas A&M	Pat Henry	48	Oregon, FSU, Florida	46	Arkansas
2008	Florida State	Bob Braman	52	LSU, Auburn	44	Drake
2007	&Florida State	Bob Braman	54	LSU	48	Sacramento State
2006	Florida State	Bob Braman	67	LSU	51	Sacramento State
2005	&Arkansas	John McDonnell	60	Florida	49	Sacramento State
2004	&Arkansas	John McDonnell	65 1/2	Florida	49	Texas
2003	Arkansas	John McDonnell	59	Auburn	50	Sacramento State
2002	LSU	Pat Henry	64	Tennessee	57	LSU
2001	Tennessee	Bill Webb	50	&TCU	49	Oregon
2000	Stanford	Vin Lananna	72	Arkansas	59	Duke
1999	Arkansas	John McDonnell	59	Stanford	52	Boise State
1998	Arkansas	John McDonnell	58 1/2	Stanford	51	Buffalo, N.Y.
1997	Arkansas	John McDonnell	55	Texas	42 1/2	Indiana
1996	Arkansas	John McDonnell	55	George Mason	40	Oregon
1995	Arkansas	John McDonnell	61 1/2	UCLA	55	Tennesse
1994	Arkansas	John McDonnell	83	UTEP	45	Boise State
1993	Arkansas	John McDonnell	69	Ohio State, LSU	45	New Orleans
1992	Arkansas	John McDonnell	60	Tennessee	46 1/2	Texas
1991	Tennessee	Doug Brown	51	Washington St.	42	Oregon
1990	LSU	Pat Henry	44	Arkansas	36	Duke
1989	LSU	Pat Henry	53	Texas A&M	51	BYU
1988	UCLA	Bob Larsen	82	Texas	41	Oregon
1987	UCLA	Bob Larsen	81	Texas	28	LSU
1986	SMU	Ted McLaughlin	53	Washington State	52	Indianapolis
1985	Arkansas	John McDonnell	61	Washington State	46	Texas
1984	Oregon	Bill Dellinger	113	Washington State	94 1/2	Oregon
1983	SMU	Ted McLaughlin	104	Tennessee	102	Houston
1982	UTEP	John Wedel	105	Tennessee	94	BYU
1981	UTEP	Ted Banks	70	SMU	57	LSU
1980	UTEP	Ted Banks	69	UCLA	46	Texas
1979	UTEP	Ted Banks	64	Villanova	48	Illinois
1978	UCLA, UTEP	Jim Bush, Ted Banks	50			Oregon
1977	Arizona State	Senon Castillo	64	UTEP	50	Illinois
1976	Southern California	Vern Wolfe	64	UTEP	44	Penn
1975	UTEP	Ted Banks	55	UCLA	42	BYU
1974	Tennessee	Stan Huntsman	60	UCLA	56	Texas
1973	UCLA	Jim Bush	52	Oregon	31	LSU
1972	UCLA	Jim Bush	82	Southern California	49	Oregon
1971	UCLA	Jim Bush	52	Southern California	41	Washington
1970	BYU, Kansas, Oregon	Clarence Robison, Bob Timmons, William Bowerman	35			Drake
1969	San Jose State	Bud Winter	48	Kansas	45	Tennessee
1968	Southern California	Vern Wolfe	58	Washington State	57	California
1967	Southern California	Vern Wolfe	86	Oregon	40	BYU
1966	UCLA	Jim Bush	81	BYU	33	Indiana
1965	Oregon, Southern California	William Bowerman, Vern Wolfe	32			California
1964	Oregon	William Bowerman	70	San Jose State	40	Oregon
1963	Southern California	Vern Wolfe	61	Stanford	42	New Mexico
1962	Oregon	William Bowerman	85	Villanova	40	Oregon
1961	Southern California	Jess Mortensen	65	Oregon	47	Penn
1960	Kansas	Bill Easton	50	Southern California	37	California
1959	Kansas	Bill Easton	73	San Jose State	48 7/10	Nebraska
1958	Southern California	Jess Mortensen	48 6/7	Kansas	40 3/4	California
1957	Villanova	James Elliot	47	California	32	Texas
1956	UCLA	Elvin Drake	55 7/10	Kansas	51	California
1955	Southern California	Jess Mortensen	42	UCLA	34	Southern California
1954	Southern California	Jess Mortensen	66 17/20	Illinois	31 17/20	Michigan
1953	Southern California	Jess Mortensen	80	Illinois	41	Nebraska
1952	Southern California	Jess Mortensen	66 7/12	San Jose State	24 1/3	California
1951	Southern California	Jess Mortensen	56	Cornell	40	Washington
1950	Southern California	Jess Hill	49 1/5	Stanford	28	Minnesota
1949	Southern California	Jess Hill	55 2/5	UCLA	31	Southern California
1948	Minnesota	James Kelly	46	Southern California	41 1/2	Minnesota
1947	Illinois	Leo Johnson	59 2/3	Southern California	34 1/4	Utah
1946	Illinois	Leo Johnson	78	Southern California	42 17/20	Minnesota
1945	Navy	E.J. Thornson	62	Michigan	52 3/5	Marquette
1944	Illinois	Leo Johnson	79	Notre Dame	43	Marquette
1943	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	46	California	39	Northwestern
1942	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	85 1/2	Ohio State	44 1/5	Nebraska
1941	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	81 1/2	Indiana	50	Stanford
1940	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	47	Stanford	28 2/3	Minnesota
1939	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	86	Stanford	44 3/4	Southern California
1938	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	67 3/4	Stanford	38	Minnesota
1937	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	62	Stanford	50	California
1936	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	103 1/3	Ohio State	73	Chicago
1935	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	74 1/3	Ohio State	40 1/5	California
1934	Stanford	R.L. Templeton	63	Southern California	54 7/20	Southern California
1933	LSU	Bernie Moore	58	Southern California	54	Chicago
1932	Indiana	Billy Hayes	56	Ohio State	49 3/4	Chicago
1931	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	77 1/7	Ohio State	31 1/7	Chicago
1930	Southern California	Dean Cromwell	55 11/35	Washington	40	Chicago
1929	Ohio State	Frank Castleman	50	Washington	42	Chicago
1928	Stanford	R.L. Templeton	72	Ohio State	31	Chicago
1927	*Illinois	Harry Gill	35			Chicago
1926	*Southern California	Dean Cromwell	27			Chicago
1925	*Stanford	R.L. Templeton	31			Chicago
1924	—————–
1923	Michigan	Stephen Farrell	29 1/2	Mississippi State	16	Chicago
1922	California	Walter Christie	28 1/2	Penn State	19 1/2	Chicago
1921	Illinois	Harry Gill	20 1/4	Notre Dame	16 3/4	Chicago

* Unofficial championship
& Participation in the championships vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

EUGENE, Oreg. – Senior hurdler Darius Brown will return to the track Friday night for the final round of the 110m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, taking the stage at Hayward Field. The race is set for 7:42 p.m. CT and will air live on ESPN2.
 
Fans can follow along with live results here as Brown competes for his fourth career All-America honor and looks to close out his collegiate career on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
 
Brown advanced to the final after clocking in at 13.40 seconds in Wednesday’s semifinal, placing third in his heat and securing one of the final qualifying spots.
 
He punched his ticket to Eugene by resetting his own school record at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds in College Station, Texas. Running 13.37 in the quarterfinal, Brown finished seventh overall to earn a return trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
 
Already a three-time All-American, Brown has earned national honors in each of his last three NCAA Championship appearances. A finish on Friday would mark his fourth and cap off a remarkable chapter for DePaul Track and Field.
 
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS

For all of the latest on DePaul Cross Country, Track & Field, stay tuned to DePaulBlueDemons.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

FULL RESULTS (INCLUDING LIVE RESULTS)

MOSCOW, Idaho – On the biggest stage in collegiate track and field, Idaho’s own Katja Pattis proved why she belonged. 

Halfway through the second day of the competition in Eugene, OR, Pattis got her opportunity to compete in the 3,000m Steeplechase, which she had steadily improved at all season long. 

Multiple personal bests, improving upon her standing of second all-time in school history, and all-conference honors with a second-place finish at the Big Sky Championships in Sacramento. 

Her then-PR of 10:03.05, topping her old best of 10:04.33, now stands as the third-best time in her career, as Pattis only continued to set new highs. Earning a bid to the NCAA West Regionals in College Station alongside Mia Sylvester and Constanze Paoli, she would finish in the top-12, raising her own bar clocked at 10:02.04. 

With this, she became the first Idaho athlete to earn a bid to the NCAA Championships since 2022, and the first female Vandal to do so since 2016. 

On Thursday, the best DI runners in the country gathered for the steeplechase, representing institutions such as Alabama, Washington, Texas A&M, and Idaho. Among them, Pattis ran in the 3,000m Steeplechase one last time to conclude her career as a Vandal, and she finished it the way she started it: surpassing expectations. 

Katja set her fourth personal-best time in as many opportunities, finished under ten-minutes for the first time in her career at 9:57.34. Originally holding the no. 31 time in the NCAA, Pattis rose all the way to finish 18th on Thursday, nearly twice as well as she was initially ranked. Her sub-10 minute time is only the second ever in school history, and the first since 2003. 

Finishing her Vandal career as strongly as she could, Katja left a historic mark on the program, and her head coach Tracy Hellman was beyond proud of his runner. 

“What a tremendous finish to an outstanding career for Katja,” remarked Hellman. “She not only finished with a lifetime PR but also finished better than she was ranked!” She showed that she is one of the top steeplechase athletes in the NCAA. She will leave Idaho as one of our all-time greats and our program is better because of her.”

The program had an outdoor season to be proud of, capped off by Pattis’ run in Eugene but bolstered by the efforts of numerous athletes in multiple events. With eight all-conference Vandals, multiple marks rewritten in the record books, and an All-American performance in Tracktown, Idaho Track and Field has a lot to look forward to. Hellman captured it best when he said:

“As always, it’s a great day to be a Vandal.”

FOLLOW THE VANDALS

To stay up to date with Idaho Track and Field, follow the team on instagram (idahotrack) and visit govandals.com

SHREWSBURY –

Final: Agawam 3, Wayland 1

Agawam wins the fourth set 25-16 to claim its second Division 2 title in the past three years.

Set 4: Agawam 22, Wayland 16

Nearly incredible save from Agawam but the ball kicked back against a shutter.

Set 4: Agawam 19, Wayland 13

David Dzhenzhenkha dumps over a kill to break a 4-1 Warriors run.

Set 4: Agawam 17, Wayland 9

Ace by David Dzhenzhenkha puts Agawam up further. Eight points away from the title.

Set 4: Agawam 15, Wayland 9

Dennis Nesen with the kill through a block forces another Wayland timeout.

Set 4: Agawam 11, Wayland 7

Little run for Agawam forces a Warriors timeout.

Set 4: Agawam 8, Wayland 6

A kill off the side of the block gives Agawam an advantage.

Set 4: Wayland 4, Agawam 4

Rotation error by the Warriors ties the set.

Set 4: Wayland 1, Agawam 1

Mason Lee has switched into the libero jersey for Wayland, which he wore last year but moved over to outside hitter this spring.

Set 3: Agawam 25, Wayland 13

Warriors fight off three set points, but Agawam takes a 2-1 lead in the set. Finn Bell up to 11 kills for Wayland.

Set 3: Agawam 20, Wayland 9

Double contact by the Warriors after a hard hit ball bounced off the ceiling and back down.

Set 3: Agawam 17, Wayland 7

Agawam is running a tip drill and has a double-digit lead in the set.

Set 3: Agawam 15, Wayland 6

Tip kill pushes the lead out even further.

Set 3: Agawam 12, Wayland 4

Agawam ace forces another timeout from Wayland. This is the biggest lead of the match.

Set 3: Agawam 7, Wayland 2

“Who’s your daddy?” chants from the Agawam student section. Finn Bell responds with his 10th kill for Wayland to end the run.

Set 3: Agawam 5, Wayland 1

Multiple balls have tipped off Wayland players faces this stretch. Warriors in some disarray to open the set.

Set 2: Wayland 25, Agawam 23

Big block from the Warriors knots the match 1-1. Both teams battled at the net out of system. We’ve got something cooking. Wayland led the whole set. Finn Bell up to eight kills.

Set 2: Wayland 23, Agawam 21

Wayland calls a timeout in crunch time after an Agawam kill from Tim Karcha.

Set 2: Wayland 22, Agawam 20

Big swing there. Both teams scrambling. Wayland player’s hand underneath the net. Agawam wanted a call. Didn’t get it. Net violation gives the point to the Warriors.

Set 2: Wayland 21, Agawam 19

Warriors maintaining their advantage as the end of the set approaches.

Set 2: Wayland 16, Agawam 13

Timeout Warriors as their lead is dwindling.

Set 2: Wayland 16, Agawam 10

Agawam’s Joe Culhane gets a kill past Finn Bell, and the Agawam fan section chants “overrated.”

Set 2: Wayland 12, Agawam 6

Zachary O’Donnell so crafty with the tips for Wayland.

Set 2: Wayland 10, Agawam 4

Great diving save by Cooper Szeremeta forces an Agawam error. Warriors’ lead is growing.

Set 2: Wayland 8, Agawam 3

Agawam four contacts gives the Warriors their biggest lead so far. Timeout Agawam

Set 2: Wayland 3 Agawam 0

Max Walsh block puts the warriors off to a strong start. Mason Lee on the service line.

Set 1: Agawam 25, Wayland 22

Warrior had an early lead, but Agawam executed better as the set went on. No. 1 seed with a 1-0 lead after one set. Wayland’s Finn Bell has six kills already.

Set 1: Agawam 24, Wayland 22

Timeout Agawam. Warriors have fought off two straight set points.

Set 1: Agawam 20, Wayland 16

Tim Karcha kill gives Agawam its biggest lead of the set. Timeout Wayland

Set 1: Agawam 16, Wayland 14

Timeout Wayland.

Set 1: Agawam 15, Wayland 14

Eric Nazarets puts Agawam ahead for the first time since 1-0 with back to back aces.

Set 1: Wayland 14, Agawam 12

Fourth kill already for Finn Bell. Warriors maintaining a lead.

Set 1: Wayland 11, Agawam 11

Tim Karcha hits the floor to tie the game for Agawam.

Set 1: Wayland 10, Agawam 9

Finn Bell with his third kill puts the Warriors back on top.

Set 1: Wayland 9, Agawam 9

A Warriors hitting error ties the match.

Set 1: Wayland 5, Agawam 3

Finn Bell back to back aces puts the Warriors ahead. We’ve seen more service errors than anything

Starting lineups

Agawam: Dennis Nesen, David Dzhenzherukha, Chase Gerani, Tim Karcha, Joe Culhane, John Cote

Wayland: Dylan Engelhardt, Finn Bell, Zachary O’Donnell, Max Walsh, Mason Lee, Alex Pearlman, Liam Frenzel

The lights are on at Shrewsbury and both teams are warming up. First serve in ~30 minutes.

Pregame

Another chance at glory.

The Wayland boys volleyball team will play in the Division 2 state championship game for the second consecutive year when the Warriors face No. 1 Agawam (23-1) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Shrewsbury High School. No. 3 Wayland (16-8) fell last season against Westfield in five sets despite holding a 2-0 lead.

The Warriors exorcised those demons in the semifinals, but Agawam is the one with an axe to grind this round. Wayland bested them in the semifinals last season, ending the team’s chance at back to back state championships.

Agawam is seeking its second title in the past three years and third overall. The program has won 20 of its past 21 matches, including a five-set victory against Division 1 finalist Needham on May 10. Fourteen of those victories are sweeps. Agawam took out fellow Western Mass. foe West Springfield in the semifinals following a 3-0 quarterfinal win over East Longmeadow, a sweep against Bellingham in the Round of 16 and an opening-round weep against Springfield International.

Joseph Culhane leads Agawam with 250 kills, while David Dzhenzherukha is an all-around force with 626 assists, 40 blocks and 22 aces.

Wayland has never won a state championship and is making its third appearance. The Warriors beat Marlborough 3-1 in the quarterfinals after a 3-1 win over Greater Lowell Tech in a Round of 1 and a sweep against Assabet Valley in the first round.

‘Natural to him’: Wayland junior Finn Bell’s volleyball skills are rare to find in Mass.

Finn Bell is the engine that makes Wayland go. The junior is a returning all-state player with Division 1 offers. He has 321 kills and 40 aces.

“It looked like a bomb went off.”

That is how Jack Everett ’25 described driving through the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, overwhelmed at what he was seeing.

“Everything was gone,” he said about the blackened remains of cars and the crumbling chimneys marking what used to be homes. “It was surreal.”

Everett, who works as a lifeguard in Los Angeles County, had just started his final term as an environmental science major at Redlands when the Palisades Fire broke out. He was among the trained first responders in the county who received an emergency hire email.

“They were stretched so thin and needed support from all trained personnel,” he said. “It just so happened that my dad, Joe Everett, who works for the L.A. City Fire Department, was named incident commander.”

What followed was a weeks-long mobilization testing Everett’s resilience as he answered the call to serve. While fire fighters battled the blaze, Everett worked to manage logistics at base camp, including coordinating public donations for those effected by the growing devastation. Drawing on knowledge gained from majoring in environmental science and minoring in spatial studies, Everett quickly understood that what he was witnessing was not only a tragedy, but a climate-driven phenomenon.

“It was unusually hot for January, with high winds and relatively low humidity—a deadly combination for a big fire,” he said. “Even though fires can naturally occur and Southern California has a season for it, you have to account for wind topography, which I think is the biggest thing with fires. They move faster when going uphill, and the wind contributed to spreading the fire across the hills in the Santa Monica Mountains and the Palisades.”

With an understanding of the environmental impacts at play, Everett had to mentally prepare for the intensity of the situation. Drawing on his experience as an attacker on the Redlands’ water polo team helped him stay focused and ready to respond.

“I was working with other lifeguards—some I knew well and others not at all, so making sure we were on the same page about what we’re doing was like the common goal you have playing water polo,” he said. “You have to be strong mentally, stay calm, and have grace under pressure, all things my coach Ryan Hall emphasized.”

Throughout the experience, Everett found glimpses of hope. He visited the Pacific Palisades Fire Station where his uncle worked and watched firefighters from different stations come together to build a “Palisades Strong” sign. Another fortunate discovery came when Everett came upon the house his grandfather grew up in—the only one on the block not destroyed.

“Even though the house isn’t in the family anymore, it still holds sentimental value and seeing it still standing was incredible,” he said.

Reflecting on lessons learned at U of R and the destruction he witnessed during the fire, Everett is now exploring a future with L.A. County’s forestry unit.  

“It’s a way to combine my environmental science and spatial background, with my first responder certifications, knowledge, and being of service,” he said. “With how big the topic of climate change has become, I think one of the more important things right now than environmental education—because this is where we live and our future depends on caring for it.”

Learn how Redlands prepares students to serve in critical moments—discover Environmental Science at Redlands.

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