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2025 All-Area Boys’ Track and Field Athletes of the Year: Woodard steps up | Sports

TUSCOLA — Sawyer and Hunter Woodard have been going back and forth for a few years now. Rather, Sawyer has been catching up with — and even surpassing in some areas — his older brother, giving him more ammo to debate on who had the better high school career. Hunter graduated from Tuscola in 2018. […]

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TUSCOLA — Sawyer and Hunter Woodard have been going back and forth for a few years now.

Rather, Sawyer has been catching up with — and even surpassing in some areas — his older brother, giving him more ammo to debate on who had the better high school career.

Hunter graduated from Tuscola in 2018. He helped lead the Warriors’ football team to a Class 1A runner-up season and won a state shot put title as a senior before going on to have a successful college football career as an offensive lineman at Oklahoma State University.

Sawyer ended his time at Tuscola this past spring by leading the Warriors’ track and field team to a second consecutive 1A state runner-up trophy with the now Tuscola graduate producing a pair of third-place finishes in the discus and shot put. That came after helping the boys’ basketball team to a 29-win season and a fourth straight regional plaque as a senior.

“Seeing how good he was in track and football made me want to accomplish the same things in my sports and pushed me to be the best I could be,” Sawyer said of his brother.

It almost feels like a coin flip at first glance. Maybe you give the edge to Hunter because of the state championship, something Sawyer never accomplished. That said, Sawyer got another leg up on his brother last week, and they happened to be right next to each other when he heard the news.

Sawyer Woodard is The News-Gazette’s 2025 All-Area boys’ track and field Athlete of the Year, a title Hunter never held.

“When I got that text, I was with my brother, and I was surprised,” Sawyer said. “I told my brother, he high-fived me and we celebrated. It was just a really exciting moment. I’m never going to let him live this down.”

Hunter couldn’t help but put the sibling rivalry aside and smile.

“I’m extremely proud of him,” Hunter said. “I’ve watched how hard he’s worked and progressed over the last several years, and I know he deserves this award. There are a lot of deserving athletes in the area, but I’m glad to see Sawyer’s hard work has been recognized. He’s always been a great athlete and has developed himself well.”

Sawyer Woodard believed he had the potential to become one of the best throwers in the state when he walked in the door as a freshman, but it came across as more cockiness than confidence. Tuscola athletic director and boys’ track and field coach Ryan Hornaday has known Woodard from a young age, with his son, David, being good friends with him. He said he’s seen “incredible growth” in Woodard over the years.

“His physical attributes speak for themselves, but what the average person doesn’t see is his growth in maturity,” Hornaday said. “As a freshman, he thought he had a lot of stuff figured out, but he decided to listen to some people who knew some things as he came along, and the distances improved from pretty good to outstanding.”

Woodard laughed when he heard that story, but he couldn’t disagree. He swallowed his pride, got himself in better shape and became one of the best teammates and leaders you could ask for in high school sports.

That led him from believing to knowing he could be one of the state’s top throwers.

After the Warriors’ postseason basketball run, Woodard only had two chances to qualify for the indoor state meet. He was able to do that and went on to place sixth in the shot put. He knew he had more in the tank, and he knew discus was his primary event, so he set his sights on a pair of outdoor championships. While he ultimately finished third in both events, he was plenty pleased with his performance.

“I’m definitely not one of those super outgoing leaders, but I push people to be their best,” Woodard said. “Every team needs a leader, and I definitely felt responsible for taking that position this year. Last year, we all relied on Josiah (Hortin) and the distance runners. This year, I knew I had to step up and carry the team with the amount of points I could get, and that ultimately led to us getting second in state.”

Tuscola’s runner-up team finish a year ago was the highest state placement in program history, a foregone conclusion by most accounts with the dream team the Warriors had. Matching that result this year came as a bit of a surprise, and it couldn’t have happened without Woodard’s contributions.

“He’s a big piece of the puzzle to what we do, and he had a lot to do with us winning the sectional and coming home with a state trophy,” Hornaday said. “Not for a second did it cross any of our minds that he’d somehow have a letdown. He’s been so steady. He was always ready to compete with the best in the area, which prepared him to compete with the best in the state.”

Woodard’s state performance in late May at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field, which will be his next home after committing to EIU earlier that month, also solidified him as the next great Tuscola thrower.

The Warriors have had numerous state medalist throwers in their history, producing at least one seemingly every year. Aiden Weaver joined Woodard on the podium last year, and Chris Boyd was before them. Hunter Woodard carried the torch prior to that, and the list keeps going from Stephen Gibson in the mid 2010s to Jeff Hettinger in the early 1990s all the way back to Earl Parker in 1908 and so many more in between.

“We have a long line of throwers who have been state medalists, and Sawyer is the next big name on that long list,” Hornaday said. “We’ve had a conference track meet for 12-15 years, and the shot put record-holder is Hunter Woodard, and the discus record-holder is Sawyer Woodard. It’s pretty cool that we have both throwing records, but it’s especially unique that they’re brothers. Sawyer’s been great, and he’s right there in the thick of the long list of great throwers we’ve had at Tuscola.”

And get ready to learn the name Brayden Weaver, who finished 16th and 28th in the 1A shot put and discus, respectively, as a freshman. Woodard said Weaver is “going to be amazing.”

Until then, the spotlight will be on Woodard, and he couldn’t have asked for a better way to end his high school career.

“It feels awesome,” Woodard said. “I watched Hunter before being with Chris. I’ve been with great throwers for a while, and seeing what they did, I wanted to accomplish the exact same things. I’d say I have, and that feels great. I’m sure we’re going to have a lot more amazing throwers in the future.”





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Sarussi has MVP final season for UIC women’s track

Ally Sarussi (Courtesy of UIC Athletics) Ally Sarussi had quite a senior sendoff with the Washington University women’s track and field team as part of its 2024 NCAA Division III national team champion. The 2020 Lyons Township High School graduate, however, still had one season of eligibility and a graduate degree to pursue.  “I was […]

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Ally Sarussi (Courtesy of UIC Athletics)

Ally Sarussi had quite a senior sendoff with the Washington University women’s track and field team as part of its 2024 NCAA Division III national team champion. The 2020 Lyons Township High School graduate, however, still had one season of eligibility and a graduate degree to pursue. 

“I was going to take a gap year, but then I kind of thought I have an opportunity to run another year,” Sarussi said. “I love track a lot so I might as well take the opportunity while getting my degree.”

As a grad student this spring, Sarussi had her best individual season for the University of Illinois Chicago. She was named the team’s Most Valuable Performer and athletic department’s Female Newcomer of the Year for non-freshmen after qualifying for the NCAA Division I postseason in the 1,500-meter run following her lifetime-best, school-record 4:19.35 at the Missouri Valley Conference Meet.



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MTSU Athletics saddened by passing of former Volleyball coach Matt Peck

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee Athletics is saddened to learn of the passing of former Blue Raider Volleyball coach Matt Peck. The seasoned coach spent 12 seasons in Murfreesboro, where he helped build the Blue Raiders into a championship program. “There are a lot of banners hanging in AMG that are due to Matt and […]

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee Athletics is saddened to learn of the passing of former Blue Raider Volleyball coach Matt Peck. The seasoned coach spent 12 seasons in Murfreesboro, where he helped build the Blue Raiders into a championship program.

“There are a lot of banners hanging in AMG that are due to Matt and his staff’s efforts,” said MTSU Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. “We reached the pinnacle in volleyball by going to the Sweet 16, which is one of the deepest postseason runs any of our teams have had in an NCAA Tournament.

“Under his leadership, we were nationally competitive with anybody we were on the court with, and to have six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances speaks volumes to the kind of coach he was, the kind of players that were here and the kind of success we had at that time. My thoughts and prayers are with those who are close to Matt, his family, his friends, and all the former players who helped raise a lot of those banners.”

Peck’s accomplishments in over 20 years of coaching were long and distinguished. After a three-year stint as a Graduate Assistant with the Purdue men’s volleyball team, Peck became the head coach at Wayne State University in 1987, compiling a 231-135 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances over seven seasons. He was then hired as the head coach at the University of North Alabama in 1995 where he proceeded to build a Division II powerhouse. Over nine seasons at UNA, Peck accumulated a record of 312-61, securing eight straight NCAA Tournament appearances, four Elite Eights, two Final Fours and the 2003 NCAA Division II National Championship.

In 2004, Peck took over as the leader of the Blue Raider volleyball program. He went on to become the winningest coach in program history with a 208-141 record across 12 seasons. During his tenure at Middle Tennessee, Peck led Middle Tennessee volleyball to six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, an NCAA Sweet 16, four Sun Belt Tournament Championships and two Sun Belt regular season titles.

After his time at MTSU, Peck continued to grow the game of volleyball coaching at the club level, where he inspired younger generations and shared his love for the game.

 



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Coach Mirarchi shaping Italy’s next water polo stars at the FISU Games

Written by Valentina Rasini, EU U-Media Ambassador, Italy Water polo is a demanding sport that requires lots of sacrifice and dedication. For student-athletes, balancing academics and intense training makes it even more challenging. Maurizio Mirarchi, coach of the Italian women’s team at the Rhine Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, understands this well. He puts his […]

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Written by Valentina Rasini, EU U-Media Ambassador, Italy

Water polo is a demanding sport that requires lots of sacrifice and dedication. For student-athletes, balancing academics and intense training makes it even more challenging.

Maurizio Mirarchi, coach of the Italian women’s team at the Rhine Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, understands this well. He puts his heart into mentoring his young players, helping them grow not only as competitors but as the champions of tomorrow.

Coach Mirarchi made a clear decision: to train student-athletes, both at the international level and in the Italian championship, and he stands firmly by his choice.

“There’s no trick, you just have to make sacrifices, train and try to give your best in every session. If you train well, matches are a consequence of training. The trick is simply to do your best during the week,” he said, speaking about the challenges of coaching such a young group.

One of the most important aspects for Mirarchi is keeping his pupils fully focused, especially in the most difficult moments, when emotions and tension can weigh heavily on young minds.

“I always ask for their maximum attention. I try to explain the various situations that arise in the match to make sure they have it. It’s not easy, because there are emotions, there is the moment, there is the match. We try to make sure that things are explained well in some moments of the match.”

The hardest part of being a student-athlete in Mirarchi’s opinion? “They have to balance their work and their student activities. It’s a big commitment for them. This is a sport that requires a lot of sacrifice, so they are really good at managing both things in the best way possible.”

A stepping stone to the future

Rhine-Ruhr 2025 represents an enriching and valuable experience for the Italian coach.

“It’s a good level, a good high level. There are good teams, from Australia, Germany, Japan, us, Hungary, the United States,” he said, about the calibre of different delegations competing in the tournament.

Looking ahead to the future of his young protégés, Mirarchi sees the FISU Games as a key benchmark for preparing them for the next level of competition, such as the Olympics or the World Championships.

“The university team is always a tank, where the national team can take on the athletes. So, it’s very important to do it well, to do the competition seriously, because then it can be a showcase to continue later,” he affirmed.

His vision is long-term and clear: these kinds of tournaments are not an end, but a means to grow.

“I took this job because we work in perspective. So, we try to make these girls grow, making them do as many experiences as possible. And this is a good experience for them, because they are all young girls. So, I hope that over the years they can play even more important competitions.”

Looking to match their silver-medal finish from Chengdu 2023, the Italian women reached the semifinals on Tuesday, 22 July with a dominant 20-5 win against Türkiye. Mirarchi’s side will face the United States on Thursday for a spot in Saturday’s gold-medal match.

The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.



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Cameron Brink Reacts to Post Roasting Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers’s Viral Outfits

One needs to look no further than the WNBA to witness some of the most fashionable dressers in the sports world, as the league’s stars strut through tunnels day after day showing off jaw-dropping looks and oozing effortless style. Most players—to use the popular Gen Z term—slay with their pregame outfits. But on the few […]

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One needs to look no further than the WNBA to witness some of the most fashionable dressers in the sports world, as the league’s stars strut through tunnels day after day showing off jaw-dropping looks and oozing effortless style.

Most players—to use the popular Gen Z term—slay with their pregame outfits. But on the few occasions they don’t, fans will be ready to roast any given player at a moment’s notice—even if that player is one of the rising faces of the W.

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 picks of the WNBA Draft in the last two years, were recently grouped together in a funny social media post concerning their fits ahead of the Indiana Fever-Dallas Wings game on July 13.

Clark donned a baggy gray power suit, while Bueckers wore a green and yellow striped sweater with jeans. One fan on X (formerly known as Twitter) posted a hilarious comment on the stars’ contrasting looks: “Someone said the mom headed to the superintendent’s office, and her 13-year-old kid who got in trouble.”

Los Angeles Sparks’ Cameron Brink later got in on the fun and dished on her peers’ fashion tastes on the Straight to Cam podcast this week.

“I mean… it’s pretty accurate,” Brink said. “Does [Caitlin] look very boss woman chic clean? Yes. Does Paige look very streetwear cool girl? Yes. But seeing those side by side, it’s pretty funny.

“I think they both stay very true to those aesthetics, like Caitlin’s usually in her Prada, she’s a little more buttoned up. I guess Paige, she’ll wear suits [too].”

While Clark and Bueckers usually let their on-court play do the talking, their comically different fits clearly served as a conversation starter among the WNBA community. The two franchise stars will meet again on Aug. 1 and 12, after Clark’s Fever defeated Bueckers’s Wings in the pair’s first professional matchup against each other on July 13.

More WNBA on Sports Illustrated





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AD Newsletter – July 22, 2025

  Dear Wildcats:  What we’ve accomplished together over the past year has laid the groundwork for a bold new era at Arizona Athletics. In our inaugural year in the Big 12 Conference, we didn’t just compete, we built momentum. Fueled by your support, we embraced transformational change, tackled financial challenges head-on, and launched a strategic […]

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Dear Wildcats: 

What we’ve accomplished together over the past year has laid the groundwork for a bold new era at Arizona Athletics. In our inaugural year in the Big 12 Conference, we didn’t just compete, we built momentum. Fueled by your support, we embraced transformational change, tackled financial challenges head-on, and launched a strategic vision to guide our future. 

With a focus on integrity, innovation, and urgency, we’ve worked to restore financial discipline, elevate the student-athlete experience, and assemble a leadership team prepared to meet the demands of a rapidly changing landscape. Thank you for standing with us, believing in our vision, and helping us build something that will last far beyond the scoreboard. We’re stronger because of YOU

I’m proud to share just a few highlights: 

  • We closed a $39M deficit to just $5M, with a goal to balance the budget by FY26 through strategic oversight, streamlined operations, and accountability. 
  • We raised $5.9M more than last year thanks to your generosity and a restructured Development Office that better aligns philanthropic goals with strategic priorities. 
  • We rose in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings (from No. 48 to No. 43), powered by a national championship in Women’s Triathlon, Big 12 titles in Baseball, Women’s Golf, and Men’s Tennis, and Top 25 finishes in Gymnastics, Softball, Men’s Basketball, and Men’s Swim and Dive. 
  • We launched the Bear Down Blueprint, a five-year strategic plan built on four pillars: Graduating Leaders, Winning Championships, Galvanizing Community, and Organizational Strength. Read the full plan here.  

 

We’ve also continued building a team that can meet the challenges of this moment. This year, we welcomed four new head coaches, each chosen not just for their competitive credentials, but for their values, vision, and ability to mentor student-athletes: 

Ben Loorz, Head Coach, Men’s and Women’s Swim & Dive 

Giovana Maymon, Head Coach, Women’s Golf 

Becky Burke, Head Coach, Women’s Basketball 

Andrew Dubs, Head Coach, Track & Field / Cross Country 

 

These new leaders join a department-wide effort to elevate every aspect of the Wildcat experience—from competitive performance to academic achievement and holistic support. 

We also welcomed a dynamic group of new administrative leaders, all bringing high-level experience from the Power Four conferences or professional sports. Each of these leaders was carefully selected to help drive innovation, accountability, and sustained excellence across our department: 

Tony Daniel, Chief Revenue Officer  

Rachel Blunt, Chief Operating Officer/SWA  

Will Wheeler, Chief Financial Officer  

Mike Smith, Chief Development Officer 

Morgan Domenick, Chief of Staff 

Brian Rooney, General Manager, Arizona Sports Enterprises 

Bud Sasser, Associate Athletics Director for Contracts 

 

This year also marked the official launch of Arizona Sports Enterprises (ASE)—our innovative new division focused on maximizing commercial revenue through multimedia rights, partnerships, and premium experiences. Under the leadership of Tony Daniel, ASE exceeded its first-year revenue goal by 14% and welcomed its first General Manager, Brian Rooney, a proven leader in sports business. With ASE now fully operational, we’ve created a modern, agile platform that positions Arizona Athletics for long-term financial growth and greater brand impact. 

A New Era: Revenue Sharing + NIL Support 

As of July 1, Arizona Athletics entered a new era with the formal launch of revenue sharing as provided by the terms of the House v. NCAA settlement. Our student-athletes deserve to be supported and empowered, and Arizona is leading the way. 

We’ve implemented a comprehensive financial literacy course in collaboration with the College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, expanded Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) education, and built internal systems to meet compliance standards—all while preserving the essence of college athletics.  

As revenue-sharing reshapes college athletics, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) remains essential to providing our student-athletes with the resources and opportunities they deserve. Your continued support helps Arizona remain competitive in recruiting and retaining top talent—while also preparing our Wildcats for success beyond the playing field. 

We’re calling on members of the Arizona community—especially those who own or influence businesses—to play an active role in shaping the future of Wildcat Athletics. By creating or supporting legitimate NIL opportunities, you’re helping student-athletes grow their personal brands and ensuring Arizona thrives in this new era of college sports. 

If you’re interested in exploring NIL partnership opportunities, or contributing directly to NIL efforts, please visit www.ArizonaWildcats.com/sponsorship.  

Your continued philanthropic support is more critical than ever, so thank you for all that you do.  

Looking Ahead: Football & Fan Experience 

Arizona enters Year Two in the Big 12 with momentum, and we’re making Saturdays in Tucson more exciting than ever. This fall, fans will enjoy: 

  • A reimagined team entrance featuring cryogenics, pyrotechnics, and military flyovers 
  • A new live music partnership with the DUSK Music Festival 
  • Expanded tailgating zones and on-field hospitality 
  • Fan-friendly concession pricing 

 

These enhancements reflect our commitment to building a world-class gameday environment for our student-athletes and fans alike. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Arizona Stadium this fall. 



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Griz volleyball wins fifth straight AVCA Team Academic Award

Montana volleyball has received the AVCA Team Academic Award sponsored by INTENT for the fifth consecutive season after another successful year in the classroom.   In order to qualify for the honor, teams needed to maintain a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Montana had a cumulative GPA of 3.66 […]

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Montana volleyball has received the AVCA Team Academic Award sponsored by INTENT for the fifth consecutive season after another successful year in the classroom.
 
In order to qualify for the honor, teams needed to maintain a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Montana had a cumulative GPA of 3.66 as a team throughout the 2024-25 academic year.
 
“We are a player-led program built on the belief that passion for learning and love for the game go hand in hand. Our athletes don’t just compete—they lead, question, explore, and grow,” head coach Allison Lawrence said. “They fuel a culture of curiosity that stretches from the court to the classroom and into every aspect of life. Year after year, our student-athletes redefine what success means on the court and in the classroom. They push limits, raise standards, and lift each other up.”
 
Casi Newman earned a perfect 4.0 for Montana in her only season in Missoula as a graduate transfer. The Grizzlies also had 11 players record a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better for the 2024-25 school year.
 
Gracie Cagle just missed out on a perfect GPA with a 3.96 while Emma Williams had the third-best mark on the team with a 3.87 GPA.
 
The Grizzlies had four individuals record 4.0 GPAs in the spring 2025 semester. Cagle and Newman both had perfect marks and they were joined by Paige Clark and Maddie Kremer in the 4.0 club.
 
It’s the fifth straight time that Montana has earned the AVCA award. This is the best GPA that the program has recorded under Lawrence at 3.66 for the academic year, and they also recorded an impressive 3.68 GPA in the spring term. Last year, Montana had a 3.60 GPA.
 
Academics have been a priority for Lawrence since taking over in 2017. They have claimed the award five times under Lawrence. Prior to Lawrence, Montana had won the award five times since 1992.   
 



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