A total of 79 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student athletes were recognized with Academic All-Big West honors for the 2024 spring season.

Honorees represented 10 teams across eight sports: baseball, beach volleyball, men’s and women’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s track and field, men’s volleyball and women’s water polo.

Rainbow Wahine track and field led all UH Mānoa teams with 14 honorees, followed by softball (13), baseball (10) and women’s water polo (10).

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, complete at least one full academic year at their institution and participate in at least 50% of their team’s competitions (with some exceptions based on sport).

To see the full list of athletes, visit Hawaiiathletics.com.

Beach Wrestling will return to Fargo, N.D. again this year, as an additional competitive opportunity for athletes who compete in Junior and 16U divisions and will be in town during the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals. These events are becoming an annual tradition for boys and girls who are in Fargo each summer.

There will be two days of Beach Wrestling action at the 4^th Annual Fargo Beach Summer Kickoff Bash. It will be held at the same venue as in previous years, Gastropub Volleyball at 3234 43^rd Street South, Fargo, N.D.

Competition for girls in the 16U and Junior divisions is set for Sunday, July 13. Check-in will be at 10:00 a.m., with competition scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m.

Competition for boys in the 16U and Junior divisions is set for Thursday, July 17. Check-in will be at 8:30 a.m., with competition scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.

Register for the Fargo Beach Summer Kickoff Bash

The entry fee for the 2025 Fargo Beach Summer Kickoff Bash is $30.

There are many great reasons why athletes should enter the Fargo Beach Summer Kickoff Bash. Beach wrestling is both challenging and fun, a great opportunity to improve your wrestling skills and test yourself. The competition in Fargo has continued to grow each season.

Girls who did not qualify for the second day of wrestling at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in both age divisions will have a quality competition on the beach on Sunday. The boys Beach Wrestling competition is on Thursday, which is the off-day at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals. Both events are a great opportunity to compete in additional matches against tough competition.

The Fargo Beach Summer Kickoff Bash is a one of the events that are considered for selection for wrestlers who wish to fill open spots on the U.S. team for the U17 and U20 Beach World Championships. Wrestlers who have competed on the Beach in Fargo have later had opportunities to wrestle on the Beach overseas. The USA would like to send a full team of athletes to the 2025 Age-Group Beach Worlds.

2025 Beach Wrestling Team Procedures

Please be aware that the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal are set for October 30 – November 13. The only style of wrestling contested at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games is Beach Wrestling. The competition will be for boys and girls who are U17 athletes next year. Athletes who would like to compete in the 2026 Youth Olympic Games should compete in Beach Wrestling in Fargo and all other opportunities to master this style of wrestling.

The Fargo Beach Summer Kickoff Bash is also the fifth stop on the 2025 Beach Tour of America series of Beach Wrestling events across the nation.

Virginia won the team title for both the girls and the boys at the 2024 Fargo Beach Summer Kickoff Bash.

FARGO BEACH SUMMER KICKOFF BASH

At Gastropub Volleyball in Fargo, N.D.

Sunday, July 13

16U Girls & Junior Girls

Location: Gastropub Volleyball – 3234 43rd St S, Fargo, ND

Check in:  10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Competition Begins: 11:00 AM

Thursday, July 17th

16U Boys & Junior Boys

Location: Gastropub Volleyball – 3234 43rd St S, Fargo, ND

Check in:  8:30 AM-8:45 AM

Competition Begins: 9:00 AM

2024 Fargo Beach Summer Kickoff Bash Champions

16U Boys champions

100-106 – Landon Edwards of Arizona Boys

120 – Caleb Thompson of Virginia Boys

126-132 – Jayce Kolendich of Montana Boys

138-144 – Josh Brezac of North Carolina Boys

150 – Keith Remington of Texas Boys

157 – William Brooks of Virginia Boys

165 – Easton Jensen of Washington Boys

175 – Brock Foster of Michigan Boys

190 – Julian Burgett of Indiana Boys

215 – Stryker Conley of California Boys

285 – Payton Green of Virginia Boys

Junior Boys champions

106 – Johann Jose of Virginia Boys

113 – Xaiden Wynn of Virginia Boys

120-126 – Devon Connor of North Carolina Boys

132-138 – Daniel Evert of Montana Boys

144 – Tristan Forsman of Texas Boys

150 – Teegan Fielding of Montana Boys

157 – Christopher Acuna of Montana Boys

165-175 – Asher Hockett of Arizona Boys

190 – Harrison Compton of North Carolina Boys

215 – Dantrell Williams of North Carolina Boys

285 – Sebastian Rivera of North Carolina Boys

2024 Boys Team Standings: 1. Virginia, 128, 2. North Carolina, 124, 3. Montana, 99, 4. Arizona, 62, 5. Idaho, 26

16U Girls champions

88 – Cadence Grulla of Georgia Girls

94 – Jocelyn Adkins of West Virginia Girls

100 – Summer Mutschler of Maryland Girls

106 – Ella Wells of Georgia Girls

112- Mia Anderson of Nebraska Girls

118 – Hepua Salter of Hawaii Girls

124 – Brynlee Sorensen of Utah Girls

130 – Ella Hughes of Georgia Girls

136 – Jaida Macaluso of New York Girls

142 – Kylee Malloy of Michigan Girls

148 – Vivienne Legato of Ohio Girls

155 – Aaliya Morrow of New York Girls

170 – Molly Olague of Idaho Girls

Junior Girls champions

100 – Sarina Gunn of Virginia Girls

105 – Jaleesa Whaley of Georgia Girls

110 – Mia Goodwin of Virginia Girls

115 – Isabella Downing of Montana Girls

120 – EmmaLyn Burnett of Missouri Girls

125- Martynique Davis of Arizona Girls

130 – Lexy Pabon of Maryland Girls

135 – Kori Campbell of Georgia Girls

140 – Taylor Dawson of Illinois Girls

145 – Madison Cooley of Georgia Girls)

155 – Cameron Millsapps of Virginia Girls

170 – Maeli Howard of Utah Girls

190 – Mahalia Adams of Virginia Girls

235 – Braelyn Flemming of Michigan Girls

2024 Girls Team Standings: 1 Virginia, 52, 2. Georgia, 50, 3. Utah, 42, 3. Arizona, 42, 5. Maryland, 38

Several Mustangs etched their names in the program’s history books during last season’s championship run. Breklyn Pulling earned All-Big West First Team honors and was named Cal Poly Female Newcomer of the Year. Tommi Stockham cemented her legacy as one of the program’s all-time greats, becoming just the second Mustang and 14th player in Big West history to earn four First Team selections while finishing third in Cal Poly’s career kills list. 

Emme Bullis (Second Team, 3,000+ career assists) and outside hitter Amy Hiatt (Honorable Mention) both earned conference honors as well while Chloe Leluge and Elif Hurriyet both made an immediate impacts, earning All-Freshman and Honorable Mention recognition.

Head coach Caroline Walters reached dual milestones, claiming Big West Coach of the Year honors (joining just three other Mustang coaches) and notching her 100th career victory on November 9, 2024.

The 2025 squad faces significant turnover, graduating program legend Tommi Stockham along with Lizzy Markovska, Kate Slack, Kirra Kellerman, and Amy Hiatt. The team also bids farewell to inspirational leader Brooklyn Burns, who medically retired. Despite these losses, the Mustangs return formidable talent, particularly in the middle where Breklyn Pulling (2.35 kills/set, .347 hitting percentage) and Chloe Leluge (2.07 kills/set, .356 hitting percentage) form what may be the West Region’s most dominant blocking duo.

Setter Emme Bullis returns to build upon her stellar 2024 campaign (10.27 assists/set), poised to climb Cal Poly’s record books with another strong season. She’ll be backed by capable reserve Sam Callahan, who showcased starting potential during Bullis’ injury absence in the Big West Championships. The defensive specialist corps remains intact with Elif Hurriyet (3.50 digs/set), London Haberfield (2.28 digs/set), and Ella Scott providing stability in the back row.

Replacing last season’s primary outside hitters presents the biggest challenge, with Stockham, Markovska and Hiatt all departed. Sophomore Kendall Beshear (2.33 kills/set) returning as a fantastic swing hitter option, while Emma Frederick and Annabelle Thalken will see expanded roles on the outside. The offense could receive a boost from junior college transfer Kayla Murdoch, who redshirted last season.

Four incoming freshmen will also join the squad to battle for spots on the court: libero Maren O’Farrell, middle blocker Charlotte Kelly, setter Brooke Hansen, and outside hitter Aveya Stone.

BILLINGS — Karen Sanford Gall, former Big Sky State Games executive director, will light the torch with track and field Olympians at the 40th anniversary Big Sky State Games Opening Ceremonies.

Along with Sanford Gall, Duncan Atwood, Willie Banks, Erin Aldrich Shean, Andre Phillips and Mac Wilkins will speak and be part of lighting ceremonies. The event will take place Friday July 18th at the Lockwood High School stadium.

State Games Opening Ceremonies festivities include the Soaked Run, climbing wall, family entertainment, Food Truck Olympics, games, parade of athletes, Montana Mile, Montana 100, and torch lighting. The ceremony is free to attend.

Sanford Gall was the Executive Director for the Big Sky State Games for 24 years and employed by the Big Sky State Games since 1990. She retired in 2019. Sanford Gall was a four-time Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon (’92,’96, ’00, 04). As a collegiate athlete Karen ran for the University of Wyoming.

She was inducted into the University of Wyoming Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010. She holds many records with the Governor’s Cup and Montana Women’s Run.

Karen grew the mission of the Games to include healthy lifestyle events that included Shape Up Montana and Big Sky Fit Kids. Also, Sanford Gall played an integral role in starting the YES Cross Country Meet and the management of the Heart and Sole Race. Sanford Gall has dedicated over 30 years inspiring Montanan’s to live a healthy lifestyle.

Along with Sanford Gall, track and field Olympians from the World Record Track and Field Camp will join the torch lighting ceremony.

Following are biographies of Olympians scheduled to appear:

Mac Wilkins, Discus: Former Discus World Record Holder (1976), Gold Medalist (1976 Olympic Games), Silver Medalist (1984 Olympic Games), Gold Medalist (1979 Pan American Games). Wilkins is the former Discus World Record Holder. He broke the world record a total of four times. He ranked as the number one Discus thrower in the world from 1976 to 1980. Wilkins is the former USATF Throws Coach at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.

Andre Phillips, Hurdles:Olympian, Gold Medal-1988, 1985 World Cup Champion, 1985 USATF Outdoor Champion, 1981 NCAA Champion, 2009 USATF Hall of Fame. Phillips is best remembered for winning a gold medal in the Seoul, Korea Olympic Games in 1988, beating Edwin Moses who was undefeated in more than 100 races. Phillips is an educator, receiving his Phd. in Education.

Duncan Atwood, Javelin: 1980, 1984 Olympian, two-time winner of the Pan American Games 1979, 1987, World Cup Finalist and a one-time World Championship Finalist. He was a clinician at the Ironwood Throws Camp and currently is the assistant coach for Pacific Lutheran University.

Erin Aldrich Shean, High Jump: 2000 Olympian, four-time World Championship team, Pan American Bronze Medalist. Shean competed at the 2000 Olympic Games and the World Championships in 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2007. Shean played volleyball at the highest level, competing for the United States women’s national volleyball team. She competed at the university level for the Texas Longhorns in both sports.

Willie Banks, Long Jump and Triple Jump: World Record Triple Jump Holder (1985-1995), Olympian (1980,1984,1988), Silver Medalist World Championships (1983). Banks is the former World Record holder in the triple jump. Banks held the record for over 10 years, and was inducted into the USA National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1999. He currently coaches at a local high school in California and often travels around the world teaching triple jump clinics.

For the sixth year prior to Opening Ceremonies, Banks will lead the State Games World Record Track & Field Camp on July 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lockwood High School.

The entry fee is $150 (includes camp and BSSG Track and Field registration). The coaches’ fee is free if three or more of the coaches’ athletes attend. Register at bigskygames.org under Track & Field. Registration for the camp closes July 13th.

The track and field camp is sponsored by the Midland Roundtable. Wendy’s sponsors Opening Ceremonies. Major sponsors of the Big Sky State Games are Kampgrounds of America, First Interstate Bank, Rebel River Creative, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana. For information go to bigskygames.org or call 406-254-7426.