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GCU adds Gilliland to lead external operations

Story Links Grand Canyon added Mary Lee Gilliland as its new Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations, bringing aboard an accomplished revenue-generation leader in collegiate athletics.  Gilliland joins GCU with more than two decades of leadership experience across NCAA Division I athletics, global brand partnerships and strategic marketing for Fortune 500 companies and professional […]

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GCU adds Gilliland to lead external operations

Grand Canyon added Mary Lee Gilliland as its new Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations, bringing aboard an accomplished revenue-generation leader in collegiate athletics. 

mary lee gillilandGilliland joins GCU with more than two decades of leadership experience across NCAA Division I athletics, global brand partnerships and strategic marketing for Fortune 500 companies and professional sports organizations. She joined the GCU athletics department in a consultant role in August before joining the staff full time in April. 

Gilliland previously served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs and Senior Woman Administrator at Seattle University, where she led the Division I program’s external operations and oversaw record-breaking growth in ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, fan engagement and revenue generation. Her team’s innovative efforts earned six National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics marketing awards during her tenure. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Mary Lee to GCU Athletics,” Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs said. “Her strategic vision, experience with global brands and proven ability to elevate external operations make her a perfect fit to help drive continued growth in athletics alongside the amazing success story of our university.” 

In addition to her collegiate administrative work, Gilliland held executive roles at Opendorse, Madison Sports Partnerships, Learfield IMG College and AAA. Her partnerships portfolio includes work with the NFL, NBA, ESPN, Amazon, Disney, Coca-Cola, Microsoft and more than 100 NCAA schools and conferences. She also brings experience from the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, where she helped lead marketing and product-led sales strategies during the franchise’s launch. 

Prior to her work in collegiate athletics administration, Gilliland served as Managing Director at Madison Sports Partnerships, where she advised a range of global clients across the sports and entertainment industries. Her client portfolio included major organizations such as NBCUniversal, Twitter, Disney, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and several professional sports leagues. 

Earlier in her career, she led national sponsorship development at Learfield IMG College, negotiating multimillion-dollar deals with Allstate Insurance, MillerCoors and other blue-chip brands for schools such as Alabama, Notre Dame and Stanford. Her innovative campaigns consistently delivered record-setting revenue and earned her team one of the highest national retention and growth rates in the industry. 

“I am extremely grateful and excited to join the GCU Athletics family and be part of an exceptional program and tradition of excellence,” Gilliland said. “I am looking forward to finding new opportunities to elevate the GCU brand and optimize the growth potential of this transformational institution.” 

Gilliland earned her bachelor’s degree from USC and her Global MBA from George Washington. She also completed executive programs at the Kellogg School of Management and the Sports Management Institute. 

Gilliland built a distinguished reputation as a lecturer and mentor in the academic world. She served as a Senior Lecturer at Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics, where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses in global management, strategic marketing and sales. Gilliland also held faculty appointments at University of Illinois, where she launched and directed the top-ranked Master of Science in Strategic Brand Communication program. She was a visiting lecturer at institutions such as USC, George Washington and Northwestern, and speaks at national conferences, including the NFL Combine, Sports Event Marketing Experience and NCAA Leadership Symposium. 

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Wetumpka’s track and field all-state honorees | Sports

Many athletes from Wetumpka’s track and field team were recognized for their achievements on the 2025 All-State team by MileSplit.  Kymani Clary received first-team honors for triple jump. He also received third-team honors for the 400 meter dash and an honorable mention for long jump.  Elijah Bracey made third-team all-state for triple jump and honorable […]

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Many athletes from Wetumpka’s track and field team were recognized for their achievements on the 2025 All-State team by MileSplit. 

Kymani Clary received first-team honors for triple jump. He also received third-team honors for the 400 meter dash and an honorable mention for long jump. 

Elijah Bracey made third-team all-state for triple jump and honorable mention for long jump. Christian Spruill received third-team all-state honors for 110 meter hurdles. Justin Spigener also received third-team honors for the 300 meter hurdles. For pole vault, Ridley Sheets received third-team all-state recognition. Jamaria Smith made second team for her performance in the 100 meter dash as well as the 200 meter dash. Jada Walker also made second-team all-state for the 100 and 200 meter dashes. 

TJ Clary dominated events on the track and the field this season, as he made third-team for triple jump, second-team for 110 meter hurdles and first-team for high jump. Serenity Love also made second-team all-state for triple jump. 

The Indians showed out on the field events as Tremya Thomas received first-team honors for javelin and J.D. Denmark received second-team honors for shot put. 

This season Wetumpka showed real dominance in relay events. The boys 4×100 and 4×800 relays both, as well as the girls 4×800 relay got third-team all-state honors. Both the boys and girls 4×400 relay teams made second-team all-state this season. The girls 4×100 relay team was recognized as one of the best in the state, receiving first-team honors.



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How Kaelen Culpepper Has Answered His Draft Day Question Marks

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Kaelen Culpepper) When the Twins selected Kaelen Culpepper with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, there were a few raised eyebrows. Sure, Culpepper had plenty of tools, but concerns about plate discipline and defensive projection gave some evaluators pause. Less than a […]

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How Kaelen Culpepper Has Answered His Draft Day Question Marks


Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Kaelen Culpepper)

When the Twins selected Kaelen Culpepper with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, there were a few raised eyebrows. Sure, Culpepper had plenty of tools, but concerns about plate discipline and defensive projection gave some evaluators pause. Less than a year later, Culpepper is not only putting those concerns to rest, he’s making evaluators look like they undersold him.

Now firmly entrenched in Double-A Wichita and facing older, more experienced competition, Culpepper has surged into top-100 prospect territory. His all-around game is showing up in the box score and answering every pre-draft question thrown his way.

Chasing Down the Concerns

One of the most commonly cited red flags at the time of the draft came from The Athletic’s Keith Law, who wrote, “I know some teams had him in the second round because his chase rate was high, albeit not extremely so.” That concern was fair based on his collegiate track record, but Culpepper has responded in a big way.

In his first full professional season, Culpepper has trimmed his chase rate significantly, especially against right-handed pitching. His strikeout rate currently sits under 16% for the season, and the right-handed hitter has a 16.25 K% against righties. He’s begun to show a mature ability to lay off pitches just outside the zone, something that was seen as a “maybe someday” skill on draft night and is already a present tool.

Even FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, who was skeptical on draft day, has had to take another look. “I have mixed-positive feeling about the Twins’ first day because I’m lukewarm on Kaelen Culpepper due to his chase tendencies,” Longenhagen said after the pick. But Culpepper has flipped that narrative. His walk rate is hovering around 11% during the 2025 campaign, giving him a nearly even K/BB ratio. This is no small feat for a 21-year-old adjusting to professional spin and facing older pitchers over 78% of the time. 

The Shortstop Debate? Maybe It’s Over

Defensively, there was another looming question: Could Culpepper stay at shortstop, or was a move to third inevitable? ESPN summed it up nicely: “Ultimately, his pro ceiling will likely be decided by whether he can stick at shortstop or if he moves to third base on his way to the majors.”

A year later, most evaluators are in agreement that he can stick.

Culpepper has shown above-average range, clean footwork, and a plus arm at short. His internal clock is improving, and he’s making throws from deep in the hole that only true shortstops can pull off. The Twins have continued to give him regular reps at the position with only a handful of appearances at second base. Scouts now project him to remain there long-term unless the major-league roster demands a positional shift.

That strong arm, once merely a bullet point in the scouting report, is now a calling card. In pre-draft evaluations, he was seen on the fringe between shortstop and third base. Now, he has the potential to be an impact defender as a big-league shortstop. He’s turned potential into production, and if anything, he’s separated himself from many of the other middle infielders in his draft class by staying up the middle.

Crushing the Offspeed Test

CBS Sports questioned whether Culpepper could handle spin, writing, “Can shortstop Kaelen Culpepper improve his breaking ball recognition?” It’s a valid question for any young hitter, especially one whose college profile leaned more on twitchy athleticism than polish at the plate.

But once again, Culpepper’s adjustments have been impressive. Since his promotion to Double-A, he’s actually improved his slugging percentage against offspeed and breaking pitches, showing better pitch tracking and timing. Over his last 10 games (49 PA), he is slashing .432/.490/.523 (1.013) with two extra-base hits and as many walks (5) as strikeouts (5).  He’s not just laying off the tough stuff, because he’s doing damage when pitchers hang them.

Fast Track to Target Field?

What’s most exciting is just how quickly Culpepper has acclimated to professional ball. He’s one of only a handful of 2024 draftees already playing at Double-A, and he hasn’t missed a beat. The jump from college to pro ball is steep. The jump from there to Double-A is a leap. Culpepper made both without stumbling.

It’s rare for a late first-round pick to push into top-100 territory so quickly, but Culpepper has earned it. His combination of steady defense, improved plate discipline, and surprising offensive production against older pitchers has made him one of the most exciting infield prospects in the system.

The draft-day doubts have all been addressed quickly. The Twins believed in Culpepper’s upside when they took him at 21, and in less than 12 months, they may have already found the player who could be their shortstop of the future. If the trajectory holds, Culpepper could be pushing his way to Minneapolis by mid-2026.

And when he gets there, don’t be surprised if the same evaluators who doubted the pick are suddenly talking about how obvious it was all along.

Which doubt does Culpepper still need to answer? When will he debut with the Twins? Leave a comment and start the discussion on one of the organization’s most exciting prospects. 

 

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LPA’s Sydney Daniel selected to NFHS National Student Advisory Council

Watch video clips of Lincoln Park Academy’s 2025 graduation ceremony Take a look at Lincoln Park Academy’s May 23 graduation ceremony at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds. Sydney Daniel is a student-athlete with lofty goals.  The Lincoln Park Academy rising junior is already building a resume in which some of those dreams are within reach. […]

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Sydney Daniel is a student-athlete with lofty goals. 

The Lincoln Park Academy rising junior is already building a resume in which some of those dreams are within reach. In track and field this past season, she helped the Greyhounds qualify for regionals in both the 400- and 1,600-meter relays. Combine that with a 5.2 weighted GPA (3.95 unweighted) and it’s not hard to see that her future is bright. 

Daniel’s work on and off the track has afforded her an opportunity to be a part of exclusive company this summer. She was one of 16 high school student-athletes countrywide selected to serve on the NFHS National Student Advisory Council. The group is set to gather at the NFHS National Student Leadership Summit, which will be held Sunday through Thursday in Indianapolis.

“To be part of this group, it’s not only something that looks good on applications or seems prestigious,” she said. “It’s truly about just communicating and advocating for all high schoolers across the nation, gathering their insights and actually implementing them into stuff that they would like to see.”

Two students from each of the eight regions nationwide were selected to participate in the council. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the students “have exhibited outstanding leadership skills, achievements in academics and sports/activities, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.” Daniel’s region is Section 3, which represents the Southeast. 

Responsibilities of the 16 students include identifying and communicating areas of support possibly needed from the NFHS and state associations as well as ideas to increase student involvement in cocurricular activities. 

“I do understand the importance of the position and how I am someone supposed to advocate not just for my state, not just for my section but truly for the entire United States and all of the other millions of students that are involved in educationally based activity programs,” Daniel said. “So being able to be in a position in which I could do that really and truly is a blessing. I’m very excited to do so.”

The 16 members met in April in Indiana to plan for the summit. Daniel says the council’s objective is to increase involvement and get a student from every state to attend.

“We hope to encourage some of the people who attend and make sure that they know you know what the NFHS is and what the NSAC does and how they can be a part of it from their own state,” she said. 

Through the encouragement of LPA athletic director Veryl Moore, Daniel is also a member of the FHSAA’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

Through her various roles, Daniel has grown into being a leader. She believes being reliable and someone who can be key assets, but nothing has a greater value than being able to listen.  

“I would say that’s the most important part of being a leader.” Daniel said. “You can have all the other attributes like being honest or be really good at advocating, but if you can’t listen to others, then there really is no point in what you’re doing.” 

Daniel is also the sports editor in chief of the student newspaper and is a member of the Key Club and National Honor Society, among other clubs. She admits that being that active all while excelling in the classroom is a lot to balance.

“It’s just about prioritizing focusing on what matters most to me, which of course is my academics and my athletics and all of my extracurriculars,” she said. “It’s just realizing where they all fall in terms of importance. … I do really love having a planner, it’s probably one of the best things that I have; just being able to divide time and just allocate where my activities and where have time for each of them. Being a really good planner, planning out my weeks in advance so that I have time to include everything and all my responsibilities is really important to me.”

Daniel hopes to graduate in the top 10% of her class. Her short-term plan is to attend a four-year university to study biomedical engineering. In the long term, Daniel aspires to be an Olympic athlete. 

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Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com. 



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HBCU Olympian Returns to Elite Form in First Race Back

Randolph Ross wasted no time making an impact. In his first race after a three-year suspension, the former HBCU Olympic Gold Medalist from North Carolina A&T ran 45.41 seconds in the men’s 400 meters at the Meeting International de Marseille. He finished second behind fellow American Demarius Smith, who won with a personal best of […]

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Randolph Ross wasted no time making an impact. In his first race after a three-year suspension, the former HBCU Olympic Gold Medalist from North Carolina A&T ran 45.41 seconds in the men’s 400 meters at the Meeting International de Marseille. He finished second behind fellow American Demarius Smith, who won with a personal best of 45.14.

The performance was a strong return. While it wasn’t close to Ross’s personal best of 43.85—one of the fastest 400-meter times in history—it was enough to turn heads. His time ranked among the top 25 by an American this season and showed he still belongs on the track.

A Return With Meaning

The race marked more than just a finish line. It was a test of whether Ross still had the speed and mindset that once made him a rising star. After missing three years due to a ban for whereabouts failures and tampering, Ross is back—and still competitive.

HBCU Randolph Ross North Carolina A&T Olympic Gold Medalist

He continued to train, though restrictions prevented him from working with USATF-affiliated coaches or athletes. One exception allowed him to continue training with his father due to their family connection. Now that he can, the 24-year-old HBCU athlete and Olympic Gold Medalist aims to rebuild his career. Ross opened his return in Marseille, and if he competes again this summer, strong results could help reopen doors to national and international competition.

HBCU Roots, Global Goals

His story continues to resonate, especially in the HBCU sports world. North Carolina A&T helped develop Ross into a world-class sprinter. His father, Olympian Duane Ross, guided him through college and still supports his training. That foundation helped Randolph become an NCAA champion, an Olympian, and one of the brightest prospects in American track.

Now, after years away, he’s working to prove that one mistake does not define a career. The early signs are encouraging. And if Marseille was any indication, Randolph Ross’s comeback may just be getting started.



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Mason Barnett K's seven

Copyright © Minor League Baseball. Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are the property of Minor League Baseball. All Rights Reserved 0

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Mason Barnett K's seven

Copyright ©
Minor League Baseball.

Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are the property of Minor League Baseball. All Rights Reserved

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Sinner Reigns in Wimbledon Duel

ATLANTA — The remaking of the Nationals has taken another critical step, as has MLB’s push to get its top prospects to the majors as quickly as possible.  Washington selected Oklahoma high schooler Eli Willits with the first pick in the 2025 draft Sunday night. By selecting the 17-year-old, switch-hitting shortstop, the Nationals stunned many […]

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Sinner Reigns in Wimbledon Duel

ATLANTA — The remaking of the Nationals has taken another critical step, as has MLB’s push to get its top prospects to the majors as quickly as possible. 

Washington selected Oklahoma high schooler Eli Willits with the first pick in the 2025 draft Sunday night. By selecting the 17-year-old, switch-hitting shortstop, the Nationals stunned many experts who predicted the team would choose LSU pitcher Kade Anderson, who led the Tigers last month to their second College World Series title in three years and was the event’s Most Outstanding Player. Anderson went No. 3 to the Mariners.

The Nationals’ selection arrived just a week after Mark Lerner, the club’s managing principal owner, fired president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez, in a bid to reverse what has been more than half a decade of losing in the nation’s capital.

Since the leadership shift, the Nationals carried on with their draft preparation, overseen by assistant GM Mike DeBartolo, ultimately shocking much of the baseball world. DeBartolo said Willits was “the guy we wanted all along.”

The No. 1 pick this year carries a record slot value of $11.08 million. It’s not yet certain how close to that number the signing bonus for Willits will be, but it’s expected that the Nationals will be well below this figure and save significant funds. 

Path to Stardom

Being so young, and not turning 18 until December, Willits will have a more uphill climb to mirror the rapid pathway of Pittsburgh star Paul Skenes, the draft’s top pick two years ago. Since Skenes went from LSU to Pittsburgh, he has burst into superstardom, won last year’s National League Rookie of the Year award, and was named Saturday as the starting pitcher for the NL in the All-Star Game for the second-straight year. 

That run of success by Skenes, and national prominence burnished by his relationship with girlfriend Livvy Dunne, gives Willits, the son of former MLB player Reggie Willits, a lot to match. MLB, however, continues to promote a shorter development pathway to the big leagues for prospects and put more marketing effort and editorial emphasis on the MLB Network and MLB.com for minor leaguers. 

To that end, five first-round selections from last year’s draft have already reached the majors, including the Royals’ Jac Caglianone, as well as the Angels’ second-round pick from 2024, pitcher Ryan Johnson. 

A notable exception to that has been Travis Bazzana, last year’s No. 1 overall pick to Cleveland. The second baseman has reached the Class AA Akron (Ohio) Aeros, but has battled an oblique strain since May, and is out of action until at least later this month. 

Willits, meanwhile, is the youngest player to be the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987.

Draft Matters

MLB held the draft at the Coca-Cola Roxy, a key part of The Battery mixed-use development that surrounds the Braves’ Truist Park, the host venue for this year’s All-Star Game. The event, of course, still doesn’t match the stature seen for the NFL and NBA drafts. As MLB has held its draft in conjunction with the All-Star Game since 2021, though, it’s also continued to give the event a heightened sense of place.

The settling for this year’s event included a lively crowd filling the 3,600-person concert venue, even if the numbers were still far below the 600,000 that showed up in Green Bay for the 2025 NFL Draft. 

The festive vibe continued to show a marked departure from the cramped set of tables and much more limited setup at MLB Network studios in Secaucus, N.J., where the MLB draft was held from 2009–20. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, however, was initially greeted with hearty fan boos, as is also the case with other league commissioners at their respective drafts. 

The 2025 MLB draft had no player selections in attendance for the first time in 15 years, due to a complex mix of reasons. The Rockies selected Ethan Holliday at No. 4. Holliday is the brother of Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday and the son of former MLB star Matt Holliday, who played the first five seasons of his career in Colorado.

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