High School Sports
Vanderbilt football recruiting
Perhaps the biggest recruiting weekend for Vanderbilt football this summer so far will kick off Friday as the third batch of official visitors this month arrives on West End. The Commodores’ 2026 class is off to a strong start and actually starting to fill up, as 13 players have already committed as of Friday afternoon. […]


Perhaps the biggest recruiting weekend for Vanderbilt football this summer so far will kick off Friday as the third batch of official visitors this month arrives on West End. The Commodores’ 2026 class is off to a strong start and actually starting to fill up, as 13 players have already committed as of Friday afternoon.
Vandy currently sits at No. 27 in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. It will be hard for the ‘Dores to maintain that ranking through the end of the recruiting cycle without signing at least two or three 4-star prospects, a feat that gets more and more difficult as Georgia attempts to flip 4-star cornerback commit Caden Harris.
One possible 4-star commit is on campus this weekend as Vandy will make what essentially will be its final pitch in a tight battle against in-state rival Tennessee. And a number of other priority targets will be in Nashville, too, with the possibility of committing. Meanwhile, two commits will take their official visits as they serve as additional recruiters.
Here’s what you need to know about the Commodores’ recruiting action this weekend and which storylines to monitor.
High School Sports
2025 Kentucky All
MileSplit is proud to present the 2025 All-State Track & Field Honors for Kentucky. As part of a nationwide initiative, these honors recognize the top high school athletes in each city based on verified performances from the outdoor season. Athletes have been selected through a data-driven process to highlight excellence across every event, grade level, and team […]

MileSplit is proud to present the 2025 All-State Track & Field Honors for Kentucky. As part of a nationwide initiative, these honors recognize the top high school athletes in each city based on verified performances from the outdoor season. Athletes have been selected through a data-driven process to highlight excellence across every event, grade level, and team tier – from First Team through Honorable Mention, as well as All-Freshman to All-Senior teams. Congratulations to all of the athletes who took their performances to the next level this season.
High School Sports
Watch as former NFL coach Jon Gruden praises Tupelo football, Ty Hardin
AI-assisted summaryFormer NFL coach Jon Gruden praised Tupelo High School football and coach Ty Hardin at the Manning Passing Academy.Gruden highlighted the importance of high school coaches and called Hardin one of the best.Former longtime NFL coach Jon Gruden gave some praise to Tupelo football and Golden Wave coach Ty Hardin. While at the Manning […]

AI-assisted summaryFormer NFL coach Jon Gruden praised Tupelo High School football and coach Ty Hardin at the Manning Passing Academy.Gruden highlighted the importance of high school coaches and called Hardin one of the best.Former longtime NFL coach Jon Gruden gave some praise to Tupelo football and Golden Wave coach Ty Hardin.
While at the Manning Passing Academy in June, Gruden was shown talking with Hardin after the program posted a video on X on July 7. The Golden Wave are coming off a MHSAA 7A state championship where they beat Brandon 28-16.
Gruden asked what went into Tupelo becoming state champions.
“Our best players were the best people,” Hardin said. “That was it. Best players, are the best people. The players ran the team. Easy job.”
Gruden lauded the job that Hardin has done in Tupelo and the importance of high school coaches, citing Hardin as one of the best.
“Coaches, make a difference. This guy, he’s one of the best we got,” he said. “Look at all these kids that are out here playing, and they want to play for this guy right here.”
Tupelo begins its season on Aug. 29 with a three-hour trip down south to face Brandon in a rematch of the MHSAA 7A title game. The Golden Wave ended its season with a 14-0 record and won its first title since 1992.
Gruden was hired by Barstool Sports in November of 2024. He spent 28 years as a coach at the NFL and collegiate levels. He coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Bowl XXXVII title after the Bucs beat the Oakland Raiders, 48-21, in January of 2003.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.
High School Sports
Florida high school softball
High school softball on the First Coast has produced highlights by the hundreds throughout the 21st century. During the seasons from 2000-01 to 2024-25, Northeast Florida high school softball has crowned several state champions, produced countless future college standouts and paved the path for an Olympian to Team USA. The next question: Which of these […]

High school softball on the First Coast has produced highlights by the hundreds throughout the 21st century.
During the seasons from 2000-01 to 2024-25, Northeast Florida high school softball has crowned several state champions, produced countless future college standouts and paved the path for an Olympian to Team USA.
The next question: Which of these players is the best of the quarter-century across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida?
Here’s your chance to vote for the top high school softball player in Northeast Florida from 2000-01 to 2024-25. Participants can vote once per hour. The poll will remain open until 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12.
We reserve the right to disqualify a candidate or declare a vote “no contest” if tampering such as bots or offering to pay for voting is evident. Please respect the integrity of the vote the way these athletes respect the integrity of the game.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
High School Sports
Huntington's Jack Kennedy advances in Wimbledon juniors
Huntington’s Jack Kennedy, 17, advanced to the third round of the juniors singles tournament at Wimbledon on Tuesday by beating Jan Kumstat of the Czech Republic, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8). “[I’m] feeling a little tired, not going to lie,” Kennedy told Newsday via text. “But really pumped to get through this one, especially against such a […]

Huntington’s Jack Kennedy, 17, advanced to the third round of the juniors singles tournament at Wimbledon on Tuesday by beating Jan Kumstat of the Czech Republic, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8).
“[I’m] feeling a little tired, not going to lie,” Kennedy told Newsday via text. “But really pumped to get through this one, especially against such a great player.”
Kennedy, the No. 8 seed, will face American Ronit Karki, a Stanford University-commit, in the next round. Kennedy will attend the University of Virginia.
In the junior doubles bracket, Kennedy and partner Keaton Hance defeated Luis Miguel and Ziga Seska in the first round on Monday, 7-6 (5), 3-3 (retired). The duo reached the semifinals at the French Open last month.
Rockville Centre’s Noah Rubin won the Wimbledon junior singles title in 2014.
High School Sports
South Dakota Junior Golf highlights from Mitchell and Watertown
MITCHELL — Gabi Olson, who will be a junior this fall at Watertown High School, put herself in the state record book on the way to winning the South Dakota Golf Association-Sanford International Series event at the Lakeview Golf Course on Monday, July 7, 2025. Olson of Watertown fired a 3-under par 68 to win […]

MITCHELL — Gabi Olson, who will be a junior this fall at Watertown High School, put herself in the state record book on the way to winning the South Dakota Golf Association-Sanford International Series event at the Lakeview Golf Course on Monday, July 7, 2025.
Olson of Watertown fired a 3-under par 68 to win the girls division title by five shots.
She made her mark on the back nine at Lakeview, shooting a 7-under par 28. According to SDGA officials, it’s certainly the lowest nine-hole score in South Dakota Junior Golf history and maybe in the entire history of South Dakota golf. Olson birdied the first six holes and added another birdie and two pars down the stretch.
Chloe Attema of Harrisburg took second with a 73. Aberdeen golfers Olivia Braun (tied for third at 74) and Claire Crawford (tied for fifth at 75) each added top 5 finishes in the girls division.
Asher Dannenbring of Mitchell won a one-hole playoff over Tyson Blom of Sioux Falls to win the boys division. They each shot 4-under 67s.
Jaden Solheim of Watertown and Jonathan DeBoer of Twin Brooks each tied for sixth with 69s.
The tourney inluded 28 girls and 66 boys.
SDGA Junior Tour
WATERTOWN — Ninety-seven golfers (21 girls and 76 boys) competed on Monday, July 7, and 96 (24 girls, 72 boys) on Tuesday, July 8, in South Dakota Golf Association 2025 Junior Tour events at Watertown’s two courses.
The golfers played Monday at the Prairie Winds Golf Club and Tuesday at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in SDGA Junior Tour Northeast Division tournaments.
The 9-and-under and 10-11 divisions featured nine holes of play each day. The 12-13, 14-15 and 16-18 divisions included 18 holes each day.
The final Northeast Division event of the 2025 SDGA Junior Tour is scheduled for Monday, July 14, at the Lake Region Golf Course at Lake Poinsett. The SDGA Adult Junior Championship is slated for Sunday, July 20 and the SDGA Junior Championship Monday through Wednesday, July 21-23 at the Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell,
The SDGA Junior Tour Cup will be held Monday, Aug. 4 at the Hillsview Golf Course in Pierre. It features the top two points leaders (boys and girls) in each age group, except 9-and-under), for the Southeast, Northeast and West Divisions of the SDGA Junior Tour.Prairie Winds Golf Club (July 7)9-and-Under Girls — 1. Zoey Zeigler, Winner, 51 (15-over par); 2. Anna Lunzman, Watertown, 58.9-and-Under Boys — 1. Lowen Kulesa, Pierre, 43 (7-over); 2. Sean Lockner, Brandon, 45; 3. Ethan Stein, Watertown, 50; 4. Theodore Weischedel, Elk Point, 51; 5. Camdyn Phillips, Watertown, 53; 6. (Tie) Ian Hansen, Brookings, and Otto Weischedel, Elk Point, 54; 8. Andrew Stein, Watertown, 55; 9. Ryker Walder, Watertown, 56; 10. Carson Wahl, Watertown, 60; 11. Luke VanLaecken, Watertown, 63.10-11 Girls — 1. Paisley Neale, Watertown, 47 (11-over); 2. Lydia Schafer, Watertown, 53; 3. Riley Jacobson, Bryant, 56.10-11 Boys — 1. Braxton Merideth, Vermillion, 38 (2-over); 2. Nick Brown, Sioux Falls, 44; 3. Madden Stein, Watertown, 45; 4. (Tie) Luke Snyder, Aberdeen, and Logan Baszler, Brookings, 47; 6. Gunnar Lesnar, Webster, 48; 7. Lincoln Zeigler, Winner, 59; 8. Sam VanLaecken, Watertown, 53; 9. Brody Palmquist, Watertown, 54; 10. Reid Melius, Brookings, 55; 11. Sam Gulsvig, Sioux Falls, 65; 12. Brody Sternhagen, Watertown, 68; 13. Cole Neal, Aberdeen, 72.12-13 Girls — 1. Genevieve Golz, Aberdeen, 83 (11-over); 2. Carli Withers, Aberdeen 99; 3. Kinzley Ronne, Goodwin, 113; 4. Maria Enderson, Brookings, 114; 5. Reese Jacobson, Bryant, 116.12-13 Boys — 1. Jack Baszler, Brookings, 74 (2-over); 2. Logan Borns, Clark, 79; 3. Braylen Liebl, Aberdeen, 85; 4. Adam Hettick, Roscoe, 90; 5. (Tie) Ty Sylliaasen and Matthew Darling, Aberdeen, 92; 7. (Tie) Brady Baumann, Selby, and Eli Bradley, Aberdeen, 99; 9. (Tie) Oliver Steffensen, De Smet, and Cade Ritter, Sioux Falls, 100; 11. Sam Knox, Doland, 106; 12. Hudson Dunsmoor, Watertown, 108. (Holden Remmers, Sioux Falls, WD).14-15 Girls — 1. Mackenzie Wegehaupt, Aberdeen, 83 (11-over); 2. Sage Gaikowski, Waubay, 85; 3. (Tie) Taylor Bastian, Volga, and Emma Olson, Watertown, 96; 5. Ava Bain, Sioux Falls, 97; 6. Ava Crooks, Astoria, 101; 7. Sienna Boyden, Hartford, 113.14-15 Boys — 1. Seth Lesnar, Webster, 80 (8-over); 2. (Tie) Jack Johnson, Vermillion; Drew Easter Sioux Falls; and Kaden Wookey, Clark, 81; 5. Riley Randall, Watertown, 84; 6. Rigley Kulesa, Pierre, 85; 7. (Tie) Luke Nielsen, Sisseton; Brecken Jungen, Watertown; and Landon Krzmarzick, Sioux Falls, 86; 10. Atticus Eyjolfson, Hendricks, 87; 11. (Tie) Hayden Liebl, Aberdeen; Hunter Bushkofsky, Egan; and Lincoln McInerney, Brandon, 88; 14. Kooper Wookey, Clark, 90; 15. Judah Fargher, Eureka, 91; 16. Max Schumaker, Howard, 94; 17. (Tie) Jackson Ahmann, Watertown; Skylar Thielbar, Huron; Braxton Yackley, Selby; and Blake Bjorgaard, Aberdeen, 96; 21. Kroix Larson, Brandon, 97; 22. (Tie) Ridgly Wasem, Aberdeen, and Braxton Tronbak, Brookings, 102; 24. Westyn Kizer, Howard, 106; 25. Noah Hansen, Brookings, 115.16-18 Girls — 1. Olivia Knox, Doland, 96 (14-over); 2. Gracelyn Boyden, Hartford, 89; 3. Kreu Johnson, Watertown, 100; 4. Madeline Enderson, Brookings, 106.16-18 Boys — 1. (Tie) Seth Hettick, Roscoe, and Drake Mueller, Faulkton, 77 (5-over); 3. (Tie) Kalen Larson, Aberdeen, and Will Lockner, Brandon, 81; 5. Emmett Schwiesow, Clear Lake, 84; 6. Harrison Beyers, Roscoe, 85; 7. Trent Beyers, Roscoe, 90; 8. Jace Johnson, Groton, 92; 9. (Tie) Jace Byram and Wyatt Kiesz, Aberdeen, 95; 11. Jayden Schwan, Groton, 96; 12. Joshua Fargher, Eureka, 97; 13. Grayson Rehder, Aberdeen, 99; 14. Wyatt Rahm, Turton, 102.
Cattail Crossing Golf Course (July 8)9-and-Under Girls —1. Merrick Boyden, Hartford, 44 (8-over); 2. Anna Lunzman, Watertown, 48; 3. Zoey Zeigler, Winner, 54;9-and-Under Boys — 1. Brodie Winn, Marshall, MN, 44 (8-over); 2. Lowen Kulesa, Pierre, 45; 3. Sean Lockner, Brandon, 46; 4. Ian Hansen, Brookings, 47; 5. Ethan Stein, Watertown, 50; 6. Carson Wahl, Watertown, 51; 7. Andrew Stein, Watertown, 53; 8. Ryker Walder, Watertown, 58; 9. Luke VanLaecken, Watertown, 65.10-11 Girls — 1. Paisley Neale, Watertown, 49 (13-over); 2. Lydia Schafer, Watertown, 50; 3. Riley Jacobson, Bryant, 53.10-11 Boys — 1. Lincoln Zeigler, Winner, 39 (3-over); 2. Madden Stein, Watertown, 50; 3. Boedy Gatzke, Volga, 41; 4. Gunnar Lesnar, Webster, 43; 5. (Tie) Luke Snyder, Aberdeen, and Brody Palmquist, Watertown, 56; 7. Sam Gulsvig, Sioux Falls, 50; 8. Sam VanLaecken, Watertown, 51; 9. Brody Sternhagen, Watertown, 55.12-13 Girls — 1. Genevieve Golz, Aberdeen, 93 (21-over); 2. Emma Reineisch, Mitchell, 102; 3. Kinsley Ronne, Goodwin, 104; 4. Reese Jacobson, Bryant, 105.12-13 Boys — 1. Logan Borns, Clark, 78 (6-over); 2. Rigley Kulesa, Pierre, 79; 3. Braylen Liebl, Aberdeen, 82; 4. Hudson Prunty, Fort Pierre, 83; 5. Ty Sylliaasen, Sioux Falls, 87; 6. (Tie) Matthew Darlihng, Aberdeen, and Adam Hettick, Roscoe, 92; 8. (Tie) Arie Olson, Onida, and Brady Baumann, Selby, 99; 10. Parker Serr, Aberdeen, 105; 11. Sam Knox, Doland, 107; 12. Eli Bradley, Aberdeen, 109; 13. Hudson Dunsmoor, Watertown, 115; 14. Jacob Hofer, Doland, 129.14-15 Girls — 1. Mackenzie Wegehaupt, Aberdeen, 84; 2. Carley Roiger, Dell Rapids, 88; 3. Taylor Bastian, Volga, 92; 4. Emma Olson, Watertown, 93; 5. Addyson Weidenbach, Sioux Falls, 95; 6. Lauren Roerig, Sioux Falls, 106; 7. (Tie) Ava Bain, Sioux Falls, and Sienna Boyden, Hartford, 110.2025 STATE B BOYS-GIRLS GOLF: Clark-Willow Lake golf’s Brynn Roehrich repeats as Class B state champion
- 14-15 Boys — 1. Braxton Holland, Siou Falls, 72 (even par); 2. Jack Johnson, Vermillion, 73; 3. Seth Lesnar, Webster, 75; 4. Tate Stoeser, Fort Pierre, 76; 5. Jeran Carr, Vermillion, 77; 6. (Tie) Brecken Jungen, Watertown, and Lincoln McInerney, Brandon, 81; 8. (Tie) Hayden Liebl, Aberdeen; Riley Randall, Watertown; and Aiden Hernandez, Abrerdeen, 84; 11. Kooper Wookey, Clark, 85; 12. Matthew Gerlach, Aberdeen, 86; 13. (Tie) Jackson Ahmann, Watertown; Braxton Yackley, Selby; and Kaden Wookey, Clark, 87; 16. Ridgly Wasem, Aberdeen, 88; 17. Liam Heiberger, Brookings, 89; 18. Huntre Bushkofsky, Egan, 90; 19. Blake Bjorgaard, Aberdeen, 91; 20. (Tie) Hudson Palmquist, Watertown, and Owen Dravland, Harrisburg, 93; 22. Judah Fargher, Eureka, 97; 23. Lincoln Olson, Onida, 100; 24. Kroix Larson, Brandon, 101; 25. Noah Hansen, Brookings, 103; 26. Gus Mack, Watertown, 106.
- 16-18 Girls — 1. Josephine Bertrand, Brookings, 80; 2. Aryn Roering, Sioux Falls, 84; 3. Olivia Knox, Doland, 87; 4. Abbie Westra, Sioux Falls, 92; 5. Addison Kaltved, Sioux Falls, 93; 6. Carmen Bertrand, Willow Lake, 107.
- 16-18 Boys — 1. (Tie) Will Lockner, Brandon, and Quinton Hollan, Sioux Falls, 78 (6-over); 3. (Tie) Seth Hettick, Roscoe, and Kaiden Weinreis, Doland, 81; 5. (Tie) Easton Schelhaas, Yankton; Max Kees, De Smet; and Jesse Hernandez, Aberdeen, 82; 8. (Tie) Joshua Fargher, Eureka and Grayson Rehder, Aberdeen, 86; 10. Keegan Fossum, Marshall, MN, 87; 11. Sam Baruth, Alpena, 90; 12. Wyatt Kiesz, Aberdeen, 93; 13. Wyatt Rahm, Turton, 101; 14. Jayden Schwan, Groton, 104.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
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