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Meet the 2025 athletes of the year, first team, honorable m – Butler Eagle

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Freeport’s Mackenzie Magness won gold at the WPIAL and PIAA championships this season. Magness has been named Butler Eagle Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Jason Malmont/Special to the Eagle

Excelling as a freshman brings with it expectations. Mackenzie Magness did not wilt under that pressure — she flourished.

In 2024, Magness won a WPIAL Class 2A title in the pole vault. This spring, the Freeport sophomore raised the bar even higher, winning another district crown before earning a state championship May 24 at Shippensburg University with a height of 12 feet.

The campaign yielded a pair of school records for Magness — 12-4 in the pole vault, which won her WPIAL gold, and 17-8¾ in the long jump. Her collective effort made Magness a unanimous pick for Butler Eagle Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.


Related Article: Track and field honor roll: See Butler County’s all-time girls results, updated after 2025 season


Related Article: PIAA track championships: Freeport’s Mackenzie Magness wins 2A girls pole vault gold in friend’s memory

“It was a lot for me to handle at once,” Magness said regarding the flurry of achievements. “But I’m extremely happy with what I was able to do.

“There’s so many talented girls in the county, and I am super-appreciative for this honor.”

Her desire for continued improvement is evident this summer. She recently returned from a pole vault camp at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, will attend a similar camp in Louisville in July and is training for a decathlon, scheduled for August in Ohio.

The pole vault is obviously her best event, but Magness also has potential in the jumping events. She earned WPIAL medals in the long and triple jump this year.

“I got a lot of work in for the jumps during the indoor season over the winter,” she said. “It helped me become more explosive.”


Related Article: PIAA track championships: North Catholic 4×100 girls relay wins gold; Butler boys relays ends with 2 medals


Related Article: WPIAL track and field: Butler’s Aubrey Rock defends pole vault gold; Seneca Valley’s Gavin Skarbek realizes 400 dreams

Butler’s boys 4×400-meter relay team (from left: Jace Gratzmiller, Carter Ekas, Aaron Stebick and Regan Peth) set a school record this season with an all-time Butler County-best effort of 3 minutes, 17.49 seconds. The quartet won a WPIAL Class 3A title with a district-record time and placed sixth in the state and is this year’s Butler Eagle Boys Track and Field Athletes of the Year. Submitted Photo

Boys Athletes of the Year

With one performance, Butler’s 4×400-meter relay team reached legendary status.

The scene was the WPIAL Class 3A Championships at Slippery Rock University in May. Up until then, the Golden Tornado had turned in very good times in the event.

Regan Peth, Aaron Stebick, Jace Gratzmiller and Carter Ekas teamed up to rewrite three record books. Their time of 3 minutes, 17.49 seconds broke the school standard, district meet record and Butler County’s all-time record.

The team went on to place sixth at the state meet, the only squad from Western Pa. to medal in the event.

All four runners have been voted Boys Track and Field Athletes of the Year.


Related Article: Track and field honor roll: See Butler County’s all-time boys results, updated after 2025 season


Related Article: WPIAL track and field: Butler boys 4×100 and 4×400 relays break district, school records

“The guys had been running so well throughout the year, but you still want to see improvement every time out,” Butler coach Mike Seybert said. “We were hoping to break the school record, but to get the WPIAL record, too, they exceeded our hopes.”

Gratzmiller was injured for part of the year.

“When he came back, it was good to see and I knew he was going to be strong for us,” said Stebick, the one senior of the group who is headed to compete at Westminster College. “We had a great time this season. It felt amazing to achieve something big with my friends.”

Butler had a bevy of runners to choose from for the relay.

“We had nine kids under 51 seconds in the open 400, which is unheard of,” Seybert said. “It’s the deepest group we’ve ever had at Butler. You literally could have flip-flopped our 4×1 and 4×4 teams.”

Butler’s 4×100 team of Grayden Brown, Logan Ekas, Chris Rubcic and Kevin Shriver also won a WPIAL title with a school-record and all-time Butler County-best effort of 41.85.

Following are the other athletes who made the Eagle’s first team, followed by honorable mentions, listed alphabetically.

Girls First Team

North Catholic’s girls 4×100 relay team (from left: Anna Lazzara, Audra Lazzara, Seava Cresta and Daphne Flerl) won Class 2A gold during the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University. All four have been named Butler County all-stars. Derek Pyda/Butler Eagle

Seava Cresta, sr., sprints, North Catholic

Returned from a torn hamstring suffered during the indoor season to run on North’s 4×100-meter relay team that won WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A titles. The state crown came with a school and Butler County record time of 48.06 seconds. She also earned district medals in the 100 and 200 dash.

College: Duquesne

Mars’ Morgan Duker takes third place in the girls 100-meter dash with a time of 12.95 during the Butler County Track and Field Classic on Saturday, April 05, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Morgan Duker, sr., sprints, Mars

Qualified for the state meet in the 400 by placing fourth in the WPIAL, then earned a PIAA medal in the event with an eighth-place finish. Also medaled in the 200 dash at WPIALs. Finished the season with Butler County’s best time in the 400 at 57.01 seconds and graduated with school records in the 400 and 200 (25.90).

North Catholic’s Daphne Flerl was part of the district and state champion 4×100 team and medaled in the triple jump at WPIALs. Derek Pyda/Butler Eagle

Daphne Flerl, sr., sprints/jumps, North Catholic

A member of the Trojanettes’ 4×100 relay team that won district and state titles, closing the season with a Butler County all-time best effort of 48.06 seconds. Qualified for states by placing fifth in the WPIAL in the Class 2A triple jump. Also helped North place second in the 4×400 relay at WPIALs and fourth in the state.

College: Davidson

North Catholic’s Anna Lazzara won three individual WPIAL medals this season. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Anna Lazzara, so., sprints/jumps, North Catholic

Earned a berth in the state meet in three individual events after WPIAL efforts in the 100 (fifth), 200 (fourth) and long jump (third).

Placed third in the state in the long jump and was the anchor of North’s 4×100 relay team that won WPIAL and state titles. Had Butler County’s top time this season in the 100 (12.31) and 200 (25.27).

North Catholic twin sisters, track and field stars Anna Lazzara, left, and Audra Lazzara. Audra won the WPIAL Class 2A 100 hurdles title this season. Derek Pyda/Butler Eagle

Audra Lazzara, so., sprints/hurdles, North Catholic

Won a WPIAL Class 2A title in the 100 hurdles before finishing second in the state. Also qualified for the state meet by placing fifth in the district in the 300 hurdles. Ran a leg on the WPIAL and PIAA championship 4×100 relay. Finished the season with the county’s best time in the 100 hurdles at 14.93.

Seneca Valley’s Jordan Monteleone won the WPIAL Class 3A high jump title and medaled at states. Jason Malmont/Special to the Eagle

Jordan Monteleone, jr., jumps, Seneca Valley

Her best event is the high jump, and she delivered with a WPIAL Class 3A title and fourth place in the state. Finished the year with Butler County’s top height in the event at 5-6. Also earned a WPIAL medal in the long jump.

Slippery Rock’s Aiva Reich, middle, won District 10 Class 3A 100 hurdles gold and medaled in the 300 hurdles. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Aiva Reich, sr., hurdles, Slippery Rock

Captured a District 10 Class 3A title in the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.40, which put her in Butler County’s top five for the season. Also medaled at districts with a fourth-place finish in the 300 hurdles and helped the Rockets’ 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams medal in D10.

College: Grove City

Butler’s Aubrey Rock won WPIAL Class 3A gold in the long jump and pole vault. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Aubrey Rock, sr., jumps/pole vault, Butler

Closed her high school career with a banner season, winning WPIAL Class 3A titles in the long jump and pole vault. Placed seventh in the state in the pole vault. Her 19-2.5 in the long jump broke the Butler County-area’s all-time record by 4 inches. Was a member of the 4×100 relay team that set a new school standard at 48.92.

College: Westminster

Girls Honorable Mention

Adraya Baxter, sr., hurdles, Butler; Phoebe Brandon, so., sprints/jumps, Karns City; Karlee Buterbaugh, sr., throws, Knoch; Autumn Christie, so., javelin, Slippery Rock; Aubrey Erdos, sr., pole vault, Seneca Valley; Kara Fennell, sr., jumps/pole vault, Knoch; Maddee Fischer, sr., sprints, Seneca Valley; Aubrey Popp, jr., sprints, Seneca Valley; Jocie Slesinski, sr., sprints, Butler; Augelina Williams, fr., sprints, Seneca Valley; Izzy Yuhouse, so., sprints, Seneca Valley

Boys First Team

Karns City’s Griffin Booher won the District 9 Class 2A title in the 800. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Griffin Booher, sr., middle distance, Karns City

Won a District 9 Class 2A title in the 800 run, then capped his high school career by going 1:59.96 to crack Butler County’s top five this season. Was named first team all-conference in the event.

Freeport’s Michael Braun finished with two WPIAL silvers in the 1,600 and 3,200, then did the same at the PIAA championships. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Michael Braun, sr., distance, Freeport

Was runner-up in WPIAL Class 2A in the 1,600 and 3,200. Placed second in the state in the 3,200 and third in the 1,600. Broke his own school record in both events this year and ranks third and fourth on Butler County’s all-time honor roll with times of 9:02.25 and 4:11.97, respectively.

College: Penn State

Moniteau’s Ashton Grossman won the pole vault at the District 9 championships. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Ashton Grossman, sr., pole vault, Moniteau

Broke his own school record in the pole vault several times this season, graduating with a best effort of 15-3. Won a District 9 Class 2A crown in the event and placed runner-up in the state. Was named first team all-conference.

College: Slippery Rock

Seneca Valley’s Dakari Payne won medals in all three jumping events at the WPIAL championships, including high jump gold. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Dakari Payne, jr., jumps, Seneca Valley

For the second straight year, he finished the season ranked in Butler County’s top five in all three jumps, including tops in the high jump at 6-7. Earned three WPIAL medals, including first place in the high jump.

Seneca Valley’s Gavin Skarbek won gold in the 400 in the WPIAL Class 3A championships. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Gavin Skarbek, sr., sprints, Seneca Valley

Earned a WPIAL Class 3A title in the 400 with a time of 48.99, the best effort in Butler County this spring. Also placed second in the WPIAL in the 200 and had the county’s best finish in that event at 22.11.

College: Slippery Rock

Boys Honorable Mention

Nicco Baggetta, so., javelin, Butler; Grayden Brown, sr., sprints, Butler; Logan Ekas, jr., sprints, Butler; Austin Friedline, jr., sprints/hurdles, Knoch; Dustin Joyce, sr., jumps, Slippery Rock; Chris Rubcic, sr., sprints, Butler; Kevin Shriver, so., sprints, Butler; Logan Skibinski, jr., sprints, Union/A-C Valley; Zachary Slear, sr., middle distance, Butler; Jack Steineman, fr., distance, North Catholic; Alex Wilson, so., pole vault, Karns City





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NCAA Volleyball Regional Schedule Set

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December 8, 2025

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The fourth-seeded Indiana volleyball team (25-7, 14-6 B1G) will play in the Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history. The NCAA announced start times and dates for next week’s regional semifinals on Sunday (Dec. 7) afternoon. The Hoosiers will play top-seeded Texas at Gregory Gymnasium on Friday (Dec. 12) afternoon at Noon ET on ESPN.

 

Following the greatest regular season in program history, IU was awarded a top-16 national seed and the chance to host the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers made quick work of their first two matchups, sweeping Toledo and fifth-seeded Colorado in Bloomington to advance to the Sweet 16.

 

IU is one of five Big Ten programs remaining in the NCAA Tournament. Of the 16 schools left in the big dance, IU is one of two teams (Cal Poly) that didn’t make the big dance last year. The Hoosiers have already set a single-season program record for wins (25) and will attempt to advance to the regional final for the first time in program history.

 

The other matchup in the Austin Regional will pit second-seeded Stanford and third-seeded Wisconsin against each other. Their match will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of IU’s. The winners of both regional semifinals will meet on Sunday (Dec. 14) afternoon for a spot in the national semifinals in Kansas City.



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Louisville volleyball NCAA Tournament bracket, Texas A&M vs UofL game

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December 8, 2025

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Dec. 6, 2025Updated Dec. 7, 2025, 6:08 a.m. ET

After defeating Marquette 3-2 in the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Saturday night, No. 2 Louisville will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, and take on No. 3 Texas A&M in the Sweet 16 at 7 p.m. Friday.

This will be the Cardinals’ seventh consecutive regional appearance but first with Dan Meske as head coach.

Here’s everything you need to know to keep up with the match from home:

No. 2 seed Louisville versus No. 3 seed Texas A&M will be broadcast live on ESPN or ESPN2.

Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN2 via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.

Those without cable can access ESPN2 via streaming services, with Fubo offering a free trial.

Buy Louisville volleyball tickets here

After defeating Marquette, UofL will play Texas A&M in the Lincoln, Nebraska, Regional Friday at 7 pm. Here’s a look at the tournament schedule:

  • First and second rounds: Dec. 4-6
  • Regionals: Dec. 11-14
  • Semifinals: Dec. 18 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
  • Championship: Dec. 21 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri



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The Omaha World-Herald’s Nebraska All-Class volleyball teams

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December 8, 2025

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Men’s T&F Opens Season at Diplomat Open

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December 7, 2025

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Lancaster, PA (December 6, 2025) – The DeSales University men’s track & field team opened the 2025-26 indoor T&F season competing at the Diplomat Open at Franklin & Marshall College on Friday.

The Bulldogs posted 10 MAC qualfying times/marks in the meet.

Among the qualifying times were junior Bryce Guthier taking second in the 400-meters with a time of 52.08. It is the fifth fastest time in indoor history.  Senior Davis Trump also qualified in the 5K with a time of 16:20.32.

In the field events, DSU posted eight qualfying marks. Junior Weston Simak qualified for the MAC Championships in both the long jump (6.52m) and triple jump (13.72m). His triple jump mark was the second best in team history.  First-year Luke Heimann also qualfied in the triple jump (11.86m).

Junior Jonathan Castronovo took home first place in the long jump with a mark of 6.58m, the second best long jump in team history.

First-year John Amoretti qualified in the shot put (12.33m), seniors Jonathan Eudja and Giovanni Wellington qualified in the weight throw with marks of 14.85m and 14.23m. First-year Ryan Rodriguez also quallified in the weight throw (11.89m).

The Bulldogs won’t return to action till the New Year at the Blue and Grey Invitational on Jan. 17th.

 



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Women’s Track & Field Turns in Multiple High Marks to Begin Season at Cornell

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December 7, 2025

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RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. –

The Ithaca College women’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.

Lola Gitlin posted a time of 10:25.57 in the 3000-meter run to finish third overall.

Rachel Larson was a fourth place finisher with a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. That time is currently No. 1 in Division III after the opening weekend of the season.

Aynisha McQuillar took fifth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 26.61 seconds. McQuillar also ran in the 60-meter dash and posted the 11th fastest time in DIII during the prelim with a performance of 7.78 seconds.

Lyla Powers was fifth in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:21.75.

Lily Seyfert claimed fifth in the shot put with a heave of 12.78 meters, which is currently ninth in the nation.

Bree Boyle and Erin Eastwood each cleared 3.54 meters in the pole vault, which is tied for 11th on the Division III performance list.

Alexis Brown turned in a leap of 11.02 meters in the triple jump for the 17th best mark in the country.

Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.

 



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Men’s Track & Field Opens Indoor Season at Cornell Greg Page Relays

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December 7, 2025

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RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. –

The Ithaca College men’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.

Anik Vossschulte claimed third in the 200-meter dash in a time of 23.32 seconds, while Jacob Antilety was seventh at 23.71 seconds.

Matt Lokshin posted a time of 8.65 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to place third in the event. Aidan Irwin took fourth in the high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters.

Quinten Lewis posted a mark of 13.73 meters in the triple jump to place fourth and Sebastien-Oliver Lacrete was sixth at 12.68 meters, while Evan Cherry secured fifth in the long jump with a leap of 6.84 meters.

IC’s 4×400-meter relay team of Damian Simmonds, Griffin Lupes, Noah McKibben and George Nilson placed sixth in 3:34.49.

Luke Ellor finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 14.40 meters.

Three Bombers finished within the top eight in the 500-meter dash as Brad Kellogg was sixth in 1:09.73, Peter Tysiak followed in seventh with 1:10.74 and Matthew DeJulio was next at 1:11.59.

Kaiden Chandler and Luke Ferrer posted times of 4:41.29 and 4:53.44 in the mile to finish in seventh and eighth.

Raf Campanile was seventh in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.25 meters.

Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.

 



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