NEW ORLEANS – NC State distance athlete Grace Hartman has been named to The Bowerman Women’s Preseason Watch List as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Wednesday afternoon.

Hartman, just the second NC State woman to be named to the The Bowerman watch list, following 2023 semifinalist Katelyn Tuohy, earned the preseason recognition following a remarkable 2025 track & field campaign in which she broke multiple program, facility, meet and conference records, establishing herself among the nation’s elite distance runners.

During the 2024-25 indoor season, Hartman showcased her versatility and consistency across multiple distances. She opened the season at the JDL Fast is Flat meet with a converted 5000m time of 15:19.72, breaking both the meet and facility records. At the Eagle Elite Invitational, she ran a personal-best 8:46.57 in the 3000m to win the event and move to No. 2 on NC State’s all-time list. 

Hartman continued rewriting the record books at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational, clocking a personal-best 4:06.72 in the 1500m to set a new NC State program record. She followed with a 4:24.76 mile, ranking as the third-fastest in NCAA history and the second-fastest in program history. She capped the indoor conference season by finishing third in the mile at the ACC Indoor Championships with a time of 4:26.82, earning First-Team All-ACC honors.

At the NCAA Indoor Championships, Hartman delivered standout performances on the national stage. She finished sixth in the 5000m to earn First-Team All-America honors while setting the fastest time in program history, and placed fifth in the 3000m with a time of 9:03.37 to secure an additional First-Team All-America distinction.

The momentum carried into the 2025 outdoor track & field season, where Hartman produced a series of historic performances. At the Raleigh Relays, she broke the program, facility and meet records in the 10,000m with a personal-best time of 31:20.60, a mark that currently ranks as the fifth-fastest in NCAA history.

She continued her record-breaking campaign at the Duke Twilight, where her 14:58.11 in the 5000m set the fourth-fastest time in NCAA history while also breaking both the ACC and NC State program records. Hartman’s dominance carried into the postseason as she captured the ACC individual title in the 5000m with a meet-record time of 15:12.03, securing both the ACC and ACC Championship records in the event.

Hartman was later named the 2025 ACC Women’s Outdoor Track Performer of the Year and capped the outdoor season by earning First-team All-America honors in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

The Bowerman is awarded to collegiate track & field’s top male and female athlete of the Year. The Bowerman Advisory Board, and ultimately, The Bowerman Voters, are instructed to consider performances inclusively from the collegiate indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons only. Cross country results are not within this consideration. The current collective track & field season began on November 28, 2025 and will end on June 13, 2026.

The first update to the watch list will be announced on Feb. 4 for the women and Feb. 5 for the men.

The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.

It would take a lot to drain the defending national champion Long Beach State men’s volleyball program of its formula for success. With four national championships—three of them in the last eight years—that formula has grown far beyond what any single player or coach could carry.

That’s why there’s no sense of stress for Long Beach native and new head coach Nick MacRae, formerly a 13-year assistant at his alma mater. With the page now turned on the era of legendary coach Alan Knipe, who announced his retirement last month, MacRae is embracing change within the program while maintaining that same successful formula.

“It’s a nice, calm dance between the two,” MacRae said. “There’s going to be pressure on us, but pressure is the greatest privilege. I was born and raised here, and I know the community wants us to be successful and great—and that’s how they should feel. Our guys train at the highest level, and they want to be successful and great. On my end and my staff’s end, it’s never going to be a lack of work. We’re going to turn over every stone and give everything we have together.”

Perhaps the much bigger absence for the average fan in attendance will be Bulgarian superstar Moni Nikolov, who turned professional after one of the greatest seasons the sport has ever seen. The 6-foot-10 freshman setter joined his brother as one of only two players to ever win AVCA Player of the Year as a freshman, while leading the Beach to its fourth national championship.

There hasn’t been anything quite like Nikolov, but the void he leaves behind isn’t new for Long Beach State—in just the last decade, the Beach have been awarded a nation-leading five National Player of the Year honors from four different players. And while MacRae doesn’t expect a new prospect to step in and hit 80-mph serves while making acrobatic plays from the setter position, Nikolov’s absence creates opportunity for others to step into larger roles.

“The objective is not to replace Moni,” MacRae said. “We have guys on our team who played last year in the biggest moments, so for the setter who steps in, it isn’t their job to be Moni. Everyone else gets to raise their game, and when you bring that together with the new guys, it’s all going to work itself out.”

Long Beach State enters the season ranked No. 3 in the nation in the AVCA preseason coaches poll and once again features a Player of the Year candidate in standout senior outside hitter Skyler Varga. The first-team All-American led the team with 270 kills last season while hitting .368, and finished second on the team in aces with 33.

Varga is coming off a summer stint in the Volleyball Nations League, where he was the youngest member of Team Canada. He appeared in 10 matches and worked his way up the lineup before capping the season with a 24-kill performance against Ukraine.

“Skyler has no ceiling. He’s a future Olympian. He’s the captain of our team and he’s one of the world’s best off the court—and, as you’ve seen, one of the world’s best on the court,” MacRae said. “Skyler makes everybody around him better. He’s a top one-percenter, and he’s going to keep flourishing because of his work ethic.”

The question becomes: Who will be delivering Varga the ball? MacRae has yet to name a starting setter, but redshirt freshman Jake Pazanti has seen the most time during exhibition play alongside guaranteed starters like Varga. MacRae has also spoken highly of senior setters Island Doty and Ryan Peluso, who he says will be impactful whether on or off the court.

Alongside Varga, the Beach’s offense will lean heavily on sophomore outside Alex Kandev, who emerged as a key piece in Long Beach State’s national championship run last season. Kandev posted match highs in both the semifinal and championship matches a year ago, recording a career-high 19 kills against Pepperdine and 13 against UCLA.

Connor Bloom is expected to play a key role both on the serve and as a pin hitter on either side, while Daniil Hershtynovich is set to return at opposite to open the season. Hershtynovich started for a couple of months last year as part of a revolving lineup for the Beach before his season was cut short by a lower-body injury ahead of the Big West Tournament.

The Beach will also feature a promising freshman alongside Hershtynovich at opposite, as Wojciech Gajek has come along nicely behind him. MacRae has dubbed the pair his “two-headed dragon” at opposite, and Gajek was named Player of the Game after recording 16 kills in his exhibition debut against Alberta.

“They’re both an incredible one-two punch,” MacRae said of the pair. “We’re going to see how hard and how long you can play, and if it gets to a point where the change of speed isn’t there, we can keep making adjustments. What I see is the world’s greatest two-headed dragon.”

Gajek is just one of a handful of impressive newcomers for the Beach, including fellow freshman pin hitter Myles Jordan, who recently competed with the U-19 USA National Team. Long Beach native Jackson Cryst is another freshman poised for a big year, a 6-foot-10 middle who also brings some serious power from behind the service line. The freshman is coming off a stint with Team USA after being called up to the U-21 team.

Cryst is part of a powerhouse group of middle blockers for the Beach, which is by far their deepest position. That group also includes Isaiah Preuitt, who took advantage of his opportunity when called upon in the Final Four last year, as well as 6-foot-11 senior Ben Braun. Sophomore and Grand Canyon transfer Braedon Marquardt will also be in the mix.

“We have the best middle group in the country,” MacRae boasted. “It’s incredible from a training standpoint, and it speaks to every other position group where we don’t have to lock into one formula for the 2026 Long Beach State men’s volleyball team. All four of them are very different, and all four of them want to win national championships. That’s what makes them great, and all four of them will be a part of it.”

Holding down the defense for the Beach will be their rock in sophomore libero Kellen Larson. As just a freshman, Larson anchored the Beach’s defense last year which held its opponents to a nation-leading .209 hitting percentage.

MacRae has rounded out an all-alumni coaching staff around him that includes McKay Smith, who’s been on coaching staff since 2017. New additions include Amir Lugo-Rodriguez, who has coached at multiple stops across the country, and former middle blocker and LBSU assistant Matt Prosser. Aidan Knipe is currently playing overseas and will join the staff upon his return as the Beach’s Director of Player Relations.

“You’re most like the five people you surround yourself with, and I’m surrounding myself with Long Beach guys that want to be head coaches,” MacRae said. “It’s an absolute honor to be with this group.”

Long Beach State is set to host a gauntlet of games at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid this season, including non-conference matchups against UCLA and Penn State. The Beach begin the season this weekend with matches against Lindenwood on Friday and McKendree on Saturday, before opening Big West play with a highly anticipated pair of matchups against Hawai‘i at the Pyramid on March 20–21.

Florida State volleyball head coach Chris Poole announced on Wednesday, Jan. 7, that he is stepping down after 18 seasons with the program.

According to FSU, Poole chose not to seek an extension following the 2025 season after leading the Seminoles to 15 NCAA tournament appearances.

After an astounding and impactful coaching career, Poole is ready to move on and pass the position down to the next coach in line.

Youngstown, Ohio — Youngstown State volleyball head coach Riley Jarrett is excited to announce the addition of three Division I transfers to the program for the 2026 spring semester.

The trio includes defensive specialist Ashlee Gnau (Syracuse), outside hitter Kylie Surratt (UT Martin), and middle blocker/right-side hitter Wrigley Takats (Eastern Michigan). All three will be juniors during the 2026 fall season and will join a talented freshman class of Korina Barber, Natalie Carr, Journey Nicola and Hayden Rodriguez.

Position: Defensive Specialist

Hometown: Northville, Mich.

High School: Northville

Previous School: Syracuse

Club: Legacy Volleyball Club

Coach Jarrett on Gnau: I recruited Ashlee out of high school and always knew she had a ton of potential. She is a great addition to our back court defense and passing. We are excited to get her competitive drive in our gym and looking forward to seeing her compete in the Horizon League. 

At Syracuse: Played in 34 matches and made seven starts over two years at Syracuse… As a sophomore, appeared in 10 matches and started against Wake Forest… Had season highs of three aces and five digs against UAlbany… Registered aces against Canisius, Wake Forest and Pitt… Played in 24 matches as a freshman while making six starts… Posted 109 digs, including a career-high 14 against Notre Dame.

High School: Finished her high school career with 888 digs and 113 aces, including senior-year totals of 325 digs and 36 aces… Was an all-conference and all-region honoree in 2023… Attended the same high school as former Penguins libero Nyia Setla.

Position: Outside Hitter

Hometown: Maryland Heights, Mo.

High School: Pattonville

Previous School: UT Martin

Club: Team Momentum

Coach Jarrett on Surratt: Kylie is a very mature player who aligned with our program’s values and goals on and off the court. She will be a strong addition for us as a six-rotation player, and we are looking forward to seeing her compete as a Penguin. 

AT UT Martin: Played her first two collegiate seasons at UT-Martin, posting totals of 539 kills, 392 digs and 77 blocks… As a sophomore, averaged 2.47 kills, 2.01 digs and 0.47 blocks over 100 sets for the Skyhawks… Played in all 29 matches and started 25 of them… Reached double digits in kills 12 times, including a season-high of 20 against SIUE… As a freshman, was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference second team while posting 292 kills, 80 more than any teammate… Ranked among the top 10 in the OVC in kills and points.

High School: At Pattonville High School, earned AVCA All-American accolades as a senior… Named conference player of the year three times while shattering school records for career kills, career matches played, match kills and match blocks.

Position: Middle Blocker

Hometown: Perrysburg, Ohio

High School: Perrysburg

Previous School: Eastern Michigan

Club: Toledo Volleyball Club

Coach Jarrett on Takats: Wrigley is a dynamic middle blocker who will have a lot of potential in our offensive and defensive systems. She has a high ceiling to continue to grow and we are happy to have her. 

At Eastern Michigan: Played her first two seasons at Eastern Michigan, appearing in 67 sets over 22 matches… Recorded 60 kills and 58 blocks in 60 sets as a sophomore… Finished her sophomore season with the Eagles with 91.5 points… Played in 16 of the final 18 matches…

High School: Helped lead Perrysburg to three straight district titles… Earned All-Northern League accolades three times… Set the school record with 265 career blocks.

He is the seventh University of North Carolina track star to be elected to the Hall of Fame after Jim Beatty (2020), Joan Nesbitt (2020), Karen Godlock (2020), DeAnne Davis (2020), Tony Waldrop (2022), and Earl V. Patterson (2023).

The Central High School graduate originally came to Carolina to play football as a tailback, but he switched to fullback as Tar Heel legend, Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice held down the tailback position. 

Simmons won  the bronze medal in the decathlon as the United States claimed the gold and bronze in the 1948 London Olympics. Simmons followed up his Bronze with another bronze medalist performance during the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, as the US swept the competition for the “World’s Greatest Athlete.”

Simmons was also a World War II veteran and received both the Purple Heart and Battle Stars while serving in the 10th Mountain Division.

Simmons had a seven-year career in film and stunt work (1956-63), first with Universal and then with MGM. He played Commander Harbison, USN, in the 1958 musical “South Pacific,” which prompted him to move to Tahiti for a brief stint. He moved back to Charlotte, where he was a professional artist and photographer.

Simmons passed away in April of 2008 in Charlotte.

The induction ceremony will be Jan. 31 in Winston-Salem during the Mondo Elite High School Invitational at the JDL Fast Track. Each elected class has been honored at the meet.