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Back on Track

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Back on Track

After reviewing the radiographs, the veterinarians proceeded with a transfixing pin
cast. The cast extended from the foot to the hock. Two large pins were placed in the
upper, proximal part of the cannon bone.
After surgery, Polar Express spent many months at the teaching hospital receiving
around-the-clock care to ensure his fracture was healing correctly.

Because of the injury’s complexity and where it was sustained, it took the food animal
veterinarians and the surgery and sports medicine team to get the best possible outcome.

“The goal of the pin cast was to allow the bone to heal while minimizing the risk
of complications like infection at the pin sites,” Schoonover said.

“We showed up at the OSU teaching hospital about 4 a.m. and everyone was waiting for
us, excited to help save Polar’s life,” Sterk said.

“We talked on the phone about what needed to be done and what would be the best options
for transportation,” Jones said. “Dr. Halleran knew what needed to be done and what
we would want.”

Monday, January 13, 2025

The bull returned home after many months of healing to finish recovering. He is now
living on the South Dakota ranch and getting stronger every day.

“We showed up at the OSU teaching hospital about 4 a.m. and everyone was waiting for
us, excited to help save Polar’s life.”

Media Contact:
Taylor Bacon | Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator | 405-744-6728 | taylor.bacon@okstate.edu

After wrapping up an excellent NFR in 2023, Polar Express was purchased by Jason and
Chase Sterk of Sterk Bucking Bulls, located in Irene, South Dakota. The bull was going
full force into 2024, but as he was bucking at a PBR event in South Carolina, he sustained
an injury to his left hind leg that would put his career on hold.

OSU veterinarians change bandages and check surgery location.

Because of his condition, Jones encouraged Sterk to haul Polar Express to the North
Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. There, they would work alongside Jones
to stabilize the bull’s leg to make the long drive to Oklahoma safely.

That’s what elite bucking bulls look forward to during every event.

The transfixion pin cast integrates the pins into the cast itself. This redistributes
the weight away from the leg and fracture area, allowing the bone to heal as the cast
bears the weight directly.

“After the stay at the OSU hospital, Polar came out a different bull,” Sterk said.
“They spoiled him and now he loves scratches. Thank you from the bottom of my heart;
the whole process was top-notch, and we can’t thank you enough.”

During his short stay in Raleigh, Polar Express was seen by Dr. Jennifer Halleran,
assistant professor, who completed her large animal internal medicine residency at
OSU. Due to her history with the OSU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, she was
knowledgeable about injured bucking bulls.

Story By: Kinsey Reed | Vet Cetera Magazine

— Chase Sterk, Sterk Bucking Bulls

Following numerous X-rays and checking the pins, they slowly began removing them.
When all the pins were removed, the cast was replaced. During the healing process,
Polar Express had many cast changes to ensure the fracture and the open wound were
healing correctly.

“I got a phone call late that night saying we are headed your way with a bucking bull
that has sustained a fracture coming out of the bucking chutes; we are going to bring
him straight there,” said Dr. Meredyth Jones, former Oklahoma State University College
of Veterinary Medicine professor.

After arriving, new X-rays were taken and the rodeo athlete’s initial bandage was
changed. He then spent the day resting while the team got its next steps together.

After X-rays and wrapping his leg in a bandage, Halleran successfully stabilized it
and Polar Express was on a trailer headed to Stillwater. Awaiting his arrival, Dr.
Michael Schoonover,  associate professor in equine surgery and sports medicine, and
his team reviewed the radiographs that Halleran took and started a game plan.

“On Monday morning, the equine surgical team had a plan and was ready to perform the
surgery,” Schoonover said.

Photos By: Taylor Bacon

Between the time he got in the chute and when they opened the gate, Polar Express
injured his left hind metatarsal bone, just above the ankle. The on-site veterinarians
took immediate action and decided he would need more extensive care.

Polar Express is no exception as he is known for his extraordinary appearances at
the National Finals Rodeo and multiple Professional Bull Riders Association events.

Eight seconds of fame.

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Babcock sets record as Pitt women’s volleyball team rolls in 1st round of NCAA Tournament

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December 6, 2025

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Olivia Babcock didn’t realize her performance during the first round of the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament gave her the Pitt record for most kills in a season. Babcock knew she met the previous record holder, Wendy Hatlestad, during alumni weekend.

Babcock recorded 13 kills during the Panthers’ 25-10, 25-17, 25-13 win Friday night at Petersen Events Center in front of a crowd of 4,240. Babcock now has 558 kills, going past the single-season record of 555 Hatlestad set in 2003.

“I was talking to her two weeks ago,” Babcock said. “That’s crazy I just met her. But I think it says a lot about how much my team trusts me to take those big rips, and it gives me the opportunity to score and get as many kills as I do.”

Everyone had a good night hitting for the top-seeded Panthers, who advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the 10th straight season.

The Panthers committed only four attack errors against UMBC (13-12) and finished with a hitting percentage of .551.

“It’s really good to start out and to remind ourselves to maintain high standards,” Babcock said. “Obviously, all of these teams have made it into the tournament because they’re an amazing team, and everyone’s going to bring their best volleyball. I think we just need to make sure that we’re playing our best, too, because, especially in these matches, we don’t wanna slip up and give away a set or a match.”

Pitt (27-4) hasn’t dropped a set in the first round since it beat VCU, 3-1, in 2017 at Penn State.

The Retrievers qualified for the tournament after winning the America East Conference for the fifth time in the past six seasons. Pitt setter Brooke Mosher, who finished with 34 assists, said the Panthers got themselves in system thanks to their good passing.

Blaire Bayless was second for the Panthers with nine kills, and Abby Emch contributed eight.

“That made it really easy for me to spread the ball around and get the middles involved,” Mosher said. “Then, I trusted my teammates to be able to put the ball away.”

Pitt lost the first point of the match after UMBC delivered on a kill by Jalynn Brown. The Panthers responded by scoring the next three points, capping the surge with an ace by Izzy Masten.

UMBC struggled to find holes in Pitt’s defense. The Retrievers hit .129 and were led by seven kills from Hannah Dobbs.

UMBC coach Kasey Crider was happy with how they played.

“We don’t have an Olivia Babcock slayer, so, bummer,” Crider said. “I’ve been to this tournament a few times as a head coach and assistant coach, and I’ve never walked away from the tournament thinking we were the best at the end until today. It still hurts, but there were no regrets.”

Pitt will take on Michigan in the second round Saturday. The Wolverines advanced by beating Xavier. The Panthers are 3-6 all-time against the Wolverines.

Pitt’s only meeting with Michigan in the NCAA Tournament came in 2018, when the Wolverines upset Pitt in five sets at Petersen Events Center.

Mosher, who previously played in the NCAA Tournament with Illinois, said she doesn’t feel any extra pressure playing as the No. 1 seed.

“I think just being in the tournament has its own weight in itself,” Mosher said. “Every game your season is on the line, which is the same no matter who you are.”

Josh Rizzo is a freelance writer.





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Kansas State volleyball vs Nebraska in NCAA Tournament channel, time

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December 6, 2025

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Dec. 6, 2025, 6:03 a.m. CT



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Women’s track and field begins indoor season at M City Classic

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December 6, 2025

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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women’s track and field team turned in 13 performances that ranked on its all-time performers’ list at the season-opening M City Classic on Friday at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse.

First years accounted for 11 of the 13 performances that ranked on St. Olaf’s all-time list at the unscored meet, which included teams from the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and club levels. In addition to the top-10 list performances, senior Ella Landis posted St. Olaf’s lone first-place finish at the meet by winning the one-mile run in 5:17.28.

In her first collegiate meet, first year Evangeline Sappington broke onto the program’s all-time performers’ list in both the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Sappington was the top Division III finisher and was 10th overall in the 200-meter dash (26.84), while also taking second among Division III competitors and 16th overall in the 60-meter dash. Sappington’s time in the 60-meter dash ranks second on the Oles’ all-time list – just four one-hundredths of a second off the record – and her time in the 200-meter dash is fifth.

Sophomore Izzi Jaeckle clocked in with St. Olaf’s No. 4 time in the 60-meter dash by placing 17th (8.10), while first year Ellie Semple also broke onto the list in 10th with a time of 8.28 seconds to finish 27th. Sophomore Logan Paulsen moved up to seventh on the Oles’ list with a sixth-place performance in the shot put (12.48m, 40′ 11 ½”), while first year Abigal Frei cleared 3.26 meters (10′ 8 ¼”) for a No. 5 all-time result and an eighth-place finish.

First years Svea Frantzich and Claire Stein recorded St. Olaf’s No. 8 and No. 10 scores in the pentathlon by finishing seventh (3,005) and eighth (2,993), respectively. Frantzich tied for third in the long jump (5.44m, 17′ 10 ¼”) and was sixth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.47), which both ranked on St. Olaf’s all-time list. Stein also tied for third in the long jump (5.44m, 10′ 10 ¼”) to highlight her day. First year Annika Walsh was the runner-up in the high jump (1.62m, 5′ 3 ¾”) – fifth all-time – and was seventh in the 60-meter hurdles (9.48) – ninth all-time – as part of a ninth-place finish in the pentathlon (2,881).

St. Olaf will be back in action in 2026 at the Ole Opener at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Tostrud Center.

 



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Second-Screen Golf Experiences : Player Profiles

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December 6, 2025

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At the 2025 JM Eagle LA Championship, IRCODE debuted Player Profiles, a new LIVE+ capability to bring fans closer to athletes without prompts, QR codes, or static triggers.

In addition to offering an on-site fan experience, IRCODE, as a Technology Partner, introduced an interactive viewer experience for fans at home. When players appeared on-screen, viewers used the IRCODE app to scan their screen and instantly accessed a full, interactive profile for shopping their favorite players’ gear, diving deeper into their stories and learning more about the causes that are meaningful to them.

Player Profiles leverages IRCODE’s patented EXACT Match technology and proprietary computer vision, and applies real-time visual recognition to usher in the next generation of second-screen entertainment.



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Catch Saturday’s Basketball and Indoor Track and Field Action

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December 6, 2025

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BEREA, Ohio – Fans can follow or watch Saturday’s Baldwin Wallace University basketball and indoor track and field action via live results, statistics or video.

The men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams open the 2025-26 season when it travels to Cleveland to compete in the Spartan Alumni Holiday Classic hosted by Case Western Reserve University inside the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center at 11:00 a.m.

Live Results: 

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3MlDQcr

FloCollege On Demand Live Video:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3KFq6st

The men’s basketball team travels to New Concord for the first game of a men’s and women’s Ohio Athletic Conference and Hoops for Hunger Food Drive doubleheader against Muskingum University on Performance Court inside the Anne C. Steele Center at 1:00 p.m.  Fans can receive free admission to the game with a donation of canned food, a non-perishable item, or a monetary contribution.

Tickets:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3WGuwll

Live Statistics:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/493Gehq

FloCollege On Demand Live Video:

https://flosports.link/47hSw2V

The No. 21 nationally ranked women’s basketball team travels to New Concord for the second game of a women’s and men’s Ohio Athletic Conference and Hoops for Hunger Food Drive doubleheader against Muskingum University on Performance Court inside the Anne C. Steele Center at 4:00 p.m.  Fans can receive free admission to the game with a donation of canned food, a non-perishable item, or a monetary contribution.

Tickets:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/3WGuwll

Live Statistics:

https://bwyellowjackets.cc/49Ist7Q

FloCollege On Demand Live Video:

https://flosports.link/4qu1Fyr

 



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2025 DII women’s volleyball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores

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December 6, 2025

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Here’s everything you need to know leading up to the first round of the 2025 DII women’s volleyball championship. 

The championship bracket was revealed during a selection show on Monday, Nov. 24, live streamed here on NCAA.com. Twenty-three teams earned automatic qualification, with the remaining 41 teams selected at-large by the Division II Women’s Volleyball Committee. Teams from each of the eight regional sites received initial seeds Nos. 1-8. 

🏆 Watch live: 2025 DII women’s volleyball championship rounds

2025 DII women’s volleyball championship bracket

Click or tap here for the 2025 interactive bracket

The 2025 DII women's volleyball championship bracket

2025 NCAA DII women’s volleyball schedule

  • Regionals: Dec. 4-6
  • Quarterfinals: Thursday, Dec. 11
  • Semifinals: Friday, Dec. 12
  • National Championship: Saturday, Dec. 13
  • Selection show: 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, November 24
  • Regionals: Dec. 4-6
    • Thursday, Dec. 4
      • No. 3 Indiana (Pennsylvania) 3, No. 6 Fairmont State 0
      • No. 3 Anderson (South Carolina) 3, No. 6 Augusta 1
      • No. 3 Lynn 3, No. 6 UAH 2
      • No. 6 Washburn 3, No. 3 Wayne State (Nebraska) 0
      • No. 3 Mercy 3, No. 6 Molloy 2
      • No. 2 East Stroudsburg 3, No. 7 Charleston (West Virginia) 0
      • No. 3 Ferris State 3, No. 6 Quincy 2
      • No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne 3, No. 7 Lander 1
      • No. 7 Colorado Sch. of Mines 3, No. 2 UCCS 2
      • No. 3 Fresno Pacific 3, No. 6 Western Washington 0
      • No. 2 Barry 3, No. 7 Eckerd 0
      • No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul 3, No. 7 Central Oklahoma 0
      • No. 7 Holy Family 3, No. 2 Adelphi 2 
      • No. 7 Rockhurst 3, No. 2 Ohio Dominican 0
      • No. 3 Angelo State 3, No. 6 Lubbock Christian 1
      • No. 5 Flagler 3, No. 4 Carson-Newman 1
      • No. 1 Gannon 3, No. 8 Fayetteville State 0
      • No. 7 Central Washington 3, No. 2 Simon Fraser 2
      • No. 1 Tampa 3, No. 8 Spring Hill 0
      • No. 8 UIndy 3, No. 1 Missouri-State Louis 2
      • No. 4 St. Cloud St. 3, No. 5 Missouri Western 1
      • No. 1 Bentley 3, No. 8 Bridgeport 1
      • No. 1 MSU Denver 3, No. 8 Colorado Mesa 0
      • No. 4 Pitt.-Johnstown 4, No. 5 Shepherd 0
      • No. 4 West Florida 3, No. 5 Palm Beach Atl. 2
      • No. 1 Wingate 3, No. 8 Emmanuel (Georgia) 1
      • No. 1 Point Loma 3, No. 8 CSUSB 2
      • No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney 3, No. 8 Oklahoma Baptist 2
      • No. 5 Post 3, No. 4 American Int’l 1
      • No. 5 Findlay 3, No. 4 Wayne State (Michigan) 2
      • No. 4 West Tex. A&M 3, No. 5 CSU Pueblo 1
      • No. 5 Alas. Fairbanks 3, No. 4 Alas. Anchorage 0
    • Friday, Dec. 5
      • No. 2 Barry 3, No. 3 Lynn 0
      • No. 3 Indiana (PA) 3, No. 2 East Stroudsburg 1
      • No. 3 Anderson (SC) 3, No. 2 Lenoir-Rhyne 1
      • No. 3 Mercy 3, No. 7 Holy Family 1
      • No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul 3, No. 6 Washburn 0
      • No. 3 Ferris State 3, No. 7 Rockhurst 0
      • No. 3 Angelo State 3, No. 7 Colorado Sch. of Mines 0
      • No. 1 Bentley 3, No. 5 Post 1
      • No. 3 Fresno Pacific 3, No. 7 Central Washington 2
      • No. 1 Gannon 3, No. 4 Pitt.-Johnstown 1
      • No. 1 Tampa 3, No. 4 West Florida 1
      • No. 1 Wingate 3, No. 5 Flagler 1
      • No. 8 UIndy 3, No. 5 Findlay 1
      • No. 4 St. Cloud State 3, No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney 1
      • No. 1 MSU Denver 3, No. 4 West Tex. A&M 1
      • No. 1 Point Loma 3, No. 5 Alas. Fairbanks 1

NCAA DII women’s volleyball championship history

Here is the full list of champions and runners-up since 1981:

Year Champion (Record) Coach Score Runner-Up Site
2024 Lynn (33-3) Adam Milewski 3-2 San Francisco St. Sioux Falls, SD
2023 Cal State LA (24-10) Juan Figueroa 3-1  West Texas A&M Moon Township, PA
2022 West Texas A&M (33-4) Kendra Potts 3-1 Concordia-St. Paul Seattle, Wash.
2021 Tampa (34-2) Chris Catanach 3-0 Washburn Tampa, FL.
2020 Canceled due to Covid-19 — — — —
2019 Cal State San Bernardino (33-0) Kim Cherniss 3-1 Nebraska-Kearney Denver, Co.
2018 Tampa (33-4) Chris Catanach 3-2 Western Washington Pittsburgh, Pa.
2017 Concordia-St. Paul (34-3) Brady Starkey 3-0 Florida Southern Pensacola, Fla.
2016 Concordia-St. Paul (32-4) Brady Starkey 3-0 Alaska Anchorage Sioux Falls, S.D.
2015 Wheeling Jesuit (39-4) Christy Benner 3-0 Palm Beach Atlantic  Tampa, Fla. 
2014 Tampa (33-1) Chris Catanach 3-0 S’west Minnesota State Louisville, Ky.
2013 Concordia-St. Paul (35-3) Brady Starkey 3-0 BYU-Hawaii Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2012 Concordia-St. Paul (34-4) Brady Starkey 3-2 Tampa Pensacola, Fla.
2011 Concordia-St. Paul (34-2) Brady Starkey 3-0 Cal State San Bernardino Cal State San Bernardino
2010 Concordia-St. Paul (32-4) Brady Starkey 3-1 Tampa Louisville, Ky.
2009 Concordia-St. Paul (37-0) Brady Starkey 3-0 West Texas A&M Concordia-St. Paul
2008 Concordia-St. Paul (37-1) Brady Starkey 3-2 Cal State San Bernardino Concordia-St. Paul
2007 Concordia-St. Paul (36-4) Brady Starkey 3-1 Western Washington Washburn
2006 Tampa (35-1) Chris Catanach 3-1 North Alabama West Florida
2005 Grand Valley State (32-1) Deanne Scanlon 3-1 Nebraska-Kearney Nebraska-Kearney
2004 Barry (34-1) Dave Nichols 3-1 Truman Barry
2003 North Alabama (33-7) Matt Peck 3-0 Concordia-St. Paul Cal State San Bernardino
2002 BYU-Hawaii (27-2) Wilfred Navalta 3-0 Truman West Texas A&M
2001 Barry (32-2) Dave Nichols 3-0 South Dakota State Grand Valley State
2000 Hawaii Pacific (28-0) Tita Ahuna 3-0 Augustana (S.D.) Augustana (S.D.)
1999 BYU-Hawaii (30-2) Wilfred Navalta 3-0 Tampa Battle Creek, Mich.
1998 Hawaii Pacific (31-5) Tita Ahuna 3-1 North Dakota State Kissimmee, Fla.
1997 West Texas A&M (37-1) Debbie Hendricks 3-2 Barry Cal State Bakersfield
1996 Nebraska-Omaha (35-2) Rose Shires 3-2 Tampa Central Missouri
1995 Barry (34-2) Leonid Yelin 3-1 Northern Michigan Barry
1994 Northern Michigan (32-4) Mark Rosen 3-1 Cal State Bakersfield Cal State Bakersfield
1993 Northern Michigan (38-1) Jim Moore 3-1 Cal State Bakersfield Northern Michigan
1992 Portland State (36-1) Jeff Mozzochi 3-2 Northern Michigan Portland State
1991 West Texas A&M (36-2) Jim Giacomazzi 3-0 Portland State West Texas A&M
1990 West Texas A&M (38-1) Kim Hudson 3-0 North Dakota State Cal State Bakersfield
1989 Cal State Bakersfield (21-15) David Rubio 3-0 Sacramento State Cal State Bakersfield
1988 Portland State (36-5) Jeff Mozzochi 3-0 Cal State Northridge North Dakota State
1987 Cal State Northridge (35-6) Walt Ker 3-2 Central Missouri Nebraska-Omaha
1986 UC Riverside (29-7) Sue Gozansky 3-0 Cal State Northridge Sacramento State
1985 Portland State (36-5) Jeff Mozzochi 3-1 Cal State Northridge Portland State
1984 Portland State (33-4) Jeff Mozzochi 3-0 Cal State Northridge Portland State
1983 Cal State Northridge (30- 6) Walt Ker 3-2 Portland State Florida Southern
1982 UC Riverside (31-5) Sue Gozansky 3-0 Cal State Northridge Cal State Northridge
1981 Sacramento State (28-6) Debby Colbery 3-0 Lewis UC Riverside

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We gathered what we think are 10 of the greatest upsets in the history of the tournament since its inception in 1981 and ranked them.

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2025 NCAA women’s volleyball tournament: Bracket, schedule, scores

The DI women’s volleyball championship is here. The full reveal of the 64-team bracket was announced on Sunday, Nov. 30. Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 women’s volleyball tournament.

READ MORE





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