One of Maryland’s most anticipated traditions is back! The 57th Annual Maryland Seafood Festival will take place on Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, at Sandy Point State Park. This two-day celebration of local flavor, family fun, and Chesapeake Bay culture is a must-attend event to close out the summer.

Seafood lovers are in for a treat with over 50 seafood dishes to sample, including steamed crabs from Jimmy’s Famous Seafood (available by pre-order), an oyster and craft beer tasting area, and the ever-popular Crab Soup Cook-Off on Saturday. Sunday features the Naptown Sampler, plus all-new culinary excitement with chef demos and a World Food Championship Cookoff.

Live music will keep the energy high all weekend long with a full concert lineup, headlined by local favorite Jimmie’s Chicken Shack. Attendees can also take part in or watch classic contests like crab cake eating, crab picking, and oyster shucking—plus new additions like a blue catfish eating contest.

There’s plenty beyond the food, too. Explore the Chesapeake Arts Village, tour a skipjack during Saturday’s Heritage Days, and watch a real skipjack race on Sunday. Kids will love the activity zones and the brand-new Mermaid and Pirate Parade, while the Sand Volleyball Tournament and 1K, 3K, and 6K Sand Run offer some friendly competition.

Early bird tickets are on sale now—use promo code “early20” for 20% off general admission while supplies last.

For full details, tickets, and event updates, visit: https://abceventsinc.com/maryland-seafood-festival/

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SEATTLE – Washington sophomore Decker DeGraaf has been named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, presented to the nation’s best tight end in college football.
 
DeGraaf is one of 45 tight ends on the list including 12 from the Big Ten Conference.
 
As a true freshman, DeGraaf appeared in all 13 games while starting in five. DeGraaf caught 15 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns. In his first collegiate snap, DeGraaf caught a 33-yard touchdown pass versus Weber State. In the following game, he had a career-long 41-yard reception against Eastern Michigan. He earned freshman all-american first team honors by Pro Football Focus, College Football Network and 247Sports and freshman tight end of the year by College Football Network.
 
The John Mackey Award was established in 2000 by the Nassau County Sports Commission. The recipient of the award will be presented at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Friday, December 12th on ESPN.
 
Washington Preseason Watch Lists
Maxwell Award – Jonah Coleman, Demond Williams Jr.
Butkus Award – Taariq “Buddah” Al-Uqdah
Wuerffel Trophy – Zach Durfee
Doak Walker Award – Jonah Coleman
Biletnikoff Award – Denzel Boston
John Mackey Award – Decker DeGraaf
 

Megha Ganne is challenged by Brooke Biermann on Sunday in the finals of the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.

It took 19 holes in the semifinals for both competitors to earn their way into the championship match of the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur tournament. Megha Ganne made it to the finals as the No. 11 seed and the highest-ranked player left in the tournament. She will take on the No. 41 seed, Brooke Biermann, who upset two top-10 seeds in her journey. Biermann will have to pull off another upset to become the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion. This is just the third time in the last 10 years that the finals of this event feature two players from the United States.

How to Watch Championship Match Today:

Date: Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

TV: The Golf Channel

Location: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Live stream Championship Match on Fubo: Start watching now!

Ganne is from Holmdel, New Jersey and holds four amateur tournament wins. She punched her ticket to the championship match after trailing by three strokes heading into the 12th hole against Ella Scaysbrook. She closed out the final eight holes with five birdies to pull off the comeback.

Biermann faced off against a fellow Missouri native in the semifinals, where she also needed 19 holes to earn the win. She blew a three-stroke lead through 15 holes, but with a par on the 19th hole, she was able to survive the semifinals.

Over the years, this tournament has been a launchpad for future stars in women’s golf. Rose Zhang, Lydia Ko, and Danielle Kang (twice) have all won this event since 2010 and have gone on to great success in both college and the LPGA Tour.

What Time Is the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship Match On?

The Championship Match will take place on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Tune in and catch some great golf action.

What Channel Is the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship Match On?

Looking to watch this match? Fans can tune into The Golf Channel to see the action. Make sure you subscribe to Fubo now to watch this matchup, as well as numerous other sports leagues.

Live stream Championship Match on Fubo: Start watching now!

Regional restrictions may apply.

Margie Maccoll

It was 45 years too late and “too bloody cold” in Canberra for Noosa-born Olympic boxer Benny Pike but it was a chance for him to catch up with friends when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley last week welcomed home the Australian team that competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Benny was one of 121 Australian athletes who went to the Moscow against the government’s demands to boycott the Games in protest at the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

Many athletes paid a high personal price, including those who were prevented by their sporting federations from attending but the courage of those who went may have helped safeguard future athletes from political interference and though snubbed since they were formally acknowledged last week.

Sitting in the stands looking down on the speeches Benny said what struck him was that they “never said sorry” for the treatment they received.

“Looking back, it is little wonder that many still bear scars from those days,” the Prime Minister said.

“That only makes the efforts and success of the Australian team at those Games all the more extraordinary. Australia won nine medals, including gold for Michelle Ford in the women’s 800m freestyle and gold in the men’s 4 x 100m medley.

“On this 45th anniversary we recognise all you have achieved – and acknowledge all you have overcome.”

Benny said the reunion for him was the most important part of the event and the dinner that night “was terrific”.

Benny Pike was one of two Sunshine Coast Olympians to attend the Moscow Olympics along with water polo player Julian Muspratt.

He said prior to leaving for the Games there had been a few awkward conversations.

“The government didn’t want us to go. I got a call from the president of Australian boxing who said do you want to go. I said yes. He said fine. Three weeks later we left.”

Benny said athletes found out they had made the Olympic team when their details were published in a column in the Sunday Mail sport section.

“There was no big story,” he said.

He felt he had earned his place at the Olympics having won Gold in the Presidents Cup in Jakarta and silver in the Kings Cup in Bangkok as well as attending the Commonwealth Games, the World Championships in Belgrade and the World Cup in Madison Square Gardens in the lead up to the event.

“I was psyched up to go to the Olympics,” he said.

“In Moscow it was fabulous. People were very kind.”

Benny said athletes were hosted to an event at the Australian Embassy in Moscow but they were not allowed to march behind the Australian flag at the Games.

On his return to Australia Benny said there was no official welcome home for returning athletes.

At the time Benny decided “that’s not good enough, we have to do something more” so he acted, initiating Sunshine Coast welcome home celebrations which began in 1984 when five Sunshine Coast athletes were welcomed home.

After 40 years of welcoming home Olympic athletes Benny was at last year’s event to welcome home Sunshine Coast’s Paris Olympic and Paralympic athletes, presented with a special award.

Benny said the Sunshine Coast was the first region to welcome home its Olympic and Paralympic athletes in 1984 and it’d “been a pleasure to be involved”.

As preparations are underway for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics Benny believes organisers should be listening more to the opinions of the many former Olympians and Paralympians living on the Sunshine Coast.

A year after Moscow the International Olympic Committee (IOC) asked a select group of high-profile athletes that included Australian swimmer Michelle Ford to address the 1981 congress. It was the first time athletes were allowed to address the world’s most powerful sporting body, enabling them to have a voice and be heard.

By: Ray Fisher


Sunday, August 10, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Foxes proved to be champions at the third annual Queens of the ‘Burgh girls volleyball tournament.

“This was our best year yet,” said Avonworth coach John Skarupa, who founded the event. “We had seven teams, 64 players. There were 37 high schools and 10 clubs represented. It was a great weekend that is meant to elevate Pittsburgh volleyball regardless of where you play.

“I’m excited to celebrate the third year of Queens of the ‘Burgh, an idea that blossomed into what I truly believe is the highlight of the year for girls volleyball. High school, club and recruiting can create immense pressure for these young women, and Queens was designed to break free from that stress — shining a spotlight on the extraordinary talent in our region while creating a positive and empowering environment through competition.”

The championship match Aug. 2 at All-American Field House in Monroeville featured the No. 4 Foxes against the No. 6 Cavaliers.

The Foxes earned a thrilling 28-26 victory, but the Cavs fought back the entire game. They were down 16-8 and rallied to take a late lead. The Foxes then slyly pulled away at the end.

“We did a round robin pool play format and then went into the playoff bracket,” Skarupa said. “We had amazing refs from the local chapter who did an excellent job.

“We also had numerous coaches show up for recruiting and many more who are checking out our footage. We record and stat every match through the Hudl/Balltime platform.”

The Foxes were led by St. Joseph senior Kate Giannetta, a 5-foot-7 setter who landed her team’s Most Valuable Queen award.

Other players for the Foxes were Eden Christian Academy’s Ava Arnold, a 5-9 outside hitter, South Fayette’s Kylee Partridge, a 5-4 defensive specialist, Butler’s Ashlan Tosadori, a 5-11 middle hitter, Hopewell’s Mikayla Kurta, a 6-1 middle hitter, Morgantown’s Kelly Ryan, a 5-10 right-side hitter, North Allegheny’s Alicia Mokube, a 5-10 middle hitter, Beaver’s Aubrey Bumblis, a 5-8 defensive specialist, and Mars’ Rylee Wooldridge, a 5-8 outside hitter,

Elena Arnold, Ava’s older sister, coached the championship squad, one of four teams that posted 2-4 records in round robin play. The Knights finished first with a 6-0 mark.

“I am so proud of the group of girls I had the chance to coach,” Arnold said. “We started off the day not so hot, going 0-3 to open pool play. I kept reminding the girls to view these moments not as disappointments but moments we can learn from. Since every team made the playoffs, we had no stress.

“The girls really started to click in the fourth game, and we won that one decidedly as well as the fifth. These girls looked like they had been playing together for months when the truth was, I drafted them together just the night before. We lost our sixth game to the undefeated No. 1 seed, the Knights, coached by Laney Wilson, my good friend and former roommate.”

Pool play began for the Foxes with a rematch against the Princesses, who defeated Arnold’s squad in the first match of the day.

“I really saw the team light up with a different energy this game,” Arnold said. “I had been coaching them all day to find the right balance of confidence without cockiness — knowing you’re talented and ready to show it but still respecting your opponent and seeking to be better. We then won out the rest of the day, defeating the Princesses and Knights for the first time and finally the Cavaliers in the championship in a nail-biter.

“I think what truly brought us to win was the humility and willingness to grow from each girl. Those nine girls are not just great athletes; they are great people. I knew I wanted to draft and coach a team of young women who are great sports and respectful to all they interact with. And those traits allowed them to connect with one another, trust the process and eventually win it all.”

Arnold, who is 21 and graduated from Eden Christian in 2022, started her collegiate volleyball career at Saint Francis. She transferred to Rollins College, where she is a 6-1 junior right-side hitter.

At Eden, she was a four-year varsity letter winner, two-time all-WPIAL second-team selection and three-time first-team all-section pick. She also was an AAU Academic All-American and an Under Armour All-American nominee.

“It was awesome for me to have some connections to the girls on my team, such as having my sister Ava as one of my players,” Arnold said. “Also, Kate Giannetta, who was our setter and tournament MVP, plays at a high school I used to play in section, and it is always fun for me to see big talent coming out of small single-A schools because we have to work so much harder to be noticed.

“This experience really solidified my love for coaching this sport. It is something I’ve always considered but now it gives me excitement to explore the other side of the game once I graduate.”

The Cavaliers were sparked in the two-event by Shaler’s Teagan Orga, a 5-6 defensive specialist who was chosen as her team’s Most Valuable Queen.

Other squad members were Bella Hoffman, a 5-8 setter and also from Shaler, Upper St. Clair’s Hayden Culp, a 6-foot outside hitter, Butler’s Brynn Cornibe, a 6-1 middle hitter, Southmore­land’s Ainsley Martin, a 5-3 defensive specialist, Baldwin’s Ashley Skowronski, a 5-4 defensive specialist, North Catholic’s Mikaila Measel, a 6-foot outside hitter, Neshannock’s Rian Owens, a 5-9 setter, and Pine-Richland’s Olivia Moye, a 6-foot middle hitter.

Orga and Moye are rising juniors; all the others are seniors.

Mailea Hufnagel, a Peters Township product and a sophomore at UVA Wise, coached the Cavs to the runner-up finish.

Hufnagel is a 5-10 outside/right-side hitter at UVA Wise. She was a four-year letter winner in high school and was named all-state as well as to the WPIAL Class 4A and Big 56 Conference first teams. She also was a first team all-section selection.

Other MVQ’s in the tournament included Shaler senior Octavia Dixon, a 5-9 OH for the Peacocks, North Allegheny junior Luana Tripon, a 5-7 OH for the Hawks, Mars senior Cece Christy, a 6-1 MH for the Knights, Ringgold senior McKenna Adams, a 5-8 OH for the Eagles, and Beaver sophomore Kayden Blinn, a 5-9 setter/right-side hitter for the Princesses.

Along with Arnold and Hufnagel, the tournament’s coaches were Danielle Caligiuri (Montour/Saint Peters) for the Peacocks, Brooke Sciullo (North Catholic/Clarion) for the Eagles, Kyra Schmidt (North Allegheny/IUP) for the Hawks, Laney Wilson (Albert Gallatin/Saint Francis) for the Knights and Bria Stepp (Seneca Valley/West Chester) for the Princesses.

North Catholic coach Amanda Fetter served as event director of the tournament.

“Queens wouldn’t be what it is today without the unwavering dedication of Amanda Fetter, who has been instrumental since its inception,” Skarupa said, “and Tyler Szymanski, who has built bridges to connect athletes and areas across the region.

“Add to that the phenomenal support from countless club and high school coaches I’m fortunate to call friends.”

Queens of the ‘Burgh was started in 2023 with 32 athletes and has doubled to 64 in 2025.

The 55 players in last year’s tournament earned 44 all-section awards, 31 all-WPIAL honors, 12 all-PIAA accolades and 13 WPIAL or PIAA titles.

Premier Wealth Partners was the official sponsor of the Queens of the ‘Burgh combine/draft
party.

Tags: Quaker Valley

The Poston Butte seniors headed to Pinetop, Ariz., to hold their leadership camp in June to get ready for the 2025 season by talking through any issues that need to be addressed and set the standards for this season. (Photo courtesy of Poston Butte football social media)

All football programs make a transition once the seniors turn in their equipment, and the then-junior class moves into that power position of being the group of players preparing for their final season wearing the school uniforms.

The Poston Butte tradition is to take the senior class up north in June for a leadership council along with giving the new core group an opportunity to set the standards for the upcoming summer session.

The senior group for the Broncos spent time in Pinetop, hashed things out, created a bond and prepped for what they hope is a year they’ll cherish the rest of their days.

“Some of the seniors weren’t big fans of each other and we were able to get some things said that needed to be said to get us headed in the right direction,” senior running back and linebacker Easton Filetti said Saturday at the program’s first media day. “It’s our chance to lead and we want to go about it the right way, and we were able set the expectations and standards for this season.”

And they are thinking big.

On Saturday, it held it’s first ever Media Day. 

It also doesn’t stop at winning X amount of games or staking claim to the 4A Desert Sky Region title.

It begins and ends with raising the gold ball on December 5.

“We expect to win the state championship,” said senior quarterback Grady Garner. “It’s what we talked about (in June) and something we’ve talked to the team about. We set that as the goal and we are doing everything now to make sure it happens by working hard every day.”

The Poston Butte seniors spent time in Pinetop bonding in preparation for their final season as Broncos. (Photo courtesy of Poston Butte football socail media)

It’s a bold statement for a program that went 5-5 last season with a large 2025 class contributing. It’s not out of the realm of possibility as Poston Butte showed went it 11-3 in the 2021 season and led in the fourth quarter of the 4A state championship game before losing 33-28 to Casa Grande.

First-year head coach Rod Holmes was the defensive coordinator on that squad and has been part of the program for a decade. He takes over for Dain Thompson, who stepped down after last season, but remains involved as the freshmen head coach.

Holmes, who was the head coach at Bullhead City Mohave for two seasons (2012, 2013), understands the seniors’ desire to go out on top and he’s good with putting that type of goal out there knowing the talent on this roster has the ability to do just that.

And with the expanded 4A playoffs – 24 teams instead of 16 – he knows all it takes finding a way into the postseason.

“This is a neighborhood school with kids who take pride in being the program for four years,” Holmes said. “We’ve seen it come together here before. It takes a big win, and then the belief starts taking over and anything is possible after that.”

Poston Butte, which has gone 17-15 in the years following the title game run, plays in a tough 4A region with the likes of Snowflake and Eastmark along with a difficult non-region schedule that includes opening the season at 4A defending champion Mica Mountain on Aug. 28.

Might as well get that first test out of the way early.

“The goal is to go 14-0,” Filetti said. “If we’re going to do that, we have to be focused at all times, have great attitudes and prioritize practice. We are setting the highest standard possible and doing everything possible we can to make it happen.

“I believe anything is possible. A lot of people doubt us. I don’t because I know what we can accomplish. I believe you should always shoot for your absolute best and right now that is 14-0. If that changes (with a loss), then we adjust and expect to win the rest of the games. We have that standard, and we try and match it every day.”