Although junior Laila Krefetz never planned on becoming a high school sports photographer, she discovered a passion for it after taking Digital Photography her sophomore year.

After picking up a few techniques, Krefetz recognized her natural talent for the skill. “I wanted to take it further, so I joined the AP Photography class,” she said.

At the beginning of her junior year, Krefetz began attending football games, where she captured fast-paced action shots and learned to anticipate key moments on the field.

As she took more photos, people started to notice her talent. Athletes reposted her pictures, coaches complimented her work, and parents reached out to thank her for capturing special moments. “I feel extremely grateful for the compliments, whether at a game or when I’m passing someone in the hall,” she said.

“The recognition means the absolute world to me, and I don’t think people realize how much I appreciate it,” Krefetz added. 

Krefetz saw a significant difference between her early photos and her current work as her technique and editing improved. “If you look back on some of my earlier photos, like from football season, you can see how much I’ve grown through my photos. My editing and technique make me feel good knowing I’m getting better consistently,” she said.

As her confidence grew, so did her passion for sports photography. Krefetz began attending more games, from water polo to lacrosse, eager to improve and add to her portfolio.

“I like capturing those key moments, like sprinting down the field to shoot a goal, hyping teammates up before the game, or a group huddle with coaches,” she said.

Krefetz explained that while getting the perfect shot can sometimes be challenging, the excitement of the game keeps her motivated. “This opportunity has opened many doors for me, and I owe it all to the athletes, parents, and coaches because they have shown so much support,” Krefetz said. “Their encouragement has made a huge difference.”

Krefetz is already thinking about how to keep photography in her life after high school. Though she doesn’t plan to major in photography, she hopes to continue capturing sports moments in college while pursuing her other academic interests.

“Right now I am saving up for my camera equipment so I can continue it in college,” she said. “It’s a passion that I am serious about, not to study in college, but possibly to take photos on the sidelines of sports games.” 

Check out Laila Krefetz’s latest sports photography on her official website, where she showcases her photos from school sports events.

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — A historic season for senior Allie Cataldo and junior Hannah Couch came to an end last week at the WCC Beach Volleyball Tournament. That duo paired in every match at the ones for the Gaels this season, amassing the most wins of any pair in a single season in program history. This helped lead the Gaels to their first 20 win season since 2019, their second ever in program history. As such, both Cataldo and Couch were honored as second team members of the All-WCC team. 

Cataldo and Couch paired up to go 24-11 from the one spot this season, including upset wins over the top pairs from Arizona, Washington and Tulane. Both of them surpassed 100 matches played as Gael this season, with Cataldo appearing in 108 (5th most in program history) and Couch appearing in 103 (6th most in program history). Couch has now won 59 matches in her time, tied for seventh most in program history, while Cataldo has won 58, tied for ninth most. As a pair, the dynamic duo have won 29 matches together at the ones throughout their SMC careers, the most of any pair at the top position in program history. This is Allie Cataldo’s first time earning an All-WCC nod, while Hannah Couch finds herself as a second team honoree for the second straight year. 

The Gaels season came to an end at the WCC Quarterfinals, finishing with a record of 20-16. Saint Mary’s went 9-4 against conference foes, and unbeaten at home for the season. Head Coach Janice Harrer became the winningest coach in program history in what was a rousing success of a season for the 2025 Gaels. 

#GaelsRise

IRVING, Texas – After placing second in the Big 12, three from Sun Devil Beach Volleyball are on the 2025 Big 12 All-Conference Team: Daniella Kensinger, Ava Kirunchyk and Samaya Morin.

Arizona State has had at least one all-conference honoree for three years in a row. Additionally, three in the same season ties the program record, which also was achieved in 2017. Kensinger, a junior, has now received all-conference nods in each of her three seasons after being All-Pac-12 in 2024 and All-WCC in 2023. For Kirunchyk and Morin, both redshirt juniors, this is their first all-conference award.

For the full Big 12 All-Conference Team, head to the conference website.

Kensinger had another stand-out season for the Sand Devils. She had a 21-14 record, playing primarily at the No. 1 court but also seeing time on court three. During the season, she had six wins over the top pairs from ranked teams, as well as a win against No. 7 Florida State’s threes. This season, she was the Big 12 Pair of the Week on March 5 with Ava Williamson, with whom she had a six-match winning streak.

Kirunchyk put together a 22-10 record in 2025, the second-best individual win total on the team. She played on the top two courts for the majority of the season. Against pairs from ranked opponents, she had nine wins, including four against top-10 teams and three against conference foe TCU. The win over the Horned Frogs’ top pair came in the Big 12 Championship Finals. Kirunchyk was paired with Morin and they swept TCU’s No.1 duo, the first time they had been swept all season. For their efforts, Morin and Kirunchyk were named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team. Kirunchyk also won a Big 12 Pair of the Week award this season, winning on April 9 with Ava Williamson. That pair had a 10-match winning streak this season, which is the second-longest streak by a pair in program history.  

After missing her first season with ASU in 2024 due to injury, Morin came back strong in 2025, compiling a 17-9 record. She played mostly between the No. 1 and 2 courts, earning an 11-6 mark on the top court. She had five wins over pairs from ranked teams, including two top-10 wins over No. 7 Florida State (helping the team get the dual upset) and against No. 2 TCU. Morin earned Big 12 All-Tournament Team honors alongside Kirunchyk after they went 3-1 at the tournament with a win over TCU’s top duo.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The UCLA Bruins have four players represented on the 2025 AVCA All-America teams, as announced by the AVCA, which unveiled its 13th annual Collegiate Beach All-America Teams today.

This year, the first and second teams include 16 members each, and the 32 players honored represent 12 schools. UCLA has now produced 30 AVCA All-Americans.

The Bruins’ court one pair of junior Maggie Boyd and freshman Sally Perez were both named AVCA First Team All-Americans. It marked the third-straight year that Boyd has made the First Team. Perez was the only freshman in the country to earn First Team accolades. The duo is 28-4 (all on court one) on the year entering the NCAA Championship.

Heading the list of 2025 honorees are a pair of players who become four-time All-Americans: Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno of TCU. Alvarez has been a first-team pick every season, and she becomes only the sixth beach player ever to earn AVCA first-team All-America honors four times.

UCLA’s court two pair of graduate Peri Brennan and senior Natalie Myszkowski landed on the Second Team. For Brennan, it was her third-straight Second Team All-America plaudits while it was the first for Myszkowski.

A quartet of schools each have four All-Americans. That group includes Cal Poly, Stanford, UCLA, and USC.

The awards selections were made by the AVCA Collegiate Beach All-America Committee: Beth Van Fleet of Georgia State (chair), Russell Brock, LSU,  Andrew Fuller of Stanford, Hector Gutierrez of TCU, Kristina Hernandez of Stetson, Evan Silberstein, Hawai’i, Darin Van Horn of UT Chattanooga, Allison Voigt of Boise State, and Eyal Zimet of Tulane.

HONOLULU — The University of Hawai’i Athletics Department’s highest individual honor, the Jack Bonham Award, was presented to Lily Wahinekapu of women’s basketball, Jordan Wedderburn of women’s water polo, and Brayden Schager of football at the 12^th annual H Awards on Wednesday night at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
Leadership on the court, in the pool, and on the field, along with excellence in the classroom and service in the community link the 2025 recipients of the award considered UH Athletics’ most prestigious honor.
 
The Jack Bonham Award is named for the late assistant athletics director who was killed in a plane crash in American Samoa in 1974. Bonham was returning to the islands from New Zealand where he was on a recruiting trip at the British Commonwealth Games.
 
Established in 1974, the Bonham Award is given annually to the top male and female senior student-athlete who “best exemplifies the ideals for which Jack Bonham stood for in the areas of athletic excellence, academic achievement, public service, leadership and character.”
 
Co-honorees received the women’s award for the second straight year and the fifth time overall. Wahinekapu is the 12^th women’s basketball student-athlete to earn the award and third in the last four years, following Amy Atwell (2022) and Olivia Davies (2024). Wedderburn is the third water polo honoree and the second in the last three years, joining Andrea Nishioka (2001) and Emma van Rossum (2023).

Schager is the 17th football honoree and first since Kealoha Pilares was the male  recipient in 2011. He is also the first quarterback to win the award since Colt Brennan in 2008.

 

Lily Wahinekapu, Women’s Basketball

‘Ohana has been at the core of Wahinekapu’s decorated three-year athletic and academic careers as a member of the Rainbow Wahine basketball program. Playing in front of family and friends in the arena and alongside her sister in the UH backcourt, Wahinekapu led the team in scoring each of her three seasons while helping the ‘Bows capture two Big West regular-season titles and a conference tournament championship on their way to three national postseason tournament appearances.

 

She was twice named to the All-Big West first team and in 2025 became just the third UH player to be named Big West Player of the Year. She became the 25^th member of the program’s 1,000-point club and ended her career 17^th on the all-time scoring list. She also ranks seventh in made 3-pointers.

 

A team captain as a senior, Wahinekapu received the Ah Chew Goo Award as the program’s “most valuable team player.” In the classroom, she earned Academic All-Big West honors each of her three years at UH and was twice named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.

 

The product of Kāne’ohe, Wahinekapu also gave back to the Windward O’ahu community in service projects including cleanups at Waimānalo Beach and Punalu’u Lo’i. She also helped fundraise for the Hawai’i Foodbank as part of Maui wildfire relief efforts and has worked with special needs children with Team Impact.

 

“Lily Wahinekapu has been one of my favorite athletes to coach,” UH women’s basketball head coach Laura Beeman said. “She is passionate and an incredible teammate. She has represented the university and the state with pride.”

Jordan Wedderburn, Water Polo

Prioritizing team success over individual accolades, Jordan Wedderburn has exemplified selfless leadership while contributing to the most successful four-year stretch in UH water polo history.

 

Wedderburn served as a team captain for South Africa’s water polo team in the Tokyo Olympic Games before enrolling at UH and has ranked among the team’s scoring leaders each of her four years while thriving in varying roles within the lineup. She further elevated her production as a senior, posting a career-high 65 goals entering the NCAA Championship to join UH’s career top 10. She also tied program records with three Big West Player of the Week awards this season and four in her career.

 

She has helped UH claim three Big West regular-season titles with a 26-1 cumulative record in conference play, and back-to-back Big West Championship crowns. She helped UH ascend to No. 2 in the national polls in 2024 — the highest ranking in program history — and the ‘Bows have maintained a spot in the top three for much of this season.

 

“Jordan has always been the spirit of the team, providing energy in a positive manner whenever the team needs it,” UH water polo coach James Robinson said. “Jordan plays a role for this team that she never played before in her water polo career. Every year Jordan has had to make sacrifices and play a different role than she probably would like to, but she has never once complained.

 

“Jordan was a leader by example, and has always found ways to contribute in the biggest moments.”

 

Wedderburn holds a 3.78 grade-point average while majoring in kinesiology and entered her senior year as a two-time Academic All-Big West and ACWPC All-Academic honoree. She has served as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative for two years and worked with Access Surf, helping those with physical or cognitive disabilities to swim or surf. She’s also participated in Kōkua Learning Farm work days and with the Child Life Program, spending time with children going through treatment for retinoblastoma (an eye cancer) and their families.

 

Brayden Schager, Football

On the field, Brayden Schager earned a place among UH’s storied line of quarterbacks over his career as a three-year starter. Off the field, his efforts to spread joy to young people with special needs — both in Hawai’i and his home state of Texas — drew national acclaim.

 

Schager made 37 starts at quarterback in his UH career, the second highest total in program history, including a record streak of 33 in a row. He picked up All-Mountain West honorable mention recognition in 2023 and closed his career ranked among the most prolific passers in program history at No. 4 in passing yards (9,096) and total offense (9,415). He’s also fifth in passing touchdowns (60) and touchdowns responsible for (68).

 

A three-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree, Schager was one of 11 FBS players nationally selected to the 2024 AFCA Good Works Team, which honored student-athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their “good works” off the field. He was also a semifinalist for the 2024 Wuerffel Award, considered college football’s premier honor for community service.

 

Throughout his stay in Hawai’i, he remained committed to organizing the Buddy Bowl, an event he founded with his sister in their hometown of Highland Park, Texas. The game gives athletes with physical and mental disabilities an opportunity to play with their peers with the support of fans, the Highland Park football team and cheerleaders. During his time in Hawai’i, he participated in the Unity Prom for special needs students and took part in the Night to Shine where he formed a close bond with a dear friend with special needs who he continues to call and text. He also helped develop the BraddahBall, with proceeds going to Maui relief efforts.

 

“He was a team captain for us and spent the last three years on our leadership committee,” UH football coach Timmy Chang said. “He has been a focal point of the program, not only on the field but off the field as well with his engagement within the community. … He is an exceptional individual and that was displayed during his time at the University of Hawai’i. Brayden Schager helped lay the foundation for the future of our program.”