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9 foods high in vitamin K, according to dietitians

Published

3 months ago

March 18, 2025

9 foods high in vitamin K, according to dietitians

Green or purple, Rizzo calls cabbage an “affordable, crispy veggie that adds flavor and nutrition to any meal.”Parsley delivers a jumbo dose of the nutrient, along with vitamins A and C. More than a garnish, Rizzo calls parsley a nutrient-rich, flavorful herb to season foods. Parsley can be added to soups, sauces, pesto and smoothies, too.Most U.S. diets contain adequate amounts of the nutrient, according to the National Institutes of Health. The recommended daily amount is 120 micrograms for men and 90 micrograms for women.The body needs vitamin K to support normal blood clotting, wound healing and strong bones.Vitamin K doesn’t get as much attention as nutrients like vitamin C or D, but it’s important for health and abundant in green leafy vegetables and other foods.“That’s not surprising, given that most people don’t eat the recommended amount of veggies every day,” Rizzo says.“Vitamin K plays an important role in bone metabolism and maintaining a healthy bone mass. This is really important for people to know, especially postmenopausal women who are worried about bone loss,” says registered dietitian Natalie Rizzo, nutrition editor for TODAY.com.Broccoli is part of the cruciferous family of vegetables, which contain biologically active compounds that have been studied for their potential to prevent cancer.Vitamin K also aids in the production of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which supplies energy to the body’s cells and muscles, she adds.But there’s conflicting information on whether people get enough vitamin K in their diet, Rizzo notes.Eating a diet high in vitamin K is linked with a lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attack and stroke, studies have found.Besides vitamin K, turnip greens are loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C and folate.If your diet is lacking in vitamin K, ahead you’ll find nine foods high in vitamin K.However some research has found only about one-third of adults eat enough of it.Like spinach, kale is rich in nutrients and low in calories. But it’s slightly higher in fiber and protein than spinach. “Kale is packed with beta-carotene and the sight-saving nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin,” registered dietitian Frances Largeman-Roth previously told TODAY.com.

Parsley

1 cup fresh, 984 micrograms of vitamin K
1 tablespoon fresh, 62 micrograms of vitamin K

One study calls vitamin K “a neglected player in cardiovascular health,” with researchers looking into whether vitamin K has a role in preventing the calcification of coronary arteries — the buildup of calcium that hardens and narrows them, raising heart disease risk.Registered dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick includes it in her list of foods to add to the Mediterranean diet, noting parsley may help in reducing the risk of several cancers and has been associated with better brain health.

Collard greens

1 cup raw, 157 micrograms of vitamin K

It’s also a cruciferous vegetable, plus cabbage is high in fiber and antioxidant compounds. Enjoy it in coleslaw, kimchi or sauerkraut, or braised for a hot side dish.Cassetty puts spinach at the top of her healthiest vegetables list, praising its “impressive nutrient profile and wide-ranging health benefits.”

Brussels sprouts

1 cup raw, 156 micrograms of vitamin K

Registered dietitian Keri Glassman includes this cruciferous vegetable on her list of inflammation-fighting foods to add to your diet. Brussels sprouts contain sulforaphane, an antioxidant that’s been shown to reduce levels of inflammatory compounds, she notes.“However, most people don’t have their vitamin K levels assessed during a normal blood draw because deficiencies are rare.”

Spinach

1 cup raw, 145 micrograms of vitamin K

The fiber in broccoli promotes digestion and helps control appetite, she adds.You’ll get doses of calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium.“Obviously, calcium and vitamin D are incredibly important, but vitamin K factors into bone health, too.”

Turnip greens

1 cup raw, 138 micrograms of vitamin K

They come with a lot of fiber and make registered dietitian Grace Derocha’s list of high-fiber vegetables with major health benefits. Turnip greens are also regularly found in soul food recipes.One of the first shots babies receive is an injection of vitamin K to prevent potentially life-threatening bleeding.

Broccoli

1 cup raw, 92 micrograms of vitamin K

Registered dietitian Samantha Cassetty includes collard greens in her list of the healthiest vegetables, noting they contain antioxidants and are packed with nutrients, including 25% of the daily requirement for calcium.Eating foods with glucosinolates — the sulfur-containing compounds in broccoli — may protect cells from DNA damage, inactivate carcinogens, promote cancer cell death and have anti-inflammatory effects in the body, Rizzo notes.Symptoms of a vitamin K deficiency include bruising and bleeding problems since blood will take longer to clot, the NIH notes. If you’re taking a blood thinner, talk with your doctor before changing your diet.

Kale

1 cup raw, 81 micrograms of vitamin K

Spinach can be eaten cooked or raw, and added to salads, smoothies, soups and pasta dishes.If you’re assembling a salad, the type of lettuce matters. Iceberg lettuce is significantly less nutrient-dense than other greens, dietitians say, so a better choice may be romaine or green leaf lettuce.

Lettuce

1 cup of Romaine lettuce, 48 micrograms of vitamin K
1 cup green leaf lettuce, 45 micrograms of vitamin K

Collard greens are also a low-carb, keto-friendly vegetable, Kirkpatrick says.They’re delicious when roasted, or seared to encourage caramelization, or raw and crunchy — try one of TODAY’s Brussels sprouts recipes.“The darker colors of the lettuce make it more of a rock star,” says Susan Campbell, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic.

Cabbage

1 cup raw, 53 micrograms of vitamin K

Certain proteins prevent calcification throughout the body, and vitamin K is required for them to function, Kyla Shea, Ph.D., a scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, previously told TODAY.com.Besides helping to protect the body against chronic conditions like cancer and heart disease, eating spinach and other green leafy vegetables seems to have benefits for brain health and may slow cognitive decline with aging, a study found.

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‘Brotherhood’: Camaraderie defines UCLA men’s volleyball’s winning culture, legacy

UCLA Athletics is synonymous with success. Boasting 124 NCAA national championships, UCLA has some of the most memorable moments, teams and players in the history of collegiate athletics. Headlining this mosaic of success is probably the most well-known coach of all time – John Wooden. He won a record 10 national championships – including seven […]

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4 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

UCLA Athletics is synonymous with success.

Boasting 124 NCAA national championships, UCLA has some of the most memorable moments, teams and players in the history of collegiate athletics.

Headlining this mosaic of success is probably the most well-known coach of all time – John Wooden.

He won a record 10 national championships – including seven in a row – as head honcho of UCLA men’s basketball, all while mentoring greats such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton.

And his imprint on the UCLA campus is even greater.

Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” adorns the walls of the student gym named after him. His iconic statue stands outside Pauley Pavilion – the arena forever memorializing his career and home to the court that commemorates him and his wife, Nell.

But while Wooden’s legacy stands the test of time, Pauley Pavilion is also home to UCLA’s winningest sports program.

Enter: men’s volleyball.

A juggernaut in the history of the sport, the men’s volleyball program leads all of UCLA Athletics with 21 national championships.

The 2024 UCLA men's volleyball team celebrates after winning the NCAA national championship. (Daily Bruin file photo) — The 2024 UCLA men’s volleyball team celebrates after winning the NCAA national championship. (Daily Bruin file photo)

And for former Bruin outside hitter Ethan Champlin – who played at UCLA from 2021-2024 – winning is not only ingrained into the culture of Bruin volleyball but also curated through the deliberate development of its athletes.

“It can bring you to tears sometimes to think about the privilege and the experiences that you get to have with such a great group of guys that are not only just tremendous at their craft but your friends,” Champlin said. “I invited the whole team to my wedding because winning is such a bonding experience, and that’s what UCLA is. UCLA brings winners. They carry winners on their roster.”

Although the Bruins most recently fell in the national championship game to Long Beach State, their appearance marked three consecutive NCAA title appearances, with the first two resulting in Bruin championships.

Champlin – a three-time AVCA First Team All-American – was an integral part of the back-to-back championships, winning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award in 2024.

While Champlin spearheaded a squad that broke an almost 20-year national championship drought, it is the relationships he built with his teammates and the culture they established that he values most.

“To be able to have our team written in the record books for the national championships we won, especially after the drought that UCLA had had since 2006, it’s just a tremendous honor,” Champlin said. “There’s not a single person on the team that I wouldn’t have, that I would have traded to have a different teammate. They all brought very different personalities, character traits, skills, but every single one of them was valued.”

Former Bruin outside hitter Ethan Champlin raises his arms to receive the ball. Champlin played for UCLA men's volleyball from 2021-2024. (Shane Yu/Daily Bruin staff) — Former Bruin outside hitter Ethan Champlin raises his arms to receive the ball. Champlin played for UCLA men’s volleyball from 2021-2024. (Shane Yu/Daily Bruin staff)

And while national glory illustrates the pedigree of a team, quality coaching can turn a great program into a legendary one.

Wooden passed the torch to the likes of Larry Brown and Jim Harrick. The former is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member, and the latter is the only coach other than Wooden to capture a men’s basketball national title for UCLA.

Only three coaches have helmed the men’s volleyball program since the collegiate sport’s NCAA inception in 1970.

The newest of the bunch, coach John Hawks, finished his first year with a national title appearance this season. But in 2022, he also won AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year after leading the Bruins to the nation’s top hitting percentage with a .374 clip.

On the other end, Al Scates – the Wooden of UCLA men’s volleyball – led the program to 19 national championships, all while producing the next generation of volleyball greats, including UCLA’s second coach, John Speraw.

For junior libero Coleman McDonough, being able to continue Scates’ legacy is something he treasures.

“I’m a Pennsylvania kid, so getting recruited by UCLA – it’s definitely something you never thought would happen, especially coming from the storied legacy left behind by Al Scates and all that,” McDonough said. “It’s just great that you can contribute in any way possible to the legacy.”

Between Scates and Hawks is Speraw – a legend on the court as a player, on the bench as an assistant and as the head honcho for 12 years from 2013-2024.

Speraw’s trophy case holds 10 national championship trophies – two as a player, three as an assistant coach and five as a head coach – yet the scope of his impact on volleyball is arguably larger.

“In terms of volleyball, he was the greatest coach that I’ve ever had,” Champlin said. “I always felt like he had our team’s back. … I’d say that I was a pretty self-taught player, but the things that he said and the things that he taught me in terms of volleyball skills – I owe so much to him, and as a coach, he’s got a big reputation. He’s kind of a larger-than-life figure.”

Former UCLA men's volleyball coach John Speraw stands with his arms crossed. Speraw coached UCLA from 2013-2024. (Daily Bruin file photo) — Former UCLA men’s volleyball coach John Speraw stands with his arms crossed. Speraw coached UCLA from 2013-2024. (Daily Bruin file photo)

Similarly to how Speraw molded the likes of Champlin, setter Micah Maʻa, outside hitter Garrett Muagututia and other current and future Olympians, Scates’ impact also stretched far beyond the walls of Pauley Pavilion.

Former Bruins not only line the rosters of men’s and women’s national and Olympic teams, but they also represent a significant part of the coaching staff.

Before Speraw’s coaching retirement this past year, he led the men’s Olympic team from 2013-2024, earning a bronze medal both in 2016 and 2024, while also taking gold at both the 2015 FIVB World Cup and 2014 FIVB World League. Speraw took on the position as CEO and president of USA Volleyball after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Likewise, Scates’ apprentices – Erik Sullivan, Brandon Taliaferro and Karch Kiraly – and Hawks all fill roles on United States national teams. Sullivan heads the women’s team, with Taliaferro taking an assistant role alongside him. Kiraly replaced Speraw to helm the men’s team, while Hawks took lead on the U21 national squad.

Despite their impact on the national and professional stages, sophomore outside hitter Luca Curci said UCLA volleyball alumni are still present in the current culture and locker room.

“They’re a big part of our team, for sure,” Curci said. “We’re always doing alumni nights after all games and stuff like that, doing events so we can all be close still, and they help us a lot with donations and stuff like that.”

But relationships are more valuable than trophies – exemplified by the camaraderie between Champlin and former Bruin outside hitter and teammate Grant Sloane, who served as a groomsman at Champlin’s wedding.

“He did everything he could to get me to come to UCLA, and that ended up being at the expense of his own playing time and his own glory, and I benefited from that more than I’ll ever know,” Champlin said. “And that also embodies my experience at UCLA and the selfless people that I had on the team who showed me humility that I could never have and selflessness that I wish I could have in my best moments.”

Although capturing championships forges core memories, McDonough said brotherhood lasts a lifetime.

“The biggest thing I’ve taken away is the relationships that you build at UCLA. The people here at the school make this place special, so having that brotherhood to have for your whole life is something that I’ll take away, more than just the national championships,” McDonough said.

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Appalachian State Volleyball Announces 2025 Schedule

App State Volleyball head coach Chad Sutton announced the schedule for the 2025 season, his first in charge of the Mountaineers. This fall’s slate will feature a nonconference tournament, a pair of nonconference midweek matches and eight home conference matchups. The Mountaineers’ nonconference slate will feature clashes with a trio of ACC opponents and a […]

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26 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

App State Volleyball head coach Chad Sutton announced the schedule for the 2025 season, his first in charge of the Mountaineers.

This fall’s slate will feature a nonconference tournament, a pair of nonconference midweek matches and eight home conference matchups. The Mountaineers’ nonconference slate will feature clashes with a trio of ACC opponents and a clash with Big 10 contender Michigan State.

Season tickets are available to purchase and renew for $65. App State faculty and staff have the opportunity to redeem a discount for a $35 season ticket by calling the ticket office at 828-262-7733. Fans interested in courtside seats may also call the ticket office for availability.

”I am really excited for this schedule,” Sutton said. “We have a strong non conference slate composed of P4’s and high RPI mid-major opponents. I believe this will be critical to our development and help prepare us to compete in the Sun Belt, while pursuing our goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament.”

The Mountaineers will open non conference play at the College of Charleston Classic. App State will take on Mercer in that event on Aug. 29 before challenging the College of Charleston and Eastern Kentucky on Aug. 30.

The Black and Gold will open its home slate with a midweek clash against Elon on Sept. 2 in the Holmes Convocation Center. App State will take on VCU and Virginia in the Cavalier Classic in Charlottesville, Va. (Sept. 5-6) before heading down to Kennesaw, Ga., for the Kennesaw State Invitational (Sept. 12-13) to clash with Michigan State and Kennesaw State. On Sept. 16, App State will head to Chapel Hill for a midweek clash against North Carolina before hosting the Mountaineer Classic on Sept. 19-21 in Holmes. The tournament will feature a clash with Duke on Sept. 19 and a match against Davidson on Sept. 21.

App State’s conference slate will feature eight home matches, beginning with a pair of matches against James Madison on Sept. 26 and 27. The Mountaineers will travel to Lafayette, La., to challenge Louisiana on Oct. 3 and 4 before returning to the High Country to host Old Dominion on Oct. 10 and 11. After stops in Statesboro, Ga., and Conway, S.C., to take on Georgia Southern (Oct. 16 and 17) and Coastal Carolina (Oct. 24 and 25), the Mountaineers will return to Boone to host Georgia State on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The regular season slate will wrap up with a pair of road matches against Marshall (Nov. 6 and 7) and a weekend in Boone against Troy (Nov. 14 and 15).

The Sun Belt Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 20-23 in Foley, Ala.

{Information provided by Appalachian State Athletics}

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Schedule, all results, scores and standings

Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 – schedule, results and scores All start times listed in local time Preliminary round week 1 (11 – 15 June) 11 June 2025 Pool 1 in Quebec City, Canada (EDT, GMT-4) 11:00 – Bulgaria vs Italy 16:30 – Argentina vs France 20:00 – Germany vs Canada Pool 2 in […]

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44 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Men’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 – schedule, results and scores

All start times listed in local time

Preliminary round week 1 (11 – 15 June)

11 June 2025

Pool 1 in Quebec City, Canada (EDT, GMT-4)

11:00 – Bulgaria vs Italy
16:30 – Argentina vs France
20:00 – Germany vs Canada

Pool 2 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (BRT, GMT-3)

14:00 – Ukraine vs USA
17:30 – Brazil vs Islamic Republic of Iran
21:00 – Slovenia vs Cuba

Pool 3 in Xi’an, People’s Republic of China (CST, GMT+8)

13:30 – Poland vs Netherlands
17:00 – People’s Republic of China vs Japan
20:30 – Serbia vs Türkiye

12 June 2025

Pool 1 in Quebec City, Canada (EDT, GMT-4)

16:30 – Germany vs Italy
20:00 – Argentina vs Canada

Pool 2 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (BRT, GMT-3)

17:30 – Brazil vs Cuba
21:00 – USA vs Islamic Republic of Iran

Pool 3 in Xi’an, People’s Republic of China (CST, GMT+8)

17:00 – People’s Republic of China vs Serbia
20:30 – Poland vs Japan

13 June 2025

Pool 1 in Quebec City, Canada (EDT, GMT-4)

16:30 – Bulgaria vs Argentina
20:00 – France vs Italy

Pool 2 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (BRT, GMT-3)

17:30 – Ukraine vs Cuba
21:00 – Islamic Republic of Iran vs Slovenia

Pool 3 in Xi’an, People’s Republic of China (CST, GMT+8)

17:00 – Japan vs Serbia
20:30 – Netherlands vs Türkiye

14 June 2025

Pool 1 in Quebec City, Canada (EDT, GMT-4)

16:30 – Canada vs France
20:00 – Bulgaria vs Germany

Pool 2 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (BRT, GMT-3)

10:00 – Ukraine vs Brazil
13:30 – USA vs Slovenia

Pool 3 in Xi’an, People’s Republic of China (CST, GMT+8)

15:00 – People’s Republic of China vs Netherlands
19:00 – Türkiye vs Poland

15 June 2025

Pool 1 in Quebec City, Canada (EDT, GMT-4)

11:00 – Argentina vs Italy
14:30 – Germany vs France
18:00 – Bulgaria vs Canada

Pool 2 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (BRT, GMT-3)

10:00 – Brazil vs Slovenia
13:30 – Ukraine vs Islamic Republic of Iran
17:00 – Cuba vs USA

Pool 3 in Xi’an, People’s Republic of China (CST, GMT+8)

11:30 – Netherlands vs Japan
15:00 – People’s Republic of CHina vs Türkiye
19:00 – Poland vs Serbia

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UCLA’s Ryder Dodd Wins 2025 Men’s Cutino Award

Courtesy: UCLA Athletics SAN FRANCISCO — The Olympic Club announced late Saturday night that UCLA freshman attacker Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, Calif./JSerra Catholic HS) has been named the 2025 Peter J. Cutino Award winner. The Cutino Award is an iconic honor in NCAA water polo that recognizes the best men’s and women’s players each year. Dodd became the first Bruin to […]

Published

55 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Courtesy: UCLA Athletics

SAN FRANCISCO — The Olympic Club announced late Saturday night that UCLA freshman attacker Ryder Dodd (Long Beach, Calif./JSerra Catholic HS) has been named the 2025 Peter J. Cutino Award winner. The Cutino Award is an iconic honor in NCAA water polo that recognizes the best men’s and women’s players each year.

Dodd became the first Bruin to claim the prize since attacker Nicolas Saveljic was awarded the trophy in 2021 for the 2020 season, which like the 2024 campaign, culminated with a National Championship win over USC. He is also just the fourth different Bruin and the fifth overall winner on the UCLA men’s side, joining Garret Danner who won the award in 2016, and Sean Kern, who claimed the title in 1998 and 1999, the first two Cutino Awards ever presented.

Dodd helped the Bruins (26-2) win the 2024 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championship, the 13th in UCLA’s storied history. Named a First-Team All-American in 2024, he scored twice in the NCAA Championship game, the Bruins’ fourth win of the season over the Trojans.

The win also marked the fifth NCAA Championship for UCLA Head Coach Adam Wright while in charge of the Men’s Water Polo team, with all five titles coming against USC. It is Wright’s ninth NCAA title overall, as he also won two as a player at UCLA (1999 and 2000), one last year with the women’s program (2024), and one more as an assistant coach with the women’s team in 2009.
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Dodd wrote himself into the MPSF record books this past season when he scored a league-record 102 goals. It was also a UCLA freshman record and the second-most goals scored in school history. He also added 32 assists to lead the MPSF in scoring with 134 points. He also led the MPSF in sprints won (46) while finishing second on the Bruin squad in steals (32) and field blocks (11), and third in drawn exclusions (30). Named the ACWPC National Player of the Year, he also was chosen as the MPSF Player and Newcomer of the Year, the first person in league history to earn both honors in the same season.

Dodd, who was named the MVP of the NCAA Championship, scored in all 28 games of his rookie season, with multiple goals in all but one. A four-time MPSF weekly award honoree, earning Delfina MPSF West Player of the Week and S&R Sport Newcomer of the Week twice each, he scored a career-best eight goals in an 18-12 win at then-No. 7 Pepperdine (Oct. 12). Dodd, the only freshman on the Delfina All-MPSF First Team, is UCLA’s sixth all-time MPSF Player of the Year recipient (Rafael Real Vergara-2023, Garrett Danner-2015-16, Scott Davidson-2009, Sean Kern-2000) and is the fourth Bruin to earn MPSF Newcomer of the Year (Ben Liechty-2023, Makoto Kenney-2020, Garrett Danner-2013).

The other two finalists on the men’s side included Max Miller (USC) and Mihailo Vukazic (Pacific).

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3 The Evergreen State College Athletes Win at Thurston County Sports Awards

Submitted by The Evergreen State College Three Geoducks received 2025 Thurston County Sports Awards during the eighth annual Awards Show on Wednesday, June 4 at South Puget Sound Community College and organized by the Olympia & Beyond Sports. Emmanuel Nicasio (Sr., M) from the men’s soccer team was chosen Men’s Collegiate Sports Star of the Year. Alauna […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

3 The Evergreen State College Athletes Win at Thurston County Sports Awards

Submitted by The Evergreen State College

Three Geoducks received 2025 Thurston County Sports Awards during the eighth annual Awards Show on Wednesday, June 4 at South Puget Sound Community College and organized by the Olympia & Beyond Sports. Emmanuel Nicasio (Sr., M) from the men’s soccer team was chosen Men’s Collegiate Sports Star of the Year. Alauna Carstens (Jr., Distance) from the women’s cross country and women’s track and field teams was chosen Women’s Collegiate Sports Star of the Year. Assistant Women’s Wrestling Coach John Lane was named Sports Contributor of the Year.

A total of eight Evergreen athletes and Coach Lane were nominated for Thurston County Sports Awards this year.

Nicasio, Max Baeder (So.) from men’s cross country and men’s track and field, and Jourdan Joseph (Sr., G) from men’s basketball were nominated for Men’s Sports Star of the Year. Carstens, Flor Parker Borrero (Jr.) from women’s wrestling, Izabelle Trefts (Jr.) from women’s cross country and women’s track and field, and Sydney VanNess (Sr., G/F) from women’s basketball were nominated for Women’s Sports Star of the Year.

Carstens, Allison DeBerry (Sr., G) from women’s basketball, Nicasio, and Parker Borero were nominated for Sports Moment of the Year. Coach Lane was nominated for Sports Contributor of the Year and Thurston County Sports Legend.

Evergreen’s winners at the 2025 Thurston County Sports Award

Emmanuel Nicasio (Sr., Men’s Soccer): Men’s Collegiate Sports Star of the Year

Nicasio led the Evergreen men’s soccer team with six goals and four assists for 16 total points during the 2024 season and was selected First Team All-Cascade Collegiate Conference. He was named Honorable Mention All-CCC in 2023 when he also was nominated for the Men’s Collegiate Sports Star of the Year. Nicasio was difficult to defend and was a key offensive player for the Geoducks.

In his two seasons at Evergreen, Nicasio played in and started 30 games and contributed seven goals and five assists. This past fall, he scored the game-winning goal with four seconds left in a 2-1 home victory over Northwest University on Sept. 27, 2024. Later, he earned a three-goal hat trick against Rocky Mountain College on Oct. 18, 2024. Nicasio was a team captain for the Geoducks. He has signed a contract to play semi-professional soccer for the FC Olympia Artesians.

Alauna Carstens (Jr., Women’s Cross Country, Women’s Track and Field): Women’s Collegiate Sports Star of the Year

Carstens has received multiple conference and national honors for her accomplishments in track and field and cross country. She has earned NAIA All-American five times in five different races: the marathon, cross country, 3,000 meters in indoor track and field, plus 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters in outdoor track and field.

In 2024-25, Carstens achieved NAIA All-American three times. She won the marathon in 2 hours, 47 minutes, and 4 seconds for the second-best time in NAIA history. She placed third in the 3,000-meter run in 9:43.40 at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships, and was eighth in the outdoor 10,000-meter run in 35:47.91 at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She was named the USTFCCCA West Region Athlete of the Year for in NAIA indoor track and field.

Carstens has qualified for NAIA national meets six times in her career, including cross country, the marathon, indoor track, and outdoor track. During regular season competition this spring, she achieved the 14th-best NAIA indoor 5,000-meter run of all-time and the 18th-best NAIA outdoor 10,000-meter run of all-time.

She was recently chosen as Evergreen’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2024-25. She is the Cascade College Conference record holder in the marathon. She also owns nine Evergreen school records and broke many of her own school records in 2024-25. She was chosen CCC Athlete of the Week four times between indoor and outdoor track and field this year.

In addition, Carstens was named Academic All-CCC in cross country and track and field and was chosen as a Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete in track and field in 2024-25. She was recently nominated for Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Communicators.

Carstens has been nominated twice for Women’s Collegiate Sports Star of the Year in Thurston County. She also was nominated in 2023-24, when Geoduck Nizhoni Tallman from the women’s wrestling team received the award.

John Lane (Assistant Coach, Women’s Wrestling): Sports Contributor of the Year

Lane was honored for his many contributions to Thurston County sports over the years. He coached at Olympia High School for 20 years and he coached at Tumwater High School for 15 years. He has spent the past two years as the assistant women’s wrestling coach at The Evergreen State College.

He has developed athletes into strong competitors as well as responsible and accountable adults. His positive energy and commitment to sports are two great qualities that have made him a key person in Thurston County athletics.

He played an important role in launching the Evergreen women’s wrestling program, which advanced wrestlers to the NAIA National Championships in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. The Geoducks have earned NAIA All-American three times. The team had its first Cascade Collegiate Conference individual champion this past season.

Lane has encouraged broader participation and community involvement in wrestling. He has stressed discipline, accountability, and teamwork throughout his career, which has led to a legacy of excellence.

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Vanderbilt Ready to Lead in New Model for College Sports

On June 6, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted final approval of the House v. NCAA settlement—launching a new era for college athletics. This ruling creates a foundation for greater stability, fairness, and opportunity for student-athletes—and affirms what we at Vanderbilt have long believed: transformation, when grounded in mission and […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 9, 2025

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Vanderbilt Ready to Lead in New Model for College Sports

On June 6, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted final approval of the House v. NCAA settlement—launching a new era for college athletics.

This ruling creates a foundation for greater stability, fairness, and opportunity for student-athletes—and affirms what we at Vanderbilt have long believed: transformation, when grounded in mission and values, creates opportunity.

As we continue to build the great university of the 21st century, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a championship-caliber student-athlete experience that integrates academic and athletic excellence and strengthens our One Vanderbilt community.

The newly formed College Sports Commission, led by Bryan Seeley—former MLB executive and a respected voice in sports law—and its partners, Deloitte and LBi Software, will be responsible for ensuring compliance and supporting institutions through this transition.

While the settlement offers a clearer, more structured path forward, we will continue to work with our legislative partners on potential federal solutions that can bring long-term stability and consistency to the college athletics landscape.

Key pillars of the new model include:

Revenue sharing: Beginning with the 2025–26 academic year, SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten institutions may share up to 22 percent of defined athletics revenue with student-athletes—estimated at up to $20.5 million per school.

Scholarship expansion: With scholarship limits removed, universities now have more flexibility to offer educational opportunities to a broader range of student-athletes across sports. Removing scholarship limits gives schools the flexibility to better support student-athletes and their education, while supporting the long-term success of broad-based sports programs. Current and immediately incoming student-athletes who may have been adversely impacted by roster limits will still have the opportunity to earn a roster spot.

NIL conditions: The new NIL Go platform, managed by the College Sports Commission and its partners, Deloitte and LBi Software, will streamline the reporting and approval process for third-party NIL agreements—enhancing transparency while protecting student-athletes’ eligibility.

Our recent launch of Vanderbilt Enterprises and the appointment of Markus Schreyer as CEO underscore our readiness to embrace innovative models that support excellence in education, research, and athletics.

We are also preparing for the financial responsibility that comes with this new model and remain focused on driving strategic initiatives like Vandy United and advancing the mission of Vanderbilt Athletics. With your support, we will continue to set the standard in this new era.

This is a defining time for college sports. Though much is changing, the essence of what athletics represent—community, growth, discipline, excellence—remains firmly intact.
We are ready to lead. And together, we will succeed.

Anchor Down!

Daniel Diermeier
Chancellor

Candice Storey Lee
Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director