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Alabama Gymnastics Headed to Nationals for Second Consecutive Season

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— The Alabama gymnastics team had the same objective entering Sunday’s NCAA regional final as it did on Friday: finish in the top two among four teams. The prize? A trip to nationals. The opponents were all national seeds: Florida, Cal and Oregon State. Alabama scored a season-high 197.675 to finish in second, just […]

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4 weeks ago

April 7, 2025

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Alabama Gymnastics Headed to Nationals for Second Consecutive Season

Alabama scored a season-high 197.675 to finish in second, just behind regional champ Florida, which posted a 197.700. Nationals begin on April 17 in Fort Worth, Texas, and Ashley Johnston’s squad will be there for the second straight year. Cal came in third, with a final score of 197.575.

“This has been a huge goal in front of us, and week after week, we have talked about never losing the hope or belief or confidence that this team can do it,” Johnston said. “They continue to work relentlessly to figure out any and all ways to get better and find our edge.”

The No. 11 Crimson Tide finished the first rotation in third place, bolstered on vault by a 9.900 from senior Corinne Bunagan (who stuck her landing) and two 9.850s from Jordyn Paradise and anchor Lilly Hudson. No. 6 Cal, which competed with Alabama in Friday’s session, was in second, .200 ahead of the host team.

No. 3 national seed Florida logged four scores of 9.900 or higher on bars, and three 9.925s, which is of little surprise from one of the country’s best bars teams. All three other squads were chasing the Gators after the night’s first event.

Alabama answered the call on the uneven bars, with a 49.475 event score and a 9.950 from sophomore Chloe LaCoursiere. The event score tied for the high with No. 14 Oregon State, which had a nice rebound on floor capped off by Jade Carey’s 9.950. The Crimson Tide closed the distance between itself and Cal by .175, placing itself just out of second entering the night’s third event.

Cal had some strong landings during its stint on vault, but only one 9.900 courtesy of Madelyn Williams. Alabama had a trio of gymnasts concurrently reach or eclipse that mark, contributing to the Crimson Tide getting closer to the mark it needed to reach.

Fifth-year senior Shania Adams had a big part in that, closing out the bars lineup with a 9.925. Alabama took to the balance beam for its third event, while Florida had its turn on floor, Oregon State competed on vault and Cal was tasked with continuing an impressive overall quad meet on bars.

Florida star Leanne Wong got a 9.950 on floor to lead the Gators. The Crimson Tide strung together four straight routines on beam of 9.900 or more, with Adams anchoring to the tune of a 9.925 and junior Gabby Gladieux scoring a 9.950.

Despite Cal closing out bars with back-to-back 9.950s, Alabama’s highest beam score of the season (49.500) pushed the Crimson Tide into second, 148.150-148.125. The crowd could sense how close it was going to be in the end. Coleman Coliseum got louder and louder as the meet went on.

“We were hype after beam,” Hudson said. “Beam is such an event where you have to go aggressive. The thought of going aggressive and taking risks on a four-inch balance beam in front of 15,000 people in the highest of pressures, that’s hard to do. We did it. We did just that.”

The Crimson Tide’s season would come down to floor, its best event of the season. Hudson and Gladieux tied for the event title in it on Friday with Cal’s Mya Lauzon and emJae Frazier. The Golden Bears, ending the night on beam, were Alabama’s biggest threat. Oregon State was well down entering the final rotation and needed cataclysms from the other teams to get back to contention; it finished with a 196.875.

Junior Rachel Rybicki led off with a tough fall late in her floor routine and a 9.500. The next five in the lineup were officially on put-up-or-shut-up time. Cal’s first beam competitor fell and scored an 8.950. The Crimson Tide gymnasts brought energy congruent with the gravity of the situation.

Sophomore Jamison Sears, the third athlete in the lineup, scored a 9.900. That left one competitor before Hudson and the anchor Gladieux: freshman Paityn Walker. After a deep breath prior to her second tumbling pass, she kept the season alive with a season-best 9.900.

“It was a little nerve-wracking, but we have trained for situations like that,” Walker said. “I kinda trusted my training. I knew I had it. I did a lot of mental routines in the [floor] corral. I envisioned myself doing those passes. I really did my normal, which really helped me… It paid off.”

Hudson came next. Her floor routine is a program staple. Another gymnast did it before her, while someone else may well be poised to take it over after the senior is gone. She wasn’t ready for Sunday to be her last time doing it. She netted a 9.950 to set up Gladieux with a golden opportunity to seal it.

“I just think it capped off an incredible four years that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Hudson said. “I’ll tell everyone about [it]. My family, my kids, everything… I looked up, and there’s nothing like Coleman Coliseum. You look up and you see everybody on their feet, crimson and white. No words.”

That last spot is customary for Gladieux, who effectively knocked Cal out of the picture with a 9.925 in Alabama’s final routine of the regional. The Golden Bears didn’t do enough in their final event; even if the team’s last competitor got a 10, the Crimson Tide was still advancing to nationals.

“Looking over at them before I went, and seeing all of them huddled together, gave me all the strength and all the reassurance that I could hit this routine.”

Gladieux leaned on trust in her teammates and the resolve that gave her to land the routine. Hudson had given her team a pep talk after the beam routine, trying to gauge the adrenaline and reset the mentality.

“Really incredibly thankful for this group who never quit,” Johnston said. “We have the trust built to really challenge each other to be great in a really healthy way. I’m just excited about what Bama gymnastics is about, how we’re building together.”

Carey won the all-around with a 39.700; Williams was in second with a 39.600 score. Hudson and Wong tied at 39.550. LaCoursiere tied Williams and Cal’s Casey Brown for the event title on bars. Hudson, Wong, Carey and Lauzon were in a four-way tie on floor. Bunagan tied for the crown on vault. Gladieux’s 9.950 on beam was all knotted up with Lauzon and Carey.

“I have to say, it was our culture, and just what they’ve created together, and the connection within each person and their connection to the mission that I really believe was what drove us to come out on the side that we wanted to be on,” Johnston said.

Final team scores from the Tuscaloosa Regional final. / Will Miller/BamaCentral

NCAA Regionals

Top two teams in each regional advance
Wednesday’s Results
University Park Regional
First Round Play-In: Maryland 196.250, West Virginia 195.325

Salt Lake City Regional
First Round Play-In: BYU 195.950, Utah State 194.475

Thursday’s Results
University Park Regional
Regional Semifinal, Session 1: Michigan State 197.625, Kentucky 197.525, Ohio State 196.400, Penn State 196.225
Regional Semifinal, Session 2: LSU 198.100, Arkansas 197.550, Michigan 197.050, Maryland 196.825

Tuscaloosa Regional
First Round Play-In: Clemson 195.400, Rutgers 193.875

Salt Lake City Regional
Regional Semifinal, Session 1: UCLA 197.750, Minnesota 197.200, Southern Utah 196.475, Boise State 195.175
Regional Semifinal, Session 2: Utah 197.650, Denver 197.650, Stanford 196.500, BYU 196.000

Seattle Regional
First Round Play-In: Illinois 195.475, UC Davis 194.050

Friday’s Results
Tuscaloosa Regional
Regional Semifinal, Session 1: California 197.550, Alabama 197.275, North Carolina 196.250, Iowa 196.000
Regional Semifinal, Session 2: Florida 198.225, Oregon State 197.050, NC State 196.275, Clemson 195.875

Seattle Regional
Regional Semifinal, Session 1: Missouri 197.650, Arizona 196.250, Georgia 196.175, Arizona State 196.050
Regional Semifinal, Session 2: Oklahoma 198.025, Auburn 196.950, Illinois 195.725, Nebraska 195.675

Saturday’s Results
University Park Regional
Final: LSU 198.050, Michigan State 198.000, Kentucky 197.625, Arkansas 197.375
Salt Lake City Regional
Final: Utah 197.825, UCLA 197.625, Denver 197.350, Minnesota 196.825

Sundays’ Results
Tuscaloosa Regional
Final: Florida 197.700, Alabama 197.675, California 197.575, Oregon State 196.875
Seattle Regional
Final: Oklahoma 198.450, Missouri 197.425, Arizona 197.325, Auburn 196.250

National Championships
April 17-19
Fort Worth, Texas

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Women’s Track and Field Top 20 at New England DIII Championships

Story Links NEW LONDON, CT. – Competing with a field of 50 collegiate track and field teams, the Wesleyan women’s track and field team placed 17th overall at the New England Division III Outdoor Championships on Friday and Saturday, earning seven Top 10 placements as they were led by Alexandra Simon ’27 […]

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26 minutes ago

May 4, 2025

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NEW LONDON, CT. – Competing with a field of 50 collegiate track and field teams, the Wesleyan women’s track and field team placed 17^th overall at the New England Division III Outdoor Championships on Friday and Saturday, earning seven Top 10 placements as they were led by Alexandra Simon ’27 at the United State Coast Guard Academy.

Simon, who has been the lone competitor for the Cardinals in the 3000m steeplechase, led the team with a runner-up finish in the event, crossing the finish line with a final time of 11:21.43.

Running the 5000m distance race, Alexandra Weingard ’28 ran a final 17:49.12, earning a fifth-place finish for the team. Placing seventh n the 800m, Jordan Walter ’25 closed her weekend with a 2:16.56. Another seventh-place final went to Margaret Stevens ’27 in the 1500m. Stevens ran a 4:46.29 while teammate Virginia Lessner ’28 finished just two spots behind in ninth at 4:52.70. Rose Halford ’27 was the Cardinals’ long-distance contender, running the 10,000m in 38:53.21 for ninth place.

Walter, Elanora Smith ’27, Stella Loezos ’27, and Genevieve Minard ’28 combined for a 9:33.94 final time in the 4x800m relay, placing fifth.

The Cardinals look ahead to the Open New England Championships on Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10.

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Arquette, No. 7 Oregon State take series opener from Hawaii

HONOLULU — As the baseball gods willed, the local player of Oregon State present led off Friday night’s contest at Les Murakami Stadium by smacking a ball right at the local player of Oregon State past. Aiva Arquette’s leadoff effort for No. 7 OSU got through Hawaii shortstop (and former Beaver) Jordan Donahue, setting the […]

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May 4, 2025

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Aiva Arquette’s leadoff effort for No. 7 OSU got through Hawaii shortstop (and former Beaver) Jordan Donahue, setting the tone for an 11-4 Beavers runaway over the Rainbow Warriors in the opener of a four-game nonconference series.

Arquette, a 2022 Saint Louis School graduate from Kailua who played his first two collegiate seasons at Washington, appeared at ease playing the first lifetime game at the Les. In his senior season as a Crusader, the HHSAA tournament was played at Iron Maehara Stadium on Maui. His sophomore and junior prep seasons were wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I loved it, you know?” the 6-foot-5 shortstop and elite MLB Draft prospect said. “I mean, the team loves it. We enjoyed coming back to Hawaii and just competing.”

Arquette, whose younger sister Adrianna plays for the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, had this series circled from the moment he heard about it during his official visit to Corvallis.

So, apparently, did many others for OSU (33-11). Beaver gear was prominent among patrons at the sold-out Les.

“There’s a lot,” Arquette said of his supporters. “I’m just grateful to have him on my side and just … gladly put on a show for them.”

The HHSAA Hall of Honor inductee went 2-for-5 with a walk, a double and three runs scored.

Before he chose to go to college, he was an 18^th-round pick by Arizona. A monster sophomore season at UW boosted his stock considerably.

Arquette projected as a top-five pick in the draft before this season and his 2025 campaign — .363 hitting, .481 on-base percentage, .726 slugging, 16 home runs — has done nothing to change that.

UH tried out a four-man outfield against him. That was another first.

“It shocked me,” he said.

The venue and the star treatment weren’t the only new experiences. Friday was also his first time this season batting leadoff; Arquette spent the first 43 games of the season batting second.

Oregon State shortstop Aiva Arquette, left, shadowed Hawaii’s Ben Zeigler-Namoa as Zeigler-Namoa took a lead at second base in the eighth inning Friday. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

With the help of Arquette reaching on an error to begin the game, OSU jumped out to a 6-0 lead through two innings on Itsuki Takemoto (2-5). The two-way player from Japan lasted four with nine runs charged (eight earned). Max Jones was the bright spot out of the bullpen for UH (28-15) with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless work.

Catcher Wilson Weber blew it open for the Beavers with a bases-clearing double in the fourth.

Eric Segura (7-1) got the win for the Beavers in working five innings.

UH did not record an extra-base hit. Takemoto, who remained in the game as the designated hitter once his start was done, was the only ‘Bow to register a multi-hit game.

Sebastian Gonzalez is set to take the mound for UH in Game 2 of the series at 6:35 p.m. Saturday.

“That’s the best word in baseball. Tomorrow,” UH coach Rich Hill told the Spectrum Sports postgame crew.

Saturday and Sunday’s 1:05 p.m. contest are sold out; there are limited seats left for Monday’s series finale.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.

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Cal Poly Beach Volleyball reaches semifinals at NCAA Championship but falls to #2 TCU

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Cal Poly beach volleyball came up mere points away from advancing to the NCAA National Championship. However, the No. 6 Mustangs fell to No. 2 TCU in the NCAA Championship Semifinals by a score of 3-1. Three of the five matches went to three sets with several games decided by two […]

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May 4, 2025

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Three of the five matches went to three sets with several games decided by two points. TCU picked up wins at the No. 1 and No. 4 spots to go up 2-0. The No. 2 Mustang pair of Izzy Martinez and Logan Walter then won their match to make it 2-1.

At that point, the 3’s and the 5’s went to a third set with the Mustangs needing to win both. Both pairs battled back-and-forth. However, TCU’s No. 3 pair won in the third set 15-13 to clinch the dual.

2025 was another historic year for the Mustangs as the team made it to the NCAA Championship Semifinals for the second straight year and won 31 matches on the season.

The Mustangs will lose nine total seniors, four of which were starters and includes players who have been All-Americans and All-Big West honorees.

Beach Volleyball Match Results
TCU vs Cal Poly May 03, 2025 at Gulf Shores, AL

Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno (TCU) def. Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep (CP) 27-25, 21-12
Izzy Martinez/Logan Walter (CP) def. Hailey Hamlett/Maria Gonzalez (TCU) 21-15, 17-21, 15-12
Allanis Navas/Sofia Izuzquiza (TCU) def. Quinn Perry/Lindsey Sparks (CP) 21-13, 18-21, 15-13
Ana Vergara/Anhelina Khmil (TCU) def. Ella Connor/Madi Nichols (CP) 25-23, 21-18
Abbey Reinard/Elise Lenahan (CP) vs. Stacy Reeves/Denie Konstantinova (TCU) 14-21, 21-18, 11-13, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (1,4,2,3)

Earlier in the day Cal Poly knocked off third-ranked Stanford 3-1

Cal Poly beach volleyball took down the No. 3 seed Stanford 3-1 in the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship Saturday to advance to the Semifinals later on Saturday.

The No. 6 seed Mustangs will take on No. 2 seed TCU in the semifinals at 11:30 a.m. PT. The match will air live on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Against Stanford, Cal Poly got wins from the No. 1 pair of Erin Inskeep and Piper Ferch, the No. 5 pair of Abbey Reinard and Elise Lenahan, and was clinched by the No. 4 pair of Ella Connor and Madi Nichols.

This is the second straight year Cal Poly has advanced to the NCAA Championship Semifinals.

Beach Volleyball Match Results
Stanford vs Cal Poly May 03, 2025 at Gulf Shores, AL

Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep (CP) def. Taylor Wilson/Ruby Sorra (STAN) 21-16, 21-15
Brooke Rockwell/Avery Jackson (STAN) def. Izzy Martinez/Logan Walter (CP) 21-14, 21-15
Quinn Perry/Lindsey Sparks (CP) vs. Charlotta Bell/Kelly Belardi (STAN) 10-21, 24-24, unfinished
Ella Connor/Madi Nichols (CP) def. Chloe Hoffman/Logan Tusher (STAN) 21-19, 21-16
Abbey Reinard/Elise Lenahan (CP) def. Daria Gusarova/Emmy Sharp (STAN) 21-17, 21-13

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,5,4)

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics).

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Long Beach Poly vs. Canyon, CIF Beach Volleyball Championship – The562.org

TODAY: Wilson, Millikan, Poly Open CIF Water Polo Playoffs Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. three Long Beach schools will host opening-round CIF-SS water polo playoff games. Wilson will be at the Belmont, Millikan will be at home, and Poly will host their game at Cabrillo. We will have live updates and coverage from all three […]

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May 4, 2025

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TODAY: Wilson, Millikan, Poly Open CIF Water Polo Playoffs

Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. three Long Beach schools will host opening-round CIF-SS water polo playoff games. Wilson will be at the Belmont, Millikan will be at home, and Poly will host their game at Cabrillo. We will have live updates and coverage from all three games. Division 3 No. 1 Wilson vs. Malibu @ […]

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Mustangs Come Up Just Short of TCU in NCAA Championship Semifinal

Published

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May 4, 2025

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2025 was another historic year for the Mustangs as the team made it to the NCAA Championship Semifinals for the second straight year and won 31 matches on the season.

The Mustangs will lose nine total seniors, four of which were starters and includes players who have been All-Americans and All-Big West honorees.

Beach Volleyball Match Results
TCU vs Cal Poly May 03, 2025 at Gulf Shores, AL
#2 TCU 3, #6 Cal Poly 1

1. Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno (TCU) def. Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep (CP) 27-25, 21-12
2. Izzy Martinez/Logan Walter (CP) def. Hailey Hamlett/Maria Gonzalez (TCU) 21-15, 17-21, 15-12
3. Allanis Navas/Sofia Izuzquiza (TCU) def. Quinn Perry/Lindsey Sparks (CP) 21-13, 18-21, 15-13
4. Ana Vergara/Anhelina Khmil (TCU) def. Ella Connor/Madi Nichols (CP) 25-23, 21-18
5. Abbey Reinard/Elise Lenahan (CP) vs. Stacy Reeves/Denie Konstantinova (TCU) 14-21, 21-18, 11-13, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (1,4,2,3)

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Men’s Track in 11th Following Day One of Division III New England Championships

Story Links NEW LONDON, CONN (May 2, 2025) – The Tufts University men’s track and field team finish day one of the Division III New England Championships in 11th place out of 24 teams in a solid start to the two day competition at the United States Coast Guard Academy down […]

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May 4, 2025

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NEW LONDON, CONN (May 2, 2025) – The Tufts University men’s track and field team finish day one of the Division III New England Championships in 11th place out of 24 teams in a solid start to the two day competition at the United States Coast Guard Academy down in New London.

Senior Eric Meyer picked up the first points of the day for the Jumbos with a sixth place finish in the hammer throw. He earned the triplet of points with a toss of 50.36m earning him an All-New England nod. Fellow senior Ross Miller took fifth in the javelin throw, setting a new personal best with an impressive mark of 59.82m. It was the second longest throw in program history, and plenty to earn him a spot on the All-New England roster.

First year Dylan Moreno sits in sixth in the decathlon following fifth place finishes in the high jump and 400m run. His points tally of 2918 sits just ahead of Cole Anderson. Anderson finished seventh overall in the decathlon following day one, and managed to take first place in the shot put with a 12.10m toss.

Senior Noah Turner booked a spot in the 100m dash after he finished eighth in the preliminary heat with a 10.77. He will compete in the 100m finals tomorrow at 1:10 pm.

The Jumbos will resume competition in New London tomorrow morning at 11:30 am.

–JUMBOS–

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