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A Colorado backcountry skiing phenom has climbed millions of vertical feet. He's only 13.

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A Colorado backcountry skiing phenom has climbed millions of vertical feet. He's only 13.

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SILVERTON — When the pandemic shut down the world in 2020, Griff Pinto was 8 and made a big decision: It was time to go all-in on skiing. 

Five years later, the 13-year-old from Silverton is a backcountry skiing phenom, climbing more than 500,000 vertical feet a winter and skiing long lines off remote peaks that challenge skiers many times his age. Under the careful eye of his dad, Cliff, and mom, Kim, he’s become a social media superstar with helmet-cam videos of his audacious descents. 

Griff’s dad, a longtime volunteer with the San Juan County’s intrepid Silverton Medical Rescue Team, said “it’s taken a village” to hone Griff’s skills and avalanche awareness. 

“There are not a lot of people who are willing to go into the backcountry with a 7-year-old, or even a 13-year-old,” Cliff says. “It’s pretty unique the number of people in this community who have worked with Griff and mentored him and supported our sort of unorthodox parenting. And they’ve mentored me and my wife, too. That support system has really enabled us to take this, like, different path, you know.”

Griff was 9 when he sat his mom and dad down and said he wanted to be homeschooled in the winter, so he could ski more. His folks came up with a program that blends physical training with schoolwork. They’ve made skiing a formal education. 

two avalanche deaths just outside Silverton — and Griff is out there six days a week. 

Sven — Life in Front of the Lens” — last year.)

“A lot of the best advice I’ve gotten is like how to improve my pole plants and other small things to help me get a little bit more forward,” Griff says. “And of course how to land jumps better.”

Micro Groms” two-day avalanche education course for kids ages 9-11. In the spring, as the snowpack settles down, Griff will go out and choose lines to ski and climb them while his dad watches from below.

“We have started giving him more little freedoms like that, just getting him out there and experiencing the decision-making process,” Cliff says. “That’s what we are starting to do but it’s because of what we have built on over several years.”

Cliff hopes that nudging Griff toward good decisions at age 13 will empower him in his 20s with the tools he needs to understand the consequences of a wrong call in unforgiving terrain. 

“We talk about decision-making and voicing opinions, don’t we?” Cliff says.

But a 13-year-old’s brain is not as developed as a grown-up’s brain. So Cliff and other mentors work to keep Griff tuned in. 

“We’ve got crampons and ice axes and we are in no-fall zone terrain and he’s talking about Legos. And we’ll be like, ‘Dude, shut up and focus,’” Cliff says. “Sometimes he’s too comfortable, you know. And I wonder if that’s a good thing. There are a lot of those kinds of grounding moments.”

C. R. Johnson and Tanner Hall in the late 1990s. 

But those guys were older than Griff in their ski-flick debuts. And they weren’t climbing mountains. 

“At MSP we always feature some young kid every couple years but Griff does seem to be a bit of an anomaly,” says Wais, who expects to film Griff at some point. “I have not heard of a kid his age skiing so much vert. I don’t  think anybody has. He’s an inspiring kid and just a shredder.”

Griff, at 60 pounds, is only now ready to graduate from high-end kids’ skis and boots into adult gear. But it’s hard to find quality technical outerwear for kids, so Griff either has to choose between lower quality children’s gear or more technical gear sized extra-small for women.

Even though he’s a bit of a sensation on Instagram, Griff does not have a phone. His folks handle his social media posts and screen online messages. 

“We’re in this weird thing where it’s like he needs to be part of social media to build this brand and have it grow around him, but at the same time, we see how bad it can be for kids on social media in today’s world,” Cliff says. “We want him to be a part of that world … but that’s kind of a thing we are wrestling with right now.”

Griff isn’t really wrestling though. 

“I feel like having a phone is a waste of time,” he says. 

Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

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Track & Field Continues December At Wagner College Seahawk Shootout

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Men’s Track & Field | 12/11/2025 9:33:00 AM

SEAHAWK SHOOTOUT HISTORY
The 2025-26 season marks only the second time that Saint Francis will be participating in the Wagner College Seahawk Shootout. The meet has been an annual event since the 2015-16 campaign. Last year, Sevison took first place in weight throw as a part of 16 top 10 finishes for the Red Flash. 


LAST EVENT

The women’s team accumulated seven top 10 performances. Olivia Renk finished second in the 200-meter and fourth in the 60-meter on the women’s side. The sophomore clocked in a time of 25.46 in the 200-meter and a 7.72 time in the 60-meter. In the women’s long jump, Taylor Foster finished in fifth place in the event with a jump of 5.29m. Foster also claimed eighth place in the women’s triple jump with 10.63m. Aubrie Wells and Karsyn Ford both finished with 3.25m to tie for eighth place. Rounding out the top 10 finishes was Rylee Nicklas taking 10th in the women’s weight throw with a toss of 14.22m.

On the other side, the men’s team registered 12 top 10 finishes on the day. Jayden Foster took eighth place in the men’s 200-meter dash with a time of 22.81. Meanwhile, Tyler Craft claimed the ninth spot with a time of 37.08 in the 300-meter. Craft jumped his way into second place in the long jump with 6.94m.  Staying in the meter dashes, James Parmelee (1:10.38) took third and Holden Schreier finished seventh (1:12.90) in the men’s 500-meter. Two more Red Flash placed top 10 in the high jump, Ayden Martinage (8th, 1.85m) and Braydon Beach (10th, 1.80m). 

Running over to the pole vault, Dylan Andrews finished with a jump of 4.25 to give himself seventh place. Clark Gulycz took fourth in the men’s shot put with a mark of 17.07m. Saint Francis took another two top 10 finishes, this time in the men’s triple jump. Nehemyah Williams gained third place with a leap of 14.35m. Ian Conway was not far behind him in seventh with 12.54m. Vincent Franco finished out the Red Flash in sixth place with a time of 15.94m. 



NEC PRESEASON POLL 


Saint Francis women’s track & field was picked fifth in the NEC Preseason Poll. Wagner earned five first-place votes and earned the distinction of being the preseason favorite. Stonehill and CCSU both gained two first-place nods to finish in second and third place. Chicago State gained the last vote for first-place, finishing in fourth. After the Red Flash in fifth place, FDU, LIU, New Haven, Mercyhurst, and Le Moyne round out the ten-team poll. 

Saint Francis men’s track & field was picked seventh in the NEC Preseason Poll. CCSU earned eight first-place votes and earned the distinction of being the preseason favorite. Wagner gained one first-place vote to finish in second. Stonehill and Chicago State were picked to finish in third and fourth. FDU and LIU were both tied in fifth place, however, LIU earned the last vote for first-place. After the Red Flash in seventh place, New Haven, Le Moyne, and Mercyhurst round out the ten-team poll. 



NEXT UP FOR RED FLASH


Saint Francis will take some time off until January 17 when it will attend the Nittany Lion Challenge located at University Park, Pa.



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UT Seeks Private Developers for Multipurpose Arena, Student-Athlete Housing – UT Austin News

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AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to seek private developer(s) to plan, design, construct, equip, finance and operate a small multipurpose public arena to serve as the competition home for the Longhorns’ four-time National Champion Women’s Volleyball and an adjacent student-athlete housing facility, with minimal financial outlay from the University. The project will encompass approximately 4 acres in the Athletics and Entertainment District of UT’s main campus, located north of East MLK Jr. Boulevard between Robert Dedman Drive and Interstate 35.

“It is important for us to be strategic about how we use our space and how our students and visitors engage with our campus,” said UT President Jim Davis. “This is a unique development that will enhance the University’s athletics facilities and housing portfolio and benefit students, Longhorn fans and our city for years to come. I am grateful to our Board of Regents for their support for our vision.”

The arena aims to seat approximately 6,000 fans, with the flexibility to expand seating for concerts, shows and University events that complement the adjacent Moody Center. The student-athlete housing facility is envisioned to provide a best-in-class housing experience for the University’s student-athletes that reflects UT’s commitment to recruiting and developing premier talent. Additionally, it could provide ground-level retail opportunities that will enhance the campus, community, and visitors’ experience.

“This is a critical step for the future of Texas Volleyball and our student-athletes’ housing experience,” said Athletics Director Chris Del Conte. “It is about creating an experience that our student-athletes, coaches and passionate fans will be proud of in the heart of a district built for elite talent and entertainment.”

The RFP seeks private developers who have successfully developed and operated best-in-class, multipurpose public arenas, student housing and retail facilities, and who have the financial capability to contribute all or a substantial portion of the cost to develop, build and operate the new facilities. Under the proposed public-private collaboration, UT would own both the arena and student-athlete housing properties, and an outside entity would operate them.

UT issued the RFP Dec. 10 after the UT System Board of Regents authorized it last month. The 2033 Higher Education Development Foundation will lead the RFP process, and developer(s) will have the option to submit proposals for both or each facility by Feb. 6. The specific timeline and financial arrangement between the University and developer(s) will be determined through negotiations before any agreement is reached.



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2025 AVCA Division I All-Americans for NCCAA

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The AVCA is please to name its 2025 All-America teams for NCCAA Division I women’s volleyball.

There are two seven-member All-America teams, a first team and a second team, and the 14 student-athletes chosen in 2025 represent 10 different NCCAA schools. Cedarville University leads the way with three All-Americans, and Columbia International University and Ottawa University Arizona each have two All-Americans.

2025 NCCAA Division I All-Americans

 

 

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Who made 2025 Journal & Courier Big Schools All-Area Volleyball team?

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Dec. 11, 2025, 4:02 a.m. ET

LAFAYETTE ― The Journal & Courier recognizes the 14 best volleyball players 4A and 3A to be voted onto the All-Area Big Schools team.

Here are the top players and members who were selected to the 2025 Journal & Courier All-Area team, as voted on by coaches.



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Matchups, starters, players to watch

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Dec. 11, 2025, 5:10 a.m. ET



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Four new players make up Wisconsin volleyball class of 2026 roster

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The Wisconsin volleyball team earned a No. 2 recruiting ranking for the four new names they added to the team’s class of 2026. 

The four young stars, Audrey Flanagan, Kymore Scott, Lynney Tarnow and Halle Thompson, have a long list of accolades, including experiences with state and national championships and the USA Junior National Team. 

During the signing day press conference, head coach Kelly Sheffield said their recruiting focus was finding right athletes to fit the specific needs of Wisconsin. 

“There was just a very very small number that we thought would be a great fit for what we were needing,” he said.

Audrey Flanagan, outside hitter

Flanagan, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter from California, comes to Wisconsin with two national team runs, including a gold win with the US Under-19 team in the Continental Championship. 

Flanagan’s honors also include an AVCA First Team All-American, the 2024 Bay League Most Outstanding Player and the 2023 All-Bay League First Team. 

While she was injured last year, Flanagan is now back to full strength and ready to go for Wisconsin. 

“We’re getting a healthy player and one that’s going to have a huge impact for us,” Sheffield said

Kymora Scott, middle blocker/right side

Scott’s ability to hit off of one foot appealed to Sheffield when he first saw her play. He compared her skill to the talents of former Badgers Megan Campbell and Devyn Robinson. 

The middle blocker from Illinois was a bit out of the spotlight, Sheffield said, although her accomplishments speak for themselves. 

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Scott is a two-time SWSC All-Conference player and ranked No. 4 in her high school’s history for overall kills (714) and most kills in a single season (288). 

“We see her as someone who can be an elite slide attacker,” Sheffield said. “She is smooth with her attack and has the ability to be a very good blocker with how fast she can get off the floor.”

Lynney Tarnow, middle blocker 

Tarnow has been coming to Badger volleyball camps since she was nine, so Sheffield said it just feels right for her to finally be signed at Wisconsin. 

The 6-foot-5 middle blocker is also from Illinois and Sheffield highlights her physicality around the court.

“Lynney has the potential to be a very physical net presence,” Sheffield said. “She can hit well off of one or two feet with power and can take up a lot of space with her block.”

Tarnow will come to the Wisconsin team as an AVCA All-Region Player of the Year and the No. 1 rank in her position. The Illinois native has also been a part of the 2025 Under-19 National Team

Halle Thompson, outside hitter

With the addition of Thompson, another outside hitter, Wisconsin is adding an elite back row attacker, Sheffield said. 

Thompson is also ranked high for her region. Across the board, Thompson is No. 2 in regional rankings and position rank. From Texas, Thompson is a two-time Texas Division I Volleyball State MVP and Volleyball State Champion. She also has two seasons with the National Team under her belt. 

“Halle is a fierce competitor,” Sheffield said. “She is very good for her age at the serve and pass portion of the game and plays the game fearlessly.”

While it took some extra effort in recruiting to get Thompson from Texas to Wisconsin, Sheffield said he’s very satisfied with the result of signing Thompson. 

“No matter how much depth we have or how much experience, we’re going after people that have big dreams and big goals,” Sheffield said

In previous years, Wisconsin signed more players, but Sheffield said the landscape of the transfer portal is decreasing the need to collect younger athletes. In 2024, the Badgers signed on six new players. In 2025, that number dropped to four. 

“There’s that element of bringing in some young players and mixing them with some elite college-ready transfers,” Sheffield said. “And hopefully you can stay in the ball game every year.”

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