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TRURO – It’s been an exciting spring for Truro gymnast Aaliyah Collins.

She started off April with a welcome surprise: scoring first place in her age category at the Nova Scotia Gymnastics Championships.

“I thought I was just going to hit my goal of third place or second place, but then when I didn’t get called up for that, I was like ‘It can’t be me’,” she said.

“Then they called my name. I was really happy, but I did not expect it.”

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She competed in all four events, placing first on bars, first on floor, second on vault and sixth on beam.

Now, she’s representing Nova Scotia at the 2025 Eastern Canadian Championships taking place in Oshawa, Ont. May 8-12. The tournament features youth gymnasts from Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

Gymnastics has taken her around the country, and once, even to Florida. This will be her first time competing in Ontario.

“After this meet, I’m done for the year, but then I still train throughout the summer. I like the competing season more than I like the training season, because I like going away for meets and stuff … I like travelling a lot.”

STARTING OUT

Collins has been in gymnastics since she was three years old.

She remembers playing other sports like soccer when she was young, but on the field, she could be found doing cartwheels.

“The more I did gymnastics, the more on the soccer field I’d be that kid cartwheeling around,” said Collins with a chuckle. “So, we decided to stick with gymnastics.”

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The athlete trained at Truro’s Cobequid Spartans gymnastics club facility until it closed in 2021. From then on, she practices four times a week at Taiso Gymnastics Training Centre in Lower Sackville.

Outside of gymnastics, she also trains in competitive track and field at Cobequid Educational Centre – a new sport she’s picked up.

An ambitious athlete, her goal is to compete in gymnastics at the post-secondary level and beyond.

“I really want to make it to the Olympics, but I also really want to do college gymnastics, too,” she said.

HARD WORK PAYS OFF

Carola Baker, Collins’ coach, said she was happy about the young gymnast’s success at provincials.

“She had been making a lot of really great changes and working so hard leading up to provincials,” she said. “I was really hoping to see it pay off for her.”

Training was sometimes tedious because of the repetition involved, said Baker, but she was proud that Collins stayed the course.

“For months had really been aware of making the changes that she needed to make on a daily basis and it just really paid off for her.”

Baker has known Collins for a handful of years, having coached her at Cobequid Spartans in addition to at Taiso Gymnastics Training Centre.

The coach said the gymnast’s strongest asset is that she can do anything she puts her mind to.

“She’s so physically talented that all she has to do is make up her mind that she is going to do something, and she’s capable of it,” said Baker.

She wants Collins to be proud of herself following the Eastern Canadian championships.

“I’m hoping that she’ll keep her wits about her and just, you know, do what she’s been doing in training and kind of reap the rewards again.”

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MILL SPRING, N.C. (May 4, 2025) – Seniors Madeline Ahern and Grace Faddoul, along with junior Rosalie Martin concluded their 2024–25 campaign at the prestigious Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships, held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
 
Ahern qualified for the Cacchione Cup for the second consecutive year and delivered another strong performance, placing 16th out of 24 elite riders—matching her result from last season. She also earned a 10th-place finish in the Dover Saddlery Open Flat Equitation, capping off an impressive showing at the national level.
 
Throughout the 2024–25 season, Ahern was a consistent standout in the open division, collecting nine top-three finishes, including four blue ribbons. Her accomplishments included being named the Zone 1 Cacchione Cup High Point Rider, earning Reserve High Point Rider honors at UConn on October 29, and securing High Point Rider recognition at the Brandeis home show on November 4.
 
Faddoul and Martin each made their debut at the IHSA Nationals this season. Faddoul competed in the intermediate flat division, while Martin represented Stonehill in the novice division. Both riders earned honorable mention status in their respective events.
 
Faddoul’s season was highlighted by two first-place finishes and a runner-up performance. Her standout moment came on April 6, when she captured the individual championship in intermediate flat to punch her ticket to Nationals.
 
Martin also enjoyed a strong campaign, recording four top-three finishes. Her season was punctuated by a Reserve Champion title in the novice division at the IHSA Zone 1 Championships.
 
About The IHSA
 
The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association was established in 1967 by Robert Cacchione while an 18-year-old sophomore attending Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. Cacchione developed the prototype competition program with the help of his professor and renowned horseman Jack Fritz. 
 
Launched with just two colleges competing in hunter seat equitation, the IHSA was praised for its innovative competition format and quickly caught on. In 1979 the Western divisions premiered at the IHSA National Championship Horse Show (Nationals). In 1999 IHSA Inc. was established as a nonprofit organization. 
 
The early shows were judged by great horsemen, like Frank Chapot and Michael Page. Originally, Nationals were held at various college facilities.
 
IHSA now encompasses 40 Regions in 8 Zones with over 400 member colleges in 45 states and Canada and represents 10,000 members in hunter seat equitation on the flat and over fences, Western horsemanship, ranch riding and reining. To support the size of the organization, IHSA now requires major venues like Harrisburg, the Kentucky Horse Park and Los Angeles Equestrian Center for its National Championships.
 
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
 

The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby doubled as a landmark moment for women’s gymnastics.

Simone Biles, the sport’s most decorated athlete, became the first gymnast to act as Grand Marshal. Biles was the second female athlete to hold the title after Laila Ali received the honor in 2018. As Grand Marshal, Biles led the customary “Riders Up” command to initiate the running of the 151st Kentucky Derby.

Former NCAA gymnast and social media sensation Olivia Dunne was also involved. The LSU graduate student led the “Riders Up” command for the Kentucky Oaks, held one day before the Derby.

With Biles and Dunne calling both race starts, this year’s event marked the first time both callers were female athletes (Ali received both responsibilities in 2018). It was also the first time that both callers were gymnasts.

First held in 1875, the Kentucky Derby is the longest continuously held sporting event in the U.S. Often called “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” the event draws massive viewership, with NBC reporting a record peak of 21.8 million viewers on Saturday.

While Dunne’s delivery drew mixed reactions from fans, the pair’s appearance at one of the nation’s most prominent and historic sporting events points to continued growth and visibility for women’s sports.

Though their respective fame comes from different origins, Biles and Dunne are among the most influential figures in women’s sports. Beyond the Derby, both have played outsized roles in transforming the perception and possibilities of women in sport.

Changing The Game: Sports and Mental Health

Considered by many as one of the greatest athletes of all time, Simone Biles continues to defy limits on and off the gymnastics floor.

With 11 Olympic and 30 World Championship medals, Biles stands alone as the most decorated gymnast in history, male or female. In addition to her staggering medal total, Biles has pushed the sport’s difficulty beyond what was previously considered possible.

The gymnast owns five eponymous skills which carry her name (as the first athlete to compete them successfully on the international stage). With her skills, Biles is the originator of the most difficult skills on three events: vault, beam, and floor.

Off the mat, the Olympic Champion has been a trailblazer for mental health, notably after enduring “the twisties” at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In honor of her athletic and cultural achievements, Biles received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.

Just last month, Biles was awarded the Time100 Impact Award. “TIME100 Impact Awards recognize global leaders who have gone above and beyond to move their industries—and the world—forward,” the organization states.

At the event, former teammate and Olympic Champion Aly Raisman attested to Biles’ impact, telling media Biles is “deeply human” yet “undeniably superhuman.”

Though the gymnastics icon remains undecided on an LA 2028 run, Biles’ legacy in gymnastics and sport extends well beyond the Olympic rings. For Biles, that knowledge is more than enough.

“You don’t need to stand on an Olympic stage in order to have an impact,” she said at the Time100 awards. “You certainly don’t need to win medals. You just need to show up and stay true to yourself.”

Changing The Game: Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)

While Biles inspires on the international stage, Olivia ‘Livvy’ Dunne set the standard for Name, Image, and Likeness in women’s college athletics. While nagging injuries and roster depth kept the 22-year-old from competing regularly for the LSU Tigers, she finished her tenure as a member of LSU’s 2024 National Championship-winning team, their first title in program history.

Boasting over 13 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, Dunne invested in personal branding to become the most profitable athlete in women’s college athletics.

Dunne quickly capitalized on the NCAA’s 2021 NIL ruling, signing with Vuori, a high-end activewear brand. Dunne has also partnered with notable brands like Nautica, Passes, and Motorola. In 2023, she became the first gymnast to appear on a trading card, partnering with Leaf Trading Cards (Boardroom).

In the fall of her junior year, Dunne and LSU star basketball player Angel Reese secured the cover of Sports Illustrated’s “Money Issue.” A few months later, Dunne was named an official “rookie” in the 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

Outside of her varied individual opportunities, Dunne has extended NIL opportunities to NCAA women’s athletes. In 2023, she introduced The Livvy Fund, an initiative to “provide LSU female athletes with exclusive industry tips and connections.”

In 2023, The Livvy Fund secured NIL deals for eight LSU gymnasts through a partnership with Accelerator Active Energy. The following year, Dunne facilitated partnerships for Aalyah Del Rosario, Kylie Coen, and Sydney Clemens at Sherman & Balhoff Orthodontics, a local dentist.

“I wanted to give back to the other student athletes and the university that’s given me so much,” Dunne said to 225.

Biles and Dunne represent different but pivotal change points for women’s sports.

Though her college gymnastics career has come to a close, Dunne’s impact on the individual profitability of women’s college athletics is undeniable. And while Biles continues to debate her 2028 plans, the Olympic Champion’s impact on athlete well-being and the sport of gymnastics will endure for years to come.

With up to 21.8 million viewers watching (NBC), gymnastics and the marketability of women’s athletics took center stage at the 151st Kentucky Derby.

ForbesOlympic Gymnast Fred Richard Sets Guinness World RecordBy Caroline Price

As the dust settles on Penn State’s historic season, it’s not wasting any time gearing up for its next campaign.

The Nittany Lions have gotten to work in signing their newest additions for next season, and some big names have headlined the group.

Despite over five months until the blue and white hit the ice again, here’s a look at some of Hockey Valley’s newcomers for the 2025-26 campaign.

Mac Gadowsky

The most recent signing for the blue and white has garnered its fair share of attention from across college hockey, and for good reason.

The Nittany Lions inked standout defenseman Mac Gadowsky, who is not only coming off a career season at Army as one of the most dominant offensive defensemen in the NCAA, but he also happens to be the son of Guy Gadowsky.

“There was never a plan to coach (Mac) … it was just the way things worked out,” Guy said. “He would love to play at Penn State, and for this university, and in front of the Roar Zone.”

Gadowsky collected an impressive array of awards this past season, including joining Penn State’s Aiden Fink as a Hobey Baker top 10 finalist.

The sophomore set a new program record for points at Army, and had the fourth-highest point total from a defenseman in AHA history, tallying 16 goals and 26 assists.

“Take the fact that he’s my son out of it, he’s a Hobey Baker top-10 and an All-American who went to the portal, and there are very few of those around,” Guy said. “So for his profile, we’re very thrilled to get someone like that.”

The first team All-American brings size to Penn State’s blue line along with his offensive prowess, as Gadowsky stands at 6-foot-3.

Slotting in on the first defensive pairing alongside freshman Cade Christenson could prove a solid duo for the Nittany Lions, with Christenson’s lock-down defense complementing Gadowsky’s offensive production.

Kevin Reidler

It was no secret that the blue and white’s goaltending was one of the most crucial factors to its success down the stretch, so when it was announced that starting netminder Arsenii Sergeev would be signing an NHL deal with the Calgary Flames, there were some big shoes to fill.

The Nittany Lions were ready, however, as just hours after announcing Sergeev’s departure, they announced the signing of former Nebraska Omaha goaltender Kevin Reidler.

“Once we found out we were losing Arsenii, we did quick homework on a lot of goalies,” Guy said. “I hate to put this on him, but he’s sort of like Arsenii 2.0, because we wanted to get a guy that was just a really great, popular teammate.”

The 2022 fifth round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators had a small but impressive sample size while at Nebraska Omaha. Reidler played in eight games, totaling a .920 save percentage with a 2.74 goals against average.

The freshman’s accomplishments are headlined by a silver medal with Sweden at the 2024 World Junior Championships.

With Sergeev’s success in Hockey Valley, Reidler has some high expectations, but he looks to be a solid start to filling Penn State’s net.

Josh Fleming

Rounding out the newcomers is another goaltender, this time out of the QMJHL, in Josh Fleming.

“He’s an excellent goalie, (Juliano Pagliero) speaks very highly of his technique,” Guy said. “He happens to be a really, really good guy as well that we checked on.”

In 53 games played this season with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Fleming has tallied a .908 save percentage and a 3.08 goals against average.

Although Sergeev’s departure left a sizable hole in the Nittany Lions’ roster, the new goaltending tandem in Reidler and Fleming hints to a bright future between the pipes in Hockey Valley.

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WILKES-BARRE — Warmer weather signals the return of a lot of things, like festivals, bazaars, outside dining, tops down on convertibles and car shows.

Let’s talk about those car shows that feature antique, classic and vintage cars of yesteryear. They are so cool, man.

Cars were spectacular back in the ’50s and ’60s — GTOs, Camaros, Mustangs, Corvettes, Road Runners, Dodge Darts, Chevelles, Barricudas, Thunderbirds, Beetles, Ramblers, Studebakers, Corvairs, Pintos, Furys, Marlins, Gremlins, Mavericks, Cougars, Impalas, Fairlanes, Cutlasses, Continentals, Galaxys, El Dorados, Cordobas, LeSabres, Biscaynes, BelAirs and many more. I might have missed a few.

They were so distinctive — and the color combinations were amazing. Not to mention the power under the hood. Those cars were fascinating and fun.

Today, cars all look alike and most of them are white — apparently the preferred flavor for today’s SUV-driving motorists.

Mine was a 1966 Pontiac GTO, light blue, white rag top, white interior. Pretty specific, but that’s the car I had following high school graduation. It was a beauty.

These were the pre-automatic car wash days when you washed your car out by the curb in front of your house. You had a bucket, a sponge, soap and maybe a hose, if it reached that far. And soft terrycloth towels — unless you had a “shammy” — a genuine leather chamois cloth.

I had to drag our hose through our basement and out the coal chute window to get to the curb.

But I loved to wash my ‘66 GTO, or my 1964 Valiant, or dad’s Ford Torino, or Plymouth Road Runner. It was a task we all learned and enjoyed.

After the car was all soaped up, you then either used that hose or you kept filling up that bucket with clean water to splash away the soap.

And then, glowing in the shade of that old maple tree with the sunlight filtering through, you stood and admired that car before you went in to take a bath before heading out on a Saturday night.

Ooops, I almost forgot — Brillo pads — the steel wool square with the pink soapy stuff showing through. Yes, it was time to clean the whitewalls on the tires.

Whitewalls? Yes, the 1-inch or so wide white stripe that went around the tires and were just do darn cool, man. As long as they were bright white. Nothing was more un-cool than dirty whitewalls, man.

So, this week I hopped into the whitewall-less Way Back Machine and headed back to the 1960s again to check out those awesome white-walled cars.

What I discovered on my most recent voyage back in time was that those glorious whitewall tires started disappearing in the early ’60s and were all but gone by the end of that decade.

What a shame, man.

Standing out in front of C. Matus’ News on Main Street in Plymouth was what we cool kids did back then. It was where we gathered before we decided where we were going on any particular Friday or Saturday night.

We would go inside and shoot some pool, or play the pinball machines until it was time to head out to Sandy Beach or Hanson’s or Sans Souci. Or maybe a Wilkes or King’s dance.

I have been lucky enough to travel most of the old Route 66 — a hallowed highway that all of the aforementioned cars traveled.

Riding on Route 66 really was a kick — and white-walled tires were aplenty, I’m sure.

But in the ‘60s, our favorite destination was Wildwood, New Jersey. We loved it there and we always had fun. We would spend our days on the beach soaking up the rays, then back to the motel for a swim and a shower and then we would head out to the Boardwalk.

One of my pals, Bob Barney, celebrated his birthday yesterday — Happy Birthday pal!

Bob had a 1960 yellow Karmann Ghia, which by the late ‘60s had seen better days. To take the Karmann Ghia to the shore was an adventure all its own — but we made it.

It would be awesome to have that car today and take a trip down the shore again. Just to reminisce and sing along to the greatest music ever.

Now that really would be a great road trip.

I’ll even wash the car before and after.