Sports

The Boat Race

You get two long, thin, canoe-type structures, stick nine people in them and then row along the River Thames in London for 15 minutes or so. Sounds pretty basic, yes? Well, it is, but then so is running on a track for 100 metres or hitting a ball with a bat. As with all great […]

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1 month ago

April 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

You get two long, thin, canoe-type structures, stick nine people in them and then row along the River Thames in London for 15 minutes or so.

Sounds pretty basic, yes? Well, it is, but then so is running on a track for 100 metres or hitting a ball with a bat.

As with all great sporting events, the beauty of the Boat Race is in its simplicity, but there is so much more to this historic race.

The prestigious, globally-renowned universities of Oxford and Cambridge have been doing battle for almost 200 years (their first race took place in 1829) and the race is littered with controversies, crashes and even a sinking.

This year the skulduggery began early and has been raging for week. So what’s the Boat Race all about? Let The Athletic be your guide.

It all began with a letter.

Two men — sorry, gentlemen — from Oxford and Cambridge universities went out rowing and decided to set up a race between their respective educational establishments.

Cambridge then sent a letter to Oxford stating: “The University of Cambridge hereby challenge the University of Oxford to row a match at or near London, each in an eight-oared boat during the ensuing Easter vacation.”

Oxford won the first race in June 1829 at Henley-on-Thames and in a way not a huge amount has changed in the ensuing 196 years. It’s still eight rowers in a boat on the Thames.

An illustration of the first ever Boat Race, in 1829 (Edward Gooch Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

What has endured and evolved, however, is a fierce rivalry in an event that is now huge business, watched by up to 250,000 in person, millions more on television (the races are being screened live on BBC One) and sponsored by French luxury brand Chanel, no less.

“You are talking about the ultimate level of sport with the purest values,” Chanel’s Frederic Grangie said.

Purest values? Well, about that…

For almost as long as the race has been running, controversies and freakish occurrences have been part of it.

No one won in 1877 because there was a dead heat. No VAR in those days, folks.

The dead heat of 1877 (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

In 1987, a group of American rowers at Oxford tried to overthrow their coach, Dan Topolski, over training method disagreements. Topolski won, and so did Oxford, with a severely depleted crew.

Someone was even sent to prison after the 2012 race — no, not for getting over-eager with an oar, but for protesting against elitism and government cuts. Protester Trenton Oldfield swam in front of both boats and was jailed for six months for causing a public nuisance.

This year, though, the rivalry has gone into overdrive with a huge row about which students are eligible to take part, which has been labelled as a ‘new low’ in relations between the two teams.

Students taking a PGCE (postgraduate certificate in education, i.e. teaching) course, which combines studying at university with practical experience in schools, have been banned from competing for the first time this year.

Three Cambridge rowers, including World Championship silver medallist Matt Heywood, were not allowed to take part after Oxford challenged their eligibility.

Heywood said: “It’s safe to say that this decision doesn’t align with any values of sportsmanship or race spirit that I have known in rowing, and that I feel disheartened by the wider implications of this decision on my future vocation.”

Former Cambridge rower and gold medallist from the 2024 Paris Olympics Imogen Grant used somewhat less polished language on social media, saying: “This is an insult to teachers everywhere and a desperate ploy from Oxford to gain an upper hand in the most slimy way.”

Melissa Wilson raced four times for Cambridge between 2013 and 2017.

She told The Athletic that the eligibility row will only heighten what is a very serious rivalry. It’s not like the crews go to the pub together when the race is done.

Melissa Wilson, on the left, at the 2014 weigh-in (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“Nope, absolutely not,” she chuckles.

“I graduated nearly 10 years ago so it has settled for me, but honestly, when you’re at uni you’re almost at the stage of tattooing your allegiance into your skin.

“I’d never actually visited Oxford until my second year at Cambridge and I pictured it as a dark, shadowy place with grey thundery clouds. It surprised me to discover it’s really quite beautiful.

“That’s just the mindset you build up, you will have slogans around beating Oxford, and the same for them.

“But one of the key determinants in the race is how much pain you’re willing to put yourself through to win — that pain requires a strong reason for winning, and that’s where the rivalry comes to the fore in your mind.”

Apart from a strong mindset, there are many factors that go into a successful boat race, not least navigating the 4.2 mile stretch of Thames from Putney to Mortlake, with its shifting currents.

Action from the 1962 edition of the boat race (Central Press/Getty Images)

Olympic rowing takes place on a tranquil, natural or purpose-built lakes. The Boat Race sees the crews thrown onto an unpredictable, challenging and very dirty river.

The Thames has high levels of the bacteria E. coli and environmental campaign group River Action has warned that it would be classified as ‘poor’ under environmental regulations if it were designated as a ‘bathing water’ site.

Not even E. coli can stop the Boat Race, though. Only wars and Covid-19 have prevented it from taking place every year since 1856, with the women’s race an annual fixture since 1964. Come rain or shine, this boat race endures. Sneaking a teacher into one of the boats is the only thing that might stop it this year.

But there is apprehension about the water. The tradition of throwing the winning cox into the river is now loaded with, well, disease.

“It’s a real worry that in 2025, unsafe water quality in the Thames is still a concern,” five-time Olympic gold medal-winning British rower Sir Steve Redgrave said in a news release. “Rowers, river users, and the public deserve better.”

Jumping in the River Thames: not advised these days (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Don’t sink, then, like both men’s crews did in 1912. But how else does the river play its part?

Wilson says: “It can be make or break and decide the outcome of the race.

“The most challenging conditions are when the streams are incredibly strong, because it’s a tidal river.

“Normally in rowing you just push on the start line and off you go…in the Boat Race if the stream starts pushing against your blade the whole boat is going to float away.

“If you have strength of tide with a 40mph wind in the opposite direction you have whitecap waves. The boats are fairly good at combating that, but in 2016 the conditions were so challenging and the Cambridge women’s boat was minutes away from fully sinking.

“It can also be, from a coxing perspective, the toughest of any other race because of the stream. To know by instinct where the fastest water is going to be, can decide who wins.”

There are no lanes, meaning clashes between oars are common if the two boats get too close to each other. This is, after all, a private match between two clubs and not contested under normal rowing rules.

It can be brutal, and the build-up and training is extremely challenging, with 40 or 50 rowers whittled down to two crews of eight for the men and women, who have trained all through the winter while also combining their university studies.

“It’s very intense,” Wilson adds. “But it also gets people to race day in a prime mental and physical state — you’re all guns blazing on multiple fronts.

“There’s a strong cultural element to it, plus the rivalry, plus it’s an unusual setup of the two crews having never competed against each other.

“It might be a university race but the calibre of athletes is extremely high.

“Winning is everything. It’s not like you’re doing it all again next week, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime event and no one leaves anything out there, it’s absolutely full pelt for 20 minutes.”

(Top photo: Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

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Filias & Swann Earn Spots In NCAA Championship Field

Dave Filias and Xander Swann will represent Middlebury at the NCAA Championships. Story Links Dave Filias and Xander Swann have been selected to represent the Middlebury men’s track and field team at the NCAA Championship. The top-22 athletes in each respective event garnered a spot in the outdoor meet to be held […]

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11 minutes ago

May 17, 2025

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Dave Filias and Xander Swann will represent Middlebury at the NCAA Championships.

Dave Filias and Xander Swann have been selected to represent the Middlebury men’s track and field team at the NCAA Championship. The top-22 athletes in each respective event garnered a spot in the outdoor meet to be held in northeastern Ohio.

FILIAS’ HIGHLIGHTS

Filias is making his third-consecutive appearance at the national outdoor event.

He qualified in the hammer throw for the second-straight spring.

Filias is the three-time champion in the discipline at the NESCAC Championship, winning this year’s title with a toss of 57.47 meters.

The senior is the school-record holder in the event, hurling the implement to a distance of 61.22m to secure the conference crown a year ago.

Filias is ranked 11th coming into the national meet, just 2.21 meters out of the third spot. He posted his entry distance of 60.37m to claim first at the Julie LaFreniere Commonwealth Invitational.

He finished 13th on the national stage last season with a toss of 57.41m. During his first championship two years ago, Filias claimed 15th with a heave of 55.74m.

The Panther has won the event four times this spring, including at the Division III New England Championships and the conference championship for the second year in a row. His triumphs garnered him all-region and All-NESCAC accolades, respectively.

He was tabbed the NESCAC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week in back-to-back weeks after winning the crown at the Amherst Spring Fling and the Julie LaFreniere Commonwealth Invite title earlier this season.

SWANN’S HIGHLIGHTS

Swann will appear in his first outdoor championship.

He was recognized as the league’s Sabasteanski Award Winner, given to the top male and female performer during the conference championship.

The senior qualified for the NCAA meet in the 400-meter hurdles. He is seeded sixth with a qualifying time and personal-best clocking of 51.96 during the NESCAC Championships. That effort was good for second place.

The top-six competitors in the 400 hurdles are separated by 0.49 seconds.

Swann’s time in the event is just 0.01 seconds off the school-record clocking of 51.95 by Kevin Bright in 2006.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

In the hammer, there will be a new champion as last year’s title holder has graduated.

Wilmington’s Nathen Borgan, who finished as the runner-up a year ago, leads the way this spring with a toss of 66.21m, while teammate JJ Durr (64.33m) and Yakob Ekoue from Wisconsin-Eau Claire (62.58m) are slotted second and third.

The 400 hurdles will feature a new national champion following the graduation of Dubuque’s JoJo Frost (51.04).

Susquehanna’s Ben Bulger boasts the nation’s fastest time this season, stopping the clock at 51.47 during the Landmark Conference Championship. He was 19th a year ago with a clocking of 54.40. Bethel’s Jayson Ekiyor (51.57) and Colin Scanlon (51.63) are seeded second and third, respectively.

CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION

Location: Geneva, Ohio

Host Site: SPIRE Institute’s Outdoor Track & Field Facility

Schedule: (Event times are approximate and subject to change)
- Thursday, May 22
  - 6:10 p.m. – 400 Hurdles (preliminaries)
- Saturday, May 24
  - 1:45 p.m. – Hammer throw (preliminaries and final)
  - 3:15 p.m. – 400 Hurdles (final)

Championship Central

The NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships are from May 22-24, 2025 at the SPIRE Institute’s Outdoor Track & Field facility in Geneva, Ohio.

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Govs Finish Second Day of ASUN Track and Field Championships

Story Links CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s track and field team concluded its second day at the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Friday, at Hodges Stadium on the campus of North Florida. The Governors began the Friday’s events with the discus toss, as Emma Tucker […]

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May 17, 2025

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s track and field team concluded its second day at the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Friday, at Hodges Stadium on the campus of North Florida.

The Governors began the Friday’s events with the discus toss, as Emma Tucker set her second personal best in as many days with a 39.78-meter throw. Heading to the long jump, Amani Sharif earned a four-place finish with a personal-best 5.78-meter lead leap, which was just a centimeter off the third-place mark in the event.

A trio of Governors then competed in the 400-meter dash preliminaries, with all three – Taylin Segree, Mia McGee, and Alexis Arnett – posting qualifying marks and both Segree and Arnett posting the best marks of their careers.

In sprint events, Alijanae Cole and Seven Pettus both set personal records and Gabrielle Miller earning a qualifying time for Saturday’s finale.

In the Govs’ final event of the day, Shaye Foster broke program record – for the second time this season – in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:12.94, which bested her own record set at the Outdoor Music City Challenge

The Governors are back in action for the final day of the 2025 ASUN Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where Myra Eriksson will compete in the pole vault at 3 p.m. Emmani Roberts, Denim Goddard, Ja’Kyah Montgomery, and Eriksson then will compete in the triple jump at 4 p.m. Track events then will begin at 6 p.m. with the Govs’ competing in the the 4×100-meter relays

For news and updates throughout the Governors’ postseason stay, follow the Austin Peay track and field team on X or Instagram (@GovsXCTF) or check back at LetsGoPeay.com for the latest news and stories.

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Benicia’s Cinderella run ends in finals – Times Herald Online

As it turns out, the third time wasn’t a charm for the Benicia High School boys volleyball team on Thursday. After losing to Berean Christian twice in the regular season, the Panthers fell to the Eagles once more — this time in a 25-23, 26-24, 25-13 sweep in the North Coast Section Division IV championship […]

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47 minutes ago

May 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As it turns out, the third time wasn’t a charm for the Benicia High School boys volleyball team on Thursday.

After losing to Berean Christian twice in the regular season, the Panthers fell to the Eagles once more — this time in a 25-23, 26-24, 25-13 sweep in the North Coast Section Division IV championship game.

“The guys played to the best of their ability,” Benicia head coach Maynard Patacsil said. “Things just didn’t go the way we would have liked. Still extremely proud to get this far.”

Although it wasn’t the ending they envisioned, the 12th-seeded Panthers put together a run to remember, pulling off three straight upsets to reach the program’s first section title game since it returned to having the sport in 2019.

Benicia's Carlos Solla goes up for the block in front of Berean Christian's Lukas Mittone during the 2025 North Coast Section Boys Volleyball Championships. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald) — Benicia’s Carlos Solla goes up for the block in front of Berean Christian’s Lukas Mittone during the 2025 North Coast Section Boys Volleyball Championships. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)

“It’s just amazing to see how far we’ve gotten,” said sophomore setter Jacob Santos. “Last year we didn’t even make it past the first round of the playoffs. Now here we are at the championship.”

Benicia fought hard against the second-seeded Eagles, but lost each of the first two back-and-forth frames on controversial calls, allowing Berean Christian to take advantage of the demoralized Panthers in the final set.

“I could only fight for the kids as much as I could with the referees,” Patacsil said. “That’s my job, but then they have to fight for themselves on the court. The ball just didn’t fall in our favor.”

The Panthers will now turn their attention towards the Northern California State Playoffs, which begin on Tuesday. Benicia will find out its opponent when brackets are released on Sunday.

“It all just depends on how we take this,” Santos said. “It’s not just one player, it’s the whole team, so the whole team has to work together and bring it back next week.”

The championship atmosphere was on full display in the first set, with both sides trading kills to meet at 5-5 and 17-17.

The Eagles found separation with a 4-0 run, but the Panthers clawed their way back, narrowing the deficit to 23-22 after Duncan Seeley capped off a 3-0 spurt with a service ace.

Berean Christian’s Preston Fehr silenced the run with a cross-court kill before both sides traded errors to clinch the set for the Eagles.

Berean Christian’s front row gave Benicia problems in the first set, recording four blocks – two of which coming on double blocks from Lukas Mittone and Steven Sun.

“They brought the intensity knowing that we were going to be swinging a little bit more,” Patacsil said. “We were trying to adjust, but again, they got lucky with a lot of the balls.”

Mittone showcased his attacking prowess in the second set, landing two kills to give the Eagles an early 7-4 lead.

Seeley and Alex Washburn answered with back-to-back kills before Santos took control of the set, scoring four of Benicia’s next five points to put the Panthers ahead, 11-7.

“I told myself before the game, even if we didn’t win or if we were down, I wanted to play to the best of my ability,” Santos said.

Although it looked like Santos extended Benicia’s run with an assist to Washburn, the line judge ruled it an error, awarding the point to the Eagles instead. Berean Christian settled into a rhythm soon after, taking a 20-16 lead.

Similarly to the first set, the Panthers refused to go down quietly, tying the set at 20-20 after Santos punctuated a 4-0 run with a service ace.

The Eagles and Panthers tied twice more before Berean Christian clinched the set on back-to-back Benicia errors. The second of which looked like a Kahbran Marvin kill, but it was ruled he committed a net violation.

After two tight sets, the Eagles overwhelmed the Panthers in the third, racing out to a 16-7 advantage.

Benicia answered with five straight points, but Berean Christian closed out the victory with a 7-1 run capped by a kill from Mittone.

“Calls didn’t go our way. What can you do?,” Patacsil said. “You want it to go a certain way, but it’s all opinions, it’s all objective…I’m not going to put our loss based on that.”

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Sports

Track and Field Heads to Princeton

Story Links ALBANY, N.Y. – The UAlbany track and field teams are prepared to compete in the Princeton Elite Invitational. MEET INFORMATION Princeton Elite Invitational DATE: Saturday, May 17 SITE: Weaver Stadium – Princeton, N.J. RESULTS: Leone Timing MORE INFO: Schedule AMERICA EAST OUTDOOR HISTORY The UAlbany […]

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1 hour ago

May 17, 2025

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ALBANY, N.Y. – The UAlbany track and field teams are prepared to compete in the Princeton Elite Invitational.

MEET INFORMATION

Princeton Elite Invitational
DATE: Saturday, May 17
SITE: Weaver Stadium – Princeton, N.J.
RESULTS: Leone Timing
MORE INFO: Schedule

AMERICA EAST OUTDOOR HISTORY

The UAlbany women have won 18 outdoor titles. They currently hold a 16-year win streak.

Historically, the women have had the most success in the 400m hurdles with a total of 13 event titles.

The UAlbany men have won 19 men’s outdoor titles overall.

Historically, the men have seen the most success in the triple jump with 16 event titles.

Combined, the Great Danes currently hold 12 men’s and seven women’s America East Outdoor Championship meet records.

Overall, UAlbany has won 283 event titles at America East Outdoor Championships.
- The men have won 165, including 101 track events and 64 field events
- The women have won 133, including 80 track events and 53 field events.

AMERICA EAST OUTDOOR EVENT LEADERS (W/M)
100m: Shantae Pryce / X
200m: Shantae Pryce / X
800m: X / Hassan Abidi
110mH: Toni Galloway / Antwone Messado
High Jump: Miyanah Robinson / Zhi Luncheon-Lowrie & Ja’Lil Reynolds
Long Jump: X / Louis Gordon
Triple Jump: Leann Nicholas / X
Discus: Lalenii Grant / X
Hammer Throw: Stephanie Green / X
Javelin: Beatriz Mora Herencia / X
Heptathlon: Kate Del Gandio / X
4×100 relay: A. Hunt, Vassell, Galloway, Pryce / Staats Jr., Ogunyeye, Davis-Whittaker, Morris

Full Performance Lists: Women | Men

NORTHEAST OUTDOOR RANKINGS
Week 1: Men (8) | Women (5)
Week 2: Men (6) | Women (5)
Week 3: Men (7) | Women (5)
Week 4: Men (5) | Women (5)
Week 5: Men (5) | Women (5)
Week 6: Men (6) | Women (6)
Week 7: Men (7) | Women (6)

Full Rankings

NORTHEAST OUTDOOR TOP TEN
Hassan Abidi: 800m (2, 1:47.60)
Amelia Benjamin: High Jump (4, 1.76m)
Kate Del Gandio: 100mh (5, 13.72)
Jed Elmbarki: 3000 Steeplechase (10, 8:54.33)
Toni Galloway: 100mh (1, 13.17w)
Louis Gordon: Long Jump (2, 7.73m)
Lalenii Grant: Discus (2, 54.48m)
Stephanie Green: Hammer (5, 59.33m)
Adaliz Hunt: 100m (7, 11.69)
Zhi Luncheon-Lowrie: High Jump (T4, 2.06m)
Simone Menchini: Long Jump (3, 7.56m)
Antwone Messado: 110mH (7, 14.21)
Beatriz Mora Herencia: Javelin (1, 49.52m)
Rajay Morris: 200m (7, 21.11)
Leann Nicholas: Triple Jump (10, 12.12m)
Tooni Ogunyeye: 100m (1, 10.27)
Jasir Parker: Triple Jump (10, 14.91m)
Shantae Pryce: 100m (6, 11.68)
Ja’Lil Reynolds: High Jump (T4, 2.06m)
Miyanah Robinson: High Jump (3, 1.77m)
Shavar Staats Jr.: 100m (6, 10.39)
Shenequa Vassell: 100m (10, 11.71)
4×100 relay: 3, 39.73
Staats Jr., Ogunyeye, Davis-Whittaker, Morris
4×100 relay: 1, 44.97
Hunt, Vassell, Galloway, Pryce

Full Performance Lists: Women | Men

NCAA EAST QUALIFIERS (Top 48 Individuals, Top 24 Relays)
Hassan Abidi: 800m (22, 1:47.60)
Toni Galloway: 100mH (17, 13.17w)
Lalenii Grant: Discus (17, 54.48m)
Stephanie Green: Hammer (31, 59.33m)
Louis Gordon: Long Jump (14, 7.73m)
Simone Menchini: Long Jump (34, 7.56m)
Beatriz Mora Herencia: Javelin (19, 49.52m)
Tooni Ogunyeye: 100m (40, 10.27)
Miyanah Robinson: High Jump (20, 1.77m)

Full Performance Lists: Women | Men

NCAA TOP 50
Hassan Abidi: 800m (40, 1:47.60)
Toni Galloway: 100mH (29, 13.17w)
Louis Gordon: Long Jump (27, 7.73m)
Lalenii Grant: Discus (40, 54.48m)
Beatriz Mora Herencia: (43, 49.52m)

Full Performance Lists: Women | Men

2025 AMERICA EAST OUTDOOR CHAMPIONS
Women
Shantae Pryce: 100m
Shantae Pryce: 200m
Toni Galloway: 100mH
Adaliz Hunt: 4x100m
Shenequa Vassell: 4x100m
Toni Galloway: 4x100m
Shantae Pryce: 4x100m
Amelia Benjamin: High Jump
Leann Nicholas: Triple Jump
Lalenii Grant: Discuss
Stephanie Green: Hammer
Beatriz Mora Herencia: Javelin
Men
Tooni Ogunyeye: 100m
Hassan Abidi: 800m
Antwone Messado: 110mH
Shavar Staats Jr.: 4x100m
Tooni Ogunyeye: 4x100m
Jose Davis-Whittaker: 4x100m
Rajay Morris: 4x100m
Louis Gordon: Long Jump
Jasir Parker: Triple Jump

CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE

The UAlbany cross country/track and field program claimed their first America East Championship victory in 2003 when the men won the indoor championship. Since then, each of the six programs have claimed at least one America East crown.

The program’s six teams have collectively won 70 of UAlbany’s 140 Division I championship titles with their most recent coming during the outdoor season with both teams winning titles.

AE OUTDOOR PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK
Mar. 25

Apr. 8

Apr. 22

Apr. 28

2025 AMERICA EAST INDOOR CHAMPIONS
Women
Amelia Benjamin: High Jump
Rebeca Valerie Barrientos Alpha: Triple Jump
Shenequa Vassell: 60m
Men
Tooni Ogunyeye: 60m
Hassan Abidi: 800m
Antwone Messado: 60mH
Ja’Lil Reynolds: High Jump
Simone Menchini: Long Jump
Travis Robinson: Shot Put

UP NEXT: Those who qualify will continue their season at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds in Jacksonville, Florida (May 28-31).

Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany cross country and track and field by following the teams on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Christensen named to CUSA All-Academic team

Story Links DALLAS – Sam Houston senior Brady Christensen has been named to the Conference USA All-Academic team, per a release from league officials on Friday. Christensen is in his second year with the Bearkats, coming to SHSU after years at both Iowa Western CC and San Jacinto College. He played in […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

DALLAS – Sam Houston senior Brady Christensen has been named to the Conference USA All-Academic team, per a release from league officials on Friday.

Christensen is in his second year with the Bearkats, coming to SHSU after years at both Iowa Western CC and San Jacinto College. He played in 36 games in 2024, and has been a primary fixture in the Bearkat lineup in 2025.

He currently is hitting .259 and is tied for the team lead with nine home runs and four triples, while also adding 11 doubles and 33 RBI.

In the classroom he has excelled as well, holding a 3.36 overall GPA while majoring in General Business. He is a 2-time recipient of the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll in both 2023-24 and 2024-25 and made the Dean’s List at SHSU in the Spring of 2025.

Christensen is expected to graduate in December 2025 with a BBA in Business Administration before pursuing a Master of Business Administration beginning in the Spring semester of 2026.

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Sports

Liz Wluka – Director of Sports Nutrition – Women’s Volleyball Support Staff

UConn Sports Nutrition Overview and Services Hungry Husky Newsletter Liz Wluka joined the UConn athletics staff in August 2017 and serves as the director of sports nutrition. As a registered dietitian and a certified specialist in sports dietetics, Wluka provides individual counseling as well as team nutrition education to enhance the health and performance of all student-athletes. […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

UConn Sports Nutrition Overview and Services

Hungry Husky Newsletter

Liz Wluka joined the UConn athletics staff in August 2017 and serves as the director of sports nutrition. As a registered dietitian and a certified specialist in sports dietetics, Wluka provides individual counseling as well as team nutrition education to enhance the health and performance of all student-athletes. In this role, she is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing all performance nutrition services provided to all 24 teams.

Wluka came to Storrs following an eight-month sports nutrition fellowship called “SNIP” Sports Nutrition Immersion Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This fellowship is through the CPSDA organization (Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietetians Association) sponsored by Gatorade.

Wluka was one of 10 participants chosen across the country to participate in this exclusive training program as a sports dietitian. Wluka completed her dietetic internship at Pepperdine University in 2016 and previously worked in the sports nutrition department at UCLA.

She graduated from Syracuse University in 2015 and earned her bachelor’s degree in nutrition. During her undergraduate career at Syracuse, Wluka studied abroad in Sydney, Australia.

A native of Sharon, Mass., Wluka was selected for both the Boston Globe and Herald All-Scholastic teams in 2011 in the sport of basketball. Wluka was also selected Hockomock League MVP her senior season, becoming the first Sharon high female basketball player to receive this award in three decades.

She is a member of the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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