Stage 1: Shafi, Laverick Ride to Victory at Lake Perris Time Trial Riverside County, California (April 9, 2025) – Stage 1 of the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians began with the Toyota of Redlands Lake Perris Individual Time Trial. Alia Shafi rode to victory for Fount Cycling with a […]
Stage 1: Shafi, Laverick Ride to Victory at Lake Perris Time Trial
Riverside County, California (April 9, 2025) – Stage 1 of the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians began with the Toyota of Redlands Lake Perris Individual Time Trial. Alia Shafi rode to victory for Fount Cycling with a time of 25:04 after finishing second last season, earning the first yellow general classification jersey of the week. Shafi was given the number 301 as the last rider to start after finishing second overall last year. Her teammates would join her on the podium, sweeping Stage 1 with Jennifer Wheeler finishing second (25:28) and Majorie Rinaldo in third (25:43).
Alia Shafi takes the win and the first yellow jersey for Fount Cycling Cuild Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
The 11.7-mile loop around the lake was the second year in a row the location was used in the 40 years of the Redlands Classic. Riders rolled out the starting house underneath blue skies and increasing heat, with only a slight head wind fighting them to the finish. Temperatures hovered in the mid-80s. However, with half the peloton arriving to California from Northern locations or the East Coast, the warm temperatures were a shock to the system.
“Compared to last year, I felt a little bit more comfortable,” Shafi said after the stage. “I knew I could make a little time and I had a plan; I think I executed it well. This is my third year at Redlands. I’ve been hunting this down since last year, we were so close – shout out to Nadia (Gontova) who crushed it with DNA. We’re coming hungry this year, hoping to keep yellow all week.”
Wheeler has returned to racing, after retiring she focused her efforts on building Fount Cycling Guild with her partner, David Richter. They guided and coached a number of athletes that came through their program including WorldTour rider Veronica Ewers. They would later meet Shafi, recognizing the talent of the collegiate rower. After directing Shafi the last few seasons, Wheeler wanted to take it a step further and race alongside her.
“We brought Alia up since she was a noob and didn’t even know how to shift a bike,” Wheeler said. “I don’t know how more years she’s going to be racing, but I really wanted to come back and be with her to support her in the peloton. That was my primary motivation this year to get back to racing…its just such a great team. They motivate me to be my best so I’m really happy.”
Madison Gallagher (Team Winston Salem) had been timed as finishing third upon crossing the finish, however, she quickly informed the officials she had taken a wrong turn out on course. After a delay due to the men’s start, the correction confirmed Rinaldo in third. Shafi would double up with a lead in the sprint points classification, sharing the jersey with Wheeler for stage 2. 17-year-old Canadian Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling) also had an incredible ride, finishing 5th in 25:58 to earn the newly minted Best Young Rider jersey for the pro women.
Pro Men’s Race
As the women celebrated their podium finishes, the pro men were off as the temperatures began to rise. Cole Owen with Team Winston Salem would clock the first fast time of 22:17, a few seconds shy of Tyler Stites 22:20 winning time last year. Hugo Scala, Jr. would start less than 10 minutes behind Owen, as the first rider for Project Echelon out of the starting house. His 21:58 time would hold for much of the day, hoping to take the GC lead for his team.
Joe Laverick was among the final 15 riders to finish when he stopped the clock at 21:50, the only other rider to join Scala in finishing under 22-minutes, winning the stage. Eric Brunner (Competitive Edge Racing) rounded the podium in third with a time of 22:01.
“It was hot, very, very hot,” Laverick said following his victory. “We’ve done a lot of recon laps the last three or four days, so it was kind of nice to put it all together. I’ll be honest, I felt absolutely horrendous for half of the day. I crossed the line and luckily I heard I got the fastest time. I just kept my fingers crossed, hoping the other guys wouldn’t catch me and kept yellow.
“I’m only guest riding for the Good Guys team, but they’ve looked after me like I’m one of their own,” Laverick added. “Tomorrow is a big day. Based on how Project Echelon rode last year, I know they’re gonna throw the kitchen sink at me, both tomorrow and the next four days. The circuit at the bottom is going to change it a bit, but at the end of the day, it’s a power test until the top of the climb. Hopefully, I can out climb a couple boys….we shall see.”
Redlands has become known as a land where legends are born. Team California’s Elouan Gardon is one of many examples we are sure to witness this week. Gardon races for the US National Paralympic Team, having won a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Games in the men’s pursuit C5 4,000-meter individual pursuit para-cycling track event. He followed that performance by setting a new course record at Phoenix’ Valley of the Sun stage race this past February. The 18-year-old would finish 7th on the stage Wednesday, after sitting second for most of the day.
“It was fun to get out here, even though it was hot and a little different than Washington,” Gardon said. “I enjoyed the technical aspect of it and the little climb at the end; it was a nice length. This is my first race with Team California, I have only been with them for a week. I just want to do as well as I can, defend this jersey, and do well for the team.”
Thursday is expected to be the hottest day of the week in Southern California, with temperatures nearing 90 degrees. Only eleven seconds separates the top three on GC. Laverick’s teammate last year, Cole Davis, won the stage giving him confidence leading into a tough battle in his defense of the yellow jersey. The pro men will begin their 75.5-miles with 10 laps around the newly minted circuit before heading up the long climb to the Onyx Summit. The women will soon follow with six laps of their own before they face the long, steep ascent to the top. Time will tell if the new circuit hands over the battle of a whittled down peloton race organizers are hoping for.
Stage 2: Shafi Celebrates Another Stage Win, Extending Overall GC Lead
Big Bear, California (April 10, 2025) – Alia Shafi notched another stage victory, crossing the line solo atop the Onyx Summit for Stage 2 at the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.. The Fount Cycling Guild rider extended her overall lead to over a minute on GC. SpeedBlock pb Terun rider, Kira Payer, finished shortly behind Shafi in second, earning the Queen of the Mountains jersey for her efforts. Best Young Rider Sidney Swierenga rounded the podium in third, for the second day of racing.
The pro women set off for Stage 2 Thursday, completing six laps of the new circuit that was added this season, hoping to split the peloton prior to reaching the foot of the summit. Anticipating the long climb ahead, the women’s peloton stuck together, waiting for the imminent attacks.
Eventually, the winning move would launch in the feed zone midway up the climb. Kira Payer (SpeedBlock p/b Terum) and Shafi gained some distance, setting a pace others found too difficult to keep. The battle continued between the duo until Shafi gave a final jump to drop her breakaway companion and post for the win.
“The altitude was really tough, you could feel it in that last 10KM,” Shafi said. “Kira [Payer] was super strong, she tried to launch a few attacks, but I held her wheel. We went basically up to 250m together until I went. Big shout out to her, she is super strong and I had lots of fun racing with her today.”
“The team crushed it today. We had roughly seven girls out of about 25 or 30 towards the end,” Shafi continued. “They controlled the pace and protected me well. It went according to plan. It’s awesome to see us come out after a couple of years coming so close.”
Last season Payer contracted Long-Covid and admits she thought she would never be able to race again.
“Fount and I ended up on the descent and I hopped on to the train. As soon as the speed dropped, I blew it up a bit,” Payer said. “Eventually, Alia and I traded pulls which was able to drop the other girls. Sydney bridged up to us with a super strong ride. I put in some digs to try and shake Alia. It cracked Sydney but ultimately Alia outsprinted me at the end.
“My plan was to go for it from the bottom. My girls did an amazing job keeping me cool and hydrated,” Payer added. “This was a pretty big day for me, because last year racing this stage I realized I had Long-Covid. I spent the entire year until September recovering from Covid. I didn’t know I would be able to race again, so to come back a year later and feel like myself again is a pretty big achievement for me.”
The classification jerseys shuffled around with Kendall Ryan taking over the Sprint Points Classification, Payer taking the first Queen of the Mountain jersey of the week, while Swierenga maintains the Best Young Rider jersey, and Shafi in yellow.
Pro Men’s Race
The men began the day early, starting their stage at 9:30, facing 10 laps of the added circuit before facing the climb. The circuit saw several crashes and extensive action at the front of field, desperately attempting to set a breakaway. Multiple riders and teams were in the mix. During the last two laps riders were picking up the pace and establishing a front group with roughly 35 riders.
Little by little the group split up and the front breakaway was left with a handful of riders, including Ricky Arnopol (Project Echelon). Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem), Alex Gil (Canel’s –Java), and Stephen Schaeffer of Llandis Trek. Around 30km to go, Arnopol launched an attack with Gil countering. The duo gained a slight advantage that would balloon to over a minute ahead of the stragglers behind them.
Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) set his pace in the chase group behind, slowly gaining time and would eventually catch and drop the two leaders to reach the finish solo, celebrating his victory and taking over the yellow jersey. Arnopol would finish second, securing his lead in the King of the Mountain classification, with Luke Elphington in third for Kelly Benefits Strategies.
“I wasn’t trying to get the KOM, I really wanted the win,” Arnopol said. “I didn’t really get any help, it was just me and one other guy (Gil) for the entire thing, and then I was solo for the last 25km. I got caught with a kilometer to go. Owen[Cole] was just stronger and I couldn’t stay on the wheel. I just ran out of legs at the end. I got second which is a bummer, but I guess it was a good day.”
At about the midway point up the climb, Arnopol had two other teammates in the chase group, including Hugo Scala, Jr. who had been second on GC after the stage 1 time trial. Unfortunately, Scala had suffered a front wheel puncture and shortly there after, slide and crashed. The team would later report that Scala escaped any major injuries but was forced to abandon the race.
Meanwhile, as the Arnopol and Gil duo were seeing roughly 20km to go, Gil began cramping from the heat unable to keep Arnopol’s wheel. He would try to regain the distance lost but would eventually finish outside the top 20.
Maintaining his rhythm, Cole had Arnopol in his sights, and would catch his wheel within 3km to go, eventually dropping him to go on for the win. Eder Frayre of Golden State Blazers was also close behind but ran out of real estate, finishing fourth on the stage.
“There weren’t many thoughts in the final kilometers, other than trying to keep breathing,” Cole said at the finish. “I had my guys yelling in my ear the entire way, that was the only thing keeping me going at that point. Just trying to go all in. We went really early at the bottom of the climb. We started pushing the pace in the main peloton. A couple of us got away and just went at it the entire day. I had a minor crash in the circuits at the beginning. My teammates were amazing and brought me back up, luckily everything was okay.”
Stage 3: A Day for the Break – Fuller takes the stage, Frayre climbs into GC Lead
Redlands, California (April 11, 2025) – Cyclesport.com’s Quinn Felton dropped his breakaway companions within the final 500 meters to steal the victory on Stage 3. The new circuit at Crafton Hills proved to be one that lent itself to explosive racing, with teams trying desperately to establish a breakaway in order to gain time to what has become a tight race for the overall GC.
”It was a fun new course, definitely as hard as we thought it was going to be,” Felton said after winning. “The gravel section was not as sketchy as we thought it would be. It was still a very hard course in the heat today. The team plan was to allow the first break to go, letting everyone gas themselves before chasing back. We countered that and it worked out perfectly.”
Kieren Haug (Project Echelon) was second, while Eder Frayre was third overall. Due to time bonuses that were offered at the finish for the top three finishers, Frayre earned enough bonus seconds crossing the line in third, to earn his first yellow jersey of his nearly decade-long career.
“It was really a hard race and hard course but we were ready,” Frayre said. “I’m in really good shape. We had a good plan coming into the stage, but then the breakaway started to go. I told my teammates, ‘we need to go full gas into the climb,’ so they made a great lead out for me from the bottom to almost the top.
“Nearing the end of the laps, and once I had joined the break, they knew I was the biggest GC threat. I just rode as hard as I could until the final.”
The GC standings were so close, it took some time after finishing for the judges to calculate everything properly. Frayre was awarded the yellow jersey in the end by just eight-seconds, with two stages remaining – The Downtown Crit, and the infamous Sunset Loop circuit.
“This all means so much,” Frayre said recounting what Redlands Bicycle Classic has meant to his professional career. “I started racing here in 2010 when I was practically a junior. It was my first race with the professionals. It was really hard work, but its one of my dreams is to win Redlands before I retire. I have a really big opportunity this weekend. I want to keep this jersey until the final. I’m so thankful to my friends, family, and people in my life.”
The Redlands Classic race organization added the new route for stage 3, to replace the Highland Circuit. The 250m gravel section nearing the halfway point of each lap, looked like Paris-Roubaix, as the riders became lost in the dust all the wheels were kicking up. They would appear out of the clouds of dust to prepare to come around, time and time again.
Fount Cycling Guild continues to dominate Redlands, earning another stage win with Stovar
In the women’s race, Fount Cycling Guild continues to dominate the competition, after their third stage wins in as many days. This time it was Ellexi Stover who took the victory for the team, with the yellow jersey, Alia Shafi immediately behind. Stover had been busy protecting Alia from other attacks and the elements going through the gravel section. At roughly 100m to go, Shafi sat up to watch her teammate cross the finish with elation.
Fount Cycling Guild continues to dominate, winning another stage this time with Ellexi Snovor Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
Several groups had tried to establish a breakaway with no result straight from kilometer zero – there had been no neutral roll out on Friday.. A few laps later and five heavyweights had left the field behind in their wake. The breakaway included all but one of the leader jerseys – GC Leader : Shafi, Kira Payer, Leading Mountain classifications, and our Best Young Rider, Sydney Swierenga,
Time bonuses were awarded both at the finish and with four laps to go. Shafi remained calm and cool amidst several attempts at isolating her. She had several teammates trying to make the bridge up to the front of the race. Ellexi Stovar (Fount Cycling) was the only teammate who managed to make it. breakaway had consisted of 5 riders all together.
Payer had stuck with them most of the way, in order to fight for QOM points since earning the QOM jersey on stage 2. She increased her QOM lead to 41 points ahead of Shafi with 31.
Stage 4: Summerhill and Shafi Triumph in Downtown Redlands
Redlands, California (April 12, 2025) – Danny Summerhill took home a thrilling win for his L39ion of Los Angeles team today after a nail-biting 90-minute criterium in downtown Redlands, Calif.
The 36-year-old Colorado-born veteran stunned a stacked L39ion of Los Angeles and Golden State Blazers team by out-sprinting Jim Brown (Golden State Blazers) and Ryan Gorman (Cyclesport.com) to take victory.
Eder Frayre (Golden State Blazers) stayed out of trouble to retain his lead in the overall competition. He now sits 10 seconds ahead of Quinn Felton (Cyclesport.com). Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) is third at 1’04”.
“This has been a pretty trying week,” Summerhill said at the finish. “But I’m really happy that the team, as few of us as there are now, were able to pull that (win) out today. I attest that whole sprint to Robin (Carpenter) and the strength of that man. He stayed away for pretty much the majority of the race, which meant that myself and Alec (Cowan) really didn’t have anything to do apart from stay safe and stay at the front of the race. I really owe a lot to Robin and Alec.”
From the gun, the Golden State Blazers took over control of the 132-rider strong peloton as it snaked around the one-mile technical criterium, allowing several early moves from Summerhill and Luke Elphingstone (Kelly Benefits Cycling), to gain some traction for a couple of laps, however, despite the lead changing hands several times, the Blazers did swift work of neutralizing the threats.
That was until Ben Stokes (Kelly Benefits Cycling) launched a searing attack that caught the bunch asleep during a lull at the race’s midway point. Sensing an opportunity, Robin Carpenter (L39ion of Los Angeles) bridged across to the 20-year-old. Together, they built up a threatening lead of around 20 seconds before the sprinters’ teams turned on the gas, anxious to deliver their fast men to the line before the time ran out.
Carpenter had other plans, however, and courageously held off the locomotive-like peloton until two laps to go. From there, Summerhill used his experience as a veteran of the sport to position himself for success in the finale.
Heading into tomorrow’s finale, Jim Brown (Golden State Blazers) has all but sealed his lead in the points competition with 40 points. Sebastian Brenes (Canal’s – Java) is sitting second with 19. The king of the mountains classification remains the same as Stage 3, as no points were available today. Richard Arnopol (Project Echelon) is currently first in the climbers competition with 28 points ahead of Luke Elphingstone’s (Kelly Benefits Cycling) 22 points.Cole Owen (Team Winston Salem) will wear the best amateur jersey heading into tomorrow’s race.
Women’s Race
In the pro women’s criterium, Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling Guild) continued to showcase her incredible yellow jersey caliber form with a third win at the 39th edition of the Redlands Bicycle Classic. The 29-year-old overall race leader attacked with five laps to go of the 75-minute criterium and held off a disorganized peloton for an impressive solo victory. Her teammate, Jennifer Wheeler won the reduced bunch sprint for second and points leader Cassidy Hickey (CCB p/b Levine Law Group Cycling) rounded out the podium in third place.
“I just saw a moment to go and I took it,” Shafi said. “I’ve been with this team for five years and I owe it all to (Jennifer Wheeler).”
Attacks set the stage for a lively race straight from the start, with Kendall Ryan (L39ion of Los Angeles) and Brooklyn Raddin (Fount Cycling Guild) stirring up the tempo in the opening laps. Most moves were short-lived; however, due to the diligence of the Fount Cycling Guild squad, they were interested in keeping Shafi out of trouble and perhaps prompting a later attack from the eventual winner.
After the second intermediate sprint, which saw Hickey pick up the maximum points on her way into the green jersey, the elastic finally broke. Hickey and Andrea Cyr (Fount Cycling Guild) shifted their sprint momentum into a strong breakaway and gained a maximum of 20 seconds for several laps before the inevitable catch.
With five laps to go, the yellow jersey took off from the bunch, and no one had a response. Safi quickly gained 30 seconds and held it to victory.
Shafi leads the general classification by a margin of 2’25” ahead of Canadian Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling Race Team), the current best young rider. Third on GC is the leader of the queen of the mountains classification, Kira Payer (Speedblock pb Terun), 2’29” in arrears. Third on stage 4, Cassidy Hickey (CCB p/b Levine Law Group Cycling) claimed enough intermediate sprint points to overtake Ellexi Snover (Fount Cycling Guild) in the points classification.
Stage 5: Holly Breck Takes Final Stage; Shafi Retains Leader Jersey
Redlands, California (April 13, 2025) – Holly Breck (L39ION of Los Angeles) stormed to victory in the elite women’s finale, claiming the top spot on the podium ahead of Cara O’Neill (Team S&M CX) and overall race leader Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling Guild) in a reduced field sprint.
“I can’t believe it, honestly,” Breck said. “I’m at a loss for words. I’ve never made the circuits before, so to win it is unreal. It’s kind of all a blur, but I knew I had to be patient. Fount’s been riding strong all week. They had a good lead-out going, but I knew when I had to jump, and that was my last shot. Wow.”
The 68.1-mile stage began under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, a slightly cooler departure from previous stages. After a nervous start that saw the peloton hesitate to commit to an early break despite several attempts by Winston Salem Cycling, the eventual best amateur winner, Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling), attacked with three laps to go and gained enough daylight to enjoy a few laps solo. However, the move was reabsorbed as a bunch sprint seemed more and more imminent.
Third on the day, Shafi easily cemented her lead in the overall competition, claiming the biggest win of her career by 2’29” ahead of 17-year-old Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling). Queen of the mountains jersey winner Kira Payer scooped up the final podium placing, finishing 2’36” down on the winner.
“I’ve been aiming for Redlands for a couple of years now, so it feels awesome to finally get it, and the team worked so well together, and we’re just so happy that we pulled it off…I continue to think Redlands is my favorite race,” Shafi said.
Scott McGill Seals Stage 5 of Redlands Bicycle Classic; Eder Frayre Secures Overall Victory
In a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Redlands Bicycle Classic, Scott McGill (Project Echelon Racing) won in the pro men’s Stage 5 Sunset Loop Road Race, sponsored by Community Alliance Medical Group, by winning the bunch sprint from the breakaway. Robin Carpenter (L39ION of Los Angeles) finished second and Nathan Cusack (Kelly Benefits Cycling) was third.
Eder Frayre (Golden State Blazers), who holds the unique distinction of being the first Mexican rider to ever win the Redlands Bicycle Classic, finished safely in what was left of the peloton to successfully take first in the general classification by just 10 seconds ahead Quinn Felton (CycleSport.com). Team Winston Salem’s Owen Cole finished third overall, 1’04” back.
“I’m super happy and super proud,” Frayre said after the race. “I’m thankful for life, God, and my team for helping me and all my friends in the peloton. It took a long time to get here, and I’m very happy.”
The final stage covered a demanding 91.3 miles, beginning with two laps of a short criterium course in downtown Redlands.
Riders then tackled the challenging Sunset Loop, completing 12 laps of a 6.5-mile circuit featuring significant elevation changes, particularly in the first 2.6 miles. The stage concluded with five laps on a 1.0-mile criterium loop in downtown Redlands.
After some short-lived attempts at a breakaway, a group of eight escaped the Golden State Blazers stranglehold on the peloton, pulling away during the climb with 10 laps to go.
Heiner Parra (Canel’s-Java), Sam Boardman (Project Echelon Racing), Ryan Gorman (CycleSport.com), Evan Russell (Expeditors), Brody McDonald (Golden State Blazers), Joseph Laverick (Good Guys Racing NYC), Julien Ruhe (Kelly Benefits Strategies) and Peter Bock (Jacomo Racing Domestic Elite) gained a maximum advantage of a minute and some change for several laps before the Golden State Blazers reeled them in with five to go.
McGill and Ethan Craine (Project Echelon Racing), Nathan Cusack (Kelly Benefits Cycling), and Robin Carpenter (L39ION of Los Angeles) made up the next breakaway to pull away. After David Ruvalcaba (EMPYR Cycling) bridged across, the group had enough firepower to stay out of the peloton’s reach to the finish, and McGill had enough left in the tank to take top honors.
“We were just trying to salvage something from this race. We were second the first three stages, and then I crashed yesterday in the crit with three to go, so I was unable to contest the sprint,” McGill said. “We were either going to go for the win on GC or the win on the stage.”
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — The Central College men’s and women’s track and field programs combined to have 23 individual entries into the national top-50 lists, keeping both teams in the top-25 in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association National Team Rating Index, released Tuesday. […]
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — The Central College men’s and women’s track and field programs combined to have 23 individual entries into the national top-50 lists, keeping both teams in the top-25 in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association National Team Rating Index, released Tuesday.
The Dutch men came in at No. 22 and the women are No. 24.
Points in the National Team Rating Index are based off placement in the National Descending Order Lists. The higher an athlete sits on the top-50 list, the more points he or she adds to his or her team’s total. These points do not reflect placement or scoring at the NCAA Championships but are to show the individuals and teams that have the best chances at scoring well at said meet.
Central’s women had eight individual entries and two relay squads in the national top 50 list, headlined by Olivia Bohlen (junior, Belle Plaine) at No. 3 in the heptathlon (5,045 points) and Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) at No. 4 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10 minutes, 33.21 seconds).
The Dutch men had 15 individual entries, most prominently Kale Hobart (sophomore, Mason City) at No. 2 in the heptathlon (6,922 points) and Gunner Meyer (junior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) at No. 6 in the 110-meter hurdles (14.10 seconds).
The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse is No. 1 on the men’s list and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the top women’s team heading into this weekend’s NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio.
CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 5 SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS – Ceron recovers from rocky start as Cerritos ends opening round jinx
May 20, 2025 By Loren Kopff • @LorenKopff on X Cerritos High may be the queens of 605 League softball, winning six straight titles and losing just twice in the circuit since its inception, but when it comes to the CIF-Southern Section divisional playoffs, the Dons haven’t had much luck recently. The program had not […]
Cerritos High may be the queens of 605 League softball, winning six straight titles and losing just twice in the circuit since its inception, but when it comes to the CIF-Southern Section divisional playoffs, the Dons haven’t had much luck recently.
The program had not won a playoff game since 2021 since defeating Whittier Christian High 4-3 in the quarterfinals. Since then, the Dons had lost four straight postseason games by a combined nine runs. And after the first two innings against Mira Costa High last Thursday, it looked as if that number would be five straight playoff losses.
But Cerritos, seeded third in the division, erupted for four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and eight more in the sixth as the Dons crushed the Mustangs 14-5 in a Division 5 first-round game. Coupled with an 11-1 win at Valencia High last Saturday, the team improved to 16-6 as it hosted Canyon Springs High in the quarterfinals. Cerritos already has the most wins since going 22-2 in 2021.
Mira Costa scored twice in the top of the first inning off junior pitcher Ava Ceron, who faced seven batters and threw 13 pitches. In the next inning, she tossed 15 pitches and gave up two more runs while facing six batters. After that, she settled down despite scattering six more singles.
“Something about this team that is special is they have very short-term memories,” said Cerritos’ first-year head coach Michelle Steck. “They’re really quick at flushing the mistakes or flushing what’s going on, staying loud, just playing Cerritos softball and coming back to find ways to win.”
“We had to stay up; we had to fight back,” said Ceron. “That’s something about our team. We always know how to keep it going even if we’re behind. I just felt like I was keeping my pitches too high. I usually am like a low [ball] pitcher, and the low balls produce flyouts and ground balls. I felt like I was kind of missing my spots, but I made the adjustments to produce the outs that we needed.”
Mira Costa was up 2-0 and had the bases loaded in the first when Sam Ure hit a ball that was caught by senior center fielder Anaya Granflor, who threw a dart to senior catcher Aliana Calderon, where she tagged out Maelie Fasano for the double play.
The Dons scored their first run in the third inning when Granflor was safe on one of nine Mira Costa errors, stole second, and scored on Ceron’s one-out groundout. Freshman right fielder Demi Lagare was also safe on an error and made it 4-2 by coming home on a passed ball.
After seeing the Mustangs, who won eight games in the regular season, tack on a run in the fourth inning, Cerritos continued the momentum in its half of the frame. Calderon, who at 4’ 11” is one of the shortest players on the team, singled off the glove of Fasano and scored on a double from senior third baseman Michelle Meza. Two more errors allowed senior shortstop Katherine Villegas to get to second with Meza scoring and freshman left fielder Noelle Martinez doubled down the left field line to plate Villegas.
Two outs later, Clara Wilcox walked Lagare, who stole second and went to third on an infield single. That set the stage for Ceron, who redeemed herself by placing an infield single in front of shortstop Madelyn Riethmiller, bringing in Martinez for the eventual game-winning run.
“They were just telling us to stay focused; keep doing what we know we could do,” said Ceron of the coaches.
“Ali is a little catalyst on this team, and she gets really frustrated with herself if she doesn’t get that big hit, which everyone wants,” said Steck. “I just have to keep reminding her that whatever it takes. I don’t care if it’s the ugliest bunt on the planet; it looks like a line drive in the books. We need to remember that it truly doesn’t matter. We just need something to get base runners in that situation.”
Ceron would leave runners at second and third in the fifth and yielded a two-out single in the sixth. But the Dons put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth by sending 12 to the plate. And just like Mira Costa was connecting on the first or second pitch thrown by Ceron in the early innings, the Dons were doing the same off Wilcox on the sixth.
With runners on first and second to begin the onslaught, Ceron, who is the leadoff batter, sophomore first baseman Zoe Corrales, Calderon, and Meza connected on a combined seven pitches, either getting a hit or a run-scoring groundout. A double from Villegas on an 0-2 count plated Meza to make it 10-5. That was followed by first-pitch singles from Martinez and Granflor, then a one-strike base hit from senior second baseman Lana Javier.
When it was all said and done, eight starters had at least a hit and drove in at least a run, while seven starters scored at least a run. Ceron went two for five and drove in a pair while Martinez, Meza, and Villegas all had two hits. And, while she did not have a strikeout, Ceron still survived a 12-hit attack by the Mustangs, who stranded nine runners.
This was the third time this season Cerritos had rallied from an early deficit to win. It trailed Kennedy High 8-2 after one and half innings on Mar. 17 and rallied for a 9-8 win and was down to Oxford Academy 6-2 after two innings on Apr. 11 before coming back for a 13-6 victory. That was the beginning of an eight-game winning streak heading into the quarterfinals. The Dons also scored a run in the bottom of the seventh against Mark Keppel High on Feb. 27 to win 7-6 after allowing three runs in the top of the seventh.
“We’ve done it kind of off and on all season [and] this was definitely a different situation, being that this was the first round of the CIF [playoffs],” said Steck of the rallies. “We haven’t been out of the first round of CIF for quite some time. We know that, but I think it’s not something I’d like to say we’re used to, but it’s something that they’re familiar with.”
“That was definitely our goal coming into the year,” said Ceron. “We wanted to get at least past round one, and we have such a great group of girls. I’m really happy that we were able to do it.”
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For multi-sport North Park student-athlete Riana Hayes, her collegiate experience in Chicago has been more than just volleyball matches and track meets. Her path from high school to becoming a standout collegiate athlete has been a story of unlocking her potential and unwavering resilience.
The junior from Wheeling, Ill. […]
For multi-sport North Park student-athlete Riana Hayes, her collegiate experience in Chicago has been more than just volleyball matches and track meets. Her path from high school to becoming a standout collegiate athlete has been a story of unlocking her potential and unwavering resilience.
The junior from Wheeling, Ill. is already a Division III Indoor All-American in the 200 meters. She will run at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship this weekend in Geneva, Ohio as a member of NPU’s 4×100 meter relay team.
Hayes is also a three-year member of NPU’s women’s volleyball team, helping the Vikings to their first-ever CCIW regular-season championship in 2023 and back-to-back CCIW Tournament titles in 2022 and 2023.
DISCOVERING HER IDENTITY AT NORTH PARK
Growing up in Wheeling, Ill., Hayes was a three-sport athlete in high school and faced initial doubts about being a student-athlete in college. However, with the encouragement of her coaches and her sister, she took a leap of faith and joined the volleyball team in high school, ultimately finding success in the sport.
When it came time to choose a college, Hayes had specific criteria in mind. She wanted to pursue both volleyball and track & field while also finding a school that offered her desired major in elementary education. North Park – just 21 miles from her hometown – emerged as the perfect fit, offering her the opportunity immerse herself in all three areas as well as the campus community.
Hayes recalls feeling a sense of joy and gratitude when she discovered North Park and the coaches who believed in her potential.
“I ended up getting in contact with Coach Bisrat Kidane, and we started talking more and seeing the bigger picture of it all,” Hayes said. “I remember thinking to myself, I don’t know where I want to go. Do I want to go to this one school where I could only play one sport, or do I want to go to this school?
“Immediately, I talked to my sister about it, and she said, ‘Riana, it seems like you want to go to North Park … the way you talk about it, you have this joy in your voice and a need to see and explore something that could bring you so much gratitude.'”
Hayes embraced the opportunity to be a part of these teams and continue her growth as a collegiate athlete.
FINDING STRENGTH THROUGH ADVERSITY
Hayes’s time at North Park hasn’t been without its challenges. During her freshman year, she faced the loss of her aunt, who was like a second mother to her. The support and encouragement she received from her teammates and coaches at North Park helped her navigate through this difficult time.
“Although I was going through something so hard and ended up losing my aunt … I had a second family to look to as a freshman,” Hayes said. “And I will forever be thankful for North Park for bringing me into an environment that could just allow me to be vulnerable.
“Hey, you’re an athlete, but you’re also a person, and things happen. And this is an outlet for you, and you have people around you who will support you and allow you to flourish and get into this environment to be competitive, to want more for yourself, to not be beaten up by the things outside, but being able to bring the things outside inside to motivate and push you.”
A BREAKTHROUGH SEASON
Hayes’s track & field career has been equally impressive. As a sprinter, she has experienced both triumphs and setbacks, but her determination and faith have kept her going. Hayes attributes her success to the guidance of her coaches and the support of her teammates.
“The biggest question – what more can you do? – is really what pushes you to that successful point,” Hayes said. “So being able to rely on my coaches within the sense of asking those things, even (Coach Kidane), I would go into his office and completely talk about any and everything, whether it’s academics, and he really was an advocate for helping me discuss the way that I feel during things and letting me know that although I am his track athlete, I am also a person.”
One of Hayes’s breakthrough moments came during the CCIW Indoor Championship, where she secured all-conference status in the 55-meter dash and broke yet another North Park record. Just weeks later, she earned All-America status in the 200 meters by placing 11th at the NCAA Indoor Championship.
With seven school records to her name, Hayes continues to push herself to new heights and embrace the challenges that come her way.
STRIKING THE PERFECT BALANCE
In addition to her athletic pursuits, Hayes is also dedicated to her academic journey. As an elementary education major, she fulfills clinical hours and gains valuable experience in classrooms. Balancing her academic responsibilities, athletics, and personal life is no easy feat, but Hayes remains focused on her goals and strives to make a positive impact both on and off the field.
Looking ahead, Hayes envisions a future that combines her love for teaching and athletics. She aspires to become a third-grade teacher and hopes to continue her track & field career beyond college. Hayes’s unwavering passion and commitment to her craft inspire those around her, and she is determined to leave a lasting impact in both the educational and athletic realms.
LOFTY GOALS IN THE FUTURE
Hayes’s journey as a student-athlete at North Park University exemplifies the power of perseverance and the support of a close-knit community. Her story serves as a reminder that with hard work, faith, and the right support system, anything is possible.
As Hayes continues to make her mark at North Park, she remains grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have shaped her into the athlete and person she has become.
Follow the CCIW CCIW on X | CCIW Instagram | CCIW Facebook |
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage College (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Ill.), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Ill.), Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.), North Central College (Naperville, Ill.), North Park University (Chicago, Ill.) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.).
Boys volleyball wraps up inaugural season | North Vernon
Jennings County High School boys volleyball club recently finished its inaugural season with great success, especially for a first-year program. The team was coached by Ashley Sedam who was assisted by Halea Gibbons. “It was great to watch the growth of the new program, even when they were losing you could see the growth. I’m […]
Jennings County High School boys volleyball club recently finished its inaugural season with great success, especially for a first-year program. The team was coached by Ashley Sedam who was assisted by Halea Gibbons.
“It was great to watch the growth of the new program, even when they were losing you could see the growth. I’m excited to see the future of this program,” Laramie Elston, mother of senior Maddix Elston, commented.
Another parent said, “We played teams that were IHSAA members and had been around for a few years. We were competitive, no one blew us out.”
Even though it was his first, and last, season of volleyball, senior Kaiser Daeger stated, “I really enjoyed playing volleyball this season and building relationships with my teammates. I want to thank our coaches for their patience and dedication.
According to Missy Taylor, athletic department administrative assistant at JCHS, the plan is for the program to be a club sport for two years. “We have to make sure there will be enough interest so we can field a team every year,” said Taylor. “Their games had to be scheduled around track meets so the boys could go to track practice after school.”
There’s no limit on how long boys’ volleyball can be a club sport. The only downside to being a club sport is that the team is not eligible to play in a post-season tournament.
Hopefully interest in the sport continues to grow and JCHS can become a member of the IHSAA. Fielding a team in a tournament would be icing on the cake and a great way to honor this year’s graduating trailblazers.
Arizona Wildcats track and field/cross country coach Fred Harvey announces retirement
Arizona track and field and cross country head coach Fred Harvey is retiring after 38 years at the university. Harvey has spent the last 23 seasons leading the Arizona track and cross country programs, after 15 years previously as an assistant and associate coach. Harvey will retire at the conclusion of the outdoor track season. […]
Arizona track and field and cross country head coach Fred Harvey is retiring after 38 years at the university.
Harvey has spent the last 23 seasons leading the Arizona track and cross country programs, after 15 years previously as an assistant and associate coach.
Harvey will retire at the conclusion of the outdoor track season. The NCAA Outdoor Championships begin next week and end in mid-June.
“I am honored to have been one of only four head coaches of the Track & Field program at the University of Arizona since 1951,” Harvey said in a statement. “During that time, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the greatest leaders in athletics history, including Cedric Dempsey, Jim Livengood, Rocky LaRose, Greg Byrne, Erika Barnes, and Dave Heeke. I am especially honored to have had the opportunity to work alongside the next great leader of Arizona Athletics, Desiree Reed-Francois. She continues to make meaningful, long-lasting contributions to the University and the Tucson community, and I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had under her leadership.”
Reed-Francois said Arizona is launching a national search for the school’s next track and cross country head coach.
“Coach Harvey’s transition marks a new chapter for Arizona Track and Field/Cross Country and the department remains committed to finding a leader who will build upon the program’s tradition of excellence, foster a culture of accountability and integrity, and provide championship-level experiences for student-athletes,” Reed-Francois said.
Under Harvey, Arizona’s track and cross country programs produced 11 individual national champions, 160 All-Americans and 14 Olympians.
The Arizona track and field program was competitive in the Pac-10/12 for the duration of Harvey’s career as head coach. In 2011 he earned Pac-10 Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year honors after leading both teams to runner-up finishes at the Pac-10 Outdoor Championships and top-10 national finishes at NCAAs.
In Arizona’s first year in the Big 12, the Wildcats finished eighth in both the men’s and women’s conference outdoor championships.
With Harvey’s retirement, the longest-tenured coach at Arizona is Jim Anderson, who has coached the Wildcats men’s golf team since 2012.
LHS boys volleyball wins districts – St. Louis Call Newspapers
With a district championship on the line, junior Cohen Boehm showcased why he’s the heartbeat of the Lindbergh boys volleyball team, powering the Flyers to a 25-21, 26-24, 23-25, 25-22 win over Lutheran South in the Class 1 District 2 title match on May 14. “One of our biggest leaders this year has been Cohen […]
With a district championship on the line, junior Cohen Boehm showcased why he’s the heartbeat of the Lindbergh boys volleyball team, powering the Flyers to a 25-21, 26-24, 23-25, 25-22 win over Lutheran South in the Class 1 District 2 title match on May 14.
“One of our biggest leaders this year has been Cohen Boehm, a junior and team captain who stepped up and is attacking for the first time while also running our offense as a setter in the back row,” Lindbergh boys volleyball head coach Atom Zuniga said. “He can play defense, he can serve, he can set, he can swing, he can block. So, he does everything for us. He’s a huge part of our team, and that’s one of the reasons why he’s a captain.”
Lindbergh (28-2 overall) was also led by John Dobbs, who blasted 21 kills. Gabe Scheve put down 17 more, Dzejlan Sofic added nine spikes and Alex Ahrens had 26 assists.
“Gabe Scheve is a sophomore who is playing outside for the first time, and has made major growth as an attacker, while still remaining a top passer and defender in the area,” Zuniga said. “Tyler White, our libero, has made significant improvements in his effectiveness and confidence that have made him a mainstay in our back row. Dzejlan Sofic and Mason Vander Meer, our two senior middles, provide the maturity, composure and leadership to help balance out all these young guys and their fiery competitiveness.”
The Flyers’ victory marks the program’s second district championship in as many years — a testament to their growth and cohesion despite a relatively young roster.
“We definitely need to make some adjustments in terms of setting location and attacking consistency,” Zuniga said. “But one of the reasons we’ve had the success we’ve had is our cohesiveness. This group works really well together, on and off the court.”
Next up, Lindbergh travels to St. Pius X on May 20 for sectional play. St. Pius is coming off a major upset over top-seeded Saxony Lutheran in the District 1 final.
Zuniga complimented his squad on making the adjustments necessary to win matches throughout the season, something that comes with experience.
“Our biggest obstacle has been overcoming the natural struggles that come with a relatively young team,” he said. “Those guys are mature beyond their years, but we occasionally can become our own worst enemy. Fortunately, I’ve been proud of their resilience and ability to make adjustments in those moments, which they almost always have.”
