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Vitale homegrown into Mexico boys wrestling HC

By Jeremy Jacob, Sports Editor Jake Vitale has many reasons to be grateful to the Mexico boys wrestling program. Most of Vitale’s 12 years of coaching high school wrestling have been spent with his alma mater, and it just named him the new head coach at the April 15 school board meeting. However, the four-time […]

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Vitale homegrown into Mexico boys wrestling HC

By Jeremy Jacob, Sports Editor

Jake Vitale has many reasons to be grateful to the Mexico boys wrestling program.

Most of Vitale’s 12 years of coaching high school wrestling have been spent with his alma mater, and it just named him the new head coach at the April 15 school board meeting. However, the four-time state medalist is most grateful to the program for growing him into the person he is today.

Vitale turned a successful high school career into a Division I wrestling opportunity for Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. Since 2014, Vitale has coached high school wrestling starting at Mexico and only spending three years away from the program as the head coach at North Callaway. 

“It’s a privilege to take over a program that has had so much success,” Vitale said. “It built a very large part of who I am. I grew up wrestling for Mexico since I was 5-years-old. I spent about 20-25 years in the Mexico wrestling program, being part of that program, getting to build a lot of relationships and help a lot of kids reach their potential.”

Vitale takes over for Gayle Adams, who decided to step away after 16 years with the high school program. Adams was Vitale’s first wrestling coach when he was a boy and started wrestling around the same time as Adams’ son. 

Of course, “it’s more fun to win,” Vitale said, and it becomes more possible with more hard work. That’s what Vitale tries to pass on to wrestlers after what he learned through his growth in the program. 

“Even at 5, coach Adams was already setting the expectations,” Vitale said. “He made it fun for us, but he still wanted us to come in and work from a young age. He instilled that drive to win and to give everything I had whether I won or lost.”

Wrestling does bring more value than just winning as Vitale described in his coaching experience outside of high school. When Vitale was in high school, he would help coach the youth program when 8-year-old Kellen Ekern and Brit Wilson were there before going on to be multiple time state champions and assistant coaches in the program.

“We’ve got pictures of me coaching them at the state tournaments and handing out their medals when they were on the state podiums,” Vitale said. “I’ve always wanted to be a coach and have enjoyed coaching as much as I did competing.”

Vitale said he wants to continue helping kids reach their potential and growing leaders who are “always looking out trying to do their best” and “take all the steps to bring everybody else up around with them.” This applies to the wrestling mat but also in the classroom and in their lives after graduation.

Growing potential as the head coach isn’t unfamiliar to Vitale as he spent three years as the North Callaway head coach. He said he started with nine wrestlers in his first year until he eventually took a program-best 11 kids to state in his third year — the same year that North Callaway won its first wrestling district championship. Vitale was named the district coach of the year in his final two years and had six state medalists in his three years at North Callaway.

Vitale was glad he was able to help North Callaway flourish as a program in that time and knows what to expect going into his new head coaching job from that experience and as the middle school athletic director. He said Adams involved him in the decisions as soon as he started coaching high school in 2014 but is now fully aware what the head spot demands.

“As the assistant coach, my role was coming in and making decisions and getting to wrestle every day and showing technique,” Vitale said. “My role at North Callaway, it was my first time truly dealing with bus issues, kids skipping practice, parent communications and all sorts of little stuff like that.”

Athletic director Brandon Schafer said there is “a strong blend of familiarity and experience” in the Vitale promotion. Schafer said he thinks Vitale is “well-positioned” to lead the program into continued success because of his passion for the sport and commitment to developing young athletes.

“Coach Vitale has a deep understanding of the culture and expectations of Mexico High School athletics,” Schafer said. “His prior work with the program has earned the respect of our student-athletes, families and fellow coaches.”

Vitale expects to have a young team next season with three or four seniors but with some experience and state ability in the form of six returning state qualifiers and a returning state runner-up in Carlos Juarez Ramirez. Kyler Carr, Grant Walker, Evan Blair, Logan Hilderman and Travis Shramek also wrestled at the state tournament this year. Brayden Arnold missed state qualification after his first state appearance a year prior but is “right there,” according to Vitale, since he has beaten state medalists from this season. Kyler Benne was also “right there” with state qualifiers but suffered an injury at the end of the season.

“We’ve got a very bright future and are bringing in some talented freshmen who have had success with multiple state medals and being a state qualifier,” Vitale said. “We’re already hitting the ground running this offseason.”

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Hallock, Irving Prepare For Decisive Game Three

Story Links Champions League (Quarterfinal Round, Day 6) May 14 Savona 10, Barceloneta 17 Team USA attacker Marko Vavic scored four goals and recorded two blocks for Savona in its final Champions League action of the season.   Serie A1 (Playoffs) Continue May 16 Championship (Game 2) Pro Recco 13, […]

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Champions League (Quarterfinal Round, Day 6) May 14

Savona 10, Barceloneta 17

Team USA attacker Marko Vavic scored four goals and recorded two blocks for Savona in its final Champions League action of the season.


 

Serie A1 (Playoffs) Continue May 16

Championship (Game 2)

Pro Recco 13, Brescia 10

Bronze Medal (Game 2)

Savona 11, Trieste 7

5th Place (Game 2)

Bologna De Akker 11, Posillipo 12

7th Place (Game 2)

Roma Vis Nova 6, Ortigia 9

Team USA captain Ben Hallock scored one for Pro Recco in its Game 2 victory over Brescia as Max Irving scored one for Brescia in defeat. Hallock and Irving will square off in a decisive Game 3 of the series for the Italian Championship. Marko Vavic and Savona defeated Trieste 11-7 to claim third place in Serie A1. Tyler Abramson and Bologna De Akker fell to Posillipo 11-12 and finish in sixth place. Quinn Woodhead and Roma Vis Nova lost to Ortigia and are now tied 1-1 in the series for seventh place.





 

A1 Ethniki (Final Round, First Game) May 18

Vouliagmeni 6, Olympiacos 9

Dylan Woodhead and Vouliagmeni went down 0-1 to Olympiacos in the A1 Ethniki championship round.


 

División De Honor (Final Round, Second Game) May 18

Sabadell 7, Barceloneta 12

Alex Bowen’s Sabadell squad went down 7-12 in the second game of the Spanish Final and finish the season in second place.



 

Women’s División De Honor (Final Round) May 18

Sabadell 12, Sant Andreu 13

Maggie Steffens and Tara Prentice’s Sabadell squad lost the first game of the Women’s Division de Honor Final against Sant Andreu, 12-13.



 

Women’s A1 Ethniki (Semifinal Round) May 13, 16, 18

Glyfada 9, Vouliagmeni 14

Glyfada 4, Vouliagmeni 6

Fifth Place

Panionios 10, Ethnikos 13

Panionios 14, Ethnikos 13

Panionios 8, Ethnikos 10

Isabel Williams and Glyfada lost the Women’s A1 Ethniki semifinal round series to Vouliagmeni after a pair of losses. Malia Allen and Panionios placed sixth after losing the fifth place series to Ethnikos.



 

Here’s a look ahead at some important matches featuring Team USA athletes:

Euro Cup (Final Round, Second Leg) May 24

Radnicki (SRB) at Pro Recco (ITA)


 

Serie A1 (Playoffs) May 20

Championship

Brescia vs Pro Recco

7th Place

Roma Vis Nova vs Ortigia


 

A1 Ethniki (Final Round, Second Game) May 21

Vouliagmeni vs Olympiacos


 

Women’s División De Honor (Final Round) May 25, 28*

Sabadell vs Sant Andreu


 

Women’s A1 Ethniki (Third Place) May 21, 24

Glyfada vs Alimos

 





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Southern Illinois Salukis – Official Athletics Website

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Track and Field Program claimed a total of 13 medals at the MVC Championship, eight gold medals, three silver medals, and two bronze medals. The men’s program finished in fifth place with 79 points, and the women finished in sixth place with 75 points. “Congrats to all the teams […]

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CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Track and Field Program claimed a total of 13 medals at the MVC Championship, eight gold medals, three silver medals, and two bronze medals. The men’s program finished in fifth place with 79 points, and the women finished in sixth place with 75 points.

“Congrats to all the teams that competed this weekend,” said Director of Track and Field, Richard Jones. “This weekend was a great representation of the MVC and how competitive it’s become. I am extremely proud of all the athletes but especially the sprints group. We represented well in front of the home crowd. We will take some time to regroup as we prepare for the first round of nationals.”

DAY ONE RECAP

DAY TWO – Finals
Track events started with the 4x100M Relay races. The women’s team, made up of KeyAnn Wilson, Teanna Bell, Trinity Cleaver, and Leah Thames, claimed the gold with a time of 44.62 seconds. This time improved their previous time by .29 seconds, putting them on the cusp of overtaking the third-place spot in school history. 44.62 seconds set a new facility record for Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex, beating the previous record by .59 seconds.

The men’s team made up of Caleb Massiah, Xavier Preston, Christian Donatelli, and Andre Jackson II claimed the bronze medal with a time of 40.04 seconds. This time moves them into second place in school history.

Darrione Williams completed his weekend claiming his second medal, placing second in the triple jump event with a jump of 14.94M. He achieved this jump on his last attempt which set the same distance as the leader but was just centimeters short of getting the victory.

Andre Jackson II continued to dominate in the 400M dash, winning the gold medal with a time of 45.75 Seconds. This time sets a new personal record, facility record, and MVC Championship record.

“I am extremely proud of Andre Jackson II breaking the meet and facility record,” said Jones. “It is always great to see the results of hard work and focus come to fruition.”

Leah Thames and Teanna bell followed suit, with Thames claiming the gold medal with a time of 53.04 seconds, and bell taking home the silver medal with a time of 53.15 seconds. Both times set are personal records, and Thames grabs the new facility record in the event. The times also slot them into second, and third in school history in the event.

Leah Thames has been focused on really performing well this weekend along with Teanna Bell, for them to go 1-2 was great to see,” said Jones.

Shane Ashton claimed gold in the 400M Hurdles, defending his 2024 Valley Championship in the event with a time of 50.54 seconds. Ashton dominated the field, beating the next closest finisher by 1.08 seconds. This time sets a new facility record in the event.

Kasha Neilly fought hard and claimed the bronze medal with a time of 1:00.86. This time sets a personal best time in the event.

Leah Thames would continue a stellar day, claiming her third gold medal in the 200M Dash, with a time of 23.38. This time is a personal best and moves her into second place in school history.

Closing the MVC Championship was the 4x400M Relay events, which saw the Salukis sweep both events and set new facility records at Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex.

First up was the men’s team made up of Shane Ashton, Xavier Preston, Josh Delgado, and Andre Jackson II won the gold medal with a time of 3:06.17. This time moves them into 3rd place in school history.

Next was the women’s team made up of Vashti Grey, Trinity Cleaver, Leah Thames, and Teanna Bell won the gold medal with a time of 3:38.89. This time moves them into fifth in school history.

“The women’s 4×1 was also great to see win as well and to close out the meet with a men’s and women’s 4×4 was a great way to close out the meet.”

Full Results for the 2025 Outdoor MVC Championship can be seen here.

AWARDS

Leah Thames was named the 2025 MVC Outdoor Most Valuable Female Athlete. She earned 25 points, which was the most of any female athlete at the Championship. Thames dominated winning the 200M Dash, 400M Dash, 4x100M Relay, and the 4x400M Relay. She broke a seven-year hiatus of the award, last won by Shafiqua Maloney in 2018.

Andre Jackson II turned heads at the MVC Championship, being named the 2025 MVC Outdoor Freshman of the year. Jackson earned 15 points winning the 400M Dash, 4x400M Relay, and placing 3rd in the 4x100M Relay. He won the same award at the Indoor Championship earlier in the year. Jackson broke a four-year hiatus of the award, last won by Willie Johnson in 2021.

MVC Championship Records

Facility Records

  • Women’s 4x100M Relay – 44.62 (Missouri State, 2014)
  • Women’s 4x400M Relay – 3:38.89 (Indiana State, 2014)
  • Men’s 4x400M Relay – 3:38.89 (Loyola, 2014)
  • Shane Ashton – 400M Hurdles – 50.54 Seconds (Ryan Newtoff 2014)
  • Leah Thames – 400M Dash – 53.04 Seconds (Mary Yinka Ajayi 2021)
  • Andre Jackson II – 400M Dash – 45.75 Seconds (Willie Johnson 2021)
  • Darrione Williams – Long Jump – 7.55M (Austin Bahner 2014)

Personal Records

  • Andre Jackson II – 200M Dash & 400M Dash – 20.94 Seconds, 45.75 Seconds
  • Leah Thames – 200M Dash & 400M Dash – 23.38 Seconds, 53.04 Seconds
  • Teanna Bell – 200M Dash & 400M Dash – 23.92 Seconds, 53.15 Seconds
  • Darrione Williams – Long Jump & Triple Jump – 7.55M, 14.94M
  • Na’Kyrah Cooks – Long Jump – 5.89M
  • Nadir Langston – 110M Hurdles & 400M Hurdles – 14.46 Seconds, 53.74 Seconds\
  • James Gaiters – 400M Hurdles – 53.63 Seconds
  • Josh Delgado – 400M Dash – 48.42 Seconds
  • Vashti Grey – 400M Dash – 56.02 Seconds
  • KeyAnn Wilson – 200M Dash – 24.05 Seconds
  • Trinity Cleaver – 100M Dash & 200M Dash – 12.01 Seconds, 24.50 Seconds
  • Triniti Douglas – 100M Hurdles – 13.83 Seconds
  • Kasha Neilly – 100M Hurdles & 400M Hurdles – 13.93 Seconds, 1:00.86
  • Tiara Murray – Triple Jump – 11.31M
  • Britany Ziemer – 3000M Steeplechase – 11:21.55
  • Elise Greene – Discus & Hammer Throw – 35.02M, 44.58M
  • Mark Ishman – Hammer Throw – 42.32M
  • Henry Harsy – Javelin Throw – 45.46M
  • Kelsey Pacha – Pentathlon – 4,402 Points

    • High Jump – 1.52M
    • 200M Dash – 26.31 Seconds
    • Long Jump – 5.31M
    • Javelin Throw – 24.17M
    • 800M – 2:32.98

  • Jordan Smith – Decathlon – 6,008 Points

    • 100M Dash – 11.35 Seconds
    • Long Jump – 6.32M
    • High Jump – 1.80M
    • 400M Dash – 56.25 Seconds
    • 110M Hurdles – 16.55 Seconds
    • Discus – 37.57M
    • Pole Vault – 3.80M
    • 1500 – 5:41.70

  • Dominic Martin – Decathlon – 5,006 Points

    • 100M Dash – 11.31 Seconds
    • 400M Dash – 53.49 Seconds
    • Discus – 26.13M
    • 1500M – 5:31.60

UP NEXT
The Salukis will regroup and look forward to the NCAA West Preliminary Round in College Station, Tex., athletes who qualified for the event will be announced on a further date.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
For the latest updates on the Salukis, follow the team on Twitter (@SIUTrackXC), Instagram (@SIUTrackXC) and Facebook (@SalukiTrackAndField).
 
                 
 
 
 
 



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Kerr Earns U.S. Volleyball U23 National Team Invite

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s All-American setter Caroline Kerr earned a spot on the 2025 U.S. Girls U23 National Team, USA Volleyball announced Monday.   Being identified as some of the top athletes in the country for their age group, 18 athletes were selected for the team. Kerr will compete at training camp from July 18-25 […]

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s All-American setter Caroline Kerr earned a spot on the 2025 U.S. Girls U23 National Team, USA Volleyball announced Monday.
 
Being identified as some of the top athletes in the country for their age group, 18 athletes were selected for the team. Kerr will compete at training camp from July 18-25 at the National Training Center in Anaheim, Calif. If selected to the 12-member roster, she would represent the Red, White and Blue at the NORCECA Women’s U23 Pan American Cup in Leon, Mexico.
 
A rising redshirt junior, Kerr is two-time All-American after recording 2,314 assists between the 2023 and 2024 campaigns. She’s averaging 11.02 assists per set for her career, and she’s helped the Big Orange earn NCAA Tournament bids the last two years.
 
Last season, the Champaign, Ill., native helped the Lady Vol offense average 13.22 kills per set while hitting .277, which ranked 16th nationally and fourth in the SEC. Kerr eclipsed 40 assists in a match 12 times and 50 assists four times, including a career-high 57 assists on two occasions. She garnered All-SEC Second Team status after tallying 1,069 assists to mark the eighth most for a single year during the UT 25-point rally-scoring era.
 
Earlier this month, highly-touted incoming freshman Izzy Mogridge was named to the U19 National Team for the 2025 FIVB U19 World Championship in Osijek, Croatia and Belgrade, Serbia. The Class 3A Player of the Year from Florida was one of 26 prep standouts from across the country to play in the 2025 Under Armour All-American Game in January.
 
Former Lady Vol Nina Cajic earned a spot on the Serbian National Team roster for the Volleyball Nations League. After garnering All-America status for Tennessee in the fall, she helped lead the Indy Ignite to the PVF Championship match, tallying 214 kills, 146 digs and 14 aces in her rookie campaign. During the semifinals of the playoffs, she posted a career-high 21 kills, nine digs and four blocks to secure her team’s spot in the finals.
 
A member of the 2023 team, middle blocker Raeven Chase was invited to the Canadian National Team VNL training camp. However, she was not selected for the final roster. Chase played professionally this season in Switzerland, helping Viteos NUC win the Swiss League title.



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Bruncaj Books One Last NCAA Trip

Story Links GENEVA, OHIO – Eliza Bruncaj is making one last trip to nationals.   The star senior for the TCNJ women’s track and field team is headed to SPIRE Institute next week to compete in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Bruncaj soared into 16th on the Division III […]

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GENEVA, OHIO – Eliza Bruncaj is making one last trip to nationals.
 
The star senior for the TCNJ women’s track and field team is headed to SPIRE Institute next week to compete in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Bruncaj soared into 16th on the Division III performance list with a season-best time of 1:01.94 at the AARTFC Championships, extending her career and putting her back on the biggest stage for one last hurrah.
 
Bruncaj’s decorated career has included now six appearances at an NCAA championship meet. She has been a three-time relay qualifier, and has also twice competed in the indoor pentathlon. This marks her second career ticket to run in the 400 hurdles championship and a call-back to the best performance of her TCNJ tenure when she placed fourth in the event at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Bruncaj is a 4-time NCAA All-American.
 
Bruncaj will compete in the 400 hurdles prelims at 6:25 p.m. on Thursday.



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MAAC Announces Baseball All-Academic Team

Story Links POMONA, NY – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) released the 2025 All-Academic Team for Baseball on Monday morning.   Representing the Jaspers were Ryan Brader (Finance), Andrew Brown (Finance), Josiah Brown (Marketing), Matthew Corwin (Finance), Carter Cowburn (Finance), Joseph Duffield (Finance), Trevor Hansen (Economics), Jake Hatch (Masters of Business […]

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POMONA, NY – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) released the 2025 All-Academic Team for Baseball on Monday morning.
 
Representing the Jaspers were Ryan Brader (Finance), Andrew Brown (Finance), Josiah Brown (Marketing), Matthew Corwin (Finance), Carter Cowburn (Finance), Joseph Duffield (Finance), Trevor Hansen (Economics), Jake Hatch (Masters of Business Administration), Aidan Katzman (Finance), Landon Kuntzelman (Finance), Andreaus Lewis (Organizational Leadership), Dylan Mayer (Undecided), Ryan McLaughlin (Finance), JD Stemhagen (Marketing), Brant Vicini (Finance).
 
A total of 187 student-athletes were selected to the 2025 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Baseball All-Academic Team. To be eligible for the MAAC All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must complete two semesters at their institution and hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a 4.0 scale.



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Sixteen From CCIW Set to Compete at NCAA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship

Story Links NAPERVILLE – Sixteen qualifying performances will represent the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) beginning Thursday at the NCAA Division III Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.   CCIW student-athletes from eight different institutions will participate in 11 different events. The […]

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NAPERVILLE – Sixteen qualifying performances will represent the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) beginning Thursday at the NCAA Division III Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
 
CCIW student-athletes from eight different institutions will participate in 11 different events. The CCIW has three qualifiers in the hammer throw and also has the top seed in the pole vault – Millikin’s Kyle Hensley. League champion North Central led the league with six qualifiers in five different events.
 
Selections were released by the NCAA last Friday. Qualifying marks from Saturday, March 1, to Friday, May 16, were considered. The Championship will conclude on Saturday in Geneva.
 
CCIW Men’s Qualifiers 
200 Meter Dash
6. Ibrahim Diakite, Millikin
7. Jereme Ombogo, North Park
 
400 Meter Dash
5. Evan Lowder, Illinois Wesleyan
 
110 Meter Hurdles
21. AJ Banks, Augustana
22. Kamil Kokot, North Central
 
3000 Meter Steeplechase
13. Joe Langridge, Augustana
 
5000 Meter Run
18. Braden Nicholson, North Central
 
10000 Meter Run
4. Braden Nicholson, North Central
17. BJ Sorg, North Central
 
Triple Jump
20. Jayden Leise, North Central
 
Hammer Throw
7. Lucas Leal, Carthage
18. Anthony Zajac, North Central
22. Jimmy Hinkley, Carroll
 
High Jump
12. Ty Bova, Wheaton
 
Pole Vault
1. Kyle Hensley, Millikin
 
Decathlon
10. Mike Hudson, Augustana
 

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.).





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