Saint Augustine’s University, a once-dominant force in D2 and HBCU athletics, has lost its membership in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). The CIAA Board of Directors voted not to extend the Raleigh-based HBCU’s membership due to ongoing compliance and operational challenges.

The decision removes Saint Augustine’s from CIAA competition for the 2024–25 academic year. The university did not field teams in football, volleyball, or softball this year. While it met the NCAA Division II minimum of sponsoring 10 sports, questions remain about its ability to meet scheduling and reporting requirements.

A Rare Independent Status in HBCU Sports

Saint Augustine’s already competed as an independent in women’s cross country last season. Now, that independent status will expand to all sports. The Falcons will not be eligible for CIAA standings or championship events during the suspension.

This move leaves Saint Augustine’s without a conference home, a rare and difficult position for any HBCU. The school’s games will not count toward CIAA records, further isolating its athletes from traditional competition.

From Track Powerhouse to Uncertainty

This fall from grace is especially striking given the school’s legacy in track and field. Under legendary coach George Williams, the Falcons built an unmatched track dynasty. The program claimed more than 30 NCAA Division II national championships and produced Olympic talent. For decades, no HBCU or Division II program could rival its success.

Today, that legacy is overshadowed by instability. Saint Augustine’s financial and leadership struggles have affected its athletic future.

Hope for a Comeback

In its 2024-2025 decision to suspend the university, the CIAA expressed hope that Saint Augustine’s could stabilize and rejoin the conference. For now, the once-dominant HBCU faces the challenge of rebuilding its athletic programs and regaining its footing.

As the CIAA continues with 12 active members, the absence of Saint Augustine’s is a stark reminder of the challenges some HBCUs face. Supporters and alumni now hope to see the Falcons rise again—and reclaim their place in HBCU sports history.

Related

Last week, I found myself pulled into the gravitational force that is Chris Low’s ESPN article on college football’s 10 most unbreakable records.  Before I even clicked, I just knew Louisiana Tech had to be in there.  I mean, c’mon — Troy Edwards torching Nebraska for 405 receiving yards?  Or how about Colby Cameron’s video-game-level streak of 444 pass attempts without a single interception?  Neither made the cut.
 
So, this got me to thinking, what are some of the records in Louisiana Tech history that could very well stand the test of time.  At first, I thought about just football, but then I was curious about all the sports.  Needless to say, this sent me spiraling down a fun rabbit hole.  Let the deep dive begin.
 
SOCCER
Player – 6 goals scored by Amber Posthauer at Alcorn State (Aug. 25, 2019)
Amber Posthauer, a 5-foot firecracker in the midfield, had just four combined goals her first two seasons at LA Tech.  That more than doubled in the second game of the 2019 season as the junior netted not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but six goals at Alcorn State.  The first one came in the 14th minute with a 1v1 solo win.  Over the next 52 minutes, Posthauer turned the field into her personal highlight reel, capping the day with a one-touch finish from the left wing in the 68th.  By the final whistle, she wasn’t just rewriting the stat sheet — she was etching her name into NCAA history.  Her six-goal outburst remains tied for the fourth most in a Division I women’s soccer match (three have tallied seven).  This record will most likely go unmatched.
 
Team – 5 consecutive games in overtime (2008)
This is technically cheating since the NCAA pulled the plug on regular season overtime back in 2022.  But come on … five straight OT games in one season?  That’s just wild.  It all went down in 2008, a stretch of chaos the Bulldogs haven’t come close to replicating since (they’ve never had more than two in a row go to extras any other time).  It kicked off with a 2-2 snow-globe showdown at Boise State, followed by a frozen 0-0 draw in Idaho.  The drama followed them home where neither Fresno State nor Nevada could be dealt with in regulation.  And just when you thought it might end, LA Tech played at San Jose State and you guessed it, another tie after 110 minutes on the pitch. 
 
VOLLEYBALL
Player – 604 kills in a season by Katie Dow (1992)
There’s a reason Katie Dow has a permanent seat in the LA Tech Athletics Hall of Fame — and it’s because she absolutely murdered the volleyball stat sheet (don’t worry, it’s legal in volleyball lingo). Hailing from New Orleans, Dow unleashed a full-on kill storm at LA Tech.  Her senior year?  An avalanche of 604 kills, smashing her way to a program-record 29 wins.  That’s 15.5 kills per match. Every.  Single.  Time.  Yikes.  The closest anyone’s come to chasing her thunder was the very next season when Sharla Richardson checked in with a mere 436.  Katie wasn’t just spiking volleyballs — she was spiking history.
 
Team – 294 service aces in a season (1992)
Tennis courts aren’t the only place you can find service aces.  Back in 1992, LA Tech turned the volleyball court into an ace factory, piling up a jaw-dropping 294 service aces in just the sixth year of the program’s existence.  That’s a wild average of 7.5 aces per match in what many still call the greatest season in program history.  It was an ace-arama of epic proportions.  And let’s be real: that record might as well be written in stone — LA Tech hasn’t hit 200 service aces in a season in 20 years.
 
FOOTBALL
Player – 405 receiving yards by Troy Edwards at Nebraska (Aug. 29, 1998)
Of all the Bulldog records out there, this one might just be the crown jewel.  It’s the 1998 season opener.  The stage?  Lincoln, Nebraska.  The opponent?  The defending national champion Cornhuskers.  The crowd?  76,000+ packed into Memorial Stadium.  The result?  Troy Edwards going nuclear.  He didn’t just torch Nebraska’s famed Blackshirts defense — he incinerated them.  Catch after catch, yard after yard, until the final stat line read: 405 receiving yards.  Yep, FOUR football fields worth of damage.  Still an NCAA record to this day.  He bested the old mark by 42 yards, and even in today’s era of video-game offenses, no one’s topped him.  The bar was set in ’98, and it hasn’t budged.  Legendary doesn’t even begin to cover it.
 
Team – 100 points against Clarke Memorial College (Oct. 27, 1922)
Back in 1922, LA Tech’s defense was straight-up stingy.  The Bulldogs opened the season by blanking three straight opponents: Hendrix College, Louisiana State Normal (now Northwestern State), and Henderson Brown (now Henderson State).  But on October 27, the offense said, “our turn,” and turned Clarke Memorial College’s inaugural football season into a full-blown track meet.  Final score?  100 to zilch.  That’s right — a Benjamin of points.  Three weeks later, they nearly hit triple digits again, settling for a modest 89 (sadness).  Over a century later, that 100-point game still stands untouched in the Bulldog record books — and probably always will.  LA Tech flirted with it a few times, dropping 77 in more recent years.  And in 2012, they had 70 on Idaho through just three quarters. But then they kindly called the dogs off.
 
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Player – 33 rebounds by Charlie Bishop vs. Centenary (Feb. 28, 1967)
When Bulldog fans hear “Summerfield, Louisiana,” their minds jump straight to Karl Malone — and rightfully so.  But before the Mailman was delivering dunks in Ruston, another towering talent put Summerfield on the map.  Enter Charlie Bishop, LA Tech’s first-ever 7-footer and a true glass-cleaning machine.  As a freshman in the 1966-67 season, Bishop made history on Feb. 28 against in-state rival Centenary by hauling in a jaw-dropping, backboard-busting 33 rebounds — a program record that still stands tall.  And let’s be real … if legends like Mike Green or Paul Millsap couldn’t top it, that record is probably safe.
 
Team – Averaged 101.1 points per game (1971-72)
In the 1971-72 season opener, the Bulldog Basketball squad managed just 75 points against Louisiana College.  Not exactly fireworks.  But whatever legendary head coach Scotty Robertson said or did after that game — whiteboard wizardry or a locker room pep talk worthy of a Hollywood script — it worked.  The ‘Dogs suddenly turned into a high-octane scoring machine, dropping 100+ points in 10 straight games.  They lit up Southern Miss for 123 and casually hung 107 on Auburn like it was no big deal.  By midseason, they were averaging a ridiculous 107.8 points per game, thrilling fans and torching nets coast-to-coast.  The final tally?  101.1 points per game, a season average that feels more video game than real life.  Spoiler alert: that ain’t happening again anytime soon.
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Player – 2,979 career points scored by Pam Kelly (1978-82)
Just a year ago, Louisiana Tech celebrated 50 legendary years of Lady Techster basketball — and if you’ve ever stepped inside the Thomas Assembly Center, you know it’s more than just a gym.  It’s a shrine.  Look up, and the banners practically whisper stories of Final Fours, national titles, and unforgettable moments.  Among them, hanging proudly, is the retired No. 41 jersey — Pam Kelly’s number.  The pride of Columbia, Louisiana, Pam didn’t just play the game, she rewrote it.  A three-time Kodak All-American, she poured in 2,979 career points with smooth precision, averaging 19.5 per game on an eye-popping 62.3% shooting.  Nobody’s even sniffed her record since — not within 500 points.  Let’s call it like it is: Pam Kelly didn’t just wear No. 41 … she was No. 1.  The GOAT.  (oh, and her program-record 1,511 career rebounds probably won’t be broken either).
 
Team – Ranked top two in the country for 70 consecutive weeks (1980-84)
Once upon a jump shot, the AP Women’s Basketball Top 20 was born thanks to Mel Greenberg of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who started it off in 1976-77.  It didn’t take long for the Lady Techsters to crash the party, making their poll debut on Feb. 15, 1978, at No. 20.  But they weren’t interested in just being invited — they were aiming for the throne.  And on Christmas Day 1979, they unwrapped the No. 1 ranking like a perfectly timed present.  From there, it was pure dominance: the Lady Techsters tipped off the 1980-81 season still at No. 1 and refused to let go, spending 70 straight weeks ranked in the top two nationally.  During that reign?  Two national titles, one runner-up finish, and a Final Four for good measure.  They weren’t just a team in Ruston — they were the team, a powerhouse that became a permanent part of NCAA legend.
 
GOLF
Player – 64 career rounds at or under par by Victor Lange (2012-16)
When one of South Africa’s top amateurs, Victor Lange, signed with the Bulldogs in April 2012, big things were expected. And Victor? He delivered immediately.  In his very first collegiate event — the Sam Hall Intercollegiate — he casually fired an eight-under to snag the title.  Three straight rounds under par.  No warm-up needed.  Just instant greatness.  That was the spark that ignited a legendary run.  Over the next four seasons, Victor rewrote the LA Tech golf record book like it was his own personal scorecard.  The crown jewel is probably his mind-blowing 64 career rounds of par or better — a number that still towers over the next best, James Swash, who sits at 50.  With his silky-smooth lefty swing, three NCAA Regional appearances, and a CUSA Player of the Year honor in his bag, Victor Lange didn’t just play the game — he owned it.   
 
Team – 6 team titles in one season (1975)
The 1975 Bulldog Golf season got off to a promising start, finishing third at the Mardi Gras Invitational.  Apparently third place was simply not good enough.  The team played seven more regular season tournaments.  The result?  They won six of them.  Count ’em up.  The Quandragle Meet (1st).  The McNeese Invitational (1st).  The Northeast Invitational (1st).  The Louisiana Intercollegiate Invitational (1st).  The Tech Invitational (of course 1st).  Then head coach Wallace Martin led LA Tech to seven more team titles, but that was over the course of three other seasons.  Six in one?  That probably won’t be outdone.     
 
SOFTBALL
Player – 50 wins in the circle by Debbie Nichols (1988)
Before the 1988 season, legendary head coach Bill Galloway made it clear: the game plan was simple — give the ball to Debbie Nichols and get out of the way.  The 5-foot-8 right-hander from Mesquite, Texas, had already dazzled as a freshman with 25 wins (a LA Tech rookie record), but that was just her warm-up act.  As a sophomore, Nichols literally doubled her win total by racking up 50 wins — yes, FIFTY — out of 58 appearances.  She allowed just 42 runs all season, fanned 207 batters, and issued only 40 walks.  Oh, and her 36 shutouts?  Still the NCAA Division I gold standard.  She went on to become a three-time All-American and had her No. 13 jersey rightfully retired.  And just to flex a little more — the second-most career wins in LA Tech history? That would be 41… also by Debbie Nichols.  Total dominance.  Total legend.
 
Team – 0.39 earned run average in a season (1983)

It was only year four for LA Tech Softball, but they weren’t playing like a rookie program — they were playing like rock stars with gloves.  They blazed through the regular season, notching statement wins over the likes of Indiana, Kansas State, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and even tossing a no-no against eventual national champ Texas A&M (thanks, freshman phenom Stacey Johnson!).  No wonder they punched their ticket to the Women’s College World Series.  With Johnson and sophomore Tami Cyr dealing in the circle, LA Tech spun 26 shutouts, including three no-hitters and six one-hitters between them.  A 0.39 team ERA?  Excuse us while we pick our jaws up off the dirt.   Other stellar teams in the 80’s tried their best that single-season ERA record, but no such luck by them or anyone else over the last 40+ years.
 
BASEBALL
Player – 12.2 innings pitched in a game by Richard Hunter (1990 vs. Arkansas State)
The box score is a mystery (could not find it anywhere in the archives), but one thing’s for sure — April 8, 1990, was an Ironman moment for Alexandria native Richard Hunter.  The LA Tech sophomore took the hill in Ruston against Arkansas State and decided he wasn’t coming out.  The game went into extra innings, and so did Richard.  He battled for 12 and 2/3 innings in a 6-5 heart breaker, setting the program’s long-outing record (the previous mark was 11 innings by Keith Thibodeaux back in 1980).  This is the same guy who according to a news article threw 166 pitches in a game against UL-Lafayette once, so yeah … dude had a rubber arm.  Think anyone’s ever going to top that?  Not likely.
 
Team – 21 innings played against Southern Arkansas (Feb. 16, 1985)
Bulldog fans had waited 287 days since the end of the 1984 season to watch their favorite baseball team again.  LA Tech was set to open the 1985 season at J.C. Love Field on Feb. 16 against Southern Arkansas.  The two teams were set to play a doubleheader in Magnolia the next day.  Little did they know they would also play a doubleheader (and then some) in the season opener.  The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first thanks to an RBI by the catcher Pat Moore.  The Muleriders would tie the game up in the fifth on a solo homer.  The scoring would cease to exist … for another 15 innings!  Four hours and 54 minutes after the first pitch, LA Tech walked it off thanks to a two-out, game-winning RBI by Jim Faircloth.  The final score 2-1.  The final inning count, 21.  BLACKJACK!  The closest the Bulldogs have gotten over the last 40 years is 16 innings.  One of those came in the following season – 1986 – and another was as recent as 2023 at Florida Atlantic. 
 
TENNIS
Player – 25 wins in a season by Zoie Epps (2025)
Heading into the 2025 season, if you asked me which LA Tech individual record was unbreakable, I would’ve quickly pointed at Marla Watson’s 22 singles wins from way back in 1982.  That mark felt untouchable — especially in today’s college tennis world, where finishing matches has become a luxury thanks to clinch rules.  But then Zoie Epps stepped on the court and said, “Hold my racket.”  Not only did she finish all 28 of her singles matches (a feat in itself), she won 25 of them to best Marta.  So yeah, I was wrong.  And now, I’m doubling down: Zoie’s new record of 25 wins is the one to beat.  Unless, of course, she decides to outdo herself in either of the next two years.
 
Team – 14 road wins in a season (1982)
The 1982 LA Tech tennis schedule was tough to say the least.  A travel-heavy gauntlet featuring names like Ole Miss, Memphis, Notre Dame, Kansas, Auburn, and a slew of regional rivals.  They basically lived out of a suitcase. Of their 27 matches that season, 19 were on the road.  That’s not a schedule — that’s a tour. But the team didn’t flinch.  They thrived.  They won 14 matches, including a four-match road sweep to close the season over Arkansas State, Southern Arkansas, UL-Lafayette, and Northwestern State.  Nowadays, plenty opponents flock to the LA Tech Tennis Complex for matches so the opportunities to stack road wins aren’t what they used to be.  Yes, 2014 gave us a squad that picked up 12 road wins, but that ’82 crew were true road warriors.
 
TRACK AND FIELD
Player – Chelsea Hayes 23 feet, 3.5 inch long jump at US Olympic Trials (July 1, 2012)
Crack open the LA Tech track and field record book and you’ll find plenty of jaw-dropping marks that seem etched in stone.  Legends like Kim Francis and Trey Hadnot blazed tracks, while John Campbell and April Malveo turned throwing events into highlight reels.  But one record comes with Hollywood-level drama — Chelsea Hayes and the long jump.  The pride of New Orleans, Hayes had bounce built into her DNA.  A natural-born leaper with LA Tech greatness already secured, she stepped onto the runway at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, with a dream and a prayer.  Her best jump at that point?  21-10.75.  Then came her first attempt: BOOM — 22-2.25.  A new personal record.  But still short of the podium.  Then: foul. Foul. Foul. Foul.  Four chances, four heartbreaks.  One jump left.  One shot at history.  And Chelsea delivered.  23 feet, 3.5 inches.  Good for second place and a spot on Team USA. Some records live on paper.  Hers?  It soared into legend.
 
Team – 9 consecutive years of having the 200m outdoor men’s conference champion (2006-14)
When it comes to speed, few did it better than former LA Tech track and field head coach (and future Hall of Famer) Gary Stanley.  The man didn’t just build teams — he built a sprinting empire with 21 conference titles and 46 All-Americans.  And perhaps nowhere was that greatness more blazing than in the sprints.  In one event in particular, the Bulldogs practically owned podium at the conference tournament … and that was the men’s outdoor 200 meters.  For nearly a decade, from Michael Coleman to Al Fullwood, Trey Hadnot to Dennis Richardson, LA Tech turned the event into a personal trophy collection — nine straight conference titles.  That’s freaky fast and freaky incredible. And while the program has had its fair share of dominance elsewhere, this sprint streak might just be the gold standard.
 
BOWLING
Player – Allie Leiendecker named All-American for five straight years (2019-24)
On Nov. 15, 2018, LA Tech Bowling rolled a strike before the season even started — they signed Allie Leiendecker.  Hailing from Wooster, Ohio, she was a walking trophy shelf with titles like the 2017 Junior Gold U20 champ and Teen Masters Varsity champ already in her back pocket.  She came in hot her freshman year, racking up Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, NTCA Rookie of the Year, and Second Team All-American honors.  Then came four more seasons (COVID year being the extra), and with each one came the same result — All-American.  LA Tech has had a couple of two-time All-Americans.  But five times?  That’s a category for Allie only.  The All in Allie is practically short for All-American. 
 
Team – Ranked in the top 25 for 40 consecutive polls (and counting)
LA Tech Bowling got rolling in 2004, but it took a couple of years before they really started making noise.  That first strike came on Dec. 3, 2006, when they broke into the national rankings at No. 13.  Then came a bit of a spare — a few scattered appearances, including a mini-hot streak in 2009-10 and a pair of cameos in 2010-11 — before the pins went quiet.  Enter Matt Nantais.  Hired in 2016, the new head coach wasted no time establishing LA Tech as a national program.  By Dec. 4, 2017, LA Tech was back on the scene at No. 19 — and they’ve never looked back.  Since then, they have been a mainstay in every one of the 39 National Tenpin Coaches Association’s (NTCA) polls, peaking at No. 4 in 2023.  It’s been nothing but strikes since Nantais took over, and this bowling train shows no signs of slowing down.

FORT WORTH – The defending national champion TCU beach volleyball program has added seven newcomers to its 2026 roster, head coach Hector Gutierrez announced on Monday.
 
“We’re bringing a really talented freshman class with a lot of success nationally, like Hannah Taylor, and internationally like the others,” Gutierrez said. “I think it’s a good mix, because we’re bringing those three transfers in with a lot of college experience, especially with Natalie Glenn and Anna Long. That’s something that’s going to make us very strong. We’re really excited and looking forward to have all the returners from last year plus this new blood. We’re looking forward to see what this group can do throughout the season.”

Of the seven incoming players, three come to Fort Worth as transfers. Two of these transfers join TCU from teams that competed in the NCAA Tournament last season.

 

Three of the four freshmen join TCU as international students. Sanna Madestam and Emilia Saxne are Swedish natives and both attended the same high school, Ållebergsgymnasiet. Melina Mol joins TCU from Norway. The three players will mark the first members of the TCU beach volleyball team from Sweden and Norway. Hannah Taylor joins TCU as a St. Louis, Missouri, native and becomes just the second Frog from Missouri in the program’s history, and the first in over a decade.

The group of newcomers join the existing nucleus returning to the TCU roster for next season with 14 Frogs set to be back. Notably, Big 12 Freshman of the Year Sofia Izuzquiza and Big 12 Pair of the Year honoree Anhelina Khmil will both compete in 2026.

 

TCU is looking to build off its incredible 2025 season, which saw the Horned Frogs win the program’s first ever National Championship. In addition, the Frogs claimed the inaugural Big 12 Championship, marking the third consecutive conference crown for the program.

 

The 2025 season was a culmination of sustained success over multiple seasons. Dating back to 2020, TCU is the second-winningest program in collegiate beach volleyball with 174 total wins. This decade, the Horned Frogs are averaging almost 33 wins per season (excluding the COVID-shortened season in 2020). 

 

A full list of newcomers, along with their bios, can be found below. Each players class listed will be their class for the upcoming season.

 

Natalie Glenn | 5-10 | Senior | Southlake, Texas | Long Beach State / Minnesota

Natalie Glenn returns home to Texas after spending the previous three seasons at Long Beach State. During her time at LBSU, she was extraordinarily successful and earned many different accolades. Last season, she played in the third flight and posted a record of 26-13 along with being named to the All-Big West Second Team. In her sophomore year, she went 27-9 and was named to the All-Big West Second Team along with being an AVCA Top Flight Award recipient (Flight 3). During her freshman campaign in Long Beach, she was an All-Big West Honorable Mention and an AVCA Top Flight Award recipient (Flight 5).

 

Anna Long | 6-0 | Graduate Student | Lakeside Park, Ky. | Florida State

A Florida State transfer, Anna Long joins TCU after competing heavily in her first three collegiate seasons. During 2024, she earned a 21-7 record and was named to the CCSA All-Conference First Team. The 2023 campaign was also successful for Long, going 28-11. In 2022, she earned CCSA All-Freshman honors in her first collegiate season. 

 

Sanna Madestam | 5-10 | Freshman | Halmstad, Sweden | Ållebergsgymnasiet

Joining the Frogs from Sweden, Madestam boasts high-level international experience. She won the Swedish beach tour two times in the past year and has a couple of Swedish champion gold medals in various youth classes. She also competed in indoor volleyball, being selected as Player of the Year at her high school. 

 

Melina Mol | 5-11 | Freshman | Bergen, Norway

Becoming the first TCU beach volleyball player from Norway, Melina Mol has already accumulated multiple accolades in her young career. She is a five-time Norwegian tour senior gold winner and a two-time Norwegian U17 and U19 gold medalist. Mol also was Nevza Gold Senior and Norwegian Championship Senior Gold. She has been selected for the National Team every year since she was 16.

 

Emilia Saxne | 5-11 | Freshman | Asmundtorp, Sweden | Ållebergsgymnasiet

Also coming to TCU from Sweden, Emilia Saxne has earned multiple experiences at an elite level. She is an eight-time gold medalist at the Swedish Youth Championships and finished seventh in the European U20 Championships in 2023. Saxne also is a two-time gold medalist on the Swedish Beach Tour and competed for Sweden in Euro U18, U20 and U22. 

 

Adriana Serrano Ferro | 5-9 | Junior | Majadahonda, Spain | Grand Canyon

Another transfer for the Frogs, Adriana Serrano Ferro joins TCU after competing in a majority of Grand Canyon’s matches for the past two seasons. Last season she primarily played in flight No. 1, while she earned time at flight No. 3 during her freshman campaign. She picked up eight ranked wins during her two seasons in Phoenix. 

 

Hannah Taylor | 5-10 | Freshman | St. Louis, Mo. | Clayton HS

The lone incoming freshman from the United States, Hannah Taylor joins TCU with a stacked resume. She was a 16U USAV National Champion, 18U ECC Champion and 18U AAU National Champion in her career. Her accomplishments were not limited to the playing surface, as she also was awarded P1440 Scholarship for top performance, grades and community service during her sophomore, junior and senior years. 

EUGENE, Ore.—Babson College rising sophomore Aithan Bezanson (Danvers, Mass.) finished seventh in the decathlon at the USA Track & Field U20 Championships at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon last Friday. 

Bezanson recorded career-best marks in three events, the 100-meter dash, the shot put and the discus, and a top-four finish in four different disciplines while totaling 6225 points. 

After opening the meet with a sixth-place finish in the 100-meter dash (11.34), Bezanson placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 21-feet-, 4.25-inches and came in sixth in both the shot put (41-feet, 1-inch) and the high jump by clearing 5-feet, 11.50-inches. He concluded the opening day of competition by coming in eighth in the 400 meters with a time of 57.89. 

Bezanson opened day two of the meet by coming in ninth in the 110-meter hurdles (16.57) and fourth in the discus with a mark of 118-feet, 8-inches. He placed 10th in the pole vault by clearing 10-feet, 2-inches and finished strong by taking second place in both the javelin with a throw of 173-feet, 5-inches and the 1500 meters in a time of 4:36.96. 

Bezanson’s performance in the USATF U20 Championships comes on the heels of a rookie campaign that saw him set new school records in both the 400-meter hurdles (54.94) and the decathlon (6355 points). His score in the decathlon ranked 35th overall on the Division III qualifying list and first in the east region. 

By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY – As music played over the speakers and young girls continued to have smiles spread across their faces, the Oak Mountain volleyball team took time out of their summer to give back to the community at the Oak Mountain Volleyball Camp.

Held from June 11-13 at Oak Mountain High School, 55 younger volleyball players got the chance to improve in their skills while learning from the girls they idolize that play on the varsity level.

Oak Mountain volleyball coach Anna Claire Harris led her second camp as head coach of the Eagles, and for her, the week was all about seeing the joy on the faces of the campers as they participated in activities.

“I had a little girl (during camp) come in, two kids, and say, ‘I talked to my mom last night about getting to play volleyball,’” Harris said. “For me, it’s not something where I’m like, ‘Oh yeah we did this.’ It’s showing kids this is an option… but I think for a lot of kids, volleyball is growing, especially in Birmingham.”

Throughout the camp, girls were able to learn basics and other techniques in passing, serving, setting and hitting, while also learning how to move their feet properly and get set.

The campers were also able to participate in “Minute to Win It” games, where they competed in teams in other games that were not focused on volleyball, but kept the competitive aspect alive. The winning team at the end of the week got to pie Harris and their camp counselors in the face.

The camp counselor positions were served by players on Harris’ varsity squad, which the coach felt was an exciting and important period in their careers.

“Getting to see my girls interact with the younger girls on like a babysitting side, but also, they’re teaching them how to play volleyball,” Harris said. “I’m setting up and running things, but I’m giving them a lot of power to do it themselves. Seeing them step into leader roles as well is exciting.”

Heading into the upcoming season, Harris feels what her players did in the camp will help when it comes to game action on the court, as she says it is essentially like competing at camp, just on a higher level.

“I want kids to know the ‘why,’” Harris said. “Going into the season knowing, ‘This is what I’m doing, this is why I’m doing it,’ but them understanding it, I think, is crucial.”

Oak Mountain’s volleyball program has had a lot of success in recent years, including in the 2024 campaign in Harris’ first season at the helm.

As volleyball continues to gain popularity in the state of Alabama, Harris feels like camps like these are important for the kids to develop and find a love for the game. However, there is also a bigger goal in mind than anything the game can bring.

“At the end of the day, there’s not a large percentage of kids that end up playing in college. That’s fine with me,” Harris said. “I want kids to have a place. I’ve got some kids who have never played a sport… The more kids that you can get interested, and honestly, this day and time, even if they don’t want to play in school, at least they’re being active and they’re not sitting at home in front of an iPad or a tablet.”