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Seven More USMS Records Go Down On Second Day Of Spring National Championships

2025 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships Northside ISD Swim Center (Photo Credit: PBK Architects) The 2025 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships continued on Friday at the Northside ISD Swim Center in San Antonio, Texas, with 1,741 swimmers converging for day two. Seven USMS records were posted during Friday’s action—three in relays and four […]

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Seven More USMS Records Go Down On Second Day Of Spring National Championships

2025 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships

Northside ISD Swim Center (Photo Credit: PBK Architects)

The 2025 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships continued on Friday at the Northside ISD Swim Center in San Antonio, Texas, with 1,741 swimmers converging for day two.

Seven USMS records were posted during Friday’s action—three in relays and four in individual events.

In the mixed 200 freestyle relay, two records were shattered. The Olympic Club dominated the 25+ age group, as Mark Andrew (20.29), Julian Mackrel (19.92), Lauren Green (23.57), and Virginia Burns (23.00) combined for a time of 1:26.78, nearly a full second faster than New York Athletic Club’s 2023 mark of 1:27.54.

Just one day prior, the same trio—this time with Marie Ballenger stepping in for Green—clocked a time of 3:11.10 in the mixed 400 free relay, slicing over five seconds off the previous record.

In the 75+ mixed 200 free relay, Swim Fort Lauderdale made a statement. Steven Heck (27.78), Glenn Gruber (28.34), Linda Webb (38.11), and Cecilia McCloskey (31.11) teamed up for a 2:05.34, taking down Oregon Masters’ 2024 USMS record of 2:11.44.

The same quartet notched a record in the 75+ mixed 400 free relay on Thursday by a staggering 35.81 seconds, with Hubie Kerns subbing in for Gruber.

In the 75+ men’s 200 medley relay, Heck (backstroke, 33.09), Kerns (breaststroke, 35.95), Gruber (butterfly, 32.71), and Bruce Rollins (freestyle, 29.56) recorded a time of 2:11.31, eclipsing San Diego Masters’ 2019 standard of 2:15.38 for Fort Lauderdale’s second record of the day.

Now for the individual records. In the men’s 70-74 100 back, Tom Wolf of Lone Star Masters improved upon his own national record with a time 1:00.62, lowering his previous best of 1:01.09 set earlier this month.

The aforementioned Cecilia McCloskey returned to the pool to claim her second record of the night, adding the women’s 75-79 100 back mark to her meet resume with a time of 1:13.34, clipping her previous 1:13.95 from March.

Menlo Masters’ Daniela Barnea crushed her own women’s 80-84 100 fly record, posting 1:39.43 to better the 1:41.55 she set last June.

Additionally, Swim Kentucky Masters’ Avraham Solano logged a time of 4:27.10 in the men’s 55-59 400 IM, undercutting Jim Sauer’s 2014 record of 4:28.66.

Anton Ipsen at the 2018 NCAA Championships (Photo Credit: Tim Binning)

Another standout swim, though not a record, came in the men’s 30-34 200 free, where Lucas Bureau of 1693 Club outpaced NYAC’s Anton Ipsen, winning 1:38.30 to 1:39.82. Ipsen bounced back later in the session to win the 400 IM in 4:02.19, ahead of teammate Austin Quinn’s 4:10.42.

As SwimSwam reported on Thursday, Ipsen also shattered the men’s 30-34 USMS record in the 1000 free with a 9:17.76, chopping 7.25 seconds off the prior mark of 9:25.01. Both the 1000 and 1650 free took place yesterday, but the former NC State standout—and 2018 NCAA mile champion—chose to contest the shorter distance. Despite representing Denmark internationally, his USMS membership allows him to set American USMS records.

Former backstroke NCAA record holder and Stanford alum Ally Howe, representing NYAC, was in action twice during the session. Competing in the 25-29 age group, she opened her day with a 2nd-place showing in the 100 fly (54.31), finishing behind Dakota Luther of Texas Longhorn Aquatics, who won in 53.68. Luther, a 2017 U.S. World Championships team member in the 200 fly (LCM), also placed 5th in that event at last June’s U.S. Olympic Trials. Howe later returned to win the 100 back in 54.29. She currently holds the U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) records for the 50 back (24.70), 100 back (52.69), and 200 back (1:55.90) in this age bracket.

If you missed the live action, replays are available through “U.S. Masters Swimming Events Live Streaming” on YouTube. Due to the large number of competitors, there are separate livestreams for odd- and even-numbered heats, with the races being conducted in two different pools. Be sure to check the heat sheets to find a specific race.

Odd Heats:

Even Heats:

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University Northern Iowa

ST. LOUIS — Former UNI volleyball student-athlete Kira Fallert has been named the female recipient of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Dr. Charlotte West Scholar-Athlete Award, as announced by MVC commissioner Jeff Jackson and the league office on Tuesday. Established in 2000, the award is among the most prestigious honors in the MVC with […]

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ST. LOUIS — Former UNI volleyball student-athlete Kira Fallert has been named the female recipient of the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Dr. Charlotte West Scholar-Athlete Award, as announced by MVC commissioner Jeff Jackson and the league office on Tuesday.

Established in 2000, the award is among the most prestigious honors in the MVC with each league institution nominating one male and one female student-athlete. These nominees are extraordinary student-athletes excelling academically and athletically and are leaders on campus and within their communities. 

By virtue of receiving this honor, Fallert will also serve as the conference’s nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, which will be announced at the upcoming NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C. in January 2026.

A Maplewood, Minnesota native, Fallert becomes the eighth Panther student-athlete to receive the honor and fifth woman to do so. Previous winners from UNI include Matt Cobb (2000, baseball), Jill Arganbright (2004, volleyball), Jacqui Kalin (2011, women’s basketball), Adam McDonnell (2014, men’s track and field), Angie Davison (2017, women’s basketball), CJ May (2020, men’s track and field) and Samantha Heyer (2024, softball).

This year’s male recipient of the award is Valparaiso men’s golfer Anthony Delsanti.

During her senior season with the Panther volleyball team, Fallert led the Panther offense and ranked fourth in the MVC with 3.69 kills per set, along with 34 service aces, 2.3 digs per set and 51 total blocks, helping Northern Iowa capture its third straight conference regular season and tournament champion, as well as a third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. She notched eight double-double performances this year, surpassing 1,000 career digs to join UNI’s elite Double Grand Club and recorded ten or more kills in 26 matches, including 18 of her last 22 outings. 

For her stellar senior campaign, Fallert was named the MVC’s Co-Player of the Year, as well as a First Team All-MVC honoree, and an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region and All-American selection.

Fallert, who finished her career seventh all-time with 1,446 kills in school history, was also named to this year’s MVC All-Tournament Team and became the first player in MVC history to win the league’s Elite 18 Award three consecutive years for posting the highest cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in the MVC Tournament’s championship match. Graduating this spring with a degree in biology with a 4.00 GPA, earning College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District and Second Team All-American recognition.

In addition to her academic and athletic success, Fallert has been a prominent member of her community, volunteering at her hometown church, helping at camps for children with communication disorders, coaching youth volleyball, packing meals for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and building homes for Habitat For Humanity Women’s Build.

ABOUT DR. CHARLOTTE WEST

The first-ever recipient of the Honda Award of Merit in 1996 for outstanding achievement in women’s collegiate athletics, Dr. Charlotte West was a driving force for more than 40 years in the area of advancement of women’s sports.

On June 30, 1998, she retired from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, after serving in the capacities of head coach, associate athletics director, interim athletics director and senior woman administrator during her 41 years with the MVC-member institution. West coached five women’s sports from 1957-75 and, in 1982, was among the first group of women inducted into the SIUC Athletics Hall of Fame.

During her tenure at SIUC, she became the first female member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and later served on the organization’s board of directors. West was also a president of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). In 1991, she was presented with the Administrator of the Year Award by the National Association of Collegiate Women Administrators. West also received the Administrator of the Year Award, given by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2024 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.





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Coach Mulinge returns as Kenya names provisional beach volleyball squad

By Benjamin Otieno Published on: June 10, 2025 02:45 (EAT) Kenya’s beach volleyball team at JKIA, before departing for African Beach Volleyball games in Morocco. Photo Courtesy KVF The Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has named a provisional squad for the 2025 African Beach Volleyball Championship qualifiers, set to take place from June 23 to 30 […]

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Coach Mulinge returns as Kenya names provisional beach volleyball squad

Kenya’s beach volleyball team at JKIA, before departing for African Beach Volleyball games in Morocco. Photo Courtesy KVF

The Kenya
Volleyball Federation (KVF) has named a provisional squad for the 2025 African
Beach Volleyball Championship qualifiers, set to take place from June 23 to 30 in
Tetouan and Martil, Morocco.

 The tournament also serves as the pathway to
the FIVB 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championship.

Leading the Kenya’s
men beach volleyball team is experienced coach Sammy Mulinge, who makes a
comeback to the national fold.

 Mulinge, a seasoned tactician who previously
guided Kenya’s women’s beach volleyball duo of Brackcides Agala and Gaudencia
Makokha to the Olympic Games, returns with renewed ambition.

 His last major coaching role saw him steer
Rwanda Energy Group to a bronze medal finish at the Zone Five Clubs
Championship in Uganda.

Mulinge replaces
the pair of Ibrahim Oduor and Patrick Owino, who had overseen the team’s
campaign during the Paris Olympic qualifiers.

The six-man provisional
squad comprises a blend of youth and experience drawn from various Kenyan
institutions. The players are; Jairus Kipkosgei, Elphas Makuto [Kenya Prisons],
Brian Melly [GSU], Donald Mchete [Prisons Mombasa],Wilson Cheruyot [Equity Bank],
and Joseph Muliro [Strathmore University].

The support
staff includes Simon Kibe as the physiotherapist and Robinson Okoth, the
Nairobi Prisons team manager, who will take charge in the same capacity

 KVF Assistant Secretary General John Ogara
will serve as head of delegation.



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Seminole’s Adam Walker is boys water polo Player of the Year

Adam Walker went from being a secondary option for Seminole High to becoming the primary offensive playmaker for a team that reached the boys water polo state semifinals for a second straight season. The junior had 96 goals — a 33 percent increase over his sophomore season — including a pair of 8-goal games. Walker […]

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Adam Walker went from being a secondary option for Seminole High to becoming the primary offensive playmaker for a team that reached the boys water polo state semifinals for a second straight season.

The junior had 96 goals — a 33 percent increase over his sophomore season — including a pair of 8-goal games. Walker scored eight in a regular season win over Oviedo and repeated that feat against Lake Mary in the District 2 final.

“Adam is the player we cannot lose in a match,” said Seminoles coach Ryan Ackerson.

Walker earned the 2025 Sentinel Varsity Boys Water Polo Player of the Year honor.

In addition to his goal scoring, Walker had 52 assists, 47 steals and 36 ejections drawn.

“He’s so well-rounded in comparison to the rest of the team,” Ackerson said. “He’s the one guy who can do everything in the pool. His defense is just as good as his offense.”

Walker also made a concerted effort to be more of a leader, but still humble.

“It wasn’t just the work I put into being better, it was the effort from the team that allowed me to perform to the best of my ability,” he said. “I try to make sure my teammates and I do what it takes to win every time we are in the pool.”

Walker had one more year to get even better as he contemplates his future after high school.

“Not sure if I will play water polo in college, but my mind is open,” he said. “I would like to stay in Florida.”

Seminole High junior Adam Walker (right) wound up to score 96 goals and did a lot more for the ‘Noles. (Scott A. Miller, Seminole High)

Sentinel Standouts

Brody Banks, Winter Park, Sr.

Buzz: Had a state-high 89 assists to go along with 103 goals for 23-4 region runner-up team. Also had 96 steals and 27 ejections drawn.

Gage Buttice, Lake Brantley, Sr.

Buzz: Top offensive player in the area with a state-high 114 goals and 87 assists (second in the state). Also 141 steals and 46 ejections drawn.

Nate Deiley, Boone, Sr.

Buzz: He led the Braves with team highs in goals (76) and assists (23) to go with 52 steals and 29 ejections drawn.

Emanuel Pardo, Dr. Phillips, Jr.

Buzz: He was an all-around contributor for the Panthers with 85 goals, 24 assists, 47 steals and 36 elections drawn.

Ethan Stumpf, Lake Mary, Sr.

Buzz: State-high 319 saves as goalkeeper voted Seminole Athletic Conference player of the year. Also had 74 steals, 31 assists.

Players of the year and Sentinel standouts are selected by the Sentinel staff with input from area coaches. Athletes represent schools eligible for the FHSAA state series from Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and southwest Volusia counties.

Seminole’s Halle Zimlich is Sentinel Varsity girls water polo Player of the Year again

Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com. 

 

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MLB embraces content creators in Jomboy move

(Sarah Stier/Getty Images) MLB has teamed up with, and acquired a stake in, digital sports media brand Jomboy Media as it looks to tap new audiences that traditionally engage with content creators. You’ll need a subscription to continue reading Discover our range of subscription choices, with options starting from £39/month Already have an account? Sign […]

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(Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

MLB has teamed up with, and acquired a stake in, digital sports media brand Jomboy Media as it looks to tap new audiences that traditionally engage with content creators.

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Grand Forks’ Urlacher, Frank to compete at NCAA Nationals – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — A pair of Grand Forks natives will compete at this week’s NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., from Wednesday to Saturday. Grand Forks Central graduate Jak Urlacher will compete in the pole vault for the University of Minnesota. Grand Forks Red River graduate Shelby Frank will […]

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GRAND FORKS — A pair of Grand Forks natives will compete at this week’s NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., from Wednesday to Saturday.

Grand Forks Central graduate Jak Urlacher will compete in the pole vault for the University of Minnesota.

Grand Forks Red River graduate Shelby Frank will compete in the discus and hammer throw for Texas Tech. She transferred to Texas Tech after spending the start of her career with the Gophers.

Urlacher will compete in the pole vault at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday. Specific events can be streamed on ESPN3.

Urlacher finished second at the Big Ten Outdoor meet and ranks 12th in the NCAA West Region.

Frank heads to the national meet ranked second in the NCAA West Region in both the discus and the hammer.

A year ago, Frank finished seventh in the hammer throw and fourth in the discus.

Frank is a five-time All-American.

The women’s hammer throw will take place Thursday at 3:30 p.m., while the women’s discus is set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Shelby Frank winds up to throw the discus during a track and field meet at Red River in Grand Forks on Friday, May 12, 2017. (Joshua Komer/Grand Forks Herald)

Shelby Frank winds up to throw the discus during a track and field meet at Red River in Grand Forks on Friday, May 12, 2017. (Joshua Komer/Grand Forks Herald)

Tom Miller

Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 (NSMA, NDAPSSA), 2022 (NSMA, NDAPSSA) and 2024 (NDAPSSA).

His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.

He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.





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Cranston East boys volleyball defeats NK for 2025 D-I title

Cranston East beats North Kingstown to win the D-I boys volleyball title Cranston East started strong, then held off a late charge by the Skippers to win the Division I championship on June 8 at RIC Cranston East defeated North Kingstown 3-2 to win the Rhode Island Division I boys volleyball state championship. This is […]

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play

  • Cranston East defeated North Kingstown 3-2 to win the Rhode Island Division I boys volleyball state championship.
  • This is Cranston East’s first boys volleyball state title in program history.
  • Cranston East lost three times to North Kingstown during the regular season but prevailed in the championship match.

PROVIDENCE — Cranston East would have scheduled North Kingstown every week if it could.

The Thunderbolts wanted every chance against the state’s preeminent boys volleyball powerhouse. They had lost three times to the Skippers in the regular season, but it didn’t matter to Cranston East.

Sam Rivera tested his serves in each loss. Charles Pincince timed his swings on the outside and Dennis Dixon carved out space in the middle against NK. The trio and the rest of the Thunderbolts improved every time they played North Kingstown.

Cranston East beat the rest of the state and secured the second seed in the Division I tournament. A fourth meeting with NK, one at Rhode Island College, awaited the Thunderbolts.

And Cranston East did what no other program would even think was possible. The Thunderbolts clawed out two games from NK and in the final frame, a fifth-set thriller, Rivera’s ace trickled over the net for a match win.

The 3-2 (25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 15-25, 16-14) triumph is Cranston East’s first boys volleyball state championship in program history and just second boys volleyball title overall.

“I’m glad to be on the court and share it with [my teammates],” Rivera said. “I really look up to all of them and I’m so proud of them. All our hard work and all the effort on and off the court — it all led here and my brothers took me through that final ace.”

Earlier this season: North Kingstown boys volleyball survives Cranston East; Here’s why it matters

No. 2 Cranston East (13-5) stole back-to-back points before Rivera’s ace toed the right side of the net and fell for the win. Rivera capped off the upset of the spring and handed North Kingstown its first loss this season. The top-ranked Skippers entered Sunday’s match with only five set losses all year.

“We knew that we weren’t the favorites to win,” Dixon said. “Nobody expected us to win but we did.

“We knew we were going to make errors. It was just about coming back with momentum. We were sliding, but we had to understand that you have to come back in the next set. You’ve got to come back with some type of fire.”  

The Thunderbolts, after losing to La Salle in five sets in last year’s semifinals, didn’t build the program overnight. Aggerson Vetiaque might have been the best athlete on the court and compiled a promising sophomore season. Darien Peterson added another hitting option behind Pincince and Dixon, and Caleb Xum was the reliable setter every team needs.

“It was great seeing all of my teammates celebrate and seeing how happy they got,” Pincince said. “Volleyball is a lot about community and helping each other and supporting each other. It’s amazing to see what we can do together.”

North Kingstown rallied from a 16-10 deficit in the third set to stave off a sweep. The Skippers stormed to a 16-6 lead in the fourth set with the quality hitting that paced an impressive season in the school’s decorated history.

But in the decisive set, Cranston East broke out to a 4-1 lead. The bench energy was on display and it carried the Thunderbolts the rest of the way. NK only led, 12-11 and 13-12, in the fifth set as Cranston East gritted out the victory.

“They were super resilient,” Cranston East coach, Jhamal Diggs, said. “We came out in the first two sets firing. The third and fourth sets were a little wacky, but the plan was to go to five sets. We talked about it, we practiced that and every game we were prepared to go to five. We just went point-by-point and we’re able to execute.”

North Kingstown graduates a talented senior class that was on the doorstep of back-to-back championships. The Skippers handled their second fifth-set championship loss in a row with class and will eventually be back to that stage.



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