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Boys volleyball surges in Minnesota during first year under state high school league

Boys volleyball has been and continues to be on the rise in Minnesota. Shakopee has been on the cutting edge for a while. “The amount of kids we have at open gyms, the tryouts have grown every single year,” said Shakopee junior setter Grant Menke. “In clubs, it’s growing. Throughout the state, it’s growing. Even […]

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Boys volleyball has been and continues to be on the rise in Minnesota. Shakopee has been on the cutting edge for a while.

“The amount of kids we have at open gyms, the tryouts have grown every single year,” said Shakopee junior setter Grant Menke. “In clubs, it’s growing. Throughout the state, it’s growing. Even up north, there are now teams where in the past there hadn’t been at all.”

This year’s boost comes in the first season the sport is officially sanctioned by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). For the players and coaches, this year feels new in multiple ways, some more tangible than others.

“We had a bus for the first time, since it’s sanctioned now,” said Shakopee senior setter Dom Tor. “That was very cool to have a bus to away games because before we would have to drive ourselves or commute to away games.”

“It felt different. It absolutely did,” said Shakopee’s head coach Krista Flemming, who played a major role in getting the sport sanctioned. “We’re doing so many of the things the same as we had been doing (as a club team). But it’s the whole thing of feeling more official.”

Over at Eastview High School, the first-ever official season brought some new players.

“This year, in some of our younger teams, we saw some kids that were football or basketball, or other fall and winter sports, that were like, ‘yeah, I can make that my spring sport,'” said head coach Ryan Dehnel.

History is on the line too. Shakopee won the last club boys’ volleyball state tournament in 2024. This season, a gauntlet can be thrown. Like many teams, Eastview wants to win the first ever MSHSL state title.

“That is the ultimate goal, “said Eastview senior outside hitter Keuni Saki. “To win the first high school state tournament.”

“Just being remembered in history as the first team to win the sanctioned sport,” said Eastview opposite hitter Colin Nathan. “It’s very enticing.”



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Nations League: France beats Germany and takes 3rd place

Karim Adeyemi conceded a second successive defeat with Germany in front of a supporter Keystone Germany end their first Final Four in the Nations League without a win. At its home tournament, the team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann also lost the match for third place against France 0:2. Unlike in the semi-final against Portugal […]

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Karim Adeyemi conceded a second successive defeat with Germany in front of a supporter
Karim Adeyemi conceded a second successive defeat with Germany in front of a supporter

Keystone

Germany end their first Final Four in the Nations League without a win. At its home tournament, the team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann also lost the match for third place against France 0:2.

Unlike in the semi-final against Portugal (1:2), Germany created many chances to score, but failed to convert any of them in a clearly dominated first half. The video referee intervened twice against the hapless Germans: On a penalty awarded after just over half an hour, which was disallowed due to a foul by Karim Adeyemi, and later on a goal by Deniz Undav, which was preceded by a foul.

France were efficient in the first half and took the lead through Kylian Mbappé shortly before the break. It was the captain of the World Cup runners-up’s 50th goal in his 90th international match. In the 84th minute, the Real Madrid striker made the difference for the French, who were superior in the second half of the match: after a German defensive error, he ideally set up Michael Olise for the goal.





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Prep track & field: Area athletes shine during final day of Wisconsin state meet | Local Sports

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Coaches Associations Warn NCAA Settlement Could Undermine Olympic and Non-Revenue Sports, Urge Congressional Action

Coaches Associations Warn NCAA Settlement Could Undermine Olympic and Non-Revenue Sports, Urge Congressional Action Following the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement agreement by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, four major collegiate coaching associations have issued a joint statement warning of serious consequences for Olympic and broad-based sports programs. The American Volleyball Coaches Association […]

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Coaches Associations Warn NCAA Settlement Could Undermine Olympic and Non-Revenue Sports, Urge Congressional Action

Following the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement agreement by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, four major collegiate coaching associations have issued a joint statement warning of serious consequences for Olympic and broad-based sports programs.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) acknowledged that the settlement marks important progress in addressing the rights of college athletes but expressed deep concern over its long-term impact on non-revenue sports.

In a joint statement, the associations cautioned that the financial strain on institutions stemming from the settlement could accelerate the elimination of Olympic and non-football, non-basketball programs. “This is no hypothetical,” the statement read. “Budget cuts and program eliminations have already taken place in anticipation of today’s outcome, and more are likely to follow.”

The House v. NCAA settlement resolves a trio of antitrust lawsuits tied to compensation for student-athletes and could open the door for schools to directly share revenue with athletes. However, the coaches associations argue that without broader structural reform, the decision may disproportionately benefit revenue-generating sports while eroding the foundation of broad-based athletic participation that defines collegiate athletics.

They also flagged unresolved concerns, including the employment classification of student-athletes and Title IX compliance—issues that they say remain dangerously vague and could result in further risk and confusion for sports that operate outside the financial spotlight.

“The future of college sports must not disproportionately benefit a small fraction of the NCAA student-athlete population while jeopardizing opportunities for others,” the statement continued. “Congress must intervene to address these pressing issues and ensure a balanced, equitable path forward for all student-athletes.”

Among the associations’ top legislative priorities are:

Protecting investment in Olympic sports by establishing proportional spending targets.

Maintaining NCAA sport sponsorship requirements, which currently mandate 16 sports for FBS programs and 14 for FCS and non-football Division I schools.

Ensuring athletes are not classified as employees, preserving the traditional collegiate model.

Creating consistent, national NIL regulation to prevent disparate policy enforcement across states.

The USTFCCCA, which represents more than 11,000 coaches and over 98 per cent of all NCAA track and field programs, reiterated its commitment to advocating for track & field and cross country as essential components of collegiate athletics. The organization, along with its fellow associations, emphasized its intent to work collaboratively with lawmakers to ensure the sustainability and integrity of college sports.

As the collegiate athletics landscape continues to evolve in the wake of legal and legislative shifts, the coaching associations made clear that without federal guidance, the sports that form the backbone of Olympic development and broad student participation could face an uncertain future.

 

 



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Spring-Ford’s milestone season comes to an end against Central York in state quarterfinals

The unforgettable ride that was the 2025 Spring-Ford boys’ volleyball season has come to a stop. Three years ago, the program did not exist; on Saturday afternoon, the Rams competed in the PIAA-3A quarterfinals as one of the last eight teams still playing in Pennsylvania. Though they were swept 3-0 by established District 3 power […]

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The unforgettable ride that was the 2025 Spring-Ford boys’ volleyball season has come to a stop.

Three years ago, the program did not exist; on Saturday afternoon, the Rams competed in the PIAA-3A quarterfinals as one of the last eight teams still playing in Pennsylvania. Though they were swept 3-0 by established District 3 power Central York (set scores were 20-25, 16-25, 22-25) in a season-ending defeat, the prevailing emotions afterward were of pride and gratitude.

“It was special,” Spring-Ford head coach Sam Moyerman said by phone once the Rams returned to campus from Cocalico High School, site of the quarterfinal match. “They all realize that. It’s hard to have that awareness, especially in a moment like this, but they were good about it. They understood how special what was happening was and that it could end at any moment. There were tears and hugs after, but every single person who spoke said it was the best ride of their lives.”

Seven of the program’s nine seniors — PJ Szczerba, Zach Parker, Colton Bogdan, Dawson Beccaria, Luc Nguyen, Ian Right and Peter Van Ness — were there from day one, while the other two, Alan Quintero Uribe and Connor Dadourian, joined as juniors. Over the past two to three years, they have helped set the foundation and build atop it something real and lasting. Spring-Ford is the only boys’ volleyball team in the Pioneer Athletic Conference, and these trailblazers went from no team to one of the final eight in warp speed.

Some of them will be borderline irreplaceable, and it’s entirely possible that the program takes a small step back in 2026 as it resets its rotation. At the same time, the Rams had 25 total players in the program, and interest will likely remain robust thanks to the team’s success this season. As Moyerman said, everybody at Spring-Ford loves to win, and this was the season that the boys’ volleyball program crashed the school’s athletics party.

“There’s no doubt what we’ve built is ready to thrive,” Moyerman said. “The next class is coming up and they want to be better; they saw the work those nine seniors put in and know they have to put in more to keep doing these things. At Spring-Ford I’ve learned that we want to be the best and to keep pushing. People here are not happy to rest on their laurels.”

Against Central York — one of five District 3 schools in the 16-team 3A bracket — the Rams immediately spotted their powerful opponent a lead in the first set and were fighting from behind the entire time. Every time that Spring-Ford fought back to cut the deficit to two or three points, the Panthers answered with another surge.

“We knew that they were talented and we had to be on our game,” Moyerman said. “We had to be perfect. We were under their boot from the start, and every time we fought back to make it close they extended it right back up.”

The second set was close until about midway through before the Panthers ran away with it. The third and final one was the most competitive of the match, with the Rams even claiming their first lead of the day at one point. But once again they could not get over the hump, and Central York got the final push it needed to finish off the sweep.

“Every time we got close, they extended or we stepped on our own toes,” Moyerman said. “We couldn’t make that one needed extra play.”

Szczerba’s final high school match consisted of 12 kills, 14 digs and a block. Nguyen (28 assists, seven digs), Beccaria (25 digs), Parker (three kills, four blocks), Bogdan (six kills, 10 digs, block), Dadourian (18 digs, two kills) and Ethan Smith (five kills, two blocks) all made significant contributions down to the wire.

Moyerman said that the team was still reaping positive tidings even in defeat, as the head volleyball coach at Elizabethtown College attended the match and offered Beccaria a spot on the team. Meanwhile, Szczerba and Parker will both be attending Virginia Tech and aim to keep their careers on the court going at the club level.

The volleyball experience for this group was so positive that it will be hard to stop playing. It was an absolutely seminal season that the Rams endured, and while they all likely had some whiplash in processing all of the emotions following the season’s end, the memories they made will be everlasting when the sting from defeat subsides.

“They weren’t just showing up to play – they were playing to win and playing for each other,” Moyerman said. “They hated losing and didn’t want it to end; they wanted another week, but everyone said that this was the best team they had ever been a part of. We had a losing record the second week of the season and made it to the round of eight.

“There’s only four teams left, and it sucks not being one of them. But these guys got to do something special and got it to click finally. The bond with this group – I can’t even imagine any team coming close to it.”

 

 



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Luckless Drogheda ladies come up just shy again in water polo’s Irish Senior Cup Finals

Drogheda’s ladies team came up just short yet again in their pursuit of Irish Senior Cup glory. Picture credit: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE Drogheda Independent Today at 11:30 While many observers in the world of water polo thought it would be fifth time lucky for the Drogheda senior ladies team in 2025, it turned out […]

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Drogheda’s ladies team came up just short yet again in their pursuit of Irish Senior Cup glory. Picture credit: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE

Drogheda Independent

While many observers in the world of water polo thought it would be fifth time lucky for the Drogheda senior ladies team in 2025, it turned out to be an earlier exit from the Irish Senior Cup this spring.

Having under-performed by their own standards early on in the season due to missing a number of key players, the Drogheda outfit began to find their form in recent months as they picked up a number of notable wins in the run-up to the ‘Diamond Event’, the Irish Senior Cup Finals.

The tournament was held in Limerick University, with a total of 14 teams involved between men’s and ladies.

It all started off well enough for Drogheda as, after being paired off against one of their many old rivals North Dublin, the Boynesiders prevailed 12-6 thanks to a well-executed team plan.

Next was a match versus Tribes of Galway who entered the competition as one of the most in-form teams in the country, on the back of a very impressive run of eight wins and just one loss.

It was in this encounter that Drogheda unfortunately were outplayed and so they secured ‘only’ the runners-up position in Group B and therefore had to face Group A winners St Vincents in the semi-finals.

This was a highly anticipated match in light of the fact that Drogheda knocked them out at the same stage in 2024 following a penalty shootout, but this time the Boynesiders were beaten by a better team who went on to win the competition and record their 12th triumph in the last 13 Irish Senior Cup finals.

Still, Drogheda can look forward with optimism to the 2025/26 season which will see the return of some pivotal stalwarts. Perhaps that will boost their chances of finally going all the way in the Irish Senior Cup, having contested four of the last five finals.

The Drogheda senior ladies squad are always looking for new players, as are the junior ranks of the Drogheda underage club who train in Aura in Drogheda on a Monday night.



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Swimming Canada, Red Bull Enter Athlete Endorsement Partnership

Swimming Canada, Red Bull Enter Athlete Endorsement Partnership Swimming Canada and Red Bull Canada this week announced a partnership that it says will “modernize athlete endorsement opportunities.” Red Bull will have “brand placement on individual national team uniforms,” while Swimming Canada takes steps to empower its athletes to include personal branding on their uniforms. The […]

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Swimming Canada, Red Bull Enter Athlete Endorsement Partnership

Swimming Canada, Red Bull Enter Athlete Endorsement Partnership

Swimming Canada and Red Bull Canada this week announced a partnership that it says will “modernize athlete endorsement opportunities.”

Red Bull will have “brand placement on individual national team uniforms,” while Swimming Canada takes steps to empower its athletes to include personal branding on their uniforms. The deal is in part motivated by Summer McIntosh, the Olympic gold medalist and world record holder who is sponsored by Red Bull Canada.

As part of the agreement, Red Bull Canada will integrate Swimming Canada initiatives and activities that are “authentic to its global brand.” That includes “exclusive national team education and support” and “premium assets” that are Red Bull exclusive.

“This is a pivotal moment for Canadian swimming,” Swimming Canada CEO Suzanne Paulins said in a press release. “Summer and Red Bull Canada have been extremely collaborative in encouraging the federation to think differently about how we support our athletes commercially. This supports the growth and spotlight on Canadian swimming globally and we are excited to offer this opportunity to all national team swimmers in both the Olympic and Paralympic Programs.”

The partnership is a step toward empowering athletes to familiarize themselves and capitalize on the name, image and likeness (NIL) space. The Red Bull partnership is a gateway for athletes and their representation. Swimming Canada can collect a licensing fee to allow brands other than Red Bull to place logos on national team uniforms. Starting this week at Canadian Swimming Trials in British Columbia, it will implement a formal approval process to vet branding requests, per World Aquatics regulation.

McIntosh, who set a world record in the women’s 400 freestyle on Saturday night to open Canadian Trials, did so with a Red Bull logo on her cap and suit.

“This commercial evolution is part of a broader strategy to grow the sport and offset rising event delivery costs through strategic partnerships,” the release reads. “Swimming Canada encourages brands, agents, and athletes to engage with the federation as part of this exciting new chapter.”

“This shift supports the growth and global spotlight on Canadian swimming,” said Kyle Johnston, Swimming Canada’s Senior Manager, Marketing. “We’re exploring all commercial growth opportunities, and this is an important first step – unlocking new rights that directly support our athletes and position Swimming Canada as a bridge between brands and the broader swimming community.”

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction Swimming Canada. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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