Sports

Here are the 2025 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame inductees

Published

7 months ago

May 6, 2025

COLORADO SPRINGS — The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced the inductees for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame, Class of 2025.

Established in 1979, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame’s goal is to “celebrate the achievements of America’s premier athletes in the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

This year’s finalists included 15 Olympians, nine Paralympians, three Olympic teams, three Paralympic teams, six legends, three coaches, and three special contributors.

The 2025 class brings together eight individual Olympic and Paralympic athletes, two teams, two legends, one coach, and one special contributor.

“We’re proud to welcome the Class of 2025 into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame and to honor the extraordinary accomplishments they’ve made as representatives of Team USA,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland. “This induction celebrates not only their remarkable performances and lasting impact but also acknowledges the essential contributions of those who supported their journeys every step of the way. Earning a place in the Hall of Fame is no small feat—especially given the incredible talent across this year’s group of finalists.”

You can view a list of the 2025 Class Olympian & Paralympian Hall of Fame inductees below:

Steve Cash – Sled Hockey

A legend on his own in sled hockey, Cash is a three-time Paralympic gold medalist and a five-time world champion. Cash has continuously made history. Off the ice, Cash hosts specialized training camps to progress the sport of sled hockey and continues to be a strong advocate for mental health, highlighting many of the psychological challenges among elite Olympic athletes.

Gabby Douglas – Gymnastics

Becoming the first Black woman to win the all-around gold medal in gymnastics, Gabby Douglas is a household name for anyone into the sport. Douglas was the first U.S. gymnast to capture gold in both the all-around and team competitions at a single Olympic Games—a feat she achieved in London—and is one of only two American women to win back-to-back Olympic team golds.

Anita DeFrantz – Legend: Rowing

Off the legends, Anita DeFrantz is known for her 1976 Montreal Games, where she made history in rowing by participating in the inaugural women’s eight event and becoming the first—and still the only—Black woman to earn an Olympic medal in rowing according to the International Olympic Committee. Continuing to pursue the expansion of the Olympics, DeFrantz continues to break barriers within the International Olympic Committee.

Paris Olympics — IOC member, Anita DeFrantz, of the United States, attends the start of the 142nd IOC session at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Allyson Felix – Track & Field

Amassing 31 medals across the Olympic Games and world championships, Allyson Felix is one of the most decorated athletes in all of track and field. In five consecutive appearances at the Olympic Games, Felix collected 11 Olympic medals—including seven golds. In 2024, Felix was elected to the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission and appointed to the USOPC Board of Directors—continuing her legacy of leadership and impact within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement

Rio Olympics Athletics — United States’ Allyson Felix competes in a women’s 400-meter heat during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Serena Williams – Tennis

A woman who needs no introduction, Serena Williams dominated the field of tennis for years throughout the 2000s and is regarded as one of the best tennis players in history. Williams took home four Olympic Gold Medals, not to mention her 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Williams has cemented herself as a dominant figure on and off the court, advocating for the expansion of the sport.

Serena Williams says she’s not on Olympic tennis list — Learn about scoring practices for tennis at the Tokyo Olympics.

Flo Hyman – Legend: Indoor volleyball

Flo Hyman is most well-known for leading Team USA Volleyball through the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games Boycott. Hyman would go on to lead the team to a Silver medal in the 1984 games. Hyamn’s Olympic career would be cut short by her death in 1986, but would go on to be remembered in 1987, with the National Girls and Women in Sports Day began which was established in honor of her.

Volleyball Olympian Hyman 1984 — Flo Hyman, silver medalist in women’s volleyball from Corning Calif., leads a group of American medalists off the plane and receives greetings from Disney characters in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 15, 1984. The American medalists from the summer Olympics are guests of Walt Disney World for the next few days. (AP Photo/Mark Foley)

Kerri Walsh Jennings – Beach volleyball

Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings is one of the most decorated and winningest beach volleyball players in history. With a recorded 135 wins, Jennings also holds the most consecutive match wins (112) and tournament wins (19) of any player in history. Jennings would achieve all this playing through five shoulder surgeries throughout her career.

Virus Outbreak Reaching Out — FILE – In this Aug. 17, 2016, file photo, United States’ Kerri Walsh Jennings digs for a ball while playing Brazil during the women’s beach volleyball bronze medal match of the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During the coronavirus pandemic, beach volleyball star Walsh Jennings has been doing online talks with young volleyball players, including one with the team at her alma mater of Archbishop Mitty H.S. in California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Mike Krzyzewski – Coach: Basketball

Known as Coach K by many, Mike Krzyzewski is one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in basketball history. With Team USA, he would go ahead to go on and win three consecutive Olympic gold medals and six overall golds as head coach. Coach K was known for turning back on USA Basketball dominance following the 2004 bronze finish.

USOPC-Hall Of Fame Class — FILE – USA’s coach Mike Krzyzewski, center, wears his players gold medals as they celebrate after beating Spain 118-107 in the men’s gold medal basketball game at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008. Flanking Krzyzewski is Deron Williams, left, and Jason Kidd. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic, File)

Phil Knight – Special contributor: Nike founder

Phil Knight has been a transformational force across the world of sports. The founder of Nike, Knight, has always been committed to the Olympic movement, continuing to kit out Team USA with the very best Nike has to offer.

Bode Miller – Alpine skiing

Being known as one of the most accomplished alpine skiers in history, Bode Miller makes it into the 2025 class. Miller is the only U.S. male skier to win World Cup races in all five events—downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and combined—accumulating 33 victories. He has six Olympic medals and ranks second, behind Apolo Ohno, for the most individual Winter Olympic medals by any Team USA athlete.

Sochi Olympics Alpine Skiing Men — United States’ Bode Miller prepares to start in a men’s downhill training run for the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Marla Runyan – Para track and field

Runyan made history as she is one of the only U.S. athletes to have competed in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Over the course of her career, she earned six Paralympic medals—five of them gold. Now off the track, Runyan continues to make a significant impact in her community as she is a teacher and ambassador for the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Marla Runyan, RUNYAN — FILE – In this July 16, 2004, file photo, Marla Runyan leads the field of runners during the women’s 1,500 meters semifinals at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Sacramento, Calif. Runyan is leading the Boston Athletic Association’s efforts to give more physically impaired runners a chance to compete for Boston Marathon titles. Starting in 2020, the Athletes with Disabilities programs will be restructured into a set of Para Athlete divisions that will award the top men and women prize money and give them a spot on the podium. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

2010 Four-man Bobsled Team

Consisting of Curtis Tomasevicz, Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen, and driver Steven Holcomb the 2010 team would end a 62-year drought for Team USA by taking gold in the 2010 Vancouver Games. The team earned its medal at the Whistler Sliding Centre, known for its challenging course and infamous Turn 13, where six sleds crashed during the first two runs.

Curtis Tomasevicz, Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen, Steven Holcomb — Curtis Tomasevicz, center, celebrates with his Team USA teammates, left to right, Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen, and driver Steven Holcomb after winning a gold medal in the four-man bobsled competition at the Whistler Sliding Centre at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Whistler, British Columbia, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh)

Susan Hagel – Para archery, Para track and field, wheelchair basketball

Being a trailblazer in the Paralympic Games and adaptive sports as a whole, Hagel, participated in six different Paralympic Games across three different sports, where she earned four gold and two bronze medals. As a member of the NWBA Hall of Fame committee, Hagel continues to champion opportunities in sport for individuals with disabilities.

2004 Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team

Consisting of Paralympians Susan Katz, Christina Ripp, Renee Tyree, Janna (Crawford) Mizens, Carlee Hoffman-Schwarz, Stephanie Wheeler, Teresa Lannon, Jennifer (Howitt) Browning, Jennifer Warkins, Emily Hoskins, Patricia “Patty” Cisneros, and Jana (Stump) Shelfer. The 2004 Team USA Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team would go on to win its first gold medal in 22 years during the 2004 Athens Games. In 2004, the U.S. defeated five-time defending champion Canada in a tough semifinal and avenged a narrow group-stage loss to Australia with a 56–44 victory in the gold-medal game, setting the stage for continued success in future Paralympic Games.

Finalists will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, July 12, at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum (USOPM) in Olympic City, USA (Colorado Springs).

The USOPM will also be hosting a Fan Festival from July 10 – 13, with an array of special events, athlete appearances, and experiences that celebrate Team USA.

A full list of the finalists can be found at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s website.

___

Former Air Force Academy instructors speak out against proposed civilian cuts

Though no final decisions have been made, it’s worth noting that service members who retire and then teach at the Academy are considered civilian instructors.

Former Air Force Academy veterans are speaking out against proposed cuts to civilian staff

News Tips

What should KOAA5 cover? Is there a story, topic, or issue we should revisit? Have a story you believe should make the light of day? Let our newsroom know with the contact form below.

____

Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.

Link

Sports

Badgers Land Five on AVCA North All-Region Team

Published

2 minutes ago

December 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MADISON, Wis. – Five total players of the Wisconsin volleyball team were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) North All-Region Team. Outside hitter Mimi Colyer was named North Player of the Year, while head coach Kelly Sheffield was named Coach of the Year.

The Badger list of North All-Region First Team honorees consists of Carter Booth, Mimi Colyer, Grace Egan, Kristen Simon and Una Vajagic. Head Coach Kelly Sheffield also earned his sixth Coach of the Year honor.

Freshman Kristen Simon was one-of-three freshman named First Team. In the regular season, Simon played in 89-of-92 sets as the starting libero for Wisconsin. The Kentucky native led the team with 3.49 digs per set, chipped in with 14 service aces and averaged 1.10 assists per set. She reached double-figure digs 19 matches, including a season-best in her very first collegiate match against Kansas with 23. The 5-foot-8 libero also earned Big Ten All-Freshman this season.

For the first time in her career, right side hitter Grace Egan earned All-Region honors. Traditionally, an outside hitter, Egan moved over to the right side and averaged 2.43 kills per set, 2.19 digs per set, 3.09 points per set and chipped in with 25 service aces this season for the Badgers. She totaled three double-doubles (kills, digs) against Texas, Florida and Northwestern.

Outside hitter Una Vajagic steadily became one of the Badgers most dynamic players in the starting rotation. The Serbian native totaled 2.71 kills per set, 2.56 digs per set, and 3.07 points per set in her first full season with the Badgers. Vajagic also collected eight double-doubles (kills, digs) in the regular season, including a back-to-back double-doubles in her first two collegiate matches against Kansas and Texas. The 6-foot outside hitter also chipped in with 18 service aces for UW.

Senior Carter Booth claims her fourth All-Region honor and third with the Badgers. In all four years, she has been a First Team honoree, including Freshman of the Year when she was with Minnesota. In the regular season, Booth led the Badgers and ranked 5th in the NCAA with a .436 hitting percentage. She added 2.02 kills per set, 1.24 blocks per set and 2.70 points per set. Booth totaled eight matches where she didn’t have a hitting error, including a season best 11 kills on 15 swings with no errors. Defensively, Booth achieved a season best 10.0 blocks at Michigan St. on Nov. 15.

Also joining Booth as a four-time AVCA All-Region recipient is outside hitter Mimi Colyer. She also repeats as All-Region Player of the Year. As a freshman Colyer was named the Pacific North Region Freshman of the Year at Oregon, and in 2024, she was named the Northwest Region Player of the Year. In just one season with the Badgers, Colyer has already broken and is on pace to break several more single-season offensive program records. The California native reached double-figure kills in every match but one this season, including nine matches with 20 or more kills. Colyer averaged 5.32 kills per set, 5.93 points per set, 2.20 digs per set, and added 0.69 blocks per set. She also hit .334 in the regular season. Colyer totaled seven double-doubles including a season-best 25 kill, 18 dig performance at Washington on Oct. 24.

Head coach Kelly Sheffield earned his sixth All-Region Coach of the Year honor after leading the Badgers to a 24-4 regular season record, and a 17-3 Big Ten record for second place. Sheffield replaced nearly his entire starting rotation, including four All-Americans from a season ago.

Wisconsin is 1-of-55 teams assigned to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) North Region, joining just Michigan State as a Big Ten school representing the North Region.

FULL LIST OF AVCA ALL-REGION RECIPIENTS

Link

Sports

Women’s Volleyball Puts Three on AVCA All-East Coast Region Team – Penn State

Published

18 minutes ago

December 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Three Penn State women’s volleyball players earned All-East Coast Region honors as announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Tuesday. Gillian Grimes, Kennedy Martin, and Maggie Mendelson all received the award after helping the Nittany Lions qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the 45^th-consecutive season.

Grimes earned All-East Coast Region for the first time following her final collegiate season. The senior was a much-needed consistent player and presence as a team captain for Penn State. She was named the Big Ten Libero of the Year thanks to her impressive passing numbers. Defensively, she finished with 441 digs (3.64/set) and contributed offensively with her 30 aces. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, Grimes now turns her attention to the pro ranks as she will play for the San Diego Mojo in Major League Volleyball.

Martin put together one of the greatest statistical seasons in program history, etching her name in the Penn State record books. She set program records for the 25-point rally scoring era (2008-present) in kills (634), kills/set (5.42), points (728) and points/set (6.22). She was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in her first season in the conference and now adds All-East Coast Region recognition to the two All-Southeast Region awards she won at Florida.

Mendelson closes her collegiate volleyball career with her first All-East Coast Region award. The middle blocker hit .363 with 2.19 kills/set and tallied 91 blocks to lead the team’s defense at the net. She had 10 matches with double-digit kills, nine of which came during Big Ten play. She hit .500 or better in five of those matches.

Penn State has now had a middle blocker make an all-region team in back-to-back seasons as Mendelson joins Taylor Trammell (2024) as the recipients of the award. Grimes is the first Penn State libero to make all-region since Jenna Hampton in 2021, while Martin is the team’s first right side to earn the honor since 2021.

The 2025 Penn State women’s volleyball season is presented by Musselman’s.

Link

Sports

Ugolini Named AVCA All-Region – America East Conference

Published

35 minutes ago

December 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

<br /> Ugolini Named AVCA All-Region – America East Conference <br />

Skip To Main Navigation

BOSTON – After claiming America East Player of the Year honors, Bryant’s Arianna Ugolini has been named Honorable Mention All-Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Ugolini led the conference in kills (419), service aces (43), and points (476.5) while helping Bryant claim a share of its first-ever regular season title. She is Bryant’s first-ever Player of the Year in volleyball and was a First-Team All-Conference selection.

ABOUT AMERICA EAST

Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.

– America East Conference – Where Champions Rise –

Link

Sports

Behrend sprinter wins at Houghton December Classic

Published

50 minutes ago

December 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ERIE, Pa. — Penn State Behrend runner Carter Tobin won the 60-meter dash at the Houghton December Classic. He finished in 6.85 seconds — a qualifying time for the All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference.

Tobin, a sophomore from Irwin, placed third in the 200-meter dash, finishing in 22.22 seconds.

Lee Qualk, a freshman from Coal Center, placed third in the triple jump, clearing a distance of 7.13 meters.

In the women’s events, the 4×200 relay team — Anna Buck, Caroline McDevitt, Abigail Falk and Ruby Lormejuste — placed third, finishing in 1:54.41.

Behrend’s basketball, swimming and diving and wrestling teams also were in action last week. Here are the scores and highlights:

Men’s basketball

Penn State Behrend 69, Carlow 53
Penn State Behrend 75, La Roche 71

Jacob Dunkle, a freshman from Washington, scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds against La Roche. Dolan Waldo, a senior from Pittsburgh, scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Women’s basketball

Penn State Behrend 94, Carlow 38
La Roche 68, Penn State Behrend 64

Alaina Fabin, a sophomore from Indiana, scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds against La Roche. Emma Marsteller, a sophomore from Sandy Lake, scored 21 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds against Carlow.

Men’s swimming and diving

Penn State Behrend 129, Allegheny 70

Behrend’s 200 medley relay team — Nevin Rutherford, Evan Tritt, Nicolin Pierce and Michael Kali — won, finishing in 1:45.52. Isaac Stoeckle, a sophomore from Pittsburgh, won the 1,000 freestyle, finishing in 10:57.86. Kyle Malec, a freshman from Edinboro, won the diving events; he earned 198.35 points in the 1-meter event and 195.25 points in the 3-meter event.

Women’s swimming and diving

Penn State Behrend 154, Allegheny 106

Kaitlyn True, a freshman from Denton, Texas, won the 100 freestyle (59.42) and the 100 breaststroke (1:14.31). Izzy Sheridan, a senior from Orefield, won the 100 backstroke, finishing in 1:07.79. Rylee Ondrejko, a freshman from Washington, won the diving events; she earned 139.80 points in the 1-meter event and 150.20 points in the 3-meter event.

Wrestling

Fifth (of 14 teams) at the RIT Invitational

Mason Savitz, a freshman from Corry, won the 165-pound weight class. He finished the tournament 5-0, with one fall and two major decisions.

Scores, updates and video links for Penn State Behrend athletics are posted at psblions.com.

Link

Sports

Big West Trio Lands on AVCA All-Pacific Region Listings

Published

51 minutes ago

December 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Representing three member-institutions, a trio of Big West women’s volleyball players have been announced as American Volleyball Coaches’ Association (AVCA) All-Pacific Region honorable mention student-athletes.

Big West Player of the Year Jade Light helped UC Davis to their first regular-season Big West title while pacing the Aggies and the conference in both kills (4.01) and points (4.52) per set in 2025. Posting consecutive seasons of 400+ kills, the outside hitter from Sloughhouse, Calif., has tallied 1,162 career strikes and is just the 13th UC Davis player to reach the four-digit plateau. Light stands as the first – and only – Aggie to earn Player of the Year honors in UC Davis’ last season of league membership while also earning first-team All-Big West distinction.

UC Santa Barbara redshirt sophomore Eva Travis claimed a first career All-Region distinction after trailing only Light in both kills (3.93) and points (4.42) per set to lead the Gauchos back to The Big West postseason finishing the year tied for second in the conference standings. The product of Aliso Viejo, Calif., finished the year with six 20-point games reaching double-figures in all 28 matches played and started, earning All-Big West second-team honors.

Finally, Cal Poly middle blocker and Big West Championship Most Valuable Player Chloe Leluge made the listings after a stellar sophomore campaign. The powerful net play provided by the Bend, Ore., native has resulted in 126 total blocks, or 1.02 per set, along with 2.30 kills per set while sporting an efficient .383 hitting percentage for The Big West champions. Leluge and the Mustangs upended No. 5 seed BYU and knocked off host and No. 4 seed USC last weekend to advance to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship. Cal Poly is set to square off with No. 1 seed Kentucky in the Round of 16 on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. PT.

Last year, the AVCA instituted a new 10-region alignment based upon state lines rather than conference alignment. In the new configuration, the Pacific Region consists of the states of California, Hawai’i and Arizona.

Regardless of various regional changes throughout the years, The Big West has enjoyed at least one All-Region/All-District selection every season, since 1986. Dating back to the 2015 season, this marks the ninth set of All-Region listings to include at least three Big West performers.

AVCA All-Pacific Region

Link

Sports

Frantzich and Nemecek land MIAC Athlete of the Week accolades

Published

1 hour ago

December 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – First year Svea Frantzich and senior Lance Nemecek of the St. Olaf College women’s and men’s track and field teams were named one of the two Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Athletes of the Week in their respective sports on Tuesday.

Frantzich was chosen as the MIAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week, while Nemecek collected MIAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors, with both Oles landing the first MIAC Athlete of the Week accolades of their careers.

Frantzich recorded the fifth-highest pentathlon score in NCAA Division III this season with 3,005 points in her collegiate debut at the M City Classic on Friday. Frantzich posted top-10 all-time performances on St. Olaf’s indoor list in the 60-meter hurdles (9.47) and long jump (5.44m) on her way to compiling the No. 8 pentathlon score on the Oles’ all-time performers’ list.

Nemecek ran the second-fastest 800-meter time in NCAA Division III this season with a meet record time of 1:54.02 at the M City Classic on Friday. Nemecek’s time ranks third on both St. Olaf’s all-time performers’ and performances lists. He also led off the first-place 4×400-meter relay that won the event in a meet-record time of 3:21.77, which ranks fifth nationally and second on both St. Olaf lists.

Link