Sports
Senate Approves 'Save Women's Sports Act' to Protect Fairness in Female Athletics


HARRISBURG – The Senate took a bipartisan step to support biological women through fair competition in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by approving Senate Bill 9, the Save Women’s Sports Act. The measure will ensure athletic teams designated for women are reserved for biological females in Pennsylvania’s K–12 and collegiate sports.
The bill, now headed to the House of Representatives for consideration, aims to protect competitive fairness, athletic opportunity and safety for female athletes across the commonwealth.
The legislation is sponsored by Sens. Judy Ward (R-30), Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28), Lisa Baker (R-20), Michele Brooks (R-50), Camera Bartolotta (R-46), Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), Rosemary Brown (R-40), Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27), Dawn Keefer (R-31), and Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39).
Here is what the prime sponsors had to say following the final passage:
“We cannot allow the opportunities that Title IX enshrined for women to be lost. With our passage of the Save Women’s Sports Act today, my Senate colleagues and I showed that they will defend women and their right to safe and fair competition,” said Judy Ward.
“This is about standing up for the next generation of female athletes across Pennsylvania,” Phillips-Hill said. “They deserve a level playing field and the chance to compete, earn scholarships and succeed based on their hard work, not be sidelined by unfair rules. Today’s vote sends a clear message: we will protect the integrity of women’s sports.”
“This bill establishes as state policy the principles of fair play, respecting the rules of the game, eliminating any unfair physical advantages and ensuring a safer playing field for women and girls in sports,” Baker said.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that young women and girls have access to fair competition and equal opportunities. This is not just a matter of safety – it’s about preserving the integrity of female athletics and ensuring biological females have the chance to earn scholarships, win championships and pursue their dreams at the highest levels, including the Olympics,” said Brooks. “Protecting the safety and future of female athletes isn’t just about fairness but standing up for what’s right for the next generation.”
“President Donald Trump’s Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports executive order was a triumph for women and girls across our great country,” Bartolotta said. “However, today’s advancement of Senate Bill 9 is a testament to my colleagues’ and my dedication to making this change permanent by incorporating it into Pennsylvania law.”
“As a cosponsor of the bill, I believe this is solely about fairness and opportunity and upholding the intent of Title IX,” said Pennycuick. “Title IX was established to eliminate discrimination and ensure equal access to sports for female athletes. Unfortunately, when a biological male replaces a female athlete, that individual is denied the right to equal participation as guaranteed under Title IX. As an athlete in my youth, and the mother of girls who competed in sports, I know the valuable lessons learned from competing in women athletics such as leadership, grit, graciousness in winning and humility in losing. Let’s keep a level playing field in sports.”
“As the Senate considers this bill today, it’s important to remember that every valid competition begins with a level playing field,” said Brown. “This legislation is about safeguarding the fairness and accuracy of women’s sports. As a former college athlete, I know firsthand how those experiences shaped my work ethic and confidence. I want to ensure that female athletes now and in the future have the same opportunity to grow through fair and competitive play.”
“Ensuring fair and safe competition for female athletes has been a consistent priority, and this bill reflects a commitment to upholding the integrity of women’s sports,” Culver said. “I believe every athlete deserves the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, and I’m encouraged by the strong support behind this effort as we work to see it signed into law.”
“Women and girls deserve a level playing field. Allowing biological males in female sports isn’t inclusion—it’s exclusion of the very people Title IX was created to protect. Senate Bill 9 defends the rights of female athletes to compete fairly and without compromise,” said Keefer.
“Today is a great day for female athletes across Pennsylvania as the Senate passed the Save Women’s Sports Act,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward. “As women athletes across our commonwealth have broken glass ceilings, their efforts to take girls’ sports to the next level will not be derailed by men competing as women in sports. We stand alongside women athletes to fight for their right to fair competition.”
The legislation reinforces the original intent of Title IX by ensuring female athletes are not denied scholarships, placements or opportunities due to unfair competition from biological males.
Sports
Tharayil Competes in Heptathlon to Kick Off Men’s Indoor Track and Field Season
Men’s Track and Field | 12/5/2025 6:55:00 PM
Findlay, Ohio – First-place finishes in shot put and 1,000 meter helped senior Justin Tharayil grab third-place in the heptathlon with 3,900 points at the 2025 Oiler Opener and Multi, hosted by Findlay University. He finished behind Camden St.John of Findlay and first-place Nick Farfoglia of conference foe Wittenberg, who had 4,556 points.
Tharayil posted first-place finishes in shot put (10.89m), and 1000 meter (3:02.56), and took second in high jump (1.80m). His high jump and shot put marks make it a career-best for the senior. He also had a 3.10m mark in pole vault to help solidify his third-place ranking. His 3,900 points is a career-best in the heptathlon.
Scored Events
- 60m – 7.91 (4th)
- Long Jump – 5.86m (3rd)
- Shot Put – 10.89m (1st)
- High Jump – 1.80m (T-2nd)
- 60m Hurdles – 9.84 (3rd)
- Pole Vault – 3.10m (3rd)
- 1000m – 3:02.56 (1st)
Up Next for the Big Red
Denison travels to Springfield, Ohio to compete in the Tiger Opener hosted by Wittenberg University tomorrow Saturday, December 6.
Sports
Season Preview: Men’s Indoor Track and Field Ready to Build off Previous Seasons
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. The Hartford Men’s Track and Field team is eager to start the upcoming indoor season. The Hawks come off the heels of a Conference Championship a season ago, as well as a 14th place finish in the NCAA Division III New England Championship. The group looks to build on last year’s success to push themselves even further in the 2025-26 season.
Familiar Faces:
Head coach Connor Green comes back for his third year at the helm of both the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field coach. He welcomes back 34 returners who look to make their mark following a successful season last year. Amongst the top returners is sophomore Aidan Lybarger (South Burlington, Vt.) who last year was honored as USTFCCCA Outdoor Track & Field All-Region in Discus, CNE All-Conference First Team (Discus), as well as becoming a school record holder (Outdoor Discus – 52.49 Meters).
“I think we’re going to have a pretty good season overall, especially from the throwers perspective. We all have gotten a lot better from last year which is amazing.” Lybarger said.
Senior Peter Effinger (Washingtonville, N.Y.) is also a key returner for the Hawks, coming off a CNE Academic All-Conference season, a year ago.
“I’d like to go out and have a good season, set some PRs, and hopefully win another championship. Continue with hard training, making good progress in workouts, and trying to get under those milestones.” said Effinger.
Another key returner is junior Thomas Yonkers (Farmington, Conn.), who last season was honored as CNE Academic All-Conference, College Sports Communicators Academic All-District, School Record (Outdoor Pole Vault – 4.25 Meters).
“I think we’re looking to get back to the CNE and win the conference again, and we’re looking like a good team like last year. I’m most excited to see how the freshmen really develop their spots on the team. We’ve got a couple new vaulters, who I’m really excited to see this year in their first college season. ” Yonkers said.
Season Outlook:
The Hawks will begin their season at the Yale invitational on Dec. 6th. Following that event they will take on the Wesleyan University Invitational on Jan. 24th. They will also compete in the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University on Jan. 31st. The Hawks will close out the indoor track and field season at the NCAA Division III New England Championships in Boston at the New England at the Track of New Balance.
For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Sports
Kentucky Track and Field Opens 2025-26 Indoor Season at Commodore Winter Challenge – UK Athletics
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Wildcats track and field team is set for the start of a new indoor season this Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. at the Commodore Winter Challenge, hosted by Vanderbilt University.
For the first event of the new season, the Wildcats will send 45 total athletes to Nashville, competing across 21 separate events. The travel list for the weekend’s event is highlighted by returners Camden Bentley, Hannah Douglas, Sharmelle Holmes, Stacey Onyepunuka, Kate Powers and Emmi Scales on the women’s side and Grayson Brashear, Patrick Faust, Miles Jones, Devin Sealey and Anthony Waterman on the men’s side.
The Wildcats welcome 40 total newcomers to the 2025-26 roster, including 22 on the men’s side and 18 on the women’s side. Of the 40 new additions, 30 feature as true freshman, looking to make their collegiate debut this weekend for the Wildcats.
During the indoor portion of the 2025-26 schedule, the Wildcats will compete in eight meets, beginning with tomorrow’s event in Nashville. Following the turn of the calendar, Kentucky will host the Rod McCravy Memorial on Jan. 9-10 at the Norton Center in Louisville, Ky.
The final stretch of the regular season for the Cats consists of the Crossroads of America Invitational (Jan. 23-24), Razorback Invitational (Jan. 30-31) and the David Hemery Valentine Invitational and the Tiger Paw Invitational on Feb. 13-14.
For the second consecutive season, the Texas A&M Aggies will play host to the 2026 SEC Indoor Championships at the Fasken Indoor Track & Field Facility in College Station, Texas on Feb. 26-28. The 2025-26 indoor season will conclude on Mar. 13-14 in the Cats’ second trip to Fayetteville, Ark. for the NCAA Championships.
On Saturday in Nashville, Kentucky will compete against fellow SEC programs Tennessee and host Vanderbilt, as well as Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Belmont, Chattanooga, Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky.
Competition for the Commodore Winter Challenge in Nashville is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. ET, starting with Meagan Ewers, Gwyneth Lori, Kate Powers and Addison Stadsholt representing the Wildcats in the women’s weight throw event.
Event Schedule
| Commodore Winter Challenge: Saturday, December 6: ALL TIMES IN EASTERN TIME | |||
| Women’s Weight Throw | 9:30 a.m. | FINAL | Meagan Ewers, Gwyneth Lori, Kate Powers, Addison Stadsholt |
| Women’s High Jump | 9:30 a.m. | FINAL | Kemarah Howard |
| Men’s High Jump | 9:30 a.m. | FINAL | Devin Sealey |
| Men’s Long Jump | 11:00 a.m. | FINAL | Kingi McNair |
| Men’s Pole Vault | 11:00 a.m. | FINAL | Grant Harrison, Jack Marek |
| Men’s Weight Throw | 11:30 a.m. | FINAL | Grayson Brashear, Brock Conrad, Cian Crampton |
| Women’s Long Jump | 12:30 p.m. | FINAL | Dahlia Beasley, Julia Gunnell, Kemarah Howard, Skyler Reynolds |
| Women’s 60m Hurdles | 1:00 p.m. | PRELIMS | Dahlia Beasley, Camden Bentley, Julia Gunnell, Kashia Hoo, Kori Martin, Rukia Nusra Omulisia, Emmi Scales, Alene Washington |
| Men’s 60m Hurdles | 1:25 p.m. | PRELIMS | Anthony Waterman |
| Women’s Shot Put | 1:30 p.m. | FINAL | Dahlia Beasley, Meagan Ewers, Julia Gunnell, Gwyneth Lori, Addison Stadsholt |
| Women’s 60m | 1:45 p.m. | PRELIMS | Briley Cline, Sharmelle Holmes, Naseera Efua Quansah, Briana St. Louis |
| Women’s Pole Vault | 2:00 p.m. | FINAL | Kaylee Daniel, Annie Murphy, Chelsea Wetzel |
| Men’s 60m | 2:00 p.m. | PRELIMS | Coy Hyre, Miles Jones, Jack Marek, Zyrie Stewart-McLaren, Oscar Baltan Vivero |
| Men’s 60m Hurdles | 2:45 p.m. | FINAL | TBD |
| Women’s 60m Hurdles | 2:55 p.m. | FINAL | TBD |
| Men’s 60m | 3:05 p.m. | FINAL | TBD |
| Women’s 60m | 3:15 p.m. | FINAL | TBD |
| Men’s/Women’s Triple Jump | 3:30 p.m. | FINAL | Theo Mudzengerere |
| Men’s Shot Put | 3:30 p.m. | FINAL | Grayson Brashear, Brock Conrad |
| Women’s 300m | 3:35 p.m. | FINAL | Dahlia Beasley, A’Laji Bradley, Briley Cline, Tressia Davis, Hannah Douglas, Julia Gunnell, Kashia Hoo, JahQueen McClellan, Rukia Nusra Omulisia, Emmi Scales, Briana St. Louis, Alene Washington |
| Men’s 300m | 3:55 p.m. | FINAL | Tyrique Johnson, Brandon Nyandoro, TK Pahuwa, Zyrie Stewart-McLaren, Oscar Baltan Vivero |
| Women’s 600m | 4:15 p.m. | FINAL | Vanice Kerubo Nyagisera |
| Men’s 600m | 4:35 p.m. | FINAL | Patrick Faust |
| Women’s 4x400m | 5:05 p.m. | FINAL | Kentucky |
| Men’s 4x400m | 5:20 p.m. | FINAL | Kentucky |
Follow Kentucky Track and Field and Cross Country on Facebook, Instagram, X, and UKathletics.com.
Sports
Cyclones meet St. Thomas for NCAA Volleyball Championship first round – Iowa State Daily
The Iowa State volleyball team will return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season. The No. 23 Cyclones (22-7, 12-6 Big 12) will face the St. Thomas Tommies (21-9, 11-5 Summit League) in the opening round.
“This is the first time I get to experience something like this, and I’m just really happy I get to experience it with this group of girls in this program,” senior middle blocker Tierney Jackson said. “I’m ready to have a long run in Minnesota.”
Iowa State will be participating in its 18th NCAA Tournament, while the Tommies are making their first appearance in program history.
This is the first postseason St. Thomas is eligible to compete in after elevating to the Division I level for the 2021 season. The Tommies won their first Summit League Tournament, making them undefeated in Division I postseason play.
The Tommies secured their NCAA Tournament berth by claiming the Summit League title. St. Thomas defeated No. 1 seed South Dakota State in the Summit League Tournament championship.
The Tommies are the only team to defeat the Jackrabbits over the past two seasons, winning in 2024 and 2025.
The Summit League champion has not won an NCAA Tournament match for 28 seasons. The last tournament victory for the conference came in 1977 — a five-set win for Oral Roberts over Arizona.
The Big 12 does not hold a conference tournament, giving its automatic NCAA bid to the regular-season champion.
No. 8 Arizona State (26-3, 17-1 Big 12) had a near-perfect conference schedule, their one loss coming to the Cyclones on Oct. 31. The Halloween victory was Iowa State’s biggest win of the season.
“I am super excited to make the tournament and continue on our run with my favorite group of girls, and we’re excited to go to Minnesota,” senior setter Morgan Brandt said.

Brandt was the Big 12 Setter of the Year and leads all active Big 12 players with 3,736 career assists. She also led a Cyclone offense that topped the conference in assists at 13.03 per set.
Iowa State occasionally switched from a 5-1 to give sophomore setter Ava Martin opportunities.
St. Thomas had an impressive nonconference schedule, with its best win coming against Big Ten opponent Northwestern. The Tommies won seven straight matches after defeating Northwestern, a program best since joining Division I.
The match will be played at Minnesota’s Maturi Pavilion, a venue where St. Thomas has already taken a set this season. The Tommies took a set from then-No. 11 Minnesota on Aug. 31, the first set victory against a ranked opponent in program history.
While the Cyclones are favored in this matchup, they have lost their last two matches, while the Tommies have won five straight.
These teams have met once before. In 2021, Iowa State swept St. Thomas in the same building as part of the Diet Coke Classic. The only active player from that match is Iowa State redshirt senior defensive specialist Paula Krzeslak. She has appeared in 94 matches across her Cyclone career.
Both head coaches have led their programs for more than 20 years. Christy Johnson-Lynch is in her 21st season with Iowa State, and Thanh Pham is in his 23rd season at St. Thomas. Pham coached the Tommies to a Division III national championship in 2012, while Johnson-Lynch has guided Iowa State to two Division I regional finals (2008, 2011).
“We never want to take the day for granted,” Johnson-Lynch said. “So we’re excited to get up there and get going.”
St. Thomas will play Iowa State at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Maturi Pavilion and will stream on ESPN+. The winner will advance to face either No. 4 seed Minnesota or Fairfield in the second round Saturday.
Sports
Pilots Open Indoor Season at BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener
Event: BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener
Host: Boston University
Date: Saturday, Dec. 6, 2024
Location: Boston University Track and Tennis Center (Boston, Mass.)
Live Results: PortlandPilots.com
Live Video: PortlandPilots.com
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS & PILOTS’ ENTRIES
• Women’s Mile: 9 a.m (PT) | Rose Perotin
• Men’s 3000m: 11:40 a.m (PT) | Mark Milner
• Men’s 5000m: 4:15 p.m (PT) | Jonas Price
THIS WEEK
• The Pilots are set to compete at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, hosted by Boston University in Boston. They will be represented in three events.
• Live results and video streaming are available on PortlandPilots.com.
Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App. For group and fan experience package information, email pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.
Donate Today
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Sports
Craig Announces 2025-26 Track & Field Schedule
ROCK HILL, S.C. — Winthrop Track & Field Head Coach Raffael Craig has unveiled the Eagles 2025-26 indoor and outdoor schedule on Friday, outlining a slate that begins in early December and runs through the end of May.
“I’m proud of the work they have all put in,” said Craig. “This first meet will be a good opportunity to see where we are at heading into the holiday season.”
The Eagles open the indoor season on Dec. 7 at the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-Off in Winston-Salem, N.C. Winthrop continues at the Gamecock Opener on Jan. 10 in Columbia, S.C., followed by three meets in Tryon, the Tryon International Classic (Jan. 16-17), the Tryon College Banked Invitational – East Coast Elite (Jan. 30), and the Tryon Mid-Winter Collegiate Invite (Feb. 13-14).
The Big South Conference Indoor Championship is scheduled for Feb. 27-28 in Tryon.
Outdoor competition begins with the Big South vs. Southern Conference Challenge on Mar. 20-21 in Asheville, N.C. Winthrop will also compete at the Raleigh Relays (Mar. 26-27) and the VertKlasse Meeting (Apr. 2-3) in High Point, N.C.
The program will host the annual Winthrop Invitational on Apr. 17-18 at the Irwin Belk Complex. The regular season concludes at the Lenoir-Rhyne Open on Apr. 25 in Hickory, N.C.
The Big South Conference Outdoor Championship is set for May 11-13 in High Point, N.C. Qualifiers will advance to the NCAA Championships East First Round, held on May 27-30 in Lexington, Ky.
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