SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — The Union College women’s ice hockey team announced its 2025-26 schedule on Tuesday afternoon, as the team will begin a new era at the M&T Bank Center with a slate of 33 regular-season matchups against seven non-conference opponents and all 11 members of ECAC Hockey. “The 2025-26 season is going to be […]

Originally Published: June 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM EDT

We’re still a year away from Colorado adopting a shot clock for high school basketball. The rule kicks in for the 2026-27 season, with a 35-second timer for all classifications. However, some changes are coming ahead of the 2025-26 season also.

The National Federation of High Schools adopted new rules and procedures changes for the coming high-school basketball season.

Goaltending/basket interference

A main focus is on dealing with goaltending and basket interference. The goaltending rule says a ball is on its downward arc toward the basket once the shot hits the backboard. If a defender touches the ball after it hits the backboard, it’s two/three points for the shooter’s team.

Before this rule change, it was up to officials to determine whether the ball was still climbing toward the goal before any potential goaltending call.

“By establishing that a ball is considered to be on its downward flight upon contacting the backboard, this rule change introduces a clear and objective standard,” said Monica Maxwell, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Basketball Rules Committee, in a statement posted to CHSAANow.com. “It significantly reduces the need for officials to make subjective judgments regarding the trajectory of a shot, thereby enhancing consistency and accuracy in goaltending calls.”

The rule regarding basket interference has also changed.

Now, only a defensive player can commit goaltending. The NFHS statement said the rule change disposes of the need to determine whether the ball in flight is a field-goal attempt or a pass.

“Any alliteration of a shot attempt with contact to the basket or backboard by an offensive player would be considered basket interference,” the statement said.

Also, intentionally slapping or striking the backboard during a field-goal try becomes basket interference and not a technical foul.

Also, incidents in which players who intentionally delay returning to the court after being out of bounds and then become the first to touch the ball will result in an infraction and not a technical foul.

Bench rules

The NFHS also changed a rule related to time-outs.

Players on the floor when officials call for a timeout are now “bench personnel.” The NFHS statement said the switch “ensures consistent enforcement of penalties for unsporting conduct by allowing officials to issue technical fouls to bench personnel during time-outs.”

Before the change, game officials had to determine whether a player who warranted a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct was actually on the floor or the bench at the time.

“One of the points of emphasis this year will be bench decorum,” said Billy Strickland, executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association and chair of the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee, in the NFHS statement. “How can we help coaches and officials know that communication is a two-way street? It just needs to be done in a proper manner.”

Keep up with all rule changes and sports at CHSAANow.com.

Related

Fisk University to End Gymnastics Program originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Fisk University announced it would be discontinuing its gymnastics program at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 school year. Their final season will be in Spring 2026.

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The University made the decision due to their gymnastics program competing outside of their conference in the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC). This makes it hard for the school to keep up with the program. Challenges with scheduling opponents and recruiting also occurred.

After only three seasons, Fisk University still managed to acquire a national champion in Morgan Price. She won the honor in 2024 and was able to defend her title this year to become the first ever HBCU gymnast to win consecutive championships.

With the help of Price, Fisk gymnastics has made a name for itself and she helped put the program on the map. The champion not only made history as the first HBCU gymnast to win a title, but she also scored a perfect 10 on the uneven bars.

Related: Fans in Disbelief over EA Sports’ decision on HBCU’s in College Football 26

This year, she also dominated once again to reclaim her national title. She had a score of 9.90 on the beam, 9.825 on the floor, and 39.950 for her final total. Athletic director, Valencia Jordan, said that she wishes all the athletes the best and that she was proud of how far the program has progressed in such a short amount of time.

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Related: NCAA Sends Clear Message About Athlete Pay and Roster Limits

This past season, Fisk won most of its competitions, facing off against schools like Rutgers and Wilberforce University. A short-lived yet successful for Fisk University Gymnastics could potentially put HBCU gymnastics on the grid.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.

A native of North Mankato, Minnesota, Leivermann joins the Golden Knights after spending last season in the ECAC with the Cornell Big Red.  Leivermann helped the Big Red to a big playoff run which included an ECAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

“Corey is a great fit for our outstanding coaching staff, he is a young energetic coach with an exceptional ability to recruit NCAA Talent.” said Coach Houle. Houle went on to say “Corey excels in skill development and his knowledge of the game and his ability to communicate and use video analytics to help the new generation of players is a great asset to our storied program. As the landscape of college hockey is changing at a rapid pace, Corey’s past year experience of recruiting at the CHL and USHL level ensures a seamless transition.”

Leivermann made the move to the College Rank following a record-setting season as Associate Head Coach of the Fargo Force (USHL). In 2023–24, he helped guide the Force to a league-best 50-win campaign and a Clark Cup championship, while also coaching in the 2024 Chipotle All-American Game, a showcase for the nation’s top NHL Draft-eligible talent.

Leivermann’s coaching pedigree includes prior stints as GM and Head Coach of the Madison Capitols (USHL), Head Coach of the Janesville Jets (NAHL), and scouting and coaching roles across multiple junior leagues. Known for his keen eye for talent and player development, Leivermann has played a pivotal role in moving dozens of players on to NCAA Division I programs and the professional ranks.

As a player, Leivermann starred at Minnesota State before finishing his NCAA career as team captain at Gustavus Adolphus College, where he earned AHCA Second Team All-American honors. He also competed professionally with the Mississippi RiverKings (SPHL).

Leivermann holds a BS degree in Management from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN.  Corey and his wife Tanya have ties to the Potsdam area and are familiar with the North Country and they are eager to make Potsdam their home.

Leivermann will be involved in all aspects of the program, including player development, video analysis, recruiting coordination, and day-to-day operations.

 

Mary Lou Retton, the iconic U.S. gymnast known for her groundbreaking performance at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, will face a $100 fine for driving under the influence.

The 57-year-old Olympic champion was stopped by police last month after erratically driving her Porsche in her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia. Authorities reported that a bottle of wine was found in her passenger seat, she exhibited signs of alcohol impairment, and she subsequently failed a field sobriety test.

In court, she pleaded no contest to the DUI charges. According to legal experts, a fine is standard for first-time offenders in such cases.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton arrested for DUI

“What happened was completely unacceptable,” Retton said in a statement. “I make no excuses. To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry. I am determined to learn and grow from this experience, and I am committed to making positive changes in my life. I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support.”

Retton rose to fame at just 16 years old when she became the first American female gymnast to win a gold medal in the all-around competition, solidifying her legacy as a pioneer in the sport.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College Athletics Department recognized the accomplishments of the 2024-25 athletic year in April with a student-athlete celebration and recently voted on the 23rd annual Golden Gustie Awards, which honors the department’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Newcomers of the Year, and Teams of the Year.

And, for the second consecutive year, Gage Gohl (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln) has been named the Male Athlete of the Year, his first time as a solo honoree after sharing the award with doubles partner Tyler Haddorff (Burnsville, Minn.) last season. Karina Elvestrom (Minnetonka, Minn.) was selected as both the Female Athlete and Newcomer of the Year, becoming just the second first-year to earn the department’s highest honor in her first season of competition joining Andrea Kleven (swimming, track & field) in 2000-01. 

Men’s golfer Jimmy Abdo (Edina, Minn.) was selected as the Male Newcomer of the Year, while women’s basketball and men’s hockey earned the department’s Team of the Year award, as voted on by the 2024-25 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representatives. 

This year’s Athlete of the Year ballot included five women and five men, each representing a different team. The men were (listed alphabetically) baseball’s starting southpaw Adam Biewen (Golden Valley, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong), football fifth-year linebacker Carson DeKam (Owatonna, Minn.), Gohl, soccer two-way defender Jared Hecht (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview), and fifth-year swimmer Peyton Richardson (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge). Hecht and Richardson finished tied for second in the voting behind Gohl.

The women were (listed alphabetically) Elvestrom, track & field sprinter and horizontal jumper Megan Geraets (Mankato, Minn./East), basketball fifth-year guard Emma Kniefel (Medford, Minn.), hockey junior forward Lily Mortenson (Champlin, Minn./Benilde St. Margaret’s), and volleyball fifth-year setter Kasie Tweet (Adrian, Minn.). Elvestrom and Tweet finished first and second in the voting, with Geraets in third.

Also voted on by the head coaches was the Newcomer of the Year award. The ballot for Newcomer of the Year featured five men and five women. The men were Abdo, hockey goaltender Colin Androlewicz (Fenton, N.H/New Hampton School), track & field triple jumper Liam Frommelt (Woodbury, Minn.), tennis player Noah Hakim (Allen, Texas), and swimmer Jacob Robischon (Sauk Centre, Minn.). Robischon finished second in the voting, followed by Androlewicz in third. 

The female newcomer ballot featured Elvestrom, distance swimmer Geneva Fackler (Wayzata, Minn.), hockey forward Noelle Hemr (Blaine, Minn./Centennial), track & field jumper Kayla Kajer (Lake Elmo, Minn./Stillwater), and volleyball setter Macie Malchow (Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington). Fackler finished second on the ballot, followed by Kajer in third.

 

Here’s a look at all the Golden Gustie award winners:

Male Athlete of the Year: Gage Gohl – READ MORE

Gohl earned his second Gustavus award, and first as a solo player, after collecting his fourth All-America honor in the fall as the repeat champion of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Regional Singles Championships. The junior advanced to the NCAA championships, and led Gustavus to another MIAC title sweep at the No. 1 singles and doubles positions.

• ITA Singles All-American
• ITA Singles Midwest Regional Champion
• NCAA Singles Qualifier
• NCAA Doubles Qualifier
• MIAC Doubles Team of the Year
• MIAC Doubles All-Conference
• MIAC Singles All-Conference Honorable Mention
• Three-time MIAC Athlete of the Week
• 19-8 singles, 18-8 doubles

Female Athlete and Newcomer of the Year: Karina Elvestrom – READ MORE
Elvestrom is the second Gustie in the last three seasons to be honored as the conference’s Rookie of the Year, but the first in recorded conference history to win the award alongside another major honor, as the Minnetonka native was also selected as one half of the MIAC Doubles Team of the Year. She swept the ITA Midwest Regionals in her first weekend of collegiate tennis in the fall, earning a pair of All-America honors to begin her young career, and was selected for both singles and doubles comeptition in the NCAA championships.

• ITA Singles All-American
• ITA Doubles All-American
• ITA Midwest Regional Singles Champion
• ITA Midwest Regional Doubles Champion
• MIAC Rookie of the Year
• MIAC Doubles Team of the Year
• MIAC All-Conference Singles
• MIAC All-Conference Doubles
• MIAC Athlete of the Week
• 19-13 singles, 25-7 doubles 

Male Newcomer of the Year: Jimmy Abdo – READ MORE
Abdo carried the men’s golf team to a strong spring with a his first medalist honor at the Bobby Krig Invite before finishing as the runner-up at the Saint John’s Spring Invitational the following week. He is the second Gustie golfer in three years to be honored as the conference Rookie of the Year and the ninth overall.

• MIAC Rookie of the Year
• MIAC All-Conference
• Bobby Krig Invite Medalist (1st)
• MIAC Athlete of the Week

Women’s Team of the Year: Basketball –  READ MORE
The women’s basketball team finished first in the MIAC and won the MIAC Playoff Championship for the fourth year in a row. The Gusties were 29-2 overall and 17-1 in the conference. In the national tournament, Gustavus hosted its first NCAA regional, winning both games, as well as its Sweet 16 appearance, to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history, falling to eventual national runner-up Smith (Mass.). Women’s hockey (2022-23) and volleyball (2023-24) were the previous two winners of the award.

Men’s Team of the Year: Hockey – READ MORE

The men’s hockey team saw a historical turnaround this season, finishing 16-10-2 and 10-4-2 in the conference. Five were named All-Conference, while the team led the league in nearly every offensive statistical category. The Gusties claimed both MIAC Championships, including the playoff championship at home, to punch a ticket back to the national tournament, where they fell in the first round. This is the first season that the men’s hockey team has been selected by SAAC members as the team of the year, as the men’s tennis team has claimed it in each of the last two seasons.

Gustavus Athletes of the Year

2000-01: Andrea Kleven (first-year, swimming, track & field), Eric Butorac (sophomore, tennis)

2001-02: Sarah Moe (senior, hockey), Ryan Hoag (junior, football, track & field)

2002-03: Molly Biehn (junior, softball), Luke Speltz (senior, track & field)

2003-04: Angie Peterson (senior, basketball), Luke Benoit (senior, golf)

2004-05: Tara Houlihan (junior, volleyball, tennis), Joe Hartwell (senior, soccer)

2005-06: Hailey Harren (junior, cross country), Bobby Kroog (senior, soccer)

2006-07: Andrea Peterson (senior, hockey), Tony Konicek (senior, baseball)

2007-08: Lisa Brown (junior, track & field), Andy Bryan (senior, tennis)

2008-09: Rachael Click (senior, softball), Matt Stewart (senior, swimming)

2009-10: Melissa Mackley (senior, hockey), David Martinson (senior, hockey)

2010-11: Janey Helland (senior, track & field), Whitaker Davis (senior, swimming)

2011-12: Alissa Tinklenberg (sophomore, swimming), Ross Ring-Jarvi (senior, hockey)

2012-13: Lindsey Hjelm (senior, hockey), Alex Kolquist (senior, golf)

2013-14: Alissa Tinklenberg (senior, swimming), Jeffrey Dubose (senior, football)

2014-15: Jenny Strom (senior, swimming), David Lilly (senior, soccer)

2015-16: Alex Kopp (senior, gymnastics), Matt Boyce (senior, football)

2016-17: Nora Holtan (sophomore, volleyball), Tanner Sonnek (sophomore, swimming)

2017-18: Nora Holtan (junior, volleyball), Mohanad Alhouni (senior, tennis)

2018-19: Nora Holtan (senior, volleyball), Michael Hensch (senior, track & field)

2019-20: no awards presented due to pandemic-shortened and canceled seasons

2020-21: no awards presented due to pandemic-shortened and canceled seasons

2021-22: Birgen Nelson (junior, track & field), Jack Hanson (senior, baseball)

2022-23: Birgen Nelson (senior, track & field), Nick Aney (senior, tennis)

2023-24: Megan Geraets (junior, track & field), Jake Breitbach (senior, football), Gage Gohl/Tyler Haddorff (sophomores, tennis)

2024-25: Karina Elvestrom (first-year, tennis), Gage Gohl (junior, tennis)