BUFFALO, N.Y. — If you’re a fan of the sport of hockey and the United States of America, it’s been a good couple of weeks. Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson knocked in an overtime goal for the stars and stripes to win the World Championships — and now their para counterparts pulled off the same dominance.

“It’s amazing to see the youth, and the growth and the development of our sport,” said Buffalo-area native Chris Manns, who has earned a share of World Championship and Olympic gold from his sled. “I was injured in a train accident in 1991, and then a group by the name of Western New York Youth Physically Challenged Sports just called me one day and wanted to know if I want to come and try the sport of sled hockey at Buffalo State College. I went down that Saturday, and I fell in love with the sport and ever since then I’ve been playing.”

Western New York, being the hotbed for hockey talent that it is, the same can be historically said for those standing on two feet or sitting on two blades.

“At one point, there was five of us were from Buffalo on the national team and obviously it’s special,” Manns said. “Just to be back here where so many young disabled athletes in the organization can come out and see this sled hockey at the highest level.” 

So the World Championships making their way back to the 716 for the first time in a decade? Excitement is a light way to put it. Spectrum News 1 heard from team captain Josh Pauls, an elder statesman on the team, ahead of the tournament and Manns has kept in touch with him the whole journey here.

“My last year on the team, ’08-’09, in Czech Republic at the World Championships, Josh was just a rookie,” Manns recalled. “It’s awesome to see him carry the torch and lead the next group of national players to where they are now.”

So a pair of dominating preliminary games, rounded out by a close finisher to the prelims and 6-1 semis win over China to bring the hometown red, white and blue to the final stage yet again.

“You work so hard for all your life, to train to win gold. From one USA former player to the guys, two words: Beat Canada.” 

A 6-1 victory again, gold medals earned — mission accomplished.

Team USA keeps the title on home soil, their seventh going back to 2009. Manns hopes this showing will encourage more New Yorkers to work their way to the roster in years to come.

One of the most prominent critics of the Transfer Portal has been Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney. Swinney recently appeared on The College GameDay Podcast and took verbal jabs at the transfer rules and the system’s operation. “There are no rules right now. We want some rules,” He said.

Now, as Swinney said, there are no rules. Players can move around and go wherever they want, regardless of age, and thanks to NIL, it has become “pay-for-play.” However, more rules are set to come with the upcoming House settlement.

“And I think we’re coming out of a period of complete chaos,” Swinney said. “And where there’s no cap, the schools can’t handle things directly, it comes from outside entities. You have the agent process that is not regulated.

“I mean, there are a lot of challenges, but I do think that we’re about to enter into a much more structured environment that is going to, it might take a year, but I think it’s going to create some markets, you know, to where there’ll be some transparency, there’s an actual cap. The best thing about the settlement is that it keeps college football scholastic.”

The Transfer Portal has upended college football, especially with the combination of NIL. The ability to transfer was always a part of college athletics. Still, players would have to sit out a year, or if they could play immediately, they were only allowed to be graduate transfers and had already finished most of their schoolwork.

Is college football headed to NFL model?

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Swinney also talked about how college football is on its way toward the NFL model regarding financial investment in its players and how implementing a cap on how much each school is allowed to spend can achieve competitive balance. That is a key part of the upcoming House settlement, but it won’t fix the entire issue.

The Clemson football head coach also railed against the issue of transparency and how it works with NIL and the Transfer Portal. “So right now, there is no market, no transparency,” Swinney said. “It may take a year, but I think that will emerge.

“I think we all know the quarterback will make more than the linebacker. That’s just the way it is. And right now, there’s no rhyme or reason for really anything. It’s just whatever feels good in the moment.”

Jake Faigus graduated from the University of Arizona in 2022 and has had stops at Catena Media, Playmaker, DraftKings, USA Today, Spike Up, and Spotlight Sports Group. He also writes for Sporting News and works at iHeartMedia in Phoenix.

EASTON, Mass. (June 2, 2025) – Head coach Matthew Distler and the Stonehill women’s swimming team welcomes Brenna Roberts as its newest assistant coach, the program announced on Monday.

Roberts comes to Stonehill with years of coaching experience at the club and high school level, coaching for Sailfish Swim Team for over five years, while being an assistant coach of the Marshfield/Hanover High School Swim Team for their 2021-2022 season. Roberts is a 2021 graduate of Merrimack College’s Women’s Swim Team, where she competed in backstroke, butterfly, and the occasional freestyle. During her time at Merrimack, she contributed to many top-five regular-season meet finishes in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke, and 100-yard butterfly, including many first and second-place finishes.

Through the 2017-2019 seasons, Roberts qualified for finals at every end-of-season Championship meet in backstroke and/or butterfly. Her senior season, 2020-2021, ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cutting her collegiate swimming career short. Before Merrimack, Roberts competed in the AAU Junior Olympics each summer from 2015-2017 where she placed 2nd in the 100yd backstroke and 3rd in the 100yd butterfly as a sophomore.

As a member of the Marshfield High School Swim Team, she brought home a 9th place finish at the State Championship Meet in the 100yd backstroke in 2016. She was also named a Varsity Team All-Star for Marshfield High School in 2016 and 2017, as well as contributing to the 200 Medley, 400 Medley, and 200 Freestyle Relay team records, and adding on a 2nd place finish in the 200 Medley Relay at the State Championship Meet in 2017.

Roberts graduated from Merrimack College in 2021 with a degree in Communications and Media and a double minor in Sports Management and Religious and Theological Studies.

“I am thrilled to be joining this already flourishing program and hope to serve as a role model to these young student-athletes,” said Roberts. “I am excited to work alongside Head Coach Distler while learning as much as I can and am extremely grateful for this opportunity.”

Stonehill women’s swimming closed out its season with a sixth place finish at Northeast Conference Championships in Geneva, Ohio back in February and have its sights set on the 2025-26 season with Roberts joining the fold.

 

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

 

EAST LANSING, Mich — Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., with the support of the Board of Trustees, has selected J Batt as the university’s next vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics.

Batt currently serves as the vice president and director of athletics at Georgia Tech, where he has led the department since 2022.

“J has an impressive record at several Power 5 schools and an impeccable reputation as a strong and innovative leader,” Guskiewicz said. “He will bring experience, excitement and a commitment to elevating Spartan athletics to the next level. We are thrilled to have J join our leadership team at Michigan State.”

There will be a welcome reception and press conference on Wednesday, June 4 on campus at MSU. Batt’s contract and appointment as vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics will be voted on by the Board of Trustees at its June 13 meeting, he will start the week of June 16.

“This is truly an amazing opportunity to lead an outstanding, tradition-rich and passionate program, and I am grateful to President Guskiewicz and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity,” Batt said. “Working together, in alignment with university leadership, the full athletics department and an enthusiastic fan base, we can take the positive momentum already happening at MSU and reach new levels of success as we move into the next era of intercollegiate athletics. My family and I look forward to joining the Michigan State and East Lansing communities.”

In Batt’s first year guiding the department at Georgia Tech, 14 of 17 varsity programs earned a spot in postseason competition, and the football team has earned back-to-back bowl berths for the first time since 2013-14, marking the program’s first appearance in the Associated Press Top 25 in nine years. During his tenure, the institution broke records in athletic fundraising, surpassing the previous records by more than 40%; set a new record for academic success with a 94% graduation rate; renovated and built facilities (including construction of The Dr. Thomas A. Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center and planned renovation of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field); enhanced the gameday experiences for Yellow Jacket fans; and spearheaded corporate sponsorships to provide transformative revenue for athletics.

Batt has also provided national leadership in collegiate athletics, serving on the House Settlement Implementation Committee charged with guiding the post-settlement era structures, rules and operating principles. He also currently serves as chair of the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

“This is a key moment in the history of Michigan State Athletics,” said men’s basketball head coach and current co-interim director of athletics Tom Izzo. “With J Batt’s hiring, President Kevin Guskiewicz has found the right person to lead our department as college athletics continues to evolve. J has displayed tremendous innovation as a leader and has a proven track record of revenue generation. We are excited to welcome J and his family to Michigan State.”

Prior to taking the helm at Georgia Tech, Batt worked at the University of Alabama from 2017-22, serving as executive deputy director of athletics, chief operating officer and chief revenue officer. He was responsible for guiding revenue generation, including charitable giving, ticket sales and other revenue sources. Batt oversaw the successful development, implementation and launch of the Crimson Standard, Alabama Athletics’ 10-year, $600 million capital initiative.

Before his arrival in Tuscaloosa, Batt was senior associate athletic director and executive director of the Pirate Club at East Carolina University from 2013-17 and held positions at the University of Maryland, James Madison University, William & Mary and the University of North Carolina, his alma mater.

A member of the 2001 NCAA championship men’s soccer team at North Carolina, Batt earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications and a master’s degree in sports administration from UNC.

Batt and his wife, Leah, have two sons.

What People Are Saying

“As J Batt takes the helm of Michigan State Athletics, the Spartans enter a new era—one defined by hard work, dedication and a relentless drive for excellence. In a time of staggering change across college sports, his vision and leadership are exactly what the Spartans need to thrive. J did an outstanding job for us at Alabama before taking over at Georgia Tech, where he brought renewed energy and strategic growth to the Yellow Jackets—laying a strong foundation of competitive success. He is the perfect fit in East Lansing to help build champions on and off the field, and leading MSU with purpose into the future.” – Nick Saban, Seven-Time National Champion Head Football Coach

“J is an incredibly accomplished sports executive who will bring a wealth of experience to Michigan State.  There is no doubt that he is the right person to lead the Spartans at this pivotal time in collegiate athletics and position them for success well into the future.  Michigan State is lucky to have such a dedicated and passionate executive on their team and I wish him nothing but the best.” – Derek Schiller, President and CEO of the Atlanta Braves

The National Football Foundation released its ballot of 79 former FBS players and nine coaches for the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class. 

A pair of MSU players, Flozell Adams and Morten Anderson, and former head coach Darryl Rogers were honored. 

Each year, the NFF reveals its list of superior college football players who impacted their teams and the sport. Of the 5.78 million college football athletes in the sport’s history, 1,111 have earned induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame. 

“For more than 65 years, the NFF College Football Hall of Fame has stood as the sport’s ultimate archive, honoring those whose impact on the game still echoes today,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “This year’s ballot carries forward that responsibility, spotlighting individuals who not only excelled on the field but also helped define what college football means to so many.”

Flozell Adams, an offensive lineman from 1994-97, earned first team all-American honors in 1997 as well as Big Ten Offensive lineman of the Year. Under head coach Nick Saban, Adams allowed just two sacks in his senior year and helped the Spartans to three straight bowl games. 

In Adams’ junior season in 1996, he played a pivotal role in running back Sedrick Irvin’s 1,067 yards while the team rushed for over 200 yards eight different times. 

After his induction to the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014, Adams said, “You slowly matured over the years at Michigan State, and those are the years I really, really cherish. You grew to adore a lot of people you met there – former players, teachers and even coaches – though you probably didn’t tell them that at the time.”

Adams was drafted in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-7, 340-pound lineman sported a 13-year NFL career, spending all but his final season with the Dallas Cowboys, appearing in five Pro Bowls. 

Morten Anderson was the second former Spartan to be honored in the 2026 ballot. Anderson was the Big Ten’s most dominant place kicker in his time from 1978-1981. Anderson left East Lansing as the all-time leading field goal kicker in the Big Ten. He earned Big Ten all-performer honors three times and led MSU in scoring for three years. 

Anderson was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011 alongside MSU Basketball star Mateen Cleves and others.

Anderson said it’s always great to pay homage to your formative years and coming back to MSU.

“I have great memories from Michigan State, and the time I spent in East Lansing prepared me for playing at the next level,” Anderson said after his induction in 2011. “I credit Mark Dantonio with reconnecting me to the university. He really made it clear he wants to bridge the gap with a lot of the alums who had been missing. He’s really done a good job of bringing guys back into the fold and honoring the legacy of Spartan football.”

Anderson played in the NFL for 25 seasons and played in seven Pro Bowls. Anderson scored over 90 points with his foot for 22 seasons and will be remembered as one of the league’s most prolific kickers. In 2017, Anderson was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Coach Darryl Rogers was the final Spartan listed on the 2025 ballot. Rogers, who spent four years at MSU, earned Big Ten Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year in 1978 by Sporting News. Coach Rogers led a star-studded group with Anderson at kicker and Kirk Gibson at receiver, among other greats.

After his time coaching in college, Rogers led the Detroit Lions for four seasons with a record of 18-40. Rogers died in 2018 of natural causes in Fresno, California. 

Adams and Rogers have been named to the same NFF ballot every year since 2019.

The 2026 hall of fame class will be revealed in early 2026, with voting open until July 1.

Hamilton College’s James Philpott ’25 (Calgary, Alberta/Centennial HS) and Emma Tansky ’25 (Collegeville, Pa./Episcopal Academy) received awards at the Kiwanis Club of Utica Recognition Dinner honoring student-athletes of the year on Thursday, May 1. 
 
The Kiwanis Club of Utica honors student-athletes from five colleges around the Mohawk Valley including Hamilton, Utica University, SUNY Polytechnic, Herkimer College and Mohawk Valley Community College. 
 
James Philpott was a CCM/American Hockey Coaches Association All-America first team selection in 2025 after the defenseman collected third team honors last year. The three-time all-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) pick made the first team in each of the last two years. In his senior season he helped lead Hamilton men’s hockey to a program-best 21 wins, their first NESCAC title and second NCAA championship appearance, and a No. 8 national ranking. Philpott finished his career with 70 points on 13 goals and 57 assists in 99 games as the Continentals posted a 62-35-5 record during his four years. He was also the male recipient of Hamilton’s Jack B. Riffle Award, which is given to the top senior athlete.
 
Tansky was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association all-region second team in 2025 after she picked up third team honors the previous three years. She also made the all-NESCAC first team this season. Tansky went 7-4 with a 3.51 ERA over 83.2 innings and tossed four complete games including an eight-inning shutout against Wesleyan University. She struck out 69 and added one save. Offensively, she led Hamilton with a .444 batting average, stole a program-record 21 bases, and recorded a .493 on-base percentage. Tansky ended her career as the team’s all-time leader in stolen bases and finished second in hits and runs. She was the female recipient of Hamilton’s Jack B. Riffle Award.