PELLA— A Central College feature on baseball slugger Colton DeRocher was cited as the College Division National Story of the Year by College Sports Communicators in its Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest.
           
The story was authored by athletics senior editor Larry Happel. It’s his second CSC National Story of the Year Award winner. His profile of Central wrestler Jaime Miranda, “From Homeless to Heavyweight,” was cited in 2017.
           

This year’s winner, “Central’s DeRocher: Just as Good, if Not Better,” featured the Dutch outfielder who was born with a congenital defect on his left hand, yet broke Central’s career home runs mark. Happel earlier received the 2024 Fall NCAA Division III and Division III Sports Information Directors of America (D3SIDA) Recognition Award for the DeRocher story.
           
The story was also the CSC contest winner in the Athlete Profile category. Nearly 500 entries were submitted in seven categories in the contest. Each category was first judged on the district level, with the winners then advancing to national consideration. All national category winners were considered for National Story of the Year.
           
Five of Happel’s entries received CSC College Division District 7 awards this year. The College Division includes NCAA Division II and III institutions as well as NAIA schools and two-year colleges. Jerry Price of Princeton University won the top University Division award with “Of Love, Sorrow and Cancer,” a feature about three Princeton women’s soccer players dealing with cancer.
           
The awards will be presented at the CSC Convention June 8-11 in Orlando, Florida, where Happel will receive the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award                                             
           
Happel spent 45 years as Central’s athletics communications director and continues to serve in a a part-time role. He has received 24 CSC writing awards overall as well as two from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. He’s also received more than 35 CSC publication awards and was inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame in 2010 after receiving the CSC Warren Berg Award in 2006. He’s a former CSC board member and past D3SIDA president.
 

Conway, Ark. (June 3, 2025) – Hendrix College has announced the resignation of Cesar Terlea as head coach of both the men’s and women’s cross country programs and the track and field programs.

Under Terlea’s guidance in his four years with the programs, several Hendrix student-athletes received major awards. Ethan Armour was named the Southern Athletic Association’s Men’s Field Athlete of the Year in 2023. Armour would go on to compete at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Anna Cantrell was named the SAA’s 2023 Women’s Cross Country Newcomer of the Year. B Adams being named the 2025 SAA Field Newcomer of the Year.

In total, Terlea coached eight All-Conference selections.

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with Boston Public Schools Athletics and Let’s Play Boston, is proud to present the inaugural Boston Neighborhood Volleyball League (BNVL), a free summer volleyball program for girls ages 15 and under.

All games will take place at Madison Park High School in Roxbury, providing a fun and supportive environment for young athletes to develop their skills, learn teamwork, and compete with athletes from across the City. The league runs from July 9 through August 13, with games held on Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

No prior volleyball experience is required, the league welcomes players of all skill levels. Whether you’re new to the sport or looking to sharpen your serve, BNVL is the place to be this summer. 

Registration is now open online at boston.gov/parks-sports. Spots are limited. 

For more information or to register, contact Roger Roberts at roger.roberts@boston.gov or (617) 961-3039, or Damien Margardo at damien.margardo@boston.gov or (617) 961-3083.

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Five-time Olympian Jesse Smith of Coronado and former UC San Diego coach Denny Harper have been named to the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in this year’s induction class.

Smith helped the USA men win a silver medal in the 2008 Games in Beijing during his Olympic tenure (2004-2020). He was second American to compete on five Olympic teams.

As a high school player, Smith spearheaded Coronado High School to three CIF San Diego Section championships. He returned to his alma mater to coach the Islanders boys and girls teams, starting with Division 1 title teams for boys in 2023 and the girls in 2024.

Harper launched a 42-year coaching career with the UC San Diego men in 1980. From there, he guided the Tritons women for 15 seasons (1985-1999). The men made 15 NCAA Tournament appearances under his guidance, including second place in 2000, while the women won five national championships.

Before heading to UC San Diego, Harper coached the San Diego State women’s club team. He graduated from SDSU in 1978.

Inductions are scheduled for June 13 in Brea. Also in the 2025 class are referee David Alberstein, former United States men’s national team coach Richard Azevado and three-time Olympian Melissa Seidermann.