Sports

8 Top 100 Pitchers With Intriguing Pitch Mix Data So Far In 2025

Published

7 months ago

May 15, 2025

8 Top 100 Pitchers With Intriguing Pitch Mix Data So Far In 2025

Today, we will explore pitchers on the Top 100 list who have yet to debut in the major leagues by looking at their pitch mixes—how each pitch moves, how often they’re used, the success of the pitch and more. The goal is to identify traits that make each pitcher a Top 100 prospect while also picking out issues that might prevent them from being a successful MLB starter.

Unlike hitters, pitchers evolve and devolve all throughout their journey to the major leagues. We’ll simply be taking a snapshot along the way to see if we can project where these potential studs might end up.

Noah Schultz, LHP, White Sox

The White Sox lefthander has been one of the most celebrated pitching prospects in recent seasons (he’s No. 15 on the BA Top 100 Prospects list), but his lack of track record led to questions entering the season. While Schultz has shown an ability to handle more innings this season, pitching into the fifth inning or later in four out of seven starts, his command has been shaky with a 12.8% walk rate.

As far as the stuff, goes Schultz is still in the neighborhood of last year’s markers, but his velocity is down slightly on his two-seam fastball and slider. Those two pitches are his primary offerings. Both his slider and two-seamer generate a tremendous amount of horizontal movement, with each pitch moving heavily to each side of the plate. The sinker sits 94-95 mph with an average of 16 inches of horizontal break and eight inches of vertical break. His slider works the opposite side of the plate, moving 13 inches gloveside with -4 inches of vertical break. The slider has not generated the whiffs it has in previous seasons, as his whiff rate is down from 41% in 2024 to 26% in 2025. His two-seam has been more effective this season, however, generating more whiffs (29%) than in previous years.

Schultz has also leaned more into his cutter, upping the usage from under 10% in 2024 to 20% in 2025. The cutter sits 89-91 mph with around nine inches of ride and nearly zero horizontal break. He’s used the changeup far less this season, and it lacks vertical and velocity separation from the fastball.

Overall, Schultz’s command has been his biggest bugaboo this season, as he’s struggled to land his pitches consistently in the zone.

Chase Burns, RHP, Reds

The Reds 2024 first-round pick was the No. 2 overall selection in the draft and signed for a record bonus of $9.25 million. After being held back post-draft, Burns made his professional debut earlier this season. So far so good, as Burns has made seven starts, pitching to a 2.35 ERA with 48 strikeouts to seven walks. Burns quickly worked his way through High-A and has now made three starts with Double-A Chattanooga.

So far, Burns’ stuff has been electric, giving rise to the belief that the Reds righthander could be the best pitching prospect remaining in the minor leagues.

He mixes four pitches: a four-seam fastball, slider, changeup and curveball. His primary mix is his fastball and slider, which account for around 90% of his usage. Burns’ fastball is a double-plus offering sitting 99 mph and touching 102 at peak. It shows 18-19 inches of ride and two inches of horizontal, leading to heavy cut. So far, the pitch has generated whiffs at a rate of 28%.

His slider sits 89-91 mph with about an inch of drop and 6-7 inches of horizontal break. The pitch has dominated this season with a 74% strike rate (well above-average), 50% whiff rate and 54% chase rate—an elite blend of numbers.

Burns also throws a changeup and curveball, but each pitch is used less than five percent of the time. There are some questions regarding whether or not Burns truly has a third pitch, but his fastball and slider combination is elite.

Thomas White, LHP, Marlins

The first time I saw White was during the summer of 2020. After the early days of the pandemic, it was the first game I had attended in close to a year. That day, a 15-year-old White dominated a lineup of high school seniors, as not a single ball was put in play. White continued to impress over the next three years, capping off one of the most decorated careers in Massachusetts high school baseball history.

Since turning pro, White has grown by leaps and bounds, and he’s added physicality to his 6-foot-5 frame in recent years. After a strong first full season in 2024, White has begun 2025 with High-A Beloit. Over six starts, he’s pitched to a 3.24 ERA with a 34.3% strikeout rate but struggled with control, posting a 14.8% walk rate.

While the control has been a struggle early, White has shown swing-and-miss stuff, mixing a four-seam fastball, changeup, curveball and slider. White’s fastball sits 95-97 mph with around 18 inches of vertical break and nine inches of horizontal break, resulting in a flatter approach to the plate. The pitch boasts a 38% whiff rate, but his command of the pitch has been iffy.

The changeup has become White’s primary secondary this season, and he’s seen success with it due to improved shape. He has created more vertical separation off of his fastball with a -3 degree difference in plane of approach.

His two breaking ball shapes are different from previous seasons. His curveball, which is his primary breaking ball, is generating more depth and horizontal sweep. His slider sits 86-87 mph with gyro shape, which is a departure from last season’s slider that was more of a cutter. While White’s command has been fringe this season, the evolution of his pitch mix is impressive.

Hagen Smith, LHP, White Sox

The second pitcher selected in the 2024 draft, Smith had a highly successful career in the SEC at Arkansas. After three appearances with High-A in 2024, he began 2025 with Double-A Birmingham. Smith has pitched to a 2.10 ERA over seven starts, but his control has been an issue with a scary 18.1% walk rate. While strike-throwing has been deflating, his ability to still generate strikeouts has limited the damage to his overall line.

Smith mixes three pitches in a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. To begin the season, he’s been heavily fastball and slider, using the changeup less than five percent of the time. His fastball has sat 93-95 mph with 15-16 inches of vertical break and 11-12 inches of horizontal movement. His 5-foot-5 release height allows the pitch to play above its velocity and pure movement, as he generates a flatter approach to the plate. These traits have led to a plus whiff rate of 34% against the pitch this season. His command of the fastball, however, has been his greatest hurdle, as his 58% strike rate is well below-average.

Smith has shown better command of his slider, which in many ways has a similar profile to the “deathball” curveball that’s been popularized in recent years. It’s slurvy shape in the low 80s and has an equal amount of drop and sweep. Smith has commanded the breaking ball far better than his fastball to begin the season with a 60% strike rate (around average for a slider) and a 49% whiff rate (well above-average).

The development of a third pitch has been a question for Smith dating back to his amateur days, and it’s still a lingering question, as the changeup is not a major part of his plan of attack.

Robby Snelling, LHP, Marlins

Our 2023 Minor League Pitcher Of The Year endured a difficult go-round in his second full professional season last year, as everything seemed to tick downward. After a trade to the Marlins at the 2024 trade, Snelling continued to struggle. However, following a full offseason with Miami, Snelling has returned to prominence to begin 2025. All of his stuff is better than ever, and the results so far have followed.

Snelling mixes four pitches in a four-seam fastball, curveball, changeup and newly-added slider. The fastball is up 1-2 mph on average with a spin rate that’s increased by 200 rpm. These added traits have led to not only more ride on the pitch but also a flatter plane of approach to the plate. His whiff rate on the pitch has taken a noticeable jump from 22% in 2024 to 27% in 2025.

His curveball has also added spin and some velocity, leading to improved results, as he’s generated more swings and chases. His changeup has taken a step forward, too, as he’s killing more lift on the pitch while creating more vertical and velocity separation. His whiff rate against the changeup has nearly tripled this season, giving him a true third pitch and a way to pacify righthanded hitters.

His slider is still only used around 12% of the time, but it has become a more significant piece of his arsenal. The pitch sits 84-86 mph with true gyro shape. While it has not generated a ton of whiffs, it is another option and a bridge pitch between his fastball and slider.

With good command, an improving arsenal and a new fourth pitch, Snelling is back on track for a midrotation spot in the coming years.

Ryan Sloan, RHP, Mariners

Sloan’s arm strength and pure power is tantalizing. The 2024 second-round pick from the Illinois prep ranks has begun his professional career with Low-A Modesto to begin the season. Over five starts, he has struck out 23 batters across 20.1 innings while pitching to a 3.54 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Sloan has shown command of his four-pitch mix with a 7.1% walk rate to begin his career. His pitch mix features plus velocity and power, but his shapes still leave something to be desired.

Sloan mixes a four-seam fastball, slider, cutter and changeup, with his fastball and slider seeing just under 90% of his usage at present. His fastball sits 95-97 mph and touches 98 at peak, but it shows below-average shape with between 12-13 inches of vertical break from a 5-foot-5 release point. The fastball has been well-commanded with a 71% strike rate and 60% zone rate, and it’s missed an average amount of bats with a 23% whiff rate. It’s lack of ride, sink or run, however, give it questionable shape.

His primary secondary is his slider, a low-to-mid-80s sweeper with an average of 14-15 inches of horizontal break and 2-3 inches of drop. It has been his primary whiff-generating pitch with a 48% whiff rate and a 40% chase rate. The slider is performing like a plus pitch at present and will be a primary piece of his arsenal going forward.

Sloan’s cutter looks like a bridge pitch between his slider and fastball and, in many ways, it resembles more of a gyro slider than a cutter. The changeup is his most interesting pitch, as he boasts traits that could project success in the future. His low spin rate of 1050-1100 rpm is almost splitter-like and it generates 12-13 inches of armside run and a negative vertical break. While the velocity separation off the fastball is minimal, his vertical separation is substantial, hinting at future success.

Sloan very much looks like a talented prospect whose arsenal is not yet fully formed.

Payton Tolle, LHP, Red Sox

The Red Sox targeted the former two-way player in the second round last July, signing him for a bonus of $2 million out of TCU. Entering 2025, it’s the first season of Tolle’s life where he’s been a pitcher only. With this move the results have followed.

Assigned to High-A Greenville to begin the season, Tolle has made five starts as a professional. After a rough first outing in which the lefty allowed six earned runs over 1.2 innings, Tolle has allowed just two runs in his subsequent 18 innings while racking up 31 strikeouts to three walks and 12 hits. It’s been an impressive run for Tolle, who leads a talented group of Red Sox pitchers in the lower levels.

Mixing four pitches, Tolle throws a four-seam fastball, gyro slider, sweeper and changeup. The fastball is the selling point, as his velocity is up a couple ticks from last year with the four-seam fastball now sitting 93-95 mph. Outlier extension on the pitch of nearly seven-and-a-half feet allows Tolle to generate a flat plane of approach to the plate, giving him the ability to eat up barrels at the top of the zone. So far on the season, the pitch has a 50% whiff rate with strong command metrics, giving it the look of potential plus pitch when you factor in his 17 inches of induced vertical break from a 5-foot-7 release height.

Tolle’s pair of breaking ball shapes are average but have the potential to improve with added power. His changeup is a fringe-average offering that will flash average-or-better for spurts. Tolle has a starter’s build at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, and his fastball shows plus major league traits. Now, it’s simply a matter of developing his secondaries over the next year-plus.

Brandon Clarke, LHP, Red Sox

The Tolle vs. Clarke debate has raged over the early part of the season. While Tolle ranks higher in our rankings, Clarke is certainly neck-and-neck with his fellow lefthander.

[embedded content]

Like Tolle, Clarke generates outlier extension and has unusual traits for a lefthander. His fastball shape and release traits aren’t quite as outlier as Tolle, but his slider is the best pitch thrown by any Red Sox pitching prospect at present.

Clarke sits 97-98 mph on two fastball shapes, with his two-seamer getting the majority of his usage. His sinker generates around nine inches of vertical break with 12-13 inches of armside run. His four-seam has well below-average shape and lacks whiff potential despite its upper-90s velocity.

Clarke’s high-80s sweeper is his primary pitch, seeing a 42% usage rate. There’s a good reason behind its high usage, as it has an outlier combination of power (sitting 87-89 mph) and movement (10 inches of horizontal break on average). There are few sliders on the planet that move as much with that type of velocity, and the pitch has overwhelmed hitters across both levels of A-Ball. Clarke boasts an insane 72% whiff rate on a swing rate of 52% against the offering, absolutely gaudy numbers for any level of professional baseball. However, the numbers against the pitch have been heavily boosted by a 43% chase rate, leading some to question whether or not upper-level or major league hitters will bite on the pitch at the same rate.

Clarke also mixes a low-80s, two-plane curveball and changeup. However, each are used less than five percent of the time, and he’s shown an inability to land either.

While Clarke is one of the fastest-rising prospects over the first half of the season, his lack of fastball shape, questions around how upper-level hitters will be fooled by the breaking ball and checkered injury history as an amateur give some reasons for pause.

Sports

NC State kicks off indoor track season with strong distance performances – Technician

Published

3 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

There’s no shortage of fast runners in the NC State athletic program. With women’s cross country coming off an NCAA National Championship run, many of the same speedsters who hoisted the big trophy have made the transition to indoor track season.

NC State’s top runners made the trip up to Boston, Massachusetts, to compete in the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, while the throwers stayed close to home and competed in the Winston-Salem College Kick-off in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Success continued for the Wolfpack in long distance running as a number of athletes marked strong performances in the 3000m and 5000m races.

In the 3000m, junior Angelina Napoleon led the charge with a fourth-place finish in the elite first heat, with a time of 8:46.15. Also competing in the first heat, Sadie Englehardt finished 17th with a time of 9:09.47. Junior Kate Putman competed in the second heat, finishing 14th with a time of 9:17.92.

Three NC State athletes competed in the 5000m, with senior Briley Bickerstaff finishing 40th with a time of 15:59.61, graduate Brooke Rauber finishing 54th with a time of 16:06.79 and junior Jolena Quarzo finishing 72nd with a time of 16:15.68.

Senior Grace Hartman, notably absent from the initial indoor track events, was away competing in the 2025 USA Track & Field Cross-Country Championships. In a field full of current and former NCAA champions and USA Olympians, Hartman finished with a strong sixth-place time of 34:25.7.

On the men’s side, junior Elliot McArthur sped through the mile in 4:03.19, placing eighth overall to become No. 9 on NC State’s top-10 list. Sophomore Noah Valyo and the UNC-Chapel Hill transfer, junior Luke Wiley, competed in the 5000m. Vaylo finished 156th in 14:27.13 and Wily finished 177th in 14:39.19.

In the throwing events, taking place in Winston Salem, junior Tony Taylor II showed out with a runner-up finish in the weight throw with a personal-best 17.83-meter toss. Sophomore Bradley Pawlak also showed some gusto with a fifth-place mark of 17.24. In the women’s weight throw, junior Natalie Griffith finished fifth with a personal-best 16.80-meter toss.

The Wolfpack women’s shotputters also made the trip to Winston-Salem. Junior Iniyah Mitchell finished 26th with a mark of 10.38m, while graduate Jakerra Covington finished 32nd with a mark of 9.71.

Next up, the Pack will head to Blacksburg, Virginia, for the Virginia Tech Invitational Jan. 16-17.

Link

Sports

NCAA Women’s Div I Volleyball Tournament Glance

Published

8 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By The Associated Press

2025 NCAA Women’s Div I Volleyball Tournament Glance All Times EST

First Round

Thursday, Dec. 4

No. 4 Colorado def. American, 25-16, 25-19, 25-16

No. 4 Kansas def. High Point, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18

No. 6 Baylor def. Arkansas St., 23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10

No. 5 Miami (FL) def. Tulsa, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20

No. 4 Indiana def. Toledo, 25-18, 25-15, 25-17

North Carolina def. No. 6 UTEP, 24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 25-21

No. 8 UCLA def. Georgia Tech, 24-26, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25-10

No. 6 N. Iowa def. Utah, 15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10

Utah St. def. No. 7 Tennessee, 25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11

No. 3 Purdue def. Wright St., 25-13, 25-21, 25-19

No. 1 Kentucky def. Wofford, 25-11, 25-19, 25-12

Cal Poly def. No. 5 BYU, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10

No. 3 Creighton def. Northern Colorado, 25-12, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8

No. 2 Arizona St. def. Coppin St., 25-11, 25-14, 25-12

No. 4 Southern Cal def. Princeton, 25-19, 25-12, 25-13

No. 3 Wisconsin def. Eastern Ill., 25-11, 25-6, 25-19

Friday, Dec. 5

Marquette def. No. 7 W. Kentucky, 25-22, 25-21, 25-16

Michigan def. No. 8 Xavier, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23

Kansas St. def. No. 8 San Diego vs., 21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12

No. 6 TCU def. Steven F. Austin St., 25-8, 26-24, 25-20

Florida def. No. 7 Rice, 27-25, 25-23, 25-19

No. 5 Iowa St. def. St. Thomas (Minn.), 21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8

No. 8 Penn St. def. South Florida, 25-23, 12-25, 25-21, 25-19

No. 1 Pittsburgh def. UMBC, 25-10, 25-17, 25-13

No. 2 Louisville def. Loyola Chicago, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12

No. 2 SMU def. Cent. Arkansas, 25-13, 25-13, 25-13

No. 3 Texas A&M def. Campbell, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12

Arizona def. No. 7 South Dakota St., 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15

No. 1 Nebraska def. LIU, 25-11, 25-15, 25-17

No. 1 Texas def. Florida A&M, 25-11, 25-8, 25-14

No. 4 Minnesota def. Fairfield, 25-12, 25-7, 25-13

No. 2 Stanford def. Utah Valley, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-14

Second Round
Friday, Dec. 5

No. 3 Purdue def. No. 6 Baylor, 25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20

No. 4 Indiana def. No. 5 Colorado, 25-20, 25-17, 25-13

No. 1 Kentucky def. No. 8 UCLA, 30-25, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17

No. 4 Kansas def. No. 5 Miami, 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 27-25

No. 3 Creighton def. N. Iowa, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21

No. 2 Arizona St. def. Utah St., 25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15

No. 3 Wisconsin def. North Carolina, 25-14, 25-21, 27-25

Cal Poly def. No. 4 Southern Cal, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7

Saturday, Dec. 6

No. 2 Louisville def. Marquette, 21-15, 25-11, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12

No. 1 Pittsburgh def. Michigan, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18

No. 1 Texas def. No. 8 Penn St., 25-16, 25-9, 25-19

No. 1 Nebraska def. Kansas St., 25-17, 25-21, 25-16

No. 2 SMU def. Florida, 25-11, 25-21, 26-24

No. 3 Texas A&M def. TCU, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 29-27

No. 4 Minnesota def. No. 5 Iowa St., 25-22, 25-21, 25-14

No. 2 Stanford def. Arizona, 25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20

Third Round
Thursday, Dec. 11

No. 2 Arizona State vs. No. 3 Creighton, 1 p.m.

No. 1 Kentucky vs. Cal Poly, 3:30 p.m.

No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 4 Minnesota, 7 p.m.

No. 2 SMU vs. No. 3 Purdue, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 12

No. 1 Texas vs. No. 4 Indiana, noon

No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m.

No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 7 p.m.

No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:30 p.m.

Link

Sports

Colby Sweeps Team Titles at Home Elm City Classic

Published

19 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Waterville, Maine – The Colby College Men’s and Women’s Track & Field teams opened their indoor season in dominant fashion, sweeping both team titles as they hosted the Elm City Classic. The men scored 155 points to finish 1st of 5 teams, while the women collected 168 points to finish 1st of 4 teams on their home track.

The men delivered strong performances from sprints to field events. Ian Irwin won the 60m (7.02), while Levi Biery swept both the 200m (23.12) and 60m hurdles (8.47). Jackson Coelho claimed the 600m (1:21.71) and later anchored the victorious 4x400m relay with Sam Graubart, Biery, and Logan Sullivan (3:32.24). In the distance events, Stephen White captured the 3000m (8:32.80), and the Mules won the distance medley relay behind Chris Gould, Liam McGoldrick, Hugh McGuire, and Danny Reyes (11:07.15). Colby also earned multiple wins in the field, highlighted by Logan Sullivan taking the high jump (1.93m) and Logan Lehnert winning the pole vault (4.45m).

The women controlled the meet from start to finish, led by Charlotte Brake-Hoffman, who won both the 60m (7.90) and 200m (25.87). Tally Zeller took the 400m (59.16), Kaitlyn Ewald earned wins in the 600m (1:38.07) and long jump (5.14m), and Paige Goodwin secured the mile (5:44.18). Josie Hopkins won the 60m hurdles (9.62) and placed second in the pentathlon, while the 4x400m relay of Ellie Wang, Brake-Hoffman, Amina Cifric, and Alex Hermsdorff (4:11.92) closed out the track events with another Colby victory. In the field, Amina Cifric won the pole vault (3.32m).

The meet produced a strong list of AARTFC qualifiers, and several Mules broke into the Colby all-time top ten, including Hopkins (#3 LJ), Cifric (#4 PV), Sullivan (#5 HJ, facility record), Jack Coelho (#5 600m, facility record), and several multi-event athletes.

The Mules will be back on January 16th for the Bates Invitational at Lewiston, Maine.

Link

Sports

Gunderson Tabbed NSIC Wrestler of the Week

Published

24 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – For the first time in his career, Coy Gunderson has been named NSIC Wrestler of the Week, announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.

Coy Gunderson (174 lbs., R-Jr., Murdock, Minn. / Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg HS)

– Went 2-0 in a pair of conference duals

– Opened with a 4-2 decision over Damen Pape of Northern State

– Had a second-period escape and third-period takedown

– Earned a 4-1 decision over No. 3-ranked Drake Hayward of No. 12 Minnesota State

– Set the tone, earning a takedown in the final 10 seconds of the third period

Link

Sports

Penn State track and field opens indoor season dominating 3 meets | Penn State Track & Field News

Published

35 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

With snow on the ground outside each of the three facilities, Penn State kicked off its 2025-26 indoor season in Boston, Philadelphia and Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

The Nittany Lions competed at the Penn Opener, Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener and Bison Opener, where they earned 12 top finishes across the three meets.

Penn Opener

Senior multi-eventer Maddie Pitts got things going on Friday at the Penn Opener, where she won the pentathlon with a meet record score of 4,132.

Pitts broke the meet record in the 60-meter hurdles, long jump and shot put — which was also a personal best — as she opened the season right where she left off last year.

Sophomore Hannah Riolo continued the strong performance momentum on Saturday as she jumped 1.75m for second place in the women’s high jump. Riolo was followed by Katie Becker and Gwen Cudmore in fifth and sixth place, who jumped 1.72m and 1.62m, respectively.

In the women’s long jump, Lizzie Schreiber jumped her way into first place with a personal-best performance of 5.98m.

Schreiber finished the Penn Opener in the women’s triple jump, where she finished in second place with a jump of 12.74m.

Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener

Sophomore Tayissa Buchanan opened the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener with a bang, running the second-fastest 800-meter in Penn State history.

Buchanan broke her personal best by nearly five seconds as she ran a 2:02.67 for second place.

In the women’s 3,000 meters, sophomore Ada Rand also etched herself into the No. 2 spot in Penn State history. Rand ran a 9:06.18 to finish fourth at the invite, followed by Sarah Pickering in 9:29.65 for 25th place.

Senior Justin Healey earned a personal best in the men’s 3,000m, running a time of 8:05.23 to finish 36th out of 124 runners.

The women’s 5,000 meters saw a pair of personal bests for Penn State, as Charlotte Costich took over a minute off her time to earn the No. 3 mark in school history.

Costich finished in 22nd place with a time of 15:49.68, followed by Claire Daniels in 65th with a time of 16:13.69.

Nick Sloff came out of the gates in the men’s 5000m in similar fashion, earning the No. 2 spot in school history with a 13:45.36 for 38th place.

Bison Opener

Freshman Lucas Band bursted onto the scene in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, where he finished first in both the prelims and the finals with a time of 8.17 seconds.

Addyson White shared similar consistency in the women’s 60m hurdles, finishing second in both races with a time of 8.88 seconds.

Sophomore Scotty Coffi showed improvement through both races at the Bison Opener as he finished second in the prelims and finals. Coffi earned a personal-best 6.84 in the prelims before cutting to 6.78 seconds in the finals.

Freshman Will Landwer made his collegiate debut in the men’s 60m, running 6.97 seconds for seventh place before scratching his finals.

The Nittany Lions also had a strong showing in the women’s 60m, as White took the win with a personal-best 7.59-second performance.

Alexandria North and White also earned finals berths, finishing in 7.69 seconds and 7.84 seconds for third and sixth place, respectively.

Graduate student Collin Burkhart picked up where he left off last season in the men’s weight throw, winning the event with a throw of 20.38m. MIT transfer Sam Engebretson finished third in his Penn State debut, throwing 19.30m.

Alex Pancoast earned a big personal best in the women’s weight throw, as shce threw 18.97m for another first place.

Gabby Cope finished third with 17.18m, followed by junior Gabi Deglau in fourth with 17.07m.

The men’s high jump experienced a Penn State sweep in the top three places, as junior Robert Allen won the event with a jump of 2.05m. Freshman Trip Campbell finished second with 2.05m, followed by Tim Watson tying for third in 1.95m.

The women’s pole vault saw similar domination by the Nittany Lions. Senior Meredith Baham led the way with a jump of 4.00m for first place, with sophomore Amelia McBain in second with 3.70m.

The Nittany Lions had four runners compete in the women’s 200 meter, including North leading the way in second place with a 24.99 performance. Duffy, Jacoutot and Aument finished in sixth, eighth and 13th, respectively.

Cope earned her second podium finish of the day in the women’s shot put, throwing 14.95m for first place.

Tristan McGarrah earned Penn State another first-place finish in the women’s pole vault, jumping 5.00m. Mason Bucks finished in third with 4.70m.

The Nittany Lions ended the Bison Invite in the men’s shot put as Engebretson won with a throw of 17.41m. Iowa transfer Brady Mider finished fifth with a personal best 16.67m.

Up next

The Nittany Lions will host their first of three indoor meets with the Nittany Lion Challenge on Saturday, Jan. 17.

MORE TRACK AND FIELD COVERAGE

Looking at Penn State track and field’s best athletes ahead of 2025-26 indoor season

Less than two weeks after the Penn State cross country team experienced its best finish at t…

Link

Sports

Empire 8 Conference Players of the Week – December 8, 2025

Published

55 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

General | 12/8/2025 1:00:00 PM

Below are the Empire 8 Players of the Week, released on December 8, 2025, for games played from December 1 – December 7. It is the 15th Empire 8 weekly honors release of the 2025-26 season. Sports featured include men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, and men’s wrestling.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kelton Brown, Elmira, So., G, Olive Branch, MS/Olive Branch

Brown helped lead the Soaring Eagles to a 2-1 record on the week, including wins over SUNY ESF and Penn College. Brown, who leads the Soaring Eagles statistically in steals, assists, rebounds, and points, averaged 23.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Against Penn College, he recorded 28 points and five rebounds and tallied three steals and one block. On Saturday against St. Elizabeth, Brown recorded a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds. He also tallied four steals and one block for his second E8 weekly honor.

CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Anthony Rose, SUNY Poly, Sr., G, Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou Hammer Freedom

Stellar play from Rose lifted the Wildcats to a 3-0 week with wins over St. Lawrence, Hamilton and Worcester State. He averaged 22.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 55 percent (27-of-49) from the field. On Tuesday, Rose compiled 20 points and seven rebounds in a 64-51 victory over St. Lawrence. Just two days later, Rose exploded for for 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 5-for-5 from 3-point range with five boards and three assists in a 78-72 victory over Hamilton. He added 21 points and four assists in a 78-59 win over Worcester State.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Ajani Flemming, SUNY Brockport, Fr., G, Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy

Flemming scored a season-high 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, draining 4-of-5 from 3-point range to go along with three assists and a pair of rebounds in Brockport’s 84-65 win at RIT on Tuesday evening.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Layla Acosta, Russell Sage, Sr., G, Haines City, FL/Haines City

Acosta became just the tenth Russell Sage College women’s basketball player to surpass 1,000 career points in Monday’s 71-68 win vs. SUNY Cobleskill. She tallied 26 points on Monday to reach the milestone and help the Gators defeat the defending North Atlantic Conference Champions and improve to 5-2 overall in 2025-26. It is Acosta’s second E8 weekly honor of the season.

CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Katie MacLachlan, Nazareth, Sr., G, Marcellus, NY/Marcellus

MacLachlan shot 7-of-15 from the floor, including 5-of-11 from 3-point land en route to 23 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals in a win over Alfred on Saturday to open Empire 8 play.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Keely Mullins, Houghton, Fr., G, Livingston, TN/White County

Mullins scored 17 points and pulled down six rebounds to go along with a pair of assists in just 12 minutes of action in Houghton’s 103-66 win over Pitt-Bradford on Thursday. It is her second weekly honor of the season.

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY

PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Alex Dameski, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., F, Oakville, Ontario

Dameski recorded a six-point weekend with two goals and four assists and was plus-4, as the nationally-ranked Knights wrapped up the semester with a weekend sweep against Empire 8 foe St. John Fisher, winning by scores of 8-2 on Friday and 4-0 on Saturday. He tallied a goal and three assists and was plus-2 in Friday’s win, as the Knights erased a 2-0 deficit. On Saturday, Dameski scored twice, including the game-winner to open the scoring in a 4-0 win.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Jacob Torgner, SUNY Geneseo, Fr., G, Mjolby, Sweden

Torgner stopped all 22 shots he faced in Saturday’s 4-0 shutout win over St. John Fisher. He made five first period saves, seven more in the second period, and competed the shutout with 10 third period stops, as the Knights moved to 5-1-0 in UCHC and 3-1-0 in E8 competition.

WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY

PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Brooke Judkiewicz, Nazareth, So., F, East Concord, NY/Springville Griffith

Judkiewicz enjoyed a banner weekend with six points on two goals and four assist and was plus-4, as the Golden Flyers improved to 10-0-0 with wins over Trinity and Wesleyan of the NESCAC over the weekend. She had a goal and two assists in a 3-0 win over Trinity on Friday and added a goal and two assists in a 6-4 win over Wesleyan on Saturday.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK – Brynn Bacak, St. John Fisher, Fr., G, Williamsville, NY/Nichols School

Bacak stopped 69 of 74 shots as the Cardinals wrapped up their opening semester with a weekend split against NESCAC institutions Wesleyan and Trinity. On Friday, she made 34 saves on 35 shots, as the Cardinals defeated Wesleyan, 2-1. She made 35 saves on Saturday against Trinity.

MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING

SWIMMER OF THE WEEK – Andrew Ayala, Alfred, Fr., Distance/Individual Medley, Mexico City, Mexico/Prepatoria No. 5

Ayala had a record-breaking weekend at the 14th Annual Bomber Invitational hosted by Ithaca College over the weekend. He broke two records in total, both of them have stood on the AU record boards since the 80’s. Ayala began with breaking the 500-yard freestyle record, winning the event with a time of 4:34.00, breaking the previous mark of 4:38.03 held by four-time All-American and Alfred University Hall of Fame member, John Jewell ’85, set in 1984. He then competed in the 1,650-yard freestyle and while on-pace to win the event, once he reached the 1,000-yard mark, he combined mark at the time of his touch, he broke the school record of 9:45.27, set by Jeffery Benton ’89 in his senior year. Ayala had time of 9:43.28 after 1,000-yards, en route to a thrilling mile win. His 500-yard freestyle and 1,650-yard freestyle victories were accompanied by his first-place finish in the 400-yard individual medley as he clocked a time of 4:04.94 to break his own school record time of 4:08.54.

DIVER OF THE WEEK – Greg Meder, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Diver, Plainview, NY/Plainview

Meder tallied the top score in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives this past weekend at the Don Richards Diving Invitational, hosted by RIT, scoring a 557.05 and 587.75 respectively. It is Meder’s fourth E8 weekly honor of the season.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING

SWIMMER OF THE WEEK – Liv Richeda, Alfred, Jr., Distance/Breaststroke, Endwell, NY/Maine-Endwell

Richeda hit back-to-back personal best marks during the 14th Annual Bomber Invitational hosted by Ithaca College over the span of three days. During Saturday’s preliminary round in the morning session, Richeda posted the fifth-best time in the 200-yard breaststroke with a personal best mark of 2:33.42. She finished sixth in the evening finals with a time of 2:36.24. A day earlier, Richeda posted a personal best time of 5:13.73 during the prelims of the 400-yard individual medley. She then broke that again with a time of 5:09.84 in the finals. Richeda competed in a total of nine events with one more top-10 finish, swimming the anchor leg of the 800-yard freestyle relay, joining Alexandra Simmons, Lauren Mott and Courtney Cherricks for a time of 8:51.42 for seventh place. Richeda split a time of 2:16.14 in the event.

DIVER OF THE WEEK – Lydia Benjamin, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Diver, Elmira, NY/Elmira

Benjamin was the top diver for the Knights at the Don Richards Diving Invitational at RIT this past weekend, scoring a 425.40 in the 1-meter dive and a 362.65 in the 3-meter dive. It is Benjamin’s second E8 weekly accolade of 2025-26.

MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Jacob Miller, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Sprints, Brockport, NY/Brockport

Miller opened the indoor track season on a high note for the Knights, winning both the 400-meter dash and 4×400-meter relay at Nazareth on Friday. Miller posted a time of 48.27 in the 400-meters, adjusted to 47.55 seconds in the NCAA rankings, which is currently third in Division III. Miller was also part of the winning 4×400-meter relay team with a time of 3:18.55, which adjusted to NCAA standards, is the top time in Division III to date in 2025-26.

FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Dennis Bobbitt, SUNY Brockport, So., Jumps, Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph’s

Bobbitt opened the 2025-26 season at Houghton Classic over the weekend, in style, showing out with two first place finishes. Bobbitt finished strong in the long jump with a 7.28 meter (23’ 10.75”) jump good for first overall at the meet and ranks third to date in Division III. He then made a statement in the triple jump, taking first with a leap of 14.86 meters (48’ 9”), which was one of the best in league history and currently puts him third in all of Division III.

WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Laura Suppa, Utica, Gr., Hurdles, Canastota, NY/Canastota

Suppa made her presence on the track known in her debut for the Pioneers, posting a new school, facility, and briefly shattered the Empire 8 record in the 60-meter hurdles. In the prelims, Suppa managed to shatter the school record with a time of 8.75 seconds and followed that performance up with a massive 8.69 second effort in the finals. The previous Empire 8 record of 8.72 was set last season by Geneseo’s Jillian Ambler, who also re-broke the mark with a time of 8.67 seconds over the weekend. Suppa currently has the fourth-best time in Division III.

FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Jillian Ambler, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Sprints/Jumps, Fairport, NY/Fairport

Ambler won two events for the Knights in their season opening meet at Nazareth on Friday. Ambler won the finals of the 60-meter hurdles in 8.70 seconds after breaking her own E8 record earlier in the meet at 8.67 seconds, then took the top spot in the long jump at 5.89 meters (19’ 4”). She currently has the best long jump in all of Division III and has the third best 60-meter hurdles time in the nation.

MEN’S WRESTLING

WRESTLER OF THE WEEK – Trevor Bishop, St. John Fisher, So., 149 lbs., Brunswick, NY/Tamarac

Bishop earned runner-up honors at 149 lbs. at the RIT Invitational on Saturday. He snuck past Isaac Judson of Williams by a 3-0 decision in his first match before winning 18-0 by technical fall in 4:10 over Jake Brown of Penn State Behrend, 8-0 by major decision over Brett Thomson of Scranton and by fall in just 58 seconds over Ty Trickle of Trinity College. He lost a hard-fought 1-0 battle to Caleb Seyfried of Williams College in the 149-pound championship bout.