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Cedar Crest wins first boys volleyball league title in school history

EPHRATA — There’s a first for everything, but it’s rare to capture two milestones in one night. In its first L-L League volleyball title appearance, Cedar Crest’s squad battled through four games versus Manheim Central before finishing as league champions for the first time in school history. Following a 3-1 series over the No. 1 […]

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EPHRATA — There’s a first for everything, but it’s rare to capture two milestones in one night.

In its first L-L League volleyball title appearance, Cedar Crest’s squad battled through four games versus Manheim Central before finishing as league champions for the first time in school history.

Following a 3-1 series over the No. 1 team in Section 2, the Falcons showed how they rally with “passion and trust” — and that factor proved to be game changing down the stretch of each match.

“Earlier (before the game), we just wanted to have fun. We love playing good opponents, and I feel like we rise to the occasion,” Falcons’ coach Monica Sheaffer said. “They all have a passion for volleyball and love to play at a high level, and I think that’s what binds this team together.”

“They’ve made lasting friendships through playing ball. They’re very tight knit, and I think having that drive at the same level brings them all together.”

The Barons came in at 14-0 and were hoping to defend their last two L-L League titles with a third consecutive championship. Since the Falcons’ 3-0 loss versus Manheim Central in April, Sheaffer said the team shifted its mindset to focus on challenging big hitters at the net.

“I told (our team) I don’t think we need to change anything lineup wise — We need to change how we approach opponents,” Sheaffer said. “We’ve got to hit the ball. It’s great to have trust in your hitters to put the ball away, but we got to cover them (at the net) just in case.”

Cedar Crest pushed through the last month of practices looking to find cohesion as a defensive unit, and it showed up with long sets won by the Falcons’ communication on the court.

Senior Jack Wolgemuth finished with a game-high 15 kills and 15 digs to lead the way for his squad. Wolgemuth said he expected some nerves, but that stepping into Game 1 on a 10-3 scoring run was a direct reflection of the Falcons’ preparation coming in.

“This was everybody’s first big game, and we take it seriously in practice,” Wolgemuth said. “We’re always communicating to each other who’s up and who’s back, and that helped for this game specifically — That’s all through watching film, and knowing (Manheim Central) as a team.”

Coming in with the right game plan was crucial to knocking off Section 2’s champions, and Sheaffer said it’s a combination of experience and leadership from her team.

“We’re doing a better job at reading our opponents. A couple years ago, we were here and we lost to Manheim Central,” Sheaffer said. “We weren’t able to read them — Our volleyball IQ wasn’t as high as it is now.”

“It’s been about defense. We’ve really pushed defense, blocking, passing and digging these last few weeks. We kept the mentality to give it your all, and that each point matters.”

A lifelong connection

Every time the Falcons needed a championship-level play, Wolgemuth answered in action.

Cedar Crest’s versatile senior has been ingrained in volleyball since before he can remember. It’s been a long path for Wolgemuth, and it led to a spot in his “biggest game yet.”

“I’ve been playing since maybe two years old. My family’s always been playing. We’ve always had courts in our backyard, and it’s just always been a volleyball family,” Wolgemuth said.

The senior’s background in volleyball runs deep, and Sheaffer got to witness it first hand.

“His mom coached me when I was younger, so I saw Jack when he was very young growing up and before he was even playing volleyball, he was still touching a ball,” Sheaffer said. “When I found out he was gonna come through (and play), I knew it was like a whole 360.”

“I’ve been able to see his progression. He’s smart, he can control the game so easily, and pass as well. He’s like our rock — He’s played setter, outside hitter and libero now. He really can do it all, he’s a great kid.”

Wolgemuth has always cherished his friendship with Sheaffer, and said it starts with a feeling of trust that makes the entire group special.

“I’ve known her since I was a kid, so I grew up with her. We’ve always been friends growing up, and now that she’s my coach I trust what she says,” Wolgemuth said. “She’s done a fantastic job with our team this season. The connection between us knowing each other, it really helps out on the court.”

“(Sheaffer) gives me the confidence to talk to my team — We all listen to each other, and we get that because we trust her first. We call for her word, and if we need to make small adjustments, then we trust each other.”

There was constant action around the net during the league title, but Wolgemuth’s presence was hard to miss. Between skying up for game-shifting spikes and talking with teammates through play, the Falcons’ senior leads the pack by instinct.

“As the season has gone on, I’ve seen more confidence (from Jack). He really put a couple balls down tonight which is awesome, but he’s been doing that the whole season with confidence,” Sheaffer said.

“He has a great personality, and our whole underclassmen group looks up to him — Jack plays all year round. I don’t think there’s been a time I haven’t seen him playing volleyball. He’s very volleyball-esque and it’s awesome.”

That passion has always remained the same for Wolgemuth, and he’s used it to fuel his path as a volleyball player. When it comes to his own experience, the Saint Francis commit still makes every effort to perfect his craft on the court.

“When I was younger, I would just play. I’d just go out there and start hitting the ball,” Wolgemuth said. “Now, I focus more on individual things at practice — passing and how my platform can be fixed, or how to stick a pass. It’s helped a lot.”

‘Together since elementary school’

The 2025 campaign has been long anticipated by the Falcons, but not because of a championship outcome.

All of the squad’s seven seniors saw action during the L-L championship, and lived up to the moment that some have waited on for years.

“Growing up we all went to the same elementary school, and we’ve just been friends ever since then. We started playing in middle school, had a bunch of the boys come out and they fell in love with the sport,” Wolgemuth said. “They started playing club ball, and we’ve been unbreakable since then.”

“We’ve all been really good friends, and it’s just grown more and more — We’re all one, and that showed tonight on the court. Everybody was clicking.”

Winning a championship is the goal for any team, but the Falcons did it with a staple of their program’s history.

After watching her team constantly come through in the clutch, Sheaffer said they’ll be remembered as the great unit they strive to be.

“They’re just tight knit. They’ve been friends for so long, and they’ve done everything together — they go golfing, mountain biking, or to the beach as a team,” Sheaffer said. “They do so many things together, and it’s all about friendship.”

As someone who’s invested countless time into the sport, Wolgemuth has been a foundation in the Falcons’ first boys volleyball team at Cedar Crest. He was able to lead the team’s beginnings, and now can take pride in calling it a championship group.

“I have no words for it. I’m so overfilled with emotions and feelings,” Wolgemuth said. “Making history itself is a fantastic start for any program, and I hope that this can run the program over the next couple of years.”

“It’s going to start to pick up in our school, people are going to start to recognize it. This is a good starting point for Cedar Crest volleyball.”



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U.S. Routs China, Hungary Edges Greece to Open Women’s Water Polo

World Championships: U.S. Routs China, Hungary Edges Greece to Open Women’s Water Polo The U.S. women’s water polo team routed China, 15-7, on Thursday to open the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. Hungary edged Greece, 10-9, in the best game of a slate of mostly blowouts to start proceedings at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. China […]

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World Championships: U.S. Routs China, Hungary Edges Greece to Open Women’s Water Polo

The U.S. women’s water polo team routed China, 15-7, on Thursday to open the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. Hungary edged Greece, 10-9, in the best game of a slate of mostly blowouts to start proceedings at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.

China kept it close with the U.S., down just three at halftime, before a 6-1 edge for the U.S. in the third quarter blew the game open. Emma Lineback scored two of her three goals in the third quarter. Emily Ausmus tallied a hat trick, Jenna Flynn had two goals and two assists, and Ryann Neushul and Ava Stryker scored twice apiece. Amanda Longan made 15 saves in goal, limiting China to 7-for-36 shooting (19 percent). The Americans are chasing their eighth world title.

Hungary used a 4-0 edge in the third quarter to top Greece. Three goals by Foteini Tricha, who scored six times overall, tied the game in the fourth quarter. But a power-play tally by Natasa Rybanska with 1:11 left and Boglarka Neszmely’s 12th save of the game gave Hungary the win.

Rybanska scored three times, and Krisztina Garda paired two goals with two assists for Hungary.

Reigning Olympic champion Spain jumped out to a 9-1 lead on South Africa on the way to a 23-4 win. Irene Gonzalez led the way with five goals. Elena Ruiz tallied a hat trick. Adriana Ruiz orchestrated the attack with two goals and six assists, and Bea Ortiz paired two goals with three assists.

The Netherlands needed just 37 shots to register a 25-6 win over Argentina. Hat tricks came from Lieke Rogge, Kitty-Lynn Joustra, Fleurian Bosveld and Simone van de Kraats. Bente Rogge paired two goals with five assists, and Sabrina van der Sloot added two and four.

Olympic silver medalist Australia romped to a 34-2 victory over Singapore behind five goals from Alice Williams. Olivia Mitchell, Tilly Kearns and Tenealle Fasala were each 4-for-4 shooting.

Italy navigated a relatively competitive game, overcoming a two-goal halftime deficit with 10 second-half goals to edge New Zealand, 14-9. Sofia Giustini, Chiara Ranalli and Agnese Cocchiere scored three times each. Aurora Giuseppina Condorelli made 10 saves. Aggie Weston led New Zealand with two goals.

Great Britain bested France, 12-9, with an 8-2 edge in the middle quarters. Katie Brown powered Britain with three goals and four assists, and Lily Turner added three goals. Ema Vernoux’s four goals led France.

Japan rode an 11-goal third-quarter to a 25-12 win over Croatia. Yumi Arima scored seven times, and Eruna Ura and Fuka Nishiyama tallied four goals and two assists each.



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With Dino guiding their way, Brady and Trey Ebel inch closer to a professional baseball future

With more than 30 years as a coach in both the minor and major leagues, Dino Ebel has played a role in the development of hundreds of professional baseball players. He managed players such as Paul Konerko and Shane Victorino as minor leaguers, and coached Mike Trout and Howie Kendrick as young big leaguers. Last […]

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With Dino guiding their way, Brady and Trey Ebel inch closer to a professional baseball future

With more than 30 years as a coach in both the minor and major leagues, Dino Ebel has played a role in the development of hundreds of professional baseball players.

He managed players such as Paul Konerko and Shane Victorino as minor leaguers, and coached Mike Trout and Howie Kendrick as young big leaguers. Last season, he won his second World Series title as the third base coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yet, no role on or off the baseball field has been more important to Ebel than the role of dad to his two baseball-playing sons, Brady and Trey.

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On Sunday, Brady — ranked the No. 84 MLB Draft prospect by The Athletic’s Keith Law — has the opportunity to join his dad in making professional baseball a career. Trey, a rising senior who is a well-regarded draft prospect for 2026, could make it a trio next July. Whenever the two do turn pro, it will seem like old hat for kids who grew up taking ground balls with the likes of Mookie Betts.

Dino played six seasons professionally, but he was already coaching even before he hung up his playing spikes officially. He spent three seasons as a player-coach before moving into full-time coaching in 1995. He’s been teaching the game ever since, first as a minor-league coach and then as a member of the Angels and later Dodgers big-league coaching staffs.

Brady, 17, came along in 2007 when Dino was on Mike Scioscia’s Angels staff, and Trey followed a year later. (They have an older sister, Destiny, as well.) The two have been a regular presence in Dino’s big-league clubhouses ever since. Though Dino has been very involved in developing his boys’ games away from the field, he lets the current big leaguers do the teaching when Brady and Trey come to his workplace.

“I don’t coach them when they’re on the field with the players because the players coach them,” Dino Ebel said at Oracle Park before the Dodgers took on the Giants on Friday night. “In my mind, that’s the best way to do it, to let the players teach my sons.

“Coming up with the Angels with Trout and (Albert) Pujols and all the other guys, Torii Hunter, and then (Corey) Seager and Mookie and Freddie (Freeman) and Shohei (Ohtani). They’ve been around the elite players and learned the process, and now they’re putting it together.”

Both brothers played the last two seasons at Corona High School in Southern California, which has quickly turned into a powerhouse program. Brady is one of four legitimate draft prospects who suited up for the Panthers this year. Trey and others will have scouts continuing to flock to Corona games next year.

“I love being around them guys. I’m going to miss them,” Brady said of his Corona teammates. “But a lot of us got bigger and better things about to happen.”


Brady Ebel at the plate for Corona. (Gia Cunningham / Courtesy of Corona High School)

A strong senior season has put Brady in position to hear his name called on Day 1 of the MLB Draft, which begins Sunday night. A left-handed hitter, Brady hit .341 this season with a .504 OBP. A natural shortstop who played a lot of third base this season with fellow top draft prospect Billy Carlson next to him in the infield, Brady impressed scouts with his arm strength and athleticism, as well as his contact skills at the plate. If he doesn’t turn pro, Brady has a scholarship offer to play for the defending NCAA champion LSU Tigers.

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For high school players, there is always a tough decision about whether to turn pro or go to college. Unlike most players in that position, Brady knows exactly what to expect from professional baseball life. What he doesn’t know, he can learn from his dad.

“He’s seen a lot of kids my age trying to work their way up,” Brady said at the MLB Draft Combine last month.

Dino believes the time Brady and Trey have spent hanging out with big leaguers has prepared them well for the next step in their careers. He says they are always asking questions and trying to get better.

“I look at it and go, ‘That’s pretty cool. Those are my two boys.’ And they fit right in. They look like they’re in the major leagues,” Dino said. “It’s a process. They’re young. But it’s special when I can kick back and, if I’m doing some outfield drills, and then I’ll peek in and the other day just watching them field the ball and throw the ball, hitting with the major-league stars. It’s pretty cool as a dad.”

Although his career took him away from home a lot, Dino was very involved in his sons’ baseball development. His wife, Shannon, would film their at-bats, and they were constantly on FaceTime, talking over their games.

“They know it’s part of what their dad has to do, and any time I can get out there and watch them, I never miss,” Dino said. “Even in the wintertime, practicing, fall ball games, I never miss. I’m always there.”

Brady says his dad has had a huge role in making him the player he is today. He also credits his mom for selflessly taking him and his brother to every baseball event and keeping them grounded.

On Sunday night, Brady will be with his family at home watching the draft. Dino hopes to be back from the Dodgers’ game in San Francisco in time to join them. If not, he will likely be watching on an airplane with some of the big leaguers who helped hone Brady’s game during those infield drills and trips to the cage. Then on Monday, the whole family will fly to Atlanta for the All-Star Game. Just a typical family weekend for the Ebels.

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Whether Brady turns pro this year or after three years at LSU remains to be seen. Trey will face a similar choice with Texas A&M next year. Regardless of timing, though, it seems inevitable that the Ebel boys will be joining their dad in pro ball. It will truly be a family affair.

(Top photo of the Ebels during the Dodgers’ World Series celebration parade: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)

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Duke University

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke track and field featured 47 student-athletes – 29 men and 18 women – tapped to the 2024-25 All-ACC Academic Team for the outdoor season, the conference office announced Friday afternoon.   Will Atkins, Aden Bandukwala, Michael Bennett, Stuart Bladon, Conor Bohrer, Eric Bottern, Scott Campbell, TJ Clayton, Joe DiDario, Max Forte, […]

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke track and field featured 47 student-athletes – 29 men and 18 women – tapped to the 2024-25 All-ACC Academic Team for the outdoor season, the conference office announced Friday afternoon.
 
Will Atkins, Aden Bandukwala, Michael Bennett, Stuart Bladon, Conor Bohrer, Eric Bottern, Scott Campbell, TJ Clayton, Joe DiDario, Max Forte, Simen Guttormsen, Jonathan Horn, Grant Janish, Gage Knight, Andres Langston, Jeremiah Lauzon, Nathan Levine, Phillips Moore, Sean Morello, Riley Newport, Liam O’Hara, Matthew Prebola, Callum Robinson, Alexander Rosenthal, TJ Rowan, Michael Scherk, Jack Stanley, Joseph Taylor and Christian Toro comprised the honorees for the Duke men.
 
On the women’s side, the Blue Devil contingent included Braelyn Baker, Iris Downes, Mia Edim, Aliya Garozzo, Abby Geiser, Ally Gomm, Elise Heddens, Julia Jackson, Kyla Krawczyk, Julia Magliaro, Megan McGinnis, Allison Neiders, Birgen Nelson, Addie Renner, Hattie Reynolds, Jill Roberts, Meredith Sims and Gemma Tutton.
 
Academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0-grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career. In addition, student-athletes must compete in at least 50 percent of their team’s contests.
 
The Blue Devils enjoyed an incredible outdoor season that saw the Duke men capture its first ACC Outdoor Championship, while the men’s and women’s teams combined for 10 program records and 42 top-five program marks across individual and relay events.
 
The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released later in July.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils cross country and track & field, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching “DukeTFXC.”

 

#GoDuke



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Willie Maclver's multihomer game

Copyright © Minor League Baseball. Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are the property of Minor League Baseball. All Rights Reserved 1

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Willie Maclver's multihomer game

Copyright ©
Minor League Baseball.

Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are the property of Minor League Baseball. All Rights Reserved

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PT Assistant Track & Field Coach in Cupertino, CA for De Anza College

Located in the heart of the Silicon Valley. • De Anza College has a comprehensive, highly regarded athletics program, known for its success in both academics and sports. The college fields 17 sports programs, with 9 for women and 8 for men, and has a large number of Student-Athletes who consistently achieve high academic […]

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Located in the heart of the Silicon Valley.
• De Anza College has a comprehensive, highly regarded athletics program, known for its success in both academics and sports. The college fields 17 sports programs, with 9 for women and 8 for men, and has a large number of Student-Athletes who consistently achieve high academic standards. De Anza’s athletic program is a significant contributor to the college’s positive reputation in the region and statewide
• Tops in Transfer – De Anza has the highest transfer rate of all Silicon Valley community colleges, and is always at or near the top statewide in community college transfers to the University of California, California State University and private universities, as confirmed in research by the Public Policy Institute of California

De Anza College offers
• Nearly 200 associate degrees and credit certificates, plus 30 noncredit certificates, and more than 1,800 courses.
• State-of-the-art facilities, equipment and technology – thanks to the generosity of local community members
• 112-acre campus with murals, fountains, trees, green space and a vast amount of trails along the foothills near the campus.



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Five Newberry College Track & Field athletes earn CSC Academic All-District honors

NEWBERRY — Five Newberry College track and field athletes were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Track and Cross Country Team. Irma Watson-Perez, Andrea Pascual Rivera, ShaNadia Marshall, Drew Benson and Addison O’Cain all earned the honor. Student-athletes must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) […]

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NEWBERRY — Five Newberry College track and field athletes were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Track and Cross Country Team.

Irma Watson-Perez, Andrea Pascual Rivera, ShaNadia Marshall, Drew Benson and Addison O’Cain all earned the honor.

Student-athletes must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and must rank in the top-50 regional ranking in single event to earn academic all-district honors.

Watson-Perez (Biology), Pascual Rivera (Psychology) and Marshall (Exercise Science & Human Performance) all graduated in May.

Benson (Nursing) and O’Cain (Exercise Science) are both undergraduates.



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