Sports

True wins Hammer Throw to highlight final day of National Championships

Published

7 months ago

May 25, 2025

GENEVA, Ohio— The Wartburg women’s outdoor track and field team took 10^th place with 21 points at the National Championships.

Saturday’s events

Hammer Throw Emma True 1^st 59.21m or 194-3

400 hurdles finals JoJo Tyynismaa 3^rd 59.96

Quotes from Emma True:

When asked about her growth throughout her collegiate career as she placed 20^th sophomore year, sixth junior year, and now the National Champion in her senior year: “Freshman year I only qualified for outdoor conference. Sophomore year I quailed for indoor and outdoor and was and All-American in the weight throw. Outdoor season was a little crazy, but I was able to qualify for outdoor and went to nationals. Junior year, I went in ranked number one, but I wasn’t as mature of a thrower and I kind of overthought it. This year, I was more confident in my throwing and my ability. I’m friends with a lot of the girls in the competition, so this year it was more of a celebration at this meet, more than competing head to head.”

On staying focused and having to wait until the third day of the meet to compete: “I only had two practices this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday morning, Coach Roberson and I decided my practices were looking good to keep me fresh.”

On her second throw, which was the eventual winning mark: “I had one good warmup, and a couple of ok warmups. I scratched on my first throw but I knew I needed at least one in, I knew I need to trust my ability.”

On ending her career with a National Championship: “It’s amazing; I’m still in disbelief. This is my fifth career All-American honor and knew I had a chance to be a National Champion.”

How has being a thrower on the track and field team contributed to your overall Wartburg experience: “It’s been one of the main experiences that I’ve enjoyed most at Wartburg. “A lot of my teammates have become my family, they’ve really added to the community aspect that I’ve experienced here. This program has helped me grow into the person that I’ll be after graduation.”

Emma also completed her student teaching while being a student-athlete: “I worked with Coach Roberson on planning when I was going to be at practice and lifting as teaching went from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. most days.”

Quotes from Coach Roberson, assistant coach and throws coach

On Emma’s career progression: “Emma came in as a 33-foot high school shot putter, and never made State or won a conference title. She picked up the hammer very well. It’s very rewarding to see her growth and ability to handle situations. She had the best practices of her life this week and she executed spectacularly.”

On her second throw, which was the winning mark: “She knew she needed to trust herself. She was sitting in a good place (after the prelims) and would be able to react if someone passed her. Her first throw went into the cage, but she trusted herself and made the adjustments.”

On coaching a National Champion: “Emma deserve all the credit. She’s handled everything very well. I’m so happy she got to enjoy her moment on the podium. She has raised the bar for the future of Wartburg throwers.”

Notes:

This is the first National Championship in the hammer throw in women’s or men’s program history

This is True’s second career First-team All-America honors

This is the fourth All-American honor for the women’s program in this event

This was the 55th National Championship in track and field history (indoor and outdoor combined)

This was the 36th National Championship for outdoor track and field

Tyynismaa remains second in the program’s top 10 list in this event

This is her second All-American honor in this event

This is the 12^th All-American honor for the program in this event

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Sports

Penn State women’s volleyball earns commitment from Texas transfer outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein | Penn State Volleyball News

Published

2 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Penn State landed its second commitment in the transfer portal of the day.

The Nittany Lions earned a commitment from outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein.

Lauenstein was previously at Texas and Nebraska before transferring to her third school, Penn State.

Lauenstein adds depth to the right side and outside, which is already pretty deep for the blue and white.

The Waverly, Nebraska, native had her best season in 2022 with the Cornhuskers, totaling 297 kills, with 2.78 kills per set and a .238 hitting percentage. She added 28 aces as a premier server, which could be a major part of her role with the Nittany Lions.

She’ll make her way to Happy Valley as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility.

MORE VOLLEYBALL COVERAGE

Penn State women's volleyball earns commitment from Pitt transfer middle blocker Ryla Jones

Penn State earned another commitment from the transfer portal.

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Texas Outside Hitter Whitney Lauenstein Transfers To Penn State Women’s Volleyball

Published

6 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Texas outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein announced her commitment to Penn State women’s volleyball out of the transfer portal on Wednesday. Lauenstein posted her decision to transfer to Happy Valley on her Instagram.

As a redshirt senior this past season, Lauenstein logged 33 kills, 11 digs, and 14 total blocks across 20 sets for the Longhorns.

Lauenstein began her NCAA journey with two seasons at Nebraska. As a sophomore, she led the Cornhuskers in total points, earning AVCA All-Region Team and Academic All-Big Ten honors.

After the 2022 season, the Waverly, Nebraska, native stepped away from the team to focus on her family. Lauenstein then transferred to Texas in December of 2023, where she spent the last two seasons.

Lauenstein now joins setter Alexis Stucky and middle blocker Ryla Jones as transfer players who have committed to the Nittany Lions this cycle.

Please choose an option below.

Cadyn is a third-year broadcast journalism major at Penn State. Hailing from the great state of Texas, he is a die hard Dallas sports fan. You’ll often see him voicing his opinions on music and sports on X/Twitter @cgill214.

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Marquette volleyball All-American Natalie Ring transfers to Texas A&M

Published

6 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Updated Dec. 24, 2025, 10:22 a.m. CT

Marquette volleyball All-American Natalie Ring is transferring to Texas A&M for her final season.
Ring, a third-team All-American, ranked 25th in the nation with 497 kills this past season.
She is the second key player to leave Marquette, following freshman setter Isabela Haggard’s transfer to Baylor.
Marquette has added Ball State’s Carson Tyler, the Mid-American Conference player of the year.

A Marquette volleyball All-American is joining the national champions.

The Golden Eagles’ Natalie Ring announced on social media on Dec. 23 that she will use her final season of NCAA eligibility at Texas A&M.

Ring, a former Madison Edgewood High School standout, was a third-team All-American this season. She ranked 25th in the nation in kills with 497. Ring has 754 kills in her career.

“We are excited to add Natalie to our Aggie family here in Aggieland,” Texas A&M coach Jamie Morrison said in a statement. “She brings a wealth of experience as a well-rounded outside hitter and is a relentless competitor who consistently raised her level against the best competition.”

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Izzy Starck transfers to Pitt volleyball from Penn State

Published

7 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Updated Dec. 24, 2025, 12:56 p.m. ET

Pitt volleyball’s fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament national semifinals ended with another heartbreak following an upset loss to the eventual champions, the Texas A&M Aggies. But the Panthers have reloaded for next season with one of the biggest names in the transfer portal.

The Panthers announced the signing of former Penn State setter Izzy Starck on Tuesday, pairing the 2024 AVCA National Freshman of the Year with Olivia Babcock, the two-time AVCA National Player of the Year.

“I’m so excited I cannot wait for next season to start,” Babcock wrote on Instagram. “WOOOOHHOOOO.”

Starck had a breakout freshman campaign at Penn State, recording 1,483 assists (10.89 per set), 342 digs, 112 kills and 99 blocks. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year led the Nittany Lions to a 35-2 overall record under head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley and the program’s eighth national championship.

The 6-foot-1 setter appeared in four games for Penn State before stepping away for the season to prioritize her mental health. Starck said her hiatus wasn’t a “goodbye forever,” but her time at Penn State officially came to an end when she entered the transfer portal earlier this month.

“I am very excited to announce that I will be entering the transfer portal this December. I look forward to finding a new home where I can grow in the next chapter of my career,” said Starck, who has three years of eligibility remaining after redshirting her sophomore season. “I am beyond grateful for the endless support I’ve received over the past months.”

Starck joins a championship contender looking to finally get over the national semifinal hump. Pitt advanced to the 2025 NCAA volleyball Final Four for the fifth consecutive year, but the No. 1 seed Panthers were swept 29-27, 25-21, 25-20 by No. 3 seed Texas A&M. It marked the first time Pitt had been swept all year and the Panthers’ fifth straight time falling short of a national championship berth.

Pitt is in search of its first national championship appearance and first national title.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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Texas A&M volleyball’s sweep of Kentucky attracts record viewership

Published

8 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 24, 2025, 10:30 a.m. CT

Texas A&M’s first-ever NCAA Championship win over the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday was one of the most-watched title games in college volleyball history.

The 2025 campaign has featured many first-time achievements for Jamie Morrison’s squad in just his third year as head coach in Bryan-College Station, Texas, including a victory in the No. 2-most-watched NCAA title game ever. Texas A&M’s match against Kentucky attracted a peak of 1.7 million viewers, as part of the most-consumed NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament in the history of the sport.

The Aggies have much to be proud of following their historic run on the court this season. Still, the Maroon and White faithful have also played their own crucial roles in supporting the program as it ventured to some of the most hostile road environments in volleyball. One of those rowdy atmospheres occurred in the Lincoln Regional, where Morrison’s squad dethroned No. 1 seed Nebraska in an instant classic that advanced the Aggies to their first-ever appearance in the Final Four.

Texas A&M’s outstanding season, capped off by a sweep of the Wildcats in the NCAA Championship, played a massive role in etching their name into the viewership history books.

The wheels never stop turning, however. Morrison went straight to work and immediately made a splash in the transfer portal by landing commitments from Ohio State middle blocker Kaia Castle and Marquette outside hitter Natalie Ring. While it hasn’t even been one week since Texas A&M brought the national title to College Station, Morrison and company are already turning their heads to focus on building another stacked roster eager to make more history in 2026.

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K-State Hires Jeremiah Johnson to Serve as Defensive Backs Coach

Published

8 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MANHATTAN, Kan. – A 24-year coaching veteran who has 13 years of coordinator experience, Jeremiah Johnson has been hired as a defensive backs coach at Kansas State, head coach Collin Klein announced Wednesday.

Johnson comes to Manhattan after serving one season as the defensive coordinator at Coastal Carolina in addition to being the Chanticleers’ interim head coach for the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech, which will be played next Tuesday.

“When Coach Klein called about joining his staff, it was a no brainer,” said Johnson, who worked with Klein during the 2016 season at Northern Iowa. “Having the opportunity to help him execute his vision for this program is exciting, and I am humbled and honored to work alongside one of the best coaches, leaders and humans in this business. It’s an added bonus that I am able to return to my home state. Nicki, Lane, Drew and I are so grateful to Collin and Shalin for bringing us on their journey and making us a part of their Wildcat Family. Team Johnson is fired up to get to Manhattan and get to work. Go Cats!”

Johnson has also served as a defensive coordinator at Northern Iowa (2014-2021, 2023), Kent State (2022) and Louisiana Tech (2024).

“Jeremiah is one of the best teachers of the game of football I have been around,” said Klein. “He is a relentless recruiter and a program builder. I am very excited to have him on our staff.”

This season, Johnson has helped Coastal advance to its sixth-straight bowl game as the Chanticleers rank 16th nationally and second in the Sun Belt in fourth down defense (40.0%) and 31st in fumble recoveries (8). He has helped Xamarion Gordon to a No. 2 national ranking in fumble recoveries (3) and a No. 5 ranking in the conference in interceptions (3). Myles Woods also had three interceptions on the year, while Johnson has coached Ezekiel Durham-Campbell to a No. 7 ranking in the conference in sacks (0.46 per game).

The Johnson-led Louisiana Tech defense in 2024 ranked 12th nationally in total defense, surrendering only 308.4 yards per game. It was a 98-spot improvement over where the Bulldogs finished in 2023, while his unit also produced a 91-place improvement in scoring defense (21.0 points per game) as they finished at No. 26. Additionally, Johnson led La Tech to an 88-place bump in rushing defense (135.5 yards per game) to rank 44th.

Outside of a one-year hiatus in which he served the 2022 season as Kent State’s defensive coordinator, Johnson coached for 16 seasons at Northern Iowa, spending the 2007 through 2021 seasons – in addition to the 2023 campaign – in Cedar Falls. While at UNI, Johnson coached Panther defenders to a combined 32 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) First Team honors, five MVFC Defensive Players of the Year, one Buck Buchanan Award winner, 15 Associated Press FCS All-America honors and seven American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American accolades.

In 11 seasons as the UNI defensive coordinator, Johnson’s defenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in statistical categories 29 times, which included turnovers gained on six occasions (highest ranking of No. 2 in 2019 with 34), defensive touchdowns four times (highest ranking of No. 5 in 2016 and 2019 with 4) and scoring defense three times (best ranking of No. 6 at 15.3 points per game in the Spring of 2021). During his first run as defensive coordinator from 2014 through 2021, UNI ranked sixth in the FCS by allowing 19.9 points per game over a 99-game span. He was also named a finalist for the 2019 FootballScoop FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year award.

The Panthers won four conference championships during Johnson’s time at UNI. Additionally, they made 10 FCS Playoff appearances and advanced past the first round in eight of 10 seasons, which included a semifinal showing in 2008 and quarterfinal appearances in 2015 and 2019.

Before being promoted to coordinator, Johnson coached the Northern Iowa defensive backs and served as the recruiting coordinator from 2009 through 2012. In 2007 and 2008, he was the video coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach.

Johnson went to UNI after working the 2003 through 2006 seasons at Loras College, serving on the same staff as former K-State head coach Chris Klieman. Johnson worked with the Duhawk defensive backs in 2003, 2004 and 2006, while he coached the wide receivers in 2005. Prior to his time at Loras, he was a graduate assistant and video coordinator at Wyoming in 2002.

A native of Scandia, Kansas, Johnson obtained his undergraduate degree in sports science from Kansas in 2000, while he earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from Loras in 2005.

Johnson and his five, Nicki, have a son, Lane, and a daughter, Drew.

THE JEREMIAH JOHNSON FILE
Hometown: Scandia, Kansas
College: Kansas – Bachelor’s degree in sports science (2000); Loras College – Master’s degree in athletic administration (2005)
Family: Wife: Nicki; Children: Lane, Drew

JEREMIAH JOHNSON’S COACHING CAREER
2002, Wyoming (Graduate Assistant/Video Coordinator)
2003-04, Loras College (Defensive Backs)
2005, Loras College (Wide Receivers)
2006, Loras College (Defensive Backs)
2007-08, Northern Iowa (Video Coordinator/Assistant Defensive Backs Coach)
2009-12, Northern Iowa (Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator)
2013-16, Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2017-21, Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2022, Kent State (Defensive Coordinator)
2023, Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator)
2024, Louisiana Tech (Defensive Coordinator)
2025, Coastal Carolina (Defensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach)
2026, K-State (Defensive Backs)

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