Sports

NCAA West First Rounds Up Next for Bobcat Track and Field

Story Links BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State track and field adds another chapter to a historic season this week, sending their second-largest group ever to the NCAA West First Rounds as 21 Bobcats head to College Station, Texas, for competition beginning Wednesday at Texas A&M University. The total number of […]

Published

3 weeks ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State track and field adds another chapter to a historic season this week, sending their second-largest group ever to the NCAA West First Rounds as 21 Bobcats head to College Station, Texas, for competition beginning Wednesday at Texas A&M University.

The total number of 21 student-athletes who will wear Montana State across their chests at E.B. Cushing Stadium during the four-day meet is second only to last year’s group of 23.

“The number of qualifiers and having so many ranked so high signifies the strength of the track and field program,” head coach Lyle Weese said. “It is especially reflective of the breakthrough season for the women’s team across all event groups.”

12 of the Cats’ 19 event entries come on the women’s side, and include the ninth-ranked 4×400 meter relay team among the stacked field in the West.

Indeed, the 19 entries showcase incredible balance indicative of Montana State’s team strength across one of the best seasons in program history, with seven distance runners, six sprinters, four throwers, three pole vaulters, and one long jumper in College Station.

The meet structure this week in College Station parallels that of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with the men in action on Wednesday and Friday and the women in action on Thursday and Saturday.

Athletes who ranked among the top 48 in their respective events earned a berth into the NCAA West First Rounds. The top 12 in each event at the NCAA West First Rounds advance to the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, held June 11-14 at Hayward Field.

13 of Montana State’s 19 entries are seeded in the top 30 in the West region, with several Bobcats entering this week knowing they have legitimate chances to book a coveted ticket to Eugene.

“The level of competition at this meet is obviously really impressive,” Weese said. “We will need to make sure we are focused on ourselves, stick to our routine, and realize we don’t have to do anything we are not prepared for or haven’t done previously. Our season schedule has prepared us for success in this meet and the NCAA finals because we have seen competitors of this caliber throughout the season.”

The Bobcat men begin competition on Wednesday with Elijah Jackman entered in the hammer throw at 10 a.m. CT/9 a.m. MT. The junior is seeded 36^th out of 48 competitors.

Later on Wednesday, five-time Big Sky champion Colby Wilson competes in the pole vault (5:30 p.m. CT) looking for his third appearance at the NCAA Championships. The native of Olympia, Washington, is seeded 22nd in the West region.

Wrapping up the men’s entries on Wednesday will be the duo of Harvey Cramb and Sam Ells racing in the 1,500 meter prelims at 6:30 p.m. CT. Cramb, the Big Sky champion, is ranked eighth in the West Region, while Ells is ranked 13^th. The top five finishers from each of the four heats plus the next four fastest times advance to Friday’s national quarterfinal.

Thursday, Clara Fox kickstarts Montana State’s week on the women’s side competing in the javelin at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Shortly after, Hailey Coey looks to continue one of the all-time seasons by a Bobcat with the long jump at 4:30 p.m. CT. The junior from Billings is ranked ninth in the West Region and will be in an advantageous position as part of the final flight.

For the first time in program history, multiple women’s pole vaulters will compete at the regional stage, with both Big Sky champion Tatum Richards (seeded 41^st) and Megan Bell (seeded 48^th) in action at 5:30 p.m. CT. in the national semifinals on Thursday.

At 6 p.m. CT. on Thursday, Big Sky Conference record-holder Sydney Brewster enters the shot put ring for a highly-anticipated competition. The sophomore is ranked 13^th in the West region, and will be joined in the event by fellow sophomore teammate Emma Brensdal, ranked 29^th in the West.

Also at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, junior Millie Hubbell will race in the prelims of the 100 meter hurdles. The two-time Big Sky silver medalist currently holds the second-fastest time in program history and is seeded 29th in the West region.

Later on Thursday at 8:20 p.m. CT junior hurdler Giulia Gandolfi will race in the prelims of the 400 meter hurdles. The native of Faenza, Italy, is doubling this week in College Station, and hopes to run twice on Saturday—once in the 400 meter hurdle final and again as part of the 4×400 meter relay.

In the final event on Thursday, school record-holder Peyton Garrison gets in the starting blocks for the 200 meters at 8:45 p.m. CT. Garrison, seeded 45th, will also run in the Bobcats’ 4×400 meter relay on Saturday evening.

Friday, the men’s 1,500 meter national quarterfinal begins the slate—with hopefully Harvey Cramb and Sam Ells fighting for tickets to Eugene.

Immediately after, ‘Steeple U’ hits the track with three Bobcats including Rob McManus (seeded 4th), Owen Smith (seeded 23rd), and Will Kelly (seeded 30th) toeing the line to try to continue the Bobcats’ dominance in the event. In the latest USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings, the Montana State men’s steeplechase group ranked second nationally behind only BYU.

Saturday, Bozeman native and school record-holder Grace Gilbreth (seeded 13th) races in the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase to begin the day in the early evening ahead of the finals in the 100 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles.

In the penultimate event of the night, school-record holder Kyla Christopher-Moody takes to the track for the 5,000 meters. In her final collegiate season, the graduate student has re-written the record books, with four new school records on top of four All-Big Sky honors.

Finally, the women’s 4×400 meter relay team of Jadyn VanDyken, Peyton Garrison, Giulia Gandolfi, Caroline Hawkes, and Olivia Lewis will run in the national semifinals aiming to become the first Montana State relay to ever make it to the NCAA Championships. The group is seeded ninth in the West Region thanks to their school-record time of 3:33.66 set at the Mt. SAC Relays in April.

The NCAA West First Rounds will stream live on ESPN+ with coverage beginning at 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT on both Wednesday and Thursday, and beginning at 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. CT on both Friday and Saturday.

A full meet schedule is available here and start lists can be viewed here. A meet central webpage with links to live results, information, streaming, and more can be found here.

#GoCatsGo

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Sports

Jacob Topple Named Head Strength and Conditioning Coach For Augusta Athletics

Story Links AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jacob Topple has been named the first Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Augusta University Athletics, a new position created in conjunction with the construction of the Al & Yvette Harris Sports Performance Center. Topple comes to Augusta from Western Carolina University, where he served as Assistant […]

Published

11 minutes ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jacob Topple has been named the first Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Augusta University Athletics, a new position created in conjunction with the construction of the Al & Yvette Harris Sports Performance Center.

Topple comes to Augusta from Western Carolina University, where he served as Assistant Sports Performance Coach. During his time with the Catamounts, he led training programs for baseball and men’s and women’s golf, while also stepping in as interim Head Sports Performance Coach for football during the 2023 season. He played a key role in staff development, including the creation of a department-wide internship program.

“This hire comes at the conclusion of a year-long national search in which we received over one hundred applications and conducted multiple rounds of interviews with an extremely competitive pool of candidates,” said Mason Grounds, Associate Athletics Director for Operations. “We are thrilled to officially welcome Jacob Topple as the new Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Augusta University Athletics. I want to extend a sincere thank you to our dedicated hiring committee for their time, energy, and commitment to finding the best possible leader for this critical role. Jacob brings an exciting vision and passion for athlete development, and we are confident he will have an immediate and lasting impact on our programs. This marks the beginning of a new era for Augusta Athletics—a department-wide commitment to the holistic growth and performance of our student-athletes.”

“I’m grateful and excited for this opportunity to lead the Strength and Conditioning department at Augusta University,” Topple said. “This opportunity means a great deal to me—not just as a coach, but as someone who believes deeply in the development of student-athletes for their sports and for life beyond athletics. I’m looking forward to building strong relationships with our athletes, helping them grow through hard work and accountability, and being part of a community that values excellence and character. I can’t wait to get started with the Jags.”

Topple brings a wide range of experience at the collegiate, high school, and private training levels. He previously led strength programs for all varsity and junior varsity teams at White Knoll High School and held the role of Assistant Director of Athletic Performance at Byrnes High School in South Carolina. His background also includes experience training youth, collegiate, and professional athletes at Next Level Strength and Conditioning in New York.

Topple holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Wellness from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from The College at Brockport. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and also holds certifications in first aid/CPR and nutrition.

He will lead all aspects of athletic performance training across Augusta’s 15 NCAA programs, based out of the Al & Yvette Sports Performance Center.

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can GIVE by clicking here. Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University Athletics at www.AugustaJags.com and receive updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Instagram @augustajags

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Sports

George Jenkins’ Jacob Aca is The Ledger’s 2025 Boys Volleyball Player of the Year

It was an unbelievable accomplishment for the George Jenkins boys volleyball team to win the Class 3A District 8 Championship in 2025 with an undefeated record of 22-0 record. “I used to walk into the gym dreaming of being the reason we’d hand a banner at George Jenkins — especially knowing it would be the […]

Published

12 minutes ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It was an unbelievable accomplishment for the George Jenkins boys volleyball team to win the Class 3A District 8 Championship in 2025 with an undefeated record of 22-0 record.

“I used to walk into the gym dreaming of being the reason we’d hand a banner at George Jenkins — especially knowing it would be the first ever for volleyball. After winning that intense district championship match, it felt unreal to know we made that dream a reality,” George Jenkins middle blocker Jacob Aca said.

It was such a powerful moment for the Eagles, as everything the team worked for assembled, and the energy in that gym was unreal. This movement was led by the best player in the county in Aca, who put up 232 kills and 172 digs.

He’s the Ledger’s 2025 Player of the Year.

“It’s an incredible honor. I think about all the long practices, the ups and downs, and how much I’ve grown — not just as a player, but as a leader. It’s humbling, and I’m just proud to represent my school and teammates this way,” Aca said.

Aca has played varsity volleyball at George Jenkins for three years, and this season he was team captain, starting as a middle blocker and moving to outside hitter, and setter, and this year he really embraced being a leader on and off the court.

This year, the biggest obstacle was dealing with the pressure of staying undefeated while still pushing himself to improve every game.

“It wasn’t easy trying to lead while also feeling that weight. I overcame it by trusting my training, staying locked in mentally, kept a consistent routine, and reminded myself to enjoy the game. Staying focused while having fun really helped me push through,” he said.

Aca said he’s learned the importance of accountability, communication, and trust— skills that go beyond sports. His teammates taught him how to stay positive in tough moments, and his coaches pushed him to be better every day.

“These lessons will definitely help me in college and life,” Aca said.

Aca plans to keep playing volleyball in college while studying exercise science and sports management. He is speakin with a few colleges at this moment.

“I’m excited to compete at the next level and keep growing as both an athlete and a student,” he said.

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Sports

Mariposa FFA Kicks Off New Year with Officer Retreat

Shown from left are Ashton Davies, Chloe King, Olivia Twiss, Paisley Allison, Maddie Cole, Abby Beery and Tylie Allison. Submitted photoThe Mariposa FFA Chapter is proud to introduce the 2025– 2026 officer team, who recently spent three unforgettable days on the Central Coast for their annual leadership retreat.The trip focused on building strong connections, planning […]

Published

17 minutes ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Shown from left are Ashton Davies, Chloe King, Olivia Twiss, Paisley Allison, Maddie Cole, Abby Beery and Tylie Allison. Submitted photo
The Mariposa FFA Chapter is proud to introduce the 2025– 2026 officer team, who recently spent three unforgettable days on the Central Coast for their annual leadership retreat.
The trip focused on building strong connections, planning for the year ahead and gaining real-world insight into California agriculture.
From beach volleyball and team bonding games to …

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Sports

Israel attacks Arak Heavy Water Nuclear Facility, no casualties reported

TEHRAN – Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization confirmed on Thursday that Israel launched an attack targeting the Arak Heavy Water Nuclear Facility, also known as the Shahid Khondab Research Reactor, located in Iran’s central Markazi province. According to a statement released by the organization, the strike occurred in the early morning hours but resulted in no […]

Published

23 minutes ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

According to a statement released by the organization, the strike occurred in the early morning hours but resulted in no casualties or injuries. The agency emphasized that preemptive security measures had been in place, preventing any threat to nearby residents or critical infrastructure.

“The attack resulted in no casualties or injuries. Thanks to security measures taken in advance, there is no risk or damage to the population in the area surrounding the facility,” the statement read.
Iranian sources also confirmed that there was no nuclear leak or environmental hazard following the strike.

The incident has been formally reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iranian officials said, calling the Israeli action a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict with the Zionist regime.

AM
—– CAPTION: A satellite image dated June 14, 2025 shows the Arak nuclear facility in Iran. (Maxar Technologies/via Reuters)

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Sports

Twins Minor League Report (6/18)

Twins Video TRANSACTIONSINF Tanner Schobel transferred to 60-day IL (St. Paul)LHP Richard Lovelady released (St. Paul) Saints SentinelSt. Paul 4, Toledo 6 Box ScoreTravis Adams: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 KHR: Edouard Julien (4), Carson McCusker (13)Multi-hit games: Edouard Julien (2-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB), Carson McCusker (2-for-5, HR, R, 2 […]

Published

39 minutes ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Twins Video

TRANSACTIONS
INF Tanner Schobel transferred to 60-day IL (St. Paul)
LHP Richard Lovelady released (St. Paul)

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 4, Toledo 6
Box Score
Travis Adams: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
HR: Edouard Julien (4), Carson McCusker (13)
Multi-hit games: Edouard Julien (2-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB), Carson McCusker (2-for-5, HR, R, 2 RBI), Jeferson Morales (2-for-4, 2B)

The Saints’ comeback fell short on Saturday.

Old (old, old, old) friend Dietrich Enns started for the Mud Hens. That’s right, we’re throwing it back to the Jaime García trade. The lefty—now a 34-year-old with a pinch of salt in his beard—allowed a trio of runs while racking up 10 strikeouts.

The first of those scores came in the fourth when Edouard Julien bashed a solo homer to center, and the second run arrived one pitch later; this time via a Carson McCusker blast.

McCusker added an RBI knock in the fifth.

Travis Adams had seen better days on the mound. Toledo tagged him for a trio of runs during the game’s crucial transition from its early to mid stages, cutting his start off after four innings. He threw 66 pitches.

Still, the game was tied heading into the eighth. Heading into his second inning of work, Kyle Bischoff loaded the bases with one out, necessitating Cody Laweryson to attempt to save the day. He did not. Akil Baddoo blasted a back-breaking double that staked the Mud Hens to a 6-3 lead.

St. Paul clawed back in the ninth—and Julien even drove in a run on a single—but McCusker struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the game.

Old friend-ish Akil Baddoo went 3-4 with a triple and a double. He drove in four.

Toledo second baseman Hao-Yu Lee is ranked as the 6th prospect in the Tigers organization. He walked once in five plate appearances.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 4, Arkansas 5 (10 Innings)
Box Score
Christian MacLeod: 2 ⅔ IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
HR: Kala’i Rosario (7)
Multi-hit games: None

The Wind Surge were walked-off in extras on Wednesday.

The Travelers celebrated Christian MacLeod’s return from the IL with rude intentions and poor manners. Blake Rambusch greeted the lefty with a leadoff triple; he later scored on a sacrifice fly. Again, in the second, the frame’s first hitter clocked MacLeod for an extra-base hit—this time a double—before eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly. A third and final run in the third chased MacLeod from the game.

Relievers entering under dire straits aren’t supposed to cruise for an extended outing, but evidently nobody told Pierson Ohl of this. He pitched brilliantly. An unearned run was his only blemish; he otherwise struck out seven over 3 ⅓ innings. His season ERA dropped to 2.08.

Wichita’s most potent offensive inning came in the fourth. Kala’i Rosario blasted a solo shot to kick off the scoring. Ricardo Olivar struck out, but Rubel Cespedes doubled and advanced on a grounder while Ben Ross walked and stole second. With two runners dying to come home, Jose Salas smacked a single into center to tie the game.

Olivar singled in Walker Jenkins in the fifth to cap Wichita’s scoring.

The Wind Surge failed to plate their Manfred Man in the 10th, while Arkansas laid down a sacrifice bunt turned game-winning play in the bottom of the inning when Salas fielded the ball and overshot Jake Rucker covering first.

Walker Jenkins arrived back in a Wichita uniform with typical flair. He walked twice, singled, and stole two bases.

The Travelers are affiliated with the Seattle Mariners. Always a hotbed for talent, they sent forth their 15th-ranked prospect, Brandyn Garcia, who pitched the aforementioned scoreless 10th.

Kernels Nuggets

The Kernels were rained out on Wednesday. They will play a doubleheader on Thursday, June 19th.

Mussel Matters
Game One: Fort Myers 2, Lakeland 5
Box Score
Christian Becerra: 2 ⅔ IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
HR: Daniel Pena (2)
Multi-hit games: Byron Chourio (3-for-4, R)

Fort Myers fell in a game that started on Tuesday. Steve Lein covered that part of the match here.

The extra day did little to affect Fort Myers’ fortunes. Starting at the bottom of the third with runners on second and third, Billy Amick struck out before Dameury Pena summoned home a run off a groundout. Bryan Acuna then punched out. That concluded the last serious scoring threat the Mighty Mussels produced.

Matters on the mound went better. Jason Doktorczyk pitched as the pseudo-starter. He was brilliant. Early command issues begat six dominant, scoreless frames, as the righty’s six-pitch mix befuddled hitters. He topped out at 91.8 and elicited 13 swings and misses across 71 pitches. On a day when his team needed length, Doktorczyk couldn’t have performed much better.

Byron Chourio singled thrice and stole a base.

Rehabbing minor leaguer, Billy Amick, singled and struck out twice in three at-bats.

Lakeland is an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, and they offered the phenomenally named Franyerber Montilla—their 11th-ranked prospect—as their finest youngster. He went 3-4 with two doubles, two runs, two RBIs, and a walk.

Game Two: Fort Myers 1, Lakeland 6 (7 Innings)
Box Score
Matt Gabbert: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Bryan Acuna (2-for-3)

The Mighty Mussels came up short in the second game of their doubleheader.

There was a point in which Fort Myers was winning. For about half an inning. A curt lead indeed. A Peyton Carr walk and two productive groundouts moved the 1st baseman to third; he then scored on a fielding error.

That’s when the trouble began. Starter Matt Gabbert had expertly held the Flying Tigers at bay, yet Brennen Oxford entered a much more hostile environment. Lakeland bludgeoned him for four runs in a frame he would not escape, portending Fort Myers’ impending doom. They would tack on two more runs in the seventh.

The Mighty Mussels and Flying Tigers combined for a hit by pitch, three walks, and five strikeouts across 58 plate appearances, a remarkable display of putting the ball in play.

Yet again, Montilla was Lakeland’s best prospect, and, yet again, he went off, homering and singling in four at-bats. He may need a bump in his ranking.

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jason Doktorczyk
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Carson McCusker

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:

#1 – Walker Jenkins (Wichita) – 1-3, R, 2 BB
#13 – Billy Amick (Fort Myers) – 1-3, 2 K
#14 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Wichita) – 0-4, K
#18 – Yasser Mercedes (Fort Myers) – 1-4, 2 K
#19 – Carson McCusker (St. Paul) – 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI, K
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Wichita) – 1-4, RBI, BB, K

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Toledo @ St. Paul (7:07 PM) – RHP Andrew Morris
Wichita @ Arkansas (6:35 PM) – RHP John Klein
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (4:05 PM) – RHP Alejandro Hidalgo
Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (Game Two) – TBD
Lakeland @ Fort Myers (6:05 PM) – RHP Michael Ross
FCL Rays @ FCL Twins (9:00 AM) – TBD
FCL Rays @ FCL Twins (Game Two) – TBD
DSL Twins @ DSL Miami (9:00 AM) – TBD

Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!

View Twins Top Prospects

Sports

WSU track and field athletes facing program cuts, uncertain futures

The university announced on Monday that cuts to field events and limited spots for sprinting and hurdle events will be effective immediately. PULLMAN, Wash. — In an announcement sent on Monday, Washington State University told its track and field athletes that significant cuts are coming to track and field events, effective immediately. WSU said it […]

Published

41 minutes ago

June 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The university announced on Monday that cuts to field events and limited spots for sprinting and hurdle events will be effective immediately.

PULLMAN, Wash. — In an announcement sent on Monday, Washington State University told its track and field athletes that significant cuts are coming to track and field events, effective immediately.

WSU said it will focus on keeping distance events competitive, but other core events like sprints, throws, jumps and hurdles are being drastically scaled back or completely cut, leaving many athletes unsure of their future.

“I am going through a very quick transfer portal window. Umm…That I’m finding is extremely stressful,” said Ashley Willems, a sprinter at WSU.

Before the news of cuts, Willems says she had just one season left. Now, she has other factors to consider as she moves forward. Willems says she’s newly married, immersed in her master’s program and just signed an apartment lease in Pullman.

“I just feel bad mainly for the people coming in who put their trust in the program and really did like choose WSU over other prospects,” said Willems. “For me, I am kind of on my way out, so…I would have loved to spend it here.”

Another athlete, Riley Pyeatt, runs mid-distance and says she is lucky to still have her spot.

“I feel happy that I am safe, but then I have all these teammates that have to leave,” said Pyeatt. “I knew big things were going to change just in general with the new NCAA versus house settlement, with the roster changes and NIL, but we had no idea a program cut was going to happen.”

Pyeatt says she’s grateful she can stay, especially after transferring just a year ago from a small school in Texas, but says she’s uncertain about what next season will bring.

“We will probably be competitive in the distance side…But obviously will be lacking in other areas,” said Pyeatt.

WSU says that although cuts are effective immediately, scholarships will be honored for affected student athletes who remain on campus. The university is also providing transitional support for student athletes who want to continue their athletic and academic careers elsewhere.

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