Sports

Bears Begin Competition At NCAA West Regionals

Published

4 weeks ago

May 28, 2025

The California track & field team’s 26 qualifiers will throw down against hundreds of the best athletes in the nation this week, each ready to put their best effort forward at the NCAA West Regionals in College Station, Texas, to earn a coveted spot at next month’s NCAA Outdoor Championships. The four-day meet at Texas A&M’s E.B. Cushing Stadium runs Wednesday-Saturday, with each day’s evening events streamed on ESPN+. Live results will be available at Flash Results.

Track athletes will need to advance past two rounds (first rounds and quarterfinals) to book their spots at Oregon’s Hayward Field, where the NCAA Championships will be contested. Field athletes have just one round (a semifinal) to pass. Only 12 individuals per event will move on to Eugene.

The men’s events are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday while the women will compete on Thursday and Saturday.

Eighteen of the Golden Bears’ entries have posted at least one outdoor program top-10 mark this season, which includes a world record from discus thrower Mykolas Alekna. He, along with fellow discus thrower and Olympian Caisa-Marie Lindfors, will look to qualify for their third NCAA Championships (Alekna – 2022-23; Lindfors – 2021, 23).

Hammer thrower Giavonna Meeks and pole vaulter Tyler Burns each competed at this year’s NCAA Indoor Championships, with Meeks finishing fourth in the weight throw and Burns 12th in the indoor pole vault. Distance runner Garrett MacQuiddy and hammer thrower Audrey Jacobs both reached the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2023, with Jacobs earning Second-Team All-American status.

Trevor Rogers (long jump) and Valentina Savva (hammer) are Cal’s only two freshmen set to compete this week, following silver-medal performances at the ACC Outdoor Championships earlier this month. Savva is just one of three first-years appearing in the women’s hammer throw and the only one listed in the final flight.

NCAA WEST REGIONALS SCHEDULE (All Times PT)

Wednesday, May 28
8 a.m. – Men’s Hammer Semifinal (Jared Freeman – Flight 3)
2:30 p.m. – Men’s Long Jump Semifinal (Jason Plumb – Flight 3; Trevor Rogers – Flight 3)
3:30 p.m. – Men’s Pole Vault Semifinal (Tyler Burns – Flight 2; Parker Terrill – Flight 2; Will Siemens – Flight 2)
4 p.m. – Men’s Shot Put Semifinal (Nick Godbehere – Flight 1)
4 p.m. – Men’s 110m Hurdles First Round (Donovan Bradley – Heat 5)
4:30 p.m. – Men’s 1500m First Round (Garrett MacQuiddy – Heat 4)
5:25 p.m. – Men’s 400m First Round (Johnny Goode – Heat 3)

Thursday, May 29
8 a.m. – Women’s Hammer Semifinal (Amanda Spear – Flight 2; Adrianna Coleman – Flight 3; Audrey Jacobs – Flight 3; Giavonna Meeks – Flight 4; Valentina Savva – Flight 4)
2:30 p.m. – Women’s Long Jump Semifinal (Asjah Atkinson – Flight 1)
3:30 p.m. – Women’s Pole Vault Semifinal (Ali Sahaida – Flight 2)
4 p.m. – Women’s Shot Put Semifinal (Lucija Leko – Flight 3)
4 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles First Round (Saqqara Ruffin – Heat 2; Asjah Atkinson – Heat 4; Mari Testa – Heat 4)
5:50 p.m. – Women’s 800m First Round (Jayden Hill – Heat 2)

Friday, May 30
11 a.m. – Men’s Discus Semifinal (Mykolas Alekna – Flight 4; Jared Freeman – Flight 4)
12:30 p.m. – Men’s Triple Jump Semifinal (Jeremiah Bolaños – Flight 1)
3:15 p.m. – Men’s 1500m Quarterfinal (if qualified – Garrett MacQuiddy)
4:15 p.m. – Men’s 110m Hurdles Quarterfinal (if qualified – Donovan Bradley)
4:50 p.m. – Men’s 400m Quarterfinal (if qualified – Johnny Goode)

Saturday, May 31
11 a.m. – Women’s Discus Semifinal (Lucija Leko – Flight 4; Caisa-Marie Lindfors – Flight 4)
12:30 p.m. – Women’s Triple Jump Semifinal (Myla Canty – Flight 3)
4:15 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles Quarterfinal (if qualified – Asjah Atkinson, Mari Testa, Saqqara Ruffin)
5:05 p.m. – Women’s 800m Quarterfinal (if qualified – Jayden Hill)

WORLD RECORD RETURNER
Discus thrower Mykolas Alekna is competing for the Bears once again after taking the 2024 season off to prepare for his debut Olympic Games, where he surpassed the previous Olympic record on the way to a silver medal. The 22-year-old phenom stunned the athletics world by breaking track & field’s oldest standing men’s record last April, posting a throw of 74.35m (243-11) at the Oklahoma Throws World Invitational to surpass a mark that had stood since 1986. He then broke it again last month, becoming the first man in history to surpass the 75-meter barrier with a mark of 75.56m (247-10) that also reset his own collegiate and ACC records.

Since enrolling at Berkeley in Fall 2021, Alekna has compiled an eye-popping résumé that has already elevated him into one of the sport’s legendary figures. The two-time World medalist, three-time Lithuanian Male Athlete of the Year and two-time semifinalist for The Bowerman set his first collegiate record as a freshman, later becoming the youngest-ever European discus champion and youngest World discus medalist in history at just 19 years of age; that year, he was also named a semifinalist for the AAU James E. Sullivan Award and the USTFCCCA West Region and Pac-12 Men’s Field Athlete of the Year.

Alekna has claimed a total of five facility records and nine meet records over the past four years, as well as two Pac-12 titles and two First-Team All-American nods. Most recently, he was named the top discus thrower in the world by Track & Field News and recorded his 22nd appearance on The Bowerman Watch List – third-most by any man and more than any thrower in history.

PODIUM POWERHOUSES
Cal athletes collected a total of 12 medals at the ACC Outdoor Championships. Mykolas Alekna (discus) and Giavonna Meeks (hammer) led the way with titles in their respective events, while Caisa-Marie Lindfors earned podium spots in two events (discus – silver; shot put – bronze). Both Lucija Leko (shot put – silver) and Johnny Goode (400m – bronze) broke school records on the way to their first conference medals, while Trevor Rogers posted a massive personal best in the long jump on the way to a second-place finish. Garrett MacQuiddy (1500m), Tyler Burns (pole vault) and Valentina Savva (hammer) added to Cal’s group of silver medalists, while Nick Godbehere (shot put) and Jared Freeman (hammer) clinched bronze.

ALL-ACC HONOREES
In addition to the medalists listed above, an additional six Bears picked up All-ACC honors as Cal finished with 18 all-conference athletes in a combined 22 events. Riley Knott placed fourth in both the high jump and the long jump while Jared Freeman took fourth in the discus for his second All-ACC selection and Lucija Leko did the same with a sixth-place finish in the women’s contest. Hurdlers Asjah Atkinson (100m hurdles) and Donovan Bradley (110m hurdles) each placed fourth, while teammate Loreal Wilson took sixth in the 400m hurdles. One more trio of throwers – hammer specialists Audrey Jacobs (fifth) and Adrianna Coleman (sixth) as well as discus thrower Charlie Dang (fifth) – rounded out the All-ACC squad.

THROW LOUD AND PROUD
Cal’s throws squad – which has set six indoor and 11 outdoor program top-10 marks this season – is putting up another elite year, led by returning Olympic discus throwers Mykolas Alekna and Caisa-Marie Lindfors. Hammer thrower Audrey Jacobs owns the Dutch U23 record and earned All-America status as a freshman in 2023, while Adrianna Coleman, a sophomore, has also reached the USATF U20 Championships in each of the past two years, taking bronze in the hammer in 2023.

The Bears also welcomed several top newcomers to the team this year. Cal’s throwing transfer class is headlined by two-time All-American Giavonna Meeks, who won Cal’s first ACC title (weight throw) in March and claimed the ACC hammer title two months later. Other new members of the squad include 2024 World U20 hammer silver medalist Valentina Savva, 2024 European Championships two-way competitor Lucija Leko (discus and shot put) and 2023 European U20 hammer medalist Kai Barham. Meeks (No. 2 weight throw, No. 4 hammer, No. 6 indoor shot put, No. 10 outdoor shot put), Savva (No. 3 hammer, No. 4 weight throw) and Leko (No. 1 outdoor shot put, No. 4 discus, No. 5 indoor shot put) have already recorded marks on Cal’s all-time top-10 lists, while UC Santa Barbara transfer Jared Freeman also now owns program top 10s in the indoor weight throw (No. 2), hammer (No. 7) and discus (No. 10).

HERE COME THE HURDLERS
The Golden Bear hurdlers have posted a breakthrough season in 2025, collecting six program top-10 times and four All-ACC nods between the indoor and outdoor campaigns. Asjah Atkinson, who was named All-ACC both indoors and outdoors, now ranks second all-time at Cal in the 60m hurdles and fourth in the 100m hurdles. She is joined on both lists by teammate Mari Testa, who moved into a tie for the program’s No. 5 time in the former and shares the No. 7 time in the latter with teammate Saqqara Ruffin. Donovan Bradley (110m hurdles) and Loreal Wilson (400m hurdles) each made the Outdoor All-ACC team, each posting Cal’s fifth-best time in their respective events at the ACC Outdoor Championships.

STAY POSTED

For complete coverage of Cal track & field, follow the Bears on X/Twitter (@CalTFXC), Instagram (@caltfxc) and Facebook (@Cal Cross Country/Track and Field).

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Fey Shines as Multiple Jayhawks Compete at USATF U20 Nationals

EUGENE, ORE. – The Kansas Track & Field team had athletes compete at the USATF U20 Nationals. “We had a talented group of freshmen led by Maddie Fey to represent KU in a great way at the US Under-20 Championship (U20). As they mature, they should be major contributors for KU in the years to […]

Published

2 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

EUGENE, ORE. – The Kansas Track & Field team had athletes compete at the USATF U20 Nationals.

“We had a talented group of freshmen led by Maddie Fey to represent KU in a great way at the US Under-20 Championship (U20). As they mature, they should be major contributors for KU in the years to come. Maddie would have been selected to represent the USA in the discus and shot at the World U20 Championship if the competition was contested. The competition was a great experience for them to end the freshman year and leading into their sophomore year,” Said Kansas Head Coach Stanley Redwine.

The week started with Madeleine Fey winning the Women’s Discus with a throw of 53.22m(174’7″). The Kansas Freshman took Runner-Up in the Women’s Shot Put when she threw a mark of 15.67m(51’5″).

Mia Murray placed 4th in the 3000m Steeplechase, running a new Personal Best time of 10:51.45. The Lincoln, Nebraska, native also runs with the cross country team in the fall.

Blake Wohler ran in the Men’s 5000m, where he placed 7th in the event, running a time of 15:17.32. The Lawrence native won the Rock Chalk Classic this past season in that event.

Oliver Duffy took 5th place in the Men’s Decathlon with a point total of 6286. The Freshman, who is a New Hampshire native, won 3 events inside the decathlon: 100m, Discus & Long Jump.

Topeka, Kansas native, Aaron Merritt competed in two events during the week, placing 13th in the Men’s 100m, and taking 16th in the Men’s 100m Hurdles.

Freshman Ryan Whittlesey ran in the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase, where he placed 14th overall. Whittlesey, who is coached by his father, ran a new PR with a time of 9:46.42 in the event.

Madi Snody also competed this week in the Women’s Pole Vault.

UP NEXT:

The Kansas Track & Field Team will have athletes compete at USATF Outdoor Nationals July 31st-August 3rd, in Eugene, Oregon.

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George Washington University

WASHINGTON – Head Coach Katie Reifert is pleased to announce the addition of Jacob Paige as an assistant coach on the volleyball staff ahead of the 2025 slate. Paige arrives in Foggy Bottom after serving as the head coach of the men’s team at Lawrence Tech for four seasons, where he oversaw all aspects of […]

Published

3 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WASHINGTON – Head Coach Katie Reifert is pleased to announce the addition of Jacob Paige as an assistant coach on the volleyball staff ahead of the 2025 slate.

Paige arrives in Foggy Bottom after serving as the head coach of the men’s team at Lawrence Tech for four seasons, where he oversaw all aspects of the NAIA program: recruiting, budgeting, academics, practice planning, skill development, film analysis, travel and social media.

Throughout his tenure, Paige guided multiple student-athletes to earn All-Conference selections and led the Blue Devils to numerous WHAC Tournament appearances and victories.

In 2025 alone, Paige led the Blue Devils to a 27-3 program-setting record, guiding the program to earn both the WHAC regular season and conference tournament titles, in addition to finishing 5^th in the nation at the NAIA National Tournament. Paige earned WHAC Coach of the Year and coached three conference award winners in WHAC’s Player of the Year, Setter of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

In addition to his work at Lawrence Tech, Paige has overseen the girl’s volleyball program at Bloomfield Hills High School for nearly eight years, amassing an 83-44 career record, while emphasizing the importance of academic excellence and college recruiting readiness.

Beginning his career in coaching, Paige served as the graduate assistant coach for Lawrence Tech in 2021, assisting in recruiting efforts to build a strong roster alongside overseeing logistics including apparel design, scheduling and film sessions.

Paige arrives in the District having earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Lawrence Tech in 2020 as a five-year setter and team captain for the Blue Devils and went on to earn his M.B.A. with a Project Management Concentration from Lawrence Tech in 2024.

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Meet the 2025 All-Metro girls track and field team

The 2025 Post-Dispatch All-Metro spring series continues with girls track and field. Read more about girls track and field, and other high school sports, at STLhighschoolsports.com. All-Metro girls track and field first team Sprints: Delaney Brinker, senior, Ladue A Kansas State signee, Brinker capped her high school career with Class 5 state championships in […]

Published

22 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Cardinal Ritter’s Kyndall Spain is the All-Metro girls track and field athlete of the year

The 2025 Post-Dispatch All-Metro spring series continues with girls track and field.

Read more about girls track and field, and other high school sports, at STLhighschoolsports.com.

All-Metro girls track and field first team

Sprints: Delaney Brinker, senior, Ladue

A Kansas State signee, Brinker capped her high school career with Class 5 state championships in the 200- and 400-meter runs and ran a leg on the Rams state champion 1600 relay, which won in a Class 5 state meet record of 3 minutes, 45.85 seconds. She also was state runner-up in the 100, helping Ladue win its second consecutive team state championship. Brinker’s personal best times in the 200 (23.68 seconds) and 400 (53.10) were fastest among area athletes. Brinker’s season best of 11.74 in the 100 was fourth-fastest in the area. Swept district and sectional titles in 100, 200 and 400.

Middle: Elena Rybak, senior, Father McGivney

The Notre Dame signee cemented her Griffins legacy with Class 1A state championships in the 800- and 1600-meter runs with performances that were the fastest in the St. Louis area this season. The 1600 title in 4 minutes, 54.02 seconds, was the fourth successive of Rybak’s career, the first time an Illinois athlete accomplished the feat since Effingham St. Anthony’s Anna Sophia Keller did it from 2014-17. Rybak’s state-winning time of 2:08.3 in the 800 set an Illinois Class 1A state meet record and was the fastest time this season for all classes in Illinois. She was undefeated in the 800 in five races and collected five individual championships in the 1600.

Distance: Maleah Eggers, senior, Marquette

University of Missouri recruit posted the fastest time among area athletes in the 3200 meters (10 minutes, 48.53 seconds) to finish as the Class 5 state meet runner-up. Broke 11-minute barrier for first time to win sectional title and also was district champ. In the 1600, finished third at state in season-best 4:58.17 and also was conference and sectional champion.

Hurdles: Alexa Adams, junior, Timberland

Ran to seven individual championships in the 100-meter hurdles, including conference, district and sectionals before a runner-up finish in the Class 5 state meet in a personal-best time of 13.71. Ran to three championships in the 300 hurdles including a sectional title with time of 42.33 seconds that is second-fastest this season among area athletes. Finished third at state in 300 hurdles. Her personal bests both rank among the fastest on the area’s all-time honor roll.

Vertical jumps: Rebecca McGuire, junior, Francis Howell North

Won the Class 5 state championship and set a program record with a vault of 3.81 meters (12 feet, 6 inches) in her first state meet. The performance is tied for the area’s best this season and tied for third-best in area history. McGuire also won conference, district and sectional titles, and the only meet she didn’t win was against an elite field at the Kansas Relays, where she finished fifth.

Horizontal jumps: Chloe Tabb, junior, Marquette

Class 5 state runner-up in both triple jump and long jump. Claimed conference championships in both events, including a mark of 12.44 meters (40 feet, and 9.75 inches) in the triple jump that is a personal best, the No. 1 mark in the area this season and fourth all-time in area history. Her best mark of 5.83 meters (19 feet, 1.5 inches) in the long jump was the Class 5 state runner-up and a program record.

Throws: McKenna Lay, junior, Pacific

Consistently one of area’s best throwers. Won Class 4 state title in shot put with personal-best and school-record throw of 13.4 meters (43 feet, 11.75 inches). Won 10 titles in the javelin, including personal-best 47.75 meters (156 feet, 8 inches) to win Henle Holmes Invitational, which is ninth-best throw in nation. Fifth at state in javelin and fifth at state in discus with personal-best throw of 38.73 meters (127 feet).

Multi-events: Bailey Hensgens, sophomore, Incarnate Word

Unbeaten in high jump and triple jump this season, winning Class 4 state championships in both. Her personal-best mark in the high jump was 1.78 meters (5 feet, 10 inches), which was area’s best this season and tied for second in area history. Her best triple jump mark was 12 meters (39 feet, 4.25 inches) to win GISL title. Also state runner-up in long jump with season-best mark of 5.76 meters (18 feet, 10.75 inches).

All-Metro girls track and field second team

Sprints: Rayna Raglin, junior, Alton

Ran area-best time of 11.58 seconds in 100 meters and personal best of 24.09 seconds in 200 to sweep sectional titles. Finished third in 100 and fifth in 200 at Class 3A state meet. Won five titles each in the 100 and 200, including a sweep in the Southwestern Conference meet.

Middle: Grace Coppel, senior, MICDS

Will continue running career at Army-West Point after finishing second in 800 meters at Class 4 state meet in program record of 2 minutes, 10.17 seconds. Ran anchor leg on Rams’ winning 1600 relay at state. District and sectional champ in 800. Third team All-Metro swimming selection.

Distance: Brooke Samuelson, junior, Eureka

In first season running on the track for the Wildcats, Samuelson finished fifth in the Class 5 state meet in both the 800- and 1600-meter races with personal-best times in each event. Ran 2:14.26 in the 800 and 5:01.61 in the 1600. Ran a leg on Eureka’s seventh-place 3200 relay at state.

Hurdles: Amelia Ward, junior, Francis Howell

All-around standout was a four-event Class 5 state meet qualifier, finishing as runner-up in the 300 hurdles in 42.56 seconds, the area’s third-best time this season. She also was sixth in the 100 hurdles in 14.78, finished fifth in the triple jump and ran on Howell’s qualifying 400 relay. Ward swept the GAC South titles in both hurdles races.

Vertical jumps: Avery Foster, junior, Fort Zumwalt East

Won the Class 4 pole vault state championship for second successive season, clearing 3.66 meters (12 feet). Her personal-best vault of 3.81 meters (12 feet and 6 inches), which won the sectional meet title, is tied for the best among area athletes this season. Also won district title and never finished lower than second. Ran on Lions 800-meter relay throughout season and helped it qualify for sectional meet.

Horizontal jumps: Brooke Lunsford, senior, Grandview

Multi-sport athlete concluded high school career with Class 2 championship in long jump with a personal-best leap of 5.49 meters (18 feet and 0.25 inches). She never finished outside top five in 10 meets in the long jump, with five individual championships. Collected titles in the triple jump, including at conference and district meets.

Throws: Joi Story, junior, Edwardsville

Had the area’s best discus throw of 42.35 meters (138 feet, 11 inches) to finish third in the Class 3A state meet. Also finished fifth at state in shot put with a season-best effort of 12.33 meters (40 feet, 5.5 inches). Southwestern Conference champion in shot put, sectional runner-up in both throwing events.

Multi-events: Laila Murray, junior, Ladue

Helped Rams win second successive team championship in variety of ways. Picked up Class 5 state meet runner-up finishes in the 200- and 400-meter runs to teammate Delaney Brinker. Anchored state champion 800 relay (1:39.13) and also ran on 400 relay that finished fifth. Ran personal-best 55.23 in 400 at state and 24.21 in 200 at sectional meet.

All-Metro girls track and field third team

Sprints: Justyce Sanders, sophomore, MICDS

Claimed Class 4 state championship in the 200 meters with a personal-best time of 23.82 seconds that ranked second in the area. Also posted area’s second-fastest time in the 400 (54.0) in state runner-up finish. Ran leg on Rams’ state title-winning 1600 relay. Collected 14 individual titles between the 100, 200 and 400.

Middle: Bella Navarro-Sanchez, sophomore, Liberty

Posted the area’s third-fastest time in the 800 meters (2 minutes, 11.74 seconds), which was good for a Class 5 state meet runner-up finish. Won district and sectional titles in the 800. Finished 13th at state in the 1600. Won Class 5 cross country championship in the fall.

Distance: Lucy Rines, sophomore, St. Joseph’s

Class 4 state runner-up in 3200 meters in 11:00.16, just off personal best (10:58.65) she ran to win GISL title. Won 3200 titles in district and sectional meets. Sixth at state in 1600 in personal-best 5:06.20. Won 1600 at district, runner-up at sectional. Ran on state runner-up 3200 relay.

Hurdles: Sophia Shapiro, sophomore, Edwardsville

Claimed eight successive titles in the 100-meter hurdles, including conference and sectionals, before a fourth-place finish in Class 3A state meet. Also claimed six titles in the 300 hurdles, before finishing fourth at state meet. Her personal best times this season were 14.04 seconds in the 100s and 42.83 in the 300s.

Vertical jumps: Ayla Bishop, senior, Eureka

Signed with Missouri Southern State. Finished second in the Class 5 state meet, her best showing in three state appearances, with personal-best vault of 3.81 meters (12 feet, 6 inches). Matched winning height but placed as runner-up because of misses during competition. Also cleared 12 feet to win district and sectional titles.

Horizontal jumps: Uyoyoghene Omunu, junior, Parkway North

A repeat selection on the third team, Omunu never finished outside of the top 10 in either the long jump or triple jump. She finished third in the Class 4 state meet in the long jump with personal best of 5.69 meters (18 feet, 8 inches), and also was eighth in the triple jump. Swept long jump and triple jump at district.

Throws: Adelle Metz, sophomore, Francis Howell

One of the best pure javelin throwers in the area. She won eight championships of the 10 meets she competed in and concluded her season with the Class 5 state championship with a personal-best and school-record throw of 44.21 meters (145 feet). Also a standout softball player.

Multi-events: Lilly Gilbertson, senior, Father McGivney

Did a little bit of everything for the Griffins the last four years, helping program to the school’s first team state championship last year and a third-place finish this year. Picked up two top five finishes at the Class 1A state meet in the 100- and 200-meter runs before a runner-up finish in the 400.

Cardinal Ritter senior Kyndall Spain is the 2025 All-Metro girls track and field athlete of the year.

Meet the 2025 All-Metro spring softball team

Meet the 2025 All-Metro boys tennis team

Meet the 2025 All-Metro boys volleyball team

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Former Airport star coming home to coach volleyball at alma mater

CARLETON — Janelle Nagy is coming home for her first job as a varsity volleyball coach. After being named to replace Stephanie Miller as the head coach at Airport — her alma mater — Nagy immediately reached out to her former coach for help. Barb Munch-Kohn, the most successful coach in school history, is coming […]

Published

23 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CARLETON — Janelle Nagy is coming home for her first job as a varsity volleyball coach.

After being named to replace Stephanie Miller as the head coach at Airport — her alma mater — Nagy immediately reached out to her former coach for help.

Barb Munch-Kohn, the most successful coach in school history, is coming on board as Nagy’s assistant.

“It’s great to be able to keep learning from her,” Nagy said. “She is a great person and has a lot of knowledge and experience. I learn something from her every day.”

Nagy was a three-time All-Region selection at Airport, graduating in 2012.

She went on to play college volleyball for three and a half seasons at Lake Superior State before finishing her career at Minot State in North Dakota.

She finished her final semester doing field work in Detroit for a degree in special education.

After graduation, she landed a job with the Monroe County Intermediate School District and was assigned to work at Airport.

“I knew coming back home that I wanted to get involved in the sports community,” she said. “Luckily, I landed in the Airport District.”

She loves her job.

“It’s hard work, but rewarding,” Nagy said.

After three years of coaching the junior varsity team at Airport, Nagy applied for the varsity job when Miller left after last season.

The school was happy to welcome her back.

“Coach Nagy has been a part of the Airport volleyball program in many capacities,” Airport athletic director Matt Beaudry. “She brings a tremendous commitment, knowledge, and passion to continue the history, tradition, and success of the Airport volleyball program. I look forward to watching Coach Nagy guide our volleyball program for many years to come.”

Being in the program has given Nagy a lot of insight into the team and the athletes.

“We’ve been a little more towards the bottom of the league,” she said. “We will be a rebuilding team, but she (Miller) definitely left me something to build off.

“We will have about nine seniors and eight juniors. There will be a lot of talent and a lot of potential.”

Airport’s run to the state softball semifinals this spring without a senior on the roster showed the kind of athletes Nagy will have available.

“I really want to see this team build and succeed,” she said. “We will work on our volleyball IQ and mental focus.”

Nagy hopes to replicate the kind of the success she enjoyed at Airport with Munch-Kohn as her coach.

“We won three Huron League and three Class B regional titles,” she said of her career. “We were 39-12-1 my senior year and lost in the state quarterfinals.

“I want these girls to experience that and see what it’s like when the gym is packed.”

In addition to Munch-Kohn, Nagy will draw on another big name from the school’s rich volleyball tradition.

“My sister Jessica (Romine) is moving back from Arkansas,” she said. “She’s a nurse so I don’t know if she will be there all the time, but she is going to help me.”

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Illinois Announces Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Story Links CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics named 11 new members to the UI Athletics Hall of Fame. This is the ninth Hall of Fame class and includes one coach and representatives from basketball, football, baseball, track and field, swimming and diving and softball. “The Illinois […]

Published

37 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics named 11 new members to the UI Athletics Hall of Fame. This is the ninth Hall of Fame class and includes one coach and representatives from basketball, football, baseball, track and field, swimming and diving and softball.

“The Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is another reminder of the many great athletes and coaches who have represented the Fighting Illini,” said Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. “Every year I love calling the new class members and hearing the excitement in their voices. We look forward to hosting each of these great Illini and their families this fall during the induction weekend.”

The only non-athlete in this class is former women’s basketball head coach Theresa Grentz, who led the Illini to their only Big Ten title in 1997, two NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearances and five NCAA Tournament appearances during her 12-year career in Champaign-Urbana. Grentz is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame after compiling a record 681-360 during her 35 years as a head coach.

Football is represented by quarterback Kurt Kittner and defensive tackle Joe Rutgens. Kittner led the Fighting Illini to the 2001 Big Ten Championship and Sugar Bowl appearance, earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors his senior year. A three-year starter, Kittner finished second in career passing yardage with 8,722 yards.

Rutgens earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1959 and 1960, and First-Team All-America recognition in 1960. He was drafted in the first round of the 1960 NFL Draft as the third overall pick by Washington and played for them from 1961-69, earning Pro Bowl honors twice.

Swimming and diving star Jane Fauntz Manske competed for the U.S. at the 1928 and 1932 Olympics, winning a bronze medal at the ’32 Los Angeles Games in the three-meter springboard dive, after competing in the 1928 Amsterdam Games in the 100-meter breaststroke, reaching the semifinals. She once set two world records in the breaststroke within 30 minutes at a meet in 1928.

Baseball star Scott Spiezio is the UI career home run record holder with 48 homers from 1991 to 1993. He earned All-America honors in 1993 while also earning second and third-team All-Big Ten recognition. Spiezio went on to play 12 seasons in the major leagues, winning two World Series titles, while finishing with a career batting average of .255, 119 home runs and 549 RBI.

Benita Kelley Babridge and Aspen Burkett Miles are representing the women’s track and field team. The two came to Illinois in the same recruiting class and were roommates while on the UI campus from 1995-98. Kelley earned All-America honors eight times (three relays) and was an eight-time Big Ten champion. She still holds the school record in the 60-meter dash.

Burkett was a seven-time All-American (four relays) and Big Ten champion. She is the UI 100-meter dash school-record holder and stands second on the 200-meter dash list. The two speedsters helped Illinois to three Big Ten team titles during their Illini careers.

Mike Durkin was a nine-time Big Ten champion during his legendary middle-distance career from 1972-75. He would qualify for the 1976 and 1980 U.S. Olympic Teams in the 1,500 meters and would also earn All-America honors in cross country.

Softball star Meredith Hackett Kindt earned First-Team All-America honors as a sophomore in 2012 when the Illini finished 16-2 in conference play. She still ranks in the Top 10 in several career and season hitting lists for the Illini.

Gene Vance was a star on the famed Whiz Kids basketball teams of the early 1940s, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1942 and 1943, and Second-Team recognition in 1947 after returning from WW II. Vance also served Illinois as Athletics Director from 1967-72.

Basketball star Kiwane Garris earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1996 and 1997 after being named Second-Team all-conference in 1995. He ranks second in Illini history with 1,948 points while starting 111 games during his Illinois career, leading the team in scoring three times, in steals all four seasons and in assists twice.

The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, October 10, at State Farm Center. Returning members of the 2025 class will be honored at the home football game against Ohio State on Oct. 11.

The Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame began in 2017 and now has 154 total members, with representatives from each current varsity sport. University of Illinois varsity athletics started with baseball in 1879 and now has 21 teams competing at the NCAA Division I level.

Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Aspen Burkett Miles, Track & Field, 1995-98

Aspen Burkett was a seven-time All-American (four relays and three individual races) during her Illini track and field career. She won seven individual and relay Big Ten Championships and helped the Illini to the 1995 Indoor and Outdoor, and 1996 Indoor team titles. Burkett is still the UI 100-meter dash school record holder at 11.28 and second on the 200-meter list at 22.90. Burkett finished fifth in the 200m at the 1995 NCAA Outdoor meet, eighth in the 200m at the 1996 meet and 10^th in the 100m in 1996. Her 4x100m relay teams finished sixth in the 1998 NCAA outdoor meet and third in both the 1995 and 1996 outdoor championship meets. Her 4x400m relay team took eighth place indoors in 1998. The Illini 4x400m relay team won the Big Ten title outdoors in 1995 and Big Ten indoor title in 1996. Burkett doubled up with 100m and 200m Big Ten titles outdoors in 1995, while running on the championship 4x100m relay team that year. She defended her title in the 200m and 4x100m relay in 1996 and won a third Big Ten 4x100m relay title outdoors in 1998. Burkett and fellow hall-of-famer Benita Kelley were members of the same recruiting class for coach Gary Winckler and lived as roommates during their time on campus.

Mike Durkin, Track & Field, 1972-75

Mike Durkin was a nine-time Big Ten Champion and five-time All-American as one of the elite middle-distance runners in conference history. He qualified for the 1976 Olympics in the 1,500 meters but missed on advancing from the first round by one-tenth of a second, setting the Olympic record for fastest non-qualifier in history. He finished third at the 1980 Olympic Trials to earn the final spot in the 1,500 on the Olympic team, but the U.S. boycotted the 1980 Games in Moscow. Durkin would finish third in the 1,500-meters at the Liberty Bell Classic, which was held as an alternative to the boycotted Olympics. Durkin also earned All-America honors in cross country. At the NCAA Indoor Championships, he finished fifth in the 1000M in 1972, fourth in the 1000M in 1973, second in the mile in 1974, and fifth in the Distance Medley Relay in 1975. His top NCAA Outdoor Championship finish was 11^th in the mile in 1974. Durkin’s Big Ten titles came in the 1975 indoor mile, outdoor 880 yards and steeplechase, 1974 indoor mile and two-mile, and outdoor mile, 1973 indoor mile, and the 1972 indoor 1,000 yards and outdoor mile. As a senior, Durkin ran a sub-four minute mile.

Jane Fauntz Manske, Swim & Dive, 1930-34

Jane Fauntz Manske competed for the United States at the 1928 and 1932 Olympics, winning a bronze at the ’32 Los Angeles Games in the three-meter springboard dive. She competed in the ’28 Amsterdam Games in the 100-meter breaststroke at the age of 17, where she was eliminated in the semifinals. Fauntz Manske attended Hyde High School in Chicago but was unable to compete in high school swimming competitions because of a ban on female interscholastic athletics. She would swim and dive for the Illinois Women’s Athletic Club during her competitive career. In March 1928, Fauntz Manske set new world records in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:20.3) and 100-meter breaststroke (1:29.3) at a dual meet against a Canadian team, this happening about six months after being hit by a car and severely injuring the radial nerve in her right arm. At the AAU swimming indoor national championships in Chicago in 1929, Fauntz Manske won two national titles within the space of one half-hour, winning the one-meter springboard and 100-meter breaststroke titles. After her Olympic experience, Fauntz Manske built a considerable professional career as a swimming show entertainer and was one of the first female athletes to appear on the Wheaties cereal box. Manske graduated from Illinois around 1932 with a degree in art education. She died at the age of 78 in 1989. In 1991 Fauntz Manske was posthumously inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Kiwane Garris, Basketball, 1994-97

Kiwane Garris earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1996 and 1997 after being named Second-Team All-Big Ten in 1995. He continues to rank second in Illini history with 1,948 career points and fifth all-time in free throw percentage at 83 percent on 741 attempts (second all time) and fifth on the career assists list with 502. Garris, a two-time team captain, holds the Illini school record with 39 straight made free throws. He led the Illini in scoring each of his last three Illini seasons, while also leading the team in steals all four seasons and in assists twice. During the NBA lockout he played for the U.S. National Team in the 1998 FIBA World Championships, winning the bronze medal. He played with Orlando and Denver in the NBA and enjoyed a productive 12-year pro career internationally from 1999 through the 2010 season.

Theresa Grentz, Women’s Basketball Coach, 1996-2007

Theresa Grentz joins the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame after building a career record of 681-362 during her 35 years as head coach at St. Joseph’s, Rutgers, Illinois, and Lafayette. Her record during 12 seasons at Illinois was 210-156, including the only Big Ten Championship in school history in 1997. Grentz took Illinois to two Sweet Sixteen appearances and five NCAA Tournaments. She was the U.S. Olympic head coach in 1992, when the team captured a bronze medal. As a star player, she led her college team, Immaculata, to back-to-back-to-back AIAW National Championships from 1972 to 1974. That team was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. Grentz is also a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in the class of 2022, a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2001), and the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 2001). At Rutgers, Grentz became the first full-time women’s basketball coach in the nation. She led Rutgers to nine straight postseason appearances and a 434-150 (.743) record during her tenure and won the 1982 AIAW National Championship. Grentz was named the Converse National Coach of the Year in 1987.

Meredith Hackett Kindt, Softball, 2009-12

Meredith Hackett was named First-Team All-American by Louisville Slugger/NFCA, NFCA Midwest All-Region and All-Big Ten First Team as a sophomore in 2010 after helping the Illini to a 16-2 Big Ten record and 45-8 overall mark. As a junior in 2011, she was named NFCA Midwest All-Regional Second Team. Hackett still ranks second in career slugging percentage (.616) and third in career on-base percentage (.436), sixth in RBI (153), second in walks (99) and fifth in doubles with 43. Hackett’s batting average in 2010 of .418 led the Big Ten and still ranks fourth on the Illini list and her on-base percentage that season (.516) ranks second. In total, Hackett appeared in eight Big Ten top five categories in 2010. She ended her career ranking first in slugging percentage, second in home runs, walks and putout, third for on-base percentage, doubles and chances, fourth in RBIs, total bases and double plays turned, sixth in batting average and seventh in fielding percentage. Hackett was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.

Benita Kelley Babridge, Track & Field, 1995-98

Benita Kelley earned All-America honors eight times (three relays) as an Illini. She was also an eight-time Big Ten Champion and is still the school record holder in the 60-meter dash. Her top Illini 100-meter dash time was a wind-aided effort at 11.09. Kelley finished third at the 1996 NCAA Indoor meet, fourth in 1997 and eighth in the 55-meter dash in 1998. At Big Ten championship meets, Kelley won the 55m and 4x400m relay indoors for the team champions in 1996. At the conference outdoor championships, she won the 100m and 200m titles in 1998, along with relay titles in the 4x100m in 1995, 1996 and 1998, and the 4x400m title in 1996. She helped the Illini win the 1995 indoor and outdoor team titles, and the 1996 indoor conference championships. Kelley and fellow hall-of-famer Aspen Burkett were members of the same recruiting class for coach Gary Winckler and lived as roommates during their time on campus.

Kurt Kittner, Football, 1998-2001

Quarterback Kurt Kittner had a three-year NFL career after leading the Illini to the 2001 Big Ten title with a 7-1 conference record and Sugar Bowl appearance as a senior. He earned Second-Team All-Big Ten recognition in 2001 and was a three-year starter for the Illini. Kittner finished second on the UI career passing list with 8,722 yards, just three yards behind Jack Trudeau’s school mark. Kittner still ranks third in career completions (682), first in attempts (1,254), first in touchdown passes (70) and has the two top single-seasons for touchdown passes with 27 and 24. Kittner was drafted in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, where he played in 2002 and 2003. His third NFL season came with the Chicago Bears in 2005. Kittner also played for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, helping the Admirals to the 2005 championship while earning World Bowl XIII MVP honors. Following his playing career, Kittner served as football color analyst on the Illini Sports Radio Network for seven years.

Joe Rutgens, Football, 1958-60

Joe Rutgens earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors as a star defensive tackle in 1959 and 1960, and First-Team All-America recognition in 1960 playing under the legendary Ray Eliot. He was drafted in the first round of the 1960 NFL Draft as the third overall pick by Washington and played for the Redskins from 1961-69. Rutgens was selected to play in two Pro Bowls (1963 and 1965) during his NFL career. He was also selected in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1961 AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. In 2008, Rutgens was selected as one of the top 10 defensive linemen in Illinois football history. In 2024, he was named one of the top 10 defensive linemen in the history of the Washington Commanders, where he totaled 40 sacks during his career.

Scott Spiezio, Baseball, 1991-93

Scott Spiezio was a 1993 All-American for Coach Itch Jones, while also earning Third-Team and Second-Team All-Big Ten honors during his time at Illinois. A switch-hitter, he is the UI career home run record holder with 48. Spiezio played 12 seasons in the major leagues with Oakland, Anaheim, Seattle and St. Louis, winning two World Series titles with the Angels and Cardinals. Drafted out of Illinois in 1993 by Oakland, he was a career .255 hitter with 119 HR and 549 RBI during MLB career. One of his career highlights was when he hit a three-run home run in Game Six of the 2002 World Series that sparked the Angels in a come-from-behind victory over the San Francisco Giants. He tied the postseason record with 19 RBI in one postseason in 2002. A versatile player, Spiezio made collegiate and MLB starts at first base, second base, and third base, and as a switch hitter. As a major leaguer, he additionally saw action in left field and right field, while even pitching an inning in 2007.

Gene Vance, Basketball / Athletics Director, 1942-43, 1947 / 1967-72

A member of the famed Whiz Kids basketball teams in the 1940s, Gene Vance was First-Team All-Big Ten in 1942 and ’43 before earning Second-Team recognition in 1947 after returning to campus from active duty in WW II. He was named honorable mention All-American in 1942, ’43 and ’47. Illinois won back-to-back Big Ten titles in 1942 and 1943 and was widely considered the nation’s best team in 1943 before the team was broken up to serve in the armed services, with Vance earning two Bronze Stars while fighting in Europe. Vance played professional basketball five seasons for the Chicago Stags and Tri-Cities Blackhawks / Milwaukee Hawks. In 2005, Vance was named to the Illinois All-Century Basketball Team. He also served Illinois as its Director of Athletics from 1967-72 and as senior development officer at the University of Illinois Foundation until his retirement in 2000. Vance died in 2012 at the age 88.

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CLUB VOLLEYBALL: 208 U14 Elite team wins national title

The 208 Volleyball U14 Elite squad certainly finished its club volleyball season on a roll — and did something rarely, if ever, done by a North Idaho volleyball team. The 208 team, with seven of its 10 players from North Idaho, won its final 31 matches of the season, including 13 in a row to […]

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39 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The 208 Volleyball U14 Elite squad certainly finished its club volleyball season on a roll — and did something rarely, if ever, done by a North Idaho volleyball team.

The 208 team, with seven of its 10 players from North Idaho, won its final 31 matches of the season, including 13 in a row to capture a national title in the 14U Premier Division at the AAU Girls Junior National Volleyball Championship June 17-20 in Orlando, Fla.

“I think the kids showed a lot of mental toughness,” said 208 coach Debbie Buchanan, the former St. Maries High volleyball star who coached the Idaho Vandals for 22 seasons. “There were times we were down by quite a few points, and we were able to lock in, and really stay focused on what we were trying to do on our side.

“Just super proud of the girls, they showed a lot of trust in each other. They competed all the way through.”

The 208 team included:

• Gretah Angle (setter/opposite Hitter) of Kellogg, a rising freshman at Kellogg High;

• Peyton Barclift (outside hitter) of Post Falls, who will be an eighth grader at Post Falls Middle School;

• Jade Laos (setter/libero) of Post Falls, a rising freshman at Post Falls High;

• Danica Pratt (outside hitter/DS) of Post Falls, a rising freshman at Post Falls High;

• Everlee Powell (middle blocker) of Rathdrum, a home-schooler and rising freshman who plans to play at Timberlake High;

• Ellie Garcia (middle blocker) of Pasco, Wash., a rising sophomore at Chiawana High;

• Rowan Greenfield (outside hitter) of Liberty Lake, a rising freshman at Gonzaga Prep;

• Sonia-rei Fong (libero/DS) of Coeur d’Alene, a rising freshman at Coeur d’Alene High;

• Lilly Fletcher (DS) of Coeur d’Alene, a rising freshman at Coeur d’Alene High; and

• Shayna Singh (opposite hitter) of Colfax, Wash., a rising sophomore at Pullman High.

“I think we have some really big arms at every position,” Buchanan said. “I feel like we’re well-rounded … we were able to do things to put us in a position where teams had a hard time stopping us. We had two middles that could run fast, in front and behind the setter. When we could pass and keep things in play in a good spot, we could run that. Teams had to decide if they were going to stick with our middles or go with our outsides … we had some great ball-control, great defense, did a good job from the service line … so really, it all came together that last weekend. Super proud of them.”

Barclift was named Most Valuable Player in the 14 Premier tournament, and Angle and Powell earned All-American (all-tournament) honors.

Buchanan on Barclift: “She had some really big plays for our team this weekend, especially hitting when we were out of system, just going up and taking some big swings, using the high hands, making smart shots. And she also passed and played defense and did some great things from the back row and service line. She’s just a true competitor; she’s going to just keep growing in the game. It was fun to watch.”

Buchanan on Angle, who set a 5-1 offense most of the time: “She did a great job finding our middles, and running the quick, really isolating. We’re working on isolating and overloading our hitters, giving them a ball that they could hit. She did a really good job when we were out of system, putting up a ball that was hittable. And she did some big things at the net, with dumping and blocking.”

Buchanan on Powell: “From an offensive standpoint, she’s so good on the slide. She’s a really physical hitter; that’s her bread and butter. She was able to hit the slide a lot but she’s also great offensively in the middle. And her blocking this weekend was really good. When you have a middle that can do all of those things, and can pull the block and leave the outsides one on one is a really big thing.”

The 14 Premier division was considered the second-highest level of the seven 14U divisions at the AAU nationals, just below the 14 Open division.

An official with the Evergreen Region, which includes teams from North Idaho and Eastern Washington, said she couldn’t be sure but “I don’t believe” a team from the region had ever won a national title before.

Plus, there are different “national” tournaments.

The 208 Volleyball U14 Elite team had already committed to AAU nationals, then earned a bid to the upcoming USA Volleyball Girls Junior Nationals in late June in Dallas, but turned the Dallas bid down because it had already committed to AAU nationals, opting for that one because it would have its whole team together, as well as the cost of going to two national tourneys.

“Some teams do both,” Buchanan said. “They go to AAU nationals as a warmup … “

The core of the current 208 U14 team has played together for several years, Buchanan said. Two players were added for this season, her first year as coach of the team.

208 won tournaments in Denver and Salt Lake City, prior to winning nationals in Orlando. The 208 team played three days of pool play, culminating with a crossover match Thursday night. Gold Bracket play was Friday, with 208 beating Pineapple 14 Black from Indiana in the championship match.

“It’s a great way to end,” Buchanan said. “I think sometimes I have to remember that they are only 14. But they were really great about responding, because I held them accountable.”

Debbie’s oldest son, Austin, coached with her at the national tournament. Austin Buchanan, a setter, began his collegiate volleyball career at Hawaii, and has one more season remaining at Division I Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.

He’s also an assistant coach at a high school in Connecticut, recently helping that team win a state title. This fall, prior to playing his final season at Sacred Heart, he’ll be an assistant with the Yale women’s volleyball team.

“That was really fun and special for me for him to be my assistant coach, and celebrate this with me,” Debbie said.

Since retiring as Idaho coach, Debbie Buchanan has continued to conduct volleyball camps, and also does private volleyball lessons.

“I haven’t coached club in quite a while,” she said. “I was able to have a great high school career, and get a scholarship to college. Had a great coaching career, and now I have this opportunity to be on the club side and help kids in a different way. So for me, it’s been really fulfilling.”

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