A dinner party that got ‘out of hand’ has become the growing Berkeley Supper Club
On the evening of Sunday, May 18, 40 people slowly trickled into the West Berkeley restaurant Tarocco. It’s an inviting, open space that is closed on weekends but had been commandeered by a pair of chefs, one professional and one moonlighting as a cook, for an under-the-radar monthly meal that is fostering friendships, and growing […]
On the evening of Sunday, May 18, 40 people slowly trickled into the West Berkeley restaurant Tarocco. It’s an inviting, open space that is closed on weekends but had been commandeered by a pair of chefs, one professional and one moonlighting as a cook, for an under-the-radar monthly meal that is fostering friendships, and growing in size and ambition.
The guests grabbed a drink or some crostini with anchovy and chive butter or baba ganoush. They were there for the Berkeley Supper Club, an event organized by Alon Yoeli that brings people together for a shared meal curated by Yoeli and his co-chef Asher Thibeault, a fine dining chef who most recently worked at Trattoria Servino in Tiburon.
Yoeli has a classic Bay Area job — Senior Technical Product Owner at Veridix AI, a company that applies artificial intelligence to clinical research. However, his collection of hobbies and side gigs is unique — he spends his free time as the head varsity water polo coach at Berkeley High, staging at Chez Panisse and the Cultured Pickle Shop, and as the head chef and founder of Berkeley Supper Club.
Yoeli moved to Berkeley from Austin, Texas in August 2023, and almost immediately started hosting supper clubs. He got the idea from a friend hosting his own version on the East Coast, who told him that supper clubs were “totally your vibe.”
A family restaurant creates a lifelong passion
Yoeli grew up partly in Hawaii on O’ahu in the early 2000s. For roughly 14 months, when he was around 10 years old, his mom owned an Israeli restaurant called Paprika.
“My mom was working 14- to 18-hour days, every day. She poured her heart and soul into it,” Yoeli said. “We broke even in that 14 months, which is a crazy thing for a restaurant to do in any place, let alone Hawaii, where it’s pretty tough to have a restaurant. I just had the fondest memories from running around that restaurant.”
The fifth course of the night at the June 29 Berkeley Supper club was a salad of roasted eggplants, shishito peppers, and herb drippy sauce. Credit: Ximena Natera for East Bay Nosh
From there, Yoeli’s passion for cooking and food took off, and he’s been cultivating that interest ever since. The supper club is his creative outlet, and through staging at Chez Panisse and the Cultured Pickle Shop, he learns a lot of skills that he puts into practice.
“Part of this is also exploring the things that my mom and dad did love about the restaurant industry in my own way, without having to fully commit and give my life to it,” Yoeli said. “Which I recognize is a privilege that not everybody gets, so I’ve been really grateful to get to do that.”
Yoeli stumbled into the staging opportunities. Right after he moved to Berkeley, he walked into the Cultured Pickle Shop and was blown away by their approach to vegetables.
“It was a game changer for me. It really changed the way I started thinking about food, and I really appreciated that,” Yoeli said. “And so I began staging there and helping out. I’m so grateful that they were accepting and allowed me to come in and help them.”
Yoeli said that the Cultured Pickle Shop’s use of produce, its relationships with farms, and the way it celebrates ingredients have influenced him a lot.
As for Chez Panisse, Yoeli said that connection came through a father of one of the students he coaches on the Berkeley High water polo club. Chez Panisse offered him a chance to come in one day, and now he helps out weekly on a volunteer basis. Chez Panisse has given him the more classical training that he feels he needs to deliver a fine dining experience.
One of Alon Yoeli’s favorite things about the supper club is how it has connected him to more people, including (clockwise from top left) his co-chef Asher Thibeault, chef de partie Selvin Ochoa, prep chef and bar manager Finn Sanner, and chef Myriam Sefrioui. Credit: Ximena Natera for East Bay Nosh
“I think Chez has a mixed reputation amongst the fine dining and food community, but you can’t give them any hate for the culture they create there,” Yoeli said. “It’s really a lovely place to be. And I’ve learned a ton there, so I’m really grateful for that experience as well.”
Thibeault has also helped bring a more fine-dining experience to the supper clubs, coming from cooking in Michelin-starred restaurants for the last five years. He joined for the seventh supper club after meeting Yoeli at Wu Wei Tea Temple in Fairfax. With his help, the supper club has gone from a more casual four-course, family-style format to a 10-course semi-tasting menu. Thibeault said he and Yoeli have a similar focus they bring to the meals.
“We’re in one of the largest bread baskets on the planet, and we’re privileged enough to have access to some of the best produce around. And my entire philosophy surrounding cooking has been just showing reverence to the ingredients that we have the privilege of working with,” said Thibeault, who added that the fact that he does the supper clubs on his day off shows how creative and fun it is for him.
Evolving flavors and spaces
Part of hosting a supper club is finding a way to fund it. Yoeli said that it has been a learning process as it has grown in size. So far, it has mostly been donation-based, collecting enough to cover ingredients. The price has risen over time as the menu has grown more complex. The first couple of supper clubs were around $24, with only Yoeli working, preparing for three days beforehand. Once Thibeault joined the team, the complexity of the meals took off. Two to three more courses were immediately added and the prices started to rise. The current standard price is $80.
About a year into the events, Yoeli was looking for ways to subsidize the cost, and he looked into Moishe House without Walls, a group that provides funding for people to host events centered on the Jewish community. With this funding, some of the dinners have been loosely themed around Jewish holidays such as Passover or Sukkot, which Yoeli said provided a challenge of telling a story through the food. The May dinner was themed around the Jewish holiday Lag B’Omer, while the June dinner held on June 29 was themed around the “First Fruits of Summer.”
Yuliya and Eli Kosminsky, guests at the June 29 supper club, try the salmon crudo. Credit: Ximena Natera for East Bay Nosh
Yoeli and Thibeault are both Jewish and said a lot of their inspiration comes from what Yoeli describes as the “Jewish diaspora flavors.” Growing up, his mom would make Burekas, a Sephardic Jewish puff pastry with normally savory fillings such as potatoes or cheese. From the start, Yoeli knew that he had to include Burekas in his supper clubs. At his May dinner, he filled the pastry with fenugreek, allium, and feta. In June, he filled it with amaranth greens, feta, and kashkaval.
“So taking these flavors that I grew up with and kind of reinventing them in the lens of the culinary world here, the fine dining Northern California, weird place that it is,” Yoeli said. “I mean, it’s just so fun.”
Yoeli wants everyone in the Bay to be able to experience a supper club. He’s not trying to cater his dinners to just one audience — it’s ultimately about creating a space that allows everyone to find and facilitate interaction. A lot of these connections have become reciprocal relationships where people who come to the dinners end up helping out with food preparation or making desserts.
The funding still hasn’t reached the point where Yoeli is able to pay the people who help (other than with bottles of wine and boxes of food to take home).
At the June 29 edition of Berkeley Supper Club the menu included (clockwise from top left) “trash toast” with egg emulsion and glazed leftover greens, a salmon crudo served inside a ceramic oyster, fattoush with grilled halloumi, and hojicha tiramisu.
“So far, people have responded super well to that, they see the vision and they’re super down to help out,” Yoeli said. “So it’s been sweet, but then, as we grow and as we continue to do these kinds of events, I’d like to be able to be set up to make sure that people are feeling valued for their time as well.”
The guests are a wide array of friends of friends of Yoeli or Thibeault, and increasingly strangers who have heard about the event through other means. Yoeli said that people are drawn to the supper club idea, and the community has naturally grown. At the dinner Nosh attended in May, one person was there on her third date with Yoeli, they’d met through the dating app Hinge earlier that week. Thibeault also mentioned an attendee who had heard about the supper club by asking ChatGPT if there were any supper clubs in the Bay Area.
“It’s great because you get to meet a lot of really cool people,” Yoeli said. “You get to build a community. You get to kind of create a narrative and a story through your food and share it with others, which is really a special thing to be able to do.”
The supper clubs in May and June were both held at Tarocco, but previously they were held at Yoeli’s place or one of his friends’ homes. This previous setup led to a cozy and intimate feel as people sat on couches, the floor, and tables around the space. The open kitchen in these spaces led to more interaction between the chef and the guests.
In the restaurant setting, there was still no assigned seating, and people milled about. Tarocco is an inviting open space with spread out tables, some counter seating, and beautiful windows. So, while not a cozy apartment that naturally leads to more co-mingling, the space still encouraged socializing among the guests. They floated around, eventually sitting somewhere when the main course was served. Both Yoeli and Thibeault had some hesitations around the new format taking away some of the flow between the guests and organizers, though.
Cotton candy sprinkled with seaweed and topped with shiitake peppers was served at the June 29 super club. Credit: Ximena Natera for East Bay Nosh
“I think it’s important, at least on a personal level, especially for a supper club like this, to see the work that you do has that impact on someone’s day,” Thibeault said.
Although Thibeault added that the professional kitchen was nice to cook in, and beneficial for their growth and structure.
“I think that ultimately the goals were still met, giving people a place to connect over really beautiful food and giving people a fun place to hang out on a Sunday night,” Yoeli said.
Over two years and 17 supper clubs, Yoeli and Thibeault have learned some lessons that they now bring to each event. Some dishes have become menu staples. One of these is “trash toast” — toast made with scraps that might normally be thrown out during a meal, such as egg emulsion and greens.
“That’s an example of the kind of recycling attitude and use the whole vegetable approach that we take to cooking and people appreciate that,” Yoeli said.
They also have a crudo at most of the supper clubs, served in a handmade ceramic oyster shell that Seamus Hozven-Farley, the son of the owners of the Cultured Pickle Club, made. His ceramics can be purchased at the restaurant.
At the end of the day, Yoeli said that the real must-haves are the friends and supporters he’s made over the years.
“For me, it’s about the people that walk into the space, and catering a cool experience for them and making sure they have a good time is paramount to really anything else that we’re trying to do,” Yoeli said.
Thibeault agrees that this community aspect and the people who are coming set the experience apart.
“Part of the supper club that I kind of appreciate above what I do professionally is that we have a little bit more input as to the community that we’re developing, which I think is a really beautiful thing,” Thibeault said. “And these are, at a certain point, people that aren’t just coming to eat, but people that are coming to see us and kind of understand a little bit more about what we’re doing. And I think that’s a really unique and wonderful concept.”
Austin Krauss, a friend of Yoeli’s, has been to every iteration of the supper club since its start in the chef’s apartment kitchen. Credit: Ximena Natera for East Bay Nosh
Yoeli met some of his closest friends through this process, including Austin Krauss, who came to the first supper club with his wife’s friend. Yoeli and Krauss immediately clicked, and Yoeli agreed to teach him how to cook. The next week, they met at Berkeley Bowl, and Yoeli taught him how to make different types of curry, even sending him a PDF of “what you learned today” after. From there, their friendship blossomed with Krauss now becoming one of the supper club’s biggest supporters.
“I was trying to also nudge him in the direction of, what are small steps that you can do to try to test out turning this into more of a business,” Krauss said. “I just saw how much he loved it, and I was like, you should be doing this full time.”
Krauss just wants to make sure that Yoeli is able to commit himself fully to what he loves — good food and bringing people together.
“I think that’s really where he excels, building spaces for community to get together, mostly over food and drink,” Krauss said.
Yoeli reflects a lot of his success onto the people around him, saying that Krauss, Thibeault, and the other people who surround him are instrumental in him being able to put on a dinner for 40 people.
“At the end of the day, this was just me throwing dinner parties, and they got a little out of hand,” Yoeli said. “And I’m excited for it to continue to get out of hand.”
The next Berkeley Supper Club is Sunday, July 20.
Strawberry shortcake cupcakes were one of three desserts at the June 29 supper club. Credit: Ximena Natera for East Bay Nosh
Queen Creek-area water polo club looks for more members | News
A Mesa-based water polo team is looking for members as it works to expand a Valley-wide league, including a Queen Creek team that’s now being formed. The Topaz Water Polo Club was formed in 2020 for a couple of reasons, according to Mariah Hagemann, who has club program manager oversees tournament planning, travel coordination, and the overall […]
A Mesa-based water polo team is looking for members as it works to expand a Valley-wide league, including aQueen Creek team that’s now being formed.
The Topaz Water Polo Club was formed in 2020 for a couple of reasons, according to Mariah Hagemann, who has club program manager oversees tournament planning, travel coordination, and the overall development of the athletes and teams.
“While most local youth sports focus on land-based activities, we saw a need for greater access to aquatic sports – especially water polo, said Hagemann. “So we set out to create something different: local, affordable, high-quality programs that give families access to the sport without the high cost or travel burden.”
The club practices at Kino Aquatic Center in Mesa and Chandler Aquatics Center, led by collegiate and national-level coaches, including John Cogliandro, head coach at Ottawa University.
John Cogliandro coaches the East Valley teams in the budding water polo league, including a new Queen Creek team.
Annalee Hull/Staff Photographer
He also coaches the budding league’s teams, which current comprise three from the East Valley and one from the West Valley. He also will be coaching a new team that’s forming in Queen Creek.
“Over the past year, we’ve been building a growing youth water polo community in Mesa and Chandler, offering kids ages 8–18 the opportunity to learn and compete in a fast-paced Olympic team sport that has historically had little presence in Arizona,” Hagemann said.
She said Arizona’s first community-based youth water polo league is focused on providing “consistent local competition.”
“Right now, most teams travel long distances and pay high tournament fees, limiting who can participate,” she explained. “Our goal is to remove those barriers and grow the sport in our own backyard.”
“Water polo is one of the most challenging and rewarding team sports,” she added, “and we want to spread awareness, build access, and open doors for East Valley kids.”
The Topaz Water Polo Club current counts about 40 athletes across all ages.
The youth program serves ages 6-18 and a women’s and men’s masters program is available to people 18 and older, though Hagemann said, “Our main focus is youth development.”
“We recently sent a team to the 2025 Junior Olympics in California, the largest youth water polo tournament in the country,” she noted. “We also compete in local and regional events throughout the year and are continuing to build toward consistent national competition.”
Hagemann, who was been playing water polo since she was a kid and belongs to Topaz’s women’s masters team, said, “We’re in the pilot phase of launching the league.
“We’ve already run several scrimmage days and mini-tournaments, and are now finalizing rules, structure, and scheduling in preparation for a full launch this coming spring.”
While finding available public pools “used to be one of our biggest hurdles,” Hagemann said, “We’ve made great progress. We now have consistent pool time secured, which gives us the ability to run regular practices and games across multiple sites.”
The club is co-ed, especially for our younger groups ages 6–14. For older athletes, there are both co-ed and gender-specific practices.
Currently, Topaz is offering free trial weeks. “No prior experience is required,” Hagemann said, “just a willingness to learn and have fun in the water.”
Graduate Assistant for Athletics Operations in Lebanon, IL for McKendree University
Details Posted: 12-Aug-25 Location: Lebanon, Illinois Type: Part-time Categories: Operations Operations – Equipment Manager Operations – Event Management Sector: Collegiate Sports McKendree University, located in Lebanon, IL and home of the Bearcats, invites qualified applicants to join our team. McKendree University offers a competitive compensation and benefits package and the opportunity to influence the future […]
McKendree University, located in Lebanon, IL and home of the Bearcats, invites qualified applicants to join our team. McKendree University offers a competitive compensation and benefits package and the opportunity to influence the future leaders of tomorrow.
The mission of McKendree University is to provide a high-quality educational experience to outstanding students. We guide our students in the pursuit of academic excellence, which will prepare them for leadership roles in our society. To achieve this end we encourage broader vision, enriched purpose, engagement with community, commitment to responsible citizenship, openness to new ideas and dedication to lifelong learning. In keeping with our history and traditions, we provide our students with a rigorous, broadly based liberal arts curriculum joined with specialization in a specific discipline.
Position Summary and Key Responsibilities This position is responsible for assisting the Manager of Event and Game Operations in planning, coordinating, and execution of all home athletic events, as well as assisting the Athletics Operations Manager in general day-to-day operations. This includes game operations, events/facilities management, ticketing & promotions, fan engagement, laundry management, and coordinating travel & lodging. This is a part-time position.
Work Conditions Able to lift 25 pounds. Nights and weekends availability is required. Some travel is required.
Required Application Materials Cover Letter Resume/CV
Equal Opportunity Employer
McKendree University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other statuses protected by law. This extends to all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruiting, hiring, training, on-the-job treatment, promotion, layoff, and termination.
Qualifications Required Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and acceptance into a master’s program at McKendree University is required.
About McKendree University
McKendree University, Illinois’ first and finest, is a private university in Lebanon, Ill., just 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis. The school has approximately 2,000 full-time students and offers both undergraduate and graduate school programs. As a private, independent university, we are committed to providing a personalized education that allows student to reach their full potential. The University has a long tradition of quality and success in intercollegiate athletics and sponsors 36 intercollegiate sports programs. The University is a member of Division II of the NCAA and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Spain, United States of America, Croatia and Australia win groups
Overview In Group A, Spain took out first place with a 15-5 downing of fourth-ranked Israel and Netherlands finished second with a 17-6 win over New Zealand. In Group B, United States of America outplayed Italy 14-6 to go through undefeated while Greece took out second place by delivering Hungary a third consecutive defeat, winning […]
In Group A, Spain took out first place with a 15-5 downing of fourth-ranked Israel and Netherlands finished second with a 17-6 win over New Zealand.
In Group B, United States of America outplayed Italy 14-6 to go through undefeated while Greece took out second place by delivering Hungary a third consecutive defeat, winning their encounter 15-11.
In Group C, Croatia secured the group with a third win, downing Argentina 19-11 and Brazil pleased the home crowd with a 28-3 demolition of Mexico for second place.
In Group D, Australia claimed top ranking with a 14-8 victory over China and Canada took third place with a 14-8 win over South Africa.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Final Points
Group A: Spain 9, Netherlands 6, New Zealand 3, Israel 0 Group B: United States of America 8, Greece 7, Italy 3, Hungary 0 Group C: Croatia 9, Brazil 6, Argentina 3, Mexico 0 Group D: Australia 9, China 6, Canada 3, South Africa 0
Day 4 Schedule
Group E (Classification 13-16) Match 25. 10:30. Argentina v South Africa Match 26. 12:00. Canada v Mexico
Crossovers Match 27. 13:30. Israel v Croatia Match 28. 16:00. Hungary v Australia Match 29. 17:30. Italy v China Match 30. 19:00. New Zealand v Brazil
Match Reports
Match 24, Group B, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 14 ITALY 6 (4-3, 3-0, 4-1, 3-2)
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
USA’s two senior World Championship senior team athletes, Julia Bonaguidi and Emily Ausmus, brought home 10 of the goals required to beat Italy. And Lucy Haaland-Ford, who played the World Cup earlier this year, added another three, although the first goal was attributed to another player, it appears.
USA started quickly with the first two goals in two attacks, allowing one to slip by on extra and then two Bonaguidi goals (for her third) gave a 4-1 boost to the team. Two Italian goals came in reply in the last four minutes for 4-3. Bonaguidi converted extra for her fourth goal and captain and World Aquatics Media All Star team member Ausmus began her run with a penalty goal and one from the deep left when covered for 7-3 at halftime.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Beatrice Cassara, who had six goals coming into this match, converted a penalty foul to start the second half. It was to be another 12 minutes or more before Italy was to score again. Bonaguidi and Ausmus scored before Haaland-Ford sat up in the middle for her first goal, followed by another Ausmus piece of brilliance from a six-metre foul. Haaland-Ford opened the fourth quarter with a pair followed by Bonaguidi (after an Italian timeout) at 4:03 for 14-4. Eleonora Bianco scored at 3:10 and 2:26 for 14-6.
Match Heroes Bonaguidi netted six goals and Ausmus four to lead USA. Bianco scored twice for Italy.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Turning Point The 4-1 score in the first quarter was excellent but holding out Italy in the second and going 7-3 up was the basis for victory.
Stats Don’t Lie USA converted five from nine on extra and defended four from six. Both teams put away their two penalty attempts; Italy took the steals six to five and outshot USA 28-26.
Bottom Line USA is running an excellent team in Salvador and is on target for yet another crown should this consistency prevail. Italy finished third in the group.
Match 23, Group B, HUNGARY 11 GREECE 15 (1-6, 3-4, 5-3, 2-2)
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Greece blitzed Hungary in the opening quarter and from then on Hungary steeled itself and won the next three periods. By then the damage had been done and a third consecutive loss was registered. The previous loss for the Hungarians was the opening match of the 2023 edition when it went down 14-13 against Italy in a penalty shootout. However, it turned the tables on the Italians in the semifinals, winning 10-9 en route to the gold medal. Turning the tables tonight is only a manner of speech as taking three quarters is usually enough, but not in Salvador.
Goals were traded at the start with Greece leading the way through senior star Dionysia Koureta. Greece’s other big guns also came to the fore —women who have been through thick and thin, winning the World Cup and the World Championship crowns this year. Nefeli Krassa on counter and Foteini Tricha with a double showed their recent experience to excellent effect. This trio will prove vital to the team in the second stage of competition. Ariadni Karampetsou converted a penalty and Tricha grabbed her third from the top nearly a minute before the quarter break. Kata Hajdu, a youngster on the senior team after winning gold at juniors two years ago, scored twice in the second period and Laura Kardos once as Greece impressed to the tune of 10-4. Tricha converted a penalty, Karampetsou blasted from eight metres and Krassa added a pair.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Karampetsou started the second half with a penalty goal and goals were traded to 12-6. Eszter Macsai followed up Dominika Kardos’ deep-right goal with her strike on extra. Greece stopped play with a timeout but the eventual shot hit wood. Laura Kardos on counter and BiborPogonyi on extra made it four in a row for Hungary and narrowed the margin to three. Despoina Drakotou took a cross pass on extra to centre forward for 13-9 while a Greek penalty attempt failed to find the mark, spraying wide right.
Krassa put paid to any thoughts that Hungary could make a huge revival, scoring twice in the fourth period, firstly on extra and then on counter for a six-goal margin at 5:54. Hajdu sent in a penalty goal at 4:32, giving faint hope. Both teams took timeouts and only Hungary managed to convert its extra-man opportunity by drawing a penalty foul, which Macsai converted at 1:13, the final score.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Match Heroes Greece’s Krassa with six goals to give her 12 for the week; Tricha scored four to bring up 10 and Karampetsou grabbed three for eight. Macsai and Hajdu scored three each for Hungary and the goalkeepers saved 12.
Turning Point The 6-1 first quarter was almost embarrassing for Hungary. From there Hungary won the match 10-9.
Stats Don’t Lie Greece put away five from 10 on extra to Hungary’s two from four. Greece missed one of four penalty attempts and Hungary scored two. Greece took the steals and six to four and overall shots at 34-29.
Bottom Line Hungary has not been strong this week and Greece took advantage as the second best team in the group.
Match 22, Group C, MEXICO 3 BRAZIL 28 (0-10, 1-6, 1-5, 1-7)
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Brazil swam roughshod over Mexico with a vast array of shots, including nine on counter and minimising fouling. Brazil only gave up two penalty fouls. Brazil had six goals in the bag before Mexico’s Tabata Alba swum up for a penalty shot that hit the left post. Three goals on extra and one from action had Brazil at 10 by the quarter break. Captain Maiah Nascimento set the ball rolling with the first three goals and Stefany Azevedo and Nicolly dos Santos scored consecutive goals each. Leticia Lorieto scored twice to open the second quarter as the score moved to 15-0. Mercedes Feliciano stopped the drought with a big shot from the right side of the pool to open Mexico’s account. Ana de Barros made it 16-1 accepting a pass at centre forward just before the turn.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Nascimento crashed the crossbar on penalty at the top of the second half but scored on the next attack. Da Silva and Lidia Rocha scored twice each before Feliciano again made the sheet, converting a penalty foul, seconds from the final break. Vivian Rangel brought up Mexico’s third goal firing from wide off the left post. Dos Santos grabbed three in a row with another three coming in the final three minutes for 28-3.
Match Heroes Dos Santos with five, Nascimento and da Silva with four and Rocha with three for Brazil. There were 11 scorers in all. For Mexico, Feliciano made two and goalie Alma Luna snared seven saves
Turning Point The opening whistle.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Stats Don’t Lie Brazil converted all six chances and gave none to Mexico. Both missed a penalty attempt from Mexico’s two and Brazil’s three. Brazil stole the ball 17 to four and shot 43 times to 18.
Bottom Line Brazil was always going to be on the front foot against the less experienced Mexicans.
Match 21, Group A, SPAIN 15 ISRAEL 5 (4-0, 4-0, 5-2, 2-3)
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Spain was all over Israel and denied it goal entry in the first half. It was a case of action goals in a match where scoring on extra was never going to win the encounter. Spain was excellent around the pool, made the opportunities and created space from which to action goals. Alba Munoz and Olympic champion Isabel Piralkova scored twice each in the half.
Miya Tirosh scored Israel’s first goal in the second half from deep right and goals were traded to 9-2. Four Spanish goals came with Munoz and Piralkova book-ending the surge for 13-2 at the last break. Noga Levinshtein on extra after a timeout and Gili Borenstein on penalty, lifted the scored to 13-4 by midway through the fourth period. A pair of Spanish goals sent it to 15-4 and Arbelle Bousnach beat the buzzer with a shot from just inside halfway for 15-5 at 0:55.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Match Heroes Piralkova top-scored with three goals in a match where 15 players made the sheet. The Spanish goalkeepers pulled in 12 saves.
Turning Point Keeping Israel scoreless in the first half was where the victory was constructed.
Stats Don’t Lie Spain converted one from two and Israel two from four on extra. Both teams scored a penalty goal; Spain made 10 steals to two and outshot Israel 35-26.
Bottom Line Spain was the elite team and destined to go far in the tournament. Israel is still to win a match.
Match 20, Group A, NETHERLANDS 17 NEW ZEALAND 6 (4-2, 4-1, 4-3, 5-0)
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Netherlands easily took out second place in the group with a solid effort against New Zealand. The Dutch were too good all around the pool and had the incomparable Linde Haksteen in top form. New Zealand opened through Emison Styris on extra and then the Dutch swung into action with four goals before Holly Dunn repeated Styris’ effort, 18 seconds from the quarter buzzer for 4-2. Haksteen rattled in three straight from the left side of the pool for 7-2 in the second period with goals traded, Styris gaining her second.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Dutch captain Robin Jutte scored the first two goals of the third quarter, either side of a saved Kiwi penalty attempt. New Zealand’s Una Dennehy needed VAR to confirm her first goal in Salvador for 10-4, starting a trade through to 12-6 by the last break. New Zealand had a second penalty attempt shut down and Erika Paterson backhanded a goal after having few chances. The Kiwis were kept at bay in the final eight minutes as senior international Pien Gorter blasted one in from the top left and Haksteen went on another three-goal splurge. Melissa Schipper scored the last goal from the top left at 0:58 and the match was sealed.
Match Heroes Haksteen with six goals while goalkeeper Caitlin van Leeuwen made 11 saves in three periods for the Dutch. Styris scored twice for the Kiwis.
Turning Point The 4-1 start and 10-3 lead, plus the final-quarter shut-out gave Netherlands the win.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Stats Don’t Lie Netherlands converted all four extra chances and stopped three of seven Kiwi attempts. New Zealand had both penalty attempts saved; Netherlands went 8-7 on steals and 30-21 on shots.
Bottom Line The Dutch were a more balanced team with plenty of firepower with excellent positioning and passing. New Zealand took its chances but could only get a scoring chance into centre forward once.
Match 19, Group D, CHINA 8 AUSTRALIA 14 (1-4, 3-3, 4-4, 0-3)
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Australia topped its group with a third victory in the major showdown, leaving China to settle for second in the group. The victory was built on a 5-1 lead early in the second quarter and superior extra-player statistics. There were five different scorers in the first quarter with Australia starting first through Bless Daly and a response two minutes later with a centre-forward backhand by Huang Zerui. The Aussies gained two goals on counter with the second through Taafili Taoso. Goals were traded to 6-3 in the second quarter before China grabbed consecutive goals for 6-4. Daly converted extra for her second of the period to give Australia a 7-4 halftime advantage.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Sienna Owen drove to centre forward to score the second-half’s first goal and 8-4. Then China came back strongly with three unanswered goals, including as second for Zhang Jingwen while Xie Linshan’s lob needing VAR to decide whether it had beaten the buzzer. Daly and senior international Zhang Yumian swapped goals for 9-8. Australia went to timeout and Taoso obliged with her second goal and soon after Charley Stephens scored an identical goal for 11-8 at the last break. China could not find a way through in the final quarter and Taoso scored twice more with Ebony Nash gaining her second goal, this time with a backhand from two metres.
Match Heroes Taoso and Daly with four goals each for the Aussies and goalkeeper Isabel Scott took in eight saves. For China, Zhang Jingwen scored twice and goalie Yan Xintong made nine saves.
Turning Point The 5-1 start was just enough to hold out China when it came close at 9-8.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Stats Don’t Lie Australia was all powerful on extra, converting eight from 16 compared to China’s two from seven. Australia scored the only penalty goal, won the steals 9-8 and the shots 29-27.
Bottom Line Australia proved the more dominant team in front of goal and scoring that many goals on extra was the difference.
Match 18, Group D, CANADA 14 SOUTH AFRICA 8 (3-5, 3-3, 3-5, 2-6)
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Canada secured third placing in the group with its first victory, leaving South Africa winless and in fourth position. Canada had the services of Isabella Mady who could score from anywhere and a team around her. Brooklyn Plomp scored two for Canada in the opening quarter while Bella Murray backhanded from four metres wide of the post for 4-2. Mady turned up in the second quarter with the first two goals, one on extra and the other with a lob. She scored the final two Canadian goals, one on extra and the second with a backhander from four metres. Emma Pelicot gained South Africa’s sole goal with a strike from wide left.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Goals were traded in the third quarter to 11-5 with Mady in the mix and Jaime van den Bosch scoring her second South African goal, also from wide out. Plomp scored the 12-5 goal from eight metres with a second left on the clock. Cianne Benjamin started the fourth quarter with her second goal but this one after a steal from well inside her half and then launched a long shot into an empty South African goal as the South African goalkeeper was scrambling from the right side of the pool. Senior international Hannah Banks (RSA) slotted a penalty goal for 13-6; Canada had a penalty shot rejected; Mady claimed her eighth goal with a lob shot and South African Cate McMurray scored the final two goals in the last 95 seconds — on counter and from deep right for 14-8.
Match Heroes Mady with a six-goal haul and Plomp with three for Canada. McMurray and van den Bosch scored twice each for South Africa.
Turning Point From 4-2 at the quarter, Canada shot out to 8-2, setting up the victory.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Stats Don’t Lie Canada converted two from four on extra and South Africa one from three. Canad missed its penalty chance and South Africa made sure of its one attempt. South Africa controlled the steals at 12-7 and outshot Canada 28-26.
Bottom Line Canada had Mady with extraordinary skills.
Match 17, Group C, ARGENTINA 11 CROATIA 19 (3-5, 3-3, 3-5, 2-6)
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Croatia came up with its third victory to win the group and Argentina has to settle for third. The final score flattered Croatia as Argentina battled hard throughout and maintained some attachment, especially at 12-9 behind three minutes from the final break. Jelena Butic scored the first three Croatian goals and Ria Glas the next two as Croatia took command. Isabella Mastronardi finished the quarter scoring with her second from the top left for Argentina. Croatia went 6-3 and Argentina pulled two back starting with a Mastronardi penalty goal. Neli Jankovic had her penalty attempt saved and traded goals brought up the 8-6 scoreline by halftime.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Goals were swapped to 10-8, three minutes into the third period before Butic shot from the top and Iva Rozic converted a penalty for 12-8. Mastronardi replied on extra from deep left and Glas drove to centre forward and lobbed for 13-9 two minutes from the final break. The score moved to 15-10 before Glas added three more and Niki Alamat finished with a counter-attack goal for 19-11.
Match Heroes Glas with a tournament-high eight goals, Butic with five and Jankovic three were Croatia’s best while Argentina’s Mastronardi made four goals and goalkeeper Faustina Escola took in 11 saves in her time in water.
Turning Point Butic’s quick opening strike gave notice but it was not until midway through the second quarter that Croatia created a separation that Argentina struggled to bridge.
Image Source: Satiro Sodré/CBDA/World Aquatics
Stats Don’t Lie Argentina scored all three extra chances and Croatia one from two. Argentina made two penalty goals and Croatia two from three. Croatia topped the steals 11-5 and shot more at 38-29.
Bottom Line Croatia, full of senior internationals, had the bigger players and more strength to wear down the smaller Argentinians.
Football
8/12/2025 6:34:00 PM
A look at the 2025 Rams’ Front Line of Defense
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Bronx, N.Y. – As we approach the start of week three of the 2025 Fordham football camp we continue our position-by-position breakdown of the Rams, highlighting the first […]
Bronx, N.Y. – As we approach the start of week three of the 2025 Fordham football camp we continue our position-by-position breakdown of the Rams, highlighting the first line of defense, the defensive line.
The Fordham defensive line returns a wealth of experience, returning three of the four starters from 2024, led by senior Claudy Robinson. Last year Robinson earned All-Patriot League honors, starting all 12 games and recording 37 total tackles, 13 solo, including 6.0 tackles for loss and one sack.
Other returning starters on the defensive line for the Rans are senior Sam Buerkle, who started all 12 games at defensive tackle, registering 41 total tackles, 16 solo, including 8.0 for loss and 2.0 sacks, and junior John Scott III, who started all 12 games at Buck as a sophomore, recording 44 total tackles, 24 solo, including 6.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Other veterans back for the Rams include seniors Peter Chalhoub, who saw action in eleven games as a junior, making 13 total tackles, six solo, including 1.5 for loss, Colby Spencer, who appeared in all 12 games as junior, compiling 16 total tackles, five solo, including 1.5 for loss and 0.5 sacks, and Michael Thorn, who played in ten games as a junior, making 15 total tackles, seven solo.
The defensive line will also be bolstered by the return of graduate student Jack Low, who missed last year with an injury after starting five games on the line in 2023, and senior Chris Tuck II, who was limited by injury to four games as a junior, both on the defensive line and special teams.
Juniors returning to the defensive line include Aiden Jeter, who appeared in four games as a sophomore in 2024, and Kevin Nizolek, who did not see action last fall.
Sophomore returnees include Cole Nelson, who saw action in four games as a freshman; Carter Hess, who appeared in nine games as a freshman, making 13 tackles; Mardale Rowe, who appeared in one game last year; and Owen Theoharides and Phillip Kunkel-Quesada, who did not see action as a rookie.
Newcomers to the defensive line include Tyler Davis, who helped Erasmus Hall to the 2023 PSAL AAAA Championship; Lorenzo Riddick, a 2024 All-State performer at Long Island Lutheran; Marco DeCroce, a First Team All-League selection at Northern Valley Demarest; James Dunnemann II, a 2024 First Team All-Conference pick at Seton Hall Prep; and Cole Siegel
Fordham opens the 2025 season on Saturday, August 30, when the Rams travel to Boston College for a 2:00 p.m. contest. Join your fellow Ram fans in a pregame reception prior to the game.
Season and individual game tickets for the 2025 home season are now on sale through the Fordham Athletic Ticket Office.
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Chris Roberts
By Chris Roberts, Woodard Emhardt Henry Reeves & Wagner LLP
The “amateur” sports landscape has fundamentally changed due to athletes’ newfound ability to earn money for their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This comes as a welcomed change by the athletes, while some fans and organizations remain cautious. On one hand, many fear the changes the new policies may bring to our beloved sports. On the other hand, “amateur” sports is a multibillion-dollar industry and the decision to finally allow athletes to cash in for their contributions is one step toward rectifying one of America’s most glaringly inequitable industries.
The trend of players getting paid has extended from college athletes to high schoolers in most states. However, high schoolers in some states should exercise restraint because accepting money could cost them and their team. Indiana happens to be such a state.
Even in situations where athletes are eligible, organizations and athletes alike would do well to seek competent legal counsel in navigating the complex world of NIL and the related legal issues.
Variance Among States
The majority of states (about 40) have aligned with the NCAA in allowing NIL for high schoolers. These states have varying frameworks, ranging from the so called “unrestricted” states; to heavily restricted states; to “gray area” states where the legality of NIL is up for debate.
What this means in practice thus far is that the college NIL market has simply extended to high school. Some colleges pay monthly installments to players committed to play at their school, simply for remaining committed. This also means that some athletes are flocking to the less-restrictive states, with some earning millions before playing in college. Some states, such as Iowa, place strict caps on players’ earnings, the type of sponsorships permitted, and forbid athletes from using the IP of their school. Others forbid NIL for public schools but not private schools.
Finally, on the other end of the spectrum, some states are taking the wait-and-see approach to observe the effects that the change brings to the NCAA and NIL-friendly states. Indiana is one of five states that currently prohibits paying high schoolers for their athletic endeavors.
Navigating Complex Legal Issues
The good news is that the IHSAA provides relatively detailed guidance. Although, as the IHSAA states, there is no “all-inclusive answer” as to what constitutes a violation, the bylaws provide dozens of situation-specific answers. For example, athletes are permitted to get paid for providing instruction at camps if the compensation is “commensurate” (R5-3); are permitted to keep equipment up to a value of $250 (Q5-11); and may be “sponsored” for lodging/meals at eligible events (Q5-10). Other areas are murky – such as whether an athlete may begin to seek compensation after their respective sport finishes but before they graduate. The IHSAA appears willing to provide guidance to athletes who are willing to ask and specifically includes in its definition of acceptable awards those that are “approved”. Thus, when in doubt, ask the IHSAA beforehand.
There are other legal issues to keep in mind besides simply the NIL of the athlete. In some situations, the IP of the athlete and the school or organization need to be carefully parsed out. Strict attention should be paid to Indiana’s right of publicity statute and its exceptions (See Ind. Code § 32-36-1-8(a); and Daniels v. FanDuel, Inc., 109 N.E.3d 390, 392 (Ind. 2018)). Athletes and organizations would be wise to consult attorneys who operate in this space – specifically attorneys with expertise in intellectual property. Many issues surrounding NIL are fundamentally rooted in intellectual property law, as they involve the use and protection of an athlete’s name, image, and likeness as valuable assets. Experts in intellectual property can also provide guidance on relevant copyright, trademark, and state laws that affect athletes and organizations.
Preparing for the Future
Athletes earning money at the high school level across the country seems likely, if not inevitable. It will be imperative for athletes and organizations to be prepared when such a change occurs in Indiana. In such an evolving landscape, it is wise to seek legal counsel to make sure proper agreements are in place, athletes and organization’s rights are protected, and that federal and state laws are not being violated.•
Chris Roberts is an attorney with Woodard Emhardt Henry Reeves & Wagner LLP. His practice focuses primarily on intellectual property litigation. In addition to litigation, he guides clients through intellectual property portfolio management, including trademark registration, domain name acquisitions, drafting patent applications, prosecuting patent applications, post-grant proceedings. Roberts obtained his undergraduate degree from Marian University and his J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. He is an active member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, serving on the Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee. He’s also a graduate of Bar Leader Series Class XXI.
