The USF men’s track and field program went back-to-back last season, capturing the American Athletic Conference indoor and outdoor team championships.

Earlier this season, the Bulls repeated as AAC indoor team champions.

With USF heading to the AAC outdoor championships — set for Thursday through Saturday at Charlotte, N.C. — an obvious question has emerged:

Can the Bulls go back-to-back … again?

“Winning is hard,” head coach Erik Jenkins said. “There’s nothing easy about it. There are no guarantees in any championship environment. So we have to take advantage of every opportunity presented to us.

“It always comes back to the athletes and putting them in a position to be successful. That means showing up on time, working hard, being available for what’s asked of you and really wanting to be successful. I believe we have a lot of those type of people. Now it’s a matter of showing up and performing.”

The USF men made a powerful statement last season, scoring 217 points (second-most in AAC outdoor championships history) and capturing first-place in 10 events.

Meanwhile, the USF women are hopeful of building toward championship contention. The Bulls finished third in last season’s outdoor championships — the best AAC performance in program history — to improve upon the fourth-place mark in 2023.

By all indications, the USF men are poised for another notable showing. 

The Bulls have the AAC’s top-ranked time or distance in seven events, including the 100 meters (Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, 9.87w); 200 meters (Nathan Metelus, Jaleel Croal and Alexavier Monfries, all at 20.60); 400 meters (Gabriel Moronta, 45.31); 4×100 relay (38.66); 4×400 relay (3:02.13); pole vault (Nikodem Pochopien, 5.22 meters); and the discus (Vincent Ugwoke, 63.72 meters).

Additionally, the Bulls will have championship contenders in the 100 meters (Croal, 10.05); 200 meters (Saminu, 20.96); 800 meters (Karim Belmahdi, 1:48.54); 110 hurdles (Markel Jones, 13.66); 400 hurdles (Devontie Archer, 50.25); pole vault (Andreas Kreiss, 5.21 meters, and Noah Bitter, 5.06); triple jump (Javon Brown, 15.42 meters); and the shot put (Jason Nwosu, 17.90 meters)

“I think more people are noticing us since we’re put together some wins here and there, but we aspire to doing it over and over again at the highest level,” Jenkins said. “We want to be here to stay and you do that by controlling what you can do and putting yourself in position to consistently compete for championships.

“When we got here, we talked about competing for championships and building a national presence. We want success at the national level and also the international level. We had a couple of Olympians last summer. But at the end of the day, it’s a track meet, just like it’s a football game or a baseball game. Everything starts at zero. Nobody cares what we did at  indoors or outdoors last year. Every time we step on that track, we’ve got to give our best effort and be the best at competing on that day. It always takes a collective effort.”

The USF women have the AAC’s top-ranked time in three events, including the 400 meters (Rushana Dwyer, 52.30); 100 hurdles (Doris Quainoo, 13.32); and the 4×400 relay (3:29.07).

Other Bulls to watch include Quainoo (100 meters, 11.51); Terren Peterson (200 meters, 23.15, and 400 meters, 52.97); Amenda Saint Louis (800 meters, 2:09.61); Tyra Thomas (100 hurdles, 13.41); Madeline Abega (400 hurdles, 57.78); Chakiya Plummer (400 hurdles, 58.45); 4×100 relay (44.36); Tristen Evatt (long jump, 6.07 meters); and Annalee Harbison (hammer, 54.64 meters).

“Our women have to take the same approach as our men — and I believe they will,” Jenkins said. “Every throw, every step, every jump — it all means something. Indoors, most people didn’t think our women could be in the top half. Well, we finished fourth in a pretty tight finish (first through fourth was separated by 13 points). 

“Now everything starts at zero at these conference meets, no matter what you have done, and we definitely have some young ladies who are capable of performing at a high level.”

Baseball

Barrington 15, Conant 1

Buffalo Grove 6, Elk Grove 2

Carmel 16, Notre Dame 15

Cary-Grove 11, Dundee Crown 1

Chicago Christian 5, Aurora Christian 1

Geneva 2, St. Charles East 1

Hampshire 3, Crystal Lake Central 2

Glenbard West 10, West Chicago 0

Grayslake Central 10, Wauconda 5

Hersey 9, Wheeling 0

Hinsdale Central 8, Oak Park-River Forest 2

Holy Trinity 8, Westmont 0

Huntley 11, Burlington Central 1

Leyden 9, Addison Trail 8

Palatine 12, Hoffman Estates 4

Prospect 3, Rolling Meadows 1

St. Charles North 4, Lake Park 1

Westminster Christian 2, Aurora Central Catholic 1

Wheaton Warrenville South 5, Batavia 0

Softball

Addison Trail 17, Proviso East 1

Aurora Christian 9, Chicago Hope 8

Barrington 7, Fremd 3

Batavia 10, Geneva 6

Benet 7, Nazareth 0

Conant 5, Palatine 2

Crystal Lake South 6, Cary-Grove 1

Downers Grove North 11, Hinsdale Central 0

Glenbard North 4, Lake Park 2

Hampshire 4, Burlington Central 1

Harvest Christian 18, Christian Liberty 12

Hersey 11, Buffalo Grove 1

Huntley 13, Dundee Crown 0

IC Catholic Prep 8, Fenwick 5

Lake Zurich 4, Mundelein 1

LaSalle Peru 6, Kaneland 2

Leyden 2, Morton 1

McHenry 7, Jacobs 3

Montini 6, St. Ignatius 3

Naperville Central 7, Naperville North 0

Neuqua Valley 10, Metea Valley 0

Prairie Ridge 2, Crystal Lake Central 0

Prospect 24, Wheeling 4

Rolling Meadows 7, Elk Grove 6

Schaumburg 10, Hoffman Estates 0

Stevenson 2, Warren 1

St. Charles North 6, St. Charles East 0

St. Francis 15, Trinity 0

Timothy Christian 6, Wheaton Academy 0

Waubonsie Valley 5, Dekalb 3

Wheaton Warrenville South 1, Wheaton North 0

York 18, Proviso West 1

Boys volleyball

Benet d. Neuqua Valley 21-25, 25-17, 27-25

Hinsdale Central d. Lockport 25-22, 25-22

Lake Zurich d. Warren 25-15,19-25, 25-20

Libertyville d. Lake Forest 25-13, 25-10

Mt. Carmel d. Carmel 25-23, 25-22

Mundelein d. Waukegan 25-91, 25-11

Niles North d. Vernon Hills 25-19, 25-16

Stevenson d. Zion-Benton 25-13, 25-23

Streamwood d. Elgin 26-28, 25-12, 25-15

Boys lacrosse

Libertyville 16, Mundelein 1

Boys water polo

IHSA sectionals

Libertyville sectional

Stevenson 27, Warren 4

Mundelein 13, Vernon Hills 10

Boys track and field

at Barrington Mid-Suburban Conference Championships: 1. Barrington 134.5; 2. Prospect 123; 3. Hersey 91; 4. Fremd 72; 5. Palatine 66; 6. Rolling Meadows 64; 7. Hoffman Estates 46.5; 8. Schaumburg 44; 9. Buffalo Grove 20; 9. Wheeling 20; 11. Conant 14; 112. Elk Grove 7

at Chicago Hope Academy Chicagoland Conference Championship: 1. Wheaton Academy 168; 2. Chicago Hope Academy 140; 3. Timothy Christian 89; 4. Chicago Christian 79; 5. McNamara 77; 6. Woodstock Marian 50; 7. Aurora Christian 22; 8. St. Edward 3

at CSL Conference Championship: 1. New Trier 156; 2. Evanston 135; 3. Glenbrook South 80; 4. Glenbrook North 68; 5. Deerfield 65; 6. Maine South 50.

Girls soccer

Lake Zurich 1, Stevenson 0

South Elgin 7, Glenbard South 0

Timothy Christian 3, Montini 1

West Aurora 1, Glenbard East 0

Girls lacrosse

Montini 13, Mother McAuley 8

Naperville Central 15, Minooka 7

Riverside-Brookfield 6, Streamwood 3

Girls water polo

IHSA sectionals

Barrington sectional

Hersey 15, Hoffman Estates 3

Conant 11, Schaumburg 5

Fremd 17, Palatine 3

Prospect 18, Barrington 8

York sectional

York 15, Leyden 2

Fenwick 12, Elk Grove 11

Oak Park River Forest 15, Northside 4

St. Charles Coop 17, Taft 7

Glenbrook South sectional

Evanston 20, Glenbrook North 1

Maine West 14, Glenbrook South 4

New Trier 12, Niles West 3

Maine South 18, Maine East 8

Naperville North sectional

Naperville North 23, Neuqua Valley 6

Hinsdale Central 12, Metea Valley 10

Waubonsie Valley 17, Lockport 8

Girls track and field

IHSA Sectionals

2A Sterling sectional

1. Sterling 97.5; 2. Freeport 74; 2. Sycamore 74; 4. Aurora Central Catholic 60; 5. Sandwich 53; 6. Mendota 39.5; 7. LaSalle-Peru 38; 8. Byron 37; 9. Stillman Valley 37; 10. Rochelle 34; 11. Rosary 31.5; 12. Galena 41; 13. IMSA 28.5; 14. Dixon 24; 15. Pecatonica 16.

3A Downers Grove South sectional

1. Plainfield North 115; 2. Downers Grove North 104.5; 3.Downers Grove South 88; 4. Neuqua Valley 58.5; 5. Oswego East 53; 6. Hinsdale South 43; 7. Benet 38; 8. Plainfield East 35; 9. Naperville Central 34; 10. Bolingbrook 30; 10. Naperville North 30; 12. West Aurora 25; 13. Waubonsie Valley 22; 14. Plainfield Central 16; 15. East Aurora 5; 15. Oswego 5

3A Glenbrook South sectional

1. Prospect 171, 2. Evanston 70, 3. Hersey 58, 4. Palatine 56, 5. New Trier 42, 6. Glenbrook South 39, 7. Deerfield 24, 8. Glenbrook North 17, 9. Loyola Academy 17, 10. Niles West 16, 11. Wheeling 14, 12. Highland Park 8, 12. Fremd 8, 12. Niles North 8, 15. Maine East 6, 16. Buffalo Grove 4

3A Huntley sectional

1. Huntley 159; 2. Hampshire 78; 3. Hononegah 58; 4. DeKalb 56; 5. Guilford 53.5; 6. McHenry 48; 7. Cary-Grove 47.5; 8. Jacobs 44; 9. Harlem 37; 10. Crystal Lake Central 33.5; 11. Rockford Auburn 25.5; 12. Crystal Lake South 23.5; 13. Dundee Crown 16; 14. Rockford East 9; 15. Belvidere North 8; 16. Rockford Jefferon 5.5.

3A Round Lake sectional

1. Lake Zurich 142; 2. Barrington 116.5; 3. Zion-Benton 81; 4. Warren 46; 5. Stevenson 43; 6. Grayslake Central 29; 7. Lake Forest 32; 7. Libertyville 32; 9. Antioch 29; 9. Grant 29; 9. Lakes 29; 12. Vernon Hills 28; 13. Mundelein 21; 14. Wauconda 20; 15. Grayslake North 14.5.

Late Tuesday results

Boys water polo

IHSA sectionals

Maine West sectional

Prospect 17, Maine West 7

Warren sectional

Warren 12, Lake Forest 8

McHenry sectional

McHenry 11, Elk Grove Village 4

Glenbrook North sectional

Glenbrook North 11, Maine East 4

Upcoming

Thursday, May 15

Baseball

Downers Grove South at Proviso East, 4:30 p.m.

Elmwood Park at Streamwood, 4:30 p.m.

Evanston at Maine South, 4:45 p.m.

Fenton at West Aurora, 4:30 p.m.

Fenwick at Aurora Central Catholic, 4:30 p.m.

Geneva at St. Charles East, 4:30 p.m.

Glenbard East at East Aurora, 4:30 p.m.

Glenbard North at Wheaton North, 4:30 p.m.

Glenbard South at Elgin, 4:30 p.m.

Grant at Lakes, 4:45 p.m.

Grayslake North at Woodstock North, 4:30 p.m.

Harvest Christian at Chicago Christian, 4:30 p.m.

Hersey at Hoffman Estates, 4:45 p.m.

Hinsdale South at Morton, 4:30 p.m.

Lake Park at St. Charles North, 4:30 p.m.

Lake Zurich at St. Viator, 4:45 p.m.

Latin at Westminster Christian, 4:30 p.m.

Leyden at Addison Trail, 4:30 p.m.

Libertyville at Huntley, 4:45 p.m.

Lyons at Downers Grove North, 4:30 p.m.

Maine East at Niles North, 4:45 p.m.

Maine West at Vernon Hills, 4:45 p.m.

Marmion Academy at IC Catholic Prep, 4:30 p.m.

Metea Valley at DeKalb, 4:30 p.m.

Naperville North at Neuqua Valley, 4:30 p.m.

Oak Park-River Forest at York, 4:30 p.m.

Parkview Christian at Schaumburg Christian, 6 p.m.

Proviso West at Hinsdale Central, 4:45 p.m.

Ridgewood at Bartlett, 4:30 p.m.

Riverside-Brookfield at South Elgin, 4:30 p.m.

St. Edward at Lisle, 4:30 p.m.

St. Francis at Montini, 4:30 p.m.

Waubonsie Valley at Naperville Central, 4:30 p.m.

West Chicago at Larkin, 4:30 p.m.

Westmont at Chicago Prep Conference Championships Series, TBA

Wheaton Warrenville South at Batavia, 4:30 p.m.

Softball

Antioch at Lakes, 4:45 p.m.

Benet at Nazareth, 4:30 p.m.

Burlington Central at Huntley, 4:30 p.m.

Conant at Hoffman Estates, 4:45 p.m.

Crystal Lake Central at Hampshire, 4:30 p.m.

Crystal Lake South at Jacobs, 4:30 p.m.

Downers Grove North at Downers Grove South, 7 p.m.

Dundee Crown at Cary-Grove, 4:30 p.m.

Fenton at Bartlett, 4:30 p.m.

Geneva at Wheaton North, 4:30 p.m.

Glenbard North at St. Charles North, 4:30 p.m.

Glenbard South at South Elgin, 4:30 p.m.

Glenbard West at Oak Park-River Forest, 4:45 p.m.

Grayslake Central at Grant, 4:45 p.m.

Grayslake North at Elk Grove, 4:45 p.m.

Harvest Christian Academy at St. Viator, 4:30 p.m.

IC Catholic Prep at Bishop McNamara, 4:30 p.m.

Lisle at Yorkville Christian, 4:30 p.m.

Maine South at Highland Park, 4:45 p.m.

Montini at Willowbrook, 4:30 p.m.

Niles North at Maine West, 4:45 p.m.

Niles West at Vernon Hills, 4:45 p.m.

Ridgewood at Elgin, 4:30 p.m.

Riverside-Brookfield at Streamwood, 4:30 p.m.

St. Charles East at Batavia, 4:30 p.m.

Taft at Libertyville, 4:45 p.m.

Wauconda at Round Lake, 4:45 p.m.

West Chicago at West Aurora, 4:30 p.m.

Westmont at Chicago Prep Conference Tournament, TBA

Wheaton Warrenville South at Lake Park, 4:30 p.m.

Boys tennis

Aurora Central Catholic at Lisle, 4:30 p.m.

Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Conant, Elk Grove, Hoffman Estates, Hersey, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, at Wheeling MSL Conference, 4:30 p.m.

Benet at Carmel Catholic ESCC Championships, 9 a.m.

Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake South, Huntley at Jacobs FVC Championships, 4 p.m.

Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale South at West Suburban Championship, TBA

Grayslake Central, Grayslake North, Round Lake at Lakes NLCC Conference, 4 p.m.

IMSA at Glenbard South, 4:30 p.m.

Metea Valley, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley at Naperville Central DuPage Valley Conference Tournament, 4 p.m.

Boys volleyball

Antioch at Round Lake, 6 p.m.

Barrington at Libertyville, 6 p.m.

Conant at Schaumburg, 6 p.m.

Downers Grove North at Morton, 5:30 p.m.

Elgin at Streamwood, 5:30 p.m.

Glenbard East at Fenton, 5:30 p.m.

Glenbard South at Elmwood Park, 5:30 p.m.

Grant at Grayslake North, 6 p.m.

Grayslake Central at Lakes, 6 p.m.

Huntley at Lake Zurich, 6 p.m.

Larkin at Bartlett, 5:30 p.m.

Maine South at Deerfield, 5 p.m.

Maine West at Prospect, 6 p.m.

Marist at Glenbard West, 6 p.m.

Metea Valley at Naperville North, 5:30 p.m.

Montini at Providence Catholic, 6 p.m.

Notre Dame Prep at Carmel, 5:30 p.m.

Proviso West at Leyden, 5:30 p.m.

Ridgewood at West Chicago, 5:30 p.m.

Rolling Meadows at Addison Trail, 5:30 p.m.

St. Edward at Wheaton Academy, 5:30 p.m.

St. Rita at St. Francis, 6 p.m.

St. Viator at Lake Forest, 6 p.m.

Timothy Christian at Chicago Christian, 5:30 p.m.

Wheaton Warrenville South at Lincoln Way East, 5:30 p.m.

Boys lacrosse

Benet at St. Viator, 6 p.m.

Deerfield at Lakes, 4:30 p.m.

Fenwick at St. Francis, 6 p.m.

Glenbard North at South Elgin, 5 p.m.

Glenbard West at Lane Tech, 6 p.m.

Hampshire at Dundee Crown, 6:30 p.m.

Huntley at Cary-Grove, 6:30 p.m.

Jacobs at Crystal Lake Central, 6:30 p.m.

Kaneland at Marian Central Catholic, 5 p.m.

Lyons at Hinsdale Central, 7 p.m.

McHenry at Crystal Lake South, 6:30 p.m.

Naperville Central at St. Charles East, 7 p.m.

New Trier at Libertyville, 7 p.m.

Prairie Ridge at Burlington Central, 6:30 p.m.

Prospect at Glenbrook South, 6:30 p.m.

Rolling Meadows at Highland Park, 5:30 p.m.

St. Ignatius at Wheaton Academy, 7 p.m.

Taft at Lake Park, 7 p.m.

Timothy Christian at Wheeling, 5 p.m.

Wheaton Warrenville South at Downers Grove South, 7 p.m.

Boys water polo

IHSA sectionals

Barrington sectional

Palatine vs. Hoffman Estates, 5 p.m.

Barrington vs. Hersey, 6 p.m.

Schaumburg vs. McHenry 7 p.m.

Fremd vs. Conant, 8 p.m.

York sectional

York vs. Morton, 5 p.m.

Oak Park River Forest vs, Taft, 6 p.m.

Fenwick vs. Chicago Northside, 7 p.m.

St. Charles Coop vs. St. Patrick, 8 p.m.

Glenbrook South sectional

New Trier vs. Prospect, 5 p.m.

Glenbrook South vs. Loyola, 6 p.m.

Evanston vs. Glenbrook North, 7 p.m.

Maine South vs. Niles West, 8 p.m.

Naperville North sectional

Naperville North vs. Sandburg 5 p.m.

Neuqua Valley vs. Hinsdale Central, 6 p.m.

Waubonsie Valley vs. Lockport, 7 p.m.

Naperville Central vs. Metea Valley, 8 p.m.

Boys track and field

Addison Trail, Downers Grove North, Glenbard West, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, Willowbrook at West Suburban Conference Championships, 4:30 p.m.

Antioch, Grant, Grayslake North, Lakes, North Chicago, Round Lake, Wauconda at Grayslake Central NLCC Conference, 4:30 p.m.

Bartlett. Elgin, Fenton, Glenbard East, Larkin, West Aurora, West Chicago at Streamwood Upstate Eight Conference Championships, 3 p.m.

Burlington Central, Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake South, Dundee Crown, Hampshire at Huntley Fox Valley Conference Championship, 2 p.m.

Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Mundelein, Warren at Stevenson NSC Championship, 4:45 p.m.

Metea Valley, Naperville Central, Naperville North, Neuqua Valley at Waubonsie Valley DuPage Vallet Conference Championships, 4:30 p.m.

Girls badminton

IHSA State Finals

Girls soccer

Batavia at Glenbard North, 6:30 p.m.

Benet at Marist, 6:15 p.m.

Conant at Crystal Lake Central, 5 p.m.

DeKalb at Waubonsie Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Fenton at Morton, 7 p.m.

Hinsdale Central at Metea Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Hinsdale South at Bolingbrook, 6:30 p.m.

Lincoln Park at Leyden, 7 p.m.

Mundelein at Wauconda, 6:15 p.m.

Oak Park-River Forest at Downers Grove South, 5 p.m.

Proviso West at Glenbard West, 6 p.m.

St. Charles East at Wheaton Warrenville South, 6:30 p.m.

St. Charles North at Geneva, 6:30 p.m.

Stevenson at Carmel, 6:30 p.m.

Warren at Deerfield, 7 p.m.

Wheaton North at Lake Park, 7 p.m.

Girls lacrosse

Deerfield at Warren, 6:30 p.m.

DePaul College Prep at Rosary, 4:30 p.m.

Elk Grove at Regina Dominican, 5 p.m.

Glenbard West at Downers Grove North, 7 p.m.

Hinsdale Central at Benet, 6:30 p.m.

Lake Zurich at Schaumburg, 7 p.m.

Libertyville at Palatine, 6:30 p.m.

Northside College Prep at Buffalo Grove, 6:30 p.m.

St. Viator at Evanston, 6 p.m.

Stevenson at Glenbrook North, 5:30 p.m.

Girls water polo

IHSA sectional

Libertyville sectional

Stevenson vs. Wheeling, 5 p.m.

Mundelein vs. Warren, 6 p.m.

Libertyville vs. Lake Forest, 7 p.m.

Vernon Hills vs. Deerfield, 8 p.m.

Girls track and field

IHSA Sectionals

St. Charles North’s Jordyn McBride connects for a homer against St. Charles East on Wednesday May 14,2025 in St. Charles.

CONWAY, Ark. – It’s award season for ASUN softball, and the conference gets things kicked off with the league’s Academic All-ASUN Team. The Bears had one member on the list, senior Kylie Griffin.
 
Graduating with a cumulative grade point average of 3.98 in Exercise Science, Griffin was named to her third Academic All-ASUN Team this year. The third baseman was a shining example of how to maintain quality grades in the classroom while still being a leader on the field. She becomes the eighth ASUN player in conference history to be named to the list three times in her career.
 
“Kylie has always been such a good role model for her teammates. She puts in so much time to getting better on the field, but that never overshadows what has to happen in the classroom,” Head coach Jenny Parsons said. “For her to be on this team three times, I think it’s very well-deserved, because she puts so much time and effort into making sure she’s doing what she needs to be doing, and I’m proud of how she’s handled her college career.”
 
Griffin led the ASUN and ranked in the top-25 in the nation in total hits during the regular season (72), and finished the year third in the ASUN in triples (5), and had the eighth-best batting average among all ASUN hitters (.385). She had 22 games of multiple hits, including seven games of three or more hits. Her .987 fielding percentage was the second-best among players with 90 or more assists.
 
Behind the Greenbrier’s leadership, the Bears earned a top-three seed for the fourth-straight season, and bowed out in the ASUN Championship after two games last week.
 

The party continued for Long Beach State’s national champion men’s volleyball team as they participated in a “Victory Drive” along Pine Avenue, in downtown, on Wednesday, May 14.

The No. 1 Long Beach State men’s volleyball team returned victorious on Tuesday from the NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, after defeating No. 3 UCLA in the national championship match.

This is Long Beach State’s fourth national title in program history. Long Beach won all three of its matches against UCLA this season, beating the Bruins twice in February before Monday’s title match. The Beach swept two-time defending champions UCLA in the NCAA Tournament finals, a year after the Bruins beat them to win the title at the Walter Pyramid.

This year’s victory sparked pride and celebrations throughout the university campus, as well as across the city.

Downtown Long Beach was painted in black and gold – the university’s colors – as scores of people converged along Pine Avenue waiting for the team to arrive for their Victory Drive. People were holding up signs and waving pom poms.

“We’re super excited to support; it was a spur of the moment,” said Jamie Peacock, a Long Beach resident and 2019 alumna. “Long Beach has always been known to have a good volleyball team, so it’s really cool that our school is known for it nationally.”