SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — From championship trophies and NCAA postseason runs to program records and academic excellence, the 2024-25 Cal Poly Athletics season was packed with historic moments. With student-athletes excelling in competition and the classroom, the Mustangs delivered across every season.

Monday night, Cal Poly Athletics unveiled its annual end of the year awards during its Night of the Mustang event. Aidan McCarthy, a standout in track & field, was named the Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Piper Ferch, a star for beach volleyball, was named the Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

Corban Payne (Track & Field) and Emily Lieber (Women’s Soccer) were both named Scholar-Athletes of the Year for their success both in the classroom and in competition.

Women’s Golf’s Jensen Jalufka was recognized with the Mustang Way Award for her leadership, character, and commitment to Cal Poly’s core values. Rory Devaney (Track & Field) and Jenna Drobeck (Beach Volleyball) earned Iron Mustang honors for their strength, hard work, and dedication in training throughout the year.

The fastest American in collegiate history in the men’s indoor 800, McCarthy won Big West titles in the 800 and 1,500, earned First Team All-American honors indoors and will compete for a national title outdoors next week in Eugene.

Ferch was a First Team All-American, First Team All-Big West, AVCA Top Flight Award winner. Partnering with Erin Inskeep at the No. 1 spot, the duo achieved a 28-7 record, becoming the highest-winning pair in program history. She also tied the program record for career wins with 101 and helped lead the Mustangs to their second straight NCAA Championship Semifinal appearance.

Payne, who last week qualified for the NCAA West Prelims in the shot put, has maintained a 4.0 GPA while earning his Master’s Degree in Engineering Management. Lieber, A three-year starter for the Mustangs and All-Academic honoree, Lieber has maintained a 3.97 GPA while pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering.

Mahoney was the Big West Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-Big West after leading the men’s soccer team in goals scored and helping them win a Big West regular season title.

Pulling, a transfer from Cal State Bakersfield, was named First Team All-Big West after leading the team in blocks and was second in kills per set while helping the Mustangs win the Big West regular season title.

Through this week, Cal Poly has had 106 All-Academic honorees through the fall and winter, 74 All-Conference selections, seven All-Americans, eight conference major award winners, 41 school records, six team conference championships, 16 individual conference championships, and five Coach of the Year award winners.

Cal Poly baseball, volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s soccer, and men’s track and field won Big West team titles.

With championships, national rankings, NCAA appearances, and strong academic results, the 2024-25 season marked one of the most successful in recent Cal Poly memory. The Mustangs now turn the page to the 2025-26 season with momentum, excitement, and school pride.

BOSTON — A high school volleyball team in Massachusetts is asking fans to wear white to their match Tuesday night to show support for a teammate who has been detained by federal immigration authorities.

“Our game on June 3rd will be played in honor of Marcelo. We will continue to pray and fight for our brother,” the Milford High School boys volleyball team said in an Instagram post.

Marcelo Gomes da Silva, a junior born in Brazil, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Saturday on his way to volleyball practice. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Monday that agents were looking for the teenager’s father, who owns the car Gomes da Silva was driving at the time.

“Like any local law enforcement officer, if you encounter someone that has a warrant or … he’s here illegally, we will take action on it,” he said when reporters asked about the teen.

Asked why ICE would detain an 18-year-old with no criminal record, Lyons answered, “I didn’t say he was dangerous. I said he’s in this country illegally and we’re not going to walk away from anybody.”

Gomes da Silva has filed a request in federal court seeking to be released as his immigration case proceeds. A judge on Monday gave the government two weeks to respond and ordered that Gomes da Silva not be moved out of Massachusetts without 48 hours’ notice given to the court.

The arrest has sparked outrage among Democratic officials, including Gov. Maura Healey, who demanded information about his location and whether he is being afforded due process. The superintendent of Milford schools said the district plays no part in immigration enforcement and supports all families, including immigrants.

Hundreds of students at the school staged a walkout Monday, holding signs reading “Free our friend” and “America was built by immigrants.” Teachers will be at Tuesday night’s volleyball game along with other community members who support Gomes da Silva’s release, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Teachers Association said.

“The Massachusetts Teachers Association condemns ICE’s cruel and inhumane actions in the strongest possible terms,” the union said in a statement. “We call on leaders at every level to ensure our schools remain safe spaces of learning, belonging and safety for all students — not hunting grounds for ICE agents.”

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Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.

The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center (RBAC) is marking its 35th year of service to the Pasadena community with special celebration events on June 16. The nonprofit has planned commemorative activities designed to engage community members and highlight the center’s long-standing commitment to aquatic programs.

Community members can start the day with a special Anniversary Community Coffee from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A free Anniversary Water Fitness class called “Cheers to 35 Years” will take place at 1:35 p.m. in the Recreation Pool deep end. Those interested in participating must register in advance through the center’s website.

The center recently announced extended weekend summer hours, with the facility now remaining open until 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays starting June 7.

Visitors should note several upcoming facility closures related nearby Rose Bowl events. The center will be completely closed on Sunday, June 15, with early closures at 3 p.m. on June 17, 19, and 25. Additional modified hours include a 1 p.m. closure on June 21 and split hours on June 23 (5:30 a.m.-8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.-9 p.m.).

In other RBAC news, the center recently hosted the swimming events for the 2025 Pasadena Senior Games.

The center is celebrating staff achievements as well, with Coach Mike Gonzales recently bringing home a Bronze Medal from the PanAm Aquatic Water Polo Championships with the USA Cadet boys team, including a big win against host Colombia.

Rose Bowl Aquatics Center, 360 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103. www.rosebowlaquatics.org.

 

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The 18-year-old was detained while on his way to volleyball practice. His Massachusetts community is demanding his release.

Federal immigration agents detained a Massachusetts high school student on his way to volleyball practice, mistaking him when he drove his father’s car.

The May 31 arrest of Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, 18, has triggered protests and walkouts at Milford High School, where he is an 11th-grade student, according to the Milford Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The school had its graduation a day after Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Gomes Da Silva while he was heading with teammates to practice. The Brazilian teen was set to perform drums in the school’s band at the June 1 graduation ceremony.

Milford High School Principal Joshua Otlin said at the graduation ceremony that the community couldn’t pretend all was well.

“There is fear and anxiety, where there should be hope and confidence,” he said on the school’s turf field. “There is wrenching despair and righteous anger, where there should be gratitude and joy.”

Instead, graduation speakers admitted to making last-minute adjustments to address the arrest of their classmate. Class President Luke Benjamin Donis, a champion wrestler, urged his fellow graduates to “give whatever time they can” to join a large rally at Milford Town Hall after the high school ceremony.

Who is Marcelo Gomes Da Silva?

Gomes Da Silva arrived in the United States legally in 2012 on a visitor’s visa that later turned into a student visa, his lawyers said. It isn’t clear when that visa expired. He has no criminal history.

He was active in his high school marching band and church band, along with excelling in school and was involved in extracurricular and faith-based activities, his immigration lawyer Robin Nice said in a statement. 

Gomes Da Silva does not pose a danger to the community and isn’t a flight risk, Nice said.

He has an immigration court hearing scheduled for the afternoon of June 5, where Nice said they would request his release on bond. His lawyers planned to pursue an asylum claim for him in the United States. On June 1, federal Judge Richard Stearns of Massachusetts issued an emergency order banning ICE from transferring Gomes Da Silva out of the state for at least 72 hours.

On June 2, Milford High students staged a walkout protesting Gomes’ detention. Students left their campus wearing Brazilian flags, holding signs and a white banner reading “Free Marcelo.” Others donned white shirts inscribed with his name.

ICE: If anyone is here unlawfully ‘we’re going to arrest them’

ICE has said its agents were targeting Gomes Da Silva’s father, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira, who is in the country illegally from Brazil. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said agents targeted Gomes-Pereira with information from local enforcement due to reckless driving, speeding that topped 100 mph. But when they stopped Gomes-Pereira’s car, they arrested Gomes Da Silva.

On June 2, Patricia Hyde, acting field director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations’ in Boston, said they detained him because local agencies didn’t cooperate with ICE.

“When we go into the community and find others who are unlawfully here, we’re going to arrest them,” Hyde said. “He’s 18 years old and he’s illegally in this country. We had to go to Milford looking for someone else and if we come across someone else who is here illegally, we’re going to arrest them.”

Officials said Gomes Da Silva was detained as officials announced the results of “Operation Patriot,” which arrested 1,500 people across Massachusetts suspected of being in the country illegally. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Lyons said Gomes Da Silva’s father hasn’t turned himself in, although he knows he’s the target of the operation.

Reaction to the student’s detention

In a video posted to social media, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, said of the situation, “This isn’t about public safety. This is about cruelty and fear engendered by the Trump administration.”

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the teenager’s arrest left her “outraged.”

“Yet again, local officials and law enforcement have been left in the dark with no heads-up and no answers to their questions,” she said in a statement. “I’m demanding that ICE provide immediate information about why he was arrested, where he is and how his due process is being protected.”

Nick Molinari, president of the Milford Teachers Association, said in a statement that ICE agents targeted a student in a “deliberate act of cruelty, traumatizing his family, friends and peers.”

“This is immoral, unnecessary and should be universally condemned,” he said. “We will not stand by while the rights and humanity of our students are violated.”

Kyle A. Pillar – Sports Editor

ROCKINGHAM — Starting the “Top Sports Stories” series is a trip to Raider Gymnasium with the Richmond Senior High School volleyball team.

In early October, the Lady Raiders were in the hunt to make the state playoffs and their match against Lee County High School proved to be a major helper in achieving that goal.

On senior night, the program recognized its three seniors ahead of the match — Ava Edmondson, Sharonda Henderson and Abby Wellman.

All of the pre-match excitement was only surpassed when the Lady Raiders dug in after losing the first two sets and rallied to earn a 3-2 victory.

Winning the final sets by scores of 25-19, 26-24 and 15-9, Richmond gave its senior players a night to remember while also avenging a 3-0 loss to the Lady Yellow Jackets earlier in the season.

Helping get the comeback started in the third set was sophomore libero Kenley Smith, who served nine straight points, including three aces, to give Richmond a big lead.

The Lady Raiders also overcame a 22-24 deficit in the fourth set. Getting those three points were a service error, a kill by sophomore Riley McDonald and a net violation.

Sophomores Kalynn McCormick (ace) and Madisen Jackson (block), along with junior J’Nasia Neal (kill), contributed to a 7-3 run to start the fifth set. 

A couple of more miscues by Lee County, paired with a kill from Jackson secured the win as the gym erupted in celebration. 

The victory was the final one of the regular season for Richmond, which was enough to get the Lady Raiders into the NCHSAA 4A East state playoffs.

Relive the exciting match by reading the complete article from Oct. 3, 2024, below:

SENIOR SENDOFF: Lady Raiders erase two-set deficit against Lee County

ROCKINGHAM — It wasn’t how the Richmond Senior High School volleyball team started Thursday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference match, but how it finished it instead that counted. 

With several players and head coach Ashleigh Larsen citing a supportive home crowd, the Lady Raiders erased a two-set deficit to defeat Lee County High School 3-2. 

Making the comeback victory even sweeter was celebrating the team’s three senior players on senior night — Ava Edmondson, Sharonda Henderson and Abby Wellman. 

PHOTOS: Click here to view photos of Richmond volleyball’s senior night.

After dropping the first two sets by close scores of 23-25 and 21-25, the Lady Raiders put the momentum in their favor to roll 25-19, 26-24 and 15-9. 

The win helped Richmond even the two-match season series with the Lady Yellow Jackets (11-7, 5-5 SAC).

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Late in the first set, a kill by Edmondson followed by an ace from junior J’Nasia Neal tied the score at 20 points. Edmondson and sophomore Madisen Jackson blocked a shot two volleys later to tie it again 21-21. 

Lee County closed on a 4-2 run to take a one-set lead despite a tip by sophomore Riley McDonald and an Edmondson ace. 

Trailing 11-15 in the second stanza, Larsen called a timeout. The pause in action helped some, seeing the two teams split the next 14 points evenly. 

But Richmond found itself down 2-0 when it couldn’t stop the Lady Yellow Jackets from winning three of the final five points. 

Raider Magic reared its head at the start of the third set as sophomore Kenley Smith served Richmond to a 9-0 lead. She had three aces in the first five points and junior Ka’mora Watkins tacked on a pair of kills. 

Two more kills from Watkins extended the lead to 12-2, but Lee County closed the deficit to a 14-11 Richmond lead, which led to a timeout. 

A pair of kills from Neal, a tip by Jackson and back-to-back aces from Smith contributed to a 20-14 advantage and a Lee County timeout. Down the stretch, several errors by the visitors and an Edmondson kill bolstered Richmond’s lead. 

With sophomore Kaylan Parsons at the service line, the Lady Raiders used a kill from Neal to keep the match alive. 

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The fourth stanza was a back-and-forth battle between both teams. An Edmondson ace and bump from Smith made it an early 3-1 lead. 

Neal later tied the set at 10 points with an attack from the outside spot, but Lee County used a small run to take a 13-10 lead. Larsen called a timeout. 

With quick hands, Edmondson made an athletic knock over the net while running the opposite direction. That point, coupled with a hitting error, pulled Richmond within a point 14-15 and forced a timeout. 

A block by Edmondson was later followed by a boomer from McDonald at the middle of the floor. On the next rally, the Lady Yellow Jackets went into the net to even the score 22-22. 

Down 22-24, the Lady Raiders used a service error, a McDonald kill and another net violation to win in extra points and force a decisive fifth set. 

Consecutive players in the net by Lee County on the first two sequences gave Richmond a 2-0 lead and set the tone. Kills from McDonald and Watkins later tied the score at three and four points, respectively. 

Two errors by the visitors and an ace from sophomore Kalynn McCormick put Richmond ahead 7-3. Later, a Neal kill and a big block by Jackson extended the advantage to 9-5 and resulted in Lee County’s second timeout of the set. 

Building momentum, another Neal kill and an ace from Parsons grew the lead to 12-6. Richmond captured its final three points on a net violation, a Jackson kill and a service error. 

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Dedicated volunteer and mentor recognized for unwavering support of Paso Robles High students and programs

PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District has announced that Allen Bowman has been named the 2025 Community Member of the Year, recognizing his outstanding dedication, volunteerism, and unwavering support for the students and programs of Paso Robles High School (PRHS).

A passionate advocate for education and youth development, Bowman has become a fixture in the Bearcat community. From mentoring students to supporting athletics and writing the popular weekly Bearcat News Report, keeping the school community informed, connected, and engaged. His writing reflects his commitment to celebrating student successes and promoting a strong school spirit. Bowman embodies the true spirit of service and school pride.

“Allen Bowman is the kind of community member every school district hopes to have,” said Jennifer Loftus, superintendent of Paso Robles Joint Unified School District. “He gives his time selflessly, uplifts our students with his guidance, and shows up wherever help is needed — always with a positive attitude and genuine care.”

As an avid volunteer, Bowman has dedicated countless hours to mentoring students and actively supporting the Paso High sports program. Whether he’s cheering from the sidelines or offering support in other ways, his presence is a source of inspiration and encouragement. The Community Member of the Year award honors individuals who go above and beyond in service to the district, and Bowman exemplifies that standard in every way. His impact on PRHS is lasting and deeply appreciated.

Feature Image: Allen Bowman keeps the Paso Robles High School community informed, connected, and engaged, with his weekly Bearcat News Report. Contributed photo

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