Sports
An Appreciation of Career of Michael Phelps
The GOAT Turns 40: An Appreciation of the Career of Michael Phelps
The journey started where many stellar careers have been launched, in the pool at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. It didn’t take long for the coaches to realize someone special was in the water, a young athlete with an undeniable upside. Age-group records suggested such potential.
Confirmation of his fledgling-superstar status arrived at the 2000 United States Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, when the 15-year-old stormed to a runnerup finish in the 200-meter butterfly. Off to the Sydney Games he went, and with the world watching, he narrowly missed the podium via a fifth-place finish. But big things were to come.
There would be a world record in the 200 fly the following spring and a world championship in the ensuing summer. His program ultimately grew, with his signature event complemented by ventures into the 200 freestyle, 100 fly and individual medleys. This expansion allowed for multi-medal hauls – and influence over the sport – at various stops around the world.
Twenty-eight Olympic medals – 23 of them gold. Thirty-nine world records. Five Olympiads. Thirty-three medals at the World Championships. Iconic comebacks. An athlete-coach relationship like no other. Countless youths inspired, these up-and-comers dreaming of being the next Michael Phelps.
Today, the GOAT turns 40.
It’s been nearly a decade since Phelps, after competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, bid farewell to the sport from a competitive standpoint. Fittingly, his final race yielded a gold medal, as Phelps handled the butterfly leg on the United States’ victorious 400 medley relay. These days, he is a husband and father to four boys. He is a leader in driving attention to mental-health awareness. He is a businessman.
Like other sporting legends, such as Jordan, Ruth and Gretzky, Phelps’ name never drifts far from swimming and Olympic conversations – no matter how many years pass. He remains the measuring stick for greatness and with that status, he’s someone youngsters still aim to be.
On this 40th birthday of Phelps, who was born June 30, 1985, it seemed appropriate to pay tribute to the Hall of Famer’s one-of-a-kind career.
The Athlete-Coach Partnership
Bob Bowman with Michael Phelps at Rio 2016 – Photo Courtesy: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Phelps started working with coach Bob Bowman when he was 11 years old. Bowman immediately recognized the talent of his pupil and had the foresight to discuss his vision with Phelps’ parents before he was even a teenager. Simply, Bowman wanted everyone prepared for what might come.
Obviously, their partnership can be defined as epic. Rarely do swimmers stay with the same coach for the entirety of their careers, but when Phelps exited the pool, Bowman was still by his side. They had their flareups through the years, expected of any relationship. But they persevered, and Phelps’ words about Bowman say it all.
“He’s a father figure to me,” Phelps once said of Bowman. “He knew how to get the most out of me in the water, but he’s helped me through some of the worst times in my life. He’s been there every step of the way, and I’m forever thankful. I’ve said this all along. I don’t think I could have accomplished what I did with any other coach.”
The Great Eight
Standing in the aisle of the media seating at the 2008 Olympic Games, I remember watching Jason Lezak dive into the water for the anchor leg of the 400 freestyle relay. Phelps had led off in an American-record time of 47.51, but by this point in the race, with France well ahead, I thought: “Damn, only the second event of the week and the chase for eight gold is over.” Of course, Lezak stunningly reeled in Alain Bernard, the Americans came out on top and Phelps’ pursuit remained alive.
That week inside the Water Cube featured a combination of dominance and good fortune for Phelps on his way to a record eight gold medals – five individual and three relays. He delivered several overwhelming performances, including his opening triumph in the 400 individual medley and a 200 freestyle for the ages. There, too, was his down-to-the-touch decision in the 100 butterfly, in which he clipped Serbia’s Milorad Cavic by .01.
Greatness comes in many forms and that week in China offered different angles. It’s a week that won’t be forgotten.
Mental Strength
Look, Phelps was gifted with incredible physical talent and a body geared toward the sport – condor wingspan, long torso and large oxygen chamber. But those physical traits were backed up by a mental toughness and desire that cannot be measured. Phelps was unflappable and flourished in pressure-filled moments.
He never thought he was out of a race, thus his comeback victories in the 100 butterfly at the 2004 Olympics (over Ian Crocker) and 2008 Games (Cavic). More, he responded to challenges, such as Cavic calling him out at the 2009 World Championships in Rome. All Phelps did was rocket to a world record.
The passion Phelps exuded for Team USA was a trademark and, even now in retirement, that passion is evident. They say you can’t teach desire. Well, Phelps had it naturally, and it undoubtedly fueled his success.
At His Best
It’s difficult to choose a competition other than the 2008 Games as the point where Phelps was the best version of himself, but an argument can be made for the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne.
A year before the super-suit era was ushered into the sport, Phelps put on a show inside Rod Laver Arena. With five individual victories and a pair of relay golds, Phelps won seven titles Down Under, and only a disqualification in the prelims of the 400 medley relay left him short of going 8-for-8.
At the World Champs, Phelps set solo world records in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 butterfly and 200 freestyle. He won gold in the 200 fly by more than three seconds and his effort in the 200 freestyle took down Ian Thorpe’s world record and made Phelps the first man to crack the 1:44 barrier.
Almost Another One
During his career, Phelps set world records in five individual events and established American records in seven disciplines. Those tallies were nearly six and eight after what Phelps managed at the 2007 edition of the National Championships in Indianapolis.
A few months after his exploits in Melbourne, Phelps clocked 53.01 for the 100 backstroke in Indy, an effort that was just .03 off the world record of Aaron Peirsol. Because he never raced the stroke internationally, Phelps is underappreciated in the backstroke. Remember, at the 2004 U.S. Trials, he qualified for Athens in the 200 backstroke, only to decline the bid.
A Tip of the Cap
So, Michael Phelps is 40. He’s now a quarter-century removed from that “Hello World” moment in Indianapolis. A large percentage of conversations about great moments in the sport either focus on Phelps, or are connected in one way or another. He took fans on one hell of a ride, a journey that will be long remembered.
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech volleyball coach Cindy Pindral announced six incoming freshmen to the team for the 2026 season. Outside hitter Reagan Lesley from Clinton Township, Mich., middle blocker Laney Knaack from Waunakee, Wis., setter Ella Maxwell from North Aurora, Ill., outside hitter Kayla Heinonen from Delano, Minn., defensive specialist Natalie Leach from Burlington, Wis., and outside hitter Mia Hahn from Fairbanks, Alaska have all committed to continuing their education and playing careers at Tech in the fall.
“This is a very exciting and dynamic signing class that will bring a lot of energy and skill to our roster,” Pindral said. “Each of these student-athletes have earned high accolades during their prep careers, and I have no doubt that they will each leave a positive mark on our program.”
Reagan Lesley – Outside Hitter / Clinton Township, Mich.
Reagan is a 5-foot-10 outside hitter from Clinton Township, Michigan. She was a four-year starter on varsity and two-time captain for Chippewa Valley High School, where she led the Big Reds to three consecutive conference championships. She was the 2024 MVP/Player of the Year for her conference. Reagan was a three-year All-Conference First Team selection, two-time First Team All-County and four-year All-State Academic Student. In her Senior season, Reagan was named All-Region and broke Chippewa Valley’s 29-year-old kills record with over 1,400 kills and led her team to its first district championship since 2014. She played club for both Michigan Elite and Unified. Reagan will be pursuing a degree in business.
Laney Knaack – Middle Blocker / Waunakee, Wis.
Laney is a 6-0 middle blocker from Waunakee, Wisconsin. She has been the starting middle for Waunakee High School varsity, as well as for Sting United and Madtown 18-1s national club teams. During her senior season, Waunakee was ranked fourth in the state in Division 1, went 41-9-0 overall, and made it to the Wisconsin State semifinals. Waunakee also won its conference in her junior and senior years. In her senior season, Laney earned Honorable Mention All-State Badger-Large Conference, Second Team All-Conference, ranked second in the conference in hitting percentage, and fourth in blocks. Laney will be pursuing a degree in business.
Ella Maxwell – Setter / North Aurora, Ill.
Ella is a 5-8 left-handed setter from North Aurora, Illinois. She was a three-year starter for West Aurora High School and the captain of the team in her senior year. She received Upstate Eight Conference Player of the Year honors in 2025 and was a three-time All-Academic Varsity Scholar. Ella led her team to a Conference Championship in 2024 and a runner-up finish in 2025, which marked the first time the school advanced past the first round of regionals in 2019. Ella hit the 1,000-career assist mark in her senior season with 600 assists as her season total. She also played for Club Fusion Volleyball Club for six years and was a JVA-Watchlist member in her junior year. Additionally, Ella was a State Qualifier in track and field for the 4×400 relay in 2023 and 2024. She earned All-Conference and All-Academic honors in track and field in 2023 and 2024. Ella will be pursuing a degree in business at Tech.
Kayla Heinonen – Outside Hitter / Delano, Minn.
Kayla is a 5-8 outside hitter from Delano, Minnesota. She was a four-year varsity player for Delano High School and attended the Minnesota State Tournament in two of the four years. She was voted All-Conference and won the team’s Leadership Award in each of the last three seasons. In her Senior season, Heinonen held Delano’s highest hitting percentage and earned an All-Tournament team spot at the AAA Showcase Tournament. She plays for Crossfire Volleyball Club at the Elite level. Kayla also had three state appearances for Delano track and field. She will be pursuing a degree in either business or kinesiology/integrative physiology.
Natalie Leach – Defensive Specialist / Burlington, Wis.
Natalie is a 5-5 defensive specialist from Burlington, Wisconsin where she was a three-year letter winner for Burlington High School and played club for VC United. Natalie helped lead her team to Conference Championships in the 2023 and 2025 seasons and was a State Qualifier in WIAA Division 1 in her 2023 season. She was named team captain in her senior season and led the Demons with 4.2 digs per set, and earned First Team All-County and Honorable Mention All-State recognition. Natalie was named to the WVCA All-Academic Team in all three eligible seasons and named First Team Best and Brightest by AVCA for her senior season. She plans to major in engineering.
Mia Hahn – Outside Hitter / Fairbanks, Alaska
Mia is a 5-11 outside hitter from Fairbanks, Alaska, where she was a two-year letter winner for Lathrop High School. Mia was named MVP and First Team Middle Alaska Conference All-Conference while helping her team to a 4A State Tournament Quarterfinal appearance in the 2025 season. She led the conference in kills and earned multiple All-Tournament awards, including Best Attacker at the Whaler Invitation in Barrow, Alaska. Mia competes with Alaska Elevate Volleyball Club and was recently selected as one of the top 12 players in the state of Alaska to represent the Alaska U.S. Team at the 2026 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon, where she will compete against Canadian provincial teams and international programs including Norway and Finland. Prior to Lathrop, Mia competed for Kaiserslautern High School (Germany) and earned All-Euros Tournament Team honors as a sophomore. She plans to major in business while at Tech.
Over his first two campaigns, Caleb Smith has produced successful efforts in the heptathlon and decathlon events. He broke the school record in the heptathlon, posting his best total of 4,952 points to win the Middlebury Winter Classic. A few weeks later, Smith paced the event at the Division III New England Championships to earn all-region accolades and qualify for the NCAA Championships. He translated that success to the decathlon, winning the title at the Carla Coffey Invitational and Williams’ Farley Interregional Extravaganza. He garnered All-NESCAC accolades with a third-place showing in the high jump and claimed all-region honors in the decathlon.
Sam McGarrahan returns after a superb season in the field events. He qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the high jump, clearing the bar with the 18th-best height at 1.95 meters. McGarrahan topped the podium in the event during the Division III New England Championships, soaring to a school-record effort of 2.05 meters. He also set the program mark in the long jump, leaping 6.81 meters at Middlebury’s New England Small College Invitational. McGarrahan became the NESCAC Champion in school-record fashion in the high jump (2.00 meters) and recorded a third-place leap in the long jump. His high jump efforts outdoors earned him all-region honors.
For the first time since the 2018-2019 season, all three schools advanced past the Area round of the playoffs. Archer City and Holliday both were Regional Semifinalists, while Windthorst was a State Semifinalist for the fourth-straight season. With that success comes state recognition Holliday senior Jordan Peters closed out her final season as a Lady Eagle with an All-State honor from the Texa…
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Sports
Cedar Rapids wrestler chases her dream, from a volleyball player to a young star in the sport
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – When Maggie Peters is home, she’s locked in.
She lifts weights at a gym in her hometown of Cedar Rapids. But it’s not just for strength – it’s for safety.
“One things goes wrong, and you’ve got people’s lives in your hands,” she said. “I mean, you don’t want to drop somebody on their head.”
But more often than not, Peters is on the road. Her sport is professional wrestling.
She’s performed performed in front of thousands in arenas and on television. Her fights may be scripted, but her dream of reaching WWE is real.
Peters has a background in volleyball, playing at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Kirkwood Community College and Mount Mercy. But her dream has always been in the wrestling ring.
“I wanted to do it right when I started watching I wanna say I was eight or nine I would just go wrestle on my trampoline,” Peters said.
She went from the volleyball court at Mount Mercy to a wrestling school in Davenport.
“We would have a show on a Thursday night, so I would leave class early,” said Peters. “But at that point, I will say, my senior year was my worst year of school. Once I got the wrestling training done, I was like, ‘ooh, this is what I want to do.’”
In professional wrestling, the winner and loser are predetermined, unlike traditional sports.
“Pro wrestling, I will say, is like a dance,” Peters said.
But there’s nothing fake about the pain wrestlers endure, what they call “bumps.”
“Any time you get put down on the mat, you’re taking a bump. You’re hitting the top of your back,” Peters said. “Higher on your neck, sometimes, (is) not good.”
Maggie wrestles in independent shows across the Midwest under the ring name Maggie Lee. She also performs in front of thousands in TNA Wrestling as the villainous character “M By Elegance.”
“Yeah, I do like being the bad guy,” Peters said. “I’ve worked a mix of both the bad guy and the good guy on the independents. But everybody was like, ‘you look more like you as the bad guy.’ I was like, ‘gee, thanks,” Peters said.
TNA – Total Nonstop Action – is high-level televised professional wrestling, one step below WWE.
“I actually really love the whole TV aspect. It’s very organized. Being able to see myself on TV is really cool,” Peters laughed.
Maggie hopes a full-time contract with WWE is next. She’s banking on it, writing a card to her mother labeled “open when I’m in the WWE.”
“And it was one of many letters. I made them for her birthday,” Peters said.
When asked about the letter’s contents, Peters said she doesn’t remember what she wrote as a girl.
“I don’t even remember what’s in it, so I’m kind of like scared,” she said. “When she does open it, I feel like it’s going to be a big deal and I might get embarrassed.”
Sometimes she’s flying high, sometimes she’s taking bumps.
Either way, she’s racing towards her dream.
Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.
OMAHA (KMTV) — She might have a new name, but Norah (Sis) Tebrake still brings the same infectious smile to the court.
The former CU volleyball star is now married to former Creighton baseball standout Dylan Tebrake.
“He’s always encouraging me and challenging me,” said Norah. “And I try to do the same for him. I think it’s such a cool dynamic.”
After spending her first pro season helping Orlando to a league title, Norah had now returned to Omaha to play for the Supernovas. But returning to her hometown actually did take some getting used to again.
“I’m a wimp when it comes to the cold,” Tebrake said. “But now coming back after spending just one winter away, I feel like I can’t handle the cold.”
Along with reuniting with some former Bluejays, Tebrake has also formed friendships with her former rivals and now current teammates, including ex-NU star Merritt Beason.
“She’s just so joyful and leads with so much grace and so much love,” said Beason. “You can see that in her play. She’s one of the best people that I’ve ever met and it’s been so fun getting to know her.”
“To have people that know just kind of what makes you tick and what you need on the court and off the court is super helpful,” Tebrake said. “Obviously we’re all learning that about each other but just to come in knowing that there’s people that already know that about me has been super comforting.”
The Novas host San Diego in the season opener on Thursday at 7 PM at CHI Health Center.
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