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QUESTION: Longview ISD has a contract with Christus Good Shepherd to provide orthopedic and sports trainer services for student athletes. However, tucked within that contract is an advertising exclusivity clause that is inserted in such a way that it appears intentionally opaque. It’s doubtful that LISD fully understood the implications of the clause the district […]

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QUESTION: Longview ISD has a contract with Christus Good Shepherd to provide orthopedic and sports trainer services for student athletes. However, tucked within that contract is an advertising exclusivity clause that is inserted in such a way that it appears intentionally opaque.

It’s doubtful that LISD fully understood the implications of the clause the district signed. Did they not realize that this contract could penalize students soliciting donations from local health care providers outside of the Christus network?

ANSWER: Information provided by the school district shows that a new version of a 2019 contract was approved in July 2023 for a five-year period. (It comes with a five-year automatic renewal unless one of the organizations withdraws.)

In the agreement, Christus agrees to provide specific, free medical and athletic trainer services to the district in exchange for certain exclusive advertising rights.

The agreement applies to district high school varsity sports teams and high school athletic facilities or events and allows Christus to describe itself as the “official health care sponsor of Longview ISD athletics.”

LISD Athletic Director John King assured me the district knew what it was signing as it was discussed for several months.

The contract spells out how Christus will provide athletic trainers and other services at the high school.

It also says Christus will provide $700,000 — $140,000 each year for five years — to be recognized as the “official medical provider” for Longview ISD athletics in any materials at sporting events during the school year.

It gives the hospital signage rights at all indoor and outdoor sport venues, athletic training rooms and a sideline tent purchased by the hospital.

It also details the length of advertising provided during events, requires a full page program ad in each sports program, social medial recognition and logo placement on the district’s website and Facebook and Twitter pages.

Advertising agreements that were in effect with Longview Regional Medical Center and Diagnostic Clinic of Longview before June 1, 2023, remained in effect and can be extended once by five years.

The hospital also agreed to annually provide up to $5,000 for co-branded clothing for staff and student athletic trainers; provide up to $5,000 to equip and supply an athletic training room; and provide up to $140,000 to hire additional athletic trainers to be employees of the district and work in cooperation with Christus athletic trainers.

The hospital also agreed to consider individual sponsorship requests for apparel for special athletics events hosted by the district.

The district agreed to provide the hospital with in-kind advertising of a value equal to the value of the services it is providing under the agreement.

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Baldwin County athletes shine at AHSAA All-Star Week

From the fairways to the front row, Baldwin County athletes made their presence felt during the 2025 AHSAA All-Star Sports Week held July 20-24 in Montgomery. Standouts from across the county competed against some of the state’s top rising seniors in a multi-day showcase across seven sports — and several left with standout performances and […]

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From the fairways to the front row, Baldwin County athletes made their presence felt during the 2025 AHSAA All-Star Sports Week held July 20-24 in Montgomery.

Standouts from across the county competed against some of the state’s top rising seniors in a multi-day showcase across seven sports — and several left with standout performances and lasting impressions.

Girls’ and Boys’ Golf

All-Star Week teed off with golf, where three Baldwin County athletes represented the South squad. Jazz Ortiz (Orange Beach) and Bailee Reaper (Spanish Fort) competed in the girls’ tournament, while Bayshore Christian’s Michael Heaton played in the boys’ match.

Ortiz earned a 10.5-7.5 win in her match to contribute to South’s 43.5-28.5 team triumph on the girls’ side. Reaper dominated her match with a 15-3 victory. Reagan Todd (Daphne) was selected but did not compete.




On the boys’ side, Heaton delivered a standout performance with a commanding 15-3 win in match play, helping lift South to a 56.5-33.5 victory.

Girls’ Basketball

Foley’s Amiyah Carvin was selected to represent the South squad in the girls’ basketball contest. She was selected alongside fellow Baldwin County standout Abby Johnson (Daphne), who did not participate.

Carvin made the most of her time on the floor, scoring five points in 10 minutes while adding two rebounds and two assists. South snapped a seven-year skid with an 85-75 win over the North.





Boys’ Tennis

Foley’s Nathan Vecsey and Spanish Fort’s Gillen Holley competed for the South team in boys’ tennis. Holley fell 6-3, 6-2 in the No. 4 singles matches, while Vecsey dropped his No. 3 doubles matches 6-1, 6-1.

Girls’ Cross Country




Bayside Academy’s Shelby Fargason led all Baldwin County runners with a second-place finish in the girls’ 5K, clocking a time of 18:43.11. She was one of three county runners to place in the top 15. Fairhope’s Lynley Grace Anderson finished 13th at 23:15.39, and Spanish Fort’s Ree Sasser placed 15th with a time of 24:49.20.

Girls’ and Boys’ Soccer

Spanish Fort’s Holland Burkhalter held North scoreless during her 40 minutes in goal, recording six saves in the process. Fellow Toro Hayden Kessler anchored the back line for 72 minutes to help preserve South’s 4-3 win. Daphne’s Lacey Daffin fired one shot on goal in 63 minutes of midfield action, and Bayside Academy’s Virginia Merchant recorded an assist in 33 minutes of run.

Orange Beach’s Brylee Joullian and Foley’s Emely Pineda each logged over 35 minutes on the field. Bayshore Christian’s Allie McTaggart saw 42 minutes of action, and her father, Pat McTaggart, served as South’s head coach.




On the boys’ side, Spanish Fort midfielder Jake Bauer scored South’s lone goal on his only shot during 46 minutes of play, earning South MVP honors for his performance. Spanish Fort’s Jack Finlay led the team with 73 minutes of midfield work, while Fairhope’s Max Reger contributed 39 minutes and picked up a yellow card late as South tried to rally. The South boys fell to North 3-1.

Softball

Six Baldwin County players were named to the South All-Star softball team in March, but only two took the field in Montgomery.

Spanish Fort’s Mallarie Beagle and Daphne’s Cammerlyn Herport contributed in key roles as South swept North in two games. Beagle tossed 1.2 innings in the Game 2 win, while neither player recorded a hit in the doubleheader.




Gulf Shores’ Anna Leigh Price, Orange Beach’s Ava Hodo and Teagan Revette and Daphne’s Abagail Johnson were originally selected but did not participate.

Volleyball

The South volleyball squad opened fast and finished strong for a 3-1 win in four sets to close out All-Star Week. Baldwin County athletes were front and center in the victory.

Daphne’s Ella Lomax earned South MVP honors after registering nine kills on 16 swings for a .375 hitting percentage. She also served up two aces. Bayside Academy’s Haley Robinson added five kills, a solo block and two block assists.

Fairhope’s Libby Rogers filled the stat sheet with 12 assists, nine digs and three kills on four attempts with no errors, good for a .750 hitting percentage. M.K. Whitehurst (Bayside Academy) served up five aces and five digs across four sets, while Gabi Berlage (Fairhope) chipped in three kills and a dig to help keep South in control.

For full results from each sport, visit ahsaa.com. 





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No. 7 Long Beach Poly’s Fiona Lobedecis Wins CIF State Diving Title – The562.org

The city has a reputation of historical athletic moments, and as the Aquatic Capital of the World, many of these moments have happened in the water. Long Beach Poly senior Fiona Lobedecis had her moment this year, being crowned the CIF State Diving Champion in her senior season. The senior’s win […]

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The city has a reputation of historical athletic moments, and as the Aquatic Capital of the World, many of these moments have happened in the water. Long Beach Poly senior Fiona Lobedecis had her moment this year, being crowned the CIF State Diving Champion in her senior season.

The senior’s win was a dominant one. Lobedecis posted a score of 505.35, pulling ahead by a huge margin compared to her competitors. The second place diver had a score of 470.25.

“I am extremely proud of the work that Fiona has done this season as part of the Poly Swim and Dive team,” Poly head coach Ali Landeros said. “On top of being one of our most elite swimmers, she dedicated much of her time towards her development as a diver, and the results speak for themselves.”

Lobedecis was the 2024 Moore League Diver of the Year. She also holds the school record for her dive score at last year’s CIF State Finals, where she posted a 508.20.

“Even though Poly does not have an official dive team, Fiona has pushed herself this season on her own doing club diving and making sure she had what it took to make it past the CIF-Southern section championships and on to the state competition,” Landeros said.

The Jackrabbit is taking her athletic talent and skill, along with her academics, to the next level. She will be joining the University of Michigan’s Dive team in the fall. She will be in the water alongside fellow Poly alum Colin Geer, who is already making history for Michigan through his second year.

“We’re extremely stoked on her accomplishments and know she’s going to continue on with her success in college,” Landeros said.





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Harris gives few words to Gen Z Democrats in video at DC summit

The 2025 Voters of Tomorrow Fight For Our Future Summit featured a pre-recorded video message from former Vice President Kamala Harris that lasted just under two minutes. Harris has kept a low profile since leaving office in January while she reportedly explores a 2028 California gubernatorial run. However, she had been billed as the closing […]

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The 2025 Voters of Tomorrow Fight For Our Future Summit featured a pre-recorded video message from former Vice President Kamala Harris that lasted just under two minutes.

Harris has kept a low profile since leaving office in January while she reportedly explores a 2028 California gubernatorial run. However, she had been billed as the closing speaker at VoT’s fourth annual conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday.

However, Harris’s remarks were notably short. In the speech, she compared Generation Z to World War II veterans.

“Your generation has grown up on the front lines of so many crises, from [COVID-19] and the climate crisis, to gun violence and mental health. You know what’s at stake, and you are not waiting for someone else to figure it out. You refuse to be passive,” she said. “Not only are you demanding action, you are actively shaping the future, and we need to invest, then, in your generation.”

She continued, “I think of you the way history thought of the greatest generation. Remember when our country made a decision to invest in their future with the GI Bill, affordable housing, and economic opportunity. So we’ve done it before, and in this moment, I believe it is time we do it for you.”

Harris implored summit attendees to keep building their political power, community, and coalitions, and to “keep challenging the status quo.”

“And borne out of our love for our country, keep fighting to build a country and a nation that works for everyone,” Harris concluded. “I look forward to continuing in the fight alongside you.”

TRUMP: ‘I’M ALLOWED’ TO PARDON GHISLAINE MAXWELL BUT ‘HAVEN’T THOUGHT’ OF EPSTEIN CASE CLEMENCY

Harris has not ruled out running for president again in 2028, but she would likely have difficulty clearing the Democratic primary following her unsuccessful 2024 campaign.

Polymarket, a prediction market, released its first betting odds of the 2028 general election cycle earlier this week, with Harris earning just the fifth-best chance of securing the Democratic nomination.



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Tualatin hurdler is ‘excited’ for what’s to come after making college decision

Tualatin hurdler is ‘excited’ for what’s to come after making college decision Published 4:00 pm Friday, July 25, 2025 One of Oregon’s best high school track and field athletes made her college choice official earlier this week. Tualatin High School’s Campbell Brintnall announced via Instagram that she would be attending and competing for Boise State […]

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Tualatin hurdler is ‘excited’ for what’s to come after making college decision

Published 4:00 pm Friday, July 25, 2025

One of Oregon’s best high school track and field athletes made her college choice official earlier this week.

Tualatin High School’s Campbell Brintnall announced via Instagram that she would be attending and competing for Boise State University this fall.

The recent graduate said she had narrowed her choices down to four schools, Boise, Oregon, Utah and Arizona, but in the end – and after much deliberation – it was the Idaho university that made the most sense.

“It kind of was (a tough decision),” Brintnall said. “It took a really long time, but it was a good choice and I’m very excited.”

Brintnall went on to say that while the area, coaches and overall fit were key factors in her decision, loyalty was also something that played a prominent role in her decision as well.

“The main thing that made me want to go with Boise was that they were with me the whole time,” Brintnall said. “That was the first school that I was really seriously talking to. My visit there was very fun, and I could really see myself living there and being happy there. That was a big deal to me.”

The recent graduate said the process of picking a school had been ongoing since the beginning of the calendar year, but had heightened in recent months as she narrowed her options down. She visited Boise first, saw what the University of Oregon had to offer this past June, then took a trip to Utah where shortly following such Arizona threw their hat in the ring. But while varying school deadlines complicated things, in the end it was Boise that simply felt right.

“I feel like Boise is really trying to grow their program, and that’s something that I’m really interested in,” she said.
Brintnall’s profile grew significantly over the past year as her times vastly improved.

After placing seventh in the 100 hurdles and eighth in the 300 hurdles at the state meet her junior year, as a senior Brintnall won state titles in both events this past May. As a result, the Ducks came knockin’, and with them came the allure of running for a great and historically notable program.

That made the Timberwolf standout’s decision that much more painstaking.

“It definitely was difficult,” Brintnall said. “Oregon definitely was one of my dream schools for a very long time. The allure of Oregon was undeniable…it was a great option, but it wasn’t really the right fit.”

Brintnall and her coaches plan on her competing in both the short and long hurdle events in college. And while the 100 meter event will bring a level of comfort, what was the 300 meter event in high school, will be stretched to 400 meters in college – something that while different, is of no concern to Brintnall.

“I think it’s just going to be about getting used to it,” Brintnall said. “When I’ve done it I’ve started a little slow, then at the end of the race I had a ton of strength and speed left. It’s just a weird adjustment, but it’s not daunting.”

Nor should it be, for Brintnall’s times have dropped precipitously over the past year, and there’s no reason for her to think that drop won’t continue in the coming years as she dials in her technique.

“I believe I still have a lot of room to grow,” Brintnall said. “It’s all starting to click for me. I feel more fluid over the hurdles at this point, my block starts are getting better, and I feel like with a technical event like hurdles, there’s always room to improve.”

And part of that work to improve is ongoing as she continues to work with her track club, The Inner Circle Track Club. But in the weeks to come that too will culminate, and with it will come the end to one chapter, and ultimately the beginning of another.

“It’s a little sad because it feels like the end of an era,” Brintnall said. “New kids are joining now and it’s going to be fun to see how they develop, but for me and my teammates we’re kind of going our separate ways.

“I’ll still talk to my coaches all the time and I’ll visit during breaks, but finishing up the training here is going to be different, and going to college will be exciting.”



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Thirty named to 2025 AVCA Division I Player of the Year watch list

Share Ahead of the start of the women’s college volleyball season, the AVCA has named 30 student-athletes to the 2025 Player of the Year watch list.  The names were announced in groups of 10 from July 22 to July 24 in no particular order by the AVCA Division I Women’s Volleyball Awards Committee. The committee […]

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Ahead of the start of the women’s college volleyball season, the AVCA has named 30 student-athletes to the 2025 Player of the Year watch list. 

The names were announced in groups of 10 from July 22 to July 24 in no particular order by the AVCA Division I Women’s Volleyball Awards Committee. The committee will release a midseason update to the list in October, followed by semifinalists in November and the finalists in December. Players not on the preseason watch list can still be added during the season.

The Player of the Year announcement will take place on Friday, Dec. 19, at the AVCA Awards Banquet.

READ MORE: Recapping the 2025 college volleyball transfer portal

Last season’s winner, Olivia Babcock, returns to the 2025 preseason watch list with Pittsburgh after bringing the first AVCA Player of the Year award to the Panthers. 

2025 AVCA Player of the Year watch list

*Names are listed in no particular order, grouped by school.

Name School Position Year
Caylen Alexander Missouri OH Sr.
Olivia Babcock Pittsburgh RS    Jr.
Chloe Chicoine Louisville OH Jr.
Mimi Colyer Wisconsin OH Sr.
Ifenna Cos-Okpalla Texas A&M MB Sr.
Cara Cresse Louisville MB RS-Sr.
Brooklyn DeLeye Kentucky OH Jr.
Charlie Fuerbringer Wisconsin S So.
Kamryn Gibadlo  Utah OH Jr.
Julia Hanson Minnesota OH Sr.
Flormarie Heredia Colon Miami (FL) OH Sr.
Eva Hudson Kentucky OH Sr.
Andi Jackson Nebraska MB Jr.
Malaya Jones SMU RS Gr.
Bre Kelley Pittsburgh MB RS-Sr.
Caroline Kerr Tennessee S RS-Jr.
Logan Lednicky Texas A&M RS Sr.
Cheridyn Leverette UCLA OH Sr.
Maggie Li    UCLA OH Jr.
Claire Little BYU OH Jr.
Ava Martin  Creighton OH Sr.
Kennedy Martin Penn State RS Jr.
Harper Murray  Nebraska OH Jr.
Bergen Reilly     Nebraska S Jr.
Elia Rubin    Stanford OH Sr.
Maya Sands   Missouri L Sr.
Alexis Shelton            Oklahoma OH Sr.
Torrey Stafford   Texas OH Jr.
Izzy Starck             Penn State S So.
Nia Washington     LSU OH Sr.

Stanford leads the way with 10 Player of the Year award winners all-time, with Kathryn Plummer most recently taking home back-to-back for the Cardinal in 2017 and 2018. 

Past 15 AVCA Player of the Year winners

Name School year
Olivia Babcock Pittsburgh 2024
Sarah Franklin Wisconsin 2023
Logan Eggleston Texas 2022
Dana Rettke Wisconsin 2021 (*Fall)
Madison Lilleey Kentucky 2021 (*Spring)
Yossiana Pressley Baylor 2019
Kathryn Plummer Stanford 2018
Kathryn Plummer Stanford 2017
Sarah White Minnesota 2016
Samantha Bricio Southern Cal 2015
Micha Hancock Penn State 2014
Krista Vansant Washington 2013
Alaina Bergsma Oregon 2012
Alex Jupiter Southern Cal 2011
Carli Lloyd California 2010

* The 2020 season was pushed back due to Covid

College volleyball schedule: When does the 2025 college volleyball season start?

Here’s everything you need to know for the start of the 2025 college volleyball season. The first games are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 22.

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Recapping the 2025 college volleyball transfer portal

This offseason, there’s been some major roster shakeups due to the transfer portal. NCAA’s Michella Chester breaks down some of the biggest transfers yet.

READ MORE

Dani Busboom Kelly named head coach of Nebraska volleyball

Former Nebraska volleyball star and Louisville head coach named successor to John Cook.

READ MORE





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­Great American Conference issues scholar, sportsmanship awards

The Great American Conference named Harding University’s record-setting basketball star Sage Hawley as its 2024-2025 Female Scholar Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, according to a news release. Hawley became the fourth Lady Bison to receive the honor, tying with East Central University for the most honorees in league history. Hawley joins fellow former Bisons […]

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The Great American Conference named Harding University’s record-setting basketball star Sage Hawley as its 2024-2025 Female Scholar Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, according to a news release.

Hawley became the fourth Lady Bison to receive the honor, tying with East Central University for the most honorees in league history.

Hawley joins fellow former Bisons basketball players Kristen Celsor and Arielle Saunders, who won in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, respectively.

Harding’s track and field All-American Anna Kay Clark claimed the award last year.

Hawley won her second College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honor in 2025. She earned a 3.79 GPA in information systems as a graduate student.

Earning GAC Tournament MVP honors, Hawley led the Lady Bisons to a 69-52 win against Southeastern Oklahoma. The net cutting victory was Harding’s first GAC Championship since 2017.

Hawley became a two-time All-American after finishing her career as just the third player in NCAA Division II history with at least 2,300 points and 1,300 rebounds.

2024-2025 GAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year nominees

Softball

Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Ashley Low (volleyball, softball and track and field), University of Arkansas-Monticello’s Kyann Woods and East Central’s Taylor Spence.

Soccer

Ouachita Baptist’s Abbey Moore and Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Anna Bager.

Basketball

Henderson State University’s Bobbi Bazzle, SAU’s Marlee Bright and Southern Nazarene’s Hannah Giddey.

Cross Country, Track and Field

Arkansas Tech’s Mackenzie Epperson, Oklahoma Baptist’s Sophia Strange and Southeastern Oklahoma’s Emma Berry.

Male Scholar Athlete of the Year

The Great American Conference named Southern Nazarene track and field athlete Colter Bufford as its 2024-2025 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, a news release said.

Bufford became the second Crimson Storm track and athlete to win the honor. He captured Southern Nazarene’s first GAC title in the javelin. While at the GAC Championships, he broke the meet record and the school record with a mark of 67.35 meters.

Bufford ranked No. 14 in the nation in the event while qualifying for the NCAA Championships.

Bufford has a 4.0 GPA in biochemistry, serves as president of Tri Beta and is the treasurer for Alpha Epsilon Delta.

Oklahoma State Senator Kristen Thompson and Oklahoma Representative Nicole Miller awarded Bufford citations for research over dissolved organic matter. Bufford recently conducted medical research for the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

2024-2025 GAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year

Football

UAM’s Ryan Williams, Arkansas Tech’s Peyton Henderson, East Central’s Seth Spady, Harding’s Jake Dugger, Southwestern State’s Isaac Foster’s, Southeastern State’s Damien Brown and SAU’s Matthew Whitten.

Baseball

Henderson State’s Cayden Davis and Northwestern State’s Will Kates.

Tennis

OBU’s Ramon Strassmann.

Cross Country, Track and Field

Oklahoma Baptist’s Carson Kardokus.

Sportsmanship awards

The GAC announced its sportsmanship awards as chosen by the league’s head coaches based on a point system on Tuesday.

The GAC’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, in 2012, initiated a sportsmanship award to be presented for all team sports, the release said. The winning school will receive a banner similar to the one presented to GAC tournament championship winners when the sportsmanship award winners are announced.

GAC Commissioner Will Prewitt said the goal of programs is to promote good sportsmanship among its teams, fans and all involved with the events.

“These awards emphasize the NCAA Division II focus on sportsmanship and game environment. We could not be prouder of what these programs have put forth on the field and in ways that aren’t necessarily reflected in the outcome,” Prewitt said in the release.

ArkansasTech

Arkansas Tech won in women’s golf and for the first time in school history in men’s golf, becoming only the second school to win both awards in the same season in GAC history.

The Golden Suns’ cross country team also captured their first sportsmanship award.

OBU

For the Tigers, both football and softball earned back-to-back sportsmanship awards, and both sports won their fourth sportsmanship awards in school history.

The Tigers collected their first for women’s track and field.

Arkansas Tech and OBU each claimed three sportsmanship awards.

Harding

The Bisons garnered the award for both men’s and women’s soccer and became the first GAC school to win for both sports in the same season.

The honor represents the 11-in-13 seasons for Harding’s women’s team and the first-ever for the Bisons men’s team.

Northwestern State

The Rangers join Arkansas Tech, OBU and Harding as the only GAC schools to secure multiple sportsmanship awards for the year.

The Rangers won their second-straight men’s track and field sportsmanship awards and the first-ever sportsmanship award for women’s basketball in Northwestern State history.

Southwestern State

Southwestern State volleyball received recognition for the fifth-straight year, and sixth time overall, for a sportsmanship award.

Southeastern State earned its fifth sportsmanship award for men’s basketball in school history.

Henderson State

Henderson State claimed a sportsmanship award for women’s tennis for the fourth time.

Southern Nazarene

Southern Nazarene baseball secured its second sportsmanship award.

East Central

East Central men’s cross country won the program’s first sportsmanship award.

Southern Nazarene track and field athlete Colter Bufford, center, throws a javelin. (Submitted photo)
Southern Nazarene track and field athlete Colter Bufford, center, throws a javelin. (Submitted photo)



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