“I definitely got the opportunity through the scholarship that was provided to me from Bellevue University,” Kvashin said. “That really funded the opportunity that I had through here.”
Sports
Bellevue University building on current success of esports program
-NCS-Bellevue%20Lifestyle%20(December%202024)%20(1).jpg)
While today Kvashin spends his time competing in professional tournaments playing Marvel Rivals, he says his education was his main priority while in school.
BELLEVUE, Neb. — The current program has 25 participants. Castillo-Ferrin says they want to increase that number to 100 with multiple scholarship opportunities over the next couple of years.Castillio-Ferrin says it is a major goal of his to make sure his athletes know that the skills they are learning through the program are bigger than just becoming a professional esports athlete.”Those skills will help them in the future in any career that they may want to do. So, not only are we focusing on competitive play and being the best possible that we can be but we’re also looking at the other side of the esports in how we can go ahead and involve those individuals,” Castillo-Ferrin said.”Only the one percent will make it to the pros. I’m beyond happy that Mark was really able to hit that milestone, but what about everyone else,” Castillo-Ferrin said. “What kind of skills and opportunities can we give them to be successful after university.””The athletic department, the university itself, they might not fully understand what Esports is but they 100 percent support and they know it’s only growing. So, since the very beginning since its implantation, it’s been nothing but support, and with that, we’ve been able to build a very successful program ranked 8th in the nation in Overwatch 2,” the esports program head coach David Castillo-Ferrin said.Inside the “Bruin Bunker” is a gamers’ paradise. It’s where Bellevue’s esports competitors train for the national stage. “When looking at esports and the just amazing positives that it has, I think parents need to really look at it as a real pathway to going to college, to going professional or really allowing those students to do what they love,” Castillo-Ferrin said.
“I still feel like the whole experience behind that is still pretty surreal,” Kvashin said.
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Overwatch is one of the many games the Bruins compete in as part of the eight-year-old program. Castillo-Ferrin says esports present several opportunities for players, from competitive gaming to marketing, commentating, producing and streaming.Bellevue University wants to capitalize on the growing interest into esports. Some players are getting scholarships, while even making careers out of it. For the Bruins, this is just the beginning for one of the biggest esports programs in Nebraska. NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Bellevue University wants to capitalize on the growing interest into esports. Some players are getting scholarships, while even making careers out of it. For the Bruins, this is just the beginning for one of the biggest esports programs in Nebraska. Inside the “Bruin Bunker” is a gamers’ paradise. It’s where Bellevue’s esports competitors train for the national stage. “The athletic department, the university itself, they might not fully understand what Esports is but they 100 percent support and they know it’s only growing. So, since the very beginning since its implantation, it’s been nothing but support, and with that, we’ve been able to build a very successful program ranked 8th in the nation in Overwatch 2,” the esports program head coach David Castillo-Ferrin said.Overwatch is one of the many games the Bruins compete in as part of the eight-year-old program. Castillo-Ferrin says esports present several opportunities for players, from competitive gaming to marketing, commentating, producing and streaming. “Those skills will help them in the future in any career that they may want to do. So, not only are we focusing on competitive play and being the best possible that we can be but we’re also looking at the other side of the esports in how we can go ahead and involve those individuals,” Castillo-Ferrin said.Just like any sports program, the opportunity to go professional is always a possibility. That’s the case with former Bruin Mark Kvashin, known as Karova in the gaming community.”I definitely got the opportunity through the scholarship that was provided to me from Bellevue University,” Kvashin said. “That really funded the opportunity that I had through here.”Kvashin signed a professional contract with Sentinels, one of the premiere professional esports organizations, while also securing partnerships with brands like Red Bull.”I still feel like the whole experience behind that is still pretty surreal,” Kvashin said.While today Kvashin spends his time competing in professional tournaments playing Marvel Rivals, he says his education was his main priority while in school.”The side was gaming, but then when I realized I had to put more time into gaming and that the opportunity was too high, and I had to take full advantage of it then I went full for it. Until then I still had my main goal as education,” Kvashin said.Castillio-Ferrin says it is a major goal of his to make sure his athletes know that the skills they are learning through the program are bigger than just becoming a professional esports athlete.”Only the one percent will make it to the pros. I’m beyond happy that Mark was really able to hit that milestone, but what about everyone else,” Castillo-Ferrin said. “What kind of skills and opportunities can we give them to be successful after university.”The current program has 25 participants. Castillo-Ferrin says they want to increase that number to 100 with multiple scholarship opportunities over the next couple of years.”When looking at esports and the just amazing positives that it has, I think parents need to really look at it as a real pathway to going to college, to going professional or really allowing those students to do what they love,” Castillo-Ferrin said.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Just like any sports program, the opportunity to go professional is always a possibility. That’s the case with former Bruin Mark Kvashin, known as Karova in the gaming community.Kvashin signed a professional contract with Sentinels, one of the premiere professional esports organizations, while also securing partnerships with brands like Red Bull.
“I still feel like the whole experience behind that is still pretty surreal,” Kvashin said.
Advertisement
Overwatch is one of the many games the Bruins compete in as part of the eight-year-old program. Castillo-Ferrin says esports present several opportunities for players, from competitive gaming to marketing, commentating, producing and streaming.Bellevue University wants to capitalize on the growing interest into esports. Some players are getting scholarships, while even making careers out of it. For the Bruins, this is just the beginning for one of the biggest esports programs in Nebraska. NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Bellevue University wants to capitalize on the growing interest into esports. Some players are getting scholarships, while even making careers out of it. For the Bruins, this is just the beginning for one of the biggest esports programs in Nebraska. Inside the “Bruin Bunker” is a gamers’ paradise. It’s where Bellevue’s esports competitors train for the national stage. “The athletic department, the university itself, they might not fully understand what Esports is but they 100 percent support and they know it’s only growing. So, since the very beginning since its implantation, it’s been nothing but support, and with that, we’ve been able to build a very successful program ranked 8th in the nation in Overwatch 2,” the esports program head coach David Castillo-Ferrin said.Overwatch is one of the many games the Bruins compete in as part of the eight-year-old program. Castillo-Ferrin says esports present several opportunities for players, from competitive gaming to marketing, commentating, producing and streaming. “Those skills will help them in the future in any career that they may want to do. So, not only are we focusing on competitive play and being the best possible that we can be but we’re also looking at the other side of the esports in how we can go ahead and involve those individuals,” Castillo-Ferrin said.Just like any sports program, the opportunity to go professional is always a possibility. That’s the case with former Bruin Mark Kvashin, known as Karova in the gaming community.”I definitely got the opportunity through the scholarship that was provided to me from Bellevue University,” Kvashin said. “That really funded the opportunity that I had through here.”Kvashin signed a professional contract with Sentinels, one of the premiere professional esports organizations, while also securing partnerships with brands like Red Bull.”I still feel like the whole experience behind that is still pretty surreal,” Kvashin said.While today Kvashin spends his time competing in professional tournaments playing Marvel Rivals, he says his education was his main priority while in school.”The side was gaming, but then when I realized I had to put more time into gaming and that the opportunity was too high, and I had to take full advantage of it then I went full for it. Until then I still had my main goal as education,” Kvashin said.Castillio-Ferrin says it is a major goal of his to make sure his athletes know that the skills they are learning through the program are bigger than just becoming a professional esports athlete.”Only the one percent will make it to the pros. I’m beyond happy that Mark was really able to hit that milestone, but what about everyone else,” Castillo-Ferrin said. “What kind of skills and opportunities can we give them to be successful after university.”The current program has 25 participants. Castillo-Ferrin says they want to increase that number to 100 with multiple scholarship opportunities over the next couple of years.”When looking at esports and the just amazing positives that it has, I think parents need to really look at it as a real pathway to going to college, to going professional or really allowing those students to do what they love,” Castillo-Ferrin said.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Just like any sports program, the opportunity to go professional is always a possibility. That’s the case with former Bruin Mark Kvashin, known as Karova in the gaming community.Kvashin signed a professional contract with Sentinels, one of the premiere professional esports organizations, while also securing partnerships with brands like Red Bull.
“The side was gaming, but then when I realized I had to put more time into gaming and that the opportunity was too high, and I had to take full advantage of it then I went full for it. Until then I still had my main goal as education,” Kvashin said.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The fourth-seeded Indiana volleyball team (25-7, 14-6 B1G) will play in the Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history. The NCAA announced start times and dates for next week’s regional semifinals on Sunday (Dec. 7) afternoon. The Hoosiers will play top-seeded Texas at Gregory Gymnasium on Friday (Dec. 12) afternoon at Noon ET on ESPN.
Following the greatest regular season in program history, IU was awarded a top-16 national seed and the chance to host the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers made quick work of their first two matchups, sweeping Toledo and fifth-seeded Colorado in Bloomington to advance to the Sweet 16.
IU is one of five Big Ten programs remaining in the NCAA Tournament. Of the 16 schools left in the big dance, IU is one of two teams (Cal Poly) that didn’t make the big dance last year. The Hoosiers have already set a single-season program record for wins (25) and will attempt to advance to the regional final for the first time in program history.
The other matchup in the Austin Regional will pit second-seeded Stanford and third-seeded Wisconsin against each other. Their match will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of IU’s. The winners of both regional semifinals will meet on Sunday (Dec. 14) afternoon for a spot in the national semifinals in Kansas City.
Dec. 6, 2025Updated Dec. 7, 2025, 6:08 a.m. ET
After defeating Marquette 3-2 in the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Saturday night, No. 2 Louisville will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, and take on No. 3 Texas A&M in the Sweet 16 at 7 p.m. Friday.
This will be the Cardinals’ seventh consecutive regional appearance but first with Dan Meske as head coach.
Here’s everything you need to know to keep up with the match from home:
No. 2 seed Louisville versus No. 3 seed Texas A&M will be broadcast live on ESPN or ESPN2.
Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN2 via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.
Those without cable can access ESPN2 via streaming services, with Fubo offering a free trial.
Buy Louisville volleyball tickets here
After defeating Marquette, UofL will play Texas A&M in the Lincoln, Nebraska, Regional Friday at 7 pm. Here’s a look at the tournament schedule:
- First and second rounds: Dec. 4-6
- Regionals: Dec. 11-14
- Semifinals: Dec. 18 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
- Championship: Dec. 21 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
Click here to view the complete bracket.
- Aug. 29: Louisville 3, Auburn 0
- Aug. 31: Louisville 3, Morehead State 0
- Sept. 1: Louisville 3, St. John’s 0
- Sept. 7: Louisville 3, Illinois 1
- Sept. 10: Texas 3, Louisville 2
- Sept. 12: Louisville 3, Creighton 1
- Sept. 13: Louisville 3, UNI 1
- Sept. 14: Louisville 3, Rice 1
- Sept. 18: Kentucky 3, Louisville 2
- Sept. 22: Louisville 3, Western Kentucky 0
- Sept. 26: Louisville 3, Boston College 0
- Sept. 28: Louisville 3, Syracuse 0
- Oct. 3: Louisville 3, California 0
- Oct. 5: Louisville 3, Stanford 1
- Oct. 10: Louisville 3, Virginia Tech 0
- Oct. 12: Louisville 3, Virginia 1
- Oct. 17: SMU 3, Louisville 2
- Oct. 19: Pitt 3, Louisville 2
- Oct. 24: Louisville 3, Duke 0
- Oct. 26: Louisville 3, North Carolina 1
- Oct. 29: Louisville 3, Notre Dame 0
- Nov. 1: Louisville 3, Notre Dame 0
- Nov. 7: Louisville 3, N.C. State 0
- Nov. 9: Louisville 3, Wake Forest 1
- Nov. 13: Louisville 3, Florida State 1
- Nov. 16: Louisville 3, Miami 2
- Nov. 21: Louisville 3, Georgia Tech 1
- Nov. 23: Louisville 3, Clemson 0
- Nov. 26: Pitt 3, Louisville 0
- Nov. 29: Stanford 3, Louisville 2
- Dec. 5: Louisville 3, Loyola Chicago 0 (NCAA Tournament First Round)
- Dec. 6: Louisville 3, Marquette 2 (NCAA Tournament Second Round)
- Dec. 11: Louisville vs. Texas A&M (NCAA Tournament Regional Round)
Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com and follow her on X @petitus25. Subscribe to her “Full-court Press” newsletter here for a behind-the-scenes look at how college sports’ biggest stories are impacting Louisville and Kentucky athletics.
Lancaster, PA (December 6, 2025) – The DeSales University men’s track & field team opened the 2025-26 indoor T&F season competing at the Diplomat Open at Franklin & Marshall College on Friday.
The Bulldogs posted 10 MAC qualfying times/marks in the meet.
Among the qualifying times were junior Bryce Guthier taking second in the 400-meters with a time of 52.08. It is the fifth fastest time in indoor history. Senior Davis Trump also qualified in the 5K with a time of 16:20.32.
In the field events, DSU posted eight qualfying marks. Junior Weston Simak qualified for the MAC Championships in both the long jump (6.52m) and triple jump (13.72m). His triple jump mark was the second best in team history. First-year Luke Heimann also qualfied in the triple jump (11.86m).
Junior Jonathan Castronovo took home first place in the long jump with a mark of 6.58m, the second best long jump in team history.
First-year John Amoretti qualified in the shot put (12.33m), seniors Jonathan Eudja and Giovanni Wellington qualified in the weight throw with marks of 14.85m and 14.23m. First-year Ryan Rodriguez also quallified in the weight throw (11.89m).
The Bulldogs won’t return to action till the New Year at the Blue and Grey Invitational on Jan. 17th.
RESULTS
ITHACA, N.Y. –
The Ithaca College women’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.
Lola Gitlin posted a time of 10:25.57 in the 3000-meter run to finish third overall.
Rachel Larson was a fourth place finisher with a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. That time is currently No. 1 in Division III after the opening weekend of the season.
Aynisha McQuillar took fifth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 26.61 seconds. McQuillar also ran in the 60-meter dash and posted the 11th fastest time in DIII during the prelim with a performance of 7.78 seconds.
Lyla Powers was fifth in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:21.75.
Lily Seyfert claimed fifth in the shot put with a heave of 12.78 meters, which is currently ninth in the nation.
Bree Boyle and Erin Eastwood each cleared 3.54 meters in the pole vault, which is tied for 11th on the Division III performance list.
Alexis Brown turned in a leap of 11.02 meters in the triple jump for the 17th best mark in the country.
Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.
RESULTS
ITHACA, N.Y. –
The Ithaca College men’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.
Anik Vossschulte claimed third in the 200-meter dash in a time of 23.32 seconds, while Jacob Antilety was seventh at 23.71 seconds.
Matt Lokshin posted a time of 8.65 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to place third in the event. Aidan Irwin took fourth in the high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters.
Quinten Lewis posted a mark of 13.73 meters in the triple jump to place fourth and Sebastien-Oliver Lacrete was sixth at 12.68 meters, while Evan Cherry secured fifth in the long jump with a leap of 6.84 meters.
IC’s 4×400-meter relay team of Damian Simmonds, Griffin Lupes, Noah McKibben and George Nilson placed sixth in 3:34.49.
Luke Ellor finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 14.40 meters.
Three Bombers finished within the top eight in the 500-meter dash as Brad Kellogg was sixth in 1:09.73, Peter Tysiak followed in seventh with 1:10.74 and Matthew DeJulio was next at 1:11.59.
Kaiden Chandler and Luke Ferrer posted times of 4:41.29 and 4:53.44 in the mile to finish in seventh and eighth.
Raf Campanile was seventh in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.25 meters.
Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.
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