The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2023-24 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.

It became one of the greatest single seasons in NCAA men’s volleyball history when Long Beach State’s Moni Nikolov stepped off the court Monday night—adding a national championship to his already impressive list of accolades from his freshman season. That’s when the question that had loomed all season came to the forefront of his career: Was this the last time we’d see Nikolov in the Black and Gold?

The Bulgarian sensation has gone viral throughout his debut season, with new clips reaching millions of views after each match—played in front of sold-out crowds virtually everywhere the Beach competed. That attention has, of course, reached professional volleyball clubs across the globe, and many have speculated about his departure, expecting him to accept a high-level offer to play professionally.

Just four days after becoming a national champion, Nikolov confirmed those speculations, taking to Instagram to announce his departure from Long Beach State. Nikolov has not announced where he’ll continue his volleyball career.

“Every moment here has mattered. And leaving with a national title is more than I could’ve asked for. With gratitude and pride, thank you, Long Beach,” he wrote.

“It’s always exciting for your players to take any and all opportunities that will allow them to expect greatness in their life. That’s what our program is built on,” said LBSU coach Alan Knipe. “At this point, the options he has available to him are those that very few athletes get. As much as Long Beach State and myself would love to see him stick around and compete for us, he gets the opportunity to fulfill another one of his dreams and get himself ready to try and qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. I’m excited for him and what lies in front of him.”

Knipe has seen this story pan out before—when Nikolov’s older brother, Alex, went one-and-done at Long Beach State as a freshman in 2022. Together, the brothers have left behind a remarkable legacy at the Beach, becoming the only two players in NCAA history to win AVCA National Player of the Year honors as freshmen.

Both brothers also walked away with AVCA Newcomer of the Year and Big West Player of the Year honors. Moni added NCAA All-Tournament MVP honors to his resume on Monday night, capping off an incredible era of Nikolov volleyball in Long Beach.

“It speaks for itself,” Knipe said of the brothers’ accomplishments. “There are two players in NCAA history who achieved Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in the same season. They’re both from Long Beach State, and they’re both from the same family. Enough said. It’s a very special feat.”

It was Moni’s 6-foot-10 frame and remarkable athleticism at the setter position that made him the face of volleyball in the country this year. His soft hands, capable of delivering pinpoint sets, combined with the imposing height and physicality of an outside hitter, made him a nightmare for opposing teams.

Nikolov steps away from the NCAA scene after leading the Beach to a nation-best .398 hitting percentage. He finished fourth in the nation in assists this year with 1,030 (10 per set), while also averaging 1.56 kills per set. Nikolov also recorded the fastest serve in NCAA history at 84 mph, and became the new single-season aces record holder. He finished with 106 aces—breaking Curtis Abram’s 2011 record in 15 fewer sets.

“I think this was the most impactful season anyone’s been able to have,” Knipe said. “What he was able to do from the end line to the new reinvention of what the setting position looks like…The other side is the attention to men’s volleyball and the sellout arenas throughout the country that we played in. I think its gonna be hard for someone to find a player with a bigger impact in one season. And to do that in your freshman year is even more spectacular.”

After his championship win on Monday night, Nikolov called it “the best year of my life,” he told ESPN. Today, Nikolov took to social media to thank his coaches, the fans, and his teammates, whom he refers to as his brothers. 

“Dear Long Beach,” he wrote. “From day one, you gave me the tools to succeed on the court. I leave here not just with a championship, but with growth, perspective, and lifelong memories.”

The departure closes the door on the Nikolov era, during which the brothers set a new standard for what had already been one of the best programs in the nation. Many will now remember the Beach because of the Nikolovs, just as the Nikolovs will always remember the Beach. Take it from their father:

“At Long Beach, Alex and Moni were truly satisfied with everything,” he said. “The coaching staff, the teachers, the whole campus, and the people—everything. They love the Long Beach family.”

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s student-athletes posted the second-highest grade-point average in department history with a 3.401 grade-point average during the Spring 2025 semester.

“After posting the second-best GPA in department history during the fall, our student-athletes have done it again by topping that mark this semester,” said Austin Peay Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison. “I am so proud of our Governors student-athletes and all their hard work during this record-breaking semester! However, none of this would be possible without the hard work of our student-athlete success team, so I want to thank Kristal McGreggor, Bobby Fieman, and Kendell Johnson. Our student-athletes and entire department’s continued commitment to the ‘Total Gov Concept’ can be seen in this sustained academic success.

It is the 16th consecutive semester the APSU athletics department has posted a 3.0 GPA or better and the 19th time in department history. All 15 Austin Peay varsity programs recorded at least a 3.0 GPA or better for the second-straight semester. In addition, the Governors’ cheer team also posted a 3.0 GPA or better for the second-consecutive semester.

Austin Peay also had nine teams finish with a 3.5-or-better team GPA, with two teams posting program record GPAs. The Governors women’s golf team led all programs for the second-straight semester with a 3.969 GPA – the highest single-semester GPA in department history, topping the previous record of 3.964, which was held by the women’s tennis team during the fall 2017 semester.

More than 80 percent of the department’s student-athletes received academic recognition. Seventy-eight of its 338 student-athletes posted a 4.0 GPA during the spring and were a part of the 151 student-athletes eligible for Austin Peay’s Dean’s List recognition, which the university will announce at a later date. Another 120 Governors were named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, which is awarded to graduate students with a 3.0 GPA and undergraduate student-athletes who finish a semester with a 3.0 GPA but do not qualify for the APSU Dean’s List.

A complete listing of the Spring 2025 Athletics Director’s Honor Roll follows this release. Individuals eligible for the Austin Peay Dean’s List are also noted.

Established in 1990-91, the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll recognizes the outstanding academic accomplishments of Austin Peay State University student-athletes. Student-athletes must be enrolled full-time and achieve a 3.0 grade-point average for a semester to earn recognition.

ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SPRING SEMESTER

• PERFECT, PERFECT, PERFECT. 78 Governors student-athletes posted a 4.0 GPA – the ninth time 60 or more student-athletes have posted an unblemished GPA.
• ALL HAIL. Six Austin Peay teams – women’s basketball, women’s golf, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, women’s cross country, and beach volleyball – saw their entire rosters post a 3.0 GPA or better and earn academic recognition. The women’s golf team was the only program to have 100 percent of their student-athletes qualify for the APSU Dean’s List.
• SMASH! BANG! Two Austin Peay teams – women’s golf and men’s cross country – set team semester GPA records.
• ON A ROLL. Sixteen varsity teams’ current streak of semesters with a 3.0 GPA (beginning in Fall 2013): baseball (18), beach volleyball (17), men’s basketball (2), women’s basketball (3), men’s cross country (3), women’s cross country (14), football (2), men’s golf (18), women’s golf (24), soccer (24), softball (20), men’s tennis (24), women’s tennis (24), women’s track & field (14), volleyball (24), and cheer (2).

Spring 2025 Austin Peay Athletics Academic Honor Roll

All student-athletes listed below received academic recognition during the semester. Any student-athletes listed without notation were members of the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll (3.0-3.499 GPA). Notations following a student-athlete’s name indicate the following: (DL) – Eligible for recognition on Austin Peay’s Dean’s List (Undergraduates with 12 hours earned and at least a 3.50 GPA); + – student-athlete played multiple sports, is counted only once in department totals.

BASEBALL (3.332 GPA)

Cody Airington

Nathan Barksdale (DL)

John Bay

Gavin Braunecker

Trevor Conley

Brady Cooper (DL)

Keaton Cottam

Chance Cox

Gus Freeman

Campbell Holt

Austen Jaslove (DL)

Cole Johnson (DL)

Dylan Kazee (DL)

Brody Lanham (DL)

Andres Matias (DL)

DJ Merriweather (DL)

Derrick Mitchell (DL)

Cameron Nickens

Deaton Oak (DL)

Davin Pollard

Paris Pridgen (DL)

Cannon Rice (DL)

Shawn Scott

Kade Shatwell (DL)

Landon Slemp (DL)

Tre’ Speer (DL)

Brody Szako

Adam Walker

Solomon Washington

Jacob Weaver

BEACH VOLLEYBALL (3.839 GPA)

Grace Austin (DL)

Jordyn Beneteau (DL)

Anna Kate Clark (DL)

Alyson Cooper (DL)

Emily Freel (DL)

Angelena Greene (DL)

Bailey Lasater (DL)

Emma Loiars (DL)

Gabriella MacKenzie

Jordan Morris

MEN’S BASKETBALL (3.374 GPA)

Anton Brookshire (DL)

Me’Kell Burries

Darius Dawson

Hansel Enmanuel (DL)

Akili Evans

Terrell Gaines (DL)

Bowen Hammer

Isaac Haney

Quan Lax

Daniel Loos

Tate McCubbin

LJ Thomas (DL)

Sai Witt

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (3.531 GPA)

Rose Azmoudeh (DL)

Jordan Boddie

Jeanine Brandsma (DL)

Nisea Burrell

Abby Cater

La’Nya Foster

Anala Nelson (DL)

JaNiah Newell

Jenny Ntambwe

Briana Rivera

Anovia Sheals (DL)

Nariyah Simmons (DL)

Sa’Mya Wyatt (DL)

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (3.669 GPA)

Lucas Bales (DL)

Jacob Bormet (DL)

Will Keefer (DL)

Richard Lebron (DL)

Christian Pastrana (DL)

Jacob Schweigardt (DL)

Jake Strader (DL)

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (3.673 GPA)

Ashley Doyle (DL)

Shaye Foster (DL)

Sydney Freeman

Mary Kate French (DL)

Hallie Mattingly

Jaedyn Stalnecker (DL)

Taylah Upshaw (DL)

FOOTBALL (3.069 GPA)

Rocco Abbagnaro (DL)

Chase Allen (DL)

Kendyle Ball (DL)

Grace’son Beach (DL)

Davion Blackwell

Zak Bowden

Jabari Cathey

Andrew Chamblee

Kendrick Clark (DL)

Mekaih Collins

Matthew Corley (DL)

TJ Cox Jr.

Ethan Crite (DL)

Ward Dorris

Malaki Dowell (DL)

Eli Edwards (DL)

Gavin Edwards (DL)

Mike Evans

Davin Garinger (DL)

Tae Gayden

Samuel Green

Steven Head (DL)

Nicholas Hilliard

Davion Hood

Marcus Howard

Jake Johnson

Miada Jones

Chandler Kirton

Jade Kneeland

Christopher Leftrick (DL)

Jeffson Locke

Robert Merrill

Quincy Milhomme

Tyson Moody (DL)

Jaycob Neely (DL)

James Olsen (DL)

Antori Hamilton (DL)

Alec Pell

Shawn Phillips

Kinstin Reaves

Corey Richardson (DL)

Charles Ross

Courtland Simmons (DL)

Jermiah Skipworth Jr. (DL)

Austin Skoglund (DL)

Jase Skoglund

Austin Smith

Carson Smith

Kenneth Smith

Stratton Smith (DL)

Eli Sutton

Chandler Thomason (DL)

Ardarrius Williams

Breylon Wyatt

MEN’S GOLF (3.254 GPA)

Reece Britt (DL)

Caleb Brummitt (DL)

Grady Cox (DL)

Parker Elkins

Payne Elkins

Michael Long

Patton Samuels

Logan Spurrier

Will Swigart

WOMEN’S GOLF (3.969 GPA)

Jillian Breedlove (DL)

Kaley Campbell (DL)

Maggie Glass (DL)

Abby Hirtzel (DL)

Abby Jimenez (DL)

Erica Scutt (DL)

Autumn Spencer (DL)

SOCCER (3.638 GPA)

Ari Allen (DL)

Lindsey Arnold (DL)

Alec Baumgardt (DL)

Lauryn Berry (DL)

Vivian Burke

Paige Chrustowski (DL)

Brynn Connell (DL)

Sophie Davidson

Ellie Dreas (DL)

Kaylee Hansen (DL)

Clara Heistermann (DL)

Mackenzie James (DL)

Zoey Kalilimoku

Kerigan Kivisto (DL)

Haley Lindquist

Lindsey McMahon (DL)

Alexa Minestrella

Paige Myers

Olivia Prock

Kiley Reese

Kylie Wells

Carolyne Young

Hannah Zahn (DL)

SOFTBALL (3.613 GPA)

Kylie Campbell

Maddy Connolly Hojas (DL)

Maggie Daughrity (DL)

Ashley Diaz

Kiley Hinton

Brie Howard (DL)

Macy Krohman (DL)

Sam Leski (DL)

Ashley Martin

Samantha Miener

Kam Moore (DL)

Emberly Nichols (DL)

Katie Raper (DL)

Raylon Roach

Macee Roberts (DL)

Kayleigh Roper

Sammie Shelander (DL)

Skylar Sheridan (DL)

Jada Sovey (DL)

Emma Thompson (DL)

MEN’S TENNIS (3.768 GPA)

Glen Arnet (DL)

Giovanni Becchis (DL)

Tom Bolton (DL)

Sota Minami (DL)

Riichi Nagatake (DL)

Aeneas Schaub (DL)

Hogan Stoker (DL)

Javier Tortajada (DL)

Bodi van Galen (DL)

Lucas Ranciaro

WOMEN’S TENNIS (3.850 GPA)

Sophia Baranov (DL)

Luca Bohlen (DL)

Alice Bolton (DL)

Pauline Bruns (DL)

Yu-Hua Cheng (DL)

Asia Fontana (DL)

Ayden Kujawa

Elena Thiel (DL)

Denise Torrealba (DL)

TRACK & FIELD (3.371 GPA)

Alexis Arnett (DL)

Busiwa Asinga

Isis Banks

Trinity Bracey

Alijanae Cole

Marcia Dejesus (DL)

Ashley Doyle (DL)

Myra Eriksson

Shaye Foster (DL)

Sydney Freeman

Mary Kate French (DL)

Denim Goddard

Gabrielle Hoskins

Madelyn Kocik (DL)

Hallie Mattingly

Mia McGee

Gabrielle Miller

Chloe Peterson

Seven Pettus (DL)

Neveah Schmeling (DL)

Taylin Segree (DL)

Jaedyn Stalnecker (DL)

Emma Tucker

Taylah Upshaw (DL)

VOLLEYBALL (3.419 GPA)

Reagan Anderson (DL)

Maggie Duyos (DL)

Addi Hultquist

Dani Kopacz

Reaghan Larkin (DL)

Luci Lippelgoos (DL)

Aubrey Stitcher (DL)

Gianna Tagoa’i (DL)

Abby Thigpen

Lauren Wallace (DL)

CHEER (3.144 GPA)

Emma Barnes (DL)

Gracie Brock (DL)

Delaney Brown

Coree Collier (DL)

AJ Crowder

Zach Darnell (DL)

Parris Eddison

Anna Germano

Ellie Gladwell

Anneliese Joyner (DL)

Gabby Lorenzo

Maddy Lund

Gabriella Mignano

Dawn Phillips

Elleigh-Kate Phillips (DL)

Alyssia Ray (DL)

Gillian Reed

Isabella Schmidt (DL)

Emma Stewart (DL)

Bailey Vining (DL)

Caitlin Vining (DL)

DANCE

Jenna Bricks

Faith Collins

Madeline Cummins (DL)

Sydney Fleming (DL)

Grace Henderson (DL)

Abbrianna Manners (DL)

Madelyn Steele (DL)

Maggie Tate

Chesny Wood

Taylor Woods (DL)

Katie Young

MEDINA, Ohio – The Medina Community Recreation Center recently learned they were successful in obtaining a grant from the USA Water Polo Association and the center is now planning to create a youth water polo league.

Parks and Recreation Director Jansen Wehrley announced last month that the city was looking to pursue the $4,000 grant which will fund the purchase of water polo goals for the rec center’s competition pool.

“There is no formalized water polo in our area, but we have an individual in the hiring process who recently moved to Medina from Utah,” Wehrley said. “He has a lot of experience in doing this and turned us on to the grant.”

The first step in building the league will be to create co-ed water polo practice teams for ages 12 and up and ages 14 and up. According to a press release from the rec center, these teams will learn teamwork and build strength. Training classes will begin May 27 and will run through June 28 Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the rec center. Scholarships are available.

The rec center also plans to offer a Splashball program for children ages 8 to 10. This program is designed to provide basic skills and understanding of the sport. Splashball classes will begin May 27 and will run through June 26 on Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.

For more information about the program contact Medina Rec Aquatics Manager Steve Rhein at 330-721-6937 or srhein@medinaoh.org.

Writer Ernest Hemingway became so enthralled by bullfighting that he devoted an entire book to it, “Death in the Afternoon,” in which the late author wrote of the Latin sport as an art form. Gators head coach Emily Glaser can relate. She views a player’s method to scoring on the golf course through an artist’s lens.

Take Francisco, for instance. The talented Spaniard played tennis, beach volleyball, swam and did ballet growing up. She is one of the best athletes on the Gators’ roster and is known for her powerful swing.

Francisco can appreciate the grip-it-and-rip-it mantra made famous by PGA star John Daly in the 1990s. The harder you hit it, the farther the ball goes, and Francisco grew up smashing the ball longer than most of her contemporaries.

“I think that’s kind of my identity on the golf course,” she said. “I think that also comes into my DNA in being Spanish and a little feisty out there, for the good and bad.”

Francisco and her teammates tee off today in the NCAA Championships at the La Casta Resort & Spa’s North Course in Carlsbad, Calif., Florida’s first trip to the event since 2019. Florida advanced by placing third at the Charlottesville (Va.) Regional, highlighted by the best performance of Francisco’s young career.

The 19-year-old Francisco finished runner-up (67-70-72—209) at 4-under par, a shot behind winner Marie Madsen of N.C. State.

“I have never played a tournament with so much on the table and played so well,” Francisco said. “For sure, one of my favorite tournaments.”

As she has done since the last tournament of the fall season, Glaser walked the round with Francisco at Birdwood Golf Course to offer a calm and wise voice whenever trouble lurked.

She was perhaps more pleased by Francisco’s performance than anyone.

“That was kind of a strategic decision on our part to know that she would be a real linchpin for us if we could get it right,” Glaser said. “She has these physical gifts and part of learning how to score is knowing when and how to use them.”

Francisco played what she called “easy golf” in the first round, shooting a 67 with five birdies, 12 pars and only one bogey. In the second round, more easy golf followed when she birdied three of the first four holes to move to 7-under. But she hit a rough patch later in the round when she had two bogies and a double bogey in a four-hole span.

She could feel the blood pressure rising. She could also hear Glaser’s soothing reminders to stay in the moment and be boring if need be.

“I was kind of starting to doubt myself,” she said. “Coach talked me for a second, ‘slow down, focus on next shot.’ I think that was one of the best moments of the tournament. I was able to reset.

“I’m pretty intense out there. It’s for sure something I wanted to work on this year. My mental game has shifted.”

Francisco finished the final seven holes of the second round with six pars and a birdie to stay atop the leader board heading in the final day. Instead of trying to hit magical shots or take unnecessary risks, she cruised into the clubhouse safely in contention.

“There is sort of this art to scoring and art to golf that I feel like she’s been on that journey,” Glaser said. “I thought she just did a good job of staying in the moment. That’s the funny thing about playing golf. The way to play well is sometimes not very glamorous. It’s kind of boring.

“I told her you are going to have a lot of boring golf in your future, but as a pro, we say boring makes money.”

Francisco joined the Gators a season ago and showed the same promise as when Glaser first spotted her at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland during the 2022 British Girls Amateur Championship. Francisco didn’t win the tournament, but Glaser instantly wanted to know more about Francisco.

“If I didn’t have a sheet with the kids’ names and rankings, I would have for sure thought she was the best player in the field,” Glaser said.

 

Francisco is an only child and her parents are both professionals in the Madrid area. Her mother works in finance and her father owns a headhunter’s firm. However, with a large extended family, Francisco and her relatives often shared long days on the golf course. She remembers family members telling her about how her mother, Maria, played golf when she was pregnant with Paula.

The game grew on her as she got older and in high school, driven by the goal to play college golf in America, she spent her junior season in an exchange program with the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn. She returned to Spain for her final year of high school and, already in contact with the Gators, she knew where she wanted to go.

Francisco had connections to Florida. She played against former Gators and Spain imports Marta Perez and Marina Escobar growing up.

“There’s kind of a Spanish legacy here,” Francisco said. “I kind of always looked up to them when I was playing junior golf.”

Francisco is making them proud. She enters the NCAA Championships with a team-best 71.7 strokes-per-round average, four top-10 finishes and the best finish by a UF golfer in the regional championship since Kelly Grassel won in 2017.

She is doing with a mixture of homegrown power, budding patience and dash or artistry in the eyes of the coach walking with her.

“A good place to play golf from,” Glaser said. “And numbers don’t lie in golf.”

Francisco didn’t know what to make of her coach’s commitment at first. In fact, she wasn’t sure she liked it at all. But time and performance have provided a fresh perspective.

And a fresh approach on the course.

“I think at first, having Coach put all the trust in you, I didn’t see that as a positive,” Francisco said. “She gives me a lot of peace and trust that sometimes you need being on the golf course for four hours.

“It’s been a game-changer for me.”

 

AMHERST, MA. – The Wesleyan men’s track and field team took Thursday evening to Amherst College to boost a handful of times as they competed at the Last Chance Final Qualifier and saw three members of the team place Top 10 in individual events from the track.

Steve Paul ’28 led the way with a fourth-place finish in the men’s 200m dash. Paul, who has broken the program record several times this season, crossed the finish line at 21.45 in the first event for the Cardinals at the meet.

The Cardinals saw another finish at fourth as George Lepska ’25 broke the Top 5 in the 800m. Lepska owns the program record in the event but ran a 1:53.90 on Thursday as his final time.

In the men’s 1500m, Nate Fogarty ’25 came in seventh place, running a final clocked time of 3:58.44.