Sports

Calm & Cool: Francisco’s Fresh Approach Has Lifted Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators sophomore golfer Paula Francisco grew up in Spain, a country known for its passionate festivals and rich traditions such as flamenco dancing and bullfighting. 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 […]

Published

3 weeks ago

May 16, 2025

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators sophomore golfer Paula Francisco grew up in Spain, a country known for its passionate festivals and rich traditions such as flamenco dancing and bullfighting.

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.”

Glaser, Emily and Francisco, Paula (2025 season) — UF women’s golf coach **Emily Glaser** and sophomore **Paula Francisco** during the NCAA Charlottesville Regional. (Photo: **Victoria Riccobono**/UAA Communications)

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, Paula (2025 SEC Tournament) — Sophomore **Paula Francisco** celebrates making a putt at the SEC Championships. (Photo: **Victoria Riccobono**/UAA Communications)

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.”

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Boys Volleyball: State tournament final results & recaps for Friday, June 6

ESSENTIAL LINKS STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKETS North: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 South: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 FEATURED COVERAGE North Jersey, Group 1 Final No. 13/2-West Caldwell Tech 2, No. 6 1-Harrison 1 Recap: Tech repeats in rematch North Jersey, Group 2 Final No. 17/2-Randolph 2, No. 19/4-Garfield 1 Recap: Rams […]

Published

51 seconds ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ESSENTIAL LINKS

STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

North: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
South: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

FEATURED COVERAGE

North Jersey, Group 1 Final

No. 13/2-West Caldwell Tech 2, No. 6 1-Harrison 1

Recap: Tech repeats in rematch

North Jersey, Group 2 Final

No. 17/2-Randolph 2, No. 19/4-Garfield 1

Recap: Rams win in dramatic fashion
Photos

North Jersey, Group 3 Final

No. 3/1-Scotch Plains-Fanwood 2, No. 18/3-Millburn 1

Recap: SPF makes it four in a row

North Jersey, Group 4 Final

2-Livingston 2, No. 11/1- Elizabeth 1

Recap: Lancers end 12-year title search

South Jersey, Group 1 Final

No. 10/2-Hudson Catholic 2, No. 7/1-St. John Vianney 0

Recap: HC grows from last year’s loss

South Jersey, Group 2 Final

No. 5/1-St. Joseph (Met.) 2, No. 8/3-Holmdel 1

Recap: Experience, adjustments lift St. Joe

South Jersey, Group 3 Final

No. 2/1-Southern 2, No. 15/3-WWP-South 0

Recap: Southern returns to top

South Jersey, Group 4 Final

No. 1/1-Old Bridge 2, No. 5/2-Monroe 1

Recap: No. 1 rallies for dramatic win

TOP 20 SCOREBOARD

STATEWIDE SCOREBOARD

Friday, Jun. 6

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Group 1

2-West Caldwell Tech 2, 1-Harrison 1 – Box Score

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Group 2

2-Randolph 2, 4-Garfield 1 – Box Score

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Group 3

1-Scotch Plains-Fanwood 2, 3-Millburn 1 – Box Score

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Group 4

2-Livingston 2, 1-Elizabeth 1 – Box Score

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, South Jersey, Group 2

1-St. Joseph (Met.) 2, 3-Holmdel 1 – Box Score

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, South Jersey, Group 3

1-Southern 2, 3-West Windsor-Plainsboro South 0 – Box Score

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, South Jersey, Group 4

1-Old Bridge 2, 2-Monroe 1 – Box Score

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

Friday, Jun. 6

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Group 1

2-West Caldwell Tech (23-6) at 1-Harrison (28-2), 4:30pm

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Group 2

4-Garfield (21-9) at 2-Randolph (24-4), TBA

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Group 3

3-Millburn (21-6) at 1-Scotch Plains-Fanwood (26-4), TBA

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Group 4

2-Livingston (16-11) at 1-Elizabeth (23-3), TBA

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, South Jersey, Group 1

2-Hudson Catholic (21-4) at 1-St. John Vianney (22-2), TBA

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, South Jersey, Group 2

3-Holmdel (23-3) at 1-St. Joseph (Met.) (25-5), TBA

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, South Jersey, Group 3

3-West Windsor-Plainsboro South (22-7) at 1-Southern (28-1), TBA

NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, South Jersey, Group 4

2-Monroe (23-7) at 1-Old Bridge (30-1), TBA

Tyler Duffy can be reached at tduffy@njadvancemedia.com.

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Best of the Best: 2025 All-Valley Boys Volleyball Team | News, Sports, Jobs

1 / 4 Lehi’s Ashton Shewell takes a swing in a 6A boys volleyball state tournament match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, May 9, 2025. Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald 2 / 4 Cooper Pope of Timpanogos takes a swing against Desert Hills in a 4A boys volleyball state semifinal match at the […]

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17 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

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1 / 4

Lehi’s Ashton Shewell takes a swing in a 6A boys volleyball state tournament match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, May 9, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

2 / 4

Cooper Pope of Timpanogos takes a swing against Desert Hills in a 4A boys volleyball state semifinal match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

3 / 4

Orem’s Lucky Jennings (8) celebrates with his teammates during a 4A boys volleyball state quarterfinal match against Green Canyon at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

4 / 4

Maple Mountain’s Taft Hillman passes the ball in the 5A boys volleyball state finals against Wasatch at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

Jeff Porcaro, Maple Mountain Sports

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❯

: Lehi’s Ashton Shewell takes a swing in a 6A boys volleyball state tournament match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Friday, May 9, 2025.

: Cooper Pope of Timpanogos takes a swing against Desert Hills in a 4A boys volleyball state semifinal match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

: Orem’s Lucky Jennings (8) celebrates with his teammates during a 4A boys volleyball state quarterfinal match against Green Canyon at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

: Maple Mountain’s Taft Hillman passes the ball in the 5A boys volleyball state finals against Wasatch at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

Here are the top boys volleyball players in the Utah Valley area for 2025.

Player of the Year: Trey Thornton, 6-7 Sr. OH, Maple Mountain

Thornton was the lynchpin for back-to-back state championships, even with defenses geared to slow him down. This season, Thornton logged 422 kills (4.7 per set) while hitting .431. He added 49 aces, 43 total blocks and 169 digs. In the past two seasons, the BYU-bound lefty totaled 851 kills.

Offensive MVP: Ashton Shewell, 6-5 So. OH, Lehi

Shewell’s main sport is basketball but you could make a case for volleyball as well. In just his second varsity season, Shewell managed 394 kills (4.7 per set) while hitting a robust .367 to go along with 30 aces and 26 total blocks.

Defensive MVP: Aaron Neilson, 6-4 Sr. MB, Orem

Nielson teamed up with Luke Wolsey as perhaps the best middle blocker combo in the state. Neilson contributed 89 total blocks while adding 203 kills (1.9 per set) and hitting .336.

Co-Setter MVPs: Taft Hillman, 6-7 Jr., Maple Mountain and Lucky Jennings, 6-0 Sr., Orem

Hillman was the setter for last year’s state championship and helped repeat the effort with 964 assists (10.6 per set) while adding 69 kills, 29 aces, 77 total blocks and 127 digs. Jennings topped the 4A state champion Tigers with 733 assists (7.7 per set) with 69 kills, 40 aces and 164 digs.

Co-Coaches of the Year: Bill Sefita, Orem and Napoleon Galang, Maple Mountain

All Sefita does is win championships. He has led the Orem girls program to consecutive state titles (2023-24) and then directed the boys program to a 26-6 mark and gold trophy this spring. Galang, an assistant for the Golden Eagles during their 2024 championship season, inherited a lot of talent but kept the program challenged and on target for another state title while posting a 29-1 record.

FIRST TEAM ALL-VALLEY

(Listed in alphabetical order)

Chase Billeter, Jr. OH, Wasatch

Billeter totaled over 300 kills (3.5 per set) for the 5A state runner-up Wasps.

Mattheus Borges Jr. OH, Maple Mountain

Borges provided another potent attacker for the Golden Eagles with 192 kills (2.1 per set) while hitting .260 while also adding 16 aces, 27 total blocks and 153 digs.

Reis Brothers, Jr. S, Springville

Brothers had a terrific year for the Red Devils with 705 assists (8.7 per set) and also totaled 59 kills, 32 aces, 67 total blocks and 108 digs.

Kamohoalii Chan Sr., Spanish Fork

Chan did it all for the Dons with 236 kills (2.6 per set), 45 aces and 178 digs.

Keagan Cundiff, Sr. S, Westlake

Cundiff directed the offense for the Thunder with 940 assists (9.6 per set) and also logged 46 kills, 26 aces, 40 total blocks and 238 digs.

Freddy Dayton, Jr. OH, Lone Peak

Dayton totaled 220 kills (2.3 per set) to go along with 35 aces, 33 total blocks and 211 digs for the Knights.

Waylon Francom, Sr. OH, Payson

Francom led the way for the Lions with 393 kills (3.8 per set) and hit .284 with 40 aces, 51 total blocks and 199 digs.

Max Hale, Sr. OH, American Fork

Hale was the main weapon for the Cavemen, finishing with 354 kills (4.5 per set) and hitting .249 while logging 16 aces, 29 total blocks and 148 digs.

Brady Holt, So. OH, Lone Peak

Holt built on a great freshman season with another good one, ending up with 350 kills (3.7 per set) and hit .279 while adding 28 aces, 43 total blocks and 149 digs.

Ben Hone, Sr. OH, Orem

Hone was a powerful weapon for the 4A state champions, finishing with 305 kills (3.4 per set) and hit .266 to go along with 45 aces, 28 total blocs and 145 digs.

Luke Michaelis, Jr. OH, Cedar Valley

Michaelis had 336 kills (3.1 per set) and hit .303 with earning 36 total blocks and 16 aces.

Cooper Pope Sr. OH, Timpanogos

Pope’s dynamic play led the T-Wolves to a surprise second-place finish in the 4A tournament with 378 kills (4.7 per set) while hitting .263. He also had 33 aces, 51 total blocks and 233 digs.

Ty Reynolds, So. S, Lehi

Reynolds is one of the top young setters in the state and led the Pioneers with 948 assists (11.4 per set) and also managed 35 aces.

JJ Serre Jr. OH, Wasatch

Serre couldn’t be stopped and had over 300 kills (3.7 per set) while hitting .311 for the Wasps.

Brockton Shirley, Sr. OH, Payson

Shirley totaled 337 kills for the Lions (3.3 per set) and contributed 22 aces and 181 digs.

Manase Storey, Sr. MB, Maple Mountain

Storey owned the middle for the Golden Eagles with 165 kills (2.0 per set) while hitting an astounding .498. He also contributed 27 total blocks and 34 aces.

Evan Straw Sr. MB, Springville

Straw was a presence for the Red Devils with 213 kills (2.7 per set) while hitting .350, to go along with 57 total blocks, 21 aces and 162 digs.

Kilika Tafa, Jr. OH, Westlake

The high-flying Tafa was one of the Valley’s most dynamic athletes and ended up with 326 kills (3.9 per set) and hit .238 while adding 28 aces and 39 total blocks.

Preston Taylor Sr. OPP, Salem Hills

Taylor topped the Skyhawks with 303 kills (3.5 per set) to go along with 60 total blocks, 27 aces and 169 digs.

Brayden Thomas, Sr. OH, Pleasant Grove

Thomas led the Vikings with 222 kills (2.6 per set) and fired off 46 aces while totaling 213 digs.

Chance Wallace Sr. L, Timpanogos

Wallace was on top of his game for the T-Wolves with 398 digs (4.9 per set).

Luke Wolsey Jr. MB, Orem

The quick-jumping Wolsey was a headache for opponents, finishing with 175 kills (2.0 per set) and hit .377 while adding 27 aces and 64 total blocks.

SECOND TEAM ALL-VALLEY

(Listed in alphabetical order)

Trevor Allen, So. OH, Lone Peak

Allen had 159 kills (1.7 per set) while totaling 32 aces, 25 total blocks and 190 digs.

Jace Anderson, So. OH, Spanish Fork

Anderson finished with 187 kills (2.0 per set) with 18 aces and 161 digs.

Dylan Avery, Sr. OPP, Lehi

Avery had 151 kills (1.8 per set) and hit .277 while adding 44 total blocks.

Eli Baldwin, Jr. OH, Salem Hills

Baldwin contributed 177 kills (1.9 per set) and tallied 15 aces, 38 total blocks and 162 digs.

Will Beckwith Sr. OH, American Heritage

Beckwith was a top option for the Patriots, finishing with 260 kills (3.5 per set), 51 aces and 124 digs.

Treyvon Cly Jr. L, Orem

Cly had 105 kills but eventually switched to libero, where he totaled 299 digs (2.7 per set).

Talon Colarusso Sr. OH, Provo

Colarusso topped the Bulldogs with 149 kills (2.2 per set) and a total of 51 blocks.

Caden Cox, Jr MB, American Fork

Cox totaled 127 kills (1.7 per set) for the Cavemen.

William Dayton, Jr. S, Lone Peak

Dayton had 766 assists (8.1 per set) and contributed 21 aces, 34 total blocks and 189 digs.

Zaxon Downey Jr. S, Timpanogos

Downey really came on down the stretch and led the T-Wolves with 667 assists (8.3 per set) to go along with 37 aces and 133 digs.

Brody Hemphill, Jr. OH, Mountain View

Hemphill finished with 197 kills (2.2 per set) with 38 aces and 165 digs.

Brody Hulme Sr. S, Wasatch

Hulme was solid at the setter spot for the Wasps, averaging 9.6 assists per set with more than 40 aces.

Josh Johnson Sr. OH, Skyridge

Johnson was one of the top hitters for the Falcons and averaged 2.5 kills per set.

Sam Lowell Sr., MB, Timpanogos

Lowell did good work for the T-Wolves with 55 total blocks and 106 kills (1.6 per set).

Aki Malietoa, Jr.RS, Pleasant Grove

Malietoa added 205 kills for the Vikings (2.0 per set) with 47 total blocks.

Jace Mangum Jr. OH, Payson

Mangum finished with 239 kills (2.4 per set) and hit .232 to go along with 44 aces, 30 total blocks and 241 digs.

Nicholas Nelson, Jr. OH, Mountain View

Nelson did his job of the Bruins, totaling 215 kills (2.4 per set) and adding 41 blocks.

Kimball Olsen Fr. OH, Maple Mountain

Olsen has a bright future with the Golden Eagles after he had 128 kills (1.4 per set) and hit .230 while firing off 32 aces and logging 95 digs.

Evan Olmstead, Sr. L, American Fork

Olmstead, who will play for his father at BYU, ended up with 397 digs (5.0 per set) and also added 13 aces.

Jonny Petersen Jr. S, Cedar Valley

The Aviators relied on Peterson for 602 assists (5.7 per set) as well as 121 kills (1.1 per set), 30 aces and 201 digs.

Marcus Rettinger Sr. MB, Skyridge

Rettinger averaged 2.7 kills per set for the Falcons.

Jacob Ricks, Sr. OH, Timpanogos

Ricks totaled 133 kills (1.6 per set) as well as 215 digs.

Kyson Ririe Jr. OH, Westlake

Ririe packed a punch with 204 kills (2.1 per set) for the Thunder.

Talon Roberts So. S, Salem Hills

The setter for the Skyhawks finished with 750 assists (8.2 per set) as well as 15 aces, 35 total blocks and 159 digs.

Jackson Sanders Sr. OH, Orem

Sanders was a great option for the Tigers with 154 kills (1.6 per set) and added 116 digs.

Alec Slater, Sr. OH, Wasatch

Slater had a great senior season for the Wasps.

Nephi Spendlove, Sr. MB, Springville

Spendlove totaled 89 total blocks and had 112 kills (1.4 per set) for the Red Devils.

Ian Wilson, Sr. OH, Lehi

Wilson contributed 200 kills (2.4 per set) and tallied 41 total blocks.

Thomas Wood, 6-4 So MB, Westlake

Wood was solid in the middle for the Thunder with 171 kills (1.9 per set) and hit .334 while contributing 51 total blocks.

HONORABLE MENTION

(Listed in alphabetical order)

AMERICAN FORK: Evan Johnson, Smith Littlefield, Jackson Mecham, Jarrett Santiago.

AMERICAN HERITAGE: Peter Jacobson, Jake McGhie, Parker Mendenhall, Sam Wilson.

CEDAR VALLEY: Sam Davis, Jordan Easton, Kahana Franco, Elias Hending, Luke Hokanson, Swayden Sabey.

FREEDOM PREP: Joseh Black, Wyatt Leigh, McKay Smith, Parker Taylor

LEHI: Santiago Hernandez. Dax Moore, Taite Stewart.

LONE PEAK: Thomas Beutler, Mason Green, Max Hamblin, Britton Schiess.

MAPLE MOUNTAIN: McKay Beattie, Jonny Hair, Abe Hawkins.

MOUNTAIN VIEW: Mac Earnest, Micah Fairbanks, Adam Maya, Toby Smith, Braxton Ward, Makai Wood.

OREM: Will Brown, Aaron Maya, Isaac Richardson.

PAYSON: Ryan Facer, Dillon Houston, Parker Houston, Teancum Joel.

PLEASANT GROVE: Elijah Barnes, Jason Frink, Nicholas Call, Tyson Thomas.

PROVO: Leif Gonzalez, Jaxson Koford, Hayden Moser, Tucker Snarr, Corban Tidwell

SALEM HILLS: Harrison Egbert, Kooper Stewart.

SKYRIDGE: Alex Caldwell, Fihi Fainga, Trey Mahe, Ben Muir, Boston Prettyman, Devin Willits.

SPANISH FORK: Alec Bluth, Dylan Bluth, Preston Hupp, Sawyer Larsen, Mason Swenson, Braxton Vale.

SPRINGVILLE: Taylor Cook, Christian Hopkins, Garrett Kilgrow, Marshall Patterson.

TIMPANOGOS: Jared Hansen, Crew Kozlowski, Brigham Wohan.

TIMPVIEW: Bowie Asvitt, Christian Puente, Ikaika Reyes, Gaku Toma, Vander Van Dyke.

WASATCH: Foraker Fisher, Grant Hansen, Everett Saunders, Carter Smith.

WESTLAKE: Parker Swenson, Micah Sorensen, DJ Simmonds, Talon Schank.

ALL-VALLEY BOYS VOLLEYBALL HISTORY

Thornton is the second Daily Herald Boys Volleyball Player of the Year after earning Offensive MVP in 2024, the first season of high school volleyball in the state of Utah.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

2024 Ethan Hillyard, Pleasant Grove

2025 Trey Thornton, Maple Mountain

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Ohio high school state track and field results OHSAA state meet Day 1

Division I GIRLS 3,200 relay—18, GlenOak {Addison Hamm Sophia Ngetich Eve Meyer Panagiota Tzouloufis) 10:00.10. Division II BOYS Long jump—5, Cameron Evanich (Marlington) 22-4.25. Shot put—14, Owen Kornish (Fairless) 47-11.50. 3,200 relay—15, Minerva (Owen Yoder, Grasyn Rettig, Tyson Fetty, Rowen Hoffee) 8:18.46. GIRLS 3,200 relay—5, Minerva (Kayla Crissman, Annabelle Crissman, Hannah Ison, Tateum Richard) 9:42.10; 7, Tusky Valley […]

Published

26 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Division I

GIRLS

3,200 relay—18, GlenOak {Addison Hamm Sophia Ngetich Eve Meyer Panagiota Tzouloufis) 10:00.10.

Division II

BOYS

Long jump—5, Cameron Evanich (Marlington) 22-4.25. Shot put—14, Owen Kornish (Fairless) 47-11.50. 3,200 relay—15, Minerva (Owen Yoder, Grasyn Rettig, Tyson Fetty, Rowen Hoffee) 8:18.46.

GIRLS

3,200 relay—5, Minerva (Kayla Crissman, Annabelle Crissman, Hannah Ison, Tateum Richard) 9:42.10; 7, Tusky Valley (Sami Ward, Hayden Huffman, Trista Lieser, Josie Eick) 9:43.57.

Division III

BOYS

Discus— 3, Parker Bowe (Malvern) 174-8. Shot put—2, Parker Bowe (Malvern) 60-1.

GIRLS

Discus—5, Shanaray Kager (East Canton).131-7. Pole vault—115, Samantha Kerby (Dalton) 10-0; 17, Elandria Kindy (Dalton) 9-6.

Seated

BOYS

Shot put—5, Christopher Good (Perry) 18-9.50.

GIRLS

Shot put—1, Abby LaPole (Jackson) M-19-11; 7, Alayna Mendenhall (Massillon) 10-0.5.

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Taunton boys volleyball fall short to powerhouse Needham in D1 Elite 8

VIDEO: Milford volleyball wins first set on ‘Free Marcelo’ night; fans go crazy On a night where Milford and Taunton played volleyball in support of the recently-detained Marcelo Gomes da Silva, the Scarlet Hawks won the first set. NEEDHAM — This spring season has been quite a ride for Taunton boys volleyball. Though the Tigers […]

Published

45 minutes ago

June 7, 2025

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NEEDHAM — This spring season has been quite a ride for Taunton boys volleyball.

Though the Tigers went 5-15 last year, there were signs of promise in a talented squad of largely juniors and underclassmen. This year, with the Hockomock League launching a boys volleyball division for the first time, that potential was reached.

The Tigers roared back to life in 2025, going 15-3 in the regular season while finishing 8-1 in league play to earn a split of the first ever Hockomock crown with Milford. Led by the program’s all-time assists leader in senior setter Daniel Freitas and powerful senior outside hitter Travis Johnson, who recorded over 500 career kills, the Tigers at one point had a 9-match winning streak and won all 12 of their final regular season sets.

Come tournament time, No. 27 Taunton only picked up the intensity in less-than-ideal circumstances. Their Preliminary and Round of 32 matches took place within 18 hours of each other, one at Bristol-Plymouth and the other on the road, but the Tigers prevailed, including an upset over No. 6 Nipmuc in the Round of 32.

Then came an emotional rematch with the Scarlet Hawks in the Round of 16, with the Milford community rallying around the team in support of the release of junior Marcelo Gomes da Silva after he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while on his way to practice a few days prior. In front of a massive crowd and with thoughts of Gomes da Silva, a club teammate of a couple Taunton players, the Tigers once again prevailed against a higher-seed, setting up an Elite Eight showdown with powerhouse No. 3 Needham.

Though the Rockets prevailed in four sets (25-15, 25-14, 22-25, 25-22) Friday, the Tigers put up the same fight and tenacity they’ve displayed all season until the final point.

“It was just all-out effort,” Taunton coach Toby Chaperon said. “They just didn’t quit.”

After a slow start, the Tigers found themselves down 2-0. In set three, they seemed to find another level, taking an early advantage before fighting off a Needham comeback effort. After the Rockets tied the set 16-16 and called timeout, Taunton responded by out scoring the hosts 9-6 down the stretch to earn the 25-22 set win.

Needham started the fourth set off strong, at one point going up 17-9, before the Tigers showed their teeth and came clawing back, to go within two before the Rockets ultimately pulled out a 25-22 set win.

“I felt like we could’ve just laid down (there), but we didn’t,” Chaperon said. “We made it a game and almost caught them, so I’m proud of the guys for fighting the entire way.”

While saying the team made some errors to put them down early in the opening sets, Chaperon couldn’t have been prouder of the resilience his players showed in battling back against a powerhouse opponent on the road and hopes the successful season inspires more boys and girls in the Silver City to pick up volleyball.

“I just hope the younger kids see this (success) and the program grows,” Chaperon said.

Without a strong youth feeder program in the city like baseball and softball have to drive their success, Chaperon said many players that start in eighth grade aren’t really ready to perform until their sophomore year. It’s his hope that seeing the success of this year’s boys team will help provide a spark to build the framework and turn Taunton into a consistently strong volleyball program across the board.

“We need to get more kids playing club volleyball,” Chaperon said. “We need to get more kids signing up at a younger age and playing in the middle schools.”

If an increased interest in volleyball in Taunton is the lasting legacy of the Class of 2025, it would be fitting for a group Chaperon was incredibly proud to lead.

“I’m proud of these guys for being one of the top teams that play three months a year,” Chaperon said.

Stats

Johnson led the way for the Tigers with 13 kills and three digs, while sophomore middle blocker Syre Duverna had 13 kills and Senior middle blocker Ike Asiegbunam had seven kills and a dig.

Freitas had 36 assists while senior libero Dantae Bauer had 16 digs.

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Bemidji’s Caron, Johnson Selected to MN Boys’ Volleyball All-State Team

In their first season as an MSHSL-sanctioned sport, Bemidji boys’ volleyball has two athletes being recognized for their play on the court. Senior captains Reed Johnson and Elijah Caron were two of just 22 selected to the Minnesota Boys Volleyball All-State team. The duo helped lead the Lumberjacks to a 13-2 regular season finish, earning […]

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1 hour ago

June 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In their first season as an MSHSL-sanctioned sport, Bemidji boys’ volleyball has two athletes being recognized for their play on the court.

Senior captains Reed Johnson and Elijah Caron were two of just 22 selected to the Minnesota Boys Volleyball All-State team. The duo helped lead the Lumberjacks to a 13-2 regular season finish, earning the team their first ever home section playoff game in the sport. It was a game they won 3-0 victory over Coon Rapids, propelling the team to a section semifinal appearance, where their season ended against St. Michael-Albertville.

Reed Johnson was also selected as one of three finalists for the Minnesota Boys Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year award. Some are dubbing it the “Mr. Volleyball” award, and much like some of the other “Mr. (insert sport here)” awards, it is a senior career award given to the top player in the state.

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Video shows Oregon track star somersaulting over finish line

“I wasn’t sure how far back everybody else was behind me, so I knew to just keep rolling, to keep going, because I really wanted to get first,” Brooklyn Anderson told a local outlet. A high school Oregon track star somersaulted her way through the state championship finish line last week. Brooklyn Anderson, a junior […]

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2 hours ago

June 7, 2025

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“I wasn’t sure how far back everybody else was behind me, so I knew to just keep rolling, to keep going, because I really wanted to get first,” Brooklyn Anderson told a local outlet.

A high school Oregon track star somersaulted her way through the state championship finish line last week.

Brooklyn Anderson, a junior at Thurston High School, turned heads during her somersault finish in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles at the Oregon State Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on May 30. To much surprise, Anderson tumbled in at first place. Thurston High School is located in Springfield, Oregon, about 120 miles south of Portland.

Footage captured by the National Federation of State High School Associations shows Anderson, who was already ahead in the race, tripping and performing a double somersault across the finish line. She won the race with a final time of 14.93 seconds. The second-place runner, Maisy Scanlan from Wilsonville High School, came in at 15.15 seconds, according to the Oregon School Activities Association.

“All I remember is resorting back to my gymnastics career and just somersaulting over that line,” Anderson told The Oregonian after her race. “I wasn’t sure how far back everybody else was behind me, so I knew to just keep rolling, to keep going, because I really wanted to get first.”

Celebrating the win, Anderson shared a photo and video of her somersault finish on Instagram.

“Wow, what a memorable season,” Anderson wrote in the Instagram post. “Year 3 is one for the books. Thank you everybody for the support, and especially thank you to the most amazing heat of girls a girl could finish a race with. You guys are awesome. GO COLTS #jryear #somersault #track #100mhurdles.”

The 500-meter hurdles weren’t the only event Anderson competed in. She also placed fourth in the girls’ 100-meter race, third in girls’ long jump and 10th in the girls’ 4-by-100-meter relay, per the Oregon School Activities Association.