Sports
Carlos Balderas 2025
Carlos “Karlos” Balderas represents the embodiment of the American dream, rising from his family’s humble beginnings working California’s strawberry fields to become a 2016 Olympic boxer and professional lightweight contender. The Santa Maria native has built a respectable career spanning over eight years, overcoming early setbacks to establish himself as a skilled technician with knockout […]


Carlos “Karlos” Balderas represents the embodiment of the American dream, rising from his family’s humble beginnings working California’s strawberry fields to become a 2016 Olympic boxer and professional lightweight contender.
The Santa Maria native has built a respectable career spanning over eight years, overcoming early setbacks to establish himself as a skilled technician with knockout power. His journey from childhood troublemaker to Olympic athlete showcases the transformative power of boxing and family dedication.
In this article, you will learn about Carlos Balderas’s net worth, career earnings, fight purses, personal life, boxing stats, career overview, and more.
Carlos Balderas’ Biography
Detail | Information |
Full Name | Carlos Zenon Balderas Jr. |
Nickname | “Karlos” |
Date of Birth | August 24, 1996 |
Age | 28 years old |
Education | High school graduate |
Nationality | American (Mexican heritage) |
Birthplace | Lompoc, California |
Current Residence | Santa Maria, California |
Height | 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) |
Reach | 73 inches (185 cm) |
Weight Class | Lightweight (135 lbs) |
Stance | Orthodox |
Turned Professional | April 9, 2017 |
Net Worth | Estimated $800,000 |
Career Earnings | Over $1 million |
Marital Status | |
Instagram Profile | |
Twitter Profile |
Early Career
Carlos Balderas was born on August 24, 1996, in Lompoc, California, as the first member of his family to be born in the United States. His grandfather had immigrated from Oaxaca, Mexico, working in California’s strawberry fields to earn enough money to bring his wife and children to America.
Growing up in Santa Maria, young Carlos and his older brother Jose were hyperactive children who frequently got into trouble at school, leading to multiple suspensions and fights with other students.
Boxing entered their lives as a form of discipline rather than sport. When Carlos was seven years old, his family took him to a local boxing gym as punishment for his street fighting and school troubles.
The gym owner initially told the brothers they were too young, but Carlos proved his worth by defeating the owner’s grandson in a sparring session, earning their place in the gym.
The Balderas family faced significant challenges during Carlos’s early years. Their father Zenon had spent time away from the family, and their mother had left, leaving the boys to be raised primarily by their grandfather. When Zenon returned, he became completely dedicated to transforming his sons’ lives through boxing, making them train every single day regardless of weather or circumstances.
The family eventually had to train in their living room after being kicked out of their original gym over disagreements about training methods.
Professional Career
Carlos Balderas turned professional on April 9, 2017, making his debut at The Novo in Los Angeles, where he forced Thomas Smith to retire after just one round. His explosive professional start continued with first-round knockouts in his next two fights, establishing him as one of the most promising prospects to emerge from the 2016 Olympic Games.
His devastating power and technical skills caught the attention of promoter Richard Schaefer, who signed him to Ringstar Promotions.
Balderas built an impressive 9-0 record before facing his first major setback on December 21, 2019, when he suffered a shocking sixth-round knockout loss to Rene Tellez Giron at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.
The defeat was particularly devastating because Balderas had been winning every round convincingly before making critical mistakes in the third and sixth rounds that led to his downfall. The loss happened on national television and left him questioning everything about his career.
Following the setback, Balderas took time to regroup and make necessary adjustments with his training team, which includes his father Zenon and uncle David. He returned to competition in 2021 and has since compiled a record of 14-2 with 12 knockouts.
His most recent victory came in November 2022 when he stopped Esteban Sanchez in the eighth round at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, demonstrating his continued development as a fighter and his ability to overcome adversity.
Carlos Balderas’ Net Worth Details
Carlos Balderas’s estimated net worth stands at approximately $800,000 as of 2025.
Fight Purses
Opponent | Date | Purse | Result |
Thomas Smith | April 2017 | $15,000 | Win (RTD 1) |
Eder Amaro Fajardo | July 2017 | $20,000 | Win (KO 1) |
Carlos Flores | December 2017 | $25,000 | Win (KO 1) |
Jorge Rojas Zacazontetl | February 2018 | $30,000 | Win (UD) |
Alex Silva | June 2018 | $35,000 | Win (KO 1) |
Giovanni Caro | July 2018 | $40,000 | Win (KO 4) |
Jose Cen Torres | February 2019 | $50,000 | Win (RTD 3) |
Luis May | April 2019 | $60,000 | Win (KO 4) |
Robert Frankel | July 2019 | $75,000 | Win (TKO 7) |
Rene Tellez Giron | December 2019 | $50,000 | Loss (KO 6) |
Fidel Cervantes | August 2021 | $75,000 | Win (TKO 2) |
Julio Cortez | November 2021 | $80,000 | Win (TKO 4) |
Aelio Mesquita | March 2022 | $85,000 | Win (KO 2) |
Ruben Cervera | May 2022 | $90,000 | Win (UD) |
Esteban Sanchez | November 2022 | $100,000 | Win (TKO 8) |
Career Earnings
Year | Estimated Earnings | Number of Fights |
2017 | $60,000 | 3 |
2018 | $105,000 | 3 |
2019 | $185,000 | 3 |
2020 | $0 | 0 |
2021 | $155,000 | 2 |
2022 | $275,000 | 3 |
2023 | $150,000 | 1 |
2024 | $175,000 | 1 |
2025 | $200,000+ | Estimated |
Career Stats
Statistic | Record |
Professional Record | 14-2-0 (12 KOs) |
Win Percentage | 87.5% |
Knockout Percentage | 85.7% |
Total Professional Fights | 16 |
Total Rounds Boxed | 67 |
Average Rounds per Fight | 4.2 |
Career Span | 2017 – Present (8+ years) |
Weight Class | Lightweight (135 lbs) |
Olympic Achievement | 2016 Rio Olympics (Quarterfinals) |
Professional Debut | April 9, 2017 vs. Thomas Smith |
Last Fight | November 12, 2022 vs. Esteban Sanchez |
Notable Loss | KO loss to Rene Tellez Giron (December 2019) |
Amateur Achievements | 2015 Pan American Games, WSB Champion |
Times Knocked Down | 2 (both vs. Rene Tellez Giron) |
Longest Winning Streak | 9 fights |
Training Base | Santa Maria, California |
Trainers | Zenon Balderas (father), David Balderas (uncle) |
FAQs
1. What is Carlos Balderas’s current professional boxing record and recent activity?
Carlos Balderas currently holds a professional record of 14 wins, 2 losses, and 0 draws, with 12 of his victories coming by knockout. His most recent fight was a TKO victory over Esteban Sanchez in November 2022. He has been relatively inactive in recent years, fighting sporadically as he continues rebuilding his career following his shocking 2019 loss to Rene Tellez Giron.
2. How did Carlos Balderas’s family background influence his boxing career?
Balderas was the first member of his family born in the United States, with his grandfather immigrating from Oaxaca, Mexico to work in California’s strawberry fields. His family used boxing as discipline when he was getting into trouble at school, starting when he was seven years old. His father Zenon and uncle David became his trainers, dedicating themselves completely to transforming his life through boxing.
3. What happened in Carlos Balderas’s shocking loss to Rene Tellez Giron?
Balderas suffered his first professional defeat on December 21, 2019, when Rene Tellez Giron knocked him out in the sixth round at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. Despite winning every round convincingly, Balderas made critical mistakes in the third and sixth rounds that led to knockdowns and ultimately the stoppage. The loss was particularly devastating because it happened on national television and ended his perfect 9-0 start.
4. What were Carlos Balderas’s achievements as an amateur boxer before turning professional?
Balderas had an outstanding amateur career, culminating in his qualification for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he competed in the lightweight division and reached the quarterfinals. He also participated in the 2015 Pan American Games, won the World Series of Boxing championship, and was named Outstanding Boxer of his elite division before turning professional in April 2017.
5. Who trains Carlos Balderas and what is his fighting style?
Balderas is trained by his father Zenon Balderas and uncle David Balderas, who have worked with him since he started boxing at age seven. He fights from an orthodox stance and is known for his explosive knockout power, having stopped 12 of his 14 professional victories. His style combines technical precision with aggressive finishing ability, though he has worked to improve his defensive awareness following his 2019 setback.
Sports
Chris Bitz | UW-Whitewater
July 14, 2025 Written by Chris Lindeke | Photos by Craig Schreiner, Fionnbharr Hartnett , UW-Whitewater Athletics University of Wisconsin-Whitewater alum Chris Bitz has always enjoyed numbers, whether it was calculating them in a classroom, punching them into an Excel spreadsheet, or seeing them displayed after his latest pole vault attempt. Bitz, who earned a […]

July 14, 2025
Written by Chris Lindeke | Photos by Craig Schreiner, Fionnbharr Hartnett , UW-Whitewater Athletics
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater alum Chris Bitz has always enjoyed numbers, whether it was calculating them in a classroom, punching them into an Excel spreadsheet, or seeing them displayed after his latest pole vault attempt.
Bitz, who earned a B.S. in mathematics in 2023, was a four-year member of the Warhawk men’s track and field team. Now he is thriving as an actuarial analyst for Nationwide in downtown Milwaukee.
He’s been with the company since starting there as an intern in November of 2021, just under halfway through his junior year. He remained an intern through his senior year, focusing on manual group processes, before earning an offer to stay on full time.
“The internship helped with using Excel on a day-to-day basis,” Bitz said. “Once I got further into the internship, then it was about how I can make the right decisions based on the data, which is something UW-Whitewater helps to get at through a couple classes.”
The experience has come full circle for Bitz, who has been managing one intern for each of the last two years. (Nationwide currently employs an intern from UW-Whitewater who doesn’t report to Bitz.) Day to day, he is concentrated strategically on where the best areas of business exist and what areas the company should be targeting.
The textbook definition of what an actuary does is assess financial risk for businesses, including insurance companies, but Bitz believes it’s much more than that.
“I think there are a lot of areas within actuarial science,” he said. “For example, I work on our first-year pricing team, so groups coming to us for the first time looking for health insurance, we’ll price them as a group to see where they should be at. There’s a bunch of different fields within actuarial sciences.”

Chris Bitz is a UW-Whitewater alumnus and former Warhawk pole vaulter who is applying his mathematics education and athlete’s discipline to work at Nationwide in Milwaukee. Bitz, who earned a B.S. in mathematics in 2023, graduated cum laude. Photo taken on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
A fulfilling Warhawk experience
Bitz took an accounting course as a freshman at Brookfield East High School and said he didn’t love it. His mother, Maria, who attended UW-Whitewater, asked him if he had heard of actuarial math and science and suggested that as a career path.
By his junior year of high school, he knew he wanted to become an actuary.
“I knew very early on that math was my thing,” Bitz said. “From a young age, I was always very good at math — I like the numbers part of it.”
Bitz’s desire to continue his athletic career as a pole vaulter in track and field — along with the university’s reputation for the actuarial science emphasis — led him to UW-Whitewater. He connected to pole vault coach Nathan Wells and head track and field coach Mike Johnson before making his decision to join the Warhawk family.
After a period of adjustment and learning, UW-Whitewater felt like home to Bitz.
“It takes a lot of time to settle in — being on your own for the first time, living in a dorm, having a roommate, all those kinds of things,” he said. “I think I finally got to a point where I was comfortable, and the campus felt like where I should be, and the team felt like family.”
Bitz found a high level of comfort — and success — as a student-athlete. He placed among the top seven in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference four times, including a sixth-place finish at the 2022 outdoor conference championship meet, and recorded his personal best mark at his second-to-last collegiate competition.

Chris Bitz clears a height in the men’s pole vault at the Midwest Elite Invitational on Feb. 15, 2020, at Kachel Fieldhouse in Whitewater. (UW-Whitewater athletics photo/Michael McLoone)
He served as a captain during his senior year in 2023 and was honored numerous times for academics and sportsmanship during his career. He was also recognized as a UW-Whitewater Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete and earned his third straight All-Academic award from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as a senior.
“(NCAA) Division III was a perfect mix for me,” Bitz said. “I love my sport and wanted to put a lot of time into it, and I had the ability to do that while also focusing on academics.
“UW-Whitewater did a good job of balancing the two and making it clear, saying ‘yes, you are an athlete for this track team, but you’re also a student, and that matters more.’”
Bitz said many of his current best friends — including his roommate, CJ Pfeil — were part of the track and field program. He regularly attends the program’s Alumni Meet and currently coaches track and field at Brookfield East High School, his alma mater.
While on campus, Bitz was also part of the university’s Actuarial Club, which helps future actuaries learn, network, and develop skills necessary in the profession. As part of the group, he virtually attended the Wisconsin Actuarial Collegiate Conference, where he landed his internship that led to his full-time job with Nationwide.
“It made it very easy to learn a lot more about the career and connect with people who know more,” he said. “By the time I got to my junior and senior years, I felt much more prepared having been in that club.”

Chris Bitz, a mathematics major from Brookfield, marches in the spring commencement on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (UW-Whitewater photo/Fionnbharr Hartnett)
Bitz, who was a recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship, also shouted out mathematics faculty members Geethamali Samaranayake and Wesley Hough for positively influencing his time at the university. He served as a supplemental instructor for one of Hough’s classes and was a math tutor in Campus Tutorial Services.
A promising path to career success
Bitz hopes to secure his certification from the Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and continue building his career at Nationwide to a managerial level.
He continues to put what he learned at UW-Whitewater into practice. He cited his preparation for exams — a critical part of an actuary’s career — as something the university helped him with.
There are 10 exams to pass to become fully certified as an actuary — Bitz has passed four and is waiting on results from a fifth.
“UW-Whitewater offers a couple classes that get you in the door for those exams and teach you the basics for the first two,” he said. “It gives you a grounding of where to start, and you can build on that for the next eight exams — or however many you decide to do.”
Sports
Ciro Gentile Named Head Softball Coach
Story Links Ciro Gentile has been named Head Coach of the Baruch Softball Team. The announcement was made by Baruch College Director of Athletics and Recreation, Heather Mac Culloch on Monday. Ciro Gentile is a seasoned coaching professional with over 18 years as Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Uniondale High School on […]

Ciro Gentile has been named Head Coach of the Baruch Softball Team.
The announcement was made by Baruch College Director of Athletics and Recreation, Heather Mac Culloch on Monday.
Ciro Gentile is a seasoned coaching professional with over 18 years as Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Uniondale High School on Long Island, where he has led his team to three county-wide League Championships, five League runner-up finishes, and earned three county-wide Coach of the Year honors. His reputation for developing athletes both on and off the field is matched by his results—having guided numerous student-athletes to successful collegiate careers.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Gentile to the Bearcat family,” said Heather Mac Culloch. “His experience as a teacher and baseball coach translates exceptionally well to the softball field, and his energy, commitment to fundamentals, and ability to connect with student-athletes will help elevate our program. We also know his years of coaching travel softball will add just the right amount of multifaceted coaching we need here at Baruch. We’re excited for what’s ahead under his leadership.”
In addition to his high school leadership, Gentile has served as the Head Coach of the Long Island Gators Softball Program for over a decade (2010 to 2021), coaching championship teams from under 12 through under 18 and capturing multiple United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Tournament Titles. A dedicated mentor and educator, he also serves as a lead hitting and fielding instructor at baseball and softball summer camps, where he shares his deep knowledge of the game with the next generation of athletes.
Gentile holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from SUNY Old Westbury (’85), a Master’s in Continuing Education from Stony Brook University (’99), and an Administrative Degree (’02) from the College of New Rochelle. With 35 years of experience as a Special Education teacher, he brings unmatched patience, communication, and insight into player development.
“I’m incredibly honored to accept the position of Head Softball Coach at Baruch College.” Coach Gentile comments. “I want to sincerely thank Heather Mac Culloch and Carrie Thomas for entrusting me with this opportunity. I’m excited to lead this program, build a strong team culture, and help our student-athletes grow both on and off the field. Let’s get to work — Go Bearcats!”
A former national-level fast pitch softball player himself—earning All-Tournament honors in the Northeast Region—Ciro’s passion for the game extends to his family. He coached and trained his daughter, Kellie, to an All-State and All-Northeast Region honors in high school, before she went on to become Academic All-American in both soccer and softball at SUNY Brockport. He and his wife Penny are proud parents to Kellie and Cody.
A lifelong Yankees fan, Ciro enjoys golfing and cherishes his time spent with family and friends. His coaching is driven by a belief in hard work, discipline, and fostering a love for the game that lasts a lifetime.
Baruch is proud to announce Ciro Gentile as new Head Softball Coach! Ciro brings nearly 2 decades of experience as a baseball and softball coach from the Long Island high school & club community. For more info, click link in bio. #BaruchSoftball #D3SB @BaruchBearcatAD @CUNYAC pic.twitter.com/jxBATCKXnW
— Baruch College Athletics (@BaruchAthletics) July 14, 2025
Sports
Soquel alumna Jessie Dueck helps MBsand win club national title
Jessie Dueck, a 2025 Soquel High graduate who is committed to play beach volleyball at UCLA, helped MBsand Blue win the Open Division title at the 2025 Beach Volleyball Clubs of America (BVCA) Club V Club National Championships, which ran July 7 through Friday in Hermosa Beach. Dueck teamed with Tulane commit Ciela Hendrickson and […]

Jessie Dueck, a 2025 Soquel High graduate who is committed to play beach volleyball at UCLA, helped MBsand Blue win the Open Division title at the 2025 Beach Volleyball Clubs of America (BVCA) Club V Club National Championships, which ran July 7 through Friday in Hermosa Beach.
Dueck teamed with Tulane commit Ciela Hendrickson and competed at No. 4 pairs. They went 2-1 as MBsand Blue went 3-0 in pool play with wins over WAVE Beach Black of San Diego, Spiker Beach Open Red of Huntington Beach, and AJV Sand of Austin, Texas.
Dueck and Hendrickson also helped MBsand Blue beat Volley For Life of Queen Creek, Arizona, 3-0 in the quarterfinals, MadSand of Plano, Texas, 3-0 in the semifinals, and Spiker Beach Open Black of Huntington Beach 3-2 in the final.
BVCA Individual Pairs National Championship: Aptos’ Ella Dueck, a Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo commit, and MBsand teammate Sarah Cowan tied for fifth place in the Girls’ 16U division at the BVCA Individual Pairs National Championships, which ran July 7 through Friday in Hermosa Beach.
Cal Cup Championships: Aptos’ Ella Dueck and beach teammate Samantha Nammack, a UCLA commit, took first place in the Invitation OnlyGirls’16U division at the 2025 Cal Cup Championships in Manhattan Beach on Saturday.
It was their first time playing together. They finished with a 7-0 record. After going 4-0 in pool play, they beat Leah Blair and Linnaea Nielsen 30-28 in the quarterfinals, Izzy Ramos and Sydney Toumajian 28-15 in the semifinals, and Addison Choi and Georgeann Lee 31-29 in the final.
Youth baseball
Pony 14: Santa Cruz beat Mid-County 15-1 for the Pony 14s Coast Region title at Franich Park in Watsonville on Sunday.
Both finalists advance to the eight-team Pony 14s Super Region Tournament at George Cost Field Complex in Ceres.
Santa Cruz faces Campbell in the first round on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and Mid County faces Rodeo in the first round on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
SFYBL, Vacaville, Ceres, and Rocklin are also in the Super Region.
The top two teams in the Super Region will advance to the West Zone Tournament in West Covina, which begins July 31.
Reporting Scores
Coaches are encouraged to report scores and highlights to sports@santacruzsentinel.com following games. Please include your name and contact number in the email.
Sports
Buckeyes Receive B1G Distinguished Scholar Accolades
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State student-athletes earned 185 Big Ten Distinguished accolades for 2024-25, the Big Ten Conference announced Monday, leading the Big Ten for in honorees for the fourth year in a row. Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Distinguished Scholar Award recipients […]

Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades. The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher for a student-athlete’s academic career.
The complete list of Ohio State Big Ten Distinguished Scholars is available in the PDF at the link above.
Forty-nine Buckeyes were recognized for earning a 4.0 grade-point average in 2024-25:
Tatum Adamson, women’s soccer
Jack Agnew, men’s track and field/cross country
Taylor Benedict, women’s rowing
Amelia Boes, women’s rowing
Ava Bramblett, women’s soccer
Riley Brengman, women’s hockey
Jenna Buglioni, women’s hockey
Marian Catahan, artistic swimming
Panagiota Charalampous, pistol
Faith Choi, women’s golf
Niamh Coffey, women’s rowing
Lily Danner, women’s soccer
Dylan D’Emilio wrestling
Lillian Eckles, women’s track and field/cross country
Jessica Eden, women’s swimming and diving
Miranda Freedman, women’s fencing
Samuel Freedman, men’s fencing
Ryan Gordon, men’s hockey
Anya Hardwick, women’s rowing
Jacob Harmon, men’s gymnastics
Paige Hollowell, rifle
Teresa Ivan, women’s swimming and diving
Kira Katterle, women’s rowing
Andrea Kuhn, women’s track and field/cross country
Abbie Leverett, pistol
Erin Little, field hockey
Emily Londot, women’s volleyball
Krista Marlin, women’s swimming and diving
Gannon Matthews, men’s lacrosse
Mario McDonald, men’s swimming and diving
Will McGraw, men’s track and field/cross country
Morgan Miller, women’s rowing
Kaylyn Mintz, women’s gymnastics
Drew Mulcahy, men’s golf
Megan O’Connor, women’s rowing
Molly Pritchard, women’s soccer
Klay Reeves, wrestling
Sarah Richards, field hockey
Leah Sax, women’s lacrosse
Lexington Secreto, women’s hockey
Lucy Scott, women’s rowing
Maeve Simonds, women’s lacrosse
Taylor Thierry, women’s basketball
Dylan Vellios, men’s soccer
Jojo Warga, women’s gymnastics
Maddi Wheeler, women’s hockey
Makenna Webster, field hockey & women’s hockey
Kiara Zanon, women’s hockey
Katherine Zenick, women’s swimming and diving
In 2024-25, 515 Buckeyes were named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team. This year, 805 Buckeyes earned a spot on the Ohio State Scholar-Athlete list and more than 40 received College Sports Communicators Academic All-District accolades. At Spring Commencement, 212 current and former student-athletes received degrees, joining 50 who graduated in autumn.
Sports
Banks County Lady Leopards – BLITZ
With back-to-back Sweet 16 and 20+ win seasons, the Lady Leopards have truly emerged as a program. Banks County runs it back with four returning starters and has a real shot to go further than they’ve gone before. PRESEASON INFO 2024 Record: 20-23; Sweet 16Head Coach: Whittney LaHayne (5th Season)Returning Starters: 4Key Departures: Shae Britt […]


With back-to-back Sweet 16 and 20+ win seasons, the Lady Leopards have truly emerged as a program. Banks County runs it back with four returning starters and has a real shot to go further than they’ve gone before.

PRESEASON INFO

2024 Record: 20-23; Sweet 16
Head Coach: Whittney LaHayne (5th Season)
Returning Starters: 4
Key Departures: Shae Britt (S), Shayna Vickery (L), Emmie Chitwood (OH)
Key Players: Kimber Meister (S), Bryanna Hernandez (MH), Hayden Carroll (RS), Kiera Gilkes (OH), Ella Langford (OH)
Strengths: “This upcoming season, we will be strong on a new front: blocking,” says LaHayne. “We have a strong group of hitters who can get up on the net for defensive blocking as well. While we lost some big players this past year who graduated, we have a very strong group coming up that I believe will allow us a smooth transition into this upcoming season.”

“I have told the girls since the beginning of spring/summer workouts that they have everything it takes to go further than we have in the past,” adds LaHayne. “I feel we are still strong in our area, where some of the other teams have lost some key players. There will still be some extreme competition, but if my girls put their heads down and work hard, they will do big things. Being the young group we are, we still have a way to go, but each season has been better than the last, with goals being met and broken.”








Sports
Big Ten Celebrates 2024-25 Distinguished Scholars
East Lansing, Mich. — The Big Ten Conference announced on Wednesday its list of Distinguished Scholars for the 2024-25 academic year. The class of recipients for the most recently completed academic year includes 155 honorees from Michigan State (up from 132 a year ago), with 42 boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA during the eligibility period. […]

Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have the following criteria for the academic year: Academic All-Big Ten recognition, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better (excluding any summer grades). The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for a student’s academic career.
The following student-athletes boast a perfect 4.0 for the fall 2024-Spring 2025 academic year:
Baseball: Gavin Sitarz, Ryan Szczepaniak
Women’s Basketball: Emma Shumate
Field Hockey: Jillian Bonczewski, Grace Fronczak, Emma O’Neill, Ellie Rutherford, Alexa Shaffer
Football: Michael Masunas, Darius Snow
Men’s Golf: Lorenzo Pinili
Women’s Golf: Katie Lu
Gymnastics: Giana Kalefe, Genevieve Lebster, Stephanie Lebster
Rowing: Kate Heinecke, Grace Thomas
Men’s Soccer: Will Eby, Myles Foster, Alec Laible, Josh Mason
Women’s Soccer: Ella Janz, Bella Najera
Softball: Sydney Doloszycki
Men’s Tennis: Josh Portnoy
Women’s Tennis: Sarah Fazlagic, Matilde Morais, Natalie Stasny
Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field: Quinn Cullen, Josh Devries, Kyle Eberhard, Noah Morrow, Tyler Pritchett
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field: Emily Bardwell, Natalie Blake, Sophia Bonnema, Allison Chmielewski, Sophia Lucki, Valadian Pallett, Madison Price, Judith Rector, Kate Stewart-Barnett
2024-25 Michigan State Big Ten Distinguished Scholars
Baseball
Jacob Anderson (Jr., Kinesiology, Oakland Township, Mich.)
Jake Dresselhouse (Jr., Advertising Management, Highland, Mich.)
Tate Farquhar (Jr., Information Science, Highland, Mich.)
Ryan McKay (So., Finance, Clarkston, Mich.)
Dominic Pianto (5th-Sr., Accounting (MS), Hendersonville, Tenn.)
Gavin Sitarz (Jr., Finance, St. Charles, Ill.)
Ryan Szczepaniak (Jr., Criminal Justice, Woodhaven, Mich.)
Men’s Basketball
Carson Cooper (Jr., Management, Jackson, Mich.)
Women’s Basketball
Julia Ayrault (Gr., Education (MA), Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.)
Theryn Hallock (Jr., Advertising Management, Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Mary Meng (R-Fr., Marketing, Grafton, Ohio)
Emma Shumate (Jr., Environmental Economics, Dresden, Ohio)
Field Hockey
Jillian Bonczewski (Sr., Elementary Education, Larksville, Pa.)
Katelyn Dulin (So, Finance, Barto, Pa.)
Grace Fronczak (Jr., Human Development & Family Studies, Columbus, Ohio)
Lyra Gavino (So., Management, New Malden, England)
Serena Mailhe (So., Advertising Creative, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Emma O’Neill (Sr., Special Education-Learning Disabilities, Hummelstown, Pa.)
Bianca Pizano (So., Kinesiology, Exeter, Pa.)
Ellie Rutherford (Sr., Management, Edinburgh, Scotland)
Skylar Santucci (Jr., Criminal Justice, Medford, NJ)
Alexa Shaffer (So., Kinesiology, Hummelstown, Pa.)
Brynn Shaffer (So., Special Education-Learning Disabilities, Hummelstown, Pa.)
Ellie Wheatley (Gr., Marketing Research & Analytics (MS), Louisville, Ky)
Football
Tarik Ahmetbasic (So., Mechanical Engineering, Clinton Township, Mich.)
Grant Calcagno (So., Advertising Management, Rochester, Mich.)
Cole Dellinger (So., Criminal Justice, Clarkston, Mich.)
Sam Edwards (Gr., Marketing Research & Analytics (MS), Williamston, Mich.)
Michael Masunas (Jr., Management, Tucson, Ariz.)
Ben Nelson (Jr., Marketing, Holland, Mich.)
Darius Snow (Gr., Media Analytics (Grad Cert), Frisco, Texas)
Jalen Thompson (So., Advertising Management, Detroit, Mich.)
Men’s Golf
Lorenzo Pinili (So., Finance, Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Women’s Golf
Paula Balanzategui (Jr., Communication, San Sebastian Spain)
Brooke Biermann (Sr., Human Resources & Labor Relations, Wildwood, Mo.)
Shannon Kennedy (Sr., Communication, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
Katherine Lu (Sr., Finance, Plainsboro, N.J.)
Gymnastics
Kendall Abney (So., Nursing, Belleville, Mich.)
Elle Beaufait (Jr., Fisheries & Wildlife, Columbus, Mich.)
Lauren Hsu (Sr., Kinesiology, Austin, Texas)
Giana Kalefe (5th-Sr., Advertising Management, Corona, Calif.)
Sage Kellerman (Jr., Special Education-Learning Disabilities, Croswell, Mich.)
Genevieve Lebster (Sr., Mechanical Engineering, Holland, Mich.)
Stephanie Lebster (Jr., Kinesiology, Holland, Mich.)
Skyla Schulte (Sr., Advertising Management, Bolingbrook, Ill.)
Nikki Smith (Jr., Studio Art, West Bloomfield, Mich.)
Gabrielle Stephen (Sr., Criminal Justice, Elgin, Ill.)
Isabella Trostel (So., Special Education-Learning Disabilities, Westerville, Ohio)
Hockey
Trey Augustine (So., Finance, South Lyon, Mich.)
Matt Basgall (Jr., Kinesiology, Lake Forest, Ill.)
Dolan Gilbert (Jr., Psychology, South Bend, Ill.)
Griffin Jurecki (So., Finance, Grosse Ile, Mich.)
Joey Larson (Jr., Supply Chain Management, Brighton, Mich.)
Tommi Mannisto (So., Advertising Management, Riihimaki, Finland)
Austin Oravetz (So., Criminal Justice, Canonsburg, Penn.)
Rowing
Kendyl Baron (So, Psychology, Macomb, Mich.)
Lucy Botting (Gr, Advertising Creative, Christchurch, NZ)
Elise Ciantar (Jr., Criminal Justice, Plymouth, Mich,)
Emily Crofut (Jr., Human Biology, Grand Ledge, Mich.)
Lillian Davidson-Walshe (Jr., Economics, Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Lauren Droska (Jr., Human Resources & Labor Relations, Clinton Township, Mich.)
Freya Engel (Sr., Criminal Justice, Workingham, Berkshire, England)
Kate Heinecke (Jr., Biosystems Engineering, St. Paul, Minn.)
Ella Mckenzie, 5th, Kinesiology, Brisbane, Australia)
Elizabeth Pollion (Jr., Human Resources & Labor Relations, Petoskey, Mich.)
Ugne Rudaityte (So., Human Biology, Vilnius, Lithuania)
Haley Sornig (So., Criminal Justice, Rochester, Mich,)
Grace Thomas (Sr., Kinesiology, Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Men’s Soccer
Josh Adam (R-Jr., Construction Management, Brighton, Mich.)
Will Eby (So., Mechanical Engineering, Northville, Mich.)
Efosa Emovon (Sr., Kinesiology, London, Ontario)
Myles Foster (R-Fr., Supply Chain Management, East Lansing, Mich.)
Jack Guggemos (Jr., Supply Chain Management, Okemos, Mich.)
Zac Kelly (R-Jr., Crop & Soil Sciences, Holt, Mich.)
Alec Laible (R-Fr., Kinesiology, Rock Hill, S.C.)
Josh Mason (Jr., Kinesiology, South Lyon, Mich.)
Women’s Soccer
Sofia Beerworth (Jr., Civil Engineering, Montreal, Quebec)
Regan Dalton (Gr,, Strategic Communication (MA), Rockford, Mich,)
Adelle Francis (R-Fr., Communication, Perrysburg, Ohio)
Justina Gaynor (Gr., Sport Coaching, Leadership & Administration (MS), Shelby Township, Mich.)
Maggie Illig (Jr., Kinesiology, Troy, Mich,)
Ella Janz (So., Kinesiology, Northville, Mich.)
Bella Najera (So., Marketing, St. Charles, Ill.)
Kaitlyn Parks (Gr., Digital Media, Upper Marlbroro, Md.)
Sophia Piotrowski (So., Kinesiology, Troy, Mich,)
Renee Watson (So., Data Science, Toronto, Ontario)
Softball
Britain Beshears (Jr., Supply Chain Management, Novi, Mich.)
Hailey Bila (Jr, Kinesiology, Laingsuburg, Mich.)
Sydney Doloszycki (Jr., Kinesiology, Saint John, Ind.)
Faith Guidry, Sr,, Human Biology, Mont Belvieu, Texas)
Hannah Hawley (Jr., Supply Chain Management, Coventry, RI)
Macy Lee (Sr., Law Enforcement Intelligence & Analysis (MS), Phoenix, Ariz.)
Men’s Tennis
Taym Al Azmeh (So., Psychology, Damascus, Syria)
Josh Portnoy (Sr., Physiology, Okemos, Mich.)
Women’s Tennis
Sarah Fazlagic (Jr., Political Science-PreLaw, Louisville, Ky.)
Matilde Morais (Jr., Advertising Management, Cascais, Portugal)
Issey Purser (Jr., Finance, Ascot, United Kingdom)
Natalie Stasny (So., Human Biology, Woodridge, Ill.)
Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Adam Blue (Jr., Economics, Potterville, Mich.)
Ben Classen (So., Supply Chain Management, Niwot, Colo.)
Quinn Cullen (So., Communication, Brighton, Mich.)
Josh Devries (Sr., Construction Management, Portage, Mich.)
Kyle Eberhard (So., Aquatic Ecology & Management, Linden, Mich.)
Owen Gilbert (So., Digital Storytelling, Battle Creek, Mich.)
Parker Lambers (So., Finance, Holland, Mich.)
Andrew Lane (Sr., Neuroscience, East Lansing, Mich.)
Noah Morrow (So., Kinesiology, Manton, Mich.)
Andrew Nolan (Gr., Computer Science (MS), Oxford, Mich.)
Jack Pennewell (Sr., Environmental Engineering, St. Clair, Mich.)
Alex Penski (Gr., Business Administration (MBA), Holt, Mich.)
Luke Perelli (Gr., Computer Science (MS), Plymouth, Mich.)
Tyler Pritchett (Gr., Applied Engineering Science, Midland, Mich.)
Brendan VanderMeer (Jr., Supply Chain Management, Grand Haven, Mich.)
Connor Williamson (So., Finance, Mason, Mich.)
Alexander Yon (So., Criminal Justice, Hartland, Mich.)
Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Elizabeth Anderson (So., Genomics & Molecular Genetics, New Boston, Mich.)
Elizabeth Babcock (Jr., Horticulture, Novi, Mich.)
Emily Bardwell (Jr., Integrative Biology (MS), Brunswick, Ohio)
Meghan Beute (So., Hospitality Business, Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Breanne Black (Jr., Kinesiology, Chelsea, Mich.)
Natalie Blake (Jr., Human Biology, Holland, Mich.)
Sophia Bonnema (Jr., Physiology, Holland, Mich.)
Abbey Carvey (Sr., Neuroscience, Farmington, Mich.)
Allison Chmielewski (So., Graphic Design, Roscommon, Mich.)
Allison Cornell (So., Marketing, Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Taylor Ewert (Sr., Interdisciplinary Humanities, Beavercreek, Ohio)
Sarah Forsyth (Jr., Communication, Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Anyssa Hall (Jr., Journalism, New Castle, Ind.)
Eleanor Kendell (Gr., Marketing Research & Analytics (MS), Huntington Woods, Mich.)
Janan Khalil (Sr., Packaging, Macomb, Mich.)
Anjali Kidambi (So., Neuroscience, Novi, Mich.)
Sophia Lucki (Sr., Human Biology, Toronto, Canada)
Melanie Macias (So., Construction Management, Willis, Mich.)
Olivia Millen (Jr., Marketing, Plymouth, Mich.)
Valadian Pallett (Sr., Genomics & Molecular Genetics, Farmington, Mich.)
Reese Powers (Jr., Elementary Education, Marysville, Mich.)
Madison Price (Gr., Sport Coaching (Grad Cert), Trenton, Mich.)
Judith Rector (Gr., Media & Information (MA), Hanover, Mich.)
Mia Rogan (So., Social Work, Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Kaia Scheffler (Gr., Advertising Creative, Brownstown, Mich.)
Kate Stewart-Barnett (Sr., Human Biology, New Westminster, B.C.)
Jessica Stieb (So., Kinesiology, Loup City, Neb.)
Ava Stout (So., Elementary Education, Wiesbaden, Germany)
Makenna Veen (Gr., Sport Coaching, Leadership & Administration (MS), Kalamazoo, Mich.)
Chloe Wall (Jr., Kinesiology, Waterford, Mich.)
Lexy Wilson (Jr., Psychology, Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Mackenzie Wright (So., Elementary Education, Howell, Mich.)
Volleyball
Julia Bishop (Sr., Computational Data Science, Dearborn, Mich.)
Taylah Holdem (So., Human Development & Family Studies, Christchurch, New Zealand)
Aliyah Moore (Sr., Kinesiology, Surprise, Ariz.)
Wrestling
Luke Daly (R-Jr., Accounting, Carbondale, Ill.)
Ceasar Garza (R-So., Elementary Education, Oakdale, Calif.)
Andrew Hampton (R-Jr., Marketing, Rochester, Mich.)
Marty Larkin (R-Sr., Lifelong Education, Orland Park, Ill.)
Kael Wisler (R-So., Civil Engineering, New Boston, Mich.)
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