Sports

Carpenter enjoying the daily grind of life as a manager in AAA baseball

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — David Carpenter built his game at East Fairmont High School and West Virginia University to ultimately reach the highest level of baseball in 2011. That’s the year when Carpenter broke into big leagues with the Houston Astros. He would go on to pitch in 222 Major League Baseball games over six seasons. […]

Published

2 weeks ago

June 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Carpenter enjoying the daily grind of life as a manager in AAA baseball

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — David Carpenter built his game at East Fairmont High School and West Virginia University to ultimately reach the highest level of baseball in 2011. That’s the year when Carpenter broke into big leagues with the Houston Astros. He would go on to pitch in 222 Major League Baseball games over six seasons.

Aug 15, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers relief pitcher David Carpenter (49) pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the fourth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

His playing days ended in 2020 but Carpenter is quickly rising in the coaching ranks. In February, Carpenter was named the manager of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the top minor league affiliate (Class AAA) of the Miami Marlins.

Entering a doubleheader Friday at Syracuse, the Jumbo Shrimp (45-26) are enjoying an eight-game winning streak, the longest in the International League.

“It is just a lot of fun to come to the ballpark in general when guys are putting in good at bats, pitchers are doing a really good job when they are getting called out of the bullpen, starters are giving us good innings,” Carpenter said. “It just makes it more enjoyable watching guys go out there and compete on a daily basis.”

Carpenter excelled for WVU at catcher from 2004-2006. In his junior season, Carpenter started 55 of 58 games behind the plate. He hit .316 with 38 runs batted in. Carpenter was selected by the Cardinals in the 12th round of the 2006 MLB Draft. In 2009, he made the transition from catcher to pitcher.

Carpenter played for the Astros, Blue Jays, Braves, Yankees, Nationals and Rangers in his MLB career that spanned the 2011-2015 and 2019 seasons. He was out of big league ball from 2016-2018 before finally breaking back in with the Rangers in May of 2019. Carpenter believes his unique experiences in the game help him advising young players grinding their way through minor league ball.

“Not only is this a physical game, it is a mental game. Being able to meet players where they are, whether it is coming back from a really stressful injury or just coming back from a tough couple years where they have struggled, you try to find ways to connect with these guys and get the best out of them on a daily basis. I feel that is something, myself and the staff, here we have done a really good job of.”

In 2020, Carpenter was in spring training with the Cincinnati Reds. However, he never appeared for the big league club in the COVID-shortened season. A year later, Carpenter joined the staff at Fairmont State University. In addition to coaching the Falcons, Carpenter led the West Virginia Black Bears in the 2023 and 2024 MLB Draft League seasons. The Black Bears won the league title in his first season.

“I really did miss it. I missed the competition. I missed being able to impact guys and to help further their careers. Fairmont State was a way to scratch that itch. And getting the opportunity with the Black Bears continued to drive that forward. Getting the opportunity to advance and go to this level was a no-brainer.”

The Marlins had interest in hiring Carpenter early in 2024. However, he wanted to finish out his season at FSU before pursuing any other opportunities.

“I felt it wasn’t the right thing to do to leave those guys high and dry at that moment. I had some guys I was continuing to work with and had been involved in their recruitment to get them there. I was really invested in those guys. I didn’t want to leave them in the middle of the season.”

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Opening Day roster is pictured at VyStar Ballpark on March 26, 2025. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]

Carpenter was officially hired to lead Jacksonville on February 11. He was on staff with the Marlins in spring training before the season began for the Jumbo Shrimp in late-March. As with most minor league managers, Carpenter is tasked with the dual responsibilities of fielding a winning team while building prospects to reach the parent club.

“During the interview process, the question was asked to me, ‘What was valued?’ I said, ‘You can place a high value on winning because during that, you can still develop players’. I feel that is something we are doing really, really well here within the Marlins organization with the group of guys that we have remaining focused on their development as players. Ultimately, we want to get them to the big leagues, allow them to have success up there and sustained success, not just one or two seasons.”

At the AAA level, rosters are a hybrid of young and ascending prospects and players that have competed at the top level and are working to get back to MLB.

“It is a delicate balance. Thankfully, we have a really good group here that understands what this is about. This is about a family aspect. Everybody is pulling for each other. You are not just competing against each other in the clubhouse. It is an opportunity to go out there, do the job that you are required to do or that you are requested to do on a daily basis.

“If we focus on what the objectives are, it makes it a lot easier to accept the fact that when you have guys coming up from AA, they are ascending and trying to get to the big leagues. You have guys that were at the big leagues and they are trying to get back there. There is still the common goal of getting to the big leagues. But it is a shared experience of them working and doing this together.”

Carpenter’s college career concluded seven years before West Virginia joined the Big 12 and nine years before Mon County Ballpark opened. As one of WVU’s most accomplished alumni at the MLB level, Carpenter is thrilled to see the decade of success his alma mater has enjoyed with multiple Big 12 titles and NCAA Super Regional appearances.

“I am really, really happy for those guys. Victor Scott, JJ Wetherholt, Alek Manoah, John Means, there have been a ton of guys coming up there are having success. You love to see that, representing the state and representing the school well. Especially being born and raised there, that has special meaning for the guys like me and Jedd [Gyorko].

“To see this continued success, I wish nothing but the best for Steve [Sabins]. He is doing a fantastic job. I think he is going to take the program to a new level. I think he has the personality to continue to bring in really good recruits.”

The regular season concludes for the Jumbo Shrimp on September 21. Jacksonville enters the weekend a half-game behind Lehigh Valley in the International League East Division standings. If the season ended today, Jacksonville would be participating in the IL playoffs.

“The city is fantastic. The fan base is a really, really fun group to be around. They really come out to the ballpark and pack the ballpark. Tuesday-through-Sunday, it is a lot of fun to be here.”

Sports

New head coach announced for the UH beach volleyball program

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Danny Alvarez has been named the University of Hawai’i’s new head coach of the beach volleyball program. This comes as the first hire from the new UH athletics director Matt Elliott. Alvarez is the fifth head coach in the program’s history and returns to Manoa after previously serving as a UH assistant […]

Published

28 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Danny Alvarez has been named the University of Hawai’i’s new head coach of the beach volleyball program.

This comes as the first hire from the new UH athletics director Matt Elliott.

Alvarez is the fifth head coach in the program’s history and returns to Manoa after previously serving as a UH assistant coach for nearly a decade.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Danny back to the UH ‘ohana,” Elliott said. “He helped build UH beach volleyball from the very start and played a pivotal role in creating a program that competed at the highest level. His love for the sport, his alma mater, and for our student-athletes is unquestioned and I know he’ll give his absolute best effort as our new head coach.“

”I’m truly honored to be back at the University of Hawai’i,” Alvarez said.

“This is a special opportunity and we’re fully committed to making the student-athlete experience the best in the country. Our aspiration is to build a national championship-caliber program. There’s exciting work ahead and we’re ready for the challenge,” Alvarez said.

In his first stint at UH, Alvarez was instrumental in building the foundation for the fledgling Rainbow Wahine program and quickly developing the ‘Bows into a national contender.

The Honolulu native served as the sole assistant coach in the inaugural 2012 season.

He helped numerous indoor players make the transition to sand, while further developing the experienced sand players.

What soon followed was six straight national tournament appearances, three Big West titles, and the program’s first No. 1 ranking during the 2015 season.

Following that season he was named Coach of the Year at UH’s annual “H” Awards event.

The success continued in his second stint as an assistant in 2023 when the team returned to the NCAAs for the sixth time and finished in the top 10 of the final American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll.

In all, he has coached 11 AVCA All-Americans and 24 all-conference players during his time at UH.

He has also provided elite training for more than a half dozen professional players, including former UH standout and AVP champion Carly Kan.

On the men’s side, he has coached AVP champion and Honolulu native Trevor Crabb since 2019 and guided Crabb and partner Theo Brunner’s during their run to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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2025 Big Sky State Games Montana Mile field announced

BILLINGS — Carson Steckelberg, who raced to the men’s championship last year, is back to defend his Big Sky State Games Montana Mile title. Carson Steckelberg crosses the finish line to win the men’s Montana Mile at the Big Sky State Games Opening Ceremonies at Daylis Stadium on July 19, 2024. AMY LYNN NELSON, Billings Gazette […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BILLINGS — Carson Steckelberg, who raced to the men’s championship last year, is back to defend his Big Sky State Games Montana Mile title.

2024 Big Sky State Games Opening Ceremonies — Carson Steckelberg crosses the finish line to win the men’s Montana Mile at the Big Sky State Games Opening Ceremonies at Daylis Stadium on July 19, 2024.

AMY LYNN NELSON, Billings Gazette

Two other past champions, Sydney Little Light (2022 and 2023) and Sage Brooks (2020), are also entered in this year’s races scheduled for the BSSG Opening Ceremonies at Lockwood High School Stadium on Friday, July 18.

The BSSG announced the 2025 Montana Mile men’s and women’s fields in a press release on Monday morning. This year’s races are scheduled for approximately 8:15-8:30 p.m. on July 18.

Big Sky State Games opening ceremony — Sydney Little Light crosses the finish line to win the 2023 Montana Mile during the Big Sky State Games opening ceremonies at Daylis Stadium.

MIKE CLARK, For 406mtsports.com

The Montana Mile, sponsored by Billings West End Walmart, is an invitational and features some of the state’s fastest high school, college and post-collegiate runners. This year will mark the 34th Montana Mile for the men and 26th for the women.

Lois Ricardi-Keller holds the women’s Montana Mile record with a time of 4:53.90 in 2011. The Montana Mile men’s record was established by Duncan Hamilton with a time of 4:04.83 in 2022.

Overall, 12 males are entered in the race and eight females.

Below is biographical information for each runner in the male and female fields (capsule information for each individual runner is provided by the BSSG):

Men’s field

Ase Ackerman

Ackerman had a successful athletic career at Montana State University Billings, competing in both track and field and cross country. The former Dawson County High School runner was named a team captain for the Yellowjackets. He received GNAC All-Conference in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 1,500 and holds the 8K and 1500 school records. Ackerman finished second in the 2023 Montana Mile and this will be his sixth year competing in the race.

Chase Drange

Drange is participating in his second Montana Mile. Drange is a former cross country and track athlete at Tiffin University in Ohio. Drange graduated high school from Custer County in Miles City and earned a third place at the Eastern Class A Championships in the 800. Drange was a scoring member of the Tiffin cross country and track and field teams, marking a best last year in the 1500 with a time of 4:06.42.

Jackson Duffey

Duffey will be competing in his second Montana Mile. Duffey is a former cross country and track athlete at Rocky Mountain College, graduating in 2022. While in college, he qualified for NAIA nationals all four years and was a two time national qualifier in the 5K track event during the 2022 indoor and outdoor seasons. Duffey graduated high school from Ronan and earned the designation as an all-state cross country runner and two-time all-state in track. Duffey is the former cross country coach at Rocky Mountain College.

Kye Mcabee

Kye Mcabee will be competing in his first Montana Mile. Mcabee will be a senior at Billings West in the fall. Mcabee has the school record for the 1,600. He was the Eastern AA Divisional champion, and 2024 city cross country Champion. This last year Mcabee placed sixth in the 1600 and ninth in the 3,200 at the State AA meet. Mcabee competed at the 2025 Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon.

Austin Schellig

Schellig will be a senior at Joliet and is competing in his first Montana Mile. Schellig holds the Class B state record in the 800 as well as the Joliet record in the 800, 1,600, 5K, and anchored the school-record-setting 4×400 relay. Schellig won first place in the 2025 State B in the 800 and 1,600. He was named the 2024 Montana USATF Athlete of the Year.

Wilson Schmidt

Wilson Schmidt will participate in his first Montana Mile. He attends Belgrade High School and will be a senior. Schmidt has the Belgrade record in the 1,600, 800, and 400 as well as the state record in the 800. Schmidt was the 2025 Class AA State Champion in the 800, 1600, and cross country.

Finn Schretenthaler

Schretenthaler, who will be a senior at Livingston in the fall, holds the Class A 1,600 record and the school record in the 1,600, 3,200, 800, and 5K. Schretenthaler is a state champion in the 3,200 and 1,600 as well as Class A Cross Country Champion in both 2024 and 2023. This will be his first time competing in the Montana Mile.

Carson Steckelberg

This fall, Steckelberg will be entering his junior year at University of Montana. Steckelberg competes for the University of Montana cross country and track and field teams. He currently holds the school records at Bozeman Gallatin for the 1,600, 3,200, and 5K in cross country. He was three-time all-state for cross country and two-time all-state for track. He will be running in the Montana Mile for the fifth-consecutive year. Steckelberg won the 2024 Montana Mile.

Peyton Summers

Summers will be a sophomore at Dawson Community College in the fall. Summers holds the Montana Class B cross country state record and he also holds Wolf Point High school records in the 5K, 3,200, 1,600, and 800. At the 2024 State B Track meet, Summers placed first in the 1,600, 3,200, 4×400, and third in the 800. This will be Summers’ second year competing in the Montana Mile.

Levi Taylor

Former Laurel Locomotive and Montana State University standout Levi Taylor will be making his fifth appearance in the Mile. Taylor is the school record holder at Laurel in the 1,600 and the 3,200. He is also part of the record-holding team in the distance medley relay at MSU. He is a three-time NCAA All-American. He competed in the 2024 NCAA National Championships in the steeplechase taking home 12th place and qualifying for the Olympic Trials.

Caleb Tomac

Caleb Tomac attends Rocky Mountain College and will be a sophomore this coming fall. Tomac attended Havre High School and was the State A champion in the 800. Tomac also earned the designation as all-state in track and field for three years in high school and holds the Rocky freshman record in the 1,500. This will be Tomac’s first Montana Mile.

Jackson Wilson

Jackson Wilson attended Douglas High School in Box Elder, South Dakota, and is a former Rocky Mountain College athlete. Wilson won the 2023 NAIA national title in cross country and was a nine-time NAIA All American. Wilson holds the Rocky Mountain College school records in the indoor 3K, outdoor 5K, indoor 1 mile, indoor 5K, outdoor 10K, and 8K cross country. Wilson was also named the NAIA Runner of The Year. This will be Wilson’s first Montana Mile.

Women’s field

Missoula’s Sage Brooks takes the lead at the start of the final lap of the 2020 women’s Montana Mile during the Big Sky State Games Opening Ceremonies at Daylis Stadium.

Billings Gazette file photo

Karis Brightwings-Pease

Brightwings-Pease will be a junior this fall at Hardin. Brightwings-Pease holds the 1,600 and 3,200 school records. She has also won titles in the State A cross country championships as well as qualifying for the 2025 State Class A Track Championships in the 1,600 and placing sixth 3,200. This will be her third time competing in the Montana Mile.

Cecily Eagleton

Eagleton attended Sugar Salem High School in Idaho and will be a senior at Montana State University Billings this coming fall. While in high school, Eagleton qualified for the State Cross Country and Track Meets and she placed second in Class 3A State in the 3,200. Eagleton was a scoring member of the MSU Billings cross country team at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship meet. Eagleton also qualified for the GNAC track meet in the steeplechase. This will be Eagleton’s first time competing in the Montana Mile.

Natalie Hodgskiss

Hodgskiss will be a junior at Choteau in the fall. Hodgskiss holds the school record in the 800 and 1,600. Natalie is also a two-time Class B state champion in the 1,600 and placed second in state in the 800. This will be Hodgskiss’s second Montana Mile.

Ali Keith

Keith currently attends college at Cal State University Monterey Bay where she will be a senior in the fall. She has had multiple achievements throughout her running career, including all-state cross country, 5K record holder at Billings West, and has the school records at Cal State University Monterey Bay for the cross country 5K, track 5K, and 4×400. This will be her third time running the Montana Mile.

Addison Kegel will be a freshman at Billings Central. Kegel holds school records at Ben Steele Middle School in the 1,600, 800, 400, 4×400 and she holds the city middle school records in the 1600, 800, and 4×400. Kegel was the city cross country champion and track champion in the 1600, 800, 400, 4×400. Kegel was also the Nike Cross Country Regional Meet middle school champion and she attended the Nike Outdoor Nationals Track meet where she earned second in the mile in her age division. This will be her second Montana Mile.

Sydney Little Light

Sydney Little Light graduated from Rocky Mountain College in 2023, where she holds records in nearly every distance event. Little Light is the 2022 and 2023 Montana Mile champion and will be running for her fourth time. The Hardin High graduate is a seven-time NAIA All-American and the 2022 NAIA 1,500 Outdoor Track and Field National Champion. Little Light was also the 2022 Ultimate Warrior champion. She was named Frontier Conference Athlete of the Week 28 times in her running career. Little Light ran for Eastern Kentucky while finishing her masters degree. She placed second in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Meet and holds the mile record at Eastern Kentucky.

Sage Brooks

Brooks will be a fifth-year Senior at Oregon State University in the fall. Brooks was the 2020 Montana Mile Champion. The Missoula native holds the 1,600 school record at Hellgate High School. She was also designated as Oregon State’s Newcomer of the Year. Brooks placed at the MPSF Indoor Conference meet in the Mile and 3K. Brooks earned the designation of second-team all-conference West Coast Conference in 2024. This will be Brooks’ fourth Montana Mile

Madeline Severson

Severson recently graduated from Montana State University Billings with a degree in Environmental Studies. Severson holds the school record at Manhattan High School in the 400. Severson was also the team captain and scoring member of the women’s cross country team at MSU Billings. Severson also qualified for the GNAC cross country and track Championship meets all four years of college. This will be Severson’s first Montana Mile.

NOTES: The Athlete Fun Zone at Lockwood High School opens at 5 p.m. on July 18 for BSSG opening ceremonies. The opening ceremonies parade of athletes will begin at 7:15 p.m. and the Montana 100 Meter followed by the Montana Mile at approximately 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is free to the opening ceremonies. For information, call 406-254-7426 or go to bigskygames.org. … The 2025 Montana Mile is sponsored by Billings West End Walmart. Opening Ceremonies is sponsored by Wendy’s. Major Sponsors of the State Games are Kampgrounds of America, First Interstate Bank, Rebel River Creative and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana.

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Sports

Vote for the Best High School Sports Team in the Desert 2024-25!

Published

1 hour ago

July 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The spotlight is on exceptional high school sports teams from the 2024-25 season in the desert, inviting fans to vote for their favorite. Several teams demonstrated remarkable achievements, including CIF-SS championships and significant historical milestones. Teams highlighted include the Aztecs, Knights, Rams, Rattlers, and Lions, each celebrating unique accomplishments ranging from defensive dominance to unprecedented firsts in the championship landscape. Voting closes at noon on Saturday, determining the champion of champions based on fan support. A previous poll recognized Koa Rapolla from Palm Springs as the upcoming top defensive player.

By the Numbers

The Aztecs secured their second boys’ water polo title, last won in 2013.
Rancho Mirage became the first desert softball team to win a CIF-SS title with a 7-3 victory.

State of Play

Fan voting is open for the best team of the 2024-25 season until noon Saturday.
The competition features notable teams showcasing standout performances and historical feats.

What’s Next

Post-voting, the focus will shift entirely to the upcoming 2025-26 high school sports season. Teams will aim to build upon their previous successes and strive for new championships. Anticipation surrounds how these teams will evolve and compete in the next season.

Bottom Line

This voting initiative emphasizes celebrating young athletes’ achievements while fostering community engagement. The results will spotlight one team as the “champion of champions,” setting the stage for excitement heading into the new sports season.

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Sports

Michaela Rose leaves her mark at LSU with historic 800-meter performances

Rose broke the elusive 1:59 barrier not once, not twice—but five times during her college career. No other collegiate runner has ever accomplished that feat. SUFFOLK, Va. — Michaela Rose has wrapped up a remarkable track career at Louisiana State University, and she did it by rewriting the record books. The Suffolk, Virginia native made […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Rose broke the elusive 1:59 barrier not once, not twice—but five times during her college career. No other collegiate runner has ever accomplished that feat.

SUFFOLK, Va. — Michaela Rose has wrapped up a remarkable track career at Louisiana State University, and she did it by rewriting the record books.

The Suffolk, Virginia native made her name in the women’s 800 meters, and this past season, she turned in performances that won’t soon be forgotten. Rose broke the elusive 1:59 barrier not once, not twice—but five times during her college career. No other collegiate runner has ever accomplished that feat.

In May, Rose made headlines by setting the collegiate record with a time of 1:58.12. Then, at last month’s NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, she shattered a 35-year-old meet record in the semifinals with a 1:58.95 finish.

“As soon as they said it, I said ‘Oh wow!’,” she said. “I was like oh my gosh, It was kind of crazy. It was really fun to have it for the moment that I did.”

Though her meet record was ultimately bested by Stanford’s Roisin Willis in the final, Rose left with her head held high and a long list of accolades to show for it.

Rose, who finished fourth in the Olympic Trials last year, has aspirations of the next summer games from Los Angeles, California in 2028.

“I’d have more family who would be able to make it,” the senior said. “That’s the dream to just prepare myself…get very fit. Get very ready to just give my best there.”

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Ustaszewski in Singapore with Team USA for World Championships

Story Links LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego head men’s water polo coach Matt Ustaszewski (UC San Diego ’04) is again serving as an assistant coach with Team USA as the World Aquatics World Championships kick off this week in Singapore, Singapore. The 2025 event is set for July 11 […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego head men’s water polo coach Matt Ustaszewski (UC San Diego ’04) is again serving as an assistant coach with Team USA as the World Aquatics World Championships kick off this week in Singapore, Singapore.

The 2025 event is set for July 11 through July 24.

This is Ustaszewski’s fifth stint as a member of the Team USA staff for the World Championships (2024, 2023, 2022, 2019). He was also on the bench when the United States won a Bronze Medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

“It is an absolute honor to represent Team USA on the coaching staff at the upcoming World Championships,” said Ustaszewski. “The opportunity to collaborate with and learn from the world’s best water polo coaches and players is a true privilege. This is the highest form of professional development possible, with the ability to actively pursue learning and gain first-hand experience, which are representative of the goals of our university, the athletic department, and the men’s water polo program at UC San Diego.”

The United States opens group play Friday against Canada. The team will also face Brazil (July 13) and host Singapore (July 16) prior to the Crossover, Quarterfinal, Semifinal, and Final Rounds.

Live streaming of the World Championships will be available on Peacock (login required).

“I want to thank Head Coach Dejan Udovicic for his leadership and trust in me to continue this journey together,” said Ustaszewski. “I also would like to acknowledge Athletic Director Earl Edwards, Senior Associate Athletic Director Danielle Melman, and our coaching staff and scholar-athletes at UC San Diego for their unwavering support during my tenure with Team USA. Most importantly, I want to thank my wife Heather Ustaszewski (UC San Diego ’06) and my sons, Jordan and Ryan. They have been incredibly supportive of the opportunities that I have been able to experience with Team USA. We are going to Singapore to compete at the highest levels of our sport, and I do so with the intentions of making my family, UC San Diego, and Team USA proud.”

Team USA has had success this summer already, putting together a Silver Medal performance at the World Aquatics U20 World Championships in Croatia. It was the highest finish ever for a USA Men’s National Team in World Championship play at any age group. UC San Diego figured heavily in Zagreb as Landon Akerstrom, who will be a junior for the Tritons this fall, was a member of the squad.

2025 World Aquatics World Championships Schedule

all times Pacific

July 11 – vs. Canada 7:35 pm

July 13 – vs. Brazil 6 pm

July 16 – at Singapore 4:10 am

July 18 – Crossover Round, TBD

July 20 – Quarterfinal Round, TBD

July 22 – Semifinal Round, TBD

July 24 – Final Round, TBD

• Live streaming available on Peacock (login required)

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.

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Female cyclist refuses to take podium with trans winner

Veteran cyclist Julie Cutts Peterson told Fox News’ “America Reports” about why she refused to take the podium for the medal ceremony after losing to a trans competitor. “At the finish line I was upset. I said ‘I did not want to race against a man,’” Peterson said, recalling her frustration at the event and the way […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Female cyclist refuses to take podium with trans winner

Veteran cyclist Julie Cutts Peterson told Fox News’ “America Reports” about why she refused to take the podium for the medal ceremony after losing to a trans competitor.

“At the finish line I was upset. I said ‘I did not want to race against a man,’” Peterson said, recalling her frustration at the event and the way the audience gasped at her comment. “In my mind I was like, ‘I can say that, I have freedom of speech.’ I was raised believing in the Bible where men are created by God and God created women from men, I was born and raised in America, where I learned my pronouns, and I took science classes that taught me about XX and XY and I believe that most Americans and people worldwide would support men not being in women’s categories.”

Peterson came in second place to transgender opponent, Kate “KJ” Phillips – born a biological male – who took the gold medal last Tuesday at the Lyons Masters National Championships in Wisconsin. She is one of multiple veteran female cyclists who are speaking out against USA Cycling after they claim the organization failed to disclose the participation of a transgender athlete in a recent race.

Peterson recalled the final sprint of the race where Debbie Milne was the only competitor ahead of her until “out of nowhere” came Phillips.

“I knew at that sprint that that was a man’s sprint,” she said, noting her extensive experience riding among both men and women.

Peterson went on to argue transgender ideology is not scientifically sound, declaring, “There is no amount of makeup, money, or marketing that can change that Y-chromosome, and that’s why we are taking a stand.”

The cyclist claimed further that the transgender competitor’s name was not even included on the registration list, “which means that we were not given the information that he would be racing in our category before the race started.”

“Apparently we’re hearing that from other athletes as well,” “America Reports” co-anchor Sandra Smith said, sharing a clip of Milne claiming that Phillips’ registration was completely hidden from competitors.

“Catherine Phillips, KJ’s name, was not on that list. And I checked it up all the way to the point of closure when we couldn’t register online anymore,” Milne said last Thursday on “Fox & Friends.” According to Milne, neither she nor Peterson believe the omission of Phillips’ name was accidental, referring to the incident as “deception.” She said Peterson later got confirmation Phillips had been registered since mid-June, long before the online list closed. The cyclist added that, had she known, she might have reconsidered spending hundreds of dollars and traveling over 400 miles to compete.

Smith also noted that Fox News Digital had reached out to USA Cycling, who responded by providing their transgender eligibility policy.

Smith relayed that as she understood it, the policy as it stands is, “Quite simply it’s just providing a written and signed declaration to the cycling technical director that their gender identity is female.”

Peterson agreed, claiming she has a photo of how the registration appeared June 19th at 4:48 P.M., arguing that USA Cycling and Bike Reg had plenty of time to show the transgender competitor’s name there but decided not to, an increasingly growing pattern.

Fox News’ Madison Colombo contributed to this report.