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Charles Collingwood says it is 'honour' to celebrate 50 years on The Archers
Bennett voiced Shula Hebden-Lloyd on the soap but stopped playing the role full-time in 2022.ADVERTISEMENTThe 81-year-old radio star plays the hard-headed Brian Aldridge, who was introduced to the show in March 1975.A year later he wed Jennifer Archer who he was married to until her death in January 2023.Actor Charles Collingwood has said it is […]
Bennett voiced Shula Hebden-Lloyd on the soap but stopped playing the role full-time in 2022.ADVERTISEMENTThe 81-year-old radio star plays the hard-headed Brian Aldridge, who was introduced to the show in March 1975.A year later he wed Jennifer Archer who he was married to until her death in January 2023.Actor Charles Collingwood has said it is “an honour” to celebrate 50 years on BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers.
He added: “I did The Archers podcast with Emma Freud recently, which was an absolute joy.
He also pushed back at the idea Brian is a villain but called him a “philanderer” who has “enjoyed the company of ladies rather more than he should have done”.“I often say, I behave really badly as Brian, it’s allowed me a very happy, settled married life with my wife, Judy (Bennett). So it’s all good,” Collingwood said.The Archers was created by Godfrey Baseley, originally as a way to help educate farmers in modern production methods, when Britain was still in the grip of food rationing.Collingwood said: “When Brian was going to have yet another affair, I think it was Vanessa Whitburn who was the producer then, I said ‘Don’t make him all bad, though, because that’s boring.
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College track & field: Senior grad Gorton becomes two-time All-American | Local Sports
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Keystone Middle School hosts annual Day of Awesome
Keystone Middle School, 501 Opportunity Way in LaGrange, hosted the annual Day of Awesome event for its students. Headed by the school’s You Belong group, Day of Awesome, which took place May 22, was a school-wide event to promote inclusivity and connect students together, according to Ian Gould, Keystone Middle School school counselor. “Three years […]
Keystone Middle School, 501 Opportunity Way in LaGrange, hosted the annual Day of Awesome event for its students.
Headed by the school’s You Belong group, Day of Awesome, which took place May 22, was a school-wide event to promote inclusivity and connect students together, according to Ian Gould, Keystone Middle School school counselor.
“Three years ago, I said let’s try this out, and it has evolved from there — this is our big day,” Gould said. “The kids have given a lot of the ideas about what they want.”
The event, which usually takes place outdoors, featured a variety of activities throughout the school for students to participate in when not in their classrooms, he said.
With the help of many contributions, the activities included a slushy machine, a photo booth, inflatables, beach ball volleyball, giant cup pong, cornhole, giant Jenga and many more.
According to Gould, each grade level had the opportunity to participate in the fun.
The students returned to their classrooms where each teacher had a designated activity.
“I think it’s a really, really fun event,” said 13-year-old Aurora Polosky, You Belong student ambassador at Keystone Middle School. “It’s a way to reflect on the year and our accomplishments.”
Over the last month or so, students were able to earn tickets as part of PBIS, or positive behavioral interventions and support, for good behavior, by following classroom rules or simply being kind to another student, Gould said.
Students had the opportunity to use their tickets as entries to win prizes, like local business gift cards or a Kendra Scott necklace, he said.
“What this day really brings is a lot of connectivity, that there are people who wouldn’t always go outside their cliques,” Gould said. “This day is for everyone; it’s a big community effort.”
The You Belong group is a collection of around 60 students and 15 student ambassadors who help make the school a better place to learn by including everyone through acts of kindness or activities, Gould said.
The Mental Health and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County, which has programs in a variety of local schools, created You Belong as a way to combat student loneliness, he said.
“I just wanted to include people; I know a lot of people around the school don’t really have friends or get left out all of the time,” said 13-year-old Hannah Fletcher, You Belong student ambassador at Keystone Middle. “I wanted to be one of those people to help out, and make everybody feel like they have someone to talk to and hangout with.”
Zoey Allen, 12, and a You Belong student ambassador at Keystone Middle, likes the program.
“People who aren’t normally friends are having fun together,” Zoey said. “I feel like this program has done a lot.”
According to Gould, many school employees, local businesses and organizations collaborated to bring prizes and activities to the students, including the school custodians and food service workers.
Partners included Becca’s Choo Choo, Beth Moore, The Lucky Penny Café, Carlisle Golf Course, Romeo’s Pizza LaGrange, The Bulldog Pub and Grille, Tiger Martial Arts, The Barn: Salon and Spa, Subway of LaGrange, the LaGrange Lions Club, GTO Spacewalk of Grafton, RAK Photobooths, Keystone Middle and High Schools PTA, parent volunteers, the MHARS Board, Jessica Jones and Mike Ferrer.
Sports
True wins Hammer Throw to highlight final day of National Championships
Story Links Complete results Photo gallery GENEVA, Ohio— The Wartburg women’s outdoor track and field team took 10th place with 21 points at the National Championships. Saturday’s events Hammer Throw Emma True 1st 59.21m or 194-3 400 hurdles finals JoJo […]
GENEVA, Ohio— The Wartburg women’s outdoor track and field team took 10th place with 21 points at the National Championships.
Saturday’s events
Hammer Throw Emma True 1st 59.21m or 194-3
400 hurdles finals JoJo Tyynismaa 3rd 59.96
Quotes from Emma True:
When asked about her growth throughout her collegiate career as she placed 20th sophomore year, sixth junior year, and now the National Champion in her senior year: “Freshman year I only qualified for outdoor conference. Sophomore year I quailed for indoor and outdoor and was and All-American in the weight throw. Outdoor season was a little crazy, but I was able to qualify for outdoor and went to nationals. Junior year, I went in ranked number one, but I wasn’t as mature of a thrower and I kind of overthought it. This year, I was more confident in my throwing and my ability. I’m friends with a lot of the girls in the competition, so this year it was more of a celebration at this meet, more than competing head to head.”
On staying focused and having to wait until the third day of the meet to compete: “I only had two practices this week on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday morning, Coach Roberson and I decided my practices were looking good to keep me fresh.”
On her second throw, which was the eventual winning mark: “I had one good warmup, and a couple of ok warmups. I scratched on my first throw but I knew I needed at least one in, I knew I need to trust my ability.”
On ending her career with a National Championship: “It’s amazing; I’m still in disbelief. This is my fifth career All-American honor and knew I had a chance to be a National Champion.”
How has being a thrower on the track and field team contributed to your overall Wartburg experience: “It’s been one of the main experiences that I’ve enjoyed most at Wartburg. “A lot of my teammates have become my family, they’ve really added to the community aspect that I’ve experienced here. This program has helped me grow into the person that I’ll be after graduation.”
Emma also completed her student teaching while being a student-athlete: “I worked with Coach Roberson on planning when I was going to be at practice and lifting as teaching went from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. most days.”
Quotes from Coach Roberson, assistant coach and throws coach
On Emma’s career progression: “Emma came in as a 33-foot high school shot putter, and never made State or won a conference title. She picked up the hammer very well. It’s very rewarding to see her growth and ability to handle situations. She had the best practices of her life this week and she executed spectacularly.”
On her second throw, which was the winning mark: “She knew she needed to trust herself. She was sitting in a good place (after the prelims) and would be able to react if someone passed her. Her first throw went into the cage, but she trusted herself and made the adjustments.”
On coaching a National Champion: “Emma deserve all the credit. She’s handled everything very well. I’m so happy she got to enjoy her moment on the podium. She has raised the bar for the future of Wartburg throwers.”
Notes:
- This is the first National Championship in the hammer throw in women’s or men’s program history
- This is True’s second career First-team All-America honors
- This is the fourth All-American honor for the women’s program in this event
- This was the 55th National Championship in track and field history (indoor and outdoor combined)
- This was the 36th National Championship for outdoor track and field
- Tyynismaa remains second in the program’s top 10 list in this event
- This is her second All-American honor in this event
- This is the 12th All-American honor for the program in this event
Sports
2025 AVP League opens in Delray Beach
Chase Budinger of the San Diego Smash returns a volley against the Dallas Dream. The 2025 AVP League kicks off the season with the world’s top beach volleyball players at the Delray Beach Tennis Center on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor) Brandie Wilkerson of the Palm Beach Passion, left, goes up for a block […]
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Chase Budinger of the San Diego Smash returns a volley against the Dallas Dream. The 2025 AVP League kicks off the season with the world’s top beach volleyball players at the Delray Beach Tennis Center on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Jim Rassol/Contributor)
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Sports
Greene Wins 5,000-Meter National Championship to Wrap Up 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field | 5/24/2025 5:55:54 PM Story Links 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships Live Results 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Live Video SUNY Geneseo senior Penelope Greene wrapped […]
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field | 5/24/2025 5:55:54 PM
SUNY Geneseo senior Penelope Greene wrapped up an incredible weekend by winning the NCAA Championship in the 5,000-meter run, to highlight Empire 8 student-athletes who competed on day three of the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday, May 24 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, OH.
Greene, who went wire-to-wire to win the 10,000-meter run by 33 seconds on Thursday evening, did the same in the 5,000-meters in the pentultimate women’s event of the championship meet, going right to the front and rolling to a nearly 15 second win, crossing the finish line in a time of 16:01.55. She shattered her own Empire 8 all-time record and ran the sixth-fastest 5,000-meter time in NCAA history.
On Saturday, Geneseo’s 4 x 400-meter relay team of Arjun Ohja, Sam Belmont, Giancarlo Di Fava and Jacob Miller placed third in the championship final with a time of 3:10.25, the fastest all-time in Empire 8 history. The quartet earned First Team All-American honors.
Earlier in the day, Geneseo’s Ryan Hagan and SUNY Brockport’s Jonathan Zavala both finished in the top-eight of the 1,500-meter run final to earn First Team All-American honors. Hagan rallied in the final 400 meters to place third overall in a time of 3:49.85, while Zavala made a charge from the back of the pack to finish seventh overall in 3:50.53. Hagan earned Second Team honors just a short while later in the 5,000-meters, finishing 16th overall. Hagan’s teammate, Charlie Wilson, who earned national runner-up honors in the 10,000-meters Thursday night, finished 12th in the 5,000 after leading over the first nearly 3,000 meters.
Geneseo thrower Zoe Connor garnered Second Team All-American accolades by placing 13th in the women’s hammer throw, while St. John Fisher University junior Brandon Kaplan finished 14th in the men’s hamer throw to also earn Second Team All-American honors.
Both the Geneseo men’s and women’s team placed in the top-10 nationally. The women finished seventh overall with a team score of 26 points, while the men were eighth with 24 points.
Overall, 14 different E8 women’s student-athletes earned first or second team All-American honors, while 11 different men garnered All-American accolades.
Below is a complete list of Empire 8 student-athletes who competed on day three and each Empire 8 All-American over the three-day national championship.
WOMEN’S SATURDAY RESULTS
5,000-Meter Run
Penelope Greene, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – First Place – 16:01.55
NCAA National Champion; First Team All-American
Hammer Throw
Zoe Connor, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 13th place – 50.89 meters
Second Team All-American
SATURDAY MEN’S RESULTS
4 x 400-Meter Relay
Arjun Ohja, Fr, Sam Belmont, So., Giancarlo Di Fava, So., Jacob Miller, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – third in prelims, third in finals – 3:10.25
First Team All-American
1,500-Meter Run
Ryan Hagan, So., SUNY Geneseo – seventh in prelims, third in finals – 3:49.85
First Team All-American
Jonathan Zavala, Sr., SUNY Brockport – 10th in prelims, seventh in finals – 3:50.53
First Team All-American
Hammer Throw
Brandon Kaplan, Jr., St. John Fisher – 14th place – 56.34 meters
Second Team All-American
5,000-Meter Run
Charlie Wilson, Gr., SUNY Geneseo – 12th place – 14:25.99
Second Team All-American
Ryan Hagan, So., SUNY Geneseo – 16th place – 14:31.34
Second Team All-American
WOMEN’S ALL-AMERICANS
5,000-Meter Run
Penelope Greene, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – First Place – 16:01.55
NCAA National Champion; First Team All-American
10,000-Meter Run
Penelope Greene, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – first place – 33:46.70
NCAA National Champion; First Team All-American
Gabriella McCarthy, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – sixth place – 34:51.49
First Team All-American
Lily Fowler-Conner, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – ninth place – 35:08.11
Second Team All-American
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Ann Brennan, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – second in prelims, sixth in finals – 10:33.24
First Team All-American; All-Time Empire 8 Record
Javelin Throw (Prelims and Finals, Thursday, May 22, 3:30 p.m.)
Rebecca Heuler, Sr., SUNY Brockport – sixth place 40.78 meters (133′ 9″)
First Team All-American (Second All-American Honor. was NCAA Champion in 2024)
High Jump
Alexa Belanger, Fr., Houghton – tied for eighth – 1.65 meters (5′ 5″)
First Team All-American
100-Meter Hurdles
Jillian Ambler, So., SUNY Geneseo – tenth in prelims – :14.13
Second Team All-American
400-Meter Hurdles
Lexi Rodriguez, Jr., SUNY Brockport – 10th in prelims – 1:02.38
Second Team All-American
Long Jump
Jillian Ambler, So., SUNY Geneseo – 12th in prelims – 5.70 meters
Second Team All-American
Pole Vault
Isabel Morse, Jr., Nazareth – tied for 12th – 3.75 meters
Second Team All-American
4 x 400-Meter Relay
Nicole Gretzinger, Jr., Janelle Eckl, Sr., Sierra Doody, Jr., Brynn Mooney, So., SUNY Geneseo – 11th in prelims – 3:49.56
Second Team All-American
800-Meter Run
Janelle Eckl, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 13th in prelims – 2:12.52
Second Team All-American
Hammer Throw
Zoe Connor, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 13th place – 50.89 meters
Second Team All-American
200-Meter Dash
Brynn Mooney, So., SUNY Geneseo – 13th in prelims – :24.57
Second Team All-American
MEN’S ALL-AMERICANS
10,000-Meter Run (Finals, Thursday, May 22, 8:30 p.m.)
Charlie Wilson, Gr., SUNY Geneseo – second – 29:21.43
National Runner-Up; First Team All-American; All-Time Empire 8 Record
4 x 400-Meter Relay
Arjun Ohja, Fr, Sam Belmont, So., Giancarlo Di Fava, So., Jacob Miller, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – third in prelims, third in finals – 3:10.25
First Team All-American
1,500-Meter Run
Ryan Hagan, So., SUNY Geneseo – seventh in prelims, third in finals – 3:49.85
First Team All-American
Jonathan Zavala, Sr., SUNY Brockport – 10th in prelims, seventh in finals – 3:50.53
First Team All-American
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Pierce Young, So., SUNY Geneseo – eighth in prelims, fifth in finals – 8:56.03
First Team All-American
800-Meter Run
Matthew Sheehan, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 11th in prelims – 1:52.38
Second Team All-American
400-Meter Dash
Jacob Miller, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 12th in prelims – :48.37
Second Team All-American
5,000-Meter Run
Charlie Wilson, Gr., SUNY Geneseo – 12th place – 14:25.99
Second Team All-American
Ryan Hagan, So., SUNY Geneseo – 16th place – 14:31.34
Second Team All-American
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Emerson Comer, So., SUNY Geneseo – 13th in prelims – 9:01.54
Comer – Second Team All-American
Hammer Throw
Brandon Kaplan, Jr., St. John Fisher – 14th place – 56.34 meters
Second Team All-American
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com.
EMPIRE 8 SOCIAL MEDIA
YouTube – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram
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Huskers Take Care of Fourth-Ranked Ducks – University of Nebraska
Nebraska won its pool and clinched a spot in Saturday evening’s semifinal with a 7-3 win against No. 4 Oregon at the Big Ten Baseball Tournament on Saturday morning at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. With the win, the Huskers advance to tonight’s semifinal matchup against ninth-seeded Penn State at 5 p.m. The Big Red […]
Nebraska won its pool and clinched a spot in Saturday evening’s semifinal with a 7-3 win against No. 4 Oregon at the Big Ten Baseball Tournament on Saturday morning at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
With the win, the Huskers advance to tonight’s semifinal matchup against ninth-seeded Penn State at 5 p.m.
The Big Red improved to 5-2 against ranked teams this season while picking up their third victory against a top-five foe.
Nebraska (30-27) scored seven runs on 11 hits, while Oregon (42-14) totaled three runs, 12 hits and four errors.
Riley Silva had a 3-for-4 day with an RBI and a run scored. Cayden Brumbaugh scored one and drove in a run on two hits, while Gabe Swansen went 2-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored.
Case Sanderson drove in a pair of runs, while Joshua Overbeek, Devin Nunez and Hogan Helligso tallied one hit each.
Jackson Brockett recorded his second quality start of the season to improve to 4-3 on the year. The southpaw held the Ducks to just one run on six hits across six innings of work. The Omaha, Neb., native struck out four and issued two walks.
Will Walsh collected his first save of the season after dealing three strong innings. The Leawood, Kan., native surrendered two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk in three innings.
The Huskers sprinted out to a two-run lead in the top of the first off the bat of Swansen. Silva led off the game with a single to center, before Swansen unloaded a 413-foot two-run homer to left.
The Big Red capitalized on an Oregon error in the top of the second to grow the lead to three. Robby Bolin reached on a one-out fielding blunder at first, setting the table for Helligso’s first-pitch RBI double down the right-field line that gave the Huskers a 3-0 lead.
Oregon immediately got the run back in the bottom of the second off a pair of hits. A double down the right-field line, followed by an RBI single up the middle, plated the Ducks’ first run of the day and made it a 3-1 game.
Nebraska scored a run in the fourth and added two more in the fifth to stretch the lead to five. Nunez lined a no-out double to right field and advanced to third on a groundout, before Silva smacked an RBI single up the middle to expand NU’s lead to 4-1.
Brockett worked around a single and induced a double play in the bottom of the fourth to maintain the three-run advantage, while the Big Red grew the lead to 6-1 behind three hits and an error in the top of the fifth frame.
Consecutive singles from Brumabugh and Swansen, joined with an errant relay throw, had runners on second and third with no outs for the Huskers. Sanderson came through for the Big Red, lifting a full-count pitch to right field for a two-RBI single to build the lead to 6-1.
Bolin drew a leadoff walk in the eight and moved to second on Silva’s sacrifice bunt attempt. An infield single from Overbeek kept Bolin at second and put runners on first and second with two outs, while Brumbaugh’s RBI single to center plated Bolin from second and gave the Big Red a six-run lead.
The Ducks loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth with a trio of singles, but Walsh drew a first-pitch groundout to third to keep Oregon off the board and maintain Nebraska’s lead through eight innings.
A leadoff double down the left-field line and a bunt single had runners on first and second for Oregon with no outs in the bottom of the ninth. The Oregon offense kept it going with an RBI double to left-center field that scored one and kept runners on second and third with no outs.
The Ducks scored their final run of the day on a sacrifice fly to deep left field, before Walsh retired the next two batters with a pair of flyouts to clinch Nebraska’s 7-3 win.
