The following stories and photos published by the Journal & Topics earned placement in the 2024 Illinois Press Association Editorial Awards contest presented June 5:

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Tom Robb, Elk Grove Journal, Government Beat Reporting (Division B), 1st Place

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Tom Robb, Glenview Journal, News Reporting (Division B), 1st Place

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Todd Wessell, Des Plaines Journal, Original Column (Division C), 1st Place

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Tom Robb, Elk Grove Journal, Obituary Tribute (Division B), 1st Place

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Tom Robb, Glenview Journal, 2024 Freedom of Information Award (Division B), 3rd Place

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Staff, Des Plaines Journal, General Excellence (Division C), 2nd Place

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If you like this story, you can get a whole lot more practically every day of the week by subscribing to journal-topics.com. Click here to choose your preference of either print or online, or call 847-299-5511.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Mere days after defending her steeplechase title at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships and securing her third individual national crown this season, Alabama phenom Doris Lemngole was selected as a finalist for the Class of 2025 Honda Sport Award for Track and Field, announced Monday by The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).

The announcement comes after Lemngole was named the Honda Sport Award winner for Cross Country earlier this year.

Doris Lemngole – Honda Sport Award Finalist

• 2025 Honda Sport Award winner for Cross Country
• Defended her steeplechase national title by setting a NCAA meet record and collegiate record, and delivering the world’s fastest time of the year by breaking the nine-minute barrier (8:58.15)
• Became the first student-athlete in NCAA history to clock a sub-9:00 time in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase
• Two-time SEC Outdoor champion in the steeplechase and the 5,000m
• Went undefeated in all outdoor events this season
• 2025 NCAA indoor national champion in the 5,000m and national runner-up in the 3,000m
• Eight-time Bowerman Watch List member and the only woman to appear on every Watch List this season
• Four-time national champion
• Seven-time All-American
• 2024 USTFCCCA Lance Harter National Women’s Athlete of the Year 
• Swept all three SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors (cross country, indoor track, outdoor track)

2025 Honda Sport Award, Track and Field

• Joining Lemngole is Georgia’s Aaliyah Butler, Michigan’s Savannah Sutherland and Washington’s Hana Moll
• All four finalists were chosen by a panel of experts from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)
• The Honda Sport award winner for track and field will be announced later this week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools
• The CWSA, celebrating its 49^th year, honors the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service
• The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the prestigious Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year award and the 2025 Honda Cup, which will be presented during the live broadcast of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards on CBS Sports Network on June 30 at 6 p.m. CT

In time for the start of the FIFA Club World Cup, Netgem has announced a partnership with DAZN.

Netgem is already home to more than 50 free live sports channels and delivers access to other apps and services, including Prime Video, NOW Sports, Discovery+, TNT. Netgem TV customers include TalkTalk, Community Fibre, Wightfibre and BRSK.

“This is a game-changer for sports fans,” said Sylvain Thevenot, managing director of Netgem Pleio, streaming services for operators. “Partnering with DAZN catapults our entertainment offering to a new level for both our customers and telecom operator partners across Europe. Access to world-class sporting events like this will undoubtedly drive massive customer engagement and satisfaction.”

Peter Parmenter, executive VP of business development at DAZN, added: “This is great news for sports fans in the U.K., Ireland and Gibraltar, who will be able to enjoy DAZN’s extensive selection of premium sports content in even more ways. We are excited to enter this partnership with Netgem, as we continue to set the standard in digital sports entertainment experiences.”

The DAZN app is available on Netgem devices in the U.K., Ireland, Gibraltar, France and La Reunion.

From June 11 to August 11, GoMatadors.com will present the top CSUN Moments from the 2024-25 sports season. Today, we celebrate the Matador track & field teams boasting a national runner-up and seven conference title wins in 2025. 
 

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Records would fall and more milestones would be reached in 2025 for the CSUN Track & Field teams. Senior thrower Trey Knight once again finished as a the national runner-up in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships while a total of seven CSUN conference champions would be crowned between the indoor and outdoor seasons. The Matadors also had six all-time records broken in 2025 with a total of 33 all-time top-10 marks reached in school history. 

Knight would close his prolific Matador career in 2025, highlighted by another trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships in March. Earlier in the indoor season, Knight qualified for nationals with a school-record toss of 24.87m (81-7.25), which would earn him National Athlete of the Week honors. At the NCAA Indoor Championships in Virginia, Knight moved from ninth place over his first three throws to second place by the end of the competition. His best throw at nationals went for 24.49m (80-4.25), giving him his second consecutive national runner-up finish. Knight became the first CSUN men’s athlete since 2010 to receive back-to-back First Team All-American awards. 



CSUN’s indoor season would also feature two conference title wins on the men’s side at the MPSF Indoor Championships in Spokane, Wash. Knight successfully defended his weight throw title with a toss of 23.26m (76-3.75), and in doing so became the first two-time Matador weight throw champion in team history. Sophomore Tibyasa Matovu would break CSUN’s men’s 400m record, which stood since 1998, at the MPSF Championships and win the title with a time of 46.80. Matovu’s 400m title win was CSUN’s third consecutive at the MPSF’s. The Matadors had eight total reach the podium at the MPSF Championships with six coming on the men’s team and two on the women’s team.

Along with the weight throw and 400m, CSUN’s indoor 4x400m record would also be broken in 2025 with Gabe Martinez, Luke DaVanon, Walter Pierce and Matovu setting a new mark of 3:11.70. 

CSUN had another strong showing at the Big West Outdoor Championships in May as five more conference championships were won among the men’s and women’s teams.

Knight won his second straight men’s hammer throw title, claiming first with a throw of 73.11m (239-10). In the long jump, junior Joey Nations won his first career Big West title with a first-place mark of 7.53m (24-8.5), becoming the first Matador in 15 years to win the title. Junior Jay Louison-Roe also won CSUN’s third consecutive triple jump title at the conference championships, taking the crown with a personal-best mark of 15.67m (51-5). 



On the women’s side, senior Summer Mosley would be the first Matador women’s athlete to win two individual titles since 2017. She took the hammer throw title with a toss of 59.66m (195-9) while she set a PR in the discus with a first-place throw of 53.51m (175-6). 

CSUN’s showing at the Big West Championships included 10 total podium finishes with six on the men’s side and four on the women’s side.

The 2025 outdoor season would also feature three new CSUN records. Knight set a new benchmark in the hammer throw of 77.91m (255-7) while Matovu also broke the outdoor 400m record with a time of 46.01. The 4x400m team reset the record book as well with Pierce, Logan Davis, Martinez and Matovu running at 3:07.32. 

#GoMatadors

 

(VARIOUS) – After spending 15 seasons with Wisconsin volleyball both as a student-athlete and assistant coach, Annemarie Hickey departs Wisconsin to take on a full-time assistant coaching position with LOVB Madison.

“In the 50+ years of the volleyball program here at Wisconsin, Annemarie has contributed as much, and gave more of herself, as anyone who has been a part of it,” said head coach Kelly Sheffield. “She came to Madison 15 years ago as a freshman eventually earning a starter position, was one of the best Libero’s that’s ever come through here, a Team Captain who led our team to the National Championship match, was a volunteer coach, a technical and statistical analyst, and an assistant coach.  She worked hard, learned, passionately mentored our players, and helped take our program to levels that we otherwise would not have gotten to without her. Without question she has been one of the most influential people for this program. Her dedication and work ethic has earned her a lot of opportunities and I’m excited for her future as she moves full-time into the professional level as a coach.”

The former libero for the Badgers spent the 2014-15 season as the Badgers’ volunteer assistant coach, before transitioning into the technical coordinator role in 2017. In 2022, Hickey was named assistant coach and director of scouting and player development. Also, in 2022, Hickey was the only person in her role to be recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s (AVCA) Third Under 30 class of 2022 for her hard work, passion for reaching and growing the game.

“Being part of the Wisconsin Volleyball program has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life,” said Hickey. The program as a whole has taught me that true confidence isn’t about being the loudest voice—it’s about knowing who you are, trusting your preparation, and uplifting others along the way. During my time here, I’ve grown not just as a person but as a servant leader—someone who measures success by the growth and strength of those around them. This program has shown me the power of being surrounded by genuine people who challenge you, support you, and share the same drive and values.”

“Coaching at Wisconsin has reflected life in remarkable ways — it’s not just about winning points or matches,” Hickey expressed. “It’s about creating something larger than yourself, investing in others, and helping them believe in who they are and what they’re capable of. The growth I’ve observed — in the athletes, in the team, and in myself — has been deeply impactful.”

Hickey adds, “The lessons I’ve learned here will stay with me forever; they have built me into the person I am today. Because once you’ve had the privilege to be part of something this special, you don’t just leave it behind — you carry it with you, and you use it to keep building wherever you go.”

Hickey was a four-year letter winner of the Badgers from 2010-13. She served as a team captain in 2013, aiding Wisconsin to an appearance in the NCAA Championship match. Hickey ranks third on Wisconsin’s career digs record list with 1,849 digs and tied for second in career average digs with 3.98 digs per set. In 2013, Hickey became the first Badger to win the “Bring It!” Award, which is one of only two accolades voted on by members of the Wisconsin volleyball program and awarded at the end of each season, honoring the player that best embodies the “Bring It!” attitude.

In LOVB’s inaugural season, Hickey served as an assistant with LOVB Madison and will now assume the role with LOVB full-time.

Marquette adds a coach: Riley Whitesides joins the Marquette University women’s volleyball staff as an assistant coach, first-year head coach Tom Mendoza has announced.

“I’ve known Riley for a long time and we could not be adding a better person to the program and mentor for our student-athletes.” Mendoza said. “She’s successful because of the work she puts in and the relationships she builds. I am excited to work with her and the impact she will have on Marquette Volleyball.”

She joins associate head coach Ethan Pheister and fellow assistant coach Stef Jankiewicz on the MU staff.

Whitesides played five seasons for Mendoza at the University of South Carolina and was a First Team All-Southeastern Conference and AVCA All-Region selection as a graduate student in the fall of 2024. The native of Greenville, South Carolina averaged 4.47 kills per set as a grad student to rank among the top-20 nationally while hitting .241.

Whitesides ended her indoor career fifth in program history in kills (1,452), second in service aces (100), ninth in digs (920) and fourth in points scored (1,645.0).

She also excelled academically at South Carolina, twice earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition and SEC academic honors. Whitesides graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in May 2024 and earned a Master of Business Administration this spring.

Most recently, Whitesides completed her third season playing beach volleyball in Columbia with an 18-13 record this spring after a 20-15 mark during 2024. Overall, she boasts a career 38-27 record in dual action on the sand.

Earlier this spring the Golden Eagles announced their non-conference schedule for the fall of 2025, featuring a match against Wisconsin at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday, Sept. 17 in addition to key matchups with WKU, Dayton, Florida and Minnesota at the Al McGuire Center. Marquette went 25-9 in the fall of 2024 and made its third NCAA Regional appearance before falling to the eventual NCAA Champion in the regional semifinals.

All 8 WIAC schools fare well: All eight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) institutions have finished in the top 101 of the 2024-25 Learfield Directors’ Cup NCAA Division III standings.

UW-La Crosse topped the conference entries, placing 10th with 856 points, while UW-Whitewater was 14th with 737.25, UW-Eau Claire 21st with 654.75, UW-Oshkosh 28th with 562.50, UW-Platteville 59th with 331, UW-Stout 73rd with 280, UW-Stevens Point 94th with 218.50 and UW-River Falls 101st with 194.60. A total of 324 institutions were represented in the final standings.

Emory University (Ga.) accumulated 1,198.75 points to claim the top spot in the standings that recognize the best NCAA Division III overall athletics programs in the country. Johns Hopkins University (Md.) finished second with 1,147, Tufts University (Mass.) third with 1,069, Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) fourth with 1,044.75 and Middlebury College (Vt.) fifth with 971.75.

The WIAC secured five NCAA Division III titles during the 2024-25 academic year as UW-La Crosse won men’s cross country, men’s indoor track & field and men’s outdoor track & field, while UW-River Falls claimed the women’s ice hockey championship and UW-Whitewater posted a first-place finish in baseball. UW-La Crosse also captured the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association championship.

The Learfield Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in NCAA championships.