Sports

Cross Country and Track & Field Programs Introduce 33 Newcomers

Published

4 months ago

September 2, 2025

NEW YORK — Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Daniel Ireland has announced the addition of 33 newcomers to the cross country and track & field programs.

The class consists of 18 women, 15 men, and 9 cross country runners.

The entire incoming class can be found below. The full 2025 cross country roster can be found HERE, while the full 2025 track & field roster can be found HERE.

The cross country season begins this weekend on Saturday, September 6 with the Fordham Fiasco.

Tibor Barankay – Fy. – Distance – 6-4 – SEAS – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / Science Leadership Academy

Prior to Columbia: 2x Cross Country Philadelphia Public League Champion … 4x Track and Field Philadelphia Public League Champion … 2x Cross Country State Qualifier … 2x Track and Field State Qualifier … Track Nationals Qualifier … 1600m PR: 4:18 … 3200m PR: 9:16 … 5K PR: 15:02.

Personal: National Honor Society … Volunteered at local 10k … German heritage and fluent speaker … Hobbies include cycling, watching sports and movies … Favorite sports memory is running a big PR to qualify for states in the 3200m.

Zayna Flynn – Fy. – Multi Events – 5-9 – CC – Lincoln, California / Twelve Bridges High School / Revolution Express Track Club

Prior to Columbia: 4.0 GPA … AP Scholar with Distinction … 3x League Champion … School record holder in pole vault, 4×100, and 300m hurdles … State finalist in 2025 … Arcadia and Stanford Invitational participant … All-American in Dance … Competed for Revolution Express.

Personal: Originally from the DC area … Lifelong dancer and former competitive swimmer … Passionate about musical theatre and animals … Hobbies include travel, acting, environmental activism, and true crime podcasts … Favorite memory: winning Stanford Invitational with relay team.

Chris Young – Fy. – Hurdler/Sprinter – 6-3 – SEAS – Lambertville, New Jersey / Notre Dame High School / Trenton Track Club

Prior to Columbia: Scholar Athlete of the Year … 4x All-American … 1x National Champion (Adidas Outdoor Nationals 2025, Shuttle Hurdles) … Indoor MVP (Senior Year) … Varsity Letter (Freshman–Senior) … Team Captain (Junior & Senior) … Meet of Champs Qualifier (4×400, 55HH) … Personal Bests: 55HH 7.61, 60HH 8.13, 55m 6.92, 400m 50.50, 300m 37.15 … Outdoor MVP & Most Improved (Senior Year) … Meet of Champs Qualifier (110HH) … Personal Bests: 110HH 14.09, 400IH 58.39, 400m 49.04, 200m 22.64 … Competed for Trenton Track Club.

Personal: Eagle Scout … National Champion (Shuttle Hurdles) … Hobbies: skiing, biking, soccer, board games, and reading … Favorite sports memory: first trip to New Balance Nationals with his shuttle hurdle team.

Moriah Luetjen – Fy. – Sprints – 5-4 – BC – Shutesbury, Massachusetts / Amherst-Pelham Regional High School

Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity athlete … 3x All-Western Mass (Soccer) … Gazette Girls Athlete of the Year 2024 … 400m PR 55.5, 200m 24.8 … 2025 New England 400m runner-up … 2x MIAA D4 Outdoor 400m State Champ … NBON Freshman 400m Champ … 2x 200m State Runner-up … School record holder (2 individual, 2 relays).

Personal: Hobbies: running, sewing, soccer, baking … Favorite sports memory: winning the 4×4 at New England’s.

Ryan Power – Fy. – Middle Distance – 5-11 – General Studies – Alexandria, Virginia / Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Prior to Columbia: AP Scholar with Distinction … 2x VHSL National District Champ … 2x All-State … School record holder (1k, indoor 4×400) … 2x team MVP … PRs: 800m – 1:54.24, 1k – 2:32.17, 400m – 50.1.

Personal: Can dunk with a 7’6″ standing reach … Hobbies: running, golf, spikeball, hiking, and movies … Favorite memory: celebrating a 4×400 win early and nearly losing to the slow heat.

Jayla Johnson – Fy. – Sprinter – 5-6 – CC – Bronx, New York / The Montfort Academy / New Horizon

Prior to Columbia: Magna Cum Laude … Athletics Award (4.0 GPA) … National Honors Society VP … Theology & Spanish Awards … 4-year varsity athlete … PRs: 55m 7.62, 200m 25.57, 400m 55.30 … Competed for New Horizon.

Personal: Hobbies: biking, drawing, music … Passionate about track since age 6 … Favorite memory: winning AAU Club Championships in the 400m.

Marcus Blasucci – Fy. – Throws – 5-11 – CC – Interlaken, New Jersey / Christian Brothers Academy / Brothers Track Club

Prior to Columbia: AP Scholar with Distinction … Shore Coaches 2025 Field Athlete of the Year … Shot put PR: 67-6.5 … 2025 Meet of Champions Winner … Holds CBA indoor & outdoor records … Competed for Brothers Track Club.

Personal: Third-generation Columbia student … Hobbies: surfing, guitar … Favorite memory: breaking school record at Shore Conference, receiving stadium-wide applause and Olympian praise.

Reena Hsieh – Fy. – Distance – 5-3 – CC – Arcadia, California / Arcadia High School

Prior to Columbia: AP Scholar with Honor … Pacific League XC Champ (3x) … CIF/State/Footlocker Nationals Qualifier … 1600m – 4:49, 3200m – 10:38, 3M – 16:33 … Arcadia High Sportswoman of the Year.

Personal: Former swimmer … Hobbies: videography, painting, baking … Favorite memory: hiking in La Jolla with teammates post-Nationals.

Ella Farley – Fy. – Throws/Javelin – 5-7 – CC – Niceville, Florida / Niceville HS / Emerald Coast Track Club

Prior to Columbia: AP Scholar … Top 1% of graduating class … School co-founder of Women’s Empowerment Club … PRs: Discus 40.06m, Javelin 38.95m … 2025 Nike Nationals qualifier (Javelin) … Competed for Emerald Coast TC.

Personal: Switched from hurdles to throws early in HS … Hobbies: reading, writing, lifting … Favorite memory: surprising herself with a big javelin PR.

Christian Wilbon – Fy. – Sprinter – 6-1 – CC – Waldorf, Maryland / Westlake High School

Prior to Columbia: 4x State Champ … 3x Adidas All-American … 100m – 10.96, 200m – 22.21 … Scholar Athlete Award … 5.0 GPA senior year.

Personal: 16x AAU All-American … Hobbies: musicals, shopping, reading … Favorite memory: winning his first MPSSAA state title.

Jackson Downin – Fy. – Mid Distance – 6-1 – CC – Wilmington, Delaware / Tatnall High School

Prior to Columbia: High Honor Roll every semester … Cum Laude Society … Math award winner … Mandarin Chinese Seal.

Personal: Studying Chinese since kindergarten … Hobbies: photography, watching sports … Favorite memory: setting state 4×800 record and earning All-American.

Maya Helman – So. – Throws – 5-5 – BC – Clatskanie, Oregon / Clatskanie HS / Western Oregon University

Prior to Columbia: Valedictorian … State Champion in Basketball … District Field Athlete of the Year … Transferred from Western Oregon, GNAC All-Academic … Discus school record holder.

Personal: Of Hispanic heritage … Barista since 15 … Hobbies: painting, family time … Favorite memory: dad coaching her through her throwing career.

Lukas Malek – Fy. – Distance – 6-0 – CC – Wilmington, North Carolina / Laney High School

Prior to Columbia: Top 10% of class … School record holder in 1600m, 5k … PRs: 15:27 (5k), 4:14 (1600m), 1:56 (800m).

Personal: Hobbies: fishing, hiking, Pokémon … Dog named Rusty.

Ashlyn Mundell – Fy. – Sprints – 5-5 – General Studies – Casper, Wyoming / Stanford Online School

Prior to Columbia: 3x All-State … PRs: 100m – 12.06, 55m – 7.03 … 5 national titles … 7 youth world records.

Personal: Advocate for women in STEM … Tech entrepreneur … Favorite memory: running into her parents’ arms with 3 medals.

Ben Pizarro – Fy. – Distance – 6-2 – CC – Wilmington, Delaware / The Tatnall School / CYM Cross Country

Prior to Columbia: 5x team state champ … 2024 XC State Champ … 2024 Gatorade POY … Indoor 3200m state record holder … Competed for CYM.

Personal: 4x captain … Hobbies: sailing, soccer, travel … Favorite memory: winning Carlisle Invite in senior year.

Seelah Kittelstrom – Fy. – Distance – 5-7 – CC – Santa Rosa, California / Montgomery High School

Prior to Columbia: IB Diploma … PRs: 5k – 17:38, 3200m – 10:38 … 4th at CIF State Champs … 12th at Footlocker West.

Personal: Hobbies: reading … Favorite memory: freshman breakout double win at league finals.

Maggie Boler – Fy. – Mid-Distance – 5-6 – 123 – CC – Madison, New Jersey / Villa Walsh Academy

Prior to Columbia: 800m PR – 2:13 … 1600m PR – 4:57 … 3x state champ … All-County/Conference … School record holder.

Personal: N/A

Liam Hanemann – Fy. – Distance – 5-7 – CC – Atlanta, Georgia / Marist School

Prior to Columbia: 4x Nationals Qualifier … 2x All-American … 4x1600m state record … PRs: 800m – 1:52.97, Mile – 4:09.

Personal: Hobbies: reading, golf … Volunteer at Reach for Excellence and Books for Africa … Favorite memory: XC team state title with close friends.

Zahara Bernal – Fy. – Distance – 5-2 – CC – Atlanta, Georgia / Pace Academy

Prior to Columbia: Georgia 4A State Champ (XC & 2 Mile) … PRs: 2M – 10:36, Mile – 4:57, 5k – 17:18.

Personal: Former soccer player … Hobbies: reading, painting … Favorite memory: Nike Indoor Nationals junior year.

Omolade Dada – Fy. – 400M Runner – 5-6 – CC – League City, Texas / Clear Creek HS / Texas Cyclones Club Team

Prior to Columbia: Team captain … 4x Superintendent Scholar … 400m PR – 56.12 … Competed for Texas Cyclones.

Personal: Hobbies: singing, reading … Favorite memory: anchor leg of 4×4 for the first time.

Cali Holliday – Fy. – Throws – 5-7 – CC – Trenton, New Jersey / Hamilton North High School

Prior to Columbia: Multiple All-American honors … Shot Put PR – 41-10 … Discus – 130-1 … Competed at Penn Relays and NB Nationals … Top 10 in class … Football background.

Personal: Hobbies: powerlifting, MMA, piano, writing, drawing … Favorite memory: sectional win on last discus throw.

Brynn Garcia – Fy. – Distance – 5-6 – CC – San Juan Capistrano, California / Jserra Catholic High School

Prior to Columbia: 4-year varsity athlete … 3x State Champ (XC) … CIF Track Champion (3x) … 2x NXN Qualifier.

Personal: Hobbies: reading, thrifting, outdoor adventures … Favorite memory: qualifying for NXN.

Gavin Holcombe – Fy. – Pole Vault – 6-0 – CC – Danville, Pennsylvania / Danville Area High School

Prior to Columbia: 4-year varsity athlete in track and swimming … Pole vault PR: 15’6″ … Region Scholar Athlete Award … District Field Athlete of the Year.

Personal: Enjoys music and theater … Favorite sports memory is winning the state title as a team his sophomore year.

Mia Hoskins – Fy. – Throws – 5-5 – CC – Coventry, Rhode Island / Coventry High School

Prior to Columbia: National Champion at NBNO 2025 (Hammer) … 6x All-American … First Team All-State … CHS Athlete of the Year … Vice President of Class of 2025 … 4-year varsity athlete and multisport competitor.

Personal: Aspires to become an Olympian … Hobbies include lifting and throwing … Favorite memory: winning New Balance Nationals in June 2025.

Roan Krishnamurthy – Fy. – Sprints – 5-8 – Engineering – Seattle, Washington / Lincoln High School / GLS Speed Track Club

Prior to Columbia: 8x WA State Qualifier … USATF Junior All-American … PRs of 10.86 (100m) and 22.20 (200m) … Competed for GLS Speed.

Personal: Hobbies include cooking, poker, and web development … Favorite memory: training with talented senior teammates during sophomore year.

Dana Lehr – Fy. – Distance – 5-5 – CC – Belmont, Massachusetts / Belmont High School / Emerging Elites

Prior to Columbia: MIAA 2 mile state champion (2024) … 2025 D2 mile and 2 mile champion … Mile PR: 4:48 … 2 Mile: 10:30 … 3K: 9:40 … Ran for Emerging Elites.

Personal: Was captain in soccer and track … Enjoys cooking, hiking, and time with her dog … Favorite memory: breaking 5:00 in the mile as a sophomore.

Ava Malagisi – Fy. – Distance – 5-2 – CC – Ridgefield, Connecticut / Ridgefield High School

Prior to Columbia: All-New England (Indoor Track 2024) … Mile PR: 4:57 (2025 gap year) … 5K: 17:08 … 1600 leg of 4:58 in DMR at NBNO 2024.

Personal: Took a gap year to train, work as a research assistant and coach … Hobbies include yoga, nutrition, puzzles, ASL, and hairstyling … Favorite memory: boys and girls teams both winning FCIACs and doing a victory lap together.

Darren Pasek – Fy. – Distance – 6-0 – CC – Saratoga Springs, New York / Saratoga Springs High School / Racing City Track Club

Prior to Columbia: 2x State Champion … 3200m PR: 9:04 … 1600m PR: 4:15 … NBNI All-American … Captain since 10th grade … Ran for Racing City TC.

Personal: 4.0 GPA … White Award for Physics … AP Scholar … Hobbies include guitar, hiking, reading, and cycling … Favorite memory: winning states on a 6th-man tiebreaker.

Ethan Singleton – So. – Sprinter – 5-10 – CC – Dallas, Texas / St. Mark’s School of Texas / Wesleyan University / X-Factor

Prior to Columbia: Transferred from Wesleyan … 47.83 in 400m (school record) … All-SPC 2024 … 10.75 in 100m … 22.01 in 200m.

Personal: Founded Tennis Without Limits non-profit … Co-authored a novel … Hobbies include foodie travel blogging, saxophone, investing, Knicks fandom, and volunteering.

Max Thompson – Fy. – Mid-Distance – 5-10 – CC – Kings Mountain, North Carolina / Kings Mountain High School

Prior to Columbia: 2024 NCHSAA 800m State Champion … 3x Big South Conference MVP … 2x 1000m State Runner-Up.

Personal: Valedictorian and student body president … AP Scholar … Raised $10K for the team … Hobbies include piano, fishing, YouTube channel “LakeTalk”, and lifting.

Temoc Zamora – Fy. – Hurdles – 5-11 – CC – Corpus Christi, Texas / Veterans Memorial HS / STX Punishers

Prior to Columbia: UIL 5A 110H Bronze Medalist … Region IV 5A Champion … PRs: 110H – 13.97, 300H – 37.94 … National science fair finalist … Team captain in Track & Swim.

Personal: Founder of “Giants” youth science program … Enjoys beach volleyball, the arts, and biking … Favorite memory: beating rival school to win district title after 8 years.

Meredith Wolfe – Fy. – Distance – 5-7 – CC – Round Rock, Texas / Round Rock High School / 620 Running

Prior to Columbia: 4-year varsity athlete … 1600m PR: 4:52 … 5K PR: 17:51 … Named Girls XC Athlete of the Year by Austin American Statesman.

Personal: Volunteered through church and women’s service program … Hobbies include biking, piano, swimming, and listening to music … Favorite memory: her team making state.

Mignonne de Beer – Fy. – 100m Hurdles and Long Jump – 5-6 – General Studies – Stellenbosch, South Africa / Bloemhof High School for Girls

Prior to Columbia: Competed in the 100m, 100m hurdles, and long jump all four years of high school, advancing to senior-level championships in 2025. Won multiple school and club titles, including first place in both 100m hurdles and long jump at the 2022 school championships. Personal bests include 12.08 in the 100m, 14.30 in the 100m hurdles, and 5.99m in the long jump. Also served on her school’s House Committee and Student Representative Council, and competed for Menlo Park Club.

Personal: Hobbies include playing the violin, chess, and spending time with her siblings in her free time.

Stay up to date on all things Columbia track & field and cross country by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsXCTF), Instagram (@culionsxctf) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).

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Cougars come back to win Pop-Tarts Bowl 25-21 over Georgia Tech – BYU Athletics – Official Athletics Website

Published

1 hour ago

December 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Fourth Quarter

On second-and-nine, Bachmeier found Roberts in a tight window for a gain of 18. Damuni added four yards, and on third down, Roberts caught a 7-yard pass to move the chains. Bachmeier and Ryan connected for the seventh time, this time for 13 yards to pin BYU at the Yellow Jacket six-yard line. After Kingston recorded a four-yard carry, Nawahine took the direct snap and plowed into the end zone. Keeping the offense on the field to go for two, Bachmier rushed it into the end zone to cut the deficit to three.

BYU forced the game’s first three-and-out. Kingston returned the punt 34 yards to set BYU up at its 45.

Bachmeier pitched to Damuni for a gain of five on first down. The freshman running back gained one yard on the next play, but the Cougars were unable to convert on third-and-four, and Vander Haar and the punting unit returned to the field, resulting in the second three-and-out of the game.

An illegal snap penalty pushed Georgia Tech back to its four-yard line. On second-and-14, King hit Rutherford for a gain of 12, and then another illegal snap penalty was enforced on the Yellow Jackets to set up third-and-seven. Haynes got just short of the line of gain before Glasker and Tanner Wall tackled him to force a punt. Kingston returned the punt four yards and set BYU up at its own 30 with 5:44 on the clock.

Following two incomplete passes, Bachmeier found Kingston at the BYU 34, and he advanced to the 43-yard line to grab the first down. Phillips secured a 14-yard pass from Bachmeier, and then Kingston caught a 15-yard pass to cap three consecutive first downs. After an eight-yard pass to Ryan to the Georgia Tech 20, the running back room led the way, kick-started by Nawahine picking up nine yards with a hurdle over a defender. Bachmeier passed to Damuni for a gain of seven, and then the Providence, Utah product powered into the end zone for his first career touchdown. Alongside Ferrin’s extra point, the Cougars took the lead, 25-21 with two minutes left.

Ferrin’s kickoff was returned 13 yards to pin Georgia Tech at its 21. Nusi Taumoepeau and Lutui hurried King and his pass fell incomplete on first down. On the next play, King lost the ball on a low snap but recovered his fumble for a loss of five yards. On third-and-15, another pass fell incomplete, forcing fourth-and-15. On the play, King went deep to Rivers for a gain of 66 at the BYU 18 with 52 seconds on the clock. The defense held the Yellow Jackets to three-straight incomplete passes, setting up fourth down with 14 seconds remaining. King attempted to hit Haynes in the end zone but his pass was intercepted by Johnson to seal the Pop Tarts Bowl victory 25-21.

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Kats take care of Biblical Studies 117-57

Published

2 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston bounced back from a loss in the Conference USA opener to wrap up nonconference action with a 117-57 victory over the College of Biblical Studies at Johnson Coliseum on Sunday.

The Bearkats (8-4) controlled the temp on both ends of the court, shooting close to 60 percent while limiting the Ambassadors to 31 percent. Sam Houston used its height advantage to dominate the paint, outscoring Biblical Studies 62-12 and outrebounding the Houston area team 66-29.

Isaiah Manning led the Kats with a career-high 27 points to go along with 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Freshman Jacob Walker also scored a new career high with 24 points, Veljko Illic added 16 points and nine boards, freshman Matt Dann chipped in a career-high 12 points, freshman Jacoby Coleman finished with 11 and Damon Nicholas Jr. had 10.

Sam Houston built a huge first-half lead and never looked back.

The Kats went on a 10-0 run thanks to back-to-back 3s by Walker and Manning, who added a pair of layups to grab a 23-10 advantage. Dann punched in consecutive dunks after a free throw and a two more layups by Nicholas to cap the run at 19-0 to put the game away early as the Ambassadors went more than seven minutes without scoring.

Sam Houston shot a blistering 66 percent from the field in the first half, making 25 of 40 shot attempts. The Bearkats also held Biblical Studies to just 23 percent shooting to build a commanding 59-21 lead at the break.

Conference USA action resumes Jan. 2 when Sam Houston heads to Bowling Green, Kentucky to face WKU at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.

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Texas A&M star Ifenna Cos‑Okpalla signs with League One Volleyball

Published

4 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 28, 2025, 12:20 p.m. CT

At the end of the season, after some of the adrenaline from the Texas A&M championship run had subsided, head coach Jamie Morrison revealed that a few players on his roster would have the opportunity to compete at the next level. While he didn’t name names, we had a pretty strong idea of which standout athletes he was referring to.

On Sunday morning, it was officially announced that senior middle blocker and 2025 NCAAVB Champion Ifenna Cos-Okpalla signed a professional contract to play with League One Volleyball (LOVB) Salt Lake. She joins senior opposite Logan Lednicky in the league, who recently signed with LOVB Houston. Cos-Okpalla was also drafted by MLV but ultimately chose to pursue her career with LOVB. We knew a move was coming soon after the news broke that she had signed with Valor Sports Agency just days before this announcement.

Cos-Okpalla is one of the foundational members of this Aggie championship team, having been part of the program for all four years and choosing to stay committed when Coach Morrison arrived to take over. She elevated her game each season under his leadership, helping her reach new heights and shatter multiple program records. She will leave Texas A&M as the all-time leader in total blocks (566), the single-season block leader (199), and the program’s hitting percentage leader (.422).

It’s fair to say she will be remembered as an Aggie legend, and she now turns her focus toward new goals with a promising professional volleyball career on the horizon.

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Deaf volleyball coach speaks volumes (video)

Published

4 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Sherry Bryant was born deaf, but that hasn’t stopped her from becoming a wife, mother and volleyball coach for Copper Sky Multigenerational Center’s youth volleyball league.

Bryant can’t hear and she doesn’t speak, but she uses hand gestures and written notes to communicate with players. During practice, she is often in the action pointing players to proper positions and cheering on successful plays.

Her desire to coach stems from more than her love of the game. She is able to spend time with her daughter on the court and show that deaf people are not limited.

“My daughter plays, and I feel it benefits her and the girls,” Bryant said. “If there are no volunteers, there might be no one to coach. Another reason is to show deaf people can do it.”

From time to time, Bryant’s players are unable to understand their coach’s instructions.

“This is my first (coaching) experience,” Bryant said. “My assistant coach (Nikki Lucchesi) helps me a lot. She speaks to the players.”

For Copper Sky Sports Coordinator David Aviles, picking Bryant to coach was simple.

“When you run a sports program there are times you run low on coaches,” Aviles said. “I reached out to the parents for the girls, and [Bryant] volunteered. She’s done a great job and really enjoys it.”

Bryant’s team won its first game. The players were attentive to her instructions.

“It’s inspirational for the kids to see that she’s out there coaching,” Aviles said. “She takes a hands-on approach and plays with them. It seems to be working well.”

This story appeared in the February issue of InMaricopa News.

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Cos-Okpalla Inks Professional Contract with LOVB Salt Lake – Texas A&M Athletics

Published

4 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M volleyball’s Ifenna Cos-Okpalla signed her first professional contract with League One Volleyball (LOVB) Salt Lake, the organization announced Sunday.

Fresh off leading the Aggies to their first NCAA title, Cos-Okpalla was announced as one of seven collegiate athletes selected for LOVB and will take her talents to Utah. The middle blocker was highly sought after following her senior season, as she garnered First Team All-America honors and led the country in blocks with 199 on the year.

“I couldn’t be happier for Ifenna [Cos-Okpalla] as she starts her pro career,” head coach Jamie Morrison said. “When I took this job one of my goals for the program was to become the best place to develop our athletes into professional and international players. We want to build a clear pathway from college to the professional game, and I know Ifenna is going to thrive at the next level.”

The Flower Mound, Texas, native made history in the final match of her career, setting the program record for career blocks. She entered the contest with 561, one shy of the Jazzmin Babers former record (562), and with her second of the match passed the milestone and added two more to finish her career with 565. Her senior season on its own also made history, as she tallied 199 stuffs which was a single-season record.

Cos-Okpalla’s versatility is what made her stand out, as offensively she recorded 629 kills over her four years while recording back-to-back years with over 200 in 2024 (228) and 2025 (236). Not only did her production rise every year, so did her efficiency which culminated in the program record for hitting percentage in a season this year at .422 percent.

The All-American separates herself from other middle blockers nationwide from the service line, racking up a team-high 42 aces this season which is the most by an Aggie since 2019. Her variety of scoring helped her accumulate 396.5 points on the year.

Leaving a legacy, Cos-Okpalla departs Aggieland a two-time All-American, two-time All-SEC First Team honoree, three-time All-Region selection, an NCAA and SEC All-Tournament Team member and a program record 14-time SEC weekly award winner.

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Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter/X by following @AggieVolleyball.

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South Carolina Gamecocks Defensive Back Plans to Enter the Transfer Portal

Published

7 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

After transferring to South Carolina prior to the 2025 season, defensive back Myles Norwood will enter the transfer portal in hopes of finishing his last year of eligibility elsewhere next fall. Norwood began his career at Iowa State, transferred to Ball State, and then to South Carolina. He will be looking for his fourth home this offseason.

Norwood was a collegiate track star turned defensive back in his college career. His journey began at Iowa Western Community College where he was a track and field participant for the Reivers. Following his freshman year in track he moved on to Iowa State to play for then head coach Matt Campbell (now Penn State). He spent two seasons with the cyclones appearing in just one game against West Virginia in 2022. In 2024, he transferred to New Mexico State in February, but never played for the Aggies before transferring to Ball State just three months later.

At Ball State, Norwood appeared in all 12 games for the Cardinals making seven starts. He was credited with with 38 tackles including 2.0 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and a team-leading 10 pass breakups. After his breakout season with the Cardinals, Norwood commited to the Gamecocks for the 2025 season. He appeared in 10 games, with two starts, in his time in Columbia as he racked up 19 total tackles this past season.

Updated Transfer Portal Tracker

Cason Henry enters the transfer porta — South Carolina offensive lineman Cason Henry (75) blocks Louisiana State University defensive end Bradyn Swinson (4) during the third quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. Saturday, September 14, 2024. | Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In addition to Norwood, 11 other Gamecocks have entered the portal so far with the offensive line room taking the biggest hit. That list includes OL Tree Babalade, OL Cason Henry, WR Brian Rowe Jr., QB Air Noland, OL Mac Walters, OL Nick Sharpe, OL Trovon Baugh, DL Zavian Hardy, LB Jaron Willis, LB Taeshawn Alston, and K Peyton Argent.

A few others have already declared their move to the 2026 NFL Draft. Wide receiver Jared Brown was the latest to make his intentions known. He joins defensive tackle Monkell Goodwine, defensive tackle Nick Barrett, and defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. as those entering their names in the 2026 NFL Draft, with tight end Jordan Dingle expected to be the next name as his eligibility is out.

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