ORONO, Maine — The America East Conference named Maine’s Charlie Collins as the America East Conference Male Track Athlete of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.

Collins had a strong performance at Maine’s Black Bear Invitational on Friday December 12. Collins finished first in the 3,000m with a time of 8:32.35 and secured second place with a mile time of 4:09.88.

This is Collins’ first award of the Indoor Track campaign.

Collins and the Black Bears return to action on January 17th as they take on the Bates College Invitational.

-UMaine-

Wisconsin volleyball upset No. 1-seed Texas to advance to the NCAA Tournament Final Four on Sunday evening.

The Badgers won the Regional Final match 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19), avenging an early-season sweep at the hands of the Longhorns. Star Mimi Colyer again led Wisconsin with 23 of its 67 total kills. The Badgers as a whole hit 29.4%, compared to Texas’ 25%.

Wisconsin booked a Final Four trip to Kansas City, Missouri, with the win. The team will face No. 1-seed Kentucky in the semifinals, with the winner set meet the winner of No. 1 Pittsburgh and No. 3 Texas A&M in the championship game on Sunday.

With just a few days remaining until the Badgers play in their seventh Final Four, here is where and when to watch the action.

ORONO, Maine — The America East Conference named Maine’s Bayleigh Shanahan as the America East Female Track Athlete of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.

Shanahan set two new personal records at the Black Bear Invitational on Friday December 12. Finishing in first place in the 60m dash with a time of 7.97 and finished four in the 300m with a time of 43.42, capping off a successful home meet performance.

This is Shanahan’s first weekly award of the Indoor Track campaign.

Shanahan and the Black Bears return to action on January 17th as they open their spring semester at the Bates College Invitational.

-UMaine-

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Marquette volleyball head coach Tom Mendoza has announced the addition of Ball State transfer Carson Tyler to the Golden Eagles. 

“We are excited to add a player of Carson’s ability and character. As good of a volleyball player Carson is, she’s an even better person and the type of teammate who will fit in really well with our group and what we are building at Marquette” Mendoza said of Tyler.

A native of Pavillion, New York, Tyler arrives in Milwaukee after two seasons at Ball State from 2024-25, and will join the Golden Eagles for the Spring 2026 semester. She will have two years of eligibility remaining. 

This past season, Tyler earned MAC Player of the Year, First Team All-MAC, and AVCA First Team All-Midwest Region honors after posting 506 kills (4.18 kills/set) while hitting .324 on the season, 581 total points (4.80 points/set) and 321 digs (2.32 digs/set). Her attacking numbers each ranked first in the MAC this past season, and while her 506 kills ranked 17th in NCAA DI.  

In her freshman campaign with the Cardinals in 2024, Tyler provided one of the most prolific freshman seasons in school history, earning AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year and AVCA Midwest All-Region Honorable Mention honors. Her play also rewarded her MAC Freshman of the Year, All-Freshman Team, and First Team All-MAC honors. That season, she ranked second in the league with 4.22 kills/set and 374 total kills. 

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KENNESAW, Ga. |
Dec 16, 2025

Balancing the demands of Division I athletics with a rigorous academic program is
no small task. For graduating senior Grant Crabtree, discipline became the foundation
for success both on the track and in the classroom.

Born in Panama City, Florida, and raised in Douglasville, Georgia, Crabtree discovered early that running came naturally. He joined the local “Road Runners” youth track team in elementary school and continued competing through middle and high school, where distance running became his strongest event.

“Over time, I continued to get better,” Crabtree said. “I figured it was something I could do at the collegiate level.”

Crabtree began college at Augusta University as a biology major before realizing he
wanted a more hands-on academic path. His interest in building and problem-solving
drew him toward engineering. That led him to transfer to Kennesaw State University
to major in mechanical engineering and join the men’s cross country and track and field teams as a walk-on.

The move placed him within the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, where he took on the challenge of balancing high-level athletics with a demanding
academic load.

“I knew I could be a good runner, but I also knew engineering was where I wanted to be,” he said. “Walking on at KSU meant proving myself in both places, and I was ready for that challenge.”

Over the next three years, Crabtree became one of the top distance runners in program
history. He set school records in the indoor 3000-meter, outdoor 5000-meter, indoor
distance medley relay, and tied the outdoor 1500-meter record. He also earned ASUN
Conference All-Academic Honors and played a key role in helping the Owls secure the
2024 ASUN Conference indoor and outdoor championships.

“It was surreal,” he said. “To win the conference championship and be part of something that special makes me proud of my teammates. We all put in the hard work together.”

Managing the pace of athletics and engineering required careful planning and communication.
Morning practices were followed by classes, labs, and long study sessions. Crabtree
regularly met with professors before traveling for meets in order to stay on track
academically.

His most meaningful academic experience came during senior design, where his team
addressed road safety. They developed a roadside wind turbine system that captures
airflow from passing cars and trucks, converting it into energy for roadway safety
signals. The project gave him the chance to apply years of engineering coursework
to a real-world problem and reflect on how his work ethic supported both academic
and athletic success.

Crabtree’s approach embodies the values of SPCEET.

“Our engineering students run through labs, collaborate on real-world design projects, and tackle rigorous coursework,” SPCEET Dean Lawrence Whitman said. “Grant accomplished all of this while competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics.”

In addition to his coursework, Crabtree served as an ambassador for the National Council
of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, speaking with younger students about the
importance of licensure and the long-term value of a strong academic foundation.

Beyond academics, distance running shaped some of his closest friendships. He credits
his teammates and coaches for creating the support system that carried him through
demanding seasons, tight travel schedules, and important races. Those relationships
remain a part of his KSU experience that he values most.

Crabtree has already begun his professional journey with Cleveland Electric as an
assistant project manager and plans to continue building his career in the electrical
contracting industry after graduation.

Reflecting on his time at KSU, he hopes his experience encourages others to stay committed
to their goals even during difficult periods.

“There are going to be hard times, but it gets easier,” he said. “As long as you stay consistent, organized, and dedicated, it will all pan out.”

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photos by Matt Yung

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.