Two Pittsburgh Steelers players, including Mason Rudolph, who is currently in line to be the Steelers’ starting quarterback, recently attended a local rally for United States President Donald Trump.

The players received backlash for the appearance, and both are issuing statements doubling down on their decisions, a rather shocking move in the current political climate.

“There’s backlash every day you look on social media,” Rudolph said, according to Steelers Now. “That’s the nature of social media. It’s the nature of why America’s so great because everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and speech is free.”

Mile Killebrew, the other attendee, released a similar statement.

“Here’s the deal. I remember what it was like being a kid, and me and my friends growing up, we either wanted to be the president or have the chance to meet him one day. And yesterday, I got to meet the president. I’m not apologetic about that. For anyone who thinks that’s a bad thing, to be honest, I couldn’t care less. I wasn’t there signing legislation. I was just there meeting the president and glad I did it.”

Fans reacted to the responses on social media.

“I love these guys more that they are unapologetic President Trump bringing steel jobs back to Pittsburgh supporters!” one fan wrote on Twitter.

“Great response! Stand firm with Rocky Bleir and Trump,” another person added.

“It would be OK if they said they support Trump too. They didn’t say that. Either way, there should be no controversy,” someone else wrote.

It’ll be interesting to see what their teammates think of their decision to attend the rally.

AUGUSTA, GA — The Peach Belt Conference has released the 2024-25 men’s Track & Field Team of Academic Distinction, presented by Barnes & Noble College.  The team is a part of the PBC’s larger initiative to celebrate the academic achievements of PBC student-athletes.  This team includes both indoor and outdoor track & field athletes.

To be eligible for the team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team’s events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility. The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee the program.

Barnes & Noble College currently operates more than 1,400 campus bookstores and their school-branded e-commerce sites, serving more than 6 million college students and faculty nationwide. As a strategic partner, Barnes & Noble College is a retail and learning company. The company is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

 

The Bermuda Volleyball Association [BVA] will be taking part in the 2025 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association [ECVA] U21 Beach Volleyball Championships, set for June 6–8 in Saint Kitts & Nevis.

A spokesperson said, “This prestigious event will showcase the talents of young athletes from across the region, promoting sportsmanship and competition with the top 3 placements in both genders receving a qualification to the NORCECA World Championship Qualifier Tournament which will take place in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic from July 3 to 7, 2025.

“Participating Teams include:

1. GRN – Grenada
2. VIN – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
3. LCA- Saint Lucia
4. DMA – Dominica
5. ANT – Antigua
6. EUX – St Eustatius
7. AGU – Anguilla
8. IVB – British Virgin Islands
9. BER – Bermuda
10. SKN – Saint Kitts and Nevis

“These teams represent the region’s dedication to providing young athletes with opportunities to compete at an elite level, fostering both their athletic development and personal growth.

“Both the Bermuda Men’s and Women’s Beach Volleyball teams will be competing in the event. The Men’s team features the duo of Anijhaé Dos Santo Martin 18, and Kyle Mello 19, while the Women’s team includes the pairing of Hailey Moss 19, and Kayley Hamilton 20.

“The Bermuda pairing will seek to capitalize on the increasing successes of Bermuda beach volleyball which saw them bring home a bronze medal at the same event last year as well as the recent Silver Medals that ere earned at the 2025 Senior Championships earlier this year.

“The top three teams in each gender will earn the right to participate in the NORCECA U21 World Championship Qualifier to be held in the Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in July 2025.

“Accompanying the teams are two of the BVA’s dedicated coaches, Benjamin Barnett and Sean Tucker. These coaches will not only guide our athletes but will also be pursuing their FIVB Level 1 Beach Volleyball coaching certification during the event.

“The coaches will benefit from the FIVB Beach Volleyball Coaches Course, taking place from June 2 to June 6, 2025. This coaching seminar will coincide with a U21 Athlete Training Camp, which is being held in preparation for the ECVA U21 Beach Championships. Bermuda’s athletes and coaches are set to gain valuable knowledge and skills ahead of the competition on June 6, 2025.

“This initiative underscores the region’s commitment to increasing beach volleyball’s presence within the Eastern Caribbean. Similar to the 2024 event, the coaching course, training camp, and tournament are being paired together. This unique approach provides an integrated development platform that enhances coaching skills, sharpens athlete performance, and fosters youth development in the sport. By bringing these elements together, the program aims to elevate the standard of beach volleyball throughout the region and create lasting opportunities for growth.”

BVA Co-President Brandon Sousa expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are incredibly excited to announce our participation in the 2025 ECVA U21 Beach Volleyball Championships in St. Kitts and Nevis. Building on our recent success on the international beach volleyball stage, our teams have been training rigorously and are eager to compete. They are prepared to demonstrate their skills, competitive spirit, and determination. Our ultimate goal at this event is to qualify for the NORCECA U21 Beach Volleyball World Championship Qualifier in July 2025, and we are fully confident in our ability to achieve this. We anticipate a fantastic competition and are confident that our athletes will make Bermuda proud as we aim to secure qualification!”

For more information and results please see the links below.

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Women’s Outdoor Track and Field | 6/5/2025 2:00:00 PM

SUNY Geneseo senior Penelope Greene was named the 2025 Niagara Region Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and sophomore Jillian Ambler was named the Field Athlete of the Year. Geneseo Track and Field Head Coach Chris Popovici earned the 2025 Niagara Region Head Coach of the Year award and Assistant Coach Dan Moore Assistant Coach of the Year announced by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) .

Greene, who hails from Sah Harbor, New York, was named the Empire 8 Indoor Track Athlete of the Year after winning 2025 NCAA Championships in both the 5,000- and 10,000-meter events in dominant fashion from the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, OH from May 22-24. Greene began the meet by winning the 10,000-meters by 33 seconds in a time of 33:46.70. She then rolled to a nearly 15 second win in the 5,000-meters, crossing the finish line in a time of 16:01.55. She ran the sixth-fastest 5,000-meter time in NCAA history. Greene did lose an individual race against Division III competition during the spring, as she took the 5,000- and 10,000-meter title at the E8 Championships and won the 1,500-meters at the All-Atlantic Region Championships. Greene also set all-time Empire 8 records in the 1,500- (4:22.23), 5,000- (16:01.55) and 10,000-meters (33:42.16).

Ambler, a Fairport, NY native, was an All-Niagara Region selection in the 4×100-meter relay, 100-meter hudles and the long jump. At the 2025 NCAA Division III Championships her 4×100-meter relay team finished with a time of :47.28 and her 4×400-meter relay team finished at 3:49.56. She finished in tenth place in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of :14.13.

Popovici, in his tenth season coaching the Knights, and Moore in his ninth season, led their team to their first Empire 8 Outdoor Track & Field Championship in dominant fashion and placed seventh at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Overall, Geneseo had 21 different student-athletes earn All-Conference honors, while Greene was national champion in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter events 400-meter dash, Greene, Gabriella McCarthy (10,000-meters) and Ann Brennan (3,000-meter steeplechase) earned First Team All-American honors. The Knights, who had 16 different student-athletes combine to earn 24 USTFCCCA All-Region accolades, shattered six E8 Outdoor Track and Field Championship records and 11 overall league marks in 2025.

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.
 
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