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DI Council introduces proposals to add 2 women's championships

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DI Council introduces proposals to add 2 women's championships

The Division I Council on Wednesday voted to introduce proposals that, if also supported by Divisions II and III, would establish NCAA championships for women’s stunt and women’s acrobatics and tumbling.

If the proposals are adopted by all three divisions, championships committees would begin work in stunt and acrobatics and tumbling in January 2026, with the first championship for each sport expected to occur during the spring season in 2027.

Emerging Sports for Women are required to be sponsored by at least 40 schools to be considered for the creation of an NCAA championship. Stunt has been an emerging sport in Divisions I and II since 2023 and Division III since 2024, and 41 schools sponsored the sport during the 2024-25 academic year. Acrobatics and tumbling has been an emerging sport in all three NCAA divisions since 2020, and 44 schools sponsored the sport during the 2024-25 academic year.

Fencing championships

At the recommendation of the Sports Oversight Committee, the council voted to separate the scoring at the fencing championships to recognize champion teams in both men’s and women’s fencing.

Currently, men’s and women’s fencing teams compete for one title, and women’s-only teams — which are sponsored by nine schools — are statistically unable to win the national championship under the existing scoring format for the sport. By recognizing a men’s and women’s champion separately, over 150 more student-athletes would have the opportunity to win a national championship.

For this change to take effect, it must also be supported by Divisions II and III because fencing operates as a National Collegiate Championship involving teams from all three divisions. Divisions II and III are expected to consider the proposal at their meetings in July

Flag football

The council also introduced a proposal to add women’s flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program following recommendations from the Committee on Women’s Athletics and the Strategic Vision and Planning Committee. Flag football has grown rapidly in popularity at the youth sports level — including high school — and will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The proposal will be considered in October.

FCS playing seasons

At the recommendation of the Football Championship Subdivision Oversight Committee, the council adopted expedited legislation to change the first contest date for FCS football, starting in the 2026 season. Moving forward, FCS programs will be able to compete in 12 regular-season games every year, with the regular season starting 13 weeks before the FCS championship selections date. The move provides programs greater scheduling flexibility and eliminates the first contest date exceptions.

32-game maximum contest limits in basketball

During their May meetings, the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Oversight Committees adopted legislation establishing a straightforward limitation of 32 regular-season games in both men’s and women’s basketball, removing the legislated requirements for teams to participate in multiple-team events.

The oversight committees noted the Association’s focus on simplifying NCAA rules where possible and determined that the rule change provided greater scheduling flexibility for Division I programs. The new rule does not require a school to change its regular-season schedule and does not limit the opportunity for multiple team events to operate or exist.

Under the existing structure for Division I, the oversight committees’ action was subject to council review, and the council did not oppose the change. The new maximum contest limitation will begin with the 2026-27 basketball season.

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UT Seeks Private Developers for Multipurpose Arena, Student-Athlete Housing – UT Austin News

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December 11, 2025

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AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to seek private developer(s) to plan, design, construct, equip, finance and operate a small multipurpose public arena to serve as the competition home for the Longhorns’ four-time National Champion Women’s Volleyball and an adjacent student-athlete housing facility, with minimal financial outlay from the University. The project will encompass approximately 4 acres in the Athletics and Entertainment District of UT’s main campus, located north of East MLK Jr. Boulevard between Robert Dedman Drive and Interstate 35.

“It is important for us to be strategic about how we use our space and how our students and visitors engage with our campus,” said UT President Jim Davis. “This is a unique development that will enhance the University’s athletics facilities and housing portfolio and benefit students, Longhorn fans and our city for years to come. I am grateful to our Board of Regents for their support for our vision.”

The arena aims to seat approximately 6,000 fans, with the flexibility to expand seating for concerts, shows and University events that complement the adjacent Moody Center. The student-athlete housing facility is envisioned to provide a best-in-class housing experience for the University’s student-athletes that reflects UT’s commitment to recruiting and developing premier talent. Additionally, it could provide ground-level retail opportunities that will enhance the campus, community, and visitors’ experience.

“This is a critical step for the future of Texas Volleyball and our student-athletes’ housing experience,” said Athletics Director Chris Del Conte. “It is about creating an experience that our student-athletes, coaches and passionate fans will be proud of in the heart of a district built for elite talent and entertainment.”

The RFP seeks private developers who have successfully developed and operated best-in-class, multipurpose public arenas, student housing and retail facilities, and who have the financial capability to contribute all or a substantial portion of the cost to develop, build and operate the new facilities. Under the proposed public-private collaboration, UT would own both the arena and student-athlete housing properties, and an outside entity would operate them.

UT issued the RFP Dec. 10 after the UT System Board of Regents authorized it last month. The 2033 Higher Education Development Foundation will lead the RFP process, and developer(s) will have the option to submit proposals for both or each facility by Feb. 6. The specific timeline and financial arrangement between the University and developer(s) will be determined through negotiations before any agreement is reached.



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2025 AVCA Division I All-Americans for NCCAA

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December 11, 2025

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The AVCA is please to name its 2025 All-America teams for NCCAA Division I women’s volleyball.

There are two seven-member All-America teams, a first team and a second team, and the 14 student-athletes chosen in 2025 represent 10 different NCCAA schools. Cedarville University leads the way with three All-Americans, and Columbia International University and Ottawa University Arizona each have two All-Americans.

2025 NCCAA Division I All-Americans

 

 

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Who made 2025 Journal & Courier Big Schools All-Area Volleyball team?

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December 11, 2025

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Dec. 11, 2025, 4:02 a.m. ET

LAFAYETTE ― The Journal & Courier recognizes the 14 best volleyball players 4A and 3A to be voted onto the All-Area Big Schools team.

Here are the top players and members who were selected to the 2025 Journal & Courier All-Area team, as voted on by coaches.



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Matchups, starters, players to watch

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December 11, 2025

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Dec. 11, 2025, 5:10 a.m. ET



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Four new players make up Wisconsin volleyball class of 2026 roster

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December 11, 2025

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The Wisconsin volleyball team earned a No. 2 recruiting ranking for the four new names they added to the team’s class of 2026. 

The four young stars, Audrey Flanagan, Kymore Scott, Lynney Tarnow and Halle Thompson, have a long list of accolades, including experiences with state and national championships and the USA Junior National Team. 

During the signing day press conference, head coach Kelly Sheffield said their recruiting focus was finding right athletes to fit the specific needs of Wisconsin. 

“There was just a very very small number that we thought would be a great fit for what we were needing,” he said.

Audrey Flanagan, outside hitter

Flanagan, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter from California, comes to Wisconsin with two national team runs, including a gold win with the US Under-19 team in the Continental Championship. 

Flanagan’s honors also include an AVCA First Team All-American, the 2024 Bay League Most Outstanding Player and the 2023 All-Bay League First Team. 

While she was injured last year, Flanagan is now back to full strength and ready to go for Wisconsin. 

“We’re getting a healthy player and one that’s going to have a huge impact for us,” Sheffield said. 

Kymora Scott, middle blocker/right side

Scott’s ability to hit off of one foot appealed to Sheffield when he first saw her play. He compared her skill to the talents of former Badgers Megan Campbell and Devyn Robinson. 

The middle blocker from Illinois was a bit out of the spotlight, Sheffield said, although her accomplishments speak for themselves. 

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Scott is a two-time SWSC All-Conference player and ranked No. 4 in her high school’s history for overall kills (714) and most kills in a single season (288). 

“We see her as someone who can be an elite slide attacker,” Sheffield said. “She is smooth with her attack and has the ability to be a very good blocker with how fast she can get off the floor.”

Lynney Tarnow, middle blocker 

Tarnow has been coming to Badger volleyball camps since she was nine, so Sheffield said it just feels right for her to finally be signed at Wisconsin. 

The 6-foot-5 middle blocker is also from Illinois and Sheffield highlights her physicality around the court.

“Lynney has the potential to be a very physical net presence,” Sheffield said. “She can hit well off of one or two feet with power and can take up a lot of space with her block.”

Tarnow will come to the Wisconsin team as an AVCA All-Region Player of the Year and the No. 1 rank in her position. The Illinois native has also been a part of the 2025 Under-19 National Team. 

Halle Thompson, outside hitter

With the addition of Thompson, another outside hitter, Wisconsin is adding an elite back row attacker, Sheffield said. 

Thompson is also ranked high for her region. Across the board, Thompson is No. 2 in regional rankings and position rank. From Texas, Thompson is a two-time Texas Division I Volleyball State MVP and Volleyball State Champion. She also has two seasons with the National Team under her belt. 

“Halle is a fierce competitor,” Sheffield said. “She is very good for her age at the serve and pass portion of the game and plays the game fearlessly.”

While it took some extra effort in recruiting to get Thompson from Texas to Wisconsin, Sheffield said he’s very satisfied with the result of signing Thompson. 

“No matter how much depth we have or how much experience, we’re going after people that have big dreams and big goals,” Sheffield said. 

In previous years, Wisconsin signed more players, but Sheffield said the landscape of the transfer portal is decreasing the need to collect younger athletes. In 2024, the Badgers signed on six new players. In 2025, that number dropped to four. 

“There’s that element of bringing in some young players and mixing them with some elite college-ready transfers,” Sheffield said. “And hopefully you can stay in the ball game every year.”

The Daily Cardinal has been covering the University and Madison community since 1892. Please consider giving today.



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Track and Field Competes in Opening Meet, Swimming Takes on Rowan

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December 11, 2025

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Track and Field:

On Friday, Dec 10., Swarthmore track and field traveled to Lancaster, PA, to compete in the Diplomat Open hosted by Franklin & Marshall College. The Garnet were one of fifteen colleges represented in the indoor meet, the first of their indoor season.

Men’s Results

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James Saunders ’29 ran a time of 8.81 in the 60-meter hurdles finals in a fourth place finish, just a hundredth of a second away from breaking the 8.77 program record time set in 2019. In the long jump, Rishi Tella ’26 finished in fourth place with a 6.46 meter mark. In the 3,000-meter race, Leo Sun ’26 ran a time of 9:39.13 to capture a sixth place finish. Matthew Fleming ’27 raced the 5000-meter race with a 15:39.71 finish in fifth place. Noah St. George ’28 earned an eighth place finish in the high jump with a mark of 1.80 meters. Alan Nichols ’28 set a personal record with a 1.75 mark. Pole vaulter Jackson Mejia ’28 also set a personal record; he finished in eighth place with a mark of 3.85 meters. 

Women’s Results

Thrower Tate Garcia ’26 threw for 11.49 meters in the shot put to capture fourth place, as well as a fifth-place weight throw result with a 13.20 mark. Alyson Goldbacher ’28, who holds the program record in the long jump, secured a sixth-place finish and a 2.90-meter mark in the event. In the 200-meter race, Gabby Bredbenner ’29 ran a fifth-place finish with a time of 27.03. The 400-meter race saw a fourth place finish by Bredbenner (1:02.79) and an eight- place finish by Goldbacher (1:06.8). In the mile, Morgan McErlean ’26 crossed the finish line in eighth place with a time of 5:52.53. The high jumper Katharine Reiter ’29 had a mark of 1.42 meters to earn an eighth-place finish. 

Swimming:

On Friday, the Garnet competed at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. The women’s team beat the Rowan Profs 113-75 to notch their sixth consecutive win. Men’s swimming fell in a 84.5-101.5 loss. The Mixed 200-yard medley relay saw a strong Swarthmore first place win, swam by Maya Ambardekar ’28, Dylan Ling ’26, Cami Wilson ’26, and Elle Anthony ’26 for a 1:38.03 finish. The relay team composed of Genine Collins ’27, Damian René  27, Sam Packard ’27, and Danny Castle ’27 swam a 1:31.57 in the 200 freestyle relay for a close second place finish. 

Men’s Results

In the 200 free, Sam Peterson ’26 took third place with a time of 1:46.49. Jack Boerner ’29 followed closely in fourth with a time of 1:46.78. Levi Tipton ’28 dominated the 100 fly (51.90), more than a second faster than the second place finisher. In the 100 IM, Nolan Weygandt ’29 took third with a 54.80 finish. Andrew Hendrickson ’27 swam a 4:48.09 to come in third in the 500 free. In the 100 breast, Ling swam a 59.88 for a third place finish. In the 50 free, Wilson took home the win with a 21.07 finish, and Castle followed in second with a 21.46 finish. Dylan Herink ’27 won the 100 back with a time of 53.24, and Matvey Ivanov ’27 came in third place with a 54.70 finish. In the 100 free, Tipton swam a 47.58 for a second place tie.

Women’s Results

In the 200 free, Margaret Sawa ’29 swam a 1:58.40 to notch a second place finish, with Ava Craig ’27 tenths of a second away with a third place finish (1:58.92). Genine Collins ’27, the program record holder for the 100 fly, won the event with a time of 57.28. Marin Norlander ’28 placed third with a 1:00.91 time. Quinn Weygandt ’26 took home the win for the 100 IM with a 1:01.97 finish time, and Norah Rutkowski ’28 followed in third with a 1:02.56 finish. Craig won the 500 free (5:16.90), over three seconds faster than the second-place finisher. In the 100 breast, Annabelle Hoover ’28 (1:09.44) and Rutkowski (1:09.97) placed second and third, respectively. The Garnet swept the 50 free podium, set by Collins (23.61), Anthony (24.28), and Ainsley Jane Tambling ’26 (25.52). Collins and Anthony hold the first and second fastest times in program history for the 50 free. Ambardekar won the 100 back (59.03) with nearly two seconds of space between her and the next finisher. In the 100 free, Riley Bacinski ’29 (53.28) and Weygandt (54.22) clinched second- and third-place finishes, respectively.



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