Sports
Dominance in the Desert
How tactical brilliance and raw power triumphed in America’s most grueling stage race
SILVER CITY, New Mexico (April 23-27, 2025) — The 38th Tour of the Gila unfolds across five challenging stages in southwestern New Mexico, where over 160 athletes in the UCI men’s and women’s races navigate a course that tests both physical ability and psychological perseverance.
Day 1: The Tyrone Individual Time Trial
The race begins with the Tyrone Individual Time Trial presented by Freeport McMoRan. Lauren Stephens (Aegis Cycling Foundation Mixed Team) claims the red New Mexico True leader jersey in the women’s competition, while Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling Race Team) dons the white Southwest Bone and Joint/Brian and Lynn Robinson Best Young Rider Jersey.
In the UCI men’s race, Eric Brunner of Competitive Edge Racing takes the top step and the red jersey, with Project Echelon Racing’s Jonas Walton earning the white jersey for best young rider.




Day 2: The Mogollon Road Race
The Mogollon Road Race continues the Tour’s tradition of shattering pelotons on its final uncategorized climb. Before turning onto the challenging ascent, the UCI women’s field rides as a cohesive group. Lauren Stephens reaches the cattleguard at the mountaintop first, claiming the QOM lead while adding to her overall lead in the general classification.


Her teammate Emma Langley finishes just six seconds back, while Best Young Rider Sidney Swierenga follows 23 seconds later. The first sprint points of the race are also awarded, with Ellexi Snover (Fount Cycling Guild), Kenna Pfeiffer (Aegis Cycling Mixed Team), and Yareli Acecedo Mendoza (Pato Bike) claiming the top three positions in the women’s sprint classification.
Perhaps in anticipation of the ascent to the ghost town of Mogollon, the UCI men’s field rode a steady pace in a compact peloton for the most part today. A couple ambitious souls attempted to get a head-start on the finishing climb. In those final miles, though, José Muniz Vasquez (Olinka-Specialized), Kieran Haug (Project Echelon Racing), and Robinson Fabian López Rivera (GW Erco Shimano) rose to the top. We saw a fresh face breaking into a smile and posting up when Muñiz Vazquez reached the finish line before his competition in the UCI men’s field.
Second place stage finisher Haug earned the red New Mexico True leader jersey, while his teammate Jonas Walton held onto the Southwest Bone and Joint Institute/Brian and Lynn Robinson Best Young Rider jersey. The polka dotted Freeport McMoRan climber jersey went to Vasquez, and the green Gila Regional Medical Center sprinter jersey went to Conn McDunphy.

Day 3: The Inner Loop Road Race
Stage three takes cyclists through the remote terrain of the Gila National Forest. Riders ascend to elevations of 7,200 feet, descend 1,000 feet over just three miles, pedal rolling hills near Lake Roberts and alongside the Mimbres River, before finishing with a climb to the Chino Mine and a sprint into the historic military fort of Ft. Bayard.
Lauren Stephens secures her third consecutive stage win in the women’s race, while Fausto Esparza Martinez (Olinka – Specialized) claims his first Tour of the Gila victory in the men’s field.


Both Stephens and Kieran Haug maintain their red New Mexico True leader jerseys, as Sidney Swierenga and Jonas Walton hold onto their best young rider classifications. Robinson Fabian Lopez Rivera (GW Erco Shimano) and Emma Langley (Aegis Cycling Mixed Team) wear the polka dotted Freeport McMoRan climber jerseys heading into stage four.
Day 4: The Downtown Criterium
Saturday’s Downtown Criterium presented by the Town of Silver City offers spectators their best opportunity to witness the race up close. Amateur races begin at 8 a.m., with the UCI women starting at 1:30 p.m. and the UCI men launching their 40 laps at 3:10 p.m. Brad Sohner’s commentating adds excitement as fans line the 1.08-mile course through Silver City’s historic district.


A photo finish ends Lauren Stephens’ winning streak as Competitive Edge rider Galen Bolard crosses the line first in the women’s race, with Fount Cycling Guild’s Minori Minagawa taking third.
In the men’s UCI race, Above and Beyond Cancer’s Patrick Welch rides solo off the front for most of the criterium, only to be caught in the final dozen laps by Project Echelon Racing and Specialized – Olinka. Eric Brunner wins the bunch sprint, beating Brandon Rojas Vega (GW Erco Shimano) and José Muñiz Vazquez (Olinka-Specialized). Brunner now trails Keiran Haug by just 12 seconds in the general classification.



Midday citizen fun races give everyone from three-year-olds up a chance to experience the thrill of competition, with registration available at The Hub Plaza between 9 a.m. and noon.
Day 5: The Gila Monster Road Race
The queen stage faces a last-minute adjustment due to a Red Flag Warning across southwest New Mexico. Race officials, organizers, and UCI men’s teams agree to shorten the men’s course by eliminating the portion leading to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Visitor Center.

In the women’s race, Aegis Cycling Mixed Team demonstrates both strength and teamwork with a podium sweep. Lauren Stephens secures the overall victory, with Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling) earning a second-place finish (+2:23) and the Southwest Bone and Joint/Brian and Lynn Robinson Best Young Rider jersey.
The men’s race begins aggressively, with Robinson Fabian Lopez Rivera (GW Erco Shimano) ultimately crossing the mountain-top finish line first. Team Skyline’s Adam Lewis takes second place, while overall leader Kieran Haug cements his victory with a third-place finish.
The queen stage concludes in front of the Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House in the historic gold mining village of Pinos Altos. Though the course is shortened, it still takes competitors alongside the Mimbres River, through a region where meticulous potters established a community around A.D. 200. These Mimbres people are known for their famous black-on-white pottery, which inspired the handcrafted trophy bowls awarded to winners in each category—from amateur to UCI professional.
As the 38th Tour of the Gila comes to a close, Lauren Stephens (Aegis Cycling Mixed Team) stands atop the women’s podium with a 2:23 lead over Sidney Swierenga, while Kieran Haug (Project Echelon Racing) claims the men’s overall victory by a 12-second margin over Eric Brunner (Competitive Edge Racing).
For full results, see: https://tourofthegila.com/
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Sports
Elliot and Thuotte Highlight Men’s Indoor Track and Field Season Opener
BOSTON, Mass. — Regis College men’s track and field kicked off their indoor season today at the Reggie Lewis Center, competing in the Suffolk Relays and setting two new program records.
Senior Brady Elliot (Charlestown, N.H.) made an impressive debut for the Pride, placing second in the men’s high jump with a leap of 1.85 meters, establishing a new indoor program record. Elliot also competed in the long jump, finishing 12th with a distance of 6.06 meters. Joseph Doughty (Woburn, Mass.) added a seventh-place finish in the high jump, clearing 1.70 meters.
Justin Thuotte (Lebanon, Conn.) earned three top-ten finishes. His best came in the shot put, where he took third with throw of 12.82 meters to set a new personal best. Thuotte also placed fifth in the long jump, setting a new indoor program record with a leap of 6.65 meters, and finished seventh in the weight throw with a mark of 13.28 meters. Ryan Sweeney (Lynn, Mass.) joined Thuotte on the shot put leaderboard, finishing fourth with a toss of 12.65 meters. Sweeney also set a personal best in the weight throw with an 11.28 meter toss.
Jalen Jones (Everett, Mass.) claimed fifth place in the triple jump with a mark of 11.94 meters. Meanwhile, DJ Marks (Medford, Mass.) and Luc Willems (Belchertown, Mass.) rounded out the top ten finishers in the high jump and men’s 1000m, respectively. Marks cleared 1.60 meters in the high jump, and Willems crossed the line in 3:18.18 in the 1000-meter run.
In the men’s 1600 sprint medley relay, the team of Zach Olaywole (Marlborough, Mass.), Jones, Elliot, and Nathan Thomas (Medford, Mass.) finished 13th overall with a time of 4:13.28.
The Pride will quickly turn around as they head to UMass Boston tomorrow for the Beacon Season Opener.
Sports
No. 25 Women’s Volleyball Falls to No. 3 Texas in NCAA Second Round – Penn State
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 25 Penn State’s 45th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament came to an end in the second round Saturday with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-19) loss to No. 3 Texas at Gregory Gymnasium. The Nittany Lions close the season at 19-13 overall, while the Longhorns move on with a record of 25-3.
The loss snapped Penn State’s seven-match NCAA Tournament winning streak, which included six victories on the way to last year’s national title. The Nittany Lions remain second in the nation with eight national titles, trailing only Stanford’s nine.
Kennedy Martin tallied 16 kills for Penn State and has now recorded double-digit kills for the 83rd-consecutive match when she plays at least three sets. Caroline Jurevicius finished with seven kills, while Emmi Sellman chipped in with five.
Gillian Grimes wrapped up an outstanding collegiate career with a team-high 11 digs. She leaves Penn State as a two-time All-Big Ten honoree, making the first team this season and the second team as a junior last season. She now turns her attention to the pro ranks, where she will play for the San Diego Mojo of Major League Volleyball. Grimes was recently picked by the Mojo in the third round of the MLV Draft.
Torrey Stafford led Texas to the win, hitting .556 with 21 kills. Abby Vander Wal joined her in double-digits with 10 kills, while Cari Spears was next with nine.
Penn State now holds an 11-10 lead in the all-time series with Texas. The teams are knotted at 2-2 in NCAA Tournament matchups against each other.
Saturday’s matchup featured the past three national champions as Texas won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 and Penn State took home the trophy last season.
The 2025 Penn State women’s volleyball season is presented by Musselman’s.
Sports
Men’s Track and Field Starts 2026 Campaign With Strong Showing at Springfield College Season Opener
Springfield, Mass. – December 6, 2025 – The Springfield College men’s track and field team had a strong showing as it hosted the Springfield College Season Opener for the first meet of the season.
Shane Erb (Marion, Iowa) took first place in the mile after finishing with a time of 4:23.30 and was the second place finisher in the 3000-meter run after crossing the finish line at 9:02.42. Erb’s mile time ranks sixth in Division III to start the campaign, while his 3,000-meter time ranks 14th.
Mike Anderson (Cromwell, Conn.) and Isaiah Hannah (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) finished first and second, respectively, in the 60-meter hurdles. Anderson finished with a time of 8.16 to tie his school record he broke just a season ago, while Hannah finished at 8.59. Anderson’s time currently ranks second in Division III this season.
In his debut, Luca Kabel (Merrimack, N.H.) won the 60-meter dash crossing the finish line at 7.04. He also competed in the 200-meter dash where he finished second at 22.58.
Colin Hansen (Ipswich, Mass.) won the 400-meter dash at 50.54 and Seth Twarog (Hubbardston, Mass.) was close behind at 50.70 which was good for a second place finish with both now ranking inside the top-20 nationally to kick off the seaosn. Parker Ruger (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) won the 600-meter run finishing in 1:26.74 while Eli Burt (Topsham, Maine) came in third at 1:29.34 in their first meets for the Pride.
The 4×400-meter relay team of Twarog, Ruger, Hansen, and first-year Caleb March (Hampden, Maine) took the win after crossing the finish line at 3:37.78.
In the field events, Alex McKenney (Ossining, N.Y.) won the pole vault after clearing 4.45-meters (14 feet, 7.25 inches), which currently stands eighth in the country, while Jamil Manu (Manchester, Conn.) claimed second in the high jump after jumping 1.92-meters (6 feet, 3.50 inches).
Martin Nyagilo (Randolph, Mass.) won the shot put with a throw of 15.21-meters (49 feet, 10.75 inches), a mark that ranks sixth in the country early in the season and Peyton Blanchard (Kennebunk, Maine) came in third with a mark of 14.28-meters (47 feet, 2.25 inches). Charles Botelho (Middleboro, Mass.) finished third in the weight throw with mark of 15.01-meters (49.3 feet).
Springfield will await the new year and travel to Tufts on Saturday, January 17 for the Branwen Smith-King Invitational.
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Sports
West Fargo volleyball coach Kelsey Titus resigns after four seasons – InForum
WEST FARGO — West Fargo High School volleyball coach Kelsey Titus has resigned after four seasons guiding the Packers.
West Fargo activities director Justin Behm confirmed the resignation to The Forum late Friday.
In an email to The Forum Saturday, Titus cited family as the primary reason in her decision to step down.
“The main reason is to be more present with my family,” Titus said. “The decision was extremely difficult as I have absolutely loved my time coaching at West Fargo. (Behm) has been an incredible person to work for and with. I am extremely grateful for his support and guidance.
“The decision came after a lot of prayer. My husband is also a (football) coach, and having both of us coaching in the fall — with a very active 7-year-old — has become challenging. As hard as it is to be done, I know that being more involved and present in our son’s activities is where I am supposed to be. I have peace knowing it’s where the Lord wants me to be.”
David Samson/The Forum
Titus took the reins of the West Fargo program ahead of the 2022 season. Over four seasons, she led the Packers to a 96-48 record that included two state tournament appearances and an East Region tournament championship.
The Packers first advanced to state under Titus during her first season in 2022 where the team placed fifth that season. The 2025 campaign was West Fargo’s strongest with Titus at the helm, finishing 28-8 overall to go with a third-place finish at the state tournament and the East Region tournament title — which ended in
a five-set thriller
over crosstown rival West Fargo Sheyenne.
Titus coached three all-conference and all-state players throughout her tenure. Raina Chwialkowski was a four-time all-conference selection under Titus while Ellee McIntosh was named to the all-conference team three times. Olivia Soine was an all-conference player for Titus in 2022.
Chwialkowski was also an all-state selection four times, McIntosh three times and Soine one time. Chwialkowski was named both East Region and Division AA Senior Athlete of the Year in the sport of volleyball this season. She’ll head to NCAA Division I Maryland next season to continue her career while McIntosh will play for North Dakota.
Titus received Division AA Coach of the Year honors this season upon conclusion of the state tournament. West Fargo
defeated Bismarck in five sets
during this year’s Division AA quarterfinals before
falling to Fargo Davies
in the semis. The Packers proceeded to defeat Bismarck Century in five sets in the third-place match.
“The girls have truly bought in to our culture and have been so much fun to work with,” Titus said. “I truly feel blessed to have gotten the chance to coach such wonderful young women. They mean so much to me and my family. This past season was an incredible one for me to witness on and off the court. I am so thankful for the girls and their trust in me and our coaching staff. These girls are truly special and have brought so much joy into the game of volleyball, to each other and to us coaches.”
Titus previously served as an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Jamestown for seven seasons prior to coming to West Fargo. There, she also served as associate athletic director for three years.
A search for Titus’ successor will begin immediately.
“Again, I can’t thank West Fargo High School and Justin Behm enough for the opportunity and the trust they put in me to run the volleyball program the last four years,” Titus said. “I also want to thank my coaching staff — they have become such a huge part of my life and I’m so thankful they chose to do this with me. I will forever be grateful for my time at West Fargo High School. Go Packers.”
Sports
Haugen Sets Norwegian National Record at Youree Spence Garcia Invitational
The Red Storm collected six event wins and 10 top-three finishes. In addition, five Johnnies etched their names on indoor top-10 all-time lists.
On the track, Haugen’s program record is the first to fall at Ocean Breeze this season. Chinenye Josephine Onourah won the 400m in a time of 53.13, which sits number two on the indoor all-time list. St. John’s took first through fifth place in the 400m. Freshman Nia-Ruby Forbes-Agyepong kicked off her Red Storm career with a top five finish in the 60m hurdles, stopping the clock in 8.90.
Both the 4x400m relay and the 4x800m relay quartets crossed the line first. The 4x400m squad finished 10 seconds ahead of second place, while the 4x800m group cruised to a 17 second margin of victory.
In the field, senior Jamora Alves started her indoor campaign with a second place showing in the women’s shot put. Her toss of 14.30m (46ft 11in.) is her second-best season opening mark of her career and gives her another top-10 performance in program history. Linn Hertz Saebbo won the long jump on her final attempt, leaping 6.05m (19ft 10.25in). The mark sits third all-time on the indoor list. Freshman Tatiana Camilo also made the long jump final, with a jump of 5.45m (17ft 10.50in) and Nyla Branche placed second in the high jump with a 1.62m (5ft 3.75in) clearance.
Youree Spence is regarded as one of the greatest track and field athletes in St. John’s history. She is an 11-time BIG EAST Champion and holds three top-10 performances across three disciples. The track and field legend and the meet’s namesake was in attendance, along with several other alumni.
A portion of the team is set to compete next Friday, Dec. 12, back at Ocean Breeze in the Wagner Seahawk Shootout.
Sports
NCAA Tournament: Nebraska vs. Kansas State Volleyball Watch Thread
#1 Nebraska vs. Kansas State
When: Saturday, December 6th, 7:00pm CST
Where: Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, NE
Both Kansas State and Nebraska won their 1st round matches to create an old Big 12 matchup for Round 2 in Lincoln, NE on Saturday night. Though the Huskers played a little later, they probably have the upper hand tomorrow since they only had to play 3 sets while Kansas State had to battle through 5 tough sets against San Diego earlier on Friday afternoon.
Since the match is less than 24 hours away, you’re only going to get the spark notes version for this Kansas State team and a quick recap of their match against San Diego. Kansas State could be bringing a good amount of fans tomorrow as they are only roughly 2 and half hours from Lincoln.
Kansas State finished the 2025 season going 18-9, 10-8 in conference play, in the Big 12 conference and getting ranked wins against North Carolina, Kansas, Colorado, Baylor, and Iowa State. The Big 12 was one of the most, if not the most, competitive conferences this year putting the most teams in the tournament in 2o25.
The stats get a little rough for K-State if you just look at the record between them and Nebraska. These two teams played their first match against each other in 1975 and the most recent one was in 2023 in the non-conference portion of the season. K-State is 4-81 against the Huskers, all time, with their last win coming in 2011 in the tournament. Nebraska hosted this match.
K-State’s top player, in their match against San Diego, was SR OH Shaylee Myers, who is a Lincoln Southwest graduate. She had 26 kills on 58 swings and hit .328%. She only recorded 7 errors.
RS-JR OH Aniya Clinton was another top Wildcat on Friday night, recording 19 kills in the 5 set match, hitting .304%. She also added 13 digs as well.
MB Jordyn Williams and Setter Ava LeGrand were the top blockers for K-State with Williams blocking 7 balls and LeGrand blocking 6. Brenna Schmidt is the Wildcats’ other middle blocker and she had a pretty good night defensively, but struggled offensively ending in the negatives with 2 kills and 3 errors. Schmidt had 4 assisted blocks and also had 1 of 2 solo blocks. Clinton had the other solo block.
Nebraska will look to continue their hunt for a national championship Saturday night against a Kansas State team that will be hungry to take out the only undefeated team left in D1 volleyball, and the predicted national champion. The match will begin at 7:00pm CST on ESPN+.
#1 Nebraska Cornhuskers (31-0, 20-0 B1G)
Kansas State Wildcats (18-9, 10-8 Big 12)
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