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Donald Trump signs order, seeks to clarify NCAA athletes' employment status

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Donald Trump signs order, seeks to clarify NCAA athletes' employment status

President Donald Trump has directed members of his Cabinet to develop a plan in the next 30 days aimed at preserving college sports opportunities and preventing college athletes from becoming professionals, according to an executive order he signed Thursday.

Trump’s order sets out specific guidelines for preserving athletic scholarships based on an athletic department’s annual revenue. It also declares that schools should not permit athletes to accept “third-party, pay-for-play payments.” The order states that Secretary of Education Linda McMahon should use future federal funding decisions among other tools to force schools to abide by the administration’s policy.

The NCAA always has prohibited pay-for-play payment from third parties. In the past several years, college sports leaders have struggled to find ways to stop boosters at the industry’s wealthiest schools from paying athletes via contracts that are endorsement deals on paper but function in reality as de facto salaries.

“A national solution is urgently needed to prevent this situation from deteriorating beyond repair and to protect non-revenue sports, including many women’s sports, that comprise the backbone of intercollegiate athletics,” Trump stated in the order.

The executive order states that endorsement deals from third parties should continue to be permitted so long as they reflect a “fair market value.”

The Power 4 conferences launched a new enforcement agency this month — the College Sports Commission — in an effort to vet all third-party deals athletes sign to make sure they are reasonable payments for endorsements rather than a veiled pay-for-play arrangement. It’s not yet clear if or how the administration’s new policy could help strengthen those efforts.

The NCAA’s long-held prohibition on paying athletes has crumbled in the past decade under pressure from a litany of legal challenges and state laws. The association and its power conferences formally agreed to an antitrust settlement in June that will allow schools to pay up to $20.5 million directly to their athletes in the coming academic year. Those payments are also designated as endorsement contracts on paper but likely will serve as de facto salaries.

Steve Berman, one of the co-lead plaintiff attorneys in the antitrust settlement, criticized Trump for trying to intervene.

“Plain and simple, college athletes don’t need Trump’s help, and he shouldn’t be aiding the NCAA at the expense of athletes,” Berman said last week. “… As a result of our case, college athletes are now free to make their own deals. For Trump to want to put his foot on their deal-making abilities is unwarranted and flouts his own philosophy on the supposed ‘art of the deal.'”

NCAA president Charlie Baker said the association still will need help from federal lawmakers to create competitive balance in college sports. Specifically, Baker and other college sports leaders have asked Congress to provide them with an antitrust exemption so they can enforce rules, many of which would limit athlete earning power.

“The Association appreciates the Trump Administration’s focus on the life-changing opportunities college sports provides millions of young people and we look forward to working with student-athletes, a bipartisan coalition in Congress and the Trump Administration to enhance college sports for years to come,” Baker said in a statement regarding Trump’s executive order Thursday.

A presidential executive order cannot provide antitrust protection for the NCAA. However, a bill that would give the NCAA broad antitrust leeway was approved by two different House committees this week. It could be called for a full vote in the House of Representatives as soon as September. The bill, which has received very little support from Democrats, still would need to pass through the Senate.

Thursday’s executive order mandates that athletic departments that brought in more than $125 million during the last academic year must increase the number of scholarships they provide to athletes in non-revenue sports. Athletic departments that brought in at least $50 million cannot reduce the number of scholarships they offer in those sports.

The overwhelming majority of schools in the four power conferences reach the $50 million threshold, while roughly 30 to 40 schools have topped the $125 million mark in recent years. Many of those highest earning schools have already publicly announced plans to increase their scholarship totals.

The order also calls on the Secretary of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board to clarify college athletes’ employment status in a way that will “maximize the educational benefits and opportunities” for all athletes. It does not provide any specific timeline for those agencies to act.

As schools begin paying their athletes, college sports leaders remain adamantly opposed to treating them as employees. Those leaders say that many schools could not afford to field the same number of teams if all athletes are declared to be employees. They also say most college athletes do not want to be employees.

Two separate groups of athletes have asked the NLRB to recognize them as employees in the past two years. Both cases were dropped shortly after Trump was elected. If the NLRB declares college athletes are not employees, future athletes will not be able to form a union and bargain for more money or better working conditions.

Several football coaches have recently said they believe it would make more sense — and provide more stability — if their players were considered employees and were able to collectively bargain.

“The best way to do it is to make it where players are employees and you have a salary cap,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm told ESPN earlier this month. “If players are getting paid, why don’t we just do it the correct way? The amateurism isn’t there anymore. Let’s not pretend that it is.”

There is one ongoing federal case (Johnson v. NCAA) that argues athletes should be considered employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The plaintiff’s attorney in that case, Paul McDonald, has previously argued that any action that blocks college athletes from being employees would be unconstitutional because it would treat the work athletes do as different than the work of other students who hold campus jobs.

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NCAA Regional Semifinals against Creighton up next for #2 seed Volleyball on Thursday – Sun Devil Athletics

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TEMPE – No. 2 seed Sun Devil Volleyball is ready for its fourth NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal appearance in program history, facing No. 3 seed Creighton at the Lexington Regional on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m. MST/1 p.m. EST on ESPN2. 

This is the first of the two regional semifinal matches in Lexington, Ky. on Thursday. No. 1 seed Kentucky plays Cal Poly 30 minutes following Arizona State’s match. The winner of both matches will face each other in the regional final on Saturday, Dec. 13. The time will be determined following all matches on Thursday. It will be either 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. EST and will be on ESPN. The winner of this region will advance to the national semifinals in Kansas City on Dec. 18. 

For Arizona State, this is the fourth trip to the round of 16 in program history, second in the last three years. The other years were 2023, 1995 and 1994. Additionally, this is the second time in school history ASU has won two matches in the NCAA Tournament, both under head coach JJ Van Niel. The program record improves to 14-21, 5-2 under Van Niel.

How to follow
The Sun Devils will take on the Bluejays in the first regional semifinal match across the nation on Thursday, starting at 11 a.m. MST. It will be live on ESPN2, with live stats available as well. Updates will be provided on social media on X (@SunDevilVB) and Instagram (@sundevilvolleyball). More information can be found on the NCAA Championship website.

Sun Devil outlook
No. 8 Arizona State (28-3, 17-1 Big 12)

  • Head coach JJ Van Niel has changed the Sun Devil Volleyball program in his three seasons. He has guided the team to back-to-back Big 12 Championships and three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, going 86-13 overall, 5-2 in the postseason. He has been the conference coach of the year in each of his first three seasons as a head coach, the third NCAA volleyball coach to achieve this across the country. The other two are Mary Wise (Florida, 1991-93) and Geoff Carlston (Ohio University, 2003-06). 
  • The regional semifinal match will be Van Niel’s 100th match as a head coach. He has a 86-13 record (.868), all while in Tempe these last three seasons. Of the eight head coaches in the program before him, he has more wins than four of them. He has the best winning percentage of any ASU volleyball head coach through 100 matches, regardless of a win or loss in the regional semifinal.
  • Arizona State is guaranteed at least the second-best winning percentage in program history, currently at .903, which would be second behind 2024’s .909 (30-3). The top three winning percentages in team history are under Van Niel. 
  • Junior opposite Noemie Glover, the Big 12 Player of the Year, has been a force for the Sun Devils this year, particularly in the last three matches. She has hit over .500 in all three wins. She’s hit that clip or better five times. This year, she’s had double-digit kills in all but one match she’s played in, four times surpassing 20 kills. 
  • Not far behind Glover in kill total is senior Bailey Miller, also having a strong offensive season. She’s having her most productive season yet, currently at 383 kills, 50 more than any other year. She’s had double-digit kills in 15 of the last 16 matches and leads the team in double-doubles with 10. 
  • The block has been a big factor in Arizona State’s success this year. There have been 21 matches this season that the team has had double-digit blocks. Three on the roster have over 100 blocks: Colby Neal (168), Ella Lomigora (132) and Glover (108). Neal ranks nationally in blocks, currently No. 7 in blocks per set (1.50) and No. 8 in total blocks.

Opponent outlook
No. 11 Creighton (27-5, 16-0 BIG EAST)

  • The Bluejays have had a strong season, going undefeated in conference play and winning their sixth-consecutive BIG EAST title. This is their third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals, fifth overall. 
  • Hosting the first two rounds, Creighton made the third round after a tough 3-2 win in the first round against Northern Colorado followed by a 3-1 win over UNI in the second round.
  • This will be the second meeting between ASU and Creighton, first since 2002, which the Sun Devils won. 

No. 2 Kentucky (27-2, 15-0 SEC)

  • The Wildcats have won the last 24-straight matches heading into this weekend. They won the SEC Tournament and have won nine SEC titles in a row. Their two losses on the year were to Pitt and Nebraska.
  • As a No. 1 seed (No. 2 overall), Kentucky hosted the first two rounds and is hosting this regional. Kentucky beat Wofford in straight sets in the first round, then beat No. 8 seed UCLA in four sets to advance to the regional semifinals.
  • ASU trails in the all-time series against Kentucky, 1-2. However, all meetings were decades ago, the last meeting being in 1986, which ASU won. 

Cal Poly (27-7, 14-4 Big West)

  • The  Mustangs won the Big West Championship to earn the autobid for the NCAA Tournament, their first postseason appearance since 2018. 
  • This is Cal Poly’s seventh appearance in the regional semifinal in team history, the first since 2007. The Mustangs are the only team in this year’s tournament to take down two seeded teams. 
  • Arizona State leads 4-2 in the all-time series against Cal Poly, last winning in 2021 in straight sets.



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Alum Sidney Yap Honored to Compete for the Philipines at the SEA Games in Thailand

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Sidney Yap, a George Mason alumnus and former track and field athlete, is set to participate in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, taking place December 9-20.

The 33rd edition of the multi-sport event returns to the location of the very first regional Games in 1959, as the Thai capital of Bangkok plays host together with the Chonburi region. The full SEA Games schedule is available to view here.

During his four years as a member of the Patriots’ track and field program, Yap developed into one of Mason’s top throwers, earning multiple Atlantic 10 Championship appearances and cementing his place in the program’s record books. Yap credits his time at George Mason for preparing him to compete at the international level. He believes that the four years of balancing academics, athletics, and an internship gave him the confidence to pursue his dreams.

“I really have to thank all the coaches, professors, and managers that have been through this journey with me the past several years,” said Yap. “Without the support of them, I don’t think I would be where I am at today.”

 

One of Yap’s most memorable moments at George Mason was breaking the school record in men’s hammer throw during the season opener of his final year. He recounts the experience as unexpected but incredibly rewarding, as he had two throws that surpassed the previous record.

 

“It was even more memorable because there was a lot going on throughout the year as a team, and I was fortunate enough to have Coach Becky (Hartley) there,” Yap said. “She was the one that saw something in me and gave me a chance to compete for Mason. Being able to celebrate with her and have that moment where all the hard work is on display, that is something that I will never forget.”

 

Yap’s passion for track and field is what drives him to continue competing. He loves the process, the training, and the constant pursuit of improvement. Despite most athletes retiring after college, Yap felt he had the discipline, drive, and physical ability to keep going.

 

In addition to his love for the sport, representing the Philippines added an extra layer of motivation for Yap. As a first-generation Filipino-American, he takes pride in his heritage and is inspired by the opportunity to wear the country’s colors.

 

“I very much throw to achieve goals that I set for myself,” said Yap. “But to also make my family and friends proud is something that inspires me as well.”

 

Competing in the SEA Games is an opportunity for Yap to honor his family’s heritage. It allows him to visit the Philippines, see his relatives, and express gratitude for the love and support he has received throughout his journey. As Yap prepares to compete in the SEA Games, he looks forward to representing the Philippines and contributing to the success of his country.

 

“It makes me very proud being able to represent where my family comes from,” Yap said. “I can’t express my gratitude to all the family and friends who have shown me love and support through this journey. At the end of the day, I want to make them proud.”

His dedication, discipline, and love for the sport continue to drive him towards achieving his goals and making his family and friends proud.

Beyond athletics, Yap has also begun building a successful professional career. A graduate of four academic programs from the Costello College of Business, Yap currently works for Navy Federal Credit Union, where he supports member-focused financial services and applies the same discipline and work ethic that defined his collegiate experience. Balancing full-time work with elite-level training has strengthened his time-management skills and reinforced his commitment to pursuing excellence both on and off the field. Read the recent article on Yap’s career success LINK.

“I have trained ever so hard for this moment, and I have faith leading up to these games that I know I can put out a solid performance,” said Yap. “Likewise, I personally want to contribute towards the success and make the country proud.”

 





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Top seeds advance, Penn State out

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Dec. 8, 2025, 2:52 p.m. ET



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Chargers’ Anna Roessner named G-MAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week (Dec. 2-8)

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In terms of first impressions, it’s hard to make a better one on the collegiate track and field scene than Hillsdale College freshman Anna Roessner.

Roessner has been awarded the G-MAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week award, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon, after a stunning debut performance at the GVSU Holiday Open. It’s the first G-MAC track and field award to be handed out this season.

All Roessner did in her first-ever collegiate race, a 60 meter dash prelim, was obliterate the old Hillsdale school record of 7.58 held jointly by Kajsa Johansson and Lucy Minning by over two-tenths of a second, and also break the G-MAC record of 7.41 held by past All-Americans Kya Epps of Walsh and Jordan Taylor of Findlay. Her time of 7.36 is currently the fastest time in the nation in NCAA Division II, in the top 10 collegiately regardless of division, and would have placed fourth in the nation at last year’s NCAA DII Indoor Championships.

Roessner proved her time wasn’t a fluke in the final, running a 7.41 to take first in the event, and also ran a solid 200 meter dash, placing third with a respectable opening time of 24.81. Her 60 meter time gives her an excellent chance to be selected for the 2026 NCAA DII Indoor Championships in March at Virginia Beach, and she’ll have plenty of time to try and improve on it throughout the rest of the spring, with several meets in January and February and a very competitive sprint conference in the G-MAC to race against.

The Chargers will next be in action on Jan. 16, coming back from Christmas Break to compete in the Al Campbell Invite hosted by the University of Akron.



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PREVIEW: Montana Awaits the Coyotes in FCS Quarterfinals

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12.08.2025


VERMILLION, S.D. — The story continues for the 2025 South Dakota football team, adventuring to the state of Montana for the second-straight FCS Playoffs as they head to Missoula, Montana to battle the No. 3-seeded Montana Grizzlies on Saturday, December 13 in the FCS Quarterfinals from Washington-Grizzly Stadium led by the new South Dakota career passing leader Aidan Bouman
 
The game will televisted on ABC with Roy Philpott (PxP), Sam Acho (analyst), and Taylor Davis (sideline) on the call for the 2025 FCS Quarterfinals. You can listen to the voice of the Coyotes John Thayer on the Coyote Sports Network beginning at 1:30 p.m. (CT) for the pre-game show with former Coyote Gary Culver joining Thayer for the call at 2:30 p.m. (CT).
 













FCS QUARTERFINALS | No. 11-seed SOUTH DAKOTA (10-4, 6-2 MVFC) at No. 3-seed MONTANA (12-1, 7-1 Big Sky)
Date | Time Saturday, December 13 | 1:30 PM (MT) / 2:30 PM (CT)
Location Missoula, Mont. | Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217)
Fan Information Tickets | Parking | Game Day Info
Television ABC – Roy Philpott (PxP), Sam Acho (Analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline)
Radio Coyote Sports Network (John Thayer, Gary Culver) [KVHT 106.3 FM]
Live Stats NCAA
Game Notes South Dakota | Montana | MVFC | College Pressbox
Digital Program NCAA Program
Social Media @SDCoyotesFB Twitter | #GoYotes | @sdcoyotesfb Instagram | Facebook Facebook

YOTES IN THE FCS PLAYOFFS

  • South Dakota makes their fifth trip to the FCS Playoffs this season (2017, 2021, 2023-25) and third-straight trip.
  • It’s the first trip for head coach Travis Johansen in his first season as head coach, though he’s been a part of four total trips now as defensive coordinator and/or head coach. 
  • Six of the 10 total FCS Playoff games for South Dakota have been played in the DakotaDome, while Saturday’s game at Montana will be the fifth road FCS Playoff game.
  • The Yotes are set to clash with what’s proven to be the most frequent conference in the FCS Playoff with their fourth meeting against a Big Sky school in the playoffs.
  • QB Aidan Bouman is just one of two USD QBs to play in multiple FCS Playoff games (Streveler, 2017). He’s the only QB to throw for 1,000+ yards in the playoffs.
  • South Dakota is undefeated in FCS Playoff games when they score first (4-0), lead at halftime (5-0), force 3+ takeaways (4-0), and/or holds the ball for 30+ minutes of game action (3-0).

 
KEY STORYLINES

  • South Dakota and Montana are set to meet for the 21st time in program history on Saturday with the first-ever meeting in the FCS Playoffs.
  • This season South Dakota is 7-2 when scoring first, 7-0 when leading at halftime, 7-1 when not committing a turnover, 5-0 with a rusher over 150+ yards in the game, and 5-0 with a receiver having 100+ yards in the game.
  • The Yotes are 4-2 against top-25 FCS opponents this season with all four wins coming in the months of November and December.
  • USD had a stretch of not committing a turnover in six-straight games did not commit a turnover in six of the eight MVFC games this season. It’s now eight games this season without a turnover, following the Mercer game (Dec. 6).
  • PACING THE FCS: L.J. Phillips Jr. LEADS the FCS net rushing yards (1,847), fourth in carries (279), fourth in rushing yards per game (131.9), T7th in rushing touchdowns (18), and sixth in yards per carry (6.62).
  • Phillips Jr. has climbed the top-10 single-season all-time list for rushing yards, sitting SECOND entering heading to Missoula. He needs 115 yards to set a new single-season program record.  
  • Phillips Jr. became the 12th Coyote – and third in the Division I FCS era – to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a single season against Northern Iowa (Oct. 18).
  • Aidan Bouman holds a 32-13 (45 games) record as the starting quarterback at South Dakota and has thrown a touchdown pass in 12 of the 14 games this season with a new season – and career-high five touchdowns in the regular season finale at Southern Illinois.
  • After the Mercer game, Bouman is now the South Dakota career passing yards leader (9,047) and SECOND all-time in career passing touchdowns (66).
  • Bouman has now thrown 11 touchdown passes in the last three games.
  • With 11 100-yard rushing games this season (nine from Phillips Jr., two from Fletcher), South Dakota now has had 78 100-yard rushing games in the Division I FCS era with Phillips Jr.’s 301 yards against Northern Colorado being the Division I single-game record.
  • Walsh (at Lamar), Roman Tillmon (vs. UNC), Nate Ewell (at NDSU; at UNI; vs. UND; at SIU; vs. Drake) are the only three Yotes with 10+ tackles in a game this season with Tillmon (14) now holding the season high.
  • Mikey Munn has been on a tear at cornerback with a career-high two interceptions (x2; vs. Drake, Sept 20; at Mercer, Dec. 6) and leads the team with ten (10) pass-break ups on the season.
  • South Dakota has won 20 of their last 24 MVFC games dating back to the 2023 season.
  • South Dakota is in their 130th season of college football and with their 31st head coach in program history.  
  • Last week, head coach Travis Johansen became the first coach to win double-digit games in their first season as head coach at South Dakota.
  • South Dakota holds an all-time program record of 590-568-35 entering Saturday. In the Division I FCS era, South Dakota has won 96 games (96-108).

 
MONTANA GRIZZLIES

  • Led by Bobby Hauck in his 14th full season in Missoula, he picked up his 150th win leading the Griz with the 50-29 win over South Dakota State last weekend in the Second Round.
  • Montana won their first 11 games of the season before dropping a top-5 clash to in-state rival Montana State to end the regular season and finished with a 11-1 record.
  • Earning the No. 3 national seed, the Griz had a First Round bye before a dominant win over SDSU last time out.
  • The Griz are 2-0 against MVFC teams this season – both games in Missoula – defeating SDSU and North Dakota (24-23 back in September).
  • QB Keali’I Ah Yat has thrown for over 3,500 passing yards this season with 29 touchdowns to help the Griz to their 12-1 mark. He leads an offense that boasts a top-10 FCS passing offense (286.6 yards per game) and top-5 total offense (466.1 yards per game).
  • The defense, however, has struggled to stop opponents’ passing attacks. The Griz sit 115th of 126 FCS programs, allowing 263.6 passing yards per game.

 
SERIES HISTORY

  • South Dakota and Montana have met 20 previous times, with Montana leading the all-time series, 14-6.
  • Montana has won eight-straight games in the series with South Dakota never defeating the Griz since going Division I (0-5).
  • In Missoula, the Griz lead the series 11-3 with the last South Dakota win coming in Montana back in 1965.
  • It marks the fourth Big Sky opponent for South Dakota in the FCS Playoffs (USD, 2-1).
Stay up to date with all things Coyotes by following South Dakota Athletics on Facebook /SDCoyotes, X (Twitter) @SDCoyotes, and Instagram @sdcoyotes
#GoYotes x #WeAreSouthDakota





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Wildcats of the Week: December 1-7

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –  Daimoni Dorsey of B-CU Women’s Basketball and Sha’Nard Walker of B-CU Track & Field have been named Wildcats of the Week for the week of December 1-7, 2025. 

Daimoni Dorsey put together an offensive masterclass in an HBCU Invitational victory over Livingstone College. The senior guard scored a career-high 24 points on an efficient 9-for-15 performance from the field, including four makes on six attempts from three-point range. She also added two rebounds, two assists, and a season-high four steals.

 Sha’Nard Walker set an event record in the 300m to highlight the start of indoor season, Saturday at the Birmingham Indoor Icebreaker at the Birmingham Crossplex. Walker finished first in the 300m with an event-record 33.56.

Each week, The Bethune-Cookman Office of Athletic Communications recognizes one male and one female student-athlete through the Wildcats of the Week award.

This award recognizes student-athletes who have excelled in competition, in the classroom, and in the community over the past week, exemplifying the Championship Culture of Wildcat Athletics. 

2025-26 Wildcats of the Week

December 1-7

W: Daimoni Doresey, Women’s Basketball

M: Sha’Nard Walker, Track & Field

November 24-30

W: Chanelle McDonald, Women’s Basketball

M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball

November 17-23

W: Jordan Brooks, Women’s Basketball

M: Timmy McClain, Football

November 10-16

W: Shayla Henry, Volleyball

M: Javon Ross, Football

November 3-9

W: Madison Molock, Tennis

M: Arterio Morris, Men’s Basketball

October 27-November 2

W: Amya Jennings, Volleyball

M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country

October 20-26

W: Sthefany Carvalho, Volleyball

M: Jaylen Lewis, Football

October 13-19

W: Melissa Gonzalez, Volleyball

M: N/A (No Men’s Competition this Week)

October 6-12

W: Valencia Butler, Cross Country

M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country

September 29-October 5

W: Amya Jennings, Volleyball

M: Ali Scott Jr., Football

September 22-28

W: Sierra Herndon, Volleyball

M: Javon Ross, Football

September 15-21

W: Zahara El-Zein

M: Maleek Huggins, Football

September 8-14

W: Nola Hemphill, Volleyball

M: Cam’Ron Ransom, Football

September 1-7

W: Reese Wilson, Women’s Golf

M: Stephen Sparrow Jr., Football

August 25 – 31

W: Kaleigh Williams, Volleyball

M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country

For all the latest Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Facebook (Bethune-Cookman Athletics), X (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUAthletics.com
 



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