It’s hard to believe the 2025 Cheboygan-area fall sports season has been done for a while now.

Whether it was volleyball, cross country, or golf, there were great athletes across the board.  

Who do you think was the best girls athlete in the Cheboygan area this past fall? Be sure to vote in this poll, which opens on Monday, Dec. 29, and closes on Thursday, Jan. 1, at 11 p.m.

Here’s a look at the candidates:  

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –   Jordan Johnson of B-CU Men’s Basketball have been named Wildcat of the Week for the week of December 22-28, 2025.

Jordan Johnson was excellent for B-CU in a road contest at the No. 1 team in the nation, Arizona. He posted a team-high 18 points on 7-10 shooting including a 4-6 clip from three, two assists, and a rebound. 

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 22-28

W: N/A (No Women’s Competition This Week

M: Jordan Johnson, Men’s Basketball

December 15-21

W: Tyler Butler, Women’s Basketball

M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball

December 8-14

W: N/A (No Women’s Competition This Week

M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball

December 1-7

W: Daimoni Dorsey, 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. 

 

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Director of Athletics Nathan Christensen announced Monday afternoon that Ted Kopacz has been named the 11th head volleyball coach in Sycamore history.
 
“I’m thrilled to welcome Ted to the Sycamores as our head volleyball coach,” said Christensen. “From the very beginning, Ted quickly emerged as the leader we wanted to guide our program. He is one of the brightest young minds and a tireless recruiter in the sport, earning strong recommendations from across the country. Ted has won multiple championships and brings valuable experience working with high-level student-athletes. With deep roots in the Midwest, he understands the exceptional volleyball talent surrounding Indiana State University. Please join me in welcoming Ted and his family to the Wabash Valley.”
 
“I am incredibly humbled and honored to be named Head Coach of the Indiana State Volleyball Program,” Kopacz said. “I want to thank Nathan Christensen, Angie Lansing, and President Godard for their trust and support. Their thoughtfulness and vision for the University and the Athletic Department showcased their passion to work together to build something special in Terre Haute and the surrounding Vigo County Community.”
 
The Libertyville, Illinois native played club volleyball at Indiana University where he was a captain and earned All-Big Ten and All-MIVA honors. Kopacz graduated from Indiana with a degree in Informatics and Computing with a specialty in Sports Marketing and Management. He has recorded coaching stints at Colorado State, Nebraska Omaha, and Colorado, as well as with USA Volleyball.
 
“Indiana is a hotbed for volleyball and the sport is barreling towards becoming the next major sport across the country,” Kopacz said. “I’m determined to build a program rooted in work ethic, problem solving, and collaboration, one that is competitive not just in the Valley, but across the Midwest. I am fired up to get started with this talented group of student-athletes and to make the University and community proud. Go Sycamores!”
 
Kopacz spent two seasons at Colorado State as the lead defensive coach, implementing an opportunistic style of play and mindset focused on improving team defense. The Rams went from last in the conference in opponent hitting efficiency in 2023, to first in both 2024 (.190) and 2025 (.187). Among his individual work included daily practice planning focusing on blocking, team defense, middle/setter offense and overall team development, mapping individual development plans for each athlete.
 
The Rams’ defensive success propelled Colorado State to both the 2024 Mountain West Conference regular season and tournament championship, earning the program’s first NCAA Tournament Berth since 2019. He guided 2024 AVCA All-American Malaya Jones during the run, while Jones and Emery Herman both recorded AVCA All-Region honors.
 
He also served as the head coach of the 2024 Mountain West All-Star team that finished as the Silver Medalists at the Global Challenge Tournament held in Pula, Croatia.
 
Prior to the Rams, Kopacz spent the last two seasons as an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Nebraska Omaha. At Omaha, he mentored the setter position and assisted in the development of offensive game-plans. Kopacz helped Omaha to their first D1 NCAA tournament appearance and first Summit League Championship in 2023. His work with the program included mentoring AVCA All-American McKenna Ruch, while also helping guide Ruch and Shayla McCormick to AVCA All-Region honors.

Kopacz started his college coaching career at the University of Colorado in January of 2021 as a Volunteer Assistant Coach. With the Buffaloes, he assisted with the training of first contact and floor defense and helped design scouting reports and prepare the scout team.

After graduation from Indiana in 2016, he worked in Benefits Administration, most recently as a Senior Account Manager at bswift, while consulting for several different clubs and high school teams in the Chicagoland area.

 

Follow the Sycamores

For the latest information on the Sycamore Volleyball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.

The University of Colorado Boulder has selected Fernando Lovo to lead its premier athletic department, CU Chancellor Justin Schwartz announced today.  Lovo, who comes to Boulder from the University of New Mexico, was approved by unanimous vote of the CU Board of Regents and will succeed Rick George, who will transition to an AD Emeritus role.  Lovo will officially start on January 1, 2026. 
 
“When we began our national search for a new Director of Athletics, we sought someone of high character, committed to the student-athlete experience who has an innovative approach to revenue generation,” said Schwartz. “Fernando is a dynamic leader who is perfect for these dynamic times and embodies CU’s high standards and values. He has a proven track record of leading student-athletes to success both in competition and in the classroom, and I’m confident that he is the perfect steward to lead CU Athletics into this new era of college athletics. We are thrilled to welcome Fernando, Jordan, Liam and Layla to the Buffalo family.”
 
After joining New Mexico as Vice President/Director of Athletics in December, 2024, Lovo presided over eight Mountain West titles, tied for the fourth-most in school history and the most of any Mountain West school last year. UNM finished 2024-2025 ranked 49th in the Learfield Director’s Cup, tops among all Group of 5 schools and is off to another strong start this year, finishing the fall ranked 20th, which also leads the G5.  The Lobos also set numerous academic records, including a Mountain West record 231 Scholar-Athlete selections, which goes to student-athletes who have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher, and 273 conference All-Academic Team members, which recognizes those student-athletes who have cumulative GPA for the academic year of 3.0 or higher. 
 
“I’m honored to join this incredible group of student-athletes, coaches and staff at a tremendous institution that strives for excellence and espouses the right values,” said Lovo. “We are in a time of extraordinary change in college athletics and Colorado should lead the way in shaping what comes next. I look forward to helping our student-athletes succeed in every aspect of their lives while bringing championships to Buff Nation. I am sincerely grateful to the CU Board of Regents, President Saliman, and Chancellor Schwartz for this incredible opportunity to lead this iconic department and its storied programs.  I am also honored to take over leadership of CU Boulder Athletics from Rick George, one of the legendary athletic directors in the country.”  
 
In just his second week on the job at New Mexico, Lovo was tasked with hiring a new football coach and brought in Jason Eck, who promptly led the Lobos to a 9-3 regular season record, their first nine-win season since 2016 and a berth in the Rate Bowl against Minnesota, while earning Mountain West Coach of the Year honors. Lovo also hired basketball coach Eric Olen from UC San Diego in what is widely considered one of the best hires of the offseason and who has UNM off to a 10-2 start this year.  
 
Lovo also led the UNM Athletic Department to a record revenue year, growing the overall operating budget of the department by 17.6% from FY25 to FY26, and achieving record marks in ticket sales, multimedia rights, parking, concessions, and trademark and licensing revenue, along with a record year in Lobo Club fundraising.
 

Prior to becoming Vice President/Director of Athletics for New Mexico, Lovo had two stints at the University of Texas at Austin, during which he served in a number of administrative roles.  Beginning in December 2021, he was Senior Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Operations before quickly being promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director, Facilities, Capital Projects & Game Operations. His final position with the Longhorns was as Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director- Operations, where, in addition to serving as sports coordinator for men’s basketball and men’s and women’s tennis, he oversaw nearly half a billion dollars in capital projects.  
 
Lovo first joined UT as Chief of Staff for Football from 2016 through early 2021 before taking the position of Chief of Staff with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.  

A native of New Orleans, Lovo grew up in Miami. He and his wife, Jordan, have two children, Liam and Layla.

Atlanta (3)

Atlanta finished first in the regular season standings with a 13-3 record before falling in the semifinals. The squad returns three AU stars to the roster, led by libero Piyanut Pannoy, who finished 14th on the AU leaderboard this fall with 1,957 points and ranked third in the league with 139 digs. Also returning are middle blocker Onye Ofoegbu and opposite hitter Tessa Grubbs.

AU Players: Piyanut Pannoy, Onye Ofoegbu, Tessa Grubbs

Houston (4)

Houston finished second in the regular season standings with a 10-6 record before falling in the semifinals. The squad is loaded with AU talent, headlined by 2025 AU champion Jordan Thompson, who earned 2025 LOVB Icons Second Team honors and set league records during her dominant fall campaign. Also joining Houston are libero Justine Wong-Orantes, who moved from Omaha after playing every AU match this fall and tallying 106 digs, outside hitter Madi Kingdon Rishel, who finished fifth on the AU leaderboard, and setter Micha Hancock, who ranked third in the league with 9.80 assists per set during the AU season.

AU Players: Jordan Thompson, Justine Wong-Orantes, Madi Kingdon Rishel, Micha Hancock

 

Madison (3)

Madison finished third in the regular season standings with an 8-8 record before falling in the quarterfinals. The squad returns three AU stars, including outside hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara, who finished 20th on the AU leaderboard with 1,706 points, and outside hitter Claire Chaussee, who carved out a specialized defensive role and finished 28th overall. They’re joined by LOVB first-timer, middle blocker Annayka Legros, who brings nearly a decade of international experience and made her AU debut this fall.

AU Players: Claire Chaussee, Annayka Legros, Temi Thomas-Ailara

Salt Lake (11)

Salt Lake boasts the largest group of AU stars with 11 athletes on the roster. The squad features outside hitter Dani Drews, who earned her second career AU podium finish with a fourth-place showing and 2,493 points, and middle blocker Sophie Fischer, who took the league by storm in her first full pro season and recorded the highest block total of any AU rookie with 24. Also joining Salt Lake are setter Madi Bugg, who moved from Atlanta after ranking fifth in both assists and setting efficiency across LOVB last season; libero Manami Kojima, the 2025 LOVB Libero of the Year, who ranked second in the AU with 140 digs; outside hitter Claire Hoffman, who finished seventh on the AU leaderboard; and middle blocker Tori Dixon, who ranked third in AU this fall with a 0.70 blocks-per-set average. Rounding out the roster are outside hitter Alexa Gray, middle blocker Serena Gray, outside hitter Madi Haynes, opposite Heydi Casanova, and opposite Skylar Fields.

AU Players: Dani Drews, Madi Haynes, Skylar Fields, Sophie Fischer, Tori Dixon, Alexa Gray, Madi Bugg, Serena Gray, Manami Kojima, Claire Hoffman, Heydi Casanova

 

Nebraska (3)

Nebraska (formerly LOVB Omaha) finished last in the regular season standings with a 5-11 record but made an impressive run in the postseason by upsetting Madison and second-seeded Houston to reach the finals before settling for the runner-up title. The squad features three AU stars, including middle blocker Emily Thater, who broke into the top five blockers during the AU season and ranked fourth in the league with a 0.68 blocks-per-set average. Also joining the roster are outside hitter Jaali Winters and setter Gabby Blossom.

AU Players: Emily Thater, Jaali Winters, Gabby Blossom

Austin (3)

Austin finished fifth in the regular season standings with a 5-11 record but shocked the league by upsetting Salt Lake and top-seeded Atlanta to capture the LOVB Finals crown. The squad features three AU stars, including middle blocker Molly McCage, who claimed her third consecutive Blocker of the Year award after leading the 2025 Championship with a 0.94 blocks-per-set average. She’s joined by opposite Khat Bell and rookie middle blocker Bella Bergmark, who ranked fifth in the league in blocks per set during her AU debut.

AU Players: Khat Bell, Molly McCage, Bella Bergmark

 

Season 2 of League One Volleyball returns on January 7 with the first serve to take place between Nebraska and the hosting Austin team.

Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.