Sports
Duke Kahanamoku OceanFest kicks off in Waikiki
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Duke Kahanamoku OceanFest kicks of this weekend in Waikiki, celebrating the life and legacy of the man known as the father of modern surfing.
The opening ceremony for the annual event begins at 5 p.m. at the Duke Kahanamoku statue, which will be draped in fresh lei.
The public is invited to join as competitors and fans come together for hula and Hawaiian music.
The weeklong festival runs from Aug. 15 to 24, and brings together local, national, and international competitors in the sports Duke loved most.
Also happening Friday, the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation will reveal the design of a new specialty license plate honoring the famed waterman during the opening ceremony.
License plate sales will support drowning prevention and swimming programs statewide while commemorating the legacy of Hawaii’s legendary Olympic swimmer and surfing ambassador.
The plate was designed by local artist Kamea Hadar, known for paintings that celebrate Hawaiian culture and iconic figures.
The specialty plates will be available for purchase later this year through DMV vehicle registration offices across the islands.
This year’s OceanFest features surfing, swimming, outrigger canoeing, paddleboard racing, and surfboard water polo, along with modern water sports like foiling and even dog surfing.
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Sports
Track & Field Opens Indoor Season Saturday at Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational
HOUSTON – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) track & field teams will open their indoor seasons Saturday at the Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational hosted by Houston at the Yeoman Fieldhouse.
Competition begins with field events at 10 a.m. Running events will start at 1:30 p.m. Participating teams include the Vaqueros and hosting Cougars, Southland Conference (SLC) foes Lamar and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas, Rice (men only), Prairie View A&M, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Huston-Tillotson, Jacksonville College, St. Thomas (TX), and Texas Southern.
The Vaqueros are familiar with Yeoman Fieldhouse and have had success at the facility. UTRGV’s sprinters will be competing en masse to show where they are early in the season and try to earn their way onto a relay. UTRGV will see 12 student-athletes make their Vaqueros debuts at the meet.
Returners to watch include Efe Latham, Nayla Harris, Jizzale Davis, Aaron Cooper, Keamonie Archie, Corin Burns and Richard Young. Harris and Davis were UTRGV’s top women’s sprinters in 2025 and come into the new season with high expectations. Cooper and Archie headline the talented men’s jumps squad. Burns and Young shined in the men’s sprints last season and are sure to continue stacking up record book marks in 2026.
Meet Schedule
Field Events
Women’s weight throw, 10 a.m.
Efe Latham
Women’s shot put, following weight throw competition
Efe Latham
Men’s shot put, following women’s
Antoine Walker
Men’s high jump, 11 a.m.
Zaire Cunningham
Paul Agba
Women’s long jump, 1:30 p.m.
Saniyah Richardson
Nayla Harris
Men’s long jump, 1:30 p.m.
Keamonie Archie
Women’s triple jump, following long jump
La’Zariah Bethany
Avianna Miller
Men’s triple jump, following long jump
Aaron Cooper
Hebrew Hunter
Running Events
Women’s 60-meter dash semifinal, 1:30 p.m.
Aliyah Castillo
Nayla Harris
Jizzale Davis
Aniya Heckstall
Treasure Vallerie
Kaliyah Poston
Ashley Lingueno
Men’s 60-meter dash semifinal, 1:50 p.m.
Richard Young
Derrick Hahn
Alejandro Arellano
Corin Burns
Gael Romo
Keamonie Archie
Men’s 600-yard run, 2:25 p.m.
Derrius Henry
Men’s 60-meter hurdles semifinal, 2:35 p.m.
Daniel Siaffa
Jaylen Critton
Jefferson Jean
Braydn Gilliam
Women’s 60-meter hurdles semifinal, 2:50 p.m.
Dior Williams
Madisyn Jackson
Ashley Lingueno
Talyna Ligier
Trezur Connley
Women’s mile, 3:05 p.m.
Lilliana Guerrero
N Vanee Anchike
Faith Cruz
Kailey Salazar
Men’s mile, 3:20 p.m.
Adrianno Gonzalez
Abraham Morales
Nirmit Dahiya
Women’s 400-meter dash, 3:35 p.m.
Madisyn Jackson
Talyna Ligier
Men’s 400-meter dash, 3:50 p.m.
Jaylen Critton
Daniel Siaffa
Sam Johnson II
Women’s 60-meter hurdles final, 4:10 p.m.
TBD
Men’s 60-meter hurdles final, 4:15 p.m.
TBD
Women’s 60-meter dash final, 4:20 p.m.
TBD
Men’s 60-meter dash final, 4:25 p.m.
TBD
Women’s 1,000-meter run, 4:30 p.m.
N Vanee Anchike
Men’s 800-meter run, 4:50 p.m.
Diego Pina
Women’s 200-meter dash, 5 p.m.
Trezur Connley
Madisyn Jackson
Dior Williams
Talyna Ligier
Aliyah Castillo
Saniyah Richardson
Treasure Vallerie
Kaliyah Poston
Aniyah Heckstall
Jizzale Davis
Men’s 200-meter dash, 5:25 p.m.
Braydn Gilliam
Jefferson Jean
Jaylen Critton
Daniel Siaffa
Derrick Hahn
Gael Romo
Alejandro Arellano
Corin Burns
Richard Young
Women’s 3,000-meter run, 6 p.m.
Faith Cruz
Sports
Four from Lion Volleyball named to SLC Volleyball All-Academic team
FRISCO – The East Texas A&M University volleyball team had four volleyball players named to the Southland Conference Volleyball All-Academic Team on Friday morning.
Gracie Campbell (Klein Oak), Rendi Fetty (Farmersville), Haley Mullaney (Victory Christian Academy), and Jade Washington (Waco – Midway) are the four honorees for the Lions.
To be eligible for the Southland All-Academic team, each nominee must have a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale); completed at least ONE full semester at the nominating institution during the season in which the nomination occurs; and participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s meets in the position listed on this form during the most recently completed season.
Campbell was named to first team All-Southland last season, while also earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team honors. She is also a Dean’s List scholar and has been named to the Southland Commissioner’s Honor Roll throughout her career. Campbell is a business administration major.
Fetty appeared in 26 matches last season and has also been named to the Dean’s List. She is a communication studies major.
Mullaney was also named to the CSC Academic All-District team and serves as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at East Texas A&M. She appeared in all 28 matches last season and is a Dean’s List Scholar and was named to the SLC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Mullaney is an early childhood education major.
Washington was named to first team All-Southland following her freshman season, appearing in 28 games. She is a Dean’s List recipient and is a psychology major.
2025 SOUTHLAND VOLLEYBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS
STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Isabella Costantini, UTRGV, Jr., Multidisciplinary Studies
2025 Southland Volleyball All-Academic Team
EAST TEXAS A&M
Gracie Campbell, Sr., Business Administration
Rendi Fetty, Sr., Communication Studies
Haley Mullaney, Jr., Early Childhood Education
Jade Washington, So., Psychology
HCU
Allana Archie, Jr., Psychology
Katy Barger, So., Allied Health
Joya Euhus, Fr., International Business
Peyton Fadal, So., Allied Health
Hannah Redrow, Jr., Marketing
UIW
Alex Beauchamp, So., Business Administration
Vanessa Eregie, So., Nursing
Finely Evans, Biology
Kyla Malone, Sr., Healthcare Science
LAMAR
Alexa Gonzalez, So., Marketing
Lyric Jordan, Jr., Exercise Science
Hailey McElrath, So., Communication Broadcasting
Taisha Rhone, Jr., Exercise Science
Daniella Udegbunam, R-Fr., University Studies
MCNEESE
Neal Grace Berry, Fr., Agricultural Sciences
Lauren Fuller, Sr., Health & Human Performance
Ava Henry, Fr., Marketing
Kinga Ziolkowska, Fr., Marketing
NEW ORLEANS
Vanae Sapp, Gr., Master’s Counselor Education
Alessandra Meoni, Gr., Mathematics
Defne Eciroglu, Jr., Chemistry
Lani Alleman, Jr., Psychology
Courtney Roundtree, Sr., Sociology
NICHOLLS
Tierney Terrell, Jr., Psychology
NORTHWESTERN STATE
Olivia Bush, Jr., Business
Julia Whitfield, Fr., Business
Emmarie McFarland, Fr., Criminal Justice
Samaya Wesson, Jr., Marketing
Makenna Tryon, Jr., Marketing
SOUTHEASTERN
India Bennett, R-Sr., Integrated Science and Technology
Ainsley Driska, Jr., Child Life
Lily Morgan, Sr., Kinesiology
Alexis Logarbo, Sr., Biological Sciences
Peyton Stokley, Sr., Biological Sciences
SFA
Caroline Kahle, Sr., Kinesiology Teaching
Kyanna Creecy, Jr., Kinesiology Teaching
Jayden Flynn, Sr., Communication Sciences and Disorders
Izabella Ortiz, Sr., Kinesiology
Katherine Holtman, So., Biology
TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
Brooklyn Jaeger, Jr., Kinesiology
Virginia Van Der Werff, So., Biomedical Studies
Kenna Buchanan, Jr., Kinesiology
Katelyn Krienke, Sr., Biomedical Sciences
Kaitlyn Baumann, Sr., English
UTRGV
Isabella Costantini, Jr., Multidisciplinary Studies
Martina Franco, So., Kinesiology
Dimitra Nanou, Fr., Biology
Julianna Bryant, Jr., Criminal Justice
Valentina Sarti Cipriani, Sr., Mass Communication
-ETAMU-
Sports
Bulldogs Host UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville track & field team will officially open its 2026 season by hosting the UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International this Saturday (Jan. 10).
The Bulldogs are hosting the inaugural Collegiate Track and Field meet in Tryon Athletics state of the art Mondo Super X 720 Indoor Track. The facility will later host the Big South Indoor Championships Feb. 27-28.
The meet will begin at 10 a.m. starting with the women’s pole vault and men’s and women’s 3k and will conclude with the 4x400m relays at 5:15 p.m. Results for all events tomorrow can be found here.
EARLY SEASON RESULTS
Seven members of the program opened their seasons at the Winston-Salem College Kick-Off on Dec. 6, with early-season excitement as two school record resets and three additional personal bests highlighted the event. Alison Graf set a new school record in the women’s mile with a time of 4:56.64, and Aneta Kucerová dropped the women’s 3,000m record to 9:54.49.
To stay updated with all things surrounding Asheville track & field, follow the team on 𝕩.
Sports
Reese Gregory named Vermont Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year
Jan. 9, 2026, 2:45 p.m. ET
For the sixth consecutive year a girls volleyball player from Essex High School earned the coveted honor as the Vermont’s 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year. This year, senior setter Reese Gregory earned the honor, Gatorade announced on Jan. 9.
The Gatorade award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, high academic achievement and exemplary character.
A 5-foot-5 setter, Gregory compiled 368 assists, 74 digs and 48 aces as the Hornets (17-0) won their fifth straight championship. Gregory finished her career having never lost a match as Essex has won 86 consecutive games. The senior holds the state career record for assists with 1,270.
A member of the Essex High School Athletic Leadership Council, Gregory has volunteered locally at pumpkin carving events, toy drives and by reading to students at elementary schools. She has also donated her time helping to organize school events such as pep rallies, a coaches appreciation breakfast and teacher/staff appreciation games.
“She gets to every second ball and makes a set that is user-friendly to any and all positions,” said Bert Berthiaume, head coach at BFA-St. Albans. “She’s hard to read as a defender, because once you think you have her figured out, she will change up her strategy. Reese is also a class act on the court, supporting her teammates and treating the opposition with respect.”
Gregory has maintained a 3.32 GPA in the classroom. She remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.
As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every player of the year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner.
To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.
Contact Judith Altneu at JAltneu@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.
Sports
VB | Gaels Snag Makenzie Jackson out of the Portal from Montana State
Standing at 6-2, Jackson is an opposite who comes to Moraga with three years of playing eligibility. After redshirting in her first year at Montana State, Jackson debuted in 2025, appearing in 23 of 28 matches, and tallying 68 kills, 28 digs and 24 blocks. She had a breakout 12 kill performance against Big Sky foe Eastern Washington in a come from behind five set victory for the Bobcats. Originally from Helena, Montana, Jackson led Helena High School to a league title as a junior, and was named first team All-Conference as a senior. She also competed in jumps on the track and field team.
With the graduation of starting opposite Genevieve Bane, Jackson should immediately compete for playing time in her first season in Moraga.
#GaelsRise
Sports
USF Beach Volleyball Announces Inaugural 2026 Season Schedule
USF opens its inaugural season Feb. 20 at Tulane;
Will host two home events on Clearwater Beach.
TAMPA, FLA., JAN. 9, 2026 – University of South Florida Beach Volleyball Head Coach Pri Piantadosi-Lima has announced the program’s competition schedule for its inaugural 2026 season, marking a historic milestone as the newest varsity sport within USF Athletics.
The Bulls, which open their debut campaign February 20–21 at Tulane and will face a challenging slate that features seven teams that were ranked in the final 2025 AVCA Collegiate Beach Volleyball Poll, including No. 8 Florida State (two meetings), No. 11 LSU, No. 15 FAU, No. 17 Georgia State, No. 18 FGCU and No. 20 Washington.
South Florida will host a pair of two-day tournaments on Clearwater Beach during its inaugural season. The Bulls will welcome teams for the Stampede Beach Opener March 27–28 and The Gulf Front Invitational April 17–18. Home events will feature five or six teams with several matches each day, highlighted by marquee matches generally in the 1:30-3:30 p.m. window each day.
Admission to all South Florida home beach volleyball events is free.
“This schedule represents years of building, planning, and believing in what USF Beach Volleyball will become,” Piantadosi-Lima said. “We are ready to compete and officially represent the University of South Florida on the sand. Our players have been building toward this moment, and beginning our first NCAA season is something we take great pride in.”
USF will compete in beach volleyball as a member of Conference USA. FAU is the defending conference champion after winning the 2025 CUSA Beach Volleyball Tournament. The 10-team league also includes FIU, Jacksonville State, Missouri State, Sam Houston, Tarleton State, Tulane, UAB and UTEP.
Following the season opener at Tulane, the Bulls travel to Florida State February 27–28 to face a Seminoles program that reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament last year.
South Florida returns to the Tampa Bay area March 6–7 for matches at the University of Tampa, marking the Bulls’ first local competition before their home debut later in the month.
The Bulls continue play at Coastal Carolina March 13–14 before hosting their first-ever home event, the Stampede Beach Opener, March 27–28 on the sands of Clearwater Beach. The two-day showcase will feature teams from Sacramento State, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, UAB and UTEP and will introduce South Florida Beach Volleyball to the Tampa Bay community.
“Playing our first match at Tulane will be a moment this program remembers forever, but bringing this sport home to Clearwater Beach is something truly special,” Piantadosi-Lima said. “It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, and also a well-known beach volleyball Mecca where Olympians have come to compete here. We can’t wait for our fans to experience our team up close for the first time.”
USF resumes competition at Georgia State April 3–4 before making the longest road trip of the season to Boise, Idaho, for matches at Boise State April 10–11. The Bulls will close the regular season at home, hosting The Gulf Front Invitational April 17–18 on Clearwater Beach. For that event, the Bulls will host teams from Florida State, FGCU, LSU and Mercer – FSU, FGCU and LSU all were ranked in the top 20 last year.
“We’re building a team, a culture, a standard, and a fan base,” Piantadosi-Lima said. “Every match we play, home or away, is a chance to establish who we are and who we want to become. We’re ready to begin this journey, and we can’t wait for Bulls Nation to join us.”
Postseason play begins with the Conference USA Championship, scheduled for April 23–25 at Sugar Beach in Youngsville, La. The NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship will be held May 1–3 at Gulf Place Beach in Gulf Shores, Ala.
2025 USF Beach Volleyball Inaugural Season Schedule
- February 20–21: at Tulane – New Orleans, La.
- February 27–28: at Florida State – Tallahassee, Fla.
- March 6–7: at University of Tampa – Tampa, Fla.
- March 13–14: at Coastal Carolina – Conway, S.C.
- March 27–28: Stampede Beach Opener – Clearwater Beach, Fla.
- April 3–4: at Georgia State – Statesboro, Ga.
- April 10–11: at Boise State – Boise, Idaho
- April 17–18: The Gulf Front Invitational – Clearwater Beach, Fla.
- April 23–25: Conference USA Championship – Youngsville, La.
- May 1–3: NCAA Championship – Gulf Shores, Ala.
About USF Beach Volleyball
The University of South Florida Beach Volleyball program is the newest program in the now 21-team USF Athletics program. South Florida Beach Volleyball joined Conference USA on July 1, 2025. Pri Piantadosi-Lima was named South Florida’s first-ever beach volleyball head coach on June 6, 2023. She also serves as the head coach of USAV Beach and the national team development program and was honored as the 2022 USA Volleyball Female Junior Coach of the Year. Before joining South Florida, Piantadosi-Lima helped launch the Eckerd College program in 2015 as an assistant coach and helped lead the program to its first AVCA national championship and two consecutive NCAA championship podium finishes.
Follow USF Beach Volleyball on
X, Instagram, and Facebook for all the latest information concerning the USF Beach Volleyball program.
– #GoBulls –
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