• Forty five percent of high school student-athletes are playing multiple sports, according to MHSAA study,
• Schools across metro Detroit have been recognized as “high achievers” for encouraging student-athletes to play more than one sport.

At 17, Drew Sikora signed a letter of intent to play college football, fulfilling a childhood dream. What helped him get there?

SPOKANE, Wash. — One of the nation’s top high school basketball recruits in the class of 2026 will make a trip to Gonzaga in June as he continues his college recruiting process.

Ikenna Alozie, a five-star recruit ranked No. 9 overall and the No. 2 shooting guard in the class of 2026 by ESPN, told Joe Tipton of On3 Sports that he plans to visit Gonzaga next month. The 6-foot-2 Glendale, Arizona, native is navigating a new recruiting relationship with the Zags.

“I still don’t know much yet because they started recruiting me late,” Alozie told On3.com. “So it’s a new program and new recruitment process for me.”

Alozie holds offers from several programs, including Kansas, Alabama, Arizona, LSU, Tennessee, Washington, Creighton, BYU, Bryant and Cincinnati. He is also reportedly looking to visit Kentucky, Louisville and Houston.

Alozie will enter his senior year at Dream City Christian next season, an elite prep school in Glendale.

In late April, he earned First Team honors at the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League after averaging 21.7 points per game on 62.2% shooting, along with 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

On Sunday, May 25th, we participated in the ” Kids Sports Festival ” sponsored by Ibaraki City, held at the North Ground of Ibaraki City Central Park.

Ibaraki City held the “Kids Sports Festival” again this year with the aim of providing children with an opportunity to try out a variety of sports so that they can find the sport that suits them best, and of fostering children who will continue to play sports.
Due to the rain that had been falling until the morning of the day, the event started two hours late, but about 150 children, from preschoolers to sixth graders, participated in the soccer class and enjoyed playing soccer with the GAMBA OSAKA school coaches.

We would like to thank Ibaraki City and the Ibaraki City Youth Sports Club for hosting this soccer class, and to all the children and parents who participated.
GAMBA OSAKA will continue to work towards becoming a club that is rooted in the community and loved by everyone in its hometown.

AS Roma have accused former club player and current Fiorentina striker Nicolo Zaniolo of showing up to the club’s capital facilities intoxicated, urinating in the dressing room and assaulting two youth players, sending both of them to the hospital on Monday.

Roma released the following statement on Tuesday:

“On the evening of May 26, following the Primavera semi-final match Fiorentina vs AS Roma at Viola Park, Nicolò Zaniolo (Fiorentina first team) unlawfully entered the Roma dressing room area accompanied by an associate, despite lacking accreditation,” Roma said in a statement.

“Witnesses report Zaniolo appeared visibly intoxicated. He urinated in Roma facilities, provoked players, and, without verbal exchange, physically struck Mattia Almaviva and violently pushed Marco Litti against a bench. Litti had recently undergone shoulder surgery. Both players required hospitalization: Almaviva received a 10-day recovery prognosis, Litti 21 days.”

Zaniolo has denied this, saying he walked away after being insulted.

“At the end of the match I went down to the locker room to congratulate the Fiorentina boys and then I went to the Roma locker room to say hello and congratulate them on the season, but at a certain point they started insulting me so, at that point, to avoid the situation degenerating, I preferred to leave,” he said. 

Zaniolo played for AS Roma from 2018 to 2023 before moving to Galatasaray. After that, he played on loan to Aston Villa, Atalanta and for Fiorentina in the last six months, playing 13 games in all competitions.   

Next steps

Given the complexity of this situation, it’s tough to tell what’s next but in Roma’s statement, they include backing their players and hoping that institutions will act to ensure accountability and protect the values of Italian soccer. 

Craig Richard Lawrence died recently in a tragic accident in his home. He was 66 years old. The family is deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death and the loss of his light in our lives. Craig was born on April 19, 1959, in Nashua, NH. He graduated from Hollis Area High School, received his Bachelor of Science from the Thompson School at the University of New Hampshire and received his Master’s of Fine Arts in English and Writing at Salem State College in Massachusetts.

Craig was an avid reader, writer and musical creator. He loved growing things, gardening, landscaping and walking in nature. He was passionate about being a good father to his son Gavin and his animal family; Shy, Miles, Gary and Nelson. Often combining those passions by taking his son and dog to the beach or for walks on the reservation trails throughout the North Shore of Massachusetts. Craig was excited that his love of music was being taken up by his son. He and Gavin spent the past few years with guitars and learning songs together. Craig was also an avid sports fan. He loved going to watch his son play High School Hockey and Lacrosse, College Lacrosse and even just shooting hoops in the back yard. Craig’s passion for listening to and creating music became something he integrated into his career.

Craig spent a lifetime working in criminal justice in Massachusetts in the Department of Youth Services and MA Probation Services trying to help youths to navigate life and the court system in Massachusetts. He was a leading force in the music program in the Department of Youth Services. Craig most recently used his love of music to be part of a program that brought a voice and an outlet of expression to incarcerated young men who have fallen through the cracks of society. He firmly believed that music could be an integral part of healing to those who needed it.

Craig felt that giving to others from his own experience was vital. He did this in his work, in his mentoring of budding young musicians and athletes and in helping those who struggle in life. He served as a mentor to many with integrity and kindness and was a friend of Bill W.

Craig is survived by his son, Gavin Lawrence of Westford, MA. His sisters, Gail Lawrence of Wilmington, NC and Elizabeth James (and her husband Jack James) of Wilmington, NC. His brother, Daniel Lawrence (and his wife Kate Lawrence and two children; Charlotte and Tucker Lawrence) of Manchester, MA. His niece and nephew, Emma Rosen and Lucas Rosen. His former wife, Kim (Howe) Lawrence of Westford MA and his girlfriend, Ellen Link of Boston MA. Along with a multitude of friends.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Janet (Primeau) Lawrence of Hollis NH and father, William Lawrence also of Hollis NH.

Craig was a very special father, husband, brother, and friend. He will be sorely missed but at least we can take comfort that he is now free, in body, mind and spirit.

Join us to celebrate his life and the many ways he shared his time, talents and love at Lawrence Barn Community Center 28 Depot Road Hollis, NH on June 4th at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to https://thetrustees.org/.

For those who cannot attend but wish to share memories or express gratitude, thoughts, prayers or photographs can be sent to www.davisfuneralhomenh.com and we will post these on a wall to share at the celebration.

MARQUETTE — Thousands of Upper Peninsula children ages 6-18 years and, indeed, many more below the Mackinac Bridge, will benefit from a state program this summer that provides direct benefits to families that can be used for food.

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, also known as SUN Bucks, is in force June, July and August, helping to ensure children have access to nutritious food while school is out, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services officials interviewed by The Mining Journal noted.

Funding for the program, which costs about $97 million per summer statewide, originates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. USDA must approve the expenditure annually. This will be the second year the program will be in effect.

“It’s mostly automatic,” said Dwayne Haywood, MDHHS senior deputy director for the Economic Stability Administration, said of the qualification process. “In 2024 … about 800,000 kids were enrolled.”

Of that number, 19,696 were from the U.P., costing $2.36 million.

Families that were, are or will be receiving SNAP (food benefits), TANF (cash assistance), or Medicaid anytime between (July 1, 2024-Aug. 31, 2025) are eligible. Additionally, persons who are categorically entitled (such as foster children, homeless, migrant or runaways) are also eligible. So are children who have been approved for free/reduced price meals with their school due to direct certification or an approved school meal application.

Recipients aren’t going to get rich on the program as just $40 per child per month is provided. Funding is being dispersed starting this month.

“The money is automatically (posted)” to Bridge cards, said MDHHS spokeswoman Erin Stover.

Benefits must be used within 122 days of issuance. Unused benefits will expire after this period and cannot be reinstated, officials said. SUN Bucks can be used at any store or farmer’s market that accepts EBT, including select online retailers.

Medicaid recipients’ income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. For more information on the SUN Bucks program, including detailed eligibility criteria and application instructions, please visit the MDHHS Summer EBT page at Summer EBT.

Bud Sargent can be reached at 906-228-2500. His email address is bsargent@miningjournal.net