Sports
Editorial: UCLA must rescind recruitment of water polo athlete who is admitted sex offender
Editor’s note: This article contains mentions of sexual abuse against a minor.
There are some things more important than ranking, talent and winning.
UCLA’s men’s water polo team is perhaps the best in the nation, hot off its 13th national title this past December. The program recently recruited a star high school player, likely hoping to maintain its top position.
But after his recruitment, the media discovered that the recruit was arrested in February 2024. As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, he admitted in November to sexual penetration with a foreign object against a minor, with one of two charges of the same crime being dropped per the plea deal, according to the Southern California News Group.
UCLA has the opportunity to correct this mistake and withdraw his recruitment offer before the player becomes a stain on the program’s reputation and culture, regardless of how well he performs in the pool.
The player spent his senior season at Newport Harbor High School, where he helped secure a California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section title for his team and found individual success on the 2024 USA Men’s Water Polo youth national team. He had demonstrated himself as a strong player, and there was a good chance he would become a bright spot as part of any water polo program, let alone UCLA’s star-studded roster.
But before transferring to Newport Harbor High School, the recruit was a student at Harvard-Westlake School. In February 2024, while attending this school, he was arrested. In November, he admitted to the offense of sexual penetration with a foreign object (digital penetration) against a minor during a Los Angeles County Juvenile Court hearing, according to SCNG.
On top of his criminal charges, he is alleged to have repeatedly directed racial slurs at several Harvard-Westlake teammates and was suspended for two games because of his behavior, SCNG reported.
The SCNG released its investigation into the student’s conduct in March, after he committed to UCLA men’s water polo program.
UCLA has yet to make it clear whether the university was aware of the water polo athlete’s admission of a sex offense against a former teammate prior to his recruitment.
“Due to privacy concerns, UCLA does not comment on individual admissions decisions,” UCLA Athletics said in an emailed statement.
Nevertheless, the university claims to be upholding its values despite its public inaction.
“We take any allegations of misconduct regarding current or prospective students seriously, including in the admissions process,” UCLA Athletics said in the emailed statement. “UCLA remains committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all members of our athletics programs and campus community.”
The inescapable fact is, however, either that UCLA coaches and administrators did not know what the student-athlete admitted to before bringing this recruit onto the team – or worse, they knew and chose to bring the recruit on regardless.
But there is no excuse now. Now that the world knows about these actions, UCLA must withdraw its recruitment of the player. There are some choices that are more important than protecting our No. 1 ranking.
UCLA’s lack of care, and now its failure to take corrective action, in the recruitment of an athlete who admitted to sexual misconduct reveals a corrupt prioritization of results and trophies, rather than the safety and fairness of its athletes and program.
Regardless, this is information that should have been known and flagged as against the university’s core values.
Yet, since this information has been made public, there has been no widely public corrective action from UCLA, again failing to consider the best interests of its athletes and student body. Now that UCLA has explicitly been made known of its athlete’s juvenile record, it is doubtless what its next steps should be: an immediate withdrawal of his recruitment offer.
His recruitment puts into question whether the university truly values equality and the safety of other athletes, proving potentially inconsistent with Title IX policies and its commitment to preventing sexual violence and racial discrimination. It also rewards crude and illicit behavior, establishing a precedent of leniency toward a perpetrator without regard for the victim’s trauma and justice.
Even before the athlete’s recruitment, UCLA should have known of his past criminal offenses and alleged discriminatory conduct, and its ignorance reveals a grave oversight, if not an intentional disregard.
Now, UCLA’s continued failure to withdraw the offer of recruitment is a wholehearted disrespect to both the integrity of its program and to victims of such behavior.
Its own students and the actualization of due justice should be its greatest concern, not championship titles.
This flagrant misjudgment reveals the need for UCLA to clarify where its priorities lie: in the student, or in the sport.
Men’s Basketball Performer of the Week – Evan Cabral
Evan Cabral had a monster week for Ithaca as he averaged 26.7 points on 33-of-49 shooting for the floor, to go along with 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.3 assists per game. Cabral started the week with a career-high 31 points in a loss to Rochester as he went 12-for-23 shooting with seven rebounds and four steals. He then shot 12-for-16 for 27 points with eight boards and four steals at Vassar. Cabral concluded the week with 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting in a win at Skidmore.
Women’s Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week – Rachel Larson
Rachel Larson was a fourth place finisher with a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to open the 2025-26 season at Cornell’s Greg Page Relays. That time is currently No. 1 in Division III after the opening weekend of the season.
Women’s Swimming & Diving – Swimmer of the Week – Elizabeth Bodie
Sophomore Elizabeth Bodie had an impressive three day Bomber Invitational in which Ithaca totaled 2,307 points to outpace Rochester (2,037.5) and Smith College (1,135). Bodie won the 100-yard butterfly (56.54) added a runner-up in the 200 fly (2:08.15) and was third in the 100-yard backstroke (58.68) in an IC 1-2-3 finish. She also contributed to Ithaca’s 800-yard freestyle relay winning team that produced a finals time of 7:49.41.
Women’s Track & Field Rookie of the Week – Lola Gitlin
Lola Gitlin posted a time of 10:25.57 in the 3000-meter run to finish third overall in her first collegiate track race at the Cornell Greg Page Relays.
HONOR ROLL
Junior guard Tori Drevna had another steady week for the Bombers averaging 14.0 points per game across three appearances. Drevna connected on 3-of-4 and 2-of-3 from downtown against Rochester and Vassar, as she tallied 17 points along with seven boards and six assists in the loss to the ‘Jackets. She also nearly tallied her first double-double of the season in the 69-54 win over Skidmore with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Senior diver Kian Long was able to earn valuable team points for Ithaca as they nearly doubled the score of second-place University of Rochester across the three day Bomber Invitational. Long began his weekend winning on the 3-meter as he was second going into the evenings finals before outpacing Hobart’s Daniel Barrientos with a finals score of 513.95, compared to Barrientos who put together a 504.90. The senior diver followed it up with nearly a 50 point win on the 1-meter boards as he put together a finals score of 482.25, which bested Alfred University’s Jaxson McQuaid (436.00).
Graduate freestyler Matthew Mitros was impressive across Ithaca three day Bomber Invitational in which they won over the University of Rochester and five other schools. Mitros captured the 50 free (20.26, NCAA B‑cut) and powered Ithaca’s winning 200 free (1:22.48) and 400 medley relays (3:21.88) on opening night, then helping the Bombers take Friday’s 200 medley relay to cap a three‑relay sweep. He also scored a second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly (50.05).
Lily Seyfert claimed fifth in the shot put with a heave of 12.78 meters, which is currently ninth in the nation, to begin the season at the Cornell Greg Page Relays.
PITMAN, NJ – Rowan’s Braden Sheehan of the men’s swim team and Anthony Parker, Nyla Jones, and Naa’ilah Munson of the track & field teams were among the student-athletes honored by the NJAC with its weekly honors in those sports.
Sheehan was named the Men’s Swimmer of the Week as he won two events in Rowan’s 101.5-84.5 win over Swarthmore. The junior took first in the 100 free (46.92) and the 100 IM (51.55), while also clocking a split of 22.54 in the 200 mixed medley relay where the Profs finished second (1:38.98).
Rowan’s track and field teams got the new year underway at the Fastrack Season Opener. Parker was named the NJAC as claimed the long jump in his collegiate debut with a leap of 7.08 meters, which was the #13 mark in Division III.
Jones was picked as the Women’s Track Athlete of the Week as she clocked a 40.69 in the 300 meters, which is the 11th all-time best in Division III and current tops in the NJAC. The sophomore also was second in 60 hurdles with top conference time (8.93).
Munson was named the Women’s Track Rookie of the Week as she made her collegiate debut, posting the top NJAC mark in the triple jump. The freshman reached 11.16 meters to place fourth in the meet at Ocean Breeze.
Rowan’s men’s and women’s swim teams and the men’s and women’s track and field teams will return to competition in January.
MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Indoor season got underway over the weekend as Benedictine Track & Field competed in the annual Mel Tjeerdsma Classic hosted by Northwest Missouri State University.
The meet hosted 18 programs, including fellow Heart schools Baker, MNU and Park.
Women’s Results:
Ayn Olsen, fifth place, 300 meters
Aileen Ambuul, seventh place, 300 meters
Maria Connealy, sixth place, high jump
Haley Protz, sixth place, pole vault
Evelyn Brandt, eighth place, pole vault
Madison Helton, fifth place, long jump; fifth place, triple jump
Elizabeth Geist, eighth place, shot put
Mary Logan, sixth place, weight throw
Men’s Results:
Will Bensen, eighth place, 400 meters
John Philip Butler, eighth place, 600 yards
4×400 meter relay (Will Benson, John Philip Butler, Owen Dulac, Cole McGrath), eighth place
Kevin Taylor, third place, pole vault
Christopher Coyne, fourth place, pole vault
The indoor season continues on Dec. 12 with a trip to Seward, Neb., for the Bulldog Early Bird hosted by Concorida University.
www.ravenathletics.com | #UnleashGreatness | www.benedictine.edu
“Overall, I thought both teams finished the season on a high note. I was really impressed with several of our individual runners and their performances. Our seniors stepped up with some good races. Also, we’re fairly young on both sides with multiple first-years scoring for us. We look forward to taking this positive momentum into the indoor track & field season. Go Big Green!” Mike Nelson, the Marjorie & Herbert Chase ’30 Director of Dartmouth Track & Field and Cross Country, said.
Colton McMaster highlighted the men’s throwing events by taking first place in the shot put (17.26m) and weight throw (19.11m). Zaneta Pivcova stood out in women’s throws, placing third in the shot put with her 14.67m mark and putting herself at third all-time in the program’s top ten list.
In the women’s jumps, Maya Pacarro placed second in the triple jump with her 11.45m mark, while Charlotte DiRocco similarly placed second in the high jump, clearing 1.63m. The men also found success in their jumping events, with all three pole vaulters earning top spots in the event. David Adams cleared 5.00m for first place, followed by Jack Tan clearing 4.60m and earning second place in his collegiate debut and rounded out by Sam Starrs in third place with his 4.60m finish.
In the running events, Winston Morgan placed second overall in the 200m, putting himself at third all-time with a 21.73 finish. Richard Rozkydalek began his collegiate career by placing second in the 600m with a 1:21.09 finish. Keion Grieve and Michael Bueker followed behind, placing second and third, respectively. For the women, Imogen Brown placed sixth in the 600m and put herself at fifth all-time with a final mark of 1:39.01.
Rebeka Zibritova opened her collegiate career by putting herself at sixth all-time in the 60mH with a final time of 8.88.
ALL-TIME TOP TEN LIST
60m Hurdles
1. 8.20 – Cha’Mia Rothwell – 2018
2. 8.45 – Mariella Schweitzer – 2025
3. 8.74 – Allison Frantz – 2015
8.74 – Abby Feeney – 2016
4. 8.76 – Daniela Ruelas Lomeli – 2025
5. 8.79 – Janae Dunchack – 2012
6. 8.88 – Lauren Ready – 2015
8.88 – Anoush Krafian – 2022
8.88 – Rebeka Zibritova – 2025
7. 8.92 – Danielle Johnson – 2025
8. 8.99 – Danielle Okonta – 2017
8.99 – Alexandra Tanner – 2011
8.99 – Priscilla Trojano – 2012
Women’s Shot Put
1. 14.99m – Amy Winchester
2. 14.76m – Julia Reglewski
3. 14.67m – Zaneta Pivcova – 2025
4. 14.59m – Lily Lockhart
5. 14.56m – Autumn Clark – 2024
6. 14.52m – Allison Cardlin
7. 14.47m – Emmaline Berg
8. 14.42m – Sarah Beasley
9. 14.14m – Jamila Smith
10. 14.11m – Meagan Verdeyen
Women’s 600m
1. 1:35.98 – Annie Jackson – 2023
2. 1:37.00 – Arianna Gragg – 2019
3. 1:37.72 – Julia Pye – 2023
4. 1:38.78 – Andie Murray – 2022
5. 1:39.01 – Imogen Brown – 2025
6. 1:41.74 – Sarah Adams – 2019
7. 1:44.00 – Sara Fragione – 2022
8.
9.
10.
Men’s 200m
1. 21.48 – Myles Epstein – 2022
2. 21.62 – Bryce Thomas – 2025
3. 21.73 – Winston Morgan – 2025
4. 21.76 – Donovan Spearman – 2019
5. 21.86 – Muhammed Adbul-Shakoor – 2010
6. 22.03 – Jalil Bishop – 2011
7. 22.04 – Painter Richards-Baker – 2025
22.04 – Nils Wilderberg – 2022
22.04 – Mathiur Farber – 2019
22.04 – Lloyd May – 2017
8. 22.07 – Adam Couirr – 2017
9. 22.12 – Connor Reilly – 2010
Men’s 600m
1. 1:18.43 – J’Voughn Blake – 2023
2. 1:18.65 – Adrien Jacobs – 2024
3. 1:19.90 – DJ Matusz – 2022
4. 1:20.45 – Mason Childers – 2022
5. 1:21.09 – Richard Rozkydalek -2025
6. 1:22.67 – Max Frye – 2019
7. 1:23.06 – Aidan Robinson – 2021
8. 1:23.10 – Keion Grieve – 2025
9. 1:23.66 – Michael Bueker – 2025
Sports
Ferris State provides early commencement celebration for two volleyball team members headed to NCAA DII Elite Eight
December 8, 2025
Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, and President Bill Pink
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. —
Two members of the Ferris State University volleyball team has one important thing
to take care of before heading to South Dakota for the NCAA Division II National Tournament:
graduate.
Ferris State President Bill Pink and Provost Bobby Fleischman conducted a special
ceremony for outside hitter Emma Bleecher and Ivy Wilhelm, a student worker with the
team, complete with academic regalia. The team members won’t be back from the tournament
in time to participate in Friday’s ceremony with their classmates.
“We do this because we like to celebrate our Bulldogs,” Pink said. “We like to celebrate
our graduates, and when you’re not able to join us for all the good reasons. When
your success is so prominent in our university, these things happen. But that’s why
our university is built to adjust so that we’re able to help our students.”
The volleyball team earned its way to the NCAA DII Elite Eight for the second year
in a row. Pink said he didn’t want the students’ athletic success to prohibit them
from participating in a treasured academic milestone.
“We’re used to this kind of success,” Pink told the students. “It’s how we do our
business here at Ferris State. We make sure that we honor and recognize when our students
have accomplishments. Our students finish what we start. So, it’s an honor to be able
to celebrate with you this way.”
Students wore their caps and gowns for the brief celebration. Bleecher, a Criminal
Justice Administration major from Champaign, Illinois said it was nice to be able
to be presented with her diploma even if she couldn’t be a part of the larger ceremony
on Friday morning.
“I think it’s amazing,” she said. “I think it’s just like a blessing to be here, and
it’s just cool to be able to do both.”
Wilhelm, who works with the team’s social media, earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing.
“In moments like this, when I know it’s my community and they’re going to show up
for me, I know 100% I was right to be here these four years,” she said.
The team captured the NCAA DII Midwest Region Championship on Saturday and has been
selected as the No. 8 seed Elite Eight rounded to be held Dec. 11 to 13, in Sioux
Falls, South Dakota.
The Bulldogs will square off against top-seeded and unbeaten University of Tampa in
the national quarterfinals on Thursday, Dec. 11 with first serve set for 8 p.m. at
the Sanford Pentagon.
The Bulldogs will be making their second consecutive NCAA Division II Elite Eight
appearance after making their first since 2013 a year ago.
Saturday’s victory marked the fifth time Ferris State claimed a regional championship
as the Bulldogs previously won crowns back in 1987 and 1989 along with 2013 and 2024.
Ferris State, which is guided by 30th-year head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, is 27-7
this year heading into the D2 Elite Eight. The Bulldogs finished the regular season
as the GLIAC Champions and earned runner-up honors in the GLIAC Tournament as the
host institution.
GRAPEVINE, Tex. —
Allie Wildsmith (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy track & field team has been named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Women’s NCAA Division III National Athlete of the Week in recognition of her performance this past weekend at Boston University’s Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener.
The reigning indoor and outdoor high jump National Champion wasted started her first title defense of the season by needing just two jumps to win the event. Wildsmith passed up on the first five bars before clearing her first attempt of the day at 1.63 meters (5′ 4.25″). The senior needed just one jump again to get over the next height of 1.68m (5′ 6″), which the remaining three of her original five competitors bowed out on.
As the last jumper left, Wildsmith secured easy one-try clearances on the next two heights of 1.73m (5′ 8″) and 1.78m (5′ 10″) before closing out her day with tries at the NCAA DIII indoor record of 1.83m (6′ 0″). Despite knocking the bar off on all three tries, the senior’s dominance was on full display as she extended her undefeated streak to 11 event wins in a row.
Wildsmith and Bears track & field will be out of action for the next few weeks due to the holiday break, but they’ll be back and raring to go on January 17th for the self-hosted CGA Winter Invite #1 at Gregory Field House.
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