ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ten student-athletes from the University of Michigan were named to the 2024-25 Academic All-District At-Large Team, selected by College Sports Communicators on Tuesday afternoon (June 17). To receive the honor, student-athletes must have completed at least one year of classes and have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average while hitting various participation requirements.

Six female student-athletes were honored in Carly Bauman (women’s gymnastics), Katie Easton (rowing), Logan Roeder (rowing), Abby Tamer (field hockey), Leia Till (rowing) and Kasey Umlauf (water polo). On the men’s side, Josh Eernisse (ice hockey), Josh Heindselman (wrestling), Rithik Puri (men’s gymnastics) and Hunter Thomson (men’s golf) were honored.

Carly Bauman

Bauman ended the 2025 season as the NCAA Regional Co-Champion on uneven bars with a score of 9.950 after being named the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association Northeast Regional Gymnast of the Year. The West Des Moines, Iowa, native was a first team All-Big Ten honoree for the second straight season and was a three-time Big Ten Specialist of the Week. Bauman won 14 individual event titles across three events and posted 19 scores of 9.900 or better in her fifth season.

Katie Easton

Easton’s Academic All-District honor is the second of her career, following three CRCA Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten honors. She graduated this spring with a degree in public health. A team captain and program record-holder on the erg, Easton has been rowing in U-M’s 1V8 since the postseason of her freshman year and helped the boat place 12th at the NCAA Championships this year. The Melbourne, Australia, native is a three-time All-American and secured second-team honors in 2025. Her leadership and on-water contributions have been critical to U-M’s speed throughout her career, leading to her fourth Big Ten medal with the 1V8 in 2025. She has also been part of two Big Ten Championship teams at Michigan and is a three-time All-Big Ten honoree.

Logan Roeder

As coxswain, Roeder has helmed the 2V8 and 1V8 boats throughout her three years with the Wolverines while working toward her degree in psychology. Her first career Academic All-District honor in 2025 follows a season when she and her boatmates earned a bronze medal at the Big Ten Championships en route to an 11th-place national finish. The season earned Roeder honorable mention All-American recognition. As a member of the 1V8 through the entire 2025 season, Roeder’s leadership on and off the water has been vital to the success of the boat and team. The Chicago, Ill., native is a two-time CRCA Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Abby Tamer

Tamer earned NFHCA All-America first-team honors and unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten first team after leading the Wolverines in scoring in 2024 with 38 points on career highs in goals (12) and assists (14). Tamer returned to the U-M lineup after redshirting the 2023 season while training with the U.S. women’s national team before representing Team USA in Paris, where she led the red, white and blue in scoring with two goals. Named the NFHCA’s 2024 Division I National Scholar-Athlete, she graduated this spring with a bachelor’s degree in applied exercise science and will pursue a master’s in sport management in 2025-26. She is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and has earned NFHCA Scholar of Distinction honors three times.

Leia Till

Till, a graduate student who transferred to U-M before the 2024-25 season from Virginia, made an immediate impact in the lineup while working toward her master’s degree in movement science. Rowing in the 1V8’s first four seats throughout the season, Till proved to be an important addition to the roster on its way to an 11th-place team finish at the NCAA Championships. She captured a bronze medal in her lone appearance at the Big Ten Championships. Till is a five-time CRCA Scholar-Athlete (four at Virginia, one at Michigan) and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in her lone season as a Wolverine.

Kasey Umlauf

Umlauf is a graduate student who earned her master’s degree in human genetics after completing her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience. Umlauf started all 30 games for the Maize and Blue and tallied a career-high 22 goals in her final season in Ann Arbor. Umlauf was named to the CWPA All-Tournament team in 2025 and is a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Josh Eernisse

A junior on the U-M ice hockey team, Eernisse played in all 36 games this season and had 11 points for the Wolverines. He has been named Academic All-Big Ten in both seasons that he was eligible and is a two-time recipient of the Carl Isaacson Award, a team award presented to the player with the highest scholastic average. A 2024 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Eernisse helped the Wolverines to the 2024 NCAA Frozen Four.

Josh Heindselman

Heindselman earned All-America honors for the first time in his collegiate career with a seventh-place finish at heavyweight at the 2024 NCAA Championships. He boasted a team-best 26-6 record despite joining the Wolverines at the semester and earned bonus points in 16 matches, including 12 technical falls, to rank among the national leaders. Having already earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in health care law, Heindselman completed several classes in Michigan’s School of Social Work and will enroll in medical school back in his native Oklahoma this fall.

Rithik Puri

A senior on the men’s gymnastics team, Puri competed in nine of the team’s 10 meets. A biomedical engineering major, he helped lead the Wolverines to their fifth straight Big Ten championship and seventh NCAA championship. The Chicago, Ill., native finished sixth on the still rings at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors with his second-highest score of the season (13.966). Puri is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a 2023 Big Ten Scholar of Distinction.

Hunter Thomson

A unanimous All-Big Ten first team and two-time All-America selection, Thomson concluded his U-M career as the program’s all-time scoring leader with a 71.53 average after breaking his single-season record with a 70.24 per-round average. He became the second Wolverine to lead the team in scoring average for four straight years. Thomson paced U-M in 13 of 14 events, including the final nine tournaments, and recorded 10 top-10 finishes, with seven in the top five. A PING All-Midwest regional selection, he won three individual titles, including the Canadian Collegiate Invitational (202, -14), the Boilermaker Invitational (203, -10) and the NCAA Urbana Regional (203, -10).

• CSC Release

Sean O’Malley is still less than two weeks removed from a dejecting submission loss to Merab Dvalishvili, but the UFC star already thinking about his next fight.

O’Malley met Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 316, in hopes of reclaiming the bantamweight title. However, he suffered a decisive submission loss to the champion. It was his second loss in a row to the Georgian, after surrendering the belt with a decision loss last September.

On Monday, O’Malley appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show, where he opened up on his loss to Dvalishvili for the first time.

During the interview, Helwani asked the former champ if he knows who he wants to fight next. O’Malley admitted he has a name in mind, but didn’t specify who.

“Yes,” he said when asked if he knows who he wants to fight next. “I mean, we’ll see. We’ll see how I feel this week.

“Just depends on how I feel. The date depends on how I feel. There’s a lot to unravel. As of right now, I’m chilling, recovering, hanging out.”

Kamaru Usman’s title dreams are still alive in 2025.

The former UFC Welterweight Champion had a long road to get back into the win column. After nearly four years and a three-fight losing skid to Leon Edwards (twice) and Khamzat Chimaev, Usman returned in the main event of UFC Atlanta where he notched a dominant decision win over Joaquin Buckley.

His #5 ranking intact, Usman has set his sights on a title fight next.

However, Usman could be a ways from a title opportunity as champion Jack Della Maddalena will more than likely defend his title against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev later this year.

In the meantime, a UFC legend has suggested Usman fight someone else for the next title shot and he knows just the guy.

Chael Sonnen thinks Kamaru Usman should fight ‘alpha male’ Shavkat Rakhmonov in title eliminator

Shavkat Rakhmonov is the #3-ranked UFC Welterweight contender and holds a perfect 19-0 record.

Rakhmonov won a title eliminator bout against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310 after then champion Belal Muhammad withdrew from a title defense. Unfortunately for Rakhmonov, injuries got in the way of a title fight, leaving him on the sidelines ever since.

Three-time UFC title challenger and analyst Chael Sonnen thinks the 38-year-old Usman should make a play for the undefeated contender.

“If you’re trying to get right to the title… I think one strategy, because I do believe Shavkat to be the true number one contender,” Sonnen said on Good Guy / Bad Guy.

“I do believe when Shavkat comes back, he’s probably gonna walk right into a title fight. I do believe between Islam [Makhachev] and Jack [Della Maddalena], I think Shavkat is the alpha male in that room

“I just think he’s the right size, and I think he matches up really well. I offer you that because I think that Kamaru could come out publicly and start going after Shavkat, saying let me fight him. Let me fight him for a number one contendership, of which if he won, I think he would be granted [a title shot].”

Sonnen continued.

“But even absent of getting that fight, should Shavkat walk right into a title fight, Usman’s now still aligning himself with one of the top two guys.

“I think strategy-wise, if he could align himself properly with Shavkat, and nobody’s gonna ask for that job. Nobody out there’s gonna ask to fight Shavkat. If he could come in and somehow get some business with him, it could pay off big.”

Shavkat Rakhmonov has fought once in the last 500 days

While one of the scarier contenders at 170 lbs with a 95% finish rate, injuries have kept Rakhmonov out of the Octagon.

Rakhmonov reportedly fought at UFC 310 last December with a torn MCL where he defeated Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision.

Prior to that, ‘Nomad’ hadn’t fought in a year with his last fight coming against Stephen Thompson in Dec. 2023.

Time will tell when we’ll see Shavkat Rakhmonov back in action.

Your business can reach over 3 million women’s sports fans every single month!

Here at The Next and The IX, our audience is a collection of the smartest, most passionate women’s sports fans in the world. If your business has a mission to serve these fans, reach out to our team at editors@thenexthoops.com to discuss ways to work together.

Heidrick actually opens the show by taking a moment to talk about the WNBA. “First and foremost, Caitlin Clark missed five games for the Fever, and it has been a struggle for them,” Heidrick says. “But she was back … [with] 32 points in her big return. … She got hot, she found a rhythm.” Per Heidrick, the Fever needed that.

Later on, Heidrick discusses the implications of the House settlement and how it will affect current and former college athletes. “The NCAA is going to pay almost $3 billion in back damages over the next 10 years to athletes who competed in college at any time from 2016 to the present day,” Heidrick informs listeners. She goes onto provide more context for this massive update, including how the funding will be allocated and which programs will benefit the most from this settlement.

Save 30% when you preorder “Becoming Caitlin Clark”

Howard Megdal’s newest book will be released this June! “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar” captures both the historic nature of Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.

Click the link below to preorder and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.

Heidrick closes out the show by discussing how roster limits, another aspect of the House settlement, will affect some women’s sports. Per Heidrick, unless some teams and programs find other ways to generate revenue, “someone is going to get left behind.” As Heidrick warns, “there are going to be cuts, people are going to feel this, because that money just does not grow on trees.”

Make sure to subscribe to the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast to keep learning about women’s college basketball, the WNBA, basketball history and much more!

The Next, a 24/7/365 women’s basketball newsroom

The Next: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX. 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.

For years, his face was synonymous with charm on American television. Eric Dane, the actor who brought to life the unforgettable Dr. McSteamy on Grey’s Anatomy, has gone public with a diagnosis that offers no cure—but many questions. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, has transformed his life. But Dane is not giving up.

“I don’t think this is the end of my story,” the actor said in an interview aired Monday on ABC News’ Good Morning America.

In April, Dane revealed that he had been diagnosed with ALS after a long stretch of medical consultations. It all began with a slight weakness in his right hand, something he initially attributed to fatigue. “I thought maybe I’d been texting too much or my hand was fatigued,” he recalled. But as the weeks went by, the deterioration became clear. What followed was a journey through multiple specialists, until nine months later, he received the diagnosis that would change his life.

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that progressively destroys motor neurons. It affects a person’s ability to move, speak, swallow, and eventually breathe. “I’ll never forget those three letters,” he said. “It’s on me the second I wake up. It’s not a dream.”

At 52, Dane spoke with honesty and vulnerability. He shared that only one of his arms is still functional, and he fears that the other will soon lose mobility as well. “I feel like maybe a couple more months and I won’t have my left hand either.” Though he is still able to walk, he worries constantly about losing strength in his legs. Alongside the fear, there is anger. “I’m angry because my father was taken from me when I was young, and now there’s a very good chance I’m going to be taken from my girls while they’re very young.”

His personal history gives that fear an added emotional weight. Dane’s father died by suicide when he was only seven years old. Now, as the father of two teenage daughters, he faces the painful possibility that history might repeat itself in a different form.

In the interview, Dane recounted a heartbreaking moment during a boat trip with his youngest daughter. Once a competitive swimmer and water polo player, he jumped into the ocean—only to realize he could no longer generate enough strength to return to the boat. “I jumped into the ocean that day and realized I couldn’t swim and generate enough power to get myself back to the boat. I thought, ‘Oh god.’” It was his daughter who rescued him.

The experience shattered him. But even in that moment of anguish, he made sure his daughter wouldn’t carry that memory with her. “I made sure she got back in the water with her friend and continued on with the snorkeling. But I was just heartbroken.”

In the midst of this struggle, Dane has found comfort in someone important: Rebecca Gayheart, his former partner and the mother of his daughters. Though they were once separated, they now maintain a close and supportive relationship. “We have managed to become better friends and better parents. She is my biggest champion and most stalwart supporter.”

News of his diagnosis was first shared in an interview with People and later covered by The New York Times, which highlighted not only his career but also his resolve to keep going. Despite his physical decline, Dane plans to return to the set of Euphoria, where he plays Cal Jacobs. He also has a new series on the way: Countdown.

His response to the disease defies the stereotypes often associated with ALS. Rather than retreating, he chose to be visible. Rather than stopping, he plans to move forward. “There’s so much about it that’s out of my control… All I want to do is spend time with my family, work a little if I can, and make sure that I tell them that I love them every day.”

Stories like his put a human face on a disease that, according to Good Morning America, affects around 5,000 people each year in the United States. And while the famous Ice Bucket Challenge raised $200 million a decade ago, the path to a cure remains long.

Amid it all, Dane holds onto something that transcends his acting career: “I don’t feel like this is the end of me.”

Albury swim star Sienna Toohey after her win in the women’s 100 metres breaststroke at the national selection trials in Adelaide on 10 June, securing her place at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore next month. Photo: NSWIS.

The father of Albury swimming sensation Sienna Toohey has described his daughter as a “champion kid” – in and out of the pool – after her stunning win at the Australian selection trials in Adelaide on 10 June.

The 16-year-old claimed the women’s 100m breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:06.55, securing her spot at the world titles in Singapore next month (27 July to 3 August).

Paris 2024 Olympian Ella Ramsey entered the event as the favourite but was pipped at the post by the Albury Swim Club member.

“She swam beautifully,” said proud dad Damian Toohey, who is the principal at Albury High School.

“She was in good form going in [to the trials], she’s put in a lot of hard work and it’s taken a big commitment – but it’s paid dividends.

“It’s been a great couple of days for her and she got very emotional after that race because it’s just such a massive goal to swim for Australia. When you reach that, it’s almost overwhelming.”

Mr Toohey said Sienna had spent the past six weeks travelling back and forth to Canberra with her mum, Simone, for more intensive training at the AIS’s ACT Performance Hub with head coach Shannon Rollason.

The pair would leave on a Sunday night and return Thursday, in time for Sienna to hand in school work and assignments and reconnect with her family and friends for the weekend, he said.

But it’s been the support of long-term Albury Swim Club coach Wayne Gould, 71, miles upon miles of laps in the local pool, surrounded by an incredible swim “family”, that has helped hone this young superstar’s skills, according to Mr Toohey.

He recalls the early days when the family would head off to the Albury pool on a Friday night with Sienna and her brothers Archie, now 18, and Jed, now 13, in tow.

All keen swimmers, the kids went down the “well-trodden path” from Gould Swim Academy to the Albury Swim Club where Sienna would eventually land with accomplished breaststroke coach Jo Gibbs at the age of nine … and the stage was set.

“Jo always said, ‘Don’t push them too hard too early’,” Mr Toohey recalled.

“We could turn her into an out-and-out champion right now but …

“So Sienna was doing PSSA [Primary Schools Sports Association] events and training three or four times a week – she wasn’t flogged but just developed technique and she loved her swimming.”

Sienna was already winning medals for swimming at state level but at the same time she was also proving a highly talented water polo player, under the tutelage of none other than Wayne’s daughter Kristy, Mr Toohey said.

She played for Albury team Pool Pirates and two years ago made the Australian Under-15 water polo squad.

But there came a time when the “big decision” had to be made, he added.

Sienna came to the attention of former Australian Olympic head swimming coach Leigh Nugent, who worked with Wayne and Sienna and encouraged her at 13 “to have a crack” towards realising her potential.

It’s been an incredible journey of dedication, discipline and determination ever since.

In an interview with the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) after her incredible achievement, Sienna said she was “very happy” with herself.

“I really wanted to make the national team, and I knew that if I didn’t make it in the 100m, I always had the 50m tomorrow,” she said. “But I’m definitely happy that I’ve done it now.”

Sienna has now sealed her place in the Dolphins squad that will compete at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

Her parents revealed they had not quite been prepared for this imminent overseas trip but their daughter was no stranger to international competition, having competed in Japan last year.

“She’s had unbelievable experiences and she has great people around her,” Mr Toohey said.

“There are a lot of people involved in getting Sienna to where she is, and the building blocks Swimming Australia have put in have provided incredible opportunities to get racing experience that build to winning a national-level race.”

Mr Toohey said there was no doubting the calibre of swimmers in the Albury-Wodonga and wider region.

“We are punching above our weight and the swim clubs do a great job,” he said.

“We love our sport on the Border and there are a lot of people putting in a lot of time and effort into training and supporting our kids.

“Sienna is very proud of coming from Albury and it’s a big thing to represent our community.”

For Sienna, it’s been a huge dream to be on the pool deck competing alongside role models she has idolised for many years, according to Mr Toohey.

She had been met with kindness from swimmers who had proven role models both in and out of the pool – “and every part of her said, ‘I want to be part of that’,” he said.

Describing his daughter as a “calm, loving kid who adores her brothers”, Mr Toohey revealed Sienna didn’t mind her downtime at home on the couch.

With a super-close circle of friends at Albury High, she was the type of person who was just as happy cheering on the success of others as she was striving for her own, he said.

But in the pool, this young girl now being hailed as the “future of Australian swimming” is a tenacious competitor.

“Leigh [Nugent] said she swims fearlessly – and I think that says it all,” Mr Toohey said.