TUCSON, Ariz. – The Spring 2025 semester saw Arizona Athletics capture three Big 12 Conference Championships, and 12 teams qualify for NCAA postseason play since January 1. But that success carried over into the classroom as well, with all student-athletes combining to post a 3.389 GPA – the highest semester GPA in school history. It marks the 15^th consecutive semester for the department with at least a 3.0 semester GPA or higher – the longest streak in department history.
 
And the records don’t stop there. The cumulative GPA for the department was 3.400, which is also the highest in school history, while the semester GPA for women’s teams was 3.573 and the men’s teams posted a 3.211 GPA for the semester, both setting new records.
 
“We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes for achieving a record-setting GPA this semester, a true testament to their dedication and discipline,” Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois said. “Balancing the demands of competition and academics is not easy, and their commitment in the classroom continues to inspire our entire department. We will continue to provide support for all of our student-athletes as they pursue their goals on and off the field.”
 
A total of nine teams set individual program records for best Spring semester GPA’s, including Baseball, Men’s Cross Country, Football, Gymnastics, Women’s Swimming and Diving, Women’s Tennis, Men’s Track and Field, Triathlon and Volleyball.
 
The top team GPA across all sports went to Gymnastics, with a team GPA of 3.802, and the top men’s team GPA was 3.545 by the cross country team.
 
Spring 2025 Academic Success By the Numbers

• 81.0% student-athletes earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• 53.2% student-athletes earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• 24.6% student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA
• 19 teams earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Record-setting average GPA among women’s teams (3.573)
• Record-setting average GPA among men’s teams (3.211)

 
These record setting GPA numbers in the Spring only add to the continued excellence in the classroom by student-athletes at the University of Arizona. Back in November, the NCAA released the latest Graduation Success Rate (GSR) numbers and Arizona checked in a 90%, which was a new department record. And just last month, the NCAA sent out the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) numbers and there were 10 U of A programs that earned a perfect score, 12 teams that set program records and three teams that ranked in the top 10% nationally in their sport.
 
There have also been three student-athletes that have won Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors – Tanvi Narendran (Women’s Tennis), Jay Friend (Men’s Tennis) and Tony Pluta (Baseball). Friend was also named a First Team Academic All-American by Collegiate Sports Communicators (CSC), becoming the first Arizona men’s tennis player to garner first team honors. Malia Rausch from women’s swimming and diving also earned Academic All-American honors, coming in on the third team.
 

PITTSBURG – Pittsburg State University head volleyball coach Megan Besecker has announced the signing of 11 players for the upcoming season.
 
Besecker enters her first season leading the Gorillas after back-to-back Kansas Jayhawk Conference titles and a fourth-place finish at the 2024 NJCAA National Tournament at Barton Community College.
 
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome our incoming freshman and transfer class,” said Besecker “This group brings incredible energy, talent, and potential to our program. I’m looking forward to this upcoming season!”

Of the 11 incoming student-athletes, six are incoming freshmen, three are from the junior college ranks and two will be from the Division II level.

 

Kennedy Behnke is a 5-11 middle hitter who prepped at Ellinwood High School for coach Greg Maxwell and the Eagles. Behnke was a four-year starter on the volleyball court while also being involved with the track and field, softball and basketball teams at Ellinwood. A 2A All-State selection that earned Central Plains League All-Tournament Team honors in 2024, Behnke was named onto the Central Plains League first-team in 2024, 2023 and 2022. Behnke was a KVA All-Academic Team member and part of the National Honors Society, being on the Ellinwood Honor Roll from 2021-2025. The daughter of Lindsay and Matt Behnke, Kennedy plans to major in biology at Pittsburg State.

 

Abby Carr began her collegiate career last season at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas where she redshirted as a 5-10 setter. Carr prepped at Clyde High School where she was the record holder for assists in a career, season and match. Named the District MVP, TGCA All-State and the Big Country Preps Player of the Year while being a member of the THSCA Super Elite Team and a member of the TGCA Legacy All-Star team. Carr would also be named a first-team THSCA Academic All-State and TGCA Academic All-State honoree. While at Clyde, the Bulldogs on the volleyball court were district champions twice, bi-district champions three times and area champions once. The daughter of Laura and James Carr, Abby plans to major in exercise science.

 

Kaitlyn Gordon is a 5-9 defensive specialist/libero that prepped at Andover High School. Gordon was a three-year starter for the Trojans on the volleyball court, where she recorded 962 career digs. Helped lead the Trojans to a Sub-State championship in 2024 and 2025 as a captain. Gordon was an All-AVCTL performer during the past two seasons and was a Wichita Eagle All-Metro first-teamer in 2025. Graduated Summa Cum Laude, while also being a member of the National Honors Society at AHS. The daughter of Kari and Josh Gordon, Kaitlyn plans to major in biology at Pitt State.

 

Lindsay Heyliger is a 6-3 opposite hitter from Lone Tree, Colo., during her true freshman season at Division II Colorado Mesa University she redshirted. Heyliger prepped at Rock Canyon High School for coach Angela Nylund where as a senior she recorded 67 blocks while claiming second-team All-Conference honors. The daughter of Lauren and John Heyliger, Lindsay plans to major in elementary education at PSU.

 

Julia Hicks is a 5-10 outside hitter from Wylie, Texas that prepped at Wylie East High School for coach Nicole Calverley. A four-year starter on the volleyball court, Hicks for her career finished with over 1400 kills, 1110 digs and 150 service aces. The 9-6A Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, she would also be named team MVP twice and a four-time first-team All-District performer. The daughter of Alicia and Jason Hicks, Lindsay plans to major in criminal justice at Pittsburg State.

 

Ana Hrle is a 5-11 middle blocker from Yakima, Wash., who has played at Yakima Valley College the past two seasons. At Yakima Valley, Hrle recorded 228 kills, 113 blocks and had a .319 hitting percentage for the Yaks. A second-team All-NWAC performer in 2024, Hrle helped lead the team to a third-place finish at the NWAC Championship. The daughter of Michelle and Darko Hrle, Ana plans to major in geography while at PSU.

 

Imerie Jones is a 6-0 middle blocker from Spring, Texas. Jones for coach Kim Odina recorded 250 career blocks on the volleyball court over four years, earning second-team All-State and first-team All-District honors during her prep career. The daughter of Mia Kamen and Bruce Jones, Imerie plans to major in biochemistry at Pitt State.

 

Carmyn Lawson is a 5-6 outside hitter who can also play as a defensive specialist. An incoming freshman for the Gorillas, Lawson prepped at North Forney High School for coach Jose Marrero Vega. On the volleyball court she was a three-year starter for the Falcons, recording over 700 career kills and was named a team captain for her senior campaign. The daughter of Corretta Barnes, Carmyn plans to major in biology while at Pittsburg State.

 

Kassidy Nixon is a 5-9 outside hitter who can also play as a defensive specialist entering her redshirt junior season. Nixon was a first-team All-KJCCC performer in 2024 and 2023, finishing her Panther career with 582 kills, 747 digs, 77 total blocks and 71 service aces in 71 matches. Nixon competed in High School at Central Plains in Claflin, Kan., where she was a four-year starter on the volleyball court for coach Lisa Crites. At Central Plains, Nixon accumulated over a thousand career assists, kills and digs on her way to being named the Kansas 1A Player of the Year in 2021 and 2020 and was a three-time All-State performer. A standout on the basketball court and softball field as well, earning Kansas 1A Player of the Year honors in basketball in 2022. Was a three-time All-State performer for softball and basketball. The daughter of Kristi and Kelly Nixon, Kassidy plans to major in business.

 

Addyson Rebmann is a 5-11 outside hitter who prepped at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Mo., for coach Jenny Collins. Rebmann was a four-year starter on the volleyball court and a member of the track and field team at LHS. Over her high school career she accumulated 1627 kills, 971 digs and 126 blocks as a Yellow Jacket. An All-State performer on the track and the volleyball court, Rebmann would also earn Academic All-State laurels. The daughter of Angie and Shane Rebmann, Addyson plans to major in political science at Pittsburg State.

 

Mya Thompson is a 5-11 right side hitter who will be a junior for the Gorillas. Thompson was an All-KJCCC selection her freshman season in 2023 and for her career finished with 438 kills, 115 total blocks and 86 digs in 68 matches. Prepped at Hutchinson High School for coach Maria Aikens on the volleyball court as a three-year starter for the Salthawks. A three-time All-League performer who helped the Salthawks teams that finished third in the 5A State Tournament in the 2023 and 2022 campaigns. The daughter of Abby and Joel Thompson, Mya plans to major in biology.

Burmester’s award caps a standout senior year for the cross country and track and field teams.

The fall cross country season saw her lead the Falcons to the first NE10 championship in program history and she qualified individually for the NCAA Championship. She was the NCAA East Region champion, the USTFCCCA East Region Runner of the Year and the NE10 Sport Excellence Award winner for women’s cross country.

In track and field she won four individual gold medals, the 800 meter and the one mile indoors and the 800 and 1500 meter outdoors.

Burmester, who was Bentley’s Edward J. Powers Scholar-Athlete Award winner, majored in both accounting and liberal studies and maintained a 3.95 GPA. She’s earned eight NE10 Academic All-Conference team selections in her career for both cross country and track.

The last Falcon female athlete to win this award was women’s basketball standout and Bentley Hall of Famer Lauren Battista in 2014.

Additionally, Eric Gaynor was presented with the Dr. Dave Landers Faculty Mentor Award.

Gaynor is a Lecturer in Bentley’s Department of Accounting. A Certified Public Accountant, his work is primarily with health & human service agencies, with an emphasis on child welfare. He advises several state agencies as Senior Consultant for Sivic Solutions Group and was a Project Manager with Maximus specializing in revenue maximization.

Professor Gaynor’s nomination was submitted by Bentley volleyball players Elizabeth Blinn and Sofia Zingariello, who noted “Professor Gaynor is one of Bentley’s most prominent mentors. He makes himself available for many hours of the day outside of class time, so that students can ask him questions about class material, their careers, or anything else that they may need to be successful.”

They added, “Above all, Professor Gaynor is committed to building meaningful relationships with his students and staying in touch with them after they have taken his class. He is always sending out networking events and other career-growing opportunities to his current and former students, in an effort to help prepare them for a career after graduating. No professor has prepared us for the real-world like Professor Gaynor has.”

Release provided by Bentley athletics.

ABOUT THE NE10

The NE10 is an association of 10 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.

 

Fans can subscribe via this link to follow NE10 NOW on FloSports this season.  The partnership between the NE10 and FloSports works to provide funds back to the athletic departments of the Northeast-10 Conference in support of student-athletes while promoting the league on a national platform.

Sage Hill boys’ volleyball swiftly put up one program first after another over the last two seasons, the crown jewel arriving Saturday in the inaugural state championships.

When the hardware was handed off to Sage Hill coach Jordan Hoppe, he raised the trophy — shaped like the state of California — above his head. His players surrounded him and began chanting in celebration.

This was the pinnacle of a two-year run led by a transformative force in Jackson Cryst, the 6-foot-10 outside hitter headed to Long Beach State.

Cryst had 23 kills, three service aces and 1½ total blocks, as Sage Hill swept San Francisco International 25-19, 25-16, 25-23 in the CIF State Division III final at Fresno City College.

“It was a business trip, and I think everybody took it really seriously, and that’s why we got the result that we wanted,” said Cryst, who transferred from Long Beach Millikan for his junior year. “Nobody came in there to mess around, and I think that showed in the clean sweep.”

Sage Hill (23-11) finished the season on a 13-match winning streak, which also saw the Lightning claim a second section title in as many seasons by beating Santa Barbara on the Dons’ home court in five sets in the Division 4 final.

“The season’s over now,” Cryst added. “I think for so long, it was always on to the next game. Even after winning CIF, we knew the job wasn’t finished. To finally be able to know that the season was over, we did all we could and we won and we reached that goal, I think that was super motivating for everybody. It was honestly a huge relief. If you look at everybody on match point, it was almost like a huge sigh of relief that we did it.”

Junior Connor Gapp, who split his playing time between the positions of setter and opposite, supplied 24 assists, six kills, three aces and 1½ blocks.

“It’s kind of like a symbol of what we’ve done,” Gapp said of bringing home a state championship trophy. “Winning felt the best, and touching that trophy, maybe taking a few pictures with my teammates, my coaches, my trainer, my family, especially, that was really sweet to be with all of them.

“The trophy will always be up at Sage. The banners will always be there. It will be nice to look at that next year, maybe give us some motivation to do something similar in the future.”

Junior setter Jonathan Ye contributed 14 assists and an ace. Junior outside hitter Ryan Manesh added 11 kills and an ace. Junior middle blocker Carson Ellis had two kills and two block assists, and junior opposite Dylan Han chipped in with three kills.

Manesh struck a similar chord to Gapp, noting the “journey” that led the Lightning to the championships was what was most important to him. He recalled the team bonding experiences, such as playing card games on the bus.

“These memories are going to last a lifetime,” Manesh said. “Obviously, winning the finals, that has a special place in my heart, but like the team, the team culture, the team bonding, just this team as a whole, I’m going to remember them for the rest of my life.”

Santino Scanlon had eight kills, an ace and a solo block to lead International (27-8). Lyndon Song and Liam Wilson each produced five kills, and Colton Klingebiel added four kills and two blocks.

Hoppe reflected on the title, saying “it’s very cool to be on the right side of history.”

“To be able to do that is just an incredibly special achievement and honor,” Hoppe said of bringing Sage Hill its first state title in a male sport since the school opened in 2000. “To be remembered in the gymnasium with a banner up there and just to think about the guys on this team, and just the total buy-in of all the individuals on this team. It was incredible.

“Clearly, we had arguably one of the best players in the country, Jackson Cryst, but that’s just one player. Our team was able to really buy in and elevate their game to support and to provide the right team chemistry to make this thing happen.”

ANAHEIM — As high profile as he is, Newport Beach-based sports agent Scott Boras is often behind the scenes when he negotiates deals for his baseball player clients.

Boras, sitting in the front row at Dodger Stadium, ended up on television during Sunday night’s Dodgers game against the visiting New York Yankees after snagging a ninth-inning foul ball.

“I told ESPN, has your programming gotten to the level where you’re going to interview some guy catching a foul ball?” Boras joked in an interview Tuesday night.

“You know, baseball has given me everything I have. It’s frankly a very small community, when you think about it.”

Two nights later, Boras was again in the spotlight about 30 miles south on the 5 Freeway. He was at Angel Stadium for the inaugural OC Sports Awards, where he received the Lifetime Achievement award.

Boras, 72, has negotiated nearly $4 billion in contracts for his clients over the years and doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Just last year, client Juan Soto signed a $765-million contract with the New York Mets, the largest in sports history.

Evolution Award honoree Kaleigh Gilchrist arrives at the inaugural OC Sports Awards on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Longtime Boras client and Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux was on hand Tuesday to present Boras with his award at the event hosted by the Orange County Sports Commission.

Boras seemed to appreciate Maddux being there, noting his extensive durability — 355 wins during a 23-year Major League Baseball career, including 17 straight seasons with at least 15 wins.

He’s also proud of his namesake Boras Baseball Classic, which has had more than 500 participants hear their names called in the Major League Baseball draft, including four No. 1 overall picks.

“[Maddux] taught me how to manage greatness,” Boras said during his acceptance speech. “Managing greatness is so difficult, because the athlete is invincible, and yet you have to give them advice and counsel to protect them. You have to have the courage to approach greatness and let them understand the word, ‘No.’”

Newport Beach-based sports agent Scott Boras is interviewed on live television at the OC Sports Awards on Tuesday night.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Newport Beach’s Kaleigh Gilchrist was another local honoree at the OC Sports Awards. The former Newport Harbor and USC women’s water polo star, a three-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist, received the Evolution Award.

Gilchrist, also a standout surfer, retired from water polo and married Tom Gehret last August, following the completion of the Paris Olympics, where Team USA placed fourth. Gehret also attended Tuesday’s event.

Gilchrist, 33, said she is trying to figure out what’s next. She does have an opportunity to be the director of surf operations at the Snug Harbor Surf Park, which has been proposed at the Newport Beach Golf Course.

“We still have to get [the facility] passed by council, but hopefully, if all things go as planned, we’ll be open by spring of 2028,” she said. “It’s obviously a dream job. Wave pools are popping up everywhere, and I think they’re going to be the next best thing of surfing. To be involved from day one to when it’s open would be really special.”

Evolution Award honoree Kaleigh Gilchrist, left, and husband Tom Gehret, arrive at the inaugural OC Sports Awards.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Former Mater Dei High, USC and NFL quarterback Matt Leinart served as the night’s host, with the ceremony starting on time despite lightning and thunder in the area that disrupted a planned red carpet.

The OC Sports Awards were co-founded by Orange County Sports Commission executive director Anthony Brenneman and Revolver Sports Public Relations founder and chief executive Amanda Samaan.

Brenneman said the sports commission separated from a larger tourism bureau into its own nonprofit last year.

Other honorees included the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, a Villa Park native, as the Male Pro Athlete of the Year. Professional surfer Caroline Marks, a San Clemente resident, was named Female Pro Athlete of the Year.

Legendary surfer Kelly Slater was the ICON Honoree, late Angels founding owner Gene Autry was the Legacy Honoree and the Jessie Rees Foundation was honored as Philanthropist of the Year. High school and college athletes also earned awards for their excellence.

“We wanted to give an opportunity to honor everyone at every level,” Samaan said. “We also wanted to honor those have come before us to even be here, like Gene Autry. To be able to do it in his house that he built was a full circle moment that we were really honored to be able to do our first year.”

Freeman was not in attendance, as the Dodgers hosted the Mets on Tuesday night. He had a short video message for attendees and a memorable game on the field, hitting a walk-off double in the Dodgers’ 6-5 win.

Sports agent Scott Boras at Tuesday night’s OC Sports Awards at Angel Stadium.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Audrey Allen

Mykolas Alekna’s legendary collegiate season will come to a close at next week’s NCAA Outdoor Championships.

T&F6/5/2025 1:16 PM | By: Cal Athletics

World Record-Holder Will Compete For NCAA Title In Eugene On June 13

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Thursday that California track & field’s Mykolas Alekna, who owns the world record in the discus, has appeared on The Bowerman Watch List for the 23rd time in his career. This is the last watch list to be released this season for The Bowerman, which is awarded each December to the top collegiate men’s and women’s track & field athletes of the year.
 
Alekna, a two-time semifinalist for the award, hopes to advance to that group once more when the men’s honorees are announced June 26. Those 10 men will be winnowed down to three finalists, to be announced July 1.
 

The Olympic silver medalist’s outstanding season opened in April, starting with the Brutus Hamilton Invitational at Edwards Stadium in which he threw a then-world lead and ACC record of 70.09m (229-11). One week later, he traveled to Ramona, Oklahoma, and shattered his own world record twice in the same series to improve his mark to 75.56m (247-10), then started off the month of May by obliterating his own meet record with a toss of 71.29m (233-10). Alekna later won his third conference title with a meet and facility record of 69.86m (229-2) at the ACC Outdoor Championships at Wake Forest, then reset the meet and facility records at the NCAA West Regional, hosted at Texas A&M, with a mark of 72.12m (236-7) to advance to his third NCAA Outdoor Championships, which will be contested in Eugene, Oregon, from June 11-14. Over the past two months, he has been named the USTFCCCA National Men’s Athlete of the Week twice and an ACC Men’s Field Athlete of the week thrice.
 
Three men (Alekna, Ole Miss’s Tarik O’Hagan-Robinson and North Carolina’s Ethan Strand) appeared on every single Watch List this season. Of those, Alekna is the only one to do so in multiple seasons, also appearing on every Watch List in 2023.
 
The Bowerman Men’s Watch List – Pre-NCAA Outdoor Championships
Mykolas Alekna, California (Discus)
Jordan Anthony, Arkansas (Sprints)
James Corrigan, BYU (Mid-Distance/Steeple)
Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor (Sprints/Hurdles)
Ishmael Kipkurui, New Mexico (Distance)
Liam Murphy, Villanova (Mid-Distance/Distance)
Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan, Ole Miss (Throws)
Habtom Samuel, New Mexico (Distance)
Ethan Strand, North Carolina (Mid-Distance/Distance)
Ja’Kobe Tharp, Auburn (Hurdles)
 
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