YouTube: ZexyZek After more than a decade of silence, skate. is officially back on screen, and fans finally have something new to talk about. The long-anticipated return of EA’s beloved skateboarding series is beginning to take shape, and early access footage is already giving players a sense of what to expect. YouTuber ZexyZek shared his […]
The long-anticipated return of EA’s beloved skateboarding series is beginning to take shape, and early access footage is already giving players a sense of what to expect.
YouTuber ZexyZek shared his first hands-on experience with the 0.27 Early Access build and kicked off the conversation with a simple message: “After 15 years, we finally have a new EA skate game.”
The gameplay footage shows off a raw but functional version of the game.
ZexyZek thanked EA for the early access and made it clear this build is far from the final version.
Even so, the response online has been strong. Some players are excited just to see a playable version, happy that the project is still alive and moving forward.
Others are raising questions about the animations, the trick system, and how the controls compare to previous entries.
Fans can finally stop wondering if skate. is really coming back. The answer is on screen, and it is rolling forward.
The Piedmont High School boys water polo team is looking forward to another successful season despite a change at the top. Longtime coach John Savage is stepping back this year after his child was born in December. Rik Krumins, who has served as an assistant in several previous seasons will take the reins with Savage […]
The Piedmont High School boys water polo team is looking forward to another successful season despite a change at the top. Longtime coach John Savage is stepping back this year after his child was born in December. Rik Krumins, who has served as an assistant in several previous seasons will take the reins with Savage only coming out once or twice per week.
Savage joked that he will be a “consultant” this year.
Krumins is more than familiar with the program. His son Peter was a standout on the North Coast Section Division 2 championship team in 2023. His daughter Esme is a junior on the Piedmont girls team.
“We’re actually really excited about this group,” Rik Krumins said. “We have a few seniors coming back.” Elles Krieckhaus is one of those.
“He has been on varsity for the past four years,” Krumins said. “He’s going to be our key goal scorer. He’ll be playing two-meters and doing a lot of post up on the side as well as leading our counter attack.”
Goalkeeper Luke McAuliffe is a senior entering his third year as a starter. “He has been playing club,” Krumins said. “He gets out of the water pretty high. He’s a very vocal goalie. Controlling the defense, directing where our players are at certain times.”
Luke McAuliffe
Zach Dupree, another senior, will be seeing an increase in playing time. “He’s an up and coming varsity player,” Krumins said. “He’ll be two-meter offense and prob two-meter defense.”
A couple of returning sophomores will also be key players. Krumins called Rylan Patty, “a very aggressive offensive player, he’ll be doing a lot of post up, driving, counter attacking.”
Zach Dupree (2) at the Napa Tournament
Rylan Patty rises out of the water
Krumins said of Henry Stein that he’s a left-hander and “played a lot of minutes last year as a freshman. He really holds down the 4-5 side and the wing.”
Freshman Ben Kappes should make an immediate impact. “He has been playing club for the last three-four years,” Krumins said. “He’ll be coming in with a skill set to contribute to the team on the defensive side and the offensive side.”
Henry Stein looks to pass
Krumins said the team will use a drop defense while splitting the top. The advantage the Highlanders have is rather than just one player to center the offense and counter around, they have several and can push the tempo. Krumins said maturity and growth will need to improve over the course of the season. “Slowing the tempo down and making the right decisions,” he said.
The goals are the same. “Competing for league championships, competing for an NCS title,” Krumins said. “We’re a pretty well-balanced team. We have four, five, six, seven players that can contribute at any one time.”
The team will again play without a home pool as construction continues. Krumins said he has been told completion is about 10 weeks out but isn’t counting on any home matches.
“My goal would be to have an alumni game as the first in the new pool,” he said, targeting November or December.
A new global research study commissioned by IBM shows that fans are changing the way they consume sports, turning to new, more dynamic experiences, including the use of AI, personalization and real-time features. The survey queried more than 20,000 global sports fans across 12 countries, asking them about their habits in consuming sports of all kinds. The […]
A new global research study commissioned by IBM shows that fans are changing the way they consume sports, turning to new, more dynamic experiences, including the use of AI, personalization and real-time features.
The survey queried more than 20,000 global sports fans across 12 countries, asking them about their habits in consuming sports of all kinds. The results showed that those fans increasingly view technology — particularly AI — as a positive force and that they are using it more often. Total AI usage among fans has grown since 2024 across nearly all markets, with 85% of respondents noting that they saw value in integrating the emerging technology into their sports experience. In addition, 63 percent expressed some level of trust in AI-generated sports content, noting that real-time game/match updates (35%) and personalized content (30%) were their top priorities for AI-enhanced engagement.
The survey also asked fans how often they attend in-person events, with 73% around the world saying that they attend at least one event per year.
When it comes to the digital experience of consuming sports, over half (51%) of the fans surveyed turn to video highlights, with 37% enjoying post-event recaps and 32 percent staying connected to their sport by consuming player interviews. Dedicated mobile sports apps are also important to sports fans: Nearly 75% use them to stay updated.
Social media also remains the leading platform for accessing additional content, with influencers play a prominent role: 59% of fans surveyed engage with influencers for analysis and predictions.
Habits May Shift Again
The survey also shows that fans’ consumption of sports is not only changing now, but will likely continue to change in the future. Only 27% of surveyed fans expect those habits to stay the same over the next two years, with 80% saying technology – specifically AI— will have the greatest influence on how they follow sports by 2027.
More than half (56%) of surveyed fans want AI-powered insights and commentary for past, current and future sporting events. And advances in tech may open up new avenues for future fans in countries where they don’t speak the language. One-third of responders said real-time translation technology will have the most significant impact on their international sports experience in the next 2-3 years — particularly in markets where English is not the dominant language.
“The sports media landscape is more complex than ever, and fans are comfortable consuming digital content around the clock,” said Kameryn Stanhouse, IBM’s vice president, sports and entertainment partnerships. “With fans signaling their readiness to embrace AI, we will continue working with our tournament, league and media partners to meet fans where they are, whether they’re watching the action in person or enhancing their second-screen experience.” To access the full report, click here.
How Amarillo College reunited a group of Hereford volleyball alums
The Hereford athletic program has produced a handful of talented college volleyball players in recent years. Former Herd star and current West Texas A&M standout Taytum Stow has received numerous conference and national awards while competing for the Lady Buffs. Before Stow, Meagan Ellis starred for HHS, continuing her career at Southern Nazarene University in […]
The Hereford athletic program has produced a handful of talented college volleyball players in recent years.
Former Herd star and current West Texas A&M standout Taytum Stow has received numerous conference and national awards while competing for the Lady Buffs.
Before Stow, Meagan Ellis starred for HHS, continuing her career at Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma, where she also earned all-conference recognition.
Now, the next pair of Hereford products are looking to leave their mark at the collegiate level as they begin their freshman seasons at Amarillo College. London Baker and Jynae Fletcher, two first-year players for the Badgers, enter the program after strong careers in Deaf Smith County.
While the NJCAA may be a step up in competition for the Hereford products, their relationship with a member of AC’s coaching staff has helped ease the local talents into their next chapter.
More: Former Vega standout preparing for freshman season with Amarillo College volleyball
More: Led by local stars, Amarillo College volleyball returns for program’s fourth season
More: Texas Panhandle Super Team: Amarillo area’s top high school volleyball players from 2024
Hereford reunion at AC
Baker and Fletcher’s familiarity with the coaching staff at Amarillo College is part of what brought the duo to head coach Scott Sandel.
The aforementioned Ellis, a Hereford graduate, is an assistant coach for the Badgers’ volleyball team, and has known Baker for years. As a middle school student, Baker served as Hereford’s ball girl while Ellis was starring on the team, initially building a relationship between the two.
“I have known London since I was a freshman in high school, so 2013,” Ellis said. “She was one of my ball girls because I played with her older sister, who’s a year older than me. So London has been in the gym, running around, constantly touching a ball. Her job was supposed to be shagging balls, but we could always just never get her off of the wall setting and passing and always just trying to pepper with one of the other volleyball girls.”
“I think that I have been able to see her come out of her shell a little bit more as she’s gotten older, and I think that she’ll only excel. I think she’s a great gal. She’s so much fun to be around, and so I think once we start getting her more comfortable, then she’ll do great things.”
Like Baker and Ellis, Ellis has known Sandel since she was around 11-years-old. Ellis’ mother was an assistant for the Amarillo College head coach when he was coaching club volleyball, and Sandel began giving Ellis lessons.
Ellis’ relationship with Sandel brought her to Amarillo College after finishing her career at SNU, and Baker’s connection with Ellis helped land the Texas Panhandle Super Team honoree on the Badgers’ roster.
The relationship between Ellis and Baker has also helped the 5-foot-9 setter work on one of her primary goals since arriving on campus.
Mastering a new skill
Like any freshman starting their first season of college athletics, Baker knows there are a few areas she needs to improve on the court.
With Amarillo College, though, Baker is more focused on growing as a vocal leader and communicator.
“My goals are to just grow as a person, not only as a player, but as a person,” Baker said. “ I feel like I’ve spoken more, been more of a leader. I love talking and getting to know all the girls individually. I used to be very soft spoken.”
Ellis has also noticed Baker’s efforts to be vocal on and off the court, saying that being around the team more often has been good for the HHS product.
Sandel also had high praise for Baker, highlighting her ability to connect with her teammates and her efforts to be a good teammate.
“I love London,” Sandel said. “She’s awesome. One of London’s biggest strengths is, everybody just loves her. She’s just a great person, so, for her, that’s always going be her thing. Her teammates are going to give her everything they have, because they just love her.”
“So for her, coming out (of her shell) a little more, being a little more directive, that’s a process that she needs to learn. That’s a process we need, because they’re going to play hard for her. So the more she learns and demands out of them, they’ll come with her, that’s a plus.”
After earning TGCA All-State and District 4-4A Co-Offensive MVP recognition as a senior, Baker appears poised for a strong collegiate career with the Badgers.
A longtime coach is making his return to competition this fall at Fenwick High School. Kyle Perry, who coached boys water polo from 2012 to 2023, has taken over the Friars’ boys golf team, replacing another longtime coach, Jerry Kribs. “I am excited to be [varsity] head coach,” said Perry, who served as the head […]
A longtime coach is making his return to competition this fall at Fenwick High School. Kyle Perry, who coached boys water polo from 2012 to 2023, has taken over the Friars’ boys golf team, replacing another longtime coach, Jerry Kribs.
“I am excited to be [varsity] head coach,” said Perry, who served as the head coach of the junior varsity team and was Kribs’ varsity assistant the last three seasons. “Having worked with Coach Kribs over the past few seasons, he has left me with a great group of gentlemen. These guys love to play golf and love to grind out results.”
Fenwick returns seven golfers from last season: seniors Ryan Brennan, Johnny Cox, Aidan Haefner, Conor Hanley, Michael McMahon, and Luke Sherlock; and junior Alex Kulisek. Newcomers are freshman Marco Cefalu; juniors Clayton Dine, Danny O’Donoghue, James Papp, and Jay Raber; and senior Lee Sheahan.
Wesleyan volleyball picked fourth in South Division in MEC preseason poll
West Virginia Wesleyan was picked fourth in the Mountain East Conference preseason South Division poll, which named Wheeling and Charleston as the North and South favorites based on votes by the league’s 11 head coaches. BRIDGEPORT — Wheeling University and the University of Charleston are the Mountain East Conference divisional favorites for the upcoming season, the […]
West Virginia Wesleyan was picked fourth in the Mountain East Conference preseason South Division poll, which named Wheeling and Charleston as the North and South favorites based on votes by the league’s 11 head coaches.
BRIDGEPORT — Wheeling University and the University of Charleston are the Mountain East Conference divisional favorites for the upcoming season, the league announced Monday.
The preseason poll results were compiled via a vote of the conference’s 11 head coaches.
Wheeling, which has won or shared the MEC North Division title in all 12 years of the conference’s existence, received nine first-place votes. The Cardinals finished 27-11 overall and 12-2 in MEC play last season, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship before falling to top seed Gannon.
Charleston received seven first-place votes to lead the MEC South Division. The Golden Eagles are coming off of a 25-8 season, including a 12-3 record in conference play. UC finished second to West Virginia State in the South last season, and fell to Wheeling in the MEC Volleyball Championship semifinals.
In the North Division, Wheeling is followed in the preseason poll by Fairmont State, West Liberty, Frostburg State, and Point Park. Fairmont State and West Liberty each received a first-place vote. In the South Division, UC is followed by West Virginia State, Concord, West Virginia Wesleyan, Glenville State, and Davis & Elkins.
West Virginia State is the reigning South Division and ended Wheeling’s run of MEC Volleyball Championships in tournament play. The Yellow Jackets beat the Cardinals, 3-1, to earn the MEC’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division II tournament. WVSU has won back-to-back South Division titles under two different head coaches — 2023 MEC Coach of the Year Hillary Hurley and 2024 MEC Coach of the Year Avery Moore — and will have Shannon Gerencir back at the helm this season. Gerencir previously coached the Yellow Jackets from 2002 to 2015, winning 207 games and two Coach of the Year honors.
The 2025 MEC volleyball season is set to begin with non-conference action on Thursday, Sept. 5.
