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Fisk gymnastics, nation’s first HBCU program, to shut down after 2026

The first HBCU to have a gymnastics program will participate in its last season in 2026. Fisk University, which began competing in January 2023, will discontinue its program after next season, the school announced last week. “Considerable challenges … to schedule competitions and build a robust recruiting pipeline,” were the reasons cited for the decision […]

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The first HBCU to have a gymnastics program will participate in its last season in 2026.

Fisk University, which began competing in January 2023, will discontinue its program after next season, the school announced last week.

“Considerable challenges … to schedule competitions and build a robust recruiting pipeline,” were the reasons cited for the decision on the school’s website. Fisk competes in the HBCU Athletic Conference, and the sport isn’t sanctioned by the conference, resulting in those challenges.

“While we are tremendously proud of the history our gymnastics team has made in just three years, we look forward to focusing on our conference-affiliated teams to strengthen our impact in the HBCU Athletic Conference,” Valencia Jordan, Director of Fisk Athletics, said on the school’s website. “Fisk is grateful for the hard work, dedication and tenacity of its gymnasts, staff members, and coaches who made this program possible.”

The Tennessean has reached out to Jordan for comment.

Fisk University gymnastics had early success

Despite being new on the scene, Fisk’s gymnastics team has experienced some success.

Morgan Price of Lebanon became the first gymnast from an HBCU to win the all-around championship at the USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Championships in 2024. She repeated the feat in 2025.

“It feels good because of the hard work that has been put in,” Price said in a release after the first title. “Honestly, I didn’t know where I would place, but it was a pleasant surprise. I have heard from a lot of people so far. I am still trying to take all this in.”

Price, Allie Berkley, Aliyah Reed-Hammon, and Ciniah Rosby each earned first-team All-American honors for the 2025 season.

Paul Skrbina is a sports enterprise reporter covering the Predators, Titans, Nashville SC, local colleges and local sports for The Tennessean. Reach him at pskrbina@tennessean.com and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @paulskrbina.





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Louisville man returns to ice hockey after Alzheimer’s diagnosis

When Alzheimer’s began to steal Bruce Niemi’s world, old friends and a pair of skates brought something remarkable back to him. LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s a story about memory, friendship, and the ice that never quite let go. Bruce Niemi spent most of his life chasing pucks and carving turns on frozen ponds. From his […]

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When Alzheimer’s began to steal Bruce Niemi’s world, old friends and a pair of skates brought something remarkable back to him.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s a story about memory, friendship, and the ice that never quite let go.

Bruce Niemi spent most of his life chasing pucks and carving turns on frozen ponds. From his childhood in Michigan to playing for the Louisville Blades travel team in the 1970’s, hockey wasn’t just a hobby; it was part of who he was.

But a few years ago, that part of Bruce began to fade. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the disease slowly chipped away at his memory.

“I can say, ‘hand me that fork,’ and he doesn’t know what I mean,” his wife, Rhonda Niemi said. “Or, ‘Can you take out the trash?’ and he doesn’t understand.”

As Bruce’s world grew smaller, longtime friend, Steve Eckerson and former ice rink rival Rick Burns, wondered if something from his past might still be waiting for him.

A Simple Idea, a Powerful Return

Just a few months ago, Rick and Steve had a simple but uncertain idea: Get Bruce back on the ice.

“We weren’t sure if he could take a step out there,” Rick admitted. “Would he fall? Crash into the boards?”

Rhonda was nervous, too, “well, more than a little,” she confessed. But what happened next defied expectation. Bruce stepped onto the ice, found his balance and began to glide.

A Moment of Clarity

“Rick and Steve were by his side,” Rhonda recalled. “Then Bruce just… took off, gliding away, maneuvering the hockey stick like he was playing 10 years ago. I went, ‘Oh my gosh.’”

For a few precious minutes, Bruce was not a patient. He was a player. He and Rhonda have come to the ice rink at Iceland Sports Complex every Tuesday since.

“Feeling the ice under your blades, hearing the sounds, taking in the aroma of the rink — it all comes back,” Steve said. “It’s muscle memory, but it’s more than that. There’s something about hockey.”

The Power of the Game

To those who love the sport, it’s more than just a game. It’s a bond, a brotherhood, and, in Bruce’s case, a lifeline.

“Compared to what Bruce used to be, it’s just a sliver,” Steve said. “But he’s out there catching passes, putting heat on his passes. It was amazing to see.”

Rhonda saw something deeper.

“The joy, the energy, he doesn’t have that anymore. Except here. This is the only thing that brings him a real smile,” she said.

Even after the skates come off, the effects linger.

“After a session like this, his mood elevates for the day,” Rick said.

It’s a small window, but inside it is something powerful: connection, joy, and the echoes of a game that still knows his name.

A Full Circle Moment

It’s been decades since Bruce, Rick, and Steve first shared the ice. Now, in their later years, they’re sharing something even more profound.

“Back in 1977? That’s cool that after all these years, it’s come back,” said Rhonda. “Quite a circle.”

As Bruce stepped off the ice, Rhonda’s at his side.

“Four goals, Bruce. That was awesome!” she smiled.
“I’m finished,” Bruce replied.
“I bet you are,” she said.

And in that moment, it was clear: while memories may fade, some moments are strong enough to bring them back, if only for a little while.

Have a story of hope or resilience to share? Contact Brooke Hasch at bhasch@whas11.com.



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In new NIL era, West Virginia launches Blue & Gold Enterprises | West Virginia University Sports

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Sacramento State to join Big West in 2026 in all sports except football

Associated Press Sacramento State will join the Big West conference as a full member starting with the 2026-27 academic year. Sacramento State informed the Big Sky on Wednesday that it will leave the conference after this year and the Big West announced that the school will become the 12th school in the conference. “The Big […]

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Associated Press

Sacramento State will join the Big West conference as a full member starting with the 2026-27 academic year.

Sacramento State informed the Big Sky on Wednesday that it will leave the conference after this year and the Big West announced that the school will become the 12th school in the conference.

“The Big West membership and conference staff are excited to welcome Sacramento State to The Big West,” commissioner Dan Butterly said in a statement. “In addition to strengthening The Big West competitively and expanding our geographic footprint, Sacramento State is a staunch advocate for excellence in academics, athletics and service within their community. The new look Big West promises to bring a new level of competition and friendly rivalry for student-athletes and fans alike.”

The Big West doesn’t sponsor football so Sacramento State’s program will be an independent in that sport. The Hornets are trying to move up from FCS level to FBS as an independent and are awaiting a ruling next week from the NCAA Division I Council.

The FBS Oversight Committee recommended against the move earlier this week, citing the “paramount importance” of having an invitation to join an FBS conference. The NCAA had previously granted a waiver to Liberty in 2017 to move to FBS as an independent but said the circumstances have changed since then.

The Flames were an independent in football from 2018-22 before joining Conference USA.

“Although a waiver of the bona fide invitation requirement was granted in 2017, that decision was made in a different era, under a different set of facts and rules …,” the committee recommended, according to public meeting minutes. “Due to the significance of the bona fide invitation from an FBS conference requirement and the lack of compelling mitigation explaining why that requirement, one that several other FCS institutions have met in recent years, has not been met, the committee does not support relief.”

Sacramento State said the school will consider all conference options for football if the council votes against its application.

Sacramento State had been an affiliate member of the Big West in various sports in the past but now will have 16 teams competing in the Big West starting in 2026-27.

“We are thrilled to become a full member of The Big West and are grateful for the invitation,” athletic director Mark Orr said. “Sacramento State strives to provide our student-athletes the opportunity to be in the best position to be nationally competitive, and The Big West for decades has been a conference that has enjoyed national success in several sports. We are eager to compete for championships, enhance existing rivalries, and develop new relationships with our peer conference members.”

The Hornets will officially join The Big West on July 1, 2026, joining a lineup that includes California Baptist, Cal Poly, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, CSUN, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and Utah Valley.

The Big West has no current plans to expand beyond 12-member institutions.

The Hornets have made a big investment in the men’s basketball program recently, hiring former NBA star Mike Bibby as head coach and Shaquille O’Neal as a voluntary GM for the program.

Sacramento State went 7-25 last season under interim coach Michael Czepil, who was promoted last spring after David Patrick left to take a job as associate head coach at LSU.

The Hornets had gone 28-42 in two seasons under Patrick and the program has never made an NCAA Tournament since moving up to Division I in 1991-92. The Hornets have had a winning record only twice since then, going 16-14 in 2019-20 and 21-12 in 2014-15.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports



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Laraque impressed with diverse group of youth players at Willie O’Ree Academy

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Georges Laraque surveyed the lobby of the Pittsburgh Penguins practice facility on Tuesday afternoon and smiled. “I’m looking at this now, I can’t believe how many young Black kids, diverse kids, girls, are here playing hockey,” Laraque, who was a forward for the Penguins for two seasons (2006-08) in his 12-year […]

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CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Georges Laraque surveyed the lobby of the Pittsburgh Penguins practice facility on Tuesday afternoon and smiled.

“I’m looking at this now, I can’t believe how many young Black kids, diverse kids, girls, are here playing hockey,” Laraque, who was a forward for the Penguins for two seasons (2006-08) in his 12-year NHL career, said at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. “This shows you how much hockey has evolved.”

Laraque returned to Pittsburgh for the first time since 2008 to be a guest coach at the Willie O’Ree Academy, a five-year-old training and enrichment program established by the Penguins and presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. It is for local youth hockey players ages 10-17 to help them advance their skills while developing a strong social support network.

Nearly 40 boys and girls were put through their paces on the ice by Laraque, who was joined by Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph and retired forward Colby Armstrong, who played three of his eight NHL seasons with Pittsburgh (2005-08).

“It’s really my honor to be with these guys,” Joseph said. “It’s gratifying to see that hockey is going in the right direction and taking the steps towards having a more different culture in hockey, and [becoming] more accessible for everyone to be able to play a game.”



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Adou Thiero is an explosive athlete and could be a second-round steal – Liberty Ballers

Before the 2025 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 3 and 35. Next up in this series is Arkansas’ Adou Thiero. Arkansas star Adou Thiero had a breakout year in […]

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Adou Thiero is an explosive athlete and could be a second-round steal - Liberty Ballers

Before the 2025 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 3 and 35. Next up in this series is Arkansas’ Adou Thiero.

Arkansas star Adou Thiero had a breakout year in the SEC during his junior season playing under John Calipari in Fayetteville after transferring in after two seasons at the University of Kentucky. Often viewed as and mocked as an early second-round prospect, I believe Thiero can return top-20 if not lottery value if he can develop in a couple of key areas.

Let’s take a look at what gives Thiero such significant upside as a potential legitimate two-way difference maker.

Profile

Stats (PER 40 Min):

21.9 PPG

8.5 REB

2.7 AST

2.4 STL

1.3 BLK

54.5% FG

60.5 TS%

25.6% 3PT (2.3 3PA)

68.6% FT (9.4 FTA)

Team: Arkansas

Year: Junior

Position: Forward

Height: 6’7 1⁄2 (In Shoes)

Weight: 218 lbs

Wingspan: 7’0

Born: May 8, 2004 (21 years old)

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Strengths

Athleticism

Thiero is a truly nuclear athlete even by NBA standards. Whether it’s blowing by defenders off the bounce with a lightning quick first step, skying through the air for gravity-defying slams, or seemingly coming out of the rafters to erase shot attempts, Thiero’s athleticism pops in basically every aspect. He was 46th in the country in total dunks with 45 made on the season despite only playing 27 games and only 51% of Arkansas’ total minutes on the season as he was limited with injuries. That is an astounding number for a 6-foot-7 wing.

Defense

Thiero is an excellent defensive playmaker posting 3.7 stocks per 40 Minutes, an outstanding level of defensive playmaking for a wing prospect.

Arkansas was significantly better on defense as a team with Thiero on the floor, good for 98 points per 100 possessions conceded with Thiero on and plummeted to 106.4 points per 100 conceded with him off the floor. Teams shot worse from all over the floor with his presence on the court. He is a force as a secondary rim protector and weakside shot blocker due to his 7-foot wingspan and special vertical athleticism. Thiero does a great job of contesting without fouling at the rim, at times walling up with two hands or swatting away shots emphatically.

His outlier quickness and quick hands coupled with his 6-foot-7, 218-pound frame makes him a stifling on-ball defender. Thiero plays with a relentless motor and always has to be accounted for as he is looking to jump passing lanes, chase down players for steals and deflections, and wreak havoc as an off-ball defender.

Driving/Rim Finishing

Over 55% of Thiero’s attempts at the rim were self-created and he finished over 58% of his rim attempts in the half court and 61.6% at the rim overall. His blur of a first step and grab-and-go ability in transition make him a difficult cover as a driver and play finisher especially when he gets a head of steam.

Thiero scored on 1.017 points per possession on his half court attempts this past season at Arkansas which puts him in the 82nd percentile, per Synergy. He also displays excellent floater touch which is a great counter to have to his driving and one that will be greatly needed — especially early in his career as he looks to improve as a jump shooter.

Thiero is also an outstanding weapon as a cutter off the ball where he ranked in the 97th percentile at 1.641 points per possession and finished 84% of his field goals on basket cuts.

Rebounding

Thiero has pulled down 8.7 rebounds per game per 40 minutes throughout his college career. During the 2024-2025 season with the Razorbacks, he put out an impressive 7.7 ORB%, a lot of those ending in put-back points for Thiero by way of layups and put-back dunks. We have seen how important extra possessions and rebounding are throughout the NBA playoffs. Thiero is a legitimate weapon on the glass from the forward spot.

Foul Drawing

Thiero posted a 69.2% free throw rate which is higher than any of the projected first-round prospects coming from the NCAA this season. Thiero uses his first step, strength, and creative rim finishing to apply constant pressure on the rim and get himself to the line at a high rate. This is an important trait for Thiero to help him bring offensive value and generate easy scoring opportunities.

Potential Swing Skill

Playmaking

Thiero’s 1.1 Ast/TO ratio is not going to jump off the page but as you dig deeper into the tape and his profile you will see that there is some untapped playmaking upside. Thiero was a point guard in his high school days as he was just 6-foot tall his junior season and that flashes at times throughout his college film as well. Thiero’s 14% assist rate is a solid number given his archetype. He has showed the ability to make passes on the move, throw skip passes with both hands, passes to rollers out of pick-and-roll, and hit quick extra passes to shooters and cutters as well.

There may be more there than we have seen to this point and improvements to either his handle or shooting could allow him to bend defenses more and leverage some of his passing chops as well.

Areas of Concern

Shooting

Thiero at this time is a complete project at as a shooter. He made just 21 threes in 72 games in his college career at a pedestrian 28.4% clip. Thiero also is a below average free throw shooter for his archetype shooting just 71.1% from the line in his career. While the form on his jumper does not seem to be broken, he has failed to knock it down with any kind of consistency or efficiency. Thiero’s floater touch, rim touch, and flashes of pull-up shooting from two give some optimism for his potential development as a shooter, but it is best to view it as a complete work in progress at this stage.

Overall

Adou Thiero is one of the most underrated prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft. His defensive impact, defensive versatility, S tier athleticism, elite play finishing capabilities, relentless motor, and intriguing ball skills make him a top-20 prospect in this class — with potential to be even more if he lands with the right team to utilize and find value in his current skillset while he looks to develop as a shooter.

Thiero’s shooting development will ultimately determine his ceiling while his other skills give him avenues to immediate role player value in the right system. Given the Sixers’ excess of perimeter shooting, Thiero could slot into a nice role as a transition scorer, driver, cutter, defender, and rebounder and he should be near the top of Sixers wish list early in the second round.

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Arizona gymnastics notebook: A coaching promotion and recruiting rankings

NCAA gymnastics completed its season two months ago, but that doesn’t mean nothing is going on in that world. June 15th marked the opening of recruiting contact for the class of 2027. There was other good news for the Arizona GymCats, both on the coaching and recruiting trails. On Kylie Kratchwell’s promotion A season of […]

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NCAA gymnastics completed its season two months ago, but that doesn’t mean nothing is going on in that world. June 15th marked the opening of recruiting contact for the class of 2027. There was other good news for the Arizona GymCats, both on the coaching and recruiting trails.

On Kylie Kratchwell’s promotion

A season of firsts warrants another first. Arizona gymnastics now has two associate head coaches after the promotion of assistant coach Kylie Kratchwell. GymCats head coach John Court announced that the third-year assistant would join Taylor Spears with the title on Tuesday.

“She is a person of high character, has increased our program’s national competitiveness, and has a positive approach in developing our student-athletes,” Court stated about Kratchwell in the program’s press release.

The trio of Kratchwell, Spears, and first-year assistant Shelby Martinez earned WCGA Regional Staff of the Year honors after a huge showing for the GymCats in their first year in the Big 12.

The GymCats finished second in the Big 12 during the regular season and at the conference championship meet, helping Court earn Big 12 Coach of the Year honors. They defeated every other team twice except Utah, which won both the regular season and conference championship titles. They then went on to defeat Arizona State a third time in the NCAA postseason.

Once they got to regionals, the team had another first. They advanced to regional finals for the first time since the NCAA postseason format changed in 2019. They finished second in their session, defeating Georgia and ASU, to earn the honor as one of the final 16 teams standing.

Kratchwell is primarily responsible for training the uneven bars. She also helps choreograph floor exercise. In her three years with the program, Arizona has finished in the top 25 on bars every season. It finished 23rd in 2025. The GymCats have also tied their top score (49.475 in 2024) and their third-best score (49.425 in 2025) in program history under Kratchwell’s watch.

Kratchwell and Spears combined forces to help fifth-year gymnast Elena Deets earn Big 12 co-Specialist of the Year honors. Deets performed bars and beam for the GymCats.

Kratchwell arrived at the University of New Hampshire in the fall of 2017 rehabbing from tears to her ACL, MCL, and meniscus that kept her from competing in her final year of Level 10. She went on to become a bars specialist, performing during the 2020, 2021, and 2022 college seasons. She was a two-time WCGA Scholastic All-American with a career high of 9.925 on bars. She joined the coaching ranks at Arizona immediately after completing her college career.

On Abygail Mackinney’s improvements

Kratchwell isn’t the only GymCat to get good news this week. College Gym News did its periodic re-evaluation of college recruits on Wednesday. Class of 2026 commit Abygail Mackinney was one of eleven athletes who saw their scores and ratings dramatically improve after their latest Level 10 season.

Mackinney was a three-star recruit with a score of 48 when she committed to Arizona last August. The outlet now has her as a four-star recruit with a score of 66.

“After missing the 2023 season due to injury, Mackinney returned to competition in 2024 but didn’t compete floor until midseason,” Tara Graeve of CGN writes. “Her biggest improvements came on vault and floor, as she consistently competed a Yurchenko full for the entire season for the first time and returned to her pre-injury self on floor.”

Graeve noted that beam is Mackinney’s weakest event and she could still add difficulty in floor and vault. For Arizona, the addition of difficulty on vault and floor are probably the more important matters; beam workers have been a strong suit for the program in recent years under Spears.

Mackinney’s new evaluation gives Arizona its first four-star recruit in the class that will sign in November. She joins Avery Tarico and Avery McKay, two three-star athletes with scores of 55, in the class of 2026.

Lead photo by Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Athletics



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