FISU FEATURE SERIES: ‘There’s always something you can improve’
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In July, five members of the Bisons track and field team will take to Germany for the FISU World University Games. Over the next six weeks, Bison Sports will cover their journey and memories and moments that matter to them. This week’s feature is on assistant coach Gee-ef Nkwonta. Throughout […]
In July, five members of the Bisons track and field team will take to Germany for the FISU World University Games. Over the next six weeks, Bison Sports will cover their journey and memories and moments that matter to them. This week’s feature is on assistant coach Gee-ef Nkwonta.
Throughout his life, Bisons track and field assistant coach Gee-ef Nkwonta has embodied a “jack of all trades” mindset. One look at his sporting resume proves this to be true.
He’s ran the gamete, from soccer to basketball, to track and field and most recently, golf. An extremely intelligent person with a competitive edge, his life-long learning mindset pairs perfectly with his athletic edge.
“I was way too aggressively competitive. It was bad. I think that’s why I’m like this now,” he chuckles.
“Because it was so debilitating. I got in so much trouble for it. It went from soccer to all the other sports in school. There’s a picture of me running in the Manitoba Marathon when I was in grade five. It’s been pretty full circle. I think that’s the biggest reason why I’ve been able to keep going and why I’ve been able to pick up all the sports, because I did all of them.”
Nkwonta was a sensational basketball player for Fort Richmond Collegiate in high school, and that’s the route he originally thought he would take after high school. But life had other plans, swerving his trajectory from the hard court, to the track towards the end of his time at FRC.
“I just got into track because I was trying to get out of a test, and I ended up qualifying for things,” he admits. “I went to provincials and I did okay, I think I got third in triple jump.”
Nkwonta was still dead set on basketball heading into university, but there was one problem. He needed to get into a gym, and passes were expensive. Cue Wilfred Sam-King Jr.
A former captain on the Bisons track and field team and elite sprinter, Sam-King Jr. was like “a big brother” to Nkwonta. He convinced the upstart athlete to pursue track and field, originally as a way to get more gym time. The floodgates opened from there.
“Working out with [Sam-King Jr.], and doing all that stuff with him, it just turned out well. I was like, track isn’t bad. I like that aspect of it being on you. With sports, and with life, it’s just what I grew up doing, taking accountability for all of your actions, and figuring it out. I found that pretty cool.”
As Nkwonta got going in the sport, he embraced “the challenge” that jumping provided. It was the right sport at the right time in his life, and from there, he was all-in. He still competes in triple jump to this day.
“I love that you can’t master it. There’s always something you can improve. That’s why I started it, that’s why I still do it.”
Nkwonta was admittedly never the most athletic, or naturally gifted member of Manitoba’s roster. Heck, when he first debuted in the roster, he was 5’6″, and 130 pounds before hitting a major growth spurt later in his rookie season.
But he never let his size, or other factors get him down. Instead, he focused on his technique, and a sound overall approach.
As he puts it, it was about “controlling the controllables,” and honing in on the little details. It’s a mindset that he continues to embody to this day with the athletes that he coaches.
By the time Nkwonta graduated, he was a national medalist, and his leap of 15.07 metres at the Golden Bear Open in 2018 was the third farthest in school history at the time. He’s one of just four triple jumpers in Bisons history to extend past 15 metres.
“That was weird. I never would have thought that would be something that happened. I have a weird knack for trying to conquer things that I don’t think can be conquered, or trying to prove to myself that I can do something,” he reflects when looking back on his storied UM career.
“It wasn’t like I was trying to go after a distance. It was more about how good can I be at this thing? I’m such a perfectionist when it comes to myself – actually I’m a perfectionist when it comes to everybody, some people I just let them get away with it more. A sport like triple jump, you realize that it isn’t about how fast or how strong you are. Those things help, but you get the results by trying to be technically smooth.”
‘There was a certain level of honesty’
Nkwonta’s love for the sport, and background as a teacher have been an ideal formula post-graduation. In a short span of time, he’s become one of the most respected coaching minds in the country.
Notably, in 2023, he helped Madisson Lawrence win double gold at nationals in the pentathlon and high jump, setting a school record in the latter. She capped a legendary U SPORTS career off this past year with another pentathlon gold, along with silver in high jump and bronze in triple jump.
A former U SPORTS Assistant Coach of the Year, Nkwonta also helped sprinters Jordan Soufi and Tyrell Davis crack the speed code in 2024, going 1-2 in the 60m on home soil at nationals. It was the first time in school history that Manitoba earned gold and silver in the event.
“In the moment, I was like what’s going on? I think that was big for many reasons,” Nkwonta says of the 1-2 in the 60.
“Jordan obviously getting one, Tyrell coming back from all his injuries and wondering if he was going to be able to run again. For both of them to do it at home, I was just happy that they were happy, and had family here for it.”
Nkwonta is an exceptional communicator and he knows his athletes well. It’s helped him understand the unique needs of each. Lawrence is a perfect example.
“[We talk] probably more than [Nkwonta] would like,” chuckled Lawrence prior to her record-breaking 2022-23 season. “I have a lot of questions and I don’t think before I speak sometimes.”
“I think having a coach who was also my friend has worked out well, because there was a certain level of honesty I could have with him,” she added. “I didn’t have to build up to it because it was already there. I think it worked well on the track, because if I had questions about something, or wanted to know something, I wouldn’t hesitate to ask.”
Nkwonta and Madisson Lawrence at practice. Photo by Zachary Peters
Nkwonta’s athlete-centred approach is rooted in his own experiences as a Bison. Alanna Boudreau, a “leader and mentor” who’s still on UM’s staff, was his coach, and has been a major influence.
“Alanna was instrumental in everything that I came to. I wouldn’t be here without her, taking the chance, pushing me when I didn’t want to be pushed, showing up when I didn’t think anyone would. It’s all the things you want from a coach. We understood each other so much that she knew what I needed even when I didn’t know I needed it,” Nkwonta says.
“She knew how to get a response out of me. I think that was the best part about our relationship. She knew me, I knew her. We connected. She’s made me not just a better athlete, but a better person. She’s influenced my coaching a lot. I understand that I am far from perfect. I understand that I am probably no one’s ideal athlete. I think the only ideal thing about me as an athlete is that I am coordinated, and if someone asks me to do something, I can generally do it in a couple of tries. She never really faltered, whether I was giving her my best or my worst.”
In two weeks, Nkwonta will take the next step in his coaching career. He, along with Bisons Daxx Turner, Lara Denbow, Jordan Soufi and Dawson Mann will represent Canada on the world stage at the FISU Summer World University Games in Bochum, Germany from July 21-27.
He will coach combined events and jumps as part of a ten person coaching staff, embracing the opportunity.
“I’m just hoping it leads to more. I’m the geek who’s going to be sitting at the warm-up track watching everyone warm up and learning what everyone’s doing. The meet will be fun, but that’s going to be the best part, meeting everyone from around the world and chatting, and getting to connect with people.”
Here are the top returning 4A volleyball stat leaders in 2025
The 2025 North Carolina high school volleyball season is around the corner. Schools in the N.C. High School Athletic Association will officailly begin practice on July 30. To help you prepare for the season, HighSchoolOT has poured through the stats for all of the returning players and broken them down into the new classifications. Here […]
The 2025 North Carolina high school volleyball season is around the corner.
Schools in the N.C. High School Athletic Association will officailly begin practice on July 30.
To help you prepare for the season, HighSchoolOT has poured through the stats for all of the returning players and broken them down into the new classifications.
Here are the returning stat leaders from teams in the 4A classification.
See the returning stat leaders in other classifications and other sports:
Note: Teams must have posted season stats to MaxPreps or sent them to us to be featured in this article. Ties broken by fewest sets played.
Summer Lee of Carrboro. Orange dropped the second and third sets before racing back to defeat Carrboro 3-2 to advance to the 3A state championship match on October 31, 2023 (Photo: Evan Moesta/HighSchoolOT)
Kinlin Hulin of Southwestern Randolph. Southwestern Randolph hosted a volleyball tri-match with McMichael and East Surry on September 16, 2023 (Photo: Evan Moesta/HighSchoolOT)
Brooke Williams (15) of Carrboro. Falls Lake Academy came from behind to defeat Carrboro in five sets on August 26, 2024 (Photo: Evan Moesta/HighSchoolOT)
Cal Poly Beach Volleyball Earns AVCA Team Academic Award for Fifth Straight Year
SAN LUIS OBIPSO, Calif. — For the fifth consecutive year, the Cal Poly beach volleyball team earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2024-25 academic year. The team posted a year-long GPA of 3.58 with 94 percent of the roster with a 3.0 or higher for the year. Three players […]
SAN LUIS OBIPSO, Calif. — For the fifth consecutive year, the Cal Poly beach volleyball team earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2024-25 academic year.
The team posted a year-long GPA of 3.58 with 94 percent of the roster with a 3.0 or higher for the year. Three players had a 4.0 academic year GPA and 12 had at least one quarter where they received a 4.0 GPA.
The beach volleyball team also boasted the highest spring quarter GPA in the entire athletic department.
This marks the fifth straight year Cal Poly has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award. For maintaining a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3.
The strong academic success matches the team’s success on the sand this year as for the second straight year, the Mustangs reached the NCAA Championship Semifinals, had four players who were named AVCA All-Americans, and 10 who earned All-Big West honors.
Bryant volleyball focuses on leadership, culture ahead of new season | Sports
BRYANT — Coach Leigh Ann Back and the Bryant Hornets volleyball team ended last season with a 19-10 record and a second-place finish in the conference. The Hornets nearly tied for first but lost a close five-set match to Conway in the final game of the season. The team graduated several experienced players, including three […]
BRYANT — Coach Leigh Ann Back and the Bryant Hornets volleyball team ended last season with a 19-10 record and a second-place finish in the conference. The Hornets nearly tied for first but lost a close five-set match to Conway in the final game of the season.
The team graduated several experienced players, including three four-year starters. Still, a number of returning and new athletes are eager to step into bigger roles as they prepare during the offseason. Leadership and team culture are key themes for the Hornets heading into 2025.
Even though this year’s squad is fairly young and in a rebuilding phase, Back said there are still players to watch.
“Our senior libero, Breanna Williamson, is an incredible lib with incredible energy and range. She’s fun to watch; you can hear her a mile away. She’s loud and proud and will probably, by the end of the season, hold a lot of records. Taylor Lease, split time with another player last year; this year, she looks to lead the team out of the middle. Graci Lewis is one of our pin hitters, very powerful, and she will make a difference. Oakley Escobar is one of our utility players. She plays a little bit as a hitter and a little as a defensive specialist or whatever we need her to be at that point in time,” Back said.
Bryant volleyball is heading in a strong direction this offseason, with players embracing high expectations and working hard to master the team’s fast-paced style.
“It has gone well. When you walk into our gym, it’s not ever a play-land kind of situation. It’s more of a, ‘it’s time to get to work.’ We talk a lot about the difference between seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade types of play into the big jump to high school. The difference between the speeds of play. I don’t give them an opportunity to doubt me on that. I make sure they understand immediately. We play really fast and really hard, and we move forward from there,” Back said.
Team chemistry has already developed early, with strong leadership emerging in the locker room and a clear standard being set for accountability. Back praised her players for stepping into leadership roles following the graduation of seven to eight seniors last year.
“I have been really impressed with our leadership, with losing seven to eight seniors last year. A lot of people have stepped into leadership roles and have done a phenomenal job of that. The team chemistry has really jelled a lot sooner than I expected it to. The hard work has not been a big-time hard sell to get from them. They’ve just stepped in there and gone. Our coaching staff always talks about how everyone on the team is a leader. You just have to figure out what your leadership role is. Are you a leader in the locker room? Are you a leader during practice? Are you a leader wherever, and I think for the first time in many years, a lot of those players have already stepped into whatever their leadership role is. It makes things work a lot better. We’re also big on accountability. Make sure you don’t lose the message in the delivery. If somebody’s trying to hold you accountable, remember why they’re doing it and what they’re saying to you, not how they’re saying it to you. The sooner everybody buys into that, the sooner we can move forward,” she said.
Back added that team culture plays a central role in the program’s success and identity. It defines leadership, helps clarify roles, and often determines the tone of a season.
“Culture is a very important thing, especially here at Bryant. It’s an ongoing process. It’s a constant change. How are we going to get to where we need to go? What am I going to give? What am I going to take? It’s not all just you have to do it my way, this is the way it’s going to be. It’s a lot of adjustments and a lot of how much I’m willing to give up and how much I’m not willing to give up,” Back said.
WASHINGTON- Under the guidance of fourth-year Head Coach Katie Reifert, the George Washington volleyball team is pleased to announce the 2025 regular season schedule. The Revolutionaries will open play on Friday, Aug. 29, taking on the Howard Bison as part of the D.C. Challenge, before welcoming Virginia to the Smith Center for the home opener […]
WASHINGTON- Under the guidance of fourth-year Head Coach Katie Reifert, the George Washington volleyball team is pleased to announce the 2025 regular season schedule.
The Revolutionaries will open play on Friday, Aug. 29, taking on the Howard Bison as part of the D.C. Challenge, before welcoming Virginia to the Smith Center for the home opener on Saturday, Aug. 30, and concluding the opening weekend with a second intracity matchup at American on Sunday, Aug. 31.
Prior to GW’s season-opener, the Buff & Blue will participate in an exhibition match to fine-tune their skills for the regular season. On Aug. 17, the GW Revs will travel to face Lehigh for a 1 p.m. scrimmage.
Following the D.C. Challenge, GW will continue to play a nine-game non-conference slate. The GW Revs will host the next two weekends at home, welcoming Temple, North Carolina Central and Georgetown across Sept. 5 and 6, before participating in the Battle of the Beltway by welcoming UMBC, Loyola Maryland and Morgan State to the Smith Center from Sept. 12-14. GW’s sole road non-conference weekend features a trip to FAU, where the Revolutionaries will be contested by the host Owls and Bethune Cookman on Sept. 19, before taking on Stetson on Sept. 20 to close out non-conference play.
The Revolutionaries will face an 18-match Atlantic 10 slate which will begin at the Smith Center on Sept. 26-27 as the Buff & Blue welcome Rhode Island to kick off conference play. The Buff & Blue will also play host to DMV foe George Mason on Oct. 8, Atlantic 10 powerhouse Dayton (Oct. 17-18), VCU (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1) and conclude conference play welcoming the Duquesne Dukes to the Smith Center on Nov. 14-15.
On the road in the A-10, the squad will travel to be tested by reigning A-10 champion Loyola Chicago (Oct. 3-4), Fordham (Oct. 11-12), Davidson (Oct. 24-25) and Saint Louis (Nov. 7-8). The series with George Mason will also be completed with a trip to Fairfax on Oct. 29. The 2025 Atlantic 10 Volleyball Championship will be played between Friday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 24, with the top six teams in the conference advancing to play in Richmond, Va.
An official announcement for GW volleyball’s promotional schedule will be published in the coming days. TV designations and streaming options for all home matches will also be announced later. The full 2025 regular season schedule can be found here. Visit GWsports.com for the latest news and results this season.
Fans can get in the game with GW and stay on top of all of the latest news and notes from George Washington by utilizing the GW Athletics App. With scores, stats, customized alerts, tickets and more, everything you need in real-time is in one place on the GW Athletics App, available now for free on iOS and Android systems in the App Store or Google Play. DOWNLOAD TODAY!
DOE seeks public input on Baldwin High School master plan improvements : Maui Now
The state Department of Education has completed a draft environmental impact statement for master plan improvements at Baldwin High School. PC: Online draft EIS screen grab Public input is being sought on a state Department of Education’s master plan improvements for Baldwin High School, including sports facilities and classrooms on 42 acres in Wailuku. Proposed […]
The state Department of Education has completed a draft environmental impact statement for master plan improvements at Baldwin High School. PC: Online draft EIS screen grab
Public input is being sought on a state Department of Education’s master plan improvements for Baldwin High School, including sports facilities and classrooms on 42 acres in Wailuku.
Proposed master plan improvements include construction of athletic facilities, including locker rooms, a weight room, a training room, track and practice field, and four physical education classrooms. In addition, a two-story building with 14 classrooms is proposed along with an agricultural education building and site.
“The proposed classroom buildings will reduce the need for portable classrooms currently in use and allow for a more robust agriculture program,” a project summary says. “In addition, BHS offers physical education courses and a variety of boys’ and girls’ Varsity and Junior Varsity athletic programs including, but not limited to, basketball, volleyball, football, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, swimming, water polo, golf, wrestling, air riflery, judo, bowling, paddling, and surfing.”
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The high school has its own gymnasium, basketball courts and baseball and softball practice fields. However, the school primarily relies on adjacent Maui County facilities, such as the War Memorial Stadium Complex, to accommodate many of its sports practice activities and physical education courses. Most of the new facilities are on the high school campus.
Yellow highlights show Baldwin High School project sites for master plan improvements. PC: Online draft EIS screen grab
Other school upgrades include disabled accessible ramps on a portion of an adjacent 38.49-acre parcel. Additional site improvements to be implemented as part of the project will include utility installations, grading, drainage improvements, and landscaping.
The master plan improvements will be done in phases, depending on funding availability. The athletic facilities building is expected to begin construction in 2026 and take about 18 months to complete. The second phase is construction of the locker rooms. Construction is anticipated to start February 2027 and take about 18 months to finish.
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The draft environmental impact statement is available by clicking here.
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Public comments are due Aug. 22 and can be sent via email to project consultant Munekiyo Hiraga at planning@munekiyohiraga.com.
Streaming and sports marketing: Here’s what the numbers say
In an era of cord-cutting and increased viewer fragmentation, sports sponsorships remain top of mind for marketers looking to reach consumers. Approximately 40% of CMOs plan to increase their sports spending in 2025 and 28% plan to enter the space for the first time, according to data from Forrester. However, despite strong interest from marketers, […]
In an era of cord-cutting and increased viewer fragmentation, sports sponsorships remain top of mind for marketers looking to reach consumers. Approximately 40% of CMOs plan to increase their sports spending in 2025 and 28% plan to enter the space for the first time, according to data from Forrester. However, despite strong interest from marketers, 76% say they struggle to calculate return on investment (ROI).
“Sports have always been an outsized part of our culture and sports are intended to be viewed live in the moment… and because of the fact that it is designed and engenders live viewing also means that brands have captive audiences,” said Mike Proulx, vice president, research director at Forrester.
Forrester’s report, “Maximize The Value Of Your Sports Sponsorships,” evaluates best practices when it comes to sports sponsorships. The report uses both quantitative and qualitative data, including interviews with CMOs, survey questions from Forrester’s monthly consumer pulse survey and quarterly CMO pulse survey, along with data from the organization’s Market Research Online Community.
On streaming
While football remains the most popular sport to watch in America, the barrier to entry can be large. The cost of a 30-second advertisement for Super Bowl LIX was approximately $8 million. However, emerging sports are providing marketers with an opportunity to break into the space early, especially as streaming platforms increasingly turn to live broadcasts, according to the report.
Younger audiences are more likely to watch sports on streaming services compared to older generations. For example, 46% of Gen Z consumers prefer to watch sports via streaming, compared to 15% of baby boomers and 22% of Gen X. On the other hand, 58% of boomers prefer to watch sports via cable or broadcast, compared to 24% of Gen Z.
By the numbers
46%
The percentage of Gen Z consumers who prefer to watch sports via streaming.
15%
The percentage of boomers who prefer to watch sports via streaming.
“One of the reasons streaming services are lusting over sports sponsorship rights is because they’re able to offer live programming that are very advertiser friendly and expose audiences, especially in the U.S., to leagues that maybe haven’t penetrated the U.S. market as much in the past,” said Proulx.
Streaming is especially conducive to emerging sports leagues, such as pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in America, according to the report. Thirty-four percent of Gen Z consumers enjoy watching pickleball, compared to just 7% of boomers. Cricket is enjoyed by 31% of Gen Zers, compared to just 4% of boomers. Younger consumers are also more likely to watch women’s sports. Nearly half of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials enjoy watching women’s sports, compared to 21% of boomers.
A winning strategy
Gen Z is more likely to reward brands who sponsor their favorite athletes and teams. When it comes to athlete sponsorships, 42% of Gen Z consumers said they were more likely to trust a brand if they see their favorite athlete use that brand, compared to just 14% of boomers. Additionally, 41% of Gen Zers have purchased from a brand that sponsors their favorite athlete, compared to 16% of boomers.
Team sponsorships have also been shown to sway younger consumers. Nearly half of Gen Z consumers said if multiple brands offered a similar product, they would more likely purchase from the one affiliated with their preferred team, compared to 24% of boomers.
The benefits of naming rights aren’t as clear. Hearing a sponsored stadium name only makes 35% of consumers think of the brand. Seeing the brand logo doesn’t improve results, with 38% agreeing they take notice of a brand’s logo on the field.
Ultimately, when it comes to a successful sports sponsorship, finding success goes beyond simple branding. For optimal results, brands need to work with athletes and teams to create impactful partnerships.
“The best practice has to be a relationship that’s based on co-creation. It is easy to fill vessels with advertising,” said Proulx. “But that’s not going to necessarily reach and engage the intended target audience, and a relationship that is built on co-creation allows the brand and the property to expand the aperture of the creative canvas and to innovate new ways of reaching audiences.”
