Sports
Fitness chain sued over ear

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It says old friends from out of town who used to visit Perlman regularly have stopped doing so because they simply can’t get a decent night’s rest at her place. As for Timoll, working from home is now untenable because her dog gets so agitated by the noise, making phone calls an impossibility. Both say they have lost roommates due to the noise, reducing their incomes and causing them each to fall behind on their rent.An audio specialist sent by F45 and franchise owner Club Sports Group to Perlman’s apartment to take measurements told her the noise was indeed “a nuisance,” the complaint says.“On any given day, Plaintiffs cannot watch television or listen to their own music in their apartments because of the unreasonably loud music from the Gym below,” the complaint goes on.
“This is a simple matter to correct,” the letter stated. “Just lower the music, there is no need for the deafening sound levels.”From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.F45 Training, a publicly traded company, has more than 3,300 CrossFit-style studios globally, including a series of Boston locations owned by actor Mark Wahlberg. The gyms have infuriated people across the world, who specifically call out the bone-shaking low-end frequencies heard during classes as a singularly demonic force.For event planner, gallerist, and standup comedian Susannah Perlman, who works from her second-floor apartment near Union Square, the drawn-out battle against the gym’s “absurdly loud music and noise” has caused “severe anxiety, depression, and increased stress levels,” according to the complaint.
In their complaint, Perlman and co-plaintiff Francoise Timoll, a real estate appraiser who lives and works in an apartment next door, contend, “Powerful bass from the music played by the Gym [makes] the walls and floors of Plaintiffs’ second-floor apartments vibrate and windows rattle,” and say “items on shelves and tables in their apartments shake.”An Australian fitness chain notorious for blasting an ear-splitting soundtrack is now open in New York City, where neighbors claim the incessant racket — which allegedly begins as early as 6 a.m. and can be up to five times the legal noise limit — is akin to punishment inflicted on POWs by enemy soldiers.Attorney Serge Ambroise, who is representing Perlam and Timoll, told The Independent that he would not be able to comment until getting the go-ahead from his clients. F45 and CSG representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment.Still, it alleges, “the unreasonable volume levels for the noise and music from the Gym [have] remained unchanged.” It concludes that F45 and CSG’s “absolute and ongoing refusal to properly address the problem reveals a malicious intent… and a wanton disregard for Plaintiffs’ rights, safety, and health.”Further, according to the complaint, a pair of NYPD officers who served a second noise summons to F45 told Perlman that “the F45 US-NYC class that had been in progress during their visit made Plaintiff Perlman’s apartment sound ‘like a disco.’”“Elderly residents at a complex on the Gold Coast have been deprived of sleep for months ever since [an F45] gym opened next door, with the bass so deep residents cannot sleep,” Queensland’s Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Perlman and Timoll are demanding punitive damages for the effect the downstairs F45 studio has had on their well-being, plus at least 0,000 to cover lost rent, lost income, and various expenses incurred, such as hiring experts to measure sound levels, plus attorneys’ fees. F45 and CSG now have roughly three weeks to file a response to the allegations.“It is not insignificant that extremely loud music has been used by various military forces to torture prisoners, and the substantial disruption to Plaintiffs’ day-to-day lives created by the noise from F45… over the course of an entire year has been extraordinarily difficult to bear,” says a lawsuit filed in state court on Monday by two sleep-deprived Manhattanites infuriated with the F45 franchise downstairs.Another tenant, who has since moved away, pleaded for a compromise, imploring F45 representatives to listen to their concerns.The nonprofit Hearing Health Foundation says sustained exposure to sounds louder than 70 dB can damage a person’s hearing. In New York City, the residential noise limit is 45 dB, described by the Hearing Health Foundation as “average room noise.” Measurements taken in apartments on the floor above the F45 in Perlman’s building have allegedly reached as high as 78 dB, approximately the decibel level one would experience aboard a moving airplane and roughly five times what local code allows, when measured on the logarithmic decibel scale.The F45 studio in Perlman and Timoll’s building has been ticketed by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection for exceeding permitted noise levels, according to their complaint. It says a DEP inspector went downstairs and “attempted to shut [the] music off, but was told no repeatedly.”
Sports
Practice grind begins for Hawaii men’s volleyball team
Sports
Andrea Roman Signs With Wake Forest Volleyball
A transfer from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Roman will join the Demon Deacons’ roster for the 2026-27 school year with one final season of eligibility remaining. She spent each of the last three seasons as a member of the Trojans’ volleyball program.
Roman is the second individual to ink with the Deacs this winter, as Catherine Burke also recently signed on Dec. 17.
Andrea Roman | 5-4 | Defensive Specialist/Libero | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Little Rock
One of the country’s top defensive players this past fall as a junior, Roman ranked second in the NCAA in total digs, finishing the 2025 season with 632. That total was good for the most by a Trojan in a single season throughout program history at Little Rock. In addition, her 5.31 digs-per-set average ranked fourth nationally. Roman’s stellar play led to her being named the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Defensive Player of the Year while also earning First Team All-OVC honors. Her clips in total digs and digs-per-set average both led the league. She had four performances of 30-plus digs and 13 with 20 or more while recording three of the top 10 single-match dig marks in program history during the season.
As a sophomore in 2024, Roman played in all 32 matches while making appearances in 125 sets. She led the team with a then-program record 624 digs and averaging 4.99 per set. Roman ranked first in the conference in total digs and fifth among all NCAA players. Her total ultimately helped Little Rock reach a new best single-season mark in digs as a team (2,227) through program history. She also played a notable role in the team’s setting tempo, finishing with 161 total assists. By the conclusion of the season, Roman was named Second Team All-OVC.
During her freshman season, Roman led the Trojans in digs (315) while seeing action in 22 matches and 79 sets played. She was also third on the roster in service aces (80). In all but one of the final 16 matches of the season, Roman led Little Rock in digs.
Andrea Roman Career Accolades & Accomplishments
- 2025 OVC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2025 First Team All-OVC
- 2024 Second Team All-OVC
- Ranks No. 1 all-time in single-season digs (632) at Little Rock
- Ranks No. 2 all-time in career digs (1,571) at Little Rock
- Five-time OVC Defensive Player of the Week honoree
Personal
Andrea is the daughter of Sylvia Gonzalez and Julio Roman – she also has two older siblings. In the classroom, Andrea plans to study Health & Exercise Science during her time on campus.
From Coach Hulsmeyer
“I’m so happy to have Andrea joining us to bring depth and experience to our libero group. With Emma Farrell graduating, Andrea provides an experienced defender who averaged over five digs per set this past season and is someone who has seen a lot of tough serving in the OVC. Getting her to Wake Forest in January will allow us to acclimate her for the speed of the ACC. I’ve known her former coach, Van Compton, for many years, so not only is she a well-trained skilled player, she is also someone of great character. She will be a wonderful addition to the Wake Forest family.”
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Sports
Vote in the Lakeshore Elite volleyball player of the year poll
Dec. 30, 2025, 3:00 a.m. CT
Who do you think deserves to be the Lakeshore Elite volleyball player of the year? You tell us.
Tom Dombeck made his choice, but you can choose from the six players to make up the first team.
You can vote for the Lakeshore Elite volleyball player of the year until noon on Jan. 6.
You don’t have to be a subscriber to vote.
Here is the ballot. If the poll does not display, refresh your browser.
Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 ortdombeck@htrnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at@Tom_Dombeck.
Sports
Meet the 2025 Press-Register All-Region volleyball team
High school volleyball teams in the Coastal Region won three state championships this season and 13 teams earned spots in the AHSAA state championship tournament.
McGill-Toolen dominated Class 7A, winning its fourth straight title and 25th AHSAA state championship while Spanish Fort won its second straight Class 6A title and fifth overall, all coming since 2015. Mobile Christian won its second straight Class 3A championship.
Class 3A St. Luke’s won to the title match before falling to Mobile Christian while Class 5A UMS-Wright and Class 4A Orange Beach each earned spots in the final four.
Other teams winning to the Elite Eight were Class 7A Bayside and St. Paul’s, Class 6A Saraland, Class 5A Faith Academy, Class 4A St. Michael and Class 1A Millry and Leroy.
The Press-Register All-Region team is compiled by the AL.com high school sports staff with input from coaches.
AL.com named Player of the Year, Attacker MVP, Defensive MVP, Setter MVP and Coach of the Year. Award winners are listed separately, but considered first-team selections.
PRESS-REGISTER ALL-REGION VOLLEYBALL TEAM
(Players listed alphabetically)
AHSAA Volleyball 6A State Championship
Zoẽ Beech, Spanish Fort
5-11, Sr., Middle
355 kills, 104 blocks, 404 digs, 59 aces
College: Undecided
Bennett Boulo, St. Paul’s
5-10, Sr., Setter/Right Side
1,091 assists, 354 kills, 51 blocks, 257 digs, 67 aces
College: Undecided
Grier Broughton, Bayside Academy
5-9, Sr., Outside Hitter
321 kills, 33 blocks, 171 digs, 20 aces
College: Undecided
Anna Grace Chason, Daphne
5-11, Sr., Right Side/Setter
1,024 assists, 233 kills, 37 blocks, 238 digs, 58 aces
College: Mississippi College
Caroline Downey, Spanish Fort
5-10, Sr., Outside Hitter
446 kills, 49 blocks, 336 digs, 55 aces
College: Mississippi College
Chloe Duggan, Faith Academy
5-6, Jr., Setter
701 assists, 43 kills, 25 blocks, 204 digs, 47 aces
College: Undecided
Haley Eldridge, Mobile Christian
5-6, Sr., Setter
1,006 assists, 43 kills, 34 blocks, 277 digs, 67 aces
College: Undecided
Baker Garside, St. Luke’s
5-6, Sr., Setter
1,018 assists, 99 kills, 9 blocks, 245 digs, 36 aces
College: Undecided
Victoria Holley, Spanish Fort
5-6, Sr., Libero
695 digs, 98 assists, 66 aces
College: Undecided
Cami Huff, McGill-Toolen
6-2, Sr., Middle
383 kills, 137 blocks, 23 digs
College: West Virginia
Hadley Kelly, Mobile Christian
6-1, Jr., Middle
463 kills, 139 blocks, 12 digs, 35 aces
College: Liberty
Catherine McClain, McGill-Toolen
5-9, Sr., Outside Hitter
538 kills, 41 blocks, 331 digs, 49 aces
College: Loyola
Payton McClarren, McGill-Toolen
5-2, Sr., Libero
534 digs, 75 assists, 69 aces
College: William Carey
Macey Moore, Gulf Shores
5-10, Sr., Setter/Right Side
336 kills, 430 assists, 77 blocks, 351 digs, 71 aces
College: North Florida beach volleyball
Kenly Nelson, Fairhope
5-11, Jr., Outside Hitter
333 kills, 49 blocks, 57 digs, 2 aces
College: Undecided
Charli Pearce, Saraland
6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter/Setter
368 kills, 504 assists, 36 blocks, 329 digs, 64 aces
College: South Alabama
Hayley Robinson, Bayside Academy
6-3, Sr., Right Side
370 kills, 70 blocks, 105 digs, 48 aces
College: Samford
Libby Rogers, Fairhope
5-8, Sr., Setter
710 assists, 166 kills, 33 blocks, 273 digs, 20 aces
College: Montevallo
Bella Rumley, Orange Beach
5-8, So., Outside Hitter
273 kills, 27 blocks, 42 digs, 46 aces
College: Undecided
Amelia Smith, St. Luke’s
6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter
543 kills, 50 blocks, 354 digs, 84 aces
College: UAH
Ella Clarie Sullivan, UMS-Wright
5-7, Sr, Libero
418 digs, 120 assists, 82 aces
College: Undecided
MK Whitehurst, Bayside Academy
5-3, Sr., Libero
504 digs, 59 assists, 44 aces
College: Undecided
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Alice Wood, McGill-Toolen
5-9, Jr., Setter
Region second-best 1,362 assists, region-best 27.8 assists per match average, 57 kills, 76 blocks, 302 digs, 61 aces
College: Kansas State
ATTACKER MVP
Ella Lomax, Daphne
5-11, Sr., Outside Hitter
Region-best 753 kills, region-best 13.45 kills per match average, 35 blocks, 313 digs, 81 aces
College: UNA
DEFENSIVE MVP

Melissa Patel, Mobile Christian
5-5, Sr., Libero
684 digs, 57 assists, 40 aces
College: Southwest Baptist
SETTER MVP

Cailyn Boykin, Spanish Fort
5-8, Jr., Setter
Region-best 1,638 assists, 68 kills, 32 blocks, 351 digs, 66 aces
College: Undecided
COACHES OF THE YEAR

Kate Wood, McGill-Toolen

Gretchen Boykin, Spanish Fort

Mallory Boyington, Mobile Christian
HONORABLE MENTION
Outside Hitter/Right Side: Brooklyn McIlwain, Faith Academy, Sr.; Alexis Scott, Mobile Christian, Sr.; Marissa Smith, St. Paul’s, Fr.; Skylar Courtney, UMS-Wright, Sr.; LillyAnne Doggette, Millry, Sr.; Myah Skanes, Saraland, Jr.; Jaedyn Lang, McGill-Toolen, Sr.; Breanna Stokley, Millry, Sr.; Chandler Thomas, UMS-Wright, Sr.
Middle: Chelsey McReary, T.R. Miller, Jr.; Reece Wilmott, Bayside Academy, Jr.; Mikadyn Cauley, Faith Academy, Jr.; Natalie Maxwell, Spanish Fort, So.; Gabi Berlage, Fairhope, Sr.; Maddie McKinley, Washington County, Sr.; Raina Gunter, Washington County, Sr.; Lily Willingham, Saraland, Sr.
Setter: Sophie Hester, Bayside Academy, Jr.; Grace Thigpen, Daphne, Sr.; Ivey Marston, St. Paul’s, Sr.; Ella Bilbo, Orange Beach, Sr.
Defensive Specialist/Libero: Ava Hodo, Orange Beach, Sr.; Emma Kate Frazier, St. Luke’s, Fr.; Kendall Dougherty, St. Paul’s, Sr.; Addy Busby, Fairhope, Jr.
Sports
UNT Student-Athletes Boast Record Setting G.P.A.
For the first time ever all 14 athletic programs earned a semester G.P.A. above a 3.150. Six teams earned their highest semester G.P.A. in their respective program’s history and four others achieved their second highest semester G.P.A. in their program’s history.
This marked the 13th consecutive semester of a 3.0 or better department wide grade point average and the seventh consecutive semester that UNT improved on the previous semester’s departmental G.P.A.
“The Fall 2025 semester was an outstanding one for Mean Green Athletics in the classroom,” said UNT VP/Director of Athletics Jared Mosley. “Our student-athletes continue to demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence, and their success is a direct reflection of the support and expectations we have in place. I want to thank our academic services team, led by Suzanne Dickenson, for their leadership and dedication in supporting our student-athletes and helping them reach their full potential both on the field and in the classroom.”
For the sixth consecutive semester the UNT women’s golf team led the way for the department as they earned a 3.907 fall semester G.P.A.
The Mean Green tennis team has now recorded a team G.P.A. of 3.0 or better for 28 consecutive semesters. The UNT soccer team and swim and dive team have both also maintained streaks of 20-plus consecutive semesters with a team G.P.A. above a 3.0.
Fifty-two UNT student-athletes this past fall earned a 4.0 grade point average. The Mean Green women’s track team led the way as they had 11 student-athletes named to the prestigious 2025 Fall President’s List. The tennis team had the highest percentage of student-athletes earning President’s List honors as 72% of its roster had a 4.0 G.P.A.
The UNT men’s basketball, men’s cross country, men’s track and field, women’s basketball, women’s cross country and women’s track and field teams all earned their highest semester G.P.A.s in program history.
Lastly, 47 UNT student-athletes earned their diplomas this past fall.
Sports
Spencer McLachlin Named Head Coach at UC San Diego
McLachlin becomes the eighth head coach in UCSD program history and will coach the Tritons in their final season as members of the Big West (2026) before the program transitions to the West Coast Conference ahead of the 2027 campaign. He joins JJ Van Niel (Arizona State), Tyler Hildebrand (Saint Mary’s College), and Amy Pauly (Orlando Valkyries) as former USC assistants under Brad Keller who have moved into head coaching positions.
“This opportunity is no surprise and has been a long time coming for Spencer,” said Keller. “UCSD is getting one of the best coaches in the game. Spencer and I have worked together in many different phases of our careers, and I know USC is in a better place with a brighter future for everything he has done here. Spencer is an innovator, a creator, and most importantly, a dreamer. Our game needs more leaders like him. I couldn’t be prouder of what he has done and for this new opportunity for him and his family.”
In his three seasons at USC, McLachlin helped lead the Women of Troy to three straight NCAA tournament appearances. The Trojans advanced to the second round in each of their three postseason berths. Most recently, McLachlin helped USC reach 25 wins and finish in a tie for third place in the Big Ten. Six Trojans received awards on all-conference teams and USC led the league in blocking (2.76 bps). The Trojans also ranked second (12th in the NCAA) in total blocks (322.5) and were second for opponent hitting percentage (.184). OH London Wijay earned AVCA All-America honorable mention.
With McLachlin on staff in 2024, USC advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the third straight year and finished 22-10 overall with a 13-7 mark in the Big Ten (tied for sixth). Setter Mia Tuaniga was named to the AVCA All-America third team. In his first season with the Women of Troy, McLachlin helped USC go 19-13 with a 12-8 mark in the Pac-12 for a fifth-place finish. That season, OH Skylar Fields was honored with AVCA All-America first-team recognition.
McLachlin is married to former USC volleyball standout opposite hitter Diane Copenhagen (2004-07), a 2004 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team selection. The McLachlins are parents to two daughters, Leila and Malia, and a son named Koa.
The 14th-ranked Trojans (25-7, 15-5 Big Ten) finished the regular season tied for third in the Big Ten and were awarded one of 33 at-large berths—and a hosting bid—into the 2025 NCAA tournament. USC made its fourth straight appearance in the tourney under sixth-year head coach Brad Keller (41st all-time) and moved into the second round for the fourth consecutive year with a 3-0 sweep of Princeton. The Women of Troy were eliminated from postseason play in a hard-fought five-set loss to Cal Poly in the second round.
For more information on the USC women’s volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
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