Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy celebrated the 89 seniors of the Class of 2025.

This year’s graduates are charging into the future with bold ambition, especially in STEM. Among the most popular intended college majors are biological sciences, engineering, nursing, and psychology – reflecting a clear commitment to innovation, inquiry and impact. Their interests span from medical research and software engineering to mental health and environmental science. 

Every member of the Class of 2025 was accepted to a four-year college or university with many choosing institutions known for academic rigor and values-based education. 

● 34% of the class were admitted to highly selective universities with acceptance rates under 25%, including Dartmouth College, Boston College, Villanova University and USC. 

● 31% will attend faith-based colleges and universities, a testament to the strength of their spiritual formation on the Hill. 

● 49% will stay in California including 18 students entering the University of California system at campuses such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego. 

Additional highlights from this exceptional class include: 

● Four student-athletes are continuing their sport at the collegiate level in volleyball, equestrian, water polo and softball 

● Four graduates were awarded full-tuition scholarships, including a Posse Scholar and a QuestBridge finalist 

The Class of 2025 began its sophomore year still navigating the pandemic and rose again in the wake of the Eaton Canyon Fire. 

“The Class of 2025 was together on their Kairos retreat in Ojai when the fires began. They returned to a community forever changed, but what remains constant is their loving care for one another, and their classmates,” said Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Principal Rebecca Bostic. “We are so proud of the way they took care not only of one another but also reached out into the community to serve those in need of goods and services. We had several seniors who lost their homes or were displaced, and they were attending our Eaton Fire support meetings to encourage and uplift the impacted underclasswomen. They are truly an incredible group of young women.” 

“What stands out about this class is how fully they embraced their Dominican values,” added Bostic. “Instead of turning inward, they reached out with empathy and a true desire to serve. Their strength and spirit will have left a lasting legacy on the Hill.” 

As the Class of 2025 heads into the world, they do so as women of faith, integrity and truth, ready to make a difference in every field – and in every heart – they touch. 

To learn more about Flintridge Sacred Heart, visit fsha.org. 

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is located at 440 St. Katherine Drive in La Cañada Flintridge.

KENT, Ohio — The Kent State volleyball team will play 11 matches during the non-conference portion of the 2025 schedule.

Under the leadership of fourth-year head coach Haley Eckerman, the Golden Flashes will begin the season in Boca Raton for the FAU Invitational with matches against host Florida Atlantic and Western Carolina on Aug. 29, followed by a matchup with Texas Tech on Aug. 30.

Three matches at the Towson-Morgan State Invitational are slated for the second weekend. Kent State will battle New Orleans at Morgan State on Sept. 5. The Flashes will then meet the Bears at 1 p.m. on Sept. 6 and make the short trip to Towson for a 7 p.m. contest.

The following weekend includes matches against UTSA (Sept. 11) and North Dakota (Sept. 12) at North Dakota and a contest at North Dakota State (Sept. 13).

Short trips to Cleveland State (Sept. 18) and Youngstown State (Sept. 19) will conclude the non-conference slate.

The conference schedule, which was announced in March, starts with road matches against Toledo (Sept. 25) and Bowling Green (Sept. 26). The first home matchups at the M.A.C. Center are scheduled against Buffalo (Oct. 3) and Akron (Oct. 4).

Following the 18-match league schedule, the top six teams in the standings will compete in the 2025 MAC Tournament, which will be hosted by Bowling Green from Nov. 21-23.

Season tickets are currently available for purchase on KSUTix.com.

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On Wednesday, the University of South Carolina’s athletic department changed in a major way as Associate Athletics Director Charles Waddell retired. The long-time Gamecock had been with the athletic department in Columbia for nearly 20 years.

Following a three-sport athletic career at North Carolina (lettering in football, basketball, and track and field), Waddell played in the NFL before getting involved in sports administration. He also worked for the BIG Ten conference, Fayetteville State University, the Carolina Panthers, and Richardson Sports.

During his two decades in Columbia, Waddell saw South Carolina win seven team national championships (two each for baseball and equestrian and three for women’s basketball), its winningest stretch in its football history, a Final Four run and top-two win totals in men’s basketball, multiple NCAA Tournament runs in men’s soccer, three SEC Championships in women’s soccer, and several individual championships in track and field.

Waddell served under three athletic directors with the Gamecocks: Eric Hyman, Ray Tanner, and Jeremiah Donati.

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From the South Carolina Athletics release:

Intercollegiate athletics have certainly changed a lot in the fifty-plus years since Charles Waddell was a three-sport star at the University of North Carolina more than 50 years ago. Now, South Carolina’s Deputy Athletics Director is retiring and looking forward to the next chapter.

“I’m a team guy, and I like being involved in teams,” said Waddell, who came to South Carolina in 2006 and also served as the sport administrator overseeing a variety of sports, including football, women’s basketball, track and field, men’s basketball, and equestrian. “That’s what college athletics is about. You work with people, and you’re pulling for a common goal. The biggest thing I’ve gained from all these experiences is the people that come into your life, and you develop relationships with. Those relationships turn into friendships.

“Now, I’ll try to get a little more involved with kids in different ways, especially underserved kids and letting them know that they have an opportunity for a good life if they make good decisions. They can achieve more than they think they can sometimes.”

Waddell knows all about achieving at a high level. As a student-athlete, he may have been the Bo Jackson of his era after lettering in football, basketball, and track and field at North Carolina, where he graduated in 1975. He earned the prestigious Patterson Medal as a senior at UNC, which is the highest athletic award at the school. He earned All-ACC honors and All-American honors in football, eventually playing in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, and San Diego Chargers. Looking back, he can’t help but reflect on the challenges ahead with all the changes in college athletics.

“The growth that we’ve seen in college athletics and the money involved has changed the scope of what it’s all about,” Waddell said. “It’s much more of a business. It was always a business in college, but with the money involved, you now have more people from the outside that are getting involved with the athletes. Unfortunately, you’re probably going to hear more stories of kids who were taken advantage of or have blown opportunities. All the kids that get paid in college now won’t make it in the professional leagues, so this might be the most money they’re making for their entire life. Hopefully, we can get kids to do the right things by investing and setting aside money because their college career may be the pinnacle of their career. They need to have the right leadership and guidance.”

He credits his parents for providing him with great direction and advice early in his life.

“My dad was a janitor, and my mom cleaned houses and then went back to school and became a nursing assistant when I was in high school,” Waddell said. “She went back to junior college so she could provide assistance to other people. They were solid, hard-working, spiritual people. My mom threatened me that if I ever brought in a B for a grade, I wasn’t going to be able to play for my team. My parents gave us a good structure.”

Prior to coming to work for South Carolina Athletics nearly twenty years ago, Waddell worked in administration at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina where he was the Vice Chancellor for Advancement. Before that, he spent nearly a decade as the Director of Marketing and Sponsorships for Richardson Sports in Charlotte and was responsible for marketing and corporate sponsorships for the Carolina Panthers. He had previously worked as Assistant Commissioner for the Big Ten Conference. Among the many things he will miss about working in intercollegiate athletics, is the daily interaction with student-athletes.

“Getting to know the kids and watching games makes you more invested in it,” Waddell said. “You pull for them a little bit more when you know who the kids really are, as well as the coaches and staff. They’re not just co-workers; they’re friends.

“I just wanted to say thanks for the opportunity to come down and work here! It’s been a great run. Looking back at the success we had in our programs during my time here has been off the charts. I spent the most time with football, women’s basketball and track and field. (Former track and field coach) Curtis (Frye), (former football coach) Steve (Spurrier), and (women’s basketball coach) Dawn (Staley) are all hall of fame coaches. It was great being along for the ride with them.”

As he retires, Waddell looks forward to spending more time with family, including his wife, Sandra, his three grown children, and three grandchildren.

“I’m going to hang out and catch up with the family,” said Waddell. “I’ve got the grandboys who are involved with lots of stuff like soccer and basketball and now a little bit of football. Sandra and I might do a little bit of traveling, but most of what we do will be centered around those three grandboys.”

Brady Ambro has been named Head Coach of the Baruch College Men’s Volleyball Team.

The announcement was made by Baruch College Director of Athletics and Recreation, Heather Mac Culloch on Thursday.

A Baruch alumni (’17) and former standout on the court, Ambro returns to the program he once proudly represented. With an established connection to Baruch College and first hand experience competing at the highest level of Division III volleyball, he is well-positioned to lead the Bearcats to an era of more success.

“We are proud to welcome back Brady Ambro as the new Head Coach of Baruch College Men’s Volleyball,” said Heather Mac Culloch. “As a dedicated alumnus, former assistant coach, and a key member of our NCAA tournament teams, Brady brings not only deep experience but also a true passion for the Baruch program. His commitment to excellence and connection to our Bearcat legacy make him the ideal leader to guide the next generation of student-athletes.”

Ambro played for the Bearcats from 2013 to 2016 while earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. As an outside hitter, he helped lead the team to multiple CUNYAC titles (2013, 2014, 2015) and NCAA Tournament appearances (2013, 2014, 2015), including a trip to the Final Four in 2013 in Rochester. His accolades include the 2016 Baruch College Helen Belden Sportsmanship Award, Team Captain Honors, 2016 Team MVP, and was named a 2016 CUNYAC First Team All-Star.

His coaching resume includes serving as an assistant coach for the Baruch men’s volleyball team during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, as well as coaching

with the International Volleyball Club, where he continued to develop and mentor young athletes.

“I am happy to be back in the ARC Arena as the new men’s volleyball head coach,” said Ambro. “As a former Bearcat, the culture of the program has always inspired and motivated me and I am excited to help lead the next generation of Bearcats to success on and off the court.”

Baruch Athletics is excited to welcome Coach Ambro back to the court. He was a key contributor to the teams continued success during his tenure as a player — now he aims to do so as the team’s head coach.

Baruch Athletics is proud to announce Brady Ambro as the new Head Coach of Men's Volleyball! Ambro is a former standout player, 3-time CUNYAC Champion, and assistant coach who returns to take the top job! For more info, click the link in the bio. @BaruchBearcatAD @CUNYAC #d3vb pic.twitter.com/x4mmwflugF

— Baruch College Athletics (@BaruchAthletics) July 10, 2025

SANTA BARBARA, Calif – The UC Santa Barbara Women’s Volleyball team announced their 2025 schedule on Thursday, July 10. The Gauchos are set to face a fierce slate of opponents including four teams with NCAA Tournament appearances – and three of those with wins – in 2024. The team is led by Head Coach Matt Jones, entering his third year at the helm of the program. 

The Gauchos kick off the season up north with back-to-back matches against San Jose State on August 29 and 30. 

The Blue and Gold will stay on the road the following weekend, heading to Los Angeles to play a three-day tournament hosted by USC. The first matchup on Friday will see the Gauchos face the hosting Trojans followed by matches with Creighton and San Diego scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The Bluejays are coming off a 2024 NCAA Tournament run where they fell to the eventual National Champion, Penn State, in the Regional Final. 

The Gauchos’ home opener comes against Kansas State in The Thunderdome on September 11 as part of a tournament co-hosted with Cal Poly. The Gauchos will look to continue their success from last year when they swept the Wildcats at the K-State Invitational. The following day, Santa Barbara will face Vanderbilt, who is entering its first season since the program was discontinued in 1980. Northern Colorado will be the last match to cap off the weekend in The Thunderdome on Saturday. 

Pepperdine will visit shortly thereafter with a match scheduled in Santa Barbara for Tuesday, September 16 in The Thunderdome. 

Non-conference play wraps up with a two-day adventure to Dayton for two matches on September 19 against Illinois State and the hosting Flyers, who achieved an NCAA Regional Tournament appearance last season. The next day sees one match against Wright State before heading back to Santa Barbara.

The Gauchos’ second homestand will consist of their first Big West matchups. Cal State Bakersfield and CSUN come to The Thunderdome on September 26 and 27, respectively.

Headed into October, the Blue and Gold are back on the road to continue conference play. October 3 will have the Gauchos going up against Long Beach State followed by a quick jump down to La Jolla to face UC San Diego on October 4. 

The first installment of the Blue-Green rivalry takes place the Tuesday after with a visit up north to Cal Poly on October 7. The trip continues across the Pacific the following weekend as the Gauchos take on the reigning Big West Champions, Hawai’i, on their home court on October 12.

Cal State Fullerton comes to town on October 17 for the third weekend of Santa Barbara Volleyball at home. The Gauchos face UC Irvine in The Thunderdome the following day as well.

A Thursday trip up north has the Gauchos facing UC Davis on October 23. The Blue and Gold return home on Saturday, October 18 to go up against the Highlanders of UC Riverside.

The Gauchos begin their rematches with Big West opponents heading into November with trips to Northridge and Bakersfield. Santa Barbara will face the Matadors on October 31 and the Roadrunners on November 1.

November continues with a four-match homestand. The Gauchos will first see action against UC San Diego on November 7. They host Long Beach State in The Thunderdome the following day, November 8.

The Mustangs and the Gauchos face off on Thursday, November 13 to wrap up the Blue-Green rivalry at home. Fans can catch Santa Barbara’s final regular-season home match on Friday, November 14 as the Gauchos take on Hawai’i in The Thunderdome. 

The regular season wraps up with road matches against UC Irvine on November 21 followed by Cal State Fullerton on November 22. 

The Blue and Gold will look for a top-six finish in the regular-season conference standings to qualify for the Big West Tournament. The tournament is scheduled for November 26-29 in Long Beach with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

UC Santa Barbara Athletics is excited to announce the Men’s Water Polo and Men’s and Women’s Cross Country schedules later this month. Season tickets for fall sports will go on sale the week of July 14. Fans can always find the most recent Gaucho news at ucsbgauchos.com.