LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty track & field/cross country program is adding 30 newcomers for 2025-26, including 15 men and 15 women. The sizable crop of new faces also includes four transfer student-athletes.
     

“We are excited to have a group of very talented athletes coming into our program,” stated Liberty Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Lance Bingham. “They exemplify the character of athletes who will add to our team as we seek to honor the Lord through the things we say and do. We expect a number of these student-athletes to make an immediate impact on our program. We are looking forward to a great year!”
 
Women’s Newcomers
Eden Alexander
Mid-distance
Purcellville, Va. (Home Schooled)
800 – 2:10.25, Mile – 4:58.29
 
Mackenzie Babcock
Distance
Cottage Grove, Wis. (Monona Grove High School)
1,600 – 4:51.56
 
Mackenzie Boggess
Jumps
Clover, S.C. (Clover High School)
Long Jump – 19-4.75, Triple Jump – 40-1.5
 
Lara DeFazio
Jumps
Sewickley, Pa. (Eden Christian Academy)
Long Jump – 18-6.5, Triple Jump – 37-6.25, High Jump – 5-4
 
Isabella Frattura
Javelin
Sparta, N.J. (Sparta High School)
Javelin – 150-3
 
Sophie Gonzalez
Hammer
Guatemala City, Guatemala (Wake Forest)
Hammer – 204-4
 
Gracelyn Laudermilch
Distance
Rome, Pa. (Northeast Bradford High School)
1,600 – 5:03.21, 3,200 – 10:47.12
 
Mia Lee-Bowens
Hurdles
Middleborough, Mass. (Middleborough High School)
100 Hurdles – 14.26
 
Kate Loescher
Distance
Stafford, Va. (Colonial Forge High School)
800 – 2:12.84, 1,600 – 4:44.33, 3,200 – 10:17.87
 
Kona Moore
Heptathlon/Pole Vault
Lynchburg, Va. (Liberty Christian Academy)
Pole Vault – 12-6, Long Jump – 18-2.5
 
Emily Norris
Heptathlon
Carmel, Ind. (Carmel High School)
200 – 24.63, Long Jump – 19-3, Javelin – 147-11
 
Alivia Rivera-Norman
Hurdles
Odessa, Texas (Permian High School)
100 Hurdles – 13.92, 300 Hurdles – 42.77
 
Adelle Schlotterback
Hurdles
Fort Wayne, Ind. (Carmel High School)
300 Hurdles – 43.90
 
Shelby Smith
Sprints
Williamstown, W.Va. (Williamstown High School)
200 – 24.99, 400 – 56.10
 
Ellie Stine
Throws
Broken Arrow, Okla. (Lincoln Christian School)
Discus – 154-2
 
Men’s Newcomers
Patrick Adams III
Hurdles
Allendale, Mich. (Cornerstone)
60 Hurdles – 8.04, 110 Hurdles – 14.35, 400 Hurdles – 52.20
 
Robbie Annett
Distance
Anchorage, Alaska (Grace Christian School)
800 – 1:53.21, Mile – 4:15.14
 
Nathan Haas
Javelin
Port Matilda, Pa. (State College Area High School)
Javelin – 204-4
 
Chase Johnson
Pole Vault
Flower Mound, Texas (Marcus High School)
Pole Vault – 16-9
 
Jayron Lewis
Throws
Williamstown, N.J. (Williamstown High School)
Shot Put – 59-5, Discus – 175-4
 
Zane Lindquist
Distance
Alta, Wyo. (Home Schooled)
1,600 – 4:24.51, 3,200 – 9:18.60
 
Michael Long
Mid-distance
Sterling, Va. (Ave Maria)
800 – 1:47.54
 
Grattan O’Neill
Distance
Huntsville, Ala. (Home Schooled)
3,200 – 8:56.21
 
Andrew Picataggi
Decathlon
Williamsburg, Va. (Warhill High School)
400 – 48.88, Long Jump – 22-9
 
Jamar Smith
Decathlon
Lynchburg, Va. (E.C. Glass High School)
Long Jump – 23-8, 110 Hurdles – 14.20
 
Jacob Tarkington
Mid-distance
Johns Creek, Ga. (Home Schooled)
800 – 1:50.69
 
Marshall Toney
Jumps
Williamsburg, Va. (Warhill High School)
Triple Jump – 46-11, High Jump – 6-5
 
Reagan Wise
Pole Vault
Cary, N.C. (Campbell)
Pole Vault – 16-10
 
Isaac Yarnell
Sprints
Altoona, Pa. (Hollidaysburg Area High School)
100 – 10.55, 200 – 21.16
 
Kyrhan Young
Sprints
Houston, Texas (Atascocita High School)
100 – 10.45, 200 – 21.50

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has released a statement following a viral video featuring YouTuber JiDion, who is known for exposing alleged child predators.

The 26-minute-long, edited video titled “Volleyball Coach Gets EXPOSED,” was posted on Aug. 13 and has been viewed over 1.2 million times.

In the video, JiDion visits a volleyball gym in Indianapolis, claiming that a volleyball coach had inappropriate conversations with a 14-year-old boy on Grindr. Holding printed photos and messages from the exchanges, JiDion confronts the coach about the allegations.

As the confrontation unfolds, several IMPD officers are on the scene. JiDion urges them to arrest the coach.

“I have run into this before,” the officer states. “Our prosecutor will not touch this.” When JiDion presses him further on what action the police will take, the officer simply replies, “Nothing.”

The situation intensifies as JiDion continues to confront the coach until a gym employee eventually asks him to leave the property.

In a follow-up, JiDion visits an IMPD office to request the case number related to the allegations.

In their statement, IMPD noted that the video lacked important context. They clarified that a police report was filed at the scene, the coach was trespassed from the property, and detectives were informed about the allegations.

IMPD’s statement also advised the public: “If you suspect a crime involving a child or adult, please report it directly to your local law enforcement agency. Attempting to intervene independently or record content for social media can compromise investigations and potentially endanger those involved.”

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office also responded to the video in a statement that can be read below.

People with information related to this case, or who know someone affected, are encouraged to contact IMPD. The department also provided contacts for reporting incidents to the Department of Child Services (1-800-800-5556) and the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children (1-800-843-5678 or report.cybertip.org).

WRTV will continue to follow the investigation.

The Journal-News recently obtained an exclusive first tour of the all-inclusive entertainment venue on 3.5 acres – across the street from Lakota East High School – and local owners Mike and Heather Ewers said the public will soon experience a rare, hybrid leisure fun experience unduplicated in southwest Ohio and beyond.

“If you are nine years old or 99, there will be something for everybody at Liberty Collective,” said Mike Ewers, long-time Liberty Twp. resident.

“When you come here, you’ll have an option of whatever food you’d like, deserts, fun, sports and entertainment and a wide range of beer and spirits for everybody,” he said.

An expansive, two-story, open-air hall – including booths, balcony seating, leather couches – is overseen by one of the largest TV screens in the region and serves as a multi-faceted centerpiece to the 18,000-square-foot center.

Inside and outside spaces, which include a coffee/breakfast bar and ice cream shop and more, can accommodate hundreds, said Ewers.

Adorning one side of the hall is “restaurant row,” said Ewers, which offers five eateries designed to cater to a wide variety of tastes and multiple solution to the common family conundrum of “what does everyone want to eat.”

The fun isn’t confined to the inside.

On the first and second floors are also outdoor tables, lounges, bar access and plenty of room for families, including balcony seating.

Wintertime will see the spacious balcony area sealed from the cold and converted to digital golf simulators.

Warmer weather will see a major portion of the grounds used for five combined beach volleyball courts, which can also be converted to sand flag football, other sports and child play areas and seating for outdoor music acts.

Hailed by Liberty Twp. officials during its initial announcement in 2022 as an “iconic place” for the fast-growing Butler County community, the Liberty Collective will also feature one of the area’s premier sand volleyball facilities at its 6735 Lakota Lane site along with numerous other sports and games for families.

ExploreOpening month set for regionally unique Liberty Collective entertainment complex

Based on a similar property of the Ewers in the South American nation of Belize, the two are now also developing another Collective outside of Indianapolis.

Co-owner Heather Ewers said the family-inclusive aspects of Liberty Collective were always a focus in its design.

“Having a variety of food options was important to us. Paired with some beverage and entertainment options really makes this a family friendly environment,” she said.

“There are so many families around here and there are also empty nesters who appreciate having kids around.”

A public-opening date in September will soon be announced and more information can be found on the Liberty Collective website.

Lottery.com and Sports.com have partnered with INDY NXT driver Sebastian Murray and the Andretti Cape team. The deal includes branding on Murray’s race car, a behind-the-scenes series, and social media activations. This partnership is expected to enhance brand exposure and provide networking opportunities. The deal will debut at the Grand Prix of Alabama in May 2025.

Lottery.com Inc. (Nasdaq: LTRY, LTRYW) and Sports.com have announced a high-visibility sponsorship with rising motorsport talent Sebastian Murray, who competes in the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone with the renowned Andretti Cape INDY NXT team. The sponsorship, set to debut at the Grand Prix of Alabama in May 2025, includes branding on Murray’s No. 2 INDY NXT car, decals on the driver’s race suit, and a behind-the-scenes series produced by Sports.com Studios. The partnership also encompasses social media activations across the remaining 13 INDY NXT races, providing Lottery.com and Sports.com with enhanced brand exposure and networking opportunities.

The sponsorship centers on Murray, one of the sport’s most exciting young drivers, and includes branding rights, digital content, and fan engagement activations facilitated through his participation with Andretti Cape. The car will run this weekend with its new look featuring Lottery.com and Sports.com branding at the Grand Prix of Alabama, taking place May 2–4 in Birmingham, Alabama.

The sponsorship was introduced by Warren Macal, Founder of Prosperity Investment Management and a board member at Lottery.com. Matthew McGahan, Chairman and CEO of Lottery.com and Sports.com, commented, “Sebastian Murray is a standout talent, and this sponsorship places Lottery.com and Sports.com right alongside his journey to the top of U.S. open-wheel racing. We’re investing in speed, story, and a new generation of fans.” Sebastian Murray added, “It is a huge honor to carry the Lottery.com and Sports.com brands. The support from Matthew, Warren, and the entire team fuels my drive to deliver on and off the track.”

This announcement follows the launch of the Company’s sponsorship of Donate to Win’s™ Miami Sweepstakes, offering exclusive hospitality at the Miami Grand Prix this past weekend — part of a broader campaign to engage fans and elevate brand exposure. Lottery.com is transforming how official lottery and sweepstakes games are played across the globe, combining cutting-edge technology with consumer-first innovation. Sports.com is a premier digital sports platform dedicated to delivering cutting-edge content, fan engagement, and technological innovation in the sports industry.

The sponsorship with Sebastian Murray is expected to enhance both brands’ visibility and engagement within the motorsports community, aligning with their strategic vision to grow their digital presence and fan base. The partnership reflects the companies’ commitment to investing in promising talent and leveraging high-visibility platforms to drive brand awareness.

References:
[1] https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/LOTTERY-COM-INC-128898692/news/From-Wall-Street-to-the-Pit-Lane-Lottery-com-and-Sports-com-Sponsor-Rising-INDY-NXT-Driver-Sebastia-49805849/

By: Sam Boender

2025 Mines Volleyball Schedule
 
GOLDEN, Colo. – Just three weeks separate the Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team from its 2025 season opener which will kick off a 26-match campaign including 13 showdowns featuring the Orediggers inside Lockridge Arena.
 
Mines’ season starts on Sept. 4 with the 2025 Oredigger Volleyball Classic presented by Marriott Denver West. It marks the 16th time since 2008 that Mines will start its regular season with its own invitational-style event. The Orediggers play a non-conference match against South Dakota Mines on Thursday night at 5 p.m. at Lockridge Arena with action continuing on Friday, Sept. 5, and Saturday, Sept. 6. Colorado Christian, Davenport, Grand Valley State, Valdosta State, and Washburn will join the Orediggers and Hardrockers for the three-day, two-court, seven-team jamboree. In addition to SDM, Mines will face Davenport and Valdosta State on Friday and Grand Valley State on Saturday.
 
Non-conference action continues for the Orediggers Sept. 11-13 at the Northwest Nazarene Tournament in Nampa, Idaho. Mines starts that trip with a matches against Seattle Pacific and host NNU on Thursday. Friday features Concordia University Irvine. The Orediggers’ finale at the NNU tournament comes Saturday against Westmont. It marks Mines’ second consecutive appearance at the Nighthawks’ invitational.
 
The remaining 18 matches of 2025 feature Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) opponents, but not all results will count in the league standings. Mines opens conference play with a split weekend Sept. 19-20, hosting MSU Denver on Friday and traveling to UCCS on Saturday. Adams State and New Mexico Highlands come to Golden, Colo., Sept. 26-27 before the first of two RMAC pods which do not count in the standings. For the Orediggers, the RMAC Regional Pod brings Colorado Christian to town on Sept. 30 and MSU Denver comes to Lockridge Arena on Oct. 3. Then, conference matches resume with Mines traveling to CSU Pueblo, Colorado Christian, Fort Lewis, and Western Colorado for four straight road contests. The last eight matches feature a pair of home weekends Oct. 24-25 and Nov. 7-8. In the middle, Mines journeys west to Fort Lewis for the RMAC Power Pod against FLC and UCCS. The final weekend of the regular season has the Orediggers playing at Chadron State on Regis on Nov. 14 and 15, respectively.
 
All home and conference matches stream live on the RMAC Network which is officially, completely pay-per-view for the 2025-26 academic year. Fans can purchase annual subscriptions for $120 until Aug. 17 when the price goes up to $130. Monthly subscriptions are $25. Individual games and matches can be purchased for $10 per broadcast. Tickets to matches inside Lockridge Arena can be purchased online at www.minesathletics.com/tickets, or at the door.
 

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2025 Mines Volleyball Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 4 – South Dakota Mines, 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5 – Davenport, 2 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5 – Valdosta State, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6 – Grand Valley State, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 11 – vs. Seattle Pacific, 11:30 a.m. (Nampa, Idaho)
Thursday, Sept. 11 – at Northwest Nazarene, 7 p.m. (Nampa, Idaho)
Friday, Sept. 12 – vs. Concordia Irvine, 4:30 p.m. (Nampa, Idaho)
Saturday, Sept. 13 – vs. Westmont, 11:30 a.m. (Nampa, Idaho)
*Friday, Sept. 19 – MSU Denver, 7 p.m.
*Saturday, Sept. 20 – at UCCS, 3 p.m.
*Friday, Sept. 26 – Adams State, 7 p.m.
*Saturday, Sept. 27 – New Mexico Highlands, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 30 – Colorado Christian, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3 – MSU Denver, 7 p.m.
*Friday, Oct. 10 – at CSU Pueblo, 6 p.m.
*Saturday, Oct. 11 – at Colorado Christian, 3 p.m.
*Friday, Oct. 17 – at Fort Lewis, 6 p.m.
*Saturday, Oct. 18 – at Western Colorado, 4 p.m.
*Friday, Oct. 24 – Colorado Mesa, 7 p.m.
*Saturday, Oct. 25 – Westminster, 4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 31 – vs. UCCS, 4 p.m. (Durango, Colo.)
Saturday, Nov. 1 – at Fort Lewis, 3 p.m.
*Friday, Nov. 7 – Black Hills State, 7 p.m.
*Saturday, Nov. 8 – South Dakota Mines, 5 p.m.
*Friday, Nov. 14 – at Chadron State, 6 p.m.
*Saturday, Nov. 15 – at Regis, 3 p.m.
 
Home matches in bold at Lockridge Arena. *-denotes RMAC matches. All dates and times are subject to change. 
 
Fans can keep up with Mines volleyball on “X” (formerly Twitter) at @MinesVolleyball and on Instagram at @mines.volleyball. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, “X” and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.

Some of the best beach volleyball players in Canada will be in competition this weekend at Ashbridges Bay.

Volleyball Canada will be hosting the Beach Nationals championships for the country’s top players from the age of 14 and up on Friday, Aug. 15, Saturday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Ashbridges Bay beach volleyball courts on Woodbine Beach.

Matches will be played in both boys and girls divisions for under-14, under-15, under-16, under-17, under-18 players. There will also be Senior women’s and men’s matches this weekend.

Competition begins on Friday and continues through to Sunday afternoon.

Local residents are invited to come out to watch the action and see some of Canada’s future beach volleyball stars on the Ashbridges Bay courts as they seek to win national titles.

Beach volleyball has a long history in the East Toronto area with the Balmy Beach Club being one of the most popular places to play as far back as the late 1950s and 1960s. The sport’s popularity continued to grow and the beach volleyball courts at Ashbridges Bay are among the most used in the country.

In August of last year, Canada’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkereson (both of Toronto) teamed up to win the silver medal in women’s beach volleyball at the Paris Olympic Games.  Canada’s other Olympic medal in beach volleyball was a bronze won by the men’s team of John Child and Mark Hesse, who both grew up in East Toronto, at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

For more information on this weekend’s tournament, please go to the Volleyball Canada Beach Nationals stie at https://volleyball.ca/en/competitions/2025-beach-nationals#:~:text=Volleyball%20Canada%20is%20excited%20to,well%20as%2020U%20and%20Senior.