Sports

Four-Time WAC Champion Hayden Wilson Poised for a Strong Final Season

Published

3 days ago

December 12, 2025

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – Senior thrower Hayden Wilson, a Mansfield, Texas native and UA Little Rock transfer now in his third year at UT Arlington, has already left a mark on the WAC with four championship titles.

Before he begins his final title run, UTAMavs.com sat down with the former Lake Ridge HS track and football standout:

What’s your go-to hype song before a meet?

“This is actually a really funny song. Last year, it was Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind and Fire,” Wilson said laughing. “It’s just one of those comfort songs.”

Dream city to compete in?

“It’d be TrackTown USA, Oregon. I’ve competed there for high school nationals. Hopefully, we’ll make another trip there this year.”

Favorite athlete or thrower you look up to?

“I think as far as throwing goes, I’ve been a really big fan of Ryan Crouser for a long time, but that’s always easy to say cause he’s the best.”

If you could give “freshman Hayden” one piece of advice, what would it be?

“Your value is not in your sport,” Wilson said confidently. “It’s a hard lesson to learn. I’m still chewing on it.”

After a quick round of fun questions to break the ice, we shifted gears and dove deeper into how he envisions his senior season and what he hopes to take away from it.

Wilson arrived at UTA after spending his freshman year at Little Rock, and he made an immediate impact. As a sophomore, he captured the 2024 WAC Indoor shot-put title, then returned in 2025 to successfully defend his crown. During his junior year, his dominance carried into the outdoor season where he claimed first in both the shot put and discus at the 2025 WAC Outdoor Championships.

How do you feel heading into WAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships as the reigning shot put champion, and what does it mean to you to have the chance to defend those titles in your final year?

“First, I’m super excited about the training group we had this year,” Wilson started, “We had a bunch of great athletes we brought in. We brought in a bunch of great talent this year.”

“For me, personally, I won indoor my sophomore year and then tanked outdoor, so going into my junior year, I had to release myself of the expectations to perform and just go out there, week after week, show up and give the best that I can give on the day. Taking that approach kind of sets you up to not be disappointed when you’re a little down but then also you really get to enjoy the fruits of your labor.”

“Taking that approach of just taking each day as it comes like I said we’re hoping to make a trip to nationals this year. We made it to Regionals last year so just being process-oriented over goal-oriented.”

How has your mindset changed from freshman to senior year?

“The biggest change has been trusting my training. You know, it’s really easy to go out there and just put too much pressure on yourself to perform and get a little over-excited. I think having that consistency like “this is exactly what I do in practice. There’s just a little bit more adrenaline flowing right now,” and then going out there and competing.”

As a senior, how do you try to lead or set an example for the younger athletes on the team?

“I think the biggest thing for me is being open and honest. Like I don’t try to hide my struggles,” he said, “Because I think it’s important for them to know there’s gonna be times when you’re down and there’s gonna be times when you’re up, but all that matters is that you go out and give 100% on the day and you can’t expect any more of yourself…You can’t hold the losses against yourself. You gotta celebrate your wins, too.”

UTAMavs.com also sat with Wilson’s coach, John Ridgeway, to discuss Hayden’s growth as a Maverick and the strides he’s made throughout his career.

From your perspective, how has Hayden developed in his time at UTA, from previously being at Little Rock?

“I think his development has been great! I think Hayden had an excellent coach at Little Rock and I was confident that he was going to have a good base of information before he came here,” said Ridgeway, “The key to his success is that he has taken his success into his own hands. He doesn’t just do what I ask. He comes to my office and asks questions all the time. The longer he’s been here, he asks better and better questions, and his development has been a blast to watch.”

As he chases a couple more WAC titles before he’s done collegiately, what have you seen in his mindset or training that shows he’s ready?

“He worked his tail off all summer. To me, his investment has been unwavering for me. He has had the same level of investment this year that he has had previously, and I always tell the kids, “It’s not if, it’s when,” Coach Ridgeway emphasized, “for him “when” happened right away as he won his first indoor championship and I don’t think he’s done anything different. I think he’s done an incredible job of staying the course he’s been on. He’s been unwavering and his focus remains strong.”

In his three years at UTA, how would you describe Hayden’s impact on the throws group and the program as a whole?

“I think it’s been incredible. We had a good throws culture before he came. He and Desmond Fraizer [graduated last year] came over from Little Rock together” Coach Ridgeway initiated, “I think the two of them in different ways helped take our throws culture to the next level. As much as anything, he is a student of the sport…Hayden has empowered some of his teammates to take ownership of their throw and continue learning about our sport beyond practice. Also, the thing about him, he’s very selfless, he’s very humble, so having this multiple-time conference champion be very quick to serve his teammates. I cannot understate the impact his example has made on the group.”

What are you looking forward to during his last season?

“Every year brings unforeseen challenges. I’m just excited to be side-by-side with him while he faces whatever that is,” said Ridgeway, “So for me, I’m excited to see him get a good opening work in his first meet and then the goal obviously is to defend his championships and try to qualify for postseason. I’m just excited to watch him write the final chapter of his story. I think he’s gonna have a great year and I’m excited to watch him do it.”

NEXT UP

The Mavericks will kick off the indoor season on Friday, January 16 at the Robert Platt Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., hosted by University of Arkansas.

#BuckEm

FOLLOW ALONG
Follow the UTA track and field and cross-country teams on X (@UTAMavsTFXC), Instagram (@UTAMavsTFXC) and Facebook (/UTAMavsTFXC).

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Javin Richards Named America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week

Published

11 minutes ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State track and field senior Javin Richards has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Dec. 14. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.

With their sponsorship of the student-athlete of the week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.

Richards broke the Utah State record in the indoor heptathlon, taking second place at the BYU December Invitational last week. His overall score of 5,536 points bested John Strang’s performance from 2009 and improved on his previous best of 5,330 points that had ranked second all-time. The Perry, Ohio, native set personal bests in the 60 meters, long jump, shot put and 1,000 meters en route to his record-setting performance. Richards currently ranks ninth in the country in the event.

Fans can follow the Utah State track and field programs on X at USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at USUTF_XC. Aggies fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on X at USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
MEN’S BASKETBALL – Senior forward Garry Clark (St. Louis, Missouri) helped Utah State to an 83-78 neutral-site victory over Illinois State at the Delta Center on Saturday. Against the Redbirds, Clark scored 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds, including seven offensive boards, to go along with two assists and two steals in 25 minutes off the bench. Clark shot 7-of-8 from the floor, 0-of-1 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 at the free throw line in the win.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL – Junior guard Aaliyah Gayles (Las Vegas, Nevada) led Utah State with 18 points and a career-high nine rebounds in its 80-73 home win against Idaho. Gayles went a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line, including 4-of-4 in the fourth quarter, as she scored eight points in the final frame to help clinch the win. Gayles also added two steals and one assist in the victory.

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD – Freshman Adia Ross (Tokyo, Japan) broke the Utah State record in the women’s 60 meters with a time of 7.48 at the BYU December Invitational last week. In her first-ever indoor 60-meter competition, she bested the previous school record of 7.49, which was set in 1987 by Lola Ogunde, to place fourth in the event finals.

2025-26 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners

Sept. 1 – Miles Davis, Football

Sept. 8 – John Miller, Football

Sept. 15 – Bryson Barnes, Football

Sept. 22 – Bryson Barnes, Football

Sept. 29 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball

Oct. 6 – Kaylie Kofe, Volleyball

Oct. 13 – Tess Werts, Soccer

Oct. 20 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball

Oct. 27 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball

Nov. 3 – Mara Štiglic, Volleyball

Nov. 10 – Rine Yonaha, Soccer

Nov. 17 – Garry Clark, Men’s Basketball

Nov. 24 – MJ Collins, Men’s Basketball

Dec. 1 – Andrea Simovski, Volleyball

Dec. 8 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball

Dec. 15 – Javin Richards, Track and Field

– USU –

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Georgia Freshmen and Signees Shine at SPAR European Cross Country Championships

Published

1 hour ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LAGOA, Portugal – Georgia cross country freshmen Kristers Kudlis and Anastasia Nilsson competed alongside Bulldog signees Bertold Kalász and Alex Lennon at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships early Sunday morning.

Nilsson was the first Georgia athlete to compete, racing in the Women’s U20 competition (4450m). She crossed the finish line at 15:56 to place 33rd overall, scoring third for Sweden and helping the team to a third-place team finish with 44 points.

Meanwhile in the Men’s U20 race (4450m), Georgia had three representatives, all of which finished within the top-30.

Signee Lennon led the group with a 15th place finish at 13:37. His performance served as the second-best scoring effort for Great Britain and Northern Ireland that helped the team to a second-place finish with 45 points.

Fellow signee Kalász also delivered an impressive effort with a 13:38 to place 17th overall. Kalász was the first finisher across the line for team Hungary in the competition.

Kudlis finished 29th place crossing the finish line at 13:54, which was first for team Latvia.

News and updates from Georgia’s track and field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.

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Nebraska Women’s Volleyball Upset Eliminates Highest-Spending Team

Published

1 hour ago

December 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The NCAA women’s volleyball tournament will go on without the sport’s highest-spending team, after undefeated Nebraska, the event’s top overall seed, was stunned by Texas A&M in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Nebraska was 33-0 heading into the game and is also the sport’s financial powerhouse. The university spent $5.91 million on its women’s volleyball team in the 2023-24 season, the most of any program in the country, according to Sportico’s College Sports Finances Database. Nebraska is the only public FBS school to spend more on women’s volleyball than women’s basketball, and first-year head coach Dani Busboom Kelly earned a base salary of $700,000 this season.

The team also brought in $2.57 million in ticketing revenue, which is the third-highest for any women’s sports team at a public FBS school, trailing only Iowa’s and UConn’s women’s basketball teams. The Aggies, for contrast, made just $288,000 from ticket sales.

Women’s volleyball has taken off in recent years, with top college programs spending more and multiple pro leagues raising millions to get off the ground. Average viewership for the 2025 college regular season on ESPN was up 36% year-over-year. Nebraska, which drew 92,003 fans to a game at Memorial Stadium in 2023, has been a big part of the sport’s success.

Texas A&M is no slouch when it comes to volleyball spending, though, ranking in the top 10 in budget each of the past four years and seventh at $3.75 million in the most recent season for which data is available. On the other side of the bracket, Wisconsin is the No. 3 highest-spending program in the nation at $4.68 million and will face Kentucky, whose $3.21 million in expenses ranked 11th. The fourth semifinalist, Pittsburgh, is public but does not provide its financial details via open records requests.

The semifinals and final will be played on Thursday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, Dec. 21, respectively, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, less than a four-hour drive from Lincoln, Neb.

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Wildcats of the Week: December 8-14

Published

2 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jakobi Heady of B-CU Men’s Basketball has been named Wildcat of the Week for the week of December 8-14, 2025.

Jakobi Heady was a standout again for the Wildcats in the teeth of the nonconference season, leading the way offensively with 15 points on 5-9 shooting with a rebound, an assist, and a steal at SEC opponent Missouri. .

Each week, The Bethune-Cookman Office of Athletic Communications recognizes one male and one female student-athlete through the Wildcats of the Week award.

This award recognizes student-athletes who have excelled in competition, in the classroom, and in the community over the past week, exemplifying the Championship Culture of Wildcat Athletics.

2025-26 Wildcats of the Week

December 8-14

W: N/A (No Women’s Competition This Week

M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball

December 1-7

W: Daimoni Dorsey, Women’s Basketball

M: Sha’Nard Walker, Track & Field

November 24-30

W: Chanelle McDonald, Women’s Basketball

M: Jakobi Heady, Men’s Basketball

November 17-23

W: Jordan Brooks, Women’s Basketball

M: Timmy McClain, Football

November 10-16

W: Shayla Henry, Volleyball

M: Javon Ross, Football

November 3-9

W: Madison Molock, Tennis

M: Arterio Morris, Men’s Basketball

October 27-November 2

W: Amya Jennings, Volleyball

M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country

October 20-26

W: Sthefany Carvalho, Volleyball

M: Jaylen Lewis, Football

October 13-19

W: Melissa Gonzalez, Volleyball

M: N/A (No Men’s Competition this Week)

October 6-12

W: Valencia Butler, Cross Country

M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country

September 29-October 5

W: Amya Jennings, Volleyball

M: Ali Scott Jr., Football

September 22-28

W: Sierra Herndon, Volleyball

M: Javon Ross, Football

September 15-21

W: Zahara El-Zein

M: Maleek Huggins, Football

September 8-14

W: Nola Hemphill, Volleyball

M: Cam’Ron Ransom, Football

September 1-7

W: Reese Wilson, Women’s Golf

M: Stephen Sparrow Jr., Football

August 25 – 31

W: Kaleigh Williams, Volleyball

M: Andrew Kiplagat, Cross Country

For all the latest Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Facebook (Bethune-Cookman Athletics), X (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUAthletics.com.

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Winston Morgan Breaks Program Record in Track and Field First Home Meet

Published

2 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

HANOVER, N.H. – The Dartmouth men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted their first home meet of the season this past weekend, marking the first event held in the newly renovated Leverone Fieldhouse.

“Solid day in Leverone Field house for the Big Green track & field programs. It’s always exciting to host a meet at home and compete in front of your friends and family. This meet is a nice way for us to end our Winterim training period,” Mike Nelson, the Marjorie & Herbert Chase ’30 Director of Dartmouth Track & Field and Cross Country, said. “We’ll have a few weeks off now, and then we’ll be back with another home meet on January 10. We look forward to the indoor season kicking into high gear once we get back from winter break. Go Big Green!”

Winston Morgan set a new program record in the 300m with a time of 34.50. Jack Roussaeu put himself at fourth all-time in the event with his 35.68 finish, while Jack Inglis placed sixth all-time with a 36.35 finish. As for the women’s 300m, Mariella Schweitzer placed second all-time with her final time of 39.62, while Veronika Simova put herself at third all-time with a 40.27 mark.

Jada Jones continues her success from last season, putting herself at second all-time in the 60m with a final time of 7.46. Daniela Ruelas Lomeli followed behind, placing ninth all-time with her 7.73 finish.

Charlotte DiRocco cleared 1.72m in the high jump of the women’s pentathlon, putting herself at seventh all-time in the event.

The Big Green will return to action on Jan. 10 when they host their second and final home meet of the season, the Ivy vs. America East Challenge.

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Central’s Meyer earns weekly USTFCCCA national honor

Published

2 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

PELLA — Central College men’s track and field hurdler and high jumper Gunner Meyer (senior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) was named the USTFCCCA Division III Men’s National Athlete of the Week Monday.

In the 60-meter hurdles race at the Jimmy Grant Alumni Invitational hosted by the University of Iowa Saturday, Meyer clocked in at 7.92 second. It’s the fastest time by any Division III athlete so far this season. It’s also the fastest in American Rivers Conference history. He placed third in the meet behind a pair of Hawkeyes.

At the Dutch Holiday Preview on Friday, Meyer cleared 6 feet, 7.5 inches in the high jump. He finished second after teammate Lance Bunde (sophomore, Guthrie Center, ACGC HS) cleared the same bar but in fewer attempts. He is tied for seventh in Division III with that height.

This is the second time a Central athlete has received the national weekly honor for the indoor season. The first was Eric Larson in 2015.

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