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From Slopes to Soccer

Featured Image: Mikaela Shiffrin. Credit: GEPA Mikaela Shiffrin, the greatest alpine ski racer of all time, has seized an investment opportunity beyond the slopes that underscores the advancement of women’s sports. The Stifel U.S. Ski Team superstar has joined the ownership group of Denver’s expansion team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).  The NWSL […]

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From Slopes to Soccer

Featured Image: Mikaela Shiffrin. Credit: GEPA

Mikaela Shiffrin, the greatest alpine ski racer of all time, has seized an investment opportunity beyond the slopes that underscores the advancement of women’s sports.

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team superstar has joined the ownership group of Denver’s expansion team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)

The NWSL officially named Denver the 16th team in January. By March, Mayor Mike Johnston introduced an ambitious plan to construct a 14,500-seat stadium and recreational district dedicated to professional women’s soccer in the heart of the city. 

The $110 million expansion fee marks a significant investment, making it the largest in U.S. women’s sports history.

Shiffrin is excited to be part of the first purpose-built sports entertainment district constructed for professional women’s sports in Colorado.

Shiffrin stated, “I’m beyond thrilled to join the ownership group of Denver NWSL and support something so meaningful in the community I call home.” 

“To be part of it and to help bring professional women’s soccer to Colorado is not only an incredible investment opportunity, but it is both an honor and a joy,” Shiffrin explained.

Personal Success as a Catalyst for Sporting Progress

The Colorado-born athlete has committed time to contribute to the advancement and innovation in sports, actively engaging in efforts to give back to the community.

Shiffrin explained, “The sport culture in Colorado is rich and deep, and—most notably—the growth of women’s sports is one of the most exciting movements in our culture today.” 

This milestone investment was not the only movement she was a part of this season in sport. 

This year, Shiffrin made history as the first alpine ski racer, male or female, to surpass 100 World Cup victories. She didn’t just celebrate her success; she leveraged it to promote the growth of winter sports by launching the MIK100 movement.

Shiffrin partnered with the Share Winter Foundation for the MIK100 initiative, which surpassed its goal of $100,000 to raise nearly $500,000 for learn-to-ski and snowboard programs for youth who otherwise could not participate in the sports.

She stated, “I want to help more people access, experience, and enjoy more snow sports because winter and snow sports have been such a big part of my life.”

Mikaela Shiffrin celebrating her 100th victory. Credit: GEPA

Women’s Sports at the Forefront 

Shiffrin described herself as a “small-level investor” in the NWSL team but is looking forward to this endeavor with progress in women’s sports at the forefront. 

She stated, “I’ve had conversations on and off over the years with several different people who are pretty heavily invested in women’s sports, and this felt like a good time to at least dip my toes in the water.”

Shiffrin played soccer herself, and is a fan of the sport. She stated, “When we weren’t skiing, we were playing soccer.”

During her social media release, she revealed her ball-juggling skills and significant joy in being a part of a milestone moment in the mile-high city.

Info gathered from NWSL, ESPN and The Athletic.

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Hare Family Contribution Help Turn Dickinson Park Complex Into Region’s Best

Story Links CARLISLE, Pa. – Thanks to the generosity of Tom ’78 and Judianne Hare P’22, P’25, Dickinson will unveil the Hare Family Sports Performance & Training Center this fall as well as several new professional-grade field surfaces enhancing Dickinson athletics for today’s and tomorrow’s student-athletes. The state-of-the-art training facility and new […]

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CARLISLE, Pa. – Thanks to the generosity of Tom ’78 and Judianne Hare P’22, P’25, Dickinson will unveil the Hare Family Sports Performance & Training Center this fall as well as several new professional-grade field surfaces enhancing Dickinson athletics for today’s and tomorrow’s student-athletes. The state-of-the-art training facility and new fields for men’s and women’s soccer add to the Hares’ transformational philanthropic impact for Dickinson athletics, which includes endowed funds supporting baseball, softball and soccer as well as many improvements to Dickinson Park.

“Dickinson is a great school, and the student-athletes here are some of the best,” says Tom, a former All-American Red Devil student-athlete himself. “I truly believe if we can help the college raise the level of its athletics facilities and resources to match its academics, there’s no limit to what Dickinson can accomplish.”

Professional-Grade Playing Surfaces

In addition to the training center, the Hares’ gifts have enabled Dickinson to resurface the soccer stadium field as well as two grass practice fields with what Head Women’s Soccer Coach Ted Zingman calls “pristine, professional-grade playing surfaces.” “Our game field will be Bermuda grass, the Cadillac of grass playing surfaces, making us the lone stadium in this region of Pennsylvania with this type of field,” he adds. “We now have one of the premier grass stadium and training facilities in the country.”

Head Men’s Soccer Coach Jorge Chapoy also sees the new fields having a transformational impact for the men’s team. One practice field, he notes, was already completed for this season, and being able to practice on the high-quality grass made a huge difference for the team. Now, with the new Bermuda grass surface recently installed at the stadium, the Hares’ gift will pay even larger dividends next season and beyond.

“This is just transformational for us,” he says. “Not many Division I programs in this region have a field of this quality, let alone Division III programs. We’re already seeing results because it’s making a huge impact as far as recruitment, but I can’t wait for us to start playing on it. And then with the brand new locker room and training facility, Tom and Judianne have been life-changing for the trajectory of this program.”

Permanent Support

Most powerfully, because of the permanently endowed funds the Hares have created to support future maintenance of the fields, their giving not only has an immediate impact, but it also will bolster Red Devils student-athletes well into the future.

“Tom and Judianne’s support will be a vital part of the men’s and women’s soccer programs’ future success and will greatly enhance the players’ experiences moving forward,” says Zingman. “The Hare Family Soccer Field Maintenance Fund will ensure that the fields are forever maintained so that future generations of Dickinson soccer players can excel on these beautiful surfaces.”

This long-lasting impact, however, didn’t just come from the Hares’ belief in the excellence of Dickinson athletics—it also came from their desire to push Dickinson athletics to the next level. They were already giving to Dickinson because of the positive experience their son, Cole ’22, had on the baseball team. But when their daughter, Charlotte ’25, suffered a season-ending soccer injury because of the uneven playing surface at the time, the Hares could have soured on supporting athletics at the college.

“That was a hard time,” recalls Judianne. “Just seeing her go through that injury and then not being able to play. We knew that the field just wasn’t good enough for the team, but we also knew Dickinson needed our support to fix that.”

So rather than turning away, the Hares leaned in. They made gifts to support field improvements as well as new locker rooms and facilities enhancements at Dickinson Park.

“Tom and Judianne are a great example of how powerful it can be when families partner with the college to enhance athletics,” says Director of Athletics Celine Cunningham. “Parents can see firsthand the power of their student-athlete’s experience, and they can also see firsthand the program’s needs. The Hares stepped up to push our programs to the next level, and we’re all truly grateful for their philanthropy.”

Vice President for College Advancement Carlo Robustelli agrees. “We’re so thankful for the Hares’ vision and their willingness to collaborate with Dickinson to truly push our athletics program forward,” he says. “These are exactly the kind of partnerships we seek with our donors, where we can match their vision with the college’s priorities.”

A Ripple Effect

The Hares’ giving has had a ripple effect, inspiring numerous other parents and alumni to join them over the last few years. More than a dozen donors were inspired by their leadership-level giving to also support the facilities at Dickinson Park, which provide dedicated locker rooms and training resources for the men’s soccer, women’s soccer, baseball and softball teams as well as a year-round space to house their equipment.

The facility has made a significant difference for the baseball team, enabling the players to train around the clock, which has helped the team make it to back-to-back Centennial Conference Championship games in 2023 and 2024.

“The support from the Hare family has been an absolute game changer for our baseball program,” says Head Baseball Coach Craig Hanson. “Through their generosity, we have built one of the best indoor training facilities in all of Division III baseball. Not only does the facility help with overall player development, but it also has been a deciding factor for many of our incoming recruits. Taking a potential recruit through the new locker room, training room and indoor facility sets our program apart and has allowed us to bring in a higher caliber of player. We are so fortunate to have the support of the Hare family, and I will forever be grateful for their support of our program.”

Head Softball Coach Matt Richwine agrees. “The Hare family’s support has greatly transformed our training and practice capabilities,” he says. “The training center gives us far more options to be productive in the preseason and during the season. The endowment is going to make a lasting change to the benefits of our current and future athletes.”

Building Momentum

The momentum created by the Hares’ giving has also reached well beyond Dickinson Park. Donors this year have given more than $2.6 million to the McAndrews Fund for Athletics, supporting all 25 varsity teams as well as a new state-of-the-art video scoreboard at Biddle Field.

Seeing the ripple effect of their giving makes the Hares feel even better about their decision to lean in to supporting Dickinson athletics. They were recently back on campus to cheer on Charlotte as she graduated, after returning to the field this year for a successful conclusion to her soccer career at Dickinson. And the family will be returning this fall to celebrate the official naming of their training center in October.

“It’s been so gratifying to see this community come together,” says Tom. “It really shows that when the college, the coaches, the student-athletes and families work together, we can truly accomplish great things.”



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BVB: Lansing Named To SLC All-Academic Team

Story Links FRISCO, Texas—McNeese sophomore Rylee Lansing has been named to the Southland Conference Beach Volleyball All-Academic Team, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.   The sophomore from Friendswood, Texas is the first Cowgirl to be named to the all-academic team in the programs two-year existence.   Lansing, a Political Science major produced […]

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FRISCO, Texas—McNeese sophomore Rylee Lansing has been named to the Southland Conference Beach Volleyball All-Academic Team, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.
 
The sophomore from Friendswood, Texas is the first Cowgirl to be named to the all-academic team in the programs two-year existence.
 
Lansing, a Political Science major produced a perfect 4.0 GPA and was part of the Cowgirls No. 2 pair that tied for the second most wins on the team this season with 17. 
 
During the season, she was part of a pair that put together a seven-match winning streak.
 
 
2025 Southland Beach Volleyball All-Academic Team
Student-Athlete of the Year – Allyson Alden, Boise State
Allyson Alden, Boise State*
Avery Allen, Boise State*
Emilia Guerra-Acuña, Boise State*
Sharli O’Neil, Boise State*
Abbie Wolf, Boise State*
Elli Wolthius, Boise State*
Kristin Gilmour, HCU
Rachel Heilbrun, HCU
Rylee Lansing, McNeese
Katie Hansen, SFA

Madison Morrow, A&M-Corpus Christi*

Bryce Ranney, A&M-Corpus Christi*
 
*Automatic selections from first-team all-conference
 



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11 Jayhawks to Compete at 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track Nationals

Story Links EUGENE, ORE. – 11 members of the Kansas Track & Field team will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track National Championships at Haywood Field in Eugene, Ore., from June 11th- 14th, 2025.  The event will get underway on Wednesday at 2:00 PM CT, with coverage beginning at 6:00 […]

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EUGENE, ORE. – 11 members of the Kansas Track & Field team will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track National Championships at Haywood Field in Eugene, Ore., from June 11th- 14th, 2025. 

The event will get underway on Wednesday at 2:00 PM CT, with coverage beginning at 6:00 PM CT on ESPN. 

Kansas has two decathletes competing this week in Alex Jung and Tayton Klein, who both qualified for NCAA Nationals the past two seasons. Jung has qualified for Nationals all four years as a Jayhawk. Jung is the school record holder with 7,738 points scored, which he accomplished this season at the Jim Click Shootout. Klein finished in sixth place at the Big 12 Championships to punch his ticket to Eugene. The decathletes will embark on a two-day, ten-event competition that starts on Wednesday with the 100m starting at 2:00 PM CT.

Kansas, for the eighth straight NCAA Nationals, has a pole vaulter in the competition. This year’s competition will feature two Jayhawks in the Men’s event, and one in the Women’s competition. Ashton & Bryce Barkdull have both qualified for Nationals, getting over the 5.42-meter bar last week at the NCAA West Prelims in College Station, Texas. Erica Ellis made it to Eugene, clearing 4.42 meters at the NCAA West Prelims. Men’s Pole Vault will begin on Wednesday, starting at 6:35 PM CT, with the women competing on Thursday at 6:35 PM CT.

For the third year in a row, Dimitrios Pavlidis has qualified for NCAA Nationals in the Men’s Discus. Last season, Pavlidis placed 3rd at the National meet. In the Women’s discus event, Junior Sonya Sluchaninova qualified for Eugene on her third & final throw at the NCAA West Prelims with a mark of 58.22m. Sluchaninova threw a personal record of 60.21 meters this season at the Rock Chalk Classic. 

Kansas is sending two more throwers to the National meet in the Men’s Shot Put event. Jacob Cookinham and Bryce Foster have qualified in the Men’s Shot Put, as Bryce Foster threw a personal record in College Station at the NCAA West Prelims with a throw of 19.20 meters. Cookinham threw a distance of 18.93 meters to punch his ticket to the National Meet. 

In the running events, Ebba Cronholm is set to compete in the Women’s 3000-meter steeplechase, after running a time of 10:01.90 to qualify for the national meet. Aaliyah Moore qualified for Eugene by running a time of 2:02.87 in the Women’s 800-meter event. 

HOW TO FOLLOW:

Updates throughout the meet will be available on the Kansas Track and Field Instagram and X accounts. Fans who wish to watch the event will be able to stream the broadcast on ESPN.

 



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Lion Volleyball adds three to 2025 roster

Story Links COMMERCE – The East Texas A&M University volleyball program has announced three additions to the 2025 roster on Tuesday.   Third year coach Joe Morales has added two transfers and an incoming freshman to the squad in 2025. The transfers are Courtney Green from Oregon Tech and Zoe Ruskofsky from […]

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COMMERCE – The East Texas A&M University volleyball program has announced three additions to the 2025 roster on Tuesday.
 
Third year coach Joe Morales has added two transfers and an incoming freshman to the squad in 2025. The transfers are Courtney Green from Oregon Tech and Zoe Ruskofsky from Coalinga College. Katelyn Pritchard joins the Lions as a freshman from McAllen.
 
“I am excited about these three players to come in and contribute right away on the court and with our culture. The addition of them gets us closer to winning,” said Morales.
 
More information on the Lion newcomers can be found below.
 
COURTNEY GREEN
OH/RS • 6-0
West Jordan, Utah • Copper Hills High School • Oregon Tech
Joins the Lion Volleyball program with one year of eligibility remaining … Appeared in 18 matches and 46 sets for Oregon Tech in 2024 … Totaled 88 kills, 26 blocks, and 20 digs … Named to the President’s List … Letter winner at Copper Hills High School … Named to Academic All-State team … Three-time runner up in the 6A State Championships … Played for Club V volleyball club … Also played at Central Wyoming Community College for two years
 
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Daughter of Bret and Jessica Green … Majoring in marketing
 
WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? “I chose East Texas A&M because of my interactions with the coaching staff, and I loved the environment of the campus during my visit.”
 
COACH MORALES’ THOUGHTS: “We are really excited about adding Courtney. She brings a mature level of experience, being able to play both right-side and outside as well as being able to be a six-rotation player. Her length and arm will give us opportunities to score. She will fit right in our program with some leadership.”

KATELYN PRITCHARD

S • 5-10

McAllen, Texas • McAllen High School

Two-year letter winner at McAllen High School … Named to second team all-district and earned Tournament MVP honors as well … Played for the Texas Fierce Elite volleyball club for nine years

 

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Daughter of Brenda and Casey Pritchard … Majoring in kinesiology

 

WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? “Out of all the other campuses I have visited, East Texas A&M really felt like home. Everyone welcomed me in with open arms and was very supportive including the athletic department, science department, and the school president.”

 

COACH MORALES’ THOUGHTS: “KK as she is known by, is a setter that plays at a high level and has a high IQ level. Her ability to move the ball and be offensive is something we will use to our advantage. KK is a setter that can run a 5-1 and be very effective with her fast hands. She is a player that can make plays. She will grow and excel at a fast rate during her career here at East Texas A&M.”

 

ZOE RUSKOFSKY

OH• 5-10

Clovis, California • Clovis High School • Coalinga College

Joins the Lion Volleyball program with two years of eligibility remaining … Two-time first team all-Central Valley Conference at Coalinga College … Advanced to the second round of the C32A State Playoffs twice … Holds program records for most career kills (786) and most total points (793) … Four-time Student-Athlete of the Week … Three-year letter winner at Clovis High School … Finished second in Northern California in DII playoffs during senior season … Played club volleyball for Valley Volleyball Academy, NW Power Volleyball Club, Central Cal Volleyball Club, Tsunami Volleyball Club, and Triumph Volleyball Club

 

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Daughter of Debi and Kyle Ruskofsky • Majoring in psychology

 

WHY EAST TEXAS A&M? “I chose East Texas A&M, because from the very beginning of my recruitment process, I felt genuinely supported and welcomed. The coaching staff has been incredible, they make me feel like more than just an athlete, and I could tell they truly care. I connected with the team, and I wanted to be part of that kind of family. The campus is beautiful, and the atmosphere just feels positive, energetic, and like a place I can grow both on and off the court. Everything about East Texas A&M feels like home.”

 

COACH MORALES THOUGHTS: “We couldn’t be happier with the addition of Zoe. She is a fiery explosive outside that has a very fast arm. Her ability to play six-rotations will give us depth in defense to offense. Can’t wait to get her on the court.”

 

-ETAMU-



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USA Men Beat Australia 13-12 At The Buzzer To Begin Exhibition Series

Courtesy: USA Water Polo Walnut, CA – June 8 – The USA Men’s National Team beat Australia 13-12 today at Mt. San Antonio College. Ryder Dodd led the charge for Team USA with five goals, including the game-winner, while Bernardo Herzer went the distance in net to record 12 saves. Team USA will play against Australia again on Wednesday night at […]

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Courtesy: USA Water Polo

Walnut, CA – June 8 – The USA Men’s National Team beat Australia 13-12 today at Mt. San Antonio College. Ryder Dodd led the charge for Team USA with five goals, including the game-winner, while Bernardo Herzer went the distance in net to record 12 saves. Team USA will play against Australia again on Wednesday night at JSerra Catholic High School at 10:00pm et/7:00pm pt. Tickets to the match are available here. The match will stream LIVE on Overnght with stats from 6-8 Sports.

Australia jumped out to an early lead in this game as the visitors scored four in the first quarter behind Nathan Power (2), Jacob Mercep, and Matthew Byrnes. Team USA managed just one goal from Chase Dodd who converted a power play opportunity with a nice skip shot and the Aussies led 4-1 after one. In the second period, the Americans began to fight back. Ryder Dodd and Nicolas Saveljic scored early before Jett Taylor recorded his first career goal with the Senior National Team. Ryder Dodd converted on a five meter attempt late in the period for the final goal. The visitors scored thrice in the period from Mercep, Marcus Berehulak, and Angus Lambie to hold a 7-5 lead at halftime.

Team USA flipped the game on its head in the third quarter. Dominic Brown, Jake EhrhardtHannes DaubeDylan Woodhead, and Ryder Dodd all found the back of the net offensively while the team defense held strong to allow zero goals from Australia, leaving the United States ahead 10-7 after three. In the final frame, Tristan Glanznig put one home for the Aussies early but Ryder Dodd answered shortly after. From there, Luka Krstic and Lambie cut into the deficit before Chase Dodd fired a rocket cross cage for a goal to push the Americans back up by two. Mercep and Krstic each scored natural goals to level the score with 0:19 remaining. The United States called for a timeout and then put the ball in Ryder Dodd’s hands on its final possession and he did the rest. After a series of fakes to either side, Ryder Dodd unloaded a rocket into the upper right corner for a game-winning goal with less than one second left. Australia would have one final heave from half tank but Ryder Dodd was there again with a field block to secure the 13-12 victory.

Team USA went 4/8 on power plays and 3/5 on penalties while Australia went 0/6 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties.

Scoring – Stats
USA 13 (1, 4, 5, 3) R. Dodd 5, C. Dodd 2, H. Daube 1, D. Woodhead 1, N. Saveljic 1, J. Ehrhardt 1, D. Brown 1, J. Taylor 1
AUS 12 (4, 3, 0, 5) J. Mercep 3, N. Power 2, A. Lambie 2, L. Krstic 2, M. Byrnes 1, M. Berehulak 1, T. Glanznig 1
Saves – USA – B. Herzer 12 – AUS – L. Baker 10, N. Porter 8
6×5 – USA  – 4/8 – AUS – 0/6
Penalties – USA – 3/5 – AUS – 1/2





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MLB purchases stake in Jomboy Media creating digital partnership

Major League Baseball is all-in on growing the game, and just as importantly, meeting fans where they actually are. That’s why MLB is teaming up with Jomboy Media. On Tuesday, it was announced that MLB has purchased an undisclosed stake in Jomboy Media through a strategic partnership that will weave Jomboy’s content throughout the league’s […]

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