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From uncertainty to finding my place: The Daily Bruin was worth the wait -30-

I almost didn’t come to UCLA. You could probably count on one hand the number of students who attended an Ivy League university in the history of my high school. Prestigious universities were not a regular topic of conversation, and most people ended up going to college somewhere nearby, along the coast of Southern California. […]

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I almost didn’t come to UCLA.

You could probably count on one hand the number of students who attended an Ivy League university in the history of my high school. Prestigious universities were not a regular topic of conversation, and most people ended up going to college somewhere nearby, along the coast of Southern California.

So as a senior, I followed suit and toured the small list of private religious schools and Cal State schools that graduates of my high school typically attended. But no matter how hard I tried to envision myself at these schools, none of them felt right.

Given how obsessive I was over maintaining a perfect GPA in high school, community college was never on the table for me. So when my parents suggested I spend two more years at home, I was immediately against the idea.

That was not how I envisioned my college experience.

It hurt to watch my peers start their new lives in college, while I was stuck at home. But I held onto the belief that there had to be something bigger waiting for me.

Community college ended up being wonderful.

I rediscovered my love for soccer, made lifelong friendships and memories with my teammates and got to spend two more years living with my family.

Despite my ability to make the best out of a situation I never thought I would be in, I spent every night wondering if my hard work would ever pay off.

That moment finally came when an acceptance email from UCLA landed in my inbox in April 2023. It wasn’t until then that I started to realize community college was not a detour but actually a step toward a life I never could have imagined as a high schooler.

I always loved to write. As a little kid, I wrote, illustrated and constructed my own book about a girl who turned into a hot dog.

But there was never a space beyond the classroom for me to fully dive into my knack for writing. That is, until I saw that applications were open for the Daily Bruin.

Unlike the other club applications I was filling out during those first few weeks at UCLA, I genuinely enjoyed the Daily Bruin application process. Even though I had zero experience in journalism, responding to the prompts felt natural, almost easy.

I jumped right into the deep end of journalism as part of the gymnastics beat. Although I had only ever watched gymnastics a few times during the Olympics, I was tasked with writing breaking wraps about the meets and generating interview questions for a sport I knew nothing about.

The Daily Bruin challenged me like I had never been challenged before – and I loved it.

I will never forget my first experience as a student reporter. As I sat at the media table alongside gymnastics editor Ben Royer and fellow intern, soon-to-be gymnastics editor Aaron Doyle at Meet the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion in December 2023, I was captivated by the fast-paced environment and thrill of being so close to the action.

And that thrill has yet to fade.

As I reflect on these last two years with the Daily Bruin, I realize this newspaper was the “something bigger” that I had been waiting for in community college. Without it, my passion for elevating women’s presence in the sports industry and increasing coverage of women’s sports might have stayed buried.

I often think about what would have happened if I had not gone to community college, UCLA or joined the Daily Bruin.

I would have never gotten the chance to travel to Berkeley and Salt Lake City to cover the gymnastics team at back-to-back NCAA Regionals. I would have never been in the background of the televised March Madness selection show when UCLA earned its first No. 1 overall seed in program history. I would have never interviewed two-time Olympian Jordan Chiles or met National Softball Hall of Famer Lisa Fernandez.

I would have never applied for an internship at Dodgers Nation, where I got to cover the Los Angeles Dodgers on their 2024 World Series run – and where I’ll continue working after graduation. I would not be packing my bags to head to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series – a tournament I have been watching on TV with my mom for years.

Like community college, journalism was never part of the plan, but now, I can’t imagine my life without it.

As my time at the Daily Bruin comes to an end and I prepare to tackle the unpredictabilities of post-grad life in New York City, I have learned not to fear the unknown because the best experiences in life are often the ones you do not anticipate.

Going to community college was hard and something I never expected. I spent two years waiting for it to finally be “my turn.”

But the Daily Bruin was absolutely worth the wait.

Garcia was Sports staff from 2024-2025 and a Sports contributor and reporter from 2023-2024.



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Penn State earns commitment from 4-star EDGE Tyson Harley | Penn State Football News

Penn State’s newest commitment in the class of 2026 comes from a school that recently produced an NFL talent for the Nittany Lions. Saturday, Tyson Harley announced via Instagram he will be taking his talents to State College for the next chapter of his football career. He is a 4-star who ranks as the No. […]

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Penn State’s newest commitment in the class of 2026 comes from a school that recently produced an NFL talent for the Nittany Lions.

Saturday, Tyson Harley announced via Instagram he will be taking his talents to State College for the next chapter of his football career.

He is a 4-star who ranks as the No. 348 player nationally, No. 33 EDGE and No. 2 in Washington, D.C.

Harley chose the Nittany Lions over Maryland, Rugters, Michigan State and Virginia Tech. He plays for Gonzaga College High School, which former Penn State offensive tackle and current New York Jet Olu Fashanu played for.

MORE FOOTBALL COVERAGE


3-star OT Marlen Bright announces commitment to Penn State

Phil Trautwein continues to load up his offensive line for the foreseeable future. 

If you’re interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here.



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Sweet Amythist loves gymnastics, arts & crafts

Amythist is a smart, sweet, and creative young girl who enjoys a variety of fun activities. She loves gymnastics, dancing, music, riding her bike, and doing arts and crafts. She attends elementary school and enjoys being around her peers, especially during social or creative activities. Though she can be a bit shy at first, Amythist […]

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Amythist is a smart, sweet, and creative young girl who enjoys a variety of fun activities.

She loves gymnastics, dancing, music, riding her bike, and doing arts and crafts. She attends elementary school and enjoys being around her peers, especially during social or creative activities. Though she can be a bit shy at first, Amythist opens up as she becomes more comfortable and shows a fun, caring personality.

She enjoys indulging in girly things and shares a special connection with her social worker over their shared love of Bath & Body Works products. Amythist thrives when she feels safe, supported, and encouraged to be herself.

Can I Adopt?

If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ+ singles and couples. As an adoptive parent, you won’t have to pay any fees, adoption from foster care is completely free in Massachusetts.

The process to adopt a child from foster care includes training, interviews, and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you. These steps will help match you with a child or sibling group that your family will fit well with. To learn more about adoption from foster care visit www.mareinc.org. Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) can give you guidance and information on the adoption process.

Reach out today to find out all the ways you can help children and teens in foster care.



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Cole Hutson in ‘no rush’ to end college career but Capitals still plan to ‘put the push on’ and sign him after sophomore season

Cole Hutson is one of the top prospects in all of hockey and is headed back to college for his sophomore season at Boston University. The 2024 second-round pick of the Washington Capitals made it to the 2025 National Championship game with the Terriers and is heading back to school to try to avenge the […]

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Cole Hutson is one of the top prospects in all of hockey and is headed back to college for his sophomore season at Boston University. The 2024 second-round pick of the Washington Capitals made it to the 2025 National Championship game with the Terriers and is heading back to school to try to avenge the team’s loss to Western Michigan.

The 19-year-old defender will be eligible to sign an entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals after the season. However, he stated on Saturday at the end of Caps Development Camp that there is no guarantee he’ll be ready to do so next spring.

“Obviously, big reason I’m going back for school, I want to win a national championship,” Hutson said. “I want to graduate school, make my mom happy. I’m in no rush to go any place. You can’t get worse playing college hockey. Just going to enjoy the moment. If it’s two or three more years, I’m perfectly fine with that. So, just going to have fun and hopefully win maybe one or two national championships.”

Hutson finished his first year at BU as the top freshman in the nation, winning the 2025 Tim Taylor Award as NCAA Rookie of the Year and being the only freshman out of the 24 players selected to the East/West First and Second-Teams. He posted 48 points (14g, 34a) in 39 games, six more points than the next-best freshman and 22 more points than the next-best freshman defenseman.

While his sights seem firmly set on the NCAA for now, he admitted that it was exciting to be at his second development camp, building bonds with guys he could one day share a Capitals locker room with. He’s also previously shared the current Caps players he is most excited to one day play with, so his future with the team doesn’t sound uncertain.

“Yeah, I think it’s really cool, obviously, being here with draft picks and free agents,” Hutson said. “We have no idea who’s going to be a teammate in the future, and just building relationships before, hopefully, you make it to the pros. It’s good to get to know guys, build connections, and hopefully become teammates with them.”

Hutson’s 3-on-3 team won this year’s tournament at the camp, and he scored two goals in the championship victory against an opposition team that featured the highly talented Andrew Cristall. His performance throughout the five-day camp turned heads among the top Capitals brass.

“Yeah, I thought he was excellent,” general manager Chris Patrick said. “I thought he was at a different level. He certainly seems like a guy that is ready for the next step.”

The Capitals went through a similar process with top prospect Ryan Leonard last season. Leonard delivered 49 points (30g, 19a) in 37 games for Boston College during his sophomore season and then signed with the Caps once the Eagles were eliminated in the NCAA tournament.

Patrick sounded undeterred by Hutson’s assertion that he would be okay with playing longer in college than Leonard did.

“It feels like Leonard part two here,” Patrick said. “We’ll kind of give him space. I know he’s got some goals this year for what he wants to do at BU. And then once his season’s done, we’ll put the push on.”

“What I saw there this week, which really impressed me, was that we all know the skill and the skating ability, the stuff he does with Wendy, it looks easy for him. That’s not easy stuff,” Patrick added. “But to me, what I was impressed by was his competitiveness. Not just in that 3-on-3, but if he did a drill, he didn’t like the way he did it, he’s firing pucks down the other end of the ice. He wants everything to be perfect all the time. That kind of drive is a good trait to have for a guy that wants to be an NHLer.”

Hutson’s older brother, Lane Hutson, played just two seasons at BU before signing with the Montreal Canadiens. The 21-year-old rearguard won the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year this past season, recording 66 points (6g, 60a) in 82 games.

Cole watched his brother take on the Capitals during the playoffs, wearing a Canadiens ugly Christmas sweater. He met with Caps head coach Spencer Carbery after Game 3 at the Bell Centre.

Hutson will also be eligible to play in the 2026 World Juniors for Team USA after winning gold last January at his first tournament and becoming the first defenseman in World Juniors history to lead in points. He could win back-to-back golds and then end the year signing with the Caps, just like Leonard did.



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Watch video highlights of Pacific Mini Games action in Palau so far

From the pool to the track and the ocean, the first six days of the Pacific Mini Games brought packed competition despite some disruption from wet weather. Sunday 6 July is a rest day for the games, so it’s a great chance for fans to relive the action so far with daily 30-minute video highlights […]

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Watch video highlights of Pacific Mini Games action in Palau so far

From the pool to the track and the ocean, the first six days of the Pacific Mini Games brought packed competition despite some disruption from wet weather.

Sunday 6 July is a rest day for the games, so it’s a great chance for fans to relive the action so far with daily 30-minute video highlights capturing the best moments, medal wins, and standout performances across every code.

Day 1
The Pacific Mini Games kicked off with events scheduled in swimming, wrestling, va’a, volleyball, and softball. Swimmers were set to race in heats across 10 events, while va’a crews lined up for V1 and V12 500m races.

Wrestling ran through more than 40 men’s freestyle bouts, and volleyball began with women’s pool games. Softball opened with three matchups, including hosts Palau playing the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).

Day 2
More codes joined the Games on Day Two, with medal rounds planned in swimming, va’a, wrestling, and archery. The pool hosted finals in nine races, including relays.

Va’a returned with V6 races and gold medal events while wrestling introduced Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle divisions. Archery and basketball 3×3 were added to the mix, and round robins continued in team sports.

Day 3
A full schedule was planned across nine sports. Swimming featured eight more races, while weightlifting awarded medals in lighter divisions. Archery match play continued, and beach wrestling made its first appearance.

The day also included va’a marathon races, table tennis, and more volleyball and softball. Beach volleyball pool play and basketball 3×3 gold medal games were also set.

Day 4
The Games picked up pace with events across over a dozen codes. Swimming scheduled finals in freestyle, long distance, and relays. Table tennis moved into medal rounds, including para and wheelchair events.

Weightlifting shifted to mid-weight classes, and archery prepared for finals – basketball 3×3 pool play wrapped up with gold medal matches, while other team sports continued.

Day 5
Track and field was set to feature the 10,000m and para-athletics, along with throws and relays. Va’a races covered 24km marathon distances. Swimming planned another round of medal events, and table tennis wrapped up women’s singles with men’s rounds starting.

Beach volleyball pool play continued, and weightlifting moved into heavier categories. Softball, volleyball, and archery also carried on.

Day 6
Athletics ran a full programme with 100m sprints, 800m, decathlon, heptathlon and para events on the schedule. The 5km open-water swims were scheduled for the morning, followed by a mixed relay.

Weightlifting held its final sessions in the heaviest divisions. Basketball 3×3 wrapped up with Oceania finals, while beach volleyball, softball and baseball all continued into later stages.

Medal Standings after Day 6

Medal Standings after Day 6 of the Pacific Mini Games 2025.

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MSU Hockey News – The Only Colors

As you enjoy the holiday weekend of summer sun, we at TOC thought you may need a little ice break to cool off. With the NHL draft completed, let’s take a look at current and future Spartans that were drafted as well as some other news around Munn. Speaking of the NHL draft, MSU became […]

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As you enjoy the holiday weekend of summer sun, we at TOC thought you may need a little ice break to cool off. With the NHL draft completed, let’s take a look at current and future Spartans that were drafted as well as some other news around Munn.

Speaking of the NHL draft, MSU became one of only 4 schools to have a player drafted in the NFL, NHL, and NBA 2025 drafts. Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsin were the other schools, making it a B1G exclusive club. Way to go, MSU athletes.

MSU had two future players drafted in the first round. Ryker Lee is an incoming freshman forward who was drafted No. 26 by the Nashville Predators. Mason West was drafted No. 29 by the Chicago Blackhawks who traded up to get the forward. West will be joining the Spartans for the 26-27 season. He’s a dual athlete who is also a quarterback and was recruited by some smaller D1 schools to play football. The bigger coup is that MSU took him right out of Minnesota to play hockey which has many Gopher fans upset.

Drafted No. 45 in round two was Eric Nilson, center. He just committed last month and has an NHL pedigree as he hopes to follow his father’s 10 year NHL career. Nilson will be playing for MSU this fall and was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks.

At No. 48, current Spartan Shane Vansaghi was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers. We may be seeing Shane reunite on the ice one day with Karsen Dorwart who made his NHL debut with Philly in late March.

2026-27 incoming defenseman Brady Peddle went no. 91 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The final draft pick was Max Heise, a forward who will also be in East Lansing for the 26-27 season. He went at pick no. 150 to the San Jose Sharks.

There are a lot of NHL draft picks on the current and future rosters that just goes to prove that MSU Hockey is brewing something special for some years to come.

In some other hockey news, Gavin McKenna, everyone’s top pick in next year’s NHL Draft, visited East Lansing on Monday. He was in Happy Valley on Sunday and people have speculated that PSU is the favorite to land the generational talent. People should not be sleeping on Sparty. I think MSU has a real solid chance to land McKenna as MSU is locked and loaded for a run next season and McKenna could very well be a one and done. Pairing up with Lindstrom (who was his teammate with the Medicine Hat Tigers), Howard, and Augustine may just be too good to pass up. Not to mention, being coached by Nightingale and learning the team is greater than the individual may all be too enticing for the most growth and success to come out of one season. His decision could come over the weekend, so stay tuned.

Lastly, I want to congratulate former Spartan, Duncan Keith on his election to the NHL Hall of Fame. This writer here is a huge Blackhawks guy. Jeremy Roenick, Tony Amonte, Chris Chelios and Eddie Belfour were my hockey heroes growing up. So of course, I watched a lot of Blackhawk hockey during their title runs in the 2010’s. Duncan Keith was an essential part of those title runs. Showtime Patrick Kane and the consistent leadership of Jonathan Toews are what many will remember from those runs. Those cups would never be raised in Chicago without Keith and Seabrook defending. Keith was crazy durable, could lead a beautiful stretch pass, push the blue line and get back and play physical. Congrats to you! I love seeing the MSU to Chicago line continue with Levshunov and now West. Of course I’m still pulling for that trade with Tampa or for Howard to not sign and join the Hawks. I mean, I can dream right?

Enjoy the holiday weekend, stay cool, let’s sign McKenna, and Go Green!



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Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech

Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech Home » NCAA » Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech […]

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Five-Star Recruit Lands Record-Breaking NIL Deal That’s More Than What Most NFL Players Make After Committing To Texas Tech