The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.

The562’s high school softball coverage is sponsored by Playmakers. Visit LetsBePlaymakers.org for more information on their adaptive sports programs.

If you walked up to LBCC’s softball field hoping to catch the first round of CIF Division 4 playoffs between Long Beach Poly and Edison, you might be very confused to see 30 identical players on the turf. Each team wore identical uniforms from their pinstripes down to their socks, but the Jackrabbits brought the bats and energy on their way to a 5-1 win over the Vikings.

As Poly geared up to take the field, Ki’ele Ho-Ching; the 2024 Moore League Player of the Year, No. 1 recruit for the class of 2026 and an Oklahoma University commit; returned to her place on the field at shortstop for the first time this season – and she immediately made her presence known.

After starting Poly pitcher Tegan Breaux struck out the first two Edison hitters, senior Sophia Hannappel was the first Viking to get on base after a line drive deflected off the glove of first baseman Kween Tauala. Sophomore Aubrey Catron hit a deep fly to the left field wall that sent Hannappel racing for home, but she couldn’t outrun Ho-Ching’s arm.

As the cutoff man positioned in left field, Ho-Ching completed the relay on a one-hop shot to keep Edison scoreless in the first inning. She completed another huge relay from left field in the top of the fourth to prevent another Edison run.

“We cut those two girls off at home with those terrific relays, even with her cannon not being at 100%,” Head Coach Elizabeth Sanches said. “75% Ki’ele is still 120% everybody else. So, we’re grateful.”

While the relays could easily be added to Ho-Ching’s defensive highlight reel, her and junior Emoni Lam Sam held down the left side of the infield with more top-notch defense. The two Division 1 commits knocked down any ball that came at them, which helped hold Edison to six hits throughout seven innings. 

“Honestly, it was a little hard at first. The mental side of it is a lot,” Ho-Ching said of her defensive return. “Not playing for one, then all of a sudden coming back and just being thrown back out there, first play, first throw, a relay. I didn’t expect to throw the ball at all today, to be honest, but hey, I threw it like 20 times.”

Ho-Ching and E. Lam Sam are two major players in the strong junior class at 1600 Atlantic. E. Lam Sam was defensively clean on the turf but also played a big role in the lineup, going 2 for 4 with two RBI doubles to left field. 

Long Beach Poly was the first to get on the board in the bottom of the third. Freshman Victoria Sepulveda led the inning off with a single to right field and was moved over to second off a sac bunt from junior Persja Lam Sam. 

E. Lam Sam knocked in her first RBI as the next batter, followed by another RBI double from Tauala, who was also 2 for 4 on the day.

Edison responded in the top half of the fifth inning with their only score of the game. After Catron led off with a double, she was thrown out by Ho-Ching’s second relay on another left field double from sophomore Elina Garcia. 

Garcia advanced to third on the throw from Ho-Ching. Sophomore Savannah Fisher was walked to put runners threatening at the corners. A double pickle resulted in a run for the Vikings after a misthrow got out of the Jackrabbit infield. 

With a close 2-1 score, Poly’s bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth. P. Lam Sam was hit by a pitch and soon driven in off Emoni’s second RBI double. Emoni came around to score herself when junior Alayna Veavealagi singled to right.

Junior Janelle Morris doubled to move Veavealagi to third, who eventually scored off an RBI single from junior Sunni Vaafuti. Morris was 3 for 3 and the only Jackrabbit to swat 1.000 on the day.

“[Morris] made the adjustments and was able to trust her hands and trust her experience and trust her reps and stay back long enough to where she was driving it, not just to the right side, but right in the gap, in the perfect spot to get those runs in,” Sanches said.

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference on Thursday announced its Outdoor Track & Field awards, recognizing standout performances from the 2025 season. The awards were voted on by the head coaches within the league for both men’s and women’s.
 
The Sun Belt also announced the All-Sun Belt Conference honorees from the 2025 Sun Belt Outdoor Championships.
 
The student-athletes recognized include:
 
•    Men’s Outdoor Track Performer of the Year: Jacob Pyeatt, Arkansas State
•    Men’s Outdoor Field Performer of the Year: Aiden Hayes, Texas State 
•    Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Newcomer of the Year: Drew Donley, Texas State
•    Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year: Lawson Jacobs, Louisiana 
•    Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: John Frazier, Texas State
•    Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Elite Award Winner: Jacob Pyeatt, Arkansas State
 
•    Women’s Outdoor Track Performer of the Year: Abigail Parra, Texas State 
•    Women’s Outdoor Field Performer of the Year: Imani Moore, Georgia Southern 
•    Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Newcomer of the Year: Emma Russum, App State
•    Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year: Charlize Goody, Texas State
•    Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: John Frazier, Texas State
•    Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Elite Award Winner: Lara Roberts, Texas State
 
Men’s Outdoor Track Performer of the Year: Jacob Pyeatt, Arkansas State
Arkansas State’s Jacob Pyeatt finished as Co-High Point Scorer at the conference meet, scoring 20 points with golds in the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters to earn Men’s Outdoor Track Performer of the Year honors. He broke the meet record in the 5000 by nearly 10 seconds, finishing in 13:50.83, over 30 seconds faster than the runner-up finisher. In the 10,000, Pyeatt finished in 29:54.18. During the season, Pyeatt was the league’s top distance athlete, leading with program-record marks in the 5,000 (13:35.90) and 10,000 (28:28.50) while ranking second in the 1500 meters (3:45.80). In the West Region, Pyeatt enters the week ranked among the top 50 in both the 5K (33rd) and 10K (49th). After breaking his own school record in the 5K at the Raleigh Relays, Pyeatt earned SBC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors on April 2.
 
Women’s Outdoor Track Performer of the Year: Abigail Parra, Texas State
Texas State’s Abigail Parra was named the Top Meet Scorer at the 2025 SBC Championships, after she scored a total of 23 points in three events and helped the women’s team secure the SBC title for the 2nd year in a row. She won the 1500m with a time of 4:23.76 (2nd in program History), placed second in the 800m with a personal-best time of 2:08.58 (9th in program History), and ended the day placing fourth in the 5000m with another personal-best time of 17:02.06 (3rd in program History). During the season, Parra recorded the school record for the 1500m, with a time of 4:18.87, and is the only Sun Belt athlete this season to break the 4:20.00 mark in the event. No stranger to the record book, she holds six of the 10 fastest times in Texas State history for the event.
 
Men’s Outdoor Field Performer of the Year: Aiden Hayes, Texas State
Texas State’s Aiden Hayes earned first place in the high jump and tied the meet record and SBC record, with a mark of 2.25m, a mark that had not been touched since 1994 to earn Men’s Outdoor Field Performer of the Year honors. He now sits ranked tied for second for the event in the NCAA rankings and is tied at the top for the event in the NCAA West Region. He recorded three top two finishes this season in the high jump, winning both the SBC Championships and the Bobcat Invitational. He also recorded three of the top 10 high jump marks in Texas State history this season.
 
Women’s Outdoor Field Performer of the Year: Imani Moore, Georgia Southern

Georgia Southern’s Imani Moore was the Sun Belt Conference Champion in the Long Jump and Triple Jump and the highest women’s field event scorer to earn Women’s Outdoor Field Performer of the Year honors. Moore is the current Sun Belt Conference Leader in the Long Jump & Triple Jump and is ranked inside the top 10 in the long jump in the south region and top 25 in the long jump nationally. She broke both the Georgia Southern program and Georgia Southern facility record in the long jump and currently holds the second best mark in the record books in the triple jump. For her efforts this spring, Moore has qualified for the NCAA East Regional in both the long jump and triple jump.
 
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Newcomer of the Year: Drew Donley, Texas State
In his first season competing for Texas State, Drew Donley became the Sun Belt Champion in the 200m and placed third overall in the 100m. He set the school record for Texas State in the 100m (10.22) and holds four of the five fastest times ever recorded in the 100m in school history. He earned seven first place finishes throughout the season and was named Sun Belt Track Athlete of the Week twice during the season. Donley is ranked in the top 25 in the NCAA for the 200m and is qualified for regionals in both the 100m and 200m.
 
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Newcomer of the Year: Emma Russum, App State
App State senior Emma Russum clinched the Sun Belt crown in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:36.27 and secured silver in the women’s 5,000 meters with a time of 16:53.59. In the App State all-time list, Russum ranks second in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase and women’s 10,000 meters, as well as fourth in the women’s 5,000 meters. Over the course of the season, Russum has led the Sun Belt in the women’s 5,000 meters with a personal-best of 16:30.30, the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best of 10:34.13, and the women’s 10,000 meters with a personal-best of 34:41.91. The senior also rounds out the NCAA Southeast Region’s top-25 in the women’s 10,000 meters and women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase categories.
 
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year: Lawson Jacobs, Louisiana
The Sun Belt 2025 Indoor Track Performer and Freshman of the Year, Louisiana’s Lawson Jacobs captured the outdoor 400m title, setting a school record with a time of 45.57, just 0.06 seconds off the SBC record. The freshman also ran the final leg of Louisiana’s gold medal-winning 4x100m relay squad that ran a 39.55. Jacobs’ record in the 400m broke a Louisiana record set back in 1973 and was the third-oldest men’s record still standing. Jacobs is 10th in the region in the 400m, and Louisiana’s 4×100 team is also 28th in the east.
 
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year: Charlize Goody, Texas State
In her first season as a Bobcat, Charlize Goody won the Sun Belt title in the javelin and placed second in the women’s discus. Goody is the only athlete in the Sun Belt this season to record a mark of 50 meters or better in the javelin, which she has done three times this season. She has won four of the five javelin competitions she has competed in this season, recorded the Texas State freshman record for the event and has four of the top-five marks in school history for the javelin throw. She is ranked top-20 in the NCAA West Region and 33rd in the NCAA for the javelin.
 
Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: John Frazier, Texas State

Texas State head coach John Frazier was named both the Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year. He led the men’s team to its first SBC Outdoor title since 2019 and a total of 145 points. He led four men’s athletes to first place at the championship meet, and nine other athletes to the podium in their events. The Bobcats won the meet by 19 points and secured the title going into the men’s 4×400. Frazier also led the women’s team to the 2025 SBC Championship title after it secured 119 points. He coached four first-place finishers on the women’s side and had three more athletes reach the podium in their events. Frazier has coached Lara Roberts to not only a Sun Belt title, but also to the leading mark in the NCAA. He has helped two athletes break school records this season and seven athletes record top-10 times in Texas State History.
 
Frazier has led 14 male athletes, nine female athletes and one men’s relay currently qualified for the NCAA Regional meet and has led three athletes to being ranked in the top-10 of the NCAA in their respective events.
 

Arkansas State’s Jacob Pyeatt was named the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Elite Award Winner as Texas State’s Lara Roberts was named the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Elite Award Winner.
 
The SBC Elite Award recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the Sun Belt Conference Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The SBC Elite award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating on the final day for each of the Sun Belt Conference’s championships.
 
2025 Sun Belt Men’s Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference First Team
Ethan Lipham, App State
Menachem Chen, Arkansas State
Colby Eddowes, Arkansas State
Bradley Jelmert, Arkansas State
Noa Isaia, Arkansas State
Jacob Pyeatt, Arkansas State
Mark Daley, Louisiana
Jonathan Gamarra, Louisiana
Chris Gravois, Louisiana
Camren Hardy, Louisiana
Jeremy Nelson, Louisiana
Lawson Jacobs, Louisiana
Joseph Patterson, Louisiana
Caemon Scott, Louisiana
Hunter Ullrich, Louisiana
Reuben Booysen, South Alabama
Kendal White, South Alabama
Piers Cameron, Southern Miss
Drew Donley, Texas State
Easton Hammond, Texas State
Aiden Hayes, Texas State
Chris Preddie, Texas State
Tydreke Thomas, Troy
 
2025 Sun Belt Men’s Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference Second Team
Matthew Gray, App State
Ethan Turner, App State
Brandon Williams, Arkansas State
Terrique Webb, Coastal Carolina
Samuel Mika, South Alabama
Sacha Perrier, South Alabama
Javel Fullerton, Southern Miss
Conner Mozee, Southern Miss
Kelsey Singleton, Southern Miss
Shedrack Akpeki, Texas State
Daniel Harrold, Texas State
Michael Hermes, Texas State
Kason O’Riley, Texas State
Connor Warzecha, Texas State
Altwayne Bedward, Troy
Evan Brown, Troy
Michael Eady, Troy
Keylan Hicks, Troy
Imani Coleman, ULM
Matthew Malcolm, ULM
Santana Richardson, ULM
Stafon Roach, ULM
J’Marcus Sewell, ULM
 
2025 Sun Belt Men’s Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference Third Team
Armonte Ferguson, App State
Ray Lee, App State
Brandon Parker, App State
Jonathan Wilson, App State
Thomas Wlazlowski, App State
Kamil Przybyla, Arkansas State
Trey Kraimer, Coastal Carolina
Adam Groves, Coastal Carolina
William Howard, Louisiana
Federico Bovo, Louisiana
Teodor Borgius, Louisiana
Dallas Beck, South Alabama
Javon Glen, South Alabama
Bobby Gray, South Alabama
Tre Hill, South Alabama
Marlon Miller, South Alabama
Jordan Morrison, South Alabama
Zayne Palomino, Southern Miss
De’Aundre Ward, Southern Miss
Mihajlo Katanic, Texas State
Daniel Strooh, Texas State
Carlo Martinez-Jaramillo, ULM
Devin Bilbo, ULM
 
2025 Sun Belt Women’s Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference First Team
Emma Russum, App State
Carly Pujol, Arkansas State
Molly Jones, Coastal Carolina
Amanda Kinloch, Coastal Carolina
Shatalya Dorsett, Georgia Southern
Emani George, Georgia Southern
Imani Moore, Georgia Southern
Devine Parker, Georgia Southern
NaJ Watson, Georgia Southern
Kimola Hines, Louisiana
Isabelle Russell, Louisiana
Jaellene Burgess, Southern Miss
Taliyah Lindsey, Southern Miss
Addison McLaurin, Southern Miss
Kennedi Sanders, Southern Miss
Alana Simon, Southern Miss
Abigail Parra, Texas State
Melanie Duron, Texas State
Lara Roberts, Texas State
Charlize Goody, Texas State
Savanna Lawson, ULM
Katerina Natsiopoulou, ULM
 
2025 Sun Belt Women’s Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference Second Team
Lilly Nichols, App State
Miranda Burgett, Arkansas State
Michelle Ogbemudia, Arkansas State
Kennedy Hood, Georgia Southern
Leonaya Knox, Georgia Southern
Holly Mpassy, James Madison
Amairi Ashford, Louisiana
Alaysha Veal, Louisiana
Destiny Berryman, Marshall
Iyana Johnson, South Alabama
Calli Stokes, South Alabama
Joidon Boddie, Southern Miss
Cadence Lapp, Southern Miss
Tacherria Lawson, Southern Miss
Valencia Watson, Southern Miss
Jasmine Jimenez, Troy
Aaliyah Murphy, Troy
Kady Schwietz, Troy
Haley Wilson, Troy
 
2025 Sun Belt Women’s Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference Third Team
Tyra Nabors, Arkansas State
Amilia Wise-Sweat, Coastal Carolina
Christine Fitzgerald, James Madison
Esther Germain, James Madison
Erica Moolman, James Madison
Kadence Wilson, James Madison
Lily Murray, Louisiana
Quincy Simon, Louisiana
Reem Tammam, Louisiana
Jaala Thymes, Louisiana
Chaniqua Tonge, Louisiana
Shenell Tucker, Louisiana
Hannah Wyler, Marshall
Taylor Spencer, Marshall
Charleen Elizondo, South Alabama
Ava Wheaton, South Alabama
Jelese Alexander, Southern Miss
Sophia Haberer, Texas State
Shanyah Washington, Troy
Alice Hultberg, ULM
 

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Coming off its first trip to the NCAA tournament in program history, Ted Minnis, the Friends of Harvard Water Polo Head Coach, has announced the addition of four new first-years from the class of 2029 today.

The newcomers include two student-athletes from the United States, one from Australia, and one from Budapest. They join a veteran group that will look to defend its CWPA title next year. 

“Coming off our first championship, this class will add depth to our team, which is already deep at all positions,” Minnis said. “They will help us right away in the pool and add speed, scoring, and a defensive presence to our program.  They will be able to come in and fit right into our program, in and out of the pool.’

Veterans Ruby Hodge, Maya O’Dea, Emma Gilbert, Heidi Heffelfinger, and Ella Schneider, along with rising sophomores Orli Cooper and CWPA Rookie of the Year Niki Piovan, are also set to return in 2026 as the Crimson looks to build upon its most successful season in program history. After capturing its first CWPA Championship and earning a subsequent trip to the NCAA tournament, Harvard set a new record for the most wins in a single season with 26.

LUCY LEVENBERG-PENKLINS | SYDNEY, AUSTRILLIA | MERIDEN SCHOOL | UTILITY  

Played three years of varsity water polo at Meriden School and eight years with Sydney University Water Polo Club as a right driver/utility … Member of the Sydney University Lions Australian Water Polo League Squad (2023–2025), Super League Team (2024), and U22 Team (2024–2025) … Represented New South Wales Blues U16 and U17 Teams, captaining the latter in 2023 … Vice-captain of the Australian Cadet Team at the 2022 World Championships and a member of the Australian Squad Barbarians for national tournaments … Captained the Sydney University Lions U18 Team in 2024 and Meriden School Water Polo in 2023–2024 … Helped lead teams to numerous podium finishes, including gold at the 2023 Australian Water Polo League Championships and 2018 Club Nationals, silver at the 2025 AWL Championships and 2025 Fluida Cup, and multiple state and metro titles…Earned Sydney University Water Polo Club’s Junior Player of the Year (2022) and U16 MVP (2021) honors … Named MVP of the 2022 Australian Interstate Championships … Received the Premier’s Award for All-round Excellence in the NSW Higher School Certificate (2025), the Commonwealth Parliamentarian’s Merit Award (2023), and Strathfield Council’s Youth Achievement Award (2023) … Also honored with Meriden School Colors, Highest Achievement Award, and AICES Colors for Sporting Excellence … Enjoys reading, gaming, baking, crochet, and any ball sport.… Daughter of Jill Levenberg and Pauline Penklis.

FROM COACH MINNIS:

“There are a lot of words that I could use to describe Lucy as a water polo player. I would use strength, speed, and mobility as three words just for a start. Lucy is an attacker who has speed and can play on either side of the pool. She is long and uses her length to her advantage on both offense and defense.” 

SOFIA WANG | GREENWICH, CT. | GREENWICH HIGH SCHOOL | CENTER DEFENDER

Played water polo at Greenwich High School and competed for Greenwich Aquatics from 2010 to 2025, starting as a center defender since joining the travel team in 2018 … Spent the 2022–2023 season in Spain as a starter for CN Sant Feliu in Barcelona … Selected to the USA Cadet National Team (2022), USA Youth National Team (2024), and USA Youth Academy (2023–2024); participated in USA Futures Team trips to Greece … Earned Junior Olympic All-American honors in 2021 (14U) and 2024 (18U), and named 14U Girls MVP at the 2021 Junior Olympics … Helped Team USA earn a silver medal at the 2022 Maccabi Games in Israel…Also a standout swimmer for Greenwich High School, contributing to FCIAC, Class LL, and Connecticut Open titles in 2021 and 2023 … Two-time All-FCIAC First Team selection and NYSCA All-American in two events in 2023 … Set school and FCIAC records in the 200 Medley Relay, and school record in the 200 Free Relay … Placed second in the 100 Free at the 2023 CT State Open (51.58) and ranks second all-time in the 50 Free (23.86) at Greenwich … Daughter of Kim Tierney-Wang and Eric Wang; Kim played water polo and swam at Bucknell.

FROM COACH MINNIS:

“Sofie just does all the little things that you love to see in a player. She does not need the glory of scoring a goal, but she defiantly shoots the ball well. But it is her tenacity on defense, the way she takes pride in stopping the other team’s best player. We will be able to use Sofie’s ability to play anywhere in the pool.”

BEATRICE HEAREY | ORINDA, CALIF. | MIRAMONTE HIGH SCHOOL | ATTACKER

Four-year varsity letter winner in water polo (2021–2024) and swimming (2022–2025) at Miramonte High School … Played for Lamorinda Water Polo Club from 2018 to 2025 … Earned numerous honors including 2nd Team All-American at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics in 2022, Honorable Mention All-American in 2023, and DAL All-League Water Polo 2nd Team in 2024 … Recognized as DAL All-League Honorable Mention in water polo (2023) and swimming (2023, 2024) … Captured CIF NorCal State Water Polo Championships (2021, 2022, 2023), NCS Championships (2021–2023), and 18U Australian Youth National Water Polo Championship in 2024 … Silver medalist at the 18U USA Water Polo Junior Olympics in 2024 and bronze medalist at the 14U Junior Olympics in 2022…Named a USA Water Polo Outstanding Academic All-American from 2022 to 2025 … Honored as a CIF North Coast Section Scholar Athlete and President’s List recipient from 2022 to 2025 … National Merit Commended Scholar (2024) and AP Scholar with Honor (2024) …Mother Deborah Hearey (Class of 1996, rowing), father, Raymond Hearey (Class of 1995, soccer), and grandfather, David Kozloff (Class of 1963, football) all attended Harvard.

FROM COACH MINNIS:

“Bea has a tremendous skill set that starts with the way she approaches the game. She is always thinking about playing defense first and how she can help her team by stopping the biggest scoring threat in the pool. Her awareness in the pool is something that you just cannot teach.”

PETRA KLEMM | BUDAPEST, HUNGARY | ELTE APÁCZAI CSERE JÁNOS GYAKORLÓ GIMNÁZIUM ÉS KOLLÉGIUM | CENTER

Competed for UVSE in Hungary from 2021 to 2025, playing center in both the Hungarian Youth and Adult National Leagues … Played for Foothill Club in the U.S. during the 2023 Junior Olympics … Helped lead UVSE to multiple national titles, including first-place finishes in the U17 and U19 Nationals in 2023 and 2024, and the Adult Hungarian Cup and OB I. National Championship in 2024 … Also placed second in the OB I./B Adult League in 2023 and 2024 and earned international experience at the 2023 US Club Championships and Junior Olympics…Posted standout statistics across multiple seasons, including a 72% shooting percentage with 42 goals in 23 U17 games in 2023, and an 80% shooting mark with 45 goals in 19 games in 2024 … Collected a combined 57 steals and over 180 points across three seasons of U15 and U17 national play … Ranked among Hungary’s top youth performers in scoring efficiency and consistency at center … Enjoys listening to music, watching movies, traveling, exploring new cities and cultures, and spending time with friends and family … Daughter of Laszlo Klemm and Erzsebet Szucs.

FROM COACH MINNIS:

“The intangibles that you look for in a center position are size, speed, and they are able to finish when they get the ball passed to them. Petra is a 6-foot center who holds position very well and is explosive when she has the ball in her hands. She is also dynamic and able to play on the perimeter. She will add a layer to our offense next season and solidify our team strength up the middle of the pool.”

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The 4×800-meter relay captured the first AARTFC title in program history with a school-record run that led the Union College men’s outdoor track & field to a 20th-place finish after the second and final day of the 2025 All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Conference Outdoor Championships, held on Thursday afternoon at Williams College’s Weston Athletic Complex.
 
The Garnet Chargers earned all their points on Thursday’s second day of competition, picking up points from all three of the team’s day-two entries to finish the event with 16 points.
 
The highlight of the event came after a long wait, as the second heat of the 4×800 relay was halted at the tail end of the opening 800 due to lightning in the area and delayed over 2.5 hours. When the competition finally resumed, the all-class quartet of senior Ben Neff, junior Will Plante, sophomore Michael Fitzmaurice and first-year Liam Fitzgibbon traversed the track in a program-record 7:49.31. The team ran faster with each subsequent 800, and Neff closed by running his two laps in 1:55:17 to overtake Hamilton College and earn the win.
 
Neff also started the day for the men in the 1,500 meters and took almost a second off his personal best time, finishing his final collegiate individual race in 3:52.24 to place fourth. The senior finished less than a second off the winning time in earning five points for the Garnet Chargers.
 
Junior Jason Bois earned a point for Union as well after qualifying for the finals of the 110-meter hurdles yesterday. Bois finished eighth in Thursday’s final, finishing in 14.93 seconds.
 
The AARTFC Championships concludes another excellent season for the men’s track & field team that saw two program records broken and the team’s third top-20 finish at regionals in the last five years.
 
 
 

FORT WORTH – TCU Student-Athletes Daniela Alvarez (beach volleyball), Destin Drummond (men’s track and field) and Ashleigh Scully (equestrian) have been named recipients of the Pillar of Purple Award, as announced by TCU’s Intercollegiate Athletic Committee.
 
The award is presented to at least one TCU student-athlete from men’s sports and one from women’s sports, and honors their academic achievements, athletic excellence, community service and leadership. To be eligible, nominees must have junior or senior academic standing and have earned a varsity letter in their respective sport.
 
The selections are made by the IAC, which is comprised of faculty, staff and students representing the university community.
 
Drummond is a junior on the men’s track and field team and was part of a 4x400m relay team that placed sixth at the Big 12 Indoor Conference Championships as a freshman. The Grand Prairie, Texas native placed sixth in the 600-yard run and seventh with the 4x400m relay team at the Big 12 Indoor Conference Championships this past season as a junior. His time of 46.81 in the outdoor 400m ranks among the top 25 in TCU history.
 
The political science major holds a 4.0 GPA while being involved in nine on-campus organizations and programs and holds a leadership position in four of them. Drummond is the co-founder and president of the Black Student-Athlete Alliance, where he has dedicated time to establishing an advocacy channel for Black student-athletes that expanded inclusivity within the athletics department.
 
Drummond serves as president and Big 12 representative of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). His involvement in SAAC has afforded him the opportunity to spearhead TCU Athletics, the Big 12 Conference and NCAA-based legislation. He was a part of the Big 12 Beyond Borders program and spoke with legislative staff on Capitol Hill last summer. Drummond is also a member of the Black Student Association, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society and Political Science Distinction and was also recently named a Clark Society Scholar.
 
Dummond also serves his community and has had the opportunity to paint murals at city parks, renovate elementary schools and plant trees at a tree farm. He tutors elementary through high school students in various levels of math and writing. Drummond also coaches members of his former high school track club. He uses his photography skills to offer photoshoots to TCU students free of charge and serves as a photographer and videographer for his church.
 
Alvarez was a graduate student on the national champion beach volleyball team. Among her numerous awards, Alvarez was named 2025 AVCA Player of the Year, NCAA All-Tournament team at the No. 1 position and All-Big 12 Conference. Alvarez finished her career as a four-time AVCA All-American. Her and playing partner Tania Moreno finished fifth in the 2024 Paris Olympics representing their home country of Spain.
 
Alvarez graduated in 2024 with a degree in actuarial science and earned her analytics certificate in 2025. In addition to beach volleyball, she was a member of the TCU Math Club where she participated in peer problem-solving workshops, math competitions and career speaker events that highlighted real-world applications of mathematics.
 
Alvarez has accumulated 50 hours of community service. Among her favorite experiences was helping in the mornings at Starpoint Elementary School where she assisted with the safety patrol and reading support. She has also volunteered at several local food banks.
 
Scully was a graduate student and was TCU’s nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2024. She finished her athletic career as one of the most decorated equestrian riders the program has seen. Scully was a five-time All-American and was a six-time Big 12 Rider of the Month. She broke TCU’s Fences and Jumping Seat wins record and served as team captain this past season while being named Big 12 Fences Co-Rider of the Year.
 
Scully held a 4.0 GPA at TCU and graduated with an English degree in 2024 before earning a master’s degree in English-Accelerated in 2025. Throughout her career, she has also been involved in photography. As a wildlife conservation photographer, Scully donates the proceeds of her printed photos to at least nine nonprofit organizations that support conservation efforts. She was one of 100 photographers invited to raise awareness about ocean conservation in a print fundraiser for 100 For the Ocean. With over 150,000 followers on her Instagram, she was able to sell over 100 prints, contributing almost $500,000 in funds. 
 
ABOUT THE PILLAR OF PURPLE AWARD
The Pillar of Purple Award is presented to at least one member of a TCU men’s and women’s athletic team. The award honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of college athletes from all sports at TCU. To be eligible, nominees must have competed and earned a varsity letter in a TCU sponsored sport.
 
It is expected that student-athletes selected for the Pillar of Purple Award will exemplify high standards of citizenship, character and courage. This is an award that recognizes the totality of the student-athlete’s commitment to excellence. The committee takes the collection of all criteria into consideration in making a decision.
 
The awardees will receive a plaque or other suitable acknowledgment to be determined by the IAC, be recognized at the annual spring athletic banquet and have their accomplishments noted in an appropriate location in the TCU Library.
 
For more information about the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee and the Pillar of Purple Award, visit https://fsn.tcu.edu/committees/intercollegiate-athletic-committee/.
 
PILLAR OF PURPLE AWARD RECIPIENTS
2019 – Kianna Ray (women’s basketball) and Brendan Barry (men’s swimming)
2020 – Kellton Hollins (football) and Rachel Kimbell (rifle)
2021 – Kevin Chao (men’s swimming and diving), Tijana Duricek (women’s soccer) and Emma Schmidt (women’s basketball)
2022 – Dominic DiNunzio (football), Madilyn Cole (volleyball) and Megan Morris (women’s swimming and diving)
2023 – Lisa Johnson (swimming) and Luke Savage (baseball)
2024 – Bryce Flynn (swimming and diving), Summer Holt (women’s soccer), Landon McMonagle (men’s swimming and diving) and Jasmin Muhammad-Graham (women’s track and field)