Connect with us

College Sports

Greenfield Recorder – Keeping Score with Chip Ainsworth: Bernardston’s Weiss in Europe with Team USA

Good morning!Any inclination Vladimir Putin might have of brokering a peace deal with Ukraine would likely be helped by his need to show off the Russian hockey team at next year’s Olympics. The Russians have been excluded from international hockey competition since the invasion more than two years ago. A precursor to the Games is […]

Published

on


Good morning!
Any inclination Vladimir Putin might have of brokering a peace deal with Ukraine would likely be helped by his need to show off the Russian hockey team at next year’s Olympics. The Russians have been excluded from international hockey competition since the invasion more than two years ago.

A precursor to the Games is the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship which began Friday in northern Europe. Bernardston’s Doug Weiss flew out of Bradley last week to serve as Team USA’s doctor and orthopedic surgeon.

Others with Bay State connections include former Boston College forwards Cutter Gauthier and Will Smith — now with Anaheim and San Jose respectively — BU defenseman Cole Hutson and Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke and goalie Jeremy Swayman.

The team is captained by Clayton Keller who was 12th in scoring in the league for Utah this season. The alternate captains are Tage Thompson — a 44-goal scorer for Buffalo — and Nashville defenseman Brady Skjei. 

The head coach is Ryan Warsofsky of Marshfield and the San Jose Sharks.

In a pre-tourney tilt this week the Americans beat the Germans 5-2, and outshot them 37-23.

“We have a really good team but Canada and Sweden are stacked,” Weiss texted. “Our roster isn’t finalized so we’ll see.”

The Americans are grouped with Denmark, Czechia, Hungary, Germany, Kazakhstan, Switzerland and Norway, and will be seeking their first IIHF World Championship since 1933. 

Weiss was the team physician when they last reached the podium by winning the bronze in 2021. “You come here and see how every player loves to compete for his country,” he said. “It’s a playoff tempo.”

Canada has won 28 gold medals since the tourney began in 1920. The boys from north of the border have an NHL-laden roster helmed by Columbus Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason that includes Sidney Crosby (Penguins), Ryan O’Reilly (Predators) Brandon Montour (Kraken), Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche) and grizzled veteran Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes.

Defending champ Czechia is bouyed David Pastrnak’s presence. Last year, Pastrnak arrived in time to score the winning goal against Switzerland. The game was in Prague, only 200 miles from where Pastrnak was born in Havirov.

Team USA played Denmark Friday and has upcoming preliminary games against Hungary on Sunday at 6:20 a.m., Switzerland on Monday at 10:20 a.m. and Norway on Wednesday at 10:20 a.m., followed by puck-drops against Germany, Kazakhstan, and Czechia. All times are Eastern.

The quarterfinals are on May 22 in Hernig, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden, and the semifinals and finals will be at the Globe Arena in Stockholm on May 24 and 25. All games will be telecast on the NHL Network.

****

Thoughts on the Sox: Through 38 games last season the Red Sox were 19-19 en route to finishing 81-81. This season they’re 19-19 and en route to who knows where, but in 200 games they’re 100-100 and the epitome of mediocrity.

At this writing they led the league in at bats, doubles, slugging percentage and strikeouts, and were tied with Seattle for stolen bases, yet were spinning their wheels. Why? Pitching of course. Boston’s hurlers are ninth in the league in ERA (4.01), one spot ahead of the mighty Chicago White Sox.

Alex Bregman and Wilyer Abreu have accounted for 40 percent of the team’s home run production. Bregman bats third, the same as Carl Yastrzemski, Big Papi and Mo Vaughn. He’s an MVP candidate and a hired gun, and $40 million might not be enough to keep him here.

Leadoff hitter Jarren Duran is a latter day Rickey Henderson. Durran can run, hit, hit for power and steal. The only thing he can’t do is walk — six times since April 12 when he sat out against the White Sox.

Abreu has steadily moved up the order from seventh on opening day to cleanup until Cora dropped him to fifth behind ROY candidate Kristian Campbell.

Trevor Story has been dropped to sixth in the order. Story was the Giancarlo of Boston for three years, playing in just 163 of 486 regular season games. He’s missed three games this season and gets an A for staying healthy.

Ceddanne Rafaela is batting .225 and is utterly expendable; the catching corps of Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong is batting .201 with three home runs and utterly forgettable. Boston gave up one of the best catching prospects in baseball for a pitcher whose velocity is dropping which is the first sign of arm trouble.

After the Red Sox lost to Texas on Tuesday, Jason Kelly said on the Bastards of Boston Baseball podcast: “I’ve never heard so many people call into sports radio saying Alex Cora needs to be fired.”

One way to keep the wolves away from the clubhouse door would be to give the people what they want and put Rafael Devers at first base. It might not work, but you’ll never know until you try. Tristan, we hardly knew ye.

****

Fifty years ago they wanted to put a nuke plant on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale, but the town said no and they built it across the river in Vernon. Protests ensued and vandals changed a Vernon exit sign on I-91 to read Vernobyl.

Vernon had the green but Hinsdale High School had the gold. In 1971, the boys soccer team won the state championship. It was the first of 18 state titles and six runner-up finishes in 20 years in either soccer, basketball or baseball.

“All the coaches and most of the players are still alive,” said Joe Sarsfield, who lettered in all three sports from 1968-72. Many of them will be at the Branch and Blade Brewing Company in Keene on May 31 to browse through photos and press clippings and remember the good times. The event will be from noon to 4 p.m. and everyone is invited.

****

Northfield’s Chloe Rourke helped the West Texas A&M Horse Team win its first D-I championship last month at the National Ranch Association’s National Championship in Amarillo.

The Buffaloes out-performed four-time defending champion Texas Tech and other schools like Texas A&M and New Mexico State.

A sophomore and NMH grad, Rourke and four of her teammates placed in the top 10 in ranch reining, stock horse pleasure, ranch trail and cow work.

****

Former NFL linebacker Brandon Copeland of athletes.org spoke with Ross Tucker this week about organizing a players’ association similar to the NFL’s. “Thirty-five percent of college football players who’ve said they’ve been promised money have never received it,” said Copeland. “These are not small schools. These are Top 25 schools. The players get there and the schools find a way not to pay it.”

“And most of the kids are too scared to say anything,” said Tucker.

****

SQUIBBERS: Before the Knicks-Celtics series started, Mike Francesa criticized betting apps for dishing out crooked odds: “Right now the Celtics are minus-835 to win the series. There’s no reason that bettors should have to bet $835 to make $100 on the Celtics but get only $550 for betting the Knicks. That’s outrageous.”… Francesa had Sovereignty to win the Derby at 7-1. “Will I take a bow on the Derby?” he asked himself. “Yeah, I guess so.” …  Pablo Sandoval the Kung Fu Panda who ate his way out of Boston, is playing for the Staten Island FerryHawks. … One take that makes sense about why Bill Belichick has his 24-year-old girlfriend at spring practice is that she can help Mr. Grouch learn to relate to the young players. … Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is out $12 million after an employee at Stocks and Securities Ltd. made off with his loot. … After decades of service at the courthouse, Brennan McGuane has retired and can now watch all the soccer he wants. Congrats Brennan, for reaching your goooaaalll!! … BC football has sold out its season ticket allotment. The Eagles host California, UConn, Clemson, Notre Dame, SMU and Ga.Tech this season. … Joe Maddon to Bob Costas on fighting words between Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal and Angels rookie Zach Neto: “I loved it. Skubal’s as old school as it gets and Neto gives the Angels some kind of culture shift as regards to toughness.” … As the great Bob Gibson said about what it takes to win: “In a world filled with hate, prejudice and protest, I find that I too am filled with hate, prejudice and protest.”

Chip Ainsworth is an award-winning columnist who has penned his observations about sports for decades in the Pioneer Valley. He can be reached at chipjet715@gmail.com



Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

College Sports

Bochen Joins Vimmerby HC in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan

Story Links WALTHAM, Mass. – Two-time All-Atlantic Hockey defenseman Nick Bochen has signed with Vimmerby HC in Sweden’s second division, HockeyAllsvenskan. Bochen was a first team All-Atlantic Hockey selection for Bentley this past season and was a finalist for the AHA’s Best Defenseman award. He had six points in Bentley’s postseason […]

Published

on


WALTHAM, Mass. – Two-time All-Atlantic Hockey defenseman Nick Bochen has signed with Vimmerby HC in Sweden’s second division, HockeyAllsvenskan.

Bochen was a first team All-Atlantic Hockey selection for Bentley this past season and was a finalist for the AHA’s Best Defenseman award.

He had six points in Bentley’s postseason run, including one goal and one assist in the championship game win over Holy Cross. He was named to the All-Tournament team.

On the season, Bochen had nine goals, 21 assists and was second on the team with 30 points.

In three seasons in Waltham, he tallied 20 goals and 54 assists in 109 games.

Vimmerby is in the southeast of Sweden, about 190 miles south of the capital Stockholm.

Bochen earned his master’s degree from Bentley in business analytics.

 



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

NEHC All-Academic Team honors for all 21 eligible Thoroughbreds

Story Links 2024-25 NEHC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM MARSHFIELD, Mass. – The New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) announced the All-Academic Team recipients for the 2024-25 academic year. All 21 eligible Skidmore student-athletes earned the award.   To be eligible for All-Academic recognition a student must carry […]

Published

on


MARSHFIELD, Mass. – The New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) announced the All-Academic Team recipients for the 2024-25 academic year. All 21 eligible Skidmore student-athletes earned the award.
 
To be eligible for All-Academic recognition a student must carry a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA for over the academic year and have completed one full year at their current institution by the beginning of the hockey season. Student-athletes that were freshmen or first-years transfer during the 2024-25 season were not eligible. 
 
All 11 NEHC institutions were represented in the final installment of the list, with 207 student-athletes in total earning the honors. New England College, Norwich University, Salve Regina University led the way with 22 honorees each. Skidmore was close behind with 21 and 100% of its eligible student-athletes honored.
 
























Alex Bonrouhi Marina Del Ray, CA Sophomore Management and Business/Economics Skidmore College
Will Dow-Kenny Abbotsford, BC Senior Neuroscience Skidmore College
Mitchell Floccare Buffalo, NY Sophomore Management and Business/Economics Skidmore College
Matthew Franzoi Oakville, ON Junior Management and Business/Economics Skidmore College
Zach Frisk Long Beach Township, NJ Senior Management and Business Skidmore College
Ethan Heidepriem Findlay, OH Senior Computer Science/Mathematics Skidmore College
Freddie Ilias Oakville, ON Senior Management and Business Skidmore College
Zach Lindewirth Gillette, NJ Senior Computer Science/Mathematics Skidmore College
Danny Magnuson Sunfish Lake, MN Senior Economics Skidmore College
Blaine Moore Albany, NY Senior Political Science Skidmore College
Kaeden Patrick Vancouver, BC Senior Health and Human Physiological Sciences Skidmore College
Stephen Perez Bloomfield, NJ Senior Management and Business Skidmore College
Cooper Rice Rutland, VT Sophomore Management and Business Skidmore College
Bryson Russell Palmyra, PA Sophomore Economics Skidmore College
Sam Saccone Clarence Center, NY Junior Management and Business Skidmore College
Jack Strauss Phoenix, AZ Senior Management and Business/Economics Skidmore College
Kevin Urquhart Burlington, MA Senior Management and Business Skidmore College
Ryan Waltman South Bend, IN Junior Economics Skidmore College
Oscar Worob Little Falls, NJ Junior Management and Business/Economics Skidmore College
Jaden York Beaumont, AB Senior Neuroscience Skidmore College
Jacob Zwirecki East Amherst, NY Senior Management and Business Skidmore College

 
 



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

What is NIL Go, and why is it the latest subject of debate among college sports leaders?

ORLANDO, Fla. — The man steps onto a raised platform, walks behind a podium and leans toward the microphone. Before him, more than 200 college athletic administrators shift to the front of their seats. For months now, they’ve been waiting for this moment. Advertisement “I’m Karl,” the man says, “with Deloitte.” Karl Schaefer is a […]

Published

on


ORLANDO, Fla. — The man steps onto a raised platform, walks behind a podium and leans toward the microphone.

Before him, more than 200 college athletic administrators shift to the front of their seats. For months now, they’ve been waiting for this moment.

Advertisement

“I’m Karl,” the man says, “with Deloitte.”

Karl Schaefer is a young man with perfectly cropped hair, a sharp grin and slender frame. He is here to lead a 40-minute presentation on the single most talked-about concept of college athletics’ new revenue-sharing era: the Deloitte-run clearinghouse dubbed “NIL Go.”

Though it remains unsaid by those in power, the goal of NIL Go is quite clear: prevent booster payments to athletes that, for four years now, have been masquerading as commercial and endorsement deals.

As Schaefer flips through slides of the NIL Go software system, for the first time revealed publicly, whispers within the room build to murmurs. Attendees capture slides with photos. Some video the entire event. Others scribble notes on a pad.

How Deloitte and the new enforcement entity, the College Sports Commission, plan to prevent booster pay is the target of much criticism and fascination — plenty of it shrouded in secrecy for the last many months.

Advertisement

In central Florida, at an annual conference of administrators this week, the shroud was at least partially lifted. Not only was the platform’s interface shown on a giant projection screen during Schaefer’s presentation — including the six-step submission and approval process — but, in interviews with Yahoo Sports or during other public presentations, college sports executives who helped craft the system answered questions that, up to this point, had remained unanswered.

While many doubt that the clearinghouse will withstand inevitable legal challenges, administrators here provided legitimate reasons for why they believe in its long-term survival. Most notable of those, says NCAA president Charlie Baker, is that the clearinghouse’s appeals process — arbitration — is equipped with subpoena powers.

“They do have that power,” Baker told Yahoo Sports this week. “Arbitration typically has subpoena power and I’m pretty sure since this one sits inside an injunction, they will have it.”

Officials at the power conferences confirmed that “significant subpoena powers” exist under the arbitration appeals process, but those powers are less expansive than subpoena authority within a courtroom. The decision to use subpoena powers and how exactly to use them — limited or broad — is expected to rest with the arbitrator presiding over the appeals process.

Advertisement

A subpoena compels individuals or entities to produce evidence under penalty of law, such as turning over text messages, emails and phone call logs as well as testifying before investigators. It is one of the more important tools for officers of the law, such as police investigators — and something that was never available to the NCAA enforcement staff.

“We won’t have complete subpoena power, but if an athlete goes into arbitration … those records, you can get access to some of those records,” said Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork, who is a member of a settlement implementation committee that helped construct the new enforcement entity.

“It’s going to be a new day.”

The algorithm

Back in the Deloitte presentation room, Schaefer is explaining the submission process for NIL Go. Athletes are required to submit third-party NIL deals of $600 or more using a web-based submission system, not unlike an online registration system for, say, a passport.

Advertisement

Shaefer explains, gesturing toward a giant projection screen, that the clearinghouse makes three determinations once a deal is submitted:

  1. Is the third party an “associated entity” with the university, such as a booster, or a business contracted with a school like a university sponsor or apparel brand? If so, more intense scrutiny is applied in the vetting process. Public companies can, and many of them will, be deemed as associated entities.

  2. Is the deal for a “valid business purpose?” The third-party business, brand or individual must be receiving true value from the activities, such as an autograph session, television commercial or speaking engagement.

  3. Is the deal within Deloitte’s “range of compensation” paid to similarly situated individuals? This is perhaps the most criticized of the concepts. Deloitte created “the range of compensation” through an algorithm using fair market value analysis, comparing similar types of NIL deals struck between an athlete and the third party.

More is now known about that algorithm.

Clemson athletic director Graham Neff, one of the implementation committee members, details the factors used to form a compensation range: “Athletic performance is a big part of it. Your social media reach and following. Market — where schools are at. The reach of your school within said market.”

This will vary by school. Neff offers an example. “The reach of Georgia Tech in Atlanta is different than the reach of Georgia State,” he says.

Advertisement

Neff believes that a “majority” of NIL deals will derive from “associated companies,” as school sponsors, multi-media rights partners and individual alumni and boosters work to provide universities with additional compensation so they can exceed the $20.5 million revenue sharing cap that each school is afforded. Third-party NIL compensation that passes the clearinghouse does not count against the cap.

Even those who helped craft the new enforcement entity acknowledge that the system is attempting to do a very difficult thing: bring regulation to an enterprise that has, for four years now, seen little to no regulation or enforcement of athlete compensation.

“There’s some toothpaste back in the tube a little bit given the environment,” Neff said.

For example, Deloitte officials claim that 70% of past deals from booster collectives would have been denied in their algorithm, while 90% of past deals from public companies would have been approved. Deloitte has also shared with officials that about 80% of NIL deals with public companies were valued at less than $10,000 and 99% of those deals were valued at less than $100,000.

Advertisement

These figures suggest that the clearinghouse threatens to significantly curtail the millions of dollars that school-affiliated, booster-backed collectives are distributing to athletes.

“No one is trying to restrict someone’s earning potential, but what we’re trying to say is, ‘What is the real market?’” Bjork says. “Everybody you talk to about the pro market will tell you that NIL deals for pro athletes are really small. In the collective world, we created a false market.”

Denial, approval and arbitration

Displayed on the giant screen before hundreds of athletic administrators is the six-step clearinghouse submission and approval process.

Advertisement

Step 6 lays out the process for a player if his or her deal is denied by the clearinghouse because it either is not struck for a valid business purpose or it does not meet the compensation range.

(1) Revise and resubmit the deal so that the compensation amount falls within the algorithm’s range. For instance, if the clearinghouse deems that a submitted $1 million deal should be $500,000, the athlete can resubmit for $500,000 and the school, if it so chooses, can compensate the athlete for the other $500,000 through its revenue-share pool.

(2) Cancel the deal completely.

(3) Request arbitration as an appeals process.

Advertisement

(4) Accept the rejected deal as is. In this case, the athlete “may face enforcement consequences (e.g., loss of eligibility),” the Deloitte presentation slide reads.

According to settlement terms, attorneys for the plaintiffs (the suing athletes) and defendants (NCAA and power conferences) will work together to select a neutral arbitrator or arbitrators to preside over these cases. Individual arbitration processes are expected to last no more than 45 days.

In an interview last fall, plaintiff lawyer Jeffrey Kessler described the arbitration as a trial-like set of hearings in front of an arbitrator — the new enforcement entity on one side (NCAA and power conferences) and the athlete on the other side.

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17: President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Charlie Baker testifies before the Senate Judicary Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on December 17, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Committee held a hearing to investigate sports gambling. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

NCAA president Charlie Baker says the new NIL enforcement process will add accountability to the system, as long as athletes and schools follow the rules. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

(Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images)

How an arbitrator rules may “depend on what evidence” each side produces, Kessler said. As Baker and others have noted, that evidence may now be generated through limited subpoena power.

Advertisement

But one lingering question remains: Will an athlete’s school fight alongside him or her in the case? “I expect that if the athlete pursues it, the school will support the athlete and help provide the athlete with counsel to help represent them in that challenge,” Kessler said.

Penalties for NIL violations

Implementation committee members say they are finalizing a “menu” of penalties for those found to commit violations within this new revenue-sharing era, most notably those found to have (1) circumvented the cap with old-fashioned cheating or intentional or accidental miscalculations; and (2) tampered with another college athlete or prospect who is under contract.

Officials decided against using a set penalty matrix as the NCAA currently does (Level I, Level II, etc.). Instead, they are providing the new College Sports Commission CEO, Brian Seeley, with the flexibility to choose penalties from a wide range of options, depending on the individual circumstance.

Advertisement

“Those penalties being worked through are going to be significant and are going to be different than any penalties we’ve had previously,” said new Michigan State athletic director J Batt, a member of the implementation committee.

An example of a new kind of penalty is a reduction in transfers that a school can acquire from the portal, Bjork says. But there are others. A postseason ban remains among the penalties, said Desiree Reed-Francois, the Arizona athletic director and implementation committee member.

There are also stiff fines — multi-million dollars in value — that may be levied against schools, administrators and coaches. Suspensions, for coaches and administrators, are on the penalty menu as well.

“The fines are substantive,” Reed-Francois says.

Advertisement

One penalty is off the table. Administrators say that reducing a school’s revenue-share pool for subsequent years is not permitted. The settlement guarantees that schools are afforded the same revenue share pool.

Pushback

The clearinghouse has made its way to the U.S. Capitol.

During a congressional hearing over college sports on Thursday, Rep. Lori Trahan, a Democrat from Massachusetts, chided college leaders for instituting a new enforcement process that “guarantees people in power always win and the athletes who fuel this multi-billion dollar industry always lose.”

One of the witnesses in that hearing, Ramogi Huma, the executive director of the National College Players Association, chimed in as well, accusing the NCAA and conference leadership as wanting to “shut down boosters’ ability to pay players just to monopolize it” themselves.

Advertisement

College executives reject these notions and consider all of these elements — even the new enforcement process — as protected by a legally binding settlement. The new enforcement entity was not created by committee members in some “backroom,” Bjork says. The implementation committee only provided structure to an enforcement piece that is “codified” within the settlement.

“There are processes here that have been approved by the court and the plaintiffs and the defendants that people are going to be expected to follow,” Baker told Yahoo Sports. “Given so much of what’s been going on in the third-party space hasn’t been accountable or transparent, and has made a lot of people outside of college athletics a lot of money, I can understand why there might be some grumpiness about this.”

Soon, power conference schools — and others opting into the settlement — are expected to sign an affiliation or membership agreement. With this binding document, schools waive their right to sue over enforcement decisions and commit to settlement terms, even if their state laws contradict them.

The agreement — itself the subject of legal concerns, even from some schools — is an indictment on an industry of stakeholders that, for competitive reasons, are constantly scrambling to bend, break and shatter rules to gain even the slightest edge.

Advertisement

Earlier this week in Orlando, members of the implementation committee publicly implored schools to follow rules.

“This has to be a mindset change,” Bjork told the audience. “We see all the reports and naysayers, that ‘we’re going to go back to old-school cheating and all these things and that this is not going to work.’ This has to work.”

“This will work if we make it work,” Reed-Francois said. “We need to shift our mindset and make this work.”

Can it be done? But what if athletes decide not to submit any of their third-party deals at all?

“People will be turning in people,” Reed-Francois said. “There’s a lot more `transparency now.”

Advertisement

Back in the convention hall, Schaefer, from Deloitte, is winding down his presentation. He thanks the crowd before beginning to walk off the stage.

From among the crowd, a few raised hands emerge. Folks have questions.

Others in the audience remind the hand-raisers of something announced before the presentation began: The Deloitte employees are not taking questions.



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

Chris Beard reacts to House settlement decision, his role in changes

College sports officially entered a new era as Judge Claudia Wilken approved the landmark House v. NCAA settlement. Reactions continue to pour in, including from Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard. Beard pointed out the way the landscape continues to shift as schools and programs adjust to the changes under the settlement. The revenue-sharing era […]

Published

on


College sports officially entered a new era as Judge Claudia Wilken approved the landmark House v. NCAA settlement. Reactions continue to pour in, including from Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard.

Beard pointed out the way the landscape continues to shift as schools and programs adjust to the changes under the settlement. The revenue-sharing era is on its way as schools get ready to directly share up to $20.5 million with athletes, and roster limits will also change things in a major way.

As for the impact the House v. NCAA settlement will have on college basketball, Beard stressed the need for buy-in from across the country. From there, it comes down to programs putting themselves in the best position to succeed in the new world of college athletics.

“I think the structure has a lot of good ideas, and I think we all want what’s best for college basketball,” Beard told reporters. “I think it’s important as coaches and as players and as fans, as administrators, we all need to believe in it. Once they put it out there that this is the plan, then we’re going to support it 100%. I don’t think anything productive happens when the plan is set and everybody comes up with an opinion now. If you had that opinion, why didn’t you throw it out there on the front end?

“We’re eager to see what this model looks like, and then we’re going to do everything we can do within the rules to continue to elevate the Ole Miss program. I think that’s exactly what we’ve done here.”

Chris Beard: ‘This has been a real team effort’

Chris Beard specifically pointed to the support the Rebels receive from their primary NIL collective, The Grove Collective, as well as administration and fans. He praised the all-hands-on-deck effort now that the settlement’s implementation is underway.

Beard also noted the success of multiple programs at Ole Miss, from softball to baseball to women’s basketball, golf and volleyball. With the settlement’s approval, his role is to now lead success on the court.

“Again, I give the collective, the administration, the foundation and really, all the fans – from the major, major donor to the Ole Miss faithful that supports us on a monthly basis,” Beard said. “This has been a real team effort. I think you think about the success of Ole Miss, not just men’s basketball. Everything that went on. … Everybody is doing really cool stuff around here.

“And I think the common ingredient is the support. The support from our fan base, our donors, the collective. It’s been awesome around here. It never gets old saying thank you every chance I have a chance to speak, thanking everybody that is contributing any way. And our responsibility is to keep this thing going, and that’s what we’re going to do.”



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

Messiah Hampton college decision: New York’s top football recruit makes his pick today

Syracuse, N.Y. — The top football recruit in New York is set to announce his commitment on Friday, and Syracuse is among the small number of schools Messiah Hampton is considering. Hampton is the star of James Monroe in Rochester and will announce his commitment in front of coaches, teammates, family and reporters at Monroe […]

Published

on


Syracuse, N.Y. — The top football recruit in New York is set to announce his commitment on Friday, and Syracuse is among the small number of schools Messiah Hampton is considering.

Hampton is the star of James Monroe in Rochester and will announce his commitment in front of coaches, teammates, family and reporters at Monroe around noon Friday.

Syracuse.com will be in attendance and have news coverage from Rochester on Friday afternoon.

Hampton, a four-star prospect and one of the top-ranked receivers in the country, is one of two highly touted wide receivers the Orange is targeting in the Class of 2026.

Miami Northwestern’s five-star prospect, Calvin Russell, is set to commit in early July.

The Orange is competing with Oregon, Penn State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and Michigan for Hampton, the player in their backyard.

As Hampton’s commitment nears, experts who have tracked his recruitment believe it’s a two-horse race between Syracuse and Oregon.

The Ducks wide receivers coach Ross Douglas Sr. left Syracuse in February. Prior to his departure, he was the primary recruiter for Hampton. Now, he is trying to lure Hampton to the Pacific Northwest.

Syracuse currently has the 23rd-ranked recruiting class in 2026, according to 247Sports. Hampton would be the top-rated player in the Orange’s class.

Among the 22 schools ranked ahead of the Orange, six are from the ACC — including second-year programs Southern Methodist, California and Stanford.

If Hampton commits, the Orange will have five, four-star recruits committed to its 2026 class, ranking third in the conference behind Miami and Clemson.

Recruits can formally sign with a school in December.

Oregon was Hampton’s final visit before his commitment date, flying him out four days after his visit with Syracuse last week.



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

Women’s Soccer Announces Ten Incoming Student-Athletes

By: Maddie Omana Story Links HANOVER, N.H. – Taylor Schram, the Stacy Branca ’94 Family Head Coach of Women’s Soccer, announced the incoming class of ten student-athletes who will join the Big Green this fall.  “We are excited to announce our 2025 incoming class. These ten talented student-athletes are joining us […]

Published

on



HANOVER, N.H. – Taylor Schram, the Stacy Branca ’94 Family Head Coach of Women’s Soccer, announced the incoming class of ten student-athletes who will join the Big Green this fall. 

“We are excited to announce our 2025 incoming class. These ten talented student-athletes are joining us from all over the country and the globe,” Schram said. “Each of them exemplifies the grit and determination we strive for in our program.” 

Nele Janek

Freshman | GK | Dreieich, Germany | Eintracht Frankfurt

Before Dartmouth: Participated in numerous state tournaments in high school, placing fourth in Morocco’s 2023 ISF World Schools Championship…Became the Southern German Champion and Vice-German Champion with her U17 team… Played in the 2nd Women’s Bundesliga for the U20 team of Eintracht Frankfurt. 

Why Dartmouth?: “I chose Dartmouth for its strong academic reputation, tight-knit community, and excellent balance of athletics and academics. Its beautiful campus and emphasis on undergraduate education make it an ideal place to grow both as a student and an athlete.”

Paige Knoth 

Freshman | GK | Naples, Fla. | Florida West F.C.

Before Dartmouth: Earned ECNL All-Conference 2nd Team, ECNL Southeast Players to Watch, FHSAA All-State Team, and All-Conference First Team honors twice… Was named to the FHSAA All-Academic Team three times… Is a four-time AP Scholar with Distinction honoree. 

Why Dartmouth?: “The feel of the community as well as the prestigious academics and network.”

Stephanie Lathrop 

Sophomore | M | Dayton, Md. | Maryland United FC/Purdue (transfer)

Before Dartmouth: Made her collegiate debut at Purdue in 2024… Played in the 2023 High School All-America Game… Earned ECNL North Atlantic First Team All-Conference honors all four years of high school… Won the ECNL North American National Championships (2022, 2023) and scored the game-winning goals in both finals… 

Why Dartmouth?: “I chose Dartmouth because it offers a great balance of top-tier academics and a competitive program that is supported by the coaches and players.”

Michal Cagungun 

Freshman | F | Phoenix, Ariz. | Phoenix Rising FC ECNL

Before Dartmouth: Guided her high school team to three 6A and one open division soccer state championship… Served as the team captain during her senior year… Led her club team to the 2023 Sweet Sixteen at the ECNL Nationals… Was given All-Conference First Team honors, and was named to the All-Conference Second team twice. 

Why Dartmouth?: “I chose Dartmouth because of the positive team culture and amazing coaching staff. When I visited Dartmouth, it was such a welcoming community that I knew I could develop and thrive athletically and academically. I can’t wait to call Dartmouth my home for the next four years! Go Big Green!”

Anna Leschly

Freshman | D | Brookline, Mass. | NEFC Girls Academy

Before Dartmouth: Was a two-time All-New England All Star, Massachusetts All-State All Star, Eastern Massachusetts First Team All Star, and Bay State Conference All-Star… Was second all-time in goals and overall points at her high school… Earned a varsity letter all four years and was a two-year varsity captain… Participated in Track and Field during high school. 

Why Dartmouth?: “I chose Dartmouth because it gives me the opportunity to pursue both my academic and athletic dreams. The high-level women’s soccer program, as well as the outstanding academic resources and powerful sense of community on campus all drew me to Dartmouth.”

Nadia Young

Freshman | M | Oakland, Calif. | LaMorinda SC

Before Dartmouth: Participated in the Northwest Girls Academy Talent ID four times… Was the leading scorer during her sophomore season… Won the high school league MVP award during her junior year…

Why Dartmouth?: “For its balance of academic and athletic excellence. It gives me an opportunity to be a part of a culture that prioritizes community and challenge.”

Madison Yu

Freshman | M | Orinda, Calif. | LaMorinda SC 

Before Dartmouth: Scored the tying goal to be the NCS Champions during her junior year… Rostered for the Best 11 in the PAC North Conference for WPSL in 2024… Served as a team captain… Was invited to NWSL Bay FC ID camp… Participated in the Northwest Girls Academy Talent ID four times. 

Why Dartmouth?: “I chose Dartmouth because of its community and the opportunity to play on a competitive D1 team while pursuing a high-level education.”

Maeve Theobald



Freshman | F | Milton, Mass. | FC Stars ECNL Blue

Before Dartmouth: Was the leading ISL goal scorer and led the ISL in assists in 2023… Was named an NEPSAC Junior All Star, All New England, and ISL MVP Offensive Player of the Year in 2024… Is a three-time USCAA All-ISL First Team, All-NEPSAC First Team, and All-Massachusetts honoree… Tallied 50 goals, 26 assists, and 126 points through four years.

Why Dartmouth?: “I chose Dartmouth to receive a world-class education, have an opportunity to play division one soccer in a program that’s known for its tight-knit culture, and to become a part of a lifelong community.”

Addison Ball

Freshman | M | Greenwood Village, Colo. | REAL Colorado National 

Before Dartmouth: Was a three-year letter winner in soccer… Was named a First Team All-Centennial League and First Team Academic All-State honoree two years in a row… Served as a varsity captain in her junior and senior seasons… 

Why Dartmouth?: “A close-knit community centered around excellence and diligence will push me to be not just an incredible athlete and student, but an outstanding person.

Lykke Ihrfelt

Freshman | M | Saltsjöbaden, Sweden | Hammarby IF 

Before Dartmouth: Was the Swedish cup winner with Hammarby’s women’s team… Was the G17 and G19 Swedish Championship winner… Played on the Swedish Youth National Team… Played in the G17 European Championship representing Sweden.

Why Dartmouth?: “Because of the great academic and athletic possibilities at Dartmouth.”

 



Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending