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Grimes, Maxwell named 2024

Posted: Jun 11, 2025 By TTU Sports Information and OVC Media Relations OVC Community Service Awards History BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The recipients of the 2024-25 OVC Community Service Awards have been announced. The awards, first bestowed in 2022-23, are based on activities that took place during the 2024-25 academic year and recognize outstanding student-athletes for the […]

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Grimes, Maxwell named 2024

By TTU Sports Information and OVC Media Relations

OVC Community Service Awards History

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The recipients of the 2024-25 OVC Community Service Awards have been announced.

The awards, first bestowed in 2022-23, are based on activities that took place during the 2024-25 academic year and recognize outstanding student-athletes for the contributions they make away from the playing surface, both on campus and in the community.

Tech had two selections on the list, including Reghan Grimes (Women’s Basketball) and Haden Maxwell (Men’s Golf). Throughout her career, Grimes has taken part in a number of volunteer activities and spent time throughout the community, including FCA Meal for Spirit, the Capshaw Cougar Run, providing food at the local rescue mission, and Algood’s Read Across America, just to name a few. Maxwell assisted with local neighborhood trash pick-ups, Math Family Engagement Night at Capshaw Elementary, bell ringing at the Cookeville Rescue Mission, the Lego Challenge engineering competition, and many more opportunities to help out across the community. 

OVC member institutions that competed in the League during the 2024-25 academic year were able to select a maximum of one male and one female student-athlete from their institution to be honored. In total, 18 individuals were honored with the awards this year.

“The OVC has always been about a sense of community,” said OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. “We are delighted to continue to bestow these awards to these outstanding student-athletes who are giving back to their communities.”

The 2024-25 recipients are:

• Joel Allen (cross country/track & field), Little Rock
• Hayden Bell (rifle), Morehead State
• Sam Cruz (cross country/track & field), Eastern Illinois
• Nathan Deputy (swimming & diving), Southern Indiana
• Taylor Ellis (tennis), Tennessee State
• Mary Fetter (soccer), SIUE
• Liz Galvin (soccer), Eastern Illinois
• Reghan Grimes (basketball), Tennessee Tech
• Myah Hough (beach volleyball), Lindenwood
• Kolby Jones (track & field), Tennessee State
• David Kamwanga (basketball), UT Martin
• Haden Maxwell (golf), Tennessee Tech
• Jack Meyer (baseball), Lindenwood
• Katja Mueller (golf), Little Rock
• Vanessa Shafford (basketball), Southern Indiana
• Kayla Turner (soccer), Western Illinois
• Elena Verdecchia (beach volleyball), Morehead State
• Rileigh Weiss (equestrian), UT Martin

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Spanish national team player arrives in the Adriatic

The new addition to Jadran m:tel for the next season is Spanish water polo player Francisco Valera Calatrava at Škver. The Spanish international played for Sabadell last season. He participated in two World Championships with the Spanish national team, winning bronze medals both times. He also won bronze at the European Championships. He won two […]

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The new addition to Jadran m:tel for the next season is Spanish water polo player Francisco Valera Calatrava at Škver.

The Spanish international played for Sabadell last season.

He participated in two World Championships with the Spanish national team, winning bronze medals both times. He also won bronze at the European Championships.

He won two gold medals at two World Cups and has a bronze medal in the World League.

Jadran previously hired Lazar Andrić and Danilo Merkulov.


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Bruce Green: Are your feet touching the bottom? | Community

Our three grandsons were watching a water polo match on television during last summer’s Olympic Games. The players were jostling for position, splashing up a storm, all while trying to either throw a ball into the net or prevent the other team from doing so. The boys thought it looked like a great time. But […]

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Our three grandsons were watching a water polo match on television during last summer’s Olympic Games. The players were jostling for position, splashing up a storm, all while trying to either throw a ball into the net or prevent the other team from doing so. The boys thought it looked like a great time.

But there was one small question they had (I think they had been discussing it before I came into the room). They wanted me to confirm that the players were standing on the bottom of the pool while doing these things. I broke the news to them that this wasn’t the case – they were treading water. They looked at me incredulously and I could tell that water polo now looked much less like fun and much more like work.

Bruce Green has served as a teaching minister for several churches. He and his wife, Janice, recently moved to Searcy. You can find more of Bruce Green’s writings at atasteofgracewithbrucegreen.com.



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Celebrate the Outdoors on National Play Outside Day

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — July is National Park & Recreation Month—a nationwide celebration of the ways parks, green spaces, and outdoor activities contribute to healthier, more connected communities. From local trails and scenic bays to playgrounds and beaches, the Alabama Gulf Coast offers endless opportunities to get outside and stay active. Whether you’re […]

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Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — July is National Park & Recreation Month—a nationwide celebration of the ways parks, green spaces, and outdoor activities contribute to healthier, more connected communities. From local trails and scenic bays to playgrounds and beaches, the Alabama Gulf Coast offers endless opportunities to get outside and stay active. Whether you’re hiking shaded trails, paddling calm waters, or gathering for a family picnic, the month invites everyone to embrace the outdoors and make the most of the region’s natural spaces.


In that same spirit, the first Saturday of each month marks National Play Outside Day, a grassroots movement that began in 2011 to encourage families to unplug and rediscover the simple joys of outdoor play. According to the

National Play Outside Day website, this day was founded by Aaron Wiggans and Rhonda Abeyta, the initiative was created to push back against screen overload and reignite creativity, movement, and connection across all ages. It’s a day to lace up your shoes, grab some sunscreen, and head outdoors for fresh air and fun.


Spending time outside isn’t just enjoyable—it’s good for you. Outdoor activity can lift your mood, reduce stress, and support physical health. For children especially, nature encourages imaginative play through hands-on experiences like climbing, building, and exploring. These shared moments—whether catching a sunset, playing a game, or stargazing—help build stronger family bonds and lasting memories.

Also see:
Celebrate Park and Recreation Month with the City of Orange Beach this July


Outdoor Adventures in Our Area

1. Beaches & Bay

  • Gulf Shores and Orange Beach’s Public Beaches – Perfect for shelling, beach games, or family paddle boarding.
  • Orange Beach Waterfront Park – Offers picnic shelters, bay access, and calm water ideal for kids and kayaking.

2. Gulf State Park

  • Trails: Over 27 miles of multi-use trails, including the award-winning Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail—one of USA Today’s top U.S. trails for three years running.
  • Lake Shelby: Fishing, canoeing, or kayaking on a scenic freshwater lake.
  • Fishing Pier & Nature Center: A great place for both education and recreation.

3. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

Traverse scrub forests, and marsh—home to sea turtles, migratory birds, and diverse wildlife. Trails like Jeff Friend and Pine Beach offer 5 miles of exploration.


4. Trails & Parks Beyond

  • Fort Morgan Road Trail & Coyote Crossing – Ideal for biking or hiking.
  • Baldwin County Bicentennial Park – Enjoy playgrounds, sports fields, and open green spaces.


Simple Ways to Celebrate Today

Choose any—or all—of these fun, low-cost ideas:

  • Family picnic at Gulf State Park Pavilion or waterfront shelters.
  • Bike ride or hike along scenic Gulf State Park trails.
  • Shell hunting or wading on the sand at dawn or sunset.
  • Nature scavenger hunt at Bon Secour or Bicentennial Park—spot birds, shells, plants.
  • Games & sports: kickball, Frisbee, beach volleyball, or a casual game of catch.
  • Stargazing tonight—head to less-lit beaches or bay shore for an unobstructed view.

This year, July 5th is a date to rediscover the simple pleasures of outdoor play. From bay breezes and beachcombing to biking and birdwatching, our region offers a wealth of natural playgrounds. Whether you’re with kids, parents, or friends, today is a perfect day to unplug, reconnect, and make lasting summer memories in the great outdoors.



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Four Lions headed to Greece | News, Sports, Jobs

UNIVERSITY PARK – Four Penn State student-athlete are among the contingent of students traveling to Greece as part of Harvard’s Sport and Education Program: from Ancient Olympia to the Present. The student-athletes participating in the trip, which will take place from July 7-11 in Olympia at the International Olympic Academy (IOA), are wrestling’s Hayden Cunningham, […]

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UNIVERSITY PARK – Four Penn State student-athlete are among the contingent of students traveling to Greece as part of Harvard’s Sport and Education Program: from Ancient Olympia to the Present. The student-athletes participating in the trip, which will take place from July 7-11 in Olympia at the International Olympic Academy (IOA), are wrestling’s Hayden Cunningham, women’s lacrosse’s Abby Baker, and track & field’s Madeleine Söderqvist and Gabriella Recce. The IOA and the Greek General Secretariate of Sport sponsor the program.

For five days this diverse body of students and faculty from Penn State, Harvard, Texas, Dartmouth and Greek universities will convene in the birthplace of the Olympic Games to examine how sport shaped ancient models of knowledge and how, in turn, the ancient athletic-knowledge complex served as a model for modern universities and professional sports.

“I am thrilled and grateful to be able to share this opportunity with Penn State’s student-athletes,” . The chance to learn, think, and talk about the connections between sport and education at the site of the ancient Olympic Games–and to do it with top scholars and students from around the world–is extraordinary.

In the state-of-the-art facilities of the IOA, participants will explore the historical, social and practical connections between sport and education from the ancient Olympics to the modern university system. Faculty-led sessions will take place on the archaeological site and museum of Ancient Olympia and the Museum of the History of the Olympic Game of Antiquity to give students a vital connection to the past.

Faculty members for this year’s program include Schultz, Charles Stocking Academic Director of the Sport and Education Program and associate professor of kinesiology at Texas, Heather Reid, Scholar in Residence at the Exedra Mediterranean Center, and Georgios Mouratidis, assistant director of the British School at Athens. Guest speakers for this program include George Mavrotas, Secretary General of Sports and former Greek Water Polo team captain, Mark Schiefsky, Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies at Harvard and Erin West, Assistant AD for student-athlete development and academic integration at Harvard.



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FSU's Brown Named NSMA's “Big House” Gaines Coach of the Year

Women’s Basketball | 7/5/2025 8:30:00 AM Story Links photo credit: Brian Westerholt/SportsOnFilm/NSMA Winston-Salem, NC — Tyreece Brown, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Fayetteville State University, has been recognized as the Clarence “Big House” Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). This prestigious award was presented during the NSMA’s […]

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FSU's Brown Named NSMA's “Big House” Gaines Coach of the Year

Women’s Basketball | 7/5/2025 8:30:00 AM

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Tyreece Brown NSMA
photo credit: Brian Westerholt/SportsOnFilm/NSMA

Winston-Salem, NC — Tyreece Brown, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Fayetteville State University, has been recognized as the Clarence “Big House” Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). This prestigious award was presented during the NSMA’s 65th awards banquet held at Grandover Resort & Spa – a Wyndham Grand Hotel, in Greensboro, North Carolina, on June 30, 2025.
 
Assuming the interim role as head coach of the Fayetteville State women’s basketball program in the 2023-24 season, Coach Brown led the Broncos to a remarkable record-breaking 29-3 regular season record and 17-1 CIAA standing, securing a CIAA Tournament championship, and achieving a historic first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen. Following the interim period, the Broncos maintained their impressive performance, finishing with an overall record of 21-8, 13-3 in conference, and capturing their second consecutive CIAA Tournament championship. This marked the first time in program history that the team had won back-to-back conference tournament titles.
 
A native of Philadelphia, Coach Brown graduated from Fayetteville State University in 2008, where he served as a two-year starter for the Broncos. He subsequently completed his master’s degree in business with a leadership concentration from Liberty University in 2013. His coaching career commenced as an assistant coach with the women’s basketball team at his alma mater in 2011, and he also served as a head cross-country coach for both programs in 2015. Currently, Coach Brown resides in Fayetteville with his wife, Kieauna, and is the parent of two daughters.
 
Clarence “Big House” Gaines had an extraordinary 47-year coaching career at Winston-Salem State University. Coach Gaines amassed 828 wins, led his team to the 1967 NCAA Division II Championship—the first national title ever won by an historically black college and university (HBCU)—and mentored countless young athletes, including NBA legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. A member of both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame, Gaines was more than a coach; he was a mentor, educator, and community leader whose legacy of excellence, perseverance, and integrity continues to inspire generations. This award recognizes his enduring impact on sports, education, and the struggle for equality.
 

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Man with chronic lung condition speaks out

Power cuts may be inconvenient for most, but for Paul Buhagiar, they could be fatal. The 65-year-old, a former policeman and water polo player, suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and is now homebound in his Santa Venera apartment. Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung condition and is characterised by scarring and stiffening of the lung tissue, […]

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Power cuts may be inconvenient for most, but for Paul Buhagiar, they could be fatal.

The 65-year-old, a former policeman and water polo player, suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and is now homebound in his Santa Venera apartment.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung condition and is characterised by scarring and stiffening of the lung tissue, making it difficult for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream.

He takes over 700 pills a month, some funded by the government, others paid out of his own pocket, and relies on an oxygen machine to stay alive.

So when the electricity goes off, so does his only source of oxygen.

Paul Buhagiar said he has made peace with the idea of death, but not the fear that a power cut could bring it on suddenly.Paul Buhagiar said he has made peace with the idea of death, but not the fear that a power cut could bring it on suddenly.

He shared his story with Hospice Malta in a video interview ahead of this Sunday’s 12-hour telethon, themed Ħajja sal-aħħar [Life till the end].

“I am apparently electrically operated. If the electricity stops, so do I,” he shared. “If you don’t get it back within a few minutes, you’re gone. You turn purple. I have already had a number of close shaves when the electricity goes,” said the pragmatic Buhagiar.

Buhagiar speaking from his home. Vidoe: Hospice

Speaking to Times of Malta, he said he has made peace with the idea of death, but not the fear that a power cut could bring it on suddenly.

“I know where I am heading, so I am not scared to die. I’ve lived a good life,” he said.

“But sometimes the power cuts are the only thing that run through my mind. So much so I am scared to sleep sometimes,” he said.

One of his greatest worries is that a power cut will hit while he’s asleep and unable to react.

“This is my biggest concern these days,” said Buhagiar.

He noted that he even got a generator to use as backup just in case, but due to the heat in summer, even that can overheat and stop.

Paul Buhagiar used to be very keen on fishing.Paul Buhagiar used to be very keen on fishing.

Buhagiar has lived with the condition for around 20 years, but his health has sharply declined over the past two years and he has been using Hospice’s services since June last year. He now only leaves the house for hospital visits.

Despite the challenges, he maintains an upbeat outlook and reflects fondly on his life.

“I have enjoyed my life. I lived in the UK and spent a lot of time at sea, swimming or fishing. Being by the sea used to make me very happy.”

Though his world has shrunk, he still finds joy in visits from friends and family and watching sports. The care he receives from Hospice Malta has become a vital source of comfort.

“To me hospice is like a second mum. Because I am being loved as much as a mother would her child,” said Buhagiar. He shared that he feels incredibly supported and lucky to receive this service.

Paul Buhagiar after a fishing trip.Paul Buhagiar after a fishing trip.

Hospice Malta has supported 1,560 patients this year and now operates from the new St Michael Hospice, which will soon house 16 in-patient rooms. Demand is rising and according to Hospice they receive three new patients each day. Sunday’s telethon (11am–11pm) will be aired on every local station and will help fund its free professional home and hospice care.

“What you have to do it because you don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” shared Buhagiar as a reminder for anyone willing to listen.



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