General | 6/18/2025 10:05:00 AM

INDIANAPOLIS– Wartburg’s Marshun Williams was selected to attend the NCAA Career in Sports Forum May 28-31, 2025.

The four-day event in Indianapolis brought together third-, fourth- and fifth-year student-athletes interested in staying in sports in their professional careers. 

Whether through coaching, working in the health care system, elevating through the ranks of professional sports, finding a sport-adjacent career or staying in collegiate athletics, the Career in Sports Forum educated participants on the intersection of personal strengths and career opportunities.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to network with industry experts, learn about different opportunities in college athletics, and develop professionally and personally,” said Williams. “The fellowship provided me with insight into the behind-the-scenes work of collegiate athletics, ranging from compliance and operations to student-athlete development.

“One of the most useful takeaways for me was seeing the passion and purpose that motivates so many people in this industry,” he continued. “It sparked my interest in working with collegiate athletics in the future and provided a clearer picture of how I may combine my personal interests with a meaningful job. It taught me that athletics are not everything in life, and that it’s the journey through life that leads to significant friendships and memories. Having friends, coaches, and people who care about you is what is most important, and it cannot be taken away.”

Here is a survival map, based on the program’s theme, “Campfires to Careers,” that program participants followed on their four-day trip to the national office.

Forge your path

The Career in Sports Forum provided tangible experiences for student-athletes to explore professional and career development strategies while offering insights into careers available in sports.

Learners participated in industry-specific breakouts, including coaching, internal relations, external athletics and professional sports. 

Participants also listened to keynote speakers each day, including Joey Graziano, executive vice president of strategy and new business ventures for Pacers Sports and Entertainment, and Lacee’ Carmon-Johnson, director of basketball advancement for the Toronto Raptors. 

In his keynote speech, motivational speaker and author Charles Bailey encouraged the student-athletes to define themselves outside of the parameters of their athletics career.

“Most of you have prepared athletically, but you have not invested in preparing yourself with the career choice you need. You need to start preparing yourself now. You are one of the blessed few that have been in a room full of the most incredible speakers, teachers and leaders in the world. The things they will give you, if you let them, will change your life,” he said.

Conquer new trails

Each session broadened participants’ understanding of the diverse roles available in the sports sector, helping them to envision their futures more clearly. 

Pitch your tent

The participants were divided into small groups, better known as their “career camp sites,” to have more personal discussion and interactions.

Within each camp site, two facilitators guided a group of around 30 student-athletes to explore their interests, form tangible goals and learn how to network.

Find your North Star

The Career in Sports Forum provides student-athletes with invaluable opportunities to network with peers and decision-makers at various levels of college athletics. 

A networking night allowed student-athletes to meet with professionals in their desired careers. Around 35 career professionals formed one-on-one connections with the participants about their careers in marketing, coaching, communications, administration, academics, student-athlete development, finance, compliance, and strength and conditioning.

The favorite aspect of the forum for many student-athletes was the ability to meet their peers.

“Connect with your peers and learn from each other,” Jennifer Lynne Williams, emcee of the forum and chief development officer at USA Basketball, told the participants. “We talk a lot about networking up, but networking across with your peers is equally as important.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the second consecutive month, South Dakota Track and Field freshman Anna Willis is the Kwik Star Summit League Female Peak Newcomer of the Month, announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon.
 
Willis, a pole vaulter from Colorado Springs, Colo., shined nationally during the months of May and June, receiving First Team All-America honors at the NCAA Championships and earning all-Summit League honors with a runner-up finish in the pole vault at the NCAA Championships.
 
She set her personal best of 14-10 to place second at the Summit League Outdoor Championships, earning all-Summit League honors in her first outdoor conference meet. Willis followed that performance up by taking third at the NCAA West First Round with a 14-6 (4.42m) to advance to the NCAA Championships.
 
The highlight of the postseason for Willis came in Eugene last week, as the freshman was the lone freshman on the first team all-American list in the women’s pole vault, placing fourth at the NCAA Championships with a clearance of 14-6 ¾ (4.44m).

Willis was also the April Kwik Star Summit League Newcomer of the Month. She won the pole vault at the Mt. SAC Relays at 14-9 (4.50m) and was the top collegiate finisher at the Drake Relays.

 

Willis’ season continues this week, as she will compete at the Nike Outdoor Nationals and USATF Under 20 Championships in Eugene, Ore. this week. The women’s pole vault competition is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Central Time (5:30 p.m. Pacific) Thursday.

 

The Red Raiders will compete in four preseason tournaments including trips to Florida Atlantic, Georgia and Northern Arizona before coming back to host the Red Raider Classic to end non-conference play. They faced two of the three host teams last year in the Red Raider Classic defeating FAU 3-1 and NAU 3-0.

Tech will open its season with a pair of scrimmages, one intrasquad (8/22) and the other against Tarleton State (8/23) before traveling to Boca Raton where the team will open its season against Western Carolina and FAU (8/29). The Red Raiders will end their trip to Florida against Kent State (8/29) and then make their way just north to Athens, Georgia.

The Red Raiders will face Duke (9/3), Georgia (9/4) and Alabama State (9/5) and then go west of West Texas to face Southern Utah (9/12), NAU (9/12) and UC San Diego (9/13) before returning to Lubbock for their first home matches.

For their home opener, the Red Raiders will welcome in Albany (9/19), Ole Miss (9/19) and UC San Diego (9/20) for the 2025 Red Raider Classic.

Of the team’s 12 non-conference games, five of the opponents have not appeared on Tech’s schedule prior. This will be the first time the Red Raiders have ever played Western Carolina, Kent State, Alabama State, UC San Diego and Albany.

Tech will then open its Big 12 campaign against Baylor (9/24) in the United Supermarkets Arena. The full Big 12 schedule release can be found here.

 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kansas City’s Tory Lanham and North Dakota’s Kenna Curry were named the Kwik Star Peak Performers of the Month for May and June, the League announced Thursday. North Dakota State’s Zack Ramos and South Dakota’s Anna Willis claimed Kwik Star Peak Newcomer of the Month honors following standout efforts in track and field.

Lanham was voted the Summit League Championship Men’s Most Outstanding Performer after winning the 200 meters (20.52 seconds), the 4×400 relay (3:12.04), and helping the 4×100 relay squad finish second with a time of 40.46.

 

He earned second-team All-America honors after placing 13th in the 200m at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, clocking 20.52 in the semifinal. 

 

The Roo sophomore broke the Kansas City school record at the NCAA West Preliminaries when he sprinted the 200m in 20.33 seconds to take ninth and qualify for the NCAA Championship.

 

The Kansas City, Mo., native became the first Roo in program history to earn All-America honors in the 200m and the first Kansas City men’s athlete to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships since 2016.

 

Curry was voted the Summit League Outdoor Field MVP on the women’s side after winning the hammer throw with a meet record toss of 223-1 (69.01m), the shot put (51-6.25; 15.70m) and taking second in the discus with a mark of 163-7 (49.86m).    

 

The Elk Point, S.D., product advanced to the NCAA West Prelims in all three events and placed 10th in the hammer (208-2; 63.44m) to qualify for nationals. She went on to earn first-team All-America honors with a program-record throw of 223-7 (68.16m) to place seventh at the NCAA Championships.

 

She becomes just the second first-team All-American in North Dakota’s Division I history.

Ramos was named the Summit League Outdoor Championships Men’s Field MVP after capturing titles in the discus and shot put. The Caldwell, Idaho, native opened with a personal-best throw of 182-4 (55.57m) in the discus to win the event by three feet, then secured the shot put title with a mark of 58-2 (17.73m) on his fifth attempt, edging out the runner-up by just 1.5 inches.

He qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary in the shot put and placed 19th with a throw of 60-0.5 (18.30m), narrowly missing advancement to the national meet.

Willis continued a standout freshman campaign by earning first-team All-America honors in the pole vault. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native placed fourth at the NCAA Championships with a clearance of 14-6.75 (4.44m).

 

She set a personal best of 14-10 (4.52m) at the Summit League Outdoor Championships to earn runner-up honors and All-Summit recognition. Willis also placed third at the NCAA West Preliminaries (14-6; 4.42m) to advance to the national meet.

FEMALE KWIK STAR PEAK PERFORMER OF THE MONTH

Kenna Curry, North Dakota

Gr. | Women’s Track and Field | Elk Point, S.D.

• First-team All-American in the hammer throw.
• Summit League Outdoor Championships Field MVP.
• Won the hammer throw and shot put; runner-up in discus.
• Placed seventh at NCAA Championships with school-record toss of 223-7.

• Second career Summit League monthly honor.

Also nominated: Arienne Birch (North Dakota State); Sara Reifenrath (South Dakota)

MALE KWIK STAR PEAK PERFORMER OF THE MONTH

Tory Lanham, Kansas City

So. | Men’s Track and Field| Kansas City, Mo. 

• Second-team All-American in the 200m.
• Summit League Outdoor Championship Most Outstanding Performer.
• Placed 13th at NCAA Championships in 200m (20.52).

• First career Summit League monthly accolade.

Also nominated: Sam Roller (North Dakota State);  Ben Weber (Omaha); Abraham Chelangam (Oral Roberts); Tre Young (South Dakota); Cody Larson (South Dakota State); Joe Vos (St. Thomas).

FEMALE KWIK STAR PEAK NEWCOMER OF THE MONTH

Anna Willis, South Dakota

Fr. | Women’s Track and Field | Colorado Springs, Colo.

• First-team All-American in the pole vault.
• Finished fourth at NCAA Championships (14-6.75; 4.44m).
• Set a personal best of 14-10 (4.52m) at Summit League meet.

• Second career Summit League monthly honor.

Also nominated: Paige Renschler (North Dakota State)

MALE KWIK STAR PEAK NEWCOMER OF THE MONTH

Zack Ramos, North Dakota State

Sr. | Men’s Track and Field | Caldwell, Idaho

• Summit League Outdoor Championships Field MVP.
• Won shot put and discus titles at league meet.
• Placed 19th in the shot put at NCAA West Prelims.

• First career Summit League monthly accolade.

Also nominated: Ethan Thomas (North Dakota); Jaden Damiano (South Dakota) 

2024-25 Peak Performers of the Month

September

Female: Sidney Schetnan, South Dakota State

Male: Sam Bassett, Denver

October

Female: Sylvie Zgonc, South Dakota State

Male: Sam Bassett, Denver

November

Female: Lauren Galvin, St. Thomas

Male: Oscar Cluff, South Dakota State

December

Female: Jalei Oglesby, Oral Roberts

Male: Jacksen Moni, North Dakota State

January

Female: Grace Larkins, South Dakota

Male: Marquel Sutton, Omaha

February

Female: Jadyn Keeler, North Dakota

Male: Marquel Sutton, Omaha

 

March

Female: Maddia Groff, Omaha

Male: Leandro Zgraggen, North Dakota

 

April

Female: Kenna Curry, North Dakota

Male: Cody Larson, South Dakota State

 

May/June

Female: Kenna Curry, North Dakota

Male: Tory Lanham, Kansas City

2024-25 Peak Newcomers of the Month

September

Female: Madison Burr, South Dakota State

Male: Omar Mora, Oral Roberts

October

Female: Madison Russman, North Dakota State

Male: Abraham Chelangam, Oral Roberts

November

Female: Lauren Medeck, South Dakota

Male: Keegan Kelly, Denver

December

Female: Ja Harvey, Omaha

Male: Ethan Thomas, North Dakota

January

Female: Jocelyn Schiller, North Dakota

Male: Oscar Cluff, South Dakota State

February

Female: Emily DiProspero, South Dakota

Male: Nick Keuser, South Dakota State

 

March

Female: Ella McGee, South Dakota

Male: Dante Smith, North Dakota State

April

Female: Anna Willis,  South Dakota

Male: Caleb Rivera, South Dakota 

 

May/June

Female: Anna Willis,  South Dakota

Male: Zack Ramos, North Dakota State

#ReachTheSummit

 

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (June 18, 2025) – Northern Arizona volleyball is geared up for a competitive 2025 campaign, unveiling a full slate of non-conference challenges and Big Sky matchups. With 10 home matches at Rolle Activity Center, including the annual Lumberjack Classic, fans can look forward to a strong home-court presence this fall. Season tickets are now on sale.

“I’m very excited about this team,” head coach Ken Murphy said. “We grew so much during the offseason in terms of skill, leadership and understanding what we will need to do to take a big step forward as a team. We’ve also added five newcomers to a team that has three players coming off redshirt years, so we will have a new look. With that in mind, we put together a non-conference schedule with more matches and a greater variety of teams to allow our team to grow its identity and really be prepared for the Big Sky schedule.”

The Lumberjacks will open their season at the Lobo Invitational from Aug. 29-30 in Albuquerque, N.M., facing Houston Christian and New Mexico on opening night before going toe-to-toe with Manhattan. The Lobos visited Flagstaff last year for a five-set thriller, with Northern Arizona ultimately taking the victory 3-2.

NAU then heads to Phoenix for the GCU Invitational from Sept. 5-7, where they’ll battle Washington State, East Texas A&M, and host and in-state rival, Grand Canyon.

The Lumberjacks return to Flagstaff for the Lumberjack Classic from Sept. 11-13, hosting a trio of matches including battles against familiar rivals, UC San Diego, Southern Utah, and Big 12 foe Texas Tech. The six-match event will give fans a first look at this year’s team on home court in Rolle Activity Center.

NAU will face seven Big Sky teams twice: Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Portland State, Sacramento State, and Northern Colorado, while playing Eastern Washington and Weber State once.

Conference play begins on Sept. 25 when the Lumberjacks host Idaho. They then travel for three straight games at Idaho State (Sept. 27), Montana State (Oct. 2), and Montana (Oct. 4).

NAU will play two home games against Portland State on Oct. 9 and Sacramento State Oct.11 when they return to Flagstaff. After that, the team travels once more to play Eastern Washington on Oct. 16 and Idaho on Oct. 18.

The team returns home to host Northern Colorado on Oct. 24 before stepping out of conference briefly to face Utah Tech on the road on Oct. 28. Last year, NAU secured back-to-back wins over the Trailblazers, earning a 3-0 sweep on the road in St. George and edging out a 3-2 victory at home in a five-set battle.

The ‘Jacks close out October and start November with a four-match stretch, beginning at home against Montana (Oct. 30) and Montana State (Nov. 1), followed by road trips to Sacramento State (Nov. 6) and Portland State (Nov. 8). They return to Flagstaff for their final homestand, hosting Weber State on Nov. 13 and celebrating Senior Night against Idaho State on Nov. 15.

Regular season wraps up with a high-stakes road matchup at Northern Colorado on Nov. 21. UNC is the defending Big Sky regular-season champion and will host the conference’s postseason tournament from Nov. 24-26.

Season tickets can be purchased here, and the full schedule can be found here.

Stay up to date with the Northern Arizona women’s volleyball team by following on Instagram, X and Facebook.