Sports
HRX Activewear Innovations

Advertisement
Imagine slipping into workout gear that moves with you like a second skin, wicks sweat before you feel it, and looks so sharp you’d wear it straight from the gym to brunch. This isn’t futuristic fantasy; it’s the reality crafted by HRX Activewear Innovations, a brand that has fundamentally reshaped how athletes and fitness enthusiasts experience performance wear. Born from the vision of Bollywood icon Hrithik Roshan and Exceed Entertainment in 2013, HRX quickly transcended celebrity endorsement to become a genuine powerhouse in athletic apparel. Its commitment to relentless innovation, uncompromising quality, and deep understanding of the athlete’s psyche has earned HRX Activewear Innovations an unshakeable position as a leader in the global fitness apparel revolution. Consumers worldwide trust HRX to deliver garments that enhance performance, boost confidence, and endure the toughest workouts, making it synonymous with cutting-edge activewear.
HRX Activewear Innovations: Brand Overview and Market Position
HRX Activewear Innovations isn’t just another sportswear label; it’s a benchmark for performance, style, and technological advancement in the fitness apparel industry. Strategically positioned as a premium yet accessible brand, HRX targets the performance-driven individual who refuses to compromise on quality or aesthetics. Its HRX Activewear market position is built on a powerful trifecta: innovation that pushes material science boundaries, quality that withstands rigorous testing, and consumer trust cultivated through consistent delivery on promises. From its inception, the brand leveraged Hrithik Roshan’s personal fitness journey and meticulous attention to detail, resonating deeply with a growing Indian fitness community hungry for world-class gear. This authenticity fueled rapid growth, establishing HRX Activewear global recognition beyond India, particularly across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Unlike fast fashion entrants, HRX focuses intensely on technical fabrics and ergonomic designs developed through athlete feedback and rigorous R&D. This dedication has positioned HRX as a go-to brand for serious fitness practitioners and style-conscious consumers alike, competing fiercely with established international giants by offering superior value and localized understanding. The brand’s reputation is further solidified by its association with major sporting events and its omnichannel presence, seamlessly blending online accessibility with flagship store experiences. For insights into how digital fitness trends are shaping consumer choices, explore our analysis on the rise of home workout culture.

The Evolution of HRX Activewear: From Inception to Global Leader
The HRX Activewear history is a compelling narrative of ambition meeting opportunity. Conceived in Mumbai, India, in 2013, HRX was born from a collaboration between Hrithik Roshan – whose own disciplined fitness regimen was widely admired – and Exceed Entertainment (a subsidiary of Myntra, India’s leading fashion e-commerce platform). This unique genesis provided HRX with immediate brand recall and crucial e-commerce expertise. The early years focused on establishing core product lines – performance tees, training shorts, sports bras, and running shoes – designed with input from Roshan himself, ensuring they met the demands of intense training. A pivotal HRX Activewear milestone came in 2015 when the brand expanded beyond Myntra exclusivity, launching standalone websites and entering multi-brand retail outlets, dramatically increasing its reach. The HRX Activewear evolution accelerated with strategic investments in material technology. Key developments included the introduction of proprietary fabrics like:
- Dry-EX Technology: Engineered for rapid moisture wicking and ultra-quick drying, keeping athletes cool and dry.
- Storm-X Fabric: Providing lightweight water and wind resistance for outdoor training.
- Compression Technology: Offering targeted muscle support and enhanced blood flow during high-intensity workouts.
By 2018, HRX had become one of India’s largest homegrown activewear brands. Expansion into international markets like the UAE and Singapore marked its global ambitions, supported by localized marketing campaigns and partnerships. The brand’s growth wasn’t just quantitative; it deepened its connection with the fitness community through initiatives like the HRX Challenges, fostering a sense of belonging. Understanding this evolution helps appreciate the strategic shifts in Indian retail, as detailed in our feature on evolving e-commerce strategies.
Game-Changing Products: How HRX Activewear is Shaping the Industry
The true measure of HRX Activewear Innovations lies in its transformative HRX Activewear product offerings. The brand’s catalog isn’t just extensive; it’s filled with items that have genuinely shifted consumer expectations and set new industry standards. Among its HRX Activewear best-selling products are innovations that address specific athletic needs with remarkable precision:
- HRX COMRADE Running Shoes: More than just sneakers, the COMRADE series exemplifies biomechanical engineering. Featuring responsive cushioning systems, adaptive knit uppers for a sock-like fit, and durable outsoles designed for varied terrains, these shoes became an instant hit among amateur and serious runners in India, challenging established international running shoe brands with superior value and localized design insights.
- Storm-X Active Jackets: Revolutionizing training in unpredictable weather, these jackets utilized HRX’s proprietary Storm-X membrane. Ultra-lightweight, packable, and offering genuine protection from rain and wind without sacrificing breathability, they made year-round outdoor training feasible and comfortable, a significant leap forward in the market.
- High-Impact Sports Bras with Motion Control: Addressing a critical gap for women athletes, HRX developed sports bras featuring advanced encapsulation and compression techniques, using high-tenacity elastic blends. These bras provided exceptional support and minimized bounce during high-impact activities like running and HIIT, earning rave HRX Activewear reviews for combining security with comfort and style.
- Men’s COACH Training T-Shirts (Dry-EX): These became iconic staples. Utilizing Dry-EX technology, the tees offered superior sweat management, odor resistance, and exceptional durability. Their tailored yet unrestrictive fit and modern aesthetics blurred the line between gym wear and casual wear, influencing the widespread adoption of “athleisure.”
These HRX Activewear services extend beyond physical products. The brand fosters a holistic ecosystem, including workout guides, training apps (integrated with wearables), and personalized online consultation, creating a 360-degree fitness support system. The impact is clear: HRX products have demonstrably shaped consumer behavior, driving demand for technically advanced fabrics and versatile, performance-driven apparel that transitions seamlessly into daily life. They’ve set industry trends by proving that high-performance activewear could be both accessible and aspirational within the price-sensitive yet quality-conscious Indian market and beyond.
Innovation and Technology: The Engine Behind HRX Activewear
HRX Activewear innovation isn’t a buzzword; it’s the core DNA driving the brand forward. HRX distinguishes itself through a relentless pursuit of technological advancement, viewing fabric and construction as critical tools for enhancing athletic performance. The brand operates a dedicated R&D hub focused on material science, collaborating with global textile innovators and testing laboratories. This commitment has yielded significant HRX Activewear patents, particularly around its proprietary fabric treatments and construction methodologies. Key technological pillars include:
- Advanced Moisture Management: Beyond basic wicking, HRX fabrics like Dry-EX are engineered with capillary action channels and hydrophilic polymers that actively pull moisture away from the skin to the fabric’s outer surface for rapid evaporation. This technology is rigorously tested for durability over repeated washes.
- Thermoregulation: Incorporating phase-change materials (PCMs) in select lines, HRX garments can absorb, store, and release heat to help maintain an optimal microclimate close to the skin during fluctuating workout intensities.
- Seamless and Bonded Construction: Minimizing chafing and maximizing freedom of movement, HRX utilizes advanced flatlock stitching and ultrasonic welding techniques. This reduces bulk and creates smoother, more durable seams critical for high-mobility activities.
- Sustainable Tech: Recognizing environmental responsibility as innovation (discussed further in the CSR section), HRX invests in recycled polyester (rPET) technologies, waterless dyeing processes, and biodegradable fabric blends.
This HRX Activewear technology focus extends to product testing. Garments undergo simulated extreme conditions – repeated stretching, abrasion, UV exposure, and wash cycles – in state-of-the-art labs to ensure they meet the brand’s stringent performance and longevity standards before reaching consumers. Partnerships with fitness institutions and elite athletes provide real-world feedback loops, ensuring innovations solve genuine performance challenges. This dedication positions HRX not just as a clothing manufacturer, but as a genuine sportswear technology company, constantly pushing the boundaries of what athletic apparel can achieve. For a deeper look at global textile advancements, resources like the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) consortium provide context.
Global Influence and Strategic Market Expansion
From its Mumbai roots, HRX Activewear Innovations has executed a calculated strategy to build a formidable HRX Activewear worldwide presence. Its initial dominance in the Indian market, fueled by e-commerce and a deep cultural connection, provided a solid springboard. Recognizing the universal appeal of performance and style, HRX embarked on HRX Activewear market expansion into key international territories:
- Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, UAE): Leveraging cultural similarities and a booming fitness culture, HRX entered these markets through dedicated e-commerce platforms and strategic partnerships with major multi-brand sportswear retailers like Sun & Sand Sports. Localized marketing, featuring regional fitness influencers, helped build relevance.
- Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait): The Gulf region, with its high disposable income and growing health consciousness, presented a significant opportunity. HRX established a strong foothold via exclusive brand shops within large malls and partnerships with leading regional e-commerce players like Namshi.
- Exploring Western Markets: While still focused on consolidating Asia and the Middle East, HRX has begun testing waters in select Western markets through limited online drops and pop-up experiences, gauging consumer response to its unique value proposition against entrenched competitors.
This HRX Activewear international influence is underpinned by more than just geography. HRX actively participates in global fitness expos and collaborates with international designers and athletes, infusing global trends into its collections while maintaining its distinct identity. The brand’s strategic expansion avoids reckless growth; instead, it focuses on deep penetration in chosen markets, building brand loyalty through consistent product quality and community engagement before moving to the next frontier. This measured approach has solidified HRX as not just an Indian success story, but a recognized player in the global activewear arena, demonstrating the potential of emerging market brands to compete internationally.
Building Consumer Loyalty and Brand Trust
In the competitive world of activewear, HRX Activewear customer loyalty is remarkably strong, a testament to the brand’s holistic approach to trust-building. This loyalty stems from consistently exceeding expectations across multiple touchpoints:
- Product Excellence: The foundation is unwavering quality and performance. Consumers trust that HRX gear will withstand intense workouts, maintain its shape and function after countless washes, and genuinely enhance their training. Positive HRX Activewear reviews consistently highlight durability, comfort, and effective moisture management as key reasons for repeat purchases.
- Authentic Brand Voice: HRX leverages Hrithik Roshan’s authentic fitness journey not just for marketing, but to embody the brand’s core values of discipline, perseverance, and self-improvement. This resonates deeply, creating an emotional connection beyond transactional relationships. Campaigns focus on real progress and inclusivity, featuring diverse body types and fitness levels.
- Community Engagement: HRX actively fosters a sense of belonging through initiatives like the “HRX Warriors” community, online challenges, training workshops, and events. This transforms customers into brand advocates who feel part of a shared mission.
- Customer Experience: From intuitive online shopping and hassle-free returns to responsive customer service, HRX prioritizes a smooth post-purchase journey. Positive experiences reinforce HRX Activewear brand reputation and encourage word-of-mouth promotion.
- Recognition & Awards: Consistent accolades, such as “Most Trusted Activewear Brand” awards in consumer surveys and recognition for design innovation, provide third-party validation of the brand’s promises, further cementing trust.
This multi-pronged strategy results in high customer retention rates and powerful organic advocacy. HRX customers don’t just buy products; they buy into an ethos of performance and self-betterment, making the brand a trusted partner in their fitness journeys.
Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
HRX Activewear Innovations recognizes that leadership extends beyond performance; it encompasses responsibility. The brand is actively integrating HRX Activewear sustainability principles into its core operations, reflecting a growing consumer demand for ethical practices. Key HRX Activewear eco-initiatives include:
- Material Shift: Increasing the use of recycled materials, particularly Recycled Polyester (rPET) derived from post-consumer plastic bottles, in key product lines like tees, tights, and jackets. This significantly reduces reliance on virgin petroleum-based materials and diverts plastic waste.
- Sustainable Manufacturing: Partnering with manufacturers certified for ethical labor practices (like SA8000) and environmental management systems (ISO 14001). Efforts include reducing water consumption through waterless dyeing technologies and optimizing energy use in production facilities.
- Eco-Conscious Packaging: Transitioning to recycled and recyclable packaging materials, eliminating unnecessary plastics, and minimizing packaging size.
- Product Longevity: Designing for durability is a core sustainability tenet. By creating garments that last longer, HRX inherently reduces the frequency of replacement and associated environmental impact.
Beyond environmental HRX Activewear CSR, the brand engages in community initiatives. These include fitness programs for underprivileged youth, partnerships with NGOs promoting sports education, and disaster relief support. While transparency in reporting its full environmental footprint is an ongoing area for development, HRX’s public commitment to integrating sustainable materials and processes signals a genuine step towards reducing its ecological impact and building a more responsible activewear future.
iBall Computing Solutions:Leading Affordable Tech Innovations in India
Future Prospects: What’s Next for HRX Activewear?
The HRX Activewear future looks focused on deepening its technological edge, expanding its global footprint responsibly, and further embedding sustainability. The brand’s innovation roadmap is expected to explore:
- Smart Apparel Integration: Development of garments with integrated biometric sensors (heart rate, muscle activity, hydration levels) seamlessly woven into fabrics, providing real-time performance feedback without bulky external devices. Partnerships with tech firms specializing in wearable electronics are likely.
- Hyper-Personalization: Leveraging AI and customer data to offer more personalized product recommendations, customized fits (beyond standard sizing), and potentially bespoke design elements, enhancing the individual consumer experience.
- Advanced Sustainable Materials: Accelerated research and adoption of next-gen eco-materials like biodegradable synthetics, plant-based performance fabrics (e.g., algae or mushroom leather alternatives for accessories), and closed-loop recycling systems for their own products.
- Strategic Global Expansion: Continued, measured HRX Activewear market expansion into new territories in Europe and North America, potentially through targeted online campaigns, select retail partnerships, and localized influencer collaborations. Strengthening presence in existing international markets remains key.
- Enhanced Digital Ecosystem: Further development of its app and online platform to offer immersive experiences – virtual training with elite athletes, AI-powered workout planning, and integrated community features – creating a sticky digital fitness hub centered around the brand.
To maintain its leadership, HRX will need to navigate challenges like increasing global competition, fluctuating raw material costs, and evolving consumer sustainability demands. However, its proven agility, commitment to R&D, and strong brand identity position HRX Activewear Innovations well to not just adapt, but continue driving the fitness apparel revolution forward. Expect upcoming collections to showcase bolder technological leaps and refined sustainable practices.
HRX Activewear Innovations has undeniably carved its place as a transformative force in the athletic apparel landscape. From its foundation built on authentic performance needs to its relentless drive for technological advancement and growing commitment to sustainability, HRX consistently delivers gear that empowers athletes and sets industry benchmarks. Its journey from an Indian powerhouse to a recognized global player showcases the brand’s strategic vision and adaptability. As fitness evolves, HRX Activewear Innovations is poised to remain at the forefront, pushing the boundaries of what performance wear can achieve while building a more responsible future for the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What makes HRX Activewear Innovations different from other sportswear brands?
HRX stands out through its intense focus on performance-driven innovation, leveraging proprietary fabric technologies like Dry-EX and Storm-X developed in-house. Founded with direct athlete input (Hrithik Roshan), it prioritizes genuine functional benefits – superior moisture management, muscle support, and durability – combined with contemporary design. Its strong connection to the fitness community and growing commitment to sustainability further differentiate it.
2. Where is HRX Activewear available for purchase internationally?
HRX Activewear has expanded beyond India into key international markets. You can find it primarily in Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia) and the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait) through dedicated sections on major regional e-commerce platforms like Namshi and via select multi-brand sportswear retailers. They also ship internationally from their official website.
3. How does HRX Activewear incorporate sustainability?
HRX is actively integrating eco-friendly practices. This includes increasing the use of recycled polyester (rPET) from plastic bottles in products, exploring water-saving dyeing techniques, transitioning to recycled/recyclable packaging, and designing garments for longevity to reduce waste. They also partner with ethically certified manufacturers.
4. What are some of HRX Activewear’s most popular products?
Consistently top-selling items include the COMRADE Running Shoes known for comfort and support, Dry-EX COACH Training T-Shirts for unbeatable sweat management, Storm-X Active Jackets for weather protection, and their high-impact Sports Bras featuring advanced motion control technology. Their training tights and shorts are also highly rated.
5. Does HRX Activewear offer products for all types of training?
Yes, HRX designs specialized apparel for various activities. Their collections cater specifically to running, gym training (weights, HIIT, functional fitness), yoga, and outdoor sports. Each line incorporates features tailored to the demands of that activity, such as enhanced flexibility for yoga or weather resistance for outdoor runs.
6. What is HRX Activewear’s approach to innovation?
Innovation is core to HRX. They operate dedicated R&D facilities focused on material science, developing patented fabric technologies. They collaborate with textile experts, test rigorously in labs simulating extreme conditions, and gather real-world feedback from athletes and consumers. This focus drives continuous improvement in performance, comfort, and sustainability.
Sports
Is AI taking jobs from college graduates? Here’s what to know
As artificial intelligence continues to make appearances in almost all aspects of our lives, there have been rising concerns for whether it’s taking jobs, especially those of new college graduates entering the labor market.
Colorado State University student Eleanora Proffitt said AI has caused her to worry for the future in an already tight labor market.
“We’re already in a job shortage,” Proffitt said. “AI should be helping us, … not taking our jobs away.”
The unemployment rate of newly graduated college students reached its highest percentage since July 2021 — 5.8% — in April, according to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This number, compared to an unemployment rate of 4% for all workers that same month, has raised some alarms regarding AI’s impact.
Oxford Economics, a global economic advisory firm, stated in a recent report that “there are signs that entry-level positions are being displaced by artificial intelligence at higher rates.”
Various job sectors have been affected by AI differently. A working paper published by Stanford Digital Economy Lab found that between late 2022 and July 2025, areas of employment for young workers in software engineering, which SDEL referred to as an “AI-exposed occupation,” has declined by nearly 20%.
Other fields such as customer service, accounting and auditing, secretarial and administrative work, computer programming and sales revealed a similar pattern, according to the paper.
According to CNBC, Some major firms and companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Amazon and Walmart are starting to make the switch to AI for lower-level white-collar jobs because of its cheaper price and supposed efficiency. However, there are still many findings that claim AI is not a major component regarding recent unemployment rates for all recent college graduates.
“Will (AI) take jobs? Yes,” said Martin Shields, a Colorado State University professor of economics. “Will it take all the jobs? Certainly not. And will it create a lot of opportunities? Yes, it will.”
According to an article by The Budget Lab at Yale, the broader labor market has not been hugely disrupted since the release of ChatGPT — a popular AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. The lab notes that an impact on the labor market is likely to take much longer than just 33 months and can take decades to fully settle in.
A current trend in the labor market is that fewer people are quitting their jobs, and fewer employers are hiring because of economic uncertainty. This is known as a labor market tightening, which poses an even greater challenge for fresh college graduates trying to get their foot in the door.
Adjustments to technological progress has been done throughout history and are expected to a certain degree, but some are concerned that job losses may look a little different now, as AI is replacing jobs that were generally thought of as “safe.” Despite the current state of the job market, the Future of Jobs Report 2025 by World Economic Forum estimated that although AI could displace 92 million jobs by 2030, it could add 170 million new ones.
These positions could be in areas of AI development, research and safety, as well as robotics.
“People who can use the technology, lead the use of this technology, communicate it, can check it, can ask it the right questions — those people will thrive with that skill set,” Shields said.
A report by Lightcast, a labor insight platform, found that in an analysis of over 1.3 billion job postings, there has been a surge in demand for AI skills — and higher average pay for jobs that required them.
CSU alumnus and Chief Operating Officer for ZenRows, a web data company, Robert Mata said he has been in tech for 15 years and pays close attention to AI usage when hiring. Mata is not just interested in whether new hires use AI, but more so how they use the tool in the context of the role they are applying for.
“It goes way beyond, ‘Hey, do you use AI daily for X, Y, Z?’” Mata said. “It really depends on the role and the usage of AI.”
Mata said he has had to assess how potential candidates for various positions utilize AI. For example, he asks applicants for sales positions how they use AI to better find leads, source data, acquire contact information and more.
Taking on the potential growth and challenges brought by AI, CSU has begun integrating AI literacy into higher education. The webpage titled AI @ CSU has news related to AI, resources for learning how to use AI and pages describing the institution’s mission and vision with AI.
CSU also offers a range of classes available to students who wish to expand their skills in AI, with more to come. As the job market adjusts to new technology, experts suggested that no matter what field students dream of working in, learning how to better navigate AI and use it as a tool are what experts and the job market are alluding to as crucial in this job climate.
“Let’s use this tool,” Shields said. “Let’s recognize its limitations. Let’s recognize that there are a lot of things that we can do that it can’t and hone in on those skills.”
Reach Katya Arzubi at news@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.
Sports
Kenlee Barnard leads Courier & Press 2025 All-Metro volleyball team
Dec. 8, 2025, 3:02 a.m. CT
EVANSVILLE — Ashley Kaczmarski remembers when everything clicked into place this season.
Her North High School volleyball team was on the road at Heritage Hills. The Huskies lost the second set to the eventual sectional champions. Kaczmarski sensed her group was off that evening — none moreso than star setter Kenlee Barnard.
The coach pulled her senior captain aside during the break with a message: the team needed her. What transpired that night, and by extension the rest of the season, summed up what many in the program already knew. Barnard was going to lead the way.
Sports
Freshmen break records in indoor season opener for Penn track and field
Let’s start the indoor season off with a bang, shall we?
Meet, facility, program, and Ivy League records were broken at the Penn Opener on Friday and Saturday at the Ott Center for Track and Field. The men’s team notched wins in the heptathlon, long jump, pole vault, 60-meter hurdles, 1,000m run, 3,000m run, and the 4x400m relay. Members of the women’s team added wins in the pole vault, triple jump, 300m dash and 4x400m relay. The first indoor meet of the season offered an exciting look at what the indoor track and field season may hold for the Quakers.
“It’s always exciting to start the season after the whole fall of training for track and field, so it’s been fun to watch the team compete,” coach Steve Dolan said. “And one of the things that‘s special, I think, is to also watch the freshmen for the first time wearing the Penn uniform. We had a lot of great freshman performances today, along with upperclassmen, so that was a lot of fun.”
One year after the grand opening of the Ott Center, 14 schools came to compete in this year’s Penn Opener. The student-athletes from Delaware, Georgetown, Hampton, Rider, Saint Joseph’s, Temple, Penn, Princeton, Morgan State, Villanova, The College of NJ, Monmouth, Yale, and Penn State were joined by some unattached and national team athletes.
Here are some standout performances from the Quakers.
While there were many stars at the meet, one student-athlete shone brighter than them all: freshman shot put thrower Jessica Oji.
In her first ever collegiate competition, her 16.6m throw on her first attempt put her in the lead, which she never let up. She continued through her attempts, eventually throwing 17.15 meters on her best attempt out of the first five. On her final attempt, Oji stepped up to the plate and threw an incredible 17.72 meters — not just a program best, but notably half a meter more than the Ivy League record. To put this into perspective, only two out of 13 shot putters in the men’s competition threw further than that mark. On top of it all, the performance propels Oji to No.1 in the NCAA.
“My first couple throws, they were okay. Coming into finals … I was feeling a little bit tired, I was trying to get one on my last throw, [I] was really shooting for a big number,” Oji said. “Extremely happy with this performance.”
According to throwing coach Isaiah Simmons, Oji came to Penn with big goals in mind.
“She’s put in a lot of work, and this is just the beginning. So we’re pretty excited how she’s starting,” Simmons said. “I know she told me she wants to throw 20 meters, break the national record, and compete at the international stage. So as long as I feel like we are pushing her towards those goals, then they’re my goals as well.”
Another impressive freshman was distance runner Joseph “Tiago” Socarras, who broke the program record in his first 1,000m run with a time of 2:20.39.
The upperclassmen also rewrote the record books. Two more program records were set by junior jumper Adannia Agbo, who jumped 13.05 meters in the triple jump, as well as senior multis specialist Jake Rose, who won the men’s heptathlon with 5647 points. Rose starts this season as the defending Ivy League champion in the heptathlon. Agbo’s mark puts her second in the NCAA so far this season.
Other notable freshman performers were jumper Leo Francis and sprinter Rianna Floyd. While the former took the win with 6.92 meters in the men’s long jump, Floyd ran a time of 38.75 in the 300m dash, placing her first out of 49 athletes. As the anchor for Penn’s A team in the 4×400 meter relay, she also played a significant role in its win by a margin of more than four seconds.
The meet also brought some nationally competing non-collegiate athletes to the Ott Center. Ajeé Wilson, two-time Olympian and 2022 world indoor track and field champion in the 800 meters, won the women’s 600m race comfortably. The women’s 1,000m race went to 2024 Olympian, reigning indoor track and field national champion in the 800m race, and 2020 Nursing graduate Nia Akins.
Following a holiday break, the Quakers will return to the Ott Center on Jan. 10, 2026 for the Penn Select.
Sports
Saint Thomas Aquinas volleyball player Grace Martin honored as athlete of the week
Grace Martin, a volleyball player at Saint Thomas Aquinas, has been named this week’s KMBC-Hy-Vee Athlete of the Week for her exceptional performance and achievements in the sport.Martin is a first-team All-American and a three-time state champion. She was recently awarded the Evelyn Gates Award, which is given to the best player in the area. She is taking her volleyball talents to Arizona State next year. Congratulations to our athlete of the week.
Grace Martin, a volleyball player at Saint Thomas Aquinas, has been named this week’s KMBC-Hy-Vee Athlete of the Week for her exceptional performance and achievements in the sport.
Martin is a first-team All-American and a three-time state champion. She was recently awarded the Evelyn Gates Award, which is given to the best player in the area.
She is taking her volleyball talents to Arizona State next year.
Congratulations to our athlete of the week.
Sports
Svidal, Taiwo set new indoor triple jump records at Commonwealth Opener
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Both triple jump program records were shattered as Bellarmine University track and field opened the indoor season Saturday at the Commonwealth College Opener at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.
Junior Amelia Svidal broke her own women’s indoor program record in the triple jump after recording an 11.79m jump, which topped her 11.66 from the 2025 Rod McCravy Memorial. She placed fourth in the event and was also fourth in the long jump (5.34m).
Freshman Tola Taiwo made an auspicious collegiate debut by setting a new men’s indoor program record in the triple jump with a leap of 13.90m, which broke Bryan Cummings’ long-held mark of 13.78 from the 2017 Indianapolis Season Opener, along with Cummings’ freshman program record of 13.43 from the 2017 UIndy Collegiate Challenge. He placed fifth in the event.
Senior Jansen Story took top honors in the women’s 1000m (3:11.50), while senior Zander Hooten placed first in the men’s 60m hurdles (8.13) and junior Carter Olmsted snagged third (8.34).
Bellarmine’s men captured three of the top five placements in the 300m, as sophomore Grant King was second (34.31), senior Zac Hutslar was third (34.45) and junior Josiah Moore was fifth (34.56). King was a hair off Jackson Gordon’s program record (34.30) from last season’s Commonwealth College Opener.
Bellarmine is off until the Jan. 9-10 Rod McCravy Memorial at Norton SLC.
For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow BUKnights on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Sports
UWO volleyball wins first national championship
The No. 2-seeded UW Oshkosh women’s volleyball team won its first ever NCAA Division III National Championship with a sweep over the University of La Verne (California), completing a perfect run in the tournament by not relinquishing a single set throughout the Titans’ six matches played.
Samantha Perlberg led the team in the win with 16 kills and 13 digs with one ace. Grace Juergens led in the ace department with two on the night. Lauren Grier recorded the team high in blocks with four and Izzy Coon’s 17 assists were the team high.
In the first set, UWO opened it up right away with a 9-1 run to turn a 2-2 tie into an 11-3 lead. The Leopards responded immediately to lower the 11-3 Titans lead to 12-9. That was the closest that La Verne got as UWO opened its lead back to 20-12 behind four kills from Perlberg in an 8-3 run. From there the Titans were able to win comfortably in a 25-17 set one win. Riley Borrowman closed out the set with a kill to get the final point.
The second set was where the punches were traded between both teams. For the entire set, neither La Verne or Oshkosh had a lead that was larger than three points. The lead also switched six times throughout the whole set. UWO was able to take advantage and pull away late in the second set. Down 20-19, UWO finished the set on a 6-2 run behind two kills each from Juergens and Grier to win the second set 25-22 and get a 2-0 lead in the match.
Unlike the Sept 12. matchup when the Titans failed to close out the Leopards while holding a 2-0 lead, this time around, UWO was able to put a stamp on La Verne. The Leopards built a 16-12 lead in set three but from there it was all UWO. A 6-0 run by the Titans reclaimed UWO the lead at 18-16 and Oshkosh never relinquished it for the rest of the game. Oshkosh was able to extend the lead at 24-19, and despite two kills from La Verne’s Mya Ray to keep the game alive for just a couple more points, Juergens was able to put the stamp on a long sequence of big saves by both teams with a kill to win the set 25-21, the match 3-0 and handed the Titans their first national championship.
UWO completed a 34-3 regular season with a 7-0 conference record and won every championship available. The Titans won the WIAC Regular Season championship, WIAC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. The Titans also won the national title by being the third team in D-III history to put up a perfect record by not losing a single set in the NCAA tournament.

-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoFirst Tee Winter Registration is open
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoFargo girl, 13, dies after collapsing during school basketball game – Grand Forks Herald
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoCPG Brands Like Allegra Are Betting on F1 for the First Time
-
Sports3 weeks agoVolleyball Recaps – November 18
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoF1 Las Vegas: Verstappen win, Norris and Piastri DQ tighten 2025 title fight
-
Sports2 weeks agoTwo Pro Volleyball Leagues Serve Up Plans for Minnesota Teams
-
Sports2 weeks agoUtah State Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track & Field Schedule
-
Sports2 weeks agoSycamores unveil 2026 track and field schedule
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoRedemption Means First Pro Stock World Championship for Dallas Glenn
-
Sports2 weeks agoTexas volleyball vs Kentucky game score: Live SEC tournament updates





