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In Memoriam

Story Links Union, N.J. (6/19/25) – The Kean University Athletic Department and women’s soccer program are saddened to inform the passing of Joseph “Joe” Colodne. “Joe was so many things,” stated head coach Brian Doherty.  “A great coach, great mentor, great friend and more than that, just a great person.  He was more than just […]

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In Memoriam

Union, N.J. (6/19/25) – The Kean University Athletic Department and women’s soccer program are saddened to inform the passing of Joseph “Joe” Colodne.

“Joe was so many things,” stated head coach Brian Doherty.  “A great coach, great mentor, great friend and more than that, just a great person.  He was more than just a coach in our program.  He was an educator, a listener, someone to laugh endlessly with.  He could have a conversation with anyone.  Our student-athletes were lucky to have his guidance and insight.  We will all miss him.”

Colodne recently completed his seventh year with the women’s soccer program as an assistant coach.  He previously served as the assistant women’s soccer for Drew University from 2014-2018. Colodne also served as a staff coach with World Class FC from 2016-2018 and FC Copa from 2009-2016.

During his coaching stints, he captured two US Club regional titles, was a finalist for the NJ Youth Soccer State Cup and coached the #1 team in the state of New Jersey and the #5 team in the United States at the U18 level.

Colodne was a history teacher for Plainfield High School and received a bachelor’s degree in History from Rider University in 2002. During his time at Rider, he played collegiately on the Broncs men’s soccer team in 1997 and 1998. 

Colodne is survived by his wife Madelaine and children Luca and Leilu.

Visitation

Friday, June 20, 2025

3:00PM – 8:00PM

Memorial Funeral Home

155 South Ave

Fanwood, NJ 07023

Service

Saturday, June 21, 2025

10:00AM – 11:00AM

St Helena’s RC Church

950 Grove Avenue

Edison, NJ 08820

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College Sports

Inside Gymnastics Magazine | Claire Pease Captures 2025 U.S. Classic Senior Women’s All-Around Championship

Next Stop, New Orleans By Nate Salsman and Christy Sandmaier Claire Pease won the All-Around title with a score of 54.600 at the 2025 U.S. Classic to set the stage for next month’s Xfinity U.S. Championships in New Orleans. Pease, who came into the competition a bit under the radar, competed through each event with […]

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Next Stop, New Orleans

By Nate Salsman and Christy Sandmaier

Claire Pease won the All-Around title with a score of 54.600 at the 2025 U.S. Classic to set the stage for next month’s Xfinity U.S. Championships in New Orleans. Pease, who came into the competition a bit under the radar, competed through each event with ease! She recorded a 14.050 on vault and took home gold with a 13.575 average.

Simone Rose finished second in the All-Around with a 54.200. Rose led after three events and brought her unique skills into the spotlight tonight, including incredible artistry on floor! Rose is one to watch this quad, and her confidence will only up from here.

2024 Olympic alternate Joscelyn Roberson returned to Elite competition for the first time since the Olympic Trials, finishing with the All-Around bronze and earning a 53.250 total! After her freshman year at Arkansas, Roberson is grateful to be back and competing with her eyes perhaps on the World Championships later this year. Roberson brought the huge skills, including a double-double layout on floor! Expect her to build even more heading into the Xfinity U.S. Championships!

Fellow Paris alternate Leanne Wong also returned to the Elite scene after graduating from the University of Florida. She competed two hit routines on bars and beam tonight and is looking forward to competing in the All-Around at the Xfinity U.S. Championships next month.

Myli Lew took home the bar title with a 14.050 after performing a crisp and difficult routine. Ashlee Sullivan won gold on beam with a 13.550. Sullivan exudes confidence on the event and even though she had a rough go on floor and bars, we expect she’ll be back strong at Championships. Reese Esponda, who competed in Session 1 for the seniors, won the floor title with a 13.950 in just her first major competition of the season! 

2025 Pan American Championships All-Around Champion Jayla Hang, an early favorite for the title here, competed on bars and beam only tonight.

2024 Olympic Champion Hezly Rivera finished second on floor with a fun and energetic routine we’re excited to see develop even more. She had falls on both bars and beam, but will be one to watch as she builds towards the Xfinity U.S. Championships! 

Expect for all of these incredible athletes as well as Skye Blakely, whose petition to Championships has been accepted, along Tiana Sumanasekera, who sat out tonight to allow an injury a little more time to heal, to contend for multiple titles in New Orleans!

Stay tuned for more on InsideGym.com and new interviews across our social media @InsideGym!



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Claire Pease wins Saatva U.S. Classic gymnastics title

Many U.S. gymnasts have gone from junior all-around national champions to stars on the senior level. Claire Pease may have taken an early step to joining that list on Saturday. Pease, a 16-year-old Texan, won the Saatva U.S. Classic, the primary tune-up meet for the U.S. Championships in three weeks. Pease overtook Simone Rose on […]

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Many U.S. gymnasts have gone from junior all-around national champions to stars on the senior level. Claire Pease may have taken an early step to joining that list on Saturday.

Pease, a 16-year-old Texan, won the Saatva U.S. Classic, the primary tune-up meet for the U.S. Championships in three weeks.

Pease overtook Simone Rose on the last rotation, totaling 54.6 points to prevail by four tenths over Rose. Joscelyn Roberson, a Paris Olympic alternate, was third in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

Gymnasts use Classic as a building block for nationals (Aug. 7-10 in New Orleans).

U.S. CLASSIC: Results

After nationals, the four-woman team for the World Championships in October in Indonesia will be named after a two-day selection competition in early autumn. This year’s worlds include individual events only and no team competition.

Pease, the second senior rookie to win Classic in the last 17 years (Alyona Shchennikova, 2017), can join the list of U.S. junior all-around champions to make global championship teams on the senior level.

Over the years, that’s included Olympic all-around champions Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin (whose parents coach Pease) and world all-around champions Shawn Johnson and Jordyn Wieber.

Plus Hezly Rivera, the 2023 U.S. junior all-around champ who made the 2024 Olympic team as the youngest American competing in Paris in any sport.

Rivera, the lone Olympian competing at Classic, tied for 12th on Saturday after falling on her first two routines — bars and beam. She trains at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy outside Dallas, just like Pease.

Paris Olympic alternate Leanne Wong competed on two events at Classic, tying for fifth on beam and tying for 11th on bars.

One gymnast not at Classic who is expected at nationals is Skye Blakely. She was second to Simone Biles at the 2024 U.S. Championships, then ruptured her right Achilles in practice two days before Olympic Trials began.

2025 Saatva U.S. Classic Gymnastics Results

1. Claire Pease — 54.6
2. Simone Rose — 54.2
3. Joscelyn Roberson — 53.25
4. Brooke Pierson — 52.6
5. Reese Esponda — 52.35
6. Ally Damelio — 52.05
7. Ashlee Sullivan — 52
7. Alicia Zhou — 52
7. Harlow Buddendeck — 52
10. Jordis Eichman — 51.9

Artistic Gymnastics - Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 6

Olympians took home the biggest awards at the 2025 ESPYs, including best female and male athletes.





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Franchise first

PROVO — Utah United never set out to win a league title in its first year in franchise history. But that’s exactly what they did Saturday night. McKenzie Evans-Tostado, Seven Castain, Lilliah Blum and Ruby Hladek all scored as Utah won a USL W League championship with a 4-0 win over defending champion North Carolina […]

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Franchise first

PROVO — Utah United never set out to win a league title in its first year in franchise history.

But that’s exactly what they did Saturday night.

McKenzie Evans-Tostado, Seven Castain, Lilliah Blum and Ruby Hladek all scored as Utah won a USL W League championship with a 4-0 win over defending champion North Carolina Courage U23 at BYU’s South Field.

The loss was the first of the year for the Courage (13-1-3), which was playing in its third consecutive W League final.

But for Utah United (13-1), it was the chance to make history in going from an expansion team in the 93-team pre-professional W League scattered across the continental United States in four conferences and 15 divisions.

“There aren’t a lot of people who get to compete for national championships at any level,” said Castain, who set a Utah high school record with 71 goals en route to 2A MVP honors at Waterford. “To get this opportunity, and to do it at home with all of our family and friends surrounding us was amazing.”

For Utah United head coach Scott Halasz, the former Utah and Washington State assistant who is heavily involved in local club soccer, the initial aim for a group that had never played together before tryouts in January was more simple: provide a high-quality training environment for dozens of returning college soccer players who just wanted to be home for the summer (and a few local college players who stuck around the Beehive State).

Quality training, and several strong friendships were a championship-winning formula.

“The girls just love being around each other,” Halasz said. “It started from day one, and we just had to foster it and keep it going. But I was blessed to work with these young women.”

The group included several names that local college soccer fans know, like BYU’s Ellie Walbruch, who was named championship final MVP after contributing to Utah’s first two goals; Castain, the All-Big 12 striker at TCU who grew up in Draper; and Hladek, the former American Fork and BYU standout who will be a senior at Utah Valley in the fall.

It also combined a few names that only the most die-hard fans might know, like Utah State goalkeeper Taylor Rath, a graduate transfer from Las Vegas via Pepperdine; starting center back Kaitlyn Richins, the Layton native who was a star at Utah State and will transfer to Connecticut for her final NCAA season; and Evans-Tostado — the former Lone Peak and BYU-Hawaii standout who moved from striker to outside back with the team after the birth of her third child.

Through training sessions and road trips to Colorado, the only USL W team in Utah bonded quickly, Walbruch noted — both on and off the field.

“Growing off the field made us that much better on the field. We’ve known each other since I was little, and just being familiar with each other really helped us.

“Utah homegrowns; that’s all I have to say.”

It was the former Kenzie Evans who gave United a 1-0 lead at halftime, lacing a screamer into the top shelf after Walbruch’s initial attempt on frame was deflected to her feet just outside the penalty box in the 37th minute.

Castain doubled the advantage in the 53rd minute with a tap-in from Walbruch for her 21st goal of the season.

A few moments later, Blum — the Utah rising senior who had as second assist on Castain’s goal — then converted off a defensive error to stretch the host’s lead to 3-0 in the 55th minute.

By the 60th minute when Hladek finished a corner kick from Lucy Kesler, the rout was on for Utah United.

“I think we’ve got a lot of depth, and we were able to come in after they prepared for a team that they played in the first half — and we had a different team in the second half, with fresh legs and new energy,” Castain said. “We came out really strong, and they weren’t ready for it.

“We did a really good job of utilizing our depth to our advantage.”

With limited training opportunities due to travel schedules — Utah United’s playoff run moved from the Western Conference finals in Stockton, California, to Eagan, Minnesota in last week’s USL W semifinals — the club bonded even closer.

“I think the results speak for themselves,” Rath said. “Our chemistry from day one and our first game, we’ve carried ourselves so well throughout.

“Every person played their part, and that was really important for getting the result tonight.”

Utah United celebrates after a 4-0 win over NC Courage U23 in the USL W Final, Saturday, July 19, 2025 at South Field in Provo, Utah.
Utah United celebrates after a 4-0 win over NC Courage U23 in the USL W Final, Saturday, July 19, 2025 at South Field in Provo, Utah. (Photo: Tyler Staten, Utah United)

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

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Dr. Eugene F. Orbaker Obituary

Dr. Eugene F. Orbaker, age 95, of Brockport, New York, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025. A devoted educator, coach, veteran, and mentor, he left behind a legacy of service, scholarship, and sport that profoundly shaped generations of students and athletes. Born on April 21, 1930, Dr. Orbaker dedicated much of his life to […]

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Dr. Eugene F. Orbaker, age 95, of Brockport, New York, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025. A devoted educator, coach, veteran, and mentor, he left behind a legacy of service, scholarship, and sport that profoundly shaped generations of students and athletes.

Born on April 21, 1930, Dr. Orbaker dedicated much of his life to education and athletics. He served with distinction as a member of the faculty at SUNY College at Brockport from 1958 until his retirement in 1995. As Associate Professor of Physical Education and Sport, he played a foundational role in the development of both the academic and athletic programs at the college. Upon retirement, he was honored with the title of Associate Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Orbaker was a standout athlete in his own right. As a student at Brockport, he was recognized as an All-New York State soccer player in 1950, 1951, and 1952, and an All-American in 1951 and 1952. He competed in the 1951 Olympic Trials and earned spots on the All-North and All-South teams. His leadership was evident early on, serving as treasurer of the Student Faculty Association and being elected to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.

A proud veteran, Dr. Orbaker served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1962, both in active duty and the reserves. During his military service, he played international soccer throughout Latin and South America as part of the Military Team.

Before and during his tenure at Brockport, Dr. Orbaker shared his love of sport and education as a teacher and coach. He taught health and physical education and coached soccer, wrestling, and track and field in the East Meadow Public Schools on Long Island. At Brockport, he coached varsity lacrosse, women’s varsity soccer, varsity tennis, and the freshman men’s soccer team. He also served as director of intramurals and the College Camp, and as co-adviser to the college’s ice hockey club.

Dr. Orbaker was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary. He is survived by his sister Betty Eaton; sons, Daniel (Darlene) and Thomas (Brandy); grandchildren Colton (Kayla), Caleb (Margaret), Jacob, and Molly; and five great-grandchildren, who carry on his values of commitment, education, and community.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, from 4-6 pm at Fowler Funeral Home Inc., 340 West Ave., Brockport where a funeral service will follow at 6 pm. Interment will be held privately in Lakeview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute to your favorite charity in Eugene’s memory.

A life so richly lived leaves a lasting imprint. Dr. Orbaker will be remembered for his integrity, mentorship, and the enduring impact he made on the lives of his students, colleagues, friends, and family.

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Posted online on July 20, 2025

Published in Rochester Democrat and Chronicle



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USC Trojans’ Lincoln Riley Buying Time With NIL?

USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley joined the program ahead of the 2022 college football season with high expectations. The program has yet to make the College Football Playoff under Riley, and are coming off a disappointing season. In 2024, the Trojans finished with a 7-6 record, going 4-5 in Big Ten conference play. Though the […]

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USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley joined the program ahead of the 2022 college football season with high expectations. The program has yet to make the College Football Playoff under Riley, and are coming off a disappointing season.

In 2024, the Trojans finished with a 7-6 record, going 4-5 in Big Ten conference play. Though the team did earn and win a bowl game, it was Riley’s worst season with USC. Only winning four conference matchups and going on a three-game losing streak was not a good look for Riley, leading to the belief that he is on the hot seat.





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Can video game ratings affect NIL valuations for college players?

With college sports video games making a return, players may have a valid reason for being concerned about their ratings. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe plays the new EA Sports College Football 25 video game at the McDonald Hughes Center in Tuscaloosa. Milroe is one of the players featured on the game’s cover. | Gary Cosby […]

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With college sports video games making a return, players may have a valid reason for being concerned about their ratings.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe plays the new EA Sports College Football 25 video game at the McDonald Hughes Center in Tuscaloosa. Milroe is one of the players featured on the game’s cover. | Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK

EA Sports’ new College Football 26 game has altered the way college players are compensated. Not only will players receive a check for being in the video game, but their schools will also see revenue depending on how often their university is featured in the game.



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