BATON ROUGE, LA. – Bethune-Cookman Track and Field concluded the 2025 season at Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships with a 5th place men’s finish and 8th place women’s finish this weekend at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The Wildcat men finished fifth out of eleven total teams with 80 total points. Texas Southern took the team title with 136 points, followed by Jackson State with 125 and Alabama State with 93.

Carlos Moore and Michael Walker were the only Wildcats to secure a first-place finishes on the week – Moore jumping a first place 6.88m in the long jump and Walker marking a first-place 52.70m in the javelin.

 

Victor Kibet’s 32:37.05 time was good for a third-place finish in the 10000m.

 

Kaden McKire finished third in the Heptathlon 1000m with a 2:56.63 time.

Shanard Walker earned a third place finish in the 400m final with a time of 45.73.

 

A group of Wildcat men secured the third-place podium spot in the 4×100 Relay with a 40.29 time.

 

The B-CU women finished eighth out of eleven teams with 41 points. Florida A&M took the title with 127.5 points, followed by Alabama State with 124.5 points and Southern University with 105.5 points.

 

Jamelia Simmons was the top finisher for the Wildcats with a second-place 2:32.69 finish in the Indoor Pentathlon 800m. She also finished second in the Indoor Pentathlon High Jump with 1.53m.

Riana Wilford earned a third place finish in the pole vault with a mark of 3.18m

Kasie Ugeh finished second in the javelin with a mark of 40.08m. She also finished third in the discus with a mark of 42.70m.

The full list of B-CU times and finishes is listed below:

Men’s Dec 100m

4. Brandon Pierce 11.66

6. Kaden McKire 11.94

8. Carlos Moore 12.29

Men’s 400m Finals

3. Shanard Walker 45.73

Men’s Dec Long Jump

3. Kaden McKire 6.45m

4. Carlos Moore 6.42m

6. Brandon Pierce 6.04m

Men’s Dec Shot Put

6. Brandon Pierce 9.03m

7. Kaden McKire 9.01m

8. Carlos Moore 8.15m

Men’s Dec High Jump

3. Kaden McKire 1.80m

4. Carlos Moore 1.74m

4. Brandon Pierce 1.74m (PR)

Men’s Dec 400m

3. Brandon Pierce 53.04

7. Carlos Moore 58.04

8. Kaden McKire 1:03.35

Men’s 1500m Finals

7. Ryan Longmire 4:06.81

10. Victor Kibet 4:14.20

Men’s Hammer Throw

5. Jordan Riche 50.54m

 

Men’s Long Jump

6. Xavier Bogan 7.15m

8. Sytrevion Dyer 7.13m

10. Michael Carter 7.02m

 

Men’s Javelin Throw

1. Michael Walker 52.17

6. Nehemiah Armstrong 49.88

 

Men’s 10000m

3. Victor Kibet 32:37.05

Men’s 5000m

6. Victor Kibet 16:12.26

 

Men’s Dec 110mH

3. Brandon Pierce 15.77

4. Carlos Moore 17.09

 

Men’s Dec Discus

6. Brandon Pierce 22.93m

7. Carlos Moore 18.18m

8. Kaden McKire 18.10m

 

Men’s Dec Pole Vault

5. Brandon Pierce 3.30m

7. Carlos Moore 2.90 (PR)

 

Men’s Dec Javelin

5. Brandon Pierce 34.90m

6. Carlos Moore 34.71m

8. Kaden McKire 32.33

 

Men’s Dec 1500m

3. Brandon Pierce 5:18.34

7. Carlos Moore 5:31.06 (PR)

8. Kaden McKire 7:28.55

 

Men’s Shot Put

7. William Rothmiller 14.94m (PR)

 

Men’s 3000m SC

4. Majet Bethely 9:58.92

6. Gerrard Griffin 10:21.52 (PR)

Men’s 5000m

6. Victor Kibet 16:12.26

Men’s 4×100 Relay

3. Ja’Quon King, Shanard Walker, Jonathan Gaines, Montreal Bennett 40.29

Men’s 4×400 Relay

5. Ja’Quon King, Shanard Walker, Jonathan Gaines, Jancent Wallace 3:10.40

 

Men’s Pole Vault

4. Jabari Armant 4.27m

10. Brandon Pierce 3.37m

Men’s Triple Jump

11. Michael Carter 14.69m

Men’s Discus

5. William Rothmiller 45.75m

10. Michael Walker 44.02m

Men’s Hammer

5. Jordan Riche 50.54m

Men’s Javelin

1. Michael Walker 52.70m

6. Nehemiah Armstrong 49.88m

Men’s Decathlon

4. Brandon Pierce 5344 points

6. Carlos Moore 4654 points

8. Kaden McKire 3299 points

Women’s Hept 100mH

11. Jamelia Simmons 16.85

Women’s Hept High Jump

3. Jamelia Simmons 1.59m

Women’s Hept Shot Put

5. Jamelia Simmons 9.94m

Women’s Hept 200m

4. Jamelia Simmons 25.74

Women’s Javelin Throw

2. Kasie Ugeh 40.08m

9. Jamelia Simmons 33.15m

 

Women’s Long Jump

10. Zion Harvey 5.56m

 

Women’s Hept Long Jump

8. Jamelia Simmons 5.10m

Women’s Hept Javelin

3. Jamelia Simmons 28.96m

 

Women’s Hept 800m

3. Jamelia Simmons 2:33.77 (SB)

 

Women’s Shot Put

7. Kasie Ugeh 12.62m

13. Mychaela Parker 11.95m

 

Women’s Pole Vault

3. Riana Wilford 3.18m

 

Women’s High Jump

8. Jamelia Simmons 1.57m

9. LaNeeya Garrison 1.52m

 

Women’s 3000m SC

8. Valencia Butler 12:43.17

Women’s 4×400 Relay

5. Haely Grant, Zion Harvey, Morgan Middleton, Alyssa Williams 3:48.38

Women’s Triple Jump

14. Lauren Johnson 11.55m

19. LaNeeya Garrison 10.89m

Women’s Discus

3. Kasie Ugeh 42.70m

8. Camille Armstrong 39.35m

Follow Bethune-Cookman Cross Country/Track & Field on Twitter (@BCUTrackXC) and Instagram (BCUXCTF) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and www.bcuathletics.com. 

–#HailWildcats–

 
 

Manheim Central and Cedar Crest have been on a collision course since mid-April.

The Barons and the Falcons took care of their business, maneuvered through their schedules, and they’ll indeed collide for Lancaster-Lebanon League boys volleyball supremacy on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Ephrata Middle School.

For Central, this is old hat. The Barons are the back-to-back reigning league champs, after topping Warwick in the finale in 2023 and again last spring. Central is going for a three-peat in the L-L bracket.

Nobody has done that since Hempfield, which won crowns in 2018, 2019 and 2021; the 2020 season, you’ll recall, was cancelled because of COVID-19. The Black Knights own a record 24 L-L championship banners, but none since 2021.

Cedar Crest, meanwhile, is making its maiden voyage to an L-L finale, after coach Monica Sheaffer and her Falcons (17-2 overall) captured the Section 1 championship for the first time in program history.

Central (17-0) pocketed its third straight Section 2 title, and coach Craig Dietrich and his Barons have ripped off 38 league victories in a row. They’ll pick up that streak next spring.

This is the first of what Dietrich and his crew are hoping will be three championship appearances. Central fell to Exeter in last year’s District 3 finale, on the way to a setback against Meadville in the PIAA championship match — both in Class 2A. The Barons would love to clear those hurdles this time around, and they have the weapons and the experience to do it.

But one match at a time — starting with the L-L grand finale against Cedar Crest.

There will be plenty of firepower on the floor for both squads, who clashed on April 16 in a nonleague showdown in Manheim. The Barons blanked the Falcons 3-0 in that match, winning 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 to hand Cedar Crest its first setback this season.

That’s when the collision course was hatched.

The Falcons’ other loss was a 3-2 thriller at Warwick in a Section 1 match last month. Cedar Crest shook off that setback and hung on for the outright section crown when the Warriors fell to Hempfield on the last night of league play.

Reagan Miller had 20 kills and 13 digs, Eastern University recruit Landon Mattiace had six blocks and Dylan Musser set up 42 assists for Central in the first meeting against Cedar Crest.

That senior trio makes the Barons tick. In fact, Musser, a four-year starter at setter, went over 2,500 career assists in the Barons’ 3-0 win over Warwick in the semifinals on Monday.

Aidan Vukovich had 12 kills and Ryder Rohrer teed up 31 assists for Cedar Crest in their first meeting against Central. Vukovich teams with St. Francis University commit Jack Wolgemuth, Tate Tadajweski, Jacob Alnoor and Drake Stiver to give the Falcons — who topped Cocalico 3-0 in the semifinals — an imposing front row.

Blake Neiles, Weston Longenecker and Caleb Groff are reliable hitters alongside Miller and Mattiace up front for Central, and keep an eye on the liberos in this clash; Tyler Hackleman for the Falcons and Colin Rohrer for the Barons can both keep points alive with their digging ability.

The crux? There should be plenty of fancy kills and clutch blocks in this matchup. So all eyes on the little things, like the serve game — both teams feature power-hitting jump-servers — cutting down on hitting and net errors and defensive prowess in the back row.

Both teams will continue on in the District 3 playoffs. Cedar Crest, which has sewed up the No. 3 seed in 3A, will host a first-round match on May 20. Central, the top seed in 2A, has a first-round bye, and the Barons will host a quarterfinal on May 22.

Central started the week at No. 2 in 2A and Cedar Crest at No. 8 in 3A in the PVCA state rankings, so coaches around the commonwealth think highly about the L-L finalists.

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DISTRICT 3 BOYS VOLLEYBALL POWER RATINGS

PVCA BOYS VOLLEYBALL STATE RANKINGS

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MORE L-L LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL COVERAGE

Saddleback College’s women’s beach volleyball team is teeming with success this season going 2 and 3 in their qualifying matches for conference. At the heart of its surge is a freshman duo kicking ass and taking names. Meg Gardner and Sophie Vienna, a pair of indoor volleyball standouts, turned their attention to the sand, and are leading the Bobcats’ charge into conference play with a chemistry born from fierce competition — and the shared dream of nationals.

Gardner, a Laguna Beach High alumna, and Vienna, coming from Edison High in Huntington Beach, are both 5-foot-8 freshman stars who balance academic grit with athletic aspiration being classified as student-scholar athletes. These tenacious volleyball players bring skill to the court, and their dynamic bond is proving to be one of Saddleback’s greatest assets.

But their journey hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows.

“When we first started out, we hated each other,” Vienna said. “We were always bickering and competing. But it was because we were so similar, but we both wanted to win so badly.”

That rivalry, once a source of tension, evolved into something great. Over time, the two athletes turned conflict into chemistry. They decided to capitalize on each other’s skills and work towards a shared goal.

“It was hard to work through,” Gardner said. “But over time, we put in the effort and started to really trust each other. Now, we lift each other up— literally and emotionally.”

That connection is unmistakable on the sand. Vienna plays with relentless energy. Her passion has been noticed by a Division I offer from the University of Southern Charleston.

Gardner, meanwhile, typically dominates at the net as a talented blocker in indoor volleyball, often intimidating opponents with her now-signature scowl.

“I stand at the net anticipating an overpass,” Gardner said. “It’s all about getting into the other team’s head.”

Off the court, the pair’s discipline continues. They explained that they maintain a strict training and nutrition regimen that includes weightlifting, protein-packed meals and massaging each other routinely.

Pre-game, they will chug a protein shake and have a Jersey Mike Sandwich. Then they like to run drills to get warm. Focused on victory, it’s no surprise that nerves rarely get to them before a match.

“We’re never nervous,” Vienna said. “What is to be nervous about if we work with each other so diligently?”

Once rivals, Gardner and Vienna have transformed into the kind of duo that reads each other’s movements and moods without words.

“We know when to talk and when to keep quiet,” Vienna said. “We fill in the cracks for each other.”

With conference play intensifying and formidable opponents that lie ahead, the duo is embracing the challenge.

“There are some really great teams,” Gardner said, “but we’re excited to take them on.”

Their goal? To experience Nationals together.

And with the momentum they’re building and the bond they’ve forged the team hopes to see great things out of their duo.

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Six Princeton student-athletes have been named finalists for the 2025 Chris Sailer Leadership Award in honor of Chris Sailer, Hall-of-Fame women’s lacrosse coach at Princeton from 1987-2022. The award, made possible by Lucy Small DeStefano ’99 S94 and Chris DeStefano ’94 S99, is awarded annually to senior student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to serving others. 
 
The Chris Sailer Leadership Award will be presented at the Gary Walters ’67 Princeton Varsity Club Awards Banquet on Thursday, May 22nd starting at 5:00 p.m. ET. For more information on the 2025 banquet, click here.

Meet the 2025 finalists!

MIA COENE | WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY 

Mia Coene is a forward and two-year captain for Princeton women’s ice hockey. A reliable, two-way player known for her leadership and commitment to both ends of the ice, Coene appeared in more than 120 games during her career, including serving as the center for the team’s checking line. A two-time ECAC All-Academic Team honoree and record-setting performer in the weight room, Coene is regarded as one of the most respected players and impactful leaders to come through the program.

 

Off the ice, Coene has supported her team as a SCORRE leader to promote healthy interpersonal relationships, and served on the Varsity Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (VSAAC), helping to enhance the collective student-athlete experience.

 

Additionally, Coene has worked as a research assistant on campus, volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and interned with Let Her Play, a nonprofit promoting girls participation in sports programming.

 

Coene is a politics major from Clayton, N.Y.

 

ISAAC ROTENBERG | MEN’S WATER POLO 

Isaac Rotenberg is a two-year captain and four-time Academic All-American honoree for Princeton men’s water polo. He helped guide the Tigers to four consecutive CWPA league championships and NCAA appearances, including a berth in the 2023 NCAA Final Four following a single-season record for wins. A steady and selfless leader, Rotenberg tallied more than 30 goals and 80 assists during his Princeton career.

 

Out of the pool, Rotenberg serves as vice president of the Varsity Student-Athlete Advisory Committee where he works with the Department of Athletics to help elevate the overall Princeton student-athlete experience across all 38 varsity programs. He is also a Student-Athlete Wellness Leader, SCORRE leader and member of Athlete Ally. Additionally, Rotenberg has been active with the Tiger Sustainable Investment Group during his time at Princeton.

 

Rotenberg is a classics major from Atherton, Calif.

 

 
THOMAS ROSINI | MEN’S SQUASH
Thomas Rosini is a two-year captain for Princeton men’s squash. A CSA First Team All-American, Rosini helped the Tigers to the 2024 Ivy League championship behind a dramatic 5-4 team win over Penn in the last match ever played in Jadwin Gym. Rosini’s versatility and selflessness have been on display throughout his career, anchoring the Tiger ladder anywhere from the No. 1 to No. 6 positions.
 
In his role as team captain, Rosini spearheaded collaboration with the coaching staff to implement helpful improvements to the program’s operations, which helped propel the Tigers to back-to-back CSA Potter Cup semifinal appearances. Rosini demonstrated an uncanny ability to inspire others and drive meaningful and lasting change.
 
A CSA Scholar-Athlete and Gladwyne, Pa. native, Rosini is majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Computer Science. He serves as an elected Undergraduate Student-Representative for Princeton’s Department of Philosophy.
 

AVERY SHUNNESON | MEN’S TRACK & FIELD 

Avery Shunneson is two-year captain for Princeton men’s track & field, having etched his name on Princeton’s all-time performance list in both the weight throw and discus. He has helped the Tigers to seven Heps team titles during his career, including three seasons culminating in the Triple Crown achievement (championships in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in the same academic year). 

 

An exceptional leader since stepping into his role as captain his junior year, Shunneson has fostered a culture of accountability and unity across all event groups. Similarly, as president of his Princeton eating club, he has worked to create a more connected and inclusive environment within the club and on campus.

 

Outside of Princeton, Shunneson has worked with Habitat for Humanity and volunteered as a chef at a restaurant offering free meals to those in need.

 

Shunneson is from Denver, Colo. and studying in the schools of public and international affairs.

 

MIKEY SQUIRES | WRESTLING 

Mikey Squires is a team captain and two-year starter at both 174 and 184 lbs. for Princeton wrestling. This past season saw Squires capture the 184 lbs. championship at the Princeton Open while being ranked as high as No. 27 nationally.

 

Regardless of whether he was in the Tigers’ starting line-up, Squires remained a steady, optimistic and model leader that set the standard in the wrestling room and embodied the program’s theme of “whatever it takes.” He would selflessly train and prepare fellow teammates at his weight, and make the personal sacrifice to move up or down a weight class if it made the Princeton line-up stronger. 

 

Off the mat, Squires is an active member of the Student Athlete Service Council (SASC). He is also a peer mentor for the international Internship Program and volunteer coach for the Princeton Wrestling Club youth program.

 

Squires is a computer science major from Norwich, N.Y.

 

GRACIE WOOD | WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL 

Gracie Wood is a setter and two-year captain for Princeton women’s volleyball. This past season saw Wood finish second on the team in assists and assists-per-set, helping the Tigers to the second Ivy League title of her career. Wood’s quiet leadership has helped Princeton to an 80% league winning percentage during her career.

 

Off the court, Wood has supported her team as a Student-Athlete Wellness Leader and SCORRE leader, helping to foster student-athlete mentorship and healthy relationships. She has also been active with the Asian Student-Athletes of Princeton (ASAP) affinity group and worked as an undergraduate student researcher and student crew manager at Reunions.

 

Wood has been the lead student organizer around gameday operations for home men’s volleyball contests, while also serving as the lead recruit host for her program as part of prospective student-athlete’s visits to campus.

 

Wood is a psychology major from San Diego, Calif.

 

MEET CENTRAL | MEET SCHEDULE | HEAT SHEETS
WATCH (Fri. and Sat.) | LIVE RESULTS (Flash Results Texas)

NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans track and field team is headed to Wendel D. Ley Track & Holloway Field for the 2025 edition of the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships. The meet, hosted by Rice, will take place Thursday through Saturday.

Helen Baumgarten, competing in the women’s heptathlon, will get things underway for the Privateers at 1 p.m. Thursday with the event’s 100-meter hurdles. The final event for UNO is scheduled to be the men’s 4×400-meter relay with Travian Johnson, Tshilidzi Netshiombo, Jameel Williamson and Darryl George Jr. set to compete for the Privateers at 8:40 p.m. Saturday.

Taj Morris currently ranks No. 2 in the Southland with a time of 14.10 in the 110-meter hurdles. Christopher Murphy ranks No. 2 in the long jump with a season-best leap of 7.58 meters. Madonna Favour ranks No. 3 in both the 100-meter dash (10.20) and 200-meter dash (10.74). The men’s 4×100-meter relay team of Murphy, Favour, George Jr. and Daryl Bachmann ranks No. 3 with a time of 39.51.

Baumgarten checks in at No. 6 in the Southland with a time of 13.92 in the 100-meter hurdles, and Petra Imre is No. 7 with a time of 38:33.84 in the 10,000 meters.

Favour’s time in the 100-meter dash at the TCU Horned Frog Invite, Murphy’s jump at the LSU Alumni Gold, and the 4×100 relay team’s time at the same event are all on pace to qualify for the NCAA East Regionals in Jacksonville, Fla on May 28-31.

Fans can watch Friday and Saturday’s events live on ESPN+. Live Results for all three days of competition will be available courtesy of Flash Results Texas here. Updates will also be made available on @PrivateersTFXC on X throughout the weekend.

BLUES ON TUES. NEWSLETTER
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
Keep up to date with everything New Orleans Cross Country and Track & Field. Follow @PrivateersTFXC on Twitter/X, @PrivateersTFXC on Instagram, like /PrivateersTFXC on Facebook and subscribe to the UNOPrivateers YouTube channel.
 

By Kelly Bowen, Staff Writer

Every eye was fixed on the court as the Warrenton boys volleyball team stood one point away from history in the fourth set of the Class 1, District 10 quarterfinals on May 9. 

Leading 24-23, Matthew Faubion knew exactly who to turn to. 

“Be ready for a back set,” Faubion, a setter, told teammate Austin White. 

“I thought he would be the best option in that play because they might be expecting me to go outside again like I had been, so I decided a back set would be the best,” Faubion said. 

White’s poised exterior was reflective of his intense focus within. 

“I was in the mode and I was ready to kill the ball,” White said. “When the ball was in the air, I thought I’d go up and make the play I’d been making all night.” 

As the Wolves served the ball over the net, Brayden Brown was the first to answer and passed it to Faubion. From there, Faubion delivered a back set to White. 

On the right side of the court, White soared, striking the ball up and over the net smack down in the middle. When the ball hit the ground, the crowd erupted. 

“It was the best feeling ever,” White said. “I envisioned it before the play happened so I was really excited to get that point.” 

“It was really fulfilling to win,” Faubion added. 

The win was more than a postseason triumph. For the Warriors, it was a night of firsts — their first home victory and their first district win. 

The matchup also carried weight as Warrenton had dropped three sets to the Wolves in the program’s inaugural game. 

“We were talking about how ironic this game is and what a story it would be if we came in here and won our first district match after we lost to Timberland our first game,” Coach Jake Brown said. “We came out and responded, it was just awesome. I don’t know if I’ll even be able to sleep tonight.” 

The Warriors and the Wolves kept the game close the entire night. Warrenton took the first two sets (25-23, 25-22). Timberland took the third (25-22) and Warrenton sealed the deal in the fourth (25-23). 

Whether it was making sure to watch film, chewing neurogum or starting the game off with White’s signature flip, the Warriors each had their own innuendos to keep them motivated in the tight-knit match. 

“I just focused on the things that I could control,” Faubion said. “I knew that I would have to step up a little bit and make sure my sets were on.” 

Some players admitted they felt some postseason nerves before the game. 

“We were dreading this game all week to be honest but we were glad we had Timberland since they were our first game. Seeing that we had them in the first round really put that fire in us,” White said. 

“Last time we played this team, they whooped us but we’ve come a long way since the beginning of the season. It felt nice (to win). This is my first time ever playing volleyball,” Brayden Brown added. 

Coach Brown had different feelings. 

“I always had faith in our guys and I knew that we could learn how to play volleyball,” he said. “I had two of the coaches tonight say you have more athletes on your team than any other team that’s here and I believe that.” 

For a team that started the season with just one player having competitive volleyball experience, the journey was transformative.

Though Warrenton fell to St. Francis Borgia in the semifinals (3-0), they closed their inaugural season with a 5-17 record — and a lasting statement.

“I’ve always been really confident in our group of guys,” Brown said. “It’s our first win at home and winning this game here was huge.”