TEWKSBURY — Oli­via Jensen and Maggie Kinnon are bringing a new inclusive track program to the town this summer. The Buddy Track program will happen at Tewksbury Me­morial High School on five afternoons, and provide specially-abled students from grades pre-K through high school and the LEAP pro­gram a chance to have fun and run.

Organized by the DECA club at TMHS, the dates are June 29, July 13, July 20, Aug. 3, and Aug. 10. Each program day will run from 1 – 2 p.m. A registration form is required for participation, and a modest $5 is asked to cover the cost of a program t-shirt. The track program is for Tewksbury residents.

The summer fun program is the brainchild of Kinnon.

“The idea stemmed from me originally, I’ve loved participating in the buddy basketball and baseball program over the past few years, but felt an absence of a summer activity. I shared my idea [with] Olivia, and it really took off from there. We hope for it to be a great way to strengthen the connection between high school­ers, especially DECA members, and the special needs community.”

Over the five Sundays, students will have the chance to learn about track and compete in various events. Parti­cipants will be matched with a TMHS student volunteer, and learn a new running or field skill each week. Accor­ding to Kinnon and Jen­sen, volunteers will be fully engaged with the athletes to aid in the learning and performing process.

Athletes will have an initial performance re­view and will have their progress measured each week.

Jensen is excited for the program.

“When Maggie came up with the idea of the summer Buddy Track program, I was super excited. We quickly got to planning schedules, and decided to do one running event and one field event each day,” said Jensen.

The duo is hoping that student who might not have tried track and field events previously will give it a try.

Both Kinnon and Jen­sen are part of the Best Buddies program at TMHS and work to support specially-abled athletes. The pair were re­cently part of the TMHS team showing at the Merrimack Valley Con­ference Unified Track event, an affiliate of the Special Olympics.

Kinnon and Jensen said that all student participants will be provided with medals on the final day of the program, along with a performance and progress evaluation. Volunteers will be TMHS students from Best Buddies, DECA, and the track team.

Best Buddies is an or­ganization dedicated to establishing a global vol­unteer movement that creates opportunities or one to one friendships, in­tegrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

DECA is a business marketing program for students to compete in real world business scenario competitions locally and nationally. Both programs emphasize community par­ticipation and leadership, and over the years have conducted many outreach activities in town.

Students can attend just those weeks that fit their family schedule. The $5 fee will be collected at the first session attended to help defray costs.

Interested families should sign up at https://forms.gle/E1iVhnbuTaVyV17p6

For questions regarding the Buddy Track Program, email:  kinnonm27@tewksbury.k12.ma.us and jenseno28@tewksbury.k12.ma.us.

Overview

Spain became the first nation to win this title four times ahead of Greece, Italy, Serbia and Hungary. The last came well before any of the current batch of players was born — 1991 when it beat Cuba for the title in California, USA. Previous titles were in 1987 and 1983. It last played a final in 2011, losing to Serbia and before that, second to Italy in 1993. It is the seventh medal after also collecting bronze in 2005.

For USA, the silver medal was an improvement on 2023’s first medal at this level — a bronze medal-win over Greece. A handful of players from 2023 returned for this year’s event.

In beating Hungary for bronze, Croatia now has two of that colour to go with two gold and four silver. Hungary lost its chance to increase its record of 11 medals since the tournament’s inception in 1981.

In the lower rankings today, Serbia took fifth place over Montenegro 21-14, Greece overcame Italy 12-10 for seventh, Germany nudged out Australia 13-12 for ninth, China played a blinder to defeat Iran 17-11, Brazil was too good for Canada for 13^th place and Argentina took 15^th, beating Kazakhstan 14-7.

Final Placings

1. Spain
2. United States of America
3. Croatia
4. Hungary
5. Serbia
6. Montenegro
7. Greece
8. Italy
9. Germany
10. Australia
11. China
12. Iran
13. Brazil
14. Canada
15. Argentina
16. Kazakhstan
17. Colombia
18. Singapore
19. South Africa
20. New Zealand.

Awards

Most Valuable Player
Ryder Dodd (USA)

Best Goalkeeper
Aran Pina (ESP)

Highest Goal-Scorer
Vlaho Pavlic (CRO) — 30

Media All Star Team

Goalkeeper
Aran Pina (ESP)
Centre Forward
Semir Spachits (GRE)
Field Players
Oier Aguirre (ESP)
Ryder Dodd (USA)
Apostolos Georgaras (GRE)
Oliver Leinweber (HUN)
Vlaho Pavlic (CRO)

Match Reports

Classification 1-2

Match 62, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 11 SPAIN 13 (1-3, 6-2, 1-3, 3-6)

Spain was jubilant, especially after having to come from 8-5 behind early in the third quarter and three go-ahead USA goals in the final period. It was the sustained pressure and resilience of the Spanish that grabbed two important goals inside the final three minutes and then the final “icing-on-the-cake” halfway shot from match hero Albert Sabadell. USA had worked hard for victory but it was Spain’s day, becoming a four-time champion.

Spain controlled the first quarter and rejected a Ryder Dodd penalty shot thanks to goalkeeper Aran Pina. Sabadell scored his third to start the second quarter when smothered by players for 4-1, an advantage snuffed out in quick fashion by the resurgent North Americans. Peter Castillo, Ryan Ohl and tournament MVP Dodd made sure of that. Marc Rodriguez scored on extra close in for the 5-4 Spanish lead. Bode Brinkema, Ben Liechty on penalty and Ryan Ohl took USA to 7-5 by 0:47 and halftime.

Ryan Ohl made it three for him to start the third period and an incredible three-goal lead over the only unbeaten team in Zagreb. Eudald Flaque responded with a lob shot at 4:40. Both teams went to a timeout with no result. However, at 1:56, Joan Villamayor converted a penalty foul and Biel Gomila equalised off the right-post position on extra with the cross-pass goal for 8-8 at the close of the quarter. Brinkema, Corbin Stanley and Liechty played “swapsie” with Spain’s Oier Aguirre, Sabadell and Gomila for 11-11 at 4:33. Sabadell threw the extra-man goal for a Spanish lead at 2:28. Dodd bounced over an open goal with Tomas Perrone converting a penalty for 13-11 at 0:55. USA sent seven field players up, lost the ball and Sabadell scored into an empty goal from well inside his half. It was 14-11 and there was no way USA was coming back from that. Spain had retained its unbeaten sequence to six wins.

Match Heroes
Sabadell was Spain’s hero with six goals for 17 in Zagreb. Aguirre was kept to one today but scored 22 and Tomas Perrone’s lone penalty goal gave him 15 for the week. Goalkeeper Pina made nine valuable saves and was named goalkeeper of the tournament, not bad considering he was sharing the duties with Didac Garcia who played one full match and two partials. For USA, Ryan Ohl (8) scored three with Liechty, Brinkema (12) and Dodd two for the second best here with 28 goals. Charlie Mills was again in form with 11 saves in goal.

Turning Point
The last three minutes when Spain kept the rampant North Americans scoreless after they dominated for a long period.

Stats Don’t Lie
Spain converted five from 12 on extra and denied 11 of 13, On penalties, went three from four. USA had the steals at 5-3 and both teams shot 35 times.

Bottom Line
Spain knows how to win finals while USA had never been to the final match before. USA used its senior internationals with seven goals but Spain’s all-round play and eight scorers proved telling.

Editor’s note: Referee Veselin Miskovic (MNE) called this final in 2021 and Daniel Bartels (AUS) officiated the 2015 junior women’s gold-medal final.

Classification 3-4

Match 61, HUNGARY 8 CROATIA 13 (2-4, 2-4, 1-2, 3-3)

Croatia turned the tables on Hungary when it mattered most. On day three, Hungary trounced Croatia 15-11 but today belonged to host team Croatia and its adoring and raucous fans. Hungary started with two goals in three minute before Croatia changed the face of the match, scoring the next four before quarter time. This became 6-2 by midway through the second quarter with Luka Penava becoming the dual scorer on counter. A Hungarian timeout did not work and Ante Jerkovic made it 7-2. Vince Varga scored from the top on extra, barring down after more than 10 and a half minutes of drought. Vlaho Pavlic netted his second and Oliver Leinweber scored his second on penalty for 8-4 at halftime.

Penava grabbed two more to start the third quarter. Martin Toth (CRO) and Gabrijel Burburan (CRO) were given their marching orders for fighting in front of the Hungarian goal just as Croatia had a clear counter opportunity. Maxim Cseh worked hard at centre forward for the 10-5 goal a minute from the final break. Leinweber hit the left post on penalty at the start of the final quarter and Cseh slotted two more to give Hungary hope at 10-7. Pavlic made it hard for Hungary on extra and Botond Balogh whipped in a missile on extra from the top right for 11-8 at 2:03. Possible but improbable. Pavlic put paid to any Hungarian hopes from the deep left at 1:24 when there was no Hungarian goalkeeper as there were seven field players in the pool. Maro Susic did the same with 50 seconds left, gifting the victory and the bronze medal to Croatia.

Match Heroes
Croatia’s best player was goalkeeper Mauro Cubranic with a tournament-high 18 saves. Pavlic and Panava scored four each with Pavlic’s contribution getting him to 30, the highest of the tournament. Susic scored twice and along with Jerkovic, finished with 13. Cseh, not on the scoring radar before today, stepped up when needed with three goals and Leinweber netted two, finishing with 22, eight more than Balogh, the next highest Hungarian. Goalkeeper David Szitas managed 10 saves.

Turning Point
Coming from two down to 7-2 ahead by midway through the second quarter was where Croatia won.

Stats Don’t Lie
Croatia converted five from 15 and stopped 14 of 19 on extra. Croatia scored one penalty goal and Hungary missed one of two. Croatia dominated the steals 7-5 and needed only 32 shots to Hungary’s 43.

Bottom Line
Croatia leaves with four victories and a better position than seventh in 2023. The bronze adds to two golds and four silvers. Only Hungary and Italy have played more finals. Outgoing champion Hungary will have to settle for fourth, but not what it came to Zagreb for.

Classification 5-6

Match 60, SERBIA 21 MONTENEGRO 14 (6-5, 5-3, 6-4, 4-2)

Montenegro held all the cards early on at 5-3 ahead with Serbia banging in three goals — two to Vuk Andelic — to grab the quarter-time lead at 6-5. From then on in it was a goal-fest with seemingly both teams throwing off the shackles of a possible medal match. Here it was all about pride between the separated conjoined twins and a chance to have a good time. Montenegro regained the lead through Danilo Stupar, for his third, and Tim Perov. Vuk Kojic, who scored Serbia’s first two goals, scored his third for 7-7 with Andelic and Miljan Dokanovic regaining the advantage at 9-7. By halftime, that score had changed to 11-8.

Srdan Janovic, who delivered the 9-8 goal for Montenegro, made it 11-9 at the start of the third period. Goals were traded with Kojic for Serbia and a double to Stupar. Two more Serbian goal rained in before Stupar responded. Serbia struck twice more and it was 17-12 at the final break. Goals were swapped early in the fourth quarter before Vuk Conkic rammed home a beautiful centre-forward goal. Goals were traded again and Relja Dankovic hammered the final nail in the coffin at 21-14 from deep right.

Match Heroes
Kojic had five goals coming into today’s match and top-scored for Serbia with four. Luka Gladovic (12), Dokanovic (9) and Andelic (12) collected three each. Goalkeeper David Dimkovic pulled in 11 saves. For Montenegro, Stupar was in excellent form with six goals for 18 in total. Janovic scored three to close at 14. Goalie Andrija Bjelica snared nine saves.

Turning Point
From 5-3 down to 9-7 ahead, Serbia enjoyed retaking the lead in the second quarter and stayed in front.

Stats Don’t Lie
Serbia scored four from eight on extra and Montenegro four from seven. Serbia converted bot penalty chance and Montenegro one. Montenegro stole the ball six to five and shot 41-38.

Bottom Line
Serbia goes home with four wins and down from silver two years ago. Montenegro had two wins, including one in a shootout but finished two better than in 2023. Serbia has eight medals and Montenegro one but as a conjoined nation for a period, collected two gold medals.

Classification 7-8

Match 59, ITALY 10 GREECE 12 (2-4, 3-2, 1-4, 4-2)

Greece and Italy squared off on day eight after playing each other on day one when Greece won 19-18. It was the same today except for the first quarter on day one it was a tie. Today, Greece led at all quarters. After Italy went 2-0 up, Greece replied with four goals. Italy responded at the start of the second period with swapping goals lead to a 6-5 halftime lead. Semir Spachits, showed why he was named centre forward of the tournament with his power centre-forward goal, edging out to the four-metre line at 5-3. Ioannis Tottis had his penalty attempt rejected.

Mattia di Corato levelled from two metres at the start of the third period only for Andrea Bitsakos to score his second and third goals from identical positions on the deep left. Two more Greek goals closed the period in favour of Greece 10-6.

Giorgi Giacomone and Saul Granados traded goals at the top of the fourth period. Then Italy made a huge comeback with three goals, from penalty (Alessandro Gulotta), on extra (Andrea Nuzzo) and Giacomone from the top right. It was 11-10 at 3:31 and Italy in with a chance. Spyridon Lykoudis netted his third on extra from the top left for 12-10 at 2:11. Italy took a timeout at 0:59 but could not find a way through the Greek defence, having to settle for eighth position.

Match Heroes
Greek goalkeeper Dimitrios Partsoglu, normally sitting on the bench, played the whole match for a magnificent, match-winning 15 saves. Lykoudis (11), Bitsakos (13) and Giannatos (9) scored three each. Georgaras, who scored twice, finished the best for Greece with 17 goals. Second was brilliant centre forward Spachits with one today and 16 in all. For Italy, Giacomone scored three for 17 and Marini sent in two for 12. Gullotta, who scored one today, topped the Italian scoring with 18 goals.

Turning Point
Greece overcoming the 2-0 deficit to 4-2 at the quarter-time buzzer. Italy came back to 6-6 but that was the closest it got.

Stats Don’t Lie
Greece converted six from 12 on extra and defended nine of 12. Greece missed one of two penalty attempts and Italy nailed its one chance. Italy made 12 steals to seven and outshot Greece 32-31.

Bottom Line
Greece, a triple winner, was fourth in 2023 but leaves Zagreb with three victories and the knowledge that it can beat Italy twice having won on day one 19-18. Italy was sixth two years ago and leaves with two victories but the knowledge that it was only three down on champion Spain on day two.

Classification 9-10

Match 58, AUSTRALIA 12 GERMANY 13 (3-3, 1-4, 3-3, 5-3)

Germany survived a late scare and a last-gasp Aussie shot by goalkeeper Oliver Purcell to secure ninth position. The scare was that Australia levelled at 11 and when Germany went two up, Australia struck back with plenty of time to spare. However, Germany held on and made sure of victory. Germany started with the first three goals, only for Australia to level by quarter time. Germany shuffled 5-3 ahead with Finn Taubert gaining a second goal. Australia missed a penalty chance and went three goals behind as Taubert earned his third goal. Australia called a timeout with no effect and had to face the music in the third quarter.

Ashton Brown came to the party, converting a penalty foul as goals were traded. Brown scored another on counter but Germany held strong and scored the last two as first-quarter Aussie scorer Jamie Sharman was red-carded for striking the face of a defender. Germany was still three ahead. Jake Martin made his presence known for Australia with identical extra-man goals to start the fourth quarter. German star Till Hofmann converted a penalty and Aussie skipper Harper Stewart scored on extra, as did Martin to shut the gap. It was now 11-11 and 4:45 left on the clock. Fynn Janke netted his second and Luk Jaschke countered to give Germany a 13-11 gap at 3:21. Brown snapped in a goal from the right-post position off a near pass and Australia was back in the match at 0:38. Germany used its time and dumped the ball. Purcell grabbed it , swum up and bounced the ball to goal, which was stopped and Germany had the victory.

Match Heroes
Taubert with his four goals to give him 11 for the week, seven behind Tillman, who made two today. Brown and Martin were best for Australia with three each while Daniel Magasanik, who was fouled out and kept from scoring today, finished top for the Aussies with 17 goals.

Turning Point
The three-goal start set the tone of the match, even though Australia came back to 3-3. Germany always held the edge and the slight buffer at the end.

Stats Don’t Lie
Statistics are unavailable, although Australia scored nine extra-man goals to three and missed one of two penalty attempts to Germany’s three from three.

Bottom Line
Germany has looked a good team all week and deserves the victory, finishing the tournament with five victories and just missing the top eight by one goal against Montenegro. It was 13^th in Bucharest two years ago. Australia goes home with three victories and one better placing than 2023.

Classification 11-12

Match 56, IRAN 11 CHINA 13 (2-3, 2-1, 3-6, 4-3)

Germany came through with an excellent, speedy game style that held out Iran who were reliant on captain Arman Shams, who finished with six goals and became one of the highest scorers of the tournament. China made the play in the first quarter with Iran catching up twice before Zhang Chengwei drilled from the top on extra for the 3-2, go-ahead strike. Shams, who found the net in the first period, equalised at 3:36 in the second quarter from the penalty line. Ali Shabanian gave Iran the frontal position with a blast from outside. Chinese captain Li Wanxiang converted extra from the top left on 0:58 for 4-4, the halftime scoreline. Ouyang Haiyuan found himself at the end of small passing contest to score from in front to open the third period and put China back in front, 5-4. Shams equalised on a short drive to the hole and Deng Zirui responded on a cross pass to the right post for 6-5.

Quarter three was full of action with China winning 6-3 for a three-goal margin at the last break. China used six different shooters while Iran relied heavily on Shams who added another three to his tally, including a penalty conversion. Farbod Borghei steered in a left-post ball from the near-side pass to open the fourth-quarter scoring. Goals were traded to 12-10 with Ali Abolgasemi netting twice, the first on penalty and the second from the top for 12-10. China pushed it out to three goals when Liu Jinyi went on counter to scoop in against the advancing goalkeeper at 2:53. Shams scored his sixth goal from the top at 1:58, forcing China to a timeout to settle the team at 13-11 ahead. It worked as no-one scored after that and China had 11^th classification.

Match Heroes
Iran’s Shams was the highest scorer with six goals, giving him 23 for the tournament. China’s Li Wanxiang topped the scoring with three and Yang netted two to make him his team’s best with nine goals. Zhang Yiwen took 11 saves in goal.

Turning Point
When China went ahead at the start of the third period and never relinquished the lead.

Stats Don’t Lie
China converted eight from 11 and defended six of 10 on extra. China scored both penalty attempts and Iran three. Iran made nine steals to four and shot 32 times to 27.

Bottom Line
China last played this event in 2019, finishing 16^th, so a big improvement. Iran was 15^th in 2023. China leaves with three victories and Iran two.

Classification 13-14

Match 56, BRAZIL 17 CANADA 8 (4-2, 5-1, 3-3, 5-2)

Brazil came through for its fifth victory in Zagreb while Canada has to be happy with four victories. Brazil was in total control in the first half with positive numbers, especially keeping Canada scoreless for 10 minutes. Lucas Wulfhorst has been the go-to man for Brazil all week and his penalty taking is excellent. He scored two in the first quarter and another in the second as Brazil kept steamrolling the Canadians. At 4-2 by the first break, Canada shot to 7-2 before Canadian head coach Pat Oaten called a timeout. Brazil then called a timeout after two minutes of not scoring and took another minute before Cesar da Silva made it 8-2 and thereafter Eduardo Carraresi from top right for 9-2. With 16 seconds left on the clock, Canada drew a penalty for Giancarlo Marquez to convert.

It was a tied third period as Canada came alive, Pavle Jelic converting extra, Nicholas Furneaux from the top and Marquez from the top left. Da Silva gained a second at centre forward and Carlo Martinelli scored two — from deep, either side of the goal — for 12-6 at the buzzer. Brazil sailed forth with two quick goals to 14-6 in the fourth. Canada then put the foot on the accelerator with two unanswered goals before Marquez and Brazil’s Luca Cereser were red-carded for brawling. Luiz Zerbielli scored a pair and Wulfhorst slotted his fourth penalty goal for 17-8.

Match Heroes
Wulfhurst (ARG) top-scored with four goals to bring him into the 20 club while Martinelli scored three. Diaz scored one for 15 in total. Lucas Gomes saved nine balls in goal. For Canada, Marquez sent in three and could have been more if he was not ejected from the pool. His tally was 19 goals with captain Leo Hachem second on 12.

Turning Point
From 4-2 to 9-2 and keeping Canada scoreless for 10 minutes.

Stats Don’t Lie
Brazil nailed two from five on extra and defended five from six. Canada scored all four penalty shots and Canada one. Canada made six steals to one and Brazil was on top with total shots at 34-27.

Bottom Line
Brazil was 10^th in 2023 while Canada’s last appearance was 2021 when it was also 10^th.

Classification 15-16

Match 55, ARGENTINA 14 KAZAKHSTAN 7 (5-2, 2-0, 3-2, 4-3)

Argentina began strongly with the first four goals — three to Alejo Teijeiro — to lift him to 19 for the week. Aldiyar Akimbay responded for Kazakhstan with a score on extra from the top and then on counter for 4-2. Adriano Mazzoni closed the scoring from the penalty line just before quarter time. Mazzoni started the second quarter from top left. It was some time later that Santiago Rivera needed VAR to decide whether his shot from the top left was over the line, which it was, for 7-2. There were only three shots on target for the rest of the period.

Almat Madimar started the Kazakhstan scoring and Nurassyl Satbergen closed on counter. In between, Mazzoni collected his third; Augusto Oliva beat the buzzer from seven metres and Teijeiro claimed his fourth on penalty. Akimbay had a penalty attempt thwarted. Argentina went into the final period 10-4 ahead. Teijeiro and Ivan Saavedra both scored from the penalty stripe with Madimar converting extra and Aslan Ospanov scoring from the deep left. Mazzoni gained his fourth for 13-6; Kazakhstan missed another penalty chance and goals were traded in the last minute with Kazakhstan’s Mstislav Bobrovskiy scoring his first goal of the week on penalty 30 seconds from going home.

Match Heroes
Teijeiro led the Argentinian scorers with five goals to take him to 21 for the tournament. Mazzoni’s four gave him a tally of 13. Martin del Rosso made 10 saves in goal. For Kazakhstan, Akimbay came into the match with 15 goal and finished with 17, the same number as Madimar, with his two today.

Turning Point
Argentina racing to 4-0 proved to be a killing point for Kazakhstan, something it struggled to recover from.

Stats Don’t Lie
Argentina failed to score its two extra-man chances but saved five of seven Kazakhstan chances. Argentina put away all seven penalty attempts with Kazakhstan missing two from three. Kazakhstan won the steals 14-7 and the overall shots 35-22, showing just how accurate Argentina’s shooting was.

Bottom Line
Argentina was 16^th two years ago, so this is progression. Kazakhstan was 14^th four years ago and did not compete in 2023.

South Africa’s U20 water polo team may have finished 19th in the world… but they finished first in our hearts, and apparently, on Gayton McKenzie’s emoji keyboard.

Global (22 June 2025) – It was a proud moment. A sporting victory. A big bold celebration for our team in green and gold.

Also… it was a match for 19th place.

But don’t tell that to South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who fired off a post so full of national pride, emojis, and unshakeable enthusiasm, it practically did a lap around the pool.

“We are the best sporting nation in the world ” – Gayton McKenzie via Facebook 

South Africa’s U20 water polo team had just beaten New Zealand 16–15 in a dramatic penalty shootout at the 2025 World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia and while it might have been the playoff for 19th place, it felt like Olympic gold online.

Cue the reactions.

“Well done to the lads for their win. But can we calm down a bit about a 19th place finish?”

“South Africa just won the ‘Ain’t nobody got time for small print’ world champs!!”

“So we ended 19th, is that what I’m seeing?? ”

“It looks like South Africa is using witchcraft on sports the way it is winning”

“What is this now? Hugging Championships? ”

“Operation ‘Win Everything’ is here.”

“A new Era is upon us, SA is doing extremely well in many frontiers ”

So what actually happened?

Let’s break it down.

South Africa’s U20 water polo squad had a tough run at the tournament, grouped with Brazil and Germany, both seasoned sides. They went on to face Colombia, Kazakhstan and Canada in the classification rounds, and while results didn’t go our way in those matches, the team stayed in the fight.

Then came New Zealand.

With both teams vying to avoid the dreaded bottom spot, it all came down to this final showdown. Four intense quarters ended in a 15–15 tie, which pushed the game into a penalty shootout. South Africa held their nerve and edged it 3–2, securing 19th place and a whole lot of unexpected internet fame.

“After two interesting matches decided in penalty shootouts, Colombia won 17th place, while South Africa avoided the bottom of the standings with a victory over New Zealand.”

Yes, it was for 19th place. No, it wasn’t a medal match. But context matters and this young team’s win is more than just a number on a chart. You see, South Africa is climbing. In recent years, our senior water polo teams have qualified for the Olympics, held strong at World Championships and helped put the sport on the map locally. Youth participation is growing, and our juniors are starting to show promise, just by qualifying for global tournaments like this one.

So maybe we’re not world champs just yet… but don’t tell that to Gayton McKenzie. Or to the players who hugged it out in that pool with proud smiles on their faces. Or to every South African who needed a win (even a 19th-place one) to make their day a little brighter.

Because if there’s one thing we’ll never run short of… it’s spirit (and jokes).

Sources: Gayton McKenzie Social Media | World Aquatics U20 Championships | Total Waterpolo 

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However, while McCoy and her team are not responsible for how WSU got into this situation, they are accountable for how WSU responds to it.

That is to say that the optics of a 10-minute Zoom meeting, in which 18-24-year-olds learn that their or their teammates’ athletic pursuits will no longer be supported by WSU, followed by little communication or dialogue, are not great and could have been easily avoided.

Would a question-and-answer period during the Zoom meeting have changed the outcome of numerous current athletes and alumni scorning the university? No, probably not.

However, student-athletes, many of whom have moved across the country or the world to entrust their athletic and academic careers to an institution, deserve a little more grace than that.

“We were upset because they said they had known for weeks but didn’t tell us because a few of us had made it to Nationals and were still competing,” WSU sprinter Ashley Hollenbeck-Willems said.

The WSU track and field program has consistently produced national champions. While some of the program’s most decorated athletes were distance runners, four out of the five athletes to represent WSU at Nationals this past year were sprinters, comprising a 400-meter relay team.

One of those relay team members, Mason Lawyer, set the WSU record in both the indoor and outdoor 200-meter dash this year and competed in the 100 and 200 at Nationals.

Days following WSU “limiting” his events and not renewing his coach’s contract, Lawyer is in the transfer portal.

He joins a slew of WSU athletes in the portal, including Hollenbeck-Willems and Lyons, who must cancel leases and figure out their next steps without the assistance of significant name, image and likeness deals or, for many track athletes, the benefit of full scholarships.

It also leaves three coaches and their families in a similar state of transition.

Coaches and pundits alike warned that Olympic sports could suffer drastically as schools attempt to reorder their budgets to prioritize revenue sharing.

Track and field was the first WSU sport affected. It almost certainly won’t be the last.

WSU, along with the rest of college athletics, is in uncharted waters.

Before any more programs drown at sea, the powers that be — college presidents and athletic directors, conference commissioners and TV executives — should come to terms with the weight of their actions and do everything they can to reverse course.

That won’t happen because TV executives are getting everything they want and everyone else is just trying to survive.

College sports may never be the same again and no one should be spinning it into a positive or spending any energy not attempting to fix what is clearly broken.

“This is never what college sports were meant to be,” Brooke Lyons said. “College sports are meant to build a spirit and community within the universities. Obviously, now we’re seeing it’s just kind of tearing them apart, and it’s lost its purpose. And I think people need to realize that quick, or else there’s going to be a lot more issues like this.”

Perhaps the powers that be in college athletics should start listening to the college athletes themselves.

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2268, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.