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Kraft charts path forward for Penn State following House settlement

A new era of college sports began late Friday night with the official approval of the House vs. NCAA settlement from United States District Court Judge Claudia Wilken. But Penn State athletics is ready to meet the landscape with optimism, says athletic director Pat Kraft. The next step in the progression of NIL into college […]

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Kraft charts path forward for Penn State following House settlement

A new era of college sports began late Friday night with the official approval of the House vs. NCAA settlement from United States District Court Judge Claudia Wilken. But Penn State athletics is ready to meet the landscape with optimism, says athletic director Pat Kraft.

The next step in the progression of NIL into college athletics, the historic House agreement establishes the framework for Division I schools to pay student-athletes up to $20.5 million annually in revenue-sharing agreements beginning on July 1. The settlement also removes scholarship limitations, institutes roster caps, and creates the College Sports Commission as an oversight body, among other changes.

Kraft sets direction for Penn State athletics following House settlement

On Saturday, Kraft published an open letter to Nittany Lions fans outlining the path forward for Penn State athletics under the new operating structure. In addition to sharing the maximum amount of revenue and increasing the number of athletic scholarships, Kraft promised to embrace the university’s tradition while creating a dynamic environment for student-athlete growth.

“Since the Court’s initial approval of the settlement in July 2024, Penn State athletics has been preparing to meet the demands of this transformational change,” Kraft wrote. “We will share revenue with our student-athletes to the maximum allowable levels; through the new Legacy Fund and the existing Nittany Lion Club Excellence Funds, we will increase the number of scholarships we offer to our 800+ student-athletes, as the settlement removes NCAA scholarship limits; and we have developed ROAR Solutions, a powerful, dynamic group of resources assembled to deliver the best student-athlete NIL, endorsement and branding support in the country.

“While the world around us changes, our steadfast focus on supporting student-athletes and winning championships remains constant! We had a terrific 2024-25 academic and athletic year, and next year looks to be one of the best in our history, because of those successes, Penn State enters this new era of college sports in a position of strength and ready to attack this new collegiate landscape. While change can be difficult, it also can provide new opportunities, and I assure you we will embrace every opportunity this new model creates. We will continue to lean into our tradition of excellence to shine academically, emphasize the impact of a Penn State degree and alumni network, and pursue excellence in competition. Now, more than ever, we must rally together to ensure our student-athletes thrive and our legacy endures.”

In February, Penn State announced the creation of the Legacy Fund, which will use fees from tickets, concessions, and other athletics-related purchases to support resources for student-athlete scholarships and upkeep of the school’s 23 athletic facilities. The school also introduced ROAR Solutions, a conglomerate of NIL-based resources focused on forging brand partnerships for student-athletes.

You can read Kraft’s entire letter here.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!
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Two Husker Gymnasts Earn Academic All-America Honors – University of Nebraska

Nebraska men’s gymnasts Asher Cohen and Taylor Christopulos were honored Wednesday, as both were tabbed for the 2025 Academic All-America® at-large teams selected by College Sports Communicators. Cohen, who carries a 3.97 GPA in biological sciences, was a second-team selection, while Christopulos, who is in graduate school and has a 3.66 GPA in strategic innovation […]

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Nebraska men’s gymnasts Asher Cohen and Taylor Christopulos were honored Wednesday, as both were tabbed for the 2025 Academic All-America® at-large teams selected by College Sports Communicators.

Cohen, who carries a 3.97 GPA in biological sciences, was a second-team selection, while Christopulos, who is in graduate school and has a 3.66 GPA in strategic innovation & entrepreneurship, was a third-team honoree. The at-large team is composed of student-athletes from 10 men’s sports, including fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Cohen earned his second Academic All-America award after claiming a third-team honor in 2024. He has been instrumental in helping Nebraska to three straight top-five finishes at the NCAA Championships. He is a also a two-time All-American in the gym after placing seventh on the still rings at the 2025 NCAA Championships. He was the runner-up at the 2025 Big Ten Championships in the event. In the classroom, he is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.

Christopulos completed his Husker collegiate career as a 10-time All-American. He earned All-America honors in the all-around and pommel horse at the 2025 NCAA Championships to fuel Nebraska’s fourth-place team finish. He won the 2025 Nissen-Emery Award, which is presented to the top senior college gymnast. He was also a two-time Big Ten Gymnast of the Year (2023, 2025). A three-time team captain, he was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.

Cohen and Christopulos bring Nebraska’s Academic All-America total to seven in 2024-25, joining Bergan Reilly (VB), Lexi Rodriguez (VB), Merritt Beason (VB), Gena Jorgenson (Swim) and Jordyn Bahl (SB). The final Academic All-America teams for 2024-25 will be announced July 15-16 with the announcement of the men’s and women’s track and field/cross country teams. The overall CSC Academic All-Americans of the Year will be announced on Wednesday, July 30.



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Men’s volleyball to join GLVC as associate member in 2025-26

Story Links INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced Tuesday the University of Jamestown will join the league as an associate member in men’s volleyball, in the inaugural 2025-26 season. The inaugural season of GLVC men’s volleyball will feature eight institutions, including full-time league members Maryville University, Missouri S&T, […]

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INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced Tuesday the University of Jamestown will join the league as an associate member in men’s volleyball, in the inaugural 2025-26 season.

The inaugural season of GLVC men’s volleyball will feature eight institutions, including full-time league members Maryville University, Missouri S&T, Quincy University, Rockhurst University, and Southwest Baptist University, as well as associate members Roosevelt University, Thomas More University and University of Jamestown. Thomas More was approved for associate membership status in October 2023, while Roosevelt was approved in May 2024.

“We’re pleased to be able to provide a home for the Jamestown’s men’s volleyball program in the GLVC as their institution reclassifies to NCAA Division II,” said Jim Naumovich, GLVC Commissioner.  “Their inclusion helps us to grow our schedule and provide additional competition opportunities for all eight teams in the league.”

The University of Jamestown is a private, four-year, liberal arts university founded in 1883 by Presbyterian settlers. It is located in Jamestown, N.D., – population 15,500 – in southeastern North Dakota, just 100 miles from the capital city, Bismarck, and 100 miles to the east is North Dakota’s largest city, Fargo.

“The University of Jamestown is excited to join the GLVC in men’s volleyball.” Said University of Jamestown Athletic Director Austin Hieb, “We couldn’t be happier to join this conference that decided to establish itself as a home for volleyball. We can’t wait to see what the years ahead have in store for us.”

The Jimmies will enter their seventh season of competition with this their first in Division II, making the switch from NAIA on July 1, 2025. Jamestown joined the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) as a full-time member. They are coached by Toby Rens, who was announced as the new head coach on July 3. In his most recent collegiate season, Rens went 17-11 at NCAA Division III Oswego State University. In 2024 the Jimmies went 22-2 and were knocked out in championship pool play.

The inaugural GLVC Men’s Volleyball Championship Tournament will take place April 23-25, 2026, as a four-team, single-elimination format at a site yet to be determined.

 

For more information on GLVC men’s volleyball, stay tuned online at GLVCsports.com and social media (@GLVCsports; #GLVCmvb) throughout the coming years.

 

 



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Life through the lens – The Prospector

My introduction to media didn’t start in college, or even high school, it goes all the way back to fifth grade, when I joined my elementary school’s broadcast team. From that moment on, I was hooked and by sixth grade, I had launched my very own YouTube channel. I’d print out flyers, pass them around […]

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My introduction to media didn’t start in college, or even high school, it goes all the way back to fifth grade, when I joined my elementary school’s broadcast team. From that moment on, I was hooked and by sixth grade, I had launched my very own YouTube channel. I’d print out flyers, pass them around school, and document my daily life through vlogs. It wasn’t polished or perfect, but it was mine, and I loved every second of it.

Alongside that early love for video, another passion was always present, drumming, which became a big part of my life at five years old. I’ve played almost every day since and continued practicing all throughout school. It became a core part of who I am, not just musically, but creatively.

In high school, my two passions, media and music, started to intertwine. I joined my AV production class and was introduced to a new layer of storytelling. At the same time, I started dipping my toes into the El Paso music scene. I began taking photos, shooting videos and interviewing local bands, which naturally evolved into performing with them. Before long, I was playing drums for several local bands while still being behind the camera documenting the community I was now a part of musically.

One of the biggest turning points for me was in high school, when my AV teacher, without realizing it, helped me find my path. The guidance he gave helped me realize that digital media production was something I wanted to pursue. That class showed me the possibilities, and I haven’t looked back since.

Today, I’m continuing to grow in this field, blending my love of music and storytelling through video, photo and audio. Whether I’m behind a camera or behind a drum kit, I’ve learned that creating is what I’m meant to do. While I’m still learning, experimenting and figuring things out, I know I’ve found the right path, one where all the things I love finally make sense together.

Devin Nava is a photo contributor at The Prospector and may be reached at d[email protected] 



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Local water polo standouts earn Team USA nods for World Championships

Five local water polo players will compete for the United States at the 2025 World Aquatics World Championships, which start Thursday in Singapore. Former Huntington Beach standouts Chase and Ryder Dodd, as well as Newport Harbor graduate Ben Liechty and incoming Sailors senior Connor Ohl, were selected for the men’s team. Emma Lineback, a Laguna […]

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Five local water polo players will compete for the United States at the 2025 World Aquatics World Championships, which start Thursday in Singapore.

Former Huntington Beach standouts Chase and Ryder Dodd, as well as Newport Harbor graduate Ben Liechty and incoming Sailors senior Connor Ohl, were selected for the men’s team.

Emma Lineback, a Laguna Beach alumna, also earned her first World Championships roster spot for the women’s tournament.

Liechty, who plays at UCLA, and Ohl, a Stanford commit, are two of seven players who will make their senior team debut for the Team USA men. The United States opens the tournament Friday at 7:35 p.m. Pacific time with a Group C match against Canada.

Attacker Emma Lineback looks to shoot during an exhibition game against Spain last month.

Attacker Emma Lineback looks to shoot during an exhibition game against Spain last month.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

Two weeks ago, Liechty and Ohl were part of the Junior National Team that helped Team USA earn a silver medal at the World Aquatics Under-20 Championships in Croatia. Ohl’s older brother, Ryan, also played for that team and will compete again at the World Championships.

Ryder Dodd, who transferred from Huntington Beach to JSerra after his sophomore year of high school, won the Cutino Award as the top men’s collegiate water polo player following his freshman year at UCLA. Chase Dodd, who played all four years for the Oilers, was also a first-team Assn. of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-American as a redshirt junior attacker for the Bruins.

Lineback, who also plays at UCLA, was a second-team All-American this year. She had been aiming for the World Championships roster after competing for Team USA in exhibition matches against Spain last month.

The Team USA women were drawn into Group B at the World Championships. They open with a match against China on Thursday at 9:10 p.m. Pacific time.

Lineback is one of seven players making her national team debut for Team USA. The Americans have won gold at eight World Championships, including at the most recent 2024 event in Doha, Qatar.

The women’s world championships continue through the championship match scheduled for July 23, while the men’s world championship match is on July 24.



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Hillsdale Athletes Medal in Junior Olympics, Para Grand Prix

Story Links A trio of Olympic-style competitions took place at Hillsdale’s John Halter Shooting Sports Education Center from June 20-30. Competitors from across the nation competed in the USA Shooting Trap and Skeet Junior Olympics and in between those was a Para Grand Prix.   First up was Trap Junior Olympics with […]

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A trio of Olympic-style competitions took place at Hillsdale’s John Halter Shooting Sports Education Center from June 20-30. Competitors from across the nation competed in the USA Shooting Trap and Skeet Junior Olympics and in between those was a Para Grand Prix.
 
First up was Trap Junior Olympics with six current Hillsdale student-athletes taking part as well as one incoming freshman. Junior Ava Downs was the top Charger finisher and was crowned the women’s trap Junior Olympic Champion after breaking 113/125 targets in qualification and winning the match final. Sophomore Taylor Dale had an incredibly strong finish to qualifying and hit a total of 106 targets, but ended up going out in fourth place in the final. Incoming freshman Roman Barrett was in a shoot off to make the men’s final with a score of 110, but unfortunately did not win a spot.
 
Senior Sophia Bultema was the only Hillsdale competitor in Hillsdale’s Para Grand Prix. She tied her past world record with a qualifying score of 100/125 and earned a spot in the match final. When the dust settled, she finished in second place and earned a silver medal.
 
Two Chargers and incomer Barrett shot in the USA Shooting Skeet Junior Olympics. Junior Luke Johnson’s score of 109/125 was the high of Hillsdale athletes in attendance and just barely missed out on a shoot off for the match final by a single target.
 
Several Hillsdale athletes next travel to Marengo, OH to shoot in the SCTP High School National Championship. Coach Hintz will be at the event from July 9-20 and will have a table set up at College Day on Friday, July 19th.
 



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Anna Carbone Named Head Coach for Women’s Volleyball

Story Links Anna Carbone has been named Head Coach of the Baruch College Women’s Volleyball Team. The announcement was made by Baruch College Director of Athletics and Recreation, Heather Mac Culloch on Tuesday. Carbone has reputable leadership experience. She is the Head Coach of Queens Apex Volleyball, a GEVA club based […]

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Anna Carbone has been named Head Coach of the Baruch College Women’s Volleyball Team.

The announcement was made by Baruch College Director of Athletics and Recreation, Heather Mac Culloch on Tuesday.

Carbone has reputable leadership experience. She is the Head Coach of Queens Apex Volleyball, a GEVA club based in Elmhurst, New York, and a Nike retail leader, where she has developed a reputation for empowering teams, fostering growth, and leading with purpose both on the court and in the field. 

Carbone attended Saint Joseph’s University of Brooklyn where she played on their women’s volleyball team for four seasons. She also played on the soccer team as well as the swimming team.

She was named to the All-Association of Division III Independent Awards Second Team and the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic Team, both in 2013. She also earned the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) All-Academic Team honor twice, once on their soccer team (2013) and a second time on their volleyball team (2014).

“We are excited to welcome Anna Carbone as the new Head Coach of Baruch College Women’s Volleyball,” said Heather Mac Culloch, Director of Athletics. “Her passion for the game, strong leadership, and commitment to academic and athletic excellence make her a perfect fir for our program. As we build on the proud tradition of Bearcat volleyball, we’re confident that Coach Carbone will inspire our student-athletes to reach new heights on and off the court.”

She achieved first-place on St. Joseph’s University of Brooklyn’s career all-time rankings for digs (1,134) and digs per set (3.83) as well as fourth in assists (682). Additionally, Carbone finished in fifth place for total sets played (296) as she appeared in all matches and played in every set during her freshman and sophomore years.

For her single-match highs, Carbone accumulated 35 digs in a match on October 20, 2013 against the Culinary Institute of America. She also dished out 43 assists against Brooklyn College on October 20, 2015.



“I’m so excited to step in as the new women’s volleyball head coach at Baruch College.” Carbone mentions, “Volleyball has always been such an important part of my life, so it’s an amazing opportunity to share that passion, and to lead this group of athletes, build a strong team culture, and compete at a high level. I’m ready to get to work and develop confident leaders both on and off the court.



She graduated from Saint Joseph’s of Brooklyn with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology (2016) and a Master’s in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology with a concentration in Human Performance from the University of Florida (2022).

 



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