Sports
Lauren Masters Feature Story

Lauren Masters has been swimming for as long as she can remember, and when she earned a spot on Old Dominion University’s NCAA varsity swim team, it marked the fulfillment of her long-time goal to compete at the collegiate level.
Now as she prepares to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science this Saturday, she will do so as more than just a student-athlete. She will cross the stage with a 4.0 GPA and a clear vision of her future: becoming a pediatric occupational therapist who improves children’s health outcomes through water-based physical therapy.
That dream is already in motion. Masters has been accepted into the EVMS School of Health Professions at ODU, where she will begin her doctoral journey in the Occupational Therapy doctoral (O.T.D) program this fall — all while continuing to swim for the University.
Two years ago, Masters chose ODU because it was a perfect fit for her athletic pursuits.
“I knew I really wanted to swim in college,” she said. “I reached out to the ODU coaching staff, and when they invited me for an official visit, I just fell in love. I loved the campus, the location and especially the swim team.”
As she dove into her coursework, Masters quickly began to see the deep connections between her academic studies and love of swimming. For the first time, she understood “the why” behind her movements in the water and the science behind training to become a stronger athlete.
“It’s been interesting to learn about the energy systems that I use when I swim and how I can develop those systems,” she said. “I also really liked my nutrition class, and I learned it was a really key part to swimming, which is something I hadn’t considered too much before.” It’s really changed my perspective on the sport,” she said.
Through her program, she developed an appreciation for biomechanics, training principles and health science — all of which she plans to apply when she opens her own pediatric practice that specializes in water therapy for children, especially those with disabilities.
Masters is especially passionate about water safety, saying children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than the general pediatric population, according to the National Autism Association, and she wants to address this issue throughout her career.
Kyle Davis, M.S., senior lecturer and undergraduate program director for exercise science, describes Masters as “one of those students who helps us define the ideal exercise science student.”
“Being a successful varsity swimmer for ODU, Lauren brings her experiences with the sport to the classroom to grow in her knowledge and skills,” he said. “On the other end of the continuum, she will continue her education at the graduate level focused on becoming an occupational therapist here at ODU — a career that creates rehabilitative programs and uses therapeutic techniques to help build or restore vocational, homemaking and daily living skills for those in need.”
But balancing Division I athletics with academic excellence has had its ups and downs, says Masters, who remembers physics as one of her most challenging subjects. Using resources like a tutor provided through the athletics department and the support of her professors, she ended the semester with a perfect score on her physics final — one of her proudest moments at ODU.
Beyond her success in the classroom is her success outside of it, and Masters has accumulated a series of honors throughout her college career. She was a student-athlete ambassador for Insomnia Cookies; part of the relay team that set a record in the 200 medley relay; achieved a National Invitational Championship time cut and placed third at the Sunbelt Championships in 2025; and was on the leadership council for ODU swim team. She has also been a private swim instructor, assistant swim coach and lifeguard, all while at ODU.
She’s also volunteered with nearly 10 organizations including local elementary schools; the Ivy Rehab for Kids; The Silver Dolphins, a non-profit swim team; and the Tidewater Region Special Olympics Swim team.
Despite her accolades, Masters says what she will remember the most are the relationships she built.
“It’s been the friends that I’ve made here,” she said. “They’re my best friends and I don’t know what I would do without them. If I’m having a bad day, they’ll make me laugh and cheer me up.”
As Masters continues toward her medical degree, she hopes to be remembered for one thing: determination.
“I want people to remember I was prepared,” Masters said. “Especially in my future career field, I want people to see me as determined to help them. I want people to know I wanted to be the best I can be and that I am determined to help others do that, too.”

Sports
Women’s Volleyball Falls to #4 Seed USC in NCAA Tournament First Round
Along with the NCAA Tournament appearance being the Tigers’ ninth, it was Princeton’s fourth under Head Coach Sabrina King. In addition, the Tigers won the 2025 Ivy League Tournament and the regular season title outright.
Valerie Nutakor and Erin McNair tied for the team-high in kills with six each, while Sydney Draper led the team in assists with 15 and digs with 13 for her 12th double-double of the season
The Tigers kept it close early in the first set, battling the Trojans to trail by just one at 11-10. A 4-0 run by the Trojans gave USC a 15-10 advantage. Kills by McNair and Nutakor narrowed the deficit back down to three at 16-13, but the Trojans pulled away to earn the 25-19 first set victory.
Princeton again kept it close early, playing the Trojans to 11-8. A 5-0 USC run pushed the Trojans advantage out to 15-8, and USC did not look back from there as it went to prevail in the second set, 25-12.
The Tigers showed fight early, playing the Trojans to 16-12 after a kill by Nutakor. However, the night belonged to USC as the Trojans gain momentum and claim the 25-13 third set triumph to win the match, 3-0.
Sports
NCAA volleyball: BYU, Utah fall in 5-set tournament openers
PROVO — The BYU women’s volleyball’s stay in a 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament was cut short for a second straight year Thursday evening.
Kendall Beshear poured in 20 kills, 12 digs, four blocks, two assists and two aces to lift Cal Poly to a 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10 win over fifth-seeded BYU at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
Recently named Big 12 freshman of the year Suli Davis had 18 kills and 10 digs, Claire Little Chambers added 14 kills and 14 digs, and Brielle Kemavor supplied 15 kills and three blocks for the 22nd-ranked Cougars (22-9), who were fed by 48 assists and 11 digs from Alex Bower.
But for a second straight year, BYU was eliminated early by an upstart mid-major conference champion. A year after the Cougars were swept by A-10 champs Loyola Chicago, Cal Poly out-hit BYU .312 to .256 and served up seven aces with 12 blocks to send the top-25 team from the Big 12 home early.
Emma Fredrick added 15 kills and 10 digs for the Mustangs (26-7), and Emme Bullis dished out 52 assists with eight digs and a pair of aces.
BYU rallied from a 25-19 gut-punch in the opening set, when Bower fed a balanced attack of three double-digit hitters to take the next two sets, 25-17 and 25-20 on Little Chambers’ 12th kill of the match.
How efficient was BYU? In the third set, the Cougars hit .357 with 17 kills and just two errors to out-hit the Mustangs’ .257.
But the Big West champions found momentum in the fourth set, using a pair of aces and several other well-served balls to take a 13-9 lead early after a 4-0 spurt. The Cougars trailed 22-20 when Little Chambers had to be helped off the court with an apparent lower leg injury, and Ella Scott’s ace helped the Mustangs close out a 25-20 victory to force a decisive fifth set.
“Coming out of the third, we looked at each other and knew it was now or nothing,” Beshear told ESPN+ after the match. “We trusted each other, we balled out, and we had relentless defense. I think that’s what changed the game for us.”
Beshear had a service ace during a 4-0 run that gave the Mustangs an 11-6 lead in the finale, and Fredrick finished off the upset with her second ace of the night, 15-10.
Sixth-seeded Northern Iowa rallies to reverse sweep Utes
Lily Dykstra, Cassidy Hartman and Reese Booth each posted a double-double as sixth-seeded Northern Iowa rallied to reverse-sweep Utah 15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Kamryn Gibadlo poured in 20 kills with four blocks for the Utes, who ended the season with a 15-15 overall record. Levani Key-Powell added 17 kills, and Emrie Moea’i had a double-double with 10 kills and 10 blocks for Utah.
“We are very proud to have gotten to the tournament,” said Utah coach Beth Launiere, whose team was back in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and 20th time in program history. “I think it’s been well-documented that we faced a lot of adversity this year. I couldn’t be more proud of my team for overcoming that, working together, finding a way, and getting us to this point.”
Utah Valley will be the fourth school from Utah to open the NCAA Tournament with first serve Friday at second-seeded Stanford.
Sports
Men’s & Women’s Track & Field set to open indoor season this weekend at Bison Opener
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Lock Haven will send 59 student-athletes to Bucknell University on Friday night (Dec. 5) and Saturday morning (Dec. 6) to open the Bald Eagles’ 2025-26 men’s and women’s indoor track and field season.
The Bison Open will take place inside Gerhard Fieldhouse.
BISON OPEN MEET INFO
PSAC/NCAA QUALIFYING STANDARDS
COLLEGE TEAMS COMPETING AT BISON OPEN
- Bloomsburg, Bucknell, Indiana (PA), Lincoln, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Mount St. Mary’s, Penn State, Shippensburg, St. Francis
MEN’S NOTES
Lock Haven will send 40 men to compete in 17 total events.
In 2024-25, the Bald Eagles took fifth place at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Indoor Track & Field Championships.
The Bald Eagles will return six PSAC place winners from last season. Nick Bellomo in the heptathlon, Morgan Gavitt and Anden Atkins in the 800-meter run, Jakob Rager in the 3,000-meter run, Josiah Schans and Cameron Lewis as part of the 400-meter relay team will all return in the 2025-26 season for Lock Haven.
Nine newcomers will make their debut on Saturday for The Haven.
LOCK HAVEN MEN’S ENTRIES
Heptathlon: Nick Bellomo
Long Jump: Isaiah Brinker, Michael Lawrence, Benjamin Warburton, Jaden Wright
Triple Jump: Isaiah Brinker, Michael Lawrence, Tadd Ungard, Bryce Warren
High Jump: Ben Gusciora, Shawn Hertzog, Ben Streator, Bryce Warren
Weight Throw: Peter Bellomo, Ty King, Parker Sandt, Eric Zalar
Shot Put: Peter Bellomo, Patrick Marcinko, Eric Zalar
Pole Vault: Kevin Taylor
60-Meter Hurdles: Rocco Pacifico, Matt Reinard, Jorge Santana, Josiah Schans
60-Meter Dash: Dylan Cassetori, Gage Chipeleski, Lukas Epitropakis, Michael Lawrence, Cameron Lewis, Garrison Lucas, Rocco Pacifico, Dillyn Reibsome, Rocky Romani, Josiah Schans, Kevin Taylor, Tadd Ungard, Benjamin Warburton, Jonah White, Sam Wible, Ryan Williams, Brody Wolfe, Jaden Wright
200-Meter Dash: Isaiah Brinker, Dylan Cassetori, Gage Chipeleski, Lukas Epitropakis, Aden Howell, Cameron Lewis, Adam Linkhorst, Dillyn Reibsome, Jorge Santana, Trey Wagner, Bryce Warren, Benjamin Warburton, Jonah White, Sam Wible, Brody Wolfe
300-Meter Dash: Rocco Pacifico, Matt Reinard, Rocky Romani, Josiah Schans, Ryan Williams, Jaden Wright
400-Meter Dash: Aden Howell, Adam Linkhorst, Trey Wagner
500-Meter Dash: Sage Carr
800-Meter Run: Skylar Small, Lorenzo Thompson
Mile Run: Jarrett Lee, Michael Loffredo
3,000 Meter Run: Jakob Rager, Anthony Solis-Morales
4×400-Meter Relay: A – (Wible, Schans, Reinard, Lewis), B – Carr, Epitropakis, Gusciora, Thompson) C – (Howell, Pacifico, Romani, Chipeleski) D – (Lee, Williams, Small, Loffredo)
WOMEN’S NOTES
On the women’s side, Lock Haven will send 19 athletes to compete in 12 total events.
Much like the men, the women’s team will see a mix of returners and newcomers featured on Friday and Saturday, with the returning PSAC place winners being Reagan Irons (high jump) and Samantha Trench (60-meter hurdles).
Mallory Eck, Alyssa VanGorder, Maria Puglia, Madalyn Smith, Laurie Thompson and Clarissa Davis will all return in the throws.
Bald Eagle sprinters Natalie Gentzel, Alexanne Fite, Kelci Carle, Lillian Bradley and Makayla Grace Weber are set to make their returns.
Elizabeth Shultz will return to compete in the 800-meter run.
Lock Haven will be expecting to see newcomers Ella Ballard, Paige Jodon, Macy Plowman and Deja Roark break onto the scene in the sprints.
Freshman Alannah Irwin will make her debut Friday night in the pentathlon.
LOCK HAVEN WOMEN’S ENTRIES
Pentathlon: Alannah Irwin
Long Jump: Samantha Trench
High Jump: Reagan Irons, Samantha Trench
Weight Throw: Alyssa VanGorder, Maria Puglia, Madalyn Smith, Laurie Thompson
Shot Put: Mallory Eck, Clarissa Davis, Alyssa VanGorder, Madalyn Smith
60-Meter Hurdles: Samantha Trench, Makayla Grace Weber, Kelci Carle
60-Meter Dash: Ella Ballard, Paige Jodon, Lillian Bradley, Macy Plowman, Deja Roark, Alexanne Fite, Natalie Gentzel
200-Meter Dash: Ella Ballard, Paige Jodon, Lillian Bradley, Macy Plowman, Deja Roark, Makayla Grace Weber
300-Meter Dash: Alexanne Fite, Natalie Gentzel
400-Meter Dash: Kelci Carle
800-Meter Run: Elizabeth Shultz
4×400-Meter Relay: A – (Elizabeth Shultz, Alexanne Fite, Lillian Bradley, Natalie Gentzel), B – (Kelci Carle, Macy Plowman, Makayla Grace Weber, Ella Ballard, Samantha Trench)
RECAPS AND FINAL RESULTS
Recaps and final results from the Bison Opener will be posted to www.lockhavenathletics.com late Saturday night (Dec. 5).
UP NEXT
The Lock Haven men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams will compete again on Jan. 17 at the Nittany Lion Open.
Sports
Men’s Lacrosse and Track & Field Add New Staff
ALBION, Mich. — Albion College athletics is proud to announce the addition of two new assistant coaches to round out a pair of coaching staffs.
Henry Wehrly (track and field) and Kyle Borek (men’s lacrosse) join the Britons ahead of the spring semester.
Wehrly jumps back into the swing of things at Albion
Head Coach Lance Coleman announced the addition of Henry Wehrly, who returns to his alma mater after crossing the graduation stage last spring. A four-year member of the track and field team, Wehrly was a standout sprinter and jumper. As a senior, the Manchester, Michigan native, earned a pair of top-four finishes at the MIAA Outdoor Championships in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash.
Wehrly graduated with a degree in Kinesiology and has been working as a personal trainer at Manchester Wellness Center. He has organized operations for the business and worked with individual clients on proper techniques, training, and fitness plans.
Borek joins reigning MIAA Tournament Champions
Fresh off winning the 2025 MIAA Tournament, head coach Jacob DeCola has added Kyle Borek to the coaching staff ahead of the 2026 season. Borek returns to the collegiate ranks after having last served as an assistant coach at Davenport University during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Borek was responsible for the Panthers’ defensive structure. He focused on game planning, film breakdown, and individual player development. He previously worked as a boys varsity assistant coach at Haslett/Williamston High School for two seasons.
Borek is no stranger to the MIAA, as he was a three-year member of the men’s lacrosse team at the University of Olivet. A long-stick midfielder, Borek was a two-time All-MIAA Second Team honoree as he amassed 138 ground balls and 87 caused turnovers over his collegiate career.
Sports
PBC Indoor Track & Field Season Preview
Reigning PBC Champions Embry Riddle have been tabbed as unanimous favorites to take home both the PBC Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field titles by the league’s coaches. Embry Riddle received five first place votes on both the men’s and women’s side. Flagler received one first place vote in each. Augusta, Clayton State, Lander and USC Beaufort completed the tables in order.
Embry Riddle have been dominant since the inception of the PBC Indoor Track & Field Championship in 2023-24. The Eagles have been crowned men’s and women’s champions in each of the previous two seasons. In 2025, the two Eagles were selected for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championships with both returning as All-Americans, the first in PBC Indoor Track & Field history. Brooklynn Gould finished 7th in the Pentathlon and Mikaela Miles finished 3rd in the Triple Jump. Embry Riddle sees Miles returns for her senior year in 2025-26, as the Eagles look to secure a third consecutive PBC Championship.
Flagler have been tabbed to finish second in both the men’s & women’s championship. On the women’s side, the Saints improved from a third-place finish in 2024 to a second-place finish in 2025 at the PBC Indoor Track & Field Championship. The Saints had five first place finishers at the championship in 2025. Graduate Taylor Stone was also selected for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championship for the second consecutive season. On the men’s side, the Saints have placed second in each of the two previous seasons. Flagler had six first place finishers at the PBC Championship in 2025, and improvement from three in 2024.
Augusta have been tabbed third place finishers for both the men’s and women’s championship. The Jaguars will make their PBC Indoor Track & Field Championship debut this season.
| 2025-26 Women’s Indoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches’ Poll | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1. | Embry Riddle (5) | 25 |
| 2. | Flagler (1) | 20 |
| 3. | Augusta | 16 |
| 4. | Clayton State | 12 |
| 4. | Lander | 12 |
| 6. | USC Beaufort | 5 |
| 2025-26 Men’s Indoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches’ Poll | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1. | Embry Riddle (5) | 25 |
| 2. | Flagler (1) | 20 |
| 3. | Augusta | 17 |
| 4. | Clayton State | 12 |
| 5. | Lander | 11 |
| 6. | USC Beaufort | 5 |
Sports
Track & Field Open Indoor Season At Bison Opener
Women’s Track & Field | 12/5/2025 11:00:00 AM
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis Track & Field will once again open the 2025-26 indoor season at the Bison Opener at Bucknell University’s Gerhard Fieldhouse on Saturday.
>> The first track event will be the men’s 60m hurdle trials at 8:30 a.m. and the first field event will be men’s pole vault at 9:10 a.m.
>> Forty-two athletes, 28 men and 14 women, will be competing at the meet for the Red Flash.
2025-26 INDOOR SEASON PREVIEW
Head Coach Douglas Hoover is returning for his 14th season at the helm of the Saint Francis University Track & Field program.
The Red Flash are coming off a 2024-25 indoor season where the women finished third and the men took six at the NEC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Red Flash had eight podium finishes and one event victories. Clark Gulycz, who is competing this weekend, became the NEC Men’s Indoor Shot Put Champion with a mark of 16.75m.
NEC PRESEASON POLL
Saint Francis women’s track & field was picked fifth in the NEC Preseason Poll. Wagner earned five first-place votes and earned the distinction of being the preseason favorite. Stonehill and CCSU both gained two first-place nods to finish in second and third place. Chicago State gained the last vote for first-place, finishing in fourth. After the Red Flash in fifth place, FDU, LIU, New Haven, Mercyhurst, and Le Moyne round out the ten-team poll.
Saint Francis men’s track & field was picked seventh in the NEC Preseason Poll. CCSU earned eight first-place votes and earned the distinction of being the preseason favorite. Wagner gained one first-place vote to finish in second. Stonehill and Chicago State were picked to finish in third and fourth. FDU and LIU were both tied in fifth place, however, LIU earned the last vote for first-place. After the Red Flash in seventh place, New Haven, Le Moyne, and Mercyhurst round out the ten-team poll.
RED FLASH AT BISON OPENER HISTORY
It will be the 15th time since the 2008-09 season that Saint Francis will be opening the season at the Bison Opener. At last year’s event, there were 14 top-5 finishes, including two first place finishes. Olivia Renk took first in the women’s 200m (25.60) and Julian Saunders took the men’s 200m (22.12).
NEXT UP FOR RED FLASH
The Red Flash will travel to the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y. to compete in the Wagner College Seahawk Shootout hosted by Wagner College on Dec. 12.
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