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Local clubs take spotlight at Junior Olympics

Published

4 months ago

August 11, 2025

Something clicked for Shane Boyd when he first jumped in the pool and took a shot on the cage. Lap swimming was just too repetitive for him, but water polo, well, that was exciting.

“Water polo became a passion,” Boyd said. “I found joy in it.”

Boyd and the Tiburon Peninsula Central Marin Sharks followed their passion all the way to the Junior Olympics in Orange County toward the end of July, where the athletes from three different clubs in Marin County took the national spotlight.

The Sharks U14 Boys team, joined by AJ Fox and Brogan Corridan from Marin Water Polo, claimed silver in the Classic Division, part of a historic medal count for the Sharks. Of the five Sharks teams that qualified for the Junior Olympics, three took home medals, the first time in the 16-year history of the program the Sharks have earned such a haul.

“It was one heck of an experience,” said Boyd, whose brother and sister also play for the Sharks. “At the beginning of the season, the whole team doubted themselves. They didn’t think they’d qualify for Junior Olympics. But the whole team showed up and we ended up with a better seeding than we expected. Everyone was really excited, they worked hard and trained hard. Junior Olympics was a great experience. Qualifying was a treat and Junior Olympics was the cherry on top. We were all great friends before, but being together in that environment was outstanding.”

The Sharks U10 Coed team, with Shane’s sibling Colton Boyd in the pool and mom Mandy on the deck as an assistant coach, took home silver in the Gold Division. Lincoln Matthews, the brother of former Redwood High and current UCLA standout Max Matthews, is carrying on the family tradition with the Sharks.

The Sharks U12 Coed A squad, which has placed in the top three in the nation each of the past four years, captured the bronze medal in the elite Platinum Division. The Sharks U14 Girls team finished sixth in the Classic Division, and the U12 Coed B team placed eighth in the Gold Division.

The Sleepy Hollow Aquatics 18U Girls team took silver in the Championship Division after going 5-3. The SHAQ 18U Boys went 9-2 to take third place in the Classic Division. The SHAQ 12U Girls finished 17th overall in the Championship Division after a 10-9 win over Greenwich, Conn. The SHAQ 10U Boys took 16th overall in the Championship Division after a shootout loss to Davis.

“SHAQ was very competitive at the Junior Olympic tournament this summer,” said SHAQ coach Matt Swanson. “I am very proud of our performances across all of our age groups. We had 11 teams and over 130 kids competing this summer. It’s great to see our 10U boy and girl athletes competing on the national stage, getting the experience playing against teams from all over the country in front of big crowds. It was great for our graduating seniors to come home with medals in their final competition with our club. We wish them all the best in their college careers.”

The Sharks went 4-0 in U14 Boys group play, with a pair of thrilling one-goal victories. The Sharks lost to Tsunami, 14-9 in a quarterfinal matchup, but a pair of wins set up a championship rematch. Tsunami again got the better of the Sharks, 13-7, for gold.

The Sharks U14 boys missed out on Junior Olympics last year, so they were motivated to qualify for the tournament this year.

“They really wanted to make it,” Sharks and Redwood High boys water polo head coach Rudy Kardos said. “They focused, like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to qualify. We just want to make it.’ And they did. That was the icing on the top.”

Five days after Sam Shemano celebrated winning silver with his U14 Boys team, he was celebrating another victory, this time as an assistant coach. Shemano was on the deck with Kardos and assistant coach Terrance Rohan as the U12 Coed A Sharks beat Merced’s SKIP, 8-7, to clinch third place in the Platinum Division. Shemano’s brother, Max, along with Hazel Schlunt and Jackie Maley, were part of the team that beat SKIP for the U12 Coed gold medal last year.

“Max and I have been practicing together in the pool a lot,” said Sam Shemano. “I trained Max a lot at the beginning of the summer. Watching Max play, I see how I play through him. It’s cool.”

Helping with his brother’s team has given Sam Shemano a different perspective on the game.

“Being a player is easier than being a coach,” he said. “As a player, you just have to play the game and do what the coach tells you to do. As a coach, you realize there’s a lot more to it. Playing just your best players the whole game is not the way you want to coach. All these kids put a lot of time in all year to get to the Junior Olympics, and they’ve earned the chance to play.”

Max Shemano said he enjoyed the time with his brother, and the extra training. The brothers joined the Sharks four years ago, and are both already looking ahead to playing in high school and college.

“He’s taught me a lot, he’s helped me a lot,” Max Shemano said of his brother. “I love playing water polo and getting better every game.”

Originally Published: August 9, 2025 at 2:29 AM PDT

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The Omaha World-Herald’s Nebraska All-Class volleyball teams

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3 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

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Men’s T&F Opens Season at Diplomat Open

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3 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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Lancaster, PA (December 6, 2025) – The DeSales University men’s track & field team opened the 2025-26 indoor T&F season competing at the Diplomat Open at Franklin & Marshall College on Friday.

The Bulldogs posted 10 MAC qualfying times/marks in the meet.

Among the qualifying times were junior Bryce Guthier taking second in the 400-meters with a time of 52.08. It is the fifth fastest time in indoor history. Senior Davis Trump also qualified in the 5K with a time of 16:20.32.

In the field events, DSU posted eight qualfying marks. Junior Weston Simak qualified for the MAC Championships in both the long jump (6.52m) and triple jump (13.72m). His triple jump mark was the second best in team history. First-year Luke Heimann also qualfied in the triple jump (11.86m).

Junior Jonathan Castronovo took home first place in the long jump with a mark of 6.58m, the second best long jump in team history.

First-year John Amoretti qualified in the shot put (12.33m), seniors Jonathan Eudja and Giovanni Wellington qualified in the weight throw with marks of 14.85m and 14.23m. First-year Ryan Rodriguez also quallified in the weight throw (11.89m).

The Bulldogs won’t return to action till the New Year at the Blue and Grey Invitational on Jan. 17th.

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Women’s Track & Field Turns in Multiple High Marks to Begin Season at Cornell

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3 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. –

The Ithaca College women’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.

Lola Gitlin posted a time of 10:25.57 in the 3000-meter run to finish third overall.

Rachel Larson was a fourth place finisher with a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. That time is currently No. 1 in Division III after the opening weekend of the season.

Aynisha McQuillar took fifth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 26.61 seconds. McQuillar also ran in the 60-meter dash and posted the 11th fastest time in DIII during the prelim with a performance of 7.78 seconds.

Lyla Powers was fifth in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:21.75.

Lily Seyfert claimed fifth in the shot put with a heave of 12.78 meters, which is currently ninth in the nation.

Bree Boyle and Erin Eastwood each cleared 3.54 meters in the pole vault, which is tied for 11th on the Division III performance list.

Alexis Brown turned in a leap of 11.02 meters in the triple jump for the 17th best mark in the country.

Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.

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Men’s Track & Field Opens Indoor Season at Cornell Greg Page Relays

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3 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. –

The Ithaca College men’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.

Anik Vossschulte claimed third in the 200-meter dash in a time of 23.32 seconds, while Jacob Antilety was seventh at 23.71 seconds.

Matt Lokshin posted a time of 8.65 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to place third in the event. Aidan Irwin took fourth in the high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters.

Quinten Lewis posted a mark of 13.73 meters in the triple jump to place fourth and Sebastien-Oliver Lacrete was sixth at 12.68 meters, while Evan Cherry secured fifth in the long jump with a leap of 6.84 meters.

IC’s 4×400-meter relay team of Damian Simmonds, Griffin Lupes, Noah McKibben and George Nilson placed sixth in 3:34.49.

Luke Ellor finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 14.40 meters.

Three Bombers finished within the top eight in the 500-meter dash as Brad Kellogg was sixth in 1:09.73, Peter Tysiak followed in seventh with 1:10.74 and Matthew DeJulio was next at 1:11.59.

Kaiden Chandler and Luke Ferrer posted times of 4:41.29 and 4:53.44 in the mile to finish in seventh and eighth.

Raf Campanile was seventh in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.25 meters.

Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.

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Women’s track and field athletes win three events at Utica Holiday Classic

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4 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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UTICA, N.Y. – The Hamilton College Continentals competed against 13 teams at the non-team scoring 2025 Utica University Track & Field Holiday Classic inside the Todd & Jenn Hutton Sports and Recreation Center on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The meet was the first of the 2025-26 season for the Hamilton women, who will be back at Utica for the Pioneers’ Winter Opener on Friday, Jan. 16 after taking a break for finals and the winter holiday.

The Continentals qualified for the 2026 All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Conference Indoor Championships in four different events and finished first in three events.

Emily Pogozelski ’26 won the 3,000-meter run by over 20 seconds with a regional-qualifying time of 10:27.93. Mackenzie Loudon ’29, who was competing in her first collegiate meet, took first place and qualified for regionals in the triple jump.

Loudon was also part of Hamilton’s winning 4×200-meter relay with Tatiana McCray ’28, Ava Chiappinelli ’29 and Marley Meyers ’28. Their performance was more than five seconds faster than the regional-qualifying time.

McCray ran a regional-qualifying 7.96 seconds and finished in second place in the 60-meter dash final. Chiappinelli also qualified for regionals in her first collegiate meet and finished right behind McCray with a time of 7.99 seconds.

TOP PERFORMANCES

300-Meter Dash (17 Runners)

4. Marley Meyers ’28, 43.08

7. Hannah Turner ’26, 43.91

60-Meter Dash (35 Runners)

2. Tatiana McCray ’28, 7.96 (PR, AARTFC)

3. Ava Chiappinelli ’29, 7.99 (AARTFC)

600-Meter Dash (16 Runners)

5. Aisha Kandji ’29, 1:47.31

4×200 Meter Relay (9 Teams)

1. McCray ’28, Mackenzie Loudon ’29, Chiappinelli ’29, Meyers ’28 (1:46.42, AARTFC)

3000-Meter Run (19 Runners)

1. Emily Pogozelski ’26, 10:27.93 (PR, AARTFC)

Triple Jump (15 Athletes)

1. Loudon, 11.29 meters (37 feet, 0.5 inches; AARTFC)

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Volleyball Advances to Program’s First Sweet Sixteen, Sweeps Florida Saturday

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4 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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DALLAS (SMU) – For the first time in program history, SMU volleyball is headed to the Sweet Sixteen after sweeping Florida (16-12) in the Round of 32 on Saturday with set scores of 25-11, 25-21, 26-24.

With the win, SMU won its 27th match of the season, tying the program record for single-season wins. It also gave coach Sam Erger her 100th victory at SMU and in her Division I head coaching career.

Averi Carlson dished out 38 assists, the most in a three-setter for the senior setter this season. Carlson led the Mustangs to a .370 hitting percentage in the win. Kennedi Rogers went for 14 kills, hitting .440, with four digs and three blocks. Malaya Jones closely trailed Rogers with 13 kills, eight digs and seven blocks, tying her career high.

SMU out-blocked the Gators 15-4, spearheaded by a career-high nine blocks from freshman Maggie Croft. The Mustangs’ blocking efforts helped hold the Gators to a .156 hitting percentage for the match.

MATCH NOTES

With 13 kills against Florida, Jones (503) is now the second player in SMU Volleyball history to reach 500 kills in a season. She joins Rachel Giubilato, who notched 568 kills in 2006.

Averi Carlson (1,341) moved to third in the rally scoring era and sixth all-time for single-season assists at SMU.

Jones reached the double-digit kill mark for the 26th time this season and for the ninth straight match.

Rogers recorded double-digit kills for the sixth time this season.

It marked Schilling’s 22nd time in double-figures this season and her fifth straight.

With six blocks against the Gators, Anyanwu draws within 14 of breaking the program record for most blocks in a season. (188 by Janelle Giordano in 2015)

SMU had double-digit blocks (15) for the 17th time this season and for the second straight match.

SMU has won 20 of its last 21 matches and its 12th straight.

The Mustangs end the 2025 season with 15 wins at Moody Coliseum, tying the program record for most in a season.

The win marks the Mustangs’ 15th sweep, 11th at home this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

SMU controlled the first set from start to finish in all phases of the game. SMU hit .483 with no errors on 29 swings in the first, while holding Florida to a .000 hitting percentage. Rogers put in five kills to lead the Mustangs, who got point production from six different players to help propel them to a 25-11 set one victory. SMU commanded the net with a 5-0 advantage in blocks.

Down four (16-12) in the second frame, SMU responded with five straight points on a run that included two aces from Madison Scheer. After trading points, SMU went on a 4-0 run to pull away in the frame. The Mustangs went on to win the frame 25-21.

Tied 20-20 entering the red zone of the third set, SMU got the first two points on an ace from Carlson and a block from the freshman tandem of Rogers and Croft. Despite a 3-1 run by Florida that put the Gators at set point first, the Mustangs responded with three straight to close the match, ending the frame with their sixth block of the set to win 26-24.

SMU LEADERS:

SMU Kills Leader: Kennedi Rogers (14)

SMU Assists Leader: Averi Carlson (38)

SMU Digs Leader: Jordyn Schilling (11)

SMU Blocks Leader: Maggie Croft (9)

SMU Ace Leader: Madison Scheer (2)

SMU Points Leader: Malaya Jones (17.5)



Up Next: SMU will get a rematch with No. 3 seed Purdue in the NCAA Regional Semifinal on Thursday evening in Pittsburgh, Pa.