Sports
Long Beach Poly Secures First Round Win Over Edison – The562.org
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The562’s high school softball coverage is sponsored by Playmakers. Visit LetsBePlaymakers.org for more information on their adaptive sports programs.
If you walked up to LBCC’s softball field hoping to catch the first round of CIF Division 4 playoffs between Long Beach Poly and Edison, you might be very confused to see 30 identical players on the turf. Each team wore identical uniforms from their pinstripes down to their socks, but the Jackrabbits brought the bats and energy on their way to a 5-1 win over the Vikings.
As Poly geared up to take the field, Ki’ele Ho-Ching; the 2024 Moore League Player of the Year, No. 1 recruit for the class of 2026 and an Oklahoma University commit; returned to her place on the field at shortstop for the first time this season – and she immediately made her presence known.
After starting Poly pitcher Tegan Breaux struck out the first two Edison hitters, senior Sophia Hannappel was the first Viking to get on base after a line drive deflected off the glove of first baseman Kween Tauala. Sophomore Aubrey Catron hit a deep fly to the left field wall that sent Hannappel racing for home, but she couldn’t outrun Ho-Ching’s arm.
As the cutoff man positioned in left field, Ho-Ching completed the relay on a one-hop shot to keep Edison scoreless in the first inning. She completed another huge relay from left field in the top of the fourth to prevent another Edison run.
“We cut those two girls off at home with those terrific relays, even with her cannon not being at 100%,” Head Coach Elizabeth Sanches said. “75% Ki’ele is still 120% everybody else. So, we’re grateful.”
While the relays could easily be added to Ho-Ching’s defensive highlight reel, her and junior Emoni Lam Sam held down the left side of the infield with more top-notch defense. The two Division 1 commits knocked down any ball that came at them, which helped hold Edison to six hits throughout seven innings.
“Honestly, it was a little hard at first. The mental side of it is a lot,” Ho-Ching said of her defensive return. “Not playing for one, then all of a sudden coming back and just being thrown back out there, first play, first throw, a relay. I didn’t expect to throw the ball at all today, to be honest, but hey, I threw it like 20 times.”
Ho-Ching and E. Lam Sam are two major players in the strong junior class at 1600 Atlantic. E. Lam Sam was defensively clean on the turf but also played a big role in the lineup, going 2 for 4 with two RBI doubles to left field.
Long Beach Poly was the first to get on the board in the bottom of the third. Freshman Victoria Sepulveda led the inning off with a single to right field and was moved over to second off a sac bunt from junior Persja Lam Sam.
E. Lam Sam knocked in her first RBI as the next batter, followed by another RBI double from Tauala, who was also 2 for 4 on the day.
Edison responded in the top half of the fifth inning with their only score of the game. After Catron led off with a double, she was thrown out by Ho-Ching’s second relay on another left field double from sophomore Elina Garcia.
Garcia advanced to third on the throw from Ho-Ching. Sophomore Savannah Fisher was walked to put runners threatening at the corners. A double pickle resulted in a run for the Vikings after a misthrow got out of the Jackrabbit infield.
With a close 2-1 score, Poly’s bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth. P. Lam Sam was hit by a pitch and soon driven in off Emoni’s second RBI double. Emoni came around to score herself when junior Alayna Veavealagi singled to right.
Junior Janelle Morris doubled to move Veavealagi to third, who eventually scored off an RBI single from junior Sunni Vaafuti. Morris was 3 for 3 and the only Jackrabbit to swat 1.000 on the day.
“[Morris] made the adjustments and was able to trust her hands and trust her experience and trust her reps and stay back long enough to where she was driving it, not just to the right side, but right in the gap, in the perfect spot to get those runs in,” Sanches said.
This series of offensive adjustments from Poly’s junior class proved to be successful, as the bottom half of the fifth saw the Jackrabbits increase their lead 5-1. The home team rode this lead all the way to the end, defeating Edison after seven innings.
“Today, we went through the lineup once, and then the adjustments were instantaneous,” Sanches said of her team’s offensive rebound amidst some defensive and call struggles. “There’s 17 other girls out there to pick you up. Everybody has a bad day. We just got to be able to pick each other up.”
Breaux went the distance for the Jackrabbits, striking out five across the seven innings. Poly now turns their attention to Saturday when they will travel to South El Monte.
“I’m approaching our practice tomorrow as one that the girls can curate themselves based off of what their needs are and whatever they need us to do,” Sanches said of her team’s preparation. “Whatever it is that they need us to do, tomorrow is what we’re going to do. But, we’re still going to keep it loose, we’re still going to keep it relaxed, and we’re still going to keep it fun.”
Men’s Basketball Performer of the Week – Evan Cabral
Evan Cabral had a monster week for Ithaca as he averaged 26.7 points on 33-of-49 shooting for the floor, to go along with 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.3 assists per game. Cabral started the week with a career-high 31 points in a loss to Rochester as he went 12-for-23 shooting with seven rebounds and four steals. He then shot 12-for-16 for 27 points with eight boards and four steals at Vassar. Cabral concluded the week with 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting in a win at Skidmore.
Women’s Track & Field – Field Performer of the Week – Rachel Larson
Rachel Larson was a fourth place finisher with a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to open the 2025-26 season at Cornell’s Greg Page Relays. That time is currently No. 1 in Division III after the opening weekend of the season.
Women’s Swimming & Diving – Swimmer of the Week – Elizabeth Bodie
Sophomore Elizabeth Bodie had an impressive three day Bomber Invitational in which Ithaca totaled 2,307 points to outpace Rochester (2,037.5) and Smith College (1,135). Bodie won the 100-yard butterfly (56.54) added a runner-up in the 200 fly (2:08.15) and was third in the 100-yard backstroke (58.68) in an IC 1-2-3 finish. She also contributed to Ithaca’s 800-yard freestyle relay winning team that produced a finals time of 7:49.41.
Women’s Track & Field Rookie of the Week – Lola Gitlin
Lola Gitlin posted a time of 10:25.57 in the 3000-meter run to finish third overall in her first collegiate track race at the Cornell Greg Page Relays.
HONOR ROLL
Junior guard Tori Drevna had another steady week for the Bombers averaging 14.0 points per game across three appearances. Drevna connected on 3-of-4 and 2-of-3 from downtown against Rochester and Vassar, as she tallied 17 points along with seven boards and six assists in the loss to the ‘Jackets. She also nearly tallied her first double-double of the season in the 69-54 win over Skidmore with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Senior diver Kian Long was able to earn valuable team points for Ithaca as they nearly doubled the score of second-place University of Rochester across the three day Bomber Invitational. Long began his weekend winning on the 3-meter as he was second going into the evenings finals before outpacing Hobart’s Daniel Barrientos with a finals score of 513.95, compared to Barrientos who put together a 504.90. The senior diver followed it up with nearly a 50 point win on the 1-meter boards as he put together a finals score of 482.25, which bested Alfred University’s Jaxson McQuaid (436.00).
Graduate freestyler Matthew Mitros was impressive across Ithaca three day Bomber Invitational in which they won over the University of Rochester and five other schools. Mitros captured the 50 free (20.26, NCAA B‑cut) and powered Ithaca’s winning 200 free (1:22.48) and 400 medley relays (3:21.88) on opening night, then helping the Bombers take Friday’s 200 medley relay to cap a three‑relay sweep. He also scored a second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly (50.05).
Lily Seyfert claimed fifth in the shot put with a heave of 12.78 meters, which is currently ninth in the nation, to begin the season at the Cornell Greg Page Relays.
PITMAN, NJ – Rowan’s Braden Sheehan of the men’s swim team and Anthony Parker, Nyla Jones, and Naa’ilah Munson of the track & field teams were among the student-athletes honored by the NJAC with its weekly honors in those sports.
Sheehan was named the Men’s Swimmer of the Week as he won two events in Rowan’s 101.5-84.5 win over Swarthmore. The junior took first in the 100 free (46.92) and the 100 IM (51.55), while also clocking a split of 22.54 in the 200 mixed medley relay where the Profs finished second (1:38.98).
Rowan’s track and field teams got the new year underway at the Fastrack Season Opener. Parker was named the NJAC as claimed the long jump in his collegiate debut with a leap of 7.08 meters, which was the #13 mark in Division III.
Jones was picked as the Women’s Track Athlete of the Week as she clocked a 40.69 in the 300 meters, which is the 11th all-time best in Division III and current tops in the NJAC. The sophomore also was second in 60 hurdles with top conference time (8.93).
Munson was named the Women’s Track Rookie of the Week as she made her collegiate debut, posting the top NJAC mark in the triple jump. The freshman reached 11.16 meters to place fourth in the meet at Ocean Breeze.
Rowan’s men’s and women’s swim teams and the men’s and women’s track and field teams will return to competition in January.
MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Indoor season got underway over the weekend as Benedictine Track & Field competed in the annual Mel Tjeerdsma Classic hosted by Northwest Missouri State University.
The meet hosted 18 programs, including fellow Heart schools Baker, MNU and Park.
Women’s Results:
Ayn Olsen, fifth place, 300 meters
Aileen Ambuul, seventh place, 300 meters
Maria Connealy, sixth place, high jump
Haley Protz, sixth place, pole vault
Evelyn Brandt, eighth place, pole vault
Madison Helton, fifth place, long jump; fifth place, triple jump
Elizabeth Geist, eighth place, shot put
Mary Logan, sixth place, weight throw
Men’s Results:
Will Bensen, eighth place, 400 meters
John Philip Butler, eighth place, 600 yards
4×400 meter relay (Will Benson, John Philip Butler, Owen Dulac, Cole McGrath), eighth place
Kevin Taylor, third place, pole vault
Christopher Coyne, fourth place, pole vault
The indoor season continues on Dec. 12 with a trip to Seward, Neb., for the Bulldog Early Bird hosted by Concorida University.
www.ravenathletics.com | #UnleashGreatness | www.benedictine.edu
“Overall, I thought both teams finished the season on a high note. I was really impressed with several of our individual runners and their performances. Our seniors stepped up with some good races. Also, we’re fairly young on both sides with multiple first-years scoring for us. We look forward to taking this positive momentum into the indoor track & field season. Go Big Green!” Mike Nelson, the Marjorie & Herbert Chase ’30 Director of Dartmouth Track & Field and Cross Country, said.
Colton McMaster highlighted the men’s throwing events by taking first place in the shot put (17.26m) and weight throw (19.11m). Zaneta Pivcova stood out in women’s throws, placing third in the shot put with her 14.67m mark and putting herself at third all-time in the program’s top ten list.
In the women’s jumps, Maya Pacarro placed second in the triple jump with her 11.45m mark, while Charlotte DiRocco similarly placed second in the high jump, clearing 1.63m. The men also found success in their jumping events, with all three pole vaulters earning top spots in the event. David Adams cleared 5.00m for first place, followed by Jack Tan clearing 4.60m and earning second place in his collegiate debut and rounded out by Sam Starrs in third place with his 4.60m finish.
In the running events, Winston Morgan placed second overall in the 200m, putting himself at third all-time with a 21.73 finish. Richard Rozkydalek began his collegiate career by placing second in the 600m with a 1:21.09 finish. Keion Grieve and Michael Bueker followed behind, placing second and third, respectively. For the women, Imogen Brown placed sixth in the 600m and put herself at fifth all-time with a final mark of 1:39.01.
Rebeka Zibritova opened her collegiate career by putting herself at sixth all-time in the 60mH with a final time of 8.88.
ALL-TIME TOP TEN LIST
60m Hurdles
1. 8.20 – Cha’Mia Rothwell – 2018
2. 8.45 – Mariella Schweitzer – 2025
3. 8.74 – Allison Frantz – 2015
8.74 – Abby Feeney – 2016
4. 8.76 – Daniela Ruelas Lomeli – 2025
5. 8.79 – Janae Dunchack – 2012
6. 8.88 – Lauren Ready – 2015
8.88 – Anoush Krafian – 2022
8.88 – Rebeka Zibritova – 2025
7. 8.92 – Danielle Johnson – 2025
8. 8.99 – Danielle Okonta – 2017
8.99 – Alexandra Tanner – 2011
8.99 – Priscilla Trojano – 2012
Women’s Shot Put
1. 14.99m – Amy Winchester
2. 14.76m – Julia Reglewski
3. 14.67m – Zaneta Pivcova – 2025
4. 14.59m – Lily Lockhart
5. 14.56m – Autumn Clark – 2024
6. 14.52m – Allison Cardlin
7. 14.47m – Emmaline Berg
8. 14.42m – Sarah Beasley
9. 14.14m – Jamila Smith
10. 14.11m – Meagan Verdeyen
Women’s 600m
1. 1:35.98 – Annie Jackson – 2023
2. 1:37.00 – Arianna Gragg – 2019
3. 1:37.72 – Julia Pye – 2023
4. 1:38.78 – Andie Murray – 2022
5. 1:39.01 – Imogen Brown – 2025
6. 1:41.74 – Sarah Adams – 2019
7. 1:44.00 – Sara Fragione – 2022
8.
9.
10.
Men’s 200m
1. 21.48 – Myles Epstein – 2022
2. 21.62 – Bryce Thomas – 2025
3. 21.73 – Winston Morgan – 2025
4. 21.76 – Donovan Spearman – 2019
5. 21.86 – Muhammed Adbul-Shakoor – 2010
6. 22.03 – Jalil Bishop – 2011
7. 22.04 – Painter Richards-Baker – 2025
22.04 – Nils Wilderberg – 2022
22.04 – Mathiur Farber – 2019
22.04 – Lloyd May – 2017
8. 22.07 – Adam Couirr – 2017
9. 22.12 – Connor Reilly – 2010
Men’s 600m
1. 1:18.43 – J’Voughn Blake – 2023
2. 1:18.65 – Adrien Jacobs – 2024
3. 1:19.90 – DJ Matusz – 2022
4. 1:20.45 – Mason Childers – 2022
5. 1:21.09 – Richard Rozkydalek -2025
6. 1:22.67 – Max Frye – 2019
7. 1:23.06 – Aidan Robinson – 2021
8. 1:23.10 – Keion Grieve – 2025
9. 1:23.66 – Michael Bueker – 2025
Sports
Ferris State provides early commencement celebration for two volleyball team members headed to NCAA DII Elite Eight
December 8, 2025
Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, and President Bill Pink
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. —
Two members of the Ferris State University volleyball team has one important thing
to take care of before heading to South Dakota for the NCAA Division II National Tournament:
graduate.
Ferris State President Bill Pink and Provost Bobby Fleischman conducted a special
ceremony for outside hitter Emma Bleecher and Ivy Wilhelm, a student worker with the
team, complete with academic regalia. The team members won’t be back from the tournament
in time to participate in Friday’s ceremony with their classmates.
“We do this because we like to celebrate our Bulldogs,” Pink said. “We like to celebrate
our graduates, and when you’re not able to join us for all the good reasons. When
your success is so prominent in our university, these things happen. But that’s why
our university is built to adjust so that we’re able to help our students.”
The volleyball team earned its way to the NCAA DII Elite Eight for the second year
in a row. Pink said he didn’t want the students’ athletic success to prohibit them
from participating in a treasured academic milestone.
“We’re used to this kind of success,” Pink told the students. “It’s how we do our
business here at Ferris State. We make sure that we honor and recognize when our students
have accomplishments. Our students finish what we start. So, it’s an honor to be able
to celebrate with you this way.”
Students wore their caps and gowns for the brief celebration. Bleecher, a Criminal
Justice Administration major from Champaign, Illinois said it was nice to be able
to be presented with her diploma even if she couldn’t be a part of the larger ceremony
on Friday morning.
“I think it’s amazing,” she said. “I think it’s just like a blessing to be here, and
it’s just cool to be able to do both.”
Wilhelm, who works with the team’s social media, earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing.
“In moments like this, when I know it’s my community and they’re going to show up
for me, I know 100% I was right to be here these four years,” she said.
The team captured the NCAA DII Midwest Region Championship on Saturday and has been
selected as the No. 8 seed Elite Eight rounded to be held Dec. 11 to 13, in Sioux
Falls, South Dakota.
The Bulldogs will square off against top-seeded and unbeaten University of Tampa in
the national quarterfinals on Thursday, Dec. 11 with first serve set for 8 p.m. at
the Sanford Pentagon.
The Bulldogs will be making their second consecutive NCAA Division II Elite Eight
appearance after making their first since 2013 a year ago.
Saturday’s victory marked the fifth time Ferris State claimed a regional championship
as the Bulldogs previously won crowns back in 1987 and 1989 along with 2013 and 2024.
Ferris State, which is guided by 30th-year head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, is 27-7
this year heading into the D2 Elite Eight. The Bulldogs finished the regular season
as the GLIAC Champions and earned runner-up honors in the GLIAC Tournament as the
host institution.
GRAPEVINE, Tex. —
Allie Wildsmith (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy track & field team has been named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Women’s NCAA Division III National Athlete of the Week in recognition of her performance this past weekend at Boston University’s Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener.
The reigning indoor and outdoor high jump National Champion wasted started her first title defense of the season by needing just two jumps to win the event. Wildsmith passed up on the first five bars before clearing her first attempt of the day at 1.63 meters (5′ 4.25″). The senior needed just one jump again to get over the next height of 1.68m (5′ 6″), which the remaining three of her original five competitors bowed out on.
As the last jumper left, Wildsmith secured easy one-try clearances on the next two heights of 1.73m (5′ 8″) and 1.78m (5′ 10″) before closing out her day with tries at the NCAA DIII indoor record of 1.83m (6′ 0″). Despite knocking the bar off on all three tries, the senior’s dominance was on full display as she extended her undefeated streak to 11 event wins in a row.
Wildsmith and Bears track & field will be out of action for the next few weeks due to the holiday break, but they’ll be back and raring to go on January 17th for the self-hosted CGA Winter Invite #1 at Gregory Field House.
SEC powerhouse named the most-watched college football team of 2025 regular season
Liberty League Performers of the Week for December 8
Sheehan, Parker, Jones and Munson Among the NJAC Athlete of the Week Winners
St. Louis CITY SC Earns Two 2025 MLS Club Awards for Accessibility and Youth Fan Engagement Efforts
The Most Egregious Double Standard in Sports
Vegas Golden Knights Foundation and Three Square Food Bank Will Host Holiday Drive-Thru Distribution For Families
Men’s Basketball: Macalester Holds Off Knights for 85-80 Victory
New Balance Foundation Pledges $9.2M for Massachusetts Youth Sports and Development Programs
Youth substance abuse prevention program looks to athletes to spread the word
Want To Avoid Having A Troublesome Teen? Get Boys Involved In Youth Sports, Study Says | Health and Wellness
Want To Avoid Having A Troublesome Teen? Get Boys Involved In Youth Sports, Study Says | Nation
Gopher Football’s Top NIL Deals Revealed
Indoor season opens for Track & Field at annual Mel Tjeerdsma Classic
Track and Field Opens Indoor Season with Success in Boston Area
Ferris State provides early commencement celebration for two volleyball team members headed to NCAA DII Elite Eight
First Tee Winter Registration is open
Fargo girl, 13, dies after collapsing during school basketball game – Grand Forks Herald
CPG Brands Like Allegra Are Betting on F1 for the First Time
Volleyball Recaps – November 18
F1 Las Vegas: Verstappen win, Norris and Piastri DQ tighten 2025 title fight
Two Pro Volleyball Leagues Serve Up Plans for Minnesota Teams
Utah State Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track & Field Schedule
Sycamores unveil 2026 track and field schedule
Redemption Means First Pro Stock World Championship for Dallas Glenn
Texas volleyball vs Kentucky game score: Live SEC tournament updates
Bowl Projections: ESPN predicts 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, full bowl slate after Week 14
How this startup (and a KC sports icon) turned young players into card-carrying legends overnight
Indiana’s rapid ascent and its impact across college football
Pohlman admits ‘there might be some spats’ as he pushes to get Kyle Busch winning again
Robert “Bobby” Lewis Hardin, 56
Why a rising mid-major power with an NCAA Tournament team opted out of revenue-sharing — and advertised it
NBA Legend Michael Jordan to Join NBC Sports as Special Contributor
Falcons mailbag
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
has always dreamed in Mercurial. Now his initials are on the boots.
The new Kyl…
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoFirst Tee Winter Registration is open
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoFargo girl, 13, dies after collapsing during school basketball game – Grand Forks Herald
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoCPG Brands Like Allegra Are Betting on F1 for the First Time
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoF1 Las Vegas: Verstappen win, Norris and Piastri DQ tighten 2025 title fight
-
Sports2 weeks agoTwo Pro Volleyball Leagues Serve Up Plans for Minnesota Teams
-
Sports2 weeks agoUtah State Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track & Field Schedule
-
Sports2 weeks agoSycamores unveil 2026 track and field schedule
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoRedemption Means First Pro Stock World Championship for Dallas Glenn
-
Sports2 weeks agoTexas volleyball vs Kentucky game score: Live SEC tournament updates
-
NIL1 week agoBowl Projections: ESPN predicts 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, full bowl slate after Week 14