Sports
Mackenzie Roy and Colby Cronk headline Volusia-Flagler HSSA winners
The 2024-25 Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards, Presented by Halifax Health, were on Monday night at the Ocean City Center.
More than 300 athletes from across the area were honored, including Players of the Year in 27 sports and the area’s overall winners for boys athlete of the year, girls athlete of the year, boys team of the year, girls team of the year, boys coach of the year, girls coach of the year, Kayne Finley Courage Award and USA TODAY Studio IX Trailblazer Award.
Former Miami Marlins star Dee Strange-Gordon was the guest speaker.
Here’s a list of all the award winners:
Kayne Finley Courage Award, Presented by Halifax Health – Leah Stevens, Matanzas High School
For the last two seasons, Leah Stevens has been one of the best softball players in the region. The same can be said of her freshman year in 2022. But there’s a gap. The Matanzas standout missed all of the 2023 season — and initially feared she might have to walk away from softball entirely — after suffering a stroke and being diagnosed with a blood clot in her brain. But Stevens fought back. Not only did she return to the field, she dominated and signed to play collegiately at the University of Florida.
Boys Team of the Year, Presented by SMA Healthcare – Seabreeze High School bowling
The Sandcrabs were the lone Volusia-Flagler area boys team to capture a state title this school year. Their boys bowling championship was the first in school history, and the first by any local club since 2009. During the regular season, district tournament, which it won, and state tournament, Seabreeze never dropped a Baker match. It defeated defending champ Leesburg 3-2 in the state finals, snatching the deciding fifth game by the score of 204-200.
Girls Team of the Year, Presented by SMA Healthcare – New Smyrna Beach High School basketball
Fresh off their first district title in nearly a decade, the Barracudas built on their momentum under second-year coach Aisha Patrick. They spent much of the season as the state’s top-ranked team in Class 5A and backed it up once postseason time arrived. Again, they grabbed the district title. They continued on, securing the first state championship in program history by knocking off Gainesville. They saved their best ball for last, stringing together a 15-game winning streak to finish 27-5.
Boys Athlete of the Year – Colby Cronk, Flagler Palm Coast High School
Cronk was the area’s Defensive Player of the Year in football, collecting a local-best 120 tackles and 27 sacks as a senior. Then, in the spring, he repeated as a state shot put champion for the second season in a row with a throw of 19 meters, making the successful case for boys track and field athlete of the year, too. Cronk will play football for North Carolina State.
Girls Athlete of the Year – Mackenzie Roy, Spruce Creek High School
For the second consecutive year, Roy claims this award after her cross country and track and field domination. Last fall, she won the Volusia-Flagler area’s first girls cross country state championship in 25 years and was voted Gatorade Florida Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. The Auburn commit finished more than 34 seconds ahead of the runner-up with a state-winning time of 17 minutes and 19 seconds. She then added some more hardware at the Class 4A track and field meet in May. She posted a PR of 4 minutes and 49 seconds in the 1,600-meter run, which clinched an individual title and also helped Spruce Creek to the first team title in program history.
USA TODAY Studio IX Trailblazer – Bridgette Gordon
Gordon is one of the best athletes to ever attend a local high school. She led DeLand to the first girls basketball state championship by a Volusia-Flagler area program in 1984. But since graduating, her resume has only gotten stronger. She went to the University of Tennessee where she became a two-time NCAA basketball champion, an NCAA Tournament MVP, a two-time All-American and the SEC Female Athlete of the Year. She represented the United States at the 1988 Olympic Games and brought home a gold medal. Gordon also played for the Sacramento Monarchs of the WBNA during the league’s first two seasons in existence in 1997 and 1998. Since the early 2000s, she has coached women’s basketball at the college level, beginning as an assistant at Stetson with subsequent stops at Tennessee, SMU, Cincinnati and other schools before rising to Florida A&M’s top role in 2023.
Boys Coach of the Year – Travis Norfolk, Atlantic High School
In only his second season as Atlantic’s boys basketball coach, Norfolk led the Sharks to a district championship and their first trip to the Class 4A region finals since 2007. They finished with a 22-8 record, the most wins by a local program this season and an eight-win improvement over Norfolk’s first campaign in charge. The Sharks were also the highest-ranked local squad in the final FHSAA poll of the year.
Girls Coach of the Year – Aisha Patrick, New Smyrna Beach High School
After New Smyrna Beach notched its first girls basketball playoff appearance since 2017 during Patrick’s first season as head coach, her Barracudas went all the way in her second season. They sprinted through the Class 5A bracket, beating Gainesville for the first state crown in program history. New Smyrna Beach tallied a record of 27-5. It ended the season on a 15-game winning streak.
Defensive football, Presented by John’s Appliances – Colby Cronk, Flagler Palm Coast High School
After committing to North Carolina State as a junior, Cronk backed up his Power Conference status with a monstrous senior year. He didn’t just lead the Volusia-Flagler area in sacks with 27 — he led the entirety of Florida’s Class 7A. He also topped the local leaderboard with 120 tackles. The Bulldogs went 9-2 and made the playoffs. Cronk is the first Power Four football signee in school history.
Offensive football, Presented by John’s Appliances – Hayden Hayes, Flagler Palm Coast High School
In just one year at Flagler Palm Coast, Hayes basically rewrote the school record book. He threw for 3,068 yards and 34 touchdowns, which each set new high marks, after transferring from Seabreeze before his senior season. He also ran for seven touchdowns. Hayes boosted the Bulldogs from a 3-7 record two years ago to 9-2 and a playoff appearance last fall. Along the way, his offense topped the 50-point threshold in five games.
Baseball, Presented by the Daytona Tortugas – Garrett Grant, Spruce Creek High School
Grant earned this award for the second year in a row. As a senior, the right-handed pitcher put up crazy numbers before heading to Florida Atlantic for the upcoming school year. He had a 13-0 record with a 0.93 earned run average. He struck out 96 batters and walked only nine in 75 innings for the region finalist Hawks.
Softball, Presented by the Daytona Tortugas – Leah Stevens, Matanzas High School
Stevens committed to the Florida Gators in January, signed in February and then backed it up on the field during the rest of her senior spring. During Matanzas’ run to the region finals, Stevens pitched 108 innings and maintained an earned run average of 0.32. She struck out 249 batters and walked just 11. At the plate, she hit .500 in 32 at-bats and drove in 12 runs with six extra-base knocks.
Boys Basketball – Cris De La Pena, Atlantic High School
De La Pena did a lot of everything for the Sharks, who stayed alive until the state’s elite eight, farther than any other local boys team this year. He led them in points, assists and steals and has an elite ability to dictate the pace of play. His junior averages: 14.7 points, 5.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game.
Girls Basketball – Olivia Olson, New Smyrna Beach High School
During her lone season at New Smyrna Beach, Olson helped to deliver the program’s first state championship, dropping 30 points in the finals against Gainesville. Overall, the senior who is signed to play at Marshall University averaged 21.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Boys Soccer – Hugues Iguaran, New Smyrna Beach High School
New Smyrna Beach High School As a senior, Iguaran led the area in assists for the second straight season with 16, as the Barracudas again advanced to the region finals as the area’s last team standing. He chipped in 13 goals.
Girls Soccer – Skya Horth, New Smyrna Beach High School
Horth was at the front of New Smyrna Beach’s best season ever, when it set new program records for wins and goals. She scored 25 times and added 16 assists as a versatile center midfielder. The senior is signed to play Division I soccer at the University of North Florida.
Boys Track & Field – Colby Cronk, Flagler Palm Coast High School
Cronk worked his way back from offseason shoulder surgery and missed the start of his senior campaign. But he shook off the rust quickly, winning Five Star, district and regional titles on his way to repeating as the Class 4A shot put champion. His state-winning heave traveled 19 meters. He also placed second at regionals and states in the discus event.
Girls Track & Field – Mackenzie Roy, Spruce Creek High School
Roy recorded the fastest local times in the 800-meter, 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs during her senior season. And after winning a state title in cross country last fall, she captured another in the 1,600-meter at the Class 4A meet, turning in a person-best time of 4 minutes and 49 seconds. The Auburn signee also finished second in the state in the 3,200-meter event, and Spruce Creek secured the first FHSAA team crown in program history.
Boys Cross Country – Blaine Vogel, Matanzas High School
Vogel was part of an elite trio of runners in Flagler County along with Flagler Palm Coast’s Jevin Luna and Braedyn Wormeck. During his junior season, Vogel peaked at the right time, putting forth the best local time of any boys competitor at the state meets. He crossed the finish line in 16 minutes and 40 seconds in the Class 3A race. Vogel also secured times under 16 minutes and 55 seconds at districts and regionals.
Girls Cross Country – Mackenzie Roy, Spruce Creek High School
Roy was the best runner in the state last fall. She earned the Gatorade Florida Girls Cross Country Runner of Year award and was named Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Cross County after her senior season. Roy captured the Volusia-Flagler area’s first individual girls cross country state championship in 25 years. She won Five Star Conference, district and regional titles along the way. Roy is committed to run track and cross country with her twin sister, Arianna, at Auburn University.
Boys Weightlifting – Isaiah McCloud, New Smyrna Beach High School
For the third straight year, Isaiah McCloud earned a state championship. He captured the traditional title at the Class 2A meet, lifting a 725 total with a 405-pound bench press and a 320-pound clean and jerk. McCloud also finished fourth in the state in the Olympic category with a 575 total.
Girls Weightlifting – Asha-Mahri Manzueta, New Smyrna Beach High School
Manzueta repeated as a double state champion, winning Class 2A gold in the Olympic and traditional categories in the 199-pound weight class. She dominated the state competition with a 545 traditional score and a 420 Olympic score.
Boys Wrestling – Jonathan Bruner, New Smyrna Beach High School
Bruner won New Smyrna Beach’s first state wrestling championship since 1998 with an overtime victory in the Class 2A, 144-pound finals. Along the way, he captured district and regional titles and finished his senior year with a 48-3 record.
Girls Wrestling – Christina Borgmann, Flagler Palm Coast High School
Borgmann did not lose a match during the final two years of her high school career. After winning a national championship in the spring of 2024, she made her senior season her best yet. She went 33-0 and claimed a state title, her second in a row, at 130 pounds.
Boys Tennis – Zane Ensminger, Spruce Creek High School
Ensminger is now a three-time Volusia-Flagler Player of the Year. He closed his high school career with a 27-1 singles record as a senior after a sprint to the finals of the Class 4A individual singles bracket. He added a 21-3 mark in doubles. In his four seasons, Ensmimger served as Spruce Creek’s No. 1 singles player for each of them and concluded each one with an appearance in the state tournament.
Girls Tennis – Giselle Adekunle, Spruce Creek High School
Now a two-time Player of the Year, Adekunle’s junior season was her second as the Hawks’ Line 1 singles ace. She finished with a 13-8 record in singles and a 19-5 record in doubles, helping the Hawks to the Class 4A state tournament as a group.
Boys Golf – Gabriel Hull, Spruce Creek High School
Hull claims his second straight Volusia-Flagler Boys Golfer of the Year award. He posted the top 9-hole and 18-hole averages in the area as a senior and won the Five Star Conference championship and a district championship. After tying for fourth in his region, Hull was the lone Volusia-Flagler representative at the Class 3A boys state tournament. He finished 23rd.
Girls Golf – Riley Fletcher, Riley Fletcher Seabreeze High School
Fletcher closed her high school career on a high note. During her senior season, she won the Five Star Conference Tournament and a district championship before tying for fourth in her region. She represented the Volusia-Flagler area at the Class 2A state tournament, where she shot a 152 during the two-day event and tied for 10th. On average, Fletcher shot a 37 during 9-hole rounds and a 76 on 18-hole rounds last fall.
Boys Swimming & Diving – Cole Conlan, Seabreeze High School
Conlan repeats as the Volusia-Flagler Boys Swimmer of the Year after also winning the award as a junior. During his senior season, he sped to the fastest local times in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. He won Five Star Conference championships in each event and added a district backstroke title. At the Class 3A state meet, he finished his butterfly race in 51 seconds and his backstroke event in 54 seconds. At regionals, he was on the 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay teams.
Girls Swimming & Diving – Piper Jemison, DeLand High School
As a junior, Jemison turned in the fastest 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke times among all locals. She made it to the Class 4A state meet in each of those events and finished each race in under a minute, placing her in the top 14. Jemison won a district butterfly championship and claimed the Five Star Conference titles in the butterfly and backstroke. As a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay team, she also collected a seventh-place finish at regionals.
Boys Bowling – Dalton Boice, Seabreeze High School
Boice wrapped up Seabreeze’s state championship in the final frame of the finals against Leesburg. Needing to knock down seven pins, he bowled a strike. That’s nothing new for Boice. Across 30 games during his sophomore season, he averaged a score of 217. He rolled a 669 as the Sandcrabs won their district, and he posted a four-day total of 847 at states.
Girls Bowling – Katelyn Miller, Seabreeze High School
Miller enjoyed a standout 2024 during which she averaged a score of 182 across 37 games. At districts, she fired a 583 to qualify for the state tournament as an individual. Finally, at states, she collected a four-day total of 715 pins.
Flag Football – Chloe Waldo, Spruce Creek High School
On offense, Waldo was the area’s top receiver, racking up 111 catches for 1,425 yards and 20 touchdowns. On defense, the junior was among the best local receiver-stoppers. She grabbed an area-leading 15 interceptions for the Hawks, who finished as state runners-up.
Girls Volleyball – Alison Bierwagen, DeLand High School
As a senior, Bierwagen helped the Bulldogs to a 25-3 record and an appearance in the region finals. She served as one of the area’s most versatile players, leading all locals with 306 kills on a high percentage while also contributing nearly 400 assists and 300 digs. She is committed to study and play volleyball at Liberty University.
Beach Volleyball – Gabrielle Bissell and Bailey Jones, New Smyrna Beach High School
The Barracudas made their third run to the state finals in four years, and Bissell and Jones were right in the middle of it. During their first season as partners, they rattled off a perfect 18-0 record. Bissell, a senior, also claimed this award last year. As just a junior, Jones will have a chance to go back-to-back next year, too.
Florida Power Play Award, Presented by Florida Power & Light – Sophia Mendoza, University High School
Best Band Fan Favorite Award, Presented by Gary Yeomans Ford – University High School
Best Mascot Fan Favorite Award, Presented by Gary Yeomans Ford – University High School
Best Cheerleading Team Fan Favorite Award, Presented by Gary Yeomans Ford – DeLand High School
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Seven members of the UNC Asheville track and field program competed in the Visit Winston-Salem College Kick-Off on Saturday (Dec. 6), highlighted by two school records, three indoor collegiate debuts, and three additional personal bests.
RESULTS
MILE (WOMEN)
2. Alison Graf 4:56.64 (SR)
3. Aneta Kucerova 5:03.06
10 Addison Corl 5:19.63 (PR)
12 Marika Dickel 5:22.96
MILE (MEN)
5. Bennett Moreno 4:17.58
7. Jan Malek 4:18.27
13 Tadiyos Sloan-Westmoreland 4:24.97 (PR)
3000M (WOMEN)
6. Aneta Kucerova 9:54.49 (SR)
7. Alison Graf 9:58.91
9. Marika Dickel 10:15.88
21 Addison Corl 10:44.70
3000M (MEN)
2. Jan Malek 8:24.27
11 Tadiyos Sloan-Westmoreland 8:44.97 (PR)
For full results, click here.
UP NEXT
Asheville officially begins its season on Saturday, Jan. 10, as the Bulldogs host the UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International.
To stay updated with all things surrounding Asheville track & field, follow the team on 𝕩.
- For the second time, a Regional Final match will air on ABC (Sun., Dec. 14)
- ESPN is slated to air two Regional Semifinals on ESPN for the first time
- All four No. 1 seeds (Kentucky, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Texas) to host Regionals, Dec. 11-14
- All 12 matches will air on either ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, with all matches also available on the ESPN App
ESPN continues its exclusive presentation of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament this weekend with the Regional Semifinals and Finals set at the four top-seeded host sites – Kentucky, Nebraska, Pittsburgh and Texas.
Regional Semifinal play gets underway Thursday, Dec. 11, with four matches on ESPN2 from Kentucky (afternoon) and Pittsburgh (evening). The Regional Semifinals continue Friday from Austin and Lincoln, with the Texas Region airing on ESPN in the afternoon and the Nebraska Region airing on ESPN2 in the evening.
Regional Finals spring into action on Saturday, Dec. 13, with the Kentucky and Pittsburgh Regions as the first two teams claim their spot in the National Semifinals on ESPN2. Times will be determined following Thursday’s matches.
Action then wraps on Sunday, Dec. 14 on ABC/ESPN as the final two teams etch their spots in Kansas City, Mo. For the second time, a Regional Final will air on ABC – coming from either the Texas or Nebraska Region. Times will be determined following Friday’s matches.
Following the success last season, each Regional site will have a reporter on location, giving viewers insight from the sideline during the action.
Commentator teams calling the action from each location are as follows:
Kentucky Regional:
Play-by-play: Kevin Barnett
Analyst: Missy Whittemore – Three-time All-American at Florida
Reporter: Dawn Davenport – Three-year letterwinner at Auburn
Pittsburgh Regional:
Play-by-play: Anne Marie Anderson
Analyst: Nicole Branagh – Beach Volleyball Olympian and two-time All-American at Minnesota
Reporter: Shelby Coppedge – Four-year Texas A&M Corpus Christi defensive specialist
Texas Regional:
Play-by-play: Eric Frede
Analyst: Emily Ehman – Four-year Northwestern libero from 2016-19
Reporter: Michella Chester – Reporter & host for NCAA.com
Nebraska Regional:
Play-by-play: Courtney Lyle
Analyst: Holly McPeak – Three-time beach volleyball Olympian, third-winningest beach volleyball player of all-time
Reporter: Madison Fitzpatrick – Florida State beach volleyball standout (2018-22)
Studio Coverage:
Host: Sam Gore
Analyst: Mary Wise – Three-time AVCA Coach of the Year
Analyst: Jennifer Hoffman – Former Louisville All-American and U.S. National Team member
2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Regional Semifinals and Regional Finals Schedule:
| Date | Time (ET) | Site | Match | Network |
| Thu, Dec. 11 | 1 p.m. | Kentucky | Regional Semifinals Creighton vs. Arizona State Kevin Barnett, Missy Whittemore, Dawn Davenport |
ESPN2 |
| 30 mins after Match 1 | Kentucky | Regional Semifinals Cal Poly vs. Kentucky Kevin Barnett, Missy Whittemore, Dawn Davenport |
ESPN2 | |
| 7 p.m. | Pittsburgh | Regional Semifinals Minnesota vs. Pittsburgh Anne Marie Anderson, Nicole Branagh, Shelby Coppedge |
ESPN2 | |
| 30 mins after Match 1 | Pittsburgh | Regional Semifinals Purdue vs. SMU Anne Marie Anderson, Nicole Branagh, Shelby Coppedge |
ESPN2 | |
| Fri, Dec. 12 | Noon | Texas | Regional Semifinals Indiana vs. Texas Eric Frede, Emily Ehman, Michella Chester |
ESPN |
| 30 mins after Match 1 | Texas | Regional Semifinals Wisconsin vs. Stanford Eric Frede, Emily Ehman, Michella Chester |
ESPN | |
| 7 p.m. | Nebraska | Regional Semifinals Texas A&M vs. Louisville Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Madison Fitzpatrick |
ESPN2 | |
| 30 mins after Match 1 | Nebraska | Regional Semifinals Kansas vs. Nebraska Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak, Madison Fitzpatrick |
ESPN2 | |
| Sat, Dec. 13 | 5 p.m. | TBD | Regional Finals TBD |
ESPN2 |
| 7:30 p.m. | TBD | Regional Finals TBD |
ESPN2 | |
| Sun, Dec. 14 | 3 p.m. | TBD | Regional Finals TBD |
ABC |
| 7:30 p.m. | TBD | Regional Finals TBD |
ESPN |
* All 12 matches will also be available on the ESPN App
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PITMAN, N.J. – Following a pair of historic performances, TCNJ women’s basketball’s Amanda Baylock and TCNJ track and field’s Maxim Rychkov were tabbed as their respective sport’s NJAC Athlete of the Week, as announced by the conference this afternoon.
Baylock earns her first career Player of the Week nod following an outstanding stretch in which the sophomore averaged 21 points on .538/.500/1.000 splits along with 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists to guide the Lions to a pair of dominant NJAC wins.
The Scotch Plains, N.J. native opened her week hitting a trio of 3-pointers as part of a nine-point outing in TCNJ’s 69-43 win over Stockton before erupting on the offensive end in the Lions’ wire-to-wire victory over Kean. Playing just 25 minutes against the Cougars, Baylock set career highs in both points (33) and 3-pointers (7), both of which are the most by a TCNJ player since 2021. The sophomore now easily paces the conference and ranks fifth in Division III in 3-pointers made per game (3.4), converting at an impressive 38.6% clip.
Rychkov made history of his own in his 2025-26 debut en route to the sophomore’s second Track Athlete of the Week honors. Competing at the TCNJ Indoor Open, Rychkov matched the school record in the 60-meter (6.77) before breaking the TCNJ and NJAC record – held by future Olympian Cheickna Traore – and setting the third-fastest finish in Division III history in the 300-meter with his time of 33.54.
Sports
Volleyball’s Loryn Helgesen Named America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week
With their sponsorship of the student-athlete of the week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
Helgesen, from Kaysville, Utah, led the Aggies during a pair of matches last week at the NCAA Tournament, including a first-round upset of seventh-seeded Tennessee (3-2) and a loss to second-seeded Arizona State (3-1). Against the Volunteers, Helgesen finished with 14 kills on a .308 hitting percentage and tied for the team lead with four blocks while adding seven digs, one ace and one assist. Against the Sun Devils, Helgesen recorded 19 kills on a .429 hitting percentage, both team highs, and added three digs, one block and one assist.
Helgesen finished the season with a .295 hitting percentage, ranking ninth all-time for a single season at USU with at least five attacks per set. Her career hitting percentage of .275 also ranks sixth all-time in program history with at least 1,000 attacks.
Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
Join The Big Blue Club
Gifts to the Big Blue Club provide the resources necessary to build championship-caliber programs. It also comes with great benefits, including complimentary parking at football and men’s basketball games, access to the best seat locations, exclusive ticket presales, and more. Join online here or contact a member of the Big Blue Club via email or by phone at (435) 797-2583.
Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
MEN’S BASKETBALL – Junior guard Mason Falslev (Benson, Utah) helped Utah State to a 1-1 record on the road last week with a 74-6` loss at South Florida and a 79-53 win at Charlotte. Against the Bulls, Falslev scored 19 points, to go along with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists, while shooting 7-of-17 from the floor, 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and 2-of-4 from the free throw line. Against the 49ers, he scored 22 points, along with six assists, five rebounds, and four steals, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, 0-of-3 from 3-point range and 8-of-8 at the free throw line. For the week, Falslev averaged 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game, while shooting 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from the field, 33.3 percent (3-of-9) from 3-point range and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) at the free throw line.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL – Junior guard Aaliyah Gayles (Las Vegas, Nevada) led the Aggies with 16.0 points per game last week in a pair of road losses at LMU (63-58) and San Diego (70-66). Against the Lions, Gayles scored 12 points and added three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Against the Toreros, Gayles scored a team-high 20 points, USU’s first 20-point scorer this season, on 6-of-15 shooting, and led the team with four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.
2025-26 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Sept. 1 – Miles Davis, Football
Sept. 8 – John Miller, Football
Sept. 15 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 22 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 29 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 6 – Kaylie Kofe, Volleyball
Oct. 13 – Tess Werts, Soccer
Oct. 20 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 27 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Nov. 3 – Mara Štiglic, Volleyball
Nov. 10 – Rine Yonaha, Soccer
Nov. 17 – Garry Clark, Men’s Basketball
Nov. 24 – MJ Collins, Men’s Basketball
Dec. 1 – Andrea Simovski, Volleyball
Dec. 8 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
– USU –
There’s no shortage of fast runners in the NC State athletic program. With women’s cross country coming off an NCAA National Championship run, many of the same speedsters who hoisted the big trophy have made the transition to indoor track season.
NC State’s top runners made the trip up to Boston, Massachusetts, to compete in the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, while the throwers stayed close to home and competed in the Winston-Salem College Kick-off in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Success continued for the Wolfpack in long distance running as a number of athletes marked strong performances in the 3000m and 5000m races.
In the 3000m, junior Angelina Napoleon led the charge with a fourth-place finish in the elite first heat, with a time of 8:46.15. Also competing in the first heat, Sadie Englehardt finished 17th with a time of 9:09.47. Junior Kate Putman competed in the second heat, finishing 14th with a time of 9:17.92.
Three NC State athletes competed in the 5000m, with senior Briley Bickerstaff finishing 40th with a time of 15:59.61, graduate Brooke Rauber finishing 54th with a time of 16:06.79 and junior Jolena Quarzo finishing 72nd with a time of 16:15.68.
Senior Grace Hartman, notably absent from the initial indoor track events, was away competing in the 2025 USA Track & Field Cross-Country Championships. In a field full of current and former NCAA champions and USA Olympians, Hartman finished with a strong sixth-place time of 34:25.7.
On the men’s side, junior Elliot McArthur sped through the mile in 4:03.19, placing eighth overall to become No. 9 on NC State’s top-10 list. Sophomore Noah Valyo and the UNC-Chapel Hill transfer, junior Luke Wiley, competed in the 5000m. Vaylo finished 156th in 14:27.13 and Wily finished 177th in 14:39.19.
In the throwing events, taking place in Winston Salem, junior Tony Taylor II showed out with a runner-up finish in the weight throw with a personal-best 17.83-meter toss. Sophomore Bradley Pawlak also showed some gusto with a fifth-place mark of 17.24. In the women’s weight throw, junior Natalie Griffith finished fifth with a personal-best 16.80-meter toss.
The Wolfpack women’s shotputters also made the trip to Winston-Salem. Junior Iniyah Mitchell finished 26th with a mark of 10.38m, while graduate Jakerra Covington finished 32nd with a mark of 9.71.
Next up, the Pack will head to Blacksburg, Virginia, for the Virginia Tech Invitational Jan. 16-17.
By The Associated Press
No. 4 Colorado def. American, 25-16, 25-19, 25-16
No. 4 Kansas def. High Point, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18
No. 6 Baylor def. Arkansas St., 23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10
No. 5 Miami (FL) def. Tulsa, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20
No. 4 Indiana def. Toledo, 25-18, 25-15, 25-17
North Carolina def. No. 6 UTEP, 24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 25-21
No. 8 UCLA def. Georgia Tech, 24-26, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25-10
No. 6 N. Iowa def. Utah, 15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10
Utah St. def. No. 7 Tennessee, 25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11
No. 3 Purdue def. Wright St., 25-13, 25-21, 25-19
No. 1 Kentucky def. Wofford, 25-11, 25-19, 25-12
Cal Poly def. No. 5 BYU, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10
No. 3 Creighton def. Northern Colorado, 25-12, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8
No. 2 Arizona St. def. Coppin St., 25-11, 25-14, 25-12
No. 4 Southern Cal def. Princeton, 25-19, 25-12, 25-13
No. 3 Wisconsin def. Eastern Ill., 25-11, 25-6, 25-19
Marquette def. No. 7 W. Kentucky, 25-22, 25-21, 25-16
Michigan def. No. 8 Xavier, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23
Kansas St. def. No. 8 San Diego vs., 21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12
No. 6 TCU def. Steven F. Austin St., 25-8, 26-24, 25-20
Florida def. No. 7 Rice, 27-25, 25-23, 25-19
No. 5 Iowa St. def. St. Thomas (Minn.), 21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8
No. 8 Penn St. def. South Florida, 25-23, 12-25, 25-21, 25-19
No. 1 Pittsburgh def. UMBC, 25-10, 25-17, 25-13
No. 2 Louisville def. Loyola Chicago, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12
No. 2 SMU def. Cent. Arkansas, 25-13, 25-13, 25-13
No. 3 Texas A&M def. Campbell, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12
Arizona def. No. 7 South Dakota St., 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15
No. 1 Nebraska def. LIU, 25-11, 25-15, 25-17
No. 1 Texas def. Florida A&M, 25-11, 25-8, 25-14
No. 4 Minnesota def. Fairfield, 25-12, 25-7, 25-13
No. 2 Stanford def. Utah Valley, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-14
No. 3 Purdue def. No. 6 Baylor, 25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20
No. 4 Indiana def. No. 5 Colorado, 25-20, 25-17, 25-13
No. 1 Kentucky def. No. 8 UCLA, 30-25, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17
No. 4 Kansas def. No. 5 Miami, 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 27-25
No. 3 Creighton def. N. Iowa, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21
No. 2 Arizona St. def. Utah St., 25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15
No. 3 Wisconsin def. North Carolina, 25-14, 25-21, 27-25
Cal Poly def. No. 4 Southern Cal, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7
No. 2 Louisville def. Marquette, 21-15, 25-11, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12
No. 1 Pittsburgh def. Michigan, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18
No. 1 Texas def. No. 8 Penn St., 25-16, 25-9, 25-19
No. 1 Nebraska def. Kansas St., 25-17, 25-21, 25-16
No. 2 SMU def. Florida, 25-11, 25-21, 26-24
No. 3 Texas A&M def. TCU, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 29-27
No. 4 Minnesota def. No. 5 Iowa St., 25-22, 25-21, 25-14
No. 2 Stanford def. Arizona, 25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20
No. 2 Arizona State vs. No. 3 Creighton, 1 p.m.
No. 1 Kentucky vs. Cal Poly, 3:30 p.m.
No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 4 Minnesota, 7 p.m.
No. 2 SMU vs. No. 3 Purdue, 9:30 p.m.
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 4 Indiana, noon
No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m.
No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:30 p.m.
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