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Major declaration: Piedmont’s Katie Brown signs track and field scholarship with Millsaps College – WEIS

Piedmont’s Katie Brown signed a track and field scholarship Wednesday with Millsaps College of Jackson, Miss. Sitting from left is Piedmont coach Pam Dempsey, Brown and Piedmont head coach Patrick Walker. Standing is Katie Brown’s father David Brown. Photo by Shannon Fagan. By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director PIEDMONT – Piedmont track and field coach […]

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Piedmont’s Katie Brown signed a track and field scholarship Wednesday with Millsaps College of Jackson, Miss. Sitting from left is Piedmont coach Pam Dempsey, Brown and Piedmont head coach Patrick Walker. Standing is Katie Brown’s father David Brown. Photo by Shannon Fagan.

By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

PIEDMONT – Piedmont track and field coach Patrick Walker said he recently came across a photo of senior Katie Brown’s first year on the Bulldog track and field team.

Walker recalled Brown being in seventh grade then. She was small in stature, but through the years she grew into a big-time talent for the Bulldogs.

“Coach Grace Cantrell was the one who got her out for track. She kind of recruited the middle school for us,” Walker said. “Just to watch her grow up and succeed, do everything she’s been asked to do, if every athlete was like her, it would be the most enjoyable job in the world.

“She’s a great student. She does everything right. She just does everything you wished everybody would do. She’s pretty hard-nosed.”

Being that hard-nosed hurdler, runner and jumper has served Brown and the Bulldog program well through the years. Now it’s led to Brown signing a scholarship with Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. She’ll join former Bulldog Claudia Dempsey on the Majors’ track and field team.

“I’ve been doing this since seventh grade, and then all of a sudden, my senior year hit,” Brown said. “Indoor ended and outdoor started getting toward the end, and I was like ‘I cannot stop running.’”

Brown decided to apply to Millsaps College after talking with Dempsey.  Dempsey helped get her in touch with Millsaps men’s and women’s cross country and track and field head coach Brandon Becket, and the rest was history.

“Claudia graduated from Piedmont last year. She was on the relay teams with me. She went down there and ran this year, and she told their coach about me. He was like ‘She sounds great’ so I went down there for a visit and stayed with Claudia. I went to their practices. Their coach really wanted me. I’m super excited to go there because I love running and hurdling and jumping. I’ve wanted to do this for a while now.”

Brown won a gold medal in the 300-meter hurdles at the Class 3A, Section 3 meet two weeks ago in Lincoln. Her time was 52.66 seconds. She also placed third in the high jump (4-10.00) and was part of the Lady Bulldog 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800 meter relay teams.

“People don’t realize she’s really fast. She was the anchor leg on our 4×1 team,” Walker said. “She hasn’t run a lot of sprints for me because I always needed her to jump, but she’s always done everything she’s been asked to do. It’s gratifying to see her go on (to college).”

Brown gave thanks to her Piedmont track and field coaches, especially Walker, for believing in her.

“Our coaches are always pushing us to run to the best of our abilities,” she said. “At the end of the day, I don’t think I could do this without Coach Walker. He believes in me. He’s put me in events I say I don’t think I can do, but he puts me in them because he knows I can. He’s the reason why I’m good at hurdles.

“I was like ‘No way am I going to do hurdles’ but he was like ‘Just go and practice them.’ Ever since then I’ve been doing good at them.”

Better than just good, Walker said.

“Track doesn’t come easy to a lot of people. I won’t say it came easy for her, but she was willing to sacrifice and work hard to get it. I think she’s got a lot of upside when she goes down there (to Millsaps). If she continues to do the things she’s done. There’s no telling what she can accomplish. I know she’ll go off and make our school and our community proud. She’ll represent us with a lot of class.”

Brown said she’s up for the challenge.

“It’s a hard sport. It’s an individual sport. You’ve got to push yourself, but that’s why I like track,” she said. “I think it’s pretty cool I can sign and go somewhere for it. I can find myself there, find what I’m going to do with my life and run at the same time. It’s bittersweet to leave here, but I’m excited for it.”



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how to watch U.S. Open

All Times Eastern Australian Rules FootballAFL Men’s — Round 14Port Adelaide Power vs. Melbourne Demons — FS2, 1:08 a.m. (Sunday)West Coast Eagles vs. Carlton Blues — Fox Soccer Plus, 4 a.m. (Sunday) BasketballBig3Week 1, Allstate Arena, Rosemont, ILLA Riot vs. Miami 305/Detroit Amps vs. Chicago Triplets — CBS, 4 p.m.Houston Rig Hands vs. DMV Trilogy/Boston […]

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All Times Eastern

Australian Rules Football
AFL Men’s — Round 14
Port Adelaide Power vs. Melbourne Demons — FS2, 1:08 a.m. (Sunday)
West Coast Eagles vs. Carlton Blues — Fox Soccer Plus, 4 a.m. (Sunday)

Basketball
Big3
Week 1, Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL
LA Riot vs. Miami 305/Detroit Amps vs. Chicago Triplets — CBS, 4 p.m.
Houston Rig Hands vs. DMV Trilogy/Boston Ball Hogs vs. Dallas Power — Vice, 6 p.m.

Big3 Pregame — CBS, 3 p.m.

Beach Volleyball
AVP League
Week 3, The Wayfair Arena, Miami, FL
Palm Beach Passion vs. Miami Mayhem: Women’s and Men’s Matches — The CW, 8 p.m.

CFL
Week 2
Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts — TSN1/CBS Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Saskatchewan Roughriders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — CTV/TSN1/TSN3/CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.

College Baseball
NCAA College World Series
Bracket 2, Charles Schwab Field Omaha, Omaha, NE
Announcers: Karl Ravech/Ben McDonald/Eduardo Pérez//Dani Wexelman
Murray State vs. UCLA — ESPN, 2 p.m.

Announcers: Mike Monaco/Chris Burke/Kyle Peterson//Kris Budden
LSU vs. Arkansas — ESPN, 7 p.m.

College Track & Field
Men’s
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Day 4, Hayward Field, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Women’s Track Finals — ESPN2, 9 p.m.

SEC Storied: Lolo Jones — ESPN2, 11:30 p.m.

CONCACAF Gold Cup
Group Stage
Group A, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Announcers — FS1: John Strong/Stu Holden
México vs. Dominican Republic — FS1//Univision/TUDN, 10 p.m.

Gold Cup 2025-From Islands to Icons — FS1, 9 p.m.

Announcers: Rob Stone/Landon Donovan/Maurice Edu/Alexi Lalas
CONCACAF Gold Cup Match Day — FS1, 9:30 p.m.

Dogs
2025 AKC Fastest Dogs USA — ESPN2, 1:30 p.m.

FIFA Club World Cup
Group Stage
Group A, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Announcers — TBS/DAZN: Luke Wileman/Brian Dunseth
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami — TBS/DAZN//Univision/TUDN, 8 p.m.

Fútbol central — Univision/TUDN, 6:30 p.m.

Announcers: Lauren Jbara/Mo Adams/Juan Pablo Angel/Luis Garcia/Brad Guzman
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Pre-Match Show — TBS/DAZN, 7 p.m.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Post-Match Show — TBS/DAZN, 10 p.m.

Formula 1
FIA Formula One World Championship
Grand Prix du Canada, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Practice 3 — ESPN2, 12:25 p.m.
Qualifying — ESPN2, 3:55 p.m.

Golf
USGA
U.S. Open, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, PA
3rd Round
Host: Trey Wingo
U.S. Open All Access — Peacock, 7:30 a.m.

Host: Mike Tirico
Announcing Teams: Dan Hicks/Kevin Kisner//Terry Gannon/Brad Faxon//Mike Tirico/Notah Begay III//Steve Sands/Gary Koch//Rich Lerner/Curt Byrum//Tom Abbott/Arron Oberholser
Reporters: Curt Byrum/Smylie Kaufman/Jim “Bones” Mackay/Paige Mackenzie/Roger Maltbie/John Wood
Interviews: Cara Banks/Kira K. Dixon

Main Feed — Peacock, 10 a.m.
Main Feed — NBC/Peacock, noon

Live From the U.S. Open — Golf Channel, 8 a.m.
Live From the U.S. Open — Golf Channel, 8 p.m.

U.S. Open Golf Third Round In-Game LIVE Gameday — SportsGrid, 4 p.m.

LPGA Tour
Meijer LPGA Classic, Blythefield Country Club, Belmont, MI
3rd Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

IndyCar
NTT IndyCar Series
Bommarito Automotive Group 500, World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, IL
Practice 1 — FS1, 11:30 a.m.
Qualifications — FS1, 3 p.m.
High Line & Final Practice — FS2, 5:30 p.m.

IndyNXT 
IndyNXT Series
IndyNXT Race, World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, IL
Practice — FS1, 1 p.m.
Qualifications — FS2, 4:30 p.m.

Mixed Martial Arts
UFC Fight Night
Usman vs. Buckley, State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Prelims — ESPN+, 7 p.m.
Main Card — ESPN, 10 p.m.

UFC Fight Night Post Show: Usman vs. Buckley — ESPN+, 1 a.m. (Sunday)

Combat Sports Report — SportsGrid, noon

MLB
American League
Baseball Night in America, Fenway Park, Boston, MA
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox — Fox, 7:15 p.m.

Fox Saturday Baseball — Fox, 7 p.m.

Anaheim at Baltimore — FanDuel Sports Network West/MASN, 4 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Texas — Chicago Sports Network/Rangers Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Minnesota at Houston — Twins.TV/Space City Home Network, 4 p.m.
Sacramento at Kansas City — NBC Sports California/FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City, 4 p.m.
Cleveland at Seattle — MLB Network (backup)/CleGuardians.TV/Root Sports, 10 p.m.

National League
Baseball Night in America, Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks — Fox, 7:15 p.m.

Miami at Washington — MLB Network (backup)/FanDuel Sports Network Florida/MASN2, 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs — SportsNet Pittsburgh/Marquee Sports Network, 2:20 p.m.
Colorado at Atlanta — Rockies.TV/FanDuel Sports Network South, 4 .m.
St. Louis at Milwaukee — FanDuel Sports Network Midwest/FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, 4 p.m.
San Francisco at Los Angeles Dodgers — MLB Network (main)/NBC Sports Bay Area/Spectrum SportsNet LA, 10 p.m.

Interleague
Cincinnati at Detroit — MLB Network (main)/FanDuel Sports Network Ohio/FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at New York Mets — FanDuel Sports Network Sun/SNY, 4 p.m.
Toronto at Philadelphia — Sportsnet/NBC Sports Philadelphia, 4 p.m.

Play Ball — MLB Network, 10 a.m.
MLB Network Breakdown — MLB Network, 10:30 a.m.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Detroit Tigers MLB In-Game LIVE Gameday — SportsGrid, 1 p.m.
MLB esta semana — UniMás, 3 p.m.
MLB Big Inning — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 5:30 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 9:30 p.m.
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Sunday)

MLS
Matchday 19
Free Games
Announcers — English: Callum Williams/Calen Carr//Spanish: Pablo Ramírez/Jesús Bracamontes
Philadelphia Union vs. Charlotte FC — Apple TV, 7:30 p.m.

Announcers — English: Tony Husband/Ross Smith//Spanish: Alejandro Figueredo/Tony Cherchi
Austin FC vs. New York Red Bulls — Apple TV, 7:30 p.m.

Announcers — English: Jessica Charman/Tony Meola//Spanish: José Bauz/Ivan Kasanzew
Chicago Fire vs. Nashville SC — Apple TV, 8:30 p.m.

Announcers — English: Mark Rogondino/Heath Pearce//Spanish: Raul Guzmán/Ashley González//French: Frédéric Lord/Vincent Destouches
Houston Dynamo vs. Montréal Impact — Apple TV, 8:30 p.m.

Announcers — English: Tyler Terens/Kyndra de St. Aubin//Spanish: Diego Pessolano/Daniel Chapela
Minnesota United vs. San Diego FC — Apple TV, 830 p.m.

Announcers — English: Nate Bukaty/Devon Kerr//Spanish: Sergio Ruiz/Walter Roque
Sporting Kansas City vs. FC Dallas — Apple TV, 8:30 p.m.

MLS Season Pass — Subscription Required
Announcers — English: Neil Sika/Lloyd Sam//Spanish: Jesús Acosta/Carlos Suárez//Fox: Mike Watts/Tony Meola
St. Louis City SC vs. LA Galaxy — Apple TV+/Fox, 4:30 p.m.

Announcers — English: Steve Cangialosi/Danny Higginbotham//Spanish: Bruno Vain/Andrés Agulla
Columbus Crew vs. Vancouver Whitecaps — Apple TV+, 7:30 p.m.

Announcers — English: Chris Wittyngham/Ian Joy//Spanish: Oscar Salazar/Diego Tabares
New England Revolution vs. FC Cincinnati — Apple TV+, 7:30 p.m.

Announcers — English: Max Bretos/Warren Barton//Spanish: Jorge Pérez-Navarro/Marcelo Balboa
Colorado Rapids vs. Orlando City SC — Apple TV+, 9:30 p.m.

Announcers — English: Josh Eastern/Jamie Watson//Spanish: Jesús Acosta/Carlos Suárez
Real Salt Lake vs. D.C. United — Apple TV+, 9:30 p.m.

Announcers: Kevin Egan/Dax McCarty/Bradley Wright-Phillips
MLS Countdown — Apple TV+, 6:30 p.m.

Announcers: Ana Jurka/Osvaldo Alonso/Miguel Gallardo
MLS La Previa — Apple TV+, 6:30 p.m.

Announcers Kevin Egan/Dax McCarty/Gio Savarese/Bradley Wright-Phillips
MLS 360 — Apple TV+, 7:30 p.m.

Announcers: Ramses Sandoval/Osvaldo Alonso/Miguel Gallardo/Gio Savarese/Michele Giannone
MLS 360 en Español — Apple TV+, 7:30 p.m.

NASCAR
NASCAR Xfinity Series
The Chilango 150, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, México City, México
Announcers: Adam Alexander/Parker Kligerman/Jamie McMurray//Kim Coon//Dillion Welch
Qualifying — The CW app, 10:30 a.m.
Race — The CW, 4:30 p.m.

Host: Carla Gebhart
NASCAR Countdown Live — The CW, 4 p.m.

NASCAR Cup Series
Viva Mexico 250, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, México City, México
Announcers: Adam Alexander/Dale Earnhardt, Jr./Steve Letarte//Trevor Bayne//Kim Coon//Marty Snider
Practice and Qualifying — Amazon Prime Video, noon

NBA
Betting Above the Rim Pro Basketball Today — SportsGRid, 10 a.m.
NBA Finals Film Room: Game 4 — NBA TV, 7 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Stanley Cup Final
Game 5, Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Announcers — TNT/truTV/Max: Kenny Albert/Eddie Olczyk/Brian Boucher//Darren Pang//Jackie Redmond//Sportsnet/CBC: Chris Cuthbert/Craig Simpson//Gene Principe
Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers — TNT/truTV/Max//Sportsnet/CBC/TVA Sports, 8 p.m. (series tied 2-2)

Hosts: Jason Altmann/Noah Blankenship
NHL in ASL — Max, 8 p.m.

Announcers: Liam McHugh/Paul Bissonnette/Anson Carter/Wayne Gretzky/Henrik Lundqvist
NHL on TNT Face Off live from Amarant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL — TNT/truTV/Max, 7 p.m.
NHL on TNT Postgame Show live from Amarant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL — TNT/trtTV, 10:30 p.m.

Hockey Central live from Amarant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL — Sportsnet, 7:30 p.m.

Announcers: Brian Boyle/E.J. Hradek/Cory Schneider
NHL Tonight: First Shift — NHL Network/Sportsnet One, 4 p.m.

Announcers: Kathryn Tappen/Jason Demers/Mike Rupp
NHL Now — NHL Network/Sportsnet One, 5 p.m.

Announcers: Jamison Coyle/Brian Boyle/Mike Johnson/Mike Rupp/Cory Schneider/Kathryn Tappen
NHL Tonight: Stanley Cup Final Pregame — NHL Network, 6 p.m.
NHL Tonight: Stanley Cup Final Postgame — NHL Network, 11 p.m.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Final Game 4 In-Game LIVE Gameday — SportsGrid, 8 p.m.

NWSL
Matchday 12
Chicago Stars vs. Seattle Reign — Ion, 5 p.m.
Kansas City Current vs. Racing Louisville — Ion, 7:30 p.m.
Angel City FC vs. North Carolina Courage — Ion, 10 p.m.

NWSL on Ion Match Break Show — Ion, 7 p.m.
NWSL on Ion Match Break Show — Ion, 9:30 p.m.

Soccer
Scoreline — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 5 p.m.
ESPN FC — ESPN+, 5 p.m.
Línea de cuatro — TUDN, midnight
El Show del Mundial — TUDN, 1 a.m. (Sunday)

Softball
Athletes Unlimited Softball League
Talons vs. Blaze — ESPNU, noon
Volts vs. Bandits — MLB Network, 7:30 p.m.

Sports News & Talk
Marty & McGee — SEC Network, 7 a.m.
Best of All The Smoke — DraftKings Network, 8 a.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 8 a.m.
Fantasy Sports Today Saturday — SportsGrid, 8 a.m.
The Sports Rundown — beIN Sports, 8:30 a.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 9 a.m.
Harlem Globetrotters: Play It Forward: Pull the Strings — NBC, 9 a.m.
All The Smoke Unplugged — DraftKings Network, 9:30 a.m.
All The Smoke — DraftKings Network, 10 a.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 10 a.m.
Gameday Pregame Live — CBS Sports HQ, 11 a.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 11 a.m.
Underdogs — DraftKings Network, 11:30 a.m.
HQ Gameday Scoreboard — CBS Sports HQ, noon
Best of Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz — DraftKings Network, noon
SportsCenter — ESPN, noon
Contacto deportivo — TUDN, noon
SportsCenter — ESPN, 1 p.m.
Gameday Reset — CBS Sports HQ, 2 p.m.
Gameday Scoreboard & Highlights — CBS Sports HQ, 3 p.m.
Pablo Torre Finds Out — DraftKings Network, 4 p.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 5 p.m.
The B1G Show — Big Ten Network, 6 p.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 6 p.m.
Gameday Reset — CBS Sports HQ, 7 p.m.
Gameday Scoreboard and Highlights — CBS Sports HQ, 8 p.m.
All ACC — ACC Network, 10 p.m.
SEC Now — SEC Network, 10 p.m.
Scoreboard Final — CBS Sports HQ, 11 a.m.
El pelotazo — Telemundo, midnight
Contacto deportivo — Univision, midnight
SportsCenter at Night — ESPN, 1 a.m. (Sunday)
South Beach Sessions — DraftKings Network, 2 a.m. (Sunday)
SportsCenter at Night — ESPN, 2 a.m. (Sunday)
Contacto deportivo — TUDN, 2 a.m.(Sunday)
Best of SportsGrid — SportsGrid, 3 a.m. (Sunday)
Scoreboard Final — CBS Sports HQ, 6 a.m  (Sunday)

Tennis
Courtside Live: Boss Open (ATP)/Libema Open (ATP/WTA)/The HSBC Championships (WTA) — Tennis Channel, 6 a.m. (Sunday)

USL Championship
Matchday 15
Indy Eleven vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 7 p.m.
Las Vegas Lights vs. Monterey Bay FC — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 10:30 p.m.

Volleyball
FIVB Volleyball Nations League
Pool 2-Week 1, Maracanãzinho, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
United States vs. Slovenia — CBS Sports Network, 12:30 p.m.

WNBA
Commissioner’s Cup
Announcers: Lisa Byington/Julianne Viani//Brandon Baylor

Los Angeles Sparks at Minnesota Lynx — CBS, 1 p.m.

Announcers: Pam Ward/Rebecca Lobo//Christine Williamson
New York Liberty at Indiana Fever — ABC, 3 p.m.

Seattle Storm at Golden State Valkyries — KUNS/KPIX/KMAX, 8:30 p.m.



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Okanagan volleyball player helps Canada stun Germany in Nations League opener

Landon Currie’s squad defeated Germany 3-2 on Wednesday, fell 3-2 to Argentina Thursday Vernon’s Landon Currie is off to a strong start with Team Canada at the Volleyball Nations League 2025.  Canada won the final two sets to stun Team Germany 3-2 in the opener of the worldwide tournament held in China Wednesday, June 11.  The […]

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Landon Currie’s squad defeated Germany 3-2 on Wednesday, fell 3-2 to Argentina Thursday

Vernon’s Landon Currie is off to a strong start with Team Canada at the Volleyball Nations League 2025. 

Canada won the final two sets to stun Team Germany 3-2 in the opener of the worldwide tournament held in China Wednesday, June 11. 

The Canadians lost a tight first set 25-23 before taking the second set 25-19. Germany then secured the third set 25-21 to put themselves in a winning position. 

But Canada finished strong, winning the last two sets 25-23 and 15-11 to take the match. 

The showdown between the two countries had plenty of excitement and momentum swings. 

“In an absolute roller coaster of a battle, Canada kicked off their Volleyball Nations League 2025 campaign with a spectacular thriller win over Germany,” the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation said on social media Wednesday. 

Canada played Argentina on Thursday and the result was a reversal of their first game as they lost 3-2, with Argentina winning the last two sets 25-22 and 15-8. 

Currie is a libero for Team Canada, a key position that plays a defensive role and wears a different coloured jersey. Currie is wearing number 97 at the Nations League.

With one win in two games, Canada sits in eighth place out of 18 teams in the first round standings. In this preliminary phase, each team will play 12 matches across three competition weeks. The top eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals. 

Canada’s next game is against France on Saturday, June 14, at 1 p.m. PST. France has yet to win a game in the early goings of the tournament. 

Canada faces Bulgaria on Sunday at 3 p.m. Bulgaria is also winless so far. 

Team Canada finished in sixth place at the 2024 Nations League, their best-ever result at the tournament. 

 



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These Georgia Towns Throw Legendary 4th Of July Celebrations

As the fourth state to join the Union on January 2, 1788, Georgia takes its Independence Day celebrations seriously. On July 4th, residents of small towns across the Peach State let their collective hair down and throw some of the most memorable National Holidays in the South. For Georgians, the Fourth of July holds special […]

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As the fourth state to join the Union on January 2, 1788, Georgia takes its Independence Day celebrations seriously. On July 4th, residents of small towns across the Peach State let their collective hair down and throw some of the most memorable National Holidays in the South. For Georgians, the Fourth of July holds special significance as Revolutionary War history runs deep here, with significant battles fought and local signatories of the Declaration of Independence risking everything for liberty.

Today, this legacy is celebrated with colorful parades and firework displays, concerts and singalongs, and community gatherings that celebrate both national pride and local traditions. For residents and tourists alike, these small towns throw the kind of authentic American experiences that truly unite the nation.

Dahlonega

Dahlonega Georgia.
Dahlonega Georgia. Editorial credit: Kyle J Little / Shutterstock.com

Located in North Georgia, Dahlonega is a mountain town that transforms into a hub of patriotism on July 4th when its Historic Square hosts one of the region’s most exciting Independence Day celebrations. The Dahlonega 4th of July Festival kicks off early, with the Firecracker 5K run starting at the Visitors Center at 8 a.m. sharp. This is followed by the Dahlonega Car Club Car Show on Courthouse Hill next to the Lumpkin County Administration Building.

Feeling peckish? Food trucks will be set up from noon onwards around Hancock Park, offering everything from delicious Georgia barbecue grub to traditional fair foods. Other highlights include a reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by the popular Patriotic Downtown Parade from the Lumpkin County Courthouse and around the town’s central square.

Traveling with children? They’ll have fun at the Kids Adventure Zone in Hancock Park with face painting, caricatures, and fun games to participate in, while as night falls, musicians take to the stage for free concerts. Afterwards, grab a spot at the University of North Georgia’s Drill Field for the event’s grand finale fireworks display.

You’ll also want to pop into the Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site in the old courthouse. Built in 1836, the interior of the building and its fascinating Gold Rush-era displays are worth seeing. Dahlonega General Store is also on the square and stocks patriotic merchandise and old-fashioned treats that are perfect for parade watching.

Helen

Helen is a mountain town in northeast Georgia. It's known for vineyards, Bavarian-style buildings, like a small German town.
Helen is a mountain town in northeast Georgia. It’s known for vineyards, Bavarian-style buildings, like a small German town. Editorial credit: Anne Elle / Shutterstock.com

Famous for having rebranded itself as a Bavarian alpine village, Helen proves that folksy European architecture and American patriotism go hand-in-hand. Here, the fun centers around the field behind the Alpine Village Shoppes, where families spread blankets and set up chairs for optimal firework viewing.

Earlier in the day, you can tube down the Chattahoochee River, which runs directly through downtown Helen. Cool River Tubing and Helen Tubing offer full-service tubing trips, a refreshing way to beat the Georgia heat before evening festivities. Restaurants like Paul’s Steakhouse and Hofbrauhaus Helen offer outdoor seating with fireworks views, which kicks off between 9 and 9:30 p.m.

If you’re planning on staying a night or two, schedule time to explore Unicoi State Park. Just two miles from downtown, the park features a beach, a 53-acre lake, hiking trails through the mountains, and the pretty Anna Ruby Falls. The Hardman Farm State Historic Site is also worth seeing and offers free tours to military members and their families on July 4th. As for accommodations, a stay at the centrally located Castle Inn, a medieval-style hotel, places you next to the river and in the heart of the alpine village.

Madison

Morgan County Courthouse in Madison.
Morgan County Courthouse in Madison. By csmith/dbb1, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikipedia.

Known as Georgia’s Antebellum City, Madison brings plenty of Southern charm to its Independence Day festivities. These occur a day early with a free Independence Day Picnic and Concert on July 3rd at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. From 5:30 to 9 p.m., families can bring picnics and blankets to enjoy a community gathering on the lawn, followed by a spectacular fireworks display put on by Morgan County Parks & Recreation. Pre-event activities, including face painting and bouncy inflatables, start at 6 p.m.

Celebrations continue on July 4th at the annual Fourth of July BBQ in nearby Bostwick, with free live music at the Rutledge Summer Concert Series. The celebrations conclude on July 5th with a Local Heroes celebration at Farmview Market’s Farmer’s Market, honoring law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, and military personnel with a free BBQ, live music, and plenty of local produce and artisan crafts for sale.

Be sure to spend time exploring Madison’s historic downtown. Featuring over 100 antebellum and Victorian-era homes, the Madison Historic District also includes architectural gems like Heritage Hall and Bonar Hall. Town Park, with its gazebo, serves as a gathering spot throughout the celebration. If you want to make a weekend of it, check out the rates at the James Madison Inn, a classy hotel located close to the celebrations, or the Brady Inn, a restored Victorian home turned bed and breakfast that’s just a short stroll from historic downtown Madison.

St. Marys

The St. Marys Historic District, located in the state of Georgia.
The St. Marys Historic District, located in the state of Georgia. Editorial credit: William Silver / Shutterstock.com

Georgia’s prettiest coastal town, St. Marys, celebrates its 55th annual Independence Day Festival with a variety of exciting events stretching throughout the day. Highlights of this family-oriented event include early morning runs, as well as a Kids Fun Run. Arts and crafts vendors will have set up in St. Mary’s Waterfront Park, where most of the day’s action takes place. The much-anticipated themed parade down Osborne Street starts at 10 a.m. and promises to be a highlight of the day with floats and costumed participants representing local organizations and businesses.

Music will also be a highlight, with concerts being held throughout the day at the St. Marys Waterfront Park Amphitheater. Quirky fun includes a watermelon eating contest as well as a seed spitting contest (it’s true!). Fireworks get started at 9:15 (ish), with one of the best viewing spots being aboard the Cumberland Queen II. This replica riverboat offers a special Independence Day cruise departing at 7:30 p.m. for those wanting to view fireworks from the water (and book early, as this epic cruise sells out fast).

Even if you miss the July Fourth fun in St. Marys, this picturesque town serves as the gateway to Cumberland Island National Seashore, accessible via ferry from the downtown dock. The town’s historic district is also fun to explore, with highlights including the Orange Hall Gilman Cultural Center and the St. Marys Submarine Museum. As for accommodations, Spencer House Inn, a restored 1872 Victorian-era hotel, sits three blocks from Waterfront Park and provides elegant accommodations with period furnishings.

Tybee Island

Drone show making spelling out the words Forever Tybee at night in Tybee Island, Georgia taken from the pier.
Drone show making spelling out the words Forever Tybee at night in Tybee Island, Georgia, taken from the pier. Editorial credit: Davslens – davslens.com / Shutterstock.com

Located just a short drive away from the old port city of Savannah, Tybee Island (Georgia’s northernmost barrier island) saves its biggest celebration for Independence Day. The main event, the popular Tybee Island July 4th Fireworks, is slated for a 9:15 p.m. launch from the Tybee Island Pier. This stunning waterfront pyrotechnics display can be viewed from any of the island’s eastern beaches, making this one of the most accessible fireworks shows in the state.

Before the evening sky gets lit up, Tybee Island offers a full day of activities. The morning kicks off with a community bike parade at 10 a.m., starting and ending at Memorial Park. North Beach, near the Tybee Island Light Station & Museum, provides calm waters for families to enjoy, while the South Beach area offers more waves and beach volleyball courts perfect for an older crowd.

The Tybee Pier and Pavilion serves as celebration central, with the pavilion hosting bands and DJs throughout the day. Tybrisa Street’s bars and restaurants, such as The Crab Shack and Spanky’s Beachside, offer outdoor seating and live music throughout the day and night. Also fun, the Tybee Island Marine Science Center runs special programs, including kids’ sea camps and workshops.

For accommodations with views of Tybee Island’s July 4th fireworks, check for availability at DeSoto Beach Hotel, Tybee’s only full-service beachfront, popular for its coastal views and proximity to the pier. The Lighthouse Inn Bed & Breakfast, located in a 1910 beach house near the lighthouse, is another good bet and offers a more intimate setting close to North Beach activities; it even provides bicycles if you feel like joining the morning parade.

These five Georgia towns certainly prove that the best Fourth of July celebrations don’t require big-city budgets. From Dahlonega’s mountain backdrop to Tybee Island’s ocean views, each of these small communities adds a unique twist to America’s birthday party. Whether you prefer parades down historic main streets or pyrotechnics over the Atlantic Ocean, these Georgia towns deliver legendary Independence Day experiences.



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Graham Saber returns to Santa Fe Christian as head water polo coach – San Diego Union-Tribune

Santa Fe Christian recently announced the return of alumni Graham Saber as head coach of the boys water polo team — a full circle moment for the former standout athlete whose journey began at SFC. Saber’s SFC roots run deep. He was part of a gritty team that trained in backyard pools and laid the […]

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Santa Fe Christian recently announced the return of alumni Graham Saber as head coach of the boys water polo team — a full circle moment for the former standout athlete whose journey began at SFC.

Saber’s SFC roots run deep. He was part of a gritty team that trained in backyard pools and laid the groundwork for one of the most legendary seasons in SFC water polo history. In his senior year, Saber led the Eagles to a 25-7 record and a historic playoff run in CIF’s top division, including a dramatic upset over #1-ranked La Jolla — a comeback still remembered in San Diego water polo circles. The Eagles fell just short in the CIF Final against perennial powerhouse The Bishop’s School, according to a news release.

That season, Saber rewrote the SFC record books, setting single-season marks in goals (160), assists (102), and steals (158). His performance earned him All-American honors, All-CIF First Team, Union-Tribune All-Academic Team, and North County Times Player of the Year.

Saber continued his collegiate career at Pepperdine University before transferring to UC San Diego, where he helped the Tritons capture their first conference title in five years. As a senior, he netted 83 goals — sixth-most in UCSD history — and was recognized as an ACWPC All-American, All-WWPA Tournament First Team, All-NCAA Tournament First Team, and WWPA Player of the Week. He finished the season with 16 hat tricks and scored multiple goals in 22 straight games.

Now back at SFC, Coach Saber brings not only elite playing experience and tactical acumen but also a mission-driven coaching philosophy.

“Coaching isn’t just about the scoreboard — though make no mistake, we’re here to compete. It’s about forging men of grit, discipline, and unshakable faith,” said Saber in the news release. “In a world desperate for strong, God-fearing leaders, we’re building warriors who play with fire, lead with integrity, and honor Christ in everything they do. That’s the mission.”

Also joining Saber on the pool deck is Jonny Haahr, his 2006 co-captain and the player who hit the game-winning shot in the legendary La Jolla upset. A multi-sport athlete and valedictorian of SFC’s Class of 2007, Haahr went on to attend Cornell University, where he competed in javelin and served as vice president of The Navigators Christian fellowship. He returns to SFC with a sharp mind, strong leadership roots, and a heart for mentoring the next generation.

“I was at the games where Coach Saber and Haahr shocked the county, and watching them play was supernatural and electric,” said SFC Athletic Director Doug Miller in the news release. “Our players and our community will rally around these SFC legends and I’m confident the excitement for this sport will explode. More importantly, these new coaches are also some of the most grounded Godly leaders of young men, and I’m committed to their success in that capacity as well.”

 



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BYU’s James Corrigan wins steeplechase at NCAA championships – Deseret News

BYU’s James Corrigan won the 3,000-meter steeplechase Friday night at the NCAA track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, taking the lead with less than 200 meters to go and pulling away from a field loaded with Kenyans to notch another win for Steeplechase U. Corrigan recorded a time of 8:16.41 to become the fourth-fastest […]

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BYU’s James Corrigan won the 3,000-meter steeplechase Friday night at the NCAA track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, taking the lead with less than 200 meters to go and pulling away from a field loaded with Kenyans to notch another win for Steeplechase U.

Corrigan recorded a time of 8:16.41 to become the fourth-fastest collegian ever. In the process, he beat the event’s second-fastest collegian ever, Louisville’s Geoffrey Kirwa.

The first two laps of the 7 ½-lap race were slow and tactical, but then Iowa State’s Joash Ruto, a native Kenyan, accelerated and opened up a 10-meter gap on the field and the real racing had begun.

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Kirwa, another Kenyan, pulled the field to close the gap on Ruto over the next couple of laps, with Corrigan running fifth. With about 900 meters to go, Kirwa passed Ruto, and with 800 meters to go he accelerated and opened up a gap. Corrigan was some 10 meters back, still in fifth.

“James has the talent to kick off of a slow or fast pace. Any scenario is going to be OK if he maintains contact,” said BYU coach Ed Eyestone.

“With two laps to go, I was mildly concerned because he was running fifth in traffic and (Kirwa) was opening a gap.”

Corrigan swung wide on the backstretch to skirt traffic and put himself in position to run down Kirwa, but with one lap to go he had slipped even farther behind, some 15 meters or more.

YU's James Corrigan celebrates after finishing first in the steeplechase at the NCAA track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, Friday, June 13, 2025.
BYU’s James Corrigan celebrates after finishing first in the steeplechase at the NCAA track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, Friday, June 13, 2025. | Nate Edwards

Eyestone had seen Corrigan’s closing speed at the end of workouts and was hopeful as he watched from the stands. Sure enough, Corrigan began to quicken his pace and was gaining ground as they headed into the backstretch.

“He kept his head and the last 300 meters you could see he was cutting into the lead,” said the coach.

Kirwa and Corrigan reached the final water jump together, but Corrigan maintained his momentum better coming out of it. Kirwa trailed by only one stride as they turned into the homestretch, but Corrigan pulled away with 50 meters to go.

It was an astonishing win on many levels for Corrigan, the ninth-place finisher in the 2024 NCAA championships. Earlier this week, Eyestone surveyed the competition in the steeplechase at nationals and noted, “It might be more difficult to get top three at the NCAAs than at (the U.S. national championships).”

Another coach told ESPN, “This is shaping up to be one of the best steeplechase fields ever at these championships.”

That was largely because the field was dominated by Kenyans, who are to distance running — and especially the steeplechase — what Juilliard students are to music.

Kenyans have won nine of the last 11 Olympic finals and 19 total medals. They make up nine of the 13 fastest steeplechasers of all-time.

At this week’s NCAA track and field championships, Kenyans swept the first five places in the 10,000-meter run and the first two places in the 5,000. The only race they couldn’t win was the steeplechase, even though they represented seven of the 12 finalists.

“It was a little daunting in that respect,” said Corrigan afterward. “It was definitely the fastest race I’ve been in during a major competition.

“I was happy that I was still able to win with a hot pace like that. The Kenyans have a great heritage (in the steeplechase), but BYU has a good heritage, too.”

BYU has become Steeplechase U. Five BYU athletes have won the steeplechase — Josh McAdams in 2006, Kyle Perry in 2009 and, more recently, Courtney Wayment in 2022, Kenneth Rooks in 2023 and now Corrigan in 2025.

BYU’s Lexy Lowry, who will compete in the final of the women’s steeplechase Saturday at these NCAA championships, is the fifth-fastest collegian ever and will be joined in the final by teammate Taylor Lovell.

Rooks and Corrigan finished first and third, respectively, at last summer’s U.S. Olympic trials to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team that competed in Paris. Rooks won the silver medal in the steeplechase, delivering one of the biggest surprises of the Olympic track competition.

The win by Corrigan was worth 10 team points and played a big part in putting BYU in a three-way tie for 11th place, with 19 points for the championships.

BYU’s other scorers were Danny Bryant (sixth in the shot put), Ben Barton (sixth in the decathlon), BYU’s 4 x 400-meter relay team (seventh) and Creed Thompson (eighth in the 10,000-meter run).

Competing in the last event of the men’s competition, the BYU relay team of Eli Hazlett, Josh Taylor, Jonah Heimuli and Trey Jackson produced a school-record time of 3:02.51, finishing one place behind Alabama and one place ahead of USC.

Friday’s win will likely mark the end of Corrigan’s collegiate career, even though he has another year of NCAA eligibility remaining. He already has an NIL deal with Nike and shoe companies will offer him a professional contract the moment he declares that he is finished with collegiate competition..

“I’ve got options now,” said Corrigan. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I’ll talk to my coaches and my agent and we’ll shop around a little.”

BYU steeplechaser James Corrigan crosses the finish line first at the NCAA track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, Friday, June 14, 2025.
BYU steeplechaser James Corrigan crosses the finish line first at the NCAA track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon, Friday, June 14, 2025. | Nate Edwards



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Olympian Dana Rettke Returns for 2025 VNL Week Two

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 14, 2025) – 2024 Olympian Dana Rettke returns to the U.S. Women’s National Team lineup for week two of the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), June 18-22, in Belgrade, Serbia. Libero Lexi Rodriguez and middle blocker Brionne Butler will also make their first appearances this year. Rodriguez is making her VNL […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 14, 2025) – 2024 Olympian Dana Rettke returns to the U.S. Women’s National Team lineup for week two of the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL), June 18-22, in Belgrade, Serbia.

Libero Lexi Rodriguez and middle blocker Brionne Butler will also make their first appearances this year. Rodriguez is making her VNL debut, although she competed for the senior team at the 2024 Pan American Cup Final Six. Butler made her senior national team debut in 2019 and was on VNL rosters in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The VNL brings together the world’s top 18 teams for three action-packed weeks of preliminary play, with each team competing in four matches per week. Only the top eight teams will earn a spot in the Final Round, where a VNL title will be on the line.

Get Tickets to Women’s VNL in Arlington, Texas, July 9-13

Returning for week two are outside hitters Sara Franklin, Roni Jones-Perry and Logan Eggleston; middles Molly McCage and Amber Igiede; opposites Logan Lednicky, Madi Skinner and Olivia Babcock, Setters Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres and Ella Powel, and libero Morgan Hentz.

The U.S. Women are the reigning Olympic silver medalists and ranked No. 3 in the world. They have won the VNL three times (2018, ’19, ’21) since its inception in 2018. In 2024, they lost in the quarterfinals to eventual Olympic champion Italy, who will be their first opponent in Brazil.

U.S. Women’s Week Two Roster for 2025 VNL

U.S. Women’s Preliminary Roster for 2025 VNL
No. Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, College, USAV Region)
6 Morgan Hentz (L, 5-9, Lakeside Park, Ky., Stanford Univ., Pioneer)
7 Lexi Rodriguez (L, 5-5, Sterling, Ill., Univ. of Nebraska Great Lakes)
8 Brionne Butler (MB, 6-4, Kendleton, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
9 Madisen Skinner (OH, 6-2, Katy, Texas, Univ. of Kentucky and Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
13 Amber Igiede (MB, 6-3, Baton Rouge, La., Univ. of Hawaii, Delta)
16 Dana Rettke (MB, 6-8, Riverside, Ill., Univ. of Wisconsin, Great Lakes)
21 Roni Jones-Perry (OH, 6-0, West Jordan, Utah, BYU, Intermountain)
22 Sarah Franklin (OH, 6-4, Lake Worth, Fla., Univ. of Wisconsin, Florida)
24 Olivia Babcock (Opp, 6-4, Los Angeles, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)
27 Ella Powell (S, 6-0, Fayetteville, Ark., Univ. of Washington, Delta)
28 Logan Lednicky (Opp, 6-3, Sugar Land, Texas, Univ. of Texas A&M, Lone Star)
29 Molly McCage (MB, 6-3, Spring, Texas, Univ. of Texas, Lone Star)
32 Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres (S, Honolulu, Hawaii, Univ. of Texas, Aloha)
33 Logan Eggleston (OH, 6-2, Brentwood, Tenn., Univ. of Texas, Southern)

Reserve
15 Rachel Fairbanks (S, 6-0, Tustin, Calif., Pitt, Southern California)

Coaches
Head Coach:  Erik Sullivan
Assistant Coach: Mike Wall
Second Assistant Coach: Brandon Taliaferro
Second Assistant Coach: Tayyiba Haneef-Park
Second Assistant Coach: Joe Trinsey
Team Manager: Rob Browning
Team Doctors:  William Briner, James Suchy, Chris Lee, Andrew Gregory
Physiotherapist: Kara Kessans
Physical Trainers: Shawn Hueglin, Shannon Boone
Mental Performance Coach: Andrea Becker, Katy Stanfill
Performance Analyst: Virginia Pham

Week 2 Schedule: Belgrade, Serbia (all times PDT)
Matches will be shown on VBTV, Big Ten Network and/or CBS Sports Network. Please check listings for BTN and CBSN.

June 18 at 11 a.m. vs. Serbia
June 19 at 7:30 a.m. vs. Poland
June 21 at 7:30 a.m. vs. Netherlands
June 22 at 7:30 a.m. vs. France

Week 1 Results: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 4 Italy def. USA, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28)
June 5 Brazil def. USA, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19)
June 6 Czechia def. USA, 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, 27-25)
June 8 USA def Korea, 3-0 (25-13, 28-26, 25-17)



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