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Making the Team

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (BLACK AND GOLD NATION) – Waiting during the NFL Draft is one of the most nerve-racking experiences that future players will ever endure in their careers. “The draft is unpredictable,” longtime NFL tight end Jesse James said. “Everyone likes to think they’re going to a certain place, but it doesn’t always work out […]

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Making the Team

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (BLACK AND GOLD NATION) – Waiting during the NFL Draft is one of the most nerve-racking experiences that future players will ever endure in their careers.

“The draft is unpredictable,” longtime NFL tight end Jesse James said. “Everyone likes to think they’re going to a certain place, but it doesn’t always work out the way you want.”

The first two days of the 2015 NFL Draft passed by James, keeping him on the edge of his seat to hear his name called during the final day.

Making the Team: How a couple minutes changed Chris Villarrial’s life

“When I was sitting there waiting, each pick that went by felt like there was a 45-pound plate being stacked on my chest,” the Penn State product said. “I felt the pressure building.”

During the fifth round, the western PA native would receive a phone call from a familiar area code, 412. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told James over the phone that his hometown team would be drafting him.

“It was definitely a dream come true,” the 160th overall pick said.

All of the draft day waiting, angst and anxiety was worth it for him.

“It’s definitely a big moment in your life,” James said.

Not only was he going to play for the team he grew up rooting for but also suit up with his childhood hero in Steelers tight end Heath Miller.

“The knowledge that (Heath) gave me was huge and I built my career with that foundation,” James said. “I went in and tried to copy all the processes he went through, and it became extensive. All the stuff that I learned from him really was the foundation for the success I had in my career.”

While it was a dream scenario for James, he knew he had to wake up and work to stay in the league.

“I didn’t start off playing right away. I had a lot to prove,” the South Allegheny alum said. “You weren’t going to be given anything you did. So, I sat around the first couple weeks of the season as a healthy inactive and just trying to get a moment to prove myself.”

James’ moment would eventually come during week nine of his rookie season against the Oakland Raiders. He would catch a touchdown in the fourth quarter to extend the Steelers lead to two scores, which ultimately helped them get the 38-35 win.

“That game I had to block against some of the best guys in the league,” James recalled. “It was like Khalil Mack and Aldon Smith. So, it was a tough match up and I was able to step up to the challenge and prove my value to the team.”

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James would go on to spend eight years in the NFL with five total teams, being a classic example that good things can come to those who work and wait.

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Local track and field athletes end season on the upswing | Gilroy Dispatch

Kaiden Gonzales competes in the shot put event in the CCS Track and Field championships on May 24. Gonzales took third place in the section. Photo: Jonathan Natividad The track and field season finished up recently with the Blossom Valley Athletic League finals on May 10 at Santa Teresa High and the Central Coast Section […]

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Kaiden Gonzales competes in the shot put event in the CCS Track and Field championships on May 24. Gonzales took third place in the section. Photo: Jonathan Natividad

The track and field season finished up recently with the Blossom Valley Athletic League finals on May 10 at Santa Teresa High and the Central Coast Section prelims and finals at Gilroy High on May 17 and May 24.

One local athlete, Gilroy shot putter Kaiden Gonzales, advanced one step further. Gonzales finished third in the shot put at the CCS Finals with a school-record throw of 58-0.5 and got an invite to the CIF State Meet in Clovis the next weekend.

“Stakes were really high at CCS Finals,” Gonzales said. “It was the fourth or fifth throw where I hit the 58-0.5. You’re striving for finishing in the top three, because that guarantees you get to State. There was a jolt of energy. It was the last time I’d throw at Gilroy and I wanted to end it with a bang.”

That throw edged Logan Brantley of Aptos, who finished fourth, a smidge back at 58-0. Finishing outside the top three but beating the qualifying distance could still garner one an at-large berth. But top three was the desired place on the podium.

Gonzales then headed to Buchanan High in Clovis to compete with the best in California. He was the sole student-athlete from either of the two Gilroy schools to compete at that meet. In the prelims, the senior threw 54-8 and finished No. 15 in the entire state of California. That mark was just short of what was needed to advance to the top 12, who competed in the finals the next day.

“It wasn’t the greatest of days for my throws,” Gonzales said. “But I was very grateful for what the Lord has blessed me with. And it’s just amazing and a great feeling to have my name in the Gilroy record books.”

Gonzales’ stellar season included breaking the 54-year old school record in the shot four times. The previous mark was 56-11.25 by Sal Flores in 1971, an incredible 54 years ago. In fact, no other thrower had placed in the school’s top 10 in the shot since 2005. Until Gonzales came around.

His best toss before the season was just 54-3. Gonzales then broke the school record this spring in a dual meet versus Sobrato, at the CCS Top Eight meet, at the Sacramento Meet of Champions, and again at the CCS Finals.

Other top performers at the CCS Finals from the city of Gilroy included one other Mustang and three from Christopher.

Gilroy’s Juel Martinez leaped 21-2.25 in the boys long jump to nab eighth place at the CCS Finals.

For Christopher, basketball/track star Shiloh Vallejos threw the shot 38-10 for sixth place. Other Cougars who did well were Kordell Crocker, who jumped 21-11 for fifth in the boys long jump, and freshman Isabelle Schreyer, who cleared 5-0 for ninth in the high jump.

During a stellar season, Vallejos had a best throw of 40-2.5 at the BVAL Finals. That mark is now the school record, beating the previous record by almost four feet. Vallejos entered the year with a best of only 34 feet and made nearly a 20% improvement during the season. She credited Kaiden Gonzales and Gilroy High throws coach Fortune Gonzales, Kaiden’s father, for coaching and mentorship that greatly aided her improvement this past season.

“I had the privilege of working with these two for the second half of the season and I definitely think it was a huge factor in my success,” Vallejos said. “Learning from their knowledge and experience in throws, I was able to not only further my knowledge but also my distance in shot put. Even though we are from different schools, they welcomed me and helped me develop as an athlete and as a person.”

Several other Gilroy and Christopher athletes had excellent seasons, with highlights coming in the BVAL Championships, and several competing in the CCS Prelims though not qualifying for the CCS Finals a week later.

At the BVAL Finals meet, Gonzales shined with a first in the shot put at 57-0 and a second in the discus at 148-10. Martinez finished third in the long jump at 21-3 and ninth in the 100 in 11.37. Freshman Omarri Neville came in eleventh in the 100 in 11.42. 

With those two speedsters on the 4×100 relay team, the Mustangs placed sixth in 44.14. Martinez ran leadoff, Jaime Gonzalez was second, Niko Sanchez took the baton next, and Neville ran home on the anchor leg. 

Another high-flying Mustang was Cody Robbins, who tied for third in the high jump at 5-8.

The Gilroy girls were paced by Alexis Mydell, seventh in the 100 hurdles in 17.10, and Janey Rodriguez Cruz in ninth place in the discus at 94-6.

A host of Cougars excelled in the BVAL meet. Crocker led the boys’ efforts with a 21-4.5 leap for second place in the long jump. Avery Montejano was fourth in the 300 hurdles in 41.56 and 10th in the 400 at 51.43. Dylan Wharton came in fifth in the 300 hurdles in 42.01 and sixth in the 100 hurdles in 16.24. Jagger Booth ran 22.76 in the 200 meters for sixth place.

Vallejos came through with the top performance for the Christopher girls, winning the shot put event with a throw of 40-02.5, a victory by 4-8.75 feet. Chioma Okeke also had a superb day, with two excellent second-place runs, a 26.20 in the 200 and a 59.05 in the 400. Christopher was strong in the discus with Malerie Middleton in second at 109-0 and Victoria Gonzales-O’Donoghue third at 103-6. Gonzales-O’Donoghue also notched a No. 12 in the 100 hurdles in 17.57.

Schreyer cleared 5-0 in the high jump for second place. CHS volleyball star Finley Corona came through at 4-8 for seventh. Kalani Brown nabbed a 12th in the shot at 29-2.5. Juliet Tassio topped 8-8 in the pole vault for sixth place.



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Lady Greyhounds volleyball team gets it done in the classroom

Members of the Boerne High volleyball program can serve up aces on the court and are also aces in the classroom. Because of their performance off the court – specifically in the classroom – the Lady Greyhounds volleyball program recently received an academic award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association for their cumulative grade-point average. […]

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Members of the Boerne High volleyball program can serve up aces on the court and are also aces in the classroom.

Because of their performance off the court – specifically in the classroom – the Lady Greyhounds volleyball program recently received an academic award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association for their cumulative grade-point average.

Boerne High earned the 2025 AVCA Team Academic Award after their varsity members maintained a yearlong grade-point average of at least a 3.3 on a 4.0 scale this past school year.

Lady Greyhounds head coach Staci Lawrence said the girls on the team know how to juggle their schedules.

“I’m beyond proud of the 2024-25 varsity team for receiving this academic award. This group of girls was exemplary in their ability to manage academics, athletics and jobs,” she said. “Many of the girls in our program have a rigorous academic schedule with multiple Advanced Placement or college level classes. Their drive and determination to succeed in multiple facets of life are what will help them be wellrounded student-athletes and community members once they leave our program.”

Only 1,450 college and high school volleyball teams – male and female – from around the country met the criteria to earn the award. Of the 1,450 honored, 534 were girls teams and only 52 were from Texas.



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Local Belton resident hosting benefit tournament for The Burgess Family

CHINA SPRING, Texas (KXXV) — John, Julia, and their two sons passed away during the destructive Kerrville flooding. Now, a family friend is helping to make a difference. Burgess Family Volleyball and Cornhole Benefit Tournament  Sunday, July 27th, Legacy Beach Volleyball from 5 pm-10 pm.  BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:It has been three weeks since the nation’s attention […]

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CHINA SPRING, Texas (KXXV) — John, Julia, and their two sons passed away during the destructive Kerrville flooding. Now, a family friend is helping to make a difference.

  • Burgess Family Volleyball and Cornhole Benefit Tournament 
  • Sunday, July 27th, Legacy Beach Volleyball from 5 pm-10 pm. 

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
It has been three weeks since the nation’s attention was focused on the flash flooding in Kerr County; among those who lost their lives were John Burgess, his wife, and two sons.

Their daughter, Jenna, was in a different location. Now, a family friend who lives in Belton is calling on the Central Texas community to rally behind the little girl.

“God is good and he is still present even through devastation like this, and sometimes small benefits like this need to come to bring that out, that it’s proof that he is still with us,” said Grace Wallum, a friend of Julia Burgess.

Wallum is organizing a volleyball and cornhole tournament benefitting Jenna. All proceeds will support John and Julia’s daughter Jenna, the sole survivor of her family.

“We figured we would make this tournament into a benefit to help with Jenna’s trust and anyone that’s going to have to take care of her from this day forward,” said Wallum.

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UA online expands military tuition grant to include graduate students

The University of Alabama has increased its support for military members through the UA Online Military Tuition Grant. Previously available only to undergraduate students, the grant now includes active-duty graduate students. The tuition grant helps with tuition costs not covered by military tuition assistance. It can cover up to six credit hours per semester and as […]

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The University of Alabama has increased its support for military members through the UA Online Military Tuition Grant. Previously available only to undergraduate students, the grant now includes active-duty graduate students. The tuition grant helps with tuition costs not covered by military tuition assistance. It can cover up to six credit hours per semester and as many as 18 credit hours per academic year, up to the maximum amount allowed by a student’s service branch. With this financial assistance, tuition for a UA Online program can be nearly free for military service members, excluding books and other fees.

The expanded grant eligibility takes effect in Fall 2025 and is available to eligible service members.

“As the daughter of a career Marine, I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound sacrifices our military service members make for our country,” said Amanda Ingram, executive director of online and continuing education for UA’s Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education. “This expansion is an investment that reflects our deep gratitude and commitment to those who serve.”

Since the grant’s launch in 2022, UA Online has assisted nearly 350 service members and covered more than $200,000 in out-of-pocket college costs.

“UA Online is uniquely positioned to assist active-duty military service members in pursuing their degrees,” Ingram said. “With UA Online’s flexible and asynchronous course delivery, military students can complete coursework alongside their busy schedules and deployments.”

The University is a gold-level Military Friendly and Spouse Friendly Tier 1 Research Institute for 2025–2026. It is also an unlimited Yellow Ribbon school. Additionally, U.S. Veterans magazine has again recognized UA as a top Veteran-Friendly school. These awards recognize the University’s dedicated efforts to address the needs of military members and their families.

Courtesy of the University of Alabama



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Maui County volleyball officials sought for upcoming high school volleyball season : Maui Now

July 26, 2025, 10:00 AM HST Volleyball officials are being recruited for the upcoming high school volleyball season. Stock photo Maui County Volleyball Officials, a non-profit organization, is recruiting officials for the upcoming high school volleyball seasons during the 2025-2026 school year. No experience is necessary. Training and equipment will be provided. The first officials […]

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July 26, 2025, 10:00 AM HST

Volleyball officials are being recruited for the upcoming high school volleyball season. Stock photo

Maui County Volleyball Officials, a non-profit organization, is recruiting officials for the upcoming high school volleyball seasons during the 2025-2026 school year.

No experience is necessary. Training and equipment will be provided. The first officials training session is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at Seabury Hall in Makawao.

Games are scheduled for Tuesday through Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

An announcement says: “If you are interested in giving back to the volleyball community, our student athletes, and Maui County, (as well as making some extra cash) we’d love to have you join our team!”

For more information, scan the QR code below or contact Ke’van Dudoit at 808-250-5674.

For more information about being a volleyball official, scan this QR code.



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Germany wins historic first women’s water polo medal at Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Games

Written by Sarah Maat, FISU Young Reporter, Canada The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games women’s water polo tournament ended in extraordinary fashion on Saturday, 26 July as the champions, Germany, held Team USA scoreless through the first half. Captain Sinia Plotz led the remarkable charge for the winners, scoring three goals in the host […]

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Written by Sarah Maat, FISU Young Reporter, Canada

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games women’s water polo tournament ended in extraordinary fashion on Saturday, 26 July as the champions, Germany, held Team USA scoreless through the first half. Captain Sinia Plotz led the remarkable charge for the winners, scoring three goals in the host country’s defeat of the Red, White and Blue. 

It looked like the local crowd knew an exceptional final was incoming—for they showed up in top form.

“It was so amazing,” Plotz said, beaming. “We had like all our fans, and the crowd, the families, friends. Everyone was screaming for us, so it was incredible. I don’t know. I have no words, honestly.”

Black, red, and yellow balloons littered the stands as cheers for “Deutschland” echoed over the outdoor pool in Duisburg. Little voices were some of the loudest to sing the chants while a megaphone and drum kept the sold-out stadium on beat.

Darja Heinbichner, Germany’s superb goalkeeper, shared Plotz’ loss for words over the atmosphere.

“They helped us a lot. I had goosebumps the whole game, to be honest. It’s just amazing. I don’t have words.”

Scoreless first half for USA

Even standing room became precious as Germany built a strong lead early. Plotz set the tone after two minutes with a top right penalty shot so strong it lodged the ball perfectly between net and post. Deutschland went on to score three more in the first half, all while shutting out Team USA.

“I think the difference was definitely our goalkeeper. She was amazing, and then also that we all helped each other,” the captain said. 

“We were talking a lot on defence. We were picking each other up when they were driving and, well, I think in the end it was our goalkeeper, but we played amazing together.”

In water polo, it’s almost unheard of to hold this kind of dominance throughout an entire half. The United States side had been used to sharing the scoring amongst many throughout the tournament, so their offensive woes seemed to catch them by surprise.

At the halftime break, US head coach Adam Wright was seen directing a huddle with his players. As he tried to get them back on course, he yelled: “You can’t play afraid.”

However, the Germans knew what to expect coming back from the intermission and impeccable defence was always part of the plan. After their semi-final win over New Zealand, the women mentioned the importance of defence in the final match and carried that value through to the end.

“My defence was perfect,” Heinbicher said of her teammates after winning gold. “It helped me a lot. We were really concentrated.”

A solid first half didn’t mean the locals were in the clear yet, however. At half, conversations on the German side focused on the importance of closing out in the same way they had started.

“I remember I told the team, don’t celebrate too early because we were just three goals in front. It doesn’t mean anything in water polo in one minute, everything can change,” Heinbicher said.

Plotz reflected on her team’s offensive dominance throughout the match as well, highlighting how the host team never stopped attacking.

“We didn’t want to let them counter us because they are really fast. And I think it worked.”

Germany—with assistance from a vibrant atmosphere—kept up the pace and landed themselves in the history books with their country’s first women’s water polo medal at the FISU Games. An exciting fact that was not lost on the team.

“It’s our first medal with the German team,” the goalie said. “And to achieve this in front of my family, my friends, the family and friends of my teammates. It’s the best thing that could have happened.”

In almost every post-game interview the student-athletes mentioned making history, and at one point, even stormed the mixed zone together for a cheer of excitement.

Italy also medalled on the women’s side thanks to a 10-5 win over New Zealand.

Also on Saturday, Italy became the first country in FISU Games history to tally three straight gold medals in men’s water polo with a 16-12 win over the USA. Germany defeated Hungary 21-20 in a shoot-out for bronze.

The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.



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