San Lorenzo Valley High School will graduate its class of seniors for 2025 this Friday, June 6, beginning at 10am at the SLVHS Football Field.

Among this year’s outstanding students are Valedictorians Jorin Fields-Rapley, Toryn Thompson and Amir Vered and Salutatorians Abigail Gabrielson and Keegan Hickey.

Read on to learn more about where these bright young minds are headed post-graduation.

Jorin Fields-Rapley

• Attending: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 

• Majoring in: Biomedical Engineering

• Future plans: Biomedical research and also studying abroad in Europe.

• Favorite memories from SLVHS: My favorite memory from my four years at SLVHS is performing in Europe with the school band.

• Extracurricular activities: I participated in Wind Ensemble and Honor Band for all four years of high school and played water polo and cross country. 

• Lessons learned: The best lesson I will take with me after graduation is to always be yourself and you will find your people.

• Advice for the young ones: My advice for younger kids coming into high school is to always try new things and make room in your schedule for new adventures because high school is too short to not go out and have fun.

Toryn Thompson

• Attending: Stanford University

• Majoring in: Computer Engineering

• Future plans:  Intersecting Engineering with public policy to have real impact in communities. 

• Favorite memories from SLVHS: Aimlessly biking around late at night with an absurdly large group of people. Chaos ensued. Shout out to my fellow triphylers!

• Extracurricular activities: While I focused on personal hobbies and internships during my freshman and sophomore years, I was an audio engineer for theatre shows and school events from my junior to senior years, then became the co-president of a computer science club, the school board student trustee, a FIRST robotics team engineer, and a Link Crew leader in my senior year. To clarify, our school does not have a robotics team (yet!), but I joined one all the way at Pioneer High School in San Jose to get engineering experience.

• Lessons learned: The best lesson I’ve received is captured in my senior quote, “Balance and comfort suffocate passion only if you don’t understand why.” Nobody said this to me or put it in a book—it comes from my experience attempting to balance many extracurriculars and my social life during high school while, at first, also being reluctant to try new things. To put it in other words, the balance part means that attempting to balance your social life with extracurricular pursuits can ultimately prevent you from pursuing things that you are truly passionate about, as if you do not understand why you are doing an extracurricular and therefore are likely not genuinely passionate about it, you will have a hard time managing that balance and won’t have enough time to pursue your true passion. On the other hand, the comfort part deals with a lack of trying new things. If you don’t know why you feel compelled to stay within a comfort bubble and never address it, you may never find your true passion, leaving you stuck with the same interests for which you may not have nearly the same energy as something you have yet to discover. Overall, it’s a more specific take on “Do what you love.”

• Advice for the young ones: Try new things! You just entered the first campus in your K12 journey where extracurricular activities other than sports can really impact you—both in terms of career and social life! Additionally, you’re now eligible to join the thousands of online groups, competitions, and programs that cover almost any subject you can think of. Please do not be afraid to go exploring, that’s what all that free time in your freshman year is meant for.

Amir Vered

• Attending: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

• Majoring in: Electrical Engineering

• Future plans: Research & starting a company for fusion energy and/or asteroid mining.

• Favorite memories from SLVHS: Some of my favorite memories at SLVHS were in AP Physics with Mr. Schafer. He introduced me to physics and instilled a drive in me to learn more about our world and the forces that govern it. Particularly, I remember asking a very vague question about electron clouds after class, and without hesitation, he pulled out a specialized demonstration device — a vibrating metal plate with sand placed on top — and explained it thoroughly. This moment felt so spontaneous and kind, and it is one of the reasons that Mr. Schafer is one of my favorite teachers.

• Extracurricular activities: I have participated in a plethora of extracurricular activities. I have played water polo all four years at SLV, and club for three through Santa Cruz Water Polo Club. I have played the flute with our school ensemble all four years as well, and played a drum set in the jazz band for a few. I have also led and participated in various clubs, from a chess club to an ethical hacking club, each for a few years. Also, I work on engineering projects in my own time, creating chess bots, Arduino contraptions, and an arcade game system from scratch.

• Lessons learned: Learn to fail and learn to do it when you can get back up. This applies to sports, academics, music, and basically everything you do in your life. Learning is a process of growth, and many are afraid to face the failures that come with such a process. My counselor, Leslie Burns, in motivating me to take myriad external classes, has taught me the importance of such. She taught me to create a space where failure is okay; that way, when it is time to perform, whether in a test or big game you are ready.

• Advice for the young ones: The most important thing you can do is plan. Figure out what you want to do, make a spreadsheet, and stick to it.

Abigail Gabrielson

• Attending: University of California, Los Angeles

• Majoring in: Mechanical Engineering

• Future plans: To work in the environmental engineering field.

• Favorite memories from SLVHS: My favorite high school memories include traveling to New Orleans with the band, as well as making new friends in general.

• Extracurricular activities: I participated in wind ensemble, water polo, soccer, and swim for four years. I was also in jazz band and Key Club for four years.

• Lessons learned: One of the best lessons I learned in high school was to always have an open mind. Often when trying new things, I’m surprised by how much I enjoy it. It’s a good reminder to never judge anything too quickly.

• Advice for the young ones: My advice for next year’s high schoolers: Do your best to always practice the benefit of the doubt; you never know what someone’s going through. Additionally, take every opportunity you can to explore your interests.

Keegan Hickey

• Attending:  New York University Shanghai

• Majoring in: Social Science

• Future Plans: Attending a 4-year college and eventually becoming a United States Diplomat. 

• Favorite memories from SLVHS: Being excited about school every day because I knew I had such supportive friends who made my life great.

• Extracurricular activities: I was in band for eight years; I did water polo for four years and swim team for three. I participated in our school’s production of “Grease”, and I was a member of countless clubs including the Tabletop Games Club which I was the founder and president of.

• Lessons learned: It is incredibly important to be just as humble and gracious as you are successful. I learned that from my own life, seeing how others reacted to me and recognizing my own bias toward others based on their humility or lack thereof.

• Advice for the young ones: Always challenge yourself with the hardest classes and the most extracurriculars you can — your future self will thank you.

Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College Dolphin Athletic Association will enshrine the Gold Wave Hall of Fame Class of 2025 containing two former Dolphins, a former coach and a team on Saturday, September 20th as part of John ‘Doc’ Joiner Homecoming Weekend. The Class of 2025 includes Sean Beney ’18 (men’s cross country and track & field), Courtney Case ’17 (softball), Chris Edmondson ’10 (baseball), Jeff Gilheney ’85 (men’s lacrosse, honorary) and the 1995-96 men’s basketball team.

A full schedule of events for Homecoming Weekend will be released in the coming weeks.

 

Sean Beney ’18 // Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field (2014-18)

The first member in the program’s history to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championship, Sean Beney ’18 is the seventh member of the men’s cross country and track and field programs to be elected to the Hall of Fame. A four-time cross country team MVP, Beney closed out his cross country career with a berth at the NCAA Cross Country Championship. At the NCAA East Region Championship, he finished in fifth place and earned the NCAA Championships berth by virtue of being the second individual (of three selected) not from a top-three team. He went on to place 67th in the field of 249 competitors (third among 23 NE10 runners) at the NCAA Championship with a time of 32:24.7, the second-fastest of his career. He capped his collegiate career by winning the 10,000-meter run by over 40 seconds at the 2017 Northeast Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, becoming the first conference champion in the program’s history. The day prior, he placed sixth in the 5,000-meter run in 15:21.36 to finish the championship with 13 points, one shy of the program’s record. He holds the program’s outdoor 10,000-meter run record (31:15.49) and held the program’s indoor (15:05.77) and outdoor (15:04.38) 5000-meter run records until Jack Gibson broke both this past year. He registered 19 top-10 finishes during his outdoor career, including seven first-place finishes, three seconds and two thirds. During indoor competition, he had 40 top-10 finishes, including six first-place finishes, five seconds, six thirds and seven fourths. During cross country action, he had 12 top-10 finishes, including a pair of victories, two seconds and three fourths.

Courtney Case ’17 // Softball (2014-17)

The leading hitter in the program’s history, Courtney Case ’17 is the eighth member of the softball program to be elected to the Gold Wave Hall of Fame. As a starter in 164 of 165 games played over her career, Case slashed .444/.517/.640 with 233 hits, 157 runs scored, 86 runs batted in, 51 doubles, 17 triples, six home runs and 52 stolen bases, while leading the Dolphins to the 2016 NCAA regional championship. A three-time NFCA All-Region selection, she was recognized by the Northeast-10 Conference each year of her career. She ranks first in the program’s history in batting average (by 76 percentage points), slugging percentage (by 59 points), on-base percentage (by 50 points), runs scored and walks (74) and is tied for first in triples, second in hits (two off the record), doubles (two off the record), stolen bases and intentional walks (3) and third in total bases (336). She led the Northeast-10 Conference in batting average each of her first three seasons and her career batting average is the eighth-best in the Conference’s history and is the best mark since 2002, while she is tied for 10th in doubles, tied for 12th in runs (fourth-most since 2002) and is 16th in hits. She earned a spot on the NE10 All-Rookie Team in 2014 after slashing .419/.490/.527 with 10 doubles, two triples, 33 runs scored, 20 RBI and 14 stolen bases as a starter in all 41 games. Her on-base percentage is the fifth-best in the program’s history, her stolen bases are tied for the sixth-most and her batting average is the seventh-best. She was named to the NE10 Second Team and the NFCA All-Region Second Team as a sophomore following a slash line of .447/.519/.746 with 11 doubles, seven triples, three home runs, 32 runs scored, 19 RBI and 12 stolen bases as a starter in all 34 games. In addition to leading the NE10 in batting average, she had the most triples and the highest slugging percentage. Her slugging percentage is the second-best in the program’s history, her seven doubles are tied for the second-most, her on-base percentage is fourth-best and her batting average is the fifth-best. She earned placement on the NE10 First Team and the NFCA All-Region First Team in 2016 after slashing .450/.528/.584 with 13 doubles, two triples, one home run, an NE10-leading 48 runs scored, 26 RBI, 23 walks and 13 stolen bases as a starter in all 48 games for a team which advanced to the NCAA Championship East Sub-regional final. Her on-base percentage, runs scored and walks are each the third-best in the program’s history and her batting average is the fourth-best, while her 67 hits are tied for the sixth-most and her stolen base total is tied for the ninth-most. As a senior, when she was named to the NE10 All-Conference and NFCA All-Region First Teams for the second straight year and the CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team, she slashed .459/.529/.722 with a career-high 17 doubles, an NE10-leading six triples, two home runs, 44 runs scored, 21 RBI and 13 stolen bases as a starter in 41 of 42 games played. Her on-base percentage is the second-best in the program’s history, her batting average is the third-best, her slugging percentage is the fourth-best, her 17 doubles are tied for the fourth-most, her run total is the fifth-best, her 96 total bases are tied for the seventh-most and her stolen base total is tied for the ninth-most. The 2017 Rev. J. J. O’Brien Senior Achievement Award recipient, as a senior she became the first Dolphin softball student-athlete to be named the NE10 Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award recipient and was just the second Le Moyne women’s student-athlete to earn the honor for their sport.

 

Chris Edmondson ’10 // Baseball (2007-2010)

The program’s home run leader, Chris Edmondson ’10 is the latest member of the baseball program to be elected to the Hall of Fame. He registered a .328/.416/.622 slash line with 224 hits, 49 doubles, a program-record 44 home runs, 10 triples, 139 runs scored, a program-record 178 runs batted in and 28 stolen bases over 197 games played (tied for the most in the program’s history at the time), including 182 starts. In addition to having the program records for home runs and runs batted in, he ranks first in the program’s history in total bases (425) and intentional walks (14), fourth in doubles, tied for fourth in games played, sixth in times hit by pitch (33), tied for sixth in triples, eighth in hits, ninth in slugging percentage and games started and tied for 12th in runs scored. After starting 28 of 42 games played as a freshman in 2007, he was an All-American and the Division I Independent Player of the Year in 2008 after slashing .367/.464/.745 with 72 hits, 22 doubles, 14 home runs, five triples, 64 RBI and 51 runs scored. His  22 doubles are tied for the most in a season in the program’s history, his 146 total bases are the second-most and his 64 RBI are the third-most, while his 14 home runs were tied for the most in a season in the program’s 24-year initial Division I tenure (and are currently tied for the third-most overall in the program’s history), his five triples were tied for the third-most, his .745 slugging percentage was the fourth-highest (eighth overall), his 51 runs were tied for the seventh-most and his 72 hits were tied for the ninth-most. He hit .322/.410/.644 with 13 home runs (tied for the eighth-most in the program’s history), 12 doubles, 46 RBI and 32 runs scored as a junior. He closed out his career by slashing .348/.424/.612 with 70 hits, 13 doubles, 12 home runs, 50 RBI, 41 runs scored and 14 stolen bases as a starter in all 55 games played. He became the first (and still only) Dolphin to record at least 12 homers in three separate years, the first (and still only) Dolphin to drive in at least 50 runs in multiple years and the fourth Dolphin (now five) to record at least 70 hits in multiple seasons. On April 4, 2010, he broke the program’s career home run record with a three-run blast in an 8-2 win over Stony Brook. Two days later, Edmondson became the program’s RBI leader with a two-run homer at St. Bonaventure. The 2010 Rev. J. J. O’Brien Senior Achievement Award recipient, he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 24th pick of the 43rd round in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He was the sixth outfielder in the program’s history to be drafted. Following three seasons in the Cardinals organization and reaching High-A in 2012, he split his final professional season between the independent Rockland Boulders and the Atlanta Braves’ Class A affiliate. Over 289 games with minor league teams, he hit .264/.332/.423 with 28 home runs, 59 doubles, 12 triples, 169 RBI and 156 runs scored.

Jeff Gilheney ’85 // Honorary/Men’s Lacrosse (1984-85)

Jeff Gilheney, a member of the inaugural men’s lacrosse team at the College, was elected as an honorary inductee into the Hall of Fame. The program’s first captain, Gilheney worked closely with Head Coach Tom Diehl to turn a shared vision for the program from a club team to a varsity team into reality. As a student-athelete, he assisted with recruiting numerous students to the program and his dedication, leadership and mentorship laid the foundation for a program which has won the College’s only men’s national championships. Gilheney, who along with other early members of the program are considered the “Founding Fathers”, was a passionate supporter of the program and College morally and financially, until his passing in February 2020. The “Founding Fathers” led the fundraising campaign for the Athletic Weight Room, which was unveiled in September 2011. On the field, Gilheney was credited with 24 points on 17 goals and seven assists over 18 games in his two seasons prior to graduation, while other more-modern statistics (ground balls, caused turnovers) were not kept at the time.

1995-96 Men’s Basketball Team

The 1995-96 Men’s Basketball team returned Le Moyne College to the national stage. The Dolphins went 24-6, won the New England Collegiate Conference Championship and were selected to the NCAA Championships for the first time in eight years. Featuring two members of the Gold Wave Hall of Fame (Adam Stockwell and John Tomsich) and coached by another (Scott Hicks), the Dolphins tied program record for wins in a season with their 24 (set by the 1987-88 Hall of Fame team). The Dolphins went 16-4 in NECC action and 12-1 at home. In the NECC Tournament, the Dolphins opened with a 76-73 home victory over UAlbany to advance to the final four at Franklin Pierce. The Dolphins handed back-to-back regional champion New Hampshire College (now known as Southern New Hampshire University) an 81-68 defeat to advance to the championship game against Southern Connecticut State University, which upset host Franklin Pierce. The Dolphins recorded a 77-73 victory over the Owls to claim their first NECC Championship in their final season in the conference before Le Moyne transitioned to the Northeast-10 Conference. In the NCAA Championships, held in Albany, the Dolphins fell to Franklin Pierce in the first round. The 1995-96 Dolphins scored the seventh-most points (third-most at the time), made the fourth-most field goals (third-most at the time), recorded the fourth-most steals (third-most at the time), recorded the sixth-most assists and recorded the eighth-most rebounds (third-most at the time) in the program’s history.

A federal judge has denied Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s request to transfer a detained Milford, Massachusetts, high school student to a different facility.

According to court documents, ICE requested to move Marcelo Gomes da Silva, 18, to a facility in Rhode Island.

An immigration hearing regarding Gomes da Silva’s case is scheduled for immigration court on Thursday in Chelmsford.

The Milford High School junior was detained by ICE agents this weekend while he was on his way to volleyball practice.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Monday that members of law enforcement were looking for Gomes da Silva’s father during the initial traffic stop.

His family released a video Wednesday, pleading for him to be released by ICE.

“Hello, ICE. My name is Joao Paulo, Marcelo’s father. I miss my son. I love you, my son. We need Marcelo back home. It’s not a family without him. We love America. Please bring my son back,” he said.

Gomes da Silva is currently being held at a facility in Burlington. His attorney, Robin Nice, told WCVB that the 18-year-old is sleeping on a cement floor and sharing one open toilet with about 40 others at the facility.

“He said it’s extremely hot. He has a sore throat. He sounded really stuffed up and miserable,” Nice said. “We’re also worried because he told me for the first time yesterday he thinks he had a concussion a week prior from a volleyball game. In the last few days, his head has really started throbbing and the vision in his left eye at the top is going black.”

Nice is cautiously optimistic that a judge will set bond during Thursday’s hearing.

Milford police chief Robert Tusino told NewsCenter 5 that Gomes da Silva should never have been arrested in the first place.

“I don’t agree with the broad sword of makes it safer, makes it better, it doesn’t,” Tusino said. “I don’t agree with ‘We can do nothing.’ It’s two separate, simple issues. Criminals, and noncriminals, it’s that simple.”

FORT WORTH – TCU volleyball and head coach Jason Williams unveiled the full 2025 schedule, which features 15 home matches inside Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena.
 
The Horned Frogs schedule features 13 NCAA Tournament teams from last season, including five from the Sweet 16, and an 18-match Big 12 Conference slate.
 
TCU volleyball will open its 2025 season at the College Volleyball Showcase at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa., over Labor Day weekend. The Horned Frogs are set to take on Pitt on Aug. 31, followed by defending national champion Penn State on Sept. 1 in the nationally televised event.
 
Fans can get their first glimpse of TCU on its home court on Sept. 5 and 6 when the Frogs host UCLA for the second year in a row. Last season, they took down the Bruins 3-1.
 

Action continues at home with a midweek contest against Texas A&M on Sept. 10, followed by the annual Fight in the Fort tournament from Sept. 11-12, featuring matches against Wyoming, Rhode Island and Missouri.
 

TCU then hits the road for an in-state matchup at Texas inside Gregory Gymnasium on Sept. 17 before rounding out their non-con slate in Houston at the Rice Invitational, where they will take on Cornell, Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Rice Sept. 19-20.
 
TCU opens conference play at home for the second straight season. In 2025, the Frogs will kick off their Big 12 slate against Houston (Sept. 24) and travel to face Baylor on Sept. 27 to wrap up week one.
 
The Frogs return home to host Kansas on Oct. 1 before back-to-back road contests at Texas Tech (Oct. 4) and UCF (Oct. 9).
 
October continues with matches in Schollmaier arena against Cincinnati (Oct. 15), Kansas State (Oct. 17) and BYU (Oct. 25). TCU will also travel to the Sunflower State for a midweek date with Kansas on Wednesday, Oct. 22, and close out the month with an Arizona road swing against Arizona State (Oct. 29) and Arizona (Oct. 31).
 
The final month of conference play features four home matches. The Frogs host Utah (Nov. 7) and West Virginia (Nov. 9) before a quick trip to Colorado (Nov. 13) and Iowa State (Nov. 15).
 
TCU plays its final two regular season matches at home on Nov. 22 against Texas Tech and Nov. 26 against Baylor and concludes the regular season in Houston against the Cougars on Nov. 29.
 
The Horned Frogs finished the 2024 season with a 22-8 record, advancing to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament. TCU swept Hawaii to advance to the Round of 32, where they fell to No. 14 Oregon.
 
For all the latest TCU volleyball news, follow the Frogs on Twitter at @TCUVolleyball, on Instagram at @tcuvolleyball and on Facebook at TCU Volleyball.
 

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta University women’s track & field placed four student-athletes on the 2024-25 Peach Belt Conference Team of Academic Distinction, presented by Barnes & Noble College. Sophomores Maria Biondollilo and Josalyn Branch, and juniors Swaye Mohler and Cheyenne Ryan were recognized across the league for their academic excellence and contributions in competition.

Biondollilo, from Dallas, Ga., is majoring in Biology and holds a 3.95 GPA. Branch, a Criminal Justice major from Covington, Ga., maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA. Mohler, from Dallas, Ga., is a Kinesiology major with a 3.83 GPA, while Ryan, from Rincon, Ga., carries a 3.52 GPA in Criminal Justice.

To be eligible for the PBC Team of Academic Distinction, student-athletes must compete in at least half of their team’s contests as a starter or significant contributor, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, and have completed at least one academic year at their current institution with sophomore athletic eligibility. The program is overseen by the league’s sports information directors and celebrates excellence in both the classroom and competition.

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can GIVE by clicking here. Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University Athletics at www.AugustaJags.com and receive updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Instagram @augustajags

SMITHFIELD, R.I.- Bryant head volleyball coach Theresa Garlacy has announced the addition of Maeve Voltz to its roster for the 2025 season this week. Voltz will join the Bulldogs this fall with one year of eligibility remaining.

“Maeve is an exceptional slide hitter who will bring experience and consistency to our middle blocker position” said Coach Garlacy. “She is long and has excellent reach blocking. She will complement our current middle hitters with added maturity and a different offensive look.” 

Voltz, a 6’1″ middle blocker has spent the last three seasons with Division III Springfield College where she appeared in 87 matches and 307 sets. 

In her junior year with the Pride, Voltz appeared in 30 matches (112 sets) tallying 265 kills (2.37 k/s) and 129 blocks (1.15 b/s). She tallied double-digit kills on 10 occasions and had a season high 16 against Clark (Oct. 1) and Coast Guard (Nov. 12). On the defensive side, she had season high 10 kills in her match against Endicott on Nov. 7. Voltz finished the season as a member of the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team, AVCA All-Region Team, and an AVCA DIII All-American. Voltz was also a standout in the classroom being named to the CSC Academic All-District Team and NEWMAC Academic All-Conference Team.

In 2023, Voltz played in 31 matches (110 sets) posting 255 kills (2.32 k/s) and 129 blocks (1.17 b/s). Voltz had double-digit kills in six games with a season high of 16 against Emerson (Sep. 30) and Smith (Nov. 11). That game against Smith also saw her post a season high eight blocks. Voltz would finish the season as a member of the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team while also earning recognition from the AVCA All-Region Team and All-American honors.

In 2022, during her rookie season with the Pride, Voltz played in 26 matches (85 sets) registering 136 kills (1.60 k/s) and 81 blocks (0.95 b/s). She had a season high 10 kills at Tufts on (Oct. 21). Voltz had a phenomenal defensive effort against Smith on Oct. 25 posting a season high 10 blocks.

Prior to Springfield, Voltz competed for four years at Bay Shore High School. She appeared in 218 sets and tallied 600 kills with a .345 hitting %. She would finish her high school career with 151 total blocks. In 2022 she was named Top 50 Long Island Women Volleyball Athletes. She was also a recipient of the 2022 Athletic Leadership Award and was named to the All-County Tournament Team. 

In 2021, Voltz recorded the most kills and blocks in New York State during the regular season, was named to the All-County Tournament Team and All-County Elite 8, earned recognition as one of the Top 25 Girls on Long Island, and competed in the SUSA All-Long Island Girls All-Star Game.

Voltz also competed for Academy Volleyball Club from 2021–2022, where she helped her team earn silver medals at both the Capitol Hill Classic and the Boston Volleyball Festival, as well as a bronze medal at SpikeFest.