LAFAYETTE ― McCutcheon boys volleyball coach Keith Crisler saw his players meld together after two years of learning the sport together. Boys who picked up the sport for the first time two seasons ago became a formidable group that learned to pass, digs and score points together as a unit. Advertisement McCutcheon was swept in […]
LAFAYETTE ― McCutcheon boys volleyball coach Keith Crisler saw his players meld together after two years of learning the sport together.
Boys who picked up the sport for the first time two seasons ago became a formidable group that learned to pass, digs and score points together as a unit.
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McCutcheon was swept in the first IHSAA sectional boys title title on Saturday afternoon to Zionsville 25-19, 25-14, 25-18, but the program summitted after going 11-20 in 2023 and 6-18 in 2024.
For Crisler, finishing with a 15-10 record in 2025 was a breakthrough for his Mavericks.
More: Boys volleyball experiencing growing pains despite popularity in first season under IHSAA
“One word I would say is growth,” Crisler said. “Growth as individuals, as athletes and as a program in the sport. Boys volleyball and men’s volleyball in Indiana has (some time) to grow, but I feel like we’ve had a successful season because we took that pioneering step to learn something new and that’s not an easy thing to do.”
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The number of boys volleyball teams expanded from 35 in 2022 to the 133 competing in the IHSAA playoffs this spring.
As the competition grew, so did McCutcheon.
McCutcheon Mavericks defensive specialist Jack Smith (9) celebrates Saturday, May 17, 2025, during the IHSAA boys volleyball sectionals championship match against the Zionsville Eagles at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana.
“I don’t think anyone should leave this season with their head down and their shoulders slumped,” Crisler said. “They are pioneer men and left their mark in their first official year in Indiana.”
The growth of McCutcheon volleyball was headed by graduating starters senior libero Khelan Patel, middle blocker Jayden Heygood, setter Kieraan Jordan, outside hitter Josh Madsen and outside hitter Malachi Kenner.
Patel, Heygood, Jordan, Madsen and Kenner were the “founding fathers of McCutcheon boys volleyball,” per Crisler.
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More: IHSAA boys volleyball sectional semifinals: McCutcheon advances to championship against Zionsville
“They are the true pioneers,” Crisler added. “A lot of what we did this season is because of them. With experiences they had and how they led the younger boys in our program, they should probably have a statue or something like that.”
Patel was a consistent libero who attacked and placed shot receives in playable directions for his offense.
“It just shows the effort and drive we had for the game,” Patel said. “I know all of us who have been playing, we go play during the offseason because of how much we love the sport. We really took it upon ourselves to grow the game, build the program and build what we had within our community at McCutcheon volleyball.”
McCutcheon Mavericks libero Khelan Patel (1) celebrates Saturday, May 17, 2025, during the IHSAA boys volleyball sectionals championship match against the Zionsville Eagles at Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Jordan distributed the ball as a setter but could also provide an extra body at the net to make blocks or earn kills and points for his team.
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“It’s truly something special to be there during the first year and build this thing from the ground up when it wasn’t a fully sanctioned sport,” Jordan said. “It’s just awesome to see it blossom into this and see it expand like football and baseball.”
Jordan and Patel saw the culture grow at McCutcheon through their activity, setting an example for future players to come.
“It shows how much we’ve grown from March 10 and the first day of the season to now,” Jordan said. “We’ve been really focused and bought into the program and this was our goal, to make it to the championship. It showed there was so much focus put into this team.”
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: McCutcheon boys volleyball shows growth in 2025 season
Story Links PORTLAND, Ore. – UW Track fans suffering from a post-NCAAs hangover didn’t have to wait long, as the Portland Track Festival provided many more season’s-bests as well as another glimpse into the future. The meet was held Saturday and Sunday at Lewis & Clark College, with Huskies past, […]
PORTLAND, Ore. – UW Track fans suffering from a post-NCAAs hangover didn’t have to wait long, as the Portland Track Festival provided many more season’s-bests as well as another glimpse into the future. The meet was held Saturday and Sunday at Lewis & Clark College, with Huskies past, present, and future all impressing.
Several NCAA qualifiers who just missed out on reaching the finals headed to Portland to keep their seasons going. One of those Huskies, Kyle Reinheimer, was third overall on Sunday and lowered his 800-meters school record to 1:45.73. Graduated senior Justin O’Toole showed he’s getting back into his top form by running a PR of 1:46.29.
In the top section of the women’s 5,000-meters, incoming transfer Chloe Thomas clocked a time of 15:18.49 which would be well under the current UW school record. Thomas is joining the Dawgs from Uconn next season. The men’s 5k saw senior Acer Iverson drop a fast season’s-best 13:25.68.
But one of the big stories from the meet was the 11th- and 12th-place finishers in the fast 1,500-meter section. That’s where UW incoming freshmen Owen Powell and Josiah Tostenson finished, running the No. 2 and No. 3 high school 1,500-meter times in U.S. history. Powell ran 3:36.49 and Tostenson went 3:36.85. If run next season, those would be the third and fourth fastest times in UW history only behind multiple NCAA Champions Nathan Green and Joe Waskom.
Former Huskies Sam Ellis and Kieran Lumb also ran in the top heat, Ellis going 3:35.40 and Lumb running 3:36.37. In an earlier section, senior Rhys Hammond, still competing in his UW kit, took third in a big PR of 3:36.86 to go to No. 3 in school history. Seniors Ronan McMahon-Staggs and Leo Daschbach ran 3:40.61 (McMahon-Staggs) and 3:41.19 (Daschbach, a PR).
Freshman Nathan Neil, who has redshirted the season, ran a 3:41.32 and sophomore Will Schneider went 3:51.28.
In the women’s 1,500-meters, graduated senior Claire Yerby had a massive breakthrough, taking second in her section in 4:07.78, a five-second personal-best. Sam Tran also clocked a 4:26.84.
Josephine Welin raced herself to a 5,000-meters PR of 16:35.61. For the men, freshman Parker Mong ran the 5k, finishing in 14:40.56.
On Saturday, in the steeplechase, former Husky Aaron Ahl ran 8:31.98, and another alum, Julius Diehr, ran 8:40.37. Current sophomore Cruize Corvin broke nine minutes for the first time, going 8:55.20.
Viking Volleyball Featured in “Into a New Frontier” | News Dakota Posted By: ryanc June 16, 2025 @ 7:43 pm Sports VALLEY CITY, ND (NewsDakota.com) In this week’s edition of “Into a New Frontier”, Viking volleyball coach Michelle Meiklejohn talks about the challenge Viking volleyball faces in moving to the Frontier Conference, including […]
VALLEY CITY, ND (NewsDakota.com) In this week’s edition of “Into a New Frontier”, Viking volleyball coach Michelle Meiklejohn talks about the challenge Viking volleyball faces in moving to the Frontier Conference, including the competitive level of the conference, the travel schedule, and the unknowns.
Meiklejohn also talks about some new personnel, including replacing an All-American setter for this season.
You can watch below.
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EUGENE, Ore. – Indiana track and field finished the final day of competition from the NCAA Outdoor championship of Saturday (June 14). Veronica Hargrave became the third Hoosier to earn a spot on an All-American team as she competed in the women’s 800. The Freshman ran a time of 2:01.00, finishing eighth overall to […]
PREVIEW: Cabrillo Girls’ Soccer The562’s coverage of Cabrillo Athletics is sponsored by the Cohn Family. Despite losing some key players to graduation and injuries, the Cabrillo girls’ soccer team still has high hopes for this season. “We’re always working on being better than last year, and I’m happy that’s continuing,” said senior Cassandra Mora […]
EUGENE, OR — The Big 12 Conference closed out the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships with three individual titles and 16 total medals across four days of competition at Hayward Field. Athletes from all 16 Big 12 programs competed in the national meet, highlighted by standout performances from Baylor, BYU and Oklahoma […]
EUGENE, OR — The Big 12 Conference closed out the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships with three individual titles and 16 total medals across four days of competition at Hayward Field.
Athletes from all 16 Big 12 programs competed in the national meet, highlighted by standout performances from Baylor, BYU and Oklahoma State on the final day of men’s events.
BYU’s James Corrigan secured the program’s second men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase title in three years with a winning time of 8:16.41. Baylor’s Nathaniel Ezekiel added to his record-breaking season in the 400-meter hurdles, claiming gold with a personal-best 47.49. Oklahoma State’s Brian Musau swept the NCAA indoor and outdoor 5,000-meter titles, winning the outdoor final in 13:20.59.
In the team standings, BYU and Oklahoma State tied for 11th in the men’s competition with 19 points apiece. Kansas followed in 16th with 16.5 points, while Texas Tech (16 points) and Houston (15 points) rounded out the Big 12 men’s teams in the top 20.
On the women’s side, Texas Tech led Big 12 teams with a 12th-place finish, earning 22 points. BYU (16 points) placed 18th, and TCU tied for 20th with 13 points.
The Big 12 performed well in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, where athletes from Arizona, Houston and Baylor finished second through fifth. Arizona’s Zach Extine earned silver with a time of 13.13, while Houston’s John Adesola and Jamar Marshall Jr. finished third and fourth. Baylor’s Demario Prince took fifth.
Big 12 NCAA Individual Champions
Nathaniel Ezekiel (Baylor) – Men’s 400m Hurdles, 47.49
James Corrigan (BYU) – Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase, 8:16.41
Brian Musau (Oklahoma State) – Men’s 5,000m, 13:20.59
Silver Medalists
Zach Extine (Arizona) – Men’s 110m Hurdles, 13.13
Alexis Brown (Baylor) – Women’s Long Jump, 6.63m
Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU) – Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase, 9:08.68
Ashton Barkdull (Kansas) – Men’s Pole Vault, 5.73m
Blair Anderson (Oklahoma State) – Men’s Long Jump, 8.02m
Shelby Frank (Texas Tech) – Women’s Hammer Throw, 71.05m
Bronze Medalists
Meghan Hunter (BYU) – Women’s 800m, 1:59.03
John Adesola (Houston) – Men’s 110m Hurdles, 13.28
Emil Uhlin (Kansas State) – Men’s Decathlon, 7,859 points
Irene Jepkemboi (TCU) – Women’s Javelin, 60.31m
Ernest Cheruiyot (Texas Tech) – Men’s 10,000m, 29:10.37
Shelby Frank (Texas Tech) – Women’s Discus Throw, 63.37m
Joy Naukot (West Virginia) – Women’s 10,000m, 31:34.34
Destiny Masters laughs after a high jump of 1.76 meters on March 30, 2024. (File photo) Five Wichita State track and field athletes competed in the NCAA Outdoor Championships last Wednesday to Saturday in Eugene, Oregon. Three were named Second Team All-Americans and two earned All-America Honorable Mentions. In the 110-meter hurdles semifinals, sophomore Josh […]
Destiny Masters laughs after a high jump of 1.76 meters on March 30, 2024. (File photo)
Five Wichita State track and field athletes competed in the NCAA Outdoor Championships last Wednesday to Saturday in Eugene, Oregon. Three were named Second Team All-Americans and two earned All-America Honorable Mentions.
In the 110-meter hurdles semifinals, sophomore Josh Parrish finished 19th with a time of 13.68 and was named an All-American Honorable Mention. He also competed in the long jump finals and fouled on all three of his attempts.
Sophomore Yared Kidane raced in the 800-meter semifinals and finished in 10th place, earning Second Team All-America, with a time of 1:46.86. He missed out on the 800-meter finals by one spot.
Sophomore Jason Parrish, Josh’s twin, finished 10th in the 400-meter hurdles. He missed qualifying for the finals by less than a tenth of a second and was also named a Second Team All-American.
The Parrish twins, Kidane and senior Joakim Genereux were WSU’s 4×400 meter relay team, who barely snuck into the Outdoor Championships at the West Preliminaries on May 30. The Shockers finished 23rd of 24 teams with a time of 3:10.61 and they were named All-America Honorable Mentions.
In the heptathlon, senior Destiny Masters finished 10th overall with a personal best score of 5,763 points and was named Second Team All-America for the second straight year in the multis event.
Masters placed 22nd in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.23. In the high jump, she finished first with a season-high mark of 1.84 meters, and in the shot put, she finished in fifth with a throw of 13.48 meters.
Masters finished the first day of events with a season-best time in the 200 meters at 25.54, good for 23rd place.
To start the final day of the heptathlon, Masters finished 16th in the high jump with a clearance of 5.79 meters. She later threw 44.45 meters in the javelin, which placed her in second in that event. The heptathlon wrapped up with the 800 meters, where she finished with a time of 2:33.30, good enough for 21st place to earn her Second Team All-America status.
The Outdoor Championships concluded Wichita State’s regular outdoor track and field season. Some athletes who qualify will compete and represent WSU in the USA Track and Field U20 Outdoor Championships from Thursday, June 19, through Sunday, June 22.
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