Sports

McEndree Women Started Their Season With Tragedy—but Found Triumph

Today, the McEndree University women’s water polo team kicks off the first game of the NCAA National Championship. McEndree’s inclusion would be big news on its own. It’s the first time they’ve ever made the NCAA tournament, which includes just nine teams across the U.S.—and typically few, if any, teams from the Midwest. But this […]

Published

2 weeks ago

May 7, 2025

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But this year, the private university in Lebanon, Illinois, about 30 minutes east of St. Louis, has even more reason to take pride in its season. The team lost its head coach in a fatal car crash in January, just as the season was getting underway—and they’ve been led in her absence by a 25-year-old in his first head coaching gig.

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“It’s been an interesting year,” says Alex Figueras, who was only named the women’s head coach a few weeks ago after handling the job on an interim basis. “We had one of the lowest moments and some of the highest moments in the same season.”

Figueras is the first to credit Colleen Lischwe as the person responsible for McKendree’s success. Lischwe had twice been named Missouri Female Water Polo Player of the Year at Kirkwood High School before becoming an Academic All-American at Marist College in New York and twice participating in the NCAA National Championships.

After coaching at Kirkwood High, Lischwe landed a coaching job at McKendree, and after being named the women’s head coach in 2017, also became the head coach of the men’s team the following year—making her the only woman head coach in an NCAA water polo program.

Then tragedy struck. Lischwe was on I-44 around 6 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2025, when she was struck by a semi. Her Prius fell off the highway to Vandeventer Avenue below. Lischwe, 35, left behind a husband and a 3-year-old daughter.

She also left a team in mourning. Figueras, Lischwe’s young assistant coach, was among those devastated by her death; Lischwe had coached his club team for a half-dozen years before they became colleagues. Suddenly he found himself trying to fill her shoes as the team headed into its first game of the season, less than two weeks later.

He recalls a team meeting with a sports psychologist, who explained that, tempting though it was, they should try to resist focusing on “winning one for Colleen” or making all their efforts about her. “You don’t want this to be the only thing that’s driving you, because at a certain point, things are going to go back to normal, or whatever normal looks like,” Figueras recalls him explaining. “When that happens, then you lose your motivation.”

The very idea seemed shocking, he says. “When he brought that up, it seemed weird, because I was like, things are never going to be normal again, right?” But as winter turned to spring, and the team kept winning, it began to make more sense.

“It’s not to say that we’ve moved on, because I don’t think we ever really will,” Figueras adds. “Like, there’s that little unspoken bond that I think we’re always going to have with this group and that is always going to be that extra motivating factor, that we can hear her voice still pushing us.”

McKendree University's women's water polo team celebrates with its coaches. — McKendree University’s women’s water polo team notched a 21-7 record in its 2025 season.

For Figueras, Lischwe’s death brought responsibilities he wasn’t sure he was ready for. A graduate of Saint Louis Priory School, he’d gone from playing club sports to competing in college to returning back to St. Louis to finish his degree at Washington University, where he graduated with a double major in marketing and English. He soon fell into coaching.

“Most people, I think when they get into this world, they get in as an assistant, and then they start trying to work their way up to eventually go be an assistant at a top five program, or go be a head coach somewhere,” he says. “And that was never my goal. My goal was always I wanted to do it until it wasn’t fun anymore, and then I would get out of it.”

Guiding the team has given him new appreciation for the job. In April, McKendree won its conference championship for the first time; the team finished its season with a 21–7 record.

Says Figueras, “It’s been cool to develop these relationships, and that’s the part that I’m enjoying the most. I think I’m starting to find my way and figure it out.”

He’s gotten support from another person who knew Lischwe for years—his own dad, Miguel. A former college player for Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Miguel Figueras has spent the last 25 years coaching teams in the St. Louis area while teaching second grade for the Clayton School District. But this spring, McKendree offered him the head coach position for its men’s team—and so next year, father and son will be working together, father taking the lead with the men, son with the women.

Miguel Figueras says he’ll miss his job at Wilson Elementary School, but he jokes that his new duties won’t be all that different: “In a lot of ways, I’ll still be around seven and eight-year-olds when I’m working with college freshmen and sophomores!”

Miguel Figueras knows no one can fill Lischwe’s shoes, explaining that she did a great job of looking out for all her players, many of whom came from so far away to participate in McKendree’s program. “Colleen was always the force in making sure those kids were well taken care of,” he says.

But he’s also proud of his son. “They’ve just picked up right where Colleen left off,” he says of Alex and his assistant coach, 23-year-old Breno Tebet.

And despite not being quite old enough to parent the team, the fledgling head coach has found a way to mentor its athletes, his father says.

“It’s like he’s got 23 little sisters,” he explains. “He’s always been a very mature kid, but we’ve seen a lot of growth in him here.”

Both father and son were heading to Indianapolis yesterday for the tournament, and Alex Figueras was trying to set realistic expectations. They have a strong chance against Wagner College in the first round, he says, but Stanford is “like UConn women’s basketball” (read: not an easy foe).

He adds, “I don’t want to count ourselves out, but I think that definitely will be a challenge. But getting into this is a big deal for us, and we want to definitely not just be like, ‘Okay, we’re just happy to be here.’”

And no matter how this topsy-turvy year ends, there’s always next year. Alex Figueras will be back, and so will all but one player, he says. The graduating senior is a standout, but having so many players returning should give the coaches a lot to work with. The team Colleen Lischwe built should have plenty of victories to come, even when there’s a new roster of players who can no longer hear her voice pushing them.

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Sports

11 Blue Jays Receive USTFCCCA Regional Honors

Story Links 11 Blue Jays Receive USTFCCCA Regional Honors NEW ORLEANS – The Johns Hopkins men’s track and field program had 11 student-athletes receive All-Region honors for the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field season, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on […]

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2 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

11 Blue Jays Receive USTFCCCA Regional Honors

NEW ORLEANS – The Johns Hopkins men’s track and field program had 11 student-athletes receive All-Region honors for the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field season, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday.

Oluwademilade Adeniran, Alex Colletti, Emmanuel Leblond, Josh Lee, Thomas Li, Connor Oiler, Ethan Oluwole, Fisayo Omonije, Brady Ott, Sebastian Tangelson and Spencer Ye received All-Region Honors for their performances in their respective events.

The top five individuals in each event from each region earn All-Region honors, in addition to each of the members of a top three ranked relay team.

All-Region Honors

4x400m
Colletti, Ye, Omonije, Lee

100m & 200m
Colletti

800m
Omonije

1500m
Ott

5000m
Leblond
Li

3000m Steeplechase
Oiler

Triple Jump
Adeniran
Oluwole

Decathlon
Tangelson

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Sports

Professional volleyball heading to Delray Beach Tennis Center this weekend

Melissa Humana-Paredes warms up with her volleyball partner Brandie Wilkerson on Delray Beach. The two know each other well — they won a silver medal together at the Paris Olympics last summer. Now, they’re teaming up again for a tournament this weekend at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. WATCH: Olympic medal winners to play in […]

Published

3 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Melissa Humana-Paredes warms up with her volleyball partner Brandie Wilkerson on Delray Beach.

The two know each other well — they won a silver medal together at the Paris Olympics last summer. Now, they’re teaming up again for a tournament this weekend at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.

WATCH: Olympic medal winners to play in Delray Beach

Humana-Paredes says she’s often described as a scrappy player.

“When it gets down to the mix, I will be a little bit of a killer. They call me the smiling assassin because I will take you down and smile while I do it,” she said.

The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP), the premier professional beach volleyball league in the world, kicks off its 2025 season this week in Delray Beach. This style of volleyball is quite different from the typical college or Olympic format, where matches are played to 21 points and follow a best-of-three format.

“This game’s to 15, only one side switch, so things are happening really fast. There’s not a lot of time to make huge comebacks or huge momentum swings. You get to see high-level action from the first point,” Wilkerson said.

Both players admit the pro life is tough but say it’s absolutely worth it.

“I get to be a student of life and love everything I’m doing every day, there’s nothing more I could ask for,” Wilkerson said.

Humana-Paredes agrees with her partner.

“It’s everything I thought it would be and more, because it pushed me in ways I never thought I could overcome,” she said.

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Sports

Your daily UFC trivia game, Wednesday edition

We’re back for another day of the SB Nation UFC in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form. Today’s UFC in-5 game If you can’t see the game due to Apple News […]

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12 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

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Today’s UFC in-5 game

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

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Tuesday, May 20, 2025
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The goal of the game is to guess the correct random UFC fighter player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED FIGHTERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it. It will be a mix of well-known players and some “that guys” that we haven’t thought of in some time. The game will appear in slot #3 of the MMA Mania layout each morning, with occasional movement later in the day.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media.

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Sports

Central puts 10 on all-region track and field list

Story Links PELLA — Ten student-athletes from Central College men’s and women’s track and field squads were recognized as All-Midwest Region performers for the outdoor season by the USTFCCCA Wednesday. To be named All-Region, an athlete must either be ranked in the top five of an individual event in the region […]

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37 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

PELLA — Ten student-athletes from Central College men’s and women’s track and field squads were recognized as All-Midwest Region performers for the outdoor season by the USTFCCCA Wednesday.

To be named All-Region, an athlete must either be ranked in the top five of an individual event in the region or be part of a top-three relay team.

Three Dutch men were cited in two events: Jack Brown (sophomore, Norwalk) in the 1,500 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase; Kale Hobart (sophomore, Mason City) in the decathlon and 400-meter hurdles; and Grant Miller (junior, Norwalk) in the 110-meter hurdles and javelin throw. Gage Huyser (junior, Pella) and Reid Pakkebier (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) both earned a spot in the decathlon. Kale Purcell (senior, Holton, Kan.) secured a spot in the triple jump. Gunner Meyer (junior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) was honored in the 110-meter hurdles. Kaleb Brand (fifth year, Mount Vernon) was recognized in the 400 meters.

Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) was an all-region honoree in the 1,500 meters, 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000 meters while Olivia Bohlen (junior, Belle Plaine) earned the nod in the heptathlon.

Central’s national qualifiers will compete at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio this weekend.

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Wayzata Boys Volleyball Beats Minnetonka in Four Sets

4:15 PM | Wednesday, May 21, 2025 The Wayzata boys’ volleyball team won its regular season finale Tuesday, beating Minnetonka in four sets. The Skippers won the first set 25-23 but the Trojans won 25-21 25-17 and 25-18 in the final three sets to earn the win. Section tournament play begins next week. Wayzata finished […]

Published

38 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

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The Wayzata boys’ volleyball team won its regular season finale Tuesday, beating Minnetonka in four sets.

The Skippers won the first set 25-23 but the Trojans won 25-21 25-17 and 25-18 in the final three sets to earn the win.

Section tournament play begins next week.

Wayzata finished the regular season with a 14-8 record.

Wayzata High School

Volleyball

CCX News – Daily Sportscast

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Eight Hawks Named USTFCCCA Outdoor Track & Field All-Region

Story Links NEW ORLEANS, La. – On Wednesday, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the Division III All-Region selections following the conclusion of the regular season. Top five individuals in each event from each region earned All-Region honors, in addition to each of the members of a top-three ranked relay team. […]

Published

55 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEW ORLEANS, La. – On Wednesday, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the Division III All-Region selections following the conclusion of the regular season. Top five individuals in each event from each region earned All-Region honors, in addition to each of the members of a top-three ranked relay team. Data is compiled based on Regional TFRI.

The eight Hawks named include senior Conor Convery (Port Jervis, N.Y.), senior Riley Brutvan (Gardiner, N.Y.), sophomore Christopher Hergott (Hamden, Conn.), freshman Aidan Lybarger (South Burlington, Vt.), senior Cali Leonard (Boston, Mass.), junior Madison DiPasquale (Wallingford, Conn.), sophomore Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) and freshman Tamara Greene (Hartford, Conn.).

Convery ends his career named all-region in the hammer throw event. Conor was the Conference of New England (CNE) champion in the event tossing a program-best 54.70 meters. He finished in second place in the New England Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships at 52.96 meters and came in 10th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a distance of 53.95 meters.

Brutvan finishes his career for the Hawks by being named all-region in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Riley finished in second place in the 3000 meter steeplechase at a time of 9:39.64 seconds. Brutvan followed it up coming in second at the New England Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a time of 9:33.25 for a second best time in program history. He later finished 11th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a time of 9:34.17.

Hergott finishes the year being named all-region in the 100 meter dash and the long jump events. Christopher’s best time in the long jump event in the outdoor season came on April 19th in the Trinity Invitational hitting 7.23 meters. He broke the program record in the 100 meter dash at a time of 10.56 seconds in the same meet. In the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Hergott finished in 8th in the 100 meter at a time of 10.59 seconds.

Lybarger was named an all-region selection in discus in his first year in West Hartford. Aidan broke the program record in the event on May 10th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships throwing a distance of 52.49 meters. Lybarger also was the CNE Champion in the event at 50.29 meters and also placed 4th in the New England Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a distance of 50.08 meters.

Leonard was named all-region in the 100 meter hurdles event. Cali broke the program record for event on May 10th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a time of 14.36 seconds. Leonard won the 100 meter hurdles in the CNE Championships at a time of 15.04 seconds. She also placed in 4th in the New England D3 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

DiPasquale was awarded all-region in the shot put and the discus throw events. Madison was named the CNE Field Athlete of the Year after placing first in discus, second in shot put and second in hammer throw. She broke the program record for shot put on May 3rd in the New England D3 Outdoor Track and Field Championships coming in 4th hitting 12.89 meters.

Murphy was named all-region in the high jump and the heptathlon. Jordan was the CNE champion in the high jump at 1.61 meters. She also won the heptathlon on April 11th and 12th in the Silfen Invitational scoring 4071. Murphy later placed third in the high jump at the New England D3 Outdoor Track and Field Championships and 5th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Greene rounds out the group being named all-region in the 100 meter hurdles. Tamara was the runner up in the 100 meter hurdles event in the CNE Championships at a time of 15.49 seconds. She later finished in 6th in the New England D3 Outdoor Track and Field Championships at a time of 14.89 seconds. She also ran her best time in the event on May 10th in the NEICAAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a time of 14.60 seconds.

To read the official release click this link!

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