College Sports

Men’s gymnastics sends school-record five athletes into finals of NCAA Championships

Friday, April 18, and Saturday, April 19, No. 12 William and Mary men’s gymnastics competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Gymnastics Championships at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. Although the Tribe has sent individual athletes to the event in each of the last three seasons, this season marked William and Mary’s […]

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1 month ago

May 1, 2025

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The Green and Gold began competition Friday, when it participated in a qualifying session alongside No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 5 Penn State, No. 8 Air Force and No. 9 California. William and Mary failed to make it to the finals as a team, scoring a session-low 307.691 points, but the Tribe sent a school-record five individual athletes into the finals, an accomplishment William and Mary director of gymnastics Mike Powell attributed to the mindset the team has cultivated in recent weeks.

“I think the team went out there and followed the theme that we’d been pushing and talking about,” Powell said. “Really just being proud of what they had accomplished, owning the fact that they belong on the biggest stage and being proud to show off what they can do on the biggest stage. Once they got comfortable and then settled into doing that, they showed it off and got rewarded with the spots in the finals.”

At the time of the team’s last NCAA Championships berth, William and Mary had recently reversed its decision to eliminate the men’s gymnastics program. The brief period of uncertainty surrounding the program’s future, along with the departure of an eight-man class of seniors in 2021, contributed to the Green and Gold’s four-year postseason drought.

Powell said, for the most part, the Tribe has not spent much time reflecting on the program’s near-death, but the completion of William and Mary’s rebuild is significant to graduate student Sam Lee, the only member of the team who was around for the 2021 season.

“I think it has [come up] a little bit in terms of reflecting,” Powell said. “The captains get a chance to reflect at the banquet and things like that. So it’s come up, but not as much as you would think. For Sam Lee, I think that the experience is particularly meaningful because he was a freshman that year. So this is sort of bookending his career. The last time that we made championships as a team was his freshman year, and now in his fifth year, it’s sort of come full circle, and he’s been with us on that whole journey.”

Friday, Lee advanced to the individual event finals on vault and parallel bars after adding a risky new dismount to his parallel bars routine. Lee had been pulling off the maneuver in practice for months, but he was not able to replicate the feat in meets throughout February and March. With Powell’s advice, he decided to bring the move to the NCAA Championships less than two weeks before the competition. The choice ultimately paid off.

“We tried using it starting in the middle of the competition season,” Powell said. “He had some trouble landing it, especially in competition. It had been going well in practice, but he struggled with it in the meets. So to just hit a solid routine and get through conference championships, we decided to back down to an easier dismount, hoping that that would help build some confidence, and then he could come into the championships and put it down, which he did.”

Lee was the only William and Mary gymnast to significantly modify his routine for the event. Powell said most of the Tribe’s athletes found success through the effective execution of their existing routines.

“For the most part, we really just executed really well,” Powell said. “[Junior] Ricky Pizem added a half twist on his vaults, and then any other upgrades that we made were in finals. Once the team had done really well, and we’d gotten the guys through the finals, [freshman] Luke Tully added a release move to his high bar routine to try to increase that difficulty in and move him up in the standings.”

Lee and Tully were joined in the finals by freshman Connor Barrow on vault, sophomore Niko Greenly on parallel bars and sophomore Evan Wilkins on floor and parallel bars. Powell said the four William and Mary underclassmen in the finals served as evidence of the program’s strong developmental record and bright future.

“That was a part of building this team over time,” Powell said. “We’ve had to work through the initial steps and help the guys realize just how good they are and how good the team is. And that was a part of being proud and owning the fact that they’ve earned their way to this level, and that they’re able to execute on the biggest stage with the best guys. So they deserve a lot of credit for owning that opportunity and owning their abilities and being able to go out and show off on the big stage.”

“Props to them, because this is what we consider the first step and not the last,” Powell said. “So we’re looking to continue building this team, and they’ll obviously play a big role in that, as they’re early in their careers, leaning on the upper classroom for guidance. We’re excited to see what we can do in the future.”

Powell specifically praised the progression of freshmen Barrow and Tully, who discovered the extent of their talents as the season went on. Powell said Tully’s growth process was steady and drawn-out, while Barrow could point to a single moment in which he realized he was NCAA Championship-caliber.

“When he stuck his vault, that was at Springfield [Feb. 16],” Powell said. “One of the long-time judges came up to us and said he thought that might be the best vault he’s ever seen. It was a huge moment for him and very concrete, and he put up a score that put him in our all-time record books. It was one of the top five scores in the country at that time in the season. So that was just a very concrete moment of, ‘OK, we are top-tier.’”

Barrow turned in a similarly impressive performance in the NCAA finals, scoring a 14.0 on vault to finish 20th in the nation. Tully finished 20th after putting up a score of 13.133 on high bar, Greenly tied for 25th with a score of 13.133 on parallel bars and Lee recorded scores of 13.433 and 13.966 to finish 20th and 22nd on parallel bars and vault, respectively. Wilkins was the Tribe’s highest finisher, coming in 19th on floor with a 13.466 and 27th on parallel bars with a 13.033.

With the season complete, Powell said the Tribe will take a brief break from training before implementing more difficult maneuvers into its routines in preparation for the 2025-26 campaign.

“Obviously, the guys who need it [will be] getting that rest and recovery from a long season and a lot of great work,” Powell said. “Then, it’ll be straight into thinking and planning for the future. Any changes that are coming to the rules, adapting to them and getting right back into training more and more difficult skills.”

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Alofe, Kovacs Clinch Spots at 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships

Story Links JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Harvard track & field continued its sensational week at the NCAA East First Round, as two more Crimson clinched their spots at next month’s NCAA Outdoor Championships. For the second time in his Crimson career, sophomore Tito Alofe will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, […]

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3 hours ago

May 31, 2025

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Harvard track & field continued its sensational week at the NCAA East First Round, as two more Crimson clinched their spots at next month’s NCAA Outdoor Championships.

For the second time in his Crimson career, sophomore Tito Alofe will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, as the Peachtree City, Georgia native will head to Eugene, Oregon to feature in the men’s high jump final. Fellow sophomore Ferenc Kovacs will make his NCAA Outdoor Championships debut next month in the men’s 1500m.

An All-America First Team selection in the outdoor men’s high jump during his inaugural collegiate campaign in 2024, Alofe will head back to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for a second-straight season. In Jacksonville, Alofe showed perseverance at each height. After leaping over the bar at 2.05m (6’8.75″) on his second attempt, Alofe cleared both 2.10m (6’10.75″) and 2.15m (7′.5″) on his first attempts. Alofe missed his first two jumps at 2.18m (7’1.75″) but punched his ticket to Hayward Field by clearing the bar on his third and final try, finishing in a tied for third in the first flight.

The men’s 1500m saw another Crimson qualify for the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Featuring in the second heat, Kovacs orchestrated a stellar run, posting a split of 45.06 in the opening 300m and closing out the race with a 52.97 over the last lap. The school record holder in the 1500m, Kovacs finished in third in the second heat with a time of 3:44.54 to automatically qualify for the 1500m semifinals in Eugene.

Racing in the third and final heat, Harvard’s men’s 4x100m relay squad went toe-to-toe with the some of the nation’s top teams, as sophomore Timi Esan, junior Jonas Clarke and first-years Jordan Coleman and Harlow Tong combined for a time of 39.43, finishing in 15^th place.

In the men’s 3000m steeplechase, first-year William Brunner made his NCAA East First Round debut. A native of Vail, Colorado, Brunner navigated the obstacles to a time of 9:03.27, finishing in 29^th place.

Harvard wrapped the action on the track with two participants in the men’s 5000m. Finishing in 21^st place, sophomore Charlie Ortmans posted a time of 14:19.81. A qualifier in the men’s 10,000m, junior Shane Brosnan took 37^th after crossing the finish line in 14:43.96.

After action was suspended yesterday due to severe weather in the Jacksonville area, senior Anastasia Retsa concluded her time in the Sunshine State in the women’s pole vault. A native of Athens, Greece, Retsa finished in 15^th after clearing 4.09m (13’5″) on her second attempt.

UP NEXT:

Harvard concludes its time at the 2025 NCAA East First Round tomorrow, as the Crimson will feature in six events on the final day of action in Jacksonville.

For complete coverage of Harvard Track & Field, follow us on Twitter (@HarvardTFXC) and Instagram (@harvardtfxc).

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NHL Playoffs 2025: Stanley Cup Final schedule, bracket, scores, as Oilers meet Panthers in rematch

The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will meet in a Stanley Cup rematch. On Thursday night, the Oilers finished off the Western Conference Final with a 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 5. Even though the Stars were the team with their backs against the wall, the Oilers were the more desperate squad […]

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4 hours ago

May 31, 2025

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The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will meet in a Stanley Cup rematch. On Thursday night, the Oilers finished off the Western Conference Final with a 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 5.

Even though the Stars were the team with their backs against the wall, the Oilers were the more desperate squad from the opening puck drop. Corey Perry scored a power play goal just 2:31 into the game, and Edmonton was off and running. Not long after Perry broke the ice, Mattias Janmark scored on a breakaway thanks to an ill-timed line change by the Stars.

That goal, the second on as many shots for Edmonton, was enough for Dallas coach Pete DeBoer to give goaltender Jake Oettinger the hook.

Casey Smith replaced Oettinger, and he promptly surrendered the first playoff goal of Jeff Skinner’s 15-year career, which gave the Oilers a 3-0 lead in the first period.

Dallas managed to claw its way back and get the score to 3-2, but that’s when Connor McDavid threw on his cape. After a blocked shot flew out of the Oilers’ zone and toward center ice, McDavid kicked on the jets to beat Roope Hintz to the loose puck and deke out DeSmith on the breakaway.

McDavid finished the game with a goal and an assist, and he was at his best in this series-clinching matchup. His running mate, Leon Draisaitl, also notched a couple points in the form of two assists.

Additionally, Perry’s first-period tally was his seventh of the playoffs, which set a record for the most by any player over the age of 39. Perry has given the Oilers valuable depth scoring thanks to his presence around the crease.

Now that they’re through to the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers will get a familiar foe. The Panthers just dispatched the Carolina Hurricanes with ease and are looking to repeat as Cup champs. Edmonton overcame a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7 in 2024, but can it finish the job this time around?

For the complete schedule and results for the Stanley Cup Final, follow along right here at CBS Sports.

Stanley Cup Final

Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers

Western Conference Final

(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers

Eastern Conference Final

(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Florida Panthers

Round 2

(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes

(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars

(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers

Round 1

(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators

(2)Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Florida Panthers

(1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens

(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils

(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues

(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche

(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild

(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers

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College Sports

SEC adjusting its gymnastics tournament | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Let us read it for you. Listen now. Your browser does not support the audio element. MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — The 2025 gymnastics season was the first in which the SEC had nine teams, but only eight qualified for the conference championship meet. Arkansas was the odd team out after finishing ninth in the conference […]

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9 hours ago

May 31, 2025

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MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — The 2025 gymnastics season was the first in which the SEC had nine teams, but only eight qualified for the conference championship meet.

Arkansas was the odd team out after finishing ninth in the conference by National Qualifying Score, calculated by taking a team’s top six overall scores — three of which must be away from home — then dropping the top score and averaging the remaining five.

It was the first time in the league’s history that every team did not participate at the conference championship meet, and it was the only conference in which that happened.

Beginning in 2026, however, all SEC gymnastics programs will compete.

“All nine will be invited,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said at the conclusion of the league’s spring meetings Thursday. “Noting just the high level of competition and the impact on some of the score opportunities, it’s important for all of us to compete together.”

The Razorbacks’ NQS was ninth in the league but 16th in the country, meaning a team that did not qualify for its conference tournament was still a national seed in the NCAA postseason.

Arkansas was the only team not competing during conference championship weekend, giving it one less opportunity than every other team to boost its NQS before the NCAA Championships.

The Razorbacks tried to add a meet at Oregon State, which held a final meet against Fisk University because it is the only member of the Pac-12, but the NCAA did not permit Arkansas to add the competition after a request and subsequent appeal.

For 2026 and beyond, there will be an afternoon session of competition with four teams and a night session with the remaining five. A bye rotation will presumably be used for the session with an odd number of teams.

Sankey also announced the league would begin exploring a neutral site to host the SEC softball tournament in 2027 and beyond.

Christina Long

Christina Long is the editor of Hawgs Illustrated magazine. She has previously covered Arkansas athletics for the Southwest Times Record and Clemson athletics for the Greenville (S.C.) News. Long is a member of the Association for Women in Sports Media, Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

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Dartmouth in a Strong Position After Day One of IRA National Championship

By: Justin Lafleur Story Links CAMDEN, N.J. – The Dartmouth men’s lightweight rowing team saw both its first and second varsity eights qualify for grand finals following strong heats on Friday at the IRA National Championship. The second varsity eight began the day, and the regatta, by placing […]

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11 hours ago

May 31, 2025

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By: Justin Lafleur

CAMDEN, N.J. – The Dartmouth men’s lightweight rowing team saw both its first and second varsity eights qualify for grand finals following strong heats on Friday at the IRA National Championship.

The second varsity eight began the day, and the regatta, by placing second in its heat with a time of 5:52.760. The Big Green only trailed Penn (5:49.120) and was less than one quarter of a second ahead of both Yale (5:52.940) and Georgetown (5:53.010) in a down-to-the-wire finish for top three and qualification into the grand final.

The varsity eight followed by also coming in second (5:42.910), just ahead of MIT (5:43.110) while beating Ivy League foes Yale (5:47.550) and Columbia (6:01.330). Dartmouth only trailed Harvard (5:39.840) and that was by barely over three seconds.

The varsity four came in ninth in its time trial with a time of 6:31.749 then came in fifth in the AB semifinals (6:54.490). The Big Green will compete in the B final on Saturday. Saturday’s B final is set for 2:40 p.m.

Meanwhile, the two eights will compete in grand finals Sunday, with the 2V set for 10:10 a.m. and varsity eight at 11:40.

Some scenes from day one of the IRA National Championship #GoBigGreen | #TheWoods pic.twitter.com/stfEkH0mg9

— Dartmouth Men’s Lightweight Rowing (@DartmouthLights) May 31, 2025

Complete Results

Varsity Eight
Heat 1
1. Harvard – 5:39.840
2. Dartmouth – 5:42.910
3. MIT – 5:43.110
4. Yale – 5:47.550
5. Columbia – 6:01.330

Second Varsity Eight
Heat 2
1. Penn – 5:49.120
2. Dartmouth – 5:52.760
3. Yale – 5:52.940
4. Georgetown – 5:53.010

Varsity Four
Time Trial
9. Dartmouth – 6:31.749
(out of 11 crews)

Semifinal
1. Penn – 6:26.010
2. Harvard – 6:28.550
3. Mercyhurst – 6:29.590
4. Princeton – 6:53.030
5. Dartmouth – 6:54.490

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Marian's Kattner will attend Lackawanna College – Times News Online

Published May 30. 2025 10:53AM Marian’s Maddie Kattner will continue her academic and athletic careers at Lackawanna College. Kattner will play soccer for the Falcons. Attending a signing ceremony at the school with Kattner were her parents Sheila and Jeff Kattner, Marian head of school Mike Brennan, sister Emma Kattner, and Marian Athletic Director Peter […]

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14 hours ago

May 31, 2025

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Marian's Kattner will attend Lackawanna College – Times News Online

Published May 30. 2025 10:53AM

Marian’s Maddie Kattner will continue her academic and athletic careers at Lackawanna College. Kattner will play soccer for the Falcons. Attending a signing ceremony at the school with Kattner were her parents Sheila and Jeff Kattner, Marian head of school Mike Brennan, sister Emma Kattner, and Marian Athletic Director Peter Sanfilippo. Kattner plans to major in sports management.

Marian’s Maddie Kattner (seated, center) will continue her academic and athletic careers at Lackawanna College. Kattner will play soccer for the Falcons. With Kattner are her parents Sheila and Jeff Kattner. In the back row, from left are Marian head of school Mike Brennan, sister Emma Kattner, and Marian Athletic Director Peter Sanfilippo. Kattner plans to major in sports management. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

College Sports

New soccer league coming to Snohomish County

Snohomish United is helping aspiring professional soccer players reach their dreams. SNOHOMISH, Wash. — Some of the best young soccer players are descending upon Snohomish County, forming Washington’s newest soccer team. All of them have one goal in mind. “I’d like to see if I can land myself in a professional soccer environment,” said Chase […]

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14 hours ago

May 31, 2025

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New soccer league coming to Snohomish County

Snohomish United is helping aspiring professional soccer players reach their dreams.

SNOHOMISH, Wash. — Some of the best young soccer players are descending upon Snohomish County, forming Washington’s newest soccer team.

All of them have one goal in mind.

“I’d like to see if I can land myself in a professional soccer environment,” said Chase Potter.

“In the long term, I want to play professional soccer,” said Sebastian Rangel.

Both are currently on the roster for Snohomish United. The team consists of some of the top college soccer players in the state.

They play in USL League Two. USL League Two is a developmental league for players looking to move from college into the pros.

Coach Anthony Sardon said the competition is top tier.

“A lot of these guys are gonna be drafted. Some will get drafted after this summer. We have a couple of MLS draftees on our roster already.”

Sebastian Rangel and Chase Potter both play for Gonzaga.

“Everyone here is dedicated to what they’re doing,” said Potter. “They’re obsessed with what they’re doing and it’s a great environment because that rubs off on you.”

“You’ve weeded out the people who are just playing for fun,” added Rangel. “These are people who all want to take that next step to play pro.”

Christian Soto was First Team All-PAC-12 and played for a national championship at the University of Washington.

“There’s a lot of talent. Goals are gonna be scored, plays are gonna be made,” he said.

Though players come from all over, the team is rooted in its Snohomish community.

“We are part of this community,” said Coach Sardon. “We want people from downtown to come down here and watch us play. Then go eat, go shop.”

Under the Snohomish United umbrella is TOPSoccer – a league for youth with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities.

“We build soccer skills, gross motor skills, but more than that they get to be part of a team,” said TOPSoccer organizer Linda Kautz.

USL League Two is hoping to bring a women’s team to Snohomish in the near future.

For now, the young men of Snohomish United pursue their professional soccer dreams. The team was already 4-0 as of May 30. They play their home opener June 1 at Stocker Fields in Snohomish.

“Our guys like to get the fans into it and get them pumped,” said Soto. “It’s exciting to watch.”