British Weight Lifting is thrilled to learn that Weightlifting will be included in the sport programme of the 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Malta.

This marks a celebratory return for the sport, having last been featured at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.

With over 1,150 athletes aged 14–18 expected to participate from across the Commonwealth Youth Games, the 2027 edition in Malta promises to be one of the most exciting yet. The sports programme includes athletics, para athletics, swimming and para swimming, water polo, netball, triathlon, sailing, squash—and, proudly, weightlifting.

Why This Matters to Weightlifting

• A welcome milestone: This marks the sport’s return after a 12 year gap.
• Pathway for youth athletes: The Commonwealth Youth Games has launched the careers of many past champions. Take Chris Murray, who earned his first international medal—a bronze—in the men’s 62kg category at Samoa 2015, before going on to become Commonwealth Games Champion in 2022.
• Spotlight on our next generation: The Malta platform will offer young UK weightlifters the invaluable experience of international competition in a multi-sport environment much like the stepping stones ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Weightlifting’s return to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Malta 2027 is a momentous and welcome development. 12 years on from Samoa 2015, this edition offers young British weightlifters a powerful launchpad and fans a chance to cheer on the stars of tomorrow on an international stage.

Chris Murray commented “I am so pleased to see Weightlifting back on the programme for the Commonwealth Youth Games. Opportunities like this offer young athletes an important international experience where they can build confidence for future competitions. I had a fantastic time competing at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa and look forward to other athletes having the same experience in Malta.”

Chris Murray with his Bronze medal, Samoa Commonwealth Youth Games 2015

Chris Murray with his Gold medal, Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022

Marcell Ozuna’s sacrifice fly drove in Matt Olson with the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as the visiting Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-11 on Thursday night in a wild game in Cincinnati.

After the Braves scored eight runs in the top of the eighth, the Reds followed with eight runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. It was just the third time in major league history that both teams scored eight-plus runs in the same frame, per Elias Sports Bureau.

Pierce Johnson (2-3) didn’t surrender any hits in the ninth to collect the win, and Raisel Iglesias was perfect in the 10th to earn his 13th save in 18 chances. Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies had four hits and two RBIs, and Ozuna contributed a single, three walks and three runs.

Ke’Bryan Hayes and Spencer Steer each had three-run home runs in the Reds’ eight-run eighth inning while Elly De La Cruz hit his first home run since June 23 in the third inning, snapping the longest homer drought of his career.

Yankees 7, Rays 4

Ben Rice hit a three-run homer in the second inning after Giancarlo Stanton blasted a two-run shot in the first as host New York raced out to a seven-run lead and recorded a victory over sliding Tampa Bay.

Yankees starter Marcus Stroman (3-2) allowed four runs on six hits in five innings. Jonathan Loaisiga converted his first save with a shutout ninth as New York won the last three games of the four-game series.

Brandon Lowe had two hits for the Rays, who have lost seven of eight. Ryan Pepiot (6-9) gave up seven runs on six hits in four innings.

Mariners 6, Rangers 0

Cal Raleigh hit his major-league-leading 42nd home run of the season and George Kirby pitched six strong innings as Seattle defeated visiting Texas in the opener of a four-game series.

Kirby (6-5) continued his mastery of the Rangers by allowing just three hits. In 10 career starts against Texas, Kirby is 8-0 with a 1.04 ERA. Rookie Cole Young hit a solo shot and a run-scoring triple for the Mariners.

Texas starter Kumar Rocker (4-5), who was 3-0 over his previous seven starts, gave up three runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

Coach Jhamal Diggs has spent the last two weeks growing the sport of volleyball in the state of Rhode Island.

The leader of the state championship boys program at Cranston East & girls program at La Salle Academy hosting a skills clinic the past two weeks in Providence.

Diggs hopes teaching these youngers players (grades six through eight) will help provide another option for a high school sport to play.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (July 31, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s U23 National Team played another close first set before dominating the final two sets in a 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-13) win over Belize to close out pool play at the 2025 NORCECA Men’s U23 Pan American Cup on Thursday in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The U.S. finished second in its pool with a 2-1 record and moves on to the quarterfinals tomorrow, Friday, July 31, where they will play Costa Rica at 6 p.m. PT.

Scoring: Ryan Barnett (15 points), Wesley Smith (10), Cam Thorne (7), George Bruening (7), Jalen Phillips (6), Nathan Flayter (4), Patrick Rogers (2) and Ryan McElligott (1).

Belize led 8-5 in the first set but neither team led by more than two the rest of the set after the U.S. scored the next two points. Belize led 21-19 before committing two consecutive hitting errors. Trailing 22-21, the U.S. scored three points in a row to bring set point on a Ryan Barnett kill, Nathan Flayter block and Jalen Phillips kill.

Belize fought off two set points before a service error gave the U.S. its third set point. A strong serve by Flayter caused an overpass that Thorne scored on to end the set. Barnett scored five points on four kills and a block, and Cam Thorne (two kills, two blocks) and Wesley Smith (three kills and one block) each contributed four points.

Leading 8-7 in the second set, a Phillips kill and Smith ace started the U.S. on an 8-3 run capped on a Phillips kill off an overpass after a Thorne serve to take a 16-10 lead. A Barnett kill extended the lead to seven, 19-12. Belize scored the next point, which was followed by a 14-minute delay that eventually led the teams to warm up again. The U.S. scored four of the first five points when play finally resumed to take control.

The U.S. ran out to a 7-2 lead in the third set. A Thorne swipe kill pushed the lead to seven points, 14-7. Thorne’s block increased the lead to eight points, 17-9, and a Barnett ace put the U.S. ahead by double digits, 19-9. Outside hitter Patrick Rogers scored the final two U.S. points on back row attacks.

USA Volleyball Men’s U23 Roster for Pan Am Cup

Name (Pos., Height, Hometown, College/Pro, Region)

1 Ryan Merk (L, 6-1, 2003, Chicago, Ill., Penn State, Great Lakes)
4 Nathan Flayter (S, 6-4, 2005, Hales Corner, Wisc., McKendree, Badger)
5 Cam Thorne (MB, 6-4, 2004, Hollywood, Fla., UCLA, Florida)
6 Ryan Barnett (OH, 6-5, 2003, Vero Beach, Fla., Pepperdine, Florida)
8 Jalen Phillips (OPP, 6-5, 2004, Anaheim, Calif., CSUN, Southern California)
9 Ryan McElligott (S, 6-6, 2004, Mundelein, Ill., Loyola Chicago, Great Lakes)
14 Nicodemus Meyer (MB, 6-4, 2003, Franklin, Wisc., Loyola Chicago, Badger)
18 Patrick Rogers (OH, 6-7, 2004, Rutherford, N.J., Ball State, Garden Empire)
19 George Bruening (OPP, 6-10, 2004, Newport Beach, Calif., UCSB, Southern California)
21 Wesley Smith (MB, 6-11, 2004, Encinitas, Calif., USC, Southern California)
22 Owen Rose (MB, 6-8, 2003, Merrick, N.Y., Penn State, Garden Empire)
25 Theo Snoey (OH/OPP, 6-8, 2004, Berkeley, Calif., Stanford, Northern California)

Alternates
2 Donovan Constable (S, 6-2, 2003, Clovis, Calif., CSUN, Northern California)
7 Andrew Deardorff (OH, 6-5, 2003, Itasca, Ill., St. Francis, Great Lakes)
10 Paul Wyszynski (L, 6-0, 2003, Northbrook, Ill.,  Miedzyrzeckie Towarzystwo Siatkarskie, Great Lakes)
13 D’Aaron McCraney (MB, 6-9, 2003, Las Vegas, Nev., McKendree, Southern California)
16 Nyherowo Omene (OPP, 6-7, 2003, Chicago, Ill., Princeton, Great Lakes)
17 Trent Moser (OH, 6-8, 2003, Gilbert, Ariz., BYU, Arizona)
23 Alex Rottman (OH, 6-7, 2004, Santa Barbara, Calif., Stanford, Southern California)

Coaches
Head Coach: Nickie Sanlin (McKendree)
Assistant Coach: Reid Priddy (Indoor VC, Olympian)
Assistant Coach: Luke Reynolds (Pepperdine)
Performance Analyst: Mackenna Basore (Auburn)
ATC: Claire Pointer (LOVB Madison)
Team Lead: Will Berdecia (OTVA)

Schedule

All times Pacific

July 29: Dominican Republic def. USA, 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 31-29, 25-16)
July 30: USA def. Mexico, 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 25-27, 25-23)
July 31: USA def. Belize, 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-13)
Aug. 1: Quarterfinals: USA vs. Costa Rica, 6 p.m.
Aug. 2: Semifinals/Classification Matches
Aug. 3: Medal Matches/Classification Matches

EUGENE, Ore. – For Eric Holt (Class of 2018) and Emily Mackay (Class of 2021), it’s one race down and one to go at the USTFA Outdoor National Meet. The Bearcat alums each advanced to the finals of the 1,500 with strong showings during Thursday’s first round at Hayward Field.  

Holt was second in his heat and third overall in the men’s 1,500 first round. He clocked a personal-best time of 3:32.95 in the second of three heats. Yared Nuguse won the heat with a time of 3:32.66. The top overall time of 3:32.57 was turned in by Cole Hocker in the third heat.

The top three finishers in each heat – plus the next three fastest times – advanced to the finals, which take place on Saturday at 5:14 p.m. EST and will air live on NBC.

There were 34 total finishers across the three heats in the men’s 1,500 first round

Mackay, meanwhile, was the top overall finisher in the first round of the women’s 1,500. She won the third and final heat with a time of 4:04.23. The four fastest times of the opening round all came out of Mackay’s heat.

The women’s 1,500 final is set for Saturday at 5:03 p.m. EST – also on NBC.

There were 34 combined finishers in the three heats of the women’s 1,500 first round.

Also representing Binghamton on Saturday will be recent graduate Marcus Johnson. His first-round 400 hurdle race is set for Saturday at 4:41 p.m. EST.

 

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson announced today that IU Athletics will welcome six new members to its Athletics Hall of Fame. The six individuals comprise the 40th class, bringing the roster of inductees to 261.
 
Meradith Dickensheets (Rowing, 2012-15), Angel Escobedo (Wrestling, 2007-10), Mel Groomes (Football, 1944-47), Peggy Martin (Field Hockey/Women’s Basketball/Softball, 1969-72), Glenn Terry (Men’s Track and Field, 1990-93) and Cody Zeller (Men’s Basketball, 2012-13) will be officially inducted at the annual Hall of Fame dinner on Sept. 5, and will be recognized at halftime of the Indiana-Kennesaw State  football game at Memorial Stadium the following day. 
 
In addition to those six 2025 inductees, Kyle Schwarber (Baseball, 2012-14) was also selected for inclusion in the IU Athletics Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Due to the requirement that all living Hall of Fame inductees attend the ceremonies, Schwarber has deferred his induction this year and will be officially welcomed to the Hall of Fame in a future year when his Major League Baseball schedule permits him to return to Bloomington for the Hall of Fame festivities.
 
“Indiana University has a rich history of success in a wide variety of sports, which is highlighted in this year’s Hall of Fame class that touches on eight of our programs and includes representation from six different decades,” Dolson said. “We are excited to welcome these six individuals to the Hall of Fame and congratulate them and their families on this well-deserved honor. We continue to have an abundance of highly-qualified candidates to consider each year, which goes to highlight the extraordinary achievements of these six and their impact on our department, their sports, and Indiana University.”
 
The IU Athletics Hall of Fame, established in 1982 by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics in conjunction with the Varsity Club and the I-Association, recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the prestige of IU both on and off the field of competition.
 

 
Meradith Dickensheets (Rowing, 2012-15)
 
The most accomplished student-athlete in the 25-year history of the IU Rowing program, Dickensheets was a two-time First-Team All-American in 2014 and 2015 as well as a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten honoree those same two seasons. She accomplished all of that after joining the program in 2012 as a freshman walk-on with no previous rowing experience. But she quickly blossomed under the tutelage of Coach Steve Peterson, and ultimately guided IU Rowing to its first two NCAA Championship berths in 2014 and 2015, including program-best 11^th place NCAA team finishes both years. She is the first IU Rower to be inducted into the IU Athletics Hall of Fame.
 

Angel Escobedo (Wrestling, 2007-10)
 
Escobedo is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in IU history. During his four years competing for the Cream and Crimson, the Gary, Ind., native won an NCAA title at 125 pounds as a sophomore to go along with three Big Ten titles from 2008-10. In addition to his 2008 NCAA title, he also placed fourth at NCAAs as freshman, fifth as a junior, and third as a senior, making him the program’s only four-time All-American. He compiled a 137-14 career record, and he still ranks second in program history in wins and third in pins (42). After graduation he competed internationally with Team USA, and earned a fifth-place finish at the 2013 World Championships and a second-place finish at the 2015 Pam Am Games. He continues to make an enormous impact on the IU Wrestling program as its head coach, and he’s preparing to begin his eighth year in charge. He’s overseen the steady improvement of the program each year, highlighted by last season’s 24^th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
 

Mel Groomes (Football, 1944-47)
 

Groomes was a mainstay in the IU offensive backfield from 1945-47, where he lined up next to fellow IU Athletics Hall of Fame member George Taliaferro. Groomes was the leading receiver on IU’s undefeated 1945 Big Ten Championship team as well as on the 1946 squad, and earned All-Big Ten honors in both football and track and field.  After graduating from IU in the spring of 1948, Groomes was signed to an NFL contract by the Detroit Lions, who had recently lured Groomes’ IU coach – Bo McMillin – away from Bloomington to take over as the head coach of their franchise. Groomes played in the Lions’ 1948 season opener on Sept. 22, 1948, and in doing so became the first Black player in Lions’ history and the first Black player from IU to play in the NFL. After injuries ended his playing career, Groomes spent four years in the Air Force before turning to the coaching profession – in baseball. His baseball head coaching career was highlighted by a 31-year stint at North Carolina A&T from 1956-87 where he won 463 career games. Groomes passed away in 1997 at the age of 70. 
 

Dr. Peggy Martin (Field Hockey, Women’s Basketball, Softball, 1969-72)
 
A pioneer student-athlete at Indiana University, Martin was a three-sport standout as an undergraduate from 1969-72. Most notably, she was the captain of the IU Women’s Basketball team that earned three consecutive trips to the AIAW Tournament during her playing career. In addition, Martin earned three letters as a member of the IU Field Hockey program and four as a member of the softball team. After graduating from IU in 1972 and later earning her Ph.D. from IU in Physical Education, Martin went on to enjoy a Hall of Fame coaching career in another sport – Volleyball. Martin compiled a 1,064-281-8 record in 33 years as a head volleyball coach at Central Missouri, making her the winningest Volleyball coach in NCAA Division II history. She led the program to 19 straight conference titles from 1982-2000, and was the Division II National Coach of the Year in 1987 after leading the program to a runner-up NCAA finish. She’s spent the last 15 years as the head volleyball coach at Division II Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala.,  where she has gone 424-96 overall and a remarkable 233-9 in conference games. Her teams have won the last six conference regular season and postseason championships, and entering the 2025 season, her teams had not lost a regular season conference game in 10 years. She will enter her 49^th season as a head coach this fall with a 1,488-377-8 career record, giving her the most victories of any coach at any NCAA level.  Martin has won 28 Coach of the Year awards overall and was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2009.
 

Kyle Schwarber (Baseball, 2012-14)
 
Arguably the most accomplished college and professional baseball player IU history, Kyle Schwarber was a two-time First-Team All-American during his three years in Bloomington. He concluded his IU career among the program’s all-time leaders in slugging (.607), home runs (40), hits (238), and runs (182) while batting .341 in 180 games. He was the anchor of an IU program that won two Big Ten regular and tournament titles during his three seasons and advanced to the 2013 College World Series for the first time in program history. In 2014 Schwarber was drafted fourth overall in the MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs and has gone on to tremendous successes during an 11-year (and counting) career that has included Chicago (2015-20), Washington (2021), Boston (2021), and Philadelphia (2022-present). His teams have advanced to the playoffs nine times, highlighted by the Cubs’ 2016 World Series Championship. As of July 16, 2025, he has 313 career home runs, including an NL-best 46 home runs in 2022. He’s also a three-time All-Star (2021, 2022, and 2025) and was named MVP of the 2025 game after hitting three home runs in an extra-inning ‘Swing Off’ that earned the National League the victory after the teams were tied after nine innings.
 

Glenn Terry (Track and Field, 1990-93)
 
After arriving in Bloomington in the fall of 1989 as one of the most celebrated high school track athletes in the country, Terry more than lived up to those lofty expectations during his four years with the Hoosiers. As an IU senior in 1993, the Cincinnati, Ohio, native captured a pair of individual NCAA titles, winning the 55-meter hurdles indoor title and the 110-meter hurdles outdoor crown. He also had two other top-three finishes at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 55-meter hurdles during his career, was a five-time All-American, and a six-time Big Ten individual event champion. In addition to his individual success, he helped Coach Sam Bell’s program to an extended run of excellence from a team standpoint. During Terry’s four seasons IU Track and Field won five Big Ten team titles (three indoor, two outdoor) and had seven top-20 team finishes at the NCAA Championships.
 

Cody Zeller (Men’s Basketball, 2012-13)
 
While the Washington, Ind., native spent just two seasons in Bloomington before departing for the NBA as a first-round draft pick, few players in the history of the IU Basketball program have made as big of an impact as Zeller did during his time on campus. The IU program went a combined 22-41 in the two years before his arrival in 2011, but a remarkable 56-16 during his two years in an IU uniform. During his debut season in 2011-12, Zeller earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors after leading IU in scoring (15.6) and rebounding (6.6) and helping IU to a 27-9 record. IU also earned its first NCAA Tourney invitation in four years and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in a decade. Zeller’s follow-up performance as a sophomore was even better. He earned second-team All-America honors, averaged team-bests of 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds and helped lead IU to its first Big Ten title in 11 years, its first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 20 years, and a second-straight Sweet 16 appearance. At season’s end, Zeller was selected with the fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft by Charlotte. He spent 12 years in the NBA with five different franchises and averaged 7.9 points/game during his career.
 
For more information about Hall of Fame Dinner tickets contact the IU Varsity Club at varsity@iu.edu or 812.855.0866.