Sports

Money, branding redefine college sports for student

Kris Trinidad plays defensive end for Old Dominion University’s Division I football team, where he tallied 45 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season. He’s also building his brand thanks to new laws that allow student-athletes to ink endorsement deals and get paid by the university. “I feel like it’s teaching young guys how to be […]

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4 weeks ago

May 1, 2025

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Money, branding redefine college sports for student

“I feel like it’s teaching young guys how to be more marketable and prepare themselves for their future,” Trinidad said. “It gives them opportunities to express their true selves amongst the community.”

Trinidad is part of the growing class of student-athletes learning to navigate a new world of college athletics, one where player statistics, social media presence and sponsorship potential increasingly all matter.

The Rise of the Student-Athlete

The NCAA has allowed student-athletes since 2021 to profit from their name, image and likeness, or NIL.

The financial shift and its impact on college athletics have been dramatic. College athletes went from landing full scholarships and cost-of-living expenses to earning an estimated $917 million in the first year NIL was enacted, according to Icon Source.

Rayquan Smith

New legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2024 opened the door for direct payments from schools. This shift is backed by a legal settlement known as House v. NCAA, which will permit schools to allocate up to $20 million annually to pay student-athletes. The case argued current, and even former student-athletes deserve a share of revenue generated by television deals, licensing agreements and even ticket sales. It recently received conditional approval from NCAA governance. Virginia Commonwealth University student-athletes will be paid starting in the 2025-2026 year, with a projected $5 million allocation, according to CBS6 News.

The biggest NIL sums still go to marquee names. First-year Duke University power forward Cooper Flagg has a NIL valuation upwards of $4 million, according to 107.5 The Fan sports website.

However, players of all levels can find opportunities to build their brands. Former Virginia State University running back Rayquan Smith was dubbed “King of NIL” for receiving over 100 NIL deals, according to The Virginia Statesman.

Not Amateurism Anymore

Brendan Dwyer, a professor at VCU’s Center for Sports Leadership, said the current NIL model is not sustainable for athletic departments.

Brendan Dwyer

“If all of a sudden they have to go out and find money through NIL to pay their athletes, it comes at the expense of so many other things for the athletic department,” Dwyer said.

Dwyer thinks schools are heading toward a professional model, and schools and athletes should be prepared. Although it might create other issues, employing athletes could be a solution.

“If you take a step back and you watch what happens on a Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, or you watch what happened last weekend in San Antonio, those aren’t amateur sports,” Dwyer said. “That’s professionalism.”

Community, Coaches and the Changing Game

Coaches also are evolving in the new era. VCU recently hired Phil Martelli Jr. as its new head coach and he is stepping into the role at a transformative time. Martelli led Bryant University to an America East title and its first NCAA Tournament appearance in March.

“The revenue sharing and NIL stuff is not going anywhere,” Martelli said. “It’s become a major part of this, the transfer portals become a major part of this for everybody, at every level.”

Coaches need resources to get recruits to campus. In most cases, athletes are straightforward in what they’re looking for when choosing which universities to attend, according to Martelli.

“Then it’s up to us to decide what that looks like,” Martelli said. “Is that worth it, is it not worth it?”

Martelli would like to see multi-year contracts for athletes.

There would then be the potential for contract buyouts within college athletics, similar to professional sports. Both parties can negotiate the terms and lengths of the contracts and try to find common ground.

“But right now if you go year-to-year, to have guys jumping in the transfer portal and shopping around, it isn’t the best for everybody,” Martelli said.

Former University of Virginia basketball Coach Tony Bennett unexpectedly retired in 2024, saying he no longer felt he was the best coach to lead the program in the current environment.

Bennett, who guided UVA to the 2019 national championship, said NIL deals, along with the transfer portal, added aspects to his role that weren’t his strong suit.

“The game and college athletics is not in a healthy spot,” Bennett said. “There needs to be change.”

Community is also impacted when student-athletes solely chase money, said Ben Rekosh, a VCU broadcast student and sports commentator. College sports used to be built on the idea of student-athletes being integral to their community, by contributing to what makes their school and fan base great for three to four years.

“I think that it affects the community a lot,” Rekosh said. “There’s not really players anymore that people are able to to tie their hearts with and have a true connection with, if people are just jumping back and forth.”

Still, he understands why it could be in the best interest of athletes at their peak to move around and maximize their earnings.

One perk of NIL deals is that more college athletes are staying in school instead of going professional immediately, according to ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas. They can continue their education while earning money, versus being pushed toward the pay-to-play professional route.

Top college players may earn more money and playing time than they would as rookies in the pros and would have more experience going into a draft.

New Kind Of Athlete

Athletes are not just a part of the university’s brand – they also have a personal business.

Thai Wilson, sports editor for VCU student-run paper The Commonwealth Times, said fans increasingly follow players, not just programs.

“You remember 2008 Florida winning the March Madness, or VCU making it to the Final Four in 2011,” Wilson said. “People don’t remember the players that played on those teams who made it all the way unless they were either a big name who made it to the NBA, or if it’s just a very memorable run.”

Wilson pointed to top recruit AJ Dybansta’s decision to go to Brigham Young University, a school not known for getting high-profile signees, as an example of how NIL has shifted power dynamics. That can benefit students and give them a better chance to negotiate for what they want.

“NIL’s landscape is starting to kind of open up doors for other programs to get higher recruits if they’re willing to pay for it,” Wilson said.

Risks And Reality

Student-athletes now have new opportunities, but with that comes risk. Especially for younger athletes still learning financial basics. For Trinidad, the key is using NIL to build the athlete experience.

Although NIL deals may give students more power, Trinidad worries some could be exploited by marketing agents or contract deals that they don’t understand.

“Because these guys — they’ll come in, make you a contract, and take 10% of your money,” Trinidad said. “It’s something young guys need to be wary of.”

He thinks high school athletics should start talking about brand building, contract literacy and financial management.

NIL deals are relatively new, with many rules in place around compensation and endorsement. Virginia law restricts athletes from NIL compensation from alcohol, cannabis and sports gambling, to name a few.

If the laws change and there is less regulation, there is a chance athletes could be taken advantage of.

“It gives you power, but power in the wrong hands can be bad,” Trinidad said.

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USA Swimming Releases Psych Sheets For 2025 National Championships

2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Tuesday, June 3 – Saturday, June 7, 2025 Indianapolis, Indiana Indiana University Natatorium LCM (50 meters) Meet Central On Wednesday evening, USA Swimming released the pre-scratch psych sheets for the 2025 U.S. National Championships, which serves as the sole selection meet to determine the U.S. rosters for the World Championships, World […]

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5 minutes ago

May 29, 2025

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2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tuesday, June 3 – Saturday, June 7, 2025
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indiana University Natatorium
LCM (50 meters)
Meet Central

On Wednesday evening, USA Swimming released the pre-scratch psych sheets for the 2025 U.S. National Championships, which serves as the sole selection meet to determine the U.S. rosters for the World Championships, World Junior Championships, and World University Games.

The meet begins on Tuesday, June 3, and concludes on Saturday, June 7. The competition will be held at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The biggest absence from the entry lists is Caeleb Dressel, the nine-time Olympic gold medalist who recently returned to competition at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series—his first meet since the Paris Olympics. While Dressel didn’t collect any individual medals in Paris, he still walked away with two relay golds.

In Fort Lauderdale, the Florida Gator posted times of 22.21 in the 50 freestyle and 23.32 in the 50 butterfly, placing 5th and 4th, respectively.

His absence is not too surprising, as he is expecting his second child in the coming weeks.

Dressel’s training partner, nine-time Olympic champion Katie Ledecky—the most decorated American female swimmer in history—is entered in her signature events: the 200, 400, 800, and 1500 free. At last year’s Trials, she won the 200 free but ultimately chose not to swim it individually at the Olympics.

She heads into this meet with huge momentum, fresh off a world record-setting 800 free (8:04.12) at the aforementioned Fort Lauderdale meet. That same event will open the competition on night one—and it’s sure to bring fireworks.

Virginia senior Gretchen Walsh, coming off two world record-setting 100 fly performances in Fort Lauderdale, is entered in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, and 100 fly. She is not entered in the 50 back, despite speculation from fans about her potential in the event.

Torri Huske, the reigning Olympic champion in the 100 fly, is entered in the 50, 100, and 200 free, 50 and 100 fly, and 200 IM. The 100 fly and 200 IM conflict at Worlds, and she faces a potential scheduling decision on the final day between the 50 free and 200 IM. If she secures a spot in the 100 fly, she is likely to focus on the 50 free. If she is upset by someone else for a Worlds spot in the 100 fly, possibly by Regan Smith, she would likely pursue the IM route instead.

Walsh’s training partner, Kate Douglass, the reigning Olympic champion in the 200 breast and two-time defending world champion in the 200 IM, is entered in seven events: the 50, 100, and 200 breast; 50 and 100 free; 50 fly; and 200 IM. She faces the same 200 IM/50 free double as Torri Huske on the final day. With no long course 200 IM appearances since the Olympics, a scratch from that event in favor of the 50 free appears likely.

Bob Bowman-trained Regan Smith, the world record holder in the 100 back, is entered in the 50, 100, and 200 back, as well as the 100 and 200 fly. She won silver in the 100 back, 200 back, and 200 fly at the Paris Olympics and enters the meet as the heavy favorite in those three events. She is also a co-favorite in the 50 back alongside NC State pro and 100 back Olympic bronze medalist Katharine Berkoff, who is entered in all three backstroke distances as well as the 50 and 100 free.

On the men’s side, Smith’s training partner Shaine Casas is entered in seven events, including his signature 200 IM, as well as the 50 and 100 back, 50 and 100 fly, and 100 and 200 free. Texas training mate Carson Foster will join him in the 200 IM and 200 free, and will also contest the 200 fly and 400 free, in addition to his best event—the 400 IM—where he won silver at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships before earning bronze in Paris.

Virginia’s Claire Curzan, a 2021 Olympian in the 100 fly and 2024 World champion in all three backstroke events, is dropping fly entirely and is entered in all backstroke distances, plus the 50 and 100 free.

Additionally, 100 breaststroke world record holder Lilly King is focusing solely on the sprint breast events, opting out of the 200 entirely. She is the third-fastest American ever in the 200 breast with her 2:19.92 from the 2021 Olympics, where she earned silver.

Questions remain about the finalized lineups of America’s most versatile swimmers, many of whom are way over-entered.

Below is a list of some of USA Swimming’s top stars’ entries. This list is not comprehensive.

Women:

Katie Ledecky — 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free
Kate Douglass — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Fly, 200 IM
Alex Walsh — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 200 IM
Torri Huske — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 IM
Claire Curzan — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 50 Free, 100 Free
Katie Grimes — 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM, 200 Fly, 200 Back
Gretchen Walsh — 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly
Regan Smith — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Fly, 200 Fly
Lilly King — 50 Breast, 100 Breast
Rylee Erisman — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 50 Back, 100 Back
Audrey Derivaux — 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 Back, 200 IM, 400 IM
Erin Gemmell — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 IM
Bella Sims — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 IM
Simone Manuel — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Fly
Jillian Cox — 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free
Leah Hayes — 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Emma Weber — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Katharine Berkoff — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 5o Free, 100 Free
Phoebe Bacon — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Fly, 200 IM
Skyler Smith — 50 Breast, 100 Breast
Leah Shackley — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 50 Free
Claire Weinstein — 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free
Alex Shackell — 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 Free, 200 IM
Anna Moesch — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
McKenzie Siroky — 50 Breast, 100 Breast
Rhyan White — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back
Emma Weyant — 200 Free, 400 Free, 400 IM

Men:

Shaine Casas — 50 Back, 100 Back, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 100 Free, 200 Free, 200 IM
Carson Foster — 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Fly
Kieran Smith — 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Back
Jack Alexy — 50 Free, 100 Free
Luke Hobson — 100 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free
Chris Guiliano — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
Michael Andrew — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 50 Back, 50 Free
Bobby Finke — 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM
Rex Maurer — 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 400 IM
Maximus Williamson — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Fly, 100 Back, 200 IM
David Johnston — 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM
Luka Mijatovic — 200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free, 400 IM
Brooks Curry — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
Destin Lasco — 100 Free, 200 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back, 200 IM
Matt King — 50 Free, 100 Free
Jack Aikins — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back
Aaron Shackell — 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 Fly
Jonny Kulow — 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Fly
Patrick Sammon — 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free
Campbell McKean — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 50 Fly, 200 IM
Nate Germonprez — 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 200 IM
Josh Matheny — 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Will Modglin — 50 Back, 100 Back, 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 IM
Thomas Heilman — 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 50 Free, 200 Free, 200 IM
Luca Urlando — 50 Fly, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 Free
Dare Rose — 50 Fly, 100 Fly
Quintin McCarty — 50 Back, 100 Back, 50 Free, 100 Free
Keaton Jones — 100 Back, 200 Back
Gabriel Jett — 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 Free
Ryan Held — 50 Free
Santo Condorelli — 50 Free

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Princeton University

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Greg Foster punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships while three other Tigers advanced to Friday’s quarterfinal events as the Tigers opened up competition at the NCAA East First Round in Jacksonville, Fla. On a rainy night following a six hour weather delay, Foster took fourth place with a jump of 7.64m/25-¾” […]

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19 minutes ago

May 29, 2025

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JACKSONVILLE, FLA. – Greg Foster punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships while three other Tigers advanced to Friday’s quarterfinal events as the Tigers opened up competition at the NCAA East First Round in Jacksonville, Fla.

On a rainy night following a six hour weather delay, Foster took fourth place with a jump of 7.64m/25-¾” to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. next month.

It will mark the first Outdoor NCAA Championship appearance for Foster, a five time Ivy League long jump champion and two-time indoor NCAA competitor.

Also embarking on the road to Eugene, Harrison Witt, Sam Rodman and Chris Paige all advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals after the first round of competition.

In the 1500m, Witt took first place in heat four with a time of 3:39.86 to automatically qualify for the next round. His time was second overall.

Similarly, in the 800m, Rodman won his heat with a mark of 1:47.28 to automatically qualify. The time put him at sixth in the overall standings and is less than 0.5 seconds off from his personal best.

Chris Paige set a new personal best in the 400m hurdles, clocking in at 50.61. Taking second place in heat four, Paige automatically qualified for the quarterfinals.

Also on night one, a pair of Tigers competed in the 10,000m as first-year Jacob Nenow and senior Nicholas Bendtsen finished 19th (29:39.35) and 22nd (29:40.22), respectively.

Asher Robbins took 21st in the hammer throw with a mark of 63.66m/208-10″. Joey Gant also finished in the top 30, clocking in at 46.65 in the 400.

Up Next

Princeton will pick up competition again on Friday, May 30th in Jacksonville. Friday will include quarterfinals of tonight’s track events, the 5000m, the 4×400 relay, and additional field event

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Rainbow Wahine volleyball team unveils 2025 schedule

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The University of Hawaii released the full official 2025 Schedule for the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team on Wednesday. Coming off of their fifth-straight Big West Championship, UH will play it’s final season in the Big West before moving to the Mountain West Conference. The ‘Bows play 29 matches, including 17 at home […]

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21 minutes ago

May 29, 2025

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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The University of Hawaii released the full official 2025 Schedule for the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team on Wednesday.

Coming off of their fifth-straight Big West Championship, UH will play it’s final season in the Big West before moving to the Mountain West Conference.

The ‘Bows play 29 matches, including 17 at home at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

First up, UH will host #21 Marquette in Manoa on August 29th, followed by Utah State and San Diego.

That is the start of an 8-match homestand, hosting the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic and the Outrigger Invitational.

They also play three games in California, against #5 Stanford, UCLA and Texas State before beginning Big West play.

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Badgers Boys Volleyball Completes Historic Season

The Berkshire Badgers boys volleyball team’s historic playoff run came to an end May 24 in the OHSAA Elite Eight at at Berkshire High School against the Nordonia Knights. Berkshire photos click here. The Berkshire Badgers boys volleyball team’s historic playoff run came to an end May 24 in the OHSAA Elite Eight at at […]

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37 minutes ago

May 29, 2025

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The Berkshire Badgers boys volleyball team’s historic playoff run came to an end May 24 in the OHSAA Elite Eight at at Berkshire High School against the Nordonia Knights.

Berkshire photos click here.

The Berkshire Badgers boys volleyball team’s historic playoff run came to an end May 24 in the OHSAA Elite Eight at at Berkshire High School against the Nordonia Knights.

In a 3-0 defeat, the Badgers gave great effort against a challenging opponent.

Afterwards, Berkshire Head Coach Tim Percic spoke about the great energy his players demonstrated.

“There were some amazing plays (by the Badgers), going all the way to the bleachers, all the way to the center line, digging the ball out of the weeds and putting them back into play,” Coach Percic said.

It was this effort, energy and intensity that the Badgers demonstrated against the Knights that led to an extremely successful season.

“Last year there was a lot of kinks and we had to work out a lot of wrinkles,” Coach Percic said. “It was awesome this year to see the guys just gel again and take it so much further than we ever imagined.

“Credit to our guys for putting in the work, (and) being resilient in tough games. They should be proud, 1,000 percent, of everything they’ve done.”

As the Badgers improved over the past two seasons, Coach Percic described main factors leading to success. One crucial element was the Badgers’ ability to get better at defending and covering the floor.

“It’s our ability to be aggressive on defense, to cover the floor, to not let the ball hit the floor,” Coach Percic said.

In improving court coverage, the Badgers demonstrated excellent teamwork.

“The players are greater than the sum of their parts, is the only way I can describe it,” he said.

Learning to be resilient was also influential for the 2025 Badgers. In gaining the grit to overcome adversity during tough situations, Coach Percic said the Badgers began to show their ability to get past “third set slumps.”

“(We began) to push through those points where we lagged a little,” Coach Percic said.

Along with improving their defensive coverage, working together as a team, and showing resilience, a main turning point this season was the Badgers’ loss to the Villa Angela-St Joseph (VASJ) Vikings on April 22.

“I think that was the moment we stood at the crossroads,” Coach Percic said. “We were either going to go and be this team or fade off into obscurity. And they rallied, and made it what it is.”

Coach Percic said that having team meetings and implementing new drills helped the team overcome the adversity they faced after losing to the Vikings.

During the April 22 match against the Vikings, Coach Percic also noticed his Badgers’ offense needed to be more aggressive by taking swings at free balls, rather than just moving the ball to the center of the court.

The Badgers watched a particular play from the fourth set against the Vikings. In this play, there was a long volley which the Vikings won by taking an aggressive swing at the end on a free ball.

Said Coach Percic: “We went up in the conference room and watched that play in slow motion, charted where all the balls went and said, ‘What would have been different if we were the one’s swinging?’”

This moment led to the Badgers strengthening their offensive attack throughout the remainder of the season.

After that 3-0 loss to the Vikings on April 22, the Badgers went 6-1 leading up to their Elite Eight matchup with the Knights.

As the Badgers made their playoff run, the things they improved throughout the season would be relied upon in their Sweet 16 Regional Semifinal matchup with the Vikings on May 20 at Berkshire High School.

In their rematch with the Vikings, Coach Percic emphasized that the Badgers’ improvement in covering the floor made a big difference in their 3-0 victory. He expressed that the Badgers seemed to have an answer every time the Vikings sent the ball over the net.

Also, the aggressiveness on the offensive attack and the ability to move the ball past the Vikings blockers was important in the Badgers victory.

“That was our weakness in the prior matchup with VASJ: we couldn’t get past their blocks,” Coach Percic said. “We were able to figure it out this time.”

Overall, Coach Percic succinctly summarized the season: “It was awesome. It was a storybook season.”

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A closer look at Thursday’s championship games – Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice

CLASS 3A 2-Abington Heights (14-4) vs. 1-Delaware Valley (10-3) When: Thursday, 5 p.m. Where: Scranton High School Tickets: Must be purchased online at https://piaad2.org/ticketbooth/. Select the sport, then select the championship doubleheader. How they got here: Abington Heights is the Lackawanna League champion. The Comets defeated No. 7 Hazleton Area, 3-1 (25-13, 21-25, 25-17, 25-20), […]

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54 minutes ago

May 29, 2025

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CLASS 3A

2-Abington Heights (14-4) vs. 1-Delaware Valley (10-3)

When: Thursday, 5 p.m.

Where: Scranton High School

Tickets: Must be purchased online at https://piaad2.org/ticketbooth/. Select the sport, then select the championship doubleheader.

How they got here: Abington Heights is the Lackawanna League champion. The Comets defeated No. 7 Hazleton Area, 3-1 (25-13, 21-25, 25-17, 25-20), and No. 3 Wilkes-Barre Area, 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-21, 28-26). Delaware Valley received a bye in the quarterfinal and defeated No. 4 Wyoming Valley West, 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-18) in the semifinals.

Up next: The winner plays again on June 3 against Bethlehem Freedom, the second-place team from District 11.

Players to watch:

Abington Heights — Shawn Theodore (179 kills); Shane Brower (142 kills); Nolan Moore (118 kills); Ryan Horutz (459 assists).

Delaware Valley — Luke Peereboom (155 kills); Gino Gualandi (151 kills); Chase Peereboom (41 kills); Eric Choi (400 assists).

Noteworthy: Delaware Valley has won the last two District 2 Class 3A championships and last season reached the PIAA quarterfinals. … Abington Heights won its first District 2 Class 3A championship in 2022. … Delaware Valley defeated Abington Heights in last season’s District 2 Class 3A semifinals. … Abington Heights has gone 4-2 in matches against Wyoming Valley Conference opponents. … Delaware Valley defeated Hazleton Area, 3-1, and Wilkes-Barre Area, 3-0, which were the playoff opponents for Abington Heights, in the WVC season.

CLASS 2A

2-Crestwood (14-3) vs. 1-Holy Redeemer (18-0)

When: Thursday, 30 minutes after the Class 3A match.

Where: Scranton High School

Tickets: Must be purchased online at https://piaad2.org/ticketbooth/. Select the sport, then select the championship doubleheader.

How they got here: Holy Redeemer is the Wyoming Valley Conference champion. The Royals defeated No. 8 Dallas, 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-11) and No. 4 Berwick, 3-0 (25-10, 25-11, 25-12) in the semifinals. Crestwood defeated No. 7 Valley View, 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-22), and No. 3 Western Wayne, 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-16, 15-11).

Up next: The winner plays again on June 3 against the third-place team from District 12. The runner-up plays on June 3 against District 11 champion Southern Lehigh (13-7).

Players to watch:

Crestwood — JJ Stec (364 kills); Thomas McLaughlin (241 kills); Mark Ferdinand (110 kills); Zach Koons (686 assists); Luke Joseph (368 digs).

Holy Redeemer — Josh Rocha (844 kills, 110 digs); Max Mohutsky (105 digs); Jack Wasiakowski (864 assists, 90 kills).

Noteworthy: Holy Redeemer is the fifth-ranked Class 2A team in the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association weekly poll. … Holy Redeemer has lost only one set during the regular season and playoffs. … Holy Redeemer’s last District 2 Class 2A championship came in 2021. … Holy Redeemer swept Crestwood, 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-11), in the WVC regular season. Josh Rocha had 37 kills and Jack Wasiakowski had 37 assists to lead the Royals. JJ Stec had 10 kills and Luke Joseph had 15 digs for Crestwood.

Originally Published: May 28, 2025 at 11:20 PM EDT

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Lakewood Celebrates Signing Day for Over 20 Student-Athletes – The562.org

The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013. With the school year winding down, the Lakewood Athletics department honored their seniors committed to playing at the next level on Tuesday in the auditorium. The event has grown since the first time Athletic Director Mike Wadley hosted the festivities. From three […]

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58 minutes ago

May 29, 2025

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The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.

With the school year winding down, the Lakewood Athletics department honored their seniors committed to playing at the next level on Tuesday in the auditorium.

The event has grown since the first time Athletic Director Mike Wadley hosted the festivities. From three athletes back in 2005, the Lancers celebrated more than 25 athletes that are continuing to play their sport in college. 21 of those athletes participated in Tuesday’s ceremony.

“It’s put out there for them,” Wadley said. “Really get them celebrated coming out here and the whole thing. It’s a combination of the kids working hard and then moving on.”

Among the seniors is Lala Hall, who will be continuing her volleyball career at Fresno State, following her sister Fatima and Keke who both play D1 ball.

The Lancers’ Cecil Xavier Smith, who had lightning speed on the football field, is heading to Detroit to play at Wayne State.

“Today is a great day,” Xavier Smith said. “I’m very thankful for everything my coaches put for me and my family. Today we’re going to celebrate it. I’m looking forward to it – to get out there in Detroit and ball. I’m ready to go now.”

Here’s a full list of Lakewood signees:

Lala Hall (volleyball, Fresno State), Emily Nanez (volleyball, LBCC), Jayla Nelson (volleyball, Cypress), Cecil Xavier Smith (football, Wayne State), Jaxson Bonsall (football, Lindenwood), Jojo Apisala (football, Cerritos), Khalea Pahulu (rugby, Lindenwood), Gabriel Rojas (cross country, LBSU), Esper Sanchez (wrestling, Missouri Valley), Nyemah King (basketball, Cal State Fullerton), Amy Rubio (basketball, LBCC), Drake Merrill (baseball, El Camino), Hunter Gershen (baseball, LBCC), Isabella Rueda (softball, Grand Canyon), Arianna Ayala (softball, LAHC), Ivan Mandujano (volleyball, LBCC), Christian Newquist (volleyball, LBCC), Amaya Rice (track, Cal State Northridge), Tinaya Campbell Howell (track, Cal State Dominguez), Mikkelson Francis Reyes (track, Cerritos), and Keyvel Sowell (track, LBCC).

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