Zagreb, Croatia – June 14 – The USA Men’s Junior National Team lost their opener at the U20 Word Championship, falling 19-10 to Croatia earlier today. Ryder Dodd led the team in scoring with four goals while Charles Mills and Baxter Chelsom combined for eight saves in net. Team USA is back in the pool tomorrow as they continue group play with a meeting against Hungary at 11:30am et/8:30am pt. All matches are scheduled to stream live on the World Aquatics YouTube. Live statistics will be available for every match from MicroPlus Timing Services.

Croatia opened the scoring with a tally at the 5:22 mark but Dodd immediately tied the game on the next possession delivering on a penalty shot score. The two sides would trade goals until Croatia hit for two in a row to build a 4-2 edge with 1:39 to play. William Schneider kept Team USA afloat scoring two of the next three goals to make it a 5-4 game with less than a minute to go in the opening quarter. Croatia had the last word, scoring with :25 on the clock to build a two-goal lead going to the second quarter.

Team USA came out strong to open the second quarter as Peter Castillo hit on a power play followed by a Ryan Ohl goal in close for a 6-6 game roughly two minutes into the period. The lowest scoring quarter of the match stayed quiet on the offensive end until the 2:08 mark when the host country broke through with an extra man goal for a 7-6 lead. They added another power play goal a minute later to go in front 8-6 at halftime. 

Croatia took control of this match in the third, outscoring Team USA 6-1. They opened the period with three unanswered goals to increase their lead to five at 11-6. Dodd stopped the bleeding with a tally but Croatia went right back to work scoring three more goals in the quarter to go ahead 14-7 with one period left to play. Dodd hit on a penalty shot to make it 15-8 with 6:44 to play in the game but the United States would get no closer. Croatia added five goals in the fourth to surge to the nine-goal victory. 

Team USA went 4/11 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties while Croatia went 6/8 on power plays and 2/2 on penalties. 

Scoring – Stats

USA 10 (4, 2, 1, 3) R. Dodd 4, P. Castillo 2, W. Schneider 2, R. Ohl 1. B. Brinkema 1

CRO 19 (6, 2, 6, 5) A. Jerkovic 5, V. Pavlic 4,V. Toncinic 3, M. Susic 3, G. Burburan 2, A. Fajkovic 1, K. Dragosevic 1

Saves – USA – C. Mills 7, B. Chelsom 1 – CRO – M. Cubranic 8

6×5 – USA – 4/11 – CRO – 6/8

Penalties – USA – 2/2 – CRO – 2/2 

Alas Pilipinas on Saturday rose to no. 46 in the FIVB women’s world rankings.

Before the AVC Nations Cup, the women’s national volleyball team was at no. 56.

According to Asian Volleyball Confederation head and Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara, the past three years have shown that the program is working for the national team.

“The past three years was all upward for our national program in all disciplines—volleyball and beach—thanks to the support of our stakeholders,” Suzara said in a statement.

Last year, Alas claimed bronze in the AVC Challenge Cup, and now the Philippines has a chance for the gold medal in the same but rebranded tournament AVC Nations Cup.

“Last year, our best brought us to the bronze, and this time, it’s going to bring us to higher heights,” Alas Pilipinas team captain Jia De Guzman said. “So we’re just going to bring our best again—and no matter what, this is for the country.”

Alas will take on Vietnam in the finals on Saturday night.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News

All Times Eastern

Australian Rules Football
AFL Men’s — Round 14
Port Adelaide Power vs. Melbourne Demons — FS2, 1:08 a.m. (Sunday)
West Coast Eagles vs. Carlton Blues — Fox Soccer Plus, 4 a.m. (Sunday)

Basketball
Big3
Week 1, Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL
LA Riot vs. Miami 305/Detroit Amps vs. Chicago Triplets — CBS, 4 p.m.
Houston Rig Hands vs. DMV Trilogy/Boston Ball Hogs vs. Dallas Power — Vice, 6 p.m.

Big3 Pregame — CBS, 3 p.m.

Beach Volleyball
AVP League
Week 3, The Wayfair Arena, Miami, FL
Palm Beach Passion vs. Miami Mayhem: Women’s and Men’s Matches — The CW, 8 p.m.

CFL
Week 2
Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts — TSN1/CBS Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Saskatchewan Roughriders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — CTV/TSN1/TSN3/CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.

College Baseball
NCAA College World Series
Bracket 2, Charles Schwab Field Omaha, Omaha, NE
Announcers: Karl Ravech/Ben McDonald/Eduardo Pérez//Dani Wexelman
Murray State vs. UCLA — ESPN, 2 p.m.

Announcers: Mike Monaco/Chris Burke/Kyle Peterson//Kris Budden
LSU vs. Arkansas — ESPN, 7 p.m.

College Track & Field
Men’s
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Day 4, Hayward Field, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Women’s Track Finals — ESPN2, 9 p.m.

SEC Storied: Lolo Jones — ESPN2, 11:30 p.m.

CONCACAF Gold Cup
Group Stage
Group A, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Announcers — FS1: John Strong/Stu Holden
México vs. Dominican Republic — FS1//Univision/TUDN, 10 p.m.

Gold Cup 2025-From Islands to Icons — FS1, 9 p.m.

Announcers: Rob Stone/Landon Donovan/Maurice Edu/Alexi Lalas
CONCACAF Gold Cup Match Day — FS1, 9:30 p.m.

Dogs
2025 AKC Fastest Dogs USA — ESPN2, 1:30 p.m.

FIFA Club World Cup
Group Stage
Group A, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Announcers — TBS/DAZN: Luke Wileman/Brian Dunseth
Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami — TBS/DAZN//Univision/TUDN, 8 p.m.

Fútbol central — Univision/TUDN, 6:30 p.m.

Announcers: Lauren Jbara/Mo Adams/Juan Pablo Angel/Luis Garcia/Brad Guzman
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Pre-Match Show — TBS/DAZN, 7 p.m.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Post-Match Show — TBS/DAZN, 10 p.m.

Formula 1
FIA Formula One World Championship
Grand Prix du Canada, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Practice 3 — ESPN2, 12:25 p.m.
Qualifying — ESPN2, 3:55 p.m.

Golf
USGA
U.S. Open, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, PA
3rd Round
Host: Trey Wingo
U.S. Open All Access — Peacock, 7:30 a.m.

Host: Mike Tirico
Announcing Teams: Dan Hicks/Kevin Kisner//Terry Gannon/Brad Faxon//Mike Tirico/Notah Begay III//Steve Sands/Gary Koch//Rich Lerner/Curt Byrum//Tom Abbott/Arron Oberholser
Reporters: Curt Byrum/Smylie Kaufman/Jim “Bones” Mackay/Paige Mackenzie/Roger Maltbie/John Wood
Interviews: Cara Banks/Kira K. Dixon
Main Feed — Peacock, 10 a.m.
Main Feed — NBC/Peacock, noon

Live From the U.S. Open — Golf Channel, 8 a.m.
Live From the U.S. Open — Golf Channel, 8 p.m.

U.S. Open Golf Third Round In-Game LIVE Gameday — SportsGrid, 4 p.m.

LPGA Tour
Meijer LPGA Classic, Blythefield Country Club, Belmont, MI
3rd Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

Vernon’s Landon Currie is off to a strong start with Team Canada at the Volleyball Nations League 2025. 

Canada won the final two sets to stun Team Germany 3-2 in the opener of the worldwide tournament held in China Wednesday, June 11. 

The Canadians lost a tight first set 25-23 before taking the second set 25-19. Germany then secured the third set 25-21 to put themselves in a winning position. 

But Canada finished strong, winning the last two sets 25-23 and 15-11 to take the match. 

The showdown between the two countries had plenty of excitement and momentum swings. 

“In an absolute roller coaster of a battle, Canada kicked off their Volleyball Nations League 2025 campaign with a spectacular thriller win over Germany,” the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation said on social media Wednesday. 

Canada played Argentina on Thursday and the result was a reversal of their first game as they lost 3-2, with Argentina winning the last two sets 25-22 and 15-8. 

Currie is a libero for Team Canada, a key position that plays a defensive role and wears a different coloured jersey. Currie is wearing number 97 at the Nations League.

With one win in two games, Canada sits in eighth place out of 18 teams in the first round standings. In this preliminary phase, each team will play 12 matches across three competition weeks. The top eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals. 

Canada’s next game is against France on Saturday, June 14, at 1 p.m. PST. France has yet to win a game in the early goings of the tournament. 

Canada faces Bulgaria on Sunday at 3 p.m. Bulgaria is also winless so far. 

Team Canada finished in sixth place at the 2024 Nations League, their best-ever result at the tournament. 

As the fourth state to join the Union on January 2, 1788, Georgia takes its Independence Day celebrations seriously. On July 4th, residents of small towns across the Peach State let their collective hair down and throw some of the most memorable National Holidays in the South. For Georgians, the Fourth of July holds special significance as Revolutionary War history runs deep here, with significant battles fought and local signatories of the Declaration of Independence risking everything for liberty.

Today, this legacy is celebrated with colorful parades and firework displays, concerts and singalongs, and community gatherings that celebrate both national pride and local traditions. For residents and tourists alike, these small towns throw the kind of authentic American experiences that truly unite the nation.

Dahlonega

Located in North Georgia, Dahlonega is a mountain town that transforms into a hub of patriotism on July 4th when its Historic Square hosts one of the region’s most exciting Independence Day celebrations. The Dahlonega 4th of July Festival kicks off early, with the Firecracker 5K run starting at the Visitors Center at 8 a.m. sharp. This is followed by the Dahlonega Car Club Car Show on Courthouse Hill next to the Lumpkin County Administration Building.

Feeling peckish? Food trucks will be set up from noon onwards around Hancock Park, offering everything from delicious Georgia barbecue grub to traditional fair foods. Other highlights include a reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by the popular Patriotic Downtown Parade from the Lumpkin County Courthouse and around the town’s central square.

Traveling with children? They’ll have fun at the Kids Adventure Zone in Hancock Park with face painting, caricatures, and fun games to participate in, while as night falls, musicians take to the stage for free concerts. Afterwards, grab a spot at the University of North Georgia’s Drill Field for the event’s grand finale fireworks display.

You’ll also want to pop into the Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site in the old courthouse. Built in 1836, the interior of the building and its fascinating Gold Rush-era displays are worth seeing. Dahlonega General Store is also on the square and stocks patriotic merchandise and old-fashioned treats that are perfect for parade watching.

Helen

Famous for having rebranded itself as a Bavarian alpine village, Helen proves that folksy European architecture and American patriotism go hand-in-hand. Here, the fun centers around the field behind the Alpine Village Shoppes, where families spread blankets and set up chairs for optimal firework viewing.

Earlier in the day, you can tube down the Chattahoochee River, which runs directly through downtown Helen. Cool River Tubing and Helen Tubing offer full-service tubing trips, a refreshing way to beat the Georgia heat before evening festivities. Restaurants like Paul’s Steakhouse and Hofbrauhaus Helen offer outdoor seating with fireworks views, which kicks off between 9 and 9:30 p.m.

If you’re planning on staying a night or two, schedule time to explore Unicoi State Park. Just two miles from downtown, the park features a beach, a 53-acre lake, hiking trails through the mountains, and the pretty Anna Ruby Falls. The Hardman Farm State Historic Site is also worth seeing and offers free tours to military members and their families on July 4th. As for accommodations, a stay at the centrally located Castle Inn, a medieval-style hotel, places you next to the river and in the heart of the alpine village.

Madison

Known as Georgia’s Antebellum City, Madison brings plenty of Southern charm to its Independence Day festivities. These occur a day early with a free Independence Day Picnic and Concert on July 3rd at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center. From 5:30 to 9 p.m., families can bring picnics and blankets to enjoy a community gathering on the lawn, followed by a spectacular fireworks display put on by Morgan County Parks & Recreation. Pre-event activities, including face painting and bouncy inflatables, start at 6 p.m.

Celebrations continue on July 4th at the annual Fourth of July BBQ in nearby Bostwick, with free live music at the Rutledge Summer Concert Series. The celebrations conclude on July 5th with a Local Heroes celebration at Farmview Market’s Farmer’s Market, honoring law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, and military personnel with a free BBQ, live music, and plenty of local produce and artisan crafts for sale.

Be sure to spend time exploring Madison’s historic downtown. Featuring over 100 antebellum and Victorian-era homes, the Madison Historic District also includes architectural gems like Heritage Hall and Bonar Hall. Town Park, with its gazebo, serves as a gathering spot throughout the celebration. If you want to make a weekend of it, check out the rates at the James Madison Inn, a classy hotel located close to the celebrations, or the Brady Inn, a restored Victorian home turned bed and breakfast that’s just a short stroll from historic downtown Madison.

St. Marys

Georgia’s prettiest coastal town, St. Marys, celebrates its 55th annual Independence Day Festival with a variety of exciting events stretching throughout the day. Highlights of this family-oriented event include early morning runs, as well as a Kids Fun Run. Arts and crafts vendors will have set up in St. Mary’s Waterfront Park, where most of the day’s action takes place. The much-anticipated themed parade down Osborne Street starts at 10 a.m. and promises to be a highlight of the day with floats and costumed participants representing local organizations and businesses.

Music will also be a highlight, with concerts being held throughout the day at the St. Marys Waterfront Park Amphitheater. Quirky fun includes a watermelon eating contest as well as a seed spitting contest (it’s true!). Fireworks get started at 9:15 (ish), with one of the best viewing spots being aboard the Cumberland Queen II. This replica riverboat offers a special Independence Day cruise departing at 7:30 p.m. for those wanting to view fireworks from the water (and book early, as this epic cruise sells out fast).

Even if you miss the July Fourth fun in St. Marys, this picturesque town serves as the gateway to Cumberland Island National Seashore, accessible via ferry from the downtown dock. The town’s historic district is also fun to explore, with highlights including the Orange Hall Gilman Cultural Center and the St. Marys Submarine Museum. As for accommodations, Spencer House Inn, a restored 1872 Victorian-era hotel, sits three blocks from Waterfront Park and provides elegant accommodations with period furnishings.

Tybee Island

Located just a short drive away from the old port city of Savannah, Tybee Island (Georgia’s northernmost barrier island) saves its biggest celebration for Independence Day. The main event, the popular Tybee Island July 4th Fireworks, is slated for a 9:15 p.m. launch from the Tybee Island Pier. This stunning waterfront pyrotechnics display can be viewed from any of the island’s eastern beaches, making this one of the most accessible fireworks shows in the state.

Before the evening sky gets lit up, Tybee Island offers a full day of activities. The morning kicks off with a community bike parade at 10 a.m., starting and ending at Memorial Park. North Beach, near the Tybee Island Light Station & Museum, provides calm waters for families to enjoy, while the South Beach area offers more waves and beach volleyball courts perfect for an older crowd.

The Tybee Pier and Pavilion serves as celebration central, with the pavilion hosting bands and DJs throughout the day. Tybrisa Street’s bars and restaurants, such as The Crab Shack and Spanky’s Beachside, offer outdoor seating and live music throughout the day and night. Also fun, the Tybee Island Marine Science Center runs special programs, including kids’ sea camps and workshops.

For accommodations with views of Tybee Island’s July 4th fireworks, check for availability at DeSoto Beach Hotel, Tybee’s only full-service beachfront, popular for its coastal views and proximity to the pier. The Lighthouse Inn Bed & Breakfast, located in a 1910 beach house near the lighthouse, is another good bet and offers a more intimate setting close to North Beach activities; it even provides bicycles if you feel like joining the morning parade.

These five Georgia towns certainly prove that the best Fourth of July celebrations don’t require big-city budgets. From Dahlonega’s mountain backdrop to Tybee Island’s ocean views, each of these small communities adds a unique twist to America’s birthday party. Whether you prefer parades down historic main streets or pyrotechnics over the Atlantic Ocean, these Georgia towns deliver legendary Independence Day experiences.

Santa Fe Christian recently announced the return of alumni Graham Saber as head coach of the boys water polo team — a full circle moment for the former standout athlete whose journey began at SFC.

Saber’s SFC roots run deep. He was part of a gritty team that trained in backyard pools and laid the groundwork for one of the most legendary seasons in SFC water polo history. In his senior year, Saber led the Eagles to a 25-7 record and a historic playoff run in CIF’s top division, including a dramatic upset over #1-ranked La Jolla — a comeback still remembered in San Diego water polo circles. The Eagles fell just short in the CIF Final against perennial powerhouse The Bishop’s School, according to a news release.

That season, Saber rewrote the SFC record books, setting single-season marks in goals (160), assists (102), and steals (158). His performance earned him All-American honors, All-CIF First Team, Union-Tribune All-Academic Team, and North County Times Player of the Year.

Saber continued his collegiate career at Pepperdine University before transferring to UC San Diego, where he helped the Tritons capture their first conference title in five years. As a senior, he netted 83 goals — sixth-most in UCSD history — and was recognized as an ACWPC All-American, All-WWPA Tournament First Team, All-NCAA Tournament First Team, and WWPA Player of the Week. He finished the season with 16 hat tricks and scored multiple goals in 22 straight games.

Now back at SFC, Coach Saber brings not only elite playing experience and tactical acumen but also a mission-driven coaching philosophy.

“Coaching isn’t just about the scoreboard — though make no mistake, we’re here to compete. It’s about forging men of grit, discipline, and unshakable faith,” said Saber in the news release. “In a world desperate for strong, God-fearing leaders, we’re building warriors who play with fire, lead with integrity, and honor Christ in everything they do. That’s the mission.”

Also joining Saber on the pool deck is Jonny Haahr, his 2006 co-captain and the player who hit the game-winning shot in the legendary La Jolla upset. A multi-sport athlete and valedictorian of SFC’s Class of 2007, Haahr went on to attend Cornell University, where he competed in javelin and served as vice president of The Navigators Christian fellowship. He returns to SFC with a sharp mind, strong leadership roots, and a heart for mentoring the next generation.

“I was at the games where Coach Saber and Haahr shocked the county, and watching them play was supernatural and electric,” said SFC Athletic Director Doug Miller in the news release. “Our players and our community will rally around these SFC legends and I’m confident the excitement for this sport will explode. More importantly, these new coaches are also some of the most grounded Godly leaders of young men, and I’m committed to their success in that capacity as well.”