MCBAIN — Most college student-athletes entering the NCAA’s transfer portal just change schools.

Ben Rodenbaugh changed schools and sports — before he even started college.

The recent McBain High School graduate, who was headed to Trine University for basketball, is now going to Grand Valley State University for track and field.

Specifically, the high jump.

The change came after Rodenbaugh put together a pretty darn special track and field season that included a state championship.

“With how my track season went where I started off breaking the school record, then I go to states and win and go out to Oregon and compete at Nike Nationals, I just thought why not go chase that at Grand Valley,” Rodenbaugh said.

“The biggest reason, though, was just the fact that it was closer than going to Indiana.”

Rodenbaugh re-broke McBain’s program record in the high jump with a leap of 6-feet, 10-inches at Highland Conference double-dual meet May 5 at Manton.

He duplicated that feat at the 53rd annual Cadillac News Meet on Memorial Day to set the meet record after sharing it in 2024 with former Marion standout Braden Prielipp — now jumping at Grand Valley, as well.

Rodenbaugh then took first with a leap of 6-9 at the MHSAA Division 3 State Finals Meet May 31 at Kent City High School.

He wrapped up his prep career with a jump of 6-6.25 at Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Ore., on June 22.

“With how track season went, it would have been a shame to never know what I could have done,” Rodenbaugh said. “With D3 basketball versus D2 track, I went with the track and field.

“I prefer basketball any day of the week but the money was definitely a part of it, too. Right before that meet at Manton, they sent a text to me and then we kept in touch after that.”

NCAA Division III schools — like Trine — can not give athletic scholarships but do often find ways to reduce tuition, fees, etc. through academic moneys.

Not playing college basketball will still be on Rodenbaugh’s mind.

“I will always have that wonder with basketball, seeing how fast I could transition to a collegiate player,” he said. “Trine won the national championship (in 2024) so they’ve got a great program, too.”

Rodenbaugh is headed to a program that has its own pedigree when it comes to championships, as well.

Grand Valley’s men have 18 GLIAC team titles overall and had 16 individual champions this past spring.

The Lakers took third overall at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships last month in Colorado.

When it comes to the high jump specifically, Grand Valley State’s Jaivon Harrison is a three-time NCAA D2 champion with a personal-best height of 7-5.

“Grand Valley pretty much runs the conference for track and they always compete at nationals,” Rodenbaugh said.

“I’m not just going to some random track program. I am going to a place that knows how to make athletes better.”

The seven-foot mark is Rodenbaugh’s mind, too.

“I am hoping my freshman year, I can break the seven-foot barrier,” he said. “I want to compete for national championships, too.”

Rodenbaugh will major in exercise science at Grand Valley with the plan of becoming a chiropractor.

Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne College volleyball team will open its third Division I season and first under the direction of head coach Fiona Cunningham at home on Friday, August 29, as the team’s schedule was released on Friday afternoon.
 
The 28-match schedule will feature 13 home contests, 11 road matches and four contests at neutral sites. The Dolphins will play 16 Northeast Conference matches and 12 non-conference affairs. New this year, the NEC schedule features one home and home series and a two-match home series against each of the other seven opponents.
 
The Dolphins will open the season by partnering with Syracuse University for the second straight year to host the Salt City Classic on August 29, 30 and 31. The Dolphins will host Rider University on Friday the 29th and Niagara University on Saturday the 30th. The Classic wraps up on Sunday the 31st as Syracuse hosts the Dolphins.
 
The following week, the Dolphins will head to Newark, Delaware for the University of Delaware’s Blue Hen Invitational. The Dolphins will take on Hampton University and Virginia Tech on Saturday, September 6 and then face the host Blue Hens on Sunday the 7th.

The Dolphins head to Annapolis, Maryland the following weekend for the Navy Invitational. They take on Gardner-Webb University on Friday the 12th and the host Mids on Saturday afternoon.

 

The team’s next three matches are in Syracuse against New York foes. They kick off the stretch at home against Canisius University on Wednesday the 17th. Two days later, they head across town to Syracuse University to take on St. John’s University as part of the Syracuse Invitational. The following day, they welcome Siena College to Ted Grant Court for their final non-conference home match of the season.

 

The Dolphins conclude non-conference play and September at Holy Cross on Tuesday the 30th.

 

The team opens October and Northeast Conference play with a home series against LIU on Friday the 3rd and Saturday the 4th. After heading to FDU on Wednesday the 8th, the Dolphins host defending NEC champion Chicago State University for the first time for Friday and Saturday matches.

 

The Dolphins then trek to Stonehill College for matches on the 17th and 18th.

They are home for their next three matches. The ‘Phins host Central Connecticut State on the 24th and 25th and then complete their season series with FDU on Wednesday the 29th.

 

The following weekend, they head to NEC newcomer the University of New Haven for matches on Halloween and November 1.

The Dolphins wrap up their home schedule by hosting Mercyhurst University on Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th.

 

They close out the regular season on the road at Saint Francis University on the 14th and 15th.

 

The Northeast Conference Championship will feature a four-team field and will be held on November 21 and 22 at the site of the highest seed.

 

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday introducing new financial restrictions and guidelines for college athletics, further reshaping the landscape following the House V. NCAA settlement approved in June.

The executive order, titled “Saving College Sports,” proclaims universities shouldn’t allow any of its athletes to receive “third party, pay-for-play payments,” and lays out guidelines for protecting athletic scholarships for non-revenue sports based on an athletic department’s annual earnings.

The order said an antitrust ruling in 2021 that allowed athletes to receive payments off their name, image and likeness (NIL) and the elimination of transfer restrictions “has created an out-of-control, rudderless system in which competing university donors engage in bidding wars for the best players.”

Trump cited that 65% of Team USA’s athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games were current or former NCAA athletes, while 75% were collegiate athletes, as partial reasoning for the order.

Scholarship guidelines

Athletic departments that earned more than $125 million in revenue during the 2024–25 athletic season should increase scholarship opportunities in non-revenue sports the following season and fill all roster spots permitted under collegiate athletic rules.

Meanwhile, athletic departments making more than $50 million in revenue during that same time frame should provide “at least as many” scholarship opportunities in non-revenue sports as they did in 2024–25.

Finally, any athletic departments making less than $50 million in revenue or those without revenue-generating sports should not disproportionately scale back scholarships or roster spots based on revenue.

Penn State falls into the first category, with its athletic department generating $220.7 million in revenue during the 2023–24 athletic year — a figure that could grow when the 2024–25 reports are released.

To comply with the order, Penn State must provide more scholarship opportunities than it did last year in non-revenue sports, while also providing the greatest number of roster spots allowed in non-revenue sports under NCAA rules.

Non-revenue sports at Penn State include tennis, gymnastics, fencing and track and field.

Paying players

There have been rumors of third parties, such as booster collectives (donors, alumni and other interested parties) paying student athletes, especially in football, large sums of money to attend certain universities.

Trump’s executive order works to amend that trend.

While the executive order describes such payments as “improper,” the ban doesn’t apply to any money paid to athletes for the fair market value of services they provide to third parties, like brand endorsements.

The executive order states that any revenue-sharing between universities and athletes must be designed to preserve or increase scholarships and opportunities for women’s and non-revenue sports.

“A national solution is urgently needed to prevent this situation from deteriorating beyond repair and to protect non-revenue sports, including many women’s sports, that comprise the backbone of intercollegiate athletics, drive American superiority at the Olympics and other international competitions, and catalyze hundreds of thousands of student-athletes to fuel American success in myriad ways,” Trump stated in the order.

                                MORE SPORTS COVERAGE

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots Volleyball has announced their 2025 fall schedule, featuring three early-season tournaments and a competitive West Coast Conference slate. This year’s WCC lineup includes the addition of conference newcomer Seattle University, along with returning second-year affiliate members Oregon State and Washington State. 

“We’re excited for our schedule release that features an extremely competitive 2025 schedule. Our preseason will be challenging,” Portland head coach Megan Burton said. “We’re facing strong programs, including a Big Ten team in Oregon and the Big West champion in Hawaii , along with a tough Wyoming tournament, all on the road. With all of core players returning from last year, including three all-conference players, and adding a talented freshman class, I wanted to challenge us in the preseason as we prep for another tough West Coast Conference schedule.” 

Portland begins pre-season on the road with an exhibition match against the Washington Huskies on Aug. 22. The Huskies finished 19-12 in 2024 and reached the postseason. The Pilots officially open regular season at the Vandal Volleyball Invitational in Moscow, Idaho, with matches against the Cal State Fullerton Titans and Oral Roberts Eagles on Aug. 29. They play the host team, the Idaho Vandals, on Aug. 30 to close out the tournament.

The Pilots then travel to Eugene on Sept. 4 for a road match against the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks posted a 24-8 record in 2024 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16, consistently ranking among the top teams in the nation. Portland returns home to host the Portland Invitational Sept. 5–6, welcoming the Eastern Washington Eagles (12-15), the CSUN Matadors (10-19) and the Colorado State Rams (20-11) to the Chiles Center. 

Portland heads to Honolulu for a two-match series against the Big West champion Hawaii Rainbow Wahine on Sept. 11 and 12. The Rainbow Wahine won the conference title for the fifth consecutive season in 2024 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

Nonconference play concludes at the Wyoming Tournament from Sept. 18-20, where the Pilots will face the Idaho State Bengals, the Long Beach State Beach and host the Wyoming Cowboys. All three teams finished with winning records last season, with Idaho State and Wyoming making deep runs in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. 

“With several postseason tournament teams in our schedule, we will be tested and challenged,” Burton said. “We know that every match we have to show up and give our best to compete against these high-level teams. That’s one of the best things about sports — to compete against the very best and see yourself rise to those challenges.” 

Portland opens conference play at home with two matches, hosting the Pacific Tigers on Sept. 25 and the Saint Mary’s Gaels on Sept. 27. Pacific went 19-13 overall last season and 8-10 in WCC play, while Saint Mary’s finished 10-17 overall and 6-12 in the conference. 

“We always look forward to our conference schedule — the WCC has great volleyball across the board. It will also be the last opportunities to compete against Oregon State, Washington State and Gonzaga,” Burton said.  

The Pilots then welcome conference newcomer Seattle U on Oct. 4. The Redhawks join the WCC after finishing 8-19 overall last year. The last meeting between Portland and Seattle U was last season, with the Pilots earning a 3-0 win. 

Portland travels to Southern California the following week for matches against San Diego on Oct. 9 and LMU on Oct. 11. San Diego posted a 19-9 overall record and went 14-4 in conference play, while LMU went 25-6 overall and 16-2 in conference play to take the WCC title.  

The Pilots return home for two more matches, taking on San Francisco on Oct. 16 and Pepperdine on Oct. 18. San Francisco finished 17-13 overall and 10-8 in the WCC last season, and Pepperdine ended the year 17-11 overall and 14-4 in conference play.  

Portland heads back on the road for rematches against Pacific and Saint Mary’s on Oct. 23 and Oct. 25. The Pilots host Oregon State on Oct. 30 before traveling to Santa Clara on Nov. 1. Portland returns home to face LMU on Nov. 6 and Gonzaga on Nov. 8. Oregon State finished 10-18 overall and 8-10 in the WCC last season. Gonzaga went with a 1-27 overall and went 0-18 in conference play in 2024. 

Portland then heads to Seattle to play Seattle U on Nov. 13 before hosting San Diego on Nov. 15. The Pilots close out the regular season with road matches at Washington State on Nov. 20, Gonzaga on Nov. 22, and Oregon State on Nov. 29. Washington State finished 16-12 overall and 11-7 in WCC play last season.

“I hope the Pilot community will come out and support this great group of young women.” Burton said. “This group is hungry to compete, grow and represent the University with pride. We’re excited for what lies ahead and grateful for the support of our Pilot community.” 

Below is the full schedule for the 2025 fall season.

2025 Fall Schedule 

Aug. 22 at Washington (Exh.), 6 p.m. 

Vandal Volleyball Invitational 

Aug. 29 vs. Cal State Fullerton, 12 p.m.  

Aug. 29 vs. Oral Roberts, 5 p.m. 

Aug. 30 at Idaho, 1 p.m. 

Sept. 4 at Oregon, 3 p.m. 

Portland Invitational 

Sept. 5 vs. Eastern Washington, 5 p.m. 

Sept. 6 vs. CSUN, 1 p.m. 

Sept. 11 at Hawaii, 10 p.m. 

Sept. 12 at Hawaii, 10 p.m.

Wyoming Tournament 

Sept. 18 vs. Idaho State, 1 p.m.

Sept. 19 vs. Long Beach State, 1 p.m. 

Sept. 20 at Wyoming, 12 p.m. 

Sept. 25 vs. Pacific*, 6 p.m. 

Sept. 27 vs. Saint Mary’s*, 1 p.m.  

Oct. 4 vs Seattle U*, 1 p.m. 

Oct. 9 at San Diego*, 7 p.m. 

Oct. 11 at LMU*, 1 p.m. 

Oct. 16 vs. San Francisco*, 6 p.m. 

Oct. 18 vs. Pepperdine*, 1 p.m. 

Oct. 23 at Pacific*, 6 p.m. 

Oct. 25 at Saint Mary’s*, 2 p.m. 

Oct. 30 vs. Oregon State*, 6 p.m. 

Nov. 1 at Santa Clara*, 1 p.m. 

Nov. 6 vs. LMU*, 4 p.m. 

Nov. 8 vs. Gonzaga*, 1 p.m. 

Nov. 13 at Seattle U*, 6 p.m. 

Nov. 15 vs. San Diego*, 1 p.m. 

Nov. 20 at Washington State*, 7 p.m.

Nov. 22 at Gonzaga*, 12 p.m. 

Nov. 29 at Oregon State*, 1 p.m. 

*Indicates WCC match 

Bold indicates home match 

All times are PST 

All game times and dates are subject to change 

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In a world where fitness is as much about lifestyle as it is about movement, Nofar Hagag has created an elevated experience that feels as chic and transformative as the cities she calls home. With her acclaimed Nofar Method studios in New York and Miami, the internationally recognized fitness expert has redefined Pilates for a discerning clientele who crave results and refinement in equal measure.

Photo Credit: Courtesy

Karlie Kloss, Emily Ratajkowski, and Brooke Shields are just a few of the names who have gravitated to Hagag’s signature method. It is a practice designed to challenge the body and awaken the mind through precision, athleticism, and mindfulness. At its core, the Nofar Method empowers clients to unlock their full potential and carry that sense of confidence and strength far beyond the studio.

Hagag’s journey began in Petah Tikva, Israel, where she excelled as a competitive water polo player. Her athletic discipline earned her a place on Israel’s National Water Polo team and later led her to serve as a fitness instructor in the Israel Defense Forces. It was there that she earned her Pilates certification at the Wingate Institute, an Olympic training facility that set the tone for her pursuit of excellence.

Photo Credit: Courtesy

In 2008, she moved to New York City as a Division I student athlete playing water polo while studying pre-med and psychology. Teaching Pilates began as a way to support herself through school but quickly evolved into a calling. Over the next decade, she developed the Nofar Method, an advanced full-body approach that blends classical Pilates with strength training, cardio, and dynamic choreography.

Her Flatiron and Tribeca studios became coveted destinations for clients seeking precision, intensity and transformation. In Miami Beach, her studio offers the same commitment to excellence infused with the vibrant energy of South Florida’s wellness-focused lifestyle.

“Our Miami clients want more than just a workout,” Hagag says. “They want to feel stronger, more confident and supported in every way. The energy here complements what we built in New York and inspires me every day.”

The Nofar Method reimagines Pilates equipment in innovative ways delivering transformative results for all body types with a focus on safety and body awareness. It is a practice designed to sculpt physiques and create a mindset shift that extends well beyond the walls of the studio.

For Hagag, it is about more than movement. “It is about how you carry yourself after class,” she reflects. “It is about resilience, presence, and embracing your own power.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy

Splitting her time between New York and Miami, Hagag remains deeply connected to her clients, teaching classes and inspiring her team of instructors to carry forward her vision. Both cities reflect the duality of her method through New York’s grit and intensity and Miami’s vibrancy and flow. Together, they form the perfect backdrop for a practice that is redefining what it means to transform both body and mind.

When Ignatius Fitzgerald ’26 arrived at St. Olaf College, he wasn’t just looking for a place to run — he was searching for the right team.
 
Coming out of high school as the Montana state champion in the 800-meter run and 1,600-meter run, Fitzgerald began his collegiate career at the University of Oregon on an athletic scholarship for cross country and track. But after a year and a half, he realized the program wasn’t the right fit for him.
 
“I didn’t love Eugene,” Fitzgerald says. “I wasn’t as into the academics, and I didn’t really fit in there super well. It just wasn’t the place for me.”
 
So, he moved back home to Missoula, took classes part-time at the University of Montana, and took a step back from running to consider his next steps. During that year of reflection, a high school friend encouraged Fitzgerald to visit him at St. Olaf. He came for a long weekend, staying in campus housing, attending classes, and tagging along for cross county practice.
 
Something clicked.
 
“Right when I got on campus and met the team, I was like, this feels like a much better fit,” Fitzgerald says.
 
Now a history and quantitative economics major and one of the top ranked steeplechasers in Division III, Fitzgerald has found not just success on the track, but a holistic rhythm that suits him.

“My relationship with running has shifted,” he says. “It’s something I do, but not the only thing I do — and I really enjoy that. The way our team is structured really supports that kind of balance, there’s a system in place — go to practice, go to dinner, go to the library.”

 

He credits much of that balance to the environment cultivated by Head Men’s Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Brian Power.

 

“Coach Power has been a really positive influence on me,” Fitzgerald says. “He’s helped me learn how to be competitive, but also not to take myself too seriously. It’s about having fun and focusing on the team.”

 

Power, in turn, recognized early on that Fitzgerald was not just a strong runner, but a thoughtful and mature presence.

 

“It was apparent [Fitzgerald] wanted to find somewhere that allowed him to grow as a person and connect with the community, while being given the space to grow as a runner,” Power says. “I really feel like Iggy has found his home at St. Olaf. He’s connected across campus in many ways, and he’s a frequent fixture at St. Olaf sporting events. He’ll be a track & field team captain this year due to his ability to connect with athletes across different event groups and the respect he has earned from his teammates.”

 

Fitzgerald’s not only active on the field — he’s involved with several different organizations and activities at St. Olaf. He leads trips with the outdoor recreation program (STORP), and works at the rock-climbing gym, where he also TAs for the college’s rock climbing course. This summer he will be in Turkey, assisting Professor of History Tim Howe with an archeological dig of a first-century Roman city.

 

As for what he does in his limited downtime, Fitzgerald says he spends the majority of it with his teammates.

 

“Forty of my best friends are on this team, which makes it really easy and fun,” he says. “You want to go to practice when you know everyone there is really wanting you to do your best in every way and knows who you are as an individual — not just who you are on the field. It just works.”

 

That team culture also fuels the Oles’ competitive success. This past fall, the St. Olaf men’s cross country team won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference [MIAC] Championship on their home course.

 

“Cross country scores like golf — you want the fewest points possible — and we scored with the lowest point count that has ever been recorded in a MIAC meet,” he says. “It was such a blast.”

 

Turning to Fitzgerald’s personal achievements, he placed ninth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships to earn Second Team All-America honors, set a program record (8:52.30), and ran the eighth-fastest steeplechase time in the nation this past year.

 

But he’s quick to deflect the hype.

 

“We don’t treat running like a business here,” he says. “At the end of the day, if you race well or poorly, no one really cares about your time. It’s all about what you are getting out of it. That kind of environment makes all the difference.”

 

Looking ahead, Fitzgerald plans to pursue a master’s in education and become a high school history teacher, ideally back in Montana. But for now, he’s soaking up all St. Olaf has to offer.

 

“When I think about being an Ole, I think about the closeness of this community,” he says. “Even though people are here for different reasons, whether that be music, athletics, or academics, we’re all on the Hill together. That creates something really special.”