Sports
Nathan Florence Paddles nto a Panamanian Maelstrom at Silverbacks
Photo: Nathan Florence // YouTube A man, a plan, a wave – Panama. It’s not quite a palindrome, but it is the basis of the latest video from freesurfer Nathan Florence. In it, he visits the Panamanian wave known as Silverbacks. Florence calls it Panama’s craziest wave, and it’s hard to argue against him. Nathan’s […]


Photo: Nathan Florence // YouTube

A man, a plan, a wave – Panama. It’s not quite a palindrome, but it is the basis of the latest video from freesurfer Nathan Florence. In it, he visits the Panamanian wave known as Silverbacks. Florence calls it Panama’s craziest wave, and it’s hard to argue against him.
Nathan’s 2025 slab tour started not long ago, when the official end of the Hawaiian winter freed Florence and company up to once again roam the world in search of board-breaking monsters. The first stop was a trip to Chile’s “The Thing,” where difficult conditions yielded what could have been a record-setting ride. According to Florence, they were the first to surf the wave standing up. His brother Ivan also scored what may have been the ride of his life.
Since then, they’ve departed the shores of Chile for greener pastures in Panama. Before the journey began, Nathan described just how hard it would be to score at Silverbacks. “These swells are notorious for changing a ton, but hopefully we hit our next stop on the slab tour and score some of what this place has to offer,” he explained. “This place is notoriously fickle, so we’re just hoping it’s breaking and doing its thing out there. We hope it’s on but it could easily not be on. We’ll see.”
In the end they scored, but not without experiencing that pain and frustration first hand. “This wave is so intimidating, so shifty,” said Florence afterwards. “Basically the swell comes with a storm and so you’re on a reef that has a one-foot takeoff that shifts around this big (area). A normal slab is in the same spot every time – this wave is constantly moving and shifting. You’re chasing a very narrow takeoff area, because the waves are big wedges, but all over this reef. It makes it super challenging to get a good wave.”
Sports
Men’s Track and Field Wins Third-Straight IC4A Title; Women Place Sixth in ECAC Championship
Story Links FAIRFAX, Va. – The Navy men’s track and field team won its third-consecutive IC4A Championship on Sunday at George Mason Stadium in Fairfax, Va. The Mids won four events and scored 128 total points to better second-place UMBC’s tally by 21 points. The Navy women’s squad finished in […]
FAIRFAX, Va. – The Navy men’s track and field team won its third-consecutive IC4A Championship on Sunday at George Mason Stadium in Fairfax, Va. The Mids won four events and scored 128 total points to better second-place UMBC’s tally by 21 points. The Navy women’s squad finished in sixth place in the ECAC Championship, which was held at the same venue, with 53.5 points. Jia Anderson’s victory in the 100m hurdles headlined the efforts for the women’s team.
“I thought it was a really good weekend. We went in there with the intention of trying to hit certain marks and give some younger kids another opportunity to compete,” said director of track & field Jamie Cook. “The younger athletes were impressive from Cooper [Wakley], Wyatt [Shaw] and Zoie [Tesi]. Everyone had a lot of fun this weekend and it was exciting on our part as coaches to see them having fun. We had a lot of guys who performed well who don’t normally get a lot of opportunities.”
Men’s Recap
The Mids won a pair of relay events during the championship.
The 4x100m relay team of Marcel Jackson, Nathan Kent, Jonah Johnson and Tyler Yurich ran a winning time of 39.68, the third-fastest time in program history. The quartet now owns the five fastest times in Navy history, all of which were set this season.
“These guys have been amazing this year and to win today’s race by over a second is impressive. The chemistry is strong and that’s what makes this group great,” said Cook.
The Mids won their second relay event when the 4x400m relay team of David Walker, Cooper Wakley, Conor McFadden and Pete deJonge ran a time of 3:11.42.
In the field events, Wyatt Shaw and Benjemen Schneider each cleared 2.08 meters (6′ 9.75″) in the high jump to place first and second, respectively. Then three Mids finished in the top five in the pole vault led by Wakley’s first-place mark of 5.09m (16′ 8.25″). Brian Schloeder cleared 4.99m (16′ 4.5″) to take second, while Gavin Anderson was fifth with a vault of 4.89m (16′ 0.5″).
Navy had five more second-place showings during the meet. Jackson competed in the 100m sprint where he finished second in a time of 10.67. Yurich tied his season-best placement in the 200m with a second-place time of 21.09. Walker battled to a second-place finish (by nine-hundredths of a second) in the 400m hurdles as clocked a 52.43. Logan Flament took second place in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:33.53. It marked the second time this season he has placed second or better in the event. Rounding out the list was Malachi Cummings, who finished in second place in the javelin with a career-best throw of 64.84m (212-8).
Sean Miller recorded his second-fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase time of the season to finish third in 9:17.02. Shaw continued his strong weekend with a third-place finish in the long jump as he recorded a leap of 7.17m (23′ 6.25″). Colby Fahrney placed fifth in the event with a jump of 6.98m (22′ 10.75″). Reilly Payne and Adam Szatanek both finished in the top seven in the discus. Payne threw 48.06m (157-8) to place fourth, while Szatanek placed seventh with a mark of 46.27m (151-9). Also, deJonge clocked a sixth-place time in the 400m of 47.81 seconds and Gary Choice placed seventh in the triple jump with a leap of 14.08m (46-4.25).
Women’s Recap
Anderson edged Sacred Heart’s Magdalena Brogioli by two-tenths of a second to win the 100m hurdles title with a time of 14.03.
The Mids had two silver medalists at the meet. First, Zoie Tesi placed second in the high jump with a leap of 1.69m (5′ 6.5″). Tesi has had an impressive rookie campaign as she finished first or second in every meet she competed in. Then Taylor Woodworth had a strong 400m as she clocked the seventh-best time in program history at 54.29 to place second in the field.
Nalina Smith had a standout weekend with career-best marks in both the discus (45.02 meters / 147′ 8″) and the hammer throw (51.23m / 168′, 1″) to place third in each event.
“Nalina [Smith] did a really good job this weekend. She’s starting to come in her own, it was good to see her hit some career marks this weekend. She’s worked very hard and I’m excited for her career and development,” said Cook.
Additionally for the Mids, Gracie Emerick registered the seventh-best pole vault mark in Navy history at 3.92m (12′ 10.25″) to finish in fourth place, Emma Miller led the Mids in the javelin with a fifth-place throw of 39.10m (128′ 3″) and May McConkey recorded a sixth-place finish in the 5,000m with a time of 17:49.85.
Sports
Prep talk: Alyssa Lee of El Camino Real achieves coaching ‘Triple Crown’
Alyssa Lee of El Camino Real has achieved something few volleyball coaches can claim. With El Camino Real’s boys team winning the City Section Open Division championship on Saturday after an upset over No. 1-seeded Venice, Lee has won City titles coaching El Camino Real’s boys, girls and beach volleyball teams, the Triple Crown of […]

Alyssa Lee of El Camino Real has achieved something few volleyball coaches can claim.
With El Camino Real’s boys team winning the City Section Open Division championship on Saturday after an upset over No. 1-seeded Venice, Lee has won City titles coaching El Camino Real’s boys, girls and beach volleyball teams, the Triple Crown of volleyball coaching.
“That’s very impressive,” said Granada Hills coach Tom Harp, who had Lee on his girls’ team when she graduated in 2009.
Harp, a future Hall of Fame coach in the City Section, said Lee is calm and comfortable on the bench and knows strategy well.
El Camino Real opens the state playoffs on Tuesday in Division 2 with a home game against Escondido Classical Academy.
Mira Costa is seeded No. 1 in Division 1…
The CIF Southern California tennis championships will be held Friday and Saturday at Claremont Club. Here’s the bracket…
Southern Section golf team championships are set for Monday and Tuesday. The individual championship will be Thursday. The City Section championships are Wednesday at Harding Golf Course.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sports
Mike Krukow declares ‘Oaklamento Athletics’ official name
How, exactly, should the wandering Athletics be referred to? That MLB team, currently playing in Sacramento following a relocation from Oakland and ahead of a planned move to Las Vegas, wants no city name attached. But many broadcasters aren’t willing to abide by that, with long-time San Francisco Giants’ voice Mike Krukow offering a new […]

How, exactly, should the wandering Athletics be referred to? That MLB team, currently playing in Sacramento following a relocation from Oakland and ahead of a planned move to Las Vegas, wants no city name attached. But many broadcasters aren’t willing to abide by that, with long-time San Francisco Giants’ voice Mike Krukow offering a new “Oaklamento” label Sunday on the NBC Sports Bay Area Giants’ broadcast:
Mike Krukow: We are going to the bottom half of the fourth inning and Oaklamento leads San Francisco 2-1.
Jon Miller: Oaklamento. That’s a good one. https://t.co/qAZ8r3bQio pic.twitter.com/upFRbzJ3u3
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 18, 2025
That comment drove plenty of discussion on social media.
Boy, the #SFGiants broadcast crews really feeling what many loyal A’s fans feel where they well & truly belong & it’s not Sacramento nor Las Vegas. #Athletics #SellTheTeam #ATHvsSF #OAKvsSF https://t.co/ZLCy81RsuT
— NYAZSporty (@NYAZsporty) May 18, 2025
Like. #Oaklamento https://t.co/6iRGwxa0ZL
— Suzanne_Cummins (@suzanne_cummins) May 18, 2025
The entire baseball world could give two shits what the AAA’s wanna be called.
No one takes them serious. #FJF
— Last Dive Bar
(@LastDiveBar) May 18, 2025
Miller repeatedly called that team “Oakland” on the same broadcast Friday alongside Krukow:
Never change Jon Miller…never change!
Oakland Forever! #FJF pic.twitter.com/xMd6s8bvJr
— Last Dive Bar
(@LastDiveBar) May 17, 2025
There are many questionable things with this current version of the Athletics. The team has deserted their long-time home for a minor-league park (with significant facilities questions) ahead of a projected move many think may not happen. And their insistence on avoiding “Sacramento” certainly presents a way for broadcasters to take shots at them. The Miller and Krukow comments this weekend look like an example of that.
Sports
Patriots Crowned ECAC Champions at Final Home Meet of the Season
Fairfax, Va. – The George Mason Women’s Track and Field team closed out their 2025 home season in spectacular fashion, claiming the title of ECAC Champions at the final home meet of the year. Freshman Cameron Portis got the day started with a strong showing in the discus, placing fifth with a mark of 46.77 […]

Fairfax, Va. – The George Mason Women’s Track and Field team closed out their 2025 home season in spectacular fashion, claiming the title of ECAC Champions at the final home meet of the year.
Freshman Cameron Portis got the day started with a strong showing in the discus, placing fifth with a mark of 46.77 meters. Fellow freshman Morgan Ryerson reached the podium in the 100m hurdles, securing third place with a time of 14.47 seconds.
On the men’s side, the 110m hurdles proved to be a standout event. Davian Burke captured first place with a time of 14.30 seconds, followed closely by Albert Asare, who took second with 14.32 seconds.
In the 400m hurdles, Helena Santacana turned in a solid performance, placing fourth with a time of 1:01.82. Ashton King recorded a new personal best in the 200m, finishing in 21.48 seconds to take sixth place.
Distance standout Ellie Desmond claimed the individual title in the 3000m, crossing the finish line in 9:47.19. Teammate Nourene Nabbus, competing just a day after the 3000m steeplechase, ran a new personal best in the 3000m with a time of 10:16.25.
Next Up:
George Mason heads to Jacksonville, Florida, for the NCAA First Round, aiming to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Sports
Illini West’s Coleman Gilpin looks to continue progress with SCC track and field
QUINCY (WGEM) – Illini West High School’s Coleman Gilpin will be traveling north after signing with Southeastern Community College track and field recently. Gilpin shared he plans to specialize in the 400-meter dash during his college career. After only starting track his sophomore year of high school, he’s excited for more growth and new experiences […]

QUINCY (WGEM) – Illini West High School’s Coleman Gilpin will be traveling north after signing with Southeastern Community College track and field recently. Gilpin shared he plans to specialize in the 400-meter dash during his college career. After only starting track his sophomore year of high school, he’s excited for more growth and new experiences with his new team.
“I’m looking forward to going to different places,” said Gilpin. “I think they go to places like Florida and Kansas City. I’m hoping to get as far as I can, honestly, and improve upon myself. Just me versus me and find out the best runner I can be.”
Gilpin still has a couple more weeks in an Illini West uniform. He’ll take to the track for sectionals this coming Friday.
Copyright 2025 WGEM. All rights reserved.
Sports
Atwwood homers twice and drives in four to send No. 6 Texas past UCF 9-0
Atwwood homers twice and drives in four to send No. 6 Texas past UCF 9-0 – myMotherLode.com Link 0

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