AMHERST, MA. – The Wesleyan men’s track and field team took Thursday evening to Amherst College to boost a handful of times as they competed at the Last Chance Final Qualifier and saw three members of the team place Top 10 in individual events from the track.

Steve Paul ’28 led the way with a fourth-place finish in the men’s 200m dash. Paul, who has broken the program record several times this season, crossed the finish line at 21.45 in the first event for the Cardinals at the meet.

The Cardinals saw another finish at fourth as George Lepska ’25 broke the Top 5 in the 800m. Lepska owns the program record in the event but ran a 1:53.90 on Thursday as his final time.

In the men’s 1500m, Nate Fogarty ’25 came in seventh place, running a final clocked time of 3:58.44.

The Baruch College Athletic Department has won their fourth straight CUNYAC Commissioner Cup Trophy!

The award was presented to the Athletic Department at the 39th Annual Michael Steuerman Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 15, at the Terrace on the Park in Queens.

The annual Commissioner Cup recognizes the most successful athletic program in the senior CUNY Athletic Conference division as determined by a scoring system that rewards a school for success during the regular season and championship competition.

For the 2024-25 athletic year, the Bearcats won CUNYAC Championships in the men’s sports of volleyball, swimming, tennis, and baseball. They also finished runner up in softball, women’s tennis, women’s swimming, men’s basketball, and men’s cross country.

They won the regular season (1st place) championship in men’s swimming, men’s basketball, men’s volleyball, as well as men’s and women’s tennis.

Commissioner Cup Title Years (11 Total): 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Four-Year College Point System:

Points are awarded for first (10), second (5) and third (3) place finishes in all regular season finishes. In Conference tournaments, first (10) and second (5) place is awarded in all head-to-head championship finals, while third place points (3) are awarded in every other sport, where there are more than five participating schools. Also, due to the difference in sizes of athletic programs in CUNYAC, a school can only use their top ten sports in any academic year.

AWAITING FINAL NUMBERS & FULL RANKINGS FROM CUNYAC

A Watford water polo team has secured promotion after an epic game and a momentous comeback.

Watford Water Polo’s Saxons team, who train at Woodside Leisure Centre, topped the British Water Polo League (BWPL) qualification table after their penalty win against London Otter and a 17-16 victory over Rotherham Metro on Saturday, April 5.

Heading to Haberdasher’s Boys’ School on Sunday, April 6, a lot was on the line. Defeat to British Army Water Polo and an Otter Water Polo win over Rotherham would see the Saxons slip to third in the table and miss out on qualification.

The game began with the Saxons getting off to the perfect start, but the Watford side were soon 6-8 down at half time, with their chances of promotion slowly fading.

However, the team rallied and came back fighting in the second half. The boys clawed back a 12-10 win in a truly epic match.

The Saxons will start next season’s BWPL in Division 3 along with their Men’s and Women’s 1st teams, who are both in Division One.

The Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World 2025: Salaries, Net Worth & Total Earnings.

In 2025, the world’s top athletes not only excel in their sports but also dominate global earnings through salaries, endorsements, and business ventures. Forbes reports that these 10 athletes earned a combined $1.4 billion this year, setting new records. This article ranks the highest-paid athletes of 2025 from #10 to #1, providing detailed insights into their earnings, career highlights, and net worth.

#10 Kevin Durant: NBA Star with Lucrative Endorsements

Kevin Durant, a top NBA player for the Phoenix Suns, continues to generate massive income from his $51.4 million salary and $50 million in endorsements. Durant’s investments in Homage and his media company Boardroom have expanded his off-court empire. His net worth currently sits at an estimated $300 Million.

#9 Shohei Ohtani: Baseball’s Two-Way Sensation

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers’ superstar, earned $2.5 million on the field but raked in $100 million through endorsements with major global brands. His unique talent as a pitcher and hitter, coupled with massive marketability, makes him one of baseball’s highest earners. His net worth currently sits at an estimated $150 Million.

#8 Karim Benzema: Saudi Pro League’s Top Earner

Karim Benzema’s move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad club secured him a $100 million salary. Though quieter off the pitch, Benzema remains an Adidas endorser and is rumored to consider an MLS move ahead of 2026. His net worth currently sits at an estimated $200 Million.

#7 Juan Soto: MLB’s Rising Star with Historic Contract

Juan Soto’s $765 million Mets contract is historic, making him a financial powerhouse in MLB. His endorsements with Celsius and Call of Duty boost his income alongside his on-field performance. His net worth currently sits at an estimated $100 Million.

#6 LeBron James: Basketball Legend and Billionaire Entrepreneur

LeBron James continues to dominate both on the court and in business, with $48.8 million in salary and $85 million in endorsements. His SpringHill production company is a leading player in sports media. His net worth currently sits at an estimated $1.2 Billion.

#5 Lionel Messi: MLS Icon and Global Superstar

Messi’s impact on MLS and his $60 million contract with Inter Miami elevate him among the top earners worldwide. His business ventures and endorsements amplify his financial influence. His net worth currently sits at an estimated $850 Million.

#4 Dak Prescott: NFL’s Highest-Paid Quarterback

Dak Prescott’s record-breaking NFL contract and strong endorsements make him one of football’s richest players. His contract restructuring maximized his earnings in 2025. His net worth currently sits at an estimated $90 Million.

#3 Tyson Fury: Boxing’s Heavyweight Champion and Media Personality

Tyson Fury remains a top earner in boxing, earning $140 million from fights and media deals. His Netflix show and tourism promotion contracts bolster his off-ring income. His net worth currently sits at an estimated $160 Million.

#2 Stephen Curry: NBA’s Most Lucrative Contract Ever

Stephen Curry set new NBA earnings records with his $56 million salary and $100 million endorsements. His Under Armour sneaker deal and media projects make him a financial juggernaut. His net worth currently sits at an estimated $240 Million.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo: The World’s Highest-Paid Athlete in 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo tops the 2025 list with $275 million in earnings, fueled by a record-breaking salary at Al-Nassr and diverse business investments. His global brand remains unmatched. His net worth currently sits at an estimated $1.45 Billion.

Conclusion: The Future of Athlete Earnings Looks Bright

The highest-paid athletes in 2025 showcase the blend of extraordinary talent, marketability, and entrepreneurship. From basketball courts to soccer fields, their earnings reflect the growing commercial value of sports worldwide. With endorsements, media ventures, and savvy investments, these athletes continue to set financial milestones, inspiring the next generation of sports stars and entrepreneurs alike.

The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.

The562’s high school softball coverage is sponsored by Playmakers. Visit LetsBePlaymakers.org for more information on their adaptive sports programs.

If you walked up to LBCC’s softball field hoping to catch the first round of CIF Division 4 playoffs between Long Beach Poly and Edison, you might be very confused to see 30 identical players on the turf. Each team wore identical uniforms from their pinstripes down to their socks, but the Jackrabbits brought the bats and energy on their way to a 5-1 win over the Vikings.

As Poly geared up to take the field, Ki’ele Ho-Ching; the 2024 Moore League Player of the Year, No. 1 recruit for the class of 2026 and an Oklahoma University commit; returned to her place on the field at shortstop for the first time this season – and she immediately made her presence known.

After starting Poly pitcher Tegan Breaux struck out the first two Edison hitters, senior Sophia Hannappel was the first Viking to get on base after a line drive deflected off the glove of first baseman Kween Tauala. Sophomore Aubrey Catron hit a deep fly to the left field wall that sent Hannappel racing for home, but she couldn’t outrun Ho-Ching’s arm.

As the cutoff man positioned in left field, Ho-Ching completed the relay on a one-hop shot to keep Edison scoreless in the first inning. She completed another huge relay from left field in the top of the fourth to prevent another Edison run.

“We cut those two girls off at home with those terrific relays, even with her cannon not being at 100%,” Head Coach Elizabeth Sanches said. “75% Ki’ele is still 120% everybody else. So, we’re grateful.”

While the relays could easily be added to Ho-Ching’s defensive highlight reel, her and junior Emoni Lam Sam held down the left side of the infield with more top-notch defense. The two Division 1 commits knocked down any ball that came at them, which helped hold Edison to six hits throughout seven innings. 

“Honestly, it was a little hard at first. The mental side of it is a lot,” Ho-Ching said of her defensive return. “Not playing for one, then all of a sudden coming back and just being thrown back out there, first play, first throw, a relay. I didn’t expect to throw the ball at all today, to be honest, but hey, I threw it like 20 times.”

Ho-Ching and E. Lam Sam are two major players in the strong junior class at 1600 Atlantic. E. Lam Sam was defensively clean on the turf but also played a big role in the lineup, going 2 for 4 with two RBI doubles to left field. 

Long Beach Poly was the first to get on the board in the bottom of the third. Freshman Victoria Sepulveda led the inning off with a single to right field and was moved over to second off a sac bunt from junior Persja Lam Sam. 

E. Lam Sam knocked in her first RBI as the next batter, followed by another RBI double from Tauala, who was also 2 for 4 on the day.

Edison responded in the top half of the fifth inning with their only score of the game. After Catron led off with a double, she was thrown out by Ho-Ching’s second relay on another left field double from sophomore Elina Garcia. 

Garcia advanced to third on the throw from Ho-Ching. Sophomore Savannah Fisher was walked to put runners threatening at the corners. A double pickle resulted in a run for the Vikings after a misthrow got out of the Jackrabbit infield. 

With a close 2-1 score, Poly’s bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth. P. Lam Sam was hit by a pitch and soon driven in off Emoni’s second RBI double. Emoni came around to score herself when junior Alayna Veavealagi singled to right.

Junior Janelle Morris doubled to move Veavealagi to third, who eventually scored off an RBI single from junior Sunni Vaafuti. Morris was 3 for 3 and the only Jackrabbit to swat 1.000 on the day.

“[Morris] made the adjustments and was able to trust her hands and trust her experience and trust her reps and stay back long enough to where she was driving it, not just to the right side, but right in the gap, in the perfect spot to get those runs in,” Sanches said.