At the ninth annual benefit of the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF) last week, the foundation’s mission to empower and inspire the lives of young people from underserved communities through the sport of gymnastics was evident.

Collegiate gymnast Kyrstin Johnson, whose floor routine set to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” went viral, was in attendance at the event, which was held at the New York Athletic Club. Johnson competed for Temple University this season after Talladega College (an HBCU school) ended its gymnastics program. “Coming from an HBCU, I still wanted to bring the HBCU with me,” she said. “Going out there and being yourself is the most important thing.”

Roshelle Wickham, mother of Rylee McCullough, a Level 4 artistic gymnast, said her daughter is a dedicated gymnast who has found her passion through the WHGF. “I love that it’s opening doors for her,” said Wickham.

Amanda Malace, mother of Elizabeth Malace, said her daughter has been training with the foundation since 2019 and will soon compete at the national level. “She loves that she’s able to be her true self. She fell in love with gymnastics and wants to go as far as she can with it,” said Malace.

Lois Elfman photos

Some present and former WHGF tumblers, an emerging sport, were on hand. Bailey Mensah said that tumbling allows for creativity. ZaQuae Carter said he appreciates seeing younger athletes take up the sport. “It gives me happiness,” said Carter, who has seen considerable competitive success. Ty’La Morris, who has been tumbling for seven years, said it “gives me a challenge every single day.”  

Nick Brown, a coach with WHGF for two years, said he relishes the opportunity to help program participants not only get better at gymnastics but also to embrace their own personalities. “These are underserved Black and Brown children, who don’t really get exposed to stuff like this, so to be able to give them a space to exercise that and grow with each other is special,” said Brown, who incorporates acting exercises he learned in college in the training.  

Athletes and their supporters weren’t the only ones to receive recognition at the event. Christopher Harris, outgoing chair of WHGF, received the WHGF Hero Award. Michael Tiedemann, CEO of AlTi Tiedemann Global and chair of the River Fund, received the inaugural Simone Biles Give Back Award. The Harlem Community Development Corporation was honored with the Community Impact Award.

Related

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After earning his undergraduate degree at St. Cloud State University with plans for a doctorate in dentistry, SCSU defenseman Josh Luedtke has been selected the 2025 recipient of the NCHC’s annual postgraduate scholarship, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced on Wednesday. Luedtke is only the second Husky to receive the NCHC Postgraduate Scholarship, with both coming in the last three years (Aidan Spellacy in 2023).
 
Luedtke completed his bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from St. Cloud State this past May, finishing with a 3.91 grade-point average. He was named an NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete all four years in school for maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA each season, while collecting CSC Academic All-District accolades after his sophomore and junior campaigns. The Minnetonka, Minn. native also earned Dean’s List at SCSU all eight semesters for having achieved at least a 3.75 GPA.  
 
Luedtke was tabbed a finalist for the NCHC’s Senior Scholar-Athlete Award and the NCHC Sportsmanship Award for the 2024-25 season. In addition, he was one of only 14 nominees for the prestigious Hockey Humanitarian Award in 2025.
 
“The Conference is honored to present Josh with this year’s NCHC postgraduate scholarship,” said NCHC Commissioner Heather Weems. “Achieving a high level of success in a difficult biomedical sciences curriculum while leading his hockey team shows the kind of person Josh is. I have no doubt Josh will have success in dental school and will continue to make a difference in his community through his responsive and compassionate approach to patient care.”
 
On the ice, Luedtke served as team captain for the Huskies in 2024-25 after wearing an ‘A’ as a junior. He finished his college career with 43 points from the blue line in 137 career games. Luedtke scored 12 goals and added 31 assists as a Husky, including three goals and five assists as a senior. The captain blocked 143 shots in his SCSU career, including a career-best 55 this past season, and finished with a +24 plus/minus. Luedtke also helped SCSU win the 2023 Frozen Faceoff as a sophomore.
 
Following his college career, Luedtke signed with the Savannah Ghost Pirates in the ECHL, playing in five games to close the season in April.
 
“During my time at St. Cloud State University, it has solidified my passion for healthcare, particularly in the field of dentistry, where I see the opportunity to utilize team-oriented skills and scientific knowledge in a patient-centered care environment,” Luedtke wrote in his scholarship nomination. “My ultimate dream is to attend dental school and become a practicing dentist who contributes to improving oral health in needy communities.”
 
Along with his hard work in the classroom and on the ice, Luedtke has consistently given back to his community and abroad. In high school, he volunteered at Be the Change, serving meals to those in need. Last August, Luedtke and teammate Jack Reimann traveled to Hungary as part of Hockey Ministries International, where they helped lead a Christian hockey camp for children. Luedtke also has experience in the medical field, working as a personal care assistant at MRCI for someone with autism.
 
“Over the years, my faith, heart to serve others, and my experiences have all led me to dentistry. I want to work at it with all my heart to make a difference in people’s lives, changing smiles with purpose and compassion,” Luedtke said.
 
The NCHC’s Postgraduate Scholarship is funded by a grant from the El Pomar Foundation in Colorado Springs, which has also supported the NCHC by providing its office headquarters on the grounds of the Penrose House and helping cover the cost of the Penrose Cup, the NCHC’s regular-season trophy. Luedtke’s scholarship amount will be $7,500.
 
“The NCHC membership is thankful for the continued support of the El Pomar Foundation and its Board of Directors.” Weems said. “Along with our victories on the ice, it’s also important to recognize our success stories in the classroom. We are happy to share in awarding this honor with El Pomar.”
 
“I view this opportunity not only as an investment in my education but also as a responsibility to give back to the community through future service and leadership in the dental profession,” Luedtke concluded in his nomination.
 
To be eligible for the NCHC’s Postgraduate Scholarship, the student-athlete must be a senior or grad student on his team’s official NCAA hockey roster with at least a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average, who plans to continue his academic studies beyond his undergraduate degree. The recipient must enroll in a postgraduate degree program within three years of receiving the scholarship to collect the financial aid. The winner is chosen by a vote of the NCHC’s Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs) from among the nominees submitted by each school’s FAR. Five nominations were submitted in 2025.
 
PREVIOUS NCHC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
2016 – Gabe Levin, Denver
2017 – Aaron Hadley, WMU and Kirk Thompson, Omaha
2018 – Joel Messner, Omaha
2019 – Ryan Galt, Omaha
2020 – Erich Fear, Denver
2021 – Kale Bennett, Western Michigan
2022 – Jason Smallidge, Omaha
2023 – Aidan Spellacy, St. Cloud State
2024 – Kirby Proctor, Omaha
2025 – Josh Luedtke, St. Cloud State
 

–#NCHChockey–

Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Jared Jones hit a line drive that glanced off a glove for the winning run moments after LSU got a big break to tie the game, and the Tigers posted a 6-5 walk-off victory over SEC rival Arkansas on Wednesday night to advance to the College World Series finals.

The Tigers (51-15) will play for their second national championship in three years when they square off against Coastal Carolina in the best-of-three finals starting Saturday. The Chanticleers locked up their spot with an 11-3 win over Louisville on Wednesday.

It’s been quite a turnaround for Jones, who struck out five times in the Tigers’ 4-1 win over Arkansas in their CWS opener. In the last two games, he’s 5 for 9 with six RBIs and two homers.

“I’ve spent so much time and effort in this sport throughout my life,” Jones said. “My parents have sacrificed so much to get me to this point. And my teammates, I was up sixth or seventh in the ninth inning, so there had to be a lot that had to go right for us to put me in that position. I’m just super grateful for it all and wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Arkansas (50-15) took a two-run lead in the top of the ninth on Justin Thomas’ tie-breaking single and looked ready to force a second bracket final against the Tigers on Thursday. Instead, the Razorbacks’ season ended in heartbreak in Omaha again.

The Tigers beat Arkansas for the fourth time in five meetings this season, including 4-1 last Saturday in the teams’ CWS opener. They are 5-0 all-time in CWS meetings with the Razorbacks.

LSU put two men on base with one out in the bottom of the ninth against Cole Gibler (3-2). Steven Milam grounded to short, and Wehiwa Aloy opted to get the lead runner at third rather than try for a game-ending double play.

“I talked to him about it,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “He felt he moved too far to his right to turn it.”

Luis Hernandez came up and sent a hard liner to left. Charles Davalan slipped as he broke for the ball and it deflected off his right shoulder. Davalan chased the ball down as Ethan Frey and Milam scored easily.

“It was hit hard obviously, and it was hooking and sinking,” Van Horn said. “It looked like Charles slipped taking off for it and when he took off he lost sight of it.”

Jones, whose team-best 22nd homer of the season had tied it 3-all in the eighth, shot a line drive up the middle that bounced off second baseman Cam Kozeal’s glove. Hernandez scored from second ahead of the throw home, setting off an LSU celebration in center field.

LSU coach Jay Johnson said the moment was reminiscent of two years ago when Tommy White’s 11th-inning, walk-off homer against Wake Forest sent the Tigers to the finals against Florida.

“I said this literally probably two years ago to the day, the walk-off homer, Tommy against Wake Forest, I felt something in my body I’ve never felt before. Greatest moment in my life,” Johnson said. “It now has a tie for first, with the ninth inning with Jared Jones, line drive over the second baseman’s head. And Luis Hernandez, hustling around second base.”

Jacob Mayers (2-0), the fourth LSU pitcher, worked two-thirds of an inning for the win. Zac Cowan gave the Tigers a season-long 5 1/3 innings in his second start of the season and allowed one run on four hits. He walked none and struck out six.

Gut-wrenching losses in Omaha are nothing new for Arkansas. The Razorbacks were one out away from winning the 2018 national championship in the second game of the finals against Oregon State. What should have been a game-ending pop foul dropped between three Arkansas fielders. Oregon State went on to win that game and the next to take the title.

This was Arkansas’ 12th CWS appearance and eighth under Van Horn, and the Razorbacks are tied with Clemson and North Carolina for second-most trips to Omaha without winning the title. Florida State is first at 24.

___

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

By: Tim Flynn

CSC Academic All-District Team

– Colorado School of Mines wrestler Grayston DiBlasi has been named to the College Sports Communicators’ Academic All-District team for his athletic and academic achievement in the 2024-25 school year. 

It marks the third consecutive Academic All-District honor for the recent Mines graduate, who received his degree in mechanical engineering in May. DiBlasi was named the 2025 RMAC Academic Wrestler of the Year, First-Team Academic All-RMAC, NWCA Scholar All-America, and Second-Team All-RMAC this season, going 22-6 overall at 141 pounds. He went 12-1 in duals and 5-1 vs. the RMAC, spending nearly the entire season in the national rankings peaking at #4 both the NWCA and OpenMat polls. He finished fourth at both the Midwest Classic and the NCAA Super Region VI Championship. 

DiBlasi finished his career with a 95-28 record, ranking third all-time at Mines in wins and fifth in falls with 27.

DiBlasi was named to the At-Large Team, which combines candidates from a number of sports including fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, tennis, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. All nominees must have a 3.5 or above GPA while holding sophomore or higher academic standing. He were joined on the At-Large All-District team by Mines golfers Max Lange, Carter Lolli, and Lukas Taggart. Academic All-District recipients will go on to the ballot for the Academic All-America award, which will be announced later this summer.