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SALT LAKE CITY— Utah Athletics will be able to retain the talents of former women’s basketball star Jenna Johnson and gymnastics phenom Maile O’Keefe in post-graduate roles with their respective programs, thanks to the Anne Osborn Post-Graduate Internship Award. The department announced today that Johnson and O’Keefe are the award recipients for 2025-26.

This is the second year the prestigious award has been available to former female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility, but show the potential to be leaders within athletics careers.

Dasia Young of women’s basketball was the first recipient of the award for the 2024-25 competition season.

Johnson, who graduated in May with her bachelor’s degree in operations and supply chain and a minor in strategic communication, is slated to fill Young’s role from last year with women’s basketball as an assistant graduate coach.

O’Keefe, who graduated in 2023 with her degree in kinesiology, and has since added a certificate of applied positive psychology (2024) and an MRED certificate (2025) while working as a graduate assistant coach for gymnastics, will now move over to an operations specialist role as Grace McCallum takes over as the graduate assistant coach.

ABOUT THE ANNE OSBORN POST-GRADUATE INTERNSHIP AWARD

The Anne Osborn Post-Graduate Internship Award was created with the intent to invest in Utah female student-athletes who have expired their eligibility, but possess extraordinary potential to become leaders of their generation through careers in college athletics.

Endowed by University of Utah Distinguished Professor Emeritus Anne G. Osborn, MD, the award provides financial support for a full academic year as the recipients gain valuable insight, development, and real-world experience working in athletics. Osborn was a two-sport athlete herself, competing in swimming and basketball while completing her undergraduate degree at Stanford University.

“Even at the highest levels, only a few student-athletes will ever have a realistic chance to compete professionally in the sport they love,” stated Dr. Osborn. “This post-graduate internship will allow recipients the opportunity to explore the ever-growing spectrum of careers in collegiate athletics.”

All candidates for the award must be former female student-athletes who possess leadership potential, character, academic achievement, and athletic excellence.

Through the year, all recipients must be fully engaged with their assigned roles and mentorship programs through the Utah Athletics Department and its EmpowHer program, and be actively involved in professional development sessions and departmental duties. Recipients will also be asked to provide periodic updates on their experiences and achievements that will culminate in a final reflection to be given to the EmpowHer Board of Directors.

MORE ABOUT JENNA JOHNSON, UTAH WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (2021-25)

Johnson came to Salt Lake City in 2021 as the No. 7 forward in the nation according to ESPN, and immediately made her impact known, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week three times in her debut season while being a key cog in leading the Utes to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 years.

That was only the start of Johnson’s journey, earning Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mentions in 2023 and 2024 while pushing Utah to new heights winning a Pac-12 Championship and earning a Sweet 16 berth in 2023.

“Jenna has cemented her legacy here at Utah as a WBB player,” said Utah Women’s Basketball coach Gavin Petersen. “As a team leader who always led by example, she was always prepared, dependable and was a fierce competitor on the floor. More than that, Jenna is an amazing human being that connected with people beyond basketball. Her maturity, spiritual faith and sense of humor are just some of the things that I am so thrilled to have stick around for another season with our program.”

Johnson finished her time at Utah ranked ninth in school history in career field goal percentage and a two-time team captain.

“The U gave me a platform to chase down my athletic dreams and develop me into a better student, woman, and member of our Salt Lake community,” said Johnson. “As I look forward to the future, my next goal is to be a Division I basketball coach.  This position will help me gain experience, confidence, and a space to continue to pursue my dreams. I think collegiate coaching is a difficult industry to break into, and this opportunity will allow me a ‘foot in the door’ to gain incredibly valuable experience while learning from a premier coaching staff, working with talented players, and being in an environment where I’m comfortable developing my skill-set as a coach.”

MORE ABOUT MAILE O’KEEFE, UTAH GYMNASTICS (2020-24)

O’Keefe established herself as one of the most decorated Red Rocks in program history, being crowned a national champion four times, a 2023 and 2024 finalist for the AAI award, a two-time NCAA Regional beam champion (2021, 2023), and earning 19 All-American nods throughout her career.

Additionally, O’Keefe smashed the record books for Utah Gymnastics, holding the school record for career 10.0s, (15), career 10.0s on beam (14), and single-season 10.0s on beam.

 

“Having been both her coach and now working alongside Maile, I can attest to her exceptional work ethic, leadership qualities, and unwavering commitment to this team,” said Utah Gymnastics head coach Carly Dockendorf. “Maile has consistently demonstrated maturity beyond her years, balancing her academic and athletic responsibilities with professionalism and enthusiasm. She has a natural ability to connect with others, making her a highly effective mentor to younger Red Rocks. Her approach is supportive, empathetic, and rooted in a genuine desire to help others grow.”

O’Keefe proved to be a force in the Pac-12, earning Gymnast of the Year in 2021, two Specialist of the Year awards (2021, 2023), 10 All-Pac-12 Conference honors, and a five-time Pac-12 Champion (2021, all-around, bars, beam, and floor; 2024, beam).

“I believe I bring a unique and valuable perspective to the program, having been in the athletes’ shoes just a year ago,” said O’Keefe. “As a former peer, I can relate to their experiences and provide guidance in a way that fosters trust and positivity. My ability to connect with athletes allows me to serve as a liaison between them and the coaches, helping to bridge any gaps and support their growth. I love Utah Gymnastics with my whole heart and I’m excited for the opportunity to contribute to their success in a different manner.”

 

Excitement and anticipation turned to unfathomable grief in an instant when the wife of hockey star Johnny Gaudreau learned her husband and his brother, Matthew, had been killed by an alleged drunken driver last summer.

Meredith Gaudreau was on the front porch of her husband’s parents’ house when she was told he and his brother died after they were hit while riding their bikes on a Salem County road.

She was in shock. “I was keeled over for days sick to my stomach,” she wrote. “I couldn’t stand up. I was awake and having nightmares.”

• MORE: Man who admitted drinking before killing NHL star now wants his statements to cops thrown out

She had recently told Johnny she was expecting their third child. His sister was supposed to get married the next day.

And now the family was planning a funeral for the brothers.

Meredith Gaudreau shared her memories of the day of her husband’s death along with many joyful memories of life with her “dream guy” in a love letter she wrote to her husband to mark the first Father’s Day without him.

She presented thepersonal message to the world in an essay posted Thursday on the sports website The Players’ Tribune.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew R. Gaudreau, 29, were struck and killed on the evening of Aug. 29, 2024, as they bicycled along a rural road in Salem County.

Prosecutors say Sean M. Higgins, 44, of Pilesgrove, was intoxicated when he struck the men. He’s charged with aggravated manslaughter, reckless vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

As the court case drags on, the Gaudreau family is left to mark milestones — holidays, birthdays, anniversaries — without the two beloved brothers.

Johnny Gaudreau played 11 seasons in the NHL, while Matthew Gaudreau was a college hockey player and later a coach. Their deaths shocked the international hockey world.

The wives of both brothers were pregnant at the time of the crash.

Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny’s widow, later announced the couple’s third son, Carter Michael Gaudreau, was born April 1.

Madeline Gaudreau, Matthew’s widow, announced the birth of the couple’s son, Tripp Matthew, in December.

Meredith’s letter to Johnny begins with her describing the day they met in 2018. From there, she recalled discovering that the man she was dating was a hockey star for the Calgary Flames.

The couple’s lives grew intertwined and she remembered in her letter the big moments, including the day he proposed, the day they learned they were expecting their first child, and the day Johnny made the tough decision to leave Calgary to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

She also recalled the day she lost Johnny and the difficult journey that has followed.

As Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau navigate life without their husbands, they’ve also found time to honor the brothers’ legacies.

The widows are co-presidents of the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, formed to promote and expand youth ice hockey opportunities, help hockey families facing tragedies and assist families affected by drunk driving.

“The Foundation’s purpose is to continue giving back to what the boys are passionate about and to ultimately continue to make a positive impact on the world in their honor,” the widows wrote on the group’s website.

The family also recently hosted the inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Run, Walk & Family Fun Day in Gloucester County. The event raised funds for a new adaptive playground at Archbishop Damiano School in Westville.

The special education school serves students with cognitive disabilities. The Gaudreau brothers’ mother and sister work at the school and a family member was a previous student.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.

In Summer 2024, Syracuse University’s Athletic department, in strategic partnership with Micron Technology, launched the STEM of Sports Academy; a pioneering initiative designed to

foster early interest in STEM education by integrating it with one of the most engaging cultural touchpoints among youth, sports.

The program serves as both an educational experience and a long‐term workforce development strategy, with a focus on students from Syracuse’s urban core and underrepresented

• Access and Inclusion: The program is intentionally inclusive, welcoming students regardless of prior academic performance or athletic participation.
• K–12 Pipeline Development: It initiates a structured engagement pipeline into higher education and high‐growth STEM career paths.
• Community Engagement: It strengthens the civic footprint and positions sponsors and Syracuse University as proactive leaders in regional youth development in STEM.
• Workforce Readiness: It aligns with national and state‐level objectives for STEM talent development, particularly in advanced technology and semiconductor sectors.

“This initiative makes STEM accessible by connecting it to students’ lived experiences. It’s a compelling model for community impact and workforce development.”
— Professor Cindy Smith, Curriculum Director, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Program Implementation:

In summer 2024, Syracuse University Athletics hosted three 1‐day, coeducational STEM immersion sessions at the Lally Athletics Complex. Each session welcomed 50 students, with

one day exclusively for female participants. Programming was designed and led by faculty from the College of Engineering and Computer Science, in collaboration with Syracuse student-athlete

leaders.

Core Activities Included:

• Engineering through Play: The Egg Drop Challenge taught basic design and testing principles.
• Sports Technology Labs: Students explored real‐time impact sensors and athletic performance software.
• Physics of Movement: Sessions in running and jumping mechanics connected physics to daily life.
• Mentorship and Exploration: Campus tours and student‐athlete interactions offered exposure to collegiate life.

“Students were not passive learners; they were collaborators, thinkers, and designers. It transformed how they view both education and career possibilities.”
— Salatha Willis, Associate Athletics Director

Quantitative Outcomes ‐ Key Metrics from 2024 Post‐Program Survey (98 responses):

• 91% reported increased interest in STEM disciplines.
• 87% indicated a better understanding of STEM concepts.
• 79% expressed interest in pursuing STEM courses or careers.
• The majority found the real‐world applications of STEM both relevant and inspiring
• Over 90% rated the instructors and student‐athlete mentors as highly effective.
• Participants engaging in the Egg Drop Challenge which measures impact while encouraging creativity and engineering.

The data confirms that when STEM content is contextualized through sports, students not only retain more, but they want to learn more. This level of impact was particularly notable given the
program’s inclusivity: no prior STEM or athletic experience was required, ensuring accessibility to all students regardless of background.

Future Programming Vision:

The STEM of Sports Academy is not an endpoint. It is the foundation for a scalable, multi‐year STEM learning ecosystem designed to serve students through high school graduation and into post-secondary and workforce pathways.

Planned Pipeline Progression:

1. STEM of Sports Day Academy + High School Visits (9th–10th grades)

2. Summer College Non‐Credit STEM Academy (10th–11th grades)

3. Summer College STEM for Credit Program (11th–12th grades)

4. Pre‐College STEM Internships (Graduating seniors)

5. College Transition Program (First‐year university support)

In 2025, 20 students from the 2024 pilot will receive full scholarships for the weeklong STEM of

Sports Summer College Experience.

Partnership & Investment Strategy:

The pilot year was made possible by seed funding and programmatic support from Micron Technology. In 2025, National Grid is expected to assume the role of primary sponsor, enabling

the program to expand while maintaining Micron’s critical involvement in mentorship and semiconductor career exploration.

“Micron’s partnership with Syracuse University Athletics and the College of Engineering reflects our commitment to inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders in Central New York.”

— Dr. Kim Burnet, Micron Social Impact and Community Engagement

The UMass hockey team’s 2025-26 roster continues to take shape as three more recruits were announced to be joining the Minutemen this past week.

Vaclav Nestrasil, A.J. Lacroix and Lukas Klecka were all confirmed as the newest members of the Class of 2029 by UMass athletics.

Nestrasil will begin his college career with the most hype of the three as the Prague, Czechia product will almost certainly be selected in this month’s NHL Draft and could even be chosen as high as the first round. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 186 pounds, Nestrasil totaled 55 points in 86 games across two seasons during the regular season and playoffs with the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Muskegon Lumberjacks.

“Vaclav is a right-shot forward that can play both center and wing,” Minutemen head coach Greg Carvel said in a statement released by UMass athletics. “He possesses an elite skill set at his size, has great vision and makes great plays with the puck.  He goes to the net and uses his size and ability to score goals around the net. Fans will enjoy watching Vaclav develop over the years.”

Nestrasil won the Clark Cup championship with the Lumberjacks this past season, along with incoming recruit Jack Galanek.

Lacroix is the latest recruit from the Brooks Bandits of the British Columbia Hockey League to make his way to the Pioneer Valley. Lacroix, who hails from Livingston, New Jersey, helped the Bandits to the BCHL championship by tallying 11 goals and 28 points in 44 games.

“A.J. is the type of kid you win with,” Carvel said. “He is a great teammate and is very coachable. He is a big power forward who can really shoot the puck and can play in a lot of different situations on the ice. A.J. has spent time playing in the top junior leagues in North America and has had success at every level. His on-ice ability and high character off the ice will be a great addition to our forward group next season.”

Cale Makar, most notably, played his junior hockey with the Bandits before suiting up for the Minutemen in 2017-18.

Klecka was the first of the three names to be announced this week and the Bratislava, Slovakia native will cross the Atlantic Ocean for his first taste of North American hockey when he arrives in Amherst this fall.

Klecka put up impressive numbers over three seasons with Södertälje SK J20 in Sweden, securing 104 points in 144 career games. Klecka was also teammates with current Minuteman forward Daniel Jencko on the Slovakian World Junior Championship team this past winter in Ottawa.

“Lukas played this past season in Sweden and featured on the Slovakian World Junior team,” Carvel said. “He will bring a lot of pace, skill and compete to our team next season.”

UMass’ incoming freshman class is up to six names as of Friday afternoon, with five of them being forwards.

Injuries force Michael Cameron to retire

In an unexpected update, UMass hockey’s sports information director, Jillian Jakuba, confirmed on Twitter/X that Michael Cameron will not return to the Minutemen next season, citing “a medical retirement.”

Cameron is not listed on UMass’ 2025-26 roster on its website and Jakuba clarified the rising senior’s future status when one fan suggested the omission was an error.

Cameron dealt with multiple injuries in 2024-25 and missed the final 11 games after suffering an injury at Boston College on February 14.

In 87 career games with the Minutemen, Cameron compiled 29 points.