ORLANDO, Fla. – Chris Malloy was named Golfweek’s 2024-25 Men’s College Golf Coach of the Year Thursday. Malloy is the first men’s coach at Ole Miss to receive the award and the sixth coach from the Southeastern Conference to be recognized since voting began back in 1999.

He joins Kory Henkes who received the award on the women’s side in 2021.

Malloy guided arguably the best and most decorated Ole Miss team in program history during his 11th season. The team earned its first No. 1 ranking in program history on October 23, 2024. The team also received its first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in program history.

The Rebels finished third at the 2025 NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa, in Carlsbad, California. The 3rd place finish marked the best by an Ole Miss team in program history. Ole Miss took down the top seeded Arizona State Sun Devils in the quarterfinals of match play before falling to No. 4 Oklahoma State in the semifinals.

Ole Miss finished second at the 2025 Tallahassee Regional, marking the best finish in a regional in program history. Michael La Sasso finished tied for second which marked the second-best finish in a regional by an individual.

Ole Miss claimed three team titles in 2024-25, the most wins since 2016-17. La Sasso and Tom Fischer both tallied their first individual collegiate wins, and six players finished inside the top five at least once.

The team set a program record for the most team rounds under par in a single season at 26 and the most team rounds of par or better. Ole Miss finished inside the top five nine times, the most since 1984-85.

Under Malloy’s guidance, La Sasso was named a PING & Golfweek First Team All-American, First Team All-SEC, a Haskins Award Finalist, a Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year finalist and a Ben Hogan Award semifinalist. The Raleigh, North Carolina native tallied a 69.48 scoring average which is the lowest in a single season in program history. La Sasso recorded the third most rounds under-par in single season with 25. His 30 rounds of par or better and 20 rounds in the 60s are the second most in a single season by an Ole Miss Rebel. He was selected to represent Team USA in the 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup, marking the second straight year he will compete for the United States. With his win at the National Championship, La Sasso will compete in the 125th U.S. Open, the 2025 Rocket Classic and the 2026 Masters next April.

Malloy directed Tom Fischer to Second Team All-SEC honors, Golfweek All-American Honorable Mention and SEC Community Service Team recognition. Fischer broke through for his first individual win in the team’s regular season finale at the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship. He carded a career-low 54-hole score of (203, -13) which tied the individual low-54 in tournament history.

Fischer, La Sasso, Kye Meeks and Cameron Tankersley all earned PING All-Region Southeast Team honors. Tankersley and La Sasso will compete in the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont. Five players set a career-low 54-hole score in 2024-25 with three players setting a career-low 18-hole score. Four players tallied at least 22 rounds of par or better during the season with five players tallying under par scores in 15 or more rounds.

For updates throughout the season, follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissMGolf. Additional updates and information on the team can be found on Instagram at OleMissMGolf, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men’s Golf and on OleMissSports.com.

CHELMSFORD, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts high school student who was arrested by immigration agents on his way to volleyball practice has been released from custody after a judge granted him bond Thursday.

Marcelo Gomes da Silva, 18, who came to the U.S. from Brazil at age 7, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Saturday. Authorities have said the agents were looking for the Milford High School teenager’s father, who owns the car Gomes da Silva was driving at the time and had parked in a friend’s driveway.

“It shouldn’t have happened in the first place. This is all a waste,” his lawyer, Robin Nice, told reporters after a hearing in Chelmsford. Gomes da Silva, who was expected to be released Thursday afternoon on $2,000 bond, appeared via video from elsewhere in Massachusetts.

READ MORE: Immigration authorities detain family of man charged in Boulder attack

“We disrupted a kid’s life. We just disrupted a community’s life,” Nice said. “These kids should be celebrating graduation and prom, I assume? They should be doing kid stuff, and it is a travesty and a waste of our judicial process to have to go through this.”

She said Gomes da Silva slept on the cement floor of a room holding 25 to 35 men, many twice his age, most of the time he was detained, with no windows, no time outside and no permission to shower. He was able to brush his teeth twice. Nice said that at one point Gomes da Silva asked for a Bible and was denied.

He went to the hospital Wednesday because he had concerns about a concussion he received before he was detained and was suffering from a bad cold, Nice said.

READ MORE: Top immigration official defends tactics as arrests rise nationwide

“He’s looking forward to eating Snickers and chicken nuggets when he is released,” she said.

Not ICE’s target, but detained anyway

U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said earlier this week that ICE officers were targeting a “known public safety threat” and that Gomes da Silva’s father “has a habit of reckless driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through residential areas.”

“While ICE officers never intended to apprehend Gomes da Silva, he was found to be in the United States illegally and subject to removal proceedings, so officers made the arrest,” she said in a statement.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Monday that “like any local law enforcement officer, if you encounter someone that has a warrant or … he’s here illegally, we will take action on it.”

Gomes da Silva initially entered the country on a visitor visa and was later issued a student visa that has since lapsed, Nice said. She described him as deeply rooted in his community and a dedicated member of both the school marching band and a band at his church.

The immigration judge set a placeholder hearing date for a couple of weeks from Thursday, but it might take place months from that, Nice said.

“We’re optimistic that he’ll have a future in the United States,” she said.

A federal judge considering Gomes da Silva’s request to be released while his immigration case proceeds has given the government until June 16 to respond and ordered that Gomes da Silva not be moved out of Massachusetts without 48 hours’ notice given to the court. The government sought permission Wednesday to move Gomes da Silva to a detention facility in a different New England state, Nice said. A judge quickly denied the request.

A shaken community

“I love my son. We need Marcelo back home. It’s no family without him,” João Paulo Gomes Pereira said in a video released Wednesday. “We love America. Please, bring my son back.”

The video showed the family in the teen’s bedroom. Gomes da Silva’s sister describes watching movies with her brother and enjoying food he cooks for her: “I miss everything about him.”

Students at Milford High staged a walkout Monday to protest his detainment. Other supporters wore white and packed the stands of the high school gymnasium Tuesday night, when the volleyball team dedicated a match to their missing teammate.

Hanna Ghannan, who graduated from the school the day after Gomes de Silva was detained, was among those cheering outside the courthouse as the news came that her classmate would be let out on bond.

“I’m just happy that everyone’s coming to together as a community because there is a lot of hate — and I mean a lot of hate,” she said.

Amani Jack, also a recent Milford High graduate, said her classmate’s absence loomed large over the graduation ceremony, where he was supposed to play in the band. She said if she had a chance to speak with the president, she’d ask him to ‘just put yourself in our shoes.’

“He did say he was going to deport criminals,” she said. “Marcelo is not a criminal. He’s a student. I really want him to take a step in our shoes, witnessing this. Try and understand how we feel. We’re just trying to graduate high school.”

Veronica Hernandez, a family advocate from Medford who said she works in a largely Hispanic community where ICE has had an active presence, said cases like Gomes da Silva’s show immigration enforcement is serious about taking “anybody” without legal status, not just those accused of crimes.

“I think seeing that something so simple as a child driving themselves and their friends to volleyball practice at risk struck a chord,” she said.

Associated Press reporter Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this story.

Yesterday, The Big West proudly announced that Utah Valley University (UVU) will join the conference as a full member beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. This move strengthens The Big West’s commitment to academic and athletic excellence while expanding its competitive reach. Read more >>>

See some of the first reactions of the news from social media:

???????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????????#GoUVU | #ValleyForged | #OnlyTheBoldhttps://t.co/W5BE8TMDkR

— UVU Wolverines (@GoUVU) June 4, 2025

We are honored to join the @BigWestSports and begin an exciting new chapter in @UVU Athletics. This move reflects the progress we’ve made across our programs and the growing reputation of our university. @GoUVU https://t.co/j4ucvcWjpG

— President Astrid S. Tuminez (@uvu_president) June 4, 2025

Hear from @csunorthridge President Dr. Erika D. Beck

on the addition of @GoUVU in 2026. #?????????????????????? x #GoUVU pic.twitter.com/QFJUcUexuu

— The Big West (@BigWestSports) June 4, 2025

Could not be more excited to join @BigWestSports in 2026 ??#GoUVU#ValleyForged#AllHailUtahValley https://t.co/gW4M2wf1v3

— Jared Sumsion (@Jared_Sumsion) June 4, 2025

LISTEN: The Big West Commissioner @DanButterly joins Brice and Bianucci to talk:

?? Utah Valley’s move to The Big West

?? The future of the conference

?? How the House vs. NCAA affects mid-major conferenceshttps://t.co/k3qshyeqCvhttps://t.co/1Sz73S4svo pic.twitter.com/Z5Q2WAxWcy

— 103.9 & 98.3 ESPN The Fan (@espnthefan) June 5, 2025

I can roll with this. Welcome to the Big West, Utah Valley

pic.twitter.com/o9lrVVRF1C

— Jon (@jdgaucho09) June 5, 2025

Hear from the Chair of The Big West Board of Directors and @UCSanDiego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla on the addition of @GoUVU in 2026. #?????????????????????? x #GoUVU pic.twitter.com/7WDw9T0JnP

— The Big West (@BigWestSports) June 4, 2025

Here’s our story on today’s conference realignment move, which sees Utah’s largest public university join a conference whose membership will otherwise exist exclusively in California (once Hawaii is a full Mountain West member, that is).https://t.co/LDxpQAb15z

— Sean Walker (@ActuallyDSW) June 4, 2025

The Big West will add Utah Valley to its ranks starting in the 2026-27 academic year. The league also added California Baptist earlier this year with the same timeline. An already exciting baseball conference will be loaded in two years. https://t.co/pEbV3FHXFW

— Jacob Rudner (@JacobRudner) June 4, 2025

Hear from @FullertonTitans Director of Athletics Jim Donovan on the addition of @GoUVU in 2026. #?????????????????????? x #GoUVU pic.twitter.com/SsriOAEacz

— The Big West (@BigWestSports) June 4, 2025

pic.twitter.com/fstjy8S4LQ

— UVU Wolverines (@GoUVU) June 4, 2025

We’re less than a week away from the 2025 NCAA DI outdoor championships, and the latest Bowerman watch list has been announced. While the results in Eugene will greatly impact the race for the premier award in track and field, here’s an early look at where I think things stand entering the championships.

Disclaimer: This is not a reflection or indication of the actual Bowerman committee’s view on any of the athletes or their voting process, nor how they will vote in the future.

Top men’s Bowerman contenders

No. 1 contender — Ethan Strand | North Carolina

No. 2 contender — Mykolas Alekna | California 

Ethan Strand had the best indoor season of any athlete; Mykolas Alekna has had the best outdoor season of any athlete so far. 

Outdoors, Ethan Strand won an ACC title in the 1500 meters and finished second in the conference in the 5000 meters. Mykolas Alekna didn’t compete indoors, as he’s a discus thrower.

At this very moment — before the championship meet — I think Strand’s combination of indoor and outdoor success gives him a slight advantage over Alekna’s all-time dominance in the discus. That could all change based on how things go at nationals.

FOLLOW THE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Click or tap here to follow along for live updates from the championship

No. 3 contender — Jordan Anthony | Arkansas 

Jordan Anthony joined the Bowerman for the sixth watch list. Since then, he’s run 9.75 seconds in the 100 meters and won SEC titles in the 100 and 200 meters. He’s having the second-best outdoor season of any male in my top-four contenders and he also has an indoor title in the 60 meters to boost his full-season resume. More success and a potential record in Eugene could land him as a finalist.

WATCH LIST: The latest 2025 Bowerman Watch List for men’s and women’s NCAA track and field

No. 4 contender — Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan | Ole Miss 

Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan was my No. 3 Bowerman contender entering May and has since won SEC titles in the shot put and hammer. If he wins the shot put title in Eugene, he’ll become the first athlete to pull off consecutive season sweeps since 2010. If Robinson-O’Hagan also wins the hammer, it’ll be hard to say he’s not worthy of being a finalist.

MORE: Every potential repeat champion at the 2025 DI outdoor track and field championships

Potential risers from receiving votes

• Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, South Florida (Sprints)

Abdul-Rasheed Saminu has the No. 2 all-conditions 100 meter time in NCAA history. If he ends up at the top of the list, I think he’d be at the least a semifinalist for the Bowerman.

UP NEXT: These records could fall at the DI outdoor track championships

Top women’s Bowerman contenders

No. 1 contender — Doris Lemngole | Alabama

Doris Lemngole was the top women’s Bowerman contender entering May, and in the last month, she has won SEC titles in the 5000 meters and the steeplechase while running the second- and eighth-fastest races in the steeplechase in NCAA history. Lemngole is in a great position to become the first Bowerman winner in Alabama history.

MORE RECORDS: Every collegiate track and field record broken in 2025, so far

No. 2 contender — Amanda Moll | Washington

Amanda Moll jumps to No. 2 on this list after resetting the top of the women’s pole vault record book twice in May. Her pole vault record comes after an indoor season where she broke an indoor pole vault record that stood for a decade and won an NCAA title. If Moll wins the outdoor NCAA title, she’ll complete one of — if not the — greatest pole vaulting seasons in women’s collegiate history.

BROOMS OUT: 16 DI track and field indoor champions looking for a season sweep at the 2025 outdoor championships

No. 3 contender — Şilan Ayyildiz | Oregon

Silan Ayylidiz has been a part of three NCAA records this year: the indoor mile, the outdoor mile and the distance medley relay. However, an evasive NCAA title keeps her from rising higher on this list. She’ll be running only the 1500 meters in Eugene, so that’ll be her chance to reach the top of the podium. 

Potential risers from receiving votes

• Temitope Adeshina, Texas Tech (Jumps)
• Lexy Halladay-Lowry, BYU (Steeple/Distance)
• Meghan Hunter, BYU (Mid-Distance)

For these three women, rising in the eyes of the Bowerman committee will come down to winning and historical performance. Only Temitope Adeshina won an indoor title of the trio. All will likely need an outdoor title for a shot at the Bowerman. 

They’d likely need record-breaking performances, too. Currently, Adeshina is the No. 4 all-time high jumper, Lexy Halladay-Lowry is the No. 5 all-time steeplechaser and Meghan Hunter is the No. 3 all-time 800 meter runner.

Noelle Niederman ’27, a beach volleyball player at Santa Clara University, had an early introduction to the sport, as her parents first met playing beach volleyball. Years later, in 2019, she was introduced to a club program in her home state of Washington.

“My family and I met some really amazing people, and they were like, ‘you’re young and you’re good, you should definitely try it out,’ and it changed my life,” Niederman shared.

She finished the 2025 season with a 13-20 overall record, competing at the No. 1, 2, and 3 positions in the lineup. In conference play, Niederman ended with a 4-1 record and was recognized as part of the West Coast Conference All-Academic Team, in which the WCC recognizes student-athletes that have excellence in both their athletics and academics. She and the Broncos achieved the best performance in program history by placing second in the WCC Championship. According to Niederman, the team culture was crucial to this success. 

“We had a very good foundation as, in the beginning, my coaches made an effort to get to know everyone considering the majority of our team is new,” she said. “We had a bunch of team bonding exercises, giving us confidence to push each other.”

She reflected on her mindset during high-pressure matches, such as the WCC final against Loyola Marymount University and focused on believing in herself and her teammates. “I go through a mindset of, okay, I want to win, I know I can, let’s get it done. In those moments, I just have to trust myself and trust my skills, and that both my partner and I are in it.”

On top of her commitment to her athletic excellence, Niederman is a mechanical engineering student, and recalls how it can be a challenge during the season to manage her time between both school and volleyball, so she has strategized by being goal-oriented.

“Balance has been a big thing. I’m a mechanical engineer, so it’s been tough. Allocating certain times during the day for work, trying to avoid nights,” she said. “I want to succeed in both athletics and academics, because that’s why I am here. A, to get a good education, B, to further develop my career-oriented skills being on a team.”

Niederman emphasized perseverance when dealing with difficulties during training or following tough matches. 

“I like to push myself—I’ve never seen myself as a quitter, so what motivates me is the feeling I get after I succeed and, if I fail, I need to take that as an opportunity to learn.”  

Heading into the WCC Championship, Niederman said the team was confident and motivated. Looking ahead, she also reflected on this idea while hoping to build on the current team identity and continue to develop her own individual skills.

“Going into the championship, we had a lot of confidence and we were very hungry to get those wins, and we never doubted each other, and we will continue this into next season,” Niederman said. “We have this culture and identity that is super strong, so I’m very stoked for our next season. For me personally, I just want to stay focused and continue to build my confidence and have a strong belief in myself and my abilities.”

BIRMINGHAM – Texas A&M track & field’s Carter Bajoit and Heather Abadie were named to the SEC Community Service Team, the league announced Thursday.
 

Bajoit has been a standout student-athlete and three-year team captain with the Texas A&M track & field team, known for his leadership and commitment to service. He leads weekly Bible studies through Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and launched PROJECT CHRISTMAS to support over 300 people in Houston each year.
 

From mentoring youth at the Boys & Girls Club to serving local causes in the Brazos valley, Carter’s impact earned him a spot on the 2024 SEC Community Service Team and landed him on NACDA Good Works Team which recognizes 20 standout student-athletes for their exceptional achievements in community service, athletics and academics.
 

Revered by his peers, Bajoit was given the honor of speaking at Texas A&M’s athletics graduation ceremony following his final season for the Maroon & White where he helped guide the team to its first SEC Indoor Championship title.
 

Abadie concluded a historic career in Aggieland, leaving a lasting impression on her teammates and the community. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native first kept her service at the local level, as she became a member of the track & field teams leadership council, finding ways to help her fellow teammates maximize their experience and impact while at Texas A&M.
 

Abadie also serves on the national stage, giving back to the sport by volunteering for USATF helping out with meets. The standout leaves Texas A&M as the school-record holder in both the indoor and outdoor pole vault events and a two time SEC Champion, while serving as a leader for that group throughout her four-year campaign.
 

The duo also took their service to the international stage, as both Bajoit and Abadie helped raise $36,000 for a mission trip to Panama, where student-athletes at Texas A&M served locals from the area.
 

To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.