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Ntekpere Selected as GNAC Female Athlete of the Year

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Ntekpere Selected as GNAC Female Athlete of the Year

PORTLAND, Ore. – Emy Ntekpere’s 2025 track and field season at Central Washington University was nothing short of spectacular.
 
She broke records seemingly every time she competed, won three NCAA Division II national titles and on Thursday was announced as the 2024-25 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Female Athlete of the Year. She is the second woman and fourth student-athlete in school history to earn the top individual award from the conference and is the 12th women’s track & field athlete to receive the honor. Other CWU winners were LeAnne McGahuey (volleyball) in 2005-06, Mike Reilly (football) in 2008-09 and Johnny Spevak (football) in 2009-10.
 
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Anyone who has followed GNAC track & field has seen this coming since Ntekpere debuted as a freshman in 2023-24, as she just missed the podium at both the indoor and outdoor national championships. A year later, Ntekpere has grown into the preeminent jumper in Division II. After claiming the gold medals in both the high jump and triple jump at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, she was named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Field Athlete of the Year.
 
Ntekpere’s first national title came during the indoor campaign, when she broke the conference indoor record with a jump of 42-8 feet (13.0 meters) on her fourth attempt on March 14 in Indianapolis. The competition wasn’t close among the field of 18 jumpers, with Pittsburg State’s Auna Childress finishing a distant second at 41-11.5 feet (12.79 meters). Ntekpere’s second- and third-best jumps also would have won her the national championship. She doubled down as an All-American in the high jump, clearing 5-10 feet (1.78 meters) to finish in sixth place. That mark was also a GNAC indoor all-time record.
 
The sophomore’s success on the national stage came after a dominant performance at the GNAC Indoor Championships, where she won gold in both the long jump and triple jump, took bronze in the high jump and placed fifth in the 60-meter hurdles. Ntekpere’s long jump of 19-3.25 feet (5.87 meters) was fourth-best in GNAC indoor history, and her 30 points scored were the most among any athlete at the meet. She was named the GNAC Field Athlete of the Meet and the GNAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year.
 
Ntekpere quickly got to work on the outdoor record books, breaking the GNAC records in the triple jump at 43-6 feet (13.26 meters) and high jump at 5-10.5 feet (1.79 meters) and posting the 10th-best long jump at 19-4.75 feet (5.91 meters) in her first meet of the campaign.
 

Emy Ntekpere GNAC Track & Field Records & Rankings
Event Season Mark GNAC Rank
High Jump Indoor 5-10/1.78 1
High Jump Outdoor 5-11.5/1.82 1
Triple Jump Indoor 42-8/13.00 1
Triple Jump Outdoor 43-6/13.26 1
Long Jump Indoor 19-3.25/5.87 4
Long Jump Outdoor 19-4.75/5.91 T10
Most Points (Championship) Indoor (Career) 58 (2024-25) T20
Most Points (Championship) Outdoor (Career) 68 (2024-25) T20
Most Points (Championship) Outdoor 40 (2025) T4
Most Points (Championship) Outdoor 28 (2024) T27
Most Points (Championship) Indoor 30 (2025) T8
Most Points (Championship) Indoor 28 (2024) T11

 
 
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She didn’t stop there, as the GNAC Outdoor Championships provided her with an opportunity to achieve something that had never been done since the league was founded in 2001-02. Competing in her second multi event as a collegiate athlete, Ntekpere racked up 4,768 points in the heptathlon to secure the gold medal. She won four of the seven events to pick up her first 10 points of the championship.
 
She then became the first-ever athlete to sweep all three jump events at a GNAC Championship, taking gold in the high jump, long jump and triple jump on May 9-10 in Bellingham, Wash. By the time the dust settled, Ntekpere had earned her team 40 points and became the first woman in GNAC history to win four individual gold medals at a single GNAC Championship. She became just the fifth woman in conference history to reach 40 points at a single championship event and upped her two-year total to 68 points at the outdoor championships. That is already tied for 20th-most outdoor championship points in a collegiate career, with the record of 115 points being jointly held by Seattle Pacific’s Ali Worthen (2011-13) and current GNAC Commissioner Bridget Johnson who competed at Western Oregon (2003-06).
 
Ntekpere’s outdoor national championship performance began much like her indoor did, but she faced stern competition in her specialty event of the triple jump. She got off to a stellar start at 13.24 meters on her first attempt and 13.26 meters on her third attempt to move to the top of the leaderboard. But Mount Olive freshman Janara Bryant turned up the heat on her fifth attempt, with a monster jump of 13.27 meters to move into the lead.
 
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With just one attempt remaining and a national title hanging in the balance, Ntekpere showed her elite mental and physical toughness as she cleared 43-9 feet (13.33 meters) to snatch back the gold medal. It was the first-ever outdoor national title for a GNAC women’s triple jumper and just the fourth-ever All-America performance the league has seen in the event.
 
Ntekpere wasn’t finished there, as she also leapt her way to gold in the high jump. Only she and Lee’s Liezl Theron advanced past the 1.79 meter bar, and on her second attempt Ntekpere simultaneously broke her own conference record and secured the national crown. Theron fouled on all three attempts at 5-11.5 feet (1.82 meters). Ntekpere wound up scoring 20 of Central Washington’s 31 points, as she played an instrumental role in the Wildcats finishing seventh among 71 women’s track & field programs at the national meet. It was the best-ever team finish for CWU, topping a 20th-place performance in 2019. It was also tied for the third-best women’s team finish in conference history and was the best women’s team finish since Alaska Anchorage placed seventh at the 2019 national meet.
 

Emy Ntekpere Medal Counter
Year Meet Event Mark Medal
2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships High Jump 5-11.5/1.82 Gold
2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships Triple Jump 43-9/13.33 Gold
2025 NCAA Indoor Championships Triple Jump 42-8/13.00 Gold
2025 GNAC Outdoor Championships High Jump 5-8/1.73 Gold
2025 GNAC Outdoor Championships Long Jump 19-3.5/5.88 Gold
2025 GNAC Outdoor Championships Triple Jump 41-1.75/12.54 Gold
2025 GNAC Outdoor Championships Heptathlon 4,768 points Gold
2025 GNAC Indoor Championships Long Jump 19-3.25/5.87 Gold
2025 GNAC Indoor Championships Triple Jump 40-4.25/12.30 Gold
2025 GNAC Indoor Championships High Jump 5-7/1.70 Bronze
2024 GNAC Outdoor Championships Triple Jump 40-5/12.32 Gold
2024 GNAC Outdoor Championships Long Jump 18-11.75/5.78 Silver
2024 GNAC Indoor Championships High Jump 5-7.75/1.72 Gold
2024 GNAC Indoor Championships Triple Jump 40-4.25/12.30 Gold
2024 GNAC Indoor Championships Long Jump 19-0/5.79 Silver

 
The GNAC Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one male and one female deemed to have achieved the highest performance athletically. The awards are voted upon by the conference’s athletic directors.
 
2025 GNAC Athlete of the Year Awards
GNAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year – Laurenz Waldbauer, NNU, Track & Field
GNAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year – Kendall Kramer, UAF, Cross Country
GNAC Male Athlete of the Year – Ernesto Lugo-Canchola, NNU, Baseball
GNAC Female Athlete of the Year – Emy Ntekpere, CWU, Track & Field

Read the full GNAC release HERE

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Chanticleers Continue Academic Excellence in Fall 2025

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CONWAY — Coastal Carolina Athletics continued its strong academic performance during the Fall 2025 semester, the department announced.

The Chanticleers posted a 3.37 departmental GPA for the fall semester, marking the department’s 23rd consecutive semester with a GPA above 3.0. Overall, 18 of 19 teams earned a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.

“The academic success of our student-athletes during the Fall 2025 semester reflects their commitment to excellence in the classroom and the strong support structure we have in place at Coastal Carolina,” said Chance Miller, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and University Recreation. “With 23 consecutive semesters above a 3.0 departmental GPA and multiple programs achieving record-setting results, this performance is a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, and academic support staff in developing well-rounded individuals prepared for success beyond athletics.”

A total of 360 student-athletes earned Chauncey’s Honor Roll recognition by posting a semester GPA of 3.0 or better, while 90 student-athletes were named Elite Chants with perfect 4.0 GPAs. Additionally, 146 student-athletes earned Dean’s List honors, an increase of 10 from Spring 2025, and 78 student-athletes were named to the President’s List, three more than the previous semester.

Several programs achieved historic academic milestones during the fall semester. Men’s basketball recorded its highest GPA on record with a 3.51, while men’s cross country posted a program-best 3.59, the highest GPA among all men’s teams. Men’s golf earned its highest GPA outside of the Spring 2020 COVID semester with a 3.55.

On the women’s side, women’s basketball earned its highest GPA on record with a 3.40. Indoor track and field (3.66), women’s track and field (3.67), and softball (3.85) each posted program-best GPAs, while lacrosse recorded its second-highest GPA on record at 3.65. Women’s tennis led all women’s teams with a 3.89 GPA, the highest women’s team GPA this semester.


A DEEPER DIVE

  • 146 student-athletes earned Dean’s List honors.
  • 78 student-athletes earned President’s List recognition.
  • 360 student-athletes earned Chauncey’s Honor Roll recognition (3.0+ semester GPA).
  • 90 student-athletes were named Elite Chants (4.0 semester GPA).
  • 23 consecutive semesters with a departmental GPA above 3.0.
  • 18 of 19 teams earned a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Men’s cross country posted the highest men’s team GPA (3.59).
  • Women’s tennis earned the highest women’s team GPA (3.89).



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Four From Women’s Volleyball Named to College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team

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Springfield, Mass. – December 18, 2025 – Four student-athletes from the Springfield College women’s volleyball program were recently named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for their efforts on the field and in the classroom.

This year’s Springfield College women’s volleyball recipients included Ahunna James (Plainville, Mass.)Tori Colosimo (Fairport, N.Y.)Alexa Bonato (Orange, Conn.) and Olivia Nealy (Athens, Ga.). This marks the second straight year that James has earned the award, while Colosimo, Bonato and Nealy are all first-time recipients.

The 2025 Academic All-District® Women’s Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

In order to be eligible, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher, compete in 90-percent of the team’s games played OR start in at least 66-percent of the team’s games over the course of the season.

Colosimo, an occupational therapy major with a 3.57 grade point average, started in all 31 matches as a junior and recorded 927 total assists (8.83 per set) to go along with 81 kills, 57 aces, 41 blocks and 249 digs. She was named the Most Valuable Player and to the All-Tournament Team at the season opening Joel B. Dearing ’79 Volleyball Classic after recording over 100 assists, 13 kills, nine digs, and six blocks over three matches and became the ninth student-athlete in Springfield women’s volleyball history to eclipse 2,000 career assists. Colosimo was also recognized with New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-League Second Team honors, a spot on the AVCA All-Region I Team and was named an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American.

James, a public health major with a 3.72 grade point average, started in 30 matches as a junior, recorded 217 kills (2.13 per set) and hit .206 on the season. James also tallied 31 aces, 72 blocks and 235 digs (2.30 per set). Bonato, a public health major with a 3.89 grade point average, started in all 31 matches as a sophomore and registered 150 kills on the year. Bonato also notched 17 aces, 94 digs and 29 blocks to wrap up her second season on the court with the Pride.

Nealy, a physical therapy major with a 3.70 grade point average, started in all 31 matches as Springfield’s libero during her junior season. Nealy registered 377 digs (3.59 per set) and 66 assists as well as four aces on the year to guide the Pride defensively.

Under the direction of head coach Moira Long Springfield went 23-8 this season and once again earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. This marked the third straight season, Springfield was represented in the national tournament among the 64 best teams in the country.

Sign up for free today to receive the latest news about your favorite Springfield College Athletics program directly to your email here. 

For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to tune into all Springfield College Athletic events





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Watch Wisconsin volleyball vs Kentucky in Final Four tonight; time, TV

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Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 2:03 p.m. CT



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Aggie Volleyball Signs Gianna Bogan Ahead of 2026 Season

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DAVIS, Calif. — As UC Davis volleyball prepares for their first season in the Mountain West Conference, head coach Dan Conners has signed his first recruit for the new season, with Gianna Bogan joining the Aggies in the 2026 winter quarter.

“We are very excited about Gianna joining the program. She has excellent ball control skills and a fast arm.” Said Coach Conners.  

“Most importantly, she embodies the cultural characteristics that fit Aggie Volleyball with a hardworking, resilient, and team-first attitude.  We anticipate that Gianna will take advantage of the opportunity to have an immediate impact.”

A 6’0 outside hitter for Rocklin High School, Bogan had a decorated career for the Thunder, collecting over 1,000 career kills during her junior season while being named a First-Team All-Sierra Foothill League player as a sophomore, junior, and senior.

As a senior, Bogan also served as the on-court leader for a team that became the first public school in the California San Joaquin Section to make a run at the CIF volleyball open state final, the high school state championship of volleyball. She was also given the “Pursuing Victory With Honor” award at the competition, which recognizes student-athletes for exceptional sportsmanship, ethics, and character. 

Her 326 kills also led Bogan to be named to the Optimist All-Star Game, an annual Sacramento area charity event, where she was named MVP of the volleyball competition. 

By joining the team in January, Bogan will have the opportunity to practice with the Aggies ahead of the rest of the 2026 signing class, which will be announced in the spring.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 

UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27. 

For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/. 

 



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Kentucky volleyball game time today, Wisconsin vs UK Final 4 channel

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Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 1:07 p.m. ET



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Johansson Earns Big Ten Weekly Honors – University of Nebraska

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Nebraska’s track and field’s Axelina Johansson earned Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week, announced by the conference office on Wednesday. After her record setting performance, Johansson also earned USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week. 

With a mark of 19.72m (64-8 ½), the senior from Hok, Sweden set a Husker school record, Swedish record and NCAA indoor record in the shot put en route to winning the event title at the Husker Holiday Open. Johansson is the first Husker to win Big Ten weekly honors since Henry Zimmerman won Field Athlete of the Week on Feb. 26, 2025. 

Nebraska is back in action on Friday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Graduate Classic at the Devaney Center Indoor Track.

 



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