BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – The 2025 Summer Games of Texas officially begin Thursday, drawing thousands of amateur athletes and spectators to venues across Bryan and College Station.

The Olympic-style festival, hosted by the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF), runs from July 31 to Aug. 3. More than 8,000 youth and adult athletes are expected to compete in over a dozen sports, including swimming, track and field, boxing, tennis, esports, and ultimate frisbee.

“This, I believe, is our 39th year of the Games here in Texas,” said Mark Lord, executive director of TAAF. ,

Lord said the Games have featured future Olympians like Dana Vollmer, Robert Griffin III (RG3), Marquis Goodwin, and Michael Carter.

“You never know who the next Olympian may be,” he said.

Opening ceremonies

The community is invited to attend opening ceremonies on Friday, Aug. 1, at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. Gates open at 6 p.m., with the parade of athletes at 7:20 p.m. and a fireworks show set to begin at 8:30 p.m.

Food vendors will be on site. City leaders say residents in nearby neighborhoods should expect loud noises during the fireworks show, which is expected to end by 8:45 p.m.

Parking

Free parking is available at Post Oak Mall on the JCPenney side. Handicap parking will be available in the Wolf Pen Creek parking lot off Colgate Drive and along Colgate Drive. Overnight parking and RVs are not permitted.

Venues and event locations

Competitions will take place at more than a dozen facilities across the Brazos Valley:

• Track and field: E.B. Cushing Stadium at Texas A&M

• Swimming: Bryan Aquatic Center

• Golf: The City Course at Phillips Event Center

• Tennis: George P. Mitchell Tennis Center at Texas A&M

• Esports and pickleball: Legends Event Center

• Boxing: Hilton College Station Hotel & Conference Center

• Archery: Live Oak Archery

• Ultimate Frisbee: Bryan Regional Athletic Complex

Admission and policies

Track and field events require a $10 daily ticket or a $35 all-session pass. Swimming costs $7 per session or $35 for all six sessions. All other events are free to attend.

A clear bag policy will be enforced at E.B. Cushing Stadium. Umbrellas, tents, outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the venue.

Closures and traffic impacts

Due to the Games, multiple facilities and pools will be closed in both cities.

In College Station, the following will be closed Thursday, July 31, through Sunday, Aug. 3:

• College Station Parks and Recreation office

• Meyer Senior and Community Center

• Gary Halter Nature Center

• Lincoln Recreation Center

• Southwood Community Center

• Adamson Lagoon

• Cindy Hallaran Pool

• The Neal Recreation Center will be closed July 30 through Aug. 3.

In Bryan, the following facilities will be closed from Monday, July 28, to Tuesday, Aug. 6:

• Bryan Aquatic Center

• Henderson Harbor

• Sadie Thomas Pool

City officials urge drivers to prepare for traffic delays near Texas A&M’s E.B. Cushing Stadium, the Bryan Aquatic Center, and Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. Event parking will be available at each venue, but visitors are encouraged to arrive early and carpool when possible.

Economic impact and community partnership

The last time the Games were held in Bryan-College Station in 2019, more than 20,000 athletes, families, and volunteers participated, generating an estimated $8.1 million in local economic activity.

Lord said hosting the Games requires full coordination with the cities of Bryan and College Station and Texas A&M University.

“They know how to do it and they know how to put on a great show,” he said. “We could set records this year.”

Lord says the Brazos Valley is the perfect place for the Games of Texas because of its central location and strong community support.

“Eighty-five percent of the population in Texas is within three hours of Bryan College Station, so it is a very central location,” he said.

“You never know if you’re not watching the next Olympics.”

He says with top-tier venues like Texas A&M’s E.B. Cushing Stadium and a long history of successfully hosting the event, the region continues to be a trusted partner for the Games.

Copyright 2025 KBTX. All rights reserved.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Former Maryland baseball stars Matt Shaw and Sean Burke faced off Sunday in a cross-town matchup between their respective Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.

Shaw’s Cubs came out victorious, 5-4, to complete a three-game series win. Burke pitched 4 ²⁄₃ innings in relief, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and finishing the game with a no-decision.

The Cubs’ win came in part due to Shaw’s sixth-inning RBI double off a Burke slider, Shaw’s only hit in four plate appearances. He is hitting .226 with a .655 OPS in 234 big-league at-bats this season.

In other news

Maryland women’s basketball signed Belarus native Marya Boiko to round out its roster.

Maryland track and field signed freshmen Ella O’Neall and Calvin Kilgallon.

Former Maryland women’s basketball forward Chloe Bibby signed a seven-day contract with the Indiana Fever.

USA Lacrosse ranked Maryland men’s lacrosse No. 1 in its Way-Early 2026 national rankings.

Incoming Maryland men’s basketball freshman Guillermo Del Pino recorded 15 points and six rebounds against Slovenia for Spain in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket tournament.

The University of Jamestown women’s volleyball team earned the 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award, the AVCA announced Monday. 

To qualify for the award, teams must maintain a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0) scale. 

Additionally, the Jimmies were named to the 2025 AVCA Team Academic Honor Roll for ranking in the top 20 percent of grade-point averages in their division.

2025 AVCA Team Academic Award Winners

 

FLORENCE, Ala. (July 28, 2025) – The University of North Alabama volleyball team has added two new coaches for the upcoming 2025-26 season, with head coach Tristan Johnson announcing Monday afternoon the hiring of Kayla Henley and Taylor Horsfall.

Henley and Horsfall bring multiple years of playing experience at the Division I level. They both also bring professional playing career, while Horsfall also brings prior coaching experience before joining North Alabama.

Henley comes to the Shoals after completing a playing career at Middle Tennessee. She played for the Blue Raiders for five seasons, appearing in 120 matches from 2019-2023. Henley totaled 1,153 kills, 872 digs, 245 blocks and 74 service aces in her career in Murfreesboro. She was also an All-Conference USA player for two seasons, earning second team honors in 2022 and first team honors in 2023.

“I’m excited to officially announce the addition of Kayla Henley to the coaching staff,” said Johnson. “I had the chance to coach against Kayla in my first match here at UNA, and I can clearly remember the kind of player and leader she was on the floor.  With her high level of playing experience both in college and at the professional level, I have no doubt that Kayla will make an immediate impact on and off of the court. Her ability to connect with our players and competitive spirit will make the transition process seamless.”

Henley additionally signed a professional volleyball contract following her time at Middle Tennessee, playing for Spanish volleyball club CAV Esquimo for the 2023-24 season.

“I’m incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity to join the volleyball program at the University of North Alabama,” said Henley. “I am looking forward to contributing to the growth of this team both on and off the court. I’m ready to get to work, build relationships with the players and help this program achieve big goals.”

Horsfall arrives in Florence after recently completing a stint with Cyprus professional volleyball club AEL Limassol for the 2024-25 season. Horsfall’s playing career additionally includes stints with Cyprus club Aris Polemious for the 2021-22 season and Finnish club Arctic Volleyball from 2022-2024.

Horsfall’s coaching career spans eight seasons, recently serving as the head coach in Cyprus for AEL Limassol’s Yellow Group U16 from January to May 2025. She also served as the assistant coach for the Blue Group U18 and Green Group U14. Additionally, her overseas coaching experience includes serving as the head coach for Arctic Volley Juniors and the N2 Women’s teams in Finland in 2024.

“I can say without hesitation that Taylor Horsfall is one of the most passionate people I’ve ever met,” said Johnson. “When I learned about the chance to add her to the staff, I knew right away she would be an incredible asset.  Taylor eats, sleeps and breathes the game of volleyball which is evident from the moment that you meet her. Her burning passion for the game and being her very best will be huge for our players and staff to see and be around on a daily basis. Her energy is infectious, and I’m just happy that she is on our team.”

Horsfall played collegiately for four seasons at the University of Tulsa from 2016-2019. She also spent two seasons playing beach volleyball for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 2020 and 2021.

She started all 129 matches she played in at Tulsa and finished her career atop the program and American Athletic Conference record books with 2,489 career digs and 805 digs in a season. Her accolades with the Golden Hurricane include being a three-time All-AAC recipient (2x First Team and 1x Second Team), a two-time AAC Libero of the Year award winner and being named an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-North Region Honorable Mention as a senior. Horsfall also holds the Tulsa single-match record for digs with 44 against Central Florida on October 6, 2017.

Horsfall won 18 matches across her two seasons of beach volleyball for Texas A&M Corpus-Christi. She excelled in her 2021 season with a 14-9 record and an All-Southland Conference 1st-Team selection from flight no. 2.

“I’m very happy to be a part of the UNA staff and team for this upcoming season,” said Horsfall. “I’m excited to be a part of a competing program and to learn under Coach Johnson about the college coaching world. After many years overseas, I’m looking forward to getting back into the college game.”

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

With the next step, there are questions. Sometimes it feels as if they’re piling up faster than they can be answered.
 
“Now that I’m done with school, it’s how do I make this my lifestyle, just being an athlete,”  Mya Lesnar said. “That will take a transition, but it’s always what I wanted to do. It’s fun and it’s rewarding. I love working hard and being disciplined and I have big goals, and the goals never stop. I don’t ever get to where I’ve accomplished everything I wanted, You can always grow; there’s always something to achieve.”
 
Lexie Keller, also a former standout Colorado State track and field athlete, fully understands what Lesnar is going through, having done so herself. Both of them will continue to chase down those targets this week in Eugene, Ore., as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships take place at Hayward Field from July 31-Aug. 3.
 
Lesnar, the NCAA outdoor champion in the shot put, will compete on the third day. Keller will compete in the heptathlon the first two days. Both have been there before – for Lesnar, it will mark three consecutive meets she’s competed at the venue.
 
It is where she won her outdoor title, the one she can pair with her indoor title from 2024. It is also the place where she debuted as a professional during the PreFontaine Classic on July 5. It wasn’t the introduction she hoped for in terms of performance, which is understandable considering she didn’t receive her invitation to compete more than a handful of days prior. Even still, the trip proved valuable in terms of knowledge, especially once she took a step back and dissected the experience.
 
“I learned so much. It was probably the biggest learning curve yet in my career,” Lesnar said. “I was in a packed stadium with what was the most decorated field outside of maybe the Olympics. The whole thing, I was a little overstimulated, but I thought I handled it pretty well.
 
“I came down from a high. You can’t just stay at that level and expect to grow and mature and constantly be at a peak.  I took more away from the whole experience than the throwing part of it.”
 
As she noted, being a college athlete provides a lot of comfort. Trainers and strength coaches to work with consistently, a coach who is vested in the performance, teammates to hype you up and work out with. Throw on a cap and gown and all of that is gone.
 
It’s a lot, and CSU track and field coach Brian Bedard has seen it before, and he expected Lesnar to feel it for herself.
 
“She’s learning that through a firehose right now. You almost have to have an agent to get you into meets,” he said. “She’s working on sponsorship deals, and she’s going to have to handle more of the logistics and communicating that with her agent and staff. In college, there’s so much support staff and management that takes care of those things to lessen the load of the athletes. She’s going to have to take a bigger role, but I think she’s ready for that.
 
“A lot of it is the school of hard knocks and learning as you go. She’s done a good job of reaching out to friends who are already in the pro world, what’s it like, what do you do, what don’t you do. It’s good she’s done that, because that’s one of the best ways to learn is have some mentors who have done this, done that.”
 
While at the PreFontaine, she had a chance to not only speak with other athletes – including Olympic medalist Joe Kovacs – they all stayed at the same hotel like a team. Bedard watched Lesnar find some calm as she took in all the information they were all willing to share, namely the idea that no matter how successful they were at the moment, it all came with some turbulence.
 
That can help lead one down a better path, which is what Keller found on her own.
 
The CSU record holder in the heptathlon and pentathlon, she is now working out at Duke in North Carolina after spending the year prior in Fort Collins, basically on her own. In her current situation, she has a training partner in Erin Marsh and is working with coach Shawn Willborn.
 
Additionally, she’s landed a sponsorship with VS Athletics, which provides her with competition gear and covers entry fees, and Keller works for Onform, a company which created a video app for track coaches, one she uses in her training.
 
The company understands her pursuits, giving her time to work and train. It just took a few years to find a comfort level, one which has led to her setting a personal best of 6,027 points this season.
 
“I would say the biggest thing is the people surrounding you. In college, you have all those resources,” Keller said. “You have your trainers, your coaches, your teammates, everything set up for travel. The biggest difference is trying to create that environment on your own. Finding the help where you need it, training partners and even finding meets. Doing everything on your own.
 
“I feel I’ve started to create that environment here. Theres a group of post-collegiate athletes here, some sprinters, and a lot of my friends here are professional track athletes. It helps having other people around me, and the people I surround myself with now want to see me succeed and want me to achieve those goals. I had to create that space. The biggest thing was changing everything in my life. My life it centered around track, where last year I was trying to squeeze it in. The first thing is finding a space that was going to help foster all the things I’m doing.”
 
Lesnar will keep working with Bedard as her coach as a professional. They have developed a rapport she doesn’t want to abandon. For her, it’s a key piece of this starting point as everything else changes a bit, because the throwing aspect is the biggest piece.
 
With that partnership set in stone, the rest she feels will fall into place, bit by bit. Not worrying about her training is a huge weight off her shoulders.
 
“The throwing part, nothing is going to change. The lifting part stays the same,” she said. “Now it’s learning how to mentally jump up to this next level and understand I should be there. I’m just like one of those girls and not thinking I don’t deserve to be at that level. There’s this learning curve now of how I’m back to being the youngest.
 
“The good thing is I do plan to stay with Bedard. That’s No. 1. We know each other, we trust each other, and we’ve been through a lot together. I want to work with him, and he wants to continue to work with me.”
 
Having known she was going to nationals has Lesnar feeling better prepared for this meet. As for Keller, her confidence stems from hitting multiple personal bests in events this season after just missing out on qualifying for the Olympic Trials last year.
 
Whether he’s still working with the athlete or not, Bedard is always proud to see Rams continuing to compete at the highest level. He intends to track down Keller at the meet, which should be easy, since she’ll be looking for him, too.
 
“I think it’s cool to see. It’s a tough transition moving from a collegiate athlete to post-collegiate,” he said. “Not everyone can make that transition and do it well, but it seems like Lexie has kind of cracked the code. She has good training partners and good coaching. She has a good fit, which I think is critical for any athlete.”
 
As they’ve both found out, taking steps they hope will lead them down the right path, understanding an occasional backtrack isn’t necessarily the setback it seems to be at the time.