Pagel named Ms. Minnesota H.S. Wrestler of the Year
Ella Pagel wraps the leg to left her opponent before earning a takedown. file photo — NorthfieldNews.com) × This page requires Javascript. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, e-edition, prep sports, obituaries, entertainment and more. Ella Pagel in action at the 2023 MSHSL championships in St. Paul. (Photo courtesy of the […]
Ella Pagel wraps the leg to left her opponent before earning a takedown. file photo — NorthfieldNews.com)
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Ella Pagel in action at the 2023 MSHSL championships in St. Paul. (Photo courtesy of the Minnesota State High School League).Northfield’s Ella Pagel gets her hand raised signaling a victory. (file Photo)
Northfield’s Ella Pagel (fourth from left) was named the MWCA Ms. Minnesota High School Wrestler award winner for 2024-25.
(Photo Courtesy of Geoff Staab)
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Northfield High School senior Ella Pagel has been named the Minnesota’s Wrestling Coaches Association’s Ms. Minnesota High School Wrestler award recipient for 2024-25. Explore newsletters
Who should be the Sarasota, Manatee Girls Athlete of the Year
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune held its annual Sarasota-Manatee High School Sports Awards Show on May 30 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. During the show, we announced Riverview High’s Allison Cole as our 2024-25 Girls Athlete of the Year. Did we get it right? Here’s a chance to have your say. Here are all of our […]
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune held its annual Sarasota-Manatee High School Sports Awards Show on May 30 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. During the show, we announced Riverview High’s Allison Cole as our 2024-25 Girls Athlete of the Year.
Did we get it right?
Here’s a chance to have your say. Here are all of our girls athletes of the year for the 2024-25 high school sports year. Who would you select to be the Sarasota-Manatee Girls Athlete of the Year?
Go to www.heraldtribune.com/sports to vote in our poll today.
The poll closes at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Here are the nominees:
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Kali Barrett, Cardinal Mooney Catholic, Senior: A first-team All-Area selection last year, in addition to being the FACA 3A Player of the Year, the future University of Cincinnati Bearcat led the Cougars to a 24-9 record and first state title in program history. The 6-foot-2 Barrett averaged 16 points a team, tied with Madi Mignery for the team high, along with 9.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.0 steals while shooting 50% from the field.
Meet the 2025 Sarasota Herald-Tribune All-Area Girls Basketball Team
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Izzy Russell (Senior) and Kelsey Fisher (Junior), Cardinal Mooney Catholic: Russell, a first-team All-Area selection last year, as was Fisher, teamed to go 16-1. Cardinal Mooney finished 13-4, losing in the regional quarterfinals to Bradenton Christian.
Meet the 2025 Sarasota Herald-Tribune All-Area Beach Volleyball Team
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Madison Muller, Riverview, Freshman: Won the Lemon Bay Invitational, Lakewood Ranch Invitational, and the Venice Invitational, finished 3rd at the North Port Invitational, won the Tri-County Championships, placed 2nd at the district meet, won the regional meet, and placed 2nd at Class 4A state meet in a PR time of 17:54.2.
Meet the Sarasota Herald-Tribune 2024 All-Area Girls Cross Country Team
FLAG FOOTBALL
Jayna Bowen, Parrish Community, Sophomore: A first-team All-Area selection last season, Bowen totaled 18 touchdowns on offense and 14 interceptions on defense.
Meet the 2025 Sarasota Herald-Tribune All-Area Flag Football Team
GIRLS GOLF
Natalie Angelo, Parrish Community, Sophomore: An All-Area selection last year, Angelo placed 2nd at the Crutchfield/Hawkins Invitational. She went on to win the Bulls’ district meet, then tie for 1st place at the regional meet. At the Class 3A State Championships, Angelo finished tied for 15th place with a two-day total of 148.
Meet the Sarasota Herald-Tribune 2024 All-Area Girls Golf Team
GIRLS LACROSSE
Grace Knowles, Manatee, Senior: A first-team All-Area selection last season, Knowles led the area with 103 goals, her second season of 100 or more, and 26 assists for 129 points. Knowles averaged 5.2 goals per game and 6.5 points per game. She had a team-leading 53 ground balls and 126 draw controls, both team highs.
Meet the 2025 Sarasota Herald-Tribune All-Area Girls Lacrosse Team
GIRLS SOCCER
Olivia Hadad, Lakewood Ranch Senior: The senior forward was the primary offensive force for the 15-5-2 Mustangs, who reached the Class 6A state semifinals. On a team which scored 76 goals, Hadad potted 36, to go along with 11 assists for 83 match points. She ended her Mustang career with 67 goals and 24 assists for 158 match points.
Meet the 2025 Sarasota Herald-Tribune All-Area Girls Soccer Team
SOFTBALL
Allison Cole, Riverview, Senior: A first-team All-Area selection last year and this season’s FACA Class 7A District 16 MVP, Cole finished with a record in the circle of 19-3 and an 0.37 ERA for the Rams. The left-hander hurled 152.1 innings and allowed 75 hits with 17 walks and 281 strikeouts. At the plate Cole led Riverview with a .429 batting average, hitting two home runs and driving in a team-high 22 runs.
Meet the 2025 Sarasota Herald-Tribune All-Area Softball Team
GIRLS SWIMMING
Brynn Lavigueur, Riverview, Junior: The Rams swimmer placed 1st at the Rams’ district meet in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke. At the regional meet, Lavigueur repeated her 1st-place finishes in both events. And at the Class 4A State Meet, the future swimmer at the University of Texas took gold in both, finishing the 200 IM in 1:59.31, and the 100 back in 52.67.
Meet the Sarasota Herald-Tribune 2024 All-Area Girls Swimming Team
GIRLS TENNIS
Julia Piotrowska, Riverview, Senior: A first-team All-Area selection last year, Riverview’s No. 1 player in singles and doubles finished with a combined record of 13-1. She defeated Venice’s Christine Wu to win the district singles title, and teamed with Kathleen Siddons to defeat Wu and Tess Tchorbadjiev to win the district doubles title. Piotrowska finished runner-up at the Class 4A state tournament in singles and reached the semifinal round with Siddons in doubles.
Meet the 2025 Sarasota Herald-Tribune All-Area Girls Tennis Team
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
Keymani Dillingham, Saint Stephen’s, Junior: The Falcon finished first in the 100-meter hurdles (15.32) and second in the shot put (35-21/2) at the Manatee County Championships; first in the 100 hurdles (14.76), first in the 400 hurdles (1:02.18), and first in the shot put (40-21/4) at the district meet; first in the shot put (38-41/4), first in the 400 hurdles (1:01.72), and second in the 100 hurdles (14.84) at the regional meet; and first in the 100 hurdles (15.50), first in the 400 hurdles (1:01.42), and third in the shot put (38-31/4) at the Class 1A state meet.
Meet the 2025 Sarasota Herald-Tribune All-Area Girls Track & Field Team
VOLLEYBALL
Riley Greene, Cardinal Mooney Catholic, Senior: An All-Area selection last year, the 6-foot-1 middle hitter was the Cougars’ kills leader with 169. In the first season of head coach Allan Knight, the Cougars went 22-5, losing to Berkeley Prep in the regional final. Greene had an impressive kill percentage of 47.3 while averaging 2.2 kills per set. For Allan Knight’s team, she added 44 blocks and 44 digs.
Meet the Sarasota Herald-Tribune 2024 All-Area Volleyball Team
GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING
Alliana Janeiro, Imagine School at North Port, Sophomore: Janeiro was golden at the Class A state meet, sweeping the 101-pound Traditional (255) and Olympic (235) championships. She was the Region 1A-4 and District 1A-13 champ in both lifts.
Meet the 2025 Sarasota Herald-Tribune All-Area Girls Weightlifting Team
WRESTLING
Milana Borrelli, Venice, Senior: The green-and-white 125-pounder finished first at the district meet, first at regionals, and finished first at the Class 1A state meet for the third straight year. Borrelli finished with a record of 20-4.
Meet the 2025 Sarasota Herald-Tribune All-Area Wrestling Team
‘Redshirt to record books’: Jack Larsen rises to water polo’s international stage
Jack Larsen didn’t always look the part. When he arrived at UCLA as a 195-pound freshman in 2018, few would have pegged him as the future hero of a national championship run – let alone the next American to suit up for the most elite water polo club in the world. But, six years later, […]
When he arrived at UCLA as a 195-pound freshman in 2018, few would have pegged him as the future hero of a national championship run – let alone the next American to suit up for the most elite water polo club in the world.
But, six years later, with a national title and a professional contract secured in Italy, Larsen’s path from redshirt to record books cemented his legacy in Bruin history.
In his final collegiate game, Larsen delivered a goal with 13 seconds on the clock that sealed UCLA men’s water polo championship win over USC – an exclamation mark on a career built in the weight room, film room and quiet early mornings when no one was watching.
Coach Adam Wright said he remembers when Larsen first walked onto the deck.
“He was always tall but so thin,” Wright said. “His freshman year, he made a commitment with our strength coach and nutritionist, and the physical change in that redshirt year – I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Graduate student attacker Jack Larsen rises out of the pool with the ball. (Brianna Carlson/Daily Bruin staff)
After his sixth season, Larsen was 250 pounds and an anchor in the pool. But it wasn’t just the muscle that transformed him.
“For me, the most important thing has been his mental growth,” Wright said. “A few years ago, I don’t know if he has the confidence to take that final shot. But the version of Jack that finished here? He knew he could do it – that’s earned confidence. That’s the real victory.”
After redshirting his freshman year, the attacker played in 94 of 96 games across his next four seasons, ranking second on the team in total points and assists across the 2023 season – a far cry from the smaller athlete who joined in 2019.
Larsen wasn’t just a late bloomer. He was a culture-changer.
“He raised the bar in how we train, how we lift, how we swim, how we carry ourselves,” Wright said. “He went through every phase you can go through as a student-athlete, and that made him able to connect with anyone.”
Even as a sixth-year and graduate student, Wright recounts how Larsen was first on deck and last to leave.
“When the president of (Pro) Recco reached out, I told him,‘You’ll never question Jack’s effort, or his character,’” Wright said. “That’s why he’s there. He earned it.”
And after graduating from UCLA in fall 2024, just weeks after earning the school’s 124th NCAA championship title, Larsen went to Italy after being recruited by Pro Recco, an professional Italian water polo club with the most successful record in its league.
The jump from the NCAA to Serie A1 in Italy hasn’t been easy. Larsen admits that the size and tactical complexity of the European game has been a challenge.
“But Adam gave me the tools to adjust,” the Orinda, California, local said. “I was able to figure it out.”
Jack Larsen celebrates after winning the 2024 NCAA national championship. (Courtesy of UCLA Athletics)
In the recent finals of Serie A1, Larsen faced off against AN Brescia’s Max Irving – another Bruin-turned-international star.
And while recent Team USA bronze-medal Olympian Irving was the only AN Brescia player to score multiple goals in game three of the final series, Larsen ultimately helped Pro Recco to its 37th title in the Italian Championships.
“I grew up watching Max,” Larsen said. “To play against him on that stage was surreal. I was just grateful.”
Part of what made Larsen’s swan song so memorable was who shared it with him: his younger brother, Ben, a redshirt sophomore utility on the 2024 squad.
“Honestly, it was like a dream come true,” Ben said. “In high school, I was JV, he was varsity — we never really got to play together. So getting to win a championship with my actual brother in his final season? That was awesome.”
Jack didn’t let blood cloud competition, though. Practices came with a dose of tough love.
“I always tried to instill in him what I learned,” Jack said. “I was there for the hard moments, but I wasn’t going easy on him either.”
That balance paid off. Ben absorbed his brother’s example and his work ethic.
“He’s inspired me my whole life,” Ben said. “He was never the biggest, never the top recruit. But he grinded, and now he’s the second American ever to play for Pro Recco. That taught me anything’s possible.”
Jack Larsen (right) holds the 2024 NCAA national championship trophy with his brother, redshirt sophomore utility Ben Larsen (left). (Courtesy of UCLA Athletics)
For Wright, Jack Larsen’s story is one of his favorites.
“He started at the bottom,” the coach said. “Now he’s on the best team in the world. That doesn’t happen by accident. That’s what happens when you invest. Jack earned everything he’s got.”
And now, halfway across the world, he’s still earning it on the sport’s biggest stage.
Gold Elusive for Local Athletes At Ohio State Track and Field Meet | News, Sports, Jobs
photo by: Kim North Steubenville Catholic’s Andrew Rohde runs during the Division III 3200-meter Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State University. COLUMBUS, Ohio — One word can describe Saturday’s 117th Boys and 51st Girls State Track and Field Championships inside Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State University. Disappointing. Several East Ohio […]
Steubenville Catholic’s Andrew Rohde runs during the Division III 3200-meter Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State University.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — One word can describe Saturday’s 117th Boys and 51st Girls State Track and Field Championships inside Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State University.
Disappointing.
Several East Ohio athletes had their sights set high to stand atop the awards podium, but that didn’t materialize for one reason or another.
DIVISION II
One of the few who didn’t fall under that category was St. Clairsville pole vaulter Emma Crum. The junior placed sixth, moving up two spots from 2024, with a 11-foot, 4-inch performance.
“It feels pretty amazing. My personal record is 11-6, so I’m pleased with my effort,” Crum said. “Being here last year really helped me,” she added. “There are a lot more people here today than there were last year. The key was running faster and getting a good plant (with my pole).”
However, while Martins Ferry’s Alana Williams had the fastest qualifying time in the 1600-meter run at 4-minutes, 50.96-seconds, she was nearly four seconds slower Saturday with a time of 4:53.17 that was good enough for third.
“Just a bad run today,” Williams noted. “I didn’t really feel that good.”
Then, 55 minutes later, she took to the track in the 800-meter run and placed fifth in 2:13.60, which was nearly three seconds slower than her qualifying time of 2:11.44.
“The 1600 really killed me,” Williams admitted. “So, I just used whatever I had left for the 800.
She ended the day as a two-time all-Ohioan.
Despite her high school season being finished, Williams will continue training for the New Balance Nationals that is being held at Franklin Field in Philadelphia June 19 through the 22.
St. Clairsville’s Brady Blacker had a heartbreaking experience in the 800-meter run. The Red Devils’ senior and East Liverpool’s Julius Jones were in a pack of runners crossing the start-finish line after one lap. However, both got their legs tangled and fell to the track and were not able to finish the race.
“I don’t really know. It’s horrible,” Blacker said while trying to understand how his prep career ended. “There were a bunch of us and … . I don’t know.”
Barnesville’s Aden Zumock was set to run in the 100-meter dash finals on Saturday. He had the eighth fastest qualifying time and would run in Lane 8. However, as fate would have it, he suffered a hamstring injury in his 200-meter preliminary race on Friday and had to pull out of the 100.
Zumock, the District champion in both events, has a history of hamstring problems dating back to his freshman season.
Cambridge senior Zoey Caldwell won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.28. She is the granddaughter of legendary Beallsville football coach, Dave Caldwell.
DIVISION II
Steubenville Catholic’s Andrew Rohde also earned a pair of all-Ohioan honors in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs. The Crusaders’ senior was second in the 3200 in 9:12.94, finishing just behind White Oak senior Landen Eyre who led from the start and clocked out in 9:12.46.
“I didn’t qualify last year so placing second this year is quite a reward,” Rohde said.
Rohde actually took the lead with about 200 meters to go, but Eyre had a stronger kick down the stretch.
“I’ve run against him for several years now and I know he has a really good kick,’ Rohde explained. “I tried to take him in the final 200, but it didn’t work for me. Hopefully, we’ll compete against each other in college and I’ll get another chance at him.”
Rohde, who will continue his college career at Ohio State, finished third in the 1600 in a personal-record time of 4:12.72.
“I got second last year but I ran faster this year, so I’ve got to look at the positives,” he said. “I just need to continue looking at the future. I’m healthy.”
SHELBY, N.C. — The Wheeling Post 1 squad was triumphant in their final game against North Carolina on Sunday, …
Kirkwood-Nerinx Girls’ Water Polo Team Earns Second In State | Webster Kirkwood Times
The Kirkwood High School and Nerinx Hall High School girls’ water polo team, the Markeneers, with the team’s second place state trophy. The girls’ water polo team of Kirkwood High School and Nerinx Hall in Webster Groves recently earned second place at the state competition. This is only the fourth year the team has been […]
The Kirkwood High School and Nerinx Hall High School girls’ water polo team, the Markeneers, with the team’s second place state trophy.
The girls’ water polo team of Kirkwood High School and Nerinx Hall in Webster Groves recently earned second place at the state competition. This is only the fourth year the team has been separate from the boys’ water polo team.
Made up of both Kirkwood High School and Nerinx Hall students, the team calls itself the Markeneers, based on both school mascots, the Nerinx Markers and the Kirkwood Pioneers.
This year’s season (12-7-2) ended for the Markeneers against the Marquette Mustangs during a game on May 21 at Kirkwood High School. This year’s second place victory is a leap up from last year’s fourth place finish.
The team is under the leadership of head varsity coach Robert Pegler, assistant coach Austin Phillips, assistant coach Tashia Nelson and volunteer coach Katie Manga. Phillips is a Kirkwood alum and former water polo player.
On one of the few warm, comfortable spring days, the outcome of the Emmaus at Parkland girls track & field dual meet came down to the final event: the 4 x 400 relay. The Green Hornets were close many times before. The Trojans had four aces at the ready on this late April Monday. Senior […]
On one of the few warm, comfortable spring days, the outcome of the Emmaus at Parkland girls track & field dual meet came down to the final event: the 4 x 400 relay.
The Green Hornets were close many times before. The Trojans had four aces at the ready on this late April Monday. Senior Lucy Tobia, junior Kaley Seide, sophomore Dhaniya Miner and senior Ana Gbur ran away in the last race to keep the Trojans’ six-year unbeaten streak under head coach Stephen Ott intact.
Emmaus exacted postseason revenge by scoring more points in the EPC and District 11 Class 3A championship meets, but Parkland girls and boys continued their mastery of the regular season.
The Trojans didn’t do badly in the postseason, either. Tobia, Seide, Miner and Gbur finished third in the state in 3A with the area’s second-fastest time of all time.
Tobia, Seide, Miner and senior Cierra Valley teamed to win PIAA gold with an all-time area-best time in 4 x 100 relay.
And Jaden Bulgin was sixth in the 3A boys high jump. He also was the EPC high jump champion and second in the long jump.
For all that and the contributions of many more, Parkland is The Morning Call All-Area team of the year.
“It’s a great group of kids,” head coach Stephen Ott said. “They do whatever is asked of them. They work hard and work together.”
Many boys and girls contributed to the program’s regular-season and postseason successes.
On the girls’ side: Sophomore Samantha Schultz was the District 11 3A pole vault runner-up. Seide was EPC second, District 11 fifth and a PIAA qualifier in the 200. Tobia was PIAA 10th and District 11 fourth in the 400. Valley was District 11 seventh in the 200. Sophomore Harshita Keerthi was District 11 sixth in the 1,600. Senior Emily Hoysan was District 11 fifth in the 100 hurdles. Gbur was District 11 sixth and EPC third in the 300 hurdles. Senior Cinthia Grullon was District 11 eighth in the triple jump. Junior Aubrey Delong was District 11 seventh in the shot put. Junior Vanessa Ball was District 11 fifth in the javelin. Senior Gabriella Borgos was District 11 third and EPC fourth in the pole vault. Freshman Genevieve Inserra was District 11 fourth and EPC third in the pole vault. Miner was EPC eighth in the 100.
On the boys’ side: Sophomore Colin McGuigan was the District 11 1,600-meter run runner-up. Junior Exzavier Seide was District 11 6th in the triple jump and a PIAA qualifier. Senior Leo Dauberman was (PIAA 11th and District 11 second in the javelin. Senior Anthony Cappellini was EPC second and (District 11 fourth in the 400. Junior Marcelo Castilla was EPC champion and District 11 fourth in the 800. Senior Henry Stein was District 11 eighth in the 800. Junior Luke McEvoy was District 11 third in the 3,200. Senior Sam Ciampittiello was District 11 sixth in the 110 hurdles. Senior James McCauley was District 11 fifth in the pole vault. Senior Owen Tobias was District 11 sixth in the pole vault. Sophomore Radnor Rowlands was EPC second in the 100. After winning all but one regular-season race, he did not run in the district meet. Junior Lincoln Clark was EPC fifth in the 100 and third in the 200. Senior Landon Hoppel was EPC sixth in the 400. Junior Nmelichukwu was EPC 110 hurdles fifth and sixth in the 300 hurdles. Junior James Tyler was EPC eighth in the shot put. Senior Owen Tobias was EPC third in the pole vault.
Parkland boys and girls were 7-0 in EPC action. Neither has lost a conference meet since 2019.
Morning Call senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
STEPHEN A. CALLS OUT LEBRON for Giannis and NBA eras comments 
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