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Pro baseball's a small world, and Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Chase Chaney knows it

Pro baseball’s a small world, and Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Chase Chaney knows it | The Gazette Skip to content More Stories 2

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Pro baseball's a small world, and Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Chase Chaney knows it

























Pro baseball’s a small world, and Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Chase Chaney knows it | The Gazette





















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Harbor continues to grow on and off the football field

During the first half of last summer, Nyck Harbor blazed his way through the NCAAs, to earn a spot in the US Olympic Track and Field Trials. However, Harbor decided before the end of June that his track season was finished. He bypassed the trials – he would’ve been a long-shot to make the Olympics […]

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During the first half of last summer, Nyck Harbor blazed his way through the NCAAs, to earn a spot in the US Olympic Track and Field Trials.

However, Harbor decided before the end of June that his track season was finished. He bypassed the trials – he would’ve been a long-shot to make the Olympics – and rejoined the football team at South Carolina. It’s been all football in the 12 months or since then.

The 6-foot-5 wide receiver, who turned 20 on July 5, was a steady presence at the Gamecock football facility while camps were going on during the month of June. Like several player on the team, Harbor was spotted with his position coach, helping campers run through drills.



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Rising freshman at Lovett makes Team USA’s U19 volleyball roster

Knotts noticed a “huge leap” in Kari’s development this season. “People were constantly saying, ‘She’s a great athlete, she’s a superstar, she’s a generational player,’ but I didn’t know what that really meant until maybe this year.” Kari, a rising freshman at The Lovett School, recently became the youngest member of Team USA’s U19 squad. […]

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Knotts noticed a “huge leap” in Kari’s development this season.

“People were constantly saying, ‘She’s a great athlete, she’s a superstar, she’s a generational player,’ but I didn’t know what that really meant until maybe this year.”

Kari, a rising freshman at The Lovett School, recently became the youngest member of Team USA’s U19 squad. From that group, she was one of 12 selected for the U.S. roster for the Pan American Cup, which took place in Kingston, Ontario, in Canada, and helped America to a first-place finish in Saturday’s gold medal match.

Kari was named the tournament’s most valuable player and had 24 points, 19 kills, three aces and two blocks in the 3-0 win vs. Mexico on Sunday. She was also named the tournament’s best spiker.

“It was so much fun,” Kari said. “It was really competitive, playing with the best players across the country. It was a really good learning experience. It helped me grow as a person.”

Obviously Kari’s measurables make themselves known, but her coach for Team USA, Jamie Morrison, spoke to her motivation level.

I think there’s a volleyball piece and a physical piece, and that obviously stands out for someone her age,“ Morrison said. ”You often forget how old she is, but I think that there’s something inside, a drive, a motor that’s unique, that’s a little bit different, and I think for me if she stays humble through all of the attention that she’s getting and uses that drive, the sky’s the limit for her.

Kari started playing volleyball at the local YMCA when she was about 8 years old.

Despite all the “you must play basketball” comments she hears because of her height, that’s the one sport Kari didn’t try out for at the risk of introducing too much competition between her two younger brothers, both of whom already played basketball. She tried gymnastics, softball, flag football, tennis, soccer, swimming and track, but with her height, volleyball was the perfect fit.

Fast forward to now, and Kari has helped her club team, A5, to consistent success, including a win at the 2025 Triple Crown Championship (with Kari bringing home MVP).

If you watch her play, club coach Helen Walker said, the first thing to jump out might be her sheer physical ability, particularly how high she can jump and the power behind her hits.

“But really, what makes her special is how all-around she is,” Walker said. “She can really, at 14 years old, she can do everything. Blocking, hitting, setting, defense, back row pass, everything. She hits back row attack at really like a college level. … Based on my experience, she’s one of a kind. She’s a unicorn.”

Walker also spoke to Kari’s drive.

“The young players who look up to her, I always want them to remember that Kari works really hard,” Walker said. “She has very high expectations of herself and she puts that into action. So she works very hard and is very humble. … She’s a very good player, but she really betters her team. And she really always tries to help her teammates. So I think that’s the quality I want everybody to know, other than her volleyball ability, because talent is one thing, character is another thing.”

Kari inherited most of her height from her dad, Larry Knotts who is 6-foot-5 and played basketball at Washington Adventist University, formerly Columbia Union College. Her mom stands at 5-foot-9.

“At first I was like, like sometimes when I watch her play, I’m like, ‘She did that,’” her dad said. “And I’m in like, awe. I can’t believe she did that. I’m like, ‘Wow.’”

On Mondays, Kari trains with her dad. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she practices with her club team. On Fridays she works with a personal trainer, and Saturday or Sunday is usually another team training. Wednesday is an off day.

It’s a packed schedule, and she misses out on time with friends on occasion, but for Kari, it pays off.

Sometimes I’m a little frustrated, but then I see all the effort and hard work I’m putting in, so it’s worth it in the end,” she said.

Despite all the attention coming her way, her parents work to keep her grounded and make sure she knows her whole identity isn’t rooted in the sport.

I think we just kind of tell her that this is a blessing. … That you have this talent that God has given you, and that you should work your craft, and if you love it, and you just continue with your craft, you be kind to people, you’re nice to people,“ her mom said.

Kari’s volleyball goals are lofty, hoping to win a championship in college and one day to make the Olympic team.

“It’s just like the first step to my journey there,” she said of making the Team USA squad.





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News – Water Polo Australia

Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers captain Zoe Arancini has announced her retirement from international water polo, concluding an illustrious 16-year career that has cemented her as one of the sport’s most respected figures. Arancini made her debut for the Aussie Stingers in 2009 and went on to amass 330 international caps (highest WA female athlete capped), […]

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Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers captain Zoe Arancini has announced her retirement from international water polo, concluding an illustrious 16-year career that has cemented her as one of the sport’s most respected figures.

Arancini made her debut for the Aussie Stingers in 2009 and went on to amass 330 international caps (highest WA female athlete capped), representing Australia at the highest level across four Olympic cycles. Her career highlights include three Olympic Games appearances – Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 – and seven FINA World Championships, where she claimed a silver medal in 2013 and bronze in 2019. Her career culminated in a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Having achieved podium success at every major international competition in world water polo, Arancini said the timing felt right to step away, with the Stingers’ recent Olympic silver providing the perfect bookend to her journey.

“I’ve done this for 16 years now, and to finish on such an amazing note at Paris 2024 is pretty special,” Arancini said.

“I’m ready for the next chapter of my life… I know it’s the right decision because I’m happy, I’m content, and it’s my choice. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved, and I’m so excited for the next generation to step in.”

Reflecting on her journey, Arancini said it’s the people and memories along the way that will stay with her the most.

“I still remember making the Aussie Stingers squad for the first time – it doesn’t feel that long ago, but it was 2009!” Arancini said.

“Winning silver at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona was incredibly special, especially after missing out on the London Olympics. Then to be selected for Rio 2016 was a dream come true, and to captain the team to silver in Paris 2024 – that’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”

“There have been some amazing and challenging moments that have shaped not only my career but also the person I’ve become. Thank you to everyone who’s played a part in this journey, which started way back when I was a 12-year-old playing Flippa Ball at Melville.”

Although stepping back from the international stage, Arancini won’t be lost to the sport. While focusing on her next chapter outside the pool, she will continue to give back by playing domestically for Melville and Fremantle next summer – helping to support and mentor the next generation of Australian athletes.





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COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT: Morningside’s Draper praised for academics

Open Audio Article Player Five Mustang women’s track and field student-athletes honored SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Morningside University sophomore sprinter Meredith Draper recently earned another academic distinction. College Sports Communicators released its academic all-district list for women’s track and field on Tuesday, June 24. Morningside University’s Meredith Draper was recognized for her academic work from […]

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Five Mustang women’s track and field student-athletes honored

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Morningside University sophomore sprinter Meredith Draper recently earned another academic distinction.

College Sports Communicators released its academic all-district list for women’s track and field on Tuesday, June 24.

Morningside University’s Meredith Draper was recognized for her academic work from College Sports Communicators. (Contributed photo from Morningside University)

Draper, an elementary education major, was among five Mustangs on the list.

Teammates Courtney Sporrer, Jolee Mesz, Nicole Zuehl and Kinsey Alt all joined Draper.

The CSC Academic All-American program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for a combination of success in competition and in the classroom.

Student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better and rank in the top-25 in the conference in a single individual event.

Draper mainly runs and focuses on 100- and 200-meter dashes for Morningside.



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Prince George’s Tyler Dahl ready to go for volleyball gold

Sixteen-year-old Tyler Dahl stands five-foot-nine in her bare feet. By most comparisons, that’s considered quite tall for a girl her age. But not in volleyball — and not compared to her teammates on the BC 18U provincial volleyball team, which will represent the province at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, N.L. “I’m […]

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Sixteen-year-old Tyler Dahl stands five-foot-nine in her bare feet.

By most comparisons, that’s considered quite tall for a girl her age.

But not in volleyball — and not compared to her teammates on the BC 18U provincial volleyball team, which will represent the province at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, N.L.

“I’m the shortest on my team, other than our libero,” said Dahl. “A lot of them are six-footers. One of them is six-foot-three and one is six-foot-two. It’s hard for me to block sometimes because my arms are half the length.”

The BC 18U team will tune up for the Canada Summer Games at the Canada Cup tournament in St. Catharines, Ont., July 22 to 27. Dahl leaves Prince George on Sunday, July 6 to begin two weeks of training in Kamloops before the team flies to Ontario.

“I’m expecting a lot of hard work, especially because a lot of the girls on our team just won club nationals with one of the Vancouver teams — at least three that I know of played on that team,” said Dahl, who turns 17 in December.

She earned her spot on the provincial team after a three-day tryout in late May. Dahl was on the drive back to Prince George when she received the email confirming she’d made both the Canada Cup and Canada Games rosters.

“Crazy me, I did not think I was going to make it because I was one of the shortest and one of the youngest girls trying out,” she said. “So I was really surprised.”

Based on her track record, she shouldn’t have been.

At the 16U Canada Cup in Calgary, Dahl helped Team BC win gold while playing alongside Prince George teammate Delaney Turner. Dahl was named the tournament’s most valuable player. She was also MVP for her Prince George Kodiaks 16U club team that won the Best of the West tournament in 2024.

An offside (left-side) hitter, Dahl just completed Grade 11 at Prince George Secondary School and has been on the provincial team’s radar for several years.

“Her speed on defence is ridiculous,” said Polars head coach Jasen Florell. “She gets to balls you wouldn’t think anybody’s getting to. She’s not a big kid, but on offence her speed and transition going to the ball gives her so much power. Her jumping and speed make up for what she’s lacking in height.”

Dahl was one of three club volleyball players on the PGSS senior team last year and was a major factor in the Polars’ strong showing at the Quad-A zone tournament at PGSS. The team pushed the North Peace Grizzlies of Fort St. John to five sets in the final. North Peace went on to finish sixth in the province.

Dahl started playing volleyball six years ago when she joined the Prince George Youth Volleyball Club. She’s had the same club coach, Mark Lafleur, for the past five seasons.

Before discovering volleyball, she spent a decade in gymnastics. Those years helped develop her strength, flexibility, agility and body awareness — all skills that now make her a standout defensive player. She trained with the Prince George Gymnastics Club and competed at the second-highest level for her age group before quitting at age 12.

“I think it really helped my athleticism. I loved it — it made me really flexible for volleyball and I’m not afraid to throw my weight around,” said Dahl. “In gymnastics they teach you a lot about how to be safe and land safe — it’s the most important thing. I tell my sister, you can get any ball if you just go for it. I never miss a ball I’m really committed to. I just tuck my head in and roll.”

Volleyball runs in the family. Her second cousin, Chris Dahl, is a former coach at Kelly Road Secondary School who led the Camosun Chargers women’s team to a Canadian college national championship in 2017. He also coached the 16U national team for Volleyball Canada. Her grandfather, Glen Dahl, is a Kelly Road graduate who played for the College of New Caledonia.

The Canada Games run Aug. 16 to 25 in Newfoundland, and Dahl said she’s excited to learn more about the game while competing against the country’s top under-18 players.

At the last Canada Summer Games in 2022 in Niagara, Ont., Macyn Unger of Prince George — a Duchess Park grad now playing at Simon Fraser University — helped BC win bronze in women’s volleyball.

Dahl hopes her parents and two siblings will be able to travel to St. John’s to watch her compete. But it’s a costly trip, and accommodations and rental vehicles are hard to find with thousands of people descending on the city in August.

Her father, Cassidy, is still amazed at how far his eldest daughter has come. College scouts are already talking to Tyler about scholarships that could help her pursue studies in kinesiology after graduation.

“I feel like she’s an anomaly — competing against the top players in Canada. Who gets there?” said Cassidy Dahl. “What amazes us about her is the average hitter at this level is six-foot or six-foot-one — minimum.”





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Lane Kiffin’s wife Layla charms in chill beach selfie with USC-bound daughter Presley

Layla Kiffin enjoyed a beach day on Fourth of July with her and Lane Kiffin’s 18-year-old daughter Presley. Presley is enjoying her summer before heading to the University of Southern California to play volleyball. She’s spending time with mom in Cali beforehand, and before mom heads to Oxford, Mississippi, to be with the Ole Miss […]

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Layla Kiffin enjoyed a beach day on Fourth of July with her and Lane Kiffin’s 18-year-old daughter Presley.

Presley is enjoying her summer before heading to the University of Southern California to play volleyball. She’s spending time with mom in Cali beforehand, and before mom heads to Oxford, Mississippi, to be with the Ole Miss Rebels coach and their son Knox, 16, and daughter Landry, 20.

RELATED: Lane Kiffin’s daughter Landry flexes epic black cowboy fit on Nashville July 4th trip

Presley Kiffin and Layla Kiffin

Presley Kiffin and Layla Kiffin / Lane Kiffin/Instagram

Lane, 50, and Layla, 51, have reconciled after being married for 12 years and divorced since 2016. He’s posted them celebrating an anniversary and her checking out “home” in Mississippi. They have the three kids together. Knox moved a few months ago from California to attend Oxford High as a quarterback, while Landry is a student at Ole Miss.

Presley, meanwhile, just graduated high school and the whole family came out for the ceremony where dad wore his favorite Rebels fit game-day fit.

RELATED: Lane Kiffin shows off incredible ‘record’ catch with strange-looking sea creature

Lane Kiffin with Presley (left)

Lane Kiffin with Presley (left) and friend / Lane Kiffin/Instagram

Layla just took Presley to USC orientation, and then had a beach day for 4th of July together where a happy mom and daughter had a big smile together.

Layla and Presley

Layla Kiffin/Instagram

While Layla will be rooting on Lane and Ole Miss come football season, no doubt, she’ll be back to root on Presley at USC come volleyball season.

Presley Kiffin

Presley Kiffin/Instagram

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