Sports
Schools can now pay college athletes. What does that mean for HBCUs?
Schools can now directly compensate their athletes, ushering in a transformative era for college sports following Friday’s formal approval of a multibillion-dollar legal settlement. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken gave the green light to the agreement reached between the NCAA, its leading conferences, and attorneys representing all Division I athletes. This House v. NCAA settlement […]

Schools can now directly compensate their athletes, ushering in a transformative era for college sports following Friday’s formal approval of a multibillion-dollar legal settlement.
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken gave the green light to the agreement reached between the NCAA, its leading conferences, and attorneys representing all Division I athletes. This House v. NCAA settlement resolves three federal antitrust lawsuits, alleging that the NCAA unlawfully restricted student-athletes’ ability to earn money.
Judge Wilken’s long-anticipated ruling comes just weeks before schools begin issuing payments to athletes, starting July 1.
The annual cap is expected to start at roughly $20.5 million per school in 2025-26 and increase yearly during the decade-long deal. These new payments are in addition to scholarships and other benefits the athletes already receive.
The settlement gives schools the power to create new rules designed to limit the influence of boosters and collectives. Starting this summer, any endorsement deal between a booster and an athlete will be vetted to ensure it is for a “valid business purpose” rather than a recruiting incentive.
The agreement will resonate in nearly every one of the NCAA’s 1,100 member schools, boasting nearly 500,000 athletes.
NCAA President Charlie Baker said the deal “opens a pathway to begin stabilizing college sports.”
Multiple HBCUs, such as Morgan State, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, North Carolina A&T, and Hampton (through an association with the CAA) have agreed to opt in to the House settlement agreement.
What does opting in mean?
Institutions that opt in will also be subject to new roster limits and scholarship guidelines. This antitrust settlement, valued at over $2.8 billion, addresses past restrictions on student-athlete compensation and establishes a revenue-sharing framework.
While schools in the power conferences (SEC, Big Ten Big 12, ACC and Pac-12) will be automatically bound by the terms of the settlement, schools outside those conferences had the choice to opt in or out to the settlement. Schools that opt out will not be able to directly pay players through revenue sharing.
“The decision to opt in to the settlement allows for financial support and revenue sharing to give student-athletes a real opportunity to earn income while acknowledging the time, talent, and energy student-athletes bring to UMES,” Vice President of Athletics & Recreation Tara A. Owens said in a statement. “We continue to explore all avenues to establish and maintain competitive teams while providing an optimal collegiate experience for our student-athletes.
Owens said the decision “will not increase the financial investment the university makes” athletics.
“UMES will utilize our department resources strategically and cultivate new pathways for student-athlete financial support,” Owens said. “We are excited about the new landscape of college athletics and the future of Hawk athletics.”
Morgan State is expected to contribute over $230,000 to the settlement fund and reduce football roster size to add Olympic sports to remain in compliance with Title IX.

What does the decision mean for NIL?
In specific reference to NIL, the settlement aims to create a more equitable model for college athletics, ensuring that student-athletes receive fair compensation and support.
Participating schools can now offer direct NIL payments and other financial benefits to student-athletes, potentially including scholarships above the NCAA’s previous limits. Schools can also engage in direct NIL contracts with student-athletes, such as licensing agreements, endorsement deals and brand promotion agreements.
“Furthermore, opting into the settlement aims to enhance the student-athlete experience, increase visibility and access, and ensure competitive recruitment and positioning within the MEAC and Northeast Conference,” the school said in the release.
For scholarship and roster management purposes, opting into the settlement allows schools, including HBCUs that opt in, to use a portion of their athletic revenue to directly benefit student-athletes, and scholarship limits may be eliminated.
Settlement could create ‘challenging times’
SWAC Commissioner Charles McClelland addressed the House vs. NCAA settlement last winter.
“It is now allowable for institutions to directly give NIL money to their student-athletes. That means there’s going to be an influx of athletes that are looking for NIL payments,” he said in December. “You’re going to have to have some name image and likeness money set aside to compete.”
McClelland explained that the House settlement will impact the finances of every SWAC institution.

“The SWAC conference’s contribution to that [settlement] is $30 million. There’s going to be some challenging times from a financial standpoint.”
To counteract that, McClelland said that resources are being developed to help each school compete in this new era of college athletics.
“We’re going to develop a best practice document that we’ll give to all presidents and chancellors as a guide,” he said. “We are in a good spot from a revenue standpoint; we’re going to be just fine, but it will take some additional effort. We will need NIL dollars on the inside, and we will work with you to help develop that. We’re going to continue to stay on top.”
Sports
Cal Men’s Soccer Announces 15-Game Slate
MSOC6/23/2025 11:00 AM | By: Cal Athletics The California men’s soccer team will play a 15-game regular-season schedule in 2025 highlighted by six matches against teams that reached the 2024 NCAA Championship, six home games and eight ACC matches, head coach Leonard Griffin announced Monday. Cal’s 2025 opponents UCLA, Duke, […]

The California men’s soccer team will play a 15-game regular-season schedule in 2025 highlighted by six matches against teams that reached the 2024 NCAA Championship, six home games and eight ACC matches, head coach Leonard Griffin announced Monday.
Cal’s 2025 opponents UCLA, Duke, Clemson, SMU, Wake Forest and Stanford all competed in the postseason last fall. The Golden Bears are also slated to play five teams that finished ranked last year in SMU (5), Wake Forest (6), Clemson (9), Stanford (13) and Duke (15).
The Golden Bears open the regular season against three programs with Griffin connections. The season opener takes place Aug. 21 at nearby Saint Mary’s in Moraga, where the Bears’ boss was an assistant coach from 2011-13. Cal then faces former Pac-12 rival UCLA – Griffin’s alma mater – on Aug. 24. Griffin won the NCAA championship with the Bruins in 2002 and earned All-America honors as a senior in 2003. Cal hosts its first home game at Edwards Stadium on Aug. 28 against San Francisco, which Griffin led as the Dons’ head coach from 2019 through the spring of 2021.
The Bears begin their second season in the ACC with an early season conference match at Boston College on Sept. 7. Cal’s first home game against an ACC opponent takes place Sept. 14, when Duke visits Edwards Stadium. The Bears had a memorable game with the Blue Devils in the 2024 ACC Championship quarterfinal round, in which Cal upset its second-ranked hosts 2-0 in Durham, North Carolina. Cal next plays Clemson on Sept. 19 in South Carolina. The Tigers were Cal’s opponent in the ACC tournament semifinal, and despite a pair of rallies, the Bears fell 3-2 in Cary, North Carolina.
In their penultimate regular-season home game this fall, the Bears host Wake Forest on Oct. 11. While they did not play the Demon Deacons in their inaugural ACC season last fall, the Bears played then-No. 18 Wake to an impressive 1-1 tie – thanks to a goal by former Bear Kevin Carmichael – in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, early 2023.
The Bears close the regular season in the Big Clasico against Stanford on Halloween in Berkeley. In last year’s Big Clasico on the Farm, Carmichael came up big again when he scored the gamewinner in a 1-0 Cal victory.
Cal then competes in the ACC Championship, which starts on campus sites on Nov. 6 and culminates in the Nov. 19 final in Cary, North Carolina.
The Bears finished 2024 with a flourish, winning three out of four matches on the road to get within perhaps a win or two of reaching the postseason. After the victory at Stanford in the regular-season finale, the Bears upset No. 14 North Carolina 2-1 on the road in its ACC Championship opener, with defender Alfredo Ortiz converting Cal’s first penalty kick of the season to clinch the win. The win at Duke followed and then came the close loss to Clemson, with the Bears finishing the year 8-8-2.
Griffin brings back a bevy of talented Bears for 2025 including sophomore forward Malcolm Zalayet, the team’s top returning goalscorer who netted four goals last year. Zalayet also led Cal in assists with four. Ortiz, another returning sophomore, was the Bears’ fourth-leading scorer last year with seven points from three goals and one assist. Goalkeeper Connor Lambe – who posted a 1.06 goals-against average in 12 games for the Bears in 2023 – is back as a graduate student this fall.
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Sports
How Summer of 2025 is Looking Faster Than Olympic Year
Speed Show: How Summer of 2025 is Shaping Up to Be Faster Than Olympic Year Last year was an extraordinary season for the sport of swimming. Because of the Olympic Games in Paris, athletes targeted their best shape possible and to deliver at the most important time. Less than a year later, the pace hasn’t […]

Speed Show: How Summer of 2025 is Shaping Up to Be Faster Than Olympic Year
Last year was an extraordinary season for the sport of swimming. Because of the Olympic Games in Paris, athletes targeted their best shape possible and to deliver at the most important time. Less than a year later, the pace hasn’t slowed for many swimmers, who have clocked several historic times in the last couple of weeks as they prepare for the World Championships of Singapore.
The 2024 season did not disappoint. It had everything. The Olympics. World records. Some of the fastest times in history. China’s Pan Zhanle twice broke the world record in the 100-meter freestyle. Aussie Ariarne Titmus clocked a phenomenal 1:52.23 in the 200 freestyle. American Gretchen Walsh became the fastest woman in the world in the 100 butterfly with a mark of 55.18. Bobby Finke defended his Olympic title in the 1500 freestyle by breaking Sun Yang’s 12-year-old world record.
By the season’s finale, seven world records had been broken and in 31 cases, swimmers entered the historical top-10 of their event for the first time in their career. Beyond world records in 2024, Summer McIntosh became the second-fastest woman in the 800 freestyle when she stopped the clock at 8:11.39. We also saw a 4:28.22 from backstroek queen Kaylee McKeown in the 400 IM. One of the most fascinating performances of 2024 was Lukas Martens’ 400 freestyle at the German Championships, where he finished in 3:40.33. And that was just the beginning for the German.
Martens broke the first world record of 2025, with the Olympic champ putting on a show in his trademark 400 freestyle. From 3:40.33, he went down to 3:39.96 and beat the 3:40.07 that had stood to Paul Biedermann since 2009. Then, the Americans took over. At the Pro Swim Series stop in Ft. Lauderdale, Walsh and Katie Ledecky improved their own records in 100 butterfly and 800 freestyle, respectively. Those efforts were followed by McIntosh dominating at the Canadian Trials, where she turned the world upside down with three world records and personal-best times in the 800 freestyle and 200 butterfly.
Although the year’s biggest event has not yet unfolded, we have already matched the same amount of world records that were witnessed last year. The number is likely to climb in Singapore.
Beyond the world records already set this year, there have been a number of noteworthy marks from a historical perspective. Australia’s, Lani Pallister in now the third-fastest woman in the history of the 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle with times of 8:10.84 and 15:39.14, and she is sixth in the 400 freestyle. For the first time, Pallister went under the four-minute barrier in the 400 free (3:59.72), proof that her training with coach Dean Boxall is paying off. Another name that fired a warning shot to the swimming world is Sven Schwarz. The German became the European record holder in 800 freestyle in 7:38.12 and is now a top-five performer in the event.
Just because it is a post-Olympics year, that doesn’t mean the times have to slow. Rather, plenty of athletes are hungry to elevate their status and make 2025 a launching point toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The 2025 World Records
Lukas Martens (GER) – 400 freestyle – 3:39.96 (04/12)
Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 100 butterfly – 55.09 (05/03)
Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 100 butterfly – 54.60 (05/03)
Katie Ledecky (USA) – 800 freestyle – 8:04.12 (05/03)
Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 400 freestyle – 3:54.18 (06/07)
Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 200 medley – 2:05.70 (06/09)
Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 400m medley – 4:23.65 (06/11)
Swimmers Denting the Top-10 All-Time Performer List in a Specific Event For the First Time in 2025
Lani Pallister (AUS) – 1500 freestyle – 15:39.14 – No. 3
Wan Letian (CHN) – 50 backstroke – 27.09 – No. 4
Luca Urlando (USA) – 200 butterfly – 1:52.37 – No. 4
Luke Hobson (USA) – 200 freestyle – 1:43.73 – No. 5
Sven Schwarz (GER) – 800 freestyle – 7:38.12 – No. 5
Pavel Samusenko (RUS) – 50 backstroke – 24.01 – No. 5
Lani Pallister (AUS) – 400 freestyle – 3:59.72 – No. 6
Li Bingjie (CHN) – 400 freestyle – 3:59.99 – No. 7
Claire Curzan (USA) – 200 backstroke – 2:05.09 – No. 7
Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 50 freestyle – 23.91 – No. 8
Claire Weinstein (USA) – 400 freestyle – 4:00.05 – No. 8
Sven Schwarz (GER) – 1500 freestyle – 14:36.82 – No. 9
Ivan Kozhakin (RUS) – 50 breaststroke – 26.46 – No. 9
Ilya Kharun (CAN) – 100 butterfly – 50.37 – No. 9
Guilherme Caribe Santos (BRA) – 100 freestyle – 47.10 – No. 10
Lukas Martens (GER) – 800 freestyle – 7:39.10 – No. 10
Eneli Jefimova (EST) – 50 breaststroke – 29.83 – No. 10
Bobby Finke (USA) – 400 medley – 4:07.46 – No. 10
Sports
Kayla Storrs Named Head of Community Engagement and Wellbeing at Penn
General | June 23, 2025 Story Links PHILADELPHIA – Kayla Storrs, who has most recently served as the Associate Director of People, Culture, and Belonging for the University of Oklahoma Athletics, has been named the Head of Community Engagement and Wellbeing at Penn. The position is shared between the Division of Recreation […]

General | June 23, 2025
PHILADELPHIA – Kayla Storrs, who has most recently served as the Associate Director of People, Culture, and Belonging for the University of Oklahoma Athletics, has been named the Head of Community Engagement and Wellbeing at Penn. The position is shared between the Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics and Wellness at Penn.
Storrs joined Oklahoma Athletics in 2023 where she worked closely with the Associate AD for People, Culture, and Belonging to design and implement strategic initiatives to foster community for more than 360 full-time staff. She also led large-scale programs and professional development opportunities, resulting in a 15% increase in employee participation and strengthened community engagement over the course of one year.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kayla to our Penn Athletics and Recreation team,” Alanna Wren, the T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W’69 Director of Athletics and Recreation said. “We were compelled by her specific experiences in admissions and recruitment, public health and her work in higher education and also independent schools. Her academic and professional credentials will help Kayla make an immediate impact on both our Division and Wellness at Penn.”
“Kayla brings a dynamic blend of experience and strategic thinking to this role,” says Benoit Dubé, MD, Associate Provost and Chief Wellness Officer, University of Pennsylvania. “Her unique background in both wellness and athletics gives her a powerful lens to view and understand the deep connection between belonging, performance, and wellbeing. We’re thrilled to welcome a leader who so fully embodies the values that guide our work within Wellness at Penn and across the University.”
“I’m really excited to step into this role at Penn,” Storrs said. “This work is personal to me, as I’ve seen how powerful it is when people feel supported, connected, and like they truly belong. I care deeply about community and holistic wellbeing, and I’m looking forward to building intentional spaces where that’s not just a goal, but a lived experience.”
From 2020 to 2023, Kayla served at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, where she partnered closely with Human Resources and Senior Leadership to shape inclusive and strategic hiring practices. Prior to that, she spent four years at the University of Oklahoma in the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, where she held roles as an Admissions Counselor and Assistant Director of Diversity Enrichment Programs.
A proud double alumna of the University of Oklahoma, Storrs earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies in 2014. She went on to earn her Master of Public Health from the University of Kentucky in 2016 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Adult and Higher Education at OU. Her research explores parental support of first-generation college students in the college admissions process. In addition to her administrative work, she has taught as an adjunct instructor at OU, UK, and Brebeuf Jesuit. Storrs is also a Gates Millennium Scholar.
Sports
University of Minnesota Athletics
A freshman outside hitter, Kelly Kinney comes to Minnesota as a true freshman from West Palm Beach, Fla. Kinney had a decorated prep career, tallying 1340 kills (.301 hitting), 769 digs, 148 aces and 115 blocks. As a senior in 2024, she posted 370 kills (.322), 189 digs, 45 aces and 21 blocks. She was ranked by Prep […]

GS: Take us through your background and childhood.
KK: I have one older sister, Lily. My parents, Alison and Matt, live in West Palm Beach, Florida, which is where I’ve lived my whole life. I come from a super athletic family and everyone loves to play sports. My sister and I are three years apart, so we got to play in high school for one year together, and that was super special. She went on to play club volleyball at Florida State, where she graduated in three years and is staying there to do graduate school. She’s very into math and data science. My parents are my biggest role models and supporters. My dad works in sales and has done that for his whole career.

GS: How did you first get into volleyball? Did you try other sports growing up?
KK: I played alot of sports. My dad was a big soccer player (played in college at Columbia and Claremont McKenna College) and my mom played tennis, so those were two of the sports I grew up playing. I also spent several years as a swimmer. I started playing volleyball because my older sister tried it and really enjoyed it. I played for a local club for three years and I was pretty bad. I started off on the third team but kept getting better and finally got a spot on the first team as a middle blocker (I was one of the tallest players). I worked my way up and eventually moved to another club to play, transitioning to outside hitter in my 14’s year. I never wanted to come off the court, so I asked my coach what I needed to do to play six rotations. She told me to work on my passing, so that whole 14’s year I dedicated to passing and defense.
GS: When did you know that you were really starting to improve and that you could have a future in this sport?
KK: I got invited to the National Team Development Program for Team USA when I was 14. I was a little surprised that I got invited because it’s a pretty selective team, so that meant a lot to me. It helped me transition from playing at a pretty mediocre level to pushing myself and my teammates to chase greater heights. My 15’s year of club, we qualified for nationals for the first time, so that was a big step. NTDP helped push me and make me a better player. I knew after doing that, I could play in college.
GS: When did you know that you wanted to play in college? What was your club experience like?
KK: I’d say early in my 15’s year. It became real in that 15’s year when colleges started to recruit me. That year I also moved to Tribe Volleyball Club, which was my third club of my volleyball career. There I met my best friends, had great coaches and a great team. 16’s year was my favorite year of all time. We were the underdogs and we had that chip on our shoulder but we had a ton of success. We had a lot of college attention on our team and it was a little stressful, but it’s when my goal of playing in college was solidified. I then committed right before my 17’s year. My 18’s year we finished third in the nation and it was a super fun way to end my club career.

GS: Did you ever have a dream school growing up or were you more open?
KK: I did not have a dream school. I knew I wanted to leave Florida, that was my only preference. I grew up there my whole life and wanted something different. I loved the idea of playing in the Big Ten, it’s the best volleyball conference. So I was looking at Big Ten schools and a few California schools as well.
GS: How did your relationship with Minnesota and Coach Cook begin?
KK: I got to play for Keegan [Cook] with Team USA’s U19 group, so we got to know each other there. Then on June 15 of my junior year, we had a phone call that night and I realized how special of a place Minnesota is. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I wanted to keep my options open on June 15 but Minnesota shot straight up the list. I talked about it with my family about the whole process. It came down to the program that cares about me as much as a person as they do as a player. I want to be known as more than a volleyball player and the coaching staff cultivates who I am outside of volleyball. The girls on the team are super special too. I got to talk to Jordan [Taylor], McKenna [Garr] and Carly [Gilk] and get to know them during the process. I can’t see myself being a part of any other team. One of the phone calls I had with the staff, my mom ended up with tears in her eyes. I just knew it was the right decision.
GS: Did you ever visit Minnesota before committing?
KK: In 2022 we were at the Northern Lights Tournament in Minnesota. So I just kind of walked around with my teammates on campus. There was a hockey game going on at the time, so there was a lot of buzz on campus. I also came on a visit the fall of 2022 and saw a couple games during the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge. I took a picture in front of the Gopher ‘M’ at Coffman, and it ended up being in the same Gophers shirt I committed in.
GS: What was your official visit to Minnesota like?
KK: I came with the other three freshmen signees in the fall of 2023. I knew Jordan [Taylor] a little bit from NTDP, but we weren’t super close. I met Carly [Gilk] at AAU’s before either of us committed, because we both were considering Minnesota. We ended up committing on the same day. I met McKenna [Garr] for the first time and that was awesome. I got to meet all the girls on the team as well, including Mckenna [Wucherer], who I really look up to. She’s amazing to talk to. During the visit we got to see a game and the Pav was packed. It was so cool to see the atmosphere that I was going to be able to play in. The fans are amazing here. They’re so dedicated and it’s such a healthy culture. We also got to go to a hockey game, and it just felt so ‘Minnesota.’ We also got to watch practice on the visit and it gave me a lot to look forward to in coming here.
GS: You were born raised in Florida. Was it ever a concern for your family with you going so far away for school?
KK: Their main concern is just my happiness. They wanted me to go somewhere I would find my second family. They felt really comfortable with the coaches and the people here. As long as I’m happy, they’re happy.

GS: For those that haven’t seen you play before, how would you describe yourself as a player?
KK: I’m a pretty well-rounded player and can play in a lot of areas on the court. I’ll do anything to help the team win, whatever that looks like. Since I’ve played so many different positions, I can hit a lot of different shots, including from the back row. I’m excited that I have a good technical base, but have a lot of room to grow and get better.
GS: What excites you most about your first collegiate volleyball season?
KK: I’ve just been looking forward to this for so long. The fact I’m blessed enough to play in the Big Ten and Division I in general is super exciting to me. It’s going to show how much my work in the past is going to pay off. I’m going to be able to grow so much as a player. I’m looking forward to playing in different gyms around the Big Ten and be with the team. We’ve had a couple open gyms and lifts, but I can’t wait to see how it pays off on the court.
GS: Where are you most excited to go and play?
KK: Probably everywhere. I’ve only been to a few colleges, so I’m excited to play in so many different gyms. One of my club teammates is on UCLA, so I can’t wait to play them. Other than that, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Penn State. I’m looking forward to seeing my NTDP teammates across the net from me during my games.
GS: What have your teammates told you about our rivalry matches?
KK: Not much so far. I do know the games against Wisconsin are some of the most anticipating matches of the year. I watched both of them last year and they were amazing five-set battles. I can’t wait to live it out myself.

GS: What goals do you have for the team and for yourself this year?
KK: I want the team to go as far as we can. A Big Ten championship and deep run in the tournament is always the goal. For myself, to have a solid freshman year, doing whatever I need to do to help the team. I can’t wait to play in front of the fans too. I want to be a better player every single day and work really hard in practice. I want to grow as a player and as a person.
GS: Do you have a favorite Golden Gopher that you look up to?
KK: I have watched Stephanie Samedy play, when I started watching volleyball. It’s cool that she’s from Florida too. Other than that, I have just watched so many players that I like and try to take something from each of their games.
GS: When you’re not playing volleyball, what do you like to do?
KK: I’m a huge reader. I like hanging out with friends, going to the beach or going to the pool. I’m excited to explore Minneapolis, I’ve been to a few restaurants so far but haven’t really been able to explore the city.
Rapid Fire:
Favorite Food: Pasta or Sushi
Fun Fact: I went on a mission trip to Nicaragua to build houses this year
Big Kill or Big Block: Block
Favorite Sport To Watch: Basketball or Soccer
Pro Sports Team: Liverpool FC
Favorite Vacation Spot: Greece
TV Shows: Supernatural, SWAT, Court of Gold and The Last Dance
Biggest Inspirations: My mom and sister
Sports
Central adds 107 to new academic honor society chapter
Story Links PELLA— Central College inducted 107 student-athletes in its new chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, a national honor society for those excelling in both the classroom and in athletics competition. To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must participate in a sport at the varsity intercollegiate level, achieve junior academic standing […]

PELLA— Central College inducted 107 student-athletes in its new chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, a national honor society for those excelling in both the classroom and in athletics competition.
To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must participate in a sport at the varsity intercollegiate level, achieve junior academic standing or higher after their fourth full time semester, and earn a 3.50 or higher cumulative grade point average. Student-athletes who compete for a collegiate club team are also eligible if the club team is overseen by the athletics department at the local chapter.
Chi Alpha Sigma was founded in 1996 by former DePauw University head football coach, Nick Mourouzis. His goal was to provide outstanding student-athletes with an opportunity to become connected with a fraternal association that aligns their education and athletic successes for a lifetime. There are 499 active chapters in 47 states, including chapters at 13 Iowa colleges and universities.
Dr. Lori Witt, associate professor of history and one of Central’s faculty athletics representatives, serves as the college’s chapter advisor.
Baseball (3)
Caleb Douglass, sr., Windsor, Colo./Windsor, engineering, 3.73
Patrick Krapfl, sr., Ames, Iowa/Ames, kinesiology, 3.60
Brayden Sawyer, jr., Grundy Center, Iowa/Grundy Center, business management, 3.77
Women’s basketball (4)
Hannah Dau, sr., Paulina, Iowa/South O’Brien HS, kinesiology/biology, 3.64
Abby Johnson, sr., Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny HS, kinesiology, 3.98
Samantha Scott, sr., Davenport, Iowa/North Scott HS, kinesiology, 3.86
*Jasmyn Williams, jr., Denver, Colo./Arvada West HS, undeclared, 3.77
Cheerleading (2)
Sydney Buseman, jr., Hampton, Iowa/Hampton-Dumont/CAL HS, elementary education 3.73
Madison Craig, jr., Solon, Iowa/Solon HS, biology 3.57
Men’s cross country (6)
Kenny Cronin, senior, Des Moines, Iowa/Davis County, accounting, 4.00
*Ben DeValk, senior, Solon, Iowa/Solon, kinesiology, 3.83
*Randy Jimenez, senior, Liberty Center, Iowa/Southeast Warren, business management, 3.94
*Tyler Moon, junior, Storm Lake, Iowa/Storm Lake, undeclared, 3.73
*Drew Peterson, senior, Iowa City, Iowa/West, engineering, 3.59
*Austin Smith, sr., Olathe, Kan./South, kinesiology, 3.54
*Derek Webster, senior, Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, chemistry, 3.92
Women’s cross country (8)
Leah Bontrager, junior, Wellman, Iowa/Hillcrest Academy, kinesiology, 3.54
Sara DeHaan, senior, Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls, elementary education, 3.91
Kaleena Hagan, junior, Tipton, Iowa/Tipton, elementary education, 3.67
Eva Hoch, senior, Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, political science/English, 3.84
*Annika Kruse, junior, Solon, Iowa/Solon, elementary education, 3.96
*Addison Parrott, senior, Danville, Iowa/Danville, psychology/sociology, 3.86
*Chloe Ristau, junior, Denver, Iowa/Denver, accounting, 3.93
*Kylie Winkler, junior, Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, accounting, 3.87
Dance (1)
Jessie Pospisil, sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Cedar Valley Christian HS, business management, 3.68
Football (20)
Nick Bandy, senior, Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert, sociology, 3.61
Brendan Bogaard, senior, Phoenix, Ariz./Northwest Christian, business management, 3.69
Paddy Bozik, junior, Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott, kinesiology, 3.77
Caylor Clark, senior, Pleasantville, Iowa/Pleasantville, kinesiology, 3.56
Cole Clark, junior, Lisbon, Iowa/Lisbon, business management, 3.59
Andrew Cotty, junior, Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo, accounting, 3.73
Ben DeMeulenaere, junior, Belle Plaine, Iowa/Belle Plaine, business management, 3.87
Kalvin Erickson, junior, Meeteetse, Wyo./Meeteetse, business management, 3.53
Cael Fiderlein, senior, West Branch, Iowa/West Branch, kinesiology/biology, 3.59
Gavin Hierseman, senior, West Branch, Iowa/West Branch, kinesiology/biology, 3.83
Jack Johnson, senior, Mount Pleasant, Iowa/Mount Pleasant, business management, 3.91
Reece Miller, 5Y, Center Point, Iowa/Center Point-Urbana, strength and conditioning, 3.58
Logan Mont, 5Y, Aurora, Ill./West Aurora, business management/accounting, 3.57
Grant Nelson, senior, Pella, Iowa/Pella, kinesiology, 3.78
Maximus Reitano, junior, Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes, kinesiology, 3.90
*Gavin Smith, junior, Audubon, Iowa/Audubon, accounting, 3.92
Collin Swantz, senior, Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon, business management, 3.51
Ethan Thomas, junior, Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny, kinesiology, 3.57
Jakie Uthe, senior, Dumont, Iowa/Hampton-Dumont, strength and conditioning, 3.91
Kyler Yarnell, senior, Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain, accounting/business management, 3.56
Men’s golf (1)
Alex Gast, jr., Council Bluffs, Iowa/St. Albert, English, 3.99
Women’s golf (2)
Lydia Grond, senior, Hull, Iowa/Boyden-Hull, biochemistry, 3.78
Sophie Lunning, senior, Mason City, Iowa/Mason City, elementary education, 3.88
Men’s soccer (7)
Lucas Bartachek, senior, Waukee, Iowa/Waukee, accounting/business management, 3.55
Nick Colavita, senior, Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain, kinesiology, 3.56
Luke Crawford, junior, Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott, economics, 3.92
Coleman Manuel, senior, Erie, Colo./Erie, biology, 3.65
Alejo Marcon, junior, Resistencia, Argentina/Pella Christian, business management, 3.55
Ronan Murphy, senior, Des Moines, Iowa/Roosevelt, computer science, 3.66
Josue Torres, junior, Osceola, Iowa/Clarke, kinesiology, 3.73
Women’s soccer (4)
Katy Brown, junior, West Alton, Mo./Orchard Farm, business management/communication studies, 3.74
Grace Coates, senior, Marion, Iowa/Marion, kinesiology, 3.74
Bailey Huizenga, junior, Colona, Ill./Geneseo, kinesiology, 3.99
MiMi Pavelka, junior, Shakopee, Minn./Holy Family, kinesiology, 3.98
Softball (5)
Rachel Barton, jr., Des Moines, Iowa/Saydel, physics, 3.72
Hannah Higgins, jr., Macomb, Ill./Macomb, environmental & sustainability studies/biology, 3.83
Mariah Parton, sr., Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny, kinesiology, 3.61
Kynser Reed, sr., Dallas, Iowa/Melcher-Dallas, kinesiology/business management, 3.68
Rylie Van Wyk, jr., Mitchellville, Iowa/Southeast Polk, elementary education, 3.58
Men’s tennis (4)
Alec Anderson-Conlon, jr., Madison, Wis./Wisconsin Virtual Academy, psychology, 3.98
Quintin Hull, jr., Ottumwa, Iowa/Ottumwa, music, 3.78
Victor Nop, sr., Huxley, Iowa/Ballard, engineering, 3.66
AJ Wilkins, sr., Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell, biology, 3.56
Women’s tennis (7)
Katelyn Freeman, junior, Castle Rock, Colo./Castle View, economics/Spanish/mathematics, 3.88
Keleigh Hall, senior, Keokuk, Iowa/Keokuk, elementary education, 3.84
Jennifer Larson, senior, Johnston, Iowa/Johnston, biochemistry, 3.96
Kalina Schubert, senior, Newell, Iowa/Newell-Fonda, history, 3.83
*Becca Vala, senior, Omaha, Neb./Elkhorn, kinesiology, Spanish, 3.78
Madi Whalen, junior, Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill, environmental & sustainability studies, biology, 3.66
Taylor Wyeth, fifth year, Aurora, Ill./West Aurora, art, 3.55
Men’s track and field (12)
Ben DeValk, sr., Solon, Iowa/Solon, kinesiology, 3.86
Cory Fairbanks, sr., Marion, Iowa/Marion, Spanish, 3.63
Gage Huyser, jr., Pella, Iowa/Pella, accounting/business management, 3.89
*Randy Jimenez, sr., Indianola, Iowa/Southeast Warren, business management, 3.88
JT LaFleur, jr., Bondurant, Iowa/home school, kinesiology, 3.78
Gunner Meyer, jr., Fairbank, Iowa/Wapsie Valley, psychology, 3.54
*Tyler Moon, jr., Storm Lake, Iowa/Storm Lake, accounting/business management, 3.65
Tommy Morlan, jr., Tiffin, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana, mathematics, 3.63
*Drew Peterson, sr., Iowa City, Iowa/West, engineering, 3.68
*Austin Smith, sr., Olathe, Kan./South, kinesiology, 3.54
*Derek Webster, sr., Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, biochemistry, 3.90
*Gavin Smith, so., Audubon, Iowa/Audubon, accounting, 3.92
Women’s Track and Field (13)
Kira Baldus, sr., St. Ansgar, Iowa/St. Ansgar, biochemistry, 3.94
Olivia Bohlen, jr., Belle Plaine, Iowa/Belle Plaine, kinesiology, 4.00
*Leah Bontrager, jr., Wellman, Iowa/Hillcrest Academy, kinesiology, 3.63
*Kaleena Hagen, jr., Tipton, Iowa/Tipton, elementary education, 3.71
*Eva Hoch, senior, Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, political science/English, 3.84
*Annika Kruse, jr., Solon, Iowa/Solon, elementary education, 3.97
Emily McMartin, jr., Pella, Iowa/Pella, elementary education, 4.00
Riley Packer, jr., Erie, Ill./Erie, elementary education, 3.74
*Addison Parrott, sr., Danville, Iowa/Danville, psychology, sociology, 3.86
*Chloe Ristau, jr., Denver, Iowa/Denver, accounting, 3.95
Winona Van Berkum, jr., Pella, Iowa/Pella, kinesiology, 3.57
Amber Vroman, sr., Seneca, Ill./Seneca, kinesiology, 3.99
*Jasmyn Williams, jr, Denver, Colo., Arvada West, elementary education, 3.71
Kylie Winkler, jr., Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk, 3.87
Volleyball (13)
Gwen Kahlke, senior, Blandinsville, Ill./West Prairie, kinesiology, 3.85
Alexah Mellenberger, senior, New Glarus, Wis./New Glarus, mathematics, 3.60
*Gracie Pierson, senior, Lake City, Minn./Lake City, kinesiology, 3.51
Avery Rexroat, junior, Macomb, Ill./Macomb, biology, 3.91
Makayla Ribble, junior, Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City, elementary education, 3.69
Sara Sienkiewicz, junior, Plainfield, Ill./Neuqua Valley, biology, 3.85
Leslie Snow, junior Olivia, Minn./BOLD, elementary education, 3.80
Men’s wrestling (7)
Elijah Belzer, jr., Wapello, Iowa/Wapello HS, strength and conditioning, 3.95
Cael Cox, sr., Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny HS, engineering, 3.99
Kale Downey, jr., Clarinda, Iowa/Clarinda HS, accounting/business management, 3.61
Trent Harper, jr., Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk HS, actuarial science, 3.64
Jason Hermann, sr., Stockton, Ill./Stockton HS, business management/accounting, 3.74
Nathan Rosas, jr., Harvard, Ill./Harvard HS, computer science, 3.53
Sam West, jr., Burlington, Iowa/Notre Dame HS, business management, 4.00
Women’s wrestling (1)
Esther Belzer, jr., Kalona, Iowa/Hillcrest Academy, information systems, 3.77
*denotes multi-sport athlete
Sports
Shocker volleyball releases 2025 schedule – The Sunflower
Wichita State’s volleyball team released its schedule for the 2025 season Monday morning. The Shockers will open their season at home for the first time in 18 years against Kennesaw State, whom they bested twice in 2024. Wichita State will play seven non-conference opponents that ended last year in the top 100 of the NCAA […]

Wichita State’s volleyball team released its schedule for the 2025 season Monday morning. The Shockers will open their season at home for the first time in 18 years against Kennesaw State, whom they bested twice in 2024.
Wichita State will play seven non-conference opponents that ended last year in the top 100 of the NCAA RPI rankings, including Kansas (14), BYU (24) and Arkansas (73).
The Shockers will host the Shocker Volleyball Classic at Charles Koch Arena from Aug. 29-31 to kick off the 2025 campaign. The team will play in three other tournaments before starting their conference schedule on Sept. 28 against UAB on the road.
Below is Wichita State’s full schedule for the 2025 season:
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