College Sports
Seven
Story Links COLLEGE PARK, MD — Legendary Maryland field hockey head coach Missy Meharg has signed a contract extension through Dec. 31, 2028, Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics Damon Evans announced Thursday. “Missy is a living legend, having set the standard of excellence for everyone here at Maryland,” Evans said. “The winningest coach across all […]


COLLEGE PARK, MD — Legendary Maryland field hockey head coach Missy Meharg has signed a contract extension through Dec. 31, 2028, Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics Damon Evans announced Thursday. “Missy is a living legend, having set the standard of excellence for everyone here at Maryland,” Evans said. “The winningest coach across all sports in Maryland Athletic history, Missy is an icon in the sport of field hockey and has left an indelible mark on the University of Maryland. We are thrilled to know Missy will continue leading our program for years to come.”Meharg was inducted into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. She was inducted into the DC Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Fifteen of Meharg’s Terps went on to play in the Olympics for their respective countries including five this past summer in the 2024 Olympics. Meharg served as a coach of the 1996 United States Olympics team in Atlanta and also served as a commentator for NBC’s field hockey coverage for the London Olympics in 2012. Meharg is currently a member of the USA Hockey Foundation Trustee.The winningest active head coach in Division I college field hockey by victories and percentage, Meharg is also third all-time in Division I victories with 655. That total is the most by any coach in the history of Maryland sports. Meharg has coached 114 All-America Selections, 175 NFHCA National Academic Squad Selections, 128 All-Conference Selections, 75 All-Big Ten Academic Selections, 229 ACC Academic Honor Roll Selections, 23 Players on the U.S. National Team, 58 NCAA All-Tournament Team Selections, 14 Conference Tournament MVP Selections and 24 Conference Player of the Year Selections. Five Terps have captured the Honda Award as the sport’s player of the year. Meharg came to the University of Maryland as a graduate student and served as an assistant coach to Sue Tyler from 1985-87. Together, they helped the Terrapins top North Carolina for the program’s first-ever NCAA title in 1987. The influence of Meharg is undeniable in the world of field hockey, Currently, 23 NCAA coaches either played under or coached alongside her. Additionally, six highly regarded youth clubs – H20, Field Hockey Life, PA United, Next Level (MD), SoMD Eliminators, Texas Pride, and Windy City – are owned, operated, and directed by former Terps.Meharg, who completed her 37th season as head coach at Maryland this past fall, has led her Terrapin squads to a record of 655-172-9 for a 78.9 winning percentage, 20 Final Fours, 12 NCAA title game appearances and seven NCAA Championships. The nine-time National Coach of the Year has also led the Terrapins to 27 conference titles between their time in the ACC and the Big Ten. “Thank you, to Damon Evans, Libby Ellis and all of Maryland,” Meharg said. “I am deeply honored by your generous offer to extend my contract through 2028. It’s a privilege to continue leading Terps’ Field Hockey and building on the incredible legacy we’ve created together. Here’s to the future… Best of the BEST … GO TERPS.”
College Sports
Behind-the-scenes coach connects ODA football players with college opportunities
Josh Medeiros is the type of person who spends 30 minutes each night profiling each player who is eligible for the NFL Draft. Medeiros is so into sports that he is a Dallas Cowboys season ticket holder despite living in Lakewood Ranch. He cried at the final at-bat of Derek Jeter’s career, but didn’t cry […]

Josh Medeiros is the type of person who spends 30 minutes each night profiling each player who is eligible for the NFL Draft.
Medeiros is so into sports that he is a Dallas Cowboys season ticket holder despite living in Lakewood Ranch. He cried at the final at-bat of Derek Jeter’s career, but didn’t cry at his own wedding.
That devotion has made The Out-of-Door Academy head football coach Rob Hollway realize that Medeiros would be the perfect person to connect his program with college recruiters.

Out-of-Door football assistant coach and director of recruiting Josh Medeiros has helped put Thunder players on the radar of college football coaches.
“Josh is a great example of how high school football is evolving,” Hollway said. “It’s harder to get top players or retain top players because they want to go where they’re going to get an opportunity to play at the next level.”
Within 30 minutes of speaking with Medeiros, it was clear that he’s the right man for the job.
Despite being a husband, father, and the head of revenue strategy and operations of TriNet, a human-resources consulting company, Medeiros still finds time to help ODA as the team’s special teams coordinator, wide receivers coach, head of football operations and director of recruitment.
That type of dedication requires a minute-by-minute curation of Medeiros’s daily calendar — another job he’s well-suited to do.
He said his day typically begins at 5 a.m. with football and work-day preparations, followed by a trip to the gym, then dropping his children off at school. When his work day wraps up, it’s back to the drawing board for football research, followed by playtime with his kids and then some more football and work-related prep before bedtime.
“Sometimes at gymnastics I’ll be messaging a college football coach on Twitter while my daughter is doing a split in front of me,” Medeiros said. “I try to multi-task as best I can. I think I owe it to my players … that’s kind of the badge of honor I take. These kids are such amazing kids and such amazing student athletes that they deserve the exposure and to have conversations with college coaches.”
Medeiros has since applied his obsession with research to connecting ODA players to potential college suitors.
Whenever he encounters a college football coach, there’s a good chance Medeiros already knows their playing and coaching background and what type of player they’re trying to recruit.
One prime example of Medeiros’s impact is Frankie Clark, a 2025 graduate.
Clark was an all-around standout with the Thunder. He amassed 187 rushing yards and two touchdowns on offense, along with 30 tackles, an interception, and three pass breakups across nine games on defense.

ODA rising senior Allen Clark (No. 17) is a player who Thunder coaches have said will garner significant interest from college football recruiters this year.
Clark, who has family in Ohio, wanted to play college football closer to family, and Medeiros helped him receive offers from the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, and John Carroll University of University Heights, Ohio, by working his magic at a local recruiting fair.
“He had a couple of offers early and I thought he was a perfect fit for a recruiting fair,” Medeiros said. “We ended up getting him five or six colleges who were offering him full rides to play D-III high-academic schools, and he ended up committing to John Carroll, which was at the recruiting fair. We saw what kind of impact that could make.”
The fact that ODA needs a director of recruitment speaks to the growth of the program in the past few years.
Four years ago, the Thunder went 0-5 and ended their season early when players refused to finish the season.
This past year, ODA finished 9-1 and sent three players — Clark, Carson Fisher (Denison) and Marvin Palominos (Middlebury) — to collegiate football programs.
The upcoming senior class looks to be even more promising, headlined by running back/linebacker Allen Clark, who rushed for 1,524 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.
There’s tangible evidence that college football programs are becoming more aware of ODA’s talent as well. Medeiros said representatives from 11 college football programs visited the team this past spring, compared to just four the year prior.
Other rising seniors with next-level potential include kicker/punter/wide receiver/safety Dylan Walker, tight end/defensive end/outside linebacker Winston Crisci and tight end/middle linebacker Heath DeRusso.
Medeiros and Hollway took those players to a Boston College megacamp in July to further their exposure, and from what I’ve learned about this coaching staff so far, that’s just the beginning of the work they’ll do to find them a place to play beyond ODA.
College Sports
Mira Jalosuo takes over as SCSU women’s head coach to lead team’s 1st all-female staff
ST. CLOUD — It was a historic hire for the St. Cloud State University athletic department. Mira Jalosuo was officially introduced as the seventh head coach of the SCSU women’s hockey team during a press conference on Tuesday, July 22 at the Husky Den in the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. Jalosuo is the second […]

ST. CLOUD — It was a historic hire for the St. Cloud State University athletic department.
Mira Jalosuo
was officially introduced as the seventh head coach of the SCSU women’s hockey team during a press conference on Tuesday, July 22 at the Husky Den in the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
Jalosuo is the second woman (Kerry Brodt Wethington, 1998-2002) to have the position at SCSU, but she will lead the first all-female coaching staff for the Huskies in program history.
“For our student-athletes, that speaks volumes,” SCSU director of athletics Holly Schreiner said at the press conference.
Jalosuo’s assistant coaches are Jinelle Siergiej, Noora Räty and Emily Ach. Jalosuo has some history with each one of them. She was Ach’s coach at an SDP Hockey camp in Brooklyn Park.

ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY
“I was thinking yesterday that I still feel young,” said Jalosuo, who is 36. “But then I was thinking about Acher and thinking, ‘I’m actually old. If there’s a player I used to coach on my coaching staff, I’m old now.'”
Räty and Jalosuo are the same age and played together for the University of Minnesota from 2009-13 and on the Finland’s national team.
“Noora is not here today, but she’s my best friend,” Jalosuo said. “She is the godmother of my son. I would take a bullet for her every day. She is just a fantastic human being. I’m biased, but she’s the best in the business in goaltending.

ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY
“I just got back from Prague and there was a good player and I went to her agent and said, ‘I want this player.’ He said, ‘That’s funny. Noora was the first person to come to me and say that she wants this player.’ I called her and said, ‘How did you know this player is good?’ I stood in the crease for 30 years, so I probably know who is a good hockey player and who is a bad hockey player.’ I said, ‘That kind of makes sense.'”
Jalosuo is replacing
Brian Idalski, who was the team’s head coach from 2022-25.
She was
an assistant for Idalski during his first season with the Huskies
and worked with Siergiej, who is staying on the staff.
“One of the big reasons I ended up taking this job is because of Jinelle,” Jalosuo said. “I thought that Jinelle would want to take this job, but she gave me a call and asked me if I’d be interested in taking this job. I think that speaks volumes about her and what type of human being she is. She’s always thinking of other people and the conversation was great. She’s kind of the mom of the group. The players feel very comfortable going to her.

ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY
“She has been here 10-plus years and knows the recruiting landscape extremely well. I’m looking forward to continuing to build this program that you and Brian built in the last three years.”
While Jalosuo’s staff makeup is groundbreaking at the university, it is also not that common in NCAA Division I women’s hockey. There will be 45 Division I programs this fall and Jalosuo’s hiring gives the sport 21 women’s head coaches. SCSU is one of seven teams (Bemidji State, Delaware, Harvard, Lindenwood, Long Island and Stonehill) with an all-female staff.

Andy Rennecke / St. Cloud LIVE
Jalosuo’s hiring happened in short order. Idalski was hired to be the first head coach of the
PWHL team in Vancouver on June 23.
Jalosuo was hired to be
SCSU’s head coach on June 27.
It was an interesting tight rope. Jalosuo spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the PWHL’s Minnesota Frost and was the team’s director of scouting. Idalski reached out to her as he was in the process of interviewing for his job.
The PWHL Draft was held on June 24 in Ottawa.
“I felt like I had to put all my effort into the 2025 draft in Ottawa and he respected that,” Jalosuo said. “I meet Brian for breakfast on Wednesday (June 24) and we went through some things. I had some questions about the team and the university. We got delayed in Ottawa on Wednesday night when I’m coming home. I didn’t have time to think about this super deeply. I’m sitting in the plane for three hours in the Ottawa airport.
“I had some time to think about it and my gut feeling was, ‘I need to take this job. There is so much potential in this team. I think we can make it very far this year in the NCAAs and make some Husky history.’ At the end of the day, it ended up being a no-brainer for me once I had time to think about it.”
Idalski said that he has a lot in common with Jalosuo as a coach. Jalosuo also sees a lot of similarities.
“Brian is a lifelong friend for me,” she said. “We always talk about hockey and we talk about possibilities. We bounce ideas back and forth. He bounced an idea to me that maybe it’s time for him to go to the PWHL and the pro lifestyle maybe fits him better as of right now with getting summers off.
“It also came into the picture that I also care about the Huskies a lot. He wanted to make sure the program was left in a great spot. It was his will that either me or Jinelle would take over the program.”
For Schreiner, there were some key elements that made Jalosuo stand out as a good fit.
“There were a few things that stuck out to me,” Schreiner said. “We needed the women to feel supported. We needed to make sure we had someone who had the drive, the dedication and the passion that our previous head coach did. And we wanted to take the new coaching staff to take us even further.
“Over the last couple years, it’s been so fun watching (Jalosuo’s) success in the PWHL with the Minnesota Frost and I’m excited about the opportunity that she brings to our staff to get us to that level as well. A championship would be great, but there’s no pressure.”

Clint Austin/Duluth Media Group
In the season that Jalosuo was a member of Idalski’s staff, the Huskies made some big strides. The season before Idalski arrived, SCSU was 9-23-3 overall and finished in seventh in the eight-team WCHA.
In Idalski’s first season, SCSU was 18-18-1 overall and finished fifth. Unfortunately for the Huskies, in each of the last three seasons, they have finished fifth in the WCHA and lost in a first round playoff series at Minnesota Duluth.
The Huskies lost 13 players to either graduation or the transfer portal from last season’s team. But the cupboard is not bare.
SCSU has two solid goaltenders returning in graduate student
Jojo Chobak
and sophomore Emilia Kyrkkö. Chobak sat out a redshirt season in 2024-25, but the previous season, she was 7-11-1 with a 1.64 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and four shutouts.
Kyrkkö split time last season with
Sanni Ahola
and was 7-7-3 with a 1.98 GAA, .926 save percentage and three shutouts. Kyrkkö is also a member of the Finnish national team.
“Goaltending has always been good at St. Cloud State University and I would say that we again have 1A and 1B,” Jalosuo said. “I would expect them to split time, especially early in the season. Defense is going to be very solid.
“The biggest difference for me compared to three years ago is that we have some skill on the offensive side of the puck. Now when we’re talking about expectations for forwards, it’s that we’re going to be scoring 3-4 goals a game. When I was here last time, it was more like one or two. So Brian, Jinelle and Emily have done a good job of finding some forwards who can put the puck in the net. The pressure is on that we’re not winning games 1-0 or 2-1. We are expecting to score three or four goals a game.”
Three of the team’s top four in points last season return in juniors
Alice Sauriol
(seven goals, 15 assists, 22 points),
Sofianna Sundelin
(11-9-20) and
Laura Zimmermann
(7-8-15).
Three defensemen who played 29 games or more last season return in junior Sydney Bryant (18 games, 0 points),
graduate student Grace Wolfe (36, 2-7-9)
and sophomore Siiri Yrjölä (32, 2-3-5).
The Huskies picked up three players in the transfer portal including
junior forward Sidney Jackel (Lindenwood),
junior forward Payton Holloway (Minnesota Duluth)
and
goalie Hali Lawrence (Post)
and there are 10 freshmen on the roster.
“We are bringing in 13, maybe 14, players,” Jalosuo said. “There are some big shoes to be filled. I’m excited about what they bring to the table.”
She is also excited to be back at SCSU after helping the Frost win the first two Walter Cups.
“After winning two Walter Cups with the Frost, I get back to that challenge. What else is there?,” she said “Yeah, I could go for the three-peat with another title, but I saw that St. Cloud State is a better opportunity and better challenge for me because there’s so much we can win with this program.

Andy Rennecke / St. Cloud LIVE
“The reason why I took the PWHL job … there was nothing was wrong with St. Cloud State. I was very happy here and I loved the people here. I loved Holly and she was a new AD at that point and she took great care of me. I saw the direction of this program and I knew it was going to get better.
“But I thought it was the one time in my life where I would be truly challenged because there were players that I played with like Lee Stecklein. If I could get a buy-in from Lee Stecklein, I think coaching is going to be very easy for me for the rest of my life. If you can get your peers to buy in, then coaching will become easy.”
Schreiner is also glad to have Jarosuo back on the team’s staff.
“I’m excited because I think we’ve got a direction that will keep us on pace of what we had under coach Idalski,” she said. “The ship is still moving forward and I’m super excited.”
And Jalosuo is excited about working with her staff.
“I’m a little bit different than most people in that I don’t think about the titles,” she said. “Everybody, to me, is at the same level. Obviously, I have the last say in the lineup. But I like to empower people.
“Brian was very much the same way with me and so was (Minnesota Frost head coach) Ken Klee. Every single decision we made, we made it as a group. Yes, I have the title of head coach, but at the end of the day, we all are equal. It was never my drive to be a head coach of a program.”
College Sports
After Previous Stint as Assistant for PU Women’s Hockey, Kessel Gets Return Engagement to Guide Tiger Program – Town Topics
HOLDING COURT: Courtney Kessel, left, speaks at a press conference during her time as the head coach of the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Kessel was recently named as the head coach of the Princeton University women’s hockey team, succeeding Cara Gardner Morey who left Princeton to serve as the general […]

HOLDING COURT: Courtney Kessel, left, speaks at a press conference during her time as the head coach of the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Kessel was recently named as the head coach of the Princeton University women’s hockey team, succeeding Cara Gardner Morey who left Princeton to serve as the general manager of the Vancouver expansion franchise in the PWHL. Taking the Princeton job marks a homecoming for Kessel as she was an assistant coach for the Tigers from 2019-23 before taking the helm of the Fleet. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)
By Bill Alden
During her college years at the University of New Hampshire, Courtney Kessel kept busy starring for the Wildcat women’s hockey team.
Standout defender Kessel, nee Birchard, tallied 81 points on 34 goals and 47 assists from 2007-11, earning Hockey East All-Star honors along the way.
But Kessel made time to teach others the game while she was excelling on the ice.
“Even while I was in college, I would help run summer camps all the time,” said Kessel. “Every single week in the summer I was coaching hockey. I fell in love with it when I was really young. I really enjoyed it.”
After wrapping up her college career, Kessel starred for the Brampton Thunder of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) and had three stints on the Canadian Senior National Team where she helped the squad win gold in 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships and silver medals in 2013 and 2015.
Kessel turned her focus to coaching, starting with high school and the junior level with the Oakville Hornets before becoming the head coach of the Toronto Furies in the CWHL in 2018. She also served as an assistant coach for rhe Canada women’s national Under-18 team and helped it win silver in the 2018 IIHF U-18 Women’s World Championships.
“I think all of those opportunities helped me to just grow as a coach and also as a person,” said Kessel.
After the CWHL folded, Kessel came to Princeton University where she worked as an assistant coach for the women’s hockey team from 2019-23 and enjoyed helping her players grow.
“What I loved about it was the mentorship development side of it when they are at that age and how you can impact their lives,” said Kessel, reflecting on that experience. “They are intelligent women that are driven academically and athletically. I really enjoyed that side of things.”
In 2023, Kessel headed back to the pro level to be the head coach of the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL).
“It was completely different, a little more cut throat and it was more transactional,” said Kessel, who had another stint the Canadian women’s U-18 program, becoming head coach of the team and guiding to it a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF U-18 Women’s World Championships. “There was less development, you are coaching the best players in the world. A lot of them have been to the Olympics. They are just older. It was more Xs and Os, hockey-based. I really did miss the developmental side of things.”
Now, looking to focus again on developing players, Kessel, 36, returned to Princeton last month to take the helm of the women’s hockey program, succeeding Cara Gardner Morey, who left the post to serve as the general manager of the Vancouver expansion franchise in the PWHL.
“It is just a tremendous opportunity, it is one of the best academic schools in the entire world,” said Kessel. “To be able to do that and also be athletically gifted and trying to win championships, Princeton offers the total package. I had spent four years here so I know the players and it has a special place in my heart for sure. I think the development side and the mentorship was a really big thing for me. It is just the real reason why I coach.”
Kessel has hit the ground running as she has taken the reins of the team.
“I was so excited, I couldn’t wait to get going,” said Kessel. “I know there are lot of things that need to happen before November. We are moving as a family, we have two kids. It is getting through this recruiting class, just coming in literally after June 15. It is learning the numbers, the names. I have been out of those rinks for two years when I was in the professional world.”
Based on her previous experience with the team, Kessel is fired up to begin working again with the Princeton kids.
“They are just driven, you know what you are getting into when you come to Princeton,” said Kessel. “You know it is going to be hard academically and athletically. We want to win championships as well. The demand on these student athletes, it’s a lot. But they are intelligent and they care about other things outside the rink.”
Being part of the coaching staff that guided the Tigers to a 26-6-1 record in the 2019-20 season and the ECAC Hockey tournament championship before the rest of the season was canceled due to global pandemic was a highlight for Kessel.
“COVID makes that season even more special than it was at the time,” said Kessel. “We share that mutual disappointment of we thought we were on the verge of something really big. It was awesome to beat Q-pac in game three in OT (in the ECACH quarterfinal series). Cornell was ranked No. 1 at the time when we beat them in the ECAC final. It was super exciting. I had coached quite a few of those players before even coming into Princeton. I had coached Sarah Fillier, Kayla Fillier, Claire Thompson, Cassie Reale, and Dani Calabrese with either Hockey Canada or the Oakville juniors.”
Kessel took some valuable lessons from her time working with Gardner-Morey.
“Cara brings an energy every single day but it is just making sure you are having conversations,” said Kessel. “Sure we all want to win championships but at the end of the day we play this sport to become the humans we want to be. I just think the team atmosphere side of things and the culture was a really big thing.”
That focus on culture was the main theme of Kessel’s initial message to the Tiger players as she returned to the program.
“I have talked to basically the whole team, I am really excited and looking forward to being back with them and seeing what we can do,” said Kessel. “This is going to be our family. We are going to make this a place where we excel on the ice but off the ice as well.”
In order to get the Tigers to excel on the ice this winter, Kessel will be emphasizing an attention to detail.
“I am a pretty big habits-based coach with things like the details of back checking, possession changes and face-off details,” said Kessel. “I want to play a physical, fast game. That is the approach I took with Boston as well. It depends on the personnel.”
With a core of juniors leading Princeton to a solid 18-12-2 campaign last winter, Kessel is excited about the personnel on hand.
“I think we can score goals and score more than the other team,” said Kessel. “Our defense are young but super, super talented. I am excited to watch our senior class. They are the class I had when I left- Katherine Khramtsov, Emerson O’Leary, Jane Kuehl, Issy Wunder and Taylor Hyland- and I will get to see where they have come from over the last three seasons. I am really excited to be back, we want to win championships at Princeton.”
College Sports
Class of 2025 sports commits
The class of 2025 has 16 graduates pursuing collegiate athletics: seniors Beshoy Eldaif, James Kropp, Wilson Mount, Nyhila Silva, and Seamus Streelman will be continuing to play soccer; Seniors Haiden Evans and Dhati Lewis Jr. will be continuing to play basketball; seniors Harper Lawrence and Lauryn Strickland will be continuing to cheer; seniors Padraig Mahony, […]


The class of 2025 has 16 graduates pursuing collegiate athletics: seniors Beshoy Eldaif, James Kropp, Wilson Mount, Nyhila Silva, and Seamus Streelman will be continuing to play soccer; Seniors Haiden Evans and Dhati Lewis Jr. will be continuing to play basketball; seniors Harper Lawrence and Lauryn Strickland will be continuing to cheer; seniors Padraig Mahony, Isabelle Perry, and Emily Vergara will be continuing to play lacrosse; senior Neil Sevigny will be playing baseball; seniors Jada Stanford and Kenari Tigner will be continuing to run track; and Naoma Yancey will continuing to play volleyball.
BESHOY ELDAIF
Senior Beshoy Eldaif committed to the College of the Holy Cross to play Division 1 soccer and continue his education.
Since he was 3 years old, Eldaif has always enjoyed the sport and is looking forward to continuing his education and career in the upcoming years.
“I chose Holy Cross because it was the best blend of athletics and academics and I really loved the team culture,” Eldaif said. “I am looking forward to continuing to develop into both a more complete player as well as a person. I enjoy playing because you can go onto the field and forget about anything else and just have fun and be free.”
Eldiaf accredits a part of his journey to being at Midtown where he said he would apply the skills he learned in high school to his student-athlete experience.
“I think the most important thing I learned in high school was figuring out how to balance and plan ahead so that I don’t fall behind in school and not affect my athletics,” Eldiaf said. “Having great friends that encouraged and supported me was also a really awesome experience for me at Midtown.”
SEAMUS STREELMAN
Senior Seamus Streelman will be continuing his academic and athletic career at Clemson University for Division 1 soccer.
Streelman has played soccer for almost 13 years, playing with the Atlanta United Academy on Atlanta United 2, the club’s reserve team competing in MLS NEXT Pro. Clemson stuck out to him for its all-around attributes.
“Clemson was the perfect mix of being close to home, a great soccer program, academics, and a fun environment outside of soccer,” Streelman said.
Streelman views college as the next big step in his journey, both on and off the field.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to improve as a player and person,” Streelman said. “Going into a new environment will allow me to learn even more as a player.”
Moving into his future, Streelman accredits a part of his journey to Midtown.
“Midtown was the perfect balance to Atlanta United,” Streelman said. “It allowed me to have off the field friendships and connections that kept me motivated and focused.”
WILSON MOUNT
Senior Wilson Mount committed to Hartwick College to continue academics and soccer career. Despite recently finding the desire to play collegiately, Mount found Hartwick to be a good fit.
“When I toured Hartwick, I really enjoyed the people and community,” Mount said. “I’m looking forward to the highly competitive environment while still getting a good education.”
Mount has been playing soccer since he was just 5 years old and is looking forward to continuing his passion.
“Building bonds with my teammates and positive attitudes with everyone in the athletic department has impacted my journey to my commitment,” Mount said.
ISABELLE PERRY
Senior Isabelle Perry has committed to the United States Merchant Marine Academy to play lacrosse for the next four years.
Perry has been playing lacrosse for 10 years and has continued to play because of her passion for the sport, more recently deciding to play collegiately.
“I enjoy it because I am able to score goals, make assists and take the draw – it brings me joy,” Perry said. “When I first started I didn’t know you could play in college but as I entered high school I made it my goal to play in college.”
The United States Merchant Marine Academy, located in Nassau County, New York, provides a unique college experience that Perry is looking forward to.
“I chose to play at the USMMA because of the challenge,” Perry said. “I wanted a different college experience that would push me physically and give me a chance to travel the world during my sea year, typically during part of my sophomore and junior year. I am looking forward to what the future holds. I am excited to learn about all things maritime related and am happy to play the sport I love, while being supported by my family and coaches.”
Looking back at her high school career, Perry said she’ll always remember her bonds with her teammates and the lessons she learned.
“Being at Midtown has given me the ability to further develop academically and athletically,” Perry said. “I have not only grown as a learner but also as a lacrosse player. I am grateful for the community that they have fostered for me to succeed. During games like Decatur, North Atlanta, and Marist we have truly pushed ourselves and have had to rely on each other when we feel gassed or down. These moments have stuck with me because it has shown me that you can push yourself harder when others are around you to support you.”
NYHILA SILVA
Senior Nyhila Silva will be majoring in pre dental and continuing her athletic career at Jackson State University for Division 1 soccer.
Silva has been playing soccer since she was 3 years old and is looking forward to the opportunity to continue playing the sport she loves.
“I chose Jackson State over other schools because of the community I’d be surrounded by on a daily basis,” Silva said. “For me it wasn’t just the player I’d grow as on the field, but off as well.”
Playing on the varsity soccer team, Silva attributes her success to Midtown.
“Being at Midtown influenced my commitment by really showing me what relationships look like and their importance,” Silva said. “That’s not just with friends, but family, and even teachers. It showed me what I wanted my future to look like considering my future relationships I’d make going forward.”
Silva is excited to pursue new opportunities in a new environment.
“I’m most looking forward to being a bio pre dental major, and just playing collegiate level soccer,” Silva said. “Especially playing at a Division I school I’m ready to put in the work and see all I can accomplish.”
EMILY VERGARA
Senior Emily Veragra has committed to Belmont Abbey University to play lacrosse for the next four years. It wasn’t her initial plan to play in college but is looking forward to continuing her sport and education.
“Lacrosse has just been something that helps me keep moving and seeing my teammates plays a big part,” Vergara said. “I really liked their program and it was really welcoming and I’m looking forward to succeeding and getting into new chapters of my life.”
Vergara has enjoyed her time at Midtown and feels her experience has set her up for playing collegiately.
“Being in midtown really showed me how much I enjoy playing with others because of the uplifting environment,” Vergara said. “My favorite moments would be when last year it was a really hot day at practice so our coach got us water balloons and cookies.”
JAMES KROPP
Senior James Kropp committed to Denison University to play soccer and continue his education. Kropp has been playing soccer since he was 4 and recently determined he wanted to continue on a collegiate level.
“I definitely have not always planned to play college soccer,” Kropp said. “It is something that I put my mind to starting in 10th grade and refused to not have happen.”
Denison University, located in Ohio, was Kropp’s choice due to its good balance between student life and education.
“I chose Denison over other schools for the well balanced lifestyle without compromising high quality sports and academics,” Kropp said. “I am looking forward to getting to meet everyone at the school and on the team. I am also looking forward to continuing to play soccer at a higher level.”
Kropp accredited Midtown for continuing to play soccer today.
“Being in midtown completely changed the trajectory of my commitment path,” Kropp said. “I almost quit soccer but that 10th grade season saved me and put me where I am today. My favorite memories are the bus rides to away games and playoff games especially beating mcintosh in the semi finals my sophomore year.”
LAURYN STRICKLAND
Senior Lauryn Strickland is pursuing cheerleading and continuing her education at Alabama A&M University.
“I love cheer because it was the first sport I was interested in,” Strickland said. “It’s brought a lot of memories throughout the years. I love the sisterhood and bonds I’ve built when joining new teams.”
Strickland was initially supposed to do track in college, but had a change of plans to pursue her passion.
“Originally, I was supposed to go to college for track but in the middle of my season my mom asked if I would cheer in college as a second option,” Strickland said. “Long story short I ended up sending my virtual tryout and got accepted to do an in-person tryout, then ended up making the team around the time my track season was ending. I’ve been excited to start cheering in college even since then.”
Alabama A&M was Strickland’s top choice because it was close to home; she is confident in her ability to manage school and her sport.
“So far, as managing sports and education in college I feel I’ll adjust pretty quickly,” Strickland said. “I’ve managed cheer all four years in high school, and I’ve had my ups and down with it but it’s manageable.”
Strickland has been cheering since she was four years old and continued through all of high school and is looking forward to continuing the sport.
“One biggest accomplishment I’ve experienced as a midtown cheerleader is being patient because sometimes people learn and move faster than others,” Strickland said. “But, as a good teammate, you find time to help them out. Midtown had very good sportsmanship.”
DHATI LEWIS JR.
Senior Dhati Lewis Jr. committed to Columbia International University to play basketball and continue his education. Lewis has been playing basketball since he was four years old, always hoping to play collegiately.
“Ever since I remember, I always wanted to go to the next level and play basketball for as long as I can,” Lewis said. “I chose Columbia International for many reasons. I loved their campus and location. The main reason I chose CIU was I believe I will improve the most there with Coach Stockman who played D1 basketball at Ohio State and Clemson.”
Basketball has been a lifelong passion for Lewis, shaped by family and community support making him excited for what lies ahead.
“Ever since I started playing I always enjoyed it – It was a way to bond with my dad and my 3 older sisters who all played basketball,” Lewis said. “I am looking forward to all the connections I can make in these next four years. I will make some friends for life and I’m excited about that.”
He also credits his high school experience for preparing him to reach the collegiate level.
“Midtown contributed a lot to my commitment,” Lewis said. “Coach Jefferson and Mitchell opened the gym a lot which helped me get better at basketball and gave me the confidence I needed to make it to the next level.”
College Sports
More Las Vegas Sports Hospitality: Big Ten Conference Media Days Come To Mandalay Bay This Week
LVSportsBiz.com CONTACT: Alan Snel, veteran journalist and LVSportsBiz.com publisher. ASnel@LVSportsBiz.com. LVSPORTSBIZ.COM, launched June 2017: We are a digital magazine providing market-leading news, intelligence, enterprise and breaking news on Las Vegas’ sports/stadium industry. Our stories are quoted nationally and we set the sportsbiz news agenda in Las Vegas. Publisher Alan Snel has reported on the business […]

LVSportsBiz.com CONTACT: Alan Snel, veteran journalist and LVSportsBiz.com publisher. ASnel@LVSportsBiz.com.
LVSPORTSBIZ.COM, launched June 2017: We are a digital magazine providing market-leading news, intelligence, enterprise and breaking news on Las Vegas’ sports/stadium industry. Our stories are quoted nationally and we set the sportsbiz news agenda in Las Vegas. Publisher Alan Snel has reported on the business of sports and stadiums in Denver, South Florida, Seattle and Tampa besides Las Vegas and is considered a national authority on the topic. Please read our investigative reports on:
F1 race promoting misleading economic data on race event in Las Vegas
Las Vegas still owing more than $1 billion on its debt for contributing $750 million for construction of Raiders’ NFL stadium.
LVCVA spending $165,000 on Super Bowl trip to LA
LVCVA CEO Steve Hill’s claiming that tourism decreases in Las Vegas in summer is wrong
Las Vegas consultant Jeremy Aguero having conflict of interest for asking Nevada Legislature for A’s stadium construction money while also working as administrative support for Las Vegas Stadium Authority.
LVCVA awarding $1.2 million contract to Phoenix-based sports marketing company that hires former husband of LVCVA’s vice president of sports & events less than a month after.
ADVERTISEMENT: Please shop at Jay’s Market at 190 East Flamingo at the Koval Lane intersection east of the Strip. Jay’s Market is the official presenting sponsor of LVSportBiz.com’s stories.
Our coverage of the Athletics stadium project in Las Vegas.
A’s owner John Fisher in Las Vegas
New A’s team president Marc Badain
LVCVA spends $8.25 million on A’s sponsorship
Big League Sports With Small Town Politics
Man of Many Hats
Athletics’ long, strange journey for new ballpark
Athletics consultant Jeremy Aguero is eye of Las Vegas’ sports hurricane
How Deal Was Made For A’s Ballpark On Strip
Bally’s Corp, Gaming & Leisure Properties team up with A’s for ballpark on Strip
Bally’s Corp Chairman Wants Hotel Open When A’s Stadium Is Ready In 2028
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Take advantage of our success by coming on board as an LVSportsBiz.com advertiser. Contact publisher Alan Snel at asnel@LVSportsBiz.com
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College Sports
Liverpool, Wrexham and Wales soccer hero Joey Jones has died at 70
Joey Jones, the Welsh soccer hero who won two European Cups with Liverpool and was dubbed “Mr Wrexham”, has died. He was 70. Jones’ death was confirmed by the Football Association of Wales and Wrexham on Tuesday. The English second-tier team said he had died in the early hours of the morning after a “battle […]


Joey Jones, the Welsh soccer hero who won two European Cups with Liverpool and was dubbed “Mr Wrexham”, has died. He was 70.
Jones’ death was confirmed by the Football Association of Wales and Wrexham on Tuesday. The English second-tier team said he had died in the early hours of the morning after a “battle with illness.”
“Wrexham AFC are devastated to learn of the passing of club legend Joey Jones,” the Welsh club said in a statement.
During a decorated career, Jones won five major trophies for Liverpool, including back-to-back European Cups in 1977 and 1978, as well as the English league title in 1977. He also won the UEFA Cup and European Super Cup for the Merseyside team.
“Jones’ attitude and commitment had long earned him the affection of the Liverpool supporters,” the club said in a statement. “The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Joey’s family and friends at this sad time.”
Jones, a left back, made 72 appearances for Wales between 1975 and 1986.
Before his move to Liverpool in 1975, Jones started his career at Wrexham, where he won the Welsh Cup. He had three spells with the club and also held roles as first team and youth coach, interim manager and ambassador.
“A true club legend, on and off the pitch, with time for everybody he met, Joey will be greatly missed by all who knew him,” Wrexham said.
Jones also played for Chelsea and Huddersfield.
Wrexham said it would honor Jones with a statue outside the stadium.
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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