NAPERVILLE – The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was represented by multiple student-athletes from all nine league institutions on the 2025 Academic All-District® Women’s Track & Field team, selected by College Sports Communicators and announced on Tuesday.
 

The honor recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the track, in the field, and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes men’s track& field honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
 
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members and announced on July 15.
 
The Division III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 Divisions III Academic All-America® programs.
 
Augustana
Cora Deemer
Charlotte Frere*
Heather Michalski*
McKenzie Reser*
Jordyn Van Santen
 
Carroll
Rebekah Buboltz
Katelyn Duber
Maria Falk*
Grace Tinder
Vanessa Uitenbroek*
 
Carthage
Abbey Calhoun*
Tara Schaalma
Kylie Smith
Nicole Tarpley*
 
Elmhurst
Alyssa Busker*
Anna Andretich
Lauren Marshall*
Nakala Nadeau
Molly Roberts
 

Illinois Wesleyan
Annalese Chudy*
Adriana Crabtree*
Lauren Huber*
Emma McGrath
 

Millikin
Katie Janvrin
Madison Jessen
Hailey Newill
Alexis Wike
Haylee Yelle
 
North Central
Julia Benes
Gwen Berenyi*
Natalie Johnson
Robin Lee
Lindsey Novak*
 
North Park
Julia Klein
Thea Ring*
Jayla Sotelo
 
Wheaton
Grace Crowder
Natalie Fopma
Sophia Huber*
Sarah Quintanilla
Caroline Stetina*
 

Young athletes across Coleman County participated in summer volleyball and football camps this week, diving into drills, games, and skill-building activities led by Coleman ISD coaches.

The volleyball camp, led by Head Coach Courtney Lange, brought together a group of enthusiastic girls ready to learn and compete. “We had 31 amazing girls that participated and worked hard in Bluekatt volleyball camp!” Lange said. “It’s always a great day to be a Bluekatt volleyball player!”

At the same time, local boys hit the field for football camp, focusing on agility, footwork, and foundational techniques. Coaches guided athletes through a variety of drills aimed at improving athleticism, teamwork, and confidence.

Both camps concluded with smiles, group photos, and plenty of excitement for the upcoming sports seasons.

For the first time in more than five years, the Santa Ynez Valley is on track to bring back year-round public swim access, thanks in large part to a major financial commitment from the City of Solvang.

Earlier this month, Solvang approved a $450,000 grant to support the construction of the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Complex, a proposed two-pool facility designed to serve students, seniors, families, and athletes across the Valley.

The funding will be disbursed once the project breaks ground and is expected to act as a springboard for additional regional support.

“The city’s committed to our parks and recreation and our community as a whole,” said Solvang Mayor David Brown. “No child should grow up afraid of the water because they didn’t have the opportunity to learn how to swim. That’s a basic skill everyone should have access to.”

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the existing pool at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, originally built in the 1960s, has remained closed to the public.

Beyond lost recreation time, the outdated facility has made it impossible for the school’s water polo and swim teams to host CIF-sanctioned home competitions.

“We don’t even have home games because our pool doesn’t meet regulation size,” Brown said. “This project is about more than sports. It’s about health, community, and legacy. It’s something that will serve generations to come.”

The new complex will be built on the high school campus in Santa Ynez and will feature two pools:

• A 33-meter competition pool for student athletics, club use, lap swim, and tournaments.
• A 25-yard warm-water recreation pool for swim lessons, senior aqua fitness, rehabilitation, and affordable public swim sessions.

SYV Community Aquatics Foundation Architect 19six

The Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation (SYVCAF) is leading the capital campaign.

According to board president and campaign chair Lisa Palmer, the total project cost is $13.7 million. So far, the foundation has raised nearly $4 million, including the new commitment from Solvang. Their goal is to raise the remaining $9.7 million by December 2026.

“This is a valley-wide effort, with support coming from local cities, the county, the Chumash tribes, and community members,” Palmer said. “We’re seeing incredible momentum, but we still have a long way to go.”

Palmer says the facility will address a critical gap in public aquatics access. Currently, the Santa Ynez Valley has the lowest aquatics access in Santa Barbara County. The new recreation pool will be especially valuable for young children, seniors, and even life-guard training.

“The original pool was built 60 years ago by volunteers who saw the value in giving kids a place to swim,” Palmer said. “We’re honoring that legacy and reimagining it for today’s needs.”

Local coaches say the upgrade can’t come soon enough. Jake Kalkowski, head water polo coach and science teacher at the high school, says the current pool’s shallow design and lack of regulation dimensions hold students back from reaching their full potential.

“It puts us at a disadvantage right away,” Kalkowski said. “When we make playoffs, we can’t host. We have to rent pools in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria.”

Kalkowski also sees the broader need for aquatics access beyond school sports. His youth water polo program is already drawing 40 kids to evening practices, and he hopes to eventually expand offerings to adults and seniors.

“Right now, public access is almost nonexistent,” he said. “We want to see the whole community benefit.”
Once groundbreaking begins, construction is expected to take approximately one year. In the meantime, SYVCAF is actively working to reach their fundraising goal.

Palmer says she’s optimistic that with continued outreach, major gifts, and community engagement, the $13.7 million goal is within reach.

“This project is about equity, safety, health, and joy,” she said. “It’s about building a future where every resident in the Santa Ynez Valley can get in the water.”

To learn more, get involved, or make a donation, click the link here.

NEW ORLEANS – Ethan Strand’s historic track season continues to bring home more awards as he was named a semifinalist for The Bowerman Award by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Thursday, June 26.

This is the second straight season in which a Tar Heel has been named a semifinalist, following Parker Wolfe’s selection last season. The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009, is named after former Oregon Head Coach Bill Bowerman and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female NCAA track and field athletes in the nation.

Strand’s historic track season kicked off by setting two NCAA records in his first two races of the year. He is the only student-athlete to set the NCAA record in the mile (3:48.32) and the 3000m (7:30.15) in the same year. Strand won the Atlantic Coast Conference title in the men’s 5000m, setting the meet record (13:26.60). Strand was also part of the national runner-up DMR squad that set an unratified American Indoor Record (9:17.17), earning First Team All-American honors. He followed that up by winning the national championship in the men’s 3000m (7:52.03).

 

After the indoor season, the national champion received numerous awards, including the ACC Indoor Men’s Track Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCCA Southeast Region Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Strand also became the first Tar Heel to win USTFCCCA National Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Shalane Flanagan won the award for the Tar Heels in cross country in 2002 and 2003.

 

The historic success continued into the outdoor season as he ran the second-fastest 1,500m time in NCAA history (3:33.22) at the Duke Twilight. Strand entered the postseason on a high note. The senior became the first Tar Heel and only the fourth in ACC history to win the 1,500 three times at the ACC Outdoor Championships. Strand was also the ACC runner-up behind his teammate Wolfe in the 5,000m. Strand earned a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 5,000m and 1,500m. Strand finished as the national runner-up in the 1,500m, earning his third First Team All-America honors of the year.

For all the latest UNC track and field news, photos, and videos, follow on X, Instagram, and Facebook

BGSU volleyball has unveiled its non-conference schedule for the 2025 season, which includes several home matches and a handful of invitationals and tournaments.

For their first match of the year on Aug. 23, the Falcons will take on the squad from Youngstown State, a faceoff that hasn’t occurred since 2018 and one in which the Falcons are currently undefeated.

After that, the Orange and Brown will be traveling to North Dakota for the NDSU/UND tournament, where they will see Temple, North Dakota State, and St. Mary’s in that order. The tournament will take place from Aug. 29-30.

Bowling Green will continue to face off against big-name opponents on the road, taking on Kansas, Purdue, and Georgia Tech in that order in the Stacey Clark Invitational, hosted by the Boilermakers, from Sept. 3-5.

Then, another road trip for the Falcons, this time to Chicago, where BGSU will face off against Indiana, Stephen F. Austin, and Loyola in the Loyola Invitational, which will be from Sept. 11-13.

BG returns to the Stroh Center on Sept. 17 to host Oakland. The Falcons have historically defeated the Golden Grizzlies, including a sweep in their last meeting in 2021.

Lastly, before conference play begins, the Orange and Brown will participate in a three-team invitational hosted by Michigan State from Sept. 19-20. Bowling Green will face off with the Spartans and Binghamton, a team BG just beat in the first round of the NIVC last season.

The 2024 non-conference schedule was demanding on the Falcons, who went 5-6 against strong opponents, including number 22-ranked Dayton.

It may be a new year, but the strength of the schedule remains unchanged, with many of BGSU’s opponents in 2025 coming from major conferences.

NORMAN – Oklahoma track and field junior and NCAA discus champion Ralford Mullings was named a semifinalist for the prestigious The Bowerman, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Thursday. The honor is bestowed to collegiate track and field’s top male and female athlete for the year.

Semifinalists are determined by members of The Bowerman Advisory Board, who have produced watch lists throughout the season and have provided a ranked-ordered list of 10 athletes who they believe had the most outstanding season. The list of semifinalists represents the group’s consensus.

Mullings is the first Sooner in men’s program history to be named a semifinalist for the prestigious award. Prior to Mullings, women’s thrower and four-time NCAA champion Tia Brooks (2010-13) was Oklahoma’s only semifinalist, having earned the selection in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013.

Mullings, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, claimed the NCAA Outdoor Championships discus throw title June 14. He tossed the discus for a PR of 69.31m (227’5.00″) to shatter a 33-year-old meet record and surpass world record holder Mykolas Alekna of California. Mullings’ improvement cements his status as the No. 2 performer in collegiate history, his 69.31m (227’5.00″) mark sits ninth on the all-time collegiate chart. He is the first Sooner in program history to earn a national title in the discus throw and earned Oklahoma’s first individual outdoor championship since 2009. 

On Monday, Mullings was named the NCAA Division I National Field Athlete of the Year by the USTFCCCA. He becomes the first discus thrower to win the national award since Ryan Whiting in 2010 and is the first Sooner in men’s program history to be named national athlete of the year.

The junior bolstered his impressive season with the SEC Outdoor Championships discus title and three facility records at Baylor, Kentucky and Texas. Mullings currently holds two of the top-10 farthest throws in NCAA history.

The Bowerman Advisory Board will assemble to deliberate who will be named finalists and will announce the three honorees July 8. The winners are chosen by voters and are set to be announced at the USTFCCCA Convention in Grapevine, Texas, December 18.

 

Men’s Semifinalists

Mykolas Alekna, California (Discus)

Jordan Anthony, Arkansas (Sprints)

James Corrigan, BYU (Mid-Distance/Steeple)

Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor (Sprints/Hurdles)

Ishmael Kipkurui, New Mexico (Distance)

Carlie Makarawu, Kentucky (Sprints)

Ralford Mullings, Oklahoma (Throws)

Brian Musau, Oklahoma State (Distance)

Ethan Strand, North Carolina (Mid-Distance/Distance)

Ja’Kobe Tharp, Auburn (Hurdles)

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