Franck Charles ’16 has turned Virginia Union University’s Track & Field and Cross Country programs into a model of excellence both on and off the track, earning him the Triad of Excellence Award from the John W. Barco Alumni Chapter.

The award honors alumni who demonstrate leadership, service and dedication to the university’s mission while serving as role models for students and the community. 

Under Charles’ leadership, the Panthers have excelled in competition and community engagement. This semester, student-athletes volunteered at Kings Dominion multiple times and donated canned goods to support families in Haiti. Two team members, Gabrielle Olukoya and Mychael Tucker, received scholarships from the Barco Alumni Chapter, joining last year’s recipients Christal Rolack and Toni Middlebrooks. 

Charles said the recognition reflects the collective effort of his athletes and coaching staff, who prioritize success both on the field and in the classroom. He emphasized the importance of pursuing scholarships, limiting student debt and preparing for careers after graduation. 

“This award is not just about me; it belongs to our entire Cross Country and Track & Field family,” Charles said. 

Full caption: Priest River High senior setter Jayda Storro was named to the 3A All-State Honorable Mention Team as the results were released recently by the Idaho State Journal newspaper in Pocatello. Players are chosen by the state’s coaches via a voting system put together by Brandon Walton, Sports Editor of the paper. Storro, a three-year varsity starter and the 2025 Central Idaho League MVP, helped the Lady Spartans clinch their first state playoff berth since 2015. Under Storro’s leadership, Priest River finished with an overall record of 17-5, one of the winningest years in school history.

Michael Lehmkuhle

Correspondent

Updated Dec. 24, 2025, 12:42 a.m. ET

Newark Catholic’s Dylan Daube attempts a layup against Bishop Rosecrans’ Kohen Harris during the host Green Wave’s 71-52 victory on Dec. 23, 2025.

Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate

kAmpF8FDE6 H2D 2 >6>36C @7 E96 &$p &`h E62> E92E H@? E96 ux’q (@C=5 r92>A:@?D9:A 😕 rC@2E:2 😕 a_ab] ~?6 @7 96C E62>>2E6D H2D r92C=:6 uF6C3C:?86C]k^Am

kAm%96 EH@ 7@C>65 2 3@?5 DEC@?8 6?@F89 E92E H96? pF8FDE6 6?E6C65 E96 EC2?D76C A@CE2= 27E6C 96C D@A9@>@C6 D62D@? 2E u=@C:52[ E96 ?@E:@? @7 C6F?:E:?8 H:E9 uF6C3C:?86C AC@G65 E@@ 8@@5 E@ A2DD FA]k^Am

kAm“(6 H@? H@C=5D E@86E96C 😕 rC@2E:2[ 2?5 x ;FDE C6>6>36C FD 36:?8 2EE24965 2E E96 9:A[” pF8FDE6 D2:5 😕 2 A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H] “(6 92G6 366? 4=@D6 2?5 8@@5 7C:6?5D 6G6C D:?46 E96?]k^Am

kAm“$96’D 366? E6==:?8 >6 E96 E9:?8D x ?665 E@ 962C 2?5 2?DH6C65 E96 BF6DE:@?D x 925 23@FE (:D4@?D:?[ H9:49 >256 >6 2 H9@=6 =@E >@C6 DFC6 2?5 4@?7:56?E 😕 >J 564:D:@? E@ 8@ E@ (:D4@?D:?]”k^Am

kAmpF8FDE6’D 564:D:@? 😀 2 H6=4@>65 @?6 😕 =:89E @7 E96 6I@5FD E96 q2586CD 6IA6C:6?465 D:?46 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\72=E6CD\=2E6\DF776CD\7:G6\D6E\=@DD\E@\<6?EF4:7:?2=D^2CE:4=6034`bf657\hc4b\caae\3773\66_c4e44536e]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?:7:?2=Dk^2m =2DE H66<] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\=@D6D\DE2CE6C\H9@\D9:?65\5@H?\E96\DEC6E49\E@\EC2?D76C\A@CE2=^2CE:4=60c7ae5b`_\e_ff\c756\24hd\f5gf36__`hd6]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?

kAm%96 q2586CD 5:5 =2?5 2?@E96C A=2J6C 7C@> E96 A@CE2= |@?52J 😕 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\=2?5D\42=:7@C?:2\@FED:56\9:EE6C\7C@>\EC2?D76C\A@CE2=^2CE:4=60h22e_a_a\7`cc\c5bg\2cga\`ba7bd4e2h3e]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2? &r $2?E2 q2C32C2k^2m[ H9@ 2??@F?465 E92E D96 H@F=5 EC2?D76C E@ (:D4@?D:?] $96 =65 E96 v2F49@D H:E9 b]hb <:==D A6C D6E[ 62C?:?8 D64@?5 E62> p==\q:8 (6DE 9@?@CD 27E6C 36:?8 ?2>65 q:8 (6DE uC6D9>2? @7 E96 *62C 😕 a_ac] $96 H:== 92G6 EH@ J62CD @7 6=:8:3:=:EJ 2E (:D4@?D:?]k^Am

kAmpF8FDE6[ 2 e\a >:55=6 3=@4<6C H9@ 62C?65 E9:C5 E62> p’rp p==\p>6C:42? 9@?@CD E9:D D62D@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==\=2?5D\2==\2>6C:42?\7C@>\EC2?D76C\A@CE2=\E@\C6A=246\56A2CE:?8\DE2C^2CE:4=60a5d6cccg\_bbe\ce2c\2c53\d625db4`a`hd]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?256 96C 564:D:@?] p?5 H9:=6 92G:?8 uF6C3C:?86C 2D 96C D6EE6C A=2J65 2 D:8?:7:42?E C@=6[ E92E H2D ;FDE @?6 @7 >2?J 724E@CD E92E >256 E96 49@:46 E96 @3G:@FD @?6]k^Am

kAm“x H@F=5 D2J Wx 49@D6X (:D4@?D:? 3642FD6 :E H2D E96 D49@@= E92E >256 >J 7FEFC6 =@@< E96 3C:89E6DE[” D96 D2:5] “x H@F=5 D2J :E H@F=5 ;FDE 36 E96 D>2CE6DE 564:D:@? 7@C >6 7@C E96 C6DE @7 >J 4@==68:2E6 42C66C[ E96 H2J E92E E96 AC@8C2> CF?D 2?5 E96 H2J E92E E96J 42CCJ E96>D6=G6D] %96J 2C6 4@?D:DE6?E=J 2 E@A `_ E62> 2?5 E96J 2=H2JD 92G6 2 =@E @7 8@@5 E9:?8D 8@:?8 7@C E96>] $@ H9J ?@E 36 2 q2586Cn”k^Am

kAmpF8FDE6 D2:5 D96 962C5 7C@> >@C6 D49@@=D E92? D96 4@F=5 4@F?E 27E6C D96 6?E6C65 E96 A@CE2=[ H:E9 (:D4@?D:? 36:?8 2>@?8 E96 7:CDE E@ 4@?E24E 96C] $96 E2=<65 E@ 23@FE D6G6? D49@@=D 2?5 D@@? 56E6C>:?65 E92E (:D4@?D:? 925 H92E D96 H2D =@@<:?8 7@C]k^Am

kAm“*@F 5@ J@FC C6D62C49 7@C 2== E96 D49@@=D 2?5 J@F =@@< 2E E96 E9:?8D E92E 2C6 :>A@CE2?E E@ J@F 2?5 D66 H92E 7:ED J@F 36DE[ H92E >2<6D J@FC 7FEFC6 =@@< E96 3C:89E6DE[” pF8FDE6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm(:D4@?D:? 4@249 z6==J $9677:6=5 😀 6I4:E65 23@FE 92G:?8 pF8FDE6 ;@:? E96 AC@8C2> 368:??:?8 E9:D DAC:?8]k^Am

kAmQ$96 😀 @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 5J?2>:4 2EE24<6CD 😕 E96 4@F?ECJ[” $9677:6=5 D2:5] “w6C D=:56 😀 =6E92=[ 2?5 D96 😀 2=D@ 8C62E @77 @7 EH@ 766E] y]y] 42? 2=D@ 62E FA A2DD6CD 7C@> 369:?5 E96 D6CG:46 =:?6] xV> =@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ 92G:?8 96C 96C6 E9:D DAC:?8]Qk^Am

kAmpF8FDE6 D2:5 D96 9:E :E @77 H:E9 $9677:6=5 C:89E 2H2J H96? E96J E2=<65]k^Am

kAm“x’G6 925 D@>6 AC6EEJ 8@@5 4@?G6CD2E:@?D H:E9 z6==J[” D96 D2:5] “x E9:?< 96’D G6CJ 7F??J]”k^Am

kAm~? E96 D6C:@FD D:56[ E96 E9:?8 E92E DECF4< pF8FDE6 H2D 9@H 96 56D4C:365 q2586CD 72?D]k^Am

kAm“x =@G65 H96? 96 H@F=5 E2=< 23@FE E96 72?D 2?5 9@H 5:692C5 E96J 2C6 7@C G@==6J32== 2?5 9@H 3:8 @7 2 G@==6J32== D49@@= :E :D[” pF8FDE6 D2:5] “#62=:K:?8 9@H >2?J A6@A=6 2C6 A2DD:@?2E6 23@FE G@==6J32== E96C6 86ED >6 G6CJ 6I4:E65 3642FD6 x’G6 ?6G6C 366? 2E 2 ECF6 G@==6J32== D49@@=] x 5@?’E E9:?< E96 $tr 😀 E92E 3:8 @? G@==6J32==]”k^Am

kAmpF8FDE6 8@E E@ H:E?6DD E92E A2DD:@? 7:CDE 92?5 😕 $6AE6>36C H96? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^G@==6J32==^b\E9:?8D\E92E\DE@@5\@FE\:?\H:D4@?D:?\G@==6J32==D\c\D6E\H:?\:?\<@9=\46?E6C\4=2DD:4^2CE:4=60c4_g622`\_54d\c4_`\32bc\3d436bh2a2b6]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?6E E96 q2586CD 2E E96 z@9= r6?E6Ck^2m] $96 925 “ <:==D 2?5 E9C66 3=@4

kAm“%96 6?6C8J 😕 E92E A=246 H2D ;FDE F?C62=[” D96 D2:5] “%96J A24<65 :E 2?5 :E H2D G6CJ 7F?] |6 8@:?8 324< 2?5 7@CE9 A=2J:?8 H:E9 |:>: Wr@=J6CX 2?5 36:?8 😕 E92E 4@>A6E:E:G6 6?G:C@?>6?E[ x E9@C@F89=J 6?;@J65 :E]”k^Am

kAmp=E9@F89 D96 H6?E @? E@ 62C? E9:C5 E62> p==\p>6C:42? 9@?@CD[ pF8FDE6 😀 4@?G:?465 D96 92D ?@E 4@>6 4=@D6 E@ 7F=7:==:?8 96C A@E6?E:2=] $96 42?’E H2:E E@ 364@>6 2 A2CE @7 E96 (:D4@?D:? 2EE24< 27E6C H2E49:?8 r2CE6C q@@E9 AFE 2H2J a` <:==D 282:?DE z6?EF4

kAm“r92C=:6 H2D ;FDE 7665:?8 E96 >:55=6 2?5 7665:?8 E96 >:55=6[” D96 D2:5] “%92E’D =:E6C2==J A6C764E 7@C >6[ 2?5 x E9:?< x 42? 7:E 😕 8C62E H:E9 E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< x 4@F=5 36 2 H2J 3:886C A=2J6C E92? x 2> C:89E ?@H] x H@F=5 =@G6 E@ 8C@H >J 82>6 5676?D:G6=J[ 2?5 x E9:?< E92E x 2> G6CJ 8@@5 @776?D:G6=J] qFE :7 x 86E E96C6 5676?D:G6=J[ x 766= =:<6 x 4@F=5 36 F?DE@AA23=6] x ;FDE @H x 4@F=5 8C@H >J 82>6 2 =@E >@C6 7C@> H96C6 x 2> C:89E ?@H] %96 E9:C5 E62> p==\p>6C:42? H2D 8C62E[ 3FE x ;FDE @H E92E x 42? 5@ >@C6]”k^Am

kAmuF6C3C:?86C 😀 ?@E E96 @?=J q2586C H:E9 H9@> pF8FDE6 😀 72>:=:2C] pD 2 D6?:@C[ D96 H2D 2 E62>>2E6 @7 a_ae C64CF:E w2==6 %9@>AD@? 2E vC2?5 ~2A:@?D9:A E92E J62C[ 2?5 pF8FDE6 D66D 3:8 E9:?8D 29625 7@C %9@>AD@?]k^Am

kAm“x 92G6 E2=<65 E@ w2==6[ 2?5 E92E 5:5 A=2J 2 A2CE 😕 >J 564:D:@?[” pF8FDE6 D2:5] “x @H |:>: 😀 2 8C62E @FED:56[ 2?5 H:E9 96C =62G:?8[ H6 H@F=5 92G6 E@ 92G6 D@>63@5J 4@>6 😕 2?5 7:== E9@D6 D9@6D] p?5 x @H w2==6 42? 5@ H92E D96 AFED 96C >:?5 E@]”k^Am

kAmpF8FDE6 4@>6D 7C@> 2? 2E9=6E:4 72>:=J] w6C >@E96C[ p=:D92[ H2D @? E96 G@==6J32== 2?5 EC24< E62>D 2E $2> w@FDE@? $E2E6[ 2?5 96C 72E96C[ (:=56C[ A=2J65 32D<6E32== 2E $2> w@FDE@? $E2E6 2?5 =2E6C H:E9 E96 w2C=6> v=@36EC@EE6CD]k^Am

kAm“w6 A=2J65 FA F?E:= x H2D 23@FE f[” D96 D2:5] “x C6>6>36C 8@:?8 E@ 9:D 82>6D[ 2?5 x C6>6>36C 8@:?8 5@H? 2 C65 42CA6E @?46 @C EH:46 H:E9 9:> 2?5 9:D E62>>2E6D] p?5 x C6>6>36C 36:?8 D42C65 @7 E92E =:EE=6 >2D4@E[ v=@3:6] x 92G6 =:EE=6 >6>@C:6D @7 E92E]”k^Am

kAmpF8FDE6 4@>A6E65 😕 EC24< 7@C ?:?6 J62CD[ 6I46==:?8 😕 E96 9:89 ;F>A H:E9 2 A6CD@?2= 36DE @7 d\`_]k^Am

kAm“x 5:5 EC24< 7@C >@DE @7 >J =:76[ 2?5 x E9@F89E x H2D 8@:?8 E@ 8@ E@ 4@==686 7@C EC24<[” D96 D2:5] “qFE E96? x 6?565 FA 86EE:?8 :?E@ G@==6J32== 2E E96 =2DE D64@?5 2?5 6?565 FA 36:?8 C62==J 8@@5 2E :E 2?5 =@G65 :E]k^Am

kAm“x7 x’> 36:?8 4@>A=6E6=J 9@?6DE[ x AFCDF65 G@==6J32== 3642FD6 :E H2D :?5@@CD 2?5 x H2D D@ D:4< @7 36:?8 😕 E96 DF?] ‘@==6J32== 😀 2=D@ 7F?] xE H2D 7F? E@ 86E E@ @H A6@A=6 2?5 24EF2==J H@C< H:E9 @E96C A6@A=6] ‘@==6J32== 😀 2 DA@CE H96C6 J@F 92G6 E@ 56A6?5 @? @E96CD] xE E6DE65 >J 23:=:EJ E@ H@C< H:E9 @E96CD[ 2?5 x’> G6CJ 8C62E 2E 5@:?8 :E]”k^Am

kAmpF8FDE6 BF:4<=J 3642>6 8@@5 6?@F89 2E G@==6J32== E92E D96 H2D C2?<65 2D E96 }@] `f C64CF:E 3J !C6As:8 2?5 49@D6 E@ 8@ E@ u=@C:52 E@ A=2J 7@C =686?52CJ 4@249 |2CJ (:D6] qFE (:D6 C6E:C65 27E6C =2DE D62D@?[ 2?5 pF8FDE6 49@D6 E@ DE2J 6G6? E9@F89 D96 D2:5 E96 A=2J6CD H6C6 5:D2AA@:?E65 H96? 2DD:DE2?E 4@249 s2G6 q@@D 72:=65 E@ 86E E96 ;@3[ H9:49 H6?E E@ 7@C>6C |2CBF6EE6 4@249 #J2? %96:D]k^Am

kAm“x 82G6 E96 D62D@? 2 ECJ[ 3FE x ;FDE 76=E =:<6 :E H2D E:>6 7@C >6 E@ =62G6 3642FD6 x 6H E92E x 4@F=5 244@>A=:D9 3:886C E9:?8D 😕 E96 G@==6J32== H@C=5 2?5 D9@H A6@A=6 H92E x’> 24EF2==J 42A23=6 @7 2E 2 C62= G@==6J32== D49@@=[” pF8FDE6 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%H@ @7 96C 7@C>6C v2E@CD E62>>2E6D[ z6??65J |2CE:? 2?5 p=6I:D $EF4

kAm“x H6:8965 @FE >J @AE:@?D[ 3FE x 76=E =:<6 E9:D H2D E96 36DE 564:D:@? 7@C >6[” D96 D2:5] “!$& H2D 2 AC6EEJ 4=@D6 42==[ 3FE x 5:5?’E @H 9@H E92E H@F=5 =@@< 7@C >6 7@C E96 C6DE @7 >J 42C66C] xE ;FDE <:?5 @7 76=E =:<6 x’5 36 9@AA:?8 @? 2 32?5H28@? 2?5 >2<:?8 2 564:D:@? 32D65 @? @E96CD]k^Am

kAm“x ;FDE @H 😕 >J 962CE E92E x >256 E96 C:89E 564:D:@?] x 766= =:<6 H:E9 E9:D 564:D:@?[ x H2?E65 E@ >2<6 2 564:D:@? 7@C >JD6=7 7@C @?46] }@C>2==J x ;FDE ECJ E@ A6@A=6 A=62D6 2?5 >2<6 564:D:@?D 7@C @E96CD[ 2D x’G6 5@?6 😕 E96 A2DE 7@C D@>6 E9:?8D] qFE x ;FDE 76=E =:<6 E9:D H2D 2 8@@5 564:D:@? 7@C >6]”k^Am

kAmtG6? :7 D96 92D E@ =62C? E@ 562= H:E9 2? 6?E:C6=J 5:776C6?E 4=:>2E6]k^Am

kAm“p =@E @7 A6@A=6 92G6 366? E6IE:?8 >6[ 2D<:?8 :7 x’> C625J 7@C E96 4@=5[” D96 D2:5] “x’G6 366? 2D<:?8 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 23@FE 4@2ED 2?5 H92E’D 36DE E@ 86E] xD :E 42==65 2 A2C<2n x 5@?’E 92G6 2?J 3:8 4@2ED] x >62?[ 2?J] w@A67F==J x’== 36 AC6A2C65]”k^Am

Photos: Wisconsin volleyball 2025 season in photos

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Wisconsin outside hitter Mimi Colyer reflects on being the No. 1 draft pick in the MLV draft on Monday, Nov. 23, 2025.

Two more Badgers volleyball players announced Friday that they will enter the transfer portal. Here are the details.

The Badgers coaching staff praised the ability of this freshman to step in for an injured All-American.

The former No. 1 libero in her recruiting class announced on Instagram that she’s entering the transfer portal.

Two players who helped fuel the Badgers’ run to the Final Four earned All-American honors Wednesday.

Kelly Sheffield’s Badgers took us on a ride that ended too soon. How they handled that heartbreaking finale was just as impressive as any of t…

Charlie Fuerbringer and others believed from the start that this group had Final Four potential. But some adversity along the way made Kelly S…

Carter Booth is sorry for her foul-mouth faux pas. But the message behind it requires no apology: She’s doing everything in her power to exten…

The Badgers handedly won the opening set, but the Wildcats roared back to capture a come-from-behind victory to end Wisconsin’s run in the Final Four.

Kelly Sheffield’s Badgers will face Craig Skinner’s Wildcats in the second national semifinal match Thursday, and the opposing coaches were re…

From recovering on the sidelines to delivering in big moments, Una Vajagic’s breakout play is fueling Wisconsin volleyball’s charge to the Final Four.

A tracker of the latest transfer portal additions and losses for the Badgers volleyball team. 

The first Badgers player to enter the transfer portal has found a new program. Here are the details.

There is a family connection between the Badgers and their latest signee. Here’s what to know about Wisconsin’s newest addition.

Prior to her return to her hometown of Bakersfield, Wright served the previous eight seasons at the University of North Florida in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Inheriting a squad that posted a 13-19 record prior to her arrival in 2018, Wright quickly turned the program around, finishing with a 25-8 showing in just her third full season with the Ospreys.

Wright’s 2021 squad made it to the NIVC Quarterfinals while resetting the program record for wins in a season with 25. She also guided the Ospreys to a program-high RPI of 49, ending with the highest final RPI at 75 and tallying the program’s first-ever victory over a Power 5 squad.

During her eight-year tenure at North Florida, Wright became the winningest coach in the program’s Division I history (since 2005) with an overall record of 197-154. She coached 10 All-Conference selections, four ASUN Defensive Player of the Year honorees and one ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year, all while maintaining a team cumulative GPA between 3.3 and 3.7. Wright also proved to be an elite recruiter, attracting four Power 5 transfers to the UNF program.

Boasting a track record of success, Wright’s resume is flooded with championship achievements at all levels, including a CCCAA State title with the MiraCosta College beach volleyball team and nine-consecutive CIF San Diego Section Championships and six Southern California State Regional Championships with Tri-City Christian High School.

A Stockdale High School graduate who went on to earn All-America honors in college, Wright (née Hurst) has put together a coaching resume as equally as impressive. With championship coaching experience at every level of amateur volleyball, Wright brings coaching Hall of Fame and Coach of the Year accolades in her return to Kern County.

A standout prep star, Wright was highly recruited out of Stockdale High School, but she turned down Power 5 offers to compete for the University of San Diego. Wright became a four-year starter and captain for the Toreros. The pin hitter was named an All-American while leading USD to the program’s first-ever NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.