Coaching Awards and Honors:
* 2007 USTFCCCA Division II Men[apos]s Assistant Coach of the Year
* 2007 USTFCCCA West Region Men[apos]s Assistant Coach of the Year

Outstanding Athletes Coached:

Blake Eaton
* 2010 NCAA Outdoor Bronze Medalist (Shot Put)
* Two-Time NCAA All-American
* Two-Time Big Ten Outdoor Champion (Shot Put)
* USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year

Joe Kovacs
* Two-Time NCAA Indoor Bronze Medalist (Shot Put)
* 2011 Big Ten Indoor Champion (Shot Put)
* Two-Time USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Indoor Field Athlete of the Year

Karlee McQuillen
* 2010 NCAA Bronze Medalist (Javelin)
* 2011 Big Ten Champion (Javelin)
* 2009 and 2010 Big Ten Silver Medalist (Javelin)
* 2011 USATF Finalist

Kim Hanslovan
* 2009 NCAA Qualifier (Javelin)
* Penn State Javelin Record Holder (178-4/54.35m)

Laura Loht
* 2011 Big Ten Bronze Medalist (Javelin)
* 2011 NCAA Qualifier/Second Team NCAA All-American

Kim Hanslovan
* 2009 NCAA Qualifier (Javelin)
* Penn State Javelin Record Holder (178-4/54.35m)

Emma Schmelzer
* 2009 Big Ten Co-Field Athlete of the Championships
* Three-Time Big Ten Silver Medalist
(Indoor; Weight, Outdoor; Hammer, Discus)
* NCAA Regional Qualifier (Shot Put, Hammer, Discus)

Tanner Evak
* 2009 Big Ten Javelin Champion
* 2009 Penn Relays Javelin Champion
* USATF Qualifier

Inger Appanaitis (Nevada)
* 2008 NCAA Qualifier (Javelin)
* 2008 US Olympic Trials Qualifier (Javelin)
* 2008 WAC Champion (Javelin)
* 2008 NCAA Regional Qualifier
(Shot Put, Discus, Hammer, Javelin)

Cameron Neel (Central Washington)
* Five-Time NCAA All-American (Division II)
* Eight-time GNAC Champion
* Four-time GNAC conference record holder

Former NCAA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year T.J. Crater is in his fourth year on the Nittany Lion coaching staff. Crater came to Happy Valley following coaching stints at Nevada and Central Washington and coaches the Nittany Lion throwing events.

Over his first three years in Happy Valley, Crater has led the Nittany Lion throws contingent to outstanding success, overseeing a trio of NCAA bronze-medal finishes, six NCAA All-America efforts, and five Big Ten victories.

Crater, who guided nine athletes to the NCAA First Round competition in 2011, also coaches world-class shot putter and Nittany Lion volunteer assistant, Ryan Whiting. Whiting qualified for the final at the IAAF World Championships last summer, and is one of the top five-ranked athletes in the world in the event.

Crater[apos]s throwers were sensational at the conference level in 2011, with senior Joe Kovacs taking the Big Ten indoor title in the shot put, thanks to an NCAA automatic-qualifying effort of 65-1.25 (19.84) – which also stands as the second-best throw in the Nittany Lion record books.

Outside, Crater tutored senior Blake Eaton to his second-straight Big Ten outdoor title in the shot, with Kovacs following in second to complete the Nittany Lion sweep. Senior Karlee McQuillen would also add a Big Ten victory, taking top honors in the javelin. Crater[apos]s women[apos]s javelin contingent put on a clinic at the conference meet, with freshman Laura Loht placing third, and classmates Megan Boyer and Kaitchen Dearborn finishing fifth and seventh, respectively, to build on McQuillen[apos]s victory.

Nationally speaking, Crater guided Kovacs and Eaton to NCAA berths during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Kovacs would place third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, adding his second NCAA bronze medal to the Nittany Lion trophy case, after finishing third in the event at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2010.

On the women[apos]s side, Crater led McQuillen to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the third-straight year, along with Loht, who made her first-career NCAA appearance in 2011. Both athletes would earn Second Team All-America status.
Crater also oversaw notable improvements from a trio of Nittany Lion newcomers in 2011, with junior Jane Swenson posting an effort of 52-6 (16.00) – the fourth-best toss in school history – in the shot put. Also showing outstanding promise was freshman Taylor McNally, who recorded a season-best toss of 157-6 (48.02) in the discus, and would go on to qualify for the USATF Junior Championships in the event. On the men[apos]s side, redshirt-freshman Will Barr also proved to be one-to-watch in the over the next three years, ending the 2011 season with a top toss of 179-0 (54.55) in the discus.

Under Crater[apos]s watch, the current crop of Nittany Lion throwers have rapidly made their into the Penn State record books, with Eaton (64-2.50/19.57) and Kovacs (62-10 /19.15) ranked second, and fourth, respectively, in the all-time Nittany Lion outdoor shot put standings, and Crater coached athletes claiming three of the top six spots on the the discus top 10 list.

Prior to 2011, Crater coached a Big Ten winning effort from Tanner Evak in the javelin in 2009. The same year, Crater saw Emma Schmelzer earn Big Ten Field Athlete of the Championship honors, thanks to 21-point total indvidiual via second-place finishes in the discus and hammer, and a fourth-place standing in the shot.
In just one year at Nevada, Crater led senior Inger Appanaitis to a WAC title in the javelin, as well as appearances at the NCAA Championships and U.S. Olympic Trials. Appanaitis was also an NCAA regional qualifier in all four throwing events. Crater also saw Wolfpack sophomore Constance McAlman also recorded regional qualifying marks in the hammer and discus.

At Central Washington University, Crater was named the 2007 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)-Division II West Region Men[apos]s Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year and the 2007 USTFCCCA-Division II National Men[apos]s Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year. At CWU, Crater coached 30 national qualifying performances from 10 national qualifiers. He also coached nine All-Americans at the Division II level and 12 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) individual champions. Crater[apos]s throwers recorded 104 of Central Washington University[apos]s 238 points to help lead the men[apos]s track and field team to a 2007 GNAC Title.

One of Crater[apos]s top athletes at Central Washington was Cameron Neel, who finished his career as a five-time NCAA All-American, eight-time GNAC Champion, and was named the NCAA West Region Athlete of the Year in 2007. Crater also made quite an impact on the GNAC conference as Crater-coached athletes hold eight conference records. He lettered four years in track and field at the University of Idaho, from 1998-2002. While competing for the Vandals, Crater was an NCAA Championships qualifier in 2002 (35lb weight) and was a five-time All-Big West Conference Performer, three times in the hammer throw and two times in the shot put.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Eleven members of the Brown football team combined for 13 Phil Steele Preseason All-Ivy honors, the organization has announced. Two Bears landed on the first and second teams, while eight honorees landed on the third team.
 
Reigning Ivy League and Phil Steele Ivy League Rookie of the Year Matt Childs helps headline the first team at running back, along with linebacker John Perdue. Perdue had previously earned a spot on the Phil Steele Second Team in 2024.
 
A pair of seniors in receiver Solomon Miller and defensive back Elias Archie landed on the preseason second team. Archie was a member of Phil Steele’s Third Team last season and earned Second Team All-Ivy honors, as selected by the league’s head coaches.
 
Eight players combined for nine third team honors with Qwentin Brown (RB), Chason Barber (WR), Ty Pezza (WR), Beau Smith (OL), Sam Smith (LB), Ryan Haley (LB), Nick Hudson (DB) and Solomon Miller (AP/PR). Last season, Hudson was named to Phil Steel’s Fourth Team, while Beau Smith and Childs each landed on the publication’s Freshman All-America Team.
 
The Bears are set to open the season on Saturday, September 20 at home against Georgetown. Season tickets are on sale now for all five home games in the 100th anniversary season of Richard Gouse Field at Brown Stadium.
 

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BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION

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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The No. 1 distance runner in Kansas has announced where she will continue her career.

According to a social media post from two-time Gatorade Kansas Girls Track & Field Player of the Year, Ryin Miller, she will be taking her talents to the University of Arkansas.

The junior from Seaman set a state record in the 1600-meter run at the Seaman Relays this past season and her time of 4:41.47 ranked No. 8 nationally among prep girls athletes this spring.

Miller won three events at the Kansas Class 5A state meet. Miller finished with a 10:17.74 for the 3200 (No. 41 nationally) and finished with a 2:09.28 performance in the 800 (No. 78 nationally).

Copyright 2025 WIBW. All rights reserved.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – In the nearly 250 days eclipsed since Nov. 24, 2024, NM State Volleyball Head Coach Mike Jordan has been hard at work prepping for another shot at glory in 2025. After bringing in two assistant coaches and Jaelynn Kohli during the spring, the Aggie roster was rejuvenated ahead of summer workouts. Six new student-athletes are set to debut for the Crimson & White next month, including two transfers and a quartet of true freshman. 
 
In total, the newcomers consist of two middle blockers, a pair of outside hitters, one setter and a defensive specialist. The four front-row additions boast an average height of 6-foot-3, including two that would have been the tallest on the 2024 roster. The four freshmen include two New Mexico natives, a Texan and a Canadian.
 
(#77) Zoe Ziegler | Jr. | Outside Hitter | 6-6 | Cypress CC | Pacoima, Calif.
As the tallest Aggie in at least two decades, Zoe Ziegler brings size that simply cannot be taught to the front row. The Cypress Community College transfer appeared in 51 matches, tallying 2.70 kills per set and a career hitting percentage of .306. Last season, she recorded 284 kills and 100 total blocks, doubling the next closest Charger as she averaged 1.18 rejections per set. On Sept. 6-7, she led the team with 35 kills and 18 blocks across three matches. In a bout against San Diego Miramar, Ziegler dominated with five blocks and 14 kills on 17 swings without an error en route to a sweep.
 
(#9) Katie Funk | Jr. | Middle Blocker | 5-11 | Tyler JC | Shreveport, La.
Following two seasons with Tyler Junior College, Katie Funk headed west to learn from Jordan and assistant Lia Mosher in hopes of continuing a long line of exceptional Aggie middle blockers. The Louisiana native made her mark with the Apaches, tallying 160 kills and 137 blocks. In 2024, she added eight aces, including five on Sept. 7 against Amarillo College. Funk is set to join the group of 2025 middle blockers that boasts Mia Fox as the lone returner. 
 
(#11) Jaelynn Kohli | Fr. | Outside Hitter | 6-3 | Eastlake HS | El Paso, Texas

Kohli was the first option for the Eastlake offense all fall, leading her team to the UIL 6A Division I Texas Regional Semifinals for the first time. The fourth-year star paced the Falcons in kills (564), kills per set (5.08), hitting percentage (.365), blocks (53), solo blocks (14) and blocks per set (0.47). Kohli drove her squad to the school’s first-ever two-win postseason in history, advancing to the Regional Semifinals before falling to Allen. For the spring semester, she joined the Crimson & White for practice after graduating high school early. Read her release [here].
 
(#14) Mia Mendoza | Fr. | Setter | 5-8 | Los Lunas HS | Los Lunas, N.M.
Mia Mendoza joins the 2025 roster as one of two freshmen from the Land of Enchantment. The Los Lunas product will begin her collegiate career this fall after four seasons as a starter for the Tigers. Mendoza tallied 2,962 career assists, including a career-high 808 as a junior. Across 323 sets played, she averaged 9.2 assists, 2.9 digs and 0.49 aces per frame. Additionally, the New Mexico native posted 364 kills with a .219 hitting percentage over four seasons. Last fall, the squad advanced to the semifinals of the NMAA 5A State Playoffs.
 
(#16) Kate Sinclair | Fr. | Middle Blocker | 6-4 | Ernest Manning HS | Calgary, Alberta
Rounding out the middle blocker rotation is true freshman Kate Sinclair. The lone international product on the roster hails from Calgary, making her the first Canadian on Jordan’s club in five years. In 2024, she competed with her nation’s National Excellence Program. Sinclair, alongside Ziegler, completes a duo that stands nearly 13 combined feet tall at the net. Competing with Team Alberta, she went on to claim a fifth-place finish at the 2023 Canada Cup. 
 
(#17) Jazlyn Vasquez | Fr. | Libero | 5-9 | Centennial HS | Las Cruces, N.M.
From just 3.1 miles away, Jazlyn Vasquez caught the attention of Mike Jordan, leading Centennial High School from the back row. The senior paced the team with 267 receptions in 2024, racking up 254 digs (3.53 per set) along the way. At the net, Vasquez posted 132 kills and 28 total blocks, ranking among the team’s top four in each category. Finally, the defensive specialist tallied 23 aces, including 14 in district play. The Hawks made two trips to the NMAA 5A State Playoffs during Vasquez’s high school career, including a run to the quarterfinals in 2022. That fall, she played alongside Bella Castro and Tess Fuqua; two teammates she is set to reunite with on the floor next month.
 
Who They Join
This fall’s unit will be spearheaded by 13 returners, including a quartet of senior setters. Nellie Reese started all but one match a season ago, landing a team-high 678 assists. The returning crop combined for 250 kills a season ago, accounting for just 15.7% of all 2024 production. Ashley Herman’s 164 kills rank highest among the bunch after appearing in 29 of 33 matches. The back row will boast a trio of returning defensive specialists in Bella Castro, Makayla Martinez and Kaylee Peterson. The grouping combined for 186 digs, 269 receptions and 33 aces a season ago. 
 
For complete coverage of NM State Volleyball, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateVBall), Instagram (@NMStateVBall) and like us on Facebook (NM State Volleyball). You can also follow along with Aggie Volleyball via NMStateSports.com.
 

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Breakers Boys Water Polo at the Junior Olympics: Nine team members were part of the SET16U squad that won the Gold Division, finishing 14^th overall out of 120 teams competing in 16’s.

Summer Programs

Summer training sessions for various sports are underway. A full list of offerings is available at lbhs.lbusd.org/athletics/summer-programs. 

WATER POLO

The U16 squad, coached by Laguna Boys’ Water Polo Head Coach Camron Hauer, won the Gold Division, finishing 14^th overall out of 120 teams in the 16’s. Nine of the 13 squad members were from the Breakers. Two San Diego teams met in the finals. More information on JO’s and USA teams is available at usawaterpolo.org. Coach Hauer ‘13 returns for his fourth season guiding the Breakers and has an overall record of 53-40, with a 6-3 record in the SSCIF D-1 playoffs.

High School Sports

Week of July 28

Girls’ Volleyball at the North Gym. Team tryouts on Aug. 1.

Girls’ Lacrosse at Thurston, Flag Football with coach Ryan Kollock. Grades 9-12 at Thurston.

Baseball at Cabrillo Field.

Fall Sports Preview

The 2025-2026 high school sports season kicks off in just two weeks. Girls’ volleyball will begin competition on Aug. 2 and 3 at the Queens Court Tournament, with all three levels participating. The flag football team will travel to Loara on Aug. 12. Varsity football opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 21, at Chino. The cross-country team will race at the Saddleback Cup, hosted by Trabuco Hills High School, on Aug. 30. Boys’ water polo begins their season Aug. 26 with a match at Aliso Niguel.

Have a note on Laguna High School sports, or want an updated PDF file of the football and baseball record books? Email Frank Aronoff at frank@twometer.net.

2025 High School FALL SCHEDULES? Check Laguna Beach High School on the Max Preps website or

the schedules tab on the Athletics website at lbhs.lbusd.org/athletics/schedules. To get scores on the school site – select the sport and level, click year and move the “Show older events” toggle under the selected season.