CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – For the third time in five years, Southeast Missouri is the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner’s Cup Champion.
 
The OVC Commissioner’s Cup is a symbol of overall athletic excellence in Conference-sponsored championships and is awarded annually to one member institution.
 
SEMO, which also took the honor in 2020-21 and 2022-23, hoists the trophy for the third time behind an outstanding 2024-25 season that included seven OVC titles.
 
The Redhawks scored a total of 107 points and edged Little Rock (104.5) by 2.5 points in this year’s standings. Lindenwood (93), Eastern Illinois (92.5), Tennessee Tech (90), SIU Edwardsville (79.5), Southern Indiana (78), Tennessee State (64), UT Martin (64), Morehead State (58.5) and Western Illinois (56.5) rounded out the scoring.
 

SEMO garnered first-place finishes in football, volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field and women’s tennis. 
 
It marked the third time since joining the OVC where SEMO won seven or more conference championships. The Redhawks also won seven titles in 1996-97 and claimed a school record eight OVC crowns in 2022-23. Since the 2019-20 campaign, SEMO has won a league-best 37 OVC championships with every one of its sports getting at least one in that stretch.
 
“Our vision for SEMO Athletics is to be the premier athletics department in the OVC and that vision has truly become a reality,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Brady Barke. “The level of sustained success so many of our programs have shown over the past few years is remarkable. Congratulations to our student-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters who have all contributed to our high level of success.”
 

The OVC Commissioner’s Cup was previously known as the All-Sports Trophy. In 2008-09, the league began awarding only one trophy. The points system was updated in 2022-23 and schools now count 13 total sports in the final standings. Among those 13, schools are required to count the point totals of three main sports (men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball) as well as the highest finishing men’s and women’s track & field sport (either cross country, indoor track & field or outdoor track & field). Schools that sponsor football are required to count it as one of its 13 sports.
 
Points are distributed based on the number of schools that sponsor the sport (e.g. if 11 schools sponsor a sport, the champion will earn 11 points, 10 points for second place, nine for third place, etc.). Tournament champions (men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and beach volleyball) receive one additional point).

SEMO, which became a member of the OVC in 1991-92, won a total of 81 regular-season championships and 28 tournament titles during its 33 years with the league. 

 

It was an historic trip to Medellin, Colombia for several Lower Mainland-area players on Canada’s two U17 national teams, which involved teens who live in Surrey, Delta, Langley, Abbotsford and Maple Ridge.

The men’s youth team won gold and women squad scored silver at the PanAm Aquatics Championships, May 13-25.

Water Polo Canada says it’s their best-ever overall finish at this competition, for this age group, and the first championship title there for the men’s youth team. Previous best performances were third-place finishes at the 2013, 2015 and 2017 editions.

B.C.-based water polo players on Canada’s golden men’s U17 team are Joshua Coxford (Langley), Jackson Culbreath (Surrey), Elliott Griffoen (Surrey), Elliott King (Surrey), Nash Porter (Langley) and Adam Rashed (Delta). 

The silver medal-winning women’s team includes Airi Cowie (Maple Ridge) and Alexandra Stoddard (Abbotsford).

The men’s youth team began their round-robin tournament with a 32-4 win against Venezuela, followed by a loss against Brazil (11-6). They then won their five following games. In quarterfinals, Canada won 23-4 against Argentina and then, in semifinals, they beat the U.S. squad, 17-11.

In the final, Canada got their revenge on Brazil with a 11-10 victory. Canada was led by Coxford (Langley) and Ivan Khramtsov (Mississauga, Ontario), who both scored three goals each, as well as Langley’s Porter, named Most Valuable Player for the final game. Khramtsov was named MVP for the men’s tournament.

“This group has come a long way since last year’s U16 Worlds, where we got our first real taste of international water polo,” Khramtsov said. “This time, we came with experience, hunger, and a belief in each other. Our week of preparation before the tournament set the foundation, and every player stepped up when it counted.”

On the women’s side, Canada started the tournament with three wins. In the final, they lost to the U.S. team, 18-7.

Eleven water polo teams competed in the men’s tournament, seven on the women’s division, at the 2025 PanAm Aquatics Championships, the first edition of a multisport event that also included diving, swimming, high diving and synchronized swimming.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Six Columbia Track & Field student-athletes are set to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field NCAA Championship Eastern Prelims which begin on Wednesday morning at the University of North Florida.

The competition spans four days and will conclude on Saturday, May 31. All six Lions will be looking to finish in the top-12 of their respective events and punch their ticket to the NCAA Championship finals next month.

The first Lions to compete will be Obiora Okeke and Parker Kim in the first round of the hammer throw on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. Okeke will also compete in the first round of the Shot Put on Wednesday night at 6 p.m.

In the evening session on Wednesday, Matt Gatune will take part in the first round of the 1500m at 6:30 p.m. He will look to advance to the quarterfinals of the event which will take place on Friday evening. 

Madison Williams will be the first woman to compete, taking part in the first round of the long jump at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. 

In the evening session on Thursday, Rory Clare will get things started in the first round of the 1500m at 6:30 p.m. Lucy Henkel will then compete in the first round of the 800m at 7:50 p.m. Both will look to advance to the quarterfinals of each event which will take place on Saturday evening. 

Okeke will compete in his third event of the weekend, the first round of the discus, on Friday at 1 p.m.

The full schedule for every event can be found HERE. Follow along with live results HERE. Tickets are available HERE. Stream information for all four days can be found HERE. 

For qualified athletes who finish in the top-12 of their respective events at the eastern prelims, the finals of the NCAA Championships will begin on Wednesday, June 11 in Eugene, Ore.

 

COLUMBIA QUALIFYING MARKS

Women

800m: Lucy Henkel (31st – 2:04.45)

1500m: Rory Clare (27th – 4:15.33)

Long Jump: Madison Williams (29th – 6.2m)

 

Men

1500m: Matt Gatune (27th – 3:40.34)

Hammer: Obiora Okeke (40th – 62.64m)

Hammer: Parker Kim (43rd – 62.49m)

Shot Put: Obiora Okeke (5th – 20.17m)

Discus: Obiora Okeke (37th – 54.34m)

Stay up to date on all things Columbia track & field by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsXCTF), Instagram (@culionsxctf) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).

 

The final run to South Brunswick is underway.

On Tuesday, the NJSIAA officially released the brackets and seeds for the 2025 boys volleyball state tournament.

Below, you’ll find links to each bracket.

SECTIONAL TOURNAMENTS

North Jersey

South Jersey

The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now!

Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)

Greg Patuto can be reached at gpatuto@njadvancemedia.com.

HOUSTON – Freshman Olivia Klimis, senior Lottie Scully and redshirt junior Ella Wendel will join the Cougars for the 2025 season, Head Coach David Rehr announced Tuesday.
 
“We are so excited to announce the final three additions to our 2025 roster,” Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Coach Taylor McColskey said. “Each of them will add a tremendous amount of value to a team we feel will be very competitive in the fall.”
 
OLIVIA KLIMIS – SETTER – FRESHMAN – OVIEDO, FLA.
Klimis lands in Houston after playing high school volleyball for Oviedo High School under Coach Jen Darty and club volleyball for Top Select 18 Elite under Coach Ross Usie. 
 
“Olivia Klimis comes from great high school and club programs where she was consistently recognized as a top performer,” McColskey said. “She is a great competitor that can play several positions, we expect her to make our gym better right away.”
 
Klimis posted 1,368 assists for Oviedo High, averaging 4.5 per set, while also adding 515 kills, 682 digs and 123 total blocks. She was named Oviedo’s 2024-25 Female Athlete of the Year as well as earning AVCA Second-Team All-America honors in her senior season. 
 
A two-time Indoor Volleyball All-Conference selection, she helped Oviedo reach the Regional Finals of the 2022, 2023 and 2024 FHSAA State Championships. Among her numerous other accolades, Klimis was named to the Fall 2024 PrepVolleyball.com All-Season Super Squad Second Team, was a Fall 2024 Florida Athletic Coaches Association Senior All-Star and was an Under Armour Next Most Valuable Player in the summer of 2024.
 
In addition to her indoor volleyball high school career, Klimis played beach volleyball for OHS. She was selected as the 2025 Seminole County Beach Player of the Year on top of earning First Team All-Conference honors in 2024 and 2025. 
 
She is following in the footsteps of her mother, Allison, who played collegiate volleyball for Alabama from 1997-2001. 
 
LOTTIE SCULLY – SETTER – SENIOR – BINGHAMTON
Scully arrives in Houston following three standout seasons at Binghamton in New York. A three-time All-America East selection, Scully joins the Cougars boasting 2,461 career assists, averaging 8.76 per set, along with 638 digs, 141 blocks and 67 service aces. 
 
“Lottie Scully adds needed collegiate experience to our setting position,” McColskey said. “She is the reigning America East Conference Setter of the Year. In talking with her in the transfer process, it was clear that she understands the game at a high level. We are excited to add her leadership and experience to our setting group.”
 
Scully is coming off an incredible junior season, being selected the America East Setter of the Year and an All-America East First-Team honoree. She led the league in assists with 994, starting in 23 of the team’s 30 matches, while being one of six Bearcats to play in all 30 matches and one of four to play in all 113 of Binghamton’s sets. 
 
In addition to her junior year accolades, Scully was an All-America East Second-Team selection in both 2022 and 2023, becoming Binghamton’s first all-conference setter since 2017. She also helped lead the Bearcats to NIVC appearances in both 2022 and 2024. 
 
Prior to her collegiate career, Scully attended Orange High School in Hurdle Mills, N.C., while playing club volleyball for Carolina Edge Volleyball. 
 
ELLA WENDEL – MIDDLE BLOCKER – REDSHIRT JUNIOR – TULSA
Wendel rejoins Houston following a semester at Tulsa. The Pflugerville, Texas, native became a fixture in Houston’s rotation last season, posting 47 blocks across 64 sets. She ranked second on the team with 0.73 blocks per set while also adding 43 kills and six aces to her tally. She led Houston in blocks in seven matches during her breakout campaign while making 15 starts during the season. 
 
“Ella Wendel comes back to us after a semester away,” McColskey said. “We are so excited to bring Ella back to Houston. She has always been an unbelievably valuable member of our team culture and proved this past season that she can contribute at the middle position in the Big 12.”
 
Wendel had been with Houston since arriving on campus as a freshman in 2022. She made her collegiate debut against McNeese on Aug. 27, 2023, and earned her first collegiate start against SMU on Sept. 14, 2024. 
 
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Volleyball by joining the Point Houston Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Volleyball for needs beyond its operating budget.
 
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarVB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team’s Facebook page at UHCougarVB. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarVB.
 

– UHCougars.com –

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech track and field team competes in the NCAA West First Round this Wednesday through Saturday at E.B. Cushing Stadium as Texas A&M hosts the regional meet. The men will compete on Wednesday and Friday, while the women will compete on Thursday and Saturday.

Meet Coverage

·      Central Page

·      Live Results/Schedule

·      ESPN+

The Rundown

A majority of the running events feature a first round followed by a quarterfinals on the second day for each gender. Athletes who make the cut to the quarterfinals day, will need to finish in the top-12 to secure their spot in the 2025 Outdoor Championship meet in Eugene, Oregon (June 11-14).

Meanwhile, in throwing/field events, athletes are only allowed three attempts to secure a top-12 spot. In distance races like the 3k steeplechase, 5k and 10k, athletes will only run them once this week with the top-12 moving on to Eugene.

Last Timeout

The Red Raiders swept the Big 12 outdoor championships just a little over one week ago in Lawrence, Kan. The men’s side won the meet by 36 points scoring a total of 136, while the women’s side claimed victory by 14.5 points, scoring 127 points. Head coach Wes Kittley was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year for both the men and women as he collected his 11^th conference Coach of the Year honor.

Rankings

In the week nine USTFCCCA rankings released Tuesday afternoon, the women moved up one spot to No. 3 – highest ranking of the season – while the men’s team stayed at No. 11.