Tyler Hendrickson was born and raised in Long Beach, and started covering sports in his hometown in 2010. After five years as a sportswriter, Tyler joined the athletic department at Long Beach State University in 2015. He spent more than four years in the athletic communications department, working primarily with the Dirtbags baseball program. Tyler also co-authored of The History of Long Beach Poly: Scholars & Champions.

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Scholarship Fund Launched; Suspect with Suspended License Held Without Bail

Tributes poured in over the weekend for Loyola High School senior Zachary Braun Levi, whose life was cut short earlier this month in a suspected DUI crash in Manhattan Beach.

Levi, 18, was remembered at memorials in both Manhattan Beach and on Loyola’s campus, where he had served as captain of the varsity tennis team. Widely regarded as one of the school’s most accomplished student-athletes, Levi had earned a national tennis ranking and committed to play for the University of Virginia this fall.

A memorial was held at Loyola and a “paddle out” was held in Manhattan Beach in Levi’s honor, after a prior memorial was held at his favorite beach volleyball court in the South Bay city. 

A high school freshman,Takuto Goh, from Culver City said, “Every time I saw him, he was always so nice and was smiling, and that says everything.”, as quoted by the Southern California Tennis Association. 

Pam Shriver said, in a social media post, “Heaven gained an angel today but the Los Angeles tennis community lost a young pilar and gem. It’s hard to express our family’s sadness over the loss of Braun Levi.”

The Manhattan Beach resident and his family had recently moved from Pacific Palisades after losing their home during January’s wildfire. Levi was struck and killed in the early morning hours of May 4 while walking with a friend near South Sepulveda Boulevard. Police arrested 33-year-old Jenia Resha Belt at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Investigators later revealed Belt was driving on a suspended license, a consequence of a previous DUI arrest in November 2023. She pleaded no contest to a hit-and-run charge in September 2024 as part of a plea deal that dismissed the DUI charge and placed her on a year of probation. Belt remains in custody without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 28 in Inglewood for a potential probation violation.

In lieu of flowers, Levi’s family has asked for donations to be made to the “Live Like Braun” Scholarship Fund, established in his memory, in lieu of flowers. Donations can be made here, and to donate specifically to the scholarship, write in Levi’s name in the space provided.

CHESTER, Pa. – The Dickinson men’s and women’s track & field teams sent a small select group to the George A. Hansell Track at Leslie C. Quick Stadium on the campus of Widener University to compete in the Widener Final Qualifier trying to earn their slots in the upcoming NCAA DIII National Championships.

First-year Franklyn Akabi-During was involved in two events during the meet taking part first in the 100m. He would put up the fourth-best time in the prelims with a time of 10.70, before grabbing second in the final at 10.58. He then returned to action for the 200m clocking in at 21.25 to seize fourth. His mark in the 200m was good to set not only a new Dickinson record, but also rewrite the mark for the Centennial Conference.

Classmate Darian Crim went to work during the 400m hitting the line in 49.94 to nab ninth.

The 800m was where a pair of junior took to the track as Trevor Richwine and James Masterson grabbed second (1:48.31) and 30th (1:53.84) respectively. Richwine’s time did two things: first, set a new Dickinson record, while also resulting in the ninth-best time in Division III history for that event.

The only female to compete on the day was Amiyah Priebe who made an appearance during the 3000m steeplechase. She would cross the line at 10:56.87 to claim seventh.

Dickinson will now have to wait and see if any of their athletes will qualify for the NCAA Championships as the announcement will be coming in the following days. The meet will will take place from May 22-25 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

Cleveland, OH-The Horizon League announced today its All-Academic Teams for men’s and women’s golf and two student-athletes from the Cleveland State men’s program were recognized.
 
Andrew Kaye earned a spot on the men’s All-Academic Team for the third consecutive year and Mason Frazier earned honorable mention recognition. To qualify for the All-Academic Team nominees must have a 3.2 GPA or higher and participate in at least 50 percent of the team’s total events in the regular season. The team is voted on by the league’s Faculty Athletics Representatives and consists of six student-athletes who earn the highest number of votes. Honorable mention recognition is awarded to any student-athlete who finishes outside of the top six but earns at least 25 percent of the total votes.
 
Kaye is now a two-time graduate of Cleveland State University as he earned his Master of Business Administration degree this past weekend as part of the university’s commencement ceremonies. Kaye carries a 3.91 GPA in his graduate classes and finished his undergraduate degree in finance with a 3.98 GPA. He closed the season with a 72.5 scoring average and registered his highest finish of the year in his final collegiate event placing third in the Horizon League Championship tournament at the end of April.
 
Frazier earns honorable mention recognition for excelling in his undergraduate and graduate coursework. He is also on pace to be a two-time Cleveland State University graduate as he carries a 3.76 GPA in the Master of Business Administration program. He received his undergraduate degree in marketing and finished with a 3.77 GPA. On the course he closed his final campaign with a 74.1 scoring average and a tie for ninth at the Horizon League Championship.
 

Wilkes-Barre Area junior Tim Leonard picked up two individual gold medals at the Wyoming Valley Conference championships. Leonard ran a 10.60 in the 100, and followed it with a 22-second 200, edging out teammate Kevon Creech at the line. He was also part of the winning 4×100 relay team.

Walk me through the Wyoming Valley Conference championships. How did you feel going into the meet: First of all, I want to thank God and my teammates — Kevon (Creech), Jaziah (McCoy), and Juvell (Williams) — because they push me all the time. I came in ready, and having Kevon in the 200 really helped me out. It was really real hard because he was pushing me. I was just ready for the meet and ready to execute.

What was the 100 like? A 10.60 is a really strong time. You had to be proud of your run: Anything is possible when you are being coached by Coach (Paul) McGrane. He had me ready for it. Even at the ESU meet when I ran almost the same time, I was ready right from the jump. He told that I had to run hard right until the end, and that’s what I did.

What’s it like to be on a team with so much speed on it: It helps you all the time. To be honest, practice is really competitive at times, especially with my teammates. They make it really competitive.

Is it good to have that type of competition every day at practice: It pushes you. It wouldn’t be as much fun if I was running by myself all the time. Knowing that they are behind me, and I can hear their footsteps behind me, it pushes me that much harder.

How are you feeling going into districts: I’m not too nervous. I’m just calm, ready to execute, and ready to race. The times will show later. I am just ready to run.

Year: Junior.

Age: 17.

Hometown: Wilkes-Barre.

Hobbies outside of school: I like to run track. I play some instruments, and I also like to read The Bible.

When did you start to run track: Eighth grade. Deep down, I always felt like I was quick. I just wanted to prove to David Jannuzzi that I was faster than him and I came to track. I just tried to stay on to beat him and the people who were faster than me.

How would you describe yourself: Kind. I try to be as kind and humble as possible.

Favorite food: Pasta.

Favorite school subject: Gym.

Your team is coming over for dinner, and you are the chef: What are you making them: Pasta.

Favorite TV show: Invincible.

Favorite restaurant: McDonalds

What kind of superpower would you pick: Superspeed.

Any rituals before you race: I take time to pray a little bit, and I try to be humble. I don’t like to talk a lot when I am about to race. I like to focus on the lane because sprinting is a lot. It’s a short distance, so you have to execute perfectly. I focus on what I am about to do.

Role models: Brayden Dashun Williams: He’s just so fast. I was able to meet him personally. He’s the one person who I look up to.

Future plans: Tim would either like to go to college and continue with his track and field career or enter a trade school.

The professionals at PKF have been getting out their scarves and clappers to cheer on the accounting and consulting firm’s numerous sporting sector sponsorships across the country.

No matter their tastes – be it round or oval ball or contested on land or in the water – there’s pretty much something for all PKF staff to get behind, with rugby league, Aussie rules, soccer, horse-racing and water polo all featuring among just some of the firm’s sporting sponsorships.

The latest renewed and new sports partnerships follow the firm’s backing of Lauren Parker, who recently created history in France by becoming the first Aussie athlete to claim gold in two different disciplines at the Paralympics since 1976, slaying in both the cycling and triathlon.

Water Polo

PKF’s Sydney & Newcastle branch has recently revealed the latest round of professional development scholarship recipients in the third year of its association with Water Polo Australia, with Paris Olympics silver medallist Bronte Halligan and dual Olympian George Ford sharing in a $10,000 funding pool together with junior squad members Harper Stewart and Georgia Chapman.

“Balancing the demands of elite sport with personal and professional growth is no small feat,” said former Shark and PKF business advisory director Nicholas Falzon, who has spearheaded the firm’s water polo sponsorship program. “These athletes represent the best of what the water polo community stands for; determination, leadership, and a drive to succeed in all facets of life.”

Rugby League

The partnership between PKF’s local office and the Newcastle national rugby league club has also entered its third year, and while not going particularly well on the field to date after the Knights squeezed into the eight last year, PKF Sydney and Newcastle managing director Bob Bell was keen to highlight some the benefits of the arrangement ahead of the of the 2025 season.

“Our collaboration with the Newcastle Knights has been a source of immense pride for our firm,” Bell said. “Over the past two years, we’ve witnessed the team’s resilience and dedication, which mirror our own values at PKF. We are excited to continue this journey together, fostering growth and success within our community.”

Soccer

Perhaps the most sports-mad of PKF’s sixteen Australia-wide offices, the Newcastle team has also thrown its support behind the round-ball game, recently extending its sponsorship of young Jets A-League players Justin Vidic and Milan Hammond, the latter who is a local product and member of the Matildas’ next generation program for the country’s top future prospects.

Aussie Rules

Across the country, PKF’s Perth office – previously a long-time supporter of Netball WA and the West Coast Fever – has signed a fresh partnership agreement with the WAFL’s Claremont footy club, which will be hoping to go at least one step further in 2025 following the Tigers’ devastating last minute one-point exit from last year’s semis.

“We’re delighted to be on board as an official partner of the Claremont Football Club,” said local business advisory and taxation partner Stashu Poliwka. “We’re looking forward to cheering on the Tigers throughout the season. The club is well-known for having a positive impact on the community, and we’re proud to support them.”

Horse-racing

PKF’s Perth office also recently raised close to $10,000 in a charity auction in support of the local children’s hospital as part of its sponsorship of “Italian Race Day” at Ascot, which no matter your stance on the sport still sounds like a lot of fun. Long-term WA partner Anthony Russo Battagliolo had the honour of presenting the trophy to the winner of the ‘Roma Cup’ title race.