Sports
Utah State Track & Field Represented at USATF U20 Championships
LOGAN, Utah – Six athletes will represent Utah State track and field at the 2025 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Thursday and Friday, June 19-20. 2025 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships Date: June 19-20, 2025 Start: Thursday @ 10:15 a.m.; Friday @ 8:30 a.m. (MT) Site: Eugene, Oregon TAKING THE NATIONAL STAGE Utah State has six athletes (three men, three […]
LOGAN, Utah – Six athletes will represent Utah State track and field at the 2025 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Thursday and Friday, June 19-20.
2025 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships
Date: June 19-20, 2025
Start: Thursday @ 10:15 a.m.; Friday @ 8:30 a.m. (MT)
Site: Eugene, Oregon
TAKING THE NATIONAL STAGE
Utah State has six athletes (three men, three women) competing in eight events at the 2025 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships. Invitations to the championships were extended to American athletes meeting the qualifying performance standards who will be aged 19 or younger on December 31. Aggie athletes set to compete are listed below with their top performances.
BURSTING ONTO THE SCENE
Freshmen Ayodele Ojo and Daniel Chase each put together impressive debut campaigns in 2025. Ojo earned a silver medal in the 100 meters at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships, added top-eight finishes in the indoor 60 meters and outdoor 200 meters at the conference championships, set Utah State all-time top-10 times in the 60 meters, 100 meters and outdoor 200 meters and broke the Nelson Fieldhouse record in the 60 meters. Chase secured a seventh-place finish in the 100 meters at the MW Championships and set school top-10 times in the 60 meters and 100 meters. As part of a 4×100-meter relay team including fellow freshmen Diego Aguirre-Stewart and Mathew Hall, Ojo and Chase helped the Aggies set the third-fastest time in school history and place 14th at the NCAA West First Rounds with a time of 39.54, just 0.10 seconds shy of a berth to nationals.
VAULTING ONTO THE PODIUM
At the Mountain West Indoor Championships, freshman Abbie Scott vaulted 4.11 meters (13-5.75) to earn a silver medal. Her mark from the championships also ranks as the second-best vault in school history, behind only All-American Sonia Grabowska’s 2011 mark of 4.25 meters (13-11.25). Scott’s performance capped off an impressive 2025 indoor campaign in which she cleared at least 3.90 meters (12-9.5) five times in eight meets and earned three MW weekly awards. The Rigby, Idaho, native also posted the fifth-best outdoor vault in school history with her clearance of 3.94 meters (12-11) at the Pacific Coast Invitational.
Five of the athletes competing at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships earned a total of eight weekly honors from the Mountain West. On September 17, freshman Luke Stockett was named MW Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Week, becoming the second of a record five straight Aggie freshmen to earn the honors. On January 14, Chase earned MW Men’s Track Athlete and Freshman of the Week honors, while Scott was named MW Women’s Freshman of the Week. The pair were honored again the following week, with Chase earning MW Men’s Freshman of the Week honors and Scott being awarded the MW Women’s Field Athlete and Freshman of the Week. On February 11, freshman Presley Gray was named the MW Women’s Freshman of the Week. In the outdoor season, Ojo was named MW Men’s Freshman of the Week on April 29.
Six Utah State track and field athletes, all having recently completed their freshman seasons, competed at the 2024 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 12-13. Shelby Jensen, who earned first-team All-American honors at the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, claimed bronze medals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 1,500 meters. Brianne Smith and Natalie Swain placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 5,000 meters, while Swain added a fifth-place finish in the 1,500 meters. Ruby Jordan placed eighth in the hammer throw and Breanna Raven finished 10th in the triple jump. On the men’s side, Walker Deede placed 10th in the javelin.
Sports
Who was the Zeeland West top athlete of the quarter century?
With the century a quarter done, the Holland Sentinel is selecting its top 25 athletes from the past quarter century. We will start with the top 25 from each school and move on to the top 25 overall male and female high school athletes from the past 25 years. Athletes must be graduated to be […]
With the century a quarter done, the Holland Sentinel is selecting its top 25 athletes from the past quarter century.
We will start with the top 25 from each school and move on to the top 25 overall male and female high school athletes from the past 25 years.
Athletes must be graduated to be eligible.
Today: Zeeland West
Merritt Alderink
Class of 2024
Was a Mr. Basketball finalist as a senior after multiple all-state seasons for the Dux. Led Zeeland West to the state semifinals as a senior, the best finish in program history. Went on to play at Indiana State.
Kaylee Bakker
Class of 2020
An elite two-sport athlete, Kaylee Bakker was a force at the net in volleyball and under the net in basketball. She earned all-state honors in volleyball as a senior, powering a Dux resurgence. Meanwhile, she was all-state honorable mention in basketball multiple years and plays basketball at Grand Valley State.
Danny Bauder
Class of 2014
One of the fastest athletes in area history, Danny Bauder made his speed known on the football field and the track. Bauder earned all-state honors as a running back, leading the Dux to the football state championship with four touchdowns in the title game. He was then all-state in multiple track and field events to lead the Dux to another team state championship.
Ethan Brooks
Class of 2021
One of the most elegant athletes in the area, Ethan Brooks soared to a state championship in the hurdles, helping the Dux dominate for a state championship. He was an all-state performer in multiple events for multiple years, continuing the dominating legacy of the Dux on the track.
Jordan Bullock
Class of 2012
One of the best water polo players in state history, Jordan Bullock claimed all-state honors three years in a row, also sweeping Sentinel Water Polo Player of the Year honors. She was also an all-state swimmer all four years and earned an NCAA Division I scholarship to swim at Bowling Green.
Morgan Bullock
Class of 2016
Swimming for Zeeland, Morgan Bullock claimed the Division 1 state championship in the 100 butterfly as a senior. She was an all-state performer all four years in swimming and earned all-state water polo honors as a senior. Bullock went on to swim at West Virginia and was an All-American honorable mention.
Micah DeJonge
Class of 2016
Continuing his family’s legacy in the pool, Micah DeJonge was a distance specialist. He won the Division 1 state championship in the 500 freestyle and was all-state all four years in multiple events. He also earned all-state honors in water polo before heading to swim at Oakland University.
Josh Geschwendt
Class of 2009
Won the Division 1 state championship in the 100 butterfly as a senior to lead Zeeland to the team championship. Went on to swim at Michigan State where he excelled at the Big Ten level.
Keaton Hendricks
Class of 2025
Broke the state record for most touchdowns in a state championship game to lead the Dux to the state title his senior year. He was first-team all-state and was also a multi-state qualifier in track and field. He will play football at Hope College next year.
Parker Holman
Class of 2023
Was first-team all-state in football as a junior running back before a knee injury cut short his senior season. Still was named honorable mention all-state and was a multiple state qualifier in track and field.
Haley Hoogenraad
Class of 2016
One of the most well-rounded athletes in history, Haley Hoogenraad made her mark in several sports. She was a state meet qualifier in both cross country and track and field. She also was one of the top basketball players in the area during her career. But her best sport was softball. She was all-state for the Dux and ended up at the University of Michigan as a starting outfielder. But her four-sport legacy at Zeeland West lives on.
Carson Gulker
Class of 2021
One of the greatest football players in area history, Carson Gulker was a sensational quarterback who led the Dux to multiple deep runs in the playoffs. He earned all-state first-team honors as a senior and was honorable mention as a junior. Gulker was also the top player on the basketball team, earning honorable mention all-state., and played baseball. He went to Ferris State to play both sports.
Jordyn Klaasen
Class of 2025
One of the most versatile and successful athletes in area history, Klaasen earned all-state honors during her career in soccer, cross country, basketball and was a state qualifier in track and field. She will play Division I soccer at Ball State next year.
Phoebe LaCroix
Class of 2017
One of the most important and magnificent leaders in Holland area history, Phoebe LaCroix became one of the top soccer players as well. She earned all-state honors because of her incredible vision and passing ability from the midfield. She went on to play at Cornerstone University where she also was a captain and an All-American.
Jill Pastunink
Class of 2009
Perhaps the best tennis player in area history, Jill Pastunink was all-state on the court for multiple years and was a two time Sentinel Player of the Year before heading to play at Western Michigan.
Darius Perisee
Class of 2016
One of the best running backs in the history of the area, Darius Perisee earned all-state honors for Zeeland West led by his speed and ability to make tacklers miss. He also ran track and was part of both programs’ state championship runs.
Sam Plaska
Class of 2015
A blue-collar worker, Sam Plaska made his mark on the track. He won the state championship in the 800 meters as a senior and as a junior, helped lead the Dux to the team state championship. He was a multiple all-state relay performer and also was a standout football player, helping both teams earn a state title.
Jeremy Sall
Class of 2008
Swimmer was a state champion and multiple state-runner-up finisher, earning multiple all-state honors each year for Zeeland. Went on to swim at Ohio State.
Rachele Schulist
Class of 2012
One of the most dominant athletes in local history, Rachele Schulist was an all-state cross country performer all four years, leading the Dux to a state title. On the track, she claimed the state championship in the 1,600 meters and was all-state in multiple events all four years for the Dux, leading them to a runner-up finish as a senior. She went on to run at Michigan State and was an All-American.
Carly Sleeman
Class of 2024
Was named Division 2 Miss Softball as a senior after setting most of the Zeeland West records. She was all-state three times and Sentinel Player of the Year twice. She went on to play at Central Michigan where she was All-MAC.
Trey Sloothaak
Class of 2025
Was named Division 3 Football Player of the Year by the Michigan sportswriters association after leading the Dux to the state title. Was two-time Sentinel Player of the Year and top safety in area history. Was also all-state in the long jump multiple times. He will play football at GVSU next year.
Rylee Smith
Class of 2024
Was the Holland Sentinel Golfer of the Year all four years and was twice the Bowler of the Year. She was a state qualifier on the golf course and led the bowling team to a state championship and was a standout soccer player.
Owen Stevens
Class of 2025
Stevens finished his stellar swimming career with five individual state championships, tied for the second-most in area history. He was a three-time Sentinel Swimmer of the Year and will swim at Louisville next year.
Jason Tran
Class of 2014
Another multi-sport star, Jason Tran won the state championship in the 110-meter hurdles as a senior, leading the Dux to the state championship. He was a multi-event all-state athlete on the track and was also a strong football player, helping the Dux win the state championship during his career as well.
Jordan VanDort
Class of 2014
Perhaps the most dominant lineman in area history, Jordan VanDort sparked multiple Zeeland West football state championships. He was an all-state lineman and ended up playing at Western Michigan, Hope and GVSU. VanDort also broke the Zeeland West career scoring record in basketball and was an all-state performer in the shot put.
Zach VanValkenburg
Class of 2016
On the football field, there was no escaping Zach VanValkenburg. He was going to bring you down. Same thing in wrestling. It added up to a spectacular career at Zeeland West where he was an all-state performer in both football and wrestling. He ended up playing football at Iowa, was All-Big Ten and signed a free agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this year.
Abby Winn
Class of 2022
The most recent stellar multi-sport star for the Dux, Abby Winn saved her best for her senior year. She was honorable mention all-state in volleyball, before earning all-area basketball honors. In the spring, she was a state qualifier in track and field all while earning first-team all-state honors in soccer, leading the Dux to their first regional final. She played soccer at GVSU.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
Sports
UNC women's sports nominated for 3 ESPYS, win 2024
Chloe Humphrey — Best Breakthrough Athlete After missing the 2024 season with an injury, Humphrey burst onto the scene for her redshirt first-year season with the Tar Heels. The first-year attacker won the 2025 Tewaaraton Award, given to the best player in women’s college lacrosse every year. Humphrey scored the most goals in a single season […]
Chloe Humphrey — Best Breakthrough Athlete
After missing the 2024 season with an injury, Humphrey burst onto the scene for her redshirt first-year season with the Tar Heels. The first-year attacker won the 2025 Tewaaraton Award, given to the best player in women’s college lacrosse every year.
Humphrey scored the most goals in a single season in UNC’s women’s lacrosse history with 90, passing the previous mark set by Jamie Ortega at 82. In the NCAA tournament semifinals game against Florida, the Connecticut native notched a single-game career high with seven goals to lead the Tar Heels to a resounding 20-4 win.
The other nominees for the award include Duke basketball player Cooper Flagg, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes and rugby player Ilona Maher.
UNC 2025 Women’s Lacrosse — Best Team
The North Carolina women’s lacrosse team completed their undefeated season with a 12-8 national championship victory over Northwestern on May 25. During the NCAA tournament, UNC outscored their opponents by an average margin of more than nine goals per game.
The national championship win marked the fourth in North Carolina history, and the program’s second undefeated season in four years.
Out of the eight other teams nominated for the award, the Tar Heels were the only one to put up an undefeated season.
2024-25 Capital One Cup
On the backs of both national championships from women’s soccer and lacrosse, UNC’s women’s athletics was awarded the 2024-25 Capital One Cup. The honor is given out to the women’s athletic program that earns the highest number of points, factoring national championships and poll finishes. For winning the award, UNC will receive $250,000, which will be put toward athletic scholarships.
In addition to women’s soccer and lacrosse, field hockey boasted a successful season after securing the program’s 27th ACC championship. Of the 15 women’s sports, 14 qualified for NCAA postseason action.
“I’ve watched our female sports do so well — soccer, field hockey, tennis, us,” UNC women’s lacrosse head coach Jenny Levy said. “It’s been a powerhouse and the women here [are] extraordinary.”
To get the day’s news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
North Carolina will be recognized for the accomplishment Wednesday night at the ESPYS.
@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com
Brian D’Aguanno is the 2025 Summer Sports Editor and an incoming 2025-26 Assistant Sports Editor.
Sports
Women's Euros viewership nearly doubles from 2022, Fox Sports says
Television viewership of Euros group-stage matches has nearly doubled from the 2022 iteration of the tournament, Fox announced Tuesday, with an average of 306,000 people tuning in to those 24 matches this summer, compared to an average of 161,000 three years ago. The most-watched game so far has been France’s scintillating 2-1 victory over reigning […]
Television viewership of Euros group-stage matches has nearly doubled from the 2022 iteration of the tournament, Fox announced Tuesday, with an average of 306,000 people tuning in to those 24 matches this summer, compared to an average of 161,000 three years ago.
The most-watched game so far has been France’s scintillating 2-1 victory over reigning champion England on July 5. That game brought in 690,000 viewers, a 329 percent increase from the previous group stage.
Advertisement
More recently, 2023 World Cup champion Spain’s 3-1 win over Italy on July 11 averaged 568,000 viewers, while an average of 486,000 tuned in for Sweden’s 4-1 victory over Germany on July 12. Both matches featured the winning teams coming back from a goal down to claim three points.
A Fox spokesperson also told The Athletic that England’s 6-1 win over Wales garnered around 151,000 viewers to FS1, while the Lionesses’ 4-0 rout of the Netherlands brought 120,000 to the same channel.
“UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 has surpassed all our expectations in setting a new viewership record for the group stage. Fox Sports is proud to see our commitment to both international soccer and women’s sports validated by +90% growth,” Fox Sports president of insight and analytics Mike Mulvihill said in a statement.
“With the knockout rounds starting Wednesday and matches the rest of the way airing on Fox, we’re confident the tournament will continue resonating with fans,” Mulvihill added.
This is Fox Sports’ first time broadcasting the women’s European championships. In addition to airing the matches themselves — not only on cable but on its main broadcast channel — the network has featured prominent pre-match coverage featuring a slate of retired international women’s football stars.
World Cup champions Carli Lloyd (who is also a National Soccer Hall of Famer) and Julie Ertz of the U.S. women’s national team, and four-time European champion Ariane Hingst of Germany composed the analyst team alongside Alexi Lalas and Stu Holden at the start of the tournament.
Norway and Italy will open the Euros’ quarterfinal stage when they face off on Wednesday in Geneva. Thursday’s quarterfinal features Sweden against England, followed by Spain vs. tournament host Switzerland on Friday and France vs. Germany on Saturday.
All matches kick off at 3 p.m. ET.
(Photo: Nick Potts / PA Images via Getty Images)
Sports
Lodge Named CSC Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-American
Story Links GLASSBORO, NJ — College Sports Communicators has honored Molly Lodge with a selection to the CSC Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-American Team. 2025 CSC ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN LIST | ROWAN’S ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS Lodge, who was named to the third team, is the fourth student-athlete in program history and […]
GLASSBORO, NJ — College Sports Communicators has honored Molly Lodge with a selection to the CSC Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-American Team.
2025 CSC ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN LIST | ROWAN’S ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
Lodge, who was named to the third team, is the fourth student-athlete in program history and second in as many years to earn the distinction. Last year, Izzy Deal (2024) joined Sharon Crow (2003) and Johanna Kline (2003) to represent the Profs.
A Computer Science major, Lodge has amassed a bevy of academic and athletic honors this past season. She was also voted a CSC Academic All-District selection, named a USTFCCCA Division III All-Academic Athlete, was a member of the NJAC All-Academic Honorable Mention list and was chosen the Philly-SIDA All-Area Women’s Track & Field Performer of the Year.
On the track, the recent graduate scored an All-American accolade at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in the 400-meter hurdles. She was named a USTFCCCA Outdoor All-Region honoree in four events (200 meters, 400 meter hurdles, 4×100 relay, 4×400 relay) and earned Indoor All-Region honors in the 4×400 relay as well.
Additionally, Lodge was named the Outstanding Track Athlete at the 2025 NJAC Indoor Championships and captured the 2025 NJAC Outdoor title in the 200 meters. She also set school records in the 100 and 400 hurdles this season.
Sports
Behnke earns Academic All-America first team honors
Story Links EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women’s track and field team’s Kayla Behkne (Sr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) earned first team Academic All-America honors from College Sports Communicators for the 2025 season. CSC announced the women’s track and field Academic All-America Teams Tuesday. Behnke is the […]
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women’s track and field team’s Kayla Behkne (Sr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) earned first team Academic All-America honors from College Sports Communicators for the 2025 season. CSC announced the women’s track and field Academic All-America Teams Tuesday.
Behnke is the first member of the Blugolds’ women’s track and field team to earn first team Academic All-America honors since 2013. A standout in throwing events, Behnke sports a 4.0 grade-point average. Athletically, she earned three first team All-America honors this season with top-eight finishes in discus, weight throw and hammer throw at indoor or outdoor nationals.
Behnke was also the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion in weight throw this indoor season, an event she holds the UWEC school record in. She helped the Blugolds finish fourth as a team at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this spring.
In the classroom, Behnke maintains a perfect GPA despite double majoring in computer science and mathematics and statistics and applied math.
This moment was everything ❤️🐬 (via _annalozano/IG)
When you witness baseball greatness, reactions get LOUD. Just ask Adam Devine 😂
Build Together, Play Together: 40 Years of Park and Recreation Month | Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
Revelyst To Acquire GolfLogix | citybiz
The FDA Says Whoop’s Blood Pressure Feature Is Illegal, but It’s Still Active (for Now)
Lesser-Known Sports that Get Attention at Online Sportsbooks
NASCAR ’25 Will Not Have “Local Multiplayer”
See photos from former Butler star Ethan Morton’s youth basketball camp at Butler High – Butler Eagle
“I wasn’t even good enough to get free stuff” – Charles Barkley recalls his underappreciated recruitment compared to today’s NIL deals.
Condensed Game
NASCAR suspends two crew members for Cody Ware loose wheel
The FULL 2009 Slam Dunk Contest | NBA Classic
After winning state tournament, Orcutt 13U All-Stars prep for regional | Youth Sports
They pulled off huge March Madness upsets. Now they’re opting out of revenue sharing
NASCAR’s Trackhouse Racing Makes High Profile Joe Gibbs Racing Hire
has always dreamed in Mercurial. Now his initials are on the boots.
The new Kyl…
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
Former South Carolina center Nick Pringle commits to Arkansas basketball, John Calipari
Deputies investigating incident that caused panic at Pace youth sports complex- Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
-
Technology3 weeks agoPet fitness and wellness trends for a healthier and happier dog
-
College Sports3 weeks agoWAC to Rebrand to UAC, Add Five New Members in 2026
-
College Sports3 weeks agoA new era of Dickinson hockey begins behind the bench – The Dickinson Press
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoWhy Cosmetics are Making Up for Lost Time in Women’s Sports
-
Health3 weeks agoFlorida assault survivor shares hope for change with new mental health law
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoTeam Penske names new leadership
-
Sports7 days agoNew 'Bosch' spin
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoNASCAR This Week – Patriot Publishing LLC
-
Youtube2 weeks ago🚨 BREAKING: NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signs the RICHEST annual salary in league history
-
Sports1 week agoE.l.f Cosmetics Builds Sports Marketing Game Plan Toward Bigger Goals