The pronunciations of some places are challenging even for longtime residents.
The 2024-25 high school sports season has wrapped up, and athletes from the Salem-Keizer area produced countless memorable performances this past school year.
Now it’s your turn to vote for who is the best.
Nominees for Statesman Journal girls Athlete of the Year are:
Tia Allen, Kennedy track and field
Emma Brewer, Salem Academy basketball
Myleigh Cooper, Scio softball
Sarahi Chavez, McNary wrestling and soccer
Hadley Craig, Silverton basketball
Nelida Dalgas, North Salem track and field and cross-country
Brooke Friesen, Sprague volleyball
Kenzi Hollenbeck, Stayton basketball and softball
Celia James, Salem Academy track and field, basketball and soccer
Braeli Martin, West Salem softball, basketball and volleyball
Runon Muroya, Western Christian basketball
Harlow Nelson, Dallas softball
Eliza Nisly, Amity soccer and basketball
Polly Olliff, Dallas wrestling
Gretchen Orton, Jefferson basketball
Averie Peterson, Santiam track and field
Lillian Pickett, Cascade track and field
Malia Scanlan, Cascade softball
Marley Wertz, Silverton soccer and basketball
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at 11 a.m. Friday, July 4.
Tia Allen, Kennedy track and field
The senior claimed the Class 2A state discus title and took seventh in the shot put. Allen finished the season with a personal-best discus throw of 149 feet, 4 inches, third-best in the state regardless of classification.
Emma Brewer, Salem Academy volleyball
The junior was named the Class 2A state player of the year after leading Salem Academy to the state title.
Brewer, who is committed to play at San Diego, racked up 27 kills in a 25-19, 25-17, 25-14 win over Crosshill Christian in the state title game at Ridgeview High School in Redmond.
Sarahi Chavez, McNary wrestling
The senior captured her second state wrestling title, winning the 6A/5A 100-pound championship by technical fall despite wrestling with a ruptured knee ligament.
Myleigh Cooper, Scio softball
For the third consecutive season, Cooper was named the Class 3A state player of the year. A Cal Poly signee, she led Scio to its first-ever state title.
Cooper was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Oregon. She broke the state record for home runs, ending her career with 75. Cooper finished as the third-winningest pitcher in state history with 83 victories.
Hadley Craig, Silverton basketball
The junior earned Class 5A first-team all-state honors after helping Silverton to a third-place finish at the state tournament at Linfield University in McMinnville. Craig was named to the all-tournament team.
Nelida Dalgas, North Salem track and field and cross-country
The junior took second place at the Class 6A state cross-country meet at Lane Community College. A week later, she took sixth place at the NXR Northwest Regional Championships in Eagle, Idaho. Dalgas’ personal-best time of 16 minutes, 46.3 seconds at the Rose City Championship Invite was the 18th-fastest in the nation this season.
During the spring track and field season, Dalgas placed second in the 3,000 (9:49.45) and seventh in the 1,500 (4:38.82) at the state meet at Hayward Field.
Brooke Friesen, Sprague volleyball
The sophomore was named the Central Valley Conference player of the year and earned Class 6A first-team all-state recognition after helping Sprague reach the state quarterfinals.
Kenzi Hollenbeck, Stayton basketball and softball
The senior was named the Oregon West Conference co-player of the year and earned Class 4A first-team all-state honors after helping lead Stayton to the state title.
In the spring, Hollenbeck earned first-team all-league honors on the softball field.
Celia James, Salem Academy track and field, basketball and soccer
For the third time in her career, the Crusaders’ versatile senior won the Class 2A 400-meter state title (57.69) on the track. She took third in the 800 (2:24.41) and ran anchor legs for Salem Academy’s state title-winning 4×400 relay team (4:04.62) and first-place 4×100 relay team (50.48).
On the basketball court, James earned first-team all-state honors after leading the Crusaders to the 2A state title.
She was a team captain for Salem Academy’s soccer team, which went 11-6 on the year and reached the second round of the state playoffs.
Braeli Martin, West Salem softball, basketball and volleyball
The Titans’ senior was named the Class 6A pitcher of the year and earned first-team all-state honors after helping West Salem reach the state quarterfinals.
On the basketball court, Martin was a first-team all-Central Valley Conference selection.
On the volleyball court, she earned second-team all-league recognition.
Runon Muroya, Western Christian basketball
The senior was named the Class 2A state player of the year after helping Western Christian reach the state title game.
Muroya was named to the all-tournament first team.
Harlow Nelson, Dallas softball and track and field
The freshman took third place in both the 100 (12.28) and 200 (25.05) at the Class 5A state meet at Hayward Field.
She also played third base and hit leadoff for Dallas’ softball team, which reached the state playoffs.
Eliza Nisly, Amity soccer and basketball
On the soccer field, the junior earned Class 3A/2A/1A first-team all-state recognition and was named 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 co-player of the year after leading Amity to the second round of the state playoffs.
On the basketball court, Nisly earned honorable mention all-state honors while helping the Warriors win the 3A state title.
Polly Olliff, Dallas wrestling
The senior won her third consecutive 6A/5A wrestling title, this time capturing the 115-pound championship by 10-3 decision.
Olliff won the 105 title as a sophomore before winning the 110 crown as a junior.
Averie Peterson, Santiam track and field
The versatile senior won the Class 2A 800-meter state title with a state meet-record time of 2:15.71. She took second at state in the 1,500 (4:41.94) and triple jump (36-4 3/4).
Peterson, a St. Mary’s College track and field commit, finished the season with 2A top-10 marks in the 200, 400, 800, 1,500, long jump and triple jump.
Gretchen Orton, Jefferson basketball
The senior was named the Class 3A state player of the year after leading Jefferson to the state semifinals.
Lillian Pickett, Cascade track and field
For the second consecutive season, the senior won the Class 4A 400 state title. She clocked a personal-best time of 55.77 — the sixth-fastest time in the state this season, regardless of classification. Pickett’s time was also the third-fastest ever for a 4A girls runner in the state of Oregon.
She also finished as runner-up in the 200 (25.25).
Malia Scanlan, Cascade softball
The Cougars’ senior was named the Oregon West Conference player of the year after helping the Cougars reach the state playoffs.
A Western Oregon University signee, Scanlan hit .543 on the year and ranked among the state leaders with 11 home runs, 18 doubles and 62 RBIs.
Marley Wertz, Silverton soccer and basketball
The Foxes’ sophomore was named the Mid-Willamette Conference player of the year and earned Class 5A first-team all-state honors after helping lead Silverton to the state quarterfinals.
On the basketball court, Wertz received honorable mention all-league recognition.
PITTSBURGH – Olivia Babcock was named a Honda Sport Award finalist for volleyball, announced on Wednesday by The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA). She looks to repeat this season after winning the award as a sophomore, becoming the only female student-athlete at Pitt to earn the honor. Mimi Colyer (Wisconsin), Eva Hudson (Kentucky) and Bergen Reilly (Nebraska) round out the list of finalists.
This marks the 50th year the Honda Sport Award has been in existence and is presented annually by the CWSA to the top female athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”.
Babcock wins the award after being named the back-to-back AVCA National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year and AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year. She is the only player in Pitt history to be named a three-time AVCA First Team All-American and was tabbed the Pittsburgh Regional Most Outstanding Player for the third consecutive season after leading the Panthers to their fifth consecutive National Semifinal.
Babcock led the Pitt offense and averaged personal-best marks of 5.17 kills per set and 2.09 digs per set. She notched five ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors and set the program’s single match kills record with 45 against North Carolina.
The CWSA has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford volleyball program announced the dates for its 2026 summer camps on Wednesday.
A full list of camps and the dates are below. Registration is open online now for all individual camps and can register at www.subulldogvolleyballcamps.com.
High School and Middle School coaches can email Associate Head Coach Ben Sabin at bsabin@samford.edu to register for High School and Middle School Team Camps.
Keylor Chan Volleyball Camps are open to any and all entrants (limited only by number, age, grade level, and/or gender).
2026 CAMP DATES
June 13th All Position Camp 7th-12th grade
July 6-7 Elite Camp 9-12th grade
July 8-9 High School Team Camp I
July 10-11 High School Team Camp II
July 17-18 Middle School Team Camp I
July 20-22 Volleykidz K-3rd grade
July 20-22 Youth Skills Camp 4-6th grade
July 20-22 All Skills Camp 7-8th grade
July 23 Serving Clinic 6-12th grade
July 25-26 Middle School Team Camp II
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
For the latest news and information on Samford volleyball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at @SamfordVB (Instagram) and @SamfordVB (Twitter).
TEMPE – Sun Devil Track and Field will open its 2026 indoor season by competing in the annual NAU Axe ‘Em Open at the Skydome in Flagstaff on Friday night. The 2026 campaign will be year seven for head coach Dion Miller, with the Sun Devils set to compete in six indoor events this spring.
Live Stats
Arizona State will be sending 52 student-athletes, including a total of 25 newcomers, amongst both men’s and women’s squads.
Sun Devils competing in Flagstaff Men Freshmen: Josiah Anderson, Nolan Bartley, Demar Coleman, Dontay Mayrant, Duaine Mayrant, Brady Nieto, Amir Thompson, Nasir Tucker, Kingston Waring, Malith Yasiru Sophomores: James Bauman, Preston Beery, Owen Lee, Lemerian Lemashon, Mateo Medina, Dennis Rono, Glenn Thomas
Juniors: Sam Cappos, Marlon Colbert, Brennen McHenry, Charlie Merritt, Wyatt Preble, Richlu Tudee, Trey Wakefield
Event schedule Long Jump Triple Jump Women, followed by Men Weight Throw Shot Put Women, followed by Men High Jump Women, followed by Men 60m Hurdles Men Prelims 1 Mile Women Final 1 Mile Men Final 60 Hurdle Men Final 60m Women Final 60m Men Final 400m Women Final 400m Men Final 800m Women Final 800m Men Final 200m Women Final 200m Men Final 3000m Women Final 3000m Men Final 4x400m Relay Women Final 4x400m Relay Men Final
2026 schedule Indoor NAU Axe ‘Em Open – Jan. 9 (Flagstaff, AZ.) Corky Classic – Jan. 16-17 (Lubbock, TX.) Charlie Thomas – Feb. 6-7 (College Station, TX.) Don Kirby – Feb. 13-14 (Albuquerque, NM.) Big 12 Indoor Championships – Feb. 27-28 (Lubbock, TX.) NCAA Indoor Championships – March 13-14 (Fayetteville, AR.)
Outdoor Willie Williams Invite – March 27-28 (Tucson, AZ.) Jim Click Shootout – April 3-4 (Tucson, AZ) Mt. Sac Relays – April 17-18 (Walnut, CA.) Penn Relays – April 23-25 (Philadelphia, PA.) Desert Heat – May 2 (Tucson, AZ.) Big 12 Outdoor Championships – May 14-16 (Tucson, AZ.) NCAA West Regionals – May 27-30 (Fayetteville, AR.) NCAA Outdoor Championships – June 10-12 (Eugene, OR.) USATF Championships – TBD (Eugene, OR.)
Follow along You can follow the Sun Devils throughout their 2026 season via the team’s social media accounts, @SunDevilTFXC on Instagram, Facebook and X.
The state champion volleyball player for Mount Carmel knew before she graduated in 2011 that she wanted to someday come back to her alma mater and coach her favorite sport.
Her chance has arrived, as Mount Carmel on Wednesday announced Miller as the new volleyball coach after she coached the past seven seasons at Haynes Academy, where she guided the Yellow Jackets to their first state title in 2024.
“I’m really happy at Haynes,” Miller said. “Haynes is a great school. It’s tough to leave Haynes and the work family, and the players here and everything we have built here. But it always has been a dream of mine to come back to my alma mater and build a program there.”
At Mount Carmel, Miller will coach at the school where she starred as a setter and six-rotation standout, ultimately earning the LHSAA outstanding player award following a four-set victory over Dominican in the 2010 state final.
Miller, who will continue at Haynes as a P.E. teacher for the remainder of the school year, is replacing former coach Taylor Ricaud, who left after three seasons and is now the head coach at Pope John Paul II.
Mount Carmel has won 14 volleyball state championships, including six in a row from 2014-19. The Cubs, who last reached the state final in 2023, lost in the quarterfinals last season against Chapelle.
Mount Carmel athletic director April Hagadone coached eight championship teams at the school.
Miller said she “fell in love with volleyball” when she was a freshman, and she was a junior or senior when she told Hagadone at practice one day that she would like to come back to the school and replace her as coach.
“I knew I wanted to be a P.E. teacher and coach because both of my parents were P.E. teachers and coaches in multiple sports,” said Miller, who remembered thinking, “Man, this would be awesome, to come back here and run a program at a school that I love and be surrounded by an amazing community.”
At Haynes, Miller replaced her mother, Dollie Lala, as the head coach and lifted it to unprecedented heights, reaching the state semifinals for the first time in 2022, two years before the five-set triumph over Hannan in the Division III state final.
Miller comes from a family of coaches and teachers. Her father, Larry Lala, coached football at Bonnabel in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and later coached baseball and football while at Grace King.
Haynes has played the last three seasons at the former Grace King campus, following the closure of that school in 2023.
“We’ve never lost a game in this gym yet,” Miller said, adding that the teachers and students at Haynes “are very understanding, and everyone has been really kind to me about the move. They are happy for me, which helps a lot.”
After shining on the national stage, Ferris State University’s football and volleyball
players will get a hero’s welcome back home on campus on Monday.
The university is calling on the entire community to come together in celebration
as Jan. 12, 2026 is declared “Bulldog Spirit Day.”
The campus-wide and community celebration will honor the Ferris State football team’s
fourth national championship and the volleyball team’s continued postseason success.
Community members are warmly invited to join Ferris State students and employees from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, at the David L. Eisler Center, 805 Campus Drive,
for a high-energy event filled with Bulldog pride.
Those attending Bulldog Spirit Day will have the chance to take photos with the National
Championship trophy, the volleyball team’s trophy, meet Ferris State student-athletes,
watch the cheer and STUNT team perform, hear remarks from university leaders, enjoy
snacks, and experience other fun surprises as part of the celebration.
Championship t-shirts and stickers will be available while they last.
The football team capped an unforgettable season with a dominant victory in the NCAA
Division II National Championship, finishing undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation.
With the win, the Bulldogs brought the championship trophy home to Big Rapids for
the fourth time in five years.
The volleyball team also delivered an outstanding postseason run, earning the NCAA
Division II Midwest Regional Title and advancing to the Elite Eight for the second
consecutive year—another remarkable achievement for the program.
Ferris State President Bill Pink officially proclaimed Jan. 12 as Bulldog Spirit Day
and encourages all students, employees, alumni, and community members to proudly wear
their Ferris State apparel.
Bulldog pride stretches far beyond Big Rapids, with alumni and supporters across Michigan,
the nation, and around the globe. Alumni are encouraged to join the celebration by
posting photos in their Bulldog gear on social media and tagging Ferris State.
And the celebration doesn’t stop there—plans are already underway for a victory parade
this spring.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University Interim Director of Athletics Jordan Harmon announced the 2026 Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame Class, Wednesday.
The 48th Hall of Fame Class, which will be inducted during ceremonies held Feb. 13-14, includes track and field’s Savannah Amato, soccer’s Natalia Ariza, football’s James Green, former director of facilities Charles “Bud” Jenkins, men’s golf’s Dustin Korte, and baseball’s Parker Phillips.
The athletics department will recognize the class at halftime of the men’s basketball game against Bellarmine on Saturday, Feb. 14. Tickets for Friday’s Hall of Fame Reception and for Saturday’s basketball doubleheader, which includes the women’s basketball game against West Georgia, will be available for purchase online through Ticketmaster. A full schedule of the Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend events will be available at a later date.
The APSU Athletics Hall of Fame, which is displayed in the front lobby of the Winfield Dunn Center, inducted legendary director of athletics and coach David Aaron as its first member in 1977. This year’s class of six inductees will bring the total number of individuals recognized to 151. The APSU Athletics Hall of Fame can be visited online at LetsGoPeay.com/HOF.
Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Biographical Sketches
Savannah Amato, Track & Field (2015-20)
Pole vaulter Savannah Amato was a six-time Ohio Valley Conference gold medalist, three-time NCAA East Preliminaries participant, 11-time OVC Field Athlete of the Week, and 26-time event winner. A member of the OVC 75th Anniversary Team, Amato still is the only athlete in OVC Indoor Track & Field history to win the pole vault three times and is one of two Governors to win be named the Outdoor Pole Vault Champion three times in a career.
At the conclusion of her collegiate career, she held both pole vault records. While her 4.15-meter vault indoor now is tied for third all-time, Amato still holds three of the top 10 indoor pole vault marks and a program-record 4.17-meter mark from the 2017-18 season.
Natalia Ariza, Soccer (2010-13)
Natalia Ariza is one of two players in Austin Peay soccer history to earn four All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, with three First Team All-OVC selections and one Second Team All-OVC honor. Despite missing the first two games of her collegiate career – due to representing Columbia in the U19 FIFA Women’s World Cup – Ariza finished her freshman season as the Govs’ second-leading scorer with 15 points, a career-best six goals, and four game-winning goals. Her freshman campaign also saw her earn First Team All-OVC, OVC All-Newcomer Team, OVC Tournament Team, and Second Team National Soccer Coaches Association of America honors.
After transitioning to a more defensive-heavy position for her second season, Ariza still scored five goals and dished out four assists as a sophomore, before combining for seven assists across her junior and senior campaigns. Over a decade removed from her playing days in Clarksville, Ariza still ranks top 10 in program history in goals, assists, and points and is the only Governor to earn All-OVC Tournament Team selections
James Green, Football (1975-77)
James Green was a three-year letterwinner on the defensive line for the Austin Peay’s football team from 1975-77. A two-time First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection, Green was a captain during Governors’ first OVC Championship season in 1977, a season in which he also earned Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention honors.
Forty-eight years after his collegiate career ended with hoisting the Govs’ first championship trophy since a 1948 Volunteer State Athletic Conference title, Green’s 189-career tackles still are the 10th-most in program history and the second-most by a Gov to play three-or-fewer seasons. Green now becomes the fourth defensive player from the 1977 team to be selected to the Austin Peay Hall of Fame, joining former teammates Ron Sebree, Mike Betts, and Bob Bible.
Charles “Bud” Jenkins, Facilities (1992-25)
Bud Jenkins did it all. If there was something anyone needed, Bud would be there. He is the reason anything ever worked and, if it is still working, he is probably the reason for that too. One minute he would be repairing the seats in the Dunn Center and the next he would be out at any one of Austin Peay’s athletic facilities working on whatever needed to be done.
Bud began at Austin Peay in 1992 and, in those 33 years, epitomized the definitions of hard work and humility. While his job was behind the scenes, his craft and care for Austin Peay showed every time someone walked into a facility.
Dustin Korte, Men’s Golf (2010-13)
One of two men’s golfers in Austin Peay history to qualify for the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship as an individual, Dustin Korte shot 204 at the 2013 NCAA Tempe Regional, including an opening-round 64 that is still tied for the third-best score in program history, to finish as the top individual and advance to the national championship. Korte’s three-round score of 204 at the Tempe Regional still is the eighth-best tournament score in program history and is the best by a Gov in the NCAA Tournament. Korte also was named a PING All-Region selection for his performance in 2013.
A two-time First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference and OVC All-Tournament Team selection, Korte received both those honors during the 2012 and 2013 seasons after being a Second Team All-OVC selection in 2011. After a 76.19 scoring average during his freshman season, Korte posted averages of 73.94, 73.15, and 72.63 during his next three seasons, en route to a 73.79 career scoring average as a Governor. Korte also played to a .777 winning percentage (761-208-29) against the field as a junior and a .767 winning percentage (752-217-34) against the field as a senior to finish his career with a .671 mark (2,139-1,020-105).
Parker Phillips, Baseball (2017-19)
The Home Run King, Parker Phillips still is Austin Peay’s all-time leader in home runs, despite the recent power surges by the likes of Lyle Miller-Green and John Bay. Phillips had 56 home runs in three seasons and is the only player in program history with three 10-home run seasons. Phillips hit 12 home runs as a redshirt sophomore in 2017, before hitting a then-program record 19 home runs in 2018. Phillips followed those seasons with the first 20-homer season in program history, hitting a then-record 25 home runs in 2019, a mark that is still the second-best single-season total in APSU history. Phillips also is 1-of-10 Govs to hit a record three home runs in a single game, but he is the only player in program history to have two three-homer games.
Phillips’ 56 career home runs and 25 home runs in 2019 both still rank as the sixth-best marks in Ohio Valley Conference history. In addition to the home runs, Phillips ranks first in Austin Peay history in hit by pitches (58) – 16 more than the next closest player – he also ranks second in grand slams (4), third in slugging percentage (.674), sixth in RBI (166), sixth in runs scored (158), eighth in sacrifice flies (12), and 16th in on-base percentage (.435).
Phillips also was selected to compete in the 2018 College Home Run Derby at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska, and advanced to the second round of the event. Phillips was a Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-America, ABCA First Team All-South Region, First Team All-OVC, and OVC All-Tournament Team selection in 2019. He also was a Second Team All-OVC selection in 2018 and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Second Team Freshman All-American, and OVC All-Freshman Team selection in 2018.
