Sports

Washington State AD Anne McCoy Talks Track & Field Cuts, Pac-12 Changes

It’s been an eventful summer so for Washington State University Athletics, in both positive and negative ways. Washington State Athletic Director hosted a Zoom call with members of the media this week to discuss several major developments for the Cougars’ athletic department. Namely, WSU made the decision to make significant cuts to the track program, […]

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1 week ago

July 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It’s been an eventful summer so for Washington State University Athletics, in both positive and negative ways.

Washington State Athletic Director hosted a Zoom call with members of the media this week to discuss several major developments for the Cougars’ athletic department. Namely, WSU made the decision to make significant cuts to the track program, including eliminating all field events. The Pac-12 also formally added Texas State to the league this week, with the Bobcats’ membership taking effect in July of 2026.

Watch the full media availability below.

NOTES

– On eliminating field events and cutting back sprints and hurdles in the track program: “We are looking at really focusing on the distance portion of our program and you know centralizing our resources into a place that’s a little more focused as opposed to being as broad-based as it was this past year.”

“The decision was made not for financial reasons as much as they were for competitive success and the ability to really provide a high level experience.”

– On sending out institutional NIL agreements this past week: “It’s been something that’s been a long time in the making as we were working through the house settlement, and implementation, and how we would be opting in as an institution. I would say it’s required a tremendous amount of partnership both within the athletics department and with campus, working through a lot of different procedures, whether it be through legal, through purchasing, through business affairs and and everything that goes into this to do it the right way.”

– On further Pac-12 expansion and Power Five status: “Membership and the media will continue to be areas that the the Pac-12, you know, evaluates. But no immediate plans that I’m aware of.”

“Autonomy Five or the Power Five status is such a kind of a interesting thing with the NCAA and that there’s a lot of, you know it was basically a vote that took the Pac-12 out of that legislative part of the structure of the NCAA. But there really is no mechanism as to how even the current Power Four conferences or institutions within those conferences, there’s no benchmark, there’s nothing to reach that you all of a sudden then are considered, or a process in place. So, I think that’s certainly something we and the Pac-12 commissioner and the Pac-12 have been, you know, contemplating and we certainly did last week in Washington is, you know, what does that look like? You know, how do you become a power conference, so to speak, whether it’s four, five, three, six, you know, whatever it is.”

Sports

Paula Wiedemann to Return as MSU West Plains Volleyball Coach

WEST PLAINS, Mo.– Officials at Missouri State University–West Plains (MSU-WP) today announced that longtime Grizzly Volleyball coach Paula Wiedemann will return from retirement to lead the team for the upcoming 2025 season. Wiedemann retired in March 2023 after 26 years with the Grizzly Volleyball program, where she built a nationally respected legacy of excellence. She steps […]

Published

35 seconds ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WEST PLAINS, Mo.– Officials at Missouri State University–West Plains (MSU-WP) today announced that longtime Grizzly Volleyball coach Paula Wiedemann will return from retirement to lead the team for the upcoming 2025 season.

Wiedemann retired in March 2023 after 26 years with the Grizzly Volleyball program, where she built a nationally respected legacy of excellence. She steps back into the head coaching role following the resignation of Toby Rens who took a NCAA DII men’s volleyball position.

“We’re delighted Paula is coming back to Grizzly Volleyball,” said Rachel Peterson, director of Grizzly Athletics. “The student-athletes – both returning and new – are thrilled and excited to be spending this season with her at the helm.”

Throughout her distinguished career, Wiedemann amassed a combined record of 835-286 as both an assistant and head coach. Under her leadership, the Grizzlies were a consistent force on the national stage, including back-to-back third place finishes at the 2021 and 2022 NJCAA Division I National Tournament.

In addition to her on-court success, Wiedemann helped develop 43 NJCAA All-Americans and 133 All-Region 16 players. Her commitment to academic excellence led to the recognition of 61 NJCAA Academic All-Americans and 18 NJCAA Academic Team Award winners during her tenure. Her achievements have earned her induction into both the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

“I appreciate the support from my family, university leadership, the campus community and others who reached out to me to consider returning for this season,” Wiedemann said. “After being around this team in the spring and being in the gym with them, I am committed to helping them get the most out of this season and excited about the chance to train and work with them this fall.”

Wiedemann will serve through the Fall 2025 season. A national search for the next head coach will begin at the conclusion of the season.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Paula for stepping back into this role at a critical time for our program,” said Zora Mulligan, Chancellor of MSU-WP. “Her leadership, legacy, and commitment to our student-athletes will ensure that Grizzly Volleyball continues to thrive in the year ahead.”

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Sports

Ninety-Five Bruins Earn Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award

LOS ANGELES – The Big Ten Conference announced Monday that 1,984 students on varsity rosters have earned the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award. The list includes students from all 18 institutions who have recorded a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.7 or higher for the previous academic year. The 2024-25 class of Distinguished Scholar Award […]

Published

6 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LOS ANGELES – The Big Ten Conference announced Monday that 1,984 students on varsity rosters have earned the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award. The list includes students from all 18 institutions who have recorded a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.7 or higher for the previous academic year.

The 2024-25 class of Distinguished Scholar Award Recipients includes 95 Bruins who maintained a 3.7 GPA or higher during the previous academic term.

Women’s Swimming and Diving led the way with 15 honorees, while women’s rowing had 12 student-athletes listed, and women’s beach volleyball rounded out the top three teams with 10 individuals on the list.

Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition in the previous academic year, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire previous academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better during the previous academic year, excluding any summer grades. The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for a student’s academic career.

Baseball (3)
Michael Barnett (Political Science), James Hepp (Education), AJ Salgado (Project Management)

Men’s Basketball (1)
Lazar Stefanovic (Sociology)

Women’s Basketball (1)
Kiki Rice (Communication)

Football (7)
Josh Carlin (Education), Jack Clarke (Undeclared), Devin Delgado (Education & Social Transformation), Devanti Dillard (Statistics), Hudson Habermehl (Legal Studies), Jack Pedersen (Political Science), Caleb Walker (Sociology)

Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country (3)
Patrick Curulla (Business Economics), Kris Emig (Education), Shawn Toney (Business Economics)

Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country (7)
Audrey Allen (Communication), Carly Corsinita (Marketing), Sydney Johnson (Biology), Mia Kane (Psychobiology), Rose Pittman (Education), Annika Salz (Mathematics & Linguistics), Sonia Virk (Psychobiology)

Men’s Golf (2)
Luke Powell (Undeclared), Matthew Yamin (Political Science)

Women’s Gymnastics (6)
Madisyn Anyimi (Applied Mathematics), Chae Campbell (Education), Frida Esparza (Marketing), Brooklyn Moors (Project Management), Katelyn Rosen (Communication), Clara Wren (Education and Social Transformation)

Women’s Rowing (12)
Danielle DeFrancisci (Statistics & Data Science), Andrea Djuric (Public Health), Sofia Kalafatis (Biochemistry), Rachel Katz (Human Biology & Society), Audrey Loeb (Anthropology), Sophia Manos (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology), Tzippy Moehringer (Spanish), Kamryn Monster (Political Science), Ella O’Neil (Cognitive Science), Anika Roche (Political Science & Gender Studies), Faye Turcotte (Cognitive Science), Charlotte Winn (Mechanical Engineering)

Men’s Soccer (2)
Jose Contell (Education), Pablo Greenlee (Education)

Women’s Soccer (6)
Sofia Cook (International Development Studies), Kirsten Crane (Psychology), Maya Evans (Education), Quincy McMahon (Cognitive Science), Jayden Perry (Sociology), Lilly Reale (Sociology)

Softball (2)
Seneca Curo (Education), Savannah Pola (Sociology)

Women’s Swimming and Diving (15)
Eva Carlson (Psychology), Joanie Cash (Education), Riley Dix (Psychobiology), Elena Dry (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology), Laura Fisher (Chemistry), Morgan Hawes (Communication), Ana Jih-Schiff (Psychology), Ava Lachey (Communication), Kathryn Lundh (Psychology), Paige MacEachern (Psychology), Emma Matous (International Development Studies), Katy Pacher (Global Studies), Angela Quan (Computer Science), Maya Salvitti (English), Amy Zhang (Electrical Engineering)

Men’s Tennis (2)
Alexander Hoogmartens (Economics), Giacomo Revelli (Cognitive Science)

Women’s Tennis (2)
Ahmani Guichard (Communication), Mia Jovic (Business Economics)

Women’s Volleyball (5)
Brooklyn Briscoe (Communication), Anna Dodson (Education), Peyton Dueck (Sociology), Kat Lutz (Psychology), Katie McCarthy (Economics & Political Science)

Men’s Volleyball (2)
Kahale Clini (Sociology), Coleman McDonough (Political Science)

Women’s Beach Volleyball (10)
Maggie Boyd (Psychology), Peri Brennan (Education), Cassie Dodd (Political Science), Hannah Fleming (Communication), Reagan Hope (Sociology), Sophie Moore (Business and Management of Entertainment), Natalie Myszkowski (Education), Jessie Smith (Education), Ky Vaickus (Cognitive Science), Tessa Van Winkle (Education)

Men’s Water Polo (1)
Max Matthews (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology)

Women’s Water Polo (6)
Lily Gess (History), Alexsa Gimenez (Undeclared), Sienna Green (Economics), Natasha Kieckhafer (Public Affairs), Joey Niz (Undeclared), Olivia Ouellette (Undeclared)

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Sports

UTSA announces signing of Steele’s John Williams III – UTSA Athletics

SAN ANTONIO – UTSA Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox announced on Monday that the Roadrunners will add local jumper John Williams III to the 2025-26 Roadrunners roster, coming to UTSA from across town at Byron P. Steele High II School. “It’s exciting to be able to add top-notch local talent to our […]

Published

39 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SAN ANTONIO – UTSA Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Aaron Fox announced on Monday that the Roadrunners will add local jumper John Williams III to the 2025-26 Roadrunners roster, coming to UTSA from across town at Byron P. Steele High II School.

“It’s exciting to be able to add top-notch local talent to our always-strong jump squad,” Fox said. “John is a talented jumper who has a strong growth progression and has performed well on the state and national stages.”

Williams competed in his senior season of horizontal jumps at Cibolo’s Steele High, capturing the District 29-6A, Area and Region IV-6A titles in the triple jump, hitting a career-best 15.47m (50-9.25) measurement during the regional meet at San Antonio’s Heroes Stadium in April – breaking the city, area and regional records in the event on his path to a bronze-medal performance at the UIL 6A State Track and Field Championships in Austin. Registering the third-longest jump in Texas and 10th in the nation, his performances this spring earned an invitation to The Jump Games in Ocean Springs, Mississippi in late May, where he garnered third in the field. After winning the Comets Hill Country Championships in June, Williams qualified to compete nationally at the Nike U20 Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, registering a 12th-place finish at the national meet. Williams also earned the silver medal in March at the 97th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. In long jump, Williams was also the District 29-6A runner-up, hitting a personal-best 6.91m (22-8) during the Hill Country Championships.

Before Steele, he attended North Dakota’s Minot North High School, where he also competed in sprints and earned the triple jump silver medal at the NDHSAA 1A State Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a junior, after winning the West Region championship in the event. That season during indoors, Williams was third in triple at the 1A State Championships. He won the 1A State title in the triple jump as a sophomore in 2023 with a measurement of 14.15m (46-5).

– UTSA –

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Pope and Walton to face off in outdoor volleyball game

Volleyball is one of the fastest rising sports in the entire country. Specifically, the NCAA has made it a big deal to promote the sport. Nebraska has become the biggest name in the game and set a record crowd of 92,000 in attendance for one of its games in 2023. In Georgia, the sport is […]

Published

40 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Heated East Cobb rivals Pope and Walton are two of the best teams in the state. Pope is the defending 5A champion and has won state in two out of the last three years and is the definition of a modern dynasty. The Greyhounds return star players Lyden Harvey (who recorded 208 kills last season), Isabelle Andre (who had a .250 hitting percentage last season), and rising sophomore Lyla Skapinetz.

As for Walton, the Raiders went to the state championship two years ago before falling to North Cobb and are coming off a state semifinals appearance, again falling to North Cobb. This year, Walton has a new head coach in Ashley Jones and returns a lot of key players including Simone Searles (Duquesne commit), Janie Myers (listed as a top-50 sophomore according to Volleyball Adrenaline), and Scarlett Holden (led team in 2024 with 59 blocks).

The two teams recently announced (first reported by the Marietta Daily Journal) that they will play in an outdoor game, hosted at Pope’s football stadium. The game will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 9th.

The pair faced off last season with the Raiders pulling out a 2-0 win (29-27, 19-25). The 2025 addition of this matchup is sure to draw a crowd that will be one of the largest in Georgia volleyball history.

Pope has two games scheduled before its match against Walton, playing Roswell and Kell. The Raiders have not reported a full schedule as off now.

If you are still not sold on this game, let’s sum it up. Two rivals, separated by a 10-minute drive, featuring a defending state champion, with both as title favorites this season, who played a tight game last season, all on a Saturday night in a football stadium after the first week that school is back. This game will be a must-see affair for any fan looking for something to do on a Saturday night.

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Sports

Big Ten Announces 2024-25 Distinguished Scholars

Big Ten Announces 2024-25 Distinguished Scholars July 14, 2025 | Football, USC Athletics, Men’s Basketball, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Men’s Tennis, Men’s Water Polo, Track & Field, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Lacrosse, Women’s Rowing, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Women’s Tennis, Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Water Polo, Women’s Beach Volleyball, Swim & Dive Link 0

Published

44 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

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Big Ten Announces 2024-25 Distinguished Scholars

July 14, 2025 | Football, USC Athletics, Men’s Basketball, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Men’s Tennis, Men’s Water Polo, Track & Field, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Lacrosse, Women’s Rowing, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Women’s Tennis, Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Water Polo, Women’s Beach Volleyball, Swim & Dive

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Sports

LA 2028 Olympic organizers release first look at competition schedule 3 years out from games

CBS News Live CBS News Los Angeles Live Organizers of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles released the first look of the competition schedule three years out from the Opening Ceremony on Monday morning. At an event outside of the LA Memorial Coliseum marking three years until the start of the games, LA28 Chief Executive Officer […]

Published

60 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Organizers of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles released the first look of the competition schedule three years out from the Opening Ceremony on Monday morning.

At an event outside of the LA Memorial Coliseum marking three years until the start of the games, LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover announced the first look of the competition schedule, including dates for medal ceremonies.

Hoover highlighted that the upcoming games will be the return of the Games to the U.S. for the first time since 1996. It will be LA’s third time hosting the Olympics, having previously hosted the 1932 and 1984 games.

Sporting events will kick off two days before the Opening Ceremony on July 14, 2028. Hockey, archery, basketball, water polo, handball and cricket will begin on July 12, 2028. Hoover said the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will feature more sports than any other games before. Sporting events will be held at venues around the city, including Dodger Stadium, the Convention Center, the Galen Center and Long Beach.

The first medal will be awarded for the triathlon on July 15 in Venice Beach. Swimming will close out the last medal ceremony on July 30 at Sofi Stadium.

“We are now three years away from the LA Memorial Coliseum hosting the opening of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and I’m proud that the first medal will be awarded at the iconic Venice Beach,” said LA Mayor Karen Bass. “When the world comes here for these Games, we will highlight every neighborhood as we host a Games for all and work to ensure it leaves a monumental legacy.

Use this link to access the first look at the competition schedule.

Chelsea Hylton

Chelsea Hylton is a web producer for CBS Los Angeles. An Inglewood native, Hylton has her master’s degree from USC. She covers local breaking news across the Southern California region. Before joining CBS in 2024, she worked at NBC LA, Telemundo 52, The Los Angeles Times and KOMO 4 News in Seattle.

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