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Washington Sweeps Big Ten Women's Rowing Championships

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8 months ago

May 19, 2025

Washington Sweeps Big Ten Women's Rowing Championships

INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 2-ranked Washington women’s rowing team swept all seven grand finals and won the Big Ten Championship Sunday in the Huskies’ first year in their new conference.

In the 25-year history of the Big Ten regatta, Washington was just the second team ever to sweep, winning every grand final, joining Ohio State, which accomplished that feat in 2018.

Washington won the team title with a perfect points total of 264. Rutgers was second with 239 points and Michigan (212) finished in third.

“We have dreamed of days like today since the very start of the season and to have that dream become a reality means more than words will ever be able to describe,” said Olivia Hay, the Huskies’ 2025 team captain and seven seat in the second varsity eight. “To win every single race across the board is a true testament to what we have been creating this year, with all of us here in Indianapolis and all our teammates back home too.

“I am just in awe of this team, and how every single person wanted to do this for each other,” Hay added. “It really was all of us or none of us today.”

The Huskies’ victory marked the 27^th conference championship in program history. UW joined the Big Ten having won 18 Pac-12 Women’s Rowing Championships, as well as eight conference titles prior to the Pac-10/Pac-12 era (1987-2024).

“I was definitely aware that we were in a position to win Washington’s first Big Ten Championship, but we never really talked about it,” said UW women’s head coach Yasmin Farooq. “We knew each race was going to take our very best and I think we were just truly focused on preparing for tough racing and bringing our best performances to the table. There are no shortcuts to the top in NCAA rowing, and we’ve been working diligently as a team to build unity and speed since our debut seven weeks ago at the San Diego Crew Classic.

“We believed we had the potential to win, and even sweep, the Big Tens,” Farooq continued. “To do that, we knew we would have to withstand a number of challenges today, which we definitely got. I was extremely proud of how our team handled every scenario this weekend. We were prepared and every single person stepped up.”

The day’s final race, the varsity eights grand final, began with a tightly-packed field off of the starting line. With the team championship essentially already won, the Huskies were seeking the sweep, having already won all six previous grand finals.

Defending conference champion Michigan crept away in the first 500 to take the lead, gaining a half-length over UW by 1,000 meters. In the third 500, though, the UW crew responded and gained ground on the Wolverines.

As the Huskies pulled away from Michigan, Rutgers came on, moving into second and giving the UW a legitimate challenge down the homestretch.

Washington held off the Scarlet Knights, who also finished second as a team, winning by about two or three seats and less than a second. UW’s final time was 6:05.233, while Rutgers crossed the line in 6:06.081.

“We had a great race where we were pushed all the way down the course which allowed us to elevate ourselves and never take a stroke for granted,” said Megan Lee, UW’s varsity eight stroke rower. “It was special winning, of course, but even more special because we knew our teammates had won and we wanted to close it out so everyone could celebrate a clean sweep together.

“When we docked, the team was waiting for us and we got to have that celebratory moment all together,” Lee continued. “Winning is fun, but winning as a whole team is the ultimate goal, which we got to experience today.”

Michigan, Rutgers and UW jumped to the front at the start of the second varsity eight final, but before 500 meters, the Huskies had edged into a three-seat edge.

The Huskies had an open-water advantage just after 1,000 meters and rowed the second half of the course in command of the lead. UW’s second eight won its final in 6:11.674, just under six seconds ahead of Rutgers.

Ohio State and Minnesota gave UW an early challenge in the first of the “NCAA boat” races, the varsity fours. But by 500 meters, Washington had established a clear lead over the Golden Gophers and the Huskies left the rest of the field well behind for the remainder of the 2,000 meters.

Washington won the fours in a time of 6:53.520. Rutgers fought off Michigan to finish second, about 3.3 seconds back of the Huskies.

Michigan jumped out to the early lead in the second fours grand final. But by 500 meters, Washington had moved in front, with Rutgers taking second spot from the Wolverines.

Rutgers hung in and kept contact with the UW crew, but the Huskies answered each challenge. Washington crossed the line about a half-length in front of Rutgers, winning the race in 6:58.341, about 1.6 seconds ahead.

In the third fours event, Washington led early, but Rutgers moved ahead in the second 500. The Scarlet Knights’ lead was short-lived, though, as the Huskies moved back in front and stretched the lead to nearly a length by 1,500 meters. The Huskies pulled away in the stretch at won in 7:03.150, more than three seconds ahead of Rutgers.

In the third varsity eights race, with UW’s top novice boat racing, the Huskies faced an early challenge from Ohio State, but led by a half-length at 500 meters. In the second 500, Rutgers moved into second, but Washington held the lead the rest of the way, winning in 6:31.866, a length ahead of the Scarlet Knights.

The morning began with a win in the fourth varsity eights event, with the Huskies’ second novice eight. In that race, Ohio State crossed the 500-meter buoy in first place by a half-second. By 1,000 meters, the UW had moved in front by that same margin and, in the third 500, the Huskies pulled in front.

Washington won the race by just under four seconds, in a time of 6:41.711 to the Buckeyes’ 6:45.679.

“The 4V8 – which consists of all freshmen including walk-ons — set the stage for the day with a great battle with Ohio State,” Farooq commented. “We knew that race would be a smoker. Our boat raced gritty and tough — and the way they raced inspired all of us.”

With the completion of the Big Ten Championships, the All-Big Ten Women’s Rowing Team was also revealed, with six Huskies honored. Washington’s first-team selections were Marilou Duvernay-Tardif, Zola Kemp and Aisha Rocek, while Sophie Houston, Megan Lee and Cillian Mullen were named to the second team.

2025 all big ten rowing teams

“Last night we talked as a team about our values, and what it means to be a Woman of Washington,” Farooq explained. “Across the board, each crew gave themselves over to one another. There were coxswain calls thanking teammates back home and all of our supporters at UW and in RowTown USA. In the V8, the last 500 was for the support of Husky Nation every time we race the final 500 meters in the Montlake Cut.

“The last time we raced here in Indy, we swept the NCAA’s and I had a deja vu moment watching Michigan lead the V8 final field out of the blocks and to the 1,000,” Farooq concluded. “Rutgers was also right there keeping everyone honest. As our boat moved into the lead, I knew we would do what we needed to do to win. Michigan and Rutgers really pushed us at different stages of that race and I think we all learned and grew from it. I can’t wait for NCAA’s. There is going to be some awesome racing there.”

Next, the NCAA will announce the 22-team field for the 2025 NCAA Championships on a selection show this Tuesday, May 20, at 2:00 p.m. PT. Washington, having earned the Big Ten’s automatic berth, will make its 28^th NCAA appearance in the 28-year history of the event.

WASHINGTON LINEUPS

Varsity Eight
Shell: Title IX Legacy
Cox: Isabel Michaelson (Mukilteo, Wash.)
Stroke: Megan Lee (Natick, Mass.)
7: Sally Jones (Victoria, B.C., Canada)
6: Chloe Sheppard (Tewkesbury, England, U.K.)
5: Aisha Rocek (Como, Italy)
4: Marilou Duvernay-Tardif (St. Jean-Baptiste, Que., Canada)
3: Sophie Houston (Sydney, Australia)
2: Zola Kemp (Wellington, New Zealand)
Bow: Shakira Mirfin (Invercargill, New Zealand)

Second Varsity Eight
Shell: Kit Green
Cox: Grace Murdock (Roswell, Ga.)
Stroke: Ava Meuleman (Seattle, Wash.)
7: Olivia Hay (Auckland, New Zealand)
6: Evan Park (Bend, Ore.)
5: Jordan Freer (Lotus, Calif.)
4: Cillian Mullen (Tacoma, Wash.)
3: Leah Nash (Chatham, Mass.)
2: Emma Waters (Galway, Ireland)
Bow: Jess Weir (London, England, U.K.)

Varsity Four
Shell: Paula Mitchell
Cox: Camille Randall (Seattle, Wash.)
Stroke: Violet Holbrow Brooksbank (Monmouth, Wales, U.K.)
3: Cait Whittard (St. Catherine’s, Ont., Canada)
2: Mira Calder (Victoria, B.C. Canada)
Stroke: Paris Burbine (Alpharetta, Ga.)

Second Varsity Four
Shell: Coleen Lynch
Cox: Perry McLoughlin (Port Washington, N.Y.)
Stroke: Margaret Young (San Anselmo, Calif.)
3: Scout Wilson (San Antonio, Texas)
2: Madeleine Parker (Napier, New Zealand)
Bow: Sofia Suhinin (Adelaide, Australia)

Third Varsity Four
Shell: Wendell S. Sykes
Cox: Elisabeth Wu (Seattle, Wash.)
Stroke: Carmel Bollag (Seattle, Wash.)
3: Niamh Comerford (London, England, U.K.)
2: Alex Dessart (Bronxville, N.Y.)
Bow: Sofie Sand (Rochester, Wash.)

Third Varsity Eight
Shell: Dottie Simpson
Cox: Taylor Inouye (Kailua, Hawai’i)
Stroke: Liv Ormseth (Vashon Island, Wash.)
7: Grace Worthington (Grand Haven, Mich.)
6: Annelise Hahl (Cary, N.C.)
5: Maggie Ward (Madison, Wisc.)
4: Caroline Law (Bellingham, Wash.)
3: Marin Maycotte (Austin, Texas)
2: Emily Myers (Oxford, England, U.K.)
Bow: Riley Barringer (Pacific Grove, Calif.)

Fourth Varsity Eight
Shell: Jenni Vesnaver Hogan
Cox: Payton Wold (Arlington, Wash.)
Stroke: Emma Cronin (Roswell, Ga.)
7: Audrey Cronin (Roswell, Ga.)
6: Kylie Kunz (Seattle, Wash.)
5: Sami Tyler (Camas, Wash.)
4: Faith Meyer (Beaverton, Ore.)
3: Kayla Coates-Robertson (Redmond, Wash.)
2: Kate Elward (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Bow: Claire Cunningham (Seattle, Wash.)

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Blum outside hitter takes top honor on Texas 1A all-state volleyball team | Sports

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January 1, 2026

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Belmont Student-Athletes Have Another Impressive Semester in the Classroom

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23 minutes ago

January 1, 2026

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – – Belmont University student-athletes recorded another remarkable semester in the classroom as 2025 fall semester grades were finalized last week.

For the 2025 fall semester, the departmental grade-point average (GPA) was 3.530, which marked the 56th consecutive semester that Belmont student-athletes have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher. In addition, it was the 12^th straight semester that the department GPA was over a 3.5.

“Our student-athletes continue to do an amazing job in the classroom,” said Scott Corley, Belmont’s Vice President/Director of Athletics. “That success is a credit to our student-athletes, coaches, and academic support staff who continue to maintain our department’s commitment to academic excellence.”

Highlights from the fall semester included:

64 percent of student-athletes achieved a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher

85 percent of student-athletes achieved a semester GPA of 3.0 of higher

15 percent of student-athletes earned a perfect 4.00 GPA

9 Bruin teams posted a team GPA of 3.5 or higher for the semester.

About Belmont University

Located two miles from downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Belmont University comprises nearly 9,000 students from every state and 33 countries. Nationally ranked and consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report for innovation in higher education, the University offers more than 115 areas of undergraduate study, 41 master’s programs and eight doctoral degrees. With a focus on whole-person formation and data-informed social innovation, Belmont is committed to forming diverse leaders of character equipped to solve the world’s complex problems. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.

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Great season for Italian women’s volleyball crowned with the world title – FIVB

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39 minutes ago

January 1, 2026

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After winning the women’s Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship earlier in the year, Italy crowned a great season with the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship title. Turkiye reached a World Championship final for the first time in history and settled for silver, while Brazil completed the podium with bronze. The year’s top event was held in Thailand from August 22 to September 7.

The first World Championship under the new biennial cycle and with an expanded 32-team format marked a breakthrough moment for the sport, with unprecedented audiences across volleyball’s major markets. Volleyball World’s OTT platform, VBTV, added further momentum with more than 7 million views across the championship. The Italy v Brazil semifinal attracted 350 thousand viewers, while the final drew 250 thousand, underscoring the global appetite for premium volleyball coverage beyond traditional broadcast. Social media popularity of the competition was expressed in 7.8 thousand posts and 145 million impressions, as well as 48 million YouTube views.

The 32 participating teams were drawn into eight round-robin pools of four for the first phase of the competition. Reigning Paris 2024 Olympic champions Italy cruised through Pool B undefeated, dropping a set only in their match against Belgium. They went on to sweep their eighthfinal against Germany and their quarterfinal against Poland in straight sets. In a hard-fought semifinal against Brazil, the Italians came back from a set down twice before emerging with a 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 28-30, 25-22, 15-13) victory. The gold medal showdown in Bangkok was also pushed to five sets. This time Turkiye came back from a set down twice to get closer than ever to the world title, but the trophy went to Italy after they prevailed in the tie-breaker, 3-2 (25-23, 13-25, 26-24, 19-25, 15-8). It was the second world crown for Italy, after their 2002 triumph. They also won silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.

“I still can’t believe it,” Italian super-star opposite Paola Egonu said after the gold medal match. “I’m really proud of the team and incredibly happy. This is a moment I’ll never forget. It’s probably the last time for some of our players, too, and my heart is full now.”

Turkiye also reached the final undefeated. They did not lose a single set in Pool E, shut out Slovenia in the eighthfinals and beat USA in four sets in the quarterfinals. Another four-set victory, a 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 25-18, 27-25) comeback in the semifinal against Japan, propelled Turkiye to their first ever World Championship final and secured them their first ever World Championship medal.

2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship silver medalists Turkiye

Brazil also won Pool C unbeaten, but only after coming back from two sets down to reverse-sweep their match against France. After a four-set eighthfinal victory over the Dominican Republic and a tight straight-set quarterfinal against France, they lost narrowly to Italy in the semis, but bounced back in the third-place playoff against Japan. A nail-biting 3-2 (25-12, 25-17, 19-25, 27-29, 18-16) win added the sixth medal to their World Championship collection. Brazil now have four silvers and two bronzes.

2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship bronze medalists Brazil

Japan, USA, the Netherlands, Poland, France, China, Serbia, Belgium, Germany, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Canada, Slovenia, Ukraine, Spain, Sweden, Kenya, Greece, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Czechia, Colombia, Bulgaria, Puerto Rico, Egypt, Slovakia, Vietnam and Cameroon, in that order, took the places from fourth to 32nd in the final standings.

Italy’s 27-year-old setter Alessia Orro was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the World Championship. She also headlined the Dream Team, which featured opposite Melissa Vargas (Turkiye), outside hitters Mayu Ishikawa (Japan) and Gabriela Guimaraes (Brazil), middle blockers Anna Danesi (Italy) and Eda Erdem (Turkiye), and libero Monica De Gennaro (Italy).

The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Dream Team

Click here for the official FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship website.

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Boys Track Small but Mighty at Recent Meet

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55 minutes ago

January 1, 2026

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Jasper Samuelson and Emmett Schumann on their way to first and third-place finishes in the freshman-sophomore 600-meter run.

A small crew represented Bonac boys indoor track at a crossover meet at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood on Dec. 21, but the track and field athletes who did compete turned in impressive performances.

Coach Kevin Barry said only half of the team was able to participate because of winter recess and illnesses. At least seven runners were out with the flu.

The highlight came from Eduardo Calle, who became the first Bonac long jumper to break 20 feet in 15 years, with a leap of 20 feet 1 inch — good for third place.

“This is his second winter track season,” Barry said. “He jumped 19 feet 1 inch last year and has been improving every meet so far. Twenty feet was the goal for him going into the season. Now he has new goals to set.”

Jasper Samuelson and Emmett Schumann finished first and third over all in the freshman-sophomore 600-meter run, with times of 1:31.89 and 1:36.41. Samuelson also won the 300-meter dash immediately afterward in 40.38 seconds. Samuelson is now the fastest sophomore in Suffolk County, while Schumann is the second fastest freshman, both in the 600-meter distance.

Sean Perez, a senior, finished the 1,000-meter run in 2:50 — good for fifth place.

Coach Barry called his athletes “very dedicated and hard-working,” and said they’ll keep at it over winter recess. “As a team, we are hoping to get some good work done during the holiday break and survive the flu that is going around to set us up for the big meets coming in January.”

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Blue Bell/TSWA Class 2A All-State Volleyball Team

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56 minutes ago

January 1, 2026

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Blue Bell/TSWA Class 2A All-State Volleyball Team

Published 8:44 am Thursday, January 1, 2026

LONGVIEW – Division II state champion Iola earned the top two honors in voting for the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 2A All-State Volleyball Team for the 2025 season.

Player of the Year honors went to Iola outside hitter Shaylee McKown, and Iola’s Jamie McDougald earned Coach of the Year honors.

Voting was conducted by TSWA members based on nominations from coaches and media members from around the state.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Jamie McDougald, Iola

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Shaylee McKown, Iola

FIRST TEAM

Middle Blockers: Kellen Weaver, Beckville; Camryn Powers, Crawford; Kennedy Slay, Tioga

Outside Hitters: Shaylee McKown, Iola; Keegan Kleiber, Mumford; Rayna Sadler, Leon

Setter: Riley Goodney, Iola

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Averi Bolgiano, Crawford

SECOND TEAM

Middle Blockers: Jacie Boles, North Hopkins; Sy Parker, Nocona; Channing Horne, Leon

Outside Hitters: Macey Hoelscher, North Hopkins; Cami Hoyle, Iola; Ava Johnson, Nocona

Setter: Landry Zapalac, Schulenburg

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Jenna Guentert, Schulanburg

THIRD TEAM

Middle Blockers: Katherine Lindemann, Garrison; Tatum Miller, Crawford; Camdyn Owen, Italy

Outside Hitters: Aubrie Kabisch, Nocona; Katelin Sullivan, Flatonia; Haylee Vacek, Schulenburg

Setter: Ainsley Anderson, Crawford

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Ava Bessette, Iola

HONORABLE MENTION

Middle Blockers: Darriyah Thomas, Omaha Pewitt; Ary’anna Mealing, Forsan; Reagan Dusek, Schulenburg; Christian Geary, Sterling City; Cadence Money, North Hopkins; Saylor Smith, Como-Pickton; Maud Poortvliet, Como-Pickton; Harlee Sevcik, Shiner; Kamiah Birmingham, Linden-Kildare; Whitney Arledge, Hamilton

Outside Hitters: Preslee Kittrell, Midred; Ella Connell, Crawford; Lily Bailey, Hawley; Kati Calvillo, Como-Pickton; Kaitlyn Jenkins, Rosebud-Lott; Camdyn Benton, Riesel; Greenli VanZandt, Schulanburg; Charlee Wolf, Windthorst; Anna Claire Cooper, Hamilton

Setters: Claytie Free, Leon; Eden Lewis, North Hopkins; Vada Kendall, North Hopkins; Mhia Garcia, Como-Pickton; Carli Tuttle, Beckville

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Kylynn Ramirez, Shiner; Karissa Fillingim, Windthorst; Avery Futrell, Leon; Tatum Thompson, North Hopkins; Journey Brumley, Como-Pickton; Kaidance Goldbolt, North Hopkins; Aubree Kleinhans, Nocona; Emery Parrott, Hamilton

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LA Tech Athletics’ Highlight Reel, So Far

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1 hour ago

January 1, 2026

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If the early chapters of the 2025–26 Louisiana Tech Athletics calendar have proven anything, it’s this: tradition still matters and history is still being made.

July: A New League, Familiar Rivals

Summers are usually quite tame in college athletics. Not this time at Louisiana Tech. The 2025-26 athletic season officially kicked off with a banger when on July 16 the University officially accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference, marking one of the most significant moments in the department’s modern history. The move promises renewed rivalries, improved geographic access for alumni, enhanced recruiting, and a better overall student-athlete experience.

August: Soccer Comes Full Circle

LA Tech soccer literally kicks off the athletic season, every season. More than two decades after the program’s inaugural season began on the rugby field across from the Lambright Center, the Bulldogs returned to their roots – this time at the beautiful Robert Mack Caruthers Field.

Three straight home matches at “The Mack” set the stage, but the third made history. On Aug. 21, LA Tech’s 2-0 shutout of in-state rival UL-Lafayette not only felt good because it was the Ragin’ Cajuns – it marked the 100th home win in program history.

September: Fairways, Firsts, and the National Stage

Early September brought a familiar sight at Squire Creek Country Club, where LA Tech golf once again opened its season on its beautiful home course. Hosting a tournament there has become tradition – this year marking the 22nd home event since 2003 – and the Bulldogs made it count.

LA Tech fired a three-round total of 854 (-10) at the Argent Financial Classic, tying the program record for lowest 54-hole score at the event.

Just weeks later on the tennis courts of Cary, North Carolina, Zoie Epps became the first Bulldog singles player to qualify for the ITA All-American Championships, one of the premier events in collegiate tennis. The junior did not just show up – she belonged, rattling off three straight pre-qualifying wins, including upsets over two seeded opponents, to advance to the qualifying draw and put LA Tech tennis firmly on the national radar.

Halloween Weekend: Legends, Homecoming, and Giving Back

Halloween weekend delivered a whirlwind of celebration and connection. The Bradshaw-Brooks Golf Tournament, presented by Origin Bank, returned after a seven-year hiatus, bringing together two of Louisiana Tech’s most iconic alumni – Terry Bradshaw and Kix Brooks – at Squire Creek Country Club.

Held ahead of the university’s 100th Homecoming Game, the event raised more than $100,000 for Louisiana Tech Athletics. It was a reminder that while facilities and conferences change, the bond between Tech and its alumni remains timeless.

That night, LA Tech Football delivered a frightfully dominant performance, steamrolling Sam Houston 55-14 behind a relentless rushing attack at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium. Donning brand new black jerseys, the Bulldogs totaled 646 yards of offense, piling up 425 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground while scoring multiple touchdowns in every quarter.

The busy weekend continued the next day on Nov. 1, starting off with LA Tech volleyball delivering its best offensive performance of the season, sweeping New Mexico State inside historic Scotty Robertson Memorial Gymnasium. Playing there for the first time since 2013, the Bulldogs snapped a 23-match losing streak to the Aggies while posting a season-best .376 hitting percentage. Some buildings just know how to deliver magic.

Then that night, LA Tech celebrated excellence across generations, enshrining its 21st Athletics Hall of Fame class. Eight individuals – spanning football, basketball, track and field, and athletic training – were honored for their lasting impact on the university. The ceremony served as a powerful reminder that today’s achievements stand on the shoulders of those who came before.

November: Breakthroughs on Every Front

November arrived fast – and packed plenty of punch.

A week later, the nationally ranked bowling team put together one of the most impressive weekends in program history. Finishing 11-2 with eight ranked wins, including victories over No. 1, No. 2 (twice), and No. 3, the Bulldogs closed the Bulldog Classic with a top five finish and plenty of statement wins.

On Nov. 21, success showed up in the classroom as well. LA Tech student-athletes recorded a department-record 3.353 fall GPA, with 251 Bulldogs and Lady Techsters earning spots on the AD Honor Roll.

Then came Nov. 22.

LA Tech unveiled the Richardson Family Legacy Plaza, complete with statues honoring legendary coaches Joe Aillet and Maxie Lambright. Situated on the southwest corner of Joe Aillet Stadium, the plaza serves as a lasting tribute to two figures who shaped not just a football program, but an identity.

Later on that day came the football home finale. Down 28-7 midway through the third quarter, LA Tech football authored one of the most memorable comebacks in Joe Aillet Stadium history. Fueled by fourth-down conversions, three straight interceptions, and a defense that simply refused to blink, the Bulldogs forced overtime against Liberty. On the first snap of OT, Andrew Burnette took a handoff 25 yards to the house, capping a 27-point rally and clinching bowl eligibility in front of a home crowd that will remember that roar for a long time.

The very next day, women’s basketball delivered its own statement, defeating Stephen F. Austin 93-66 in a matchup featuring two of the winningest programs in the sport’s history. For the Lady Techsters, it was another reminder that tradition still carries weight – and momentum.

December: Rivals, Milestones, and a Bowl Trophy to Top It Off

The calendar flipped to December, and LA Tech men’s basketball also delivered a milestone for its fans.

On Dec. 13, the Bulldogs rolled past UL-Lafayette 65-44 inside the Thomas Assembly Center, securing the 94th all-time win in the rivalry – and win No. 1,500 in program history. Stifling defense, timely shooting, and a packed home crowd turned a Saturday afternoon into another chapter worth remembering.

And then, football decided to cap off the calendar year with a bang in Shreveport.

Down 14-3, LA Tech’s defense slammed the door out of the locker room, forcing turnovers, winning the line of scrimmage, and completely flipping the tone of the afternoon. The offense followed suit, finding rhythm, stacking drives, and clawing back, outscoring the Chanticleers 20-0 the rest of the way to win 23-14 and walk off the Independence Stadium turf as Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl champions, closing the year with one final exclamation point – and a nice piece of hardware.

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