MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee has released its 2025 cross country schedule, featuring four regular season meets before hosting the Conference USA Championship in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Blue Raiders, who finished as runner-up on both the men’s and women’s sides at last year’s CUSA Championships, return with eyes on the title in a season that includes multiple previews of the championship course.

Middle Tennessee opens the season on Aug. 30 at the Memphis Twilight, marking the program’s ninth consecutive appearance at the meet.

On Sept. 12, the Blue Raiders will head to Huntsville, Ala., for the Southern Showcase — a key opportunity to race on the championship course.

The team will then compete in the Louisville Classic on Oct. 4, followed by a trip to College Station, Texas, for the Arturo Barrios Invitational on Oct. 17, hosted by Texas A&M.

The Conference USA Championship will be held on Nov. 1 in Huntsville, with MTSU serving as host.

NCAA Regionals will follow two weeks later, also in Huntsville, marking the Blue Raiders’ third visit to the course this season. The NCAA National Championship will take place in Columbia, Mo., hosted by the University of Missouri.

Keeping up with the Blue Raiders 
Keep up with Blue Raider cross country and track and field on Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider XC/Track & Field), Twitter (@MT_TrackField), and Instagram (@mt_trackfield). 
 

BSU women’s volleyball was picked to finish 13th in the 2025 NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, and sophomore middle blocker Ava Athman was tabbed as the Beavers’ Preseason Player to Watch for the year.

It will be Bemidji State’s first season under new head coach Erika Bute, who spent last year as an assistant for the Beavs.

BSU women’s track and field will have 10 freshmen as part of this year’s incoming class, and two of them are from area schools. One is Naila Mikhael, a cross country and long distance track athlete from Staples-Motley who finished 11th in the 1600 meter at the Section 6A meet.

The other is Clearbrook-Gonvick’s Allison LaVine, who is a multi-event athlete and throws disc. In the latter event, she’s the reigning back-to-back Class A state champ.

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Athletics, in partnership with WMT, Ticketmaster and LAVA, today announced the launch of a new mobile app designed to unify the fan experience across ticketing, content, loyalty, and in-venue engagement, all in one connected platform.

Cincinnati is the first college athletics program to integrate LAVA, the real-time engagement platform used by more than 50 professional sports teams, across the NFL, NBA, NHL and beyond. This technology allows the app to respond dynamically to fan behavior, delivering personalized offers, exclusive content, and engagement-based rewards.

With Ticketmaster integrated directly into the platform, fans can also manage tickets, enter venues with ease, and access benefits like 10 percent off concessions for season ticket members via LAVA. More information will be e-mailed to season ticket members on how to access discounts through LAVA in the coming days.

“This upgraded mobile app and our partnerships with Ticketmaster and LAVA, as well as Fan Compass, are all about putting our fans first,” said Anthony DiFino, Cincinnati’s Deputy AD for External/Chief Revenue Officer. “From easier ticketing and fan contests to personalized content and exclusive game-day perks like discounted concessions, we’re committed to delivering a best-in-class fan experience every time you engage with Bearcats Athletics.”

The launch follows the recent redesign of GoBearcats.com, which debuted July 1 in partnership with WMT. Together, the website and app represent a full-scale upgrade to Cincinnati’s digital ecosystem, providing fans with a modern, interactive platform to stay engaged every day of the year.

“This project was about delivering a fully connected fan experience,” said Andres Focil, CEO of WMT. “By integrating content, ticketing, and loyalty into one seamless experience, we’ve helped Cincinnati deliver on its vision for next-generation fan engagement. They are setting a new standard for what’s possible in college athletics.”

The Cincinnati Bearcats app is available now in the App Store and Google Play. Search “Cincinnati Bearcats” to download.

WIN PRIZES THROUGH FAN COMPASS
The app will also feature contests through Fan Compass, UC’s official technology partner, giving all UC fans the chance to engage with the Bearcats, gain rewards and win prizes. This platform offers interactive experiences—from trivia and sweepstakes to unique features like Predict-It, where fans can guess the outcome of key moments.

Fans can explore contests at GoBearcats.com/Fan-Contests.

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY
Led by All-Big 12 First Team Cincinnati natives Dontay Corleone and Joe Royer, the Cincinnati football team is poised for success under third-year head coach Scott Satterfield. The Bearcats will play seven games inside Historic Nippert Stadium. Season and single-game tickets are available for the fast-approaching season and can be purchased here.

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – Eagles fans can expect more than just high-level action on the court and pitch this fall. FGCU Athletics is excited to announce its full slate of themes and promotions for the 2025 volleyball, women’s soccer and men’s soccer seasons. From giveaways and grand prizes to themed game nights and concession specials, there is something in store for everyone in The Nest.

Marketing and Game Experience Updates

VOLLEYBALL – Alico Arena
Home Opener | BLUEOUT (Aug. 30 vs Missouri):

• Clear bags for the first 500 courtesy of Crown Roofing

Cinema Celebration and Camper Night (Aug. 30 vs JMU):

• Movie clips and movie trivia
• Post-game meet and greet for summer camp attendees wearing their camp shirts
• $2 popcorn and $3 beer for ALL FANS

Brunch and Blocks (Aug. 31 vs JMU):

• Specialty muffins at the concession stand
• Students who attend all matches this weekend are entered to win a MacBook

2024 Championship Celebration and Dirty Bird Appreciation (Sept. 30 vs Stetson):

• 2024 championship banners unveiled pre-match
• First 100 Dirty Birds receive Urban Buzz coupons

Mean Girls Night | PINKOUT (Oct. 3 vs West Georgia):

• Limited edition poster for the first 500 fans

Two weeks into the spring 2025 semester, it was time for me to host The Prospector Podcast for the first time ever. I had just been promoted to the role of multimedia editor and was still finding my footing, so walking into the studio I knew two things.  

First, what we were going to talk about. Second, that I’d have my friend from high school Cameron Mason, a contributor that semester, by my side as a co-host, but what I didn’t know is that an unplanned member would be joining us on that first episode.

Before going into the studio that day in early February, I was running down the plans with Cameron, who just so happened to be sitting next to Kristian Hernandez. Kristian, also a contributor at the time, happily offered to help us film the podcast. We didn’t really need help with camera work, after all the studio we used already had one, so I did the next best thing I could to include him. I asked if he wanted to co-host.

Despite it being last minute, Kristian said yes. Since that day he’s co-hosted 11 podcasts episodes with me and has served as the best ying to my yang that I can ask for. Whether it was him swiftly shooting down my request to be friends on episode six of season 12, helping me and Cameron properly tie our 10 anniversary balloons, or allowing me to compare him to a Minecraft Enderman after saying “because no one looks me in the eye,” in episode seven of season 12.

Most importantly, Kristian has been my support system for the podcast. No matter the day, or time, he’s always there, ready to work and help make the podcast as best as it can be by pitching topics or skit ideas, such as trying matcha in episode three of The Summer Spin-off.

I attribute Kristian and his attitude for giving The Prospector Podcast a feel-good view around the office. His willingness to participate spread like wildfire, as staff members and editors gained those emotions and always hopped on the podcast with a smile.

The podcast, however, is only one part of my job; the second part consists of filming, reporting, scripting and editing video packages. It is rigorous but pays off once the video is finished. I will say, the reason why I believe the video packages which can be viewed on YouTube, are of the quality that they are, is because of the people around me.

My first time filming, reporting and editing a video independently at the collegiate level was in January of this year, but I was lucky not to be alone. By my side was Ximena Cordero, former audience engagement editor and current web and copy editor. Ximena helped me with my vision for said video, pitching locations for my standup and ran around campus with me to get interviews. She also made sure my framing was right and that the audio was working. To this day, I know that every time I set off to make a video, I can always count on her to help.

I can say the same for the rest of the staff as well. When I look back to our Valentines Day video released last Spring, all I’m reminded of is getting to run around with Kristian and our photo editor Iziah Moreno, while collectively teaching former staff reporter Leah Austin on interviewing and shooting video. Those journeys also make for great conversations and laughs, which just make the work experience feel as if I’m out with friends.

As I scroll through previous podcast episodes and video packages while writing this story, I smile at the memory of our current editor-and-chief Evelyn Palma, sitting criss-cross at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Undergraduate Learning Center, focused on an online class session, with a pizza box sitting by her. She had jokingly suggested we do a mukbang for our segment on Cinemark’s Gamescape. Cameron, Kristian and I wanted to take her up on the idea and she actually brought us pizza to eat on episode four of season 12.

That episode is possibly the most fun I’ve had filming a podcast. We were in the middle of a dust storm, and the week was just about to end. I really can’t think of any better way to end a day than to eat pizza with some of your best friends after going through all the madness the world can offer you in a single day.

I believe that attitude of childlike wonder, a willingness to make creative thoughts into reality and a want to have fun is what molds this multimedia section and makes our video content at The Prospector standout in the collegiate student media world. 

Without a doubt, if you click any video on this section, or on YouTube, you are bound to feel the amount of heart and care that goes into every piece of content, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a representation of it.

Sebastian Perez-Navarro is the multimedia editor for The Prospector and can be reached at [email protected] or Instagram and X @sebastianpn8, and on LinkedIn @sebastianperez-navarro.