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Woodshop Teacher Mark Leeper Reflects on His Time at M-A

Mark Leeper’s classes have long served as an outlet for students to express their creativity, connect with peers, discover hidden passions, and simply wind down. “I hope I’ve been able to bring some levity and some sense of camaraderie,” he said. Leeper will retire at the end of this school year, concluding a nearly 40-year […]

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Mark Leeper’s classes have long served as an outlet for students to express their creativity, connect with peers, discover hidden passions, and simply wind down. “I hope I’ve been able to bring some levity and some sense of camaraderie,” he said. Leeper will retire at the end of this school year, concluding a nearly 40-year career. He has been at M-A since 1987 and currently teaches Woodworking and Architectural Design, in addition to serving as the Career Technical Education Department Chair.

Leeper was inspired by his own teachers to enter education. “I was very lucky to have really good teachers all through school, but especially in high school. I thought if I could do that for somebody else, that would be great,” he said. 

He attended the now-inoperative San Carlos High School, which was in the same district as M-A, and competed against the school in swim meets, water polo games, and wrestling matches. “A lot of those teachers had come to M-A when San Carlos closed, and so I was teaching with my former teachers. That was pretty cool,” he said.

Leeper’s path to M-A was all about timing. While earning his teaching credential at Stanford with the intention of becoming a math teacher, he held a student teaching position at M-A. When the previous shop teacher left right before the start of the school year, Leeper seized the opportunity—and he’s been at the school ever since. “I went and applied for the job, and I got it two or three days before school started. I had never taught a shop class before,” he said. “It ended up that I was taking classes at night and teaching during the day to try to figure out what I was going to do. Luckily, I had some people at the other schools who helped me out.” 

Allegra Hoddie / M-A Chronicle The Woodshop classroom.

“The principal we had, Joyce Rosenstiel, was really helpful, very supportive, and understood that it was rough, so she didn’t put any pressure on me. She just wanted me to learn how to do the job, which was great,” he added.

Leeper’s classes have allowed students to express their creativity through hands-on projects. Before settling into Architecture and Woodshop, he also taught Mechanical Drawing, Metal Shop, and Study Hall. “Woodshop can be inspiring, especially when people come up with ideas and can execute them better than I feel like I could. In Architecture, we see a lot of design and creativity. That’s coming from the students. It’s not necessarily what I teach, it’s what they come up with, and they can develop really good ideas,” he said.

Since the Industrial Arts Department consisted of just one class at a time, Leeper began his M-A career as a Department Head. Over a decade ago, he took on a larger role as the Department Head of Career Technical Education (CTE) when those courses were consolidated under one umbrella. In his position, Leeper managed budgets and procedures for a wide range of classes—from Digital Filmmaking to his own Architecture course. “Our electives are not quite as culturally valued as the academic courses and college prep courses, and that makes it a little difficult. If I had to do it again, I probably would try to fight more for some kind of equal footing,” he said.

One of Leeper’s longstanding goals has been to motivate more students to enroll in CTE classes, which he believes offer value beyond what a traditional classroom environment can provide. “You make things with your hands using your brain altogether, and you end up with a valuable product that you can take home and use. It’s not just intellectual stimulation or development. I also think that hands-on learning has been pushed to the side more because colleges don’t require it,” he said.

Since students are able to take Architecture or Woodshop in successive years with rising complexity, Leeper has often been able to watch them grow over time. “I’ve had some similar situations with students whom I’ve had three and four and five classes with. It’s amazing,” he said. 

Allegra Hoddie / M-A Chronicle A shirt gifted by former students.

“His sixth period class has been the highlight of my day for three years now, and the community he has built in the architecture class is unmatched to anywhere else on campus,” senior Sofia Basso said.

Leeper also taught Engineering on and off for nearly 10 years. “Engineering was always fun because we’d have these challenges, and people would rise to them. I still have memories of paper towers and catapults that would throw these little balls for what seems like a mile,” he said.

Leeper cherishes M-A’s tight-knit community and the diversity within it. “I really think the staff has been generally good over the years, really a great group of people to work with. The kids are great, but the adults are more consistent,” he said. “Because of what I teach, I’ve been fortunate enough to have a spectrum of all the different kinds of people who go to school here.” 

Leeper has watched the school change—both physically, in the construction of new buildings, and culturally, in the mounting pressure placed on students, which he has seen his classes become an outlet for escaping. “I feel like the pressure on students has increased, which is unfortunate, but when they find those outlets, that makes it even more of a relief. It’s a double-edged sword,” he said.

In the late ’90s, Leeper assisted students in building gravity cars for entry in a charity racing competition run by venture capitalists, titled the Sand Hill Challenge. “It was a really goofy, fun adventure,” he said. “That might be the original impetus of any kind of robotics thing. Then the robotics team started a couple years after that.”

He was the FRC Team 766 Robotics team’s advisor at their inception, helping to start the program. He stepped down to prioritize his personal life, but the team still keeps materials and meets in his classroom. “Because it started here, I’ve always shared the space,” he said. Since then, the team has expanded heavily and recently competed in the world championships.

Having taught for so long, Leeper enjoys seeing the impact his class has on former students. “I’ve been fortunate enough to hear what happens to [former students] after, and often you don’t get to see the impact after high school. But sometimes you do, and they’ll tell you there’s a direct connection, and that’s really gratifying,” he said.  

Allegra Hoddie / M-A Chronicle Leeper in his Woodshop classroom.

“Mr. Leeper is the type of teacher who goes multiple steps above and beyond for his students. If it wasn’t for Mr. Leeper, I would not be going to college for architecture, and I wouldn’t have the love for the trade like I do,” Basso said. 

“There is an emphasis on patience, intention, and planning which I feel have overall translated into my out of school life,” senior Bennett Zadig said.

Leeper enjoyed the solitude of the pandemic and decided to retire from teaching on his own terms. “I want to make sure that I have time to do things for myself. I wanted to make sure that I went out with something left to give, instead of running out of gas,” he said. 

“My longevity for the time I’ve been here is an indication of what it’s meant to me. If it hadn’t worked out, I would’ve left,” Leeper said.

He looks forward to getting a full night’s rest, fulfilling personal projects, going on bike rides, traveling, seeing friends, and discovering new things. “I started feeling like I’d rather learn than teach,” he said.

With his final year closing out, Leeper’s wish for the future is simple: for the program he has built for decades to continue, and for students to continue bringing their lessons into the world. “That would be the most important thing, and then it’s just up to the students who have been here to carry on the legacy outside, and then the students who come to develop their own. I’m hoping that somebody will come in and embrace the program the way I did, and carry on from here,” he concluded.



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UND track and field slated to reload in offseason with high-level returners, incoming freshmen – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS — The UND track and field team will be losing arguably the best thrower in school history this offseason: Kenna Curry. Curry was named the Summit League Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, plastering her name throughout the Fighting Hawks’ records books in her final season. She holds the school record in the […]

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GRAND FORKS — The UND track and field team will be losing arguably the best thrower in school history this offseason: Kenna Curry.

Curry was named the Summit League Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, plastering her name throughout the Fighting Hawks’ records books in her final season. She holds the school record in the indoor shot put (52-0), the indoor 20-pound weight throw (75-0.5), the outdoor shot put (53-8.25) and the outdoor hammer throw (223-7).

Typically, losing an elite athlete like Curry might be a blow to the overall talent pool of a team. But with a collection of top-end talent returning and a strong incoming class, Jim Vahrenkamp believes he’ll enter his fifth season as head coach with a team that’s just as gifted, if not more, than this year’s squad.

“We should have more talent on our team this coming year than we have ever had,” Vahrenkamp said. “Looking at who comes in, how fast their PRs are, what they’ve done.”

The Summit League Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, Jadyn Keeler, headlines the list of returning athletes. Like Curry, she boasts several school records, including the indoor mile run (4:44.03), the indoor 3,000-meter race (9:17.58), the indoor 5,000 (15:28.29), the outdoor 1,500 (4:20.03), the outdoor 5,000 (15:33.59) and the outdoor 10,000 (32:06.70).

“Jadyn and Kenna are consummate competitors,” Vahrenkamp said. “So much of what we do is predicated on buy-in, and those two have bought in and have done an incredible job.”

Grand Forks native Ethan Thomas will be a strong returner on the men’s side. He put together a stellar freshman campaign, capping it off with a second-place finish in the shot put at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships (68-7.75).

Thomas and Keeler’s continued progression, as well as the development of the team as a whole, play a large role in Vahrenkamp’s optimism about the coming season.

“We are maturing as a team,” Vahrenkamp said. “There are kids on the team that are doing stuff as good or better than some of the (athletes) that left as seniors. Everybody’s progressing.”

Some of the newcomers also seem poised to make a splash in their first season at UND. Gabriella Ruggeri, who’s from Toronto, has a personal record of 2:09.53 in the 800-meter dash. Mya Phippen, another incoming recruit from Canada, holds a PR of 2:11.46 in the 800.

For context, UND’s Brooklyn Brouse notched a time of 2:10.65 for first place at this year’s Summit League Indoor Championships.

Till Woldrich, who’ll make the trek from Dresden, Germany, has a personal record of 49.28 in the 400-meter dash and 1:49.76 in the 800. The best 400 time at the Summit League Indoor Championships was 47.23, while the best 800 time was 1:50.82.

Shewaye Johnson, a transfer from Texas A&M, finished 10th in the 10,000 at the 2025 SEC Outdoor Championships.

The group of incoming athletes hails from different provinces, states and even countries, but Vahrenkamp believes they all fit the program’s desired mentality,

“We want people who want what we have, who we don’t have to beg and convince and cajole to get here,” Vahrenkamp said. “All those people that are coming in are people that are excited about it. They’re not trepidatious.”

In Vahrenkamp’s mind, athletes like Curry, Keeler, Thomas and a bevy of others who’ve competed for the Hawks in recent years have played an essential role in making this coming crop of recruits possible.

“Everything we do is on the backs of the people that came before us,” Vahrenkamp said. “We are able to recruit the talent that we are recruiting because the people before them bought into the system and bought into what coaches have been able to do.”





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Troy University

TROY, Ala. – The Troy track & field programs earned seven nods to the CSC Academic All-District Team with Jack Anderson and Keith Warner on the men’s side and Kady Schwietz, Abby Grosinske, Whitney Clark, Jordan Bailey and Alejandra Gutierrez Fuente for the women.   Anderson dominated the charts with a 4.0 cumulative GPA as […]

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TROY, Ala. – The Troy track & field programs earned seven nods to the CSC Academic All-District Team with Jack Anderson and Keith Warner on the men’s side and Kady Schwietz, Abby Grosinske, Whitney Clark, Jordan Bailey and Alejandra Gutierrez Fuente for the women.
 
Anderson dominated the charts with a 4.0 cumulative GPA as a strategic communications major while also competing in the high jump with three podium finishes at the Southern Miss Invitational, South Alabama Invitational and Doc Anderson Invitational. He ranked 29th in the east region and 209th nationally with his 2.03m mark.
 
Meanwhile, Warner majored in economics (financial economics) with another 4.0 GPA. He had the top Trojan performance in the 5000m, earning a personal record of 14:32.09 in the Penn Relays. Warner also ranked 35th in the east and 406th nationally in the 10,000m (30:50.71) with his ninth-place performance at the SBC Outdoor Championships.
 
Ranked eighth in the east and 99th nationally for the heptathlon, Schwietz accumulated 12 first-place finishes throughout 2024-25. Her ranked performance came in the Doc Anderson Invitational with 5,050 points. The program record holder for the pentathlon (3,809) majored in exercise science (pre-health) for a 3.91 GPA.
 
The Troy representative for the SBC Postgraduate Scholarship, Grosinske, majored in exercise science (pre-health) with a 3.96 GPA. She accumulated five podium finishes in the shot put and hammer throw events. Grosinske ended as the 35th-ranked shot put thrower in the east and 353rd nationally with a 13.22m throw in the USF Alumni Invitational for 19th.
 
Clark finishes the spring with a 3.66 GPA as a biology / biomedical sciences major, while being the 35th-ranked javelin thrower in the east and 326th in the nation. Her 35th-ranked throw came at the USF Alumni Invitational with a 38.37m mark. She held the top six javelin throws by a Trojan, with her top finish of fourth coming at the South Alabama Invitational (35.40m).
 
A 5-10 jumper, Bailey majored in global business–marketing with a 3.63 GPA. She hit the top triple jump mark by a Trojan in the indoor season at 11.94m in the SBC Championships for 10th. Her 12.24m mark placed her 31st in the east (189th nationally), claiming a personal record at the Doc Anderson Invitational.
 
With a first-place finish in the Doc Anderson Invitational, Gutierrez Fuente claimed the top mark in the triple jump event of 12.28m to rank 27th in the east and 177th nationally. She also hit a personal record at the Doc Anderson Invitational for the long jump at 5.73m for silver. A member of the Class of 2025, she graduated with a 3.95 GPA in mathematics.
 
 
 



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Iowa Cubs outfielder Owen Caissie one of the organization's most powerful hitters

AI-assisted summaryChicago Cubs prospect Owen Caissie is the organization’s top-ranked prospect due to his impressive power.Caissie’s dedication to training and hard work from a young age has contributed to his success.The 22-year-old’s power has drawn attention and trade rumors, but he remains focused on his game.A 17-year-old Owen Caissie dug into the batter’s box for […]

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Iowa Cubs outfielder Owen Caissie one of the organization's most powerful hitters


AI-assisted summaryChicago Cubs prospect Owen Caissie is the organization’s top-ranked prospect due to his impressive power.Caissie’s dedication to training and hard work from a young age has contributed to his success.The 22-year-old’s power has drawn attention and trade rumors, but he remains focused on his game.A 17-year-old Owen Caissie dug into the batter’s box for the Canadian Junior National team late in an exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla., on March 12, 2020, with a big opportunity. Caissie, who was hitless on the day, jumped on an early offering from veteran minor league pitcher Connor Overton and crushed it.

“He got it good,” said Canada manager Greg Hamilton.

Caissie got it really good. The left-handed hitting slugger launched the fastball to deep centerfield. The ball cleared the fence and into the batter’s eye of the park for a home run that Hamilton estimates traveled well over 400 feet.

“It was an eye-opener for a lot of people,” Hamilton said.

Caissie has possessed that type of power for a long time. It’s a big reason the San Diego Padres drafted him later that year and why the Chicago Cubs eventually acquired him in a trade. That power is why the 22-year-old is now ranked as the top prospect in Chicago’s organization, according to MLB Pipeline.

“It’s not that surprising that he’s doing well,” Hamilton said.

Iowa Cubs' Owen Caissie throws from the outfield during a game at Principal Park on June 14, 2025, in Des Moines.

Hard work leads to a lot of power for Caissie

Caissie has been working on his power for years. When he was a little kid, he hit off a tee that his dad, Jason Caissie, set up in the family’s garage. Owen Caissie watched highlights of Major League Baseball stars, including Barry Bonds and Aaron Judge. He studied their techniques and stances, trying to figure out where they got their power from.

He implemented it into his swing and started recording his hacks so he could evaluate them. When Caissie was just 10, he began getting lessons with coaches from the Fieldhouse Pirates, an elite baseball club in Canada. Jimmy Richardson, the director of baseball operations for the club, could tell Caissie had a big bat right away.“He had an incredible ability to get the barrel to the ball, even at that age,” Richardson said.Some of that came from a natural ability. But the bulk of it came from the work Caissie was willing to put in. Even back then, Caissie was willing to work as hard as possible to become a star player. He became a regular at the Pirates’ indoor facility, coming in seven days a week by the time he was just 12.The work produced big-time results with Caissie clobbering baseballs further than any of the other kids his age. Jason Caissie remembers his son belting one during a game that landed about 60 feet beyond the fence. He estimates it traveled 370 feet. Owen Caissie was just 14 at the time.Iowa Cubs' Owen Caissie (17) swings at the ball on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Principal Park in Des Moines.The success only made Caissie work harder. He spent most of his days training at the facility. After school, he’d ride his bike over and hit for a few hours. Caissie then got a break when his parents picked him up for dinner. Later in the evening, he returned for practice for several more hours with the Pirates.Even after those practices ended, Caissie stuck around, sometimes staying as late as midnight to get as many extra swings in as he could. He stayed so late that he sometimes locked the facility for the night. That became the norm throughout high school.”I didn’t party,” Caissie said. “I didn’t go to a single high school party. I was just in the cage all the time with a bunch of buddies and that’s all we did, really. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”Caissie’s relentless work ethic paid off. By the time he turned 16, he was popping on the radar of college coaches. The Burlington, Ontario, native traveled to the United States with his teammates from the Pirates to compete in Prep Baseball Report tournaments.During a dominating performance at one of the tournaments, Caissie earned a scholarship offer from Kentucky. Caissie committed, but it didn’t last. As he got older, his swing got better and his body got bigger. He grew into his frame, shot up several inches and added 25 pounds one season.The power hitter put his talents on display during the Tournament 12 showcase at Toronto’s Rogers Centre in 2019. Caissie won the event, hitting balls into the second deck of the Blue Jays’ stadium, Hamilton said.When Caissie reopened his recruitment, some of the top college programs from across the United States started reaching out to him. He eventually committed to Michigan, but Caissie’s stock continued to soar throughout high school. The peak may have come during the exhibition game against the Blue Jays.He was hitless early in the game. Then he belted the home run against Overton, a long-time minor-league pitcher who eventually went on to pitch in the big leagues. Hamilton believes Caissie showed the ability to not only hit pro pitching, but do it at a high level with a wood bat. He believes that it likely helped Caissie’s draft stock.Caissie agrees.”I think it really helped my career,” Caissie said. “Jumpstart it for sure.”The Padres selected Caissie in the second round of the MLB Draft three months later. But the hard work Caissie was putting in didn’t stop after making it to professional baseball.Iowa Cubs' Owen Caissie (17) swings at the ball during a game against the Omaha Storm Chasers on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Principal Park in Des Moines.Caissie gets traded and continues to deal with trade talkCaissie was back in Canada training at the Fieldhouse Pirates facility in December of 2020 when his phone rang. It was his agent letting him know he may be traded. Caissie took a few minutes to digest the information. Then he did what he usually does. He went back to work.”I just got drafted, so I didn’t really have any real connections to the Padres,” Caissie said. “I hadn’t really established a super deep connection with them. So, it was kind of crazy.”Caissie was part of a deal that sent Zach Davies, Reginald Preciado, Yeison Santana and Ismael Mena to the Cubs for star Yu Darvish and Victor Caratini. The Cubs quickly got a look at the power that Caissie had. During his first season of professional baseball, he hit .302 with 11 doubles and seven homers in 52 games across two levels.The following season, Caissie helped High-A South Bend to a championship. During one game, he smashed a home run that went out of the stadium and over a workout barn. The ball bounced past two buses in the parking lot and was brought back to the dugout, where it was given to Caissie’s dad.”He absolutely crushed it,” Jason Caissie said.That was just a sign of things to come for Caissie, who hit .289 with a .917 OPS and 22 homers for Double-A Tennessee in 2023. He made his Triple-A debut in 2024 and became one of the best hitters in the Cubs organization, hitting .278 with 29 doubles and 19 homers.The success earned Caissie an invite to play in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game, a contest that features some of the best prospects in Minor League Baseball. An injury kept Caissie from playing in it, but it didn’t slow him down. After the season, Caissie was placed on the 40-man roster by the Cubs.While Caissie possesses a strong arm, plays some good defense and can run the bases well, it’s his power that makes him so valuable. Cubs officials have said over the years that Caissie has boasted not only some of the best exit velocity numbers in baseball.”From a bat speed perspective and the way he squares a ball up, I mean, he’s 107, 108 consistently,” said Iowa manager Marty Pevey.Caissie has continued doing it. Despite battling injuries and a sickness recently, Caissie has put together another strong season in Triple-A. During his first 65 games with Iowa this season, Caissie tallied a .876 OPS with 18 doubles and 12 home runs.The recent run of success has moved Caissie into the top spot in the organization’s prospect rankings and he was recently invited back to the All-Star Futures Game. With how well he’s performed, Caissie has constantly been at the center of trade rumors the last two seasons.

This season is no different, especially with the Cubs searching for help down the stretch. Caissie is one of the team’s top minor league commodities and could be on the move again before the trade deadline. He’s trying to tune all the talk out and said that last year, he even got rid of his Twitter account.

“I really just try not to look at it and just play baseball because you can try and play GM, but that doesn’t work,” Caissie said. “It never works. You can think what you want to think, but nothing is really set and final until it actually happens or it doesn’t. So, I really just try to play ball and just come to the park every day and have a good attitude.”

That positive approach has been a part of Caissie’s game for a while. Richardson said that following Caissie’s 2023 season, the slugger returned to Canada and traveled with the Pirates for their annual college fall trip. After enduring a full season in the minors, Caissie hopped on a bus with the young players and coaches for about two weeks while they traveled around playing games. The bus rides would sometimes be as long as 12 hours.

Caissie, wanting to help mentor a new wave of Canadian players, gave them advice, picked up meal tabs and even bought a phone battery when one of their phones died. The team would spend as many as 10 hours a day at the field. Caissie voluntarily joined in.

“He’s just a first-class human being,” Richardson said. “He’ll give the shirt off his back if he thought it was going to help somebody.”

Caissie is also an elite worker. Which is why it may be only a matter of time before he finally reaches the big leagues.

“He’s the hardest working person I’ve ever seen in my life at anything,” Richardson said. “I’ve been doing this for 15 years and there is no one that comes close to matching his work ethic that has ever come through our program. We’ve got pro guys from other organizations that come in, in the offseason as well and he’s just wired different than 99% of the population.”

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468

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Jutras Selected to Winter Academic All-MAC Team

Story Links ANNVILLE, Pa. – Stevens Institute of Technology junior Danny Jutras was named Academic All-MAC by the Middle Atlantic Conference office Wednesday, following another outstanding indoor track and field season. The Academic All-MAC teams are based off semester grade-point averages (GPA) for the semester of their championship season. The minimum GPA […]

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ANNVILLE, Pa. – Stevens Institute of Technology junior Danny Jutras was named Academic All-MAC by the Middle Atlantic Conference office Wednesday, following another outstanding indoor track and field season.

The Academic All-MAC teams are based off semester grade-point averages (GPA) for the semester of their championship season. The minimum GPA required is a 3.20, and the student-athlete must remain an eligible member of the team through the conclusion of the season. Voting for this award is based on 50% academic excellence and 50% athletic prowess.

Jutras followed up a spectacular sophomore campaign in 2023-24 (All-MAC First Team in Distance Medley Relay, All-MAC Second Team in 4×800) with another 2x All-MAC Indoor season (800 Meter Third Team, 4×800 Meter Second Team).

Additionally, he etched his name in program lore, breaking the school record in the 800, running 1:54.37 at the Boston University Valentine Invitational on February 14, breaking Tom Selvaggi’s mark that stood for just under eight years.

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Diogo Jota Net Worth 2025

Diogo Jota Net Worth 2025: The Sudden Loss of a Football and Esports Star. What was Diogo Jota’s net worth at the time of his death? On July 3, 2025, the world was stunned and deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Diogo Jota, who died tragically in a car crash alongside his brother. At […]

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Diogo Jota Net Worth 2025

Diogo Jota Net Worth 2025: The Sudden Loss of a Football and Esports Star.

What was Diogo Jota’s net worth at the time of his death?

On July 3, 2025, the world was stunned and deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Diogo Jota, who died tragically in a car crash alongside his brother. At just 26 years old, Jota’s promising life and career were cut heartbreakingly short. At the time of his death, his celebrity net worth was estimated at $18 million.

Known primarily for his role as a forward for Liverpool FC, Jota had also established a strong presence in the esports world. His unique blend of sporting excellence and entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond the pitch. He collaborated on charity and promotional projects with high-profile artists like Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran, illustrating his wide-reaching impact.

Hints of his lesser-known passion for competitive gaming and investments in esports have sparked widespread interest, revealing a multi-faceted career that extended far beyond football.

Next section: How Diogo Jota Built His Fortune

Diogo Jota wearing Liverpool’s black away kit, skillfully controlling the ball during a match.

Diogo Jota demonstrates precise ball control in Liverpool’s sleek black away kit, showcasing his agility and technique on the pitch.

The Financial Rise of Diogo Jota: Earnings and Endorsements

How Did Jota Make His Money?

Diogo Jota’s wealth was largely built through his football career, complemented by endorsements and smart business ventures.

  • His contract with Liverpool FC, signed in 2020 and renewed in 2023, reportedly paid him a base salary of around $7 million per year, with performance bonuses adding roughly $2 million annually. Over five years, these earnings combined to approximately $45 million.

  • The transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Liverpool in 2020 was valued at roughly $45 million, reflecting his growing market value and talent.

  • Endorsement deals with brands like Nike and EA Sports brought in an estimated $1.5 million per year, including campaigns linked to his esports interests.

  • His esports investments and competitive play contributed an estimated $3 million to his portfolio.

These varied income streams showcased Jota’s business savvy and ability to diversify beyond traditional athlete earnings.

Next section: Lifestyle and Luxuries: What Diogo Jota Did with His Wealth

Diogo Jota using his skill to dribble past two opposing players during a Liverpool match.

Diogo Jota displays exceptional dribbling skills as he deftly beats two defenders, highlighting his agility and flair for taking on challenges.

Lifestyle and Luxuries: Where Did Jota Spend His Wealth?

Despite his youth, Diogo Jota balanced an enviable lifestyle with thoughtful investments.

Real Estate Holdings

Jota owned a luxurious villa in Lisbon, purchased in 2022 for approximately $3 million. The home featured amenities tailored to his passions, including a private gym and a dedicated gaming room. He also owned a townhouse near Liverpool’s city center, acquired in 2021 for around $1.5 million, serving as his residence during the football season.

Luxury Vehicles and Collectibles

His car collection, though modest, reflected his taste for performance and style. It included a Porsche 911 Turbo S valued at about $210,000 and a customized Range Rover Sport worth approximately $120,000. Additionally, Jota collected high-end gaming equipment and memorabilia connected to his esports career.

Net Worth Summary

Asset Type Estimated Value
Football Earnings (Salary & Bonuses, net after taxes) $18 million
Endorsements $4.5 million
Esports Investments $3 million
Real Estate $4.5 million
Vehicles & Collectibles $0.5 million
Estimated Total Net Worth (2025) $18 million

Next section: Diogo Jota: Still In The News

Diogo Jota: The Latest News

In the weeks before his tragic passing, Diogo Jota experienced some of the most joyous moments of his life. He recently celebrated his wedding, surrounded by close family and friends, marking a personal milestone that revealed a side of him away from the public eye.

Just days prior to his death, Liverpool FC secured the Premier League title for the 2024-2025 season. Jota’s crucial goals and consistent performances were instrumental in this victory. Fans and teammates continue to honor his contributions as they process the loss of such a vital figure in the team.

These recent events now carry a bittersweet weight, reminding many of a life full of promise, achievement, and love that ended far too soon.

Next section: The Life and Legacy of Diogo Jota

Diogo Jota at his wedding, smiling alongside his wife, celebrating a joyful family moment.

Diogo Jota shares a heartfelt moment with his wife at his wedding, capturing the happiness of a cherished family occasion.

The Life and Legacy of Diogo Jota

Early Life

Born Diogo José Teixeira da Silva in Porto, Portugal, in December 1996, Jota grew up in a football-loving family. Early on, his father introduced him not only to the beautiful game but also to video gaming, laying the foundation for his dual passions. He began his youth career with local clubs before joining Paços de Ferreira’s academy at 16.

Career Journey

Jota’s professional debut came in 2015 with Paços de Ferreira, where he quickly demonstrated his skill. After spells with Atlético Madrid B and FC Porto, he gained wider recognition at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018, impressing in the Premier League. His speed, technical ability, and clinical finishing led to his transfer to Liverpool in 2020, where he became a key attacker and fan favorite.

Beyond football, Jota was a pioneer in bridging sports and gaming. He founded LUNA Esports, a Portuguese esports organization competing in titles such as FIFA, Dota 2, and Rocket League, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit.

Personal Life

Known for his humility and close family bonds, Jota kept much of his private life away from the media spotlight. He valued his relationships deeply and was committed to giving back through philanthropic efforts focused on youth sports and gaming.

Next section: The Tragic End: What We Know About Diogo Jota’s Death

Next section: A Surprising Dual Career in Esports

Fascinating Factoid: The Gamer Forward

An interesting factoid about Diogo Jota, particularly relevant for a net worth article, is that beyond his elite football career, he was a highly accomplished and deeply invested professional esports player and team owner. Jota was renowned for his exceptional skill in FIFA (now EA Sports FC), frequently competing at a high level and even winning tournaments. Furthermore, he owned and was heavily involved in LUNA Esports (formerly Diogo Jota Esports), a Portuguese esports organization that competes in various titles like Dota 2, Rocket League, and EA Sports FC.

This passionate pursuit of competitive gaming, which included significant personal investment and ownership in the rapidly growing esports industry, showcased a savvy business mind and a diversified interest that contributed to his overall financial portfolio.

The Tragic End: What We Know About Diogo Jota’s Death

On July 3, 2025, Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car accident near Porto, Portugal. Authorities continue to investigate the details, but initial reports indicate the crash occurred late at night in adverse weather conditions.

The sudden loss has left a profound impact on the football and esports communities worldwide. Liverpool FC released a statement expressing their deep sorrow and support for Jota’s family during this difficult time. Fans and peers continue to mourn the passing of a young athlete whose potential was just beginning to be fully realized.

Liverpool FC released the following statement after his tragic death:

“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.

The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.

Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.

We will continue to provide them with our full support.”

Next section: People Also Ask

Diogo Jota standing with Portugal teammates in their national kits before a football match.

Diogo Jota lines up alongside his Portugal teammates, united and focused before kickoff in an international match.

People Also Ask

How did Diogo Jota die?

Diogo Jota tragically died in a car crash on July 3, 2025, alongside his brother near Porto, Portugal.

What will happen to his fortune?

His fortune will be managed by his family and estate executors, with some funds potentially allocated to charitable causes according to his wishes.

What happens to his Liverpool contract now he has died?

Liverpool FC has confirmed that his contract is now void but will honor his memory through support for his family.

How many goals has Jota scored for Liverpool?

Diogo Jota scored 65 goals in competitive matches for Liverpool across all competitions.

Though his life ended far too soon, Diogo Jota leaves behind a remarkable legacy both on the football pitch and in the esports arena. His estimated $18 million celebrity net worth in 2025 tells only part of the story of a young man whose ambition, talent, and passion inspired many and broke barriers.

Diogo Jota wearing a Liverpool coat, preparing for a match with focused determination.

Diogo Jota dons a Liverpool coat before the game, ready to give his all on the pitch for the Reds.

Explore More Sporting Net Worth Articles:

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Net Worth In 2025: A Deep Dive Into His Billion Dollar Fortune.

Michael Jordan’s Net Worth 2025: His Crazy Fortune Explored.

Tom Brady Net Worth: The $300 Million Empire.

Disclaimer: How We Estimate Net Worth 

Our net worth figures are estimates based on publicly available information, including real estate records, reported earnings, public filings, industry data, and expert analysis. Because private financial details are rarely disclosed, these numbers reflect approximations rather than precise amounts. We regularly update our estimates to incorporate new information and ensure ongoing accuracy.

Curious to learn more about the legends who shaped the sporting landscape? Explore our net worth section now for exclusive updates and deep dives into the lives and fortunes of your favorite icons!

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UCA to opt out of House settlement | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Let us read it for you. Listen now. Your browser does not support the audio element. The University of Central Arkansas will not opt in for the House v. NCAA settlement, a landmark restructuring of college athletics that went into effect Tuesday. The settlement, which was officially approved June 6 by U.S. District Court Judge […]

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The University of Central Arkansas will not opt in for the House v. NCAA settlement, a landmark restructuring of college athletics that went into effect Tuesday.

The settlement, which was officially approved June 6 by U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken, ended three separate class-action lawsuits between the NCAA and lawyers representing Division I athletes. All three lawsuits claimed the NCAA was limiting athletes’ earning power.

Several mostly smaller schools have decided to wait at least a year to see how things develop, including legal risks and Title IX concerns.

In an interview Wednesday, UCA Athletic Director Matt Whiting said he had multiple concerns over what the effects of the settlement would look like if UCA were to be a part of the reported 82% of Division I schools planning to opt in for the 2025-26 school year.

By virtue of opting out of the settlement, UCA will not be restricted by the new roster limits, which Whiting cited as a key reason for the decision.

“On July 1, we entered a new era of college athletics, where revenue will be shared with student-athletes,” Whiting said. “We’ve made the decision at UCA, for 2025-26, to opt out. The reason for us, really, you look at the house settlement and what it entails, it’s revenue sharing, it’s roster limitations, and also scholarship limits change, right? Revenue sharing and scholarship limits are really one piece, but the big thing for us is the roster limitation.”

Among the terms of the settlement, schools can share up for $20.5 million with their student-athletes. Schools will also be set with roster limits, paired with the removal of scholarship caps, meaning each rostered athlete could be placed on full athletic financial aid.

The scholarship limits for specific UCA sports are 105 for football, 15 each for men’s and women’s basketball, 34 for baseball, 25 for softball, 18 for volleyball and 28 each for men’s and women’s soccer, 17 each for men’s and women’s cross country, 45 each for men’s and women’s track and field, 9 each for men’s and women’s golf, 19 for women’s beach volleyball and 65 for STUNT, a competition cheer sport.

As two examples, the Bears’ football team typically rosters around 130 players, and the baseball team sits somewhere around 40. The school would lose dozens of student-athletes who pay tuition annually if it were to cut roster spots.

“I think it’s unique where we’re at,” Whiting said. “We can be a revenue driver for UCA. We’re proud of the number of student-athletes that we have in our program. Opting in would require us to reduce by a significant amount of student-athletes in our program. And so that’s obviously lost revenue for the university during a time where enrollment across the country is declining.

“It really seems to be counterintuitive to the mission of what the university is trying to do on the enrollment front. So we feel really the roster limitations piece is the piece that’s kind of tough to get around if you opt in.”

The $20.5 million number is the limit to what schools can provide athletes in revenue sharing, but there is no floor to what can be provided. Many schools, particularly those at the Football Championship Subdivision level, like UCA, will pay nowhere near that number. If UCA were to opt into the settlement in future years, it would pay a significantly smaller number than that. UCA’s entire athletics budget for the 2024-25 school year was $8,301,765.

“Revenue sharing is, to me, it’s an interesting term even to use in this,” Whiting said. “I think budget reallocation may be a better way to describe it. You’re adding a $20.5 million expense to your athletic department budget. That’s tough to do, right? I think we’re all operating lean, and we’re all operating to the best of our ability. You’re trying to drive different revenue streams and create additional revenue.

“I think the revenue across the board in college athletics is different at all levels, right? And so, ultimately, I don’t know that that is very instrumental at our level, but we’ll see. We’ll see what happens there.”

Schools will have the option to opt in or out of the current settlement annually. Whiting did not rule out UCA deciding to opt in for future school years. The deadline to opt in for the 2026-27 school year is March 1, 2026.

“We’re going to monitor things,” he said. “You don’t know what happens in the future, and it’s a unique time. Who knows what will be right for all institutions, but we feel opting out at this time is in the best interest for University of Central Arkansas.”



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