Sports
Words of Wisdom from the Class of 2025
As senior year comes to a close, members of the Class of 2025 are reflecting on what they’ve learned—both inside and outside the classroom. From time management tips to lessons in friendship and confidence, their advice offers a glimpse into the highs and lows that defined their high school experiences. Linda Gabele: Be Open and […]

As senior year comes to a close, members of the Class of 2025 are reflecting on what they’ve learned—both inside and outside the classroom. From time management tips to lessons in friendship and confidence, their advice offers a glimpse into the highs and lows that defined their high school experiences.
Linda Gabele: Be Open and Reach Out

“Be open to meeting new people and try to connect with them as well,” Gabele said.
Gabele also encourages students to step outside their comfort zones. “Stay locked in and make friends with people you normally wouldn’t be with,” she said. “It’s easy to stick with familiar faces, but some of the most meaningful friendships come from unexpected places.”
Casey Watkins: Try, Connect, and Slow Down

For Watkins, high school has been centered around connection, effort, and reflection. One of his most meaningful experiences has come from being on a team. “Being part of a sports community like water polo is a sense of brotherhood, and it’s so awesome,” he said.
He also encourages others to take initiative socially. “You should never be shy. You can’t go out and make friends without trying,” Watkins added. “Definitely try to make the best out of every difficult situation, and don’t forget to slow down and enjoy the time.”
Kasra Motamedi: It’s Okay, Just Keep Going

Senior Kasra Motamedi has learned a lot—sometimes the hard way. “Talk to your teachers when something is wrong. Teachers want you to succeed and they don’t want you to fail,” he said.
Motamedi also regrets waiting too long to finish assignments. “I wish I didn’t procrastinate as much,” he said. “I wouldn’t have had so much stress and I’d be able to have more fun.”
For Motamedi, keeping perspective is key. “It will be alright in the end—what college you go to, your friends, and everything else,” he said.
Don’t care too much about what people think. I used to think too much about what others thought, and it would ruin my mood. I’d even change how I act in front of others,” Motamedi shared.
Juliana Gamez-Diaz: Don’t Hold Back, and Study Hard

To Gamez-Diaz, social advice is just as important as academic tips. “Don’t be scared to talk to new people and to do things that are embarrassing,” she said. “If you’re too scared to be embarrassed, you can hold back on a lot of things.”
When it comes to academics—especially in a big school—her biggest takeaway is the value of focused studying. “Focusing a lot on doing deep studying is better because multi-tasking is just a waste of time,” she explained. “If you’re so distracted, it takes like hours to do things, but like, if you’re in deep focus, you can get it done in, like a small amount of time. Short forms of content and, like, TikTok, it’s like, it’s like your attention span decreases.”
Lainey Egnal: Stay Organized

If there’s anyone who figured out how to manage senior year wisely, its Lainey Egnal. As a Dance Team captain juggling college applications and a social life, Egnal found that planning ahead made all the difference. “Do as much as you can as a junior and the summer before senior year,” she said.
“You have UCPIQS (personal insight questions) and the Common App questions summer before senior year. If you get those done, by the time you get to first semester senior year, all you have left is supplementals,” she explained. “It will make your life ten times easier.”
“Don’t stress too much about doing something all the time, usually you are doing exactly what you need to be doing,” Egnal concluded.
Phoebe Matin: Live while you can

Matin encourages underclassman not to waste their time worrying about the wrong things. “Don’t care what other people think,” she said. “Do what you can to have a good time and live—these years go by so quickly.”
Her favorite memories were not made in the classroom, but rather outside with friends. “Go out on the Green and play spikeball with your friends,” she said. “The small, joyful moments stick the most.”
Alessandro Delfin Novoa: Work Hard and Enjoy

Alessandro Delfin Novoa has one big tip for balancing academics and fun: plan ahead. “Take all of your hard classes your junior year,” he said. “Taking hard classes junior year means you can enjoy your senior year.”
For Novoa, authenticity remains crucial in high school. “Just stay true to yourself. High school goes by a lot faster than you think, and I feel like every moment you have to make the most of it,” he said.
His biggest piece of advice? Embrace failure. “Don’t be afraid to fail. I feel like part of my high school journey was definitely shaped by my downs,” he said.
Sports
WSU track and field athletes facing program cuts, uncertain futures
The university announced on Monday that cuts to field events and limited spots for sprinting and hurdle events will be effective immediately. PULLMAN, Wash. — In an announcement sent on Monday, Washington State University told its track and field athletes that significant cuts are coming to track and field events, effective immediately. WSU said it […]

The university announced on Monday that cuts to field events and limited spots for sprinting and hurdle events will be effective immediately.
PULLMAN, Wash. — In an announcement sent on Monday, Washington State University told its track and field athletes that significant cuts are coming to track and field events, effective immediately.
WSU said it will focus on keeping distance events competitive, but other core events like sprints, throws, jumps and hurdles are being drastically scaled back or completely cut, leaving many athletes unsure of their future.
“I am going through a very quick transfer portal window. Umm…That I’m finding is extremely stressful,” said Ashley Willems, a sprinter at WSU.
Before the news of cuts, Willems says she had just one season left. Now, she has other factors to consider as she moves forward. Willems says she’s newly married, immersed in her master’s program and just signed an apartment lease in Pullman.
“I just feel bad mainly for the people coming in who put their trust in the program and really did like choose WSU over other prospects,” said Willems. “For me, I am kind of on my way out, so…I would have loved to spend it here.”
Another athlete, Riley Pyeatt, runs mid-distance and says she is lucky to still have her spot.
“I feel happy that I am safe, but then I have all these teammates that have to leave,” said Pyeatt. “I knew big things were going to change just in general with the new NCAA versus house settlement, with the roster changes and NIL, but we had no idea a program cut was going to happen.”
Pyeatt says she’s grateful she can stay, especially after transferring just a year ago from a small school in Texas, but says she’s uncertain about what next season will bring.
“We will probably be competitive in the distance side…But obviously will be lacking in other areas,” said Pyeatt.
WSU says that although cuts are effective immediately, scholarships will be honored for affected student athletes who remain on campus. The university is also providing transitional support for student athletes who want to continue their athletic and academic careers elsewhere.
Sports
2025 Volleyball Camp – Eastern Arizona College
THATCHER, Ariz. — Eastern Arizona College (EAC) is excited to announce its 2025 Volleyball Camp lineup, welcoming young athletes of all levels to enhance their skills with expert coaching from EAC’s volleyball staff. This year’s camps will be held at the Guitteau Gymnasium and include sessions for elementary, junior high, and high school students. To streamline […]

THATCHER, Ariz. — Eastern Arizona College (EAC) is excited to announce its 2025 Volleyball Camp lineup, welcoming young athletes of all levels to enhance their skills with expert coaching from EAC’s volleyball staff. This year’s camps will be held at the Guitteau Gymnasium and include sessions for elementary, junior high, and high school students.
To streamline the registration experience, EAC has introduced a new online system via Transact Cashnet, enabling families to register multiple participants in a single order.
Volleyball Camp Dates and Details
- Elementary Camp (Grades K–5)
Dates: July 17–18, 2025
Times: Thursday 2–4 p.m. & 6–7:30 p.m.; Friday 9–11:30 a.m. & 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Cost: $75 - Junior High Camp (Grades 6–8)
Dates: July 7–9, 2025
Times: Monday–Tuesday 9–11 a.m. & 1:30–4 p.m.; Wednesday 9–11:30 a.m.
Cost: $90 - High School Camp (Grades 9–12)
Dates: July 14–17, 2025
Commuter Cost: $100
Resident Cost: $270
Schedule:- Freshmen/Sophomores: 8–10 a.m., 2–3:30 p.m., 7–8:30 p.m. (Mon–Wed); 8–10 a.m. (Thu)
- Juniors/Seniors: 10 a.m.–Noon, 3:30–5 p.m., 8:30–10 p.m. (Mon–Wed); 10 a.m.–Noon (Thu)
Resident campers will stay in Wesley Taylor Dorms and must bring their own bedding, toiletries, water bottles, and snacks. Dorm supervision and camp guidelines will be in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
New Multi-Order Online Registration Now Available
EAC has simplified the registration process for families enrolling more than one child. The new Transact Cashnet interface allows users to:
- Select a camp and fill out participant information.
- Add multiple registrations to one cart.
- Review all selections before final checkout.
A step-by-step visual guide is available on the EAC ticketing page to walk families through the multi-camper registration process.
To register, visit commerce.cashnet.com/eactic or scan the QR code found on the camp flyer.
For additional information, contact EAC Volleyball Coach Shari Kay at (928) 428-8410 or email shari.kay@eac.edu.
Sports
Uluave Joins Volleyball Staff As Assistant Coach
Story Links GREENVILLE, N.C. – Sina Uluave has been named an assistant coach for the East Carolina volleyball program which enters its sixth season under head coach Adler Augustin in the fall. Uluave arrives in Greenville after one year as a graduate assistant at Atlantic Coast Conference member SMU. She led […]

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Sina Uluave has been named an assistant coach for the East Carolina volleyball program which enters its sixth season under head coach Adler Augustin in the fall.
Uluave arrives in Greenville after one year as a graduate assistant at Atlantic Coast Conference member SMU. She led the logistical management operations for the team, coordinating travel arrangements and recruiting visits among other various duties. Uluave also played a key role in the running of SMU Volleyball Camps.
After spending the majority of her collegiate playing career at Wichita State and Toledo, Uluave transferred to SMU for her final season, serving as the squad’s team captain and top libero. Her exceptional performance led to American Athletic Conference Libero of the Year and All-AAC First Team honors as she racked up 448 digs (3.96 per set) and was tabbed the league’s Defensive Player of the Week twice.
Playing as an outside hitter/right side at Wichita State her freshman and sophomore campaigns, Uluave collected 169 kills and 421 digs over 141 sets played while posting five double-doubles. She then moved on to Toledo where she earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team as a junior after averaging 2.92 kills and 2.81 digs per set with 11 double-doubles.
Uluave and the Pirates begin their 2025 season Aug. 20 with an exhibition match at Old Dominion before kicking off the regular season Aug. 29-30 with a trio of matches against Florida A&M, Maryland Eastern Shore and host Hampton.
Sports
Taste of France for beach referee Hanrahan
Volleyball England official Sarah Hanrahan has recently travelled to France to referee at the Vienne Beach Open. Experienced on the stand both indoors and on the beach, she took charge of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and women’s final earlier this month. The competition was part of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Beach Tour. French speaker Sarah, from Warrington, […]

Experienced on the stand both indoors and on the beach, she took charge of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and women’s final earlier this month.
The competition was part of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Beach Tour.
French speaker Sarah, from Warrington, Cheshire, said: “It was a great day of beach volleyball, with fantastic weather.

“It was a fantastic opportunity for me to practise refereeing beach volleyball, ahead of NEVZA Beach in Bridlington at the end of June.
“It was really nice to referee in France again, and to see my old coach, Thierry Placette, as well as make new referee aquaintences.

“In the evening, I managed to find time to do a bit of sightseeing. Vienne is beautiful with fascinating history, including a cathedral and an impressive restored ancient Roman theatre.”
Tournament images by Tyson Masailanga.
If you are interested in becoming a referee, click here for more information.
Sports
Johns Hopkins to Join MPSF in Water Polo Beginning in 2025
Story Links BALTIMORE, MD – The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) has announced the addition of the NCAA Division-III Connecticut College and Johns Hopkins University Men’s Water Polo teams to the conference, beginning with the upcoming 2025 season. The Blue Jays’ water polo program previously competed in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference. […]

BALTIMORE, MD – The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) has announced the addition of the NCAA Division-III Connecticut College and Johns Hopkins University Men’s Water Polo teams to the conference, beginning with the upcoming 2025 season. The Blue Jays’ water polo program previously competed in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference.
Johns Hopkins Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Director of Athletics & Recreation Jennifer S. Baker added, “We are thrilled to be joining the MPSF, and are grateful to [MPSF Commissioner] Foti Mellis and his team for welcoming Johns Hopkins Water Polo. The conference’s commitment to excellence is evident in everything it does, and we are excited for our players to have access to championships, while competing against some of the best teams in the country. The MPSF continues to elevate the sport of water polo nationally, and we believe our program will thrive as its newest member.”
The 2025 MPSF Men’s Water Polo season will feature 11 teams. California, Stanford, UCLA, and USC compete in the western division, while Connecticut College and Johns Hopkins join Augustana, Austin College, Penn State Behrend, Washington & Jefferson and Wheaton in the eastern division. The 2025 conference championship, which will be in its fourth year of crowning a champion for two divisions, will be held at Stanford’s Avery Aquatics Center (Nov. 21-23).
Johns Hopkins is coached by Max Schlegel, who enters his seventh year at the helm, and has been on staff since 2016.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining the MPSF and the experiences it can provide for our players,” said Schlegel. “Johns Hopkins University Athletics prides itself on student experience and with this change, I believe our water polo program is taking a big step forward in that regard.”
Since the hiring of Mellis in 2021, the conference has added 58 teams, 30 schools, and six sports.
“We are thrilled to welcome Connecticut College and Johns Hopkins University to the MPSF family,” said Mellis. “Their rich history of excellence in Division-III men’s water polo will bring new energy and competition to our conference, and we look forward to the exciting matchups ahead. Together, we continue to elevate the sport and inspire the next generation of athletes.”
Johns Hopkins is set to open the season on Saturday, September 6 at the Washington & Jefferson Tournament. The Blue Jays return their top three goal scorers, including a pair of All-Americans, from last year’s squad that won 12 games.
The MPSF has captured all 33 NCAA D-I Championships in men’s water polo since its inaugural season of 1992. The conference enters the 2025-26 year with 121 total national championships, including four during 2024-25, with its 113 NCAA titles leading the nation amongst Non-Power Four Conferences.
Sports
More than half of Australians follow sports for teams, but younger fans favour athletes
A new report by YouGov titled “Star Power: The role of individual athletes on sports fandom” explores how high-profile athletes influence team allegiance, consumer purchasing behaviour, and brand engagement in Australia. Sport remains deeply embedded in Australian culture. According to the report, a majority of Australians say they are interested in sports (extreme to a […]

A new report by YouGov titled “Star Power: The role of individual athletes on sports fandom” explores how high-profile athletes influence team allegiance, consumer purchasing behaviour, and brand engagement in Australia.
Sport remains deeply embedded in Australian culture. According to the report, a majority of Australians say they are interested in sports (extreme to a little interest), while only 25% express no interest at all.
Football tops the list of most-watched sports
When it comes to sports viewership, Australian Rules Football emerges as the most popular among Australian sports fans (those who are interested in sports), with 39% choosing it as their favorite to watch, closely followed by football (soccer) at 37%. Other much-loved sports include tennis (33%), cricket (28%), and rugby league (23%).
Team loyalty drives fan engagement
For more than half of Australian sports fans (55%), allegiance to a team is the most significant reason they follow a particular sport — more than twice the number who are influenced by an athlete (21%). However, younger fans (Gen Z and Millennials) are more likely to follow a sport because of a favorite athlete.
Other motivating factors include ease of watching the sport (44%), having played the sport personally (35%), and family traditions (31%).
Despite strong team loyalty, 31% of Australians say they would support both their current and a new team if their favorite athlete switched. This sentiment is strongest among Gen Z (46%) and millennials (43%).
Meanwhile, 28% Australians would follow the athlete but not support the new team, and 9% would support the new team instead. Gen Z fans were most likely to switch allegiance, with 15% saying they’d support the new team entirely if their favorite player made a move.
Social media fandom and brand influence
Social platforms remain important for sports engagement. 61% of Australians say they are extremely or somewhat likely to follow a team on social media, while 53% say the same for athletes.
In terms of brand influence, athletes are the most trusted public figures, with 67% of Australians expressing trust in their endorsements — ahead of singers (58%), actors (56%), and social media influencers (43%).
Gen Z and millennials exhibit higher trust in athletes compared to older demographics.
Top athletes in Australia: A mix of global icons and local Heroes
When asked about their favorite male athletes, global football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo lead the list. Among Australian athletes, tennis player Alex de Minaur ranked highest at fifth place, with cricketer Steve Smith and F1 driver Oscar Piastri also making the top ten.
In contrast, the list of favorite female athletes skews heavily toward local talent, indicating a strong preference for homegrown stars. Footballer Sam Kerr stands out prominently, cited by 23% of respondents as their favorite.
Download the full report here.
Methodology
The insights in this report have been sourced via YouGov Surveys – providing rapid answers from the right audience. The survey was conducted from February 14 – March 6, 2025, with 1,005 respondents in Australia.
Additional insights are available for 14 other markets: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the UAE, and the USA.
The target group “Sports fans” refers to respondents who answered extremely interested, somewhat interested, or a little bit interested to the question: “How interested, if at all, would you say you are in sports?”
-
High School Sports2 weeks ago
Parents Speak Out As Trans Pitcher Throws Shutout In MN State Quarterfinals
-
Professional Sports2 weeks ago
'I asked Anderson privately'… UFC legend retells secret sparring session between Jon Jones …
-
College Sports3 weeks ago
IU basketball recruiting
-
Health2 weeks ago
Oregon track star wages legal battle against trans athlete policy after medal ceremony protest
-
Professional Sports2 weeks ago
UFC 316 star storms out of Media Day when asked about bitter feud with Rampage Jackson
-
High School Sports3 weeks ago
The Arizona Daily Star's top high school athletes, coaches and moments of the 2024
-
NIL3 weeks ago
NCAA Sends Clear Message About Athlete Pay and Roster Limits
-
Rec Sports2 weeks ago
2x NBA All-Star Reacts to Viral LeBron James Statement
-
NIL2 weeks ago
Men's college basketball Top 25 reset
-
Social Media2 weeks ago
Controversial Athletics Gender Dispute Goes Viral After Riley Gaines Lashes Over Authorities