Sports

World Aquatics celebrates trailblazing Refugee Team for Singapore 2025 on World Refugee Day

Published

6 months ago

June 20, 2025

Matin Balsini, Alaa Maso and Eyad Masoud each have their own powerful stories of how they have overcome huge challenges and adversity to thrive on the highest sporting stage, and Singapore 2025 will be the latest milestone in their proud careers.

Olympic Solidarity’s Refugee Athlete Scholarship programme remains open for National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to apply for financial and technical assistance for refugee athletes who are aiming to compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and other international competitions.

World Aquatics Refugee Team continues to inspire refugee athletes

World Aquatics has a long-standing commitment to enabling refugee athletes to fulfil their potential and compete at major events, and is proud that Singapore 2025 will mark the fifth edition of the World Aquatics Championships to feature a Refugee Team.

Swimmers Balsini, Maso and Masoud have established their global profiles by competing at previous major events, and they will line-up again as part of the World Aquatics Refugee Team in Singapore.

Balsini was selected for the IOC’s Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024, where he competed in the Men’s 200m Butterfly, and then represented the World Aquatics Refugee Team at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest, Hungary in December 2024.

Maso was the other swimming representative in the Refugee Olympic Team at Paris 2024, competing in the Men’s 50m Freestyle, and this will be his sixth appearance at the World Aquatics Championships or World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) as part of the World Aquatics Refugee Team. He discovered swimming at an early age growing up in Aleppo, but left Syria in 2015 following damage to his training facilities and the escalating impact of the conflict, ultimately settling in Germany.

“Many people lose belief in themselves after moving to a new country. You have so many things to be thinking about, whether that be settling in or adjusting to a new lifestyle, your hobby isn’t necessarily the first thing on your mind,” Maso told World Aquatics during the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest.

Masoud will also be competing in his fifth World Championships across short course and long course swimming in Singapore, having set short course personal bests in the Men’s 50m and 100m Butterfly at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest last year. He fled Syria because of the war and settled in New Zealand, where he now trains at the AUT Millennium Sports Centre.

“It’s also not just about refugees, but about anyone facing challenges,” Masoud added.

This trio of athletes will continue to inspire refugee athletes from around the world through their remarkable achievements, and their stories will continue at the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025.

Refugee Athlete Support available through Olympic Solidarity

Applications remain open for NOCs whose countries host refugees to apply for Refugee Athlete Scholarships through the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity.

The standard individual scholarship budget is USD 1,500 per month per recipient, and this can cover access to appropriate training facilities, specialised coaching, regular medical and scientific assistance and monitoring, accident and illness insurance, travel and accommodation.

These scholarships are open for refugee athlete candidates who meet the conditions in the Refugee Athlete Support Guidelines, including being recognised refugees or beneficiaries of international protection according to the UNHCR, proven high-level competition results and no convictions for doping offences or actions contrary to the standards of sporting ethics.

Host NOCs with refugee athletes that fulfil the eligibility criteria can submit candidatures on Olympic Solidarity’s RELAY platform using the refugee scholarship application form.

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Sports

Forty-One Sun Belt Volleyball Student-Athletes Earn Academic All-District Honors

Published

4 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEW ORLEANS – Forty-one Sun Belt Conference volleyball student-athletes have been selected to the 2025 Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Volleyball Team.

Four Sun Belt volleyball student-athletes selected as Academic All-District® honorees were selected for advancement to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members including App State’s Maya Winterhoff, Georgia Southern’s Kirsten Barrett and Reagan Barth and Texas State’s Samantha Wunsch.

Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced January 13, 2026.

The 2025 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

To qualify for All-District honors, a student-athlete must maintain a grade-point average of 3.50 or better and compete in at least 90% of the institution’s matches OR have started at least 66% of the institution’s matches.

For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.

Sun Belt Academic All-District Selections
Lou Johnson, App State
Maya Winterhoff*, App State
Addison Heidemann, App State
Ali Morris, App State
Erin Madigan, Arkansas State
Devyn Lewis, Arkansas State
Libby Gee-Weiler, Arkansas State
Addison Collum, Arkansas State
Anna Rita, Coastal Carolina
Emma Van Elslande, Coastal Carolina
Ava Wallis, Coastal Carolina
Emily Fowler, Coastal Carolina
Mayte Camacho, Georgia Southern
Lydia Seymour, Georgia Southern
Kirsten Barrett*, Georgia Southern
Reagan Barth*, Georgia Southern
Shanelle Martinez, Georgia State
Nazli Guvener, Georgia State
Alessia Cappai, Georgia State
Grace Wenrich, James Madison
Rebecca Watkins, James Madison
Julia McNeley, James Madison
Elli Barry, Marshall
Marae Reilly, Marshall
Bella Thompson, Marshall
Kate Kilpatrick, Old Dominion
Adrienne Peji, Old Dominion
Elisa Maggi, Old Dominion
Lillie Johnson, Southern Miss
Morgen Durgens, Southern Miss
Brynn Botkin, Southern Miss
Sadie McAda, Southern Miss
Brooke Bentke, Texas State
Anna Blaine, Texas State
Bailey Hanner, Texas State
Samantha Wunsch*, Texas State
Amiah Butler, Troy
Kalina Calvillo, Troy
Jaci Mesa, Troy
Olivia Kwiatkowski, Troy
Morgan Howard, ULM

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Track and Field Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track and Field Schedule

Published

16 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

RICHMOND, Va. — The University of Richmond indoor track and field Director of Track/Head Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field, Lori Taylor has announced the 2025-26 indoor schedule, featuring a competitive slate of meets across Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts leading into the postseason.

The Spiders open the new year with the VCU Rams Indoor Invite on Jan. 9 in Richmond, before traveling to the Wesley A. Brown Invitational at the Naval Academy on Jan. 16-17. Richmond will compete in a split weekend on Jan. 23-24, sending athletes to the VMI Invitational in Lexington, Va., and the Liberty Open in Lynchburg, Va.

Action continues Jan. 30-31 with another split meet, as the Spiders take part in the Penn State National Open in University Park, Pa., and the Patriot Games hosted by George Mason in Fairfax, Va.

February competition begins at the VMI Winter Relays on Feb. 6-7, followed by the ECAC/IC4A Championships at Boston on Feb. 7. The Spiders return to Liberty for the Darius Dixon Invitational on Feb. 13, then head back to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Feb. 14. The regular season concludes with the Father Diamond Invitational at George Mason on Feb. 20.

Postseason action begins at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 27-28, with qualifying athletes advancing to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 13.

A complete schedule with meet times and additional details will be available on RichmondSpiders.com as the season approaches.

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Sports

Former volleyball coach charged after viral video sparks investigation

Published

21 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Updated Dec. 16, 2025, 7:03 p.m. ET

A former volleyball coach who appeared in a viral sting operation video back in August has been formally charged. Levi Garrett, 34, was charged with dissemination of matter harmful to minors following an investigation.

A probable cause affidavit states he allegedly sent sexually explicit photos of himself to someone he thought was an underage boy. He appeared in a viral video by YouTuber Jidon Adams, prompting an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police detective to open up a case against him.

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Track & Field | Virginia Track & Field Names Distance Carnival After Mark & Cynthia Lorenzoni

Published

31 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia track and field program will name the prestigious distance carnival at the Virginia Challenge on Friday, April 17th, the Mark & Cynthia Lorenzoni Distance Night at the Virginia Challenge.

Virginia is set to host the annual Virginia Challenge outdoor track & field meet on Friday and Saturday, April 17-18 at Lannigan Field. The meet is known to feature high level competition across all event areas, but especially in the distance events. The distance carnival is set to be named in honor of long time Virginia Track & Field/Cross Country supporters, Mark and Cynthia Lorenzoni. The Lorenzonis have served the Charlottesville community for over 40 years as the couple co-owns The Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop with their two eldest children, Alec and Audrey.

“When I think about volunteerism and commitment to the community, it would be difficult to imagine any family doing more than Mark & Cynthia Lorenzoni,” said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Vin Lananna. “For decades, Mark & Cynthia have positively impacted thousands of running enthusiasts. We are honored to recognize them with the Mark & Cynthia Lorenzoni Distance Night at the Virginia Challenge.”

“What an honor to be recognized in such a public arena and to be closely affiliated with an iconic program that has not only given our family so much to cheer for, but even more importantly, has enriched our lives through the hundreds of special friendships we’ve had the pleasure of sharing with our wonderful UVA Track & Field coaches and athletes over the past 45 years,” said Mark Lorenzoni.

A running family, M. Lorenzoni began his running career back in high school. A recreational runner throughout college, M. Lorenzoni took up road racing and even began his amateur coaching career by coaching his wife, Cynthia. Since then, he has coached runners at all levels while also continuing to run himself.

“What a wonderful surprise and great honor to have our family name affiliated with this magnificent program in such a thoughtful way,” said M. Lorenzoni.

Also beginning her career back in high school, Cynthia Lorenzoni was undefeated in cross country and track & field before going on to compete in college at Michigan State. As a Spartan, C. Lorenzoni finished runner-up at the Big 10 Cross Country Championships during her freshman season and finished 16th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships the same year. After college, she continued to train and compete post collegiately winning the Marine Corps Marathon twice, recorded a 13th place finish at the Boston Marathon and posted a personal best time of 2:38 in the marathon.

“We are humbled by this genuinely thoughtful gesture and we’re very grateful to Coach Vin, his hardworking and caring staff, to [Virginia Director of Athletics] Carla Williams and especially to all of our wonderful “kids” (what we fondly call our UVA Track & Field athletes) for this incredible honor,” said M. Lorenzoni.

Mark and Cynthia, who have four children that all ran cross country in high school, have served the community for over 45 years. Not only as the founders of The Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop but between the two of them have also served on nearly 30 not-for-profit community boards and having directed, on a volunteer basis, close to 900 local races that have raised over $8 million for area organizations.

“Giving back to a sport that has given so much to our family, in so many meaningful ways, has truly been both one of the easiest and most rewarding things in our life together,” said M. Lorenzoni.

The Lorenzonis commitment to the sport of cross country and track & field is evident not only in their personal pursuits and community endeavors but also in their continued support of the Virginia Track & Field/Cross Country program. The first annual Mark & Cynthia Lorenzoni Distance Night at the Virginia Challenge is set to take place on Friday, April 17^th at Lannigan Field.

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Volleyball Signs Two-Time First Team All-AAC Opposite Jorda Crook as Transfer – Ole Miss Athletics

Published

37 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

OXFORD, Miss. – Head coach Bre Henry and the Ole Miss volleyball program have made another splash in the transfer portal, singing All-AAC opposite Jorda Crook as a transfer.

Crook heads to Oxford after spending her first three seasons at UAB. Crook will have one more season of eligibility remaining.

A native of Ohatchee, Ala., Crook built an impressive resume as one of the top opposites in the region over her time at UAB. Crook tallied 835 kills on .215 hitting, while adding 321 digs, 166.0 blocks and 49 service aces over 74 matches and 255 sets played.

Crook is a two-time First Team All-AAC selection, who recorded the biggest season of her career in 2025, tallying 394 kills on .230 hitting, while adding 165 digs, 67.0 blocks and 25 aces. Crook took home five AAC Player of the Week awards in her UAB career, including three consecutive awards in 2025, becoming the first UAB volleyball player to ever accomplish the feat.

Crook finished the conference season with an American-best 264 kills across 59 sets, hitting .228. Nationally, Crook ranked among the best, standing in 29th in the nation in points per set ahead of the NCAA Tournament semifinals.

Over the course of the season, Crook delivered countless standout moments, including 25 kills each against Jacksonville and Tulane, while tallying 21 kills, seven digs and five blocks on a sizzling .364 hitting percentage in an upset win for UAB over NCAA Tournament qualifier South Florida.

Crook joins fellow transfers Tenesyn Frye (Houston) and Nina Moorer (Texas State), as well as incoming freshmen Rileigh Butler, Jaidyn Hartsfield, Ryea Jackson, Coco Natarajan and Sophie Taylor as new Rebels next season.

Fans can continue to show support for the Rebels by joining the ACE Club. Funds from the ACE Club are a major component in helping the Ole Miss volleyball program compete at the highest level. For more information and to donate, click here.

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Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Volleyball on X at @OleMissVB, on Instagram at @olemissvb and on Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball. See exclusive photo and video content from behind the scenes and connect in real time with everything Ole Miss.

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