Hawaii track and field athlete Lilian Turban was a recipient of the Big West Service and Leadership Award on Tuesday.

Turban was one of nine Big West student-athletes to receive the award, which recognizes those who have distinguished themselves through meaningful service, impactful leadership, and academic achievement while making lasting contributions to their campuses and communities.

Turban, a senior from Tallinn, Estonia, was recently named a Jack Bonham Award winner, the highest honor bestowed upon a UH student-athlete.

She ranks in the top 10 in program history across five events. Turban is No. 2 all-time in both the indoor (6 feet, 1 inch) and outdoor (6-1) high jump, No. 5 in the outdoor javelin (152-7), and No. 7 in the outdoor shot put (48-1).

She has claimed five Mountain Pacific Sports Federation indoor titles and three Big West outdoor crowns.

Turban maintains a 3.99 cumulative GPA while double majoring in psychology and communications with a minor in Spanish. In 2024, she was an NCAA Academic All-American.

She volunteers at the Oahu Bright Lab art studio in Manoa. Her experiences working with children at the studio have inspired her to pursue art therapy after graduation.

UH track lands 6 on CSC academic team

Hawaii placed six student-athletes on the College Sports Communicators Academic Women’s Track and Field All-District Team, released Wednesday.

Rose Forshaw, Isabella Kneeshaw, Catherine Touchette, Lilian Turban, Samaria Vital and Tara Wyllie were recognized for their athletic and academic achievements. Turban was honored for the fourth consecutive season and Wyllie made it for the third time.

Honorees must maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA and reach certain athletic standards in their disciplines.

The University of Hawaii football team was entering the final month of the 2025 regular season, and head coach Timmy Chang was studying performance charts.

The NCAA permitted a player to qualify for a redshirt year if he did not participate in more than four regular-season games. Chang and his staff had to decide whether to hold out redshirt-minded players so they would be available to play in the final one or two games without exceeding the limit. Or the players could burn the redshirt hope by playing in more than four games.

“Those were tough decisions,” Chang said.

On Tuesday, the NCAA Division I Cabinet unanimously approved the so-called “5-for-5” rule. The model calls for a student-athlete to have five years of eligibility during a five-year span. The rule will eliminate the redshirt year and most waivers (for injury, illness or extenuating circumstance, such as caring for a family member).

The eligibility clock would start when a student-athlete enrolls full time in college or at age 19, whatever comes first. The age minimum was set to accommodate student-athletes who spend a post-high school year at a preparatory academy. The clock would pause for active-duty military service or religious mission.

The rule will be implemented ahead of the 2027-28 academic year.

“It does clear up some gray area,” Chang said. “It also puts the age in perspective, from 18 or 19 to 22- to 23- year-olds. I like it because it puts parameters around what college athletics is about.”

The ruling would have been helpful to former UH quarterback Brayden Schager, who petitioned for a waiver that would have allowed him to play as a fifth-year senior in 2025. Schager forfeited a redshirt in 2021 when he was summoned to play in a fifth game as a one-drive replacement for injured quarterback Chevan Cordeiro. Todd Graham, who was UH’s head coach in 2021, wrote a testimonial letter accepting blame and insisting Schager should not have lost the redshirt opportunity.

UH coaches also are seeking further interpretation of the starting date for the 5-for-5 clock. If the rule were in effect last year, kicker Kansei Matsuzawa and punter Billy Gowers probably would not have been eligible. Matsuzawa, who grew up in Japan, was 22 when he enrolled at Hocking College in 2021. If the 5-for-5 rule had been in place, Matsuzawa’s NCAA eligibility would have expired at the end of his first UH season in December 2023. Australia-reared Gowers, a former Australian rules player, was a 29-year-old freshman at the start of the 2025 season. Based on their strong 2025 season, Matsuzawa signed a free-agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Gowers transferred to defending national champ Indiana.

There is little concern about the new starting dates for international basketball players. According to a coach, in this one-and-done era, a player with advanced international experience and, say, two or three years of NCAA eligibility, would be welcomed.

UH baseball coach Rich Hill said he also is seeking fuller interpretation of the new rule. But it appears the rule would provide leverage in negotiations. Players are eligible for the Major League Baseball draft after their junior years. Now drafted players can use the option of returning to school for a fourth or fifth year in contract talks.

UH coaches are hopeful there still will be extensions for players who suffer season-ending injuries or incur family emergencies.

Former UH basketball guard Juan Munoz famously had eight years of NCAA eligibility after suffering two ACL tears and an Achilles injury. He also received a COVID-year exemption. Munoz is starting his second year as the Rainbow Warriors’ director of player development.

As far back as 2006, UH football players have made use of injury exemptions to extend their college careers. That year, running back Nate Ilaoa and safety Leonard Peters were each granted a sixth year because of season-ending injuries.

—

NASHUA — One save, that’s all Owen Perkins needed.

One save to clinch a state title, and create a moment that would live on for generations, as one of the greatest in the long and storied history of the legendary Pinkerton Academy boys lacrosse program.

“I’m thinking, ‘Just this one!’” said Perkins. “That’s all I need. Just this one. If I can only make one save for the rest of my career, let it be this one.”

That “one” turned out to be one of the most dramatic in the history of New Hampshire high school lacrosse.

With three seconds left in regulation, top-seeded Bedford attacked the net and fired a shot from point-blank range that Perkins somehow turned away with a combination of his body and stick as time expired and the final horn sounded, clinching Pinkerton’s 17-16 win in Saturday’s Division I title game.

“The ball got past me a few times today,” said Perkins, a junior. “But I was confident, and when I stopped it, it was the best moment ever. Then it was just helmets and gloves in the air and it was pandemonium.”

The fans packed into Nashua’s Stellos Stadium may have been holding their breath as the final seconds unfolded, but those in Pinkerton red knew their goalie would stand strong.

“I saw the Bedford kid come down, and the time running out,” remembered Tyler Pinardi. “Then Owen made an unbelievable save. He’s been playing amazing all year, and he’s an All-American goalie. I knew he could do it, without a doubt. He’s been a beast all year.”

Following the save, Perkins was mobbed by his team in celebration, as a fan held up a sign that read, “Perkins = Brick Wall.”

“I saw the first shot get blocked and I thought it was over,” said senior Matthew Gormady. “Then the kid picked up the ground ball and shot it. Owen is such an unbelievable goalie who made an unbelievable save. And I just thought, ‘He did it, and we did it!’ As soon as the buzzer sounded, I made a line for my goalie.”

The hot, steamy and sunny early evening wasn’t always easy for Perkins, in what turned out to be the highest-scoring Division I final in New Hampshire history. But with the eyes of the state on him, he delivered in historic fashion, with some big saves throughout the fourth quarter, highlighted by the game-clincher.

And that’s exactly what his coach expected of the two-year starter and three-year varsity player.

“Owen is a junior, and he should be an All-American,” said second-year head man Marty Auger. “He will be an All-American. I don’t get a vote, but anyone that watches us and see how he plays in the big games, it would be a travesty if he isn’t an All-American. He’s the best goalie in New Hampshire, an it isn’t even close. And it’s crazy to me that no one’s signed him up to play in college yet.”

Added Jackson Farrell, who scored the game-winner, “Owen is the greatest goalie in the state. If he’s not an All-American, there’s something wrong with the system. We knew, without a doubt, that he could to it.”

TWITTER: DWillisET

TWITTER: DWillisET

Shortly after Izaiyah Nelson learned Wednesday night he had been selected by the Magic in the second round of the NBA draft, the University of South Florida senior couldn’t contain his excitement.

On a phone call with team officials, including president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, Nelson said he planned on driving from Tampa to Orlando on Thursday morning with the intention of beating them into the building for workouts at the AdventHealth Training Center.

“He’s just about the work,” Weltman said about the No. 51 pick in a phone interview following the draft. “He’s a breath of fresh air in that most of the time when you’re looking through the draft lens, you’re looking at younger guys who are really going to need to develop personal routines and habits.

“And Izaiyah comes in really mature, understanding that it’s going to take a lot of work for him to get to where he wants to get, understanding that winning comes before all else,” Weltman added. “I think he’s got a lot of that stuff that he brings with him that you don’t have to kind of wait on and develop and hope that he finds it.”

Orlando entered the second round only with the No. 46 pick, but later completed a three-team trade with Washington and Milwaukee that netted the Magic both Nelson at No. 51 from the Wizards and cash considerations from the Bucks.

As part of the deal, Washington acquired the draft rights to University of Tennessee forward Felix Okpara (No. 46), while Milwaukee acquired the draft rights to Malique Lewis (No. 60), who played for the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the Australian National Basketball League.

Nelson stood out to Orlando because of his ability to impact the game on both ends of the court. The 6-foot-9 forward, who turns 23 on Oct. 1, became the first player in American Athletic Conference history to be named the league’s player of the year, defensive player of the year and newcomer of the year when he transferred to USF after three years at Arkansas State.

The Marietta, Ga. native, who helped the Bulls earn their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2012, recorded the ninth-most double-doubles in the country (18) and ranked 18th nationally in rebounding (9.6 rebounds per game) this past season.

But where does Nelson fit into Orlando’s plans moving forward under new head coach Sean Sweeney? That remains unclear.

While he’s proven to impact the game in more ways than one, he doesn’t help the Magic in a dire area of need: 3-point shooting. As a senior at USF, he shot 14.3% from distance on 1.4 long-range attempts per game.

Still, he led the AAC in field-goal percentage (56.1%), while averaging 15.9 points per contest. Nelson also boasts a massive 7-foot-2 wingspan and has been heralded for playing with a relentless motor by chasing after loose balls, crashing the glass and outworking opponents.

“I think it’s too soon to talk about stuff like that,” Weltman said about Nelson’s fit on the Magic. “Obviously, we’ve got a roster full of talented players and we have to figure out how that’s all going to work with Sean. There’s a long way to go before we kind of get to the end of summer and understand what our team looks like.

“But most importantly (Wednesday night), it’s about just bringing in talent, character, toughness and integrity, and we’ll figure the rest out as we go,” Weltman added.

As a late second-round pick, it also wasn’t immediately clear which type of contract Nelson will sign with the franchise.

The Magic enter the summer with three standard contract roster spots open and two of three two-way contracts available, but not much room financially to add to the roster through free agency compared to the past. That’s because Orlando has signed key young players, such as Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, to large rookie extensions in recent years.

Two-way players go between the NBA and the G League, but they’re limited to being active for just 50 NBA games and can’t play in the playoffs. Nelson wouldn’t face those restrictions if he signed a standard contract.

Orlando signed last year’s second-round pick Noah Penda to a standard contract, but he was picked 19 spots higher (No. 32) than Nelson was Wednesday.

“These days you want to leave yourself as flexible as possible and obviously different commitments have different financial implications. So as we piece together the roster, we’ll make sense of all of that,” Weltman said when asked by the Orlando Sentinel if Nelson would sign a standard contract or a two-way deal. “It all kind of fits together.

“But the most important thing for us is we just want to get him in the gym soon, get him working with our guys and getting to know our organization,” Weltman added.

Nelson will hit the court soon for Las Vegas Summer League, which runs July 9-19 out west. The second-round pick will be joined by last year’s pair of Magic draft picks, Jase Richardson and the French forward Penda, Weltman confirmed.

Regardless of what the future holds for Nelson, it’s clear why the Magic made a move to draft him Wednesday night.

“This guy is a worker,” Weltman said. “He’s tough. He’s a hit-first guy. He’s about self-improvement. He’s about winning above everything else. (A) monster competitor, monster athlete.

“Just the kind of guy you want to bring into an organization.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

Recent Bishop McCort Catholic High School graduate Bo Bassett was named MaxPreps Pennsylvania male athlete of the year.

Ranked as the nation's No. 1 pound-for-pound wrestler by Flo Wrestling, Bassett completed his high school career without a loss at 170-0. He also became the youngest freestyle wrestling world champion in history in 2021.

Bassett, a Virginia Tech signee, went 44-0 with 35 technical falls as a senior. He earned his third PIAA Class 2A title. Bassett concluded his career with 111 technical falls and 44 pins. His 170 wins without a loss is a state record. He earned the Junior Dan Hodge Trophy as the top high school wrestler in 2025-26.

The St. Francis University women's volleyball program has quietly built steady momentum in recent years, stringing together three consecutive winning seasons as the program positions itself for its next chapter in the Division III era.

Coach Sara Spielvogel, now entering her 11th season in Loretto, has put together a schedule that will challenge her young roster.

The Red Wolves open the season in New York at the SUNY Morrisville Mustang Tournament Sept. 4-5. They will compete against four New York schools, providing a strong early season measuring stick.

The September calendar also includes road trips to Elizabethtown College, Penn State Altoona and Notre Dame of Maryland. Conference play begins Sept. 23 with a trip to Waynesburg.

Spielvogel's team will return to Loretto for its home opener Sept. 26 against Grove City. The match is also Family Weekend at St. Francis. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m., following the Red Wolves football home opener.

Grove City won the 2025 Presidents' Athletic Conference championship, its first since 2021. The Wolverines entered the tournament as the fourth seed out of the North Division and went on the road to defeat top-seeded Hiram in the title match. Grove City then advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament, where it fell to Juniata in the first round.

"The upcoming season is all about competitive learning," Spielvogel said. "We are in a new conference with new opponents. Our goals are to learn and grow with every practice and every match while still competing at a high level."

St. Francis returns three players from the team that reached the 2025 NEC championship match in Ava Holden, Elsa Richards and Alexandra Sappia.

Women's volleyball in the PAC was highly competitive in 2025. Three schools recorded 20 or more wins, including Grove City, Westminster and Hiram.

St. Francis will be on the road for two of those matchups, Oct. 10 at Westminster and Oct. 31 at Hiram. The Terriers went 26-3 overall and 15-1 in the PAC before losing the championship match.

Conference play comes to a close Oct. 24 when St. Vincent travels to Loretto.

As it transitions to Division III, St. Francis cannot compete in the postseason during the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The Red Wolves will wrap up the regular season with a match at Pitt-Greensburg.

The 2026 roster includes Central Cambria graduate Allie Dziabo and Conemaugh Township product Madison Roman.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Shortstop Landen Rozich joined the Johnstown Mill Rats a week ago, following his West Chester University baseball team’s amazing run to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship final series.

Coming off a strong freshman season with the national runner-up Golden Rams, Rozich needed time to adjust to the Prospect League.

PHOTO GALLERY | Johnstown Mill Rats host Lafayette Aviators

“Last week, it was a little hard for me to get on board and I had a tough week,” Rozich said after collecting three hits, including a three-run homer and five RBIs, in the Mill Rats’ 13-9 victory over the first-place Lafayette Aviators Tuesday.

“I just gave up that (memory of) last week and just came up and swung the bat by doing a good thing and put a ball over the fence.”

Rozich’s three-run blast cleared the wall in left-center field, capping a seven-run bottom of the first inning that pumped up a Sargent’s Stadium at the Point crowd of 516.

“It means a lot for us getting back into the win column after a tough last week,” Rozich said.

“I got here last Monday and we left early Tuesday morning for the road trip. It’s hard. It’s a lot of traveling. I got used to it quick.”

Gavin Smith, Ty Marsh

Lafayette Aviators shortstop Gavin Smith (left) applies a late tag as Johnstown Mill Rats’ Ty Marsh slides safely into second base on a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning of a Prospect League game at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point in Johnstown, PA., Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

This past week, the Aviators (17-7) swept three games against visiting Johnstown (13-11).

The teams combined on 26 hits and 22 runs in Tuesday’s 3 hour, 4-minute contest. The teams meet again at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sargent’s Stadium.

“We lost three to them last week,” said Mill Rats first baseman Caleb Smith, who had three singles and drove in three runs in Tuesday’s win.

“We knew they were coming here, and we needed to win.

“We need to win both, really.

“We stayed focused, had a little more intensity to us and it paid off.”

The Mill Rats sent 10 batters to the plate in each of the first two innings and built what appeared to be a comfortable 11-1 advantage.

Landen Rozich, Cole Kuszak

The Johnstown Mill Rats’ Landen Rozich (right) is congratulated by teammate Cole Kuszak after hitting a three-run home-run in the bottom of the first inning of a Prospect League game at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point in Johnstown, PA., Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

“We did our scouting report on the guy throwing and we knew he didn’t fill it up, so we were just diligent at the plate and stayed patient,” Smith said of Lafayette left-handed starter Tro Fellings. “Then, when it was over the plate, we just banged it.”

Rozich ripped a no-doubt, three-run homer over the wall in left-center field to cap the seven-run, first-inning barrage.

The 386-foot blast put No. 9 hitter Rozich on track for a big night, as he reached base four times. It also continued a banner year for him.

A freshman this past season, Rozich started 49 games at shortstop on a 48-win West Chester team that finished second to University of Tampa in the Division II final series in Cary, North Carolina.

He batted .266 with 15 extra-base hits, including four homers during his college season.

On the mound, Rozich went 3-1 with five saves and a 1.95 ERA in relief.

“It was awesome,” Rozich said of the World Series appearance.

“It was one of the best memories I’m going to keep. I love all those guys so much. Hopefully, we can get back there next year.”

The Mill Rats hope some of Rozich’s Golden Rams magic settles in across the state.

He had plenty of company Tuesday, as Johnstown’s Caleb Rey also had a two-run single and Smith singled in a run in the first-inning rally.

In the second, Smith hit a two-run single, and Rozich singled to drive in a run.

Brock Budacki hit a solo homer in the third inning, and the Mill Rats catcher doubled and scored on Rozich’s infield single in the fifth.

Lafayette tallied single runs in the first and fifth innings, and the Aviators posted three runs apiece in the third and seventh to close within 13-8.

Lafayette’s Zach Pelletier singled in a run in the fifth and had a run-scoring double in the seventh. Gavin Smith drove in a run with a double off the brick wall in the eighth to make it 13-9. Sage Adams had two doubles for the Aviators.

“We held on. It gives us a lot of momentum going into (Wednesday),” Caleb Smith said.

Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State University national championship-winning football coach Jim Tressel is set to be enshrined on the C-Deck Ring of Honor at Ohio Stadium Sept. 5.

The Buckeyes host Ball State in their season opener at 12:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on BTN.

Tressel becomes the third coach to be honored at Ohio Stadium, joining Paul Brown (1941–43) and Woody Hayes (1951–78).

He also becomes the first person added to the Ring of Honor since 2014, when one of his quarterbacks and 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith was placed on the C-Deck.

Tressel took over in 2001 and continued Ohio State’s legacy as a perennial national contender.

During his tenure, the Buckeyes won at least 10 games in six seasons and reached the BCS Title Game three times, winning the national championship in the 2002 season.

That signature year featured an undefeated 14–0 run, as Ohio State downed top-ranked Miami 31–24 in double overtime for the national title.

Ohio State also played in the BCS National Championship Game twice more during his tenure (2006, 2007).

Across his decade leading the Buckeyes, Ohio State made a bowl each season and played in eight BCS games.

Tressel’s Ohio State teams went 9–1 against Michigan, including a 2010 game that was later vacated by the NCAA.

In addition to Smith’s Heisman Trophy during Tressel’s tenure, he coached 67 NFL Draft picks, including 14 first-round selections, 57 first team All-Big Ten selections, 24 first team All-America selections, and eight Academic All-Americans.

After leading Ohio State to one of the most successful eras in program history, Tressel was President of Youngstown State University, and has served as Lieutenant Governor of Ohio since 2025.

Through the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge, he continues to do what he has always done best — coach young people to become stronger mentally, physically, and emotionally so they can reach their full potential.

First-year Rainbow Wahine women’s volleyball head coach Joshua Walker added a middle from New Zealand to his first recruiting class Tuesday in UNC Wilmington transfer Marnie Ursem.

The 6-foot-3 middle blocker will be a junior this season after playing the past two seasons at UNCW. If the NCAA finalizes its move to five seasons of eligibility, it would appear she would have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Ursem played in 40 matches for the Seahawks and averaged 1.53 kills and 1.01 blocks per set. She started all 26 matches this past season and her average of 1.08 blocks per set ranked second in the Coastal Athletic Association. She led UNCW with 30 service aces.

A projected starting pitcher might be leaving the University of Hawaii baseball team.

Right-hander Brody Martin-Grudzielanek, who recently completed his freshman season with the Rainbow Warriors, confirmed he has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

“I’m just exploring my options as of now,” Martin-Grudzielanek told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “There is a chance I come back (to UH).”

Martin-Grudzielanek was projected to be in the starting rotation, possibly as the series-opening pitcher, if he pitched for the ’Bows in 2027.

This past season, Martin-Grudzielanek was 0-5, but he pitched to a 4.02 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while averaging 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Left-handed batters hit .182 against Martin-Grudzielanek. His fastball topped at 97 mph.

Instead of playing summer ball, Martin-Grudzielanek opted to train this summer.

“Just lifting, as of now, and trying to gain some weight,” he said.

Of his year in Hawaii, he said, “I loved it. I feel I made a big jump in my career. I’m grateful for the opportunity Hawaii gave me. I won’t ever take that for granted. That was the best place I could have been at.”

While expressing gratitude for Martin-Grudzielanek’s contributions this past season, UH coach Rich Hill said the focus is on the “windshield and not the rear-view mirror, exclamation point.”

Right-handed pitcher Hekili Robello, who was named to the 2026 All-Big West second team, and left-hander Grant Garman have indicated they will remain with the ’Bows if they are not selected in next month’s Major League Baseball draft. Hill said the ’Bows will seek players through the portal.

“The transfer portal provides awesome opportunities for us at the University of Hawaii,” Hill said. “We have thrived in this environment in years past, and see no reason we shouldn’t do so this year. All will be revealed.”

Hill also is seeking replacements for Keith Zuniga, the associate head coach/pitching coach who accepted a position with USC, and hitting coach Dave Nakama, who is pursuing other endeavors. Connor Harrison, who was the director of pitching development, was promoted to associate position coach. Harrison, who is a candidate for pitching coach, will remain with the ’Bows no matter the outcome of the nationwide search.

“It’s an exciting time for Rainbow Warrior baseball,” Hill said. “I’m not at liberty to make any staff announcements at this time, but the fans of Hawaii are going to be pleasantly surprised. We’re reorganizing the entire staff, looking at more of a pro model that utilizes coaches’ strengths and really focuses on a lot more of the analytics side. I’m very excited about it.”

After two seasons and a national championship at Hawaii, Finn Kearney is ready for a bigger on-court role.

The now former UH outside hitter announced last week on social media he will transfer to rival Long Beach State for the upcoming 2027 season.

Kearney, who is 6 feet 5, was a fan favorite during his time at UH. Injuries to other players allowed him to play a key role late during his freshman season, when he had double figures in kills in seven straight starts to help Hawaii win a Big West championship and advance to the NCAA semifinals.

He played in all but one match as a sophomore but was mostly used as a serving substitute, playing behind Adrien Roure and Louis Sakanoko, who both return next season, on the left side.

“First and foremost, it was a super cool opportunity to play at UH. Two years of my life that I have no regret in coming there at all,” Kearney said in a phone interview Tuesday. “It was a really good decision. Two years well spent, I got a lot better, and I think now it was time to find a bigger role somewhere else and (Long Beach State) was my clearest path to the court.”

A 2024 graduate of Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix, Kearney was a member of the United States U19 National Team and a highly prized recruit. He was the starting opposite hitter for the U.S. in the U19 Pan American Cup in both 2022 and ’23 and in ’22 was selected the tournament’s best opposite and best server.

He came to UH as part of a recruiting class that included opposite hitters Kainoa Wade, a captain on the current USA U21 National Team, and Kristian Titriyski, who will not return next season after turning pro in his home country of Bulgaria.

Roure, who was named a second-team All-American this year, was also in that recruiting class, and UH already had returning sophomore Sakanoko, who was named a first-team All-American this season.

With so much talent in front of him, Kearney struggled to get on the court. He knew it would be just as tough coming back for his sophomore year, but he didn’t want to make a quick decision to leave after his freshman season.

“At that point it was a little bit early,” Kearney said. “I didn’t want to make an emotional decision after my first year, and then the plan was kind of if that didn’t go well, then to get out. My full intention up until this last year was always to stay at UH, because it’s definitely a special place. The only thing that was kind of holding me back was a chance to get a bigger role, which I am able to get somewhere else.”

Kearney said he knew he would get some blowback when it was announced he would head to UH’s biggest rival school in the Big West.

He’s already begun to think about what it will be like to play in the Stan Sheriff Center next season wearing a Long Beach State uniform. The Beach are scheduled to play twice in Hawaii during the regular season.

“I can’t wait to put that game on the calendar when the schedule comes out,” Kearney said. “I’ve seen some comments on some (social media) posts and you know I heard it from everyone I broke the news to. I really hope (the Hawaii fans) are forgiving, but we will see. They have always been good to me ever since I first got there.”

In talking with the coaching staff at Long Beach State, Kearney said he expects to primarily play opposite next season.

“Professionally, I would want to end up on the left,” he said.

As for telling his former teammates, one of the harder conversations was with UH floor captain Tread Rosenthal. The two played together coming up in the USA Volleyball system before they were teammates at UH.

“I mean more importantly he’s a great teammate, but most importantly he’s a great friend and just to keep that relationship good was priority No. 1 for me,” Kearney said. “He wants the best for me and obviously it would have been cool for him if I stayed, but he handled it well. It was just great to experience what we did with a super special group that I spent two years with, and it felt like 10 years with those boys. Special group and really special fans.”

Mitchell Croft, a 6-foot-9 pin hitter/middle blocker who spent one season at UH, announced Tuesday he will transfer to Purdue Fort Wayne. Outside hitter Thatcher Fahlbusch, who also spent one year with the ‘Bows, has already announced he is transferring to UCLA.

Next month, New Mexico could very well be picked to win the Mountain West for the first time in program history.

But at least in one virtual estimation, they’re not quite at the top of the league.

UNM was given a 76 overall rating in the initial release of team ratings from EA Sports College Football 27, landing in a tie for the second-highest rating of Mountain West teams in the wildly popular college football video game.

With an offensive rating of 77 and defensive rating of 76, the Lobos had the same overall rating as Hawaii (76) ahead of the game’s release on July 9. UNLV (78) led the Mountain West while future Pac-12 member Boise State (80) received the highest rating of any Group of Six program.

New Mexico is a 76 overall (77 OFF/76 DEF) at launch, tied with Hawaii for the second-best rating of any MW team. https://t.co/24m8A43Dmn

— Sean Reider (@lenaweereider) June 23, 2026

Oregon claimed the game’s highest overall rating at 91. Reigning national champion Indiana and Ohio State tied for second at 90; the latter team is listed by multiple sportsbooks as the favorite to win a national championship.

Among national sportsbooks, UNM is listed as the consensus favorite to win its first-ever Mountain West title under second-year head coach Jason Eck. The Lobos finished 9-4 last season, tying with three other teams for first place in the league.22

EA Sports College Football 27 ratings: Mountain West

-UNLV (78 overall; 80 offense, 77 defense)

-UNM (76 overall; 77 offense, 76 defense)

-Hawaii (76 overall; 77 offense, 76 defense)

-North Dakota State (75 overall; 75 offense, 75 defense)

-Air Force (74 overall; 76 offense, 72 defense)

-Nevada (73 overall; 73 offense, 73 defense)

-Wyoming (73 overall; 73 offense, 72 defense)

-San Jose State (72 overall; 73 offense, 70 defense)

-UTEP (72 overall; 73 offense, 71 defense)

-Northern Illinois (70 overall; 72 offense, 68 defense)

Committed

The Lobos’ blistering recruiting month has led to another commitment.

Offensive line prospect Ilias Williams committed to UNM on Monday night via social media, setting the Lobos up with their fourth commitment in the last week and ninth overall in June.

Go Lobos!!!!! @Coach_Eck @Coach_CBooth @Coach_Galliano @UNMLOBOS @BrandonHuffman @247Sports pic.twitter.com/oYhVwewOYF

— Ilias Williams (@IliasW21239) June 23, 2026

“Go Lobos!!!!!” he posted via X with a commitment graphic attached.

A 6-foot-4, 260-pound incoming senior at San Jacinto (California) High School, Williams represents the Lobos’ 14th commitment in the class of 2027.

Rule change

Tuesday, the NCAA Division I Cabinet voted unanimously to approve an age-based eligibility policy – better known as the “5-for-5” rule – before an announcement that the rule would be formally adopted Wednesday.

The rule stipulates that athletes will have five years to compete immediately after their high school graduation or 19th birthday. The clock would start for athletes on the earliest of those two occasions.

Eck has been a fan of the policy since it was first floated earlier this spring.

“I kind of like the idea of getting rid of the waivers and just saying, ‘hey, you got five years,’” he said in April. “ … I do think it would be good legislation and I’m hoping for it.”

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.

Jun. 23—The University of Alaska Anchorage has hired Michael Bazemore as its new athletic director, the school said Tuesday.

Bazemore spent the last five years as athletic director at Montana State-Billings, which competes with UAA in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

"I am extremely excited to join the Seawolves family," Bazemore said in a statement released by the university. "I would like to thank Chancellor (Cheryl) Siemers, the administration, coaches, student-athletes, and supporters for this appointment. Throughout my journey within the GNAC, I have always had a respect for UAA and the level of competitive excellence displayed. I look forward to not only contributing to this standard, but helping to elevate it."

Bazemore replaces Ryan Swartwood, who was the UAA athletic director from 2022 to 2025. Tanya Pont, UAA's vice chancellor for university advancement and athletics, has served as acting athletic director since Swartwood's resignation in October.

Prior to his work at MSU Billings, Bazemore held several positions in college athletics. He was the assistant director of academic and membership affairs for the NCAA at its national office in Indianapolis.

He also worked in athletic departments at Metropolitan State University, Truman State University and the University of Sioux Falls.

According to UAA, the athletic department at MSU Billings maintained a 3.2 departmental grade-point average during his tenure and graduated more than 85% of eligible student-athletes annually.

"Michael's vision, leadership and breadth of experience at all levels of intercollegiate athletics make him an outstanding choice to lead Seawolf Athletics," Siemers said in a statement. "His familiarity with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and his deep expertise in compliance position him to make an immediate impact at UAA. As a former student-athlete, he understands firsthand what it takes to support our Seawolves in competition, in the classroom and beyond."

Bazemore earned two undergraduate degrees from Michigan State University, where he played on the football team. He also has a Master of Science in sport, recreation and fitness management from MSU Billings.

According to the university, Bazemore and his family — wife Jaime, daughter Maxi and son Major — will move to Anchorage this summer.

Bazemore is UAA's 10th athletic director since the school gained NCAA member status in 1977. He will start on July 19 and will report to Pont.