In the NFL, “cut-down day” has long been an established part of the league calendar.

Each August, each of the 32 NFL franchises are tasked with cutting its roster size from 90 to 53 players ahead of the season. More than 1,100 players — long shots, aging veterans and agonizingly close calls — lose their jobs on a day coaches, front office personnel and players have long referred to as the worst of the year.

This summer, college teams face something similar — albeit at a smaller scale.

By opting into the House v. NCAA settlement last year, FBS programs are now subject to a 105-player roster limit. Unlike previous rules allowing for only 85 full scholarships — on rosters that could swell to 120 — all 105 players can be put on full or partial scholarship.

The 105 is, however, a hard cap. Teams didn’t have to worry about meeting that number last summer due to protections afforded to players who might have lost a roster spot after the settlement went into effect.

This summer? There will almost assuredly be cuts as teams — New Mexico among them — work to meet that cap.

How, then, are the Lobos managing it?

UNM carried 101 players into spring practice, including seven designated student-athletes (DSAs). DSAs are players “whose roster spots would have been impacted by immediate implementation of the roster limits” last summer, per an NCAA governance update, and do not count towards the 105-player limit.

Likely starting defensive end Darren Agu and running back Cameron Mathews are among UNM’s seven DSAs. The Lobos are also bringing in 20 incoming freshmen, putting the Lobos at 121 rostered players on paper when they likely need to be at 112 by the first game.

In April, coach Jason Eck said UNM would use a two-pronged approach split across the spring and late summer to meet that number. That approach is already underway. Friday, Eck said he and his staff met with some players this week to let them know “where they stood” as that number looms.

“Some of them, we’re not going to be able to bring back,” he said. “Some of them, (it’s) kind of, ‘Hey, you’re back, but you’re still at risk. You’re one of the guys who’s kind of in a pool that needs to improve.’”

Depending on the timeline, players have some options. Those that won’t be coming back for training camp can go try and play at another non-NCAA program, like a junior college or an NAIA team. Those programs are not subject to the NCAA’s rules against “ghost transfers,” players who leave one NCAA program and enroll at another without formally entering the transfer portal.

For players coming back for training camp but might not make it to the season, Eck said he’s told some he would bring them back for spring practice if they stay enrolled at UNM.

“The guys who are leaving right now, if we can’t bring them back for camp (this summer), we’re trying to help those guys figure out what they want to do,” Eck said. “If they wanna stay here in school and try to get their degree from the University of New Mexico, if they wanna play — you know, one of the guys is a graduate, so he wants to move on as a grad transfer (and try) to find some place where he can play and go to grad school.

“Everyone’s a little different (with) different scenarios.”

But it might not be as simple as making it to 112, which might work to UNM’s advantage. Last year, Eck said players who suffered a season-ending injury before games started were not subject to the roster limit, which could give UNM some wiggle room beyond 112.

Regardless, Eck says he sees UNM coming to camp with “no more than” 115 on the roster.

“It is a little tricker that way,” he said. “But it’s also, you gotta play by the rules. If guys are frustrated, you just gotta tell them, ‘Hey, we gotta make tough decisions.’

“And these are tough decisions.”

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

Mount Carmel and Lemont move up a spot, while Homewood-Flossmoor enters the rankings.

Top 10

With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses.

1. St. Laurence 28-1 (1): Behind the hot hitting of Kentucky recruit Tristan Steger, the Vikings sweep St. Rita and Providence and extend their winning streak to 25 games.

2. Lincoln-Way East 24-3 (2):Nathan Kaminski gets his moment to shine, ripping a pinch-hit grand slam to highlight the Griffins’ 12-2 win over Stagg.

3. Lockport 20-7 (3):Austin Winge strikes out 12 in complete-game effort as the Porters stay perfect in SouthWest Suburban Conference play with a 4-2 win over Lincoln-Way West.

4. Brother Rice 21-8 (4): Texas A&M recruit Brady Cunningham helps the Crusaders sweep Providence before a Catholic League Blue-deciding series this week with St. Laurence.

5. Mount Carmel 20-10 (6): Miami commit Ian Tosi continues strong comeback from 2025’s season-ending injury, allowing just one run over five innings in 10-1 win over DePaul Prep.

6. Lemont 22-3 (7):Cannon Madej shuts down Lincoln-Way West, with all runs unearned in 10-3 victory, extending Lemont’s winning streak to 13 games.

7. Lincoln-Way West 18-6 (5):Michael Petit and the Warriors look to bounce back and stay in the SouthWest Suburban Conference race with Lockport, Lincoln-Way Central up next.

8. Sandburg 16-8 (8): Senior right-hander Noah Highfill throws four strong innings, striking out six and allowing just one hit in the Eagles’ 7-1 win over Plainfield East.

9. St. Rita 19-8 (9): Plenty of ups and downs for the Mustangs, who go 3-3 in a busy week, highlighted by complete-game shutout from Danny Corona in 8-0 win over Rich Township.

10. Homewood-Flossmoor 15-10 (NR): Senior catcher Kamari Dawkins delivers walk-off double in 8-7 victory over Lincoln-Way Central, the first of four wins in four days for the Vikings.

Player of the Week

Freshman catcher/infielder Terrell Hampton-Hall goes 9-for-12 with five runs, four doubles, a triple, a home run and 10 RBIs for De La Salle over four games, all wins.

In what’s become a Mother’s Day tradition, Harford Community College defended its reign over junior college men’s lacrosse.

HCC won its fourth consecutive National Junior College Athletic Association national championship Sunday with an 18-17 comeback victory over Onondaga, of New York, extending a dominant run that’s made the Harford County school the most successful in the recent history of the sport.

“This is where it all kind of builds up to,” HCC coach Aaron Verardi said. “The standards are really high. They know what the expectations are here.”

HCC led by one after the first quarter and by four at halftime before Onondaga outscored the Owls in the third quarter to cut the No. 1 seed’s deficit entering the fourth. And after Onondaga scored four goals in the first two minutes of the final frame, HCC trailed for the first time and needed a rally to maintain its streak.

The Owls scored five goals in the game’s final 10 minutes while holding the opponent to three scores in that span to mount that come-from-behind effort in a one-goal victory.

Cody MacNeil, Hugo Peel and George Shonfield all had three goals. Four other Owls added two apiece.

“We’ve worked so hard this year, ups and downs the whole season, but just to be able to say that we’re national champions, it’s just a surreal feeling,” said MacNeil, a Canadian who ironically discovered HCC through a cousin who played for Onondaga years ago.

Onondaga took this year’s regular-season meeting, 17-12, in March, the start of an unusual road for the Owls this season. They lost more games this year (two) than they did over the previous three seasons combined (one). Then, HCC lost in the NJCAA Region 20 tournament to Howard Community College, which the Owls thrashed in the regular season.

That made HCC the No. 5 seed and road team through the rest of the postseason. The Owls bounced back to beat CCBC Essex in the national quarterfinals, avenged the loss to Howard in the semifinals on Saturday, and ended the weekend with a fourth consecutive trophy on their home turf. HCC and the NJCAA agreed two years ago to host the national championship weekend through 2028.

“Every team has its own story. I really think this team needed that,” Verardi said. “We had a lot of adversity. We battled through it all year, and I think we were able to put it all together at the most critical time.”

Sunday was HCC’s fifth title game appearance in the past six years. It beat Nassau (New York) in the championship in 2023 and 2025 and CCBC Essex two years ago. Verardi said this Onondaga team gave his group their toughest test on this stage of all their past opponents.

Most players on this year’s team weren’t around for those victories. Turnover is expected at the junior college level, and HCC has become known for producing future NCAA players. Verardi estimates 90% of his players find homes at four-year schools after their two years with him.

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This run has brought national, perhaps even global, notoriety to HCC. Six of the team’s players are from Canada, and three starters come from England. Others came to Harford County from California, New Mexico and Florida.

“We get to bring some of our Canadian ball down here to teach that to the Brits, to the Americans,” MacNeil said. “We learn the American ball. We learn the Brit ball. Our whole offense just meshes together, and it’s a perfect fit.”

Lacrosse players around the world want a chance at contributing to, and continuing, this historic stretch.

Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons.

LOS ANGELES — As the Hawaii men’s volleyball team stormed the court after match point against Long Beach State, the shakas started forming, pointing up to the sky.

Two weeks after Long Beach State freshman Wojciech Gajek angered a team, and an entire fan base, when he flashed the double shaka and then pointed to the ground in the Beach’s five-set win in the Big West tournament final, the Rainbow Warriors got their revenge on the sport’s biggest stage.

Kristian Titriyski put down a match-high 14th kill for the final point and No. 2 seed Hawaii advanced to its seventh national final in school history with a 25-15, 18-25, 25-21, 25-22 win over the Beach in the semifinals of the National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championships on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.

Louis Sakanoko added 12 kills and Adrien Roure finished with 10 to give UH three players in double figures in kills. Justin Todd, who missed the previous match against Long Beach State with an injury, added a career-high 10 blocks and Hawaii (29-5) finished the season 3-1 against the Beach (25-5), who lost only two other matches.

After it was over, the ’Bows celebrated on the court near the net with a lot of the team, and even coaches, flashing the shaka sign toward both the Beach and the crowd.

SHAKAS UP IN PAULEY. advances to the national championship with a 25-15, 18-25, 25-21, 25-22 win over Long Beach State.

— Billy Hull (@billyhull)

“I think everyone took it a little personally,” Sakanoko admitted after the match. “That was a little way to send it back in a classy way.”

Hawaii improved to 7-3 in the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament and will face UC Irvine for the national championship on Monday at 1 p.m.

The match was similar to the one played two weeks ago when UH won sets one and three and Long Beach State took set two.

Hawaii, which couldn’t convert five match points in the fourth set in the previous meeting, trailed 18-14 on Saturday before closing on an 11-4 run with Sakanoko, Kainoa Wade and Roure all delivering serving turns of at least two points.

“One of the mantras that we have is good turns late,” Hawaii coach Charlie Wade said. “Guys going back to the service line when there is a lot on the line and guys like Kainoa come in and have a really good turn for us, Adrien came back there late and guys just kind of embraced this moment in being able to deliver when it counts.”

Gajek, who hit .071 with 11 kills and nine errors, had one of Long Beach State’s 18 service errors after the Beach led 18-14.

Sakanoko, who had six service errors and no aces, served his first one in that led to a Roure kill and a Beach timeout. They couldn’t freeze Sakanoko, who put another one in that led to a Trevell Jordan kill to get within one point.

“I was playing so bad from the service line that I couldn’t do worse,” Sakanoko said. “My team needed me at that moment and I had to (serve) in a good way. Get my ideas together and I know how to serve. Just tried to lock in a little more.”

The match was tied for the final time at 21-all when Titriyski pumped a kill off the block.

Todd, whose absence in the Big West final was certainly felt, teamed with Titriyski on a block of Gajek, and then Roure put one down from the back row for the first of UH’s two match points.

Long Beach State senior All-American Skyler Varga got to serve down 24-22 and forced Hawaii setter Tread Rosenthal to make a two-handed bump set back over his head as he tumbled near the courtside tables that was put in the perfect position for Titiryski to hammer off a double block to end it.

“I wanted to show what I can do against Long Beach and our team does an amazing job, but I wanted to contribute,” Todd said. “For the blocking part, I give a lot of credit to my teammates because at the net, whenever we are blocking, everybody is communicating to each other what we have to do and it just makes it a lot easier for me and my teammates.”

Rosenthal, who finished with 36 assists, five blocks, five digs and two aces, fell to the ground midway through the third set on a non-contact play and had to be looked at by the trainer.

He finished the match but was struggling to move around on the court.

“I know they are evaluating him now, but he was playing on one leg at the end pretty much, so, our team doctor is here with us and they are taking a look at him and we’ll get a little more info,” Wade said.

Varga finished the match with a team-high 13 kills to lead the Beach, who lost the first set by double digits after combining for 13 hitting and serving errors.

The Beach seized control of the second set on a challenge of a UH touch that wasn’t called on an out ball. The call was overturned to put the Beach ahead 21-18 instead of 20-19 and Gajek served out the set.

Hawaii used a 7-1 run, spurred by aces from Kainoa Wade and Titriyski, to take control of the third set leading 22-16.

Long Beach State served out to fall behind two sets to one.

LBSU finished the night hitting .200. Hawaii had 14.5 blocks to Long Beach State’s six.

“In order to win a national championship, which all of these guys have done, it’s one of the most special experiences out there,” Long Beach State coach Nick MacRae said. “When you’ve done it, then it’s like oh I want nothing more than to keep going after it, and you have to be in this very special moment in the Final Four to have a shot. You have to execute at a really high level, there is a little bit of lady luck that goes into it, and everything has to really be rocking. That’s what makes it so special.”

The Beach are the first team not to repeat as national champion since Ohio State won in 2011. UC Irvine (2012-13), Loyola Chicago (2014-15), Ohio State (2016-17), Long Beach State (2018-19), Hawaii (2021-22) and UCLA (2023-24) all won in consecutive years.

Hawaii is 3-3 all-time in the national final. One of those wins was later vacated (2002).

JACKSONVILLE — Two elite triple jumpers, two Ocoee High standouts, two young distance prodigies, a pole vault winner with gymnastic experience, and a sprinter who set a national record before she hit high school — all among the best in Central Florida history — scored state titles to highlight Orlando area accomplishments on the final three days of the FHSAA state track and field  finals at the University of North Florida.

Kissimmee Gateway junior Maxwell Garcon became the sixth Orlando area boy to leap 50 feet in the triple jump in Friday’s Class 3A meet. He jumped from second to first place by bouncing out to 50 feet and three quarters of an inch on his fourth and final attempt.

That came a day after Montverde Academy junior Samuel Johnson, already in the exclusive 50 foot club, jumped 50-4¼ to take the 2A championship. Johnson, who leaped 50-9¾  to win at the Florida Relays, also won the long jump for the Eagles.

The all-time triple jump record-holder is Seminole High graduate Andre Scott, who set a national record (since broken) of 53-7½ as a 2003 senior in Orlando’s discontinued Golden South Classic postseason meet. Scott’s FHSAA meet record of 52-5½ still stands. He became an Auburn All-American and has been a college assistant coach for more than 20 years — now at Ole Miss.

Here’s the all-time triple jump list:

53-7 Andre Scott, Seminole, 1993.

51-6 James Beckford, Boone, 1993.

51-2 Armani Wallace, Colonial, 2025.

50-9¾ Shane Lewis, Deltona, 2010.

50-9½ Samuel Johnson, Montverde, 2026.

50-3¾ Maxwell Garcon, Gateway, 2026.

Ocoee senior Jaiden Manning, who  gave up football after going out for track as a sophomore, won Saturday’s 4A boys 110-meter hurdles in 13.92 seconds. He’s now confident he will earn a college scholarship to race.

His senior teammate, Devin Matthews, an oh-so-close state runner-up in the 800 last year, erased that disappointment with a 47.24 victory in the boys 400. He is also getting college attention.

“I felt really relaxed and for the last 200 I just left it all on the track,” Matthews said. “This means a lot because I felt short last season.”

On the girls side, Lake Minneola sophomore Vanessa Waite had to settle for second in the 100-meter dash with an 11.57 time, but then sped to a 4A victory in the 200 with 23.17 performance. That’s Florida’s fastest this year and the No. 9 time in the nation. Waite set a 15-16 national age group record with a 23.26 time to win at the 2024 AAU Jr. Olympics and was happy to finally eclipse that time.

“I was a little down about not winning the 100, but I know I’m better in the 200,” Waite said. “That’s my race. I’m very confident in myself now.”

Coaching changes, and 8th-grader Vanessa Waite sets U.S. 200 record | Varsity Weekly

Bishop Moore freshman Annabella Tomasic ran a career best 4:53.25 to win the 1,600 title in 3A. That’s her third state title — along with her November cross country win and the cross country championship she claimed as a seventh grader running for Lake Highland Prep. Tomasic was Friday’s runner-up in the 3,200 at 10:44.47.

Montverde Academy senior Nakira Hudson won the 2A girls 400 (53.24), finished fourth in the 200, and ran on the winning 4×400 relay as the Eagles tied Bolles of Jacksonville for the team title. Both scored 84 points. Montverde senior Jizelle Holland piled up points with runner-up finishes in both hurdles finals, a sixth in the triple jump and a leg on the winning relay.

Lake Nona Arrabella Duffel, a tiny sophomore (5-feet-tall) who was a highly-ranked age group tennis player before switching to distance running, won the 3,200 with a strategic 10:29.10 effort.  Finishing 15th out of 16 in the 2025 state meet was her motivation.

“I’ve been wanting this for so long,” said Duffel. “It’s like tennis in a way because every single lap is like a different (tennis) set.”

Rain fell for much of Saturday’s 4A meet, and competition was stopped for just over an hour in the afternoon. UNF’s rubberized track held up well for fast race events, but wet conditions were a challenge in the pole vault for Lyman junior Nora Garraughty. That didn’t stop her from winning with an 11-feet, 9¾-inches clearance. She has vaulted 12-3½ in drier conditions and wants to climb past the 13-foot mark with continued training with Bill Cashman, whose Thin Air Vault Club has produced nearly 60 state champions in four decades.

“I thought it was fun vaulting in the rain. But the hard part was gripping the pole,” Garraughty said with a smile. “I wanted to jump higher, but I still have summer meets.”

CHECK HERE FOR ALL STATE MEET RESULTS, MAY 6-9, 2026

Class 4A girls

Spruce Creek’s Mikayla Palmer and Boone senior Naima Durandisse both cleared 5-7¾ in the girls high jump. Palmer won the state title because she had no misses until the bar was moved up to 5-9¾. Durandisse, who signed with Santa Fe College for basketball but hopes to get a ride to USF as a versatile jumper, had one earlier miss.

Cypress Creek senior Alondra Rodriguez, who won the girls 400 hurdles last season, finished fourth Saturday with a 1:00.28 time that was not what she wanted. Nia Armstrong of Sickles (Tampa), a sophomore, won with a 58.88 time that ranks No. 2 nationally.

Wekiva was third in the girls 4×100 (46.58).

Kissimmee Osceola’s Nicole Oliveira finished third in the girls long jump (18-5¼).

Ocoee’s Jayla Newton was third in the javelin (124-3).

Lake Brantley senior Layla Fuller finished fourth at 2:10.96 in a fast 800.

Boone’s girls were 12th with 19 points, followed by Lake Minneola (18), Osceola(17) and Seminole (17).

Class 4A boys

Oviedo senior Aiden Aysun was runner-up in the 1,600 with a school record time of 4:11.71.

Taylor Royster, another Oviedo senior, long jumped 23-11¾ to break his own school record and place second.

St. Cloud’s Denzel Hawkins was third in the 400 hurdles (54.42) and fourth in the 110s (14.32).

Lake Minneola had two boys runners-up: Wesley Morisseau in the high jump (6-5½) and Tyler Mullings in the discus (160-3).

Ocoee was fourth with 31 points in a meet won by Flanagan (77.5).

Class 3A

Bishop Moore’s girls ran an area-best 9:16.05 for second place in the 4×800 relay. The Hornets totaled 26 points, good for seventh in the team standings. Dillard of Fort Lauderdale topped Niceville 69-64 to take the title.

Innovation’s Mariah Turner long jumped 18-7¼ for fifth.

Elijah Cantero of Bishop Moore was the boys 400 runner-up (47.57) and ran on a 4×100 relay that placed second with a 41.23 time. Jones was fifth at 41.53.

The Hornets and Gateway tied for 11th in the boys team standings with 16 points each. Niceville won the title with 88 points.

Gateway’s Ethan Antle cleared 14-3¼ for fifth in the pole vault.

Class 2A

Montverde’s girls were led by senior Jizelle Holland, who scored in all four of her events. She was runner-up in the 100- and 400-meter hurdles with times of 14.30 and 59.84 seconds, sixth in triple jump, and ran on the winning 4×400 foursome (3:44.69).

Also for the Eagles, Angelica Wolfe was second in the 800 (2:11.70); DaQuana Howell was runner-up in the 200 (24.25) and fifth in the 100 (11.97); Adriana Rodriguez was third in the 400 (53.88) and fifth in the 200 (24.55).

Lake Highland Prep’s Saleigh Simpson placed fourth with a 40-2¾ shot put.

Montverde senior Grant Williams cleared 14-feet, 9-inches to win the boys pole vault. His ninth grade teammate, Max Georgiev, placed fourth at 14-3¼.

Windermere Prep’s Akai Tonge placed third in the boys 110 hurdles (14.55).

Lake Highland Prep’s Connor Allen ran 47.59 for third in the 400.

Geneva football’s Duke Carpenter wins state discus championship | Varsity Report

Las Cruces High's Zaysha Hawkins drove in two runs in the top of the fifth inning on Saturday to lead No. 10 Las Cruces to a 3-1 road win over No. 2 Alamogordo to complete an upset-heavy first weekend of the Class 5A State Softball Tournament.

No. 1 Mayfield is the only top-four seed to make it to Thursday's 5A winner's bracket quarterfinals, which start at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Cleveland High School — home, coincidentally, to the Trojans' 5th-seeded opponent on Thursday morning.

Most of the first weekend’s Class 5A games were completed on Friday.

The other 5A winner's bracket quarterfinal in the double-elimination tournament will be the Bulldawgs (16-12), who had been swept in three games by Alamogordo in the regular season, playing No. 6 Piedra Vista.

In elimination games on Thursday at Cleveland starting at noon will be No. 4 Los Lunas vs. No. 9 Centennial and No. 2 Alamogordo vs. No. 3 Organ Mountain — two of the state's top teams all season already on the brink of their season ending. (Alamogordo took two of 3 from Organ Mountain in the regular season).

VIEW CLASS 5A BRACKET HERE

Class 4A

In Artesia, the top seeded Bulldogs rolled through their pod and into Thursday's winner's bracket round with an 8-2 win over No. 9 Goddard.

After a brief 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning by the Rockets (14-14), Artesia blew it open with a four-run bottom half of the frame then put an exclamation point on things with a three-run sixth.

The Bulldogs (24-4) play fellow District 4-4A Lovington at Cleveland High School at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

No. 5 LOVINGTON 9, No. 4 ST. PIUS 6: At St. Pius, the visiting Wildcats won on the road Saturday to get a rematch with Artesia in Thursday's winner's bracket.

Sartans' junior Aubri Hooee went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the loss, as St. Pius falls into the loser's bracket vs. Goddard at noon on Thursday at Cleveland.

No. 3 SILVER 20, No. 11 BELEN 0 (3 innings): In Silver, the host Colts made quick work of the visiting Eagles, scoring three runs in each of the first two innings before a monstrous 14 run third brought the game to a halt.

Silver junior catcher Vanesa Lucero was 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and four RBIs. Pitcher Azariah Madrid allowed one hit and faced just 10 batters in her three innings of work in the circle.

The Colts (21-7) play either No. 2 Aztec at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at Cleveland.

No. 2 AZTEC 1, No. 7 KIRTLAND CENTRAL 0: In Aztec, Ayasha Yellow drove in the game’s only run in the bottom of the 8th inning, sending the Tigers (20-5) past fellow District 1-4A power Kirtland Central on Saturday.

While No. 2 Aztec and No. 3 Silver battle it out Thursday in the winner’s bracket quarterfinals, the Broncos (19-9) play No. 9 Belen in an elimination game at noon.

VIEW CLASS 4A BRACKET HERE

Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.

May 9—ROCHESTER — The Lourdes baseball team started a new tradition this year, going out to eat breakfast together at the Canadian Honker on Saturday mornings before games.

It was senior outfielder/pitcher Easton Gasner's idea and his teammates were on board immediately.

"It was really nice the first time we did it," said senior centerfielder Nolan Rolih, who will play Division I college baseball at the University of Minnesota in 2027. "We had a really cold game later that day, but the game just didn't feel as cold after having an hour or two with your boys at breakfast. It just felt nice. So we kept doing."

Gasner, one of Lourdes' captains, has been an asset to the Eagles on and off the field for a few years. He continues to reach higher after making the 2025 Post Bulletin All-Area Baseball Team as a junior for what Lourdes head coach Dave Jenson described as his "breakout" season.

He is batting .333 through 14 games with two doubles, 10 RBIs, seven runs scored and is 3-for-3 on stolen-base attempts. On the mound, Gasner holds a 3-2 record and a 2.26 ERA across 31 innings pitched. He has limited opponents to 16 runs — 10 earned — and just three walks, with 28 strikeouts.

Gasner's journey on the diamond began with T-ball when he was 4 years old. He eventually transitioned to the Rochester Youth Baseball Association, competing there until his freshman year, when he earned a spot on the varsity roster.

He's grown a lot since that first varsity season at age 14.

"I think I've learned to hit the ball a little better," Gasner said. "Credit to the coaching staff for that one."

Gasner won't play baseball in college, but plans to attend Creighton University to study neuroscience on a pre-med track. It's a career path he's been interested in for a while, growing up with a nurse for a mom. Even though he won't be continuing his playing career at the next level, Gasner said if a spot opens up to be a manager for the baseball team, he would be interested.

He keeps in touch with 2025 Lourdes graduate and PB Baseball All-Area Player of the Year Nick Bowron, who is a freshman catcher for the Bluejays. Gasner said Bowron is among some of his biggest baseball influences.

"I think past seniors, especially Nick and then Isaac Wenszell, who graduated two years ago," Gasner said. "I really look up to those guys to keep working hard and being my best every day."

It's safe to say baseball has been a true passion for Gasner for nearly 15 years. As he finishes up his senior season, he reflected on his favorite part of the sport.

"Being around the guys, for sure," Gasner said. "I won't remember all the wins and losses, but everything we do together will stick with me."

Rolih grew up playing with some of his teammates, including Gasner.

"We've been playing the guy since we were eight," Rolih said. "So it's pretty special to watch these guys grow up and continue to excel in the sport. And it's sad (to be graduating), but it's also a happy ending. We all get to play the game we love together for one last time. And it's a little bit sad at the same time, knowing that I'll never get to play with some of these guys again."

Jenson said this year's group of seniors is the team's strength as the Eagles hold an 8-6 overall record (5-3 Hiawatha Valley League), sitting just behind Cannon Falls and Kasson-Mantorville in HVL standings.

"They work hard together, they have fun being together, they have fun at practice," Jenson said. "We call ourselves brothers because we want to make sure that we hold each other accountable and that we're enjoying each other's successes and then also helping each other if there's something that we need to learn from.

"Or in those situations where things get hard, whether it's in baseball or in life somewhere else. I want to help them know that there's someone there pulling for them, and so I'm really proud of the culture that these seniors have helped develop and promulgate as we move forward."

With Section 1, Class 2A playoffs set to begin Wednesday, May 20, the Eagles are powering through the home stretch of the regular season, which has included playing five games in six days from May 4-9.

"Last year ... we only had four seniors, and so a lot of games, there were three seniors in the lineup last year, so there were a lot of opportunities for guys this year to grow and improve," Jenson said. "All of our six seniors this year had starting roles last year as well. So they've contributed a lot to the success of the program, winning multiple playoff games sophomore year, junior year and we'll see senior year how it goes."

May 8—MITCHELL — Tyson Johnson knows his way around the wrestling mat.

His career at Dakota Wesleyan University features many highlights, including a 2024 NAIA National Championship qualification, a 2024 GPAC All-Conference Honorable Mention, and a true-second place finish at the GPAC Championships. Competing primarily at 157 and 149 pounds, Johnson is known for his comeback ability and major decision wins in duals.

He enjoys the competition of the sport, and it has rewarded him in many ways over the years. But among the lessons wrestling has taught him is an unexpected one — the idea that his competitive outlet could be a path to a teaching career.

"A lot of it had to do with my coaches in high school, the impact that they made on me growing up into high school, making me a better person and knowing that those relationships are there and how powerful they are," Johnson told the Mitchell Republic. "And I wanted to be that for somebody else."

Johnson will soon have his chance to be that inspiration as he prepares to graduate this Sunday, May 10 at the Corn Palace, the last step on his way to becoming a teacher in his hometown of Pierre.

Johnson, who graduated in 2021 from T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, grew up used to the rural South Dakota environment and its outdoor activity trappings. It was a close-knit community in every sense of the word, he said, with teachers, coaches and students all sharing a friendly familiarity.

As a wrestler, he gravitated toward a mentor, Dusty Paulsen, a volunteer with the program who had wrestled for Dakota Wesleyan University in his college days. He was curious if Johnson had ever thought about taking his wrestling to the college level.

"He kind of took me under my wing my freshman year that summer and we trained all throughout high school. He asked me if I'd ever want to wrestle in college. And he knew the coach (at DWU) and I told him that I'd probably be interested in doing it," Johnson said.

A college program like Dakota Wesleyan could help take his performance on the mat up a step, but it could also open the door to a future career. With his passion for wrestling, finding a coaching position made a lot of sense. That led him to selecting education as a major, a choice that would take him back to the classroom as a teacher with a chance at picking up some coaching work at the same time.

Dakota Wesleyan and its program fit the bill for what he needed in a college education.

"Between all my other options, it's pretty much either go to (South Dakota State University) and be a number or come wrestle at DWU and have those relationships with your professors," Johnson said.

He chose Mitchell and that connection with his professors, and he soon found himself on campus as a freshman. With coaching one of his end goals, he entered the education department at Dakota Wesleyan, beginning his studies while simultaneously competing for the school in wrestling.

It was a lot of work, but it was fulfilling. He responded well to the small class sizes at Dakota Wesleyan, noting they weren't that much bigger than his classes in high school in Pierre. That allowed him to capture one-on-one time with his instructors while also being able to concentrate on his technique with his coaches on the wrestling mat.

His interest in education became even stronger during his sophomore year, when he began working with Mindy Childs, an education professor at the school. It was then that his future in education began to come into deeper focus.

"She is very structured and has everything set forward, so ...you know exactly what you're getting every single day," Johnson said. "I probably wasn't the best student before that. But then I kind of had to lock in a little bit and really grew as a student."

It was around this time that he took Child's foundations of special education class, and something clicked. He had a close friend growing up that had suffered a traumatic brain injury in his youth, and he had been friendly with another student with special needs at his high school. He said he previously hadn't thought much about the kind of work that goes on in a special education classroom, but he was starting to see.

The class made him realize that special education could be a way to make the same impact on others that his teachers and coaches had been for him.

"I've got a lot of experience with this. Maybe this is for me," Johnson said.

He decided it was. He switched his major specifically to special education during his sophomore year. It was a bit of a late change — it would require him to take a fifth year — but the inspiration had struck. He ended up redshirting in wrestling during what would have been his senior year, allowing him to wrestle for a fifth year while pursuing his degree.

It all worked out in the end. After five years of academic studies and athletic practices, he is ready to complete graduation and head out for his first full-time professional teaching job.

He did his student teaching in the Mitchell School District, making stops at Mitchell High School, Mitchell Middle School and Longfellow Elementary. He also served on the district's substitute list as part of his studies. All of it contributed to his readiness to take up a position at the front of the classroom.

As graduation approached, he secured a teaching position in Miller and was ready to take his talents to that district. But again, a chance conversation with some of his former high school coaches alerted him to a position opening up in the Pierre district.

With family and old friends already there, and with his girlfriend, a Mitchell Technical College student who is set to work in Pierre as well, the chance to work in his old hometown seemed too good to pass up. There was even the possibility of joining the wrestling coaching staff in some capacity.

"Pierre is kind of a town that you don't really ever leave. Most graduates come back. It feels like home," Johnson said.

As Johnson gets ready to return to Pierre following Sunday's graduation, he has thought back on the lessons learned in Mitchell, particularly at Dakota Wesleyan. He looks back fondly at his time wrestling as a Tiger, and said his focus and dedication to the sport has revealed truths he never fully expected.

He learned to not become too involved in winning or losing during competitions. Self-improvement, discipline and performing the best you can under challenging circumstances are just as important as having your hand raised at the end of a match, he said.

His coaches brought him around to that way of thinking, he said.

"Definitely a very important lesson that I've taken is just kind of helping change the mindset that wrestling is this scary thing. It's a lot of pressure. But there's more to life than (just winning or losing in) wrestling. I didn't do it the best. (I've been) wrestling for 20-something years of my life, and it's kind of just always been that way. It's kind of a new thing that wrestling can be fun," Johnson said. "So (I would like) to be able to enact that in a youth program, a middle school program, and hopefully eventually the high school. I think it's probably one of the best lessons you could learn as a wrestler."

And he doesn't mince words when talking about the positive experience and thoughtful guidance he has received on the academic side. He feels Dakota Wesleyan wasn't just the best choice for him, it was the only choice.

"I couldn't say enough good things about it. They know you as a person, not just as a number or whatever else you want to call it. If I would have gone somewhere else, I probably would have honestly dropped out," Johnson said.

He's taking the supportive nature and the in-depth lessons of his coaches and professors at Dakota Wesleyan, pocketing them and preparing to draw on them in his new role as a special education teacher in Pierre. It's a nervous but exciting time for Johnson, but he's looking forward to sharing the lessons he's learned and passing them on to the next generation.

"In the grand scheme of things, school isn't to teach you how much you know about science or how much you know about math. It's to teach you to think critically. It's about seeing a problem in front of you and trying to figure out how to solve that problem," Johnson said. "You're going to see a lot of that in life."

Dakota Wesleyan University's graduation ceremony will take place Sunday, May 10 at the Corn Palace. The event is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. The event will also be livestreamed by DWU at

www.dwu.edu/live.

May 8—SIOUX CITY, Iowa. — Dakota Wesleyan University's Allison Meyerink earned Great Plains Athletic Conference women's golf player of the year honors for the second time is as many seasons, the league office announced on Friday.

As the conference player of the year, Meyerink, ranked 80th nationally, also headlines the all-GPAC first team. Meyerink, a sophomore and Mitchell native, gained the same recognition in 2025 as a true freshman. The all-conference team is voted on by the GPAC coaches at the conclusion of the season and considers the entire season of results.

This season, Meyerink collected six event victories as an individual, headlined by her second consecutive GPAC tournament title, for which she was named captain of the all-tournament team. She was picked for the conference golfer of the week award four times.

Meyerink will compete in the 2026 NAIA women's golf national championships starting on Tuesday, May 19, in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Sara Sudenga, a junior for the Tigers, also grabbed a place on the all-GPAC first team, marking her third overall all-conference honor. The Sioux Falls native's season included a second-place finish at the DWU Spring Invitational, and she finished ranked in the top-250 nationally.

Dakotah Larson, a sophomore from Hartford, was picked as an all-conference honorable mention for DWU.

Morningside's Macy Button was selected as the newcomer of the year, and Mustang coach Nick Wanderscheid was named coach of the year.

A pair of DWU men's golfers — senior Peyton Bettcher and sophomore Dakota Munger — landed on the all-Great Plains Athletic Conference second team, the league office announced Wednesday.

Bettcher capped his season with a third-place individual finish at the GPAC championship meet, earning all-tournament honors last month, as well. Munger's spring was highlighted by a second-place finish at the DWU Spring Invitational hosted at Lakeview Golf Course.

Ben Wilber, a freshman product of Hanson High School, was tabbed as an honorable mention all-conference pick for the Tigers.

Hastings' Henry Kosmicki was named the GPAC men's golf player of the year, while the Broncos' coaching duo of Gabe Escalera and Skyler Good were picked as the coaches of the year. Max Nielsen, also of Hastings, earned the captain spot on the all-tournament team as the individual medalist.

Morningside's Dylan Welford was selected for the newcomer of the year award.

Class 2 District 6 began its postseason tournament on Thursday night at Sarcoxie High School.

The first game of the night saw No. 4 seed Miller escape No. 5 Lamar in walk-off fashion. Miller used a run-scoring hit in the bottom of the seventh to seal a 9-8 win.

The second of the twin bill saw third-seeded Diamond get all it could handle from sixth-seeded Pierce City. The Wildcats also won via walkoff as Talyn Daniels hit a solo home run to help her team claim a 7-6 victory.

DIAMOND-PIERCE CITY

Trailing 4-1 in the top of the fifth, Pierce City started a rally. Savanna Haselwood singled, Willow Hammond matched her, and then Andi Himes launched a three-run homer to tie the game.

The Eagles went on to take the lead on a base hit by Dezzeraye Puckett. And they went up 6-4 on an RBI hit by Peyton Copeland.

In the bottom half of the inning, Haselwood surrendered a run on a sacrifice fly from Daniels.

Pierce City was held in check in the sixth.

Diamond added another run as Anna Roszell doubled in a run to tie the score back up at 6-all.

Again, the Eagles didn't get any offense in the seventh.

With two outs in the bottom of the inning and Daniels down to her last strike facing a 2-2 count, she delivered the game-winning hit over the fence.

EMPORIA, Kan. — Three Lions logged home runs as the top-seeded Missouri Southern State University Lions softball team (47-7) earned a spot in the MIAA championship finals with a 6-1 win over the host team fourth-seeded Emporia State University Hornets (29-18) on Friday at Emporia’s Trusler Sports Complex.

Southern senior Katie Gray sparked the Lions offense in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run homer just inside the foul pole in left field. That homer plated Bailey Dillon and broke Gray’s single-season MSSU home run record with her 16th home run of the year. Emily Perry gave the Lions a 3-0 lead when she doubled to right center and drove in Carsen Tinkler.

The Hornets put a run across in the top of the fifth when Taryn Burkhard plated Kinsey Perine with a single up the middle.

MSSU answered with a trio of runs, all via the long ball, in the bottom of the frame. Maddie Rolfs scored Micah Snider after she busted one over left center field that sent Emporia State’s center fielder Burkhardt crashing into the fence.

Freshman Avery Sue Davis went back-to-back with Rolfs, sending one over the left field fence for a solo shot that made it a 6-1 Lions lead.

That score held as the Lions secured their spot in the finals, set for noon Saturday.

Three Lions logged multiple hits in the game. Tinkler was 2 for 3 with a run, Rolfs went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run, and Davis finished 2 for 3 with one RBI and one run.

Starter Kiki Pickens (20-3) earned her 20th win of the season. She gave up one run on five hits, while striking out four and walking two in four innings of work. Freshman Emily Davis earned the save after giving up no runs on two hits in three innings of relief. Davis fanned five and walked none.

“Kiki early on helping keep us composed was really big for us,” MSSU head coach Halie Blackney said. “I feel that paid off early in the game, and then we kind of settled in and were ourselves. Pitching and defense is what we hang our hat on. Kiki did her thing, and then Emily Davis came in and did her thing too.”

Burkhardt led Emporia State after going 2 for 4 with one RBI.

Hornets starter Hannah Butterbaugh was tagged with the loss after surrendering three runs on six hits. She struck out none and walked none in 2 2/3 innings.

Blackney shared her thoughts on the win.

“We knew playing the Hornets here in Emporia, there was going to be a lot of energy,” Blackney said. “They are an energetic bunch, and we knew we would have to weather the storm. I felt like the maturity and experience of our upperclassmen really carried us through that. It was a team win. I love our team, just because of how we pay, which is together always.”

The MIAA regular season champions Lions will look to win the MIAA Tournament title as well when they face Rogers State University on Saturday. Rogers State beat the University of Central Oklahoma by a score of 7-5 in the second semifinal Friday.

Tinkler talked abut what it would be like to capture both the regular-season and the tourney titles — something that hasn’t happened since 2001.

“We couldn’t end any better,” Tinkler said. “That’s the goal and that would be awesome.”

Tinkler shared what she believes it will take to win the MIAA tourney.

“I think we just stay who we are, stay consistent, and it will take care of itself,” Tinkler said.