Prep talk: Marisol Cowles has led Flintridge Sacred Heart to brink of history in water polo
Cowles, who has committed to UC Irvine, had seven goals in her team's semifinal win over Long Beach Poly. Flintridge Sacred Heart has never won a water polo title or even made the final. It's been a particularly challenging year with only nine players, one of whom had to step away briefly after her family's home was lost in the Eaton fire.
There are seven championship games on Saturday, including Oaks Christian taking on Newport Harbor in the Open Division final at 12:10 p.m. …
Corona, ranked No. 1 by The Times, opens its high school baseball season on Saturday at 11 a.m. at home against Los Osos. …
The City Section will hold a semifinal doubleheader in Open Division basketball on Monday at Roybal. Cleveland will face Westchester at 6 p.m., followed by Chatsworth playing Palisades. …
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com
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4 days ago
- Yahoo
Six West Valley League football teams agree: Their league is best in City Section
It was football media day for six West Valley League teams on Saturday at Granada Hills, and as a unit, the coaches and players are convinced they have a chance to be the best league in the City Section in terms of competition. While defending league champion Birmingham has an overall 49-game winning streak against City Section opponents, Cleveland, Granada Hills, Chatsworth, Taft and El Camino Real hope to be factors in the playoffs. Cleveland is making strides to challenge for second place with a group of talented juniors, including two Nigerian-born players, running back Moyosoreoluwa Odebunmi and linebacker Oluwafemi Okeola. Odebunmi, in his first varsity carry in a scrimmage against Van Nuys on Thursday, ran for a touchdown. "When I scored, I was like, 'Oh wow,'" he said. "But I know it's not going to be easy." Birmingham has an offensive line filled with 300 pounders, and when 6-foot-5, 260-pound quarterback Kevin Hawkins plays tight end, the Patriots are truly giants up front. Coach Jim Rose said of Hawkins running the ball: "It's like tackling a lineman. He's a huge guy out there." Birmingham held a pizza eating contest this past week, and the winner was lineman Pablo Granados, who ate 10 slices in seven minutes. Hawkins was runner-up with seven. Chatsworth offensive lineman Pablo Escobedo is known for riding his horse in his Chatsworth neighborhood. "It's pretty cool," he said. Chatsworth should have one of the league's best running backs in junior Devin Del Toro, who has been playing running back and linebacker since his freshman season. Coach Shawn Johnson said he has made "a huge jump." There are two players in the league who are outstanding two-sport athletes in football and baseball. That's Taft quarterback/catcher Nathan Swinson and El Camino Real defensive back/center fielder Shane Bogacz. Both try to find time to hit the batting cages to stay sharp during football season. Granada Hills will continue to run the double-wing attack, focusing on running the ball, but the midseason availability of transfer quarterback Taiyo Dorio from Crescenta Valley could cause coach Bucky Brooks to try a pass or two. Wingback Myles Cross drew laughter when he said, "I caught a pass." Brooks offered praise to all coaches and players in the City Section. "I applaud all those who opted to stay in the neighborhood and play for neighborhood schools," he said. "I want to salute everyone. I love the competitiveness." Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Miami Herald
06-08-2025
- Miami Herald
HBCU Football: Alabama State roster analysis
The 2025 HBCU football season is around the corner and the Alabama State Hornets enter the new season with a roster that blends in-state commitment with savvy transfer portal additions. Head coach Eddie Robinson Jr., now entering his third year, has leaned heavily on Alabama roots while also expanding his recruiting blueprint through the HBCU and FBS ranks. The result: a veteran-laden team primed to climb the SWAC standings. Alabama Roots Still Run Deep A breakdown of the 2025 Hornet roster shows that Alabama remains central to the program's identity. Over 30 players on the roster hail from within state lines, including key hubs like Birmingham (8), Mobile (5), Pike Road (3), and Prattville (2). From high school signees to veteran transfers, local talent forms the bedrock of Robinson's vision. Beyond Alabama, ASU's regional reach is evident in key Southern recruiting territories: Alabama – 35+ playersFlorida – 24 playersGeorgia – 12 playersTexas – 14 playersMississippi – 4 players This Southern-heavy focus reflects Alabama State's traditional HBCU recruiting footprint. Veteran Transfers Bolster Both Sides of the Ball The Hornets also made strong moves in the portal this offseason, adding a number of proven veterans from both Power Five and HBCU programs. At least 30 transfers populate the roster, many of whom bring immediate impact potential. Transfer Breakdown by Level FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision): 12 transfers(Examples: Baylor, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State)FCS (Football Championship Subdivision): 9 transfers(Examples: Kennesaw State, Montana, Prairie View A&M)Division II HBCUs: 6 transfers(Examples: Fort Valley State, Central State, Lenoir-Rhyne)JUCO/CC: 3 transfers(Examples: East Central CC, Northwest Miss. CC) These additions give the Hornets depth, size, and maturity across every unit. Trends to Watch in 2025 Quarterback Depth & DecisionsASU lists five quarterbacks, including Andrew Body, a proven dual-threat from Texas Southern. He'll battle with Zach Sims, Te'Sean Smoot, and incoming freshman James Hayes, with Body's SWAC experience giving him a potential edge. Wide Receiver ArsenalRobinson has surrounded his QBs with length and talent. Former Power Five players Elijah Bean (Baylor), Tyree Saunders (VT/ECU), and Nicholas Williams (Montana) headline a deep, physical group. HBCU-to-HBCU PipelineThe Hornets are an example of inter-HBCU mobility thriving under the transfer portal. Players like Kayvon Henderson (Alcorn), Ian Shark (SC State), Manny Thompson (FVSU), and Davier Farrow (PVAMU) show how HBCUs are now sharing and recycling high-level talent. Strength Up FrontWith eight offensive linemen over 310 pounds, Alabama State is clearly prioritizing trench dominance. Graduate transfer Zach Perkins, who's played at South Florida, Hampton, and Maryland, brings Power Four experience to the unit. Conclusion Alabama State's 2025 roster shows a program that knows its identity-one rooted in Alabama high school football but enhanced by the strategic use of the transfer portal. Eddie Robinson Jr. is building with intent, balancing long-term development with immediate contributors. With veteran weapons at key positions and a strong base of local talent, ASU is poised to be a factor in a loaded SWAC East. The post HBCU Football: Alabama State roster analysis appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
CBS News
05-08-2025
- CBS News
Driver Chris Raschke killed in crash while trying to set speed record at Utah's famed Bonneville Salt Flats
A driver going 283 mph trying to set a land speed record during a racing event at Utah's famed Bonneville Salt Flats died Sunday after he lost control of his rocket-like vehicle called the Speed Demon, organizers said. Driver Chris Raschke lost control about two and a half miles into a run and was treated by medical professionals at the scene, but died from his injuries, according to a statement from the Southern California Timing Association, which has organized the popular land-speed racing event known as "Speed Week" since the late 1940s. For decades, the flat, glasslike white surface has drawn drivers from all over seeking to set new land speed world records and motorcycle and car fans to watch. A remnant of a prehistoric lakebed, the salt flats that are about 100 miles west of Salt Lake City have also been a backdrop for movies like "Independence Day" and "The World's Fastest Indian." "Motorsports is inherently a dangerous sport," said Dennis Sullivan, a car builder and racer who set a land speed record in his 1927 Model T street roadster and serves as president of the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association. "People get hurt. People get killed. That's just the nature of the sport. It doesn't happen a lot." Sullivan said motor sports also have stringent safety requirements - such as stronger roll bars, special tires and more fire extinguishers - that help protect drivers. The last racing death Sullivan recalled at the flats came in 2016 when Sam Wheeler, a renowned land speed motorcycle racer, crashed at 200 mph when the high-performance bike he was testing fish-tailed and went airborne. The Bonneville Salt Flats, which had its first race in 1914, have about 7 miles for racing and an aquifer underneath that cools the tires of the cars. It's unlike other race venues in that it doesn't have stands. Spectators must stand two-tenths of a mile away from the cars. Raschke lost control of the vehicle about two and a half miles into a run. It's unknown what speed Raschke was aiming to reach. The association and the Tooele County Sheriff's Office are investigating the death, said Sgt. Dane Lerdahl, a spokesman for the law enforcement agency. "We know it was an accident of some sort," Lerdahl said. For decades, people have used the flat, glasslike surface at Bonneville Salt Flats, 100 miles west of Salt Lake City, to set speed records, sometimes topping 400 mph. Speed Week has long been a draw for motorcycle and car fans. According to the Southern California Timing Association, 18 records were set on Sunday morning, 7 by cars and 11 by motorcycles during a total of 261 runs. Raschke, 60, was the driver of a streamliner - a long, narrow, aerodynamic car made to run at high speeds - known as the Speed Demon. He had worked in motor sports for more than four decades. Keith Pedersen, the association's president and Speed Week race director, said Raschke's death was a major loss for the racing community, CBS affiliate KUTV reported. "It's much more of a camaraderie and community, and that builds a lot of friendships and trust," Pedersen told the station. "He's a big part of it, and he will be sorely missed." According to the Speed Demon racing team's site, Raschke worked at the Ventura Raceway in the early 1980s, raced 3-wheelers and cars in the mini stock division, learned to fabricate and maintain race cars when working with an acclaimed engine builder and later became a driver for the Speed Demon team. Pedersen said Raschke was a respected driver within the racing community and also worked for a company that makes fasteners for race cars. "He is one of the big ones. He had done all sorts of racing," Pedersen said. The Race Week event began on Saturday and runs through Friday.
