Latest news with #MicahJohnson
National Post
11-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Roughriders training camp preview: Defensive depth
The 2025 Canadian Football League season is approaching as the Saskatchewan Roughriders have opened training camp. Article content After focusing on the offensive outlook in this recent article while also focusing on the special teams and coaches here, it's time to look at the defence. Article content With a plenty of newcomers and a few new players, this group is expected to be a dominant force in 2025, much like they were in 2024. Article content Article content As training camp gets underway Sunday, here's a breakdown of how the Roughriders defence looks heading into camp: Article content Defensive line Article content Thanks in large part to the play of their defensive line last year, the Roughriders allowed the fewest rushing yards against while recording 38 sacks (fourth in the league) and forcing a league-high 49 turnovers. Article content Can this group be even better than they were last year? While Miles Brown, Bryan Cox Jr. and Anthony Lanier II are no longer in the mix, the team has added Mike Rose and Shane Ray to complement fellow starters Micah Johnson and Malik Carney, with Caleb Sanders expected to see plenty of rotational playing time as well. Article content While it appears the starting four are set, training camp encourages competition and American rookies like Alex Grubner, Aaron Patrick, Kendy Charles and Justin Jefferson will surely want to show what they've got. Jordan Smith was cut prior to camp getting underway on Sunday. Article content As for Canadians, while four Americans are expected to start, the team also spent a first-round draft pick on Ali Saad while Charbel Dabire enters the season with a new contract hoping to get off to a strong start this season like he did last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Both of these guys, along with Benoit Marion and Lake Korte-Moore are expected to contribute when their number is called. Article content Article content While the team brought in Adam Auclair in 2024, it was A.J. Allen who made the most of his opportunity when he was on the field and let the Roughriders not retaining Auclair this off-season. While it's likely Saskatchewan will start three American linebackers this year (Thurman, Avery, Reavis), there's a chance A.J. Allen could see action along with Nick Wiebe, a second-round pick in 2024 who missed much of last season recovering from a knee injury.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Breaking Through: Southland team wins school's first state robotics title
Mar. 7—Deemed by many as being one of the best programs in the state of Minnesota, Southland High School robotics program members have been waiting for a long time for one thing — a state title. That changed this past weekend. The Avalanche, consisting of team captain Micah Johnson, Liliana Johnson, Nolan Kiefer and Cameron Bryan and allying with a team from Mankato West, claimed the Minnesota State Vex Robotics Competition that handed them their first-ever state championship. While Southland teams have enjoyed several high finishes in the past, including claiming second place numerous times, this is the first state championship for the program. "It felt really nice after seeing all of the hard work the kids put in finally pay off and they were finally able to get the state championship they were seeking," said program coach Paul Mortenson. The win came with some dramatics. Not only did the Avalanche have to beat a fellow Southland team in the semifinals to reach the championship, but the state title came on what would be the equivalent of a buzzer-beater in basketball. After losing the first of three in the title series, Southland won the second and then put the contest away in the third match when they were able to score points in the final seconds. "It's really important to us," said Micah, a senior who has been active in robotics since fourth grade. "For nine years we've been reaching toward winning a state championship." Micah added that the success this year has foundations in the work of teams prior to this, who despite getting close on a number of occasions couldn't quite cross the final finish line. "They really led the way and paved it for us so we could do it," he said. "It really means a lot to us. We've put in all of this work and we finally get to hold up that state championship and say we're the winners." While the state championship took center stage, the weekend as a whole proved to be a success. Along with the Avalanche, three other Southland High School teams earned spots at the World Competition May 6-8 in Dallas, Texas. They included the Blaze, Borderbots and the Boltbots. A middle school team also qualified, but won't be making the trip this year. Taken all together, it continues a strong tradition for the Southland program that many in the state point to as an excelling example of what a program should look like. "It just continues to say we have amazing kids and they are willing to put in the time," Mortenson said. "We're so fortunate that the lab is connected to a classroom. They are here all the time before school, during school and after school. They are excited about it and that competition. Every year the kids get better and better." And now the teams will go back to work as they prepare for the May competition in Dallas. They will continue to work on those things that got them this far, but they will also take the opportunity afforded to them to work on their own individual skills. Like her brother, Liliana, a sophomore, has been in robotics since fourth grade and she is seeing these next steps as a chance to work on her skills to better the team. "I want to keep working on my documentation skills and being able to communicate better with the teams and work on team work and time management," she said. All of these things that Liliana, Micah and the others display are the benefits of a strong robotics program, something Mortenson advocates for in other schools. "We want to see this in every school," she said. "We see what this is doing for our students and if there is anybody interested in starting a team, reach out to us. There is a network of coaches that really believe in what this is doing for kids. We are so ready to help other people to offer this in other schools." World Qualified Teams Avalanche Micah Johnson-captain Liliana Johnson Nolan Kiefer Cameron Bryan Blaze Wayland Gray — Captain Adelyn Kiefer Abe Phillips Borderbots Kaden Helgeson — Captain Kevin Garey Erika Hollerurd Landon Clement Boltbots Isai Garcia-Mendoze — Captain James Heimer Zeke Phillips Houston Hill
