Latest news with #StPeters
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
March Madness is unmatched. NCAA Tournament expansion will cheapen product
Tournament expansion sits squarely as the biggest item on the agenda as the NCAA Division I men's basketball committee meets in Savannah, Georgia. Any hour now, there could be an announcement that the nation's best championship sporting event, the NCAA Tournament, will be adding an additional four or eight teams. For some reason, it seems like they're clamoring to make college basketball like college football. Advertisement The Football Bowl Subdivision watered down its game with the proliferation of so many bowl games. A team that goes 6-6 is now rewarded with a trip, sometimes bowl rings for the winners, all for finishing the regular season without a losing record. What helped make the tournament's popularity explode and what turned March into madness was because it was not like college football. It was watching schools many viewers had never heard of, like St. Peter's in 2022, knock off historical giants like Kentucky. NCAA Tournament expansion ultimately won't ruin the collective love for the Big Dance, but that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. Far from it. It should be tougher to make the tournament, not easier. Advertisement As of last season there were 35 bowl games played that were not involved in the College Football Playoff. That means 70 of 134 (52%) teams competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision made the postseason. One of the arguments present for expanding is that Division I basketball now has 364 schools. That's about 80 more schools than there were full time in Division I back in 1985 when the tournament expanded to 64 teams. Bellarmine was among a recent wave of schools reclassifying to Division I. The Knights are not a reason to expand. Had it not been for the NCAA's arbitrary transition period making them ineligible, they would have already participated in the Big Dance having won the 2022 Atlantic Sun Conference tournament. The list of new Division I schools hasn't created a plethora of new conferences taking away automatic bids. And they haven't added much in terms of winning to the mix either. According to CBS Sports, Division I schools added since 1985 have won only 19 games in the first round or later out of 2,520 games played. Advertisement A less publicly stated reason for expansion is about revenue. The NCAA could ask for a bump in its broadcast rights for more games and, in turn, pass those earnings on to the participants. A few coaches that live on the hot seat can tout making the tournament and survive another year. But those added games aren't likely to bring any added excitement. So, please forgive me if I can't get behind the expansion talk. I can't be too thrilled that a team like Ohio State, which finished 17-15 last season and was one of the first four out, will be receiving a bid if the field increases to at least 72 teams. There will be collateral damage, too. Advertisement Although the men's basketball committee is doing the voting, the women's basketball tournament will follow suit, if approved. As much as the women's game is evolving and growing, there is not an extra four or more worthy teams each season that should get bids to the tournament. Since the First Four was introduced in the women's tournament in 2022, only one of the eight teams that advanced to the round of 64 has won a game. Mississippi State won in 2023 as an 11 seed, toppling No. 6 seed Creighton, before losing to No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the second round. There has been no team like UCLA that went from an 11 seed in the 2021 First Four to the Final Four. Advertisement As it stands, the gap is still incredibly wide between the top seeds and those that sneak into the women's tournament. Expanding it will just make for more meaningless and unwatchable games. Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at clbrown1@ follow him on X at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at to make sure you never miss one of his columns. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: NCAA Tournament expansion would hurt college basketball, March Madness
CBC
08-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
St. Peter's water utility says minister's intervention in rate hike application 'alarming'
A Richmond County utility says a 19.5 per cent increase in water rates is needed to cover costs, but Nova Scotia's municipal affairs minister has taken the rare step of intervening in a rate application, saying the hike could amount to an "unmanageable burden" for people already facing affordability issues. The St. Peter's, Samsonville and Area Water Utility has a public hearing on Wednesday to review proposed water rate increases in each of the next three years. Barry Culligan, a St. Peter's village commissioner and chair of the water utility, said a four-page letter from Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr that was filed with the Regulatory and Appeals Board was more than just a surprise. "It just seems really odd on their behalf to have stepped into something that's all regulated," Culligan said. "This communication from the minister of municipal affairs is alarming to us, because it's a user-pay system. If they were successful in intervening and to have that stalled or reduced, well, that doesn't bode well for the utility." Lohr declined multiple requests for an interview. In the letter, he said the proposed St. Peter's water rates, if approved, "will result in a significant residential rate increase of $168.15 (19.5%) … at a time of heightened concern around affordability and cost of living for Nova Scotians, including for residents of the St. Peter's, Samsonville area." Despite efforts, affordability a challenge: minister According to the utility's study posted on the regulator's website, the St. Peter's increase would not be $168.15 — it would be an increase of $27.48 on a $140.67 bill, which would then make the bill $168.15. A hike of $27.48 represents 19.5 per cent of $140.67. Also in the letter, Lohr said the province has taken several steps to make life more affordable for Nova Scotians, but despite that, "significant affordability challenges remain." He also cited recent Nova Scotia Power rate increases. "An increase in water service rates will serve to exacerbate this strain and has the potential to place an unmanageable burden on some of the province's most economically vulnerable citizens," Lohr said. 'Advocate for Nova Scotians' In an email, a department spokesperson said the letter was written out of concern for ratepayers. "We don't often intervene, but where utilities in Nova Scotia are raising rates by large amounts, we will make our position known and we will advocate in the best interests of Nova Scotians," the email said. The department did not address the inaccurate increase cited by the minister. Instead, it said the minister simply wants the cost of living taken into account whenever high rate hikes are proposed. Public hearing on Wednesday The Regulatory and Appeals Board has scheduled a hearing on the utility's proposed water rate increases for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the United Church Hall in St. Peter's. Utilities usually conduct rate studies once every three to five years, but many skipped the cycle during the pandemic. Culligan said the St. Peter's water utility has not had a study done since 2017 and it has been running deficits for a number of years. It has also not been accounting for the full depreciation costs of its infrastructure, but the regulator now requires the utility to set aside enough money to replace the treatment plant and pipes in the future. 'We understand money's tight' Culligan said all those things mean water rates have to increase to cover the costs of operation and future capital spending. "We understand that money's tight. I mean, we cringe at the whole conversation of doing this," he said. "Nobody wants to see the rates go up, but the other thing I also cringe at is not doing what we're responsible for doing, which is running a utility that is running in the black." Culligan said if the province would revert to the previous policy of allowing for less depreciation, the St. Peter's utility could lower its rates. "If the Department of Municipal Affairs is doing this, I'd like to think that they also have part of a solution for us, because otherwise, they're basically sinking the utility."
Irish Independent
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
James Quinn hails Rovers' quadruple – but it's not his first ‘Grand Slam'
Quinn previously won a quadruple as a player in 1998 Wicklow People Speaking on behalf of the Wicklow Rovers A coaching staff, James Quinn, has described his side's 3-1 win against St Peters in the Wicklow Cup final – a win that seals an historic quadruple – as 'unbelievable' And, to make the day all the more remarkable, it wasn't even Quinn's first quadruple; he previously achieved the 'full set' with Rathnew almost 30 years ago, albeit as a player on that occasion.
ABC News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Lani Pallister breaks the 800m freestyle record and gets a hug from Dawn Fraser
Lani Pallister has smashed Ariarne Titmus's Australian women's 800m freestyle record set at last year's Olympic Games. Pallister's time of 8:10.84 was more than a second faster than the old mark and five seconds under her previous personal best. It also ranks as the third-fastest swim of the year. "I'm pretty happy with that time," Pallister said, after sharing an emotional hug with godmother and Australian swimming champ Dawn Fraser poolside. "I would have liked just under eight-ten, but I think it's a big three years coming up, so to do that on eight weeks, 10 weeks of work with everyone at St Peters is huge." This year Pallister, who was previously coached by her mother Janelle Elford, moved to the St Peters squad in Queensland under Titmus's coach, Dean Boxall. "I didn't know what time I was going [during the race]," she said. "Usually, I have a little look to see if I could see the scoreboard or not, but all I could see was Dean doing these ones [mimicking fast kicking], kicking his legs on the last 50 and I was like OK 'it's either going to be real close to my best time or close to the time we spoke about'. So yeah, I'm really happy." Pallister said she was keen to get back to work to prepare for the World Championships in Singapore next month, but said the result doesn't change her goals. "It doesn't really change much, I think I'm using this year just to race, have fun," Pallister said. Multiple Olympic gold medallist Kaylee McKeown won her third title at the national swimming trials in Adelaide, taking out the 200m backstroke. "I'm not going to be harsh on myself, I am happy with that," McKeown said. "If I look back on my preparation for this year, I had four months, spent four months in a group where I wasn't finding myself really happy and made the decision a week before the national to move to Sunny [Sunshine] Coast. "I still haven't got a house to live in, I'm in Airbnb's and it has been really a hard transition. "It's just the things that people don't really see when you come in and race." Despite winning three out of three races at the nationals, McKeown has been either critical of her times, or lukewarm at best as she was on Thursday. Her time in the 200m was the fastest in the world this year, but she said it would count for nothing once the World Championships begin in Singapore next month. "No, it doesn't matter what you do here, it depends what you do on the day in an international meet," she said. "I could be doing world records here, get to an international meet and come last. "So, it really doesn't matter what I do here, what form I'm in, I've just got to get my mind right and see what I can do in a few weeks' time. Asked what was motivating her to go on, she said: "I want to go to a third Olympics." "I want to be on American soil and show them what the Aussies have," she said. Second place-getter Hannah Fredericks, who has made her first Australian team, said it was difficult to see the likes of McKeown and Mollie O'Callaghan criticise their own times. "I idolised Kaylee for example, and Mol and it's always hard to see them be so hard on themselves," she said. She said McKeown congratulated her after the swim. "She just said like, 'I'm so, so happy for you'," Fredericks said. Rio gold medallist Kyle Chalmers won the men's 100m freestyle in a time that was faster than he swam to win the silver medal at the Paris Olympics. He said his state of mind outside the pool was translating to fast times in it. "Now, I'm really happy and content," he said. "Like I've got a fantastic new coach, physiologists who are working with me every single day who believe in me 100 per cent, a fiancée who's incredible and I'm preparing to be a dad, living on a farm. "Like there's so many amazing things going on outside of the pool that I think it allows me to come here and have fun. "I'm not here with pressure and expectation, like anything I kind of achieve from this point on is just the icing on the cake in my career. "I'm physically, mentally, and emotionally in a great place and I think when all of those buckets are topped up, I can swim well in the pool." Reflecting on McKeown and O'Callaghan, who have both said during the meet that they're struggling to enjoy swimming, Chalmers said athletes had to find the right attitude to get the most out of their sport. "I mean, everyone's probably very different, like you've got to enjoy what you're doing," Chalmers said. "This is my 10th year on the Australian swimming team now and my 14th trials, like it goes so quickly. "It doesn't feel like it was that long ago when I was arriving here for, you know, London 2012 trials. "It goes so quickly, and I think it's just you've got to slow down and enjoy it." In other results, Brittany Castelluzzo made her first Australian team by winning the women's 200m butterfly final. Paralympic stars, Alexa Leary and Rohan Crothers both won their 100m freestyle events.
RNZ News
05-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- RNZ News
Netball: Tenacious Magic midcourter impresses as ball-winner
Magics Georgie Edgecombe Photo: DJ Mills / Georgie Edgecombe's ball-hunting abilities in a position that doesn't usually shine has been turning heads in the ANZ Premiership. The Magic midcourter has been the most consistent performer in a team that struggled until earlier this week when the Magic had a big win over the Stars to notch up their first win of the season. The 24-year-old's explosiveness off the mark and closing speed have seen her win a lot of ball at wing defence, a position which requires a lot of graft but doesn't necessary get the rewards. But after four rounds, Edgecombe is in the top 10 for intercepts and sits fourth for deflections behind circle defenders Carys Stythe, Catherine Hall, and Jane Watson. Edgecombe grew up in Hamilton and lives in Cambridge where she went to St Peter's for her college years. While she was at St Peter's, she played alongside some of the country's top up and coming female athletes in two other sports, including Tall Fern Charlisse Leger-Walker. Edgecombe won national sporting titles for her school and representative sides in basketball and touch. St Peter's were national New Zealand Secondary Schools basketball champions. Leger-Walker, who has made a name for herself in women's college basketball in the United States, spearheaded the college A-team, alongside fellow Tall Fern Ella Bradley, who also plays in the USA. Former Tall Fern Leanne Walker coached the St Peter's team back then. "I was keen to be a part of the basketball team and have some fun. Obviously Charlisse is a bit of a GOAT so it was cool to play alongside her and her mum Leanne coaching us, so we had a pretty strong team led by Charlisse and Ella," Edgecombe said. Edgecombe also played in the U18 Waikato touch team when they became national champions. Members of that side would go on to represent New Zealand in touch and sevens. "Touch was definitely my summer sport that I gravitated towards and would still love to play but there's not much time in the year at the moment but loved touch and that kind of whānau based sport that I grew up playing, I spent a lot of summers on the touch field." Charlisse Leger-Walker of New Zealand Tall Ferns. Photo: Photosport Edgecombe's start in netball was typical. "I started playing when I was about eight or nine. I was definitely super sporty and netball was just one of the sports I participated in," Edgecombe said. "My parents encouraged us, I've got two older brothers we did as many sports as we could, mostly as a social thing at first and as we got a bit older got a bit more competitive and wanted to take it more seriously." At St Peter's she came under the tutelage of former Silver Fern Amigene Metcalfe, who would later become the coach of the Magic when Edgecombe first joined the team. Edgecombe captained the Senior A netball team for the three years that she was in the side. In her final year at St Peters, she was head girl and very busy. "I tried to play those other sports as long as I could but going into my final year was probably when I thought 'I could continue netball after school' and started thinking about it a bit more seriously. In year 13, I focussed mainly on netball, I still played touch in the summer but in those winter months it was just netball, it was school, it was reps." Her decision to focus on netball paid off - later that year she was named in the NZ Secondary Schools Squad for 2018. In her first two year's out of college, Edgecombe was a Magic training partner and played for the feeder team in the National Netball League. In 2020, she made the NZ U21 squad ahead of the 2021 Netball World Youth Cup, which was cancelled due to Covid. Her second season as a fully contracted Magic player in 2022 was a baptism of fire, when she was thrust into the wing attack position to help cover injury. She was mostly a circle defender at high school and the new position was counter-intuitive to what she was used to. In the season's since then she has mostly played wing defence and a bit at centre. "Wing defence is where I feel most comfortable and feel like I can have the most impact on a game at the moment but I do enjoy when I get to play centre just having the ball in your hands a bit more." Georgie Edgecombe (right). Photo: Photosport Now in her fifth year at the Magic, Edgecombe has taken a number of stunning intercepts this season. "That's every defenders most exciting part of the game and what we work towards in our trainings. I think wing defence can sometimes be a bit of a grind position where you do a lot of work out front to set things up for the defenders behind you, but it's cool in our defensive unit we've got structures where anyone can get ball. "It's just putting yourself in the right positions and definitely exciting and an adrenaline rush when you get those cool intercepts." What are the physical attributes that allow her to cover so much ground? "Agility comes into it but a lot of it I would say is fitness, having a good engine to be able to keep going for the full 60 minutes. My fitness is something I worked hard on in the off season and it allows me to keep running, that's my mentality. The wing attacks are running everywhere so I have to try keep up with them." Edgecombe was named in the Silver Ferns development squad for the first time last year, played for NZA in training matches against the Silver Ferns, and played for the FAST5 Ferns in November. She graduated from Waikato University at the end of 2022 with a Bachelor of Communications and is still figuring out what she wants to do with it. Edgecombe is not afraid to say she has her sights on the Silver Ferns. "For sure, that's definitely the goal long-term. For now my main focus is helping the Magic to be successful ... and whatever will be in the future whether it's this season or in the next season ...hopefully, it's definitely the goal." Veteran Magic circle-defender Georgia Tong said it was an asset having someone as tenacious as Edgecombe in the team. "You know that she's always going to have your back and she's just going to go and go and go again and she's a really positive person as well. Being on the line next to her is really good when you know you haven't got a few balls in awhile, she's always like 'come on we've got this next one'," Tong said. The Magic meet the Stars again on Monday night in Auckland.
