Latest news with #Torina
USA Today
18-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Is LSU softball coach Beth Torina on the hot seat after postseason loss?
Is LSU softball coach Beth Torina on the hot seat after postseason loss? LSU softball watched its season come to an end on Saturday as the Tigers were eliminated by in-state foe Southeastern Louisiana. LSU, hosting a regional, didn't even make it to Sunday. LSU began the weekend with a loss to SLU, before beating UConn to stay alive, only to lose to SLU again. For LSU, it marks the eighth consecutive season without reaching the Women's College World Series. The drought comes after LSU made three straight WCWS from 2015-17. The Tigers continue to make the NCAA Tournament every year, but struggle in the postseason. LSU has only advanced to a Super Regional twice since 2020. After the SLU loss, fans took to social media to speculate on the future of LSU head coach Beth Torina. Torina just finished her 13th season leading LSU and has 534 career wins with the Tigers. The resume is strong, but the program has stagnated in recent years. After a hot start in 2025, LSU finished just 12-12 in conference play. Will LSU softball make a change at head coach? For now, I'd say the answer is no. LSU reporter Michael Cauble made a strong point. Torina's buyout isn't nothing, and with the uncertainty facing college sports right now, paying that much to let go of a nonrevenue sport coach doesn't make a ton of sense. It would be one thing if LSU were posting losing records or missing the tournament entirely, but Torina continues to recruit at a high level and get LSU into the postseason. Fans are frustrated and want to see more, but it could be worse. Torina will likely return in 2026.
USA Today
11-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LSU softball head coach Beth Torina wins 700th career game
LSU softball head coach Beth Torina wins 700th career game LSU softball head coach Beth Torina won her 700th career game on Wednesday as her team defeated Louisiana Tech 9-1 in six innings. In her fourteenth season leading the Tigers, Torina is the only active head coach at LSU with 500 or more victories. She ranks No. 38 among active Division I softball coaches and first in program history with 571 wins at LSU. Torina has guided the Tigers to two 50-win seasons, seven 40-win seasons, and four trips to the Women's College World Series. She averages 41 wins per season and her team has played a top-10 strength of schedule every year. Multiple former Tigers earned All-American and Regional honors under Torina's tutelage. The Tigers boast a record of 35-5 in 2025 heading into a top-five SEC matchup at No. 3 Texas A&M. Following the series with the Aggies, LSU plays three more weekend sets against conference opponents before the SEC Tournament commences on May 6. It ranks fourth in the conference standings.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘I was elected not to be liked, but to be effective': Rockford alderwoman reflects on journey as a black woman in politics
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — During Black History Month, one Rockford alderwoman reflected on her journey to becoming a black woman in city politics. Fifth Ward Alderwoman Gabrielle Torina said she is proud of what she has accomplished in the city over her past four years in office. She said she was inspired by her grandfather and other family members to write her own history. 'He was a pastor,' Torina said. 'He was one of the first members of the Rockford Ministries Fellowship. He became the first black union leader for local UAW 718, which was a big deal because to have a black man in a union leadership position before the civil rights movement was massive back then.' Politics weren't a first choice for the alderwoman. She said she got an offer in 2018 to work in former U.S representative Cheri Bustos' office, but at first, she said she was hesitant. 'When the opportunity was presented to me, I immediately said, 'No, I don't know a thing about politics. I don't think that that's the right career for me,'' Torina said. 'And the response to that was, 'Don't look at it as politics. Look at it as an opportunity to do what you love, and that is to problem solve and to help people.'' Family plays a huge role in Torina's life, she said. Her sisters and mother were of great help to her when she decided to run for Fifth Ward Alderwoman. 'I'm lucky that my mom is a big supporter of mine,' Torina said. 'She was my first vote. That's so meaningful that your own mother was the first person to vote for you.' The alderwoman said she has faced many challenges as a black woman in city politics, but she said she believes those challenges have helped her grow into the powerful and confident woman she is today. 'When you're in this position, sometimes you have to call things out, sometimes you have to speak truth to power and that it makes people uncomfortable,' Torina said. 'I was elected not to be liked, but to be effective. If I have to tell the truth about things in order to move our city forward, then I'm going to do that.' The alderwoman said over her four years in office, she is most proud of pushing for the revitalization of the Barber Coleman building. 'No one was going to invest in our side of town with a 26-acre abandoned building sitting right in the heart of our community,' Torina said. 'It just sent such a horrible message not only to investors but to the people that live over here. It said, 'You don't matter.'' Torina said she wants to be remembered as someone who gave her all to her city. 'If I'm being honest, yes, I want accomplishments, but what has always been the most important to me is the legacy that I leave is of love and kindness, serving people and doing it with integrity,' Torina said. 'If that's how people remember me, then I'm just fine with that.' The alderwoman said she plans to continue making an impact in Rockford, no matter her role in it. 'I love Rockford,' Torina said. 'It's been my home now for 45 years. I will still have a voice. I'll have gained so much experience from working in politics and being so involved in the community that I can certainly lend a voice and be an advocate. I'm always going to be involved in the city in one way or another. You can't get rid of me.' Torina defeated Virgil Hobson and Christopher Williams in the Winnebago County Primary Election for 5th Ward Alderperson on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rockford's Gabrielle Torina wins second term on City Council
Ald. Gabrielle Torina, D-5, defeated a pair of challengers to keep her seat for a second term on City Council during Tuesday's Democratic primary election. Voters had three Rockford natives who graduated from Jefferson High School to choose from to represent city's 5th Ward and southwest Rockford. Torina, D-5, won 230 votes, or 49.4%, Virgil Hobson, 57, garnered 162 votes or 34.8%, and Christopher Williams, 49, got 74 votes or 16%, according to unofficial election results. With three Democrats and no Republicans vying to represent southwest Rockford, Torina is expected to appear on April 1 consolidated election ballots unopposed. A champion of the Barber-Colman redevelopment project, Torina said she wants a second term to continue the work she has already begun. The founder of Riche Black Public Relations, Torina said Rockford needs to apply more pressure on Rockford Public Schools to improve, invest more into poverty mitigation services and support development of market-rate housing. "When I ran for office, Ward 5 residents wanted more businesses, resources, public art, and community events to restore the southside as Rockford's cultural hub," Torina said during the campaign. "I knew this progress wasn't possible without addressing the blighted 26-acre Barber-Colman factory, which is now being redeveloped and is revitalizing the South Main corridor into a thriving area for investment." Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@ and on X @jeffkolkey. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford's Gabrielle Torina has won a second term
