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Tag: APP Sports

  • UD head coach Anthony Grant to lead 2026 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team

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    DAYTON, Ohio — Anthony Grant, the University of Dayton head men’s basketball coach, has been named as the 2026 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team head coach, USA Basketball announced Monday.

    What You Need To Know

    • This will be Grant’s second time serving on the USA National Team’s U18 coaching staff during his time at UD

    • He helped the team win gold in 2018

    • Grant will be assisted by Matt langel of Colgate University and Nate Oats of the University of Alabama

    This will be Grant’s second time serving on the USA National Team’s U18 coaching staff during his time at UD. He also served as an assistant in 2018, the year the U18 National Team won gold. 

    Grant will be assisted by Matt Langel of Colgate University and Nate Oats of the University of Alabama. The coaching squad will lead the U.S. this summer at the 2026 FIBA U18 Men’s AmericaCup, which runs from June 1-7. A location has yet to be announced.

    “It is an honor to serve and compete with USA Basketball alongside a great team of players, coaches and staff,” Grant said. “We look forward to uniting this summer toward the goal of the FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup gold medal.”

    The USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee made the coaching selections, which were approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors. 

    To learn more about Anthony Grant, click here.

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    Lydia Taylor

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  • Jack Hughes scores in overtime as U.S. beats Canada for gold at Olympics

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    MILAN (AP) — No miracle needed. The United States is on top of the hockey world for the first time in nearly a half-century.

    Jack Hughes scored 1:41 into overtime and the U.S. defeated Canada 2-1 in the gold medal final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday, claiming the nation’s third men’s title at the Games and its first since the “Miracle on Ice” on 1980.

    Unlike that ragtag group of college kids that pulled off one of the biggest upsets in sports history 46 years ago by knocking off the heavily favored Soviet Union, the Americans in Milan were a machine that rode goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and a stacked roster full of NHL players through the tournament unbeaten.

    Hellebuyck was by far the best player on the ice, stopping 41 of the 42 shots he faced as Canada tilted the ice toward him. He made the save of the tournament by getting his stick on the puck on a shot from Devon Toews in the third period, then minutes later denied Macklin Celebrini on a breakaway — something he also did to Connor McDavid earlier.

    It was only fitting they needed to go through Canada, their northern neighbor that beat them at the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago and has claimed hockey supremacy for quite some time, winning every international competition over the past 16 years that featured the world’s best players.

    Not anymore.

    Winning a fast-paced, riveting game that was full of big hits and plenty of post-whistle altercations, the U.S. got a goal from Matt Boldy 6 minutes in and led until Cale Makar tied it late in the second period. Hellebuyck and the penalty kill was a perfect 18 for 18 at the Olympics.

    The U.S. finally came through after generations of churning out talent from the grassroots level like a production line. All but two of the 25 players on the team went through USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.

    That group of 23 includes captain Auston Matthews, the top line of Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Eichel, and the second set of brothers, Jack and Quinn Hughes. Much of the team played together either at the program, under-18s, the world junior championship or some combination of them.

    The U.S. winning silenced criticism of general manager Bill Guerin and his management group choosing a roster full of experienced veteran players to fill specific roles and leaving four of the top 10 American goal-scorers in the NHL this season at home. Some decisions were no-doubters, like coach Mike Sullivan giving the net to Hellebuyck, who was the best goalie in the tournament.

    Canada, back-to-back Olympic champions in 2010 and ’14 and winners of three of the first five, fell short while playing without injured captain Sidney Crosby. The 38-year-old two-time gold medalist and three-time Stanley Cup champion left the quarterfinal game against Czechia and sat out the semifinal game against Finland.

    McDavid, the widely considered best player in the world who wore the “C” in Crosby’s absence, suffered another devastating defeat on the doorstep of a title. He and the Edmonton Oilers have lost to Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two years.

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    Associated Press

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  • U.S. pays tribute to Gaudreau brothers at the Winter Olympics

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    MILAN — Johnny Gaudreau was working hard to make the U.S. team heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics. He and brother Matthew Gaudreau watched the event growing up, always with eyes on playing in it.

    “It was their dream,” Jane Gaudreau said of her sons.

    What You Need To Know

    • The U.S. men’s hockey team will play for gold against Canada, and it has honored Johnny Gaudreau’s memory along the way

    • Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau died on Aug. 29, 2024, when an SUV hit them as they rode bikes in New Jersey

    • Team officials say Johnny Gaudreau would have been on this roster
    • A blue No. 13 jersey hangs in the locker room near Matthew Gaudreau’s No. 21. Teammates say it keeps them close

    Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau died on Aug. 29, 2024, when they were struck by an SUV while riding bicycles near their hometown in New Jersey on the eve of their sister’s wedding. Their deaths shocked the hockey community, and they have been honored since with retired numbers, a memorial 5K and more.

    An elite player a decade into his NHL career and the all-time U.S. leading scorer in international play, Johnny Gaudreau was on track to be in Milan for the tournament that wraps up Sunday when the Americans play rival Canada for the gold medal. His father, Guy Gaudreau, said USA Hockey was gracious enough to tell the family their oldest son was on the projected roster.

    “He wanted to be on this team,” Guy Gaudreau said during the third period of the U.S. semifinal win on Friday night. “And it would’ve been nice if he’d been here.”

    The U.S. is honoring the Gaudreau brothers with a tribute to them in their locker room at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. A blue No. 13 jersey hangs there as a reminder of the player known as “Johnny Hockey,” who was beloved by so many on the national team and beyond.

    “It means everything — we all know he should be here with us,” said Dylan Larkin, who played with Johnny Gaudreau at multiple world championships. “He should be with us. We love him, and I like that we continue to think about him and I wouldn’t imagine it any other way.”

    Jane and Guy Gaudreau, along with Johnny’s widow, Meredith Gaudreau, and their two oldest children arrived in Milan on Friday. The Gaudreau parents had been planning a trip to Las Vegas and initially hesitated after USA Hockey invited them to attend.

    “Our two daughters, for 24 hours, they just kept at us: ‘You have to go. The boys would want you to do this. This would mean so much to John,’” Jane Gaudreau said. “It just means so much to our family, and we’re so excited to remember what our boys meant to hockey.”

    The Gaudreau family connections to players on the roster run deep, from Boston College to the NHL. In addition to the world championships, Johnny Gaudreau played with Noah Hanifin on the Calgary Flames and Zach Werenski on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

    “Johnny was close to a lot of guys in that room,” Hanifin said. “We know he’d be here with us, so we’ve been thinking about him and carrying him with us.”


    Werenski said after he and his teammates advanced to the final that Meredith Gaudreau reached out to his wife a few days earlier to let them know they were coming.

    “It’s great having them here, and it’s super special,” Werenski said. “We’re happy that we made it to the gold-medal game, so they can watch that and be a part of it. It’s on us to make them proud.”

    Not that it would have been much of a debate, but coach Mike Sullivan confirmed what management told the Gaudreaus: Johnny Gaudreau would have been on the team if he were still alive, based on his body of work and how well he has played in a U.S. uniform.

    “He was one of America’s very best,” Sullivan said. “He’s just a good person on the ice and off the ice, and I think he’s an inspiration to our players to this very day.”

    Players still talk about Johnny Gaudreau, and “all the stories are funny,” according to Charlie McAvoy, who played alongside him at worlds.

    “Just an amazing person, just an infectious personality,” McAvoy said. “The detail, really, with our staff and our equipment staff especially to make sure that he’s always with us, little reminders of him in the room, and they just go a long way. You always see them. They’re just gentle. They’re right there. But we know that he’s always with us.”

    Along with Johnny Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey is that number on the wall alongside Matthew Gaudreau’s No. 21. It’s similar to what USA Hockey did a year ago at the 4 Nations Face-Off, when Guy Gaudreau took part in practice as a guest coach.

    This would have been Johnny Gaudreau’s first chance to play at the Olympics after the NHL did not participate in 2018 and 2022. But it almost certainly won’t be the last time his jersey hangs in the U.S. locker room at the game, a tradition that could continue for years to come.

    “I hope so,” Larkin said. “I sure hope so.”

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Cavaliers beat Hornets 118-113 for 7th straight victory

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 on Friday night for their seventh straight victory and 12th win in 13 games.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 for their seventh straight victory Friday night

    • Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter

    • The Cavs will be at Oklahoma City on Sunday

    Jared Allen had 25 points and 14 rebounds and James Harden added 18 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers.

    Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel finished with 33 points on seven 3-pointers, giving him 193 made 3s for the season — the second most in NBA history by a rookie. Keegan Murray holds the record with 206 set in the 2022-23 season.

    LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each had 18 points and rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner added 12 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte.

    Miller’s and-one layup off a no-look feed from Ball cut Cleveland’s lead to four with a minute remaining, but Mitchell made a short jumper and four free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the win.

    The Cavaliers built a 14-point lead in the second quarter and looked like they were preparing to break the game open, but Knueppel began to heat up, finishing with four 3s and 16 points in the first half to cut Cleveland’s lead in to six. Charlotte took the lead late in the third quarter behind three more Knueppel 3s.

    But Mitchell began to take over with his physical play. He got to the line 13 times and made 12 free throws.

    Charlotte played without suspended forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate and Grant Williams, who sat out with knee injury management forcing them to play younger, less experienced players in the frontcourt.

    The Cavaliers outscored the Hornets 50-28 in the paint.

    The Hornets have now lost three of their last four games after winning nine straight games just before the All-Star break.

    Up next

    Cavaliers: At Oklahoma City on Sunday.

    Hornets: At Washington on Sunday night.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • NFL player meets students at his alma mater who designed his cleats

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    HAMILTON, Ohio — Every year during the NFL season, players have a chance to wear and design cleats to benefit an organization that is important to them.

    For one Atlanta Falcon from southwest Ohio, he took it a step further and allowed students from his alma mater to design his cleats.

    What You Need To Know

    • Malik Verdon graduated from Hamilton High School in 2021 and is now a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons

    • Verdon allowed students from Hamilton to design his cleats for My Cause My Cleats 

    • The cleats were designed for the cause Just A Pair of Shoes- an Ohio nonprofit that gives shoes to underprivileged youth 

    Malik Verdon is in the Big Leagues.

    “I’ve been dreaming about this since I was about 5, so it’s definitely a dream come true,” Verdon said of being in the NFL.

    But he’s never forgotten his roots.

    “It’s a long journey,” he said. “You can’t forget where you come from.”

    The Atlanta Falcon graduated from Hamilton High School in 2021 before playing at Iowa State. Now, the linebacker is back in his hometown, meeting with the students who helped design his cleats for My Cause My Cleats this season.

    The cleats help tell Verdon’s story, from Hamilton to Iowa State and now to the Atlanta Falcons. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “It’s a dream come true,” Verdon said. “I mean, not just for me but for them as well. Being able to show someone that we’re all from there, like just because we’re from Hamilton or Cincinnati, Ohio, it’s not something that can be take for granted.”

    Students like Hunter Burford, who dreams of going to the NFL one day.

    Burford poses with Verdon. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “It’s really awesome that he actually noticed mine,” Burfurd, an eighth grade student in the Hamilton School District, said. “That’s really cool that he got to wear it.”

    While allowing the students to design the cleats, the cause was important to Verdon too. Just a Pair of Shoes is an Ohio non-profit that gives shoes to underprivileged kids.

    Verdon picked several designs from nearly 10 students. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “To be able to partner with an NFL player and, you know, really bring the community together,” Matt Cline, the founder of Just a Pair of Shoes, said. “It’s just a win for everybody. So and it’s very inspiring to see these kids.”

    And at the end of the meet-up, these students got to take a pair home themselves.

    Verdon said he’s already looking forward to working with the students next year on a new pair of cleats. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    Verdon said he’s already looking forward to next season, where he hopes to allow more students to design his cleats as a small way of saying thank you to Big Blue Nation.

    “It’s amazing,” Verdon said. “You know, I wouldn’t be where I’m at if it wasn’t for here. So being able to come back and and get the love that I get and be able to return is it’s huge to me.”

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    Katie Kapusta

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  • Showtime Speedway keeps grassroots racing alive in Pinellas County

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    PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Grassroots racing has a charm to it. Robert Yoho can recall working at Showtime Speedway in Pinellas County as a kid.

    What You Need To Know

    • Showtime Speedway is a grassroots race track in Pinellas County

    • Robert Yoho worked at the track as a kid, and now owns Showtime

    • The track hosted the Outlaw Figure 8 World Finals earlier this month

    • Showtime has overcome a number of challenges to stay open, ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to natural disasters


    “I was a vendor here saying ‘Coke’ ‘Pepsi’ sold them for a quarter apiece and then I went in the military I did my time,” Yoho said.

    Yoho joined the Army, served four tours overseas and when he finished his service, he came back to what he knew best: Showtime.

    “Came back 20 years later and it was closed down… I made a bid… and I’ve been here since 2011,” Yoho said.

    Now Yoho owns the track in a joint agreement with the state of Florida, which owns the land.

    But the lights went out at Showtime a couple of times in recent years. COVID shut down the track during the pandemic.

    Then in 2024, after hurricanes Helene and Milton, Duke Energy took over the track for their trucks. Later, FEMA used the grounds as a landfill for 90 days. Yoho said the track still hasn’t recovered.

    “I understand it, but when COVID came in and killed your crowd and you’re trying to get back to where you were and then they stop and do that again, I still have people stop over here and dump garbage, out in the parking lot, anywhere, they think it’s a landfill,” Yoho said.

    Well, it’s not a landfill anymore. The track is open and hosted the Outlaw Figure 8 World Finals earlier this month.

    Mark Tunny has won this Outlaw Figure 8 title six times, the most of any driver. He wasn’t going to miss the chance to get No. 7.

    “$10,000 and the bragging rights, obviously,” Tunny said when asked what the stakes are for this race. “We come down from Indiana every year, every February, and we look forward to this. Grassroots racing — I don’t think you find anything better than that… I don’t care what NASCAR fans have to say. F1. IndyCar. No, the short track racing with the guys that got money on their line, whether it’s their bank account or their sponsors’ money — I think that’s where you get the best racing.”

    That is why Yoho worked so hard to re-open this track; there is culture here. These drivers take time off their day jobs to race.

    Yoho, the owner of the track, throws on a fire suit and races from time to time as well.

    “I didn’t get to race when I was little. Now all my friends that raced when they were little are watching me race as I’m older,” Yoho said.

    Auto racing is at a pivotal moment for the sport. It has been a struggle to attract new fans. But the fans they do have still absolutely love it. There were kids running figure eights around trash cans during the intermission.

    “We’re having a ton of fun out here at Showtime Speedway. It’s so much fun running around and watching the cars go round,” young racing fan Cooper Meyer said.

    “We love it here, you got the beach down the road and like I said we can’t do any racing at home in February so we come down here we all get sunburnt we all have a real good time and go racing,” Tunny said.

    This track, which opened in 1960, has entertained generations of race fans. Through multiple closures and name changes, Showtime Speedway keeps finding a way to put on a show.

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    Michael Epps

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  • Cleveland Browns announce new coordinators

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    BEREA, Ohio — Late last month, the Cleveland Browns announced they hired Todd Monken as the new head coach, replacing Kevin Stefanski, who was fired on Jan. 5, the day after Cleveland finished a 5-12 season.

    But a football team is a lot more than just the head coach. Now, the team has announced its three coordinators for 2026.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Browns have named three individuals as coordinators for 2026

    • They are Travis Switzer, Mike Rutenberg and Byron Storer

    • The team hired Todd Monken as the new head coach last month

    “You’re always looking for coaches that never forget that we have a job for our players,” Monken said. “That’s first and foremost, and our job is to maximize our players’ measurable skill set. I always say to aspire to be the best coach they’ve ever had.”

    For the position of offensive coordinator, they are bringing in Travis Switzer, who spent nine seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Monken had spent his previous three seasons as the offensive coordinator with Baltimore.

    “He was our run game coordinator, and that’s where it all starts with your ability to run the football,” Monken said in the release. “So, he’s ready for this challenge. He’s intentional, he’s intelligent and he can teach.”

    For the position of defensive coordinator, they’re adding Mike Rutenberg, a coach with 14 years of experience in the league.

    “He’d been in a similar system, but not the exact system because Jim (Schwartz) was unique,” Monken said in the release. “And they can say attacking style, but then there’s attacking style, which is what they’ve done here up front. And I think that background of being a four-down attacking style, but not exact, (and) to add some things that they had done before that I thought would mesh really well with the current staff, was a big part of that. And I thought his energy, his ability to teach, his juice, I mean, it popped. It was what I was looking for.”

    Finally, for special teams coordinator, the Browns will have Byron Storer. He’d been with the Green Bay Packers for four seasons and has 12 years coaching experience in the NFL.

    “First off, his journey – going to Cal, playing special teams little bit in the NFL, into coaching, out of coaching and into the business world, then back into coaching. Being with one of the best special teams to ever do it in Rich Bisaccia. Matt LaFleur just absolutely standing on the table for him was huge,” Monken said in the release. “Unbelievable presentation when we interviewed him, he was more than ready. It was obvious when I got done interviewing him that we had to have him here.”

    Earlier this month, Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz resigned from the position after three seasons.

    Schwartz has led one of the league’s top defenses over the past three seasons but was upset about being passed over for the head coach job, after many thought he was the favorite to replace Kevin Stefanski.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Stefanie Ingram helped lead USF through late coaching change

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    TAMPA, Fla. — It’s a new era for the University of South Florida women’s basketball program, undergoing a coaching change late in the offseason.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The USF women’s basketball program had a coaching change just before the season.

    •  Jose Fernandez left for the WNBA, and Michele Woods-Baxter took over.

    •  Point guard Stefanie Ingram has helped steer the ship and keep the team together through that late change.

    •  Ingram is from Orlando, winning back-to-back state titles at Lake Highland Prep.


    Replacing a legend is not easy, but that is what interim coach Michele Woods-Baxter is trying to do, taking over for Jose Fernandez, who left USF after 25 years as its head coach.

    “It’s been a little bit crazy for us with Jose departing. But you know what, our group was resilient, I thought everybody came, and even after his departure everybody came together,” Woods-Baxter said.

    “It is what it is, we have players that get injured, and it’s next person up, and Coach B was the next person up. And she stepped up, and we’re all right behind her we all had to step up in a different role, and we’re all doing our best, which is exactly what we’re supposed to do,” USF redshirt junior Stefanie Ingram said.

    Fernandez left in October, just weeks before the start of the season, and jumped to the WNBA as head coach of the Dallas Wings. The program elevated Woods-Baxter to interim head coach after 17 seasons as an assistant.

    Ingram, the team’s point guard, transfered in to USF this offseason and just months after she arrived to campus, her head coach left. But she and the entire team did not skip a beat.

    “Just the competitive atmosphere, like, when I first got here in the summer when Jose was here, the competitiveness was huge, and even after he left, it maintained. Like, it’s in the people that are here, and that’s really what I love about this program,” Ingram said.

    “Stef’s a rock. I thought when it was tough for some of our players after coach left, I thought her and Karla both did a great job at pulling the team together and just letting them know hey we’re gonna be alright we’re gonna be fine,” Woods-Baxter said.

    Ingram is from Orlando, winning back-to-back state titles at Lake Highland Prep. She took her talents to the SEC, spending two seasons at Georgia before transferring to Florida Atlantic last season. Now, she’s closer to home, playing in Tampa.

    “It’s been great my family can come to the games. Yeah, it’s been really fun just having everybody here and I love Florida obviously,” Ingram said.

    She looked right at home on that court, shining in nonconference play with 27 points against Duke and 23 at Vanderbilt, two power conference opponents.

    “I’m a pass-first point guard, I’m not somebody that goes out there looking for my own shot specifically, but my teammates and coaches have said, ‘You gotta score, you gotta push, you have the capability for it,’ so I’ve been trusting them and trying to put the ball in the basket,” Ingram said.

    The Bulls will need her to keep doing that to accomplish their goal of winning an American Conference championship.

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    Michael Epps

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  • Inaugural uniforms revealed for Columbus Aviators

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — While football may seem far away, the UFL is gearing up for its season with Columbus’ inaugural team unveiling its new uniforms.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Columbus Aviators are preparing for the 2026 UFL season with uniforms that reflect “the Aviators’ spirit to ‘challenge, innovate and conquer the unimaginable’”

    • The uniforms are navy to reflect Ohio’s air and space trailblazers with white accents

    • The uniforms will debut with the team March 29 as the Aviators take on the Orlando Storm at 8 p.m.

    The Columbus Aviators are preparing for the 2026 season with uniforms that reflect “the Aviators’ spirit to ‘challenge, innovate and conquer the unimaginable.’”

    These uniforms are navy to reflect Ohio’s air and space trailblazers with white accents. The team’s helmets are blue to reflect open skies, and side pant striping symbolizes the constant forward motion. 

    (UFL)

    NOBULL, a footwear and apparel company, is the Exclusive Training Footwear Partner of the UFL and will be the official jersey patch partner for all eight teams. New Era, an international sports and lifestyle brand, will be the official jersey and headwear partner. Adidas, a multinational athletic apparel and footwear manufacturer, will serve as the footwear partner, providing game-day shoes and gloves.

    The uniforms will debut with the team March 29 as the Aviators take on the Orlando Storm at 8 p.m. Columbus’ home opener is set for April 3 at 11 a.m. at Crew Stadium against the DC Defenders. 

    (UFL)

    The UFL’s season kicks off March 27. The league consists of eight teams, including the Birmingham Stallions, Columbus Aviators, Dallas Renegades, DC Defenders, Houston Gamblers, Louisville Kings, Orlando Storm and St. Louis Battlehawks.

    For more information or to purchase tickets to a UFL game, click here.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Nick Townley inspired by long line of Plant baseball legends

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Wade Boggs Field, the baseball stadium at Plant High School, has the footsteps of legends on it.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Plant baseball program has sent multiple players to the MLB

    • Jac Caglionone just got his number retired, meeting the current group of Panthers players

    • Nick Townley hopes to be the next guy in line

    • Townley is the ace of the staff, a senior pitcher who has impressive command on the mound


    “We’ve always had some pretty good players and there’s kind of a long line of tradition to that,” Plant baseball head coach Dennis Braun said.

    The program boasts an impressive list of alums on the outfield wall, which has numbers retired from left field all the way down to right field.

    “We’re one of the few schools that has a Hall of Famer in Wade Boggs and we might have a future couple more if they keep doing the things they’re doing,” Braun said.

    Braun is referring to 5-time MLB All-Star Pete Alonso and 4-time All-Star Kyle Tucker, both former Panthers who are two of the best hitters in baseball.

    The latest pro to get his number retired is Jac Caglianone, a 2021 Plant alum who was a two-way star for the Florida Gators and is already in the bigs with the Kansas City Royals. The current team was able to meet Cagnianone at the ceremony earlier this month, seeing a guy who sat in the same dugout they do move on to accomplish what he has accomplished.

    “Yeah, I think that’s what the motivation is, I think everyone wants to be them not all of them are going to be 6 foot 5 250 pounds and that’s a big part of getting to the level that they get to but I think that motivation is a big deal for them and I think it’s what makes the program grow,” Braun said.

    “It was really nice to see. Obviously, he’s one of the greats of high school baseball, and it was really nice to be able to see the impact he’s made here,” Plant senior pitcher Nick Townley said.

    Townley hopes to one day be the next guy in line.

    “Yeah it really does help my focus. It just helps me stay concentrated on my main goal here which is competing as a team and winning and focusing on getting better,” Townley said.

    Townley is the ace of the staff, a senior right-hander who doesn’t light up the radar gun with a ton of velocity but makes up for it with an impressive command on the mound.

    “Throughout the fall and early spring I’ve just been working on my pitch location and delivery, getting better at sequencing and finding out where hitters are weak against me so I can get them out in the best way,” Townley said.

    He got some preseason recognition from 813 Preps, a Hillsborough County high school baseball publication, ranking him as the 23rd best player in the area.

    “I thought it was pretty cool but the rankings don’t mean anything until we start playing games so I try not to focus on it much, yeah it for sure adds some pressure but I gotta go into games knowing that I still have a job to throw good pitches and compete with the hitters so that just helps me stay focused,” Townley said.

    “Being ranked means you’ve done something you’ve earned that and every year you’ve gotta earn it. Baseball is a tough game so I think it’s important for him to come back down a little bit and not get too caught up in that throw strikes rely on his defense and if he does those things I think he will have another great year,” Braun said.

    Of course, Townley dreams of making it to “The Show.” Every baseball player does. No program around here has sent more players to the pros than Plant lately, so he’s in a great spot to try and get that dream started here.

    “Even though you may not make it, you may not be them let’s do everything we can so if that day comes that we don’t you can hang your cleats up and say I did everything I could to be the best player I could and that’s what we’re trying to do every day,” Braun said.

    For now, Townley is focused on this season and getting his team to state.

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    Michael Epps

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  • Reds sign Nathaniel Lowe to a minor league deal

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    GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Cincinnati Reds signed veteran first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to a minor league contract with an invite to major league camp in spring training, the team announced Saturday.

    The 30-year-old Lowe split time between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox last season. He struggled with the Nationals but played well for the Red Sox down the stretch, batting .280 with two homers and 16 RBIs over 100 at-bats.

    According to MLB.com, if Lowe makes the club out of camp, he would earn $1.75 million this season with a chance to reach $2 million with performance bonuses.

    Lowe won a World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023 and hit a career-high 27 homers in 2022.

    He has a .264 average and 107 homers over a seven-year career with the Rangers, Nationals, Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Thomas, Lewis help No. 15 Virginia beat Ohio State 70-66 in Nashville

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Malik Thomas and Sam Lewis each scored 13 points and No. 15 Virginia beat Ohio State 70-66 on Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena in the Nashville Hoops Showdown.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cavaliers (22-3) extended their winning streak to six.

    • Bruce Thornton scored 28 points for Ohio State (16-9).

    • He also had an assist, the 500th of his career.

    The Cavaliers (22-3) extended their winning streak to six.

    Bruce Thornton scored 28 points for Ohio State (16-9). He also had an assist, the 500th of his career.

    Amare Bynum had 15 points and six rebounds for the Buckeyes in their latest nonconference game in nearly 40 years.

    It was tied at 37 at the half, with Virginia erasing an early Ohio State lead

    Ohio State opened up a six-point lead with under 10 minutes remaining, but the Cavaliers had a 6-0 run to tie it.

    With just over a minute remaining, Lewis forced a turnover and then went the length of the floor for a layup to give Virginia a 65-61 lead. He then hit a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left to put the game out of reach.

    Prior to the game, Ohio State said John Mobley Jr. will be sidelined indefinitely due to a hand injury sustained Wednesday night against Southern California. Mobley started the Buckeyes’ first 24 games, averaging 15.1 points.

    The Cavaliers are 10-2 away from home, including 3-1 in neutral-site games.

    Up next

    Ohio State: Hosts Wisconsin on Tuesday night.

    Virginia: At Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Jordan Stolz wins second speedskating gold of Olympics

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    MILAN — For a while now, Jordan Stolz’s talent and dominance as a speedskater, and his much-anticipated potential for Olympic success, prompted many to repeatedly mention his name — prematurely, no doubt — alongside that of Eric Heiden. Now they really do belong in the same sentence, at least in one regard.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jordan Stolz has won his second speedskating gold medal of the Milan Cortina Olympics by finishing first in the 500 meters in an Olympic-record time. Saturday’s race was the American’s second of the Winter Games

    • The 21-year-old from Wisconsin was coming off a victory in Wednesday’s 1,000, the first of his four individual events in Milan

    • He came to these Games as someone considered a contender for gold in all four

    • The men’s record for most speedskating titles at one Olympics is the five for Eric Heiden at Lake Placid in 1980

    Stolz established himself as a two-time Olympic gold medalist, halfway to his goal of four at the Milan Cortina Games, by winning the 500 meters on Saturday to follow up his victory in the 1,000. Those twin triumphs allowed Stolz, a 21-year-old from Wisconsin, to join Heiden as the only men to complete the 500-1,000 double in speedskating at one Olympics.

    Heiden, of course, did it as part of his record sweep of all five individual events at the 1980 Lake Placid Games for the U.S., taking everything from the 500 to the 10,000, and all in Olympic-record time.

    Stolz finished the 500 in an Olympic-record time of 33.77 seconds, after also setting a Games mark in his win in the 1,000 on Wednesday. Both times, the silver went to Jenning do Boo of the Netherlands, who clocked 33.88 in the shortest speedskating event. Both times, they raced head-to-head in the same heat.

    Stolz was leading Wednesday as they came out of the final curve, then they were even entering the last stretch. But Stolz, who overcame a deficit in the 1,000, turned on the speed and leaned across the line first again in the 500. De Boo slipped and fell into the wall afterward, while Stolz skated past and shook his right fist overhead.

    Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil got the bronze in 34.26.

    The last American to win Olympic gold in the men’s 500 was Casey FitzRandolph in 2002.

    The soft-spoken Stolz acknowledges that, yes, his aims are high, and, sure, he is flattered by the comparisons to Heiden. But Stolz, who isn’t entered in the 5,000 or 10,000 in Milan, also knows he isn’t trying to recreate the same sort of unprecedented and all-encompassing performance turned in by Heiden.

    Still, Stolz does have a real shot at the four medals, maybe even four golds, he is seeking at his second Winter Games.

    At Beijing in 2022, just 17 years old, Stolz finished 13th in the 1,000 and 14th in the 500. In the time since, though, he has established himself as the best in the world at his sport, including two world titles each at the 500, the 1,000 and the 1,500. And right now, Stolz is so far living up to the outsized expectations and accompanying pressure that follow his every stride on the ice at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, a temporary facility created for this event.

    Two races, two golds, two Olympic records.

    Now there are two more to go for the six-time world champion: the 1,500 meters on Thursday, and the mass start on Feb. 21.

    The last man with three gold medals in speedskating at one Winter Games was Norway’s Johann Olav Koss, who won the 1,500, the 5,000 and the 10,000 at the 1994 Lillehammer Games

    Stolz took to the ice to warm up Saturday about 2 1/2 hours before his race. He paused at one point to plop himself down for a seat on the low boards along the ice, retying his black-and-green skates and smiling while chatting with his coach, Bob Corby.

    No sign of nerves. None at all.

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    Associated Press

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  • Florida Polytechnic celebrates opening of new Esports arena

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Polytechnic University is taking competitive video gaming a step further.

    On Friday, the university celebrated the opening of its new Esports Arena.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Polytechnic University opened the new $300,000 Esports Arena, which features 20 fully loaded gaming stations

    • Participation in eSports is growing on campus, and university leaders say scholarships are planned in the future

    • Team captain Jannice Rivera says she hopes the expanded program encourages more women to join eSports as they gain recognition alongside traditional athletics

    In the world of eSports, student Jannice Rivera stands out.

    “I wish more women and more girls felt at home and in a community with eSports, but as eSports has been evolving, we’ve been welcomed a little more and more as time goes on,” Rivera said.

    The 21-year-old became the captain of Florida Polytechnic’s eSports varsity teams a little over a year ago. She is one of just three women who are part of the sports program. It’s a space she has been familiar with since learning how to play video games at a young age.

    “I was able to, thankfully, get my longtime best friends, that are still friends with me, I was able to get them into it, and we all just started playing together,” she said. “And even though the community wasn’t as welcoming to women back then, that was like 2008/2009. With having friends in it doing it with me, I already felt more comfortable.”

    Rivera said that pushed her to apply to Florida Poly to play on a larger scale.

    Over time, university leaders said they’ve seen more students become drawn to the digital sport. So far, Florida Poly President Devin Stephenson said the school has about 130 players across 14 teams.

    “And now that we have the arena in place, I can tell you, as many young people say today, ‘it’s going to blow up.’ And it will become extremely popular,” Stephenson said.

    The new eSports arena is equipped with 20 fully loaded gaming stations. The roughly $300,000 facility was partially paid for with presidential discretionary funds, which Stephenson said was worth every penny.

    “This is a very rigorous curriculum that we have here, so we need more and more student development opportunities for them outside of the labs, outside of the classrooms, and eSports gives them that sort of vetting to stretch themselves beyond the pressure of the classroom,” he said.

    Florida Poly leaders said the goal is to help players compete on the same level as traditional athletics. The school eventually plans to offer several scholarships to students, and Rivera said she’s looking forward to that.

    “The little girl in me feels really excited,” she said. “Now, as time goes on, we’re getting recognized as an actual athletic department. We’re an actual sport, and it can be very lucrative. We have the same sponsors that normal athletics do. We compete in the same way; it’s just in a different setting, and I feel like we can reach a lot of people.”

    She said she hopes that includes a lot more women, too.

    The Esports Arena is open for competition and recreational use. Students can visit and play for fun during select hours throughout the day.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Shane McClanahan ready to ‘enjoy the game again’ after 2 injured seasons

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    PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — There have been a ton of smiles this week at the Charlotte Sports Complex, the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays, as pitchers and catchers reported.

    Perhaps the brightest smile of all came from Shane McClanahan on Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Shane McClanahan is a starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays

    •  He has missed the last two seasons because of injury

    •  Prior to the injury, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball and a two-time All-Star

    •  McClanahan has rejoined his teammates in Port Charlotte, with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training


    McClanahan has missed the past two full seasons because of injuries. Last spring, he could not feel his fingers in his left hand. Now, he’s throwing a baseball and doing what he loves here at spring training.

    “It’s crazy how much you miss this, just the little things like the playing catch, being around the guys, the working out and, you know, just enjoying the game again,” McClanahan said.

    After a strong rookie year, McClanahan caught fire in 2022, posting an earned run average under 2.00 in the first half of the season, and was the American League starting pitcher in the All-Star Game. In 2023, he had an 11-2 record until August, when he experienced forearm tightness. Tommy John surgery ended his season and started a long road to recovery.


    “It gives me a better appreciation for what I’ve missed,” he said. “I’ve missed the little things being in the clubhouse with the guys and the bus rides out to the fields, the plane rides, like you obviously missed playing, but you don’t realize, I think until you get it taken away from you, how special this atmosphere is.”

    McClanahan got off to a good start in last year’s spring training, but a triceps injury uncovered a nerve issue that required surgery, keeping him out.

    Now, the flame-throwing lefty is finally back. He told the media on Thursday that his arm feels good, he had a normal offseason workout program and is still being careful but is ready to get back out on the mound and in front of Rays fans.

    More Tampa Bay Rays spring training headlines


    “I mean they’re gonna see me on the mound, which is different from the past two years, but no, I think they’re still gonna see that same guy that loves this community loves this team, loves to win,” McClanahan said.

    His fellow pitchers are excited for him to play, too.

    “His presence and having that type of pitcher back in the rotation, that’s only gonna make us better, and we’re gonna try to do what we can so that he doesn’t have to take the brunt of the load and try to be the guy, the two-time All-Star that he is, and he can kinda ease himself back into it after not pitching for a while. But I’ve seen him throw a lot on TV and it’s nasty, so I’m excited to see it from the dugout,” Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepoit said.

    McClanahan is expected to lead a revamped rotation, with Drew Rasmussen and Pepoit returning and a couple new faces in Nick Martinez and Steven Matz joining them.

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    Michael Epps

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  • Tropicana Field will be ready for Rays home opener, city says

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    TAMPA — In less than two months, Tampa Bay Rays fans will be back inside Tropicana Field for the first time since Hurricane Milton ripped off the roof and damaged the inside. Spectrum News was given a final look inside ahead of the home opener.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tropicana Field was heavily damaged during Hurricane Milton in October 2024 

    • Since then, crews have replaced roof and gutted any areas where water intruded

    • St. Petersburg’s city council approved $59.7 million for the project

    • City officials maintain the Trop will be open for the Rays home opener on April 6


    Work has been underway for more than a year to bring baseball back to the Trop. Crews have racked up an impressive quarter million man hours replacing the roof and gutting and repairing areas where water came in.

    City of St. Petersburg officials say they’re on track to open on time and remain within their nearly $60 million budget.

    “Once the roof came back on, it really was warp speed with all the drywall, all the finishes, the paint. Even just remediating anything that had gotten wet over the last few months, getting all that out,” said Beth Herendeen with the City of St Petersburg.

    On Friday, city officials celebrated lots of construction milestones. The new net has been hung, data and fiber cable have been laid, and audio is in. And with crews finishing up work on the new $1.3 million artificial turf, Tropicana Field is starting to look like a baseball stadium again. 

    By the end of the month, crews will have the field stripped, allowing the new lights to be aimed at the refurbished diamond.

    More Tampa Bay Rays spring training headlines


    Meantime, air quality tests are underway to ensure that the facility is safe for fans to return.

    “Some things are minor, some things are major, but those areas that did get water intrusion really did get a significant amount of water intrusion,” Herendeen said.

    While construction continues, city officials confirm FEMA has approved $16.5 million in reimbursements for their work on the Trop. The city’s insurance is paying out another $10.8 million, and the city is expecting $2.7 million more from the state when it’s all said and done. But there is much work left to do.

    “We’re going to be putting the outfield padding, there’s a lot of drywall, lot of carpet replacement, the locker rooms for both the home and visiting teams remains to be done. We have those materials on site and are getting started. But a lot of it is just buttoning up the little things that need to be done,” said Catherine Corcoran, senior capital projects coordinator with the City of St. Petersburg.

    There may be paintbrushes out touching up early the morning of the home opener, but officials stress they will be ready.

    The Rays are set to take on the Chicago Cubs on April 6. The cheapest ticket, as of Feb. 13, will run you $80.

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    Andy Cole

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  • University of Toledo sees 3 Rockets invited to NFL Scouting Combine

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    TOLEDO, Ohio — Three former Toledo football players are heading to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, the most of any Group of Six school and more than the other 12 Mid-American schools combined according to the university. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Defensive backs Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Avery Smith and Andre Fuller will head to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana for the combine

    • The university said the three invites are tied for the most Rockets ever selected to participate in the annual combine

    •  Since 2017, there have been 11 Toledo Rockets drafted

    Defensive backs Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Avery Smith and Andre Fuller will head to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana for the combine. Defensive backs will participate in media interviews on Feb. 26 and on-field workouts on Feb. 27. 

    The university said the three invites are tied for the most Rockets ever selected to participate in the annual combine. In 2017, Kareem Hunt, Treyvon Hester and Michael Roberts particpated and last year Toledo had two invites for defensive lineman Darius Alexander and safety Maxen Hook.

    Safety McNeil-Warren was named to three All-America teams last year: Second Team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News and Third Team All-America by the Associated Press. He’s the fourth Rocket in Toledo’s 109-year history to be named to at least three major All-America teams and just the second in the past 54 years.

    He was also named the “Group of 6” Defensive Player of the Year by Pro Football Focus and to the PFF All-America Team. McNeil-Warren had 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups in 2025. He also had three forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered.

    Cornerback Smith is a two-time Second-Team All-MAC selection with 100 tackles, three interceptions and 25 pass breakups over the past two seasons. He was the second in the MAC in passes defended in 2024 at 16 and third last season at 12. Smith saw his draft stock rise with his performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl on Jan. 27.

    Cornerback Fuller was a First-Team All-MAC honoree in 2025 had 49 tackles, one interception and 11 breakups. He missed the 2024 season because of an injury, but originally joined the Rockets in 2022 after starting off at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The university said Fuller also had a strong performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

    The three are hoping to be the latest selected for the NFL Draft. Since 2017, there have been 11 Toledo Rockets drafted.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • FC Cincinnati unveils ‘The Seven Hills’ kit ahead season opener

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    CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati’s newest kits pays ode to the city’s history. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The team unveiled “The Seven Hills” kit on Wednesday just before the Major League Soccer season starts in 10 days

    • The term “Seven Hills” goes far back in the city’s history, going all the way back to the 1800s

    • The kit replaces the Canvas Kit from the past two seasons

    The team unveiled “The Seven Hills” kit on Wednesday just before the Major League Soccer season starts in 10 days. 

    The term “Seven Hills” goes far back in the city’s history, going all the way back to the 1800s. At the time, the city recognized the seven hills as: 

    • Mount Adams
    • Walnut Hills
    • Mount Auburn
    • Vine Street hill
    • College Hill
    • Fairmount
    • Price Hill (formerly known as Mount Harrison)

    “The popular origin of Cincinnati’s ‘seven hills’ stems from the 1881 book “History of Cincinnati, Ohio” by Henry A. Ford, A.M. and Mrs. Kate B. Ford, who reflected that the hills of Cincinnati formed naturally beautiful amphitheaters and created a ‘splendid panorama of the city below,’ which nowhere else in the nation could rival in beauty,” wrote Carter Chapley for FC Cincinnati. “The official interpretation of the names of the seven hills have been debated over the years, but the sentiment remains the same – the communities that make up the city’s peaks and valleys are as much part of Cincinnati as the geology they are founded on.”

    The kit replaces the Canvas Kit from the past two seasons. It’ll be worn as the secondary uniform along with the primary Orange and Blue Legacy Kit, which was worn last season. 

    “The Seven Hills” kit is unique, as the white and orange combination is a first for the team.

    It’ll be worn during the season opener at TQL Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 21 against Atlanta United. “The Seven Hills” kit is also available to buy on FCCGo.com and at the FCC Team Stores.

    Fans can purchase their Seven Hills Kit online at FCCGo.com or by visiting the Over-The-Rhine Team Store (1433 Vine Street) and the TQL Stadium Team Store (NE corner of the stadium; 1501 Central Parkway) which will be open for special hours Wednesday through Saturday.

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    Lydia Taylor

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  • Young Cocoa driver chasing NASCAR dream

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Ayden Carmichael’s favorite parts of racing are in the thick of the competition. 

    “To be honest, it has to be like the actual race, and I really like passing people,” Carmichael said. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Ayden Carmichael is a young racer from Cocoa

    • He won his first U.S. Legend race at the Showdown Series this weekend

    • Carmichael was named the reserve champion for 2025 Legends Division points standings at Auburndale Speedway

    • At the Summer Shootout Series in Charlotte, N.C., he worked with his favorite NASCAR driver, Bubba Wallace 


    The track is his domain. It’s been that way since he was 4 years old. 

    When he’s in race mode, it’s like he’s on the hunt, just like a shark. 

    “My grandma, me and her used to always read shark books,” Carmichael said, explaining how he got his nickname, “The Shark.”

    “Every time I pass somebody, it was just my driving style. I would come up on you, push you out the way, and my uncle said, ‘just like a shark’.”

    Ayden Carmichael, 12, is nicknamed ‘The Shark’ for the way he chases down other racers. (Spectrum Sports/Brandon Green)

    Carmichael started by driving go-karts. Since then, he has graduated and is now driving a U.S. Legend car, which goes around 120 mph. 

    The Cocoa native comes from three generations of racers. Granddad Bill; his uncle, Nate; and Carmichael work on the car together. 

    “It means a lot that they would spend their time [here], instead of with other parts of the family, just relaxing and helping me do this. It means a lot,” Carmichael said.

    At just 12 years old, Carmichael earned the reserve champion honor for 2025 Legends Division points standings at Auburndale Speedway. He’s the youngest driver to accomplish the feat. 

    “It means a lot to be the youngest driver, especially beating the big dogs,” Carmichael said. 

    “We got second overall last year, adults and children. They don’t separate them at the local tracks,” said Nate Carmichael, his uncle and crew chief.

    Nate Carmichael has been coaching Ayden since he started racing.

    Nate Carmichael, Ayden’s uncle, has been coaching the young racer since he was young. (Spectrum Sports/Brandon Green)

    “It was a lot of hard work, some bad words, a lot of sleepless nights,” Nate Carmichael said. “A couple bent frames, it’s just very rewarding to come together as a team.”

    Carmichael’s motivation to be the best comes from knowing it’s possible.

    Last year, he participated in the Summer Shootout Series in Charlotte, N.C., and went to work alongside and learned from the NASCAR driver who he said is his favorite, Bubba Wallace. 

    “It was really great. He’s a good, down-to-earth guy. He really helped me with my line over at Charlotte,” Carmichael said.

    This past weekend at Auburndale Speedway, Carmichael added to his trophy case by winning the Showdown Series. It was his first win in a U.S. Legend car. 

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    Brandon Green

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  • Lindsey Vonn crashes in Winter Olympic downhill, taken away by helicopter

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    CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn ‘s defiant bid to win the Winter Olympic downhill at the age of 41, on a rebuilt right knee and a badly injured left knee, ended Sunday in a frightening crash that saw her taken to safety by a rescue helicopter for the second time in nine days.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lindsey Vonn’s pursuit of a second Olympic downhill gold medal is over

    • The 41-year-old American, skiing with a badly injured left knee, crashed early in Sunday’s race in Italy

    • She was taken off the course by helicopter after receiving medical attention

    Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the starting gate, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived. She was treated for long, anguished minutes as a hush fell over the crowd waiting far below at the finish line.

    She was strapped to a gurney and flown away, possibly ending the skier’s storied career. Her condition was not immediately known, with the U.S. Ski Team saying simply she would be evaluated.

    “She’ll be OK, but it’s going to be a bit of a process,” said Anouk Patty, chief of sport for U.S. Ski and Snowboard. “This sport’s brutal and people need to remember when they’re watching (that) these athletes are throwing themselves down a mountain and going really, really fast.”

    United States’ Lindsey Vonn is airlifted away after a crash during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

    Breezy Johnson, Vonn’s teammate, became only the second American woman to win the Olympic downhill after Vonn did it 16 years ago. The 30-year-old Johnson held off Emma Aicher of Germany and Italy’s Sofia Goggia on a bittersweet day for the team.

    “I don’t claim to know what she’s going through, but I do know what it is to be here, to be fighting for the Olympics, and to have this course burn you and to watch those dreams die,” said Johnson, whose injury in Cortina in 2022 ruined hopes of sking in the Beijing Olympics. “I can’t imagine the pain that she’s going through and it’s not the physical pain — we can deal with physical pain — but the emotional pain is something else.”

    Vonn had family in the stands, including her father, Alan Kildow, who stared down at the ground while his daughter was being treated after just 13 seconds on the course where she holds a record 12 World Cup titles. Others in the crowd, including rapper Snoop Dogg, watched quietly as the star skier was finally taken off the course. Fellow American star Mikaela Shiffrin posted a broken heart emoji on social media.

    Vonn’s crash was “tragic, but it’s ski racing,” said Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.

    “I can only say thank you for what she has done for our sport,” he said, “because this race has been the talk of the games and it’s put our sport in the best possible light.”

    All eyes had been on Vonn, the feel-good story heading into the Olympics. She had returned to elite ski racing last season after nearly six years, a remarkable decision given her age but she also had a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee, too. Many wondered how she would fare as she sought a gold medal to join the one she won in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

    The four-time overall World Cup champion stunned everyone by being a contender almost immediately. She came to the Olympics as the leader in the World Cup downhill standings and was a gold-medal favorite before her crash in Switzerland nine days ago, when she suffered her latest knee injury. In addition to a ruptured ACL, she also had a bone bruise and meniscus damage.

    Still, no one counted her out even then. In truth, she has skied through injuries for three decades at the top of the sport. In 2006, ahead of the Turin Olympics, Vonn took a bad fall during downhill training and went to the hospital. She competed less than 48 hours later, racing in all four events she’d planned, with a top result of seventh in the super-G.

    Cortina has had many treasured memories for Vonn beyond the record wins. She is called the queen of Cortina, and the Olympia delle Tofana is a course that had always suited Vonn. She tested out the knee twice in downill training runs over the past three days before the awful crash on Sunday in clear, sunny conditions.

    “This would be the best comeback I’ve done so far,” Vonn said before the race. “Definitely the most dramatic.”

    News of the crash spread quickly, including to the fan zone down the mountain in Cortina.

    “It’s such a huge loss and bummer,” American Megan Gunyou said. “I feel like hearing her story and just like the redemption of her first fall and like fighting to come back to the Olympics this year, I mean, I feel so sad for her.”

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    Associated Press

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