HIGH SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY
Nansemond River senior defender Caydence Parker was named the VHSL Class 5 Player of the Year after guiding the Warriors to a 15-5 record, the Region B championship and the state quarterfinals.
Committed to play for SUNY New Paltz, she had 15 goals, seven assists and three defensive saves this season. She was a three-time all-region pick who had 45 goals and 21 assists in her career, and she helped Nansemond River take last year’s state championship.
Rebecca Williams, who guided Riverbend (15-9) to the semifinals before a loss to eventual champion Cox, was the Coach of the Year. She only missed two games after giving birth.
As usual, given that about half the state’s Class 5 schools are in Hampton Roads, many area players were honored.Besides Parker, the first team included Nansemond River junior forward Caitlin Outlaw and junior midfielder Brayden Johnston, Cox senior forward Atalee Booth, sophomore midfielder Bella Glenn and sophomore defender Cosette Lee, Great Bridge junior forward Lexi Curtis, First Colonial senior forward Elyse Hinkel, senior defender Isadora Kitzmiller and sophomore goalkeeper Addie Savoie.
The second team included Maury junior forward Annabelle Topping and sophomore midfielder Zoe Redel, First Colonial freshman midfielder Sophie Stroud, Nansemond River senior midfielder Thandiwe Schmidt, Kellam senior defender Carleigh Porter, Great Bridge sophomore defender Olivia Young and Granby senior goalie Renata Videki.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Three Spartans named to MEAC second team
Three Norfolk State players earned second-team honors when the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced its all-league awards: David Ojiegbe, Terique Miles and Jaylen White.
Ojiegbe, a defensive lineman, made 30 total tackles while leading the Spartans in tackles for loss (8.5 for 38 yards) and sacks (6.5 for 34 yards). He also added two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble during NSU’s 1-11 campaign in coach Michael Vick’s first season.
Miles, a former Maury High player, made a team-high 85 tackles, the second-most in the MEAC. He added five tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.
White, from Phoebus High, led the MEAC in total kickoff-return yardage with 685. He averaged 21.4 yards per return and recorded a longest return of 55.
South Carolina State’s Chennis Berry was the Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs (9-3, 5-0) to the conference championship and their second straight Celebration Bowl appearance. SCSU’s Roger Smith was the Offensive Lineman of the Year after helping the Bulldogs amass 413 yards per game.
Morgan State quarterback Raymond Moore III was the Rookie of the Year.
COLLEGE MEN’S GOLF
ODU signs Finnish native from New Jersey
Old Dominion announced the signing of Vertti Hamalainen, a Finnish native who has starred for Montclair High in New Jersey. Ranked sixth in the 2026 graduating class for his state by Junior Golf Hub, he is 563rd nationally.
