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Monroe News-Star • 2nd August 2022

2022 Paul Martin Award: OCS's Tristan Wiley led the Eagles track, soccer and football fields

When Tristan Wiley was a toddler he used to sleep with a football tucked in bed alongside him. Over the course of his life, and especially in high school, Wiley began to hone in on his athletic ability, putting training gear at the top of his lists on birthdays and Christmases. "For me watching him play football since he was 5 years old at YMCA has been the most fun to me," his mom, Ginger Wiley said. "I'm a single mom so it has been me and him all his life, so he's been my only focus for the

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Monroe News-Star • 29th July 2022

2022 Paul Martin Award: Cedar Creek's Sarah Adams dominated the court, field and track

Sarah Adams found herself in the emergency room on two different occasions after a basketball game to stitch up a busted eye. Leaving blood, sweat and tears on the basketball court is how Adams plays the game. The stitches have been her only injury and, even though basketball put her in the hospital, Adams refuses to let go of the game. "Injuries are great teachers," Adams said. "They can make you tougher, as you work through the pain, smarter, learn and don’t do whatever you did to get hurt a

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Monroe News-Star • 28th July 2022

Buddy Blair Award: How Neville's Caroline Garrett made her mark in athletics

Buddy Blair Award: How Neville's Caroline Garrett made her mark in athletics When Caroline Garrett moved to Monroe from Baton Rouge for her freshman year, she wanted to continue playing volleyball. However, Neville found itself lacking a program – so she decided to change that. With help from her mom, she began speaking with administration and despite being shot down continued to press for a team. After getting the OK from administration, recruiting players, and finding people willing to coac

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Monroe News-Star • 28th July 2022

Three guards from Grambling State men's basketball to participate in the NBPA Top 50 Camp

Three guards from Grambling State men's basketball to participate in the NBPA Top 50 Camp After a two-year COVID hiatus, the National Basketball Players Association Top 50 camp returns with senior guards Cameron Christon, Shawndarius Cowart and Tra’Michael Moton of Grambling State basketball chosen to participate. The camp started Thursday and runs through Saturday at Morehouse and Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta. Players from the SIAC and SWAC conferences will receive hands on instruction

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Monroe News-Star • 27th July 2022

Ouachita Christian, ULM track and field signee Jay Parker wins 2022 Buddy Blair Award

While at Ouachita Christian, Jay Parker became a back-to-back state champion in track, but his first two years of high school were plagued by setbacks. Parker sat out his freshman year due to shin and calf injuries and then, just as track season began his sophomore year, COVID-19 hit. "I was told by some great mentors 'you've just got to keep on going, you've got something special here, keep at it'", Parker said. "They really helped me a lot through that process." His perservearance on the tr

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Monroe News-Star • 27th July 2022

'We expect to go to a bowl': Terry Bowden breaks down ULM football at Sun Belt Media Day

'We expect to go to a bowl': Terry Bowden breaks down ULM football at Sun Belt Media Day Louisiana-Monroe football coach Terry Bowden expects the Warhawks to compete for the Sun Belt Conference championship and get to a bowl game in 2022. That won't be an easy task after a 4-8 season. "Our expectations are high," Bowden said at the Sun Belt Conference Media Day on Wednesday in New Orleans. "I think if I talk to every one of our players as I have this summer, we expect to have a winning season

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Monroe News-Star • 26th July 2022

What GSU women's basketball coach Freddie Murray thinks about 2022-23 roster additions

Grambling State women's basketball has five new faces joining the Lady Tigers for the upcoming season, the university announced Friday. The Lady Tigers (14-17) added three forwards and two guards to the 2022-23 roster. The season begins Nov. 7 as the Lady Tigers take on Tulane in New Orleans. The home opener is set for Nov. 18 against New Orleans. SWAC Conference play begins Jan. 2, traveling to face Prairie View A&M. Freddie Murray is entering his fourth season as Grambling State women's bask

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Monroe News-Star • 25th July 2022

Louisiana-Monroe baseball's Lucas Wepf signs free-agent deal with Los Angeles Dodgers

Louisiana-Monroe right-handed pitcher Lucas Wepf signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an undrafted free agency on Monday. He spent three seasons with the Warhawks, transferring from Pratt Community College. Wepf came out of the bullpen twice in 2020, before COVID-19 shut down the season. "My family and I are super excited," Wepf said in a school release. "It is the best feeling in the world to get a call from such a prestigious franchise. I got a call right after the draft ended and accepted

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Monroe News-Star • 20th July 2022

Louisiana-Monroe baseball's Mason Holt signs with Los Angeles Angels

Louisiana-Monroe outfielder Mason Holt signed with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. He was not selected in the MLB Draft. Holt led the Warhawks' offense consistently through the 2022 season. He was the only ULM player to be given All-Sun Belt Conference honors after being named to the first team. The 5-foot-11 centerfielder spent three seasons with ULM, transferring from Navarro College. On top of leading the Warhawks (20-35-1) in almost every offensive statistic, Holt climbed the Sun Bel

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Monroe News-Star • 19th July 2022

Houston Astros pick Grambling State baseball catcher John Garcia in 2022 MLB Draft

Catcher John Garcia of Grambling State baseball was drafted Tuesday by the Houston Astros in the 19th round with the 583th overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft. Garcia played with the Tigers for one year, transferring from Monroe College after his freshman season. The 6-foot Garcia started in 53 games of 55 games played and earned All-SWAC first team honors. Behind the plate he had 30 passed balls, and caught 18 of 53 runners stealing, the second best in the conference. The New York native from

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Monroe News-Star • 18th July 2022

Miami Marlins pick Louisiana Tech baseball's Kyle Crigger in 2022 MLB Draft

Louisiana Tech baseball closer Kyle Crigger was picked by the Miami Marlins in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft on Monday. The Corinth, Mississippi, native transferred to Louisiana Tech for his junior year from Itawamba CC. He spent three years with the Bulldogs. In his time with the Bulldogs they reached consecutive NCAA Tournament Regional appearances and won their first Conference USA Tournament championship. Crigger was 6-4 with 10 saves, posting a 2.35 ERA in 69 innings pitched. H

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Monroe News-Star • 18th July 2022

Los Angeles Dodgers pick Louisiana Tech baseball's Taylor Young in 2022 MLB Draft

Louisiana Tech baseball's Taylor Young didn't get drafted in 2021 but came back to the Bulldogs and had his best season yet. Young was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers overall in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB Draft on Monday. In his time with the Bulldogs (43-21) they made consecutive NCAA Tournament Regional appearances and won their first Conference-USA Tournament championship. The West Monroe native has etched his name in the Louisiana Tech baseball record books. Young holds the progr

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Monroe News-Star • 18th July 2022

Miami Marlins pick Louisiana Tech baseball's Cade Gibson in 2022 MLB Draft

Louisiana Tech baseball starter Cade Gibson was picked by the Miami Marlins in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft on Monday. The Ruston native spent one year with LSU-Shreveport before transferring to Louisiana Tech. In 2019 he redshirted and in 2020 the lefty battled an injury. In his time with the Bulldogs they saw consecutive NCAA Tournament Regional appearances and won their first Conference USA Tournament championship in 2022. END OF AN ERA: 'The best of my life': Taylor Young, Steele

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Monroe News-Star • 18th July 2022

Toronto Blue Jays pick Louisiana Tech baseball's Ryan Jennings in 2022 MLB Draft

Louisiana Tech baseball right-handed pitcher Ryan Jennings was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Jennings spent two seasons with Louisiana Tech. In his time with the Bulldogs they made consecutive NCAA Tournament Regional appearances and won their first Conference-USA Tournament championship. Prior to his time at Tech, the New Braunfels, Texas native spent two seasons at Wharton Junior College. He entered the MLB Draft with one year left of NCAA eligi

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Monroe News-Star • 14th July 2022

Top 10 must watch Monroe-Area games for the 2022 high school football season

Top 10 must watch Monroe-Area games for the 2022 high school football season With the competition high in the Monroe area, every game could come down to a big play making the difference. Competition is heating up around northeast Louisiana as the 2022 high school football season draws near. Rivalries are being restored and players are in the weight rooms getting stronger and faster. Here are the top 10 high school football games from Monroe-area schools that demand to be circled on the calenda

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Monroe News-Star • 13th July 2022

Louisiana-Monroe women's basketball 2022-23 Sun Belt Conference schedule released

Louisiana-Monroe women's basketball will begin Sun Belt Conference play at home for two games, before going on a four-game road trip to start the 2022-23 season. Non-conference games and times will be announced at a later time. The Warhawks ( 4-25, 0-14) will have to face three of the four new conference members, Old Dominion, Southern Mississippi and Marshall. ULM women's basketball is coming off their worst season under coach Brooks Donald Williams. A handful of new faces could turn the tide

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Monroe News-Star • 13th July 2022

Top five Monroe-area high school football specialists entering the 2022 season

Special team players prove they are not one-dimensional athletes. In some cases, a ball game is determined by a PAT or field goal attempt. The majority of special teams players, especially in high school, are punters, or returners as secondary specialist. Last season, the LHSAA Class 3A state championship was determined by two points. Without Sterlington kicker Jacob Green's 40-yard and 46-yard field goals, the chances of the Panther's walking out as state champions would have reduced. Here ar

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Monroe News-Star • 12th July 2022

Louisiana-Monroe men's basketball 2022-23 Sun Belt Conference schedule released

Louisiana-Monroe men's basketball will begin Sun Belt Conference play on the road for two games before a four-game home stretch for the 2022-23 season. Non-conference games have yet to be announced, but the Warhawks (13-18, 5-13 SBC) will have their hands full with Southern Miss, James Madison, Old Dominion and Marshall as new additions to the conference. Conference play begins on Dec. 29 and teams will play 18 games against Sun Belt foes. In coach Keith Richard's eighth season with the Warha

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Monroe News-Star • 10th July 2022

What former Grambling football stars think about Hue Jackson and future of program

What former Grambling football stars think about Hue Jackson and future of program GRAMBLING – Former Grambling State football players Doug Williams, Sammy White and Andrew Glover made their way back to GSU for the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday night at Fredrick C. Hobdy Arena. Although they came to celebrate the past accomplishments of former teammates and other former Tigers, they shared a collective hope for the future of the football program under the leadershi

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Monroe News-Star • 9th July 2022

Why 2022 Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame class will always call GSU home

Why 2022 Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame class will always call GSU home GRAMBLING — Different ages and eras of Grambling State athletics are represented in this year's Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame class, but they all delivered a consistent refrain Friday in talking about their inductions: They wouldn’t trade their time as a Tiger for anything. Some made their mark under legendary coaches such as Eddie G. Robinson and Wilbert Ellis; others made a name for themselves. "Sometime