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PAGE 7 December 2025 E-Edition
Athletic News & Notes AUBURN GYMNASTICS PREVIEW MEET - The Auburn gymnastics team will return to action at Neville Arena for the team's annual Preview Meet on Monday, December 15 at 7 p.m. CT. “The Preview Meet has always been a tremendous opportunity for our team to get used to the equipment and environment of Neville Arena,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “However, this year is almost more important. We have a lot of very talented young athletes on our team that will benefit from this experience before we start the season. We would love to see all the fans show up and support us, giving us a preview of the thrilling environment Neville Arena always provides." Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. CT and admission to the meet will be free. Parking will be free for all lots on campus, including the Arena Lot. ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT - Six Jacksonville State University soccer student- athletes were named to the Academic All-District Team. They include: Lea Monteiro, Raylin Dixon, Louise Featherstone, Zemira Webb, Alessia Donia, and Amelia Jacobs. STATE CHEER CHAMPIONS - The Albertville High School Cheerleaders recently won the AHSAA Class 7A Game Day State Championship. The Douglas Cheerleaders won the Class 5A Varsity State Championship, while Arab finished second in Class 5A. The Fyffe Cheerleaders placed first in Varsity Class 3A. ALEX MCPHERSON HONORED - Alex McPherson has been honored with the 2025 Pat Sullivan Impact Award. “The Monday Morning Quarterback Club is honored to recognize Alex McPherson as this year’s recipient of the Pat Sullivan Impact Award,” Tommy Sisson, Monday Morning Quarterback Club Captain said. “This award honors Coach Sullivan’s exemplary character that he displayed through his integrity, courage, faith and kindness. All of these values ring true of Alex, even in the adversity that he has faced and overcome. His life is an inspiration to others. We congratulate Alex and wish him continued success and prosperity.” McPherson has battled through adversity including multiple health challenges over the last two seasons losing more than 40 pounds before his return to the team this summer. A native of Fort Payne, he is a former All-American and All-SEC performer that ranks first in Auburn history connecting on 88.4 percent of his career field goals (38-of- 43). That mark ranks among the top 15 of active FBS kickers. McPherson is also among Auburn’s career top 10 for field goals made and point after touchdowns. FLORIDA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - University of Florida Head Women's Basketball Coach Kelly Rae Finley has added Czech guard/forward Emilie Brzonova to its freshman class for 2026-27. Brzonova is currently playing for FaenzaBasket Project in the Italian Series A2 league. She also played with Stella Azzurra Roma in the Italian Serias A2 a year ago. Brzonova's addition gives the Gators a trio of newcomers for 2026- 27 as Arynn Finley and Kennedy Holman have already signed with the program. ZACH BRYAN TO PERFORM AT JORDAN-HARE STADIUM - Zach Bryan is set to embark on his biggest international tour yet: With Heaven On Tour, a US and European run of dates including a finale at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 10. The tour spans over 40 dates across North America and Europe, including stops in London, Berlin, Oslo, Cork, San Diego, Arlington, TX, and Foxborough, MA. The show will be the first inside Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2017. Bryan is coming off a massive fall run with sold out shows at major college football stadiums in the United States, highlighted by a September concert at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI: the first concert ever held at the largest football stadium in the Northern Hemisphere, which set a record for largest single ticketed concert in U.S. history. He recently confirmed the release of his upcoming album With Heaven on Top, for January 9, 2026. Register For Presale Access Now. Artist Presale Begins Wednesday, December 3 at www.zachbryanpresale.com. Public Onsale December 5 with Tickets Available at www.zachbryan.com. PENN STATE SEEKING SOCCER COACH - After eight seasons at the helm of Penn State men’s soccer, head coach Jeff Cook is leaving Happy Valley to take on a leadership role at an MLS club. A national search for Cook’s replacement will begin immediately. Cook, a two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, led the Nittany Lions to a 66- 49-23 record during his time in University Park, including a 31-23-14 mark in conference play. During his tenure, Penn State reached the NCAA Tournament three times. He led the Blue & White to a Big Ten regular-season championship in 2021 and 2023, and Big Ten Conference Tournament title in 2021. In addition, he guided the program to top-two finishes in conference action three other times.
Jacksonville State University has announced its 2026 Softball schedule, which features four in-season tournaments, eight additional non-conference matchups and nine Conference USA weekend matchups. Jax State is set to begin the 2026 slate at the 40th Annual Louisiana Classic hosted by Louisiana in Lafayette, LA on Feb. 6-8 before heading to Mobile to play five games in the South Alabama Invitational on Feb. 13-15. Jax State will play two games against UAB and Western Michigan as well as a single match against South Alabama in Mobile. The Gamecocks will then host Chattanooga on Feb. 18 for the home opener before welcoming DePaul, Gardner-Webb and Northwestern State at Jana McGinnis Field for a home tournament. Jax State will face DePaul twice, Gardner-Webb twice and Northwestern State once from Feb. 20-22 in Jacksonville. Jax State will then head to Carrollton, GA for a road contest on Feb. 28 before wrapping up the month of February and beginning the month of March at the Ole Miss Classic. The full schedules for the Louisiana Classic and Ole Miss Classic are yet to be announced. Jax State will open up its Conference USA schedule on the road at Liberty from March 6-8. The rest of Jax State's road CUSA series are at FIU (March 27-29), at Kennesaw State (April 10-12) and at Missouri State (April 17-19) before closing out the regular season at Sam Houston (April 30-May 2). The Gamecocks will host Western Kentucky (March 13-15), Louisiana Tech (March 20-22), New Mexico State (April 2-4) and Middle Tennessee (April 24-26) in CUSA contests at Jana McGinnis Field this season. Three power-conference foes highlight Jax State's 2026 midweek slate, beginning with a trip to Auburn on March 18 before heading to Alabama the following week on March 25. The Gamecocks close out their trio of power conference midweek games at Georgia Tech on April 7. Jax State will also play midweek contests at home against Samford (March 11) and Alabama State (March 31) as well as on the road at Alabama State (April 21) and at Chattanooga (April 22). Jax State 2026 Softball Schedule
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Asbury's Charlotte Duren (#5) tries to avoid a pair of Boaz defenders during a recent game. Asbury fell to Boaz 37-25.
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Harper Bankston (#22) brings the ball up the court for Boaz, as Asbury's Abigail Webber (#11) defends on the play. The Lady Pirates defeated the visiting Rams 37-25. The win helped Boaz jump out to a 5-1 overall record before the Thanksgiving Break.
Asbury Cheerleaders Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Photos by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
• REEL 1 - Jax State fans cheer for the Gamecocks during the 2025 season finale victory over Western Kentucky. • REEL 2 - Plainview's Janzen Currie (#5) during the 2025 AHSAA State Playoffs. • REEL 3 - Members of the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners pose for a picture. • REEL 4 - Cheering for the Boaz Pirates. THE SPORTS LEDGER HIGHLIGHT PHOTO REEL
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