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The SEC, in partnership with the City of Madison and the Greater Huntsville area, has announced Toyota Field as the host site for the SEC Softball Tournament for the next four seasons, beginning in 2027. The 2027 SEC Tournament is set for May 11-15 at Toyota Field, home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels in the Southern League. Since 2004, the SEC Softball Tournament has been held at member campuses. The 2027 tournament will be the first at a neutral site since 2002 in Plant City, FL. “Taking the SEC Softball Tournament to Madison and Greater Huntsville for the next four years marks a significant and exciting new chapter for softball in our conference, bringing this premier championship to a destination that mirrors the elite level of competition on the field,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “For several years, we have carefully evaluated the opportunity to conduct the tournament at a true neutral site, understanding that the right venue and the right partnership were critical to making that vision a reality. The leadership of the Madison and Greater Huntsville area shares our commitment to elevating the experience for our student- athletes, coaches, institutions, and fans, building lasting memories and establishing new traditions for years to come.” The 2026 SEC Softball Tournament will be on May 5-9, 2026, hosted at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, KY. SEC Softball Tournament to be held in Huntsville 2026 NFL Draft The 2026 NFL Draft was held on April 23-25, in Philadelphia, PA. This year's top pick was Heisman Trophy winner and National Championship quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He was drafted be the Raiders. Below are the Top 20 players by team this year. • 1. Fernando Mendoza (Indiana, QB) - Las Vegas Raiders • 2. David Bailey (Texas Tech, OLB/DE) - New York Jets • 3. Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame, RB) - Arizona Cardinals • 4. Carnell Tate (Ohio State, WR) - Tennessee Titans • 5. Arvell Reese (Ohio State, LB) - New York Giants • 6. Mansoor Delane (LSU, CB) - Kansas City Chiefs • 7. Sonny Styles (Ohio State, LB) - Washington Redskins • 8. Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State, WR) - New Orleans Saints • 9. Spencer Fano (Utah, OT) - Cleveland Browns • 10. Francis Mauigoa (Miami, OL) - New York Giants • 11. Caleb Downs (Ohio State, S) - Dallas Cowboys • 12. Kadyn Proctor (Alabama, OT) - Miami Dolphins • 13. Ty Simpson (Alabama, QB) - Las Angeles Rams • 14. Olaivavga Loane (Penn State, G) - Baltimore Ravens • 15. Reuben Bain Jr., (Miami, DE) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers • 16. Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon, TE) - New York Jets • 17. Blake Miller (Clemson, OT) - Detroit Lions • 18. Caleb Banks (Florida, DT) - Minnesota Vikings • 19. Monroe Freeling (Georgia, OT) - Carolina Panthers • 20. Makai Lemon (USC, WR) - Philadelphia Eagles
Guntersville’s Perry Stewart (32-2) captured the 2026 AHSAA Class 4A/5A girls’ No. 1 singles crown at the Mobile Tennis Center on Tuesday, April 21. Stewart defeated Briarwood’s Madelyn Hunt (28-3) in a fierce battle to claim the No. 1 singles crown 6-4, 4-6, 10-3. St. James High School won the overall Class 4A/5A girls state tennis title, while LAMP earned the 2026 boys state crown. State Tennis Champion Ryan Roberts Named Auburn Gymnastics Coach AHSAA Photo by David Holtsford Ryan Roberts has been named the next Auburn gymnastics head coach. Roberts brings a wealth of Southeastern Conference experience to the Plains, having spent the past eight seasons coaching within in the league. That includes the past two years as co-head coach at Georgia. “With his demonstrated excellence in recruiting and developing high-level SEC gymnasts, Ryan Roberts is the ideal person to lead Auburn’s gymnastics program,” Auburn Athletics Director John Cohen said. “Ryan’s professional experience makes him a great fit for Auburn. We welcome Ryan, Hanne and their family to the Plains.” Prior to being appointed co-head coach at Georgia, Roberts spent two years as an assistant coach with the Bulldogs and four years at Alabama. He played a major role in recruiting as his teams signed top five recruiting classes four times, including Georgia’s No. 1 signing class in 2023 and the No. 2 class in November of this academic year. “I want to thank President Roberts, John Cohen and the search committee for this incredible opportunity and the trust to guide this program,” Roberts said. “My family and I are thrilled to now be a part of Auburn Family and have the chance to invest in this incredible community. I am very much looking forward to leading this team and working with these student-athletes and can’t wait to get to work. War Eagle!” Roberts was promoted to co-head coach at Georgia in April 2025 and since then, the Bulldogs have returned to prominence in the collegiate gymnastics world. This past season, Georgia secured the No. 6 overall national seed and reached the 2026 NCAA National Championship Semifinal for the first time since 2019, finishing sixth overall and marking the program’s best finish since 2016. In addition, the Bulldogs had four regular season All-Americans and had five gymnasts combine for seven NCAA All-America recognitions at the end of the national semifinals. The team’s 11 combined All- America honors were the most since 2014. Nine Bulldogs were named All-SEC and three were placed on the All-SEC Freshman team. The Bulldogs finished fifth at the 2026 SEC Championship with a 197.450, their best team score at the conference meet since 2004 and best overall finish since 2019. Georgia eclipsed a 198+ score in March for the first time in the regular season since 2009. The team recorded a 197 or better in 15 meets, marking the first time ever in program history a Bulldog team had nine or more 197+ or better in a single season. In his first year as co-head coach in 2025, Roberts and the GymDogs secured a national seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. The program recorded six consecutive meets with a 197 or higher and two Bulldogs secured First Team All-American accolades. As an assistant for Georgia, Roberts coached the bars group, which saw tremendous improvement over two years. He also coached SEC Freshman of the Year Lily Smith to four All-American honors in 2024 and combined for eight All-SEC recognitions between 2023 and 2024. Prior to his time in Athens, Roberts spent four seasons as an assistant at Alabama. Highlighting his time at Tuscaloosa was the 2021 Crimson Tide team that captured the SEC Championship and a No. 5 national ranking. In addition, he was named WCGA Region 1 Assistant Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2021 as part of the Alabama staff. In 2022, Alabama finished seventh nationally and second at the SEC Championship and the team had three scores of 198+. The 2021 season saw the program win its 10th SEC title and finish fifth at the national championship. Roberts coached the 2021 SEC Gymnast of the Year and Honda Award finalist Luisa Blanco. She and Lexi Graber each captured individual national titles on beam and floor, respectively, and four Alabama gymnasts were named All-Americans. On top of his coaching responsibilities at Alabama, Roberts also earned a Master of Business Administration in 2021. Roberts went to Alabama after five years with the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Frisco, Texas. At WOGA, he coached members of the United States, Russian and Ecuadorian national teams. Roberts also spent six years coaching in Norway, serving as the Norwegian National Team head coach for many international competitions. Before he began his coaching career, Roberts served his country as a communications officer and platoon commander in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was deployed to Iraq in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Roberts competed for two years at the University of New Mexico before finishing his career as a two- time NCAA qualifier at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he earned his bachelor's degree in psychology in 2003. He also earned a master's degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2010. Roberts and his wife, Hanne, have three children; Leo Olav, Aurora Amber and Pax Luca Ryan.
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Albertville High School standout Mylee Kate West recently signed a Volleyball Scholarship with Snead State Community College.
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