Latest news with #Varsity
Otago Daily Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Will there be more surprises?
And then there were four! As can happen in top-six playoffs the top three seeds, Taieri, Dunedin and Varsity, all got beaten to see Dunedin and Varsity bundled out of the semis. Taieri stay in the race by virtue of the fact they were the top qualifiers going into the weekend. Taieri, with their starting backline out in the quarterfinal, were always going to be a long shot to win at the weekend and so it proved. Their pack ground out a lead over Kaikorai but the lads from the high veldt scored two late tries to extinguish the finals aspirations of Dunedin and Varsity. Dunedin only have themselves to blame after leading the comp for the majority of the season, only to capitulate in their last two games. They gave up top spot with a sub-par display against the Eels a couple of weeks ago, then got destroyed in the second half by a heavyweight Southern pack after leading going into the break. They pulled their two biggest players off in the second half, Wingham and Palmer, and certainly paid a very heavy price. Varsity looked the favorites against Harbour to go through but the Hawks held their discipline, went out to a lead and deservedly held on to unbelievably end up as the top qualifiers. This means they get a home semi at the Cockabilly Cauldron and, as we know, it is hard to win down there. Southern host Kaik at Bog Bathgate and Kaik won't be looking forward to that. Tell me it's not so Otago have not named a squad for the season as yet and I hear it's because, once again, they are bringing players in from outside the province to fill perceived holes. The rumour is three players, one from Christchurch (possible midfielder) and two from Australia, one being a lock. It hasn't worked over the past few years — just look at our track record. How can our Otago board let this happen? Who is paying for this? I know I sound like a broken record but when are we going to wake up? All I hear is "pathways" and all I see are "no exits". The only upside is at least we are not Southland. They've named 31 players and how many of those are genuinely out of club rugby? Not many that I can see. Down on the farm Up North it's finals time with Excelsior, the defending champions, hosting Valley. This is the third year in a row (boring!) these teams have met with honours being even so far. There will be nothing in this final but I'm tipping Excelsior may make it two straight. In the deep South, Pirates Old Boys, the top qualifiers, take on Woodlands for the time-honoured Galbraith Shield and again it's hard to pick. POB have been the best team all year so I'll stick with them to win it all at Rugby Park tomorrow. In the South it's semifinals time, with top qualifier Clutha hosting the prison guards from Toko and the West Taieri Pigs at home to the Crescent Coalminers. In Central, defending champions Upper Clutha are hosting the Maniototo Maggots on the lake front. The Wanaka boys, who also hold the "Horse", have been the best team all year, and should just be too good for the Maggots. Wakatip host Alex in the other semi in Queenstown, with both teams coming off losses. Wakatip lost to Upper Clutha and Alex are on "oxygen support" after going down to the Matak mudfish, my new favourite team. The big news out of that game was big lock Chris Nolan unbelievably played his 300th for Matak. It would have been monumental in Omakau last Saturday night/Sunday morning in the burgh. Good on ya mate — stunning achievement. The victors' ale would have been sweet. Oh, by the way, Wakatip win — just. Clarification There has been a bit of confusion over what happened to the Arrow Bulls v Maggots game at the weekend. Stop ringing Maggots coach Charlie Hore because as per usual I have the answer. Arrowtown defaulted Tuesday week ago as they couldn't field a team. The Maggots offered to play Friday night if that helped but Arrow were still struggling for numbers. Stick with me I'll take you to the top!! Test-match rugby We have certainly been spoilt with Super Rugby this year as we have sped the game up. However, we have been living in a "false down" as we are now back under international rules. The game at the Greenhouse was at times farcical with the three disallowed tries and the time it took to come up with a decision. What's the point of speeding up the game when it took us nearly 10 minutes to make those decisions, especially when one of them was clearly wrong!! We are seriously in danger of spectators saying enough is enough and starting voting with their feet and wallets. Don't get me started on the fact that we have a TMO for foul play and another for general play — sheer bloody lunacy! This weekend You'll be pleased to know yours truly picked none from three in town last week — some expert. Soundly beaten for the second week in a row, this time by "Bilbo" from Speight's. Anyway, I'm back on the horse and up against the mein host of both the Mornington and Cableways, Arvi Singh, who, I'm assured, is not the biggest follower of rugby so I'll still probably lose! Harbour are at home to Taieri at Port so the conditions will not be good (they hardly ever are) and underfoot it'll be great for the geese. Taieri have Cam Miller back but there is no Sam Fischli or Matt Whaanga because Southland have not released them. Southland are fast losing all credibility in this town with their attitude to club rugby. It is nearly time for us to get really grumpy. So Harbour (12-) go into this game as favourites, especially with Hastie back at nine. The Taieri pack are as good as any but the Harbour pack are big and with Hastie and Miln running the cutter they may get it done, but the Eels will be right in it. Southern are at home to Kaik and on that track, with their heavyweight pack, go in as big favourites. Throw in Mackenzie Palmer directing traffic and the Magpies (12-) win. On the farm in Central last week I drew with Lyn Jaffray and I win all draws. On to the southern semis this week and up against Tom Hollows from Hollow Timber and a local rugby legend. I'm up against it but I go well in the country so Tom goes down. Clutha (13+) have been the best team all year so they will dispatch the prison guards from Toko comfortably. West Taieri (12-) are at home at the Market Garden against Crescent and in their jubilee year should get it done.
Otago Daily Times
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
ODT Rugby Chat: Playoff spots on the line
On your fix of ODT Rugby Chat this week, brought to you by Garador, we talk to two of the clubs that are up against each other to determine who makes the final six. We grill Aaron Withy from Varsity on whether they will be playing finals rugby next week and ask how much he is getting paid as the town's recruiting sensation at the storied Varsity club. We ask Ben Ellis, prop and club captain at Kaikorai, will they beat Varsity and get a home quarterfinal next week? Do both the lads know how the points system plays, because the host doesn't? Stay with us for all the answers. - Paul Dwyer
18-06-2025
- Sport
Cheerleaders can now go pro: Varsity Spirit's new league offers pay
Varsity Spirit is starting a professional cheerleading league that promises to pay athletes, joining the crowded niche sports market that already includes softball, volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, lacrosse, indoor football and more clamoring for both fans' attention and their dollars. Pro Cheer League is billed as the first professional cheerleading league for athletes 18 and older designed to give cheerleaders the chance to keep competing after college. Bill Seely, president of Varsity Spirit based in Memphis, Tennessee, sees plenty of opportunity for all these sports to succeed. This cheer league's advantage comes from the sport's growth since the 1970s along with Varsity's own fan base through its cheerleading, dance team camps, events and shows. 'That's going to help us really kind of build this out in a way that is sustainable and will continue to grow not just domestically but globally," Seely said. Varsity Spirit has had more than 80,000 people attend its events. The Pro Cheer League will try to tap into that fan base by competing the same night of other events starting in January in Indianapolis when competition begins. The league will feature four teams stocked with 30 male and female athletes based in Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and San Diego. Teams will be selected from tryouts starting in September led by gym owners. Practice begins in November. After Indianapolis, five more events are planned in Houston, Atlanta, Anaheim and capped by the championship in Nashville at the end of March or start of April. Each match will feature three periods of competition with two focusing on cheerleading skills, stunts, basket tosses and tumbling in bracket-style rounds. The final period will feature choreography and music. 'We hope a media deal, which we're working on right now, will help kind of bridge beyond the existing fan base," Seely said. 'And we're trying to build something that entertains families, friends and gives everyone just a great show that they want to come out to." Best for the cheerleaders will be money for their athleticism. Compensation will include pay, money for travel, lodging and uniforms along with bonuses and prizes. Seely noted stunt is on track for NCAA championship status for women by spring 2027 after being designated an emerging sport in 2023. The International Olympic Committee recognized cheerleading as a sport in 2021. They've already had interest from would-be competitors from across the U.S. with some from Canada and even a couple from Europe. 'We just felt like it was the right next step for the activity and to really kind of magnify it to help inspire young people to participate in it,' Seely said. ___
The Citizen
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Tuks law student is fast in E-sports and in the cockpit of jets
Tuks law student is fast in E-sports and in the cockpit of jets To say Ronald Wheeldon is an adrenaline junkie would not be an exaggeration. When the Tuks law student is not sitting in lecture halls or studying, he is likely to be zipping through the air at 1000 kilometres per hour. But Wheeldon is also building a reputation as a formidable dualist in Varsity E-sports' Valorant League. In a profile article on the Varsity E-sports website, his virtues are extolled as follows: 'Beyond raw mechanical skill, he serves as the team's 'In-Game Leader'. Orchestrating plays and making critical strategic calls. He takes on the responsibility of determining the approach. Leading the charge and adapting instantly when plans go awry. Quick and effective communication is his weapon'. 'I believe speed is the key to winning most gun fights. A stun or blind gives you those few seconds of opportunity and being aggressive takes the initiative in winning these fights,' he said during an interview with the website. The strategy is undoubtedly working for Tuks. The team has won four of the six games they played, which means they have qualified for the Varsity semifinals. They will face off against Ikeys. The two teams of Maties are contesting each other in the other semifinal. Wheeldon makes no secret of why he does what he does. He is an adrenaline junkie. 'During a Valorant game, when you are in a tense combat situation, the adrenaline is pumping. It is the same with flying. I am passionate about aerobatics. When you are flying a jet at 1000 kilometres per hour, it gets the adrenaline out of the box straight through the roof. You cannot replace it with anything. It is exhilarating,' he remarked. To put things in perspective. Wheeldon's father, Ron, has been doing air shows for over 30 years. His favourite plane is the Hawker Hunter, of which he has two. The younger Wheeldon is an accomplished pilot himself and has performed with his dad at airshows. 'It started when I was a kid playing Lego Star Wars. I don't like losing. That's never going to change,' he commented. When asked what it takes to be competitive in Valorant, Wheeldon answers by saying that it helps to be fit. Then, he mentions that a strong head is crucial. 'The mental side in E-sports is a big part. If you enter a match thinking that things are going to go wrong, then they will. Being in good physical shape is essential because reaction time is key to winning games. If someone 'swings' at you, you must click as fast as possible. In about two milliseconds; otherwise, you will be losing,' he explained. As to his role as dualist for the Tuks team, Wheeldon said his job is to get the first 'peg' to create space. 'Space is essential in attack. If you can't create space, you usually end up stagnant. That is when things start to go wrong,' he said. A definite highlight for Wheeldon was when he got the chance to play in the Apex Legends Global Series' European competition. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
Hamilton Spectator
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Cheerleaders can now go pro: Varsity Spirit's new league offers pay
Varsity Spirit is starting a professional cheerleading league that promises to pay athletes, joining the crowded niche sports market that already includes softball, volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball, lacrosse, indoor football and more clamoring for both fans' attention and their dollars. Pro Cheer League is billed as the first professional cheerleading league for athletes 18 and older designed to give cheerleaders the chance to keep competing after college. Bill Seely, president of Varsity Spirit based in Memphis, Tennessee, sees plenty of opportunity for all these sports to succeed. This cheer league's advantage comes from the sport's growth since the 1970s along with Varsity's own fan base through its cheerleading, dance team camps, events and shows. 'That's going to help us really kind of build this out in a way that is sustainable and will continue to grow not just domestically but globally,' Seely said. Varsity Spirit has had more than 80,000 people attend its events. The Pro Cheer League will try to tap into that fan base by competing the same night of other events starting in January in Indianapolis when competition begins. The league will feature four teams stocked with 30 male and female athletes based in Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and San Diego. Teams will be selected from tryouts starting in September led by gym owners. Practice begins in November. After Indianapolis, five more events are planned in Houston, Atlanta, Anaheim and capped by the championship in Nashville at the end of March or start of April. Each match will feature three periods of competition with two focusing on cheerleading skills, stunts, basket tosses and tumbling in bracket-style rounds. The final period will feature choreography and music. 'We hope a media deal, which we're working on right now, will help kind of bridge beyond the existing fan base,' Seely said. 'And we're trying to build something that entertains families, friends and gives everyone just a great show that they want to come out to.' Best for the cheerleaders will be money for their athleticism. Compensation will include pay, money for travel, lodging and uniforms along with bonuses and prizes. Seely noted stunt is on track for NCAA championship status for women by spring 2027 after being designated an emerging sport in 2023. The International Olympic Committee recognized cheerleading as a sport in 2021. They've already had interest from would-be competitors from across the U.S. with some from Canada and even a couple from Europe. 'We just felt like it was the right next step for the activity and to really kind of magnify it to help inspire young people to participate in it,' Seely said. ___ AP sports: Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
