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IOC Session approves LA28’s proposal for five additional sports

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By: International Olympic Committee

Baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash have been officially included as additional sports on the programme for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28). The decision has been taken by the 141st Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The five sports were proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee as a package for their edition of the Games only, and were reviewed and supported by the IOC’s Olympic Programme Commission (OPC) and Executive Board (EB).

For baseball and softball, cricket and lacrosse it will be a return to the Olympic Games, while flag football and squash will be making their Olympic debut in LA.

  • Baseball and softball have been part of the programme at several editions of the Olympic Games, most recently at Tokyo 2020.
  • Cricket was on the programme for the Olympic Games Paris 1900.
  • Lacrosse was included on the programme at St Louis 1904 and London 1908.
  • Flag football and squash will make their Olympic debut at LA28.

“The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world, while bringing international sports to the United States. These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the US and globally.”

“I have long believed that we have an incredible opportunity in Los Angeles to create the most compelling Games, not just for us, but for the world. Our Olympic sport programme, in its entirety, reflects this belief,” said LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman. “We are excited to embark on game-changing collaborations with major professional leagues that will unlock massive opportunities to amplify the Olympic and Paralympic story and captivate new audiences.” 

This selection of sports is the result of a thorough process and analysis based on evaluation criteria set out before the process began, including gender equality. It considered the utilisation of existing facilities, involving a wide range of sports communities both in the United States and globally, and incorporating some of the most popular sports in the United States and across the globe.

Modern pentathlon and weightlifting

The IOC Session also supported the recommendations made by the IOC EB concerning the status of modern pentathlon and weightlifting, which were not part of the initial sports programme for LA28.

  • Modern pentathlon: The IOC Session endorsed the recommendation from the IOC EB to include modern pentathlon on the LA28 sports programme, acknowledging the replacement of horse riding with obstacle racing and the optimisation work conducted by the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) to reduce costs and complexity. As noted by the IOC EB, it is essential for the UIPM to continue to implement the necessary changes in governance and modernise as an organisation. Without the replacement of horse riding with obstacle racing, the sport would not have been included in the programme.
  • Weightlifting: The IOC Session accepted the IOC EB’s recommendation to include weightlifting on the LA28 sports programme following the decision of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to delegate its anti-doping management to the International Testing Agency (ITA), and its sanctioning to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) at least until the end of 2028. The effectiveness of the anti-doping programmes for the Paris 2024 Olympic qualification and Olympic competition will continue to be closely monitored by the IOC, as will the implementation of the governance and cultural changes adopted by the IWF.

Following the IOC Session decision to withdraw recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA), the IOC has not recognised another governing body for Olympic boxing. Therefore, the IOC EB decided that any decision regarding the inclusion of boxing on the LA28 sports programme is put on hold, so there was no discussion of this by the IOC Session.

The other 28 sports that are part of the LA28 Olympic programme were approved by the IOC Session in February 2022.

The discipline programme was approved by the IOC EB on 13 October 2023, while the programme of events and athlete quotas will be finalised after Paris 2024. The OPC will now work on ensuring that the final athlete quota numbers for the Olympic Games LA28 remain reasonable and below the overall quota for Tokyo 2020.

Female kickers make a historic achievement

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CONOR NICHOLL | Great Bend Tribune

ANDALE – Andale senior Marlo Sullivan has served as the Indians’ kicker all four years and comes from an athletic family.

Marlo’s older sister, Maguire, played in 35 matches for Kansas State soccer from 2018-2021. Maguire Sullivan graduated from Wichita Carroll. Her two siblings are Malone and Marlo.

Last week, Sullivan and Nickerson kicker Ayla Ontjes delivered a rare feat in an 85-7 Andale victory.

Sullivan made multiple extra points, while Ontjes was successful on her second-quarter attempt. Nickerson assistant football coach Parker Bruce is an Andale graduate, and his mother Mindy, has worked in the Andale administration.

This marks the second time in Kansas high school football history that female kickers on opposing teams scored on kicks.
Andale, owns the nation’s longest football winning streak at 56, often tries for two points. Sullivan has consistently converted extra points when given the opportunity. 
Her statistics are similar the last three seasons.
Notably on Oct. 30, 2020, Sullivan kicked two extra points in a 74-7 win versus Larned. In 2021, she was the first girl to score in a state title game with three extra points.
In 2022, Sullivan earned second-team all league honors and finished 23-of-29 on extra points. That included 2-of-3 on extra points in the 3A state championship against Holton.

Andale coach Dylan Schmidt told SunflowerSportsSolutions.com (S3) that Sullivan converts 90% of her practice kicks.

As a freshman, she asked coach Schmidt to tryout as a kicker.

Sullivan is the second girl to score in a state title. In 2016, Maroa-Forsyth’s Reilly Fitzpatrick converted an extra point in the 2A Illinois state championship game.
Sullivan has earned numerous opportunities since Andale has tallied at least 64 points in a 5-0 start.

Sullivan made 1-of-2 extra points Week 1 against Wellington in a 75-28 victory. She made 4-of-5 extra points in a 64-13 win versus Rose Hill in Week 2.
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Sullivan will finish her career as a top-five female kicker in Kansas annals. Ontjes kicks extra points and has played volleyball, basketball and soccer.
Ontjes made 4-of-5 extra points in 2022, and missed her other extra point before Friday. Ontjes had 122 digs for Nickerson volleyball last season, and was recovering from injury in late August.
Ontjes comes from an athletic family with sisters Madison and Kieryn. Madison played soccer at Hutchinson Community College.
S3’s main sourcing came from an extensive database called LuckyShow.org, a website cited by MaxPreps and other major news outlets on various sports statistics.
LuckyShow.org is run by Paul S. Luchter, known for his documentation and database work. Luchter, a Columbia University graduate in Operations Research, wrote on his Linked In page: “It is fun and easy recording documents and associated work. I am accurate, enthusiastic, quick and personable. No one can do it better.”
Pertinent information was also confirmed by S3 through newspaper and online accounts.
On Oct. 28, 2005, Topeka’s Anne Schafer kicked a 40-yard field goal in a 57-3 loss against Lawrence. In the same contest, Lawrence’s Abby Vestal kicked three extra points. The 40-yarder is the longest reported field goal by a girl in Kansas history.
Schafer made a field goal and cut Lawrence’s deficit to 21-3. Vestal tallied her first extra point in the second quarter.

“Topeka High’s Anne Schafer showed off her leg in this attempt,” the Lawrence Journal World wrote. “She boomed this low, line drive just over the cross bar on a long field goal try, giving the Trojans their only points.”
Vestal played for Lawrence as a junior and senior. She was invited to come out by former longtime Lawrence coach Dirk Wedd, who saw her play for the LHS soccer team.
On Sept. 2, 2005, Vestal made two extra points in a 49-7 win versus Leavenworth. On Sept. 16, 2005, Schafer’s Topeka team won 36-13 versus Shawnee Mission. Vestal’s Lawrence squad won 35-14 against SM North. Schafer went 4-for-4 on extra points, and Vestal was 5-5.

Seven weeks later, the teams met up in a Week 9 matchup. Topeka was highly depleted entering the season’s final contest. Lawrence viewed itself a state contender. Both girl kickers scored.
In 2006, Vestal opened the season with 10-of-11 extra points.

“She’s done everything we’ve asked of her and more,” Wedd said to the LJ-World. “There are no gifts here.”
On Sept. 1, 2006, Vestal kicked three extra points in a 34-27 versus Olathe North.
Vestal also kicked a 25-yard extra point and 20-yard field goal in a 16-3 win versus SM East Sept. 29, 2006. Vestal had a 22-yard field goal in a 31-7 win versus Washburn Rural Oct. 13, 2006.
After high school, Vestal had successful kicking games in an indoor professional men’s league.
Two female kickers have scored in the same game for opposing teams a couple of times in different states, including Louisiana, Indiana, California, New York, Nevada, Washington D.C. and Missouri.
A Nov. 16, 1991 New York game marked the first time two females both scored in the same contest. A 2006 Illinois game featured two girls on the same team scoring on the same team. This also happened in South Carolina in ’08, Michigan in ’14 and Louisiana in 2020, per Lucky Show.
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Labette County’s Missy Dantic enjoyed a standout career. She made an extra point Sept. 13, 2013. On Sept. 5, 2014, Dantic kicked a 31-yard field goal in a 51-10 loss to Independence.
The 31-yarder marked a milestone for Dantic on several levels. Per Kpreps, it was believed to be a school record and her first field goal in a game.
Dantic was a longtime club soccer player from Owasso, Okla. and attended Labette County as a freshman. Then-LC coach Jesse Ybarra approached her midway through her freshman season if she would consider kicking for the Grizzlies. Dantic earned second team all-SEK as a junior.
“When we talk about sending her out for a field goal, it’s not one of those deals where we’re rolling the dice and she might make something happen,” Ybarra told KPreps. “We’re pretty confident that if we got a good snap and a good hold, she’s probably going to strike it well. If we stall out somewhere close, we feel pretty confident that we can at least put some points on the board and come away with something on the drive. In high school football, that’s a rarity almost.”
A week later, Dantic made a 33-yard field goal in a 43-31 loss to Osawatomie. In 2015, Dantic combined for 18 kicking points in two games and 32 for the season. That included a career-best 34-yard field goal.
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Rossville’s Alyssa Howard is also one of the top girl kickers in Kansas history. In 2005, Howard kicked an extra point in a 25-0 win versus Sabetha. Howard kicked four extra points Oct. 21, 2005.
In a 20-10 loss to Silver Lake, Howard made a 27-yard field goal Sept. 8, 2006. She kicked two extra points and two field goals on Oct. 31, 2006 in a 27-13 win versus Jefferson County North.
Wichita Collegiate showcased a brother-and-sister combination in a 52-0 win versus Wellington Sept. 30, 2016. Addison Harris was 6-of-6 on extra points and Bekah Harris kicked a field goal.
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The Centennial League has had several female kickers. Topeka High’s Ruth Fiander kicked field goals in 2014. Topeka Highland Park’s Ruth Cazier notably scored in a couple games in 2014.
Recently, Topeka High’s Talayah Thomas, a standout basketball player, kicked for the Trojans. Notably, Thomas made 7-of-7 extra points Oct. 2, 2020.
Outside of the City League, Andi Basalo made six extra points for Blue Valley North in a 48-13 win versus Blue Valley Northwest in 2017.
Hillary Krebs had seven kicking points in a 13-6 win for Sabetha against Nemaha Central.
In 2019, Goddard’s Brooke Sullivan kicked six of six extra points in a 48-0 win versus Arkansas City. Sullivan went to Goddard and played soccer for Kansas State. She played soccer, football and basketball for the Lions.
Riverton’s Chloe Parker had three extra points in a 52-0 win versus Baxter Springs in 2021.
Last year, Mission Valley had a 29-12 win versus McLouth on Sept. 30, 2022. MV’s Hemi Duejring made two of two extra points. Duejring made four extra points last year

Haley Van Voorhis becomes first woman non-kicker to play in NCAA football game

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By: ALEX SCARBOROUGH | ESPN

Haley Van Voorhis, a safety at Division-III Shenandoah University, became the first woman non-kicker to appear in an NCAA football game on Saturday against Juniata.

She came on in the first quarter with Shenandoah already up 26 points and registered a quarterback hurry on third down.

“It’s an amazing thing,” Van Voorhis said after the game, according to The Washington Post. “I just wanted to get out and do my thing. I want to show other people this is what women can do, to show what I can do. It’s a big moment. I made the impossible possible, and I’m excited about that.”

Shenandoah went on to beat Juniata 48-7.

A 5-foot-6, 145-pound junior, Van Voorhis spent the past two seasons playing on junior varsity. The Plains, Virginia, native went to high school at Christchurch and was a 2019 all-state honorable mention. Her senior season was canceled because of COVID-19.

Van Voorhis is also a member of Shenandoah’s track and field team, running sprints.

In 2014, defensive back Shelby Osborne became the first woman non-kicker to participate in an NAIA program at Campbellsville University. She appeared in one game in 2018.

Multiple women have played kicking positions in college football. In 2003, Katie Hnida became the first woman to score in an NCAA Division I-A football game as the place-kicker at New Mexico. Seventeen years later, Sarah Fuller became the first woman to score in a Power 5 football game as the kicker for Vanderbilt.

In an interview with ESPN in 2021, Van Voorhis said she’s used to people pointing out that she’s the only girl playing football, whether it was during Pop Warner or at high school.

“There’s definitely people out there who see the story and think, ‘This girl’s going to get hurt,'” she said. “I hear that a lot. Or, ‘She’s too small, doesn’t weigh enough, not tall enough.’ But I’m not the shortest on my team, and I’m not the lightest.”

Shenandoah coach Scott Yoder told ESPN in 2021 that Van Voorhis is “very determined” young person.

“What has really helped me has been when you peel everything back it’s about a young person who wants an opportunity, who works for it and has earned an opportunity,” he said. “For 21 years I’ve been fortunate to be on the coaching side of that. And at the core of this, it’s no different.”

These Girls Are Ready For Some Football

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Oxford preparing for its first season of girls flag football, open its season at home Tuesday night

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

Girls flag football got underway in Alabama this week. Oxford plays its historic first games next Tuesday in a three-team date at Lamar Field.

All of the Lady Jackets’ games will be three-team affairs. They play at home twice this 12-game season – Tuesday and the final week of the regular season Oct. 28. A statewide, one-classification championship game will be played the Wednesday of the Super 7.

“It’s been fun,” Oxford coach Wes Brooks said of the run-up to the season opener. “You think about a girl her whole lifetime thinking what it’s like to play football and now they’re getting that opportunity.”

Nearly 60 schools around the state have declared to play the sport in this first year it’s being offered by the AHSAA. Oxford and Anniston are the only teams in Calhoun County on that list, but they will not be playing each other.

[Read more…] about These Girls Are Ready For Some Football

Broncos’ First-Ever Female Coach Advocates for More Girls Football

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By: Arielle Orsuto

Emily Zaler became the first-ever full-time female coach with the Denver Broncos in 2020 when she was promoted from the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.

DENVER — The faces in the NFL are starting to look a bit different, and that’s a good thing. Eight women were hired as full-time coaches this season throughout the league.

[Read more…] about Broncos’ First-Ever Female Coach Advocates for More Girls Football

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