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» What’s Happening Today. The DIII Championships begins its two-day session at national headquarters, while the DIII Nominating Committee meets in Indianapolis.

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TOP STORY
1. A DIII Champion Gymnast Becomes World-Class Marathoner

by Gavin Dorsey, Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Gabi Rooker begins her days running around the lakes outside of Minneapolis. In the mornings, she runs between 3 and 5 miles before heading to the hospital for work as a physician assistant. When she gets home, she adds on another 10 miles, goes to bed and repeats the next day.

That's how the 36-year-old from New Brighton went from casual runner to marathoner to potential Olympian after a stunning fourth-place finish among Americans at last fall's Chicago Marathon.

She is ranked 11th among American women by worldathletics.org — an incredible achievement considering her late arrival to the sport.”

» Background. “As Gabi Hooper, she was a high-level gymnast. Aside from a short stint in high school when she ran track, she competed in a gymnasium from the time she was three years old to age 22, where she was a three-time individual (two vault and one floor) and three-time team NCAA Division III champion at Wisconsin-La Crosse.”

» Reality Check. “But after finishing college, she felt lost. “Almost all gymnasts are going to be done after college, if you go on to college gymnastics," Rooker said. "That's kind of the endpoint, the end goal, so then there's a period of relearning yourself and who you are as no longer a gymnast. That can be pretty tricky."

» The Big Picture. “Rooker started running casually after she graduated in 2010, but it was mostly an "off-and-on thing" and a way to stay in shape. Looking to find a similar community to the one she experienced in gymnastics, she joined the (Mill City Running) team in early 2019. Rooker's rise was meteoric. Since running her first marathon nearly three years ago, she's lowered her time by more than 30 minutes.”

» Worth Noting. Rooker finished 19th at Sunday’s U.S. Olympic Trials in Orlando, Fla. with a time of 2:31.25.

» Keep Reading

BASKETBALL (M)
2. Yellow Jackets Repel Comeback to Topple Top-Ranked Tigers

by Robby Fletcher, Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Nearly 1,500 people packed inside S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium for a sold out Saturday showdown between Hampden-Sydney, ranked No. 1 in Division III, and No. 8 Randolph-Macon.

A rematch of a Dec. 8 bout that saw the Tigers snap a 12-game losing streak in the rivalry series, the sequel lived up to the hype, coming down to the final possession that saw the trailing Tigers get three clean looks at the hoop in a two-point contest, none of which went their way in a 48-46 final.

The loss ends a 14-game win streak for the Tigers (19-2, 11-2 ODAC) that started with that December win over their rivals, while the win streak for RMC (18-3, 11-1) was extended to 13.”

» What’s Next. We could see John Carroll or Trine rise to the top spot in Monday’s D3hoops.com poll.

» Read More

SWIMMING
3. CSCAA Hall of Fame Class Unveiled

“The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA) proudly unveils the inaugural class of the CSCAA Division III Hall of Fame. This distinguished recognition aims to honor the exceptional contributions of swimmers, divers, and coaches within the NCAA Division III realm. The inaugural induction ceremony is set to take place at the CSCAA Annual Awards Celebration on May 6, 2024, hosted at the illustrious Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis.

The forthcoming CSCAA Annual Awards Celebration on May 6, 2024, promises to be an extraordinary event, featuring the prestigious debut of the CSCAA Division III Hall of Fame. The inaugural class comprises thirty-eight outstanding swimmers, divers, and coaches, each recognized for their remarkable achievements and profound impact on collegiate swimming and diving.”

The list included 16 coaches, 11 female and 11 male athletes.

» What They’re Saying. “This Hall of Fame stands as a tribute to the remarkable careers and accomplishments of swimmers, divers, and coaches who have played pivotal roles in shaping the landscape of collegiate swimming and diving at the Division III level,” said Samantha Barany, CSCAA Executive Director. “The inductees will be celebrated not only for their exceptional athletic careers but also for their enduring impact on our sport, their teams, and their institutions.”

» Complete List of Inductees

NEWS
4. Lightning Round

🏃‍♂️ Track and Field (M). UW-La Crosse sprinter Sam Blaskowski set a Division III record in the 60-meter dash, covering the distance in 6.64. He now owns the seven fastest 60m DIII times in history.

📰 News. “When struggling Bloomfield College was absorbed by Montclair State University in 2022, officials announced Bloomfield would keep its Division II athletics programs, at least temporarily. Now Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, as it is known following the merger, is suspending six of its 13 sports programs due to a lack of participation.”

🏈 Football. QB Luke Lehnen, the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner from North Central (Ill.), will return to the Cardinals next fall to pursue another shot at the national title.

🏃‍♂️ Marathon. Carnegie Mellon alum Josh Kalapos ‘19 finished 17th in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, finishing the course in 2:14.26.

STREAMING
5. What 2 Watch Tonight

🏀 WBB: Concordia-Moorhead (13-4) vs. Saint Benedict (12-7), 6:15
🏀 MBB: Saint John’s (17-4) vs. Concordia-Moorhead (12-8), 800

TRANSACTIONS
6. Comings and Goings

• FERRUM - Alexis Hunt named head cheerleading coach

• MISSISSIPPI U. for WOMEN - Ana Ramos named head women’s soccer coach

• MUHLENBERG - Brad Hackett will retire as head track and field coach at the end of the academic year. Amy Filanowski named head coach

• ST. JOSEPH’S (L.I.) - Announced addition of men’s swimming as a varsity sport in 2024-25

PLAYS
7. Buzzer Beaters

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