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TOP STORY
1. With NCAA Settlement Looming, College Leaders Unsure How Title IX Fits In — 'We Don't Know The Rules'

by Ross Dellenger, Yahoo! Sports

“The story of the 2024 SEC administrative meetings is actually quite clear: There are few answers, and there is little clarity.

But that doesn’t mean there is none at all.

In fact, SEC presidents and chancellors emerged from their meetings this week believing that, very soon, they will learn more answers about how Title IX impacts the distribution of revenue to athletes in a future compensation model — the single most pivotal issue in this entire situation.”

» Court Awareness. “According to SEC presidents on Thursday, how the plaintiff attorneys divide the $2.77 billion in back damages has emerged as a key piece in how schools divide the forward revenue in light of Title IX, the federal law requiring educational institutions to provide equal opportunities and benefits to women and men athletes.”

» Translation. “In the most simple terms: Should universities be required to abide by Title IX in future payments to athletes if the case’s own plaintiff attorneys don’t adhere to the federal law in past payments? While Title IX requirements are clear, many in college athletics are questioning whether the federal law should apply to a revenue-sharing model that, in many cases, will distribute payments on the market value of an athlete’s name, image and likeness (NIL).”

» Quotable. “Title IX is not based on the market. If the market discriminates, the schools cannot,” Arthur Bryant, one of the most heralded defenders of Title IX and an attorney who's filed and won multiple Title IX cases against NCAA schools, said.

» Read More

SOFTBALL
2. Weather Impacts Opening Day

The opening day of the 2024 DIII softball championship in Marshall, Texas, was impacted by weather. Just two of the four contests were completed, including one that was determined by an extra-inning, walk-off home run. Top-seeded Linfield pulled out a 2-1 decision over Tufts on a Jacey Leyvas round-tripper, while UW-Oshkosh topped Virginia Wesleyan, 4-1.

» Championship Central

BASEBALL

3. Championship Preview

The Division III baseball championship begins today and runs through June 6 in Eastlake, Ohio.

#4 seed Pomona-Pitzer (37-12) vs. #5 Misericordia (38-9), 10 a.m. ET

Pomona-Pitzer: AVG: Issac Kim (443). HR: Kim (17). RBI: Kim (79). SB: JC Ng (14). W: Hannoh Seo (10-1). SO: Seo (93). ERA: Eric Prough (2.08). SV: Prough (5).

Misericordia: AVG: Garrett McIlhenney (388). HR: Connor Maryniak (13). RBI: Maryniak (68). SB: McIlhenney (31). W: Maryniak and Joe Valenti (10-2). SO: Maryniak (69). ERA: Maryniak (1.89). SV: Matt Lanzendorfer (7).

#1 Endicott (46-2) vs. #8 Lynchburg (35-15), 1:15 p.m. ET

Endicott. AVG: Joey Frammartino (352). HR: Brendan O’Neil (16). RBI: O’Neil (54). SB: Danny MacDougall (47). W: Jordan Gottesman (11-0). SO: Gottesman (104). ERA: Nicholas Cannata (2.00). SV: three tied with (4).

Lynchburg: Titles (2023). AVG: Joe Munitz (348). HR: Quinn Madden (11). RBI: Madden (65). SB: O’Kelly McWilliams IV (32). W: Wesley Arrington (9-2). SO: Arrington (91). ERA: Nick Mattfield (3.72). SV: Colin McGuire (4).

#2 Salve Regina (38-8) vs. #7 Birmingham-Southern (32-14), 4:45 ET

Salve Regina: AVG: Matt D’Amato (446). HR: Hunter Yaworski (6). RBI: Christian Homa (48). SB: Brandon Glover (25). W: Jason Arrigo (9-1). SO: Sean Mulligan (92). ERA: Mulligan (2.32). SV: Kyle Carrozza (10).

Birmingham-Southern. AVG: Andrew Dutton (344). HR: Jackson Webster (13). RBI: Ian Hancock (51). SB: Eli Steadman (7). W: Josh Leerssen (10-2). SO: Leerssen (83). ERA: Drake LaRoche (3.21). SV: Charlie Horne and Tams Mullins (4).

#3 Wisconsin-Whitewater (40-9) vs. #6 Randolph-Macon (33-14), 8:00 ET

Whitewater. AVG: Eli Frank (440). HR: Matt Scolan (15). RBI: Frank (65). SB: Andy Theis (17). W: Jack Hagen (9-0). SO: Michael Hilker Jr. (103). ERA: Hilker (1.60). SV: Danny Hopper (2).

Randolph-Macon. AVG: Zach Wernoski (385). HR: Chaz Harvey (12). RBI: Harvey (48). SB: Myles Webb (21). W: Drew Ramos (8-2). SO: Ramos (67). ERA: Bere Bauers (3.47). SV: Sam Slevin (11).

» Championship Central

AWARDS
4. NFCA All-America Teams

“Fifty-four student-athletes from 39 different schools have been voted to one of three 2024 NFCA Division III All-America teams. even of the eight teams who advanced to the NCAA Division III Finals had players earn All-America status, including top-ranked Linfield, which tied Super Regional team and reigning national champ Trine for the most by any institution, with five selections.”

First Team
C-Annabelle Calderon, Denison
1B-Morgan Frye, Berry
2B-Brynn Nelson, Linfield
SS-Tristen Maddox, East Texas Baptist
3B-Emily Timberman, DePauw
OF-Abby Mace, Salisbury
OF-Claire Seats, Linfield
OF-Anika Ewert, Bowdoin
DP-Tyra Marcum, Trine
UTL-Debbie Hill, Trine
AL-2B-Caelee Clark, Texas Lutheran
AL-3B-Allie Gordon, Belhaven

P-Tayah Kelley, Linfield
P-Kennedy Carruth, Belhaven
P-Alexis Michon, Trine
AL-P-Ashlyn Strother, Texas Lutheran
AL-P-Kayla Simacek, Bethel
AL-P-Sadie Leonard, Williams

» Complete Teams

ROWING (W)
5. Championship Preview

There will be a new Division III rowing champion in 2024 as the championship regatta gets underway today in Bethel, Ohio. Wellesley captured the crown in 2022 and 2023 but failed to qualify for the field this year. Wesleyan finished second to the Blue a year ago and is in search of its first national title.

I Eights (lanes 2-5)
Heat A: Smith, Tufts, Williams, Puget Sound
Heat B: Ithaca, Trinity CT, Wesleyan CT, St. Mary’s MD

II Eights (lanes 2-5)
Heat A: Smith, Williams, Trinity CT, Puget Sound
Heat B: Ithaca, Tufts, Wesleyan CT, St. Mary’s MD

» National Titles. Williams (9), Ithaca (2), Trinity CT (1).

» Championship Central

NEWS
6. Lightning Round

» 🤼‍♂️ Wrestling. Hiram’s men’s wrestling program will compete as a Presidents’ Athletic Conference member in 2024-25.

» 🥍 Lacrosse (W). “Augsburg, Hamline and College of Saint Benedict will join the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) as affiliate members in women’s lacrosse beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.”

» 🥎  Softball. Linfield’s Kaili Saathoff was named the winner of the Elite 90 award.

TRANSACTIONS
7. Comings and Goings

• CALVIN - Austin Garde named assistant football coach

• EASTERN NAZARENE - Megan Dixon named head women’s basketball coach

• OTTERBEIN - Adam Prescott resigned as director of athletic communications

• SOUTHERN ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION - Mark Tullis named coordinator of volleyball officials

• SUNY POTSDAM - Rick Berkman stepped down as head men’s lacrosse coach. Lauren Bruce stepped down as head women’s lacrosse coach

• THIEL - Michael Ihejeto and Donny Pattison named assistant football coaches

• WORCESTER STATE - Al Pettway named head men’s basketball coach

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