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Volleyball Nations League Announces Athlete Line-Up For Anaheim Week 3 July 4-9

Volleyball Nations League (VNL), the world’s premier annual international indoor volleyball tournament, has announced the official athlete rosters for the USA, Iran, Argentina, France, Germany, Serbia, Bulgaria and Cuba teams who will compete during Week 3 of preliminary play in Anaheim, Calif. from July 4 – 9, 2023.
 
The Men’s VNL 2023 will feature 16 national teams and will be held in seven different countries on three different continents. The teams will play four matches a week for three weeks of preliminary competition. The top 7 teams at the end of the preliminary phase will advance to the VNL Finals with hosts Poland in the city of Gdansk from July 19 – 23.
 
“We are excited to showcase the global superstars at the Volleyball Nations League in Anaheim for our fans in America and around the world this July,” said Finn Taylor, CEO, Volleyball World.”American sports fans will have a chance to see the world’s best players and national teams take on Team USA in some of the best international volleyball played anywhere on the globe this year.”
 
Below are athletes highlighted from all eight countries. For a complete roster, go to VNL 2023 – Men’s teams. | volleyballworld.com.
 
TEAM USA – After finishing in second place in 2022, the USA Men are currently ranked No. 6 in the world. They return under 11-time head coach and UCLA coach John Speraw, with 10 Olympians on the roster, including bronze medalists David Smith, Erik Shoji and Matt Anderson, and rising star Mason Briggs.
 

  • Three-time Olympian David Smith out of University of California Irvine, returns to the middle blocker position. Smith earned Best Middle Blocker at the 2022 VNL Finals and is an elite athlete who plays nearly deaf.
  • Two-time Olympian Libero Erik Shoji, hailing from Hawaii and Stanford alumni, is a two-time Olympian who earned a bronze in 2016. Born to University of Hawaii women’s volleyball coach Dave Shoji, volleyball is a family business for the Shojis.
  • Rising Star Mason Briggs comes from a family of collegiate volleyball players. As upcoming talent in the VNL and professional indoor volleyball circuit, he attends Cal State Long Beach and is known for his charisma on and off the court.

 
FRANCE – The defending VNL champions return with 2020 Olympic gold medalists Earvin N’Gapeth, Trévor Clévenot, Jean Patry and Jenia Grebnnikov. France earned their first VNL title in 2022 by defeating the United States.
 
IRAN – With a seventh place finish last year, the 2023 squad includes Seyed Mousavi who has led Iran to two Olympic appearances. He is joined by veteran Masoud Gholami and rising stars Amin Esmaeilnezhad and Javad Karimi.
 
ARGENTINA – Led by captain Luciano De Cecco who returns for his 18th season. In addition, 12 players who led Argentina to an eighth-place finish at the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship include Bruno Lima, Agustín Loser and Santiago Danani. They will look to better their ninth place finish at the 2022 VNL.
 
SERBIA – The 2019 European champions return to the VNL with 10 players that competed at last year’s world championship. Their roster includes Olympians Aleksandar Atanasijevic & Marko Podrascanin.
 
GERMANY – After competing without nine key players last year, veteran outside hitter Denis Kaliberda and middle blocker Anton Brehme rejoin German teammates Julian Zenger (L) and Lukas Kampa (S) for this year’s VNL. Kaliberda has played with the national team since 2010, representing Germany at the 2012 Olympics.
 
BULGARIA – Returning 11 years after he last played for the Bulgarian national team, the country’s most prominent active star, Matey Kaziyski rejoins Teodor Salparov, the Bratoev twins – Georgi & Valentin; and Nikolay Penchev.
 
CUBA – The team won the Volleyball Challenger Cup in 2022 to earn promotion to the 2023 VNL. The team is led by Outside Hitter Miguel Lopez, who participated in the 2016 Olympic Games and Robertlandy Simon, arguably one of the most exciting middle blockers to watch in the VNL.
 
Tickets are now available for purchase HERE.
 
For a complete athlete roster and more information about the Volleyball Nations League, including the latest news, schedules, scores and highlights, please visit www.volleyballworld.com. Follow @volleyballworld on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. Tune into the Volleyball Nations League 2023 live programming on VBTV.

National Lacrosse League Announces Finalists for 2022-23 NLL Awards

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the largest and most successful professional lacrosse property in the world, today announced the finalists for its annual season-end awards honoring the best players, coaches, and executives for the 2022-23 NLL season.

Reigning NLL Most Valuable Player, Buffalo Bandits forward Dhane Smith, looks to repeat against last year’s NLL Rookie of the Year, New York Riptide’s Jeff Teat, and Calgary Roughnecks’ standout goaltender, Christian Del Bianco.

All 11 award categories are based on 2022-23 regular season stats and performances, with voting taking place prior to the start of the 2023 NLL Playoffs. Voters ranked their choices from 1st through 5th place with those votes correlating with a point total (noted below). The top three vote getters for each award are listed as the finalists.

The winners will be announced next week leading into Game 1 of the NLL Finals.

Most Valuable Player
• Christian Del Bianco (Coquitlam, BC) – Goaltender – Calgary Roughnecks
• Dhane Smith (Kitchener, ON) – Forward – Buffalo Bandits
• Jeff Teat (Brampton, ON) – Forward – New York Riptide

Rookie of the Year
• Brett Dobson (Oshawa, ON) – Goaltender – Georgia Swarm
• Jonathan Donville (Oakville, ON) – Forward – Panther City Lacrosse Club
• Jack Hannah (Milford, OH) – Forward – Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Goaltender of the Year
• Christian Del Bianco (Coquitlam, BC) – Calgary Roughnecks
• Nick Rose (Orangeville, ON) – Toronto Rock
• Matt Vinc (St. Catharines, ON) – Buffalo Bandits

Transition Player of the Year
• Reid Bowering (Coquitlam, BC) – Vancouver Warriors
• Zach Currier (Peterborough, ON) – Calgary Roughnecks
• Challen Rogers (Coquitlam, BC) – Toronto Rock

Defensive Player of the Year
• Latrell Harris (St. Catharines, ON) – Toronto Rock
• Graeme Hossack (Port Perry, ON) – Halifax Thunderbirds
• Brad Kri (Acton, ON) – Toronto Rock

Sportsmanship Award
• Kyle Buchanan (Nepean, ON) – Buffalo Bandits
• Tom Schreiber (East Meadow, NY) – Toronto Rock
• Lyle Thompson (Onondaga Nation, NY) – Georgia Swarm

Teammate of the Year
• Kyle Buchanan (Nepean, ON) – Buffalo Bandits
• Dan Dawson (Oakville, ON) – Toronto Rock
• John LaFontaine (Whitby, ON) – Albany FireWolves

Les Bartley Award (Head Coach of the Year)
• Mike Hasen – Rochester Knighthawks
• Tracey Kelusky – Panther City Lacrosse Club
• Curt Malawsky – Calgary Roughnecks

General Manager of the Year
• Mike Board – Calgary Roughnecks
• Dan Carey – Rochester Knighthawks
• Jamie Dawick – Toronto Rock

Executive of the Year
• Melissa Blades – Director of Business Operations, Calgary Roughnecks
• Mark Fine – Chief Executive Officer, Las Vegas Desert Dogs
• Matt Hutchings – Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, KSE, Governor, Colorado Mammoth 

Tom Borrelli Award (Media Person of the Year)
• Pat Gregoire – TSN/Halifax Thunderbirds color commentator and co-host, “Off the CrosseBar” Podcast
• Teddy Jenner – TSN play-by-play and co-host, “Off the CrosseBar” Podcast
• Adam Levi – Inside Lacrosse, NLLPA, and NLL.com contributing writer and host, “Lacrosse Matrix” Podcast

Each NLL team had the opportunity to nominate and vote for each of the awards with the exception of Teammate of the Year, as each NLLPA Player Representative nominated a player from their team for this honor that was voted on by the NLLPA and its 15 Player Representatives.

Once nominations were finalized, each NLL team casted three ballots for each award by three members of its organization. Select media were eligible to vote for all awards except Teammate of the Year and Executive of the Year with the same voting system.

Each ballot allowed voting members to select their top five choices for each award among all nominated persons. Points were distributed for each first through fifth place vote as follows:

• 1st Place – 10 points
• 2nd Place – 7 points
• 3rd Place – 5 points
• 4th Place – 3 points
• 5th Place – 1 point

The person that accumulated the most points will be announced as the winner while the top three are the finalists. The All-League and All-Rookie teams are determined by the top vote getters in each correlating award. The All-Rookie team will be made up of six rookies, regardless of position. The All-League First Team and All-League Second Team will be made up of six individuals per team. Each Team will consist of two forwards, one transition player, two defenseman, and one goaltender.

For the latest scores and developments in the National Lacrosse League, please visit NLL.com and find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Kitman Labs announces Performance Intelligence Deal with Danish Superliga Club, FC Midtjylland

Kitman Labs, the global enterprise SaaS company providing the only single, centralized operating platform for performance intelligence in the elite performance industry, today announced a new deal with Danish Superliga club, FC Midtjylland. This deal makes FC Midtjylland the fifth club in the League to subscribe to Kitman’s proprietary, multi-solution advanced operating system, iP: Intelligence Platform. Other clubs adopting the platform include: Aalborg Boldspilklub, Aarhus Gymnastikforening, FC Nordsjaelland and Viborg FF. All five clubs have now been onboarded, the technology has been deployed and will be in use throughout the 2024 season.

In all instances, the clubs have adopted the full suite of Solutions including: Performance Medicine, Performance Optimization and Talent Development. The platform combines medical, performance and talent development data into a single, interactive system that yields actionable intelligence to support specific performance outcomes while providing a complete, comprehensive view of each individual player within the team.

“We are pleased to continue to work with progressive and insightful football clubs the world over. These five clubs – representing close to half of the Danish SuperLiga – show how we can customize each program to support the bespoke needs and objectives of each organization within the League,” Kitman Labs CEO Stephen Smith said. “ Whether it’s ensuring a heightened level of regulatory compliance related to personal and medical data or systemizing the most effective talent development pipeline, our technology – combined with the Team’s expertise – has been designed to address the most critical operational needs and objectives of teams and leagues within global sport.”

The Intelligence Platform allows us to gather all of the Club’s data and make it easily accessible to all relevant departments. This applies to everything from training planning to talent development and treatments in the physical sector,” said Sven Graverson, Sporting Director, FC Midtjylland . “With Kitman Labs, the data is available in real time and ensures that there is a common thread from Guldminen to the first team with better insight into the individual player, efficiency of the work process and integration of data into the decision-making process.”

Kitman Labs has an established track record of working with top Leagues and teams across a variety of sports at the professional and collegiate level including, soccer, American football, basketball, and rugby. The company’s technology has been used by some of the world’s most elite sports organizations, such as Bayer Leverkusen, Malmö FF, and Columbus Crew.

This new business launch follows other recent business strategy moves Kitman Labs has undertaken. That includes the successful close of a $52M Series C funding round led by Guggenheim Investments, a global asset investment and advisory firm with more than $259 billion* in assets under management and two strategic acquisitions of The Sports Office and Presagia Sports, both made in the last two years. The combined companies represent the industry’s largest network of elite and youth organizations (700+) and created the industry’s largest dataset of talent, performance, and medical data for all stages of the athlete lifecycle.

TSN, TSN+ ESPN+ to Broadcast Every National Lacrosse League Conference Finals Beginning Thursday

National Lacrosse League (@NLL) broadcast partners TSN, TSN+ and ESPN+ will provide live coverage of every game of the best-of-three Conference Finals beginning with Thursday’s West Final Game 1 between Calgary and Colorado at Ball Arena in Denver (9:30 p.m. ET). This year’s format features Games 1 and 2 of both Conference Finals this weekend, followed by Game 3 next week, if necessary.

The broadcast teams for both Conference Final are as follows:

West Finals – (4) Colorado Mammoth vs. (2) Calgary Roughnecks
Game 1 – At Colorado, Thursday, May 11 @ 9:30 p.m. ET, Teddy Jenner, Brad Challoner, John Gallant
Game 2 – At Calgary, Saturday, May 13 @ 9:30 p.m. ET, Teddy Jenner, Brad Challoner, Shantelle Chand
*Game 3 – At Calgary, Saturday, May 20 @ 9:30 p.m. ET, Teddy Jenner, Brad Challoner, Shantelle Chand

East Finals – (2) Toronto Rock vs. (1) Buffalo Bandits
Game 1 – At Buffalo, Friday, May 12 @ 7:30 p.m. ET, Jon Abbott, Pat Gregoire, Ashley Docking
Game 2 – At Toronto, Saturday, May 13 @ 7 p.m. ET, Jon Abbott, Pat Gregoire, Ashley Docking
*Game 3 – At Buffalo, Saturday, May 20 @ 7:30 p.m. ET, Jon Abbott, Pat Gregoire, Ashley Docking

*If necessary

The East and West Conference champions will face off in the best-of-three NLL Finals, with broadcast information for that series to be announced. To view the 2023 NLL Playoffs bracket, visit https://www.nll.com/standings/.

National Lacrosse League Playoffs Begin Friday, May 5; Schedule Features Two Games on TSN and ESPNU

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL) closed out its record-setting 2022-23 regular season in dramatic fashion yesterday, as the Halifax Thunderbirds defeated the Georgia Swarm, 17-11, to claim the final spot in the 2023 NLL Playoffs.

The Buffalo Bandits (14-4) and San Diego Seals (14-4) repeated as the East and West Conference regular season champions, respectively, and will have home floor advantage in next week’s single-elimination NLL Quarterfinals game. The Bandits earned the #1 overall seed by virtue of its win over Albany.

Each conference’s second seeds – the Toronto Rock (13-5, East) and Calgary Roughnecks (13-5, West) – will also host games next weekend.

This season’s playoff field features six teams from last year’s postseason, including the defending champion Colorado Mammoth (9-9). New this year are the Rochester Knighthawks (10-8) and Panther City Lacrosse Club (10-8).

TSN will carry two games: Toronto’s home tilt versus Halifax on Friday, May 5, at 7:30pm ET, and the Panther City-Calgary matchup on Saturday, May 6, at 9:30pm ET. ESPNU will also carry the Saturday playoff doubleheader starting with Buffalo hosting Rochester followed by the game at Calgary.

Here is the complete single-elimination NLL Quarterfinals broadcast schedule:
• Friday, May 5
– Halifax (E3) vs. Toronto (E2) at 7:30pm ET, TSN, TSN+, ESPN+
– Colorado (W4) vs. San Diego (W1) at 10pm ET, ESPN+, TSN+
• Saturday, May 6
– Rochester (E4) vs. Buffalo (E1) at 7pm ET, ESPNU, ESPN+, TSN+
– Panther City (W3) vs. Calgary (W2) at 9:30pm ET, TSN, TSN+, ESPNU, ESPN+

Next week’s winners advance to their respective best-of-three Conference Finals, with Games 1 and 2 scheduled for May 12-15, and any necessary Game 3 played between May 19-22. Conference champions will face off in the best-of-three NLL Finals starting the final weekend of May.

Exact dates and broadcast schedules for TSN and ESPN for the Conference Finals and NLL Finals rounds will be announced after the pairings and dates are set. To view the 2023 NLL Playoffs bracket, visit https://www.nll.com/standings/.

National Lacrosse Leagues Takes Home Pair of Cynopsis Sports Media Awards

The National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the world’s largest and most successful professional lacrosse league, is proud to announce that they were selected as winners in two unique categories at the 2023 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards Tuesday at the Edison Hotel in New York City where industry professionals gathered to recognize and celebrate the ever-evolving industry.

The NLL’s work with “Every Child Matters” won in the category of “Awareness Campaign For Social Good For A League,” while the NLL’s innovative approach to broadcast production was cited as “Most Innovative in Broadcast Production”.

“These two awards exemplify our parallel commitment to honoring the past while also building towards the future,” said Brett Frood, Commissioner of the National Lacrosse League. “’Every Child Matters’ is at the core of our social responsibility platform and continues to grow as we work with our Indigenous athletes and communities to expand our connective efforts. The broadcast production award demonstrates our focus on delivering first class, technologically savvy broadcasts to millions across North America. It is humbling to receive this recognition by our peers in the industry as we continue our momentum into the playoffs.”

“It was an honor to be acknowledged by Cynopsis for the work we are doing on the broadcast front. What is most exciting about live sports production right now is the pace and evolution of technology,” added Joel Feld, Executive Vice President, Broadcast & Content for the NLL. “Being at the forefront of bringing these innovations to our fan base is our highest priority.”

“Every Child Matters” is a league-wide initiative that brings awareness to the forcible placement of Indigenous children in residential and boarding schools by the Canadian and United States governments from the 19th century to as late as 1996 in Canada. In the campaign’s second year, all 15 teams participated in the program.

On the broadcast side, the NLL’s remote production plan blends producers, directors, and broadcasters with cloud-based technologies and IP transmission, which allows the league to produce and deliver all its games for TSN, ESPN, team local partners, and several league operations platforms as efficiently and professionally as any major league. It is quickly becoming the standard in live sports broadcast production.

The two awards are the latest pieces of as the NLL heads toward its conclusion of a regular season which will see landmark attendance growth and increased viewership across the board. The NLL’s “March to May” concludes the weekend of April 29, with the playoffs to follow.

Photo Credit: John Harrison/NLL

Tony Romo Is Pre-Tournament Favorite With Invited Celebrity Classic Golf Set April 21-23

Tony Romo is the 2023 favorite to win the Invited Celebrity Classic presented by Choctaw Casinos & Resorts with Mardy Fish, John Smoltz, Annika Sorenstam, Mark Mulder and Jeremy Roenick also among the contenders as the 2nd annual tournament returns for its national television showcase April 21-23 in Irving, Texas.

The $2 million Invited Celebrity Classic is an official PGA TOUR Champions Charles Schwab Cup event featuring over 78 PGA TOUR Champions (over 50 years of age) and 40 celebrities in a 54-hole competition at Las Colinas Country Club.

The tournament raises money for three regional youth-focused charities, the Momentous Institute, First Tee Dallas and First Tee Forth Worth.

Expert traders from Choctaw Casinos & Resorts have pegged Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and prominent CBS Sports NFL TV analyst, as a 2-1 favorite to win the tournament on his home turf one year after losing to Mardy Fish in a sudden death playoff. Fish, the former #1-ranked American tennis player, is the second choice at 4-1 with National Baseball Hall of Famer and FOX Sports MLB analyst Smoltz next at 5-1.

Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is providing fans at the Invited Celebrity Classic an added entertainment element with the Choctaw Casinos & Resorts Celebrity Pick ‘Em Contest. Fans can participate in this new, free contest at http://www.ChoctawPickEm.com for the opportunity to win prizes by predicting the performance of the celebrities playing in the tournament. The goal of the Choctaw Casinos & Resorts Celebrity Pick ‘Em Contest is for fans to earn points by correctly answering questions like, “Who will record a better first round score, Tony Romo or Mardy Fish?”

Fans playing the Choctaw Casinos & Resorts Celebrity Pick ‘Em will have a chance to win a share of over $25,000 in prizes, including VIP Stay & Play Packages, free play and Choctaw Club tickets for 2024. The Celebrity Pick ‘Em contest includes:

  • Daily Play – Prizes will be earned by the users with the highest scores following each round of the Invited Celebrity Classic.
  • Tournament Recap – Prizes will be earned by users accumulating the highest score following all three rounds of the Invited Celebrity Classic.
  • 18th Hole Bonus Play – Fans at the Choctaw Club at Las Colinas Country Club will earn prizes for predicting play on the 18th green.

Both Romo and Fish are former champions at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe. Romo won his third ACC title last year and Fish prevailed in 2020 following an historic second round 63. The pair have built a friendly rivalry over the past few years and Choctaw Casinos & Resorts expects another classic battle in Irving this year.

The top active pro athlete on the board is Carolina Panthers’ standout wide receiver Adam Thielen, who is listed at 60-1 ahead of free agent placekicker Robbie Gould at 82-1. Annika, the greatest player in the history of women’s golf, returns for another run at the Invited Celebrity Classic and is listed at 13-1.

Other prominent players and their odds include star of The Bachelor Ben Higgins (56-1), former MLB All-Star pitcher Tim Wakefield (68-1), Pro Football Hall of Famer Tim Brown (200-1), National Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Pudge Rodriguez (250-1), former NBA All-Star Vince Carter (700-1), former MLB All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens (665-1) and actor/comedian Larry the Cable Guy (775-1). Albert Pujols (110-1), the newly-retired MLB All-Star, is among the newcomers to the field in 2023.

The 2023 Invited Celebrity Classic will utilize the Modified Stableford format whereby points are awarded by score per hole. The celebrities are competing for a purse of $500,000.

********

Celebrity Division Odds to Win

NameOdds

  1. Tony Romo 2 / 1
  2. Mardy Fish 4 / 1
  3. John Smoltz 5 / 1
  4. Mark Mulder 12 / 1
  5. Jeremy Roenick 12 / 1
  6. Annika Sörenstam 13 / 1
  7. Jack Wagner 20 / 1
  8. Derek Lowe 40 / 1
  9. Blair O’Neal 50 / 1
  10. Joe Carter 50 / 1
  11. Ben Higgins 56 / 1
  12. Adam Thielen 60 / 1
  13. Mike Modano 64 / 1
  14. Tim Wakefield 68 / 1
  15. Mike Flaskey 73 / 1
  16. Alfonso Ribeiro 76 / 1
  17. Robbie Gould 82 / 1
  18. AJ Pierzynski 100 / 1
  19. Albert Pujols 110 / 1
  20. Mark DeRosa 125 / 1
  21. Jack Sock 135 / 1
  22. Kevin Millar 135 / 1
  23. Jon Lester 150 / 1
  24. Clay Buchholz 150 / 1
  25. Tim Brown 200 / 1
  26. Pudge Rodriguez 250 / 1
  27. Greg Maddux 335 / 1
  28. Brian McCann 400 / 1
  29. Brian Urlacher 500 / 1
  30. Marcus Allen 587 / 1
  31. Roger Clemens 665 / 1
  32. Vince Carter 700 / 1
  33. Larry The Cable Guy 775 / 1
  34. Reggie Bush 1,000 / 1
  35. Emmitt Smith 1,000 / 1
  36. DeMarcus Ware 1,000 / 1
  37. Wells Adams 1,000 / 1
  38. Taylor Twellman 1,000 / 1
  39. Justin Williams 1,000 / 1
  40. Robbie Amell 1,000 / 1

Helen Maroulis Accepts Beat The Streets, Final X Berth, Will Compete for U.S. World Team Spot

2016 Olympic champion and three-time World champion Helen Maroulis (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) has officially accepted her 57 kg berth in Final X. She will battle for the 57kg spot on the 2023 U.S. World Team in women’s freestyle wrestling in Final X, presented by Tezos, on Saturday, June 10 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Final X will determine the 2023 U.S. Senior World Teams in all three Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. There will be 30 weight classes contested, 10 in each Olympic discipline. The top two U.S. athletes in each weight class will compete in a best-of-three series in Final X to determine who will wrestle at the 2023 Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

Maroulis made history at the 2016 Olympic Games, becoming the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling with her victory at 53 kg over three-time Olympic champion Saori Yoshida. She later became the first U.S. women’s wrestler to win two Olympic medals with her bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Maroulis has won three World gold medals (2015, 2017, 2021) and boasts six Senior World medals. Maroulis also won three Junior World medals. She was a four-time WCWA college national champion, winning three titles for Simon Fraser and one for Missouri Baptist.

It is the second straight year Final X will serve as the Beat the Streets New York Annual Benefit. This year’s event will be the 13th BTSNY Annual Benefit. These unique and electrifying annual events help BTSNY raise more than $1 million each year to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City. The BTSNY Annual Benefit after party will follow the conclusion of Final X.

Maroulis, a native of Rockville, Md., has a perfect 8-0 record in previous BTSNY events. She is the subject of a new movie, “Helen | Believe,” which follows her astonishing comeback to the sport after suffering a career-ending injury that forced her into retirement.

There are a variety of options for Final X wrestling-only event tickets, with prices starting at $40 on Ticketmaster.

Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages (wrestling event plus exclusive after-party celebration access) that also provide the best wrestling-event seats are available at give.btsny.org/beatthestreetsbenefit2023. For more information on ticket packages, email Katrin Pokalyukhin at [email protected].

The team selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams in each style allows for 2022 Senior World medalists to advance directly to Final X at a specified weight class. Maroulis has met this requirement and accepted her qualification.

The Final X opponent for Maroulis will be determined at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nev., April 26-30. The champion in women’s freestyle at 57 kg at the U.S. Open will qualify to face Maroulis in Final X.

FloWrestling will serve as the host broadcasting partner for Final X, presented by Tezos.

*Please note if Prudential Center’s tenant, New Jersey Devils, hosts a Stanley Cup Final game on June 10 the contingency date for Final X would be Friday, June 9.

Final X, presented by Tezos
At Prudential Center, Newark, N.J., Saturday, June 10

Declared Qualifiers to date
Women’s Freestyle 57 kg – Helen Maroulis (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids)
Men’s Freestyle 79 kg – Jordan Burroughs (Philadelphia, Pa./Sunkist Kids/Pennsylvania RTC)

HELEN MAROULIS
Residence: Tempe, Ariz.
Club: Sunkist Kids
College: Simon Fraser Univ., Missouri Baptist
High School: Marquette, Mich., Rockville, Md. (Colonel Zadock Magruder)
Born: Sept. 19, 1991
• 2016 Olympic champion (first U.S. woman to win an Olympic wrestling gold medal)
• 2020 Olympic bronze medalist (first U.S. woman to win two Olympic wrestling medals)
• Three-time World champion (2015, 2017, 2021)
• 2012 and 2022 World silver medalist
• 2014 World bronze medalist
• Three-time Junior World medalist (2008, 2010, 2011)
• 2011 Pan American Games champion
• Four-time WCWA women’s college national champion (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)

Maroulis Beat the Streets New York Annual Benefit History (8-0 record)
2012: Ashley Hudson (USA), WIN 4-0, 2-1
2014: Marcia Andrades (Venezuela), WIN Fall
2015: Yamilka del Valle Alvarez (Cuba), WIN tech fall 10-0
2016: Samantha Stewart (Canada), WIN Fall
2017: Yuzuru Kumano (Japan) WIN 7-4
2018: Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigeria), WIN 4-1
2022: Alex Hedrick (USA), match one, WIN, tech fall, 10-0
2022: Alex Hedrick (USA), match two, WIN, tech fall, 10-0

Strat-O-Matic Simulation Tabs Yankees Over Dodgers in 2023 Series

Today is opening day across baseball, and what would the start of the season be without the annual simulation by Strat-O-Matic, the market leader in sports simulations, on the regular season and playoffs? Led by Aaron Judge’s 52 home runs, 132 RBI and .313 batting average, the sim has the slugger pushing his Yankees to 102 wins and eventually defeating Los Angeles, four games to two, to win their 28th championship.

Strat’s simulation tabbed Cleveland with a league-best 111 wins earning the A.L. No. 1 seed, with New York at No. 2 and Houston (101 wins) No. 3. The sim has New York beating wild card Minnesota, which had toppled Cleveland in the ALDS, and the Dodgers in the championship.

In the N.L., San Diego’s 100 wins led the circuit, with Atlanta (96) and St. Louis (94) the other division winners. Los Angeles’s path to the final round included a wild card win over New York, revenge 3-1 ALDS triumph over San Diego, and 4-2 series spread over Atlanta.

Other A.L. awards went to Cy Young winner Shane Bieber of Cleveland (20-6, 2.80 ERA, 228K) and Rookie of the Year Grayson Rodriguez of Baltimore (11-6, 2.97 ERA). In the N.L., Nolan Arenado’s .293 average, 46 home runs and 116 RBI for St. Louis earned the third baseman the MVP, Yu Darvish of San Diego claimed the Cy Young with his 17-4, 2.55 ERA and 221 strikeouts and Corbin Carroll of Arizona taking the Rookie of the Year (20 home runs, 62 RBI).

Fanatics Betting and Gaming Names Former DoorDash Executive Hank Couture as Chief Operating Officer

Today, Fanatics Betting and Gaming announced the appointment of Hank Couture to the new position of Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Reporting to Fanatics Betting & Gaming CEO Matt King, Couture will be a member of the FBG executive team and play an integral role in developing strategies across operations as the Fanatics Sportsbook is poised to launch nationwide in mid-2023.

“We are excited to add Hank to our leadership team as COO,” said Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “Hank’s experience in building one of the largest marketplaces in the U.S. is exactly the type of person we are looking for at Fanatics Betting and Gaming, and as our new COO, his impressive track record of success will provide us with valuable insight as we build a sportsbook that is easy to use, trustworthy and more rewarding for sports fans.”

Couture’s time at DoorDash, a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local businesses in 27 countries across the globe, will serve him well in accelerating the growth of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. At DoorDash, he oversaw the company’s U.S. Marketplace, including many critical building blocks to the company’s success including pricing, loyalty/subscription, promotions, merchandising and growth.

“This is an exciting opportunity to build something from the ground up,” said Hank Couture, COO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience in building DoorDash to the sports betting industry and help build something that exceeds expectations for our customers.”

At DoorDash, Couture most-recently served on the executive management team as a Vice President, overseeing the company’s U.S. Marketplace. Couture joined DoorDash in 2016 and helped grow the e-commerce marketplace into an industry leader. As an early employee, he oversaw DoorDash’s Chicago operations. He then led the company’s expansion across the Midwest that helped define the company’s suburban growth strategy. While leading the U.S. Marketplace, Couture oversaw the $50 billion marketplace and many critical business lines, such as DoorDash’s subscription program, DashPass, and the Caviar marketplace.

Prior to DoorDash, Couture honed his skills at Goldman Sachs where he worked on the equity trading floor in Derivatives Structuring.

Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit Launches Anonymous Whistleblower Platforms

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit announced today the launch of its anonymous whistleblower platforms that enable participants in the Thoroughbred industry to submit tips safely and anonymously regarding potential violations of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. The text and email platforms are supported through a partnership with RealResponse, the leading provider of safe and secure reporting platform for athletes, teams, and organizations, while the telephone platform is supported by Ansafone.

Using the designated telephone line, text line, or email address, any industry participant can anonymously submit information relating to Covered Horses, barns, trainers, or other Covered Persons for review by HIWU’s Investigations Unit. Submissions are accepted 24/7. Whistleblowers can include their contact information if they are open to potential follow up from HIWU’s investigators. However, this option is voluntary.

“Our anonymous whistleblower platforms will empower concerned individuals to safely and securely alert HIWU to potential violations of the AMDC Program, including situations where the welfare of the horse or integrity of the sport may be compromised,” said Michelle Pujals, HIWU’s general counsel. “We look forward to working with RealResponse, which has a proven track record in administering this type of technology, to facilitate the success of this key component of the ADMC Program.”

“We are honored to work with the leadership of the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit,” said David Chadwick, RealResponse Founder and CEO. “We have seen significant interest from leading integrity agencies who seek a more efficient and effective platform to enhance their investigative process. Working with HIWU as it launches platforms to protect against efforts that compromise the integrity of horse racing, as well as to protect the wellbeing of the equine athletes, is important to us. Our service makes it simple and easy for those in the field to report concerning incidents they witness to ensure fairness and safety across the industry.” 


Individuals who would like to submit tips should utilize the following contact options:

Phone Line: (888) 714-4498

Text Line: (855) 901-8477

Email Address: [email protected]

Industry participants should note that the HIWU Investigations Unit can only consider tips regarding the ADMC Program and will not respond to potential violations of HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program or other violations or inquiries that fall outside the jurisdiction of the ADMC Program. Potential violations of the Racetrack Safety Program will be forwarded to HISA.

Those with information regarding potential violations of HISA’s Racetrack Safety Program should call (877) 513-2919 or email [email protected]. Submissions will be treated anonymously.

Sean Green, Ryan Kramer To Host Final Four Watch Party On SGPN YouTube Livestream

The Sports Gambling Podcast Network, the leading all-free sports betting picks and analysis content platform, will host SGPN Live – The Final Four Watch Party on the SGPN YouTube Channel Saturday, April 1, starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

SGPN personalities Sean Green and Ryan Kramer plus college basketball expert Colby Dant will hold court as followers join via smartphone and laptop, offering their signature analysis and commentary for the national semifinal games.  The trio will also provide attendees with live, in-game wagering advice for the competition featuring the San Diego State Aztecs, the Florida Atlantic Owls, the Miami Hurricanes and the Connecticut Huskies.

The livestream will be interactive with viewers invited to weigh in with comments, wagering advice and questions in a format similar to the Sports Gambling Podcast and College Basketball Experience Podcast.  Special guests from among SGPN’s scores of podcasters and contributors will appear throughout the two games, which will be telecast on CBS.  The SGPN YouTube content will include live and halftime wagering advice, analysis and reaction from Green, Kramer and Dant, who are among the few national handicappers whose breakdowns and predictions are all-free, all-the-time on the SGPN digital platforms.

“As the sports wagering universe grows, so does our audience and the technology allows us to connect directly in real time to help fans enjoy the games from the sports wagering perspective,” stated Green, the SGPN CEO.  “We’ve become a welcome addition to family rooms and mancaves with our entertaining, no-cost content over the past 11 years. Saturday will be fun. Everyone’s invited.”

Green and Kramer launched SGPN over 10 years ago and co-host the network’s flagship show, The Sports Gambling Podcast. The duo has built SGPN into the leading free and independent sports wagering network in the country. Dant hosts both of SGPN’s popular college podcasts, The College Basketball Experience and College Football Experience. He previewed every team prior to the start of the season and his daily podcasts offer expert wagering analysis and insight on each team.

With over 60 contributors and more than 30 podcasts, the LA-based company covers every major, bettable sporting event in the world, offering entertaining and accurate wagering content for millions on their array of available outlets. SGPN saw a record 8 million downloads last year and is already tracking at a 15 percent increase year-over-year.

New York Islanders To Host Third Annual Nickelodeon Night Saturday

The New York Islanders and Nickelodeon are teaming up again to give Isles Nation a slime filled multi platform experience on Saturday, March 25. The third annual event will build on the success of past collaborations and elevate the Islanders’ game experience with the integration of Nickelodeon’s beloved shows and characters, across social and digital channels and in arena.

Fans at UBS Arena and those following along on social platforms will receive Nickelodeon themed content throughout the game, which will feature characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Transformers: EarthSpark, The Loud House, Rubble & Crew and more. SpongeBob SquarePants will also join Islanders mascots, Sparky and Nyisles, for a meet and greet with fans at the matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.

Nickelodeon themed activation spaces will be scattered throughout the concourses at UBS Arena for fans to enjoy, including: a DIY slime station where fans can assemble their own exclusive jar of slime, a Nick Jr. Kids’ Corner with themed giveaways, and a photo opportunity on Nickelodeon’s famed SNICK “Big Orange Couch,” where one lucky Season Ticket Member family will be able to watch the game. There will also be a Nickelodeon themed t-shirt toss, presented by Arctix.

Social media followers will also be able to sign up to win a one-of-a-kind Isles x Nickelodeon Happy Face painting.

“We are thrilled to team up with Nickelodeon again and offer Isles Nation a unique and unparalleled slime filled fan experience at UBS Arena and at home,” said Simone Perrin, the team’s Vice President of Marketing. On March 25th, content will be featured on NewYorkIslanders.com, Islanders Facebook (@NewYorkIslanders), Instagram (@NY_Islanders), Twitter (@NYIslanders) and in the UBS Arena app.

NLL Begins ‘The March to May’ as Teams Vie for Eight Playoff Spots in Season’s Final Weeks

With its teams battling for playoff berths and seeds in the remaining weeks of the regular season, “The March to May” is on in the National Lacrosse League (@NLL), the world’s largest and most successful professional lacrosse league. Every matchup down the stretch will influence the eight-team NLL Playoffs that begin May 5-7.

“The March to May” begins with every NLL team in action during an eight-game slate this weekend, including seven contests on Saturday. The new campaign will be incorporated across all NLL channels, including broadcasts, NLL.com, social networks, and in-venue by all teams to promote their remaining regular season contests and push towards the playoffs.

“’The March to May’ clearly defines how the run up to the NLL Playoffs is an exciting time for fans, players, teams, and league partners as we collectively march towards the postseason played through the month of May,” said Kurt Hunzeker, Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations. “The campaign easily communicates the importance of every game as teams pursue the ultimate prize, the NLL Championship.”

As previously announced, the 2023 NLL Playoffs format will again feature the top four teams from the East Conference and top three from the West Conference, plus a “wild card” entry with the best record between the fourth-place team in the West standings and the fifth-place finisher in the East. This “wild card” will play in the West Conference side of the bracket as the fourth seed. The unique qualifying format gives fans in nearly every NLL market a chance to earn a spot in the postseason tournament.

Last year, the final week of the regular season featured 32 possible playoff seeding and qualifying combinations, and the final NLL Playoffs bracket wasn’t settled until the final game of the regular season was completed.

The first round will be single elimination, while the East and West Conference Finals and NLL Finals will each be a best-of-three series. Game 1 and 2 of the NLL Finals will be played during Memorial Day Weekend, while Game 3 of the NLL Finals, if necessary, is scheduled for the weekend of June 2-4. The complete broadcast TSN and ESPN broadcast schedules will be announced at a later date.

FanDuel Advances Partnerships to Promote Awareness and Education During Problem Gambling Awareness Month

To promote the importance of safer play during Problem Gambling Awareness Month, FanDuel, the premier online gaming company in North America, announced a series of initiatives and donations to further support a culture of Responsible Gaming.

Expanding Support Behind Non-profit Partnerships

FanDuel will donate $100,000 to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) that will further support the NCPG’s Agility Grants program, in partnership with the NFL Foundation. This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations across the country for problem gambling prevention in areas that currently have no such services. “FanDuel’s commitment to supporting a spectrum of services from problem gambling prevention to responsible gambling education is a reflection of their dedication to building a safe and sustainable gambling ecosystem,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. “We are excited to continue to partner with FanDuel on our Agility Grants program, the first-ever national grants for problem gambling prevention. Together, we are taking an important step forward in mitigating gambling-related harm.”

Additionally, FanDuel will expand its support of the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) to fund ground-breaking research designed to understand gambling behavior in the U.S. With this research, ICRG and FanDuel aim to enhance the industry’s tools to identify potential harm, mitigate risk, and improve responsible gambling programs. “FanDuel’s substantial support plays a crucial role in promoting important research,” stated Arthur Paikowsky, President of ICRG. “We commend the company for its unwavering dedication towards advocating responsible gaming and increasing awareness about it.”

Raising Awareness through the RG Ambassador Program

FanDuel also will expand efforts to raise responsible gaming awareness through its RG ambassador program. RG ambassador Craig Carton, host of “The Carton Show” on FS1 and “Carton and Roberts” on WFAN 101.9/660 AM radio in New York, recently kicked off a “Responsible Gaming College Tour” with stops at college campuses across the northeast to raise awareness and educate young adults around the risks of problem gambling. In March, the tour will continue with a stop at Sacred Heart University.  “March is an important month to highlight advocacy for responsible gaming,” said Carton. “Whether it’s connecting with young adults about my story on campus or promoting safer play among sports fans on social media, I look forward to continuing to promote a culture of responsible gaming with FanDuel.”

Seven-division boxing champion and FanDuel RG ambassador Amanda Serrano and Carton also will share video content on their respective social channels reminding sports fans of the importance of playing within limits and encouraging those choosing to wager on sporting events to use FanDuel’s ‘Play Well’ tools including wager, deposit, and time limit technology, to help manage their play. “As a FanDuel Responsible Gaming Ambassador, I’m proud to work with the team at FanDuel to promote education around responsible play,” said Serrano. “During Problem Gambling Awareness Month, it’s even more important to remind those who choose to wager of the tools and resources available to them to help stay in control of the way they play.”

Collaborating with League Partners on a Shared Mission

FanDuel works closely with its professional league and team partners to promote responsible gaming to sports fans and applauds the efforts of those who are working to raise awareness of safer play this March. Building off FanDuel’s partnership with the NBA, at games this spring, FanDuel and team partners are sharing critical responsible gaming messaging and raising calls to action at arenas throughout the country, furthering the reach of efforts to promote RG education and tool usage, enabling fans stay in control of their play. “Prioritizing responsible gambling efforts has been integral to our relationship with FanDuel from day one,” said Scott Kaufman-Ross, Senior Vice President, Head of Gaming & New Business Ventures, NBA. “Responsible gambling is a key pillar of our approach to legal sports betting and we are grateful that FanDuel shares that vision.” 

Throughout the month, FanDuel is proud to support the PGA TOUR’s newly launched campaign for Problem Gambling Awareness Month on FanDuel TV and through FanDuel social media channels. “When the PGA TOUR made the decision five years ago to enter this space, we did it fully understanding that integrity programs and responsible gaming initiatives would lead the way,” said Scott Warfield, VP of Gaming for the PGA TOUR. “Because of that, we’ve developed deep relationships with operators such as FanDuel that also have that mindset and see responsible gaming as a shared priority and collective responsibility.”

Encouraging Customer Usage of Player Protection Resources

As part of FanDuel’s commitment to lead on responsible play, the company promotes awareness and encourages customers to use responsible gaming resources and tools to help manage their online casino, sports betting, horse racing and daily fantasy sports play. The tools are available in our apps and can be viewed on FanDuel’s Play Well site. These ‘Play Well’ tools include the following:

·       Deposit Limit – Decide how much you can deposit within a given time period.

·       Wager Limit – Decide how much you can wager within a given time period.

·       Maximum Wager Size Limit – Decide how much you can wager on a single bet.

·       Time Limit – Decide the max daily number of hours you can spend on FanDuel apps.

·       Time Out – Decide if you want to take a break from betting.

As part of Flutter’s Play Well strategy, FanDuel and Flutter’s other global divisions are committed to together reaching a global goal by 2030, that 75 percent of active online customers will utilize at least one Play Well tool, with over 50 percent using at least one tool by 2026.

“This March marks the 20th anniversary of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and we will once again use this as a moment to demonstrate how FanDuel aims to set the standard for what it means to be a responsible operator,” said Amy Howe, FanDuel Group CEO.  “Through collaboration with our valued partners, we can continue to raise Responsible Gaming awareness and encourage our customers to incorporate our Play Well tools into their experience.”

Performance Hydration Leader Ready® Joins Global Tennis Market with Miami Open Official Sports Drink Status

Ready® (@ready_nutrition), one of the fastest growing sports nutrition companies in America with co-owners NFL superstar Aaron Donald and world basketball icon Giannis Antetokounmpo, is making its mark in the tennis world, being named the Official Sports Drink of the Miami Open Tennis Tournament.

Ready® Athlete Jessica Pegula, America’s top ranked player and #3 in the world, will join fellow participants for one of the largest combined ATP/WTA combined tournaments in the world scheduled for March 19 – April 2 at Hard Rock Stadium.  The tournament sports a who’s who of past champions including Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic along with Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and the Williams sisters on the ladies’ side.

Ready® will use the high-profile exposure of the Open to highlight the launch of Ready® Light Sports Drink, its advanced, science-based beverage designed to optimize hydration replenishment and energy production.

The partnership follows Ready’s® signing of Pegula last August as a Ready® Athlete to represent both the brand’s products and provide a shining example of the unique goal achievement and perseverance mentality that is an integral part of the brand’s messaging and Pegula’s career.

Ready’s® sponsorship assets include product integration (sports drink, protein bars and powder) in player and recovery areas for competitor use, court and video board signage, on court cooler placement, product sampling, tournament social and digital branding, and commercial opportunities on the Tennis Channel’s coverage of the tournament reaching over 11 million viewers worldwide.  Ready® will premier Pegula’s first promotional spot for the brand on the telecast.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be chosen as a partner with such a prestigious tournament featuring players from all over the world,” said Ready® Founder and CEO Pat Cavanaugh.  “We’re especially looking forward to our best-in-class products being available to help fuel the players and assist them in their recovery.”

Final X, Beat the Streets’ 2023 Annual Benefit, set for June 10 at Prudential Center

Beat the Streets New York and USA Wrestling will present Final X, presented by Tezos, on Saturday, June 10 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Final X, presented by Tezos, will determine the 2023 U.S. Senior World Teams in all three Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. There will be 30 weight classes contested, 10 in each Olympic discipline.

The top two U.S. athletes in each weight class will compete in a best-of-three series in Final X to determine who will wrestle at the 2023 Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. The medalists and the fifth-place wrestler in each weight at the 2023 Senior World Championships will qualify the United States for their weight class at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

This will be the first time that Final X will be held in one location, as previous Final X competitions were held in either two or three cities. It will also be the first time Final X will be contested on three mats. It is the second time Final X will be hosted in New Jersey, as Final X Rutgers was held in 2019 in Piscataway.

“USA Wrestling is excited to partner once again with Beat the Streets New York to present the most important domestic wrestling event of the year, Final X, presented by Tezos. The nation’s greatest athletes will compete for the right to represent Team USA at the 2023 Senior World Championships, as well as an opportunity to qualify our nation for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Final X will once again be intense and exciting, as our elite men and women wrestlers put it all on the line in Prudential Center, a world-class facility. Make plans to join us in Newark,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.

Final X, presented by Tezos, will be broadcast live on FloWrestling.

It is the second straight year Final X will serve as the Beat the Streets Annual Benefit. In 2022, BTSNY hosted Final X New York at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This year’s event will be the 13th BTSNY Annual Benefit.

These unique and electrifying annual events help BTSNY raise more than $1 million each year to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City. BTSNY provides a safe, positive atmosphere for student-athlete to learn essential life lessons of discipline, perseverance, self-reliance, humility and a strong work ethic through wrestling. The BTSNY Annual Benefit after party will follow the conclusion of Final X.

Session times will be 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time, with the Beat the Streets after party to immediately follow. Ticket information for Final X will be available on Ticketmaster at a later date, while tickets for the BTSNY Annual Benefit after party can be purchased at btsny.org.

“Beat the Streets New York is excited to host Final X once again for our Annual Benefit this year alongside one of our strongest partners in USA Wrestling. This event is our largest fundraiser of the year and will support 75 percent of our annual expenses, so we can continue to make a lifelong impact on the 2,500 boys and girls in New York City that rely on us. We are looking forward to hosting this event at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, a state filled with rich wrestling traditions. We have no doubt this year’s event will add to that tradition and provide exciting moments for some of the World’s greatest men and women athletes who are looking to earn a spot on Team USA at the 2023 World Championships,” BTSNY Executive Director Brendan Buckley said.

“Wrestling in the state of New Jersey has proven to be the incubator for success on the international level. It’s only fitting for Prudential Center to now host the best wrestlers in our nation as they compete to represent Team USA at the upcoming World Championships,” said Dylan Wanagiel, Vice President of Sports Properties & Special Events for Prudential Center. “On the heels of Top Rank Boxing (April 8) and UFC 288 (May 6), Final X (June 10) will keep all eyes in the combat sports world on Newark. Previously we have established ourselves as a top venue for college wrestling with the creation of ‘Garden State Grapple.’ We are now thrilled to add freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling to our diverse calendar and are very appreciative of our partners at USA Wrestling and Beat the Streets for bringing this marquee event to New Jersey.”

There are 15 wrestlers who won a 2022 Senior World medal that are eligible to advance directly to the Final X best-of-three series, if they accept their position and compete in the same weight class in Final X, presented by Tezos. They must declare they will compete at that weight class and accept their direct Final X qualification by April 21. USA Wrestling will announce when athletes accept their Final X position.

Once World medalists have either accepted or refused their Final X position, the rest of the field will be determined at the U.S. Open on April 26-30 in Las Vegas and the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament on May 20-21 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

In weight classes where an athlete has advanced directly to Final X, the U.S. Open champion will earn the opposing Final X spot. In weight classes in which no athlete earned an automatic Final X berth, the U.S. Open champion and World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion will advance to Final X.

World Team Trials Challenge Tournament qualifiers are determined based on the approved World Team Trials procedures for each of the Olympic disciplines, which are posted in the Team Selection section of USA Wrestling’s website.

FINAL X locations

2018 – Lincoln, Neb.; State College, Pa.; Bethlehem, Pa.

2019 – Piscataway, N.J; Lincoln, Neb.

2022 – Stillwater, Okla., New York, N.Y.

2023 – Newark, N.J.

*Please note if Prudential Center’s tenant, New Jersey Devils, host a playoff game on June 10 the contingency date for Final X would be Friday, June 9.

cover image: Sarah Hildebrandt (credit: Justin Hoch)

FanDuel Celebrates Massachusetts Mobile Betting Launch with Boston Bruins Partnership

As FanDuel Group launches its leading FanDuel sportsbook app and online experience in Massachusetts, FanDuel is also announcing a new multi-year partnership with the Boston Bruins who named the company an Official Sports Betting Partner. 

Starting today, FanDuel is bringing its best-in-class online sports betting experience to sports fans who are at least 21 years of age in Massachusetts who can now place wagers across football, basketball, baseball, golf, soccer, and tennis with a multitude of betting and payment options available. Customers who sign up for the FanDuel Sportsbook, make a deposit of at least $10 and place a bet of at least $5 will automatically receive $200 in sportsbook Bonus Bets.

“Massachusetts is home to some of the most passionate fan bases across the country and we’re excited to enhance their viewing experience with the launch of the FanDuel Sportsbook app,” said Mike Raffensperger, Chief Commercial Officer, FanDuel Group. “Bruins fans are the true embodiment of that passion and we look forward to supporting the team this season and beyond.”

As an official sports betting partner of the Boston Bruins, FanDuel will be permitted to use the Boston Bruins’ marks. Additionally, FanDuel will have signage both on dasher boards inside the TD Garden and the NHL’s new digitally enhanced dasher boards. The two will also partner together on digital and social media content including homepage takeovers and other exclusive content on Bruins and FanDuel social channels.

“We’re thrilled to welcome FanDuel to the Bruins and TD Garden family,” said Glen Thornborough, Chief Revenue Officer of the Boston Bruins. “With the legalization of sports betting in Massachusetts in January 2023, it’s an exciting time to be partnering with an industry leader in FanDuel.”

The FanDuel Sportsbook app, which is America’s most downloaded and best-rated sportsbook app, is simple, secure and convenient with a number of key features, including:

·        An Innovative Spirit: FanDuel was the first U.S. sportsbook to offer Same Game Parlay™ bets, the first to offer live streaming of sporting events inside a betting app, the first to provide Bad Beat Relief, the first to give early payouts for championship teams, and the originator of the crowdsourced Spread the Love promotion.

·        Customer Focused: FanDuel Sportsbook offers safe and secure banking, lightning-fast payouts, a Cash-Out early feature, and 24/7 customer service.

·        Sports Betting 101: FanDuel Sportsbook has a sports betting guide to help customers learn the ins and outs of legal sports betting.

·        Commitment to Responsible Gaming: FanDuel is the industry leader in promoting responsible play, including in-app tools that allow customers to set time, deposit and wager limits, as well as its PlaySafe site where customers can find additional support services.

Massachusetts becomes the 19th state where FanDuel offers mobile sports betting, joining Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Insider Expeditions, Fandiem Offer Chance To ‘Donate to Win’ McEnroe Tanzania Tennis Experience

Insider Expeditions, a leader in global travel excursions, and Fandiem, a digital fundraising platform that harnesses the power of the fan community to do good in the world, have partnered to give away a trip of a lifetime to a lucky fan and their guest, who will join tennis legends John and Patrick McEnroe on an excursion to Tanzania in December. And the real winners will be The Johnny Mac Tennis Project and Asante Youth Foundation; by “Donating To Win” at fandiem.com/mcenroe, people are automatically entered for the chance to be flown out to Tanzania and experience a seven-night excursion of breathtaking nature coupled with the joy of sports with tennis legends.

The winner and their guest will see the best of Tanzania’s National Parks including the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti which are home to lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards, buffalo, and so much more as well as numerous birds and reptiles. They will enjoy and experience nature, wildlife, fauna and flora like never before.

“The ‘Donate to Win’ makes it possible that anyone who pledges support to these two great charities has a chance to be with us in Tanzania” said John McEnroe. “I’m especially proud that this program will benefit organizations that do such important work with children.”

The prize also offers unprecedented access to two of the most iconic individuals in U.S. sports history in the McEnroe brothers. The lucky winners will be witnessing the first professional tennis exhibition ever played in the Serengeti and attending a VIP dinner with both legendary athletes to interact and hear about their experiences on tour.

The expedition is part of a new goodwill, awareness and sport initiative in cooperation and support of the Tanzanian government. The winners will be part of a tour in which the Brothers McEnroe will be accompanied by as many as 120 tennis aficionados which will include the dedication of a tennis court in the Serengeti.

The luxury journey will include a tennis match between the McEnroe brothers in the midst of the Serengeti, one of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations. Unmatched wildlife, local cultures and stunning landscapes combine to produce what is often described as the holiday of a lifetime and coupled with celebrity tennis professionals as hosts—this is truly a once in a lifetime experience. The itinerary includes the best Tanzania’s National Parks including the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti which are home to the Big Five as well as numerous birds and reptiles.

Guests will also join John and Patrick when they visit a traditional Maasai Village to bring good will and cultural exchange and introduce the Maasai youth to the game of tennis as part of a special court dedication.

Travelers will enjoy African hospitality while staying at luxury lodges such as the Four Seasons Serengeti and the Gran Melia. This bucket list tour package includes all gourmet meals on an all-inclusive basis, domestic air, almost daily Safari game drives in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, a welcome reception hosted by the President of Tanzania, tennis themed activities and memories to last a lifetime.

Tennis fans will not want to miss this historic moment in tennis history. This is a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to one of the most majestic landscapes on the planet with tennis legends.

To learn more or join the tour, please visit: https://insiderexpeditions.com/mcenroe.

For Official Rules and entry instructions, including an opportunity to enter without donating, visit fandiem.com/mcenroe. The Sweepstakes will be open through September 13, 2023. *No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Kitman Labs Names Kirk Iwanowski Chief Marketing Officer and Chris Aker Chief Revenue Officer

Kitman Labs, the sports technology and analytics company setting a new industry standard for how high performance organizations use data, today announced the hiring of Kirk Iwanowski and Chris Aker for the newly created positions of Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Revenue Officer, respectively. Iwanowski joins Kitman with over 25 years of experience in entertainment, media and technology marketing and brand building, most recently at AnyClip, where he spearheaded their global rebrand and positioning as The Visual Intelligence Company™. Aker brings over 20 years of experience in sales, business development and execution and revenue generation to Kitman Labs, the last 4.5 years building the successful sales and enterprise strategy at Compass.

“Kirk and Chris’ expansive background and track record of success in scaling, brand building and sales will be critical as we grow the business enterprise value of Kitman Labs and tell our story to an expanding global audience,” said Founder and CEO Stephen Smith. “Our goal in the coming years is to continue to partner with elite sports and public sector companies to revolutionize how data and analytics are leveraged across every level of an organization to optimize performance and maximize return. There is no one better to help us map and execute that plan than these two seasoned executives.”

“What Kitman Labs has built under Stephen and his team in terms of integrated performance technology is not only disruptive but clearly becoming the new standard in driving human performance optimization,” Iwanowski said. “While we continue to amplify our story and drive penetration within the Sports vertical, we are equally focused on introducing this technology to other markets where health, wellness and performance data can be aggregated and leveraged to maximize outcomes.”

“The sports performance and data analytics business continues to expand exponentially every year as the technology and the user experience improves, and there is no better company than Kitman Labs to help blaze the trail and drive broad-based adoption of this practice,” Aker added. “I am looking forward to working with Stephen and the team to find even greater ways to grow the business well beyond what was even possible just a few years ago.”

Most recently, Chris Aker was the Chief Sales Officer at Compass, leading what was a small real estate tech firm to a successful IPO, which became the largest brokerage in the United States and a Fortune 500 Company. Prior to that successful venture, he led the global sales organization for Eventbrite across eight different countries to a successful IPO and the largest independent ticketing company in the world. He has a wealth of experience designing and building global sales and success organizations for Facebook (pre and post IPO), Google, Skype (pre-Microsoft), IBM, and Toshiba as well.

Kirk Iwanowski joined AnyClip in 2021, concurrent with the company’s expansion as a global SaaS company leveraging its proprietary AI technology to power advanced video solutions for business. He oversaw all branding, marketing, demand and lead generation, design, corporate and public relations, thought leadership, as well as the go-to-market strategy for its growing suite of solutions across multiple verticals, internationally. Prior to AnyClip, Kirk was CMO and EVP of EPIX for MGM Studios, prior to its recent acquisition by Amazon. At EPIX, under the ownership of MGM, Paramount and Lionsgate, he was widely recognized for helping the brand evolve from a singular movie channel to a full premium entertainment service while also effectively introducing the network to a mass television and streaming consumer audience on the heels of MGM’s $1B+ acquisition of the network in 2017. Prior to joining EPIX, Iwanowski served as the SVP, Marketing of Bill Pohlad’s Apparition Pictures and GK Film’s FilmDistrict. Earlier, he was EVP of Marketing at Sundance Channel for a decade, a joint venture of Robert Redford, NBC Universal and CBS. As a key member of the company’s Executive Management Team, Iwanowski helped lead the sale of the network to Cablevision/AMC Networks in 2008.

These new senior hires follow other recent business strategy moves Kitman Labs have undertaken. That includes the successful close of a $52M Series C funding round, led by Guggenheim Investments, a global asset investment and advisory firm with more than $259 billion* in assets under management and two strategic acquisitions of The Sports Office and Presagia Sports, both made in the last two years. The combined companies represent the industry’s largest network of elite and youth organizations (700+) and created the industry’s largest dataset of talent, performance, and medical data for all stages of the athlete lifecycle.