Sports

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SPORTS 12/8/25 12:41pm

Elon University punter outlines path for NFL Draft

By Benjamin Berfield

Elon University redshirt senior punter Jeff Yurk announced on Nov. 28 that he was declaring for the NFL Draft, but he said the decision was brewing for almost a year. Yurk said he knew there was an opportunity to declare for the draft with the season he had. Entering his final season, he said if he was going to make a decision, this would be the time to do so. “I knew all along after having a good year last season,” Yurk said. “Since I was running out of eligibility this season, I felt that it was a good idea to declare for the draft.”

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SPORTS 12/4/25 12:09am

Strong start not enough in Elon University men’s basketball loss to Furman University

By Trevor Brader-Araje

The energy in Schar Center was palpable as the Phoenix built an early 18 point lead. However, the Phoenix couldn’t sustain momentum as Furman University surged in the second half to hand Elon a home defeat on Dec. 3. Head coach Billy Taylor said the Phoenix simply didn’t respond well when Furman started to take control. While there were encouraging moments during the game, Taylor stressed the importance of maintaining that level. “When they punched back, we didn’t respond the right way,” Taylor said. “We need more of those moments strung together over the course of 40 minutes.”

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SPORTS 12/3/25 12:27pm

Elon University quarterback plans to enter transfer portal

By Nia Bedard

After winning Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Coastal Athletic Association, Elon University quarterback Landen Clark plans to enter the transfer portal, according to a statement made by his agent. This past season Clark, a redshirt freshman, threw for 2,321 yards and rushed for 614 yards. Clark scored 29 total touchdowns during the 2025 season. The transfer portal for college football opens on Jan. 2, 2026 and closes Jan. 16, 2026.

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SPORTS 12/1/25 6:37pm

Elon University women’s basketball transfer center hopes to bounce back after season-ending surgery

By Benjamin Berfield

Graduate center Quinzia Fulmore had nothing but painful memories of last season. After a productive start to last season as a transfer addition for the Memphis University women’s basketball team, she suffered a foot injury that sidelined her for the rest of the year. Fulmore said she had never been injured before and was sick of not being on the court. “It was painful,” Fulmore said. “Just a nerve-wracking feeling that I couldn’t finish the year out and had to sit and watch.”

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SPORTS 11/28/25 7:00pm

Elon University punter declares for NFL Draft

By Benjamin Berfield

Elon University punter Jeff Yurk has declared for the NFL Draft following his redshirt senior season. Yurk announced his decision on his Instagram account Nov. 28. Yurk has totaled 9,645 yards punting throughout his collegiate career at Elon. During his freshman season in 2021, Yurk played all 11 games. The following year, Yurk was named to the third team all Coastal Athletic Association. Yurk’s performance in 2022 helped the Phoenix qualify for the Football Championship Subdivision playoff. During the last two years, Yurk also led the conference in punt yards per game at around 48 yards.

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SPORTS 11/27/25 9:54am

Running toward opportunity: NIL helps Elon athlete build personal brand

By Max Wallace

Imagine a college student having 5 million dollars in the palm of their hand. For some student athletes like AJ Dybantsa — the point guard for the BYU Cougars — it is not something they have to imagine thanks to the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness policy. Caden Strickland, a senior on Elon University’s men’s cross country team, said it wouldn’t be possible to put the amount of hours into running that he does each day if he wasn’t able to make money from just being himself. “To have the opportunity to put my name out there and make money off of what I love doing helps me a lot financially,”  Strickland said.

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SPORTS 11/26/25 11:06am

Women’s soccer team reaches its goals with CAA championship win

By Benjamin Berfield

In just two years, Elon University’s women’s soccer team has transformed from a three-win team in 2023 to Coastal Athletic Association champions, winning Nov. 9 against Stony Brook in a 1-1 match that came down to penalty kicks, where Elon prevailed 6-5. Their turnaround not only earned an NCAA Division I Tournament berth against Duke University, but it also came as a rewarding accomplishment for everyone who spent the last two years changing the team’s fortunes. “I’m so proud of how far this group of players have come because there were a lot of players on that team,” head coach Neil Payne said.

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SPORTS 11/23/25 10:26am

Elon University graduate student finds fulfillment beyond the court

By Lilly Molina

Graduate student and redshirt senior Kamryn Doty stood at the end of the call line. At the beginning of a basketball game, the announcer tells the audience who is in the starting lineup. Those players run through a manmade tunnel before waving to the audience. Except, this time, Doty was waiting for them at the end, giving them a high five and wishing them good luck. “I’m just really thankful that I had the opportunity to come back,” Doty said. “I’m really just hoping to get a sense of fulfillment out of it.”

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SPORTS 11/20/25 11:28pm

Elon men’s soccer falls to UNCG in penalty kicks

By Benjamin Berfield

In a thrilling, hard fought, matchup between the Elon University men’s soccer team and UNCG Spartans, one team had to lose and that was the Phoenix. Elon was defeated in penalty kicks 4-3, ending any chance of advancing in the NCAA Division I Tournament. head coach Marc Reeves said he could not be more proud of what his team accomplished. “I’m proud of our group,” Reeves said. “You can only win three trophies in a season – regular season, tournament championship and NCAA National Championship. To have two of them sit in our locker room is an incredible achievement by the boys.”

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SPORTS 11/20/25 12:40pm

Elon men’s soccer looks to ride hot streak in NCAA tournament

By Trevor Brader-Araje

Rudd Field’s full crowd erupted in cheers as confetti rained from above. Elon University men’s soccer lifted the Coastal Athletic Association championship trophy, winning for the first time. But the celebration didn’t last long. The Phoenix quickly shifted their focus to the next obstacle: a high-stakes NCAA tournament matchup against in-state opponent University North Carolina, Greensboro. Senior Colin Veltri believes that the Phoenix can beat UNCG and push through the tournament. “I feel like we can really make a push,” Veltri said. “And everyone does too.” 

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SPORTS 11/17/25 2:59pm

Phoenix forward embraces confidence on court

By Lilly Molina

Between last season and this one, junior forward Isaac Harrell “had to grow up.” “This offseason really forced me to become a leader for this program,” Harrell said. “I think with everyone leaving, it made me become like a different person, as in, I had to grow up.” With the nine transfers that left Schar Center last year, Harrell and four others were the only returning players. Harrell is the only returning player who spent time in the starting lineup last year. “It was definitely a hard time when everyone left, just because those become your best friends,” Harrell said. “But I figured that staying was best for me because I love the coaching staff.”

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SPORTS 11/16/25 8:13pm

Elon University men’s soccer wins CAA Championship in shutout

By Sam Weiss

Under the North Carolina sun, a new Coastal Athletic Association Champion emerged on Elon University’s Rudd Field. Maroon and gold confetti flew as Elon’s men’s soccer team won the CAA Championship, beating Stony Brook University 3-0. “We’ve just stayed with it,” head coach Marc Reeves said. “We’ve got a little bit more energy, maybe a little more decisiveness. Yeah, we work on these things all the time.” Elon will now advance to the National Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with an automatic bid. The full tournament standings and bracket will be announced on Nov. 17 on ESPN. 

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SPORTS 11/16/25 10:27am

Elon women’s basketball falls to Howard in physical matchup

By Blair Mitchell

After a much needed bounceback win against Presbyterian College on Nov. 10, the Elon women’s basketball team went head-to-head against the Howard University Bisons Nov. 15 to play their fourth game of the season. Despite the hard fought effort and back-and-forth intensity brought forth by the Phoenix, Elon ultimately fell to the Bisons 56-46. Howard’s control of the game started from the opening minute with a knockdown 3-pointer right out of the gates. The Phoenix travel on the road to play Georgetown University on Nov. 24.

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SPORTS 11/15/25 11:43pm

Elon University men’s basketball beats Gardner-Webb, fueled by 3-pointers

By Miles Hayford

The Elon University men’s basketball team defeated Gardner-Webb 95-84, thanks to a bevy of 3-pointers leading the Coastal Athletic Association in points and 3-pointers per game. Graduate student Chandler Cuthrell scored a career high 29 points during the game. ”This game, I wanted to make sure I made more of a paint presence and establish more dominance in the paint rather than just setting around the three point line, just making the defender's job easier to guard me,” Cuthrell said.

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SPORTS 11/15/25 10:37am

Transfer additions get accustomed to Elon men’s basketball team

By Benjamin Berfield

The Elon University men’s basketball team may be trying to replicate last year’s 17-16 record, but they will have to achieve that feat with an entirely different roster. This offseason, the team lost nine players to the transfer portal. Some of the notable departures included TJ and TK Simpkins, along with Nick Dorn, among other contributors. To compensate for the losses, the Phoenix added eight new transfers before the season.  Half of their additions from the portal are graduate students, as forwards Chandler Cuthrell, Kacper Klaczek and Bryson Spell, along with guard Ja’Juan Carr, all provide a ton of experience.

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SPORTS 11/14/25 11:20pm

Elon women’s soccer falls to Duke, dream season ends in shutout

By Benjamin Berfield

Elon’s dreams of extending their season following their Coastal Athletic Association championship were denied against Duke in the first round of the NCAA Division I Tournament. The Blue Devils shut out the Phoenix 3-0 with three goals. “We went up against a good team, but I’m really proud of the way we performed all season,” head coach Neil Payne said. “It wasn’t about tonight, it was about the entire season. I couldn’t be more happy with our response over the last month and postseason play.”

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SPORTS 11/14/25 2:10pm

Elon women’s basketball team aims to take next step after last year’s improvement

By Benjamin Berfield

There is plenty of anticipation for the Elon University women’s basketball team heading into the 2025-26 season. After going from 11-21 in 2024 to 15-15 in 2025, the Phoenix is looking to take another significant step this year. In the CAA’s preseason power rankings, Elon is projected to finish fifth, which is their highest spot since the 2022-2023 season. Elon also boasts plenty of experienced players such as seniors Laila Anderson and Ruby Willard along with redshirt senior guard Kamryn Doty.

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SPORTS 11/13/25 9:51am

Elon men’s basketball seeks to maintain standards despite new roster

By Benjamin Berfield

Chemistry has been a core emphasis for the Elon University men’s basketball team. They’ve stressed building camaraderie over the offseason and into training camp with the 2025-26 season now underway. “We’ve been working hard since June,” Men's head basketball coach Billy Taylor said. “The eight weeks we had in the summertime of workouts and then our preseason have all been building to this moment.” The team will look much different compared to last year’s roster, which went 17-16 for the program’s first winning season since 2016-17. This past offseason, Elon lost nine players to the transfer portal.

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SPORTS 11/12/25 9:35am

From professional basketball to the classroom: Elon athletes pursue education beyond the game

By Monika Jurevicius

A new internship opportunity in Florence will give Elon students the same chance to learn through basketball — connecting academics with the professional game. A shared commitment to education has brought together Elon University’s School of Communications; Accademia Europea di Firenze, the host institution for Elon in Florence; and Italy’s Pistoia Basketball to create a new internship program for students in Florence beginning in fall 2026. “Players are like students,” Head of University Relations for the team and Academia Europea di Fienze professor Marco Bracci said. “They are learning by doing. They are learning by practicing. I think that is a mutual, reciprocal, learning process.

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SPORTS 11/11/25 4:24pm

Elon University women’s basketball star guard out for season

By Miles Hayford

Elon women’s basketball star guard Jayda Angel will miss the remainder of the season after getting injured in the second game of the season Nov. 6 against the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, according to a press release from Elon Athletics. Angel, the reigning Coastal Athletic Association Rookie of the Year, fell while coming to a jump stop on a drive to the basket. “This is a heartbreaking reality that we will pull through together as Jayda’s Phoenix family,” Head coach Charlotte Smith said in the press release. “We pray for a speedy recovery for her.”

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