Riley Hale

Recent Articles

SPORTS 4/25/26 12:25pm

Rising defensive mind joins Elon football coaching staff

By Riley Hale

Elon has hired experienced defensive coach Jalen Hairston to lead its secondary. Hairston comes to Elon after many years of success in Division II football. He joins the Phoenix coaching staff after spending the past two seasons as the defensive backs coach for the University of Maine. While there, he also served as the safeties coach and defensive passing game coordinator for the Black Bears. Before he was a coach, Hairston played three seasons with the University of Charleston from 2015-2018.

SPORTS 3/23/26 7:17pm

Record-breaking Elon University track star reflects on collegiate career

By Riley Hale

As Elon University’s women’s track and field team continues its season, redshirt junior Katie Blount is leaning on consistency, community and mental toughness while continuing to add to her record-breaking resume. She has been named the All-Coastal Athletic Association outdoor runner in 2023 and 2024 as well as breaking Elon University’s 5k and 6k records this year in cross country. Blount said it being a college athlete is about drive. She said she thinks if an athlete commits and puts their mind to it then they can excel in any sport.

SPORTS 11/7/25 7:59pm

Elon men’s club rugby earns chance to host playoffs at home

By Riley Hale

As Elon University’s men's club rugby team end their regular season, they have an exciting opportunity awaiting this postseason; the opportunity to host the playoff tournament at home. Luke Wood is a senior at Elon who first started playing rugby in 2022. As the president of men’s club rugby he said he thinks being able to have the playoffs at home will provide more publicity for Elon. “Last spring we held a 16-team tournament and it was a big success,” Wood said. “Being able to hold more important sports events at home will actually make us more popular as a university and put us on the map.”

SPORTS 9/28/25 4:54pm

Tennis player reflects on experiences from playing in Mexico to U.S. Division I sports

By Riley Hale

Junior Mariana Reding has the word “fly” written inside her shoe, which is a nod to the advice her dad would give back home during her matches. She said playing tennis often reminds her of her cultural heritage and her family. “My dad used to tell me, ‘Fly Mar fly!’ in my matches,” Reding said. She said she loves when people watch her matches because it makes her feel more supported and involved with Mexican culture. In Mexico, she said people are always very supportive, asking her family, “What is her score, and where can I watch it?” 

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NEWS 05/06/2026 1:08pm
Elon University chair of Department of Performing Arts dies

Performing arts students were told early Wednesday afternoon that professor and chair of the Department of Performing Arts Fred Rubeck died May 6. Co-chair of the performing arts department Kirby Wahl notified students via a Moodle announcement.

NEWS 05/06/2026 12:16pm
New HealthEU building sees phased construction process

The new HealthEU building, recently named the Slattery Center, has reached its tallest point as it nears its anticipated grand opening in fall 2026. On the north side of the building, facing the Colonnades Neighborhood, workers have begun laying the traditional Elon red brick on the structure's outer walls. The south side has a finished structure, but no exterior walls have been added as of May 5. 

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