After a weather-delayed kickoff, loyal NOLA Gold fans were treated to a rollercoaster of a match that ended with a well-earned 44-36 victory over the Seattle Seawolves at the Shrine. This win moved NOLA Gold into 3rd place in the Major League Rugby Eastern Conference standings. Coach Danny Lee said of the team's response to the delay, “We just had to control the controllables. Once we told the boys the definitive time for kickoff, we had a plan ready to go. In terms of game plan, we had to be a little bit more direct, and we had to kick and adapt quickly.” NOLA Gold set the tone early, taking an initial 3-0 lead thanks to a steady penalty kick from Dorian Jones. Though Seattle answered quickly with a try to make it 7-3, the Gold launched into a dominant scoring stretch. Isaac Te Tamaki powered across the try line to ignite the offense, followed by back-to-back tries from the relentless Jonah Mau’u. Jones continued to add points from the tee, stretching the Gold’s lead to 27-7. Just before halftime, the Seawolves found a breakthrough and scored at the buzzer, narrowing the margin to 27-14. However, NOLA emerged from the locker room with purpose. Xavier Mignot wasted no time reestablishing momentum with a try that pushed the lead to 34-14. Seattle fought back with intensity, capitalizing on back-to-back tries to bring the score to 34-24. But NOLA responded with composure, as Jones added another penalty to keep the visitors at bay, 37-24. The closing stages of the match saw both teams exchanging blows. Seattle’s try was met by a decisive moment from Joe Taufete’e, who muscled through defenders for a critical score. Luke Campbell’s conversion extended the lead to 44-29. Though Seattle scored one final try at the buzzer, it wasn’t enough. With a final score of 44-36, NOLA Gold walked away with a crucial five-point win in front of a roaring home crowd and strengthens their postseason hopes with a firm grip on 3rd place in the East. Their next match will be on the road against the San Diego Legion on May 4th at 4:00 PM CT. For tickets and more details, please visit www.nolagoldrugby.com

The NOLA Gold will hit the road for a showdown against the Houston SaberCats on Saturday, April 19, 2025, beginning at 7:00 PM CT. The matchup against Houston is expected to be an intense one, with both squads vying for playoff positioning as the MLR season heats up. Fans can catch all of tonight's action live on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network (Cox Cable Channel 10) and ESPN+, or follow along in real time through NOLA Gold Rugby’s social media channels and official website. After their trip to Houston, NOLA Gold will return home to the Shrine on Airline for a matchup against the Seattle Seawolves on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 3:00 PM CT. Tickets for upcoming home matches are available now at nolagoldrugby.com.

The 2025 Crescent City Classic will take place this Saturday, April 19th starting at 8 a.m. The Classic is the New Orleans and Gulf South's premier 10k road race, and one of the oldest 10k races in the nation. This Easter weekend tradition along with Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, is one of New Orleans signature events. Every year, over 20,000 people gather in Downtown New Orleans for an event that attracts everyone from international elite athletes to those who walk the entire route carrying cocktails or wearing bunny suits. Young, old, fit and not so, the Crescent City Classic is the most fun you can have over 6.2 miles. For over 40 years, it has combined world class competition, amateur participation and great fun for all participants. Starting in 1979 with 902 participants, the Crescent City Classic has grown to become the preeminent fitness event in Louisiana. All CCC events are produced by the Crescent City Classic Foundation, a not-for-profit entity whose sole purpose is to promote health, fitness, and a better lifestyle for the people of the New Orleans metropolitan area. The “Run For It” Program is the Official Charity Program of the Crescent City Classic. The goal of the “Run For It” Program is to raise $1 million annually and serve the Greater New Orleans area. Each year, the Crescent City Classic Foundation selects local charities to support and partner with for the 10k race. No matter who crosses the finish line first, everyone wins! For more information about the Crescent City Classic and to register for the race, please visit www.ccc10k.com

LSU gymnast Kailin Chio has been named the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year, announced by the Southeastern Conference in its annual gymnastics awards for the season. Chio has not only been the top freshman performer in the SEC throughout the 2025 season, but also in the country. On top of her FOTY honors, she was also named to the All-SEC and All-Freshman Team. Chio is just the fourth gymnast in LSU history to win the SEC Freshman of the Year award, joining Haleigh Bryant (2021), Kiya Johnson (2020) and April Burkholder (2003), and the 20th gymnast to earn a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team since it began back in 2009. Chio has had the most historic freshman debut in LSU's history. In her first year, she has competed in the all-around in every meet for the Tigers, recording season highs of 10.0 on vault, 9.950’s on bars and beam, 9.975 on floor and 39.800 in the all-around, the highest all-around score by a freshman in LSU history and in the country currently. She has placed as one of the top five gymnasts in the country for five straight weeks in only her first year, putting up veteran numbers all year long. She owns an NQS of 39.670 in the all-around heading into postseason and has ranked amongst the top 10 gymnasts in the nation for eight out of 12 weeks of competition so far in 2025, including claiming the No. 1 spot on vault for two weeks in week seven and Week 11. Chio currently ranks in the top 20 on every event nationally with an NQS of 9.9+ across the board. She has had nine meets this year where she has put up scores of 9.900 or better on at least three events for the Tigers and owns 20 titles, with six of those coming on vault, five in the all-around, four on bars, three on beam and two on floor. Chio has marked many “firsts” in her first year at LSU, including being the first freshman to record a 10 this season after her perfect yurchenko one and a half on vault against Auburn on March 22. It was only the fourth perfect score in the country by any gymnast so far this year. She also made SEC history when she set the record for the most SEC Freshman of the Week honors in a single season, taking home nine out of 11 awards in 2025, the most by any freshman in SEC history. She broke the previous SEC record of eight set by Florida’s Kayla DiCello’s in 2023 and Haleigh Bryant’s previous LSU record of five. In her postseason debut, Chio finished amongst the top 10 performers in the 2025 SEC Gymnastics Championships on vault, bars, floor and the all-around. She finished second on floor with her score of 9.950 and fourth in the all-around with her 39.650 at the championships.

The No. 2 ranked LSU Gymnastics team (12-2, 8-1 SEC) has won the 2025 SEC Championship with a record-breaking score of 198.200 in Session II of the 2025 SEC Gymnastics Championships inside Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL. This is LSU's 2nd consecutive championship and 6th total, winning five in the last eight years. LSU’s final score of 198.200 was their best in the school's history at the SEC Championships to finish as the top team across both sessions of competition on Saturday. No. 1 ranked Oklahoma finished in second with their score of 197.925 and Florida in third with their 197.825. The Tigers began on bars, recording a team score of 49.600, which was good for the program’s highest bar score at the SEC Championships. On beam, they scored a total of 49.450, which is the highest beam score in LSU history at the SEC Championships. O n vault, they finished 49.525, their fourth highest in LSU history at the meet and on floor rotation, they wrapped up with a total score of 49.625, their second highest at SEC’s. LSU held the lead through all rotations in the second session, highlighted by top five program scores in every event at the conference championships.