Latest news with #Walker
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
From Cessnock to the Australian team: the sport on the rise in the Hunter
Harris WC Walker copped a hit so big in his first game of gridiron that his helmet went flying and he needed to take a moment to regroup. "That was kind of my welcome to football moment," Walker recalled. "We were two minutes into the game and I had to go to the sideline for a couple of minutes. "Ever since then, it's been awesome." Eight years' on, after being introduced to the sport by a schoolmate in year eight, and the Cessnock 22-year-old is set to represent his country in a sport that is gaining plenty of traction in Australia. It is the first time Australia has had a men's gridiron team in a decade. The team was picked from an invitational camp held this month on the Gold Coast, where Australia is set to play New Zealand on July 12. "I did the camp and made the team, so I'm really happy with that," Walker, who plays gridiron in Newcastle and Sydney competitions, said. "I'm just hoping for a good game and to see where I stand at a national level of a player base. "I've played overseas in America but I've never played another country before." The disability support worker spent three years in the United States college football system at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas between 2021 and 2023. On the horizon next year, he is exploring opportunities to play semi-professionally in Europe. On Sunday, he will feature in a historic moment for the Hunter Gridiron League (HGL), which comprises three teams and is looking at expansion. The talented wide receiver will be part of the HGL All Stars team set to play ACT in their first interstate challenge at Mayfield's Dangar Park (11am). HGL president Matthew Campbell described the match as a milestone moment for the sport in the region. "It's quite significant, just being able to promote the game at a national level," Campbell said. "This game is the only state game being played in Australia this year. So, being on the map for gridiron in Australia and being able to showcase that will be good, but also to promote football in the Hunter, to promote our players and show that there's football around here in Newcastle." Campbell and Walker play for Lake Macquarie Marauders, who won the HGL men's grand final in April. "It's a good team full of great talent," Campbell said of the HGL All Stars. "There's a lot of older guys who have been around the game for a while and some rookies. It's a strong team. You've got players like Harris, who is going to play for Australia. "There's guys who have trialled for Australia, people who have played for NSW, some guys have played college football in America. There's plenty of experience there." Campbell said having an Australian representative was as much a feather in the cap for Walker as it was for the Hunter. "I've played with Harris since the start, so it's special just to see him make it that far," Campbell said. "For the Hunter itself ... everyone makes out that we're this little bush league and there's not much going on in the Hunter. "But we've got a player who's going to represent Australia in one of the toughest positions in the game. It's a good way to say, 'Don't rule us out'. "It's a real good piece to promote the Hunter as a whole for American football, being able to say we've got an athlete going to represent Australia." Harris WC Walker copped a hit so big in his first game of gridiron that his helmet went flying and he needed to take a moment to regroup. "That was kind of my welcome to football moment," Walker recalled. "We were two minutes into the game and I had to go to the sideline for a couple of minutes. "Ever since then, it's been awesome." Eight years' on, after being introduced to the sport by a schoolmate in year eight, and the Cessnock 22-year-old is set to represent his country in a sport that is gaining plenty of traction in Australia. It is the first time Australia has had a men's gridiron team in a decade. The team was picked from an invitational camp held this month on the Gold Coast, where Australia is set to play New Zealand on July 12. "I did the camp and made the team, so I'm really happy with that," Walker, who plays gridiron in Newcastle and Sydney competitions, said. "I'm just hoping for a good game and to see where I stand at a national level of a player base. "I've played overseas in America but I've never played another country before." The disability support worker spent three years in the United States college football system at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas between 2021 and 2023. On the horizon next year, he is exploring opportunities to play semi-professionally in Europe. On Sunday, he will feature in a historic moment for the Hunter Gridiron League (HGL), which comprises three teams and is looking at expansion. The talented wide receiver will be part of the HGL All Stars team set to play ACT in their first interstate challenge at Mayfield's Dangar Park (11am). HGL president Matthew Campbell described the match as a milestone moment for the sport in the region. "It's quite significant, just being able to promote the game at a national level," Campbell said. "This game is the only state game being played in Australia this year. So, being on the map for gridiron in Australia and being able to showcase that will be good, but also to promote football in the Hunter, to promote our players and show that there's football around here in Newcastle." Campbell and Walker play for Lake Macquarie Marauders, who won the HGL men's grand final in April. "It's a good team full of great talent," Campbell said of the HGL All Stars. "There's a lot of older guys who have been around the game for a while and some rookies. It's a strong team. You've got players like Harris, who is going to play for Australia. "There's guys who have trialled for Australia, people who have played for NSW, some guys have played college football in America. There's plenty of experience there." Campbell said having an Australian representative was as much a feather in the cap for Walker as it was for the Hunter. "I've played with Harris since the start, so it's special just to see him make it that far," Campbell said. "For the Hunter itself ... everyone makes out that we're this little bush league and there's not much going on in the Hunter. "But we've got a player who's going to represent Australia in one of the toughest positions in the game. It's a good way to say, 'Don't rule us out'. "It's a real good piece to promote the Hunter as a whole for American football, being able to say we've got an athlete going to represent Australia." Harris WC Walker copped a hit so big in his first game of gridiron that his helmet went flying and he needed to take a moment to regroup. "That was kind of my welcome to football moment," Walker recalled. "We were two minutes into the game and I had to go to the sideline for a couple of minutes. "Ever since then, it's been awesome." Eight years' on, after being introduced to the sport by a schoolmate in year eight, and the Cessnock 22-year-old is set to represent his country in a sport that is gaining plenty of traction in Australia. It is the first time Australia has had a men's gridiron team in a decade. The team was picked from an invitational camp held this month on the Gold Coast, where Australia is set to play New Zealand on July 12. "I did the camp and made the team, so I'm really happy with that," Walker, who plays gridiron in Newcastle and Sydney competitions, said. "I'm just hoping for a good game and to see where I stand at a national level of a player base. "I've played overseas in America but I've never played another country before." The disability support worker spent three years in the United States college football system at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas between 2021 and 2023. On the horizon next year, he is exploring opportunities to play semi-professionally in Europe. On Sunday, he will feature in a historic moment for the Hunter Gridiron League (HGL), which comprises three teams and is looking at expansion. The talented wide receiver will be part of the HGL All Stars team set to play ACT in their first interstate challenge at Mayfield's Dangar Park (11am). HGL president Matthew Campbell described the match as a milestone moment for the sport in the region. "It's quite significant, just being able to promote the game at a national level," Campbell said. "This game is the only state game being played in Australia this year. So, being on the map for gridiron in Australia and being able to showcase that will be good, but also to promote football in the Hunter, to promote our players and show that there's football around here in Newcastle." Campbell and Walker play for Lake Macquarie Marauders, who won the HGL men's grand final in April. "It's a good team full of great talent," Campbell said of the HGL All Stars. "There's a lot of older guys who have been around the game for a while and some rookies. It's a strong team. You've got players like Harris, who is going to play for Australia. "There's guys who have trialled for Australia, people who have played for NSW, some guys have played college football in America. There's plenty of experience there." Campbell said having an Australian representative was as much a feather in the cap for Walker as it was for the Hunter. "I've played with Harris since the start, so it's special just to see him make it that far," Campbell said. "For the Hunter itself ... everyone makes out that we're this little bush league and there's not much going on in the Hunter. "But we've got a player who's going to represent Australia in one of the toughest positions in the game. It's a good way to say, 'Don't rule us out'. "It's a real good piece to promote the Hunter as a whole for American football, being able to say we've got an athlete going to represent Australia." Harris WC Walker copped a hit so big in his first game of gridiron that his helmet went flying and he needed to take a moment to regroup. "That was kind of my welcome to football moment," Walker recalled. "We were two minutes into the game and I had to go to the sideline for a couple of minutes. "Ever since then, it's been awesome." Eight years' on, after being introduced to the sport by a schoolmate in year eight, and the Cessnock 22-year-old is set to represent his country in a sport that is gaining plenty of traction in Australia. It is the first time Australia has had a men's gridiron team in a decade. The team was picked from an invitational camp held this month on the Gold Coast, where Australia is set to play New Zealand on July 12. "I did the camp and made the team, so I'm really happy with that," Walker, who plays gridiron in Newcastle and Sydney competitions, said. "I'm just hoping for a good game and to see where I stand at a national level of a player base. "I've played overseas in America but I've never played another country before." The disability support worker spent three years in the United States college football system at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas between 2021 and 2023. On the horizon next year, he is exploring opportunities to play semi-professionally in Europe. On Sunday, he will feature in a historic moment for the Hunter Gridiron League (HGL), which comprises three teams and is looking at expansion. The talented wide receiver will be part of the HGL All Stars team set to play ACT in their first interstate challenge at Mayfield's Dangar Park (11am). HGL president Matthew Campbell described the match as a milestone moment for the sport in the region. "It's quite significant, just being able to promote the game at a national level," Campbell said. "This game is the only state game being played in Australia this year. So, being on the map for gridiron in Australia and being able to showcase that will be good, but also to promote football in the Hunter, to promote our players and show that there's football around here in Newcastle." Campbell and Walker play for Lake Macquarie Marauders, who won the HGL men's grand final in April. "It's a good team full of great talent," Campbell said of the HGL All Stars. "There's a lot of older guys who have been around the game for a while and some rookies. It's a strong team. You've got players like Harris, who is going to play for Australia. "There's guys who have trialled for Australia, people who have played for NSW, some guys have played college football in America. There's plenty of experience there." Campbell said having an Australian representative was as much a feather in the cap for Walker as it was for the Hunter. "I've played with Harris since the start, so it's special just to see him make it that far," Campbell said. "For the Hunter itself ... everyone makes out that we're this little bush league and there's not much going on in the Hunter. "But we've got a player who's going to represent Australia in one of the toughest positions in the game. It's a good way to say, 'Don't rule us out'. "It's a real good piece to promote the Hunter as a whole for American football, being able to say we've got an athlete going to represent Australia."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Duke quarterback commit explains why he picked the Blue Devils
Duke quarterback commit explains why he picked the Blue Devils Terry Walker III has been committed to the Duke Blue Devils since April and he is currently representing them at the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles. The three-star quarterback is competing to be crowned the MVP of the prestigious quarterback competition. Tom Loy of 247Sports asked about why he committed to Duke, and he quickly pointed out the culture and success quarterbacks have had under offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jonathan Brewer. "It's a great culture," he explained. "When you go there, it just feels like home. I mean, talking with other guys that have been on the officials already, everybody's enjoyed their official. It just feels like home to everybody. And then Coach Brewer's done a great job with quarterbacks in the past. He had Kevin Jennings at SMU, who turned out to be great. When he pulls up that PowerPoint and shows you the guys that (he's coached), and tells you that you're going to be on that PowerPoint one day, like you're going to be their next guy. It's hard to pass up, they throw the ball downfield a lot. You know, Maalik Murphy had a great year with them, record-breaking year. Off the field stuff, just being at a prestigious school like Duke where academic-wise, it's probably one of the – if not the best non-Ivy League in the country, then one of the top three at least. So it's just a great school to be at and great people. It's just – it's a hard opportunity to pass up." Walker is coming off his first season as the full-time starter at Lawrence Central High School. In 10 games, he completed 46.3% (95-205) of his passes for 1,467 yards and 17 touchdowns against three interceptions. He also rushed the ball 48 times for 377 yards and four more touchdowns, averaging 7.9 yards per carry. With limited reps, and a 46.7% career completion percentage, Walker was a bit of an unknown at the event, but he impressed Andrew Ivins, 247Sports Director of Scouting. "We weren't sure what to expect from Walker as he's less than a 50 percent career passer, but he ended up being arguably the biggest surprise of the night. Walker showcased the ability to make advanced throws and tied Henderson with the best spin rate on the balls that were tracked. He might be a longer burn, but something is there." Walker is ranked as the No. 788 overall player and No. 45 quarterback in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is the No. 9 player from Indiana. Follow us @DukeWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Duke news, notes, and opinions.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Married man caught sending vile messages to ‘12-year-old' in paedo hunter sting
Michael Walker told the 'girl' that he 'wanted to see her on the toilet' and further that he wanted to see the girl defecate A Co Antrim man snared by a paedophile hunter group was handed a four month prison sentence today after he sent what he believed was a 12-year-old girl a series of vile messages. Jailing Michael Walker at Ballymena Magistrates Court, District Judge Nigel Broderick questioned why the PPS had opted to keep the case in the Petty Sessions where the maximum sentence was just six months. Lamenting that his surprise at the PPS opting not to elevate the case to the Crown Court, the judge highlighted that he had no powers to refuse jurisdiction in this particular case. 'In my view, especially given the facts of this particular case, it should really have been prosecuted in the Crown Court where sentencing powers are greatly enhanced,' said the judge. At an earlier hearing Walker, 60, from Clover Terrace in Larne, entered guilty pleas to two charges of attempted sexual communication with a child under 16 between 20-30 March last year. The charges disclose that 'for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification [he] intentionally attempted to communicate with a person under 16 years, the communication being sexual or intended to encourage the said person to make a communication that was sexual, and you did not reasonably believe that she was 16 years or over.' Opening the facts of the case today, a prosecuting lawyer outlined how members of an online paedophile hunter group alerted police to messages Walker had sent to their decoy. The court heard that believing he was messaging a 12-year-old girl, Walker sent her videos and images of his private parts as well as a video of him urinating. He also told the 'girl' that he 'wanted to see her on the toilet' and further that he wanted to see the girl defecate. 'He said that she could **** on his **** to turn him on,' said the lawyer, revealing that Walker also asked her whether she knew how to masturbate. When Walker was arrested and his phone seized, officers uncovered the messages and images he had sent to the decoy. The video of the sting operation is still available on line and during the hour long recording, Walker can be seen standing outside the door of his home. As the hunter remonstrates with him, his wife can be seen in the background demanding to know 'Michael what have you done…what have you done this for?' Revealing that he has been married for 36 years, Walker at one point sits down on a bench outside his home, leaning forward with his head in his hands, conceding that he is 'sorry' for his actions. Larne sex offender Michael Walker who was jailed today News in 90 Seconds - June 19th Explaining how he has been on multiple sting operations, the male hunter highlights that the messages Walker sent to the 'girl 'kept me awake at night - this is the worst I have come across; you are the worst paedophile that I have ever come across!' Lodging a plea in mitigation, defence counsel Stephen Law submitted that Walker has 'abject remorse' for his actions which have cause 'significant ramifications to his life.' Walker, the court heard, has lost his job and he is also 'gravely concerned about a period of immediate imprisonment.' Mr Law added that while the offending has had a 'profound effect on his marriage,' the barrister conceded 'there cannot be a lot if sympathy for this man.' 'He is devastated and can provide no logical rationale as to why he would have engaged in such conduct,' defence counsel conceded. Despite have less sentencing powers than the Crown Court, Judge Broderick warned that 'there must be a clear message that this behaviour will readily attract a custodial sentence.' 'It goes without saying this behaviour is totally despicable,' said the judge adding that while Walker was talking to a decoy rather than a child, 'that is of no material difference.' In addition to the four month prison sentence, Walker was also made the subject of a Sexual offences Prevention Order for five years and he will remain on the police sex offenders register for seven years. Following an application by Mr Law, Walker was freed on his own bail of £500 pending an appeal of the sentence.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Thousands descend on Providence for USA Gymnastics championships. How does R.I. lure so many sporting events?
Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Two-time Olympian Aliaksei Shostak soars high above the trampoline at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I., ahead of the USA Gymnastics finals on Thursday. Steph Machado/Globe Staff Advertisement At the AMP and Rhode Island Convention Center this week, gymnasts are soaring 30 feet in the air, ribbons are twirling, balls are thrown high and then caught with feet mid-dance move. The three events taking place from Thursday to Saturday are trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic and rhythmic gymnastics. Since it's not an Olympic year, the event doesn't serve as an Olympic qualifier. But it will determine the Team USA athletes who will go on to compete on the world stage, including the Rhythmic World Championships in Brazil in August and other international competitions. The six-day event is also expected to drive $3.3 million in spending in Rhode Island, according to Jonathan Walker, the executive director of the Advertisement Two-time Olympian Evita Griskenas rehearses ahead of the rhythmic gymnastics championships in Providence, which start Thursday. Steph Machado/Globe Staff Restaurants and coffee shops downtown Wednesday were packed with teens, tweens, and young adults, some in leotards and wearing their hair in tight buns. In all, about 6,000 people are expected to attend, between the athletes, spectators, judges, and staff. Nearly 5,000 hotel room nights are contracted for the event, not counting spectators who find their own accommodations. Hosting a major sporting event means winning a bidding war against other cities, a taxpayer-funded effort that has managed to book 125 sporting events — big and small — in Rhode Island in the past two years alone, according to data from the sports commission. The events range from the In all, the 125 events over the past two years brought in an estimated $83 million in spending in the state. The numbers are calculated by Destinations International, a tourism association with an 'event impact calculator' used in 48 states last year. The sports commission is part of the 'We market and sell Rhode Island as a premiere place to play,' Walker said. The commission secures hotel room block discounts, welcomes the athletes, and helps with logistics during the event. Advertisement Plus, they aim to create a memorable experience for those who came for sports, so 'maybe they come back for a vacation, or maybe they look for a job here,' Walker said. 'That's sort of the full cycle of the initiative.' The USA Gymnastics request for venue proposals asked for a city with ample hotel space within walking distance of the venue, along with a host that will help 'offset venue costs and assist with local marketing.' Scott Cole, the director of event operations for USA Gymnastics, said the organization picked Providence in part because it had two adjoining venues — the convention center is where the junior athletes are competing, with the elites in the AMP — with lots of hotels in the immediate vicinity and and a convenient airport. It can be also easier to hold events in midsize cities rather than competing for hotel rooms in major metros. (The championships have previously been held in Tulsa, Okla., and Des Moines, Iowa.) 'It's a great fit,' Cole said. 'It's an awesome city, the weather this time of year is perfect for these athletes, and the city really comes alive for us.' Ceiling height was a factor, too; the arena has to have the ability to raise the Jumbotron to a certain height so acrobatic athletes can safely be tossed in the air, Cole said. The AMP, where the Important, too, was the sports commission's willingness to 'get in the trenches with us' to put on the event, Cole said. Advertisement Around 75 cities put in bids for all of USA Gymnastics' events through 2028, Cole said. 'We love New Englanders,' Cole said. 'They just bring such a passion and a fire to everything that they do.' Hockey has brought in the most economic impact to Rhode Island in the past two years, according to the sports commission data, with more than $16 million in estimated direct spending. Cheerleading, baseball, volleyball, and dance also top the list. Providence is already slated to have USA Gymnastics return in 2029. On Wednesday afternoon , another two-time Olympian, Rhythmic gymnastics combines the sport with dance and includes four apparatuses: a ball, clubs, a hoop and a ribbon. Griskenas can't choose a favorite. 'Each routine has its own energy to it and sort of story that you're trying to tell with your body,' Griskenas, 24, told the Globe. 'It's a little unfair to pit a fun tango ribbon with a very serious hoop routine.' Griskenas hopes to make the national team this year, and has her sights set on the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. Her goal this week is to 'be clean, consistent and enjoy the performance.' And hopefully, once it's all over, squeeze in a visit to the RISD museum. Steph Machado can be reached at
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
The problem is clear – but so is the route to achieving independence
The halfway he has come is his acknowledgement of what is a blindingly obvious political fact, namely that London will not consent to another Holyrood indyref. Perhaps that acknowledgement has been pressed on him by the definitive judgment of the Supreme Court that Holyrood's founding act (the Scotland Act 1998) – in reserving to Westminster all power to legislate on matters 'relating' to the Union – does indeed prohibit the Scottish Parliament from legislating to set up an indyref without special permission from London. READ MORE: John Swinney launches report showing Scotland 'must be in charge of destiny' It can be no surprise to any thinking person that London has no intention whatsoever of granting permission, and barring a near miracle, will keep to that intention, whatever party is in power at Westminster. Mr Walker now seems to accept the position: 'Successive Westminster governments have been steadfast in their refusal to countenance a second independence referendum. There is no hope of that changing.' The half not yet traversed by Mr Walker covers what to do about it. He seems to regard it as a bottomless chasm with no way across: 'We have exhausted every avenue available to us to find a way of allowing our democratic will to be expressed.' But, he wonders, could there be a small gleam of hope in the recent plan of James Dornan MSP, who suggests in his article of June 10 (Tell voters we will hold new indyref no matter what Westminster says) that the Scottish Government should run an indyref even without London's permission. Dismissing the complete legal impossibility of that plan, and its incompatibility with his already stated position, Mr Walker falls for it: 'Dornan's plan may not be perfect but it's the best I've heard yet.' Are we then just to step out onto Mr Dornan's imaginary bridge? Not an inspiring prospect. Here's what the real bridge is: 1. Run the next Westminster General Election on a simple manifesto making it a true popular plebiscite on independence. The country will treat it as their real and effective vote on the issue and, as with the 2014 indyref, turnout will rocket. The current steady support is an excellent starting point. Any national majority for Yes will fill all, or almost all, of the Scottish seats with indy MPs. Scotland has no higher representatives in constitutional or legislative matters than these. READ MORE: Independence campaigners react to John Swinney speech on independence 2. Thus elected, those supreme representatives of Scotland will have a fully democratic mandate to take Scotland out of the Union. Such a step is consistent with UK law and constitution, which hold no prohibition on it. 3. If London still declines to cooperate (though at that juncture it almost certainly will come to the table), the body of Scottish MPs, by their own majority (in the circumstance, virtually unanimously) carry out the step for which they were elected, declaring Scotland to be a sovereign and independent country. (The Holyrood election might be used, but only as a dry run, since we currently have a mere nine indy MPs in place thanks to the SNP completely mishandling last year's election.) And that, in a nutshell, is it. Fully legal, constitutional, democratic, peaceful and proper. Indyref last-gaspers inside and outside the SNP might be dumbstruck, but no-one else will. And Scotland rejoins the world. Alan Crocket Motherwell
