Fletcher Mackel

1 week ago | wdsu.com | Fletcher Mackel

On a crisp, clear morning, a chestnut thoroughbred thundered down the dirt strip at Churchill Downs, his exercise rider leaning forward above the saddle. Other horse-and-rider pairs followed. Dr. Will Farmer looked down from a viewing point, admiring the speed and agility of the 1,000-pound animals. The whole world will have the chance to see horses in action here Saturday, when the Kentucky Derby shines a global spotlight on equine athleticism.

2 weeks ago | wdsu.com | Fletcher Mackel

New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is fired up to get to the Crescent City to start helping the Black & Gold get back to their winning ways. The 2025 2nd round seection in the NFL Draft, Shough posted on his Instagram account:God’s timing. If it was easy, everyone would do it. New Orleans you will get everything out of me. I will die on that field for y’all.

2 weeks ago | wdsu.com | Fletcher Mackel

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. The win cements NOLA’s place in the Major League Rugby Eastern Conference standings, as the squad now sits securely in 3rd place. Coach Danny Lee commented on 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.

2 weeks ago | wdsu.com | Fletcher Mackel

The New Orleans Privateers completed a dream run as they won the Southland Conference tournament championship after they defeated the 2-seed NJIT Highlanders 4-1. The Privateers, entering as the 5-seed, defeated the regular season champions (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) and the defending tournament champions (NJIT) in the last two days. The Privateers lost the doubles point for the first time this week, but they shrugged that off and came back razor sharp in singles.

2 weeks ago | wdsu.com | Fletcher Mackel

The New Orleans Saints selected safety Jonas Sanker from Virginia with the 93rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday, April 25, 2025.Jonas Sanker, a 6-foot senior from Charlottesville, Va., was a two-time First-Team All-ACC selection and key piece of Virginia's defense over the past two seasons. A versatile and physical safety, Sanker led the Cavaliers in tackles in 2023 and 2024, posting 107 and 98 stops, respectively. He also recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries in 2024.