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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy hump day, Seminole!

FSU Athletics is firing on all cylinders this week, from dominant performances in golf and softball to high-stakes recruiting battles on the gridiron. While FSU Baseball suffered its first loss, both men’s and women’s golf teams secured tournament victories, and FSU Softball’s offense exploded in a doubleheader sweep.

🏆 FSU Women’s Golf made history, winning their fourth straight tournament.
⛳ Luke Clanton continued his individual dominance, leading FSU Men’s Golf to another team title.
🔥 Carlos Vargas became the second Seminole diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
🏈 Recruiting battles heat up, with 4⭐ QB Landon Duckworth and 3⭐ WR Larry Miles including FSU among their top choices.

🚨 In bittersweet news, FSU Basketball’s season came to an end in the ACC Tournament, marking the close of Leonard Hamilton’s legendary career.

Let’s get into it. 🔥👇

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🥎 No. 10 FSU Softball Explodes for 29 Runs in Doubleheader Sweep

Florida State’s bats were on fire Tuesday, racking up 29 runs across two dominant wins over Portland State. The No. 10 Seminoles (22-5) cruised to 11-0 (6 inn.) and 18-5 victories, closing out their West Coast road trip in style.

Game 1: FSU 11, Portland State 0 (6 Inn.)

🔹 Jaysoni Beachum crushed her 7th HR of the season to start the scoring.
🔹 Kennedy Harp stole second and later scored on wild pitches.
🔹 Six-run 6th inning sealed the run-rule win.

💎 Pitching Dominance:
✅ Makenna Reid (W, 4.0 IP, 2 H, 6 K) – Now 27-2 in her FSU career.
✅ Annabelle Widra (2.0 IP, 4 K) – Retired all six batters she faced.

Game 2: FSU 18, Portland State 5

🔹 Hallie Wacaser (2 RBI), Ashtyn Danley (3 RBI, 3 H), and Isa Torres (2-Run HR) powered another offensive explosion.
🔹 Eight-run 7th inning put the game away for good.

🔥 Mimi Gooden (W, 5 K, 3.0 IP) threw an immaculate inning and dominated early.

What’s Next?

🏟️ FSU Opens ACC Play vs. Pitt (Legacy & Legends Weekend)
📅 Friday, 6:00 PM ET | 📺 ACCNX

🔗 More on FSU Softball’s dominant road trip here.

⛳ No. 20 FSU Men’s Golf Dominates to Win Seminole Intercollegiate

Florida State claimed its second tournament title of 2025 with a commanding 12-shot victory at the Seminole Intercollegiate in Thomasville, Georgia. The Seminoles finished 23-under (817) for the tournament, pulling away on the back nine.

🏆 Luke Clanton Wins Individual Title

🔥 Clanton (-15, 195) secured his second tournament win of the season with a final-round 65 that featured five birdies on the back nine.

FSU’s Top Finishers

🥉 Wilmer Edero (-6, 204) – T-3rd place after a final-round 69.
🔥 Jack Bigham (-5, 205) – T-5th place, shooting 68 in Round 3.
💎 Carson Brewer (-3, 207) – Best round of the tournament (68) to finish T-10th.
🏌️‍♂️ Tyler Weaver (+1, 211) – T-19th, highlighted by a hole-in-one on No. 16!
🎯 Michael Mays (E, 210) – T-14th after a steady final round.

💬 Coach Trey Jones on the Victory:
"The guys fought through a slow start and really took control on the back nine. A great team win!"

⏳ What’s Next?

🏌️‍♂️ FSU Heads to the Valspar Collegiate Invitational
📍 Palm City, FL | 📅 March 24

🔗 More on FSU Golf’s dominant win here.

⛳ No. 6 FSU Women’s Golf Wins Fourth Straight Tournament at Briars Creek

Florida State continued its dominance, capturing its fourth consecutive tournament title with a 10-stroke victory at the Briars Creek Invitational. The Seminoles are the first NCAA team since 2022-23 to win four straight championships and only the 16th team in NCAA women’s golf history to accomplish the feat.

🏆 Mirabel Ting Wins Individual Title

🔥 Ting (-11, 133) claimed her fourth career victory with rounds of 67-66, including two eagles and 10 birdies.

FSU’s Top Finishers

🥉 Lottie Woad (-5, 139) – 3rd place, marking her 18th under-par finish in her last 19 tournaments.
💎 Sophia Fullbrook (+2, 146) – T-23rd, steady showing in just her freshman season.
🌟 Alexandra Gazzoli (E, 144) – T-9th, career-best finish while competing as an individual.

💬 Coach Amy Bond on the Team’s Historic Win:
"I’m so proud of this team. Winning four straight tournaments is an incredible accomplishment, and we’re not done yet."

⏳ What’s Next?

🏌️‍♀️ Old Barnwell Match Play Championship
📍 Aiken, SC | 📅 March 17-18

🏆 FSU Hosts the Florida State Match Up
📍 Seminole Legacy Golf Course | 📅 March 21-23

🔗 More on FSU Women’s Golf’s record-setting win here.

🏊‍♂️ FSU’s Carlos Vargas Qualifies for NCAA Championships on Platform

Freshman Carlos Vargas became the second Seminole diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships, securing his spot with a 6th-place finish on platform at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.

🔱 Top FSU Performers

✅ Carlos Vargas – 6th place (743.85 pts) 🎟 NCAA Qualifier!
💪 Noah Turner – 9th place (701.25 pts)
🌊 Hayden Schroeder – 13th place (632.80 pts)

🏊‍♀️ Women’s 3-Meter Finals:
🔥 Samantha Vear – 8th place (662.00 pts)
💪 Kayleigh Clark – 10th place (632.75 pts)
🌟 Isabel Gregersen – 15th place (585.70 pts)

Vargas joins Samantha Vear (1-meter qualifier) and six FSU women’s swimmers at the NCAA Championships.

⏳ What’s Next?
🏆 NCAA Zone Diving Championships Wrap Up
📅 Wednesday, March 12 – Women’s Platform (12 PM ET)

🔗 More on FSU Diving’s NCAA qualifiers here.

🏀 FSU Falls to Syracuse in ACC Tournament, Leonard Hamilton’s Coaching Career Comes to a Close

Florida State’s season came to an end in a 66-62 loss to Syracuse in the first round of the ACC Tournament. The Seminoles nearly erased a 16-point deficit, cutting the Orange's lead to one point in the final 10 seconds, but couldn’t complete the comeback.

🏆 Leonard Hamilton’s Historic Career Comes to an End
💬 Hamilton on His Coaching Journey:
"I've been blessed and enjoyed the ride, and now it is time to move on to the next chapter."

🔥 Game Highlights

✅ Jamir Watkins – 16 PTS, 11 REB (Double-Double), 3 AST, 2 STL
✅ Jerry Deng – 10 PTS, 2 3PM
✅ Daquan Davis – 10 PTS, 6-8 FT, 2 STL
🏀 Second-Half Comeback Attempt – FSU went on a 10-0 run and cut the deficit from 16 points to just 1 before falling short.

🔚 FSU’s Final Record: 17-15 (8-12 ACC, T-9th Place)
⏭️ Syracuse Moves On – The Orange (14-18) advance to play SMU in the second round on Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET.

🔗 More on FSU’s ACC Tournament battle here.

⚾ No. 5 FSU Baseball Falls to No. 7 Florida, Suffers First Loss of the Season

Florida State’s undefeated start came to an end Tuesday night as the No. 5 Seminoles fell 7-2 to No. 7 Florida at Dick Howser Stadium.

🚨 Streaks Snapped:
🔻 FSU’s 15-game win streak ends (T-4th longest in program history).
🔻 First loss of 2025, now 15-1.
🔻 First time trailing for a full inning all season.

🔥 Key Performers

💣 Drew Faurot – Solo HR (4th of season, 25th career)
💣 Myles Bailey – Solo HR (4th of season)
🔥 Gage Harrelson – 2-for-4, extends hit streak to 16 games
🚀 Alex Lodise – Reached base for the 15th straight game

Game Recap

➡️ Florida took a 1-0 lead in the second after an unearned run.
➡️ UF extended its lead to 4-0 in the fifth with a sac fly and an RBI double.
➡️ Faurot’s HR in the 5th got FSU on the board, making it 4-1.
➡️ A 2-run UF HR in the 7th made it 6-1 before Bailey’s solo shot in the 9th.

⏳ What’s Next?
🔥 FSU opens ACC play vs. Boston College
📅 Friday, March 13 – 6 PM ET
📍 Dick Howser Stadium

🔗 More on FSU Baseball’s first loss here.

🏈 3⭐ WR Larry Miles Includes FSU in Final 10 Schools

One of Florida’s most polished wide receivers in the 2026 class, Orlando (Fla.) Jones WR Larry Miles, has narrowed his list to 10 schools, with Florida State making the cut.

🔥 Miles’ Final 10 Schools:
📍 Pittsburgh
📍 Louisville
📍 Kentucky
📍 Florida State
📍 Miami
📍 Syracuse
📍 Kansas State
📍 Georgia Tech
📍 Boston College
📍 Wisconsin

📆 Official Visit Schedule

🔹 Pitt – June 6
🔹 Kentucky – June 13
🔹 Louisville – June 20

🏆 Where Does FSU Stand?

🔹 Louisville is setting the bar early with aggressive recruiting.
🔹 Miami is a wildcard with his close friend, QB Dereon Coleman, already committed.
🔹 FSU has a real shot—especially if Miami doesn't make him a top priority.
🔹 Official visits will play a major role in his decision.

⏳ What’s Next?
Miles will take unofficial visits in the coming months and is expected to announce his commitment this summer.

🔗 More on FSU’s pursuit of Larry Miles here.

🏈 4⭐ QB Landon Duckworth Locks in Official Visit with FSU

Florida State’s top quarterback target in the 2026 class, Landon Duckworth, has officially scheduled an OV to Tallahassee for June 13-15.

🔥 Duckworth’s Official Visit Schedule:
📍 Georgia – May
📍 South Carolina – May
📍 Ole Miss – June
📍 Florida State – June 13-15

📈 Why FSU is a Major Contender

🔹 FSU’s Coaching Change Helped – The hire of Gus Malzahn made Duckworth an even bigger priority after the decommitment of 4⭐ QB Brady Smigiel.
🔹 Malzahn’s Strong Ties – The former UCF and Auburn head coach had Duckworth trending toward UCF before leaving for FSU.
🔹 FSU’s Offensive Fit – Duckworth’s dual-threat ability aligns perfectly with Malzahn’s offensive scheme.

📊 Duckworth’s 2024 Junior Season Stats:

✅ 67% completion rate (3,439 yards, 39 TD, 10 INT)
✅ 648 rushing yards, 12 rushing TD

⏳ What’s Next?

🔹 A spring visit to FSU is also expected before his official visit in June.
🔹 Duckworth is currently ranked No. 47 overall and the No. 6 QB nationally per 247Sports.

🔗 More on Duckworth’s visit & recruitment here.

🏈 2027 Alabama Commit Alexander Ward Visits FSU, Plans to Return

Florida State hosted Marietta (Ga.) Walton standout Alexander Ward over the weekend for Junior Day, marking his first visit to Tallahassee since receiving an offer in October.

🔍 Where Things Stand

✅ Committed to Alabama since November
✅ Open to other schools that show serious interest
✅ Plans to return to FSU this spring for a practice visit

🌟 Why FSU is in the Mix

🔹 Connection with CB Coach Pat Surtain – FSU sees Ward primarily as a cornerback, though he wants to play both ways in college.
🔹 Impressed by Campus & Coaching Staff – "It was a great visit."
🔹 Looking for the Right Fit – "It’s really the small details that would make me feel it."

👀 What’s Next?

🔹 Tallahassee return visit coming soon
🔹 Alabama remains the favorite, but Ward says he’s keeping his options open

🔗 More on Ward’s visit & recruitment here.

And that’s a wrap!

From historic wins on the course to high-stakes battles on the diamond, it’s been a wild week in Tallahassee. 🏆 FSU Golf dominated, FSU Softball’s offense caught fire, and football recruiting is heating up as the Seminoles continue building for the future.

👀 What’s next?
🔹 FSU Baseball opens ACC play this weekend vs. Boston College. ⚾
🔹 FSU Softball kicks off conference action vs. Pitt. 🥎
🔹 FSU Football recruiting battles intensify—who will be the next to commit? 🤔

Catch you in the next edition, and as always… Go Noles! 🍢🔥