Welcome to The Chief Brief!

Happy Thursday Nole family.

National championships are underway in some sports and our football team is officially in practice mode.

Here's what's in store:

• 🏀 Sophomore Sensation Ta'Niya Latson Garners AP Honorable Mention All-American Honors 🌟 - Celebrate as Ta'Niya Latson earns her second consecutive AP All-America honor, showcasing her scoring prowess on the national stage.

• 🎾 Key Weekend for Our No. 14 Men's Tennis Team 🎾 - Gear up for big ACC battles at home, where Antoine Cornut-Chauvinc continues to shine as a top player in the nation.

• 🎾 Big Weekend for Our Women's Tennis Team 🎾 - Support our women's team as they face off against ranked opponents, with Vic Allen and Millie Bissett leading the charge.

• 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ FSU Gears Up for the 50th Relays at Newly Renovated Mike Long Track 🎉 - Join us for the historic 50th FSU Relays, celebrating our track and field legacy with top-notch competition and Seminole pride.

• 🏊‍♀️ Seminoles Make a Splash at NCAA Championships 🌊 - Rally behind our women's swimming and diving team as they compete in the NCAA Championships, with standout performances already making headlines.

• 🥎 Tough Outing Against No. 2 Texas for Our Noles 🌧 - Reflect on a challenging night for our softball team against Texas, and look ahead to their first conference road series at Pitt.

• 🍢 Spring Camp Kickoff: Five Seminole Standouts 🏈 - Delve into the heart of Florida State's Spring Camp, highlighting key players and the incredible speed and athleticism that define this year's team.

🏀 Sophomore Sensation Ta'Niya Latson Garners AP Honorable Mention All-American Honors 🌟

Big news for our Women's Basketball team as sophomore guard Ta'Niya Latson has been named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American! It's her second year in a row snagging an AP All-America honor, proving she's not just a force to be reckoned with but a consistent highlight of collegiate basketball.

• Scoring Powerhouse: Hailing from Miami, Ta'Niya's scoring abilities are nothing short of phenomenal.

  She's among the top echelons nationwide in field goals and free throws made, just 31 points shy of breaking FSU's single-season scoring record set by Sue Galkantas in 1981-82.

• Accolades and Achievements: Her talent has not gone unnoticed, with All-ACC First Team honors under her belt this season.

  She's in the running for the prestigious Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, spotlighting the nation's top shooting guard. In ACC play, she's led the charge with six 30-point games, showcasing her prowess and determination.

• Up Next: Ta'Niya and our Seminoles are gearing up for their 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this Friday.

  As the No. 9 seed, we're set to clash with No. 8 seed Alabama, promising an electrifying game. Catch the action at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, and let's cheer on Ta'Niya and the team as they continue to make waves!

🎾 Key Weekend for Our No. 14 Men's Tennis Team 🎾

This weekend, our No. 14 ranked Men's Tennis team is stepping up for some big ACC matchups right here at home.

Here's the Scoop:

• First up, we're taking on Virginia Tech this Friday at 1 p.m., where we've got a pretty solid record against them, especially at home. Then, we brace for a showdown with the defending NCAA champs, No. 4 Virginia, on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. It's going to be a thrilling couple of matches at the Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center.

Season Highlights:

• Our guys have been on fire this season, boasting a 13-4 record, including 4-2 at our fortress. We've kicked off ACC play with a strong 3-2, grabbing wins on the road.

• We've notched six wins against currently ranked squads, including some sweet victories over No. 17 Oklahoma, No. 19 Mississippi State, and, of course, our in-state rivals, Florida.

Player Spotlight:

• Antoine Cornut-Chauvinc is absolutely crushing it this season. He's undefeated at 14-0 and has snagged 10 wins against ranked opponents, holding steady as the No. 4 player in the nation.

• The dynamic duo, Youcef Rihane and Loris Pourroy, clinched the doubles point against North Carolina, bringing their win tally to 12 this season.

Ranking News:

• The latest ITA rankings have our Seminoles staying strong at No. 14, marking our third consecutive week in the top-15. Cornut-Chauvinc keeps shining as the No. 4 player, and he, along with Joshua Dous-Karpenschif, are the No. 14 doubles pair nationwide.

🎾 Big Weekend for Our Women's Tennis Team 🎾

This Friday and Sunday, our FSU Women's Tennis Team has some crucial matches lined up at the Scott Speicher Tennis Center. We're hosting No. 24 Georgia Tech and then No. 53 Clemson. It's a big opportunity for our team, currently ranked 42nd, to climb higher in the rankings.

Here's What You Need to Know:

• Our record stands at a solid 8-6 this season. We've shown some serious skills on the court, and this weekend's matchups are a great chance to demonstrate just how formidable our team is.

Player Highlights:

• Vic Allen and Millie Bissett are on fire after a weekend of wins, dominating in both doubles and singles. Allen, ranking 63rd nationwide, has bagged 14 victories this spring alone.

• Ellie Schoppe has notched up four ranked singles victories and holds the 33rd spot in the national singles rankings. Teamed up with Maelie Monfils, they're also ranked 70th in doubles.

• Kristyna Lavickova is riding a two-match winning streak in singles, with seven wins this spring, showcasing her growing confidence and skill on the court.

• Anna Arkadinaou, leading the team with nine singles victories, continues to impress with her stellar performances.

Our Opponents:

• Georgia Tech, our Friday opponent, shares our season record and comes off a win against No. 24 Duke. They're a formidable team led by the 45th-ranked Carol Lee.

• Clemson, facing us on Sunday, has a 10-7 record and a strong lineup led by Alina Tsyurpalevych. They're tackling No. 19 Miami before heading our way.

Match Details:

• Catch us in action against Georgia Tech at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, and then against Clemson at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ FSU Gears Up for the 50th Relays at Newly Renovated Mike Long Track 🎉

Our Noles are set to ignite the outdoor track and field season with the historic 50th FSU Relays. This year is extra special as we test out the newly renovated Mike Long Track and Field facility, promising to be a fantastic kickoff.

📅 Mark Your Calendars: The action starts on Thursday, March 21, with the men's hammer throw, setting the tone for what's to be an unforgettable event.

A Look at the Competition: We're hosting an impressive lineup, including Florida, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Marshall, and FAMU. It's a prime opportunity for our athletes to secure NCAA Regional and ACC qualifying marks right from the start. Our 4x100 and 4x400 relays? Definitely the events to watch!

🌟 Celebrating Legacy: This weekend isn't just about the races. It's a celebration of our track and field legacy. From Olympians to some of the greatest teams in history, like our 1983 women's and 2008 men's teams, the FSU Relays have seen it all.

Special Moments: On Friday, we'll have a moment to honor our alumni, including standouts like Trey Cunningham and Kim Jones, and recognize 18 of our amazing seniors. Expect heartfelt presentations and a lot of Seminole pride.

Join Us: Admission is free, and everyone's welcome. It's a fantastic way to experience the heart of FSU athletics and support our athletes as they leap into the outdoor season.

🏊‍♀️ Seminoles Make a Splash at NCAA Championships 🌊

Our Florida State women's swimming and diving team kicked off the NCAA Championships with determination at the Gabrielsen Natatorium. In the opening act, Sarah Evans, Maddy Huggins, Jenny Halden, and Gloria Muzito dove into the competition, securing an 18th place finish in the 200 medley relay. With a whisker-close time of 1:36.26, just shy of their seeded time, the team has set the stage for an exciting week ahead.

Highlight of the Night: Jenny Halden soared through the water to claim the second-fastest 50 fly split in the entire field, posting a remarkable 22.35. Coach Neal Studd couldn't hide his pride, celebrating the team's robust start and Jenny's standout performance.

Looking Ahead: The action heats up Thursday with individual events kicking off at 10 a.m. Edith Jernstedt and Maddy Huggins are geared up for the 200 IM, eyeing spots in the top 16 to clinch All-America honors and add points to our tally.

On the Diving Board: Samantha Vear is set to make waves in the 1-meter dive at noon. The competition is fierce, with the top eight advancing to the finals and those placing 9th through 16th battling in the consolation heat later in the evening.

Stay Tuned: For those who can't make it to the stands, ESPN+ is streaming all sessions live. Keep up with our Noles as they continue to make a splash at the NCAA Championships.

🥎 Tough Outing Against No. 2 Texas for Our Noles 🌧

Wednesday night's showdown at the Seminole Softball Complex saw our No. 18 FSU softball team (18-9, 1-1) facing a steep challenge against the No. 2 Texas Longhorns (25-3, 5-1), ultimately falling 10-0 in a six-inning run-rule decision.

From the get-go, Texas took command with an early 2-0 lead, capitalizing on a sac-fly and a double to start their scoring spree. Despite additional runs in the subsequent innings, Ashtyn Danley offered a glimmer of hope with her impressive three-inning performance, holding Texas scoreless in the fourth and fifth and tallying three strikeouts.

Offensively, Isa Torres was the bright spot for the Noles, marking a season high with three hits in three at-bats. However, the Longhorns' relentless offense added four more runs in the sixth, pushing FSU into run-rule territory.

Now, it's time for our Seminoles to regroup and focus on the road ahead. Their first conference road series awaits at Pitt, kicking off this Friday at 6:00 p.m. at Vartabedian Field, available on ACCNX. Here's to bouncing back and showing the resilience that defines our team. 🍢

🍢 Spring Camp Kickoff: Five Seminole Standouts 🏈

As the Seminoles hit the ground running for Spring Camp, we're already seeing the makings of an electrifying season.

Here are the top five takeaways from the first day that have Garnet and Gold buzzing:

• Azareye'h Thomas: A Force to be Reckoned With - Our very own Thomas is proving why he's NFL-bound, outclassing competition left and right. His exceptional blend of athleticism and skill is setting the bar high, positioning him as a cornerstone of our defense.

• Quindarrius Jones Steps Up - The spotlight's on Jones as he shows significant promise to bolster our cornerback depth. His athletic plays and growing confidence suggest he's more than ready to make an impact this season.

• Malik Benson: From Transfer to Treasure - Alabama's loss is our gain. Benson's smooth moves and speed have made him a standout among our receivers, hinting at a major role in our offensive strategy.

• DJ Uiagalelei: The Veteran's Touch - Uiagalelei's experience is evident. With every throw, he's showcasing the calm and collected demeanor of a seasoned player, ready to lead our offense to new heights.

• Speed and Athleticism Abound - Coach Norvell wasn't kidding about this being his fastest team yet. From our dynamic running backs to the explosive talent across the roster, the Seminoles are gearing up for a season where speed does more than just kill; it dominates.

And that’s a wrap!

Whether it's making history on the track or diving into championship waters, our Seminoles continue to showcase their relentless spirit and unmatched talent.

Stay tuned for more updates and stories that celebrate the heart and hustle of FSU. Until next time, keep those spears raised high, and go Noles! 🍢