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Yesterday’s Poll Results

Today’s Poll

🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Thursday, Seminole!

FSU’s postseason push is in full force — and the hardware just keeps stacking. 🏆

From the golf course to the diamond, Florida State is showing championship form across the board. The women’s golf team dominated in Lexington to claim its third NCAA Regional title, while softball locked down seven All-ACC selections and another Coach of the Year honor for Lonni Alameda. Meanwhile, spring football continues to reward culture-builders with leadership awards and transfer evaluations taking shape.

Oh — and Kiah Gillespie? Into the Hall of Fame. 🌟

Let’s dive into a loaded edition featuring:

• ⛳ A wire-to-wire regional golf title (and NCAA Finals berth 🔒)

• 🥎 ACC awards season for a dominant FSU softball squad

• 💪 Heart of a Nole leaders + portal tier rankings post-spring

• 🏀 Hall of Fame honors for a former Seminole legend

• 🧱 OL battles, spring standouts, and more behind the scenes

Strap in. The Noles are just getting warmed up. 🔥

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⛳ Noles Win NCAA Regional, Punch Ticket to Nationals ⛳

Woad & Ting shine as Florida State claims its 3rd regional title 🏆

The Seminoles showed wire-to-wire dominance in Lexington, winning their third NCAA Regional championship and setting a program record with their 7th team title of the season. 💪

📊 Final Round Highlights:

• Team Total: –15 overall — only team to shoot under par in all three rounds

• Lottie Woad: 69 (-3) in final round, tied for 2nd overall at –10

• Mirabel Ting: 70 (-2), tied for 2nd with Woad — 8 straight tournaments under par

• Kaylah Williams: Even-par 72, tied for 18th individually

🔥 Fast Facts:

• FSU’s 10-under totals from Woad & Ting tie the school record for lowest NCAA Regional score

• The Noles will make their 9th consecutive NCAA Championship Finals appearance (May 16–21 in Carlsbad, CA)

• Woad: Top-3 finishes in every event this season.

• Ting: No. 1 ranked NCAA player, 64-under on the season 🤯

🗣️ Coach Amy Bond:
"To make it to the national championship is what we’ve worked all spring to do… now we get to test ourselves against the best."

👉 Click here for the full recap + NCAA Championship preview.

🏀 Kiah Gillespie Inducted into Connecticut Basketball Hall of Fame 🏀

One of FSU’s greats gets her flowers 🌹

Former Seminole star Kiah Gillespie was officially inducted into the Connecticut Basketball Hall of Fame this April, cementing her legacy as one of the most decorated players in state history.

📍 Career Snapshot:

• High School: 3× state champ, McDonald’s All-American, 2× Gatorade Player of the Year

• FSU: 2× All-ACC First Team, 4× All-America HM, led team in PTS, REB & 3s in 2019

• Historic Moments: One of 4 Noles with a triple-double; double-double vs. No. 4 Louisville in ACC semis

• Pro Journey: Drafted by Chicago Sky, played overseas in France, now coaching at Stony Brook University

👏 A true baller on and off the court — congrats, Kiah!
👉 Click here for her full bio and FSU impact.

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🏆 Alameda Named ACC Coach of the Year, 7 Noles Earn All-ACC Honors 🏆

Recognition rolls in for the champs 💪

Florida State softball racked up the accolades on Wednesday, headlined by Lonni Alameda winning her 7th ACC Coach of the Year award and seven Seminoles being named to All-ACC teams.

📋 All-ACC Breakdown:

First Team:

• Jazzy Francik – 1.40 ERA, 5-0 ACC record, no-hitter at VT

• Jahni Kerr – .456 AVG, 4 HR, 23 RBI, 8-game RBI streak

• Isa Torres – .456 AVG, just 1 K in 79 ACC ABs 😳

Second Team:

• Katie Dack – 5 HR, 23 RBI, .672 SLG in ACC play

• Ashtyn Danley – 6-0, 2.39 ERA, 2 saves in ACC play

• Michaela Edenfield – 4th career All-ACC nod, .519 OBP

Third Team:

• Kennedy Harp – .345 AVG, 2 HR, 6 SB in 18 games

🗣️ Coach Alameda led FSU to a 15th ACC regular-season title while battling breast cancer — and oversaw the ACC’s best ERA.

👉 Noles are back on the field Thursday at 11 AM in the ACC quarterfinals on ACC Network.

💪 10 Noles Earn 2025 “Heart of a Nole” Award 💪

Spring leaders rise — and are recognized.

Florida State football announced its 2025 Parrish Owens Heart of a Nole Award recipients, honoring 10 players for leadership, consistency, and accountability throughout spring camp.

🏅 Offensive Honorees:

• Tommy Castellanos (QB)

• Brock Glenn (QB)

• Jaylin Lucas (RB)

• Adrian Medley (OL)

• Luke Petitbon (OL)

🛡️ Defensive Honorees:

• Earl Little Jr. (DB)

• Justin Cryer (LB)

• Omar Graham Jr. (LB)

• Darrell Jackson Jr. (DL)

• James Williams (DL)

🗣️ Coach Norvell:
“These guys embraced the responsibility of leadership... I’m proud to recognize their growth and consistency.”

👏 Walk-on Shoutouts:
Special recognition went to Mason Arnold, Mac Chiumento, AJ Cottrill, Grant Fielder, Donny Hiebert, Willy Suarez, and Christian White for their all-in commitment this spring.

👉 FSU opens the 2025 season on Aug. 30 vs. Alabama at a newly renovated Doak.

📊 Transfer Tiers Revisited: Where the Noles' Newcomers Stand Now 📊

Spring ball reshuffled the deck — here’s where the portal class really stacks up.

Back in January, FSU’s transfer class was sorted into tiers based on potential impact. Now, with winter workouts and spring camp in the rearview, it’s time to update the board.

Here’s how the 2024–25 transfer portal additions rank now — based on performance, projection, and positional value:

⭐ S-Tier: The Season Hinges on These Guys

• QB Tommy Castellanos — QB1. Enough said.

🥇 A-Tier: Starters With Game-Changing Potential

• WR Duce Robinson — WR1 despite spring injury.

• DE James Williams — Electric edge rusher with rare speed.

• CB Jeremiah Wilson — Plug-and-play starter with upside.

• C Luke Petitbon — Starting center + O-line leader.

• WR Squirrel White — Returned from injury and sparked the offense.

• TE Randy Pittman Jr. — Scheme-fit pass catcher, potential top ACC TE.

• OL Micah Pettus / Gunnar Hansen — Projected starting tackles (limited spring reps).

🔄 B-Tier: Likely Starters or Key Rotational Pieces

• DL Deante McCray — Probable starter vs. the run.

• DL Deamontae Diggs — Quiet riser in camp.

• OL Adrian Medley — Strong spring showing.

• LB Elijah Herring — Looks like your starting MIKE.

• RB Gavin Sawchuk — High-upside wild card in the backfield.

💪 C-Tier: Rotational Players, Depth, and Special Teams

• TE Markeston Douglas — Blocking role with 250–350 snaps.

• LB Stefon Thompson — Key reserve, improving post-injury.

• LB Caleb LaVallee — ST standout with depth potential (injured spring).

• DE Jayson Jenkins — Missed spring; potential drop if injury lingers.

• WR Gavin Blackwell — Solid tape, but production questions remain.

🧱 D-Tier: Long-Term Plays or Developmental Depth

• OL Josh Raymond / Ja’Elyne Matthews — Freshmen adds, likely scout-team in 2024.

• S Jarvis Boatwright — Athletic, but likely ST-only this fall.

• QB Jaylen King — Redshirt planned.

👉 Click here for the full tier breakdown and scouting insights on every transfer.

🧱 Otto Embracing Competition, Versatility in FSU’s Revamped OL 🧱

Don’t count him out.

Redshirt sophomore Andre’ Otto isn’t the favorite to win a starting spot on Florida State’s rebuilt offensive line — but he’s far from backing down. After a standout spring, the 6’5", 325-pound lineman says he’s “ready to fight for that spot,” no matter the position.

🗣️ Otto on the new-look OL:

🔄 Otto’s OL Resume:

• Started at both guard spots in 2023

• Has practiced at center, guard, and tackle

• Embracing a leadership role as the staff installs new schemes

🔧 What’s Changed:

• Adjusting to Herb Hand’s old-school, high-energy coaching style

• Learning Gus Malzahn’s up-tempo offense, which Otto admits “ran the crap out of us” early on

• But the payoff is clear: “It was just clicking... we started moving a lot faster.”

👉 Otto may not be a projected starter yet, but with his versatility and mindset, he’ll be a factor in FSU’s offensive line rotation this fall.

And that’s a wrap!

🧭 That’s a Wrap — But the Journey’s Just Getting Good

With NCAA finals, postseason ball, and roster shakeups all heating up, this is the stretch where legacies are built. Stay locked in, share The Chief Brief with your crew, and we’ll be back soon with more results, highlights, and behind-the-scenes heat.
Until then…
Keep climbing, Noles.

✌️