Char O'Neil
Publications
During the Fall 2024 semester, I learned the basics of sports reporting in JMC 302 and provided coverage for Paradise Valley Trojan Athletics on behalf of AZPreps365.
Since the spring of 2025, I've worked as a sports reporter for The State Press, aiming to provide coverage to underrepresented sports in the ASU community.
Throughout this summer, I've served as an editorial intern for AZ Big Media, creating content for their website and magazine.
Below are my publications:
Sun Devil alumni cool things down for FIFA World Cup fans
The State Press / July 12, 2026
Familiar with the heat, Sun Devil alumni provide solutions to keep World Cup fans comfortable in the summer sun.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/07/sports-fifa-paint-deal-asu-grads
5 animals to look out for as summer heats up
AZ Big Media / Jun 20, 2026
As Arizona's weather gets warmer, the desert's cold-blooded animals, whether they have scales or fur, not all who are active during the dog days of summer are friendly. Here are five to look out for as they adventure from their homes, to bask in the sun's rays.
READ MORE: https://azbigmedia.com/lifestyle/5-animals-to-look-out-for-as-summer-heats-up/
Cactus Bowl returns to Tempe this December
The State Press / Jun 19, 2026
After 11 years, the Cactus Bowl and Sun Devils will reunite to host the bowl’s second run in Tempe.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/06/cactus-bowl-tempe-december-2026
LIVE UPDATES: How Arizona soccer fans can get involved with World Cup
The State Press / Jun 11, 2026
Even though Arizona won't host a World Cup game, fans living in the state can still immerse themselves in the tournament and soccer community.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/06/sports-arizona-world-cup-activities-2026
Galleries: Best sports shots of fall 2025 and spring 2026
The State Press / Jun 5, 2026
Collab with Multimedia and co-byline with Alex Swift to highlight the photo galleries that showcase some of the best sports moments caught on camera by The State Press this past academic year.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/06/best-sports-fall25-spring26
ASU softball falls to defending champs Texas Longhorns in Super Regionals
The State Press / May 25, 2026
After entering the NCAA Austin Super Regionals with a 10-game win streak, the Longhorns snap this streak and end the Sun Devils' season.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/05/softball-super-regional-austin-2026
BREAKING: Landon Hairston breaks ASU's single-season home run reccord
The State Press | Co-byline with Eric Pacheco / May 22, 2026
Contributing two home runs in ASU's 10-2 victory over Cincinnati, Hairston and ASU advance to the Big 12 tournament semifinals, facing the West Virginia Mountaineers.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/05/sports-landon-hairston-record-runs-breaking
ASU takes three wins in NCAA Regionals, advances to Supers after grand slam walk-off
The State Press / May 18, 2026
In this weekend's regional, the Sun Devils took home three wins, sealing a slot at the NCAA Austin Super Regional.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/05/softball-college-station-regionals-2026
Women's flag football solidifying impact through Fiesta Bowl
The State Press / Apr 20, 2026
In the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic, eight schools competed for a chance at a title.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/04/sports-fiesta-bowl-flag-football-2026-69e6ee39ca487
Legacies collide as coaching eras meet in Women's Final Four
The State Press / Apr 6, 2026
The Final Four coaches and how they bought into the process it takes to win a national title.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/04/sports-wbb-asu-compared-final-four
Senior leadership lifts UCLA to first women's basketball national title
The State Press / Apr 5, 2026
UCLA seniors lift Bruins to first championship title, after rolling past the veteran Gamecocks 79-51.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/04/sports-final-four-championship-gamer-2026
Low scores, high temper: South Carolina, UCLA advance in Women's Final Four
The State Press / Apr 4, 2026
The UConn Huskies faced the South Carolina Gamecocks, followed by the UCLA Bruins and the Texas Longhorns in the women's Final Four in Phoenix.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/04/sports-final-four-day-recap
Sun Devil bond brings dominance to tennis doubles
The State Press / Mar 31, 2026
Sun Devils Emilija Tverijonaite and Vivian Ovrootsky set doubles standards for ASU women's tennis.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/04/sports-womens-tennis-doubles-power-69cc892584d37
Behind the wheel of Sun Devil Motorsports
The State Press / Mar 30, 2026
The ASU chapter of Formula Society of Automotive Engineers selects drivers based on character, history with racing and intuition with the race car.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/03/sports-motorsports-driver-selections
The volleyball Venn diagram: How twin clubs share a community
The State Press / Mar 25, 2026
At the intersection of the men's and women's club volleyball programs exist athletes that create and promote opportunities for each other.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/03/sports-club-volleyball-community-69c4a9cc696fa
New leadership fosters team chemistry for men's soccer club at ASU
The State Press / Mar 24, 2026
Ahead of the spring semester, the Arizona State Men's Soccer Club welcomed former Sun Devil Ernando Novais as its head coach.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/03/sports-mens-soccer-club-spring-2026
Different cultures, backgrounds give women's rugby at ASU a strong community
The State Press / Mar 5, 2026
The leadership for the women's rugby team has created a unified culture through diverse athletic backgrounds and strong work ethics.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/03/sports-womens-rugby-development
ASU softball battles free bases and illness in Sun Devil Classic
The State Press / Feb 23, 2026
Sun Devil Classic snaps softball's nine-game win streak, with ASU ending the weekend with three wins and two losses.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/02/sports-softball-sun-devil-classic-2026
Alex Torres returns to alma mater to build confidence in women's wrestlers
The State Press / Feb 17, 2026
A search to elevate the Devils Women's Wrestling Club led the team to Sun Devil wrestling alumni Alex Torres.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/02/sports-womens-wrestling-coach-profile
Bigger than themselves: How the Gym Devils are honoring their 50th anniversary
The State Press / Jan 29, 2026
The Gym Devils honored alumni in their Big 12 opener by upsetting No. 22 BYU 196.050 to 195.200.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2026/01/sports-gymnastics-50th-anniversary-2026
A decade in the desert: How Lindsey Ellis transformed ASU women's hockey
The State Press / Dec 3, 2025
For her 10th season in Tempe, ASU women’s hockey head coach Lindsey Ellis chases a national championship.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/12/sports-womens-hockey-ellis-profile
ASU's figure skating team embraces new era with 2025-26 season
The State Press / Dec 1, 2025
ASU figure skating builds off momentum from Sun Devils Classic into new season.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/12/sports-figure-skating-new-season-2025-fall
How co-captains guide ASU's English Equestrian team through stability and experience
The State Press / Nov 12, 2025
Through the blending of their personalities, co-captains Rachel Marsh and Olivia Hillman lead a cohesive English Equestrian team.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/11/equestrian-captains-feature
Junior Sara Svetac's prowess energizes women's tennis team
The State Press / Nov 5, 2025
Women's tennis junior Sara Svetac looks to build off last year's accolades with energy on and off the court.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/11/tennis-sara-svetac-profile
How a Wildcat found her spark with the Sun Devils
The State Press / Nov 3, 2025
After transferring from UA, senior Cameron Valladares was able to reignite her confidence playing with Sun Devil soccer.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/11/soccer-wildcat-cameron-valladares-profile
ASU wrestling welcomes largest signing class in culture-building season
The State Press / Oct 22, 2025
A significant amount ASU wrestling newcomers join the team ready to contribute to the 2025-26 season.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/10/wrestling-newcomers-fall-2025
Water Ski brings Sun Devil siblings together
The State Press / Oct 9, 2025
Club President Johnny Maitland's efforts paid off when younger sister Josie joined him at ASU.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/10/water-ski-maitland-siblings
Sierra Bergen brings new firepower to Sun Devil soccer attack
The State Press / Oct 1, 2025
'Everybody loves Bergie.' Sun Devil soccer embraces sophomore striker Sierra Bergen, who transferred from Mississippi State.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/10/sports-soccer-sierra-bergen-profile
Around the world: How a meshing of cultures is bringing success to ASU soccer
The State Press / Sep 18, 2025
Soccer's universal language combined with ASU's 'paradise' has brought the athletes together.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/09/sports-soccer-international-students-meshing
Change of scenery: How sisters find themselves on the same side of the net
The State Press / Sep 9, 2025
After four years at Oregon, Colby Neal decided it was time for a change and joined her younger sister Jillian in Arizona.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/09/sports-volleyball-sisters-neal
ASU women's hockey adding new team fall 2026
The State Press / Jul 22, 2025
For the 10th anniversary of ASU women's hockey, the program will be expanding with a new Division II club team.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/07/sports-womens-hockey-adds-d2-team
Girls' flag football taking off in Arizona with Cardinals support
The State Press / Apr 17, 2025
Girls' flag football is growing fast in the Valley after the Arizona Cardinals and a few passionate flag football players invested in the sport.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/04/sports-arizona-flag-football
ASU softball pitcher Kenzie Brown leads the team on and off the mound
The State Press / Apr 1, 2025
Besides striking out the side and accumulating K's, ASU softball senior pitcher Kenzie Brown also takes on a leadership role to help other Sun Devils.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/04/sports-softball-kenzie-brown
ASU softball reunites former high school teammates Cambree Creager, Samantha Swan
The State Press / Mar 26, 2025
From Texas to Arizona, freshman pitcher Cambree Creager and sophomore catcher and utility player Samantha Swan find themselves playing together again as Sun Devils.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/03/sports-asu-softball-high-school-teammates
ASU club water ski builds momentum through student leadership
The State Press / Mar 19, 2025
ASU's student-run water ski club has emerged into the nation's top five through its strong team community and leadership.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/03/sports-water-ski-leadership
ASU club water ski looks for permanent lake amid location struggles
The State Press / Mar 18, 2025
The ASU water ski team is still searching for a permanent home lake after years of bouncing around Arizona for a place to compete.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/03/asu-club-water-ski-recruitment
ASU softball emphasizing strength and veteran leadership this season
The State Press / Feb 25, 2025
A new class of ASU softball freshmen are being held to high Sun Devil standards to compete at the collegiate level.
READ MORE: https://www.statepress.com/article/2025/02/sports-softball-team-mentality
The Trojan Treasures
AZPreps365 / Dec 2, 2024
The largest auction held by the Paradise Valley Parent Teacher Organization
READ MORE: https://azpreps365.com/articles/18012-the-trojan-treasures
Paradise Valley athletics thrive from parental support
Hypamark / Nov 4, 2024
Paradise Valley parents are the driving force for most of the athletic programs at the school
READ MORE: https://www.hypamark.com/post/paradise-valley-athletics-thrive-from-parental-support
The value of a support system for a high school athlete
AZPreps365 / Oct 21, 2024
Midaly Campillo-Ramirez of Paradise Valley manages school, volleyball, and planning her quinceañera through the support of her peers
READ MORE: https://azpreps365.com/articles/17724-the-value-of-a-support-system-for-a-high-school-athlete
Paradise Valley volleyball learns defense is not everything
AZPreps365 / Sep 26, 2024
Paradise Valley's volleyball team fell to Desert Edge
READ MORE: https://azpreps365.com/articles/17481-paradise-valley-volleyball-learns-defense-is-not-everything