Char O'Neil
Publications
During my Fall 2024 semester at Arizona State University's Cronkite School, I took a class called JMC 302: Sports Reporting. Throughout the semester, I covered the beat “Paradise Valley Trojan Athletics” on behalf of AZPreps365.com.
Additionally, at ASU, I am a sports reporter for The State Press - providing coverage to underrepresented sports in the ASU community.
Below are my publications:
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