Around Aggieland (8/2)

On Friday’s edition of TexAgs Radio, Kay Naegeli took us Around Aggieland and provided updates on all things Texas A&M as 24 Aggies continue to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, football reported on Tuesday and much more.

Olympics

Men’s Tennis
Austin Krajicek and doubles partner Rajeev Ram will compete for a gold medal. The Americans defeated the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the final. They will play the Australian doubles pairing on Saturday.

Women’s basketball
Joni Taylor is a part of the staff on the USA women’s basketball as they defeated Belgium, 87-74, in their second game of the Olympics.

Yet again, they dominated the glass with a 48-28 advantage on the boards and also nailed 24-of-29 shots from the charity stripe. The Americans will conclude the group phase on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 10:15 a.m. 

Recruiting: Taylor grabbed her first addition to the 2025 class in Lake Creek HS point guard Chaney Spencer. The 5’9″ guard is a solid all-around player who earned First Team All-District, All-Region, and Power 17U Honorable Mention.

Archery
Casey Kaufhold '26 and partner Brady Ellison are bringing home bronze in Mixed Team Archery.

Swimming
Shaine Casas advanced to the 200m IM semifinal and closed out his Olympics debut with a ninth-place finish, clocking in at 1:57.82. 

Aviv Barzelay (Bar-zill-ay) posted a top-20 finish in the 200m back prelims, nearing her personal-best with a time of 2:10.71 to place 18th. 

Aggies competing on Friday:

• Swimming semifinal (200m IM) – Sydney Pickrem at 2:22 p.m. USA Network 
• Track & Field (Mixed 4x400m Relay) - Bryce Deadmon/Shamier Little – 12:10 p.m. Peacock 

Football
Fall ball began this week as the team will report on Tuesday. 

Check out this week’s accolades:

• Texas A&M football's Conner Weigman was named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List. The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the College Player of the Year.
   
• Texas A&M's Albert Regis was named to the preseason watch list for the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service, the Wuerffel Foundation announced Thursday morning.
   
• Chase Bisontis was named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List.The award is given annually to the nation's most outstanding interior lineman.
   
• Texas A&M defensive linemen Shemar Turner and Nic Scourton were named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List. The award annually honors the national defensive player of the year.

Men’s basketball
Texas A&M men's basketball fans can get their first look at the 2024-25 Aggies at a charity softball game, pitting the players vs. the coaches, with all proceeds from the event benefitting Buzz's Bunch. Admission to the event is free, but donations are encouraged and can be made at 12thMan.com/BuzzsBunch.

The Texas A&M men's basketball team faces a loaded field at the inaugural Players Era Festival, which will be contested Thanksgiving week (Nov. 26-29) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In addition to the Aggies, the Festival field includes Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers and San Diego State. Six of the eight teams - Texas A&M, Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Oregon and San Diego State - were in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Soccer
Just one day until the 2024-25 athletic calendar begins, and kicking us off is soccer. The Aggies will play an exhibition match vs. Rice on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Volleyball
We are just 15 days away from Jamie Morrison and Co.’s Maroon & White Scrimmage. 

Recruiting
Reminder that 2025 Cleveland DB Trey McNutt will commit on Saturday. As Brauny has stated, A&M is very much in the battle for him.