Sports
Lexi Loya has helped lead St. Joseph High to 13-0 record
Upon committing an interception in a game against Ramona Convent last week, Lexi Loya trotted to the sideline, where she was greeted by a familiar face and voice — that of her coach and father, Tim.
“He’s the best coach I could have,” Lexi admitted. “Yeah he’s hard on me but he lets me know what I do wrong and how to fix it. He’s taught me everything about the game and being a good person.”
Accepting dad’s constructive criticism has helped the Lakewood St. Joseph sophomore quarterback become one of the best in Southern California at her position and under her leadership the Jesters are undefeated and ranked among the best flag football teams in the nation.
Through 13 games, Loya has completed 255 of 383 passes for 3,240 yards, 46 touchdowns with 14 interceptions — an average of 249.2 yards per game — with a 66.6% completion rate. She has also rushed for 264 yards. On defense she plays mostly safety and has seven interceptions and seven pass deflections.
She has already surpassed the 2,949 passing yards she amassed in 21 games as a freshman last fall when she earned league most valuable player honors and she is three shy of the 49 touchdowns she threw for a year ago, when she also led the Jesters with 40 solo flag pulls, 16 interceptions and 11 pass deflections.
“I’ve been working on my arm strength and accuracy most, hoping to improve them a lot,” she said. “The sport’s really growing and I’d love to play flag football in college for a Division I school. Hopefully there’ll be full scholarships available by then.”
Not only does Lexi benefit from her dad’s knowledge, she has also received valuable advice from her brother Logan, a redshirt senior receiver and punt returner at UCLA and a former standout at St. Joseph’s brother school, St. John Bosco in Bellflower.
“I try to go to as many of his games as I can,” Lexi said. “He helps me with routes, speed training and is always on my side.”
St. Joseph quarterback Lexi Loya makes a pass while on the move during a win over Ramona Convent.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
Both Lexi and her brother wear No. 17 — the number first given to Logan by Tim, a retired firefighter who spent 25 of his 32 years as captain at Station 17 in Cypress.
“Logan lived, ate and breathed football,” Tim recalled. “He wanted to talk football all day, 24-7 but I learned with him that there has to be some down time. With Lexi, we’re not talking football outside of practice.”
Lexi has played soccer since she was 6 and plays center back for the Jesters’ varsity team in the winter, but at the moment she is all about football.
“I enjoy our bus rides, singing and getting hyped for away games,” she said. “I expect us to go far in CIF. I’ve loved being quarterback since I started. Receivers depend on you to get them the ball. You have to have duality, to be able to run and throw on the run.”
A straight A student with a GPA above 4.0, she studies her school books as rigorously as she does the playbook. Not even a serious back injury could keep Loya sidelined for long.
“I like to go off-roading … I’ve done it all my life and it’s my happy place, other than the field,” said Loya, who does not turn 16 until March. “Six months ago while we were camping in Utah I was on my quad and I flipped it. I was in a brace for three months but I’m back in the groove now.”
“She fractured four vertebrae in her spine but she’s strong-willed and she pushed through it,” Tim added. “She came back quicker than we thought. She was on the field playing in three months.”
Loya’s leadership traits were on full display two weeks ago when she engineered a pair of scoring drives in the last 10 minutes of a 32-19 victory over Long Beach Poly. The Jesters face another big test on Oct. 8 against Aliso Niguel, ranked fourth in California and No. 5 in the country.
“Our goal is to put St. Joseph’s on the map,” Tim said. “The whole school is only about 500 girls but I have a really good group and we have nine fantastic seniors. Everyone knows they don’t want to be my daughter but at the same time I tell them all that they’re like my daughters in a way. We’ve got 49 girls in the program … I don’t cut and everyone plays.”
Quarterback Lexi Loya and her father Tim, who is also the coach, have helped lead St. Joseph to a 13-0 this season.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
“Efficient” describes Lexi’s performance against Ramona Convent. She connected on 23 of 29 throws for 284 yards and threw scoring strikes to three different receivers. She also intercepted a pass on defense to preserve the 33-0 shutout. Last Thursday she threw for nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns in a 31-18 win over Yorba Linda.
“It’s all about learning from each game and continuing to improve,” she said. “If we all do that individually and as a team we’ll have a successful season.”
Sports
Golf star records lowest round in LPGA major history with astounding performance at Evian Championship
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There are good days on the golf course, and then there is what Haeran Ryu just did on Saturday.
Ryu, 25, recorded the lowest round in LPGA major history on Saturday with an 11-under 60 at the Evian Championship. With the South Korean golfer’s historic round, she holds a three-stroke lead.
Ryu’s round comes just two weeks after winning her first major at the Women’s PGA Championship. On the 18th hole, Ryu left a 30-foot eagle putt a few inches short, and instead settled for a birdie.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea reacts on the 18th green after the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
She said after the round that she had no idea what she had done until she counted up her scorecard.
“But after the putt and I counted my score with my caddie,” she said. “Oh my God, it’s 11-under par today. It was so amazing. My caddie says, ‘Yep.’ I’m so happy right now.”
If Ryu had made the eagle putt on the 18th hole, she would have been just the second player to shoot a 59 in LPGA history.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea celebrates a birdie on the 15th green during the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 11, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Her 60 broke the record for the lowest round in an LPGA major by one shot. Leona Maguire and Jeungeun Lee6 in 2021, and Hyo Joo Kim in 2014, each shot 61 at the Evian Championship, which was designated as an LPGA major in 2013.
The lowest round in a men’s major is 62, which is shared by four players — Branden Grace at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 British Open, Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler in the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, and Schauffele and Shane Lowry in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea and Lottie Woad of England interact after their round on the 18th green during the third round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Ryu hopes her historic third round can help propel her to a second major win in three weeks.
“That is amazing, amazing dream,” Ryu said. “So I just want that one to come true, but we have one more day.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Taylor Crabb is no stranger to South California beaches. The Long Beach State alum returns home this weekend to compete in AVP League matches.
It marks the first time AVP will compete in Long Beach since 2020 and allows players to compete at the 2028 Olympics beach volleyball venue.
Crabb, 34, made his AVP debut in 2013 with his brother, Trevor, and advanced from the qualifier in Manhattan Beach before finishing 25th in his first tournament.
After years of competing with various different partners, Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh have delivered the top performances this AVP season.
The following interview with Crabb has been edited for clarity and length.
Are you excited to compete in this weekend’s event at Long Beach?
Crabb: Very excited. A lot of my college teammates and part of the school have reached out, saying that they’re gonna come. So I’m excited to get a chance to play in front of them again.
When was the last time you were in Long Beach?
Crabb: I always try to go down there for alumni events or any big games they have. I went to UCLA against Long Beach last year, when it was No. 1 versus No. 2, so I always try to get down there and support them.
You missed out on the chance to compete in the 2020 Olympics because of COVID-19 restrictions and chose not to pursue a spot at the 2024 Olympics. Are you fired up to try to compete in the 2028 Olympics, knowing that Long Beach will host the competition?
Crabb: Yeah, it’s definitely an exciting time having the Olympics in Long Beach, and we kind of get to break it in this weekend. As you said, Tokyo didn’t go the way I wanted, but I’m going full force now. I have a great partner in Andy Benesh, who obviously went to the Paris Olympics, and if it weren’t for the Olympics being in Long Beach, and me getting a partner like Andy, I’m not even sure I’d be going for it, but because of those two things, I want to make the most of it.
You mentioned that if it wasn’t for a partner like Andy, you wouldn’t be going for it. What do you mean by that?
Crabb: I didn’t feel motivated by playing in all the international events, but now, I think, sitting out kind of lit the fire under me, and I’m really motivated now.
You’ve had different partners throughout your time. What other motivation does Andy give you?
Crabb: He’s been, in my mind, the top blocker for the U.S. the last four or five years. Seeing the professionalism he brings every day to practice, on and off the court, while traveling and when showing up to tournaments, it rubs off on you and that’s really motivating to see. And I just want to make him proud.
Why do you love volleyball?
Crabb: A lot of reasons, but it’s just a feeling I have when I’m out there on the court. It feels natural. It feels like home. I was born into a volleyball family. I had a volleyball in my hands my entire life, so I’ve always just enjoyed it.
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CM Punk appeared on “Friday Night SmackDown” ready to take on any challenger that was ready to step to him after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn.
Punk entered the ring in Oklahoma City and called back to the “Monday Night Raw” after WrestleMania 42 when he told Cody Rhodes he’d be ready to deliver if a championship opportunity fell “out of the sky.”
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Cody Rhodes and CM Punk face off during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
“When championship opportunities fall out of the sky, CM Punk catches them,” he said.
Punk named potential SmackDown superstars he’d think might come for the title, including Gunther, Finn Balor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest and Trick Williams. He even said that Zayn could come back around and get his rematch if he wanted. He didn’t mention Rhodes’ name, but the “American Nightmare” came out uncalled and marched his way down to the ring.
“I don’t think you and I can run away from each other anymore,” Punk told Rhodes.
Cody Rhodes looks on during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on July 10, 2026. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
Rhodes agreed and mentioned that Punk would want a match with him, just “say when.” It was a quick retort from Punk, who said, “when.” SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, who was in the ring for the segment, booked the match for SummerSlam.
Punk will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam, which takes place Aug. 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
First, however, Punk and Rhodes will be involved in a tag team match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York City next week. Aldis made the match after Gunther demanded that Aldis put him in a match against Punk. Gunther was hoping it would be for the championship. Instead, Gunther will tag with Zayn.
Gunther didn’t take too kindly to that and attacked Aldis. Rhodes came back out to break up the calamity. He wanted to take on Gunther after the show went off air but Gunther walked away.
Gunther makes his entrance during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on July 10, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)
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Punk definitely has his hands full as he moves to SmackDown to become a fighting champion.
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