Arizona
Former Goodyear, Arizona Swim Coach Ruled Ineligible by U.S. Center for SafeSport
James Sutherland contributed to this report.
David Laudati, a former swim coach in Arizona, has been ruled ineligible by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, effective September 17, 2024. He was previously temporarily suspended, but that status was updated for “criminal disposition” of the case, though Maricopa County court records show that he pleaded not guilty and the case is still going through pre-trial motions.
The “ineligible” status, without a “permanent” qualifier, means that the window for arbitration is still open. The status is updated after the window for arbitration closes.
Laudati, 41, was arrested by the Connecticut U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force and Newington Police Department in July and faces 19 felony charges in Maricopa County, Arizona, authorities reported.
Laudati was charged with 11 counts of voyeurism and eight counts of attempt to commit voyeurism stemming from allegations following a September 2023 investigation by the Buckeye Police Department in Arizona.
The investigation found that Laudati secretly recorded student-athletes in the changeroom.
He was apprehended by the Buckeye Police Department and U.S. Marshals on Monday at his home in Newington, Conn.
Laudati was employed as a swim coach at Millenium High School in Goodyear, Ariz., and the Arizona Dolphins swim team prior to the investigation. He was suspended by the Agua Fria High School District and barred from all school campuses in the district and directed not to have contact with any students once the investigation began.
On Sept. 9, 2023, a parent contacted the Buckeye Police Department informing them that their 14-year-old daughter was changing after swim practice and noticed a cell phone in the restroom at the Center on Main Pool in Verrado, Ariz., shortly after Laudati had finished coaching an Arizona Dolphins practice.
Police said the phone was found recording in a mesh pocket in Laudati’s backpack, which was left on top of a changing table.
The Buckeye Police Special Victims Unit obtained a search warrant for Laudati’s home on Sept. 11 and seized his phone. During forensic testing, detectives were able to locate several photos showing female minors partially undressed or nude in the Center on Main restroom and the Litchfield Park Recreation Center locker room. A total of three victims were identified between 14 and 17 years of age.
On July 16, 2024, Laudati was indicted by the Maricopa County Grand Jury after evidence was presented.
He will be extradited back to Maricopa County to face the charges against him.
Newington police said he was detained on a $500,000 bond and was set to face a judge in New Britain on Tuesday.
Laudati was also previously employed as a swim coach at the Mandell Jewish Community Center in West Hartford, Conn., as recently as 2019.
In 2022, he was the Arizona Republic’s High School boys’ swim coach of the year.
On August 5, 2024, Laudati was given a temporary suspension by USA Swimming and listed in the U.S. Center for SafeSport database under allegations of misconduct.
Arizona
Powerball ticket from Arizona wins $1M in Jan. 1 drawing
PHOENIX — Somebody who bought a Powerball ticket in Arizona has one million extra reasons to celebrate the new year.
A $2 ticket purchased somewhere in the state matched all five white numbers drawn Wednesday night — 6, 12, 28, 35 and 66 — to win a cool $1 million.
Arizona Lottery officials haven’t yet announced where the seven-figure entry was purchased.
Was there a jackpot-winning Powerball ticket on Wednesday?
Nobody matched all white numbers plus the red Powerball of 26 to win the estimated jackpot of $181 million in the New Year’s Day drawing. The Arizona ticket was one of two to win $1 million, with the other being sold in North Carolina.
The odds of winning $1 million in Powerball are about 1 in 11.7 million.
Drawings in the multistate game of chance are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The estimated jackpot for the next drawing on Saturday is $200 million.
Arizona doubles up on $1 million wins
Wednesday’s big payout was Arizona’s second $1 million lottery prize in a span of six days.
A Mega Millions ticket sold at the Fry’s Fuel Center at 8260 S. Houghton Road in Tucson won $1 million in Friday’s drawing.
Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesday and Friday nights.
Arizona
LeBron James’ younger son commits to Arizona Wildcats
The LeBron James shows is coming to Tucson.
Bryce James, LeBron’s younger son, committed to the Arizona Wildcats on New Year’s Day, making the announcement on social media.
In an interesting twist, James made the announcement as Arizona’s rival, Arizona State, was getting ready to kick off vs. Texas in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Savvy timing by the young James.
A four-star prospect out of Sierra Canyon High School in Southern California, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard had offers from Ohio State and Duquesne. The 17-year-old James recently took an unofficial visit to Arizona.
Bryce’s older brother, Bronny, is a rookie for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was taken with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after playing one season at USC.
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has a track record of developing players — especially guards — both at Arizona and previously at Gonzaga. James will need time to develop, according to 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein.
“Bryce needs to be given time and space to run his own race,” Finkelstein wrote. “He may not be the dynamic athlete or playmaker some expect at first, but he is a fundamentally sound player with solid perimeter size and a good early skill-set.”
James is the second commitment for Lloyd in the class of 2025, joining Dwayne Aristode, a 5-star wing who signed with Arizona in November. The Wildcats are also recruiting 5-star guard Brayden Burries and 5-star forward Koa Peat. Burries plays with James at Sierra Canyon and Peat plays at Perry High School in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert.
Here are some recent highlights of James:
Arizona
Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo forces OT despite ‘vomiting profusely’ in loss to Texas
College Football Playoff second-round picks | Before The Snap
Before The Snap takes a close look at the four second-round CFP games and makes straight-up picks.
Cam Skattebo put Arizona State football on his back in the Peach Bowl, but his heroic efforts were not enough.
The Texas Longhorns defeated the Sun Devils 39-31 in double overtime on Wednesday in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal in Atlanta. Things looked dire for Arizona State in the fourth quarter as the Sun Devils trailed by as many as 16 points and their star running back appeared to be struggling on the sidelines.
The ESPN broadcast showed Skattebo battling fatigue on the bench. The network reported that Skattebo was trying to get in more fluids and catch his breath after he was “vomiting profusely” on the sidelines, leaving his health status for the remainder of the game up in the air.
Skattebo not only reentered the game, but he led a comeback to force overtime.
TEXAS VS. ARIZONA STATE: Live score updates, highlights, how to watch CFP quarterfinal game
Despite looking visibly exhausted, Skattebo checked back into the game and helped the Sun Devils score 16 unanswered points. Skattebo connected with WR Malik McClain for a 42-yard touchdown pass to cut the Longhorns’ lead to 24-16 with 6:31 remaining in the game. Following Arizona State’s interception of Texas QB Quinn Ewers the next possession, Skattebo rushed for a two-yard touchdown and then successfully converted a two-point conversion to tie the game 24-24 with 5:00 minutes remaining in the game. The Peach Bowl eventually went to overtime following Texas’ missed field goal that would have won the game.
In overtime, Skattebo gave the Sun Devils the lead on a three-yard touchdown run, but Texas answered back with two straight touchdowns to take the lead 39-31. Arizona State was unable to score on their next OT possession to give Texas the win.
Skattebo finished the game with 30 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to one 42-yard passing touchdown for a touchdown and eight receptions for 99 receiving yards.
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