Inter Miami defeated Real Salt Lake 2-0 to open the 2024 MLS season at Chase Stadium on Feb. 21, 2024. Here’s a look back at the action:
Gallery: Inter Miami wins MLS season-opener
A&E staff share Oscars 2024 predictions
Hollywood’s best will flock to the infamous Dolby Theater this Sunday at 7 p.m. for the 96th annual Oscar Awards. Actress Lily Gladstone looks to make history as the first-ever Native American to win an award while Cillian Murphy hopes to become the first Best Actor recipient for a Christopher Nolan film.
Will pretty-in-pink “Barbie” beat Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” or will “Killers of the Flower Moon” leave them both in the dust? Keep reading to see what the A&E staff predicts will happen at the Oscars this Sunday.
Best Picture: Oz
The biggest award of the night is split between some of the year’s biggest films — Martin Scorsese’s latest masterpiece, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Nolan’s magnum opus “Oppenheimer” and the pinkest nominee ever, “Barbie.”
There is usually much more discourse over who would win this prestigious award, but one name seems to be taking over the award season: “Oppenheimer.” Due to the giant event that was “Barbenheimer,” the Academy is more than likely going to award the second-highest-grossing R-rated film.
“Oppenheimer” was a technical achievement combining great storytelling, visual effects galore and an ensemble cast that is only matched by “Barbie.”
The only reason why “Barbie” isn’t a credible threat is the Academy’s treatment of it as a “blockbuster” instead of an “art film.” In recent history, Oscar voters have avoided rewarding blockbusters in favor of independent films.
The Academy snubbing both Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig for Best Actress and Best Director further validates that claim.
Best Director: Lucia
This year’s race for Best Director is highly competitive, with the acclaimed Scorcese and Nolan leading the race. Despite Scorcese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the fan favorite and expected winner of this award is Nolan for his breakthrough film, “Oppenheimer.”
Arguably his best film to date, Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” explores the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the capacity mankind has for destruction.
A truly psychological story told in the structure of time jumps and complex character studies, “Oppenheimer” captured the attention of audiences around the world and truly cemented Nolan as one of the greatest filmmakers of this generation.
The film delivers breathtaking visuals and an overall immersive experience. Despite its nearly three-hour runtime, its entertaining, thought-provoking narrative makes three hours feel like a second.
Both Nolan and Scorcese demonstrated excellent directing, but the odds are likely in Nolan’s favor for this year’s Academy Awards.
Best Actor: Sam
For Best Actor, the year gave us some undeniably amazing performances. However, two out of the five nominees stand out among the group.
Bradley Cooper in “Maestro,” Colman Domingo in “Rustin” and Wright in “American Fiction” were good performances, but the clear competition stands between Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of Paul Hunham in the “The Holdovers” and Cillian Murphy’s portrayal of the titular character in “Oppenheimer.”
Both performances gave us some of the rawest sense of emotion and movement that the film industry has seen in a while, leaving audiences with iconic, memorable moments and scenes.
Murphy will likely take home the award due to his iconic speeches in the film. But it would also be no surprise to see Giamatti giving the acceptance speech.
Best Actress: Lucia
This year’s race for Best Actress looks like it will be a battle of the stones between front-runners Lily Gladstone from “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Emma Stone from “Poor Things.”
Gladstone is the first-ever Native American to be nominated for Best Actress. Both women gave phenomenal performances in vastly different films, making it difficult to compare them.
Stone displayed a range of talent and dedication to her craft in “Poor Things” which took her character to another level. For this, she was awarded the British Academy Film Award for Best Actress, making people predict she would secure the Oscar easily.
But after Gladstone won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Female Actor in a Leading Role, the outcome of this Oscars category is less clear.
Best Supporting Actor: Oz
This year’s Best Supporting Actor award is easily the most competitive of the year, featuring a stacked list of top actors. With nominees including Ryan Gosling, Robert Downey Jr., Sterling K. Brown, Mark Ruffalo and Robert De Niro, there is so much talent on display.
Downey Jr. reminded audiences in “Oppenheimer” that he can act beyond the capacity of Tony Stark as the mischievous Lewis Strauss. He’s been storming the award show scene, taking the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA and SAG awards in the category. It would be quite a move if anyone else got the award.
Best Supporting Actress: Samantha
Da’Vine Joy Randolph from “The Holdovers” is favored to win the award for Best Supporting Actress as her riveting performance continues to dominate the competition, earning her Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes, Critic’s Choice, BAFTA and SAG awards.
Randolph’s grit and complexity shines in “The Holdovers,” which made viewers grieve alongside Randolph over a deceased character who was barely mentioned in the film. “The Holdovers” gave the spotlight to lonely characters who felt betrayed by society, making Randolph feel more relatable.
Emily Blunt’s performance in “Oppenheimer” stands as a runner-up as one glance at her character’s unwavering eyes made her the strongest person in the room. Blunt maintained a compelling on-screen presence alongside Best Actor nominee Cillian Murphy. Her ending monologue is one for the ages, but doesn’t surpass the tears Randolph made many shed.
Best Original Screenplay: Vivica
The current favorite for Best Original Screenplay is “The Holdovers,” written by David Hemingson, known primarily for his writing and producing for tv projects like “Family Guy,” “Bones” and “Black-ish.” Hemingson brought his comedic chops to the silver screen, combining humor with a more humanist perspective.
A24’s indie darling “Past Lives” has the potential to be the black sheep of this race, overtaking “The Holdovers” and surprising the Oscars audience.
Both films are intimate portraits of individuals trying to figure out the next stage of their lives and work through the traumas that they have endured in the past.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Samantha
Nolan’s powerful adaptation of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s Pulitzer-prize-winning biography stands as the likely victor for Best Adapted Screenplay. “The Zone of Interest” writer Jonathan Glazer faces major competition with blockbusters like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” holding the reins.
Though “American Fiction” writer Cord Johnson has impressed with his adapted screenplay victories at the Critic’s Choice and Independent Spirit awards, his story didn’t move the masses like Nolan’s $959 million blockbuster.
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach wrote Warner Bros’ highest-grossing film “Barbie,” refining feminist films’ standards with quirky and intelligent dialogue. However, with “Barbie” not being as successful in the awards circuit, its winning chances are low.
Tony McNamara’s “Poor Things” reintroduced Emma Stone to the spotlight with bizarre, yet heartfelt characters. But its exploration of life and romance holds no leverage to the dynamic re-telling of humanity’s darkest era in “Oppenheimer.”
Best Animated Feature: Vivica
Despite the buzz surrounding “Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse” and its groundbreaking animation style, the most likely candidate to win this award is “The Boy and the Heron,” also known as “How Do You Live?”
Renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli’s return to the big screen gives the Academy a chance to award him again following his 2003 Best Animated Feature for “Spirited Away.”
Miyazaki has gained cultural relevance in the past decade since his original retirement and has become an influential figure in animated filmmaking. Although “Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse” is well-loved, it doesn’t hold the legacy of “The Boy and The Heron.”
Best Cinematography: Samantha
Hoyte van Hoytema’s masterclass in combining camera work with storytelling makes “Oppenheimer” the probable champion. Hoytema enthralls viewers through capturing scientific phenomena and emotional breakdowns with identical precision.
“Poor Things” cinematographer Robbie Ryan equips various lenses and unique filmmaking techniques to transport viewers to a whimsical world. Ryan’s work shows more style, but lacks Hoytema’s intense melodramatic substance.
Rodrigo Pietro and Matthew Libatique from “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “Maestro,” respectively, equip shadows and coordinate lighting to have a character’s feelings pour onto the screen. Hoytema doubles down on this technique with his film’s powerful ending, which features intense light that symbolizes Oppenheimer’s crushing guilt.
Edward Lachlan from “El Conde” uses black-and-white imaging to highlight the film as a period piece and its undead character. “Oppenheimer” takes this technique to the next level by using B&W to represent the world’s lack of understanding of the events leading to the atomic bomb.
Best Original Song: Riley
After garnering a whopping 15 awards since its release, including two Grammys and a Golden Globe, Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie” is sure to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
The lyrics beautifully encapsulate the feelings that many girls go through as they grow up. The smooth production by her brother FINNEAS, combined with Billie’s soft, emotional voice, make for a gorgeous, yet heart-wrenching ballad.
The song fits its scene in “Barbie” perfectly, bringing audience members to tears as Barbie learns of all the tumultuous feelings girls and women endure. “What Was I Made For?” stands out among all the nominees, and viewers would be shocked if it does not win at the Oscars.
With Ryan Gosling confirmed to be singing “Barbie” hit song “I’m Just Ken” at the show, this year’s Oscars will be nothing but newsworthy.
Witness past Oscar winners like Jaime Lee Curtis and Matthew McConaughey bestow award-winning status to rising stars this Sunday at 7 p.m. on ABC. Though “Oppenheimer” stands as the leading winner, upsets have happened in prior years, so don’t count your favorite out just yet.
Osvaldo Espino, Riley Simon, Lucia Moglia and Sam Billok contributed to the writing of this article.
Miami’s losing streak reaches nine, ends regular season with 83-75 loss to Florida State
Last season played out like a dream for the Miami Hurricanes. The regular-season co-champions of the ACC made a run to the Final Four for the first time in program history and were defeated by an unstoppable UConn team, which went on to win the national championship.
This season, however, played out in an opposite direction, with the regular season wrapping up in Tallahassee, Florida. In yet another game where the Hurricanes were close, but not close enough, Miami lost 83-75 to its in-state rival Florida State to cap off its nightmare of a regular season with nine consecutive losses and a losing record.
As has been the story all season long, a key player was inactive for the ‘Canes on Saturday, with guard Nijel Pack missing this one due to a lower-body injury.
While Pack’s presence was missed, Miami was often its worst enemy over the game, with 17 turnovers turning into 15 points on the other end for FSU.
The Seminoles also knocked down 12 triples, with eight coming from senior guard Darin Green Jr., to propel themselves to victory.
Green led the way in the scoring department for Florida State, with all 26 of his points coming from long range. He was trailed in scoring by junior forward Jamir Watkins, who put in 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Bensley Joseph poured in a team-high 17 points for the ‘Canes, while star forward Norchad Omier and former Seminole Matthew Cleveland each had 16 points, with Omier also adding 17 rebounds.
The first half saw the two teams go back and forth, with eight lead changes within the first 20 minutes. Miami hounded the Seminoles defensively in the first half as Florida State shot only 35% from the field, but the ‘Canes still found themselves down 37-32 at halftime.
This was largely due to Miami’s 11 first-half turnovers and FSU’s effort on the offensive glass, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds.
“From the defensive standpoint, we did okay on the first shot, but their offensive rebounds just absolutely killed us,” head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “They ended up with 15 offensive rebounds, which led to 16 points. When you play good defense but keep giving them second shots, it becomes very difficult.”
Still, the Hurricanes’ steady shooting in the first frame kept them within reach, led by Cleveland’s 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Green paced the ‘Noles in scoring with 12 points and four three-pointers.
The second half was closely contested, similar to the first half, with the ‘Canes battling back to take a three-point lead halfway through the second half following an 8-0 run. A balanced attack from the likes of Omier, Joseph and junior guard Wooga Poplar spearheaded the Miami run, while Green continued to rain down threes to keep FSU in the game.
However, once again, turnovers ramped up for the ‘Canes, as the Seminoles stretched the lead to eight as the game went under six minutes to go. As the clock wound down, Florida State began to distance itself, taking a nine-point lead, the largest of the game for FSU.
As the clock wound down on the regular season, the ‘Canes got as close as six points, but FSU held on to win 83-75.
Miami will now look ahead to the ACC tournament, which it must win to get an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament. The ‘Canes will enter the tournament as the No. 14 seed and will play the No. 11 seed, either Georgia Tech or Boston College, in the first round. The 14 vs. 11 game is scheduled for 7 p.m. this Tuesday and will air on ACC Network.
Miami’s losing streak reaches nine, ends regular season with 83-75 loss to Florida State
Last season played out like a dream for the Miami Hurricanes. The regular-season co-champions of the ACC made a run to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, only to finally be defeated by a UConn team that went on to win the national championship.
This season played out in the opposite direction. In yet another game where the Hurricanes were close but not close enough, Miami lost 83-75 to its in-state rival, Florida State, to cap off its nightmare of a regular season with nine consecutive losses and a losing record.
As has been the story all season long, a key player was inactive for the Canes on Saturday. Guard Nijel Pack missed this one due to a lower-body injury.
While Pack’s presence was certainly missed, Miami was often its own worst enemy throughout the game, with 17 turnovers turning into 15 points for FSU.
The Seminoles also scored 12 triples, eight of which came from senior guard Darin Green Jr., to propel themselves to victory.
Green Jr. led Florida State in scoring, with all 26 of his points coming from long range. He was trailed in scoring by junior forward Jamir Watkins, who scored 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Bensley Joseph scored a team-high 17 points for the Canes, while star forward Norchad Omier and former Seminole Matthew Cleveland each scored 16 points, with Omier also adding 17 rebounds.
The first half saw the two teams go back and forth, with eight lead changes within the first 20 minutes. Miami hounded the Seminoles defensively in the first half as Florida State shot only 35% from the field, but the ‘Canes still found themselves down 37-32 at halftime.
This was largely due to Miami’s 11 first-half turnovers and FSU’s effort on the offensive glass, which resulted in 12 offensive rebounds.
“From the defensive standpoint, we did okay on the first shot, but their offensive rebounds just absolutely killed us,” head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “They ended up with 15 offensive rebounds, which led to 16 points. It becomes challenging when you play good defense but keep giving them second shots.”
Still, the Hurricanes’ steady shooting in the first frame kept them within reach, led by Cleveland’s 10 points on 4-7 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Green Jr. paced the ‘Noles in scoring with 12 points and four three-pointers.
The second half was closely contested, similar to the first half, with the Canes battling back to take a 3-point lead halfway through the second half following an 8-0 run. A balanced attack from Omier, Joseph, and junior guard Wooga Poplar spearheaded the Miami run while Green Jr. continued to rain down threes to keep FSU in the game.
However, once again, turnovers ramped up for the ‘Canes as the Seminoles stretched the lead to eight with under six minutes to go. As the clock wound down, Florida State began to distance itself, taking a nine-point lead, the largest of the game for FSU.
As the regular season clock wound down, the Canes got as close as six points, but FSU held on to win 83-75.
Miami will now look ahead to the ACC tournament, which they must win to get an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament. The ‘Canes will enter the tournament as the 14th seed and play the 11th seed, either Georgia Tech or Boston College, in the first round. The 14 vs. 11 game is scheduled for 7 p.m. this Tuesday and will air on ACC Network.
Cuvet’s clutch home run completes Miami’s comeback against No. 13 Virginia, 6-5
In the bottom of the seventh, with a runner on first and second, Miami was searching for their first lead of the night against their first ACC opponent, the No. 13 ranked Virginia Cavaliers. UM’s Daniel Cuvet did just that, powering a clutch three-run home run over the fence in left-center field to take a one-run lead.
Cuvet’s long ball was just enough for UM to complete the comeback at Mark Light Field and win 6-5.
In the top of the ninth, Miami reliever Nick Robert was forced to work around a runner on third with one out. After getting the first batter to ground out, Robert got Luke Hanson to fly out to right field, completing the four-out save to win the opening series game.
The Cavaliers jumped on Miami’s Gage Ziehl early, immediately making loud contact. In the second inning, lefty Harrison Didawick took Ziehl’s 0-2 pitch opposite field, clearing the wall in left and allowing Virginia to take an early 2-0 lead.
In the third, with runners on first and second and no one out, UVA’s Ethan Anderson smoked a ground ball headed directly towards Ziehl. The righty fielded the ball and fired it high to shortstop Antonio Jimenez, who got the out at second but then misfired on his throw to first, allowing a run to score.
The young freshman’s error marked his fourth of the season and second of the game. Jimenez has struggled early on in his Miami career, both in the field and hitting. In his 2024 campaign, he is batting .172 with just three extra-base hits in 29 at-bats.
“He’s [Jimenez] got the ability to make the great play.” head coach J.D. Arteaga said after Sunday’s loss to UF. “But he’s got to be able to make the routine play.”
The Miami bats struggled to get anything going against UVA’s Cullen McKay. The sophomore righty struck out eight ‘Canes, allowed three runs on two hits, and surrendered his first base knock in the fifth inning.
In the sixth, the Miami bats finally woke up. Following a Dorian Gonzalez Jr. walk to load the bases with no one out, the Cavaliers pulled McKay, giving the ball to Chase Hungate. Jason Torres hit an RBI groundout, but it was catcher Jake Scanlon to ignite the crowd at the Light.
Facing Hungate, Scanlon laced a two-run double into the gap in right-center field, cutting the deficit to just one.
After the Cavaliers responded with a run of their own, the Hurricanes got a golden opportunity to take their first lead of the night in the seventh.
With bases loaded and no one out, Blake Cyr lined into an unassisted double play, slowing down UM’s momentum. The next batter, Cuvet, sent the home crowd into a frenzy, hitting his seventh home run of the season to take a 6-5 lead.
UM Friday starter Gage Ziehl was forced to battle against the Cavalier offense all night. In 5.2 innings of work, the righty gave up four runs on seven hits while striking out three Virginia batters.
Ziehl’s start to the season continues to be an uphill climb. In five starts this season, the sophomore has a 0-1 record and a 6.17 ERA in 23.1 innings of work. For comparison, Ziehl held a 6.40 ERA in his first five outings last season. The Hurricanes need more out of their Friday night starter if they want to match up against the best programs in the ACC.
Miami looks to build off their comeback victory with game two of the series against No. 13 Virginia at Mark Light Field. Lefty Rafe Schlesinger is scheduled to take the bump for the ‘Canes. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
‘Canes losing streak extends to eight on Senior Night to Boston College
In front of a sparse home crowd, the Miami Hurricanes fell to the Boston College Eagles 67-57 on Senior Night. The loss marks Miami’s eighth straight loss and a disappointing way to close out their season’s final game at the Watsco Center.
For the first time in months, Miami had a clean slate of health heading into the game. Both juniors Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar were total participants in practice and were full go in the game. The injury bug did not stay away for long; Pack was injured after taking an awkward fall late in the first half and did not return.
The Hurricanes led 32-28 at the half, but like the last time Miami played BC, the Eagles pulled away in the second half and dominated Miami on the boards. The hero for the Eagles in the previous contest was senior Mason Madsen, who scored 25 points. For BC, graduate student Quinten Post led all scorers with 19 points this time.
Junior Norchad Omier led the way for the ‘Canes with a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds. Junior Matthew Cleveland was Miami’s leading scorer, with 13 points.
It was another poor shooting performance for junior Wooga Poplar. The Philadelphia native shot an abysmal 2-12 while only scoring seven points.
Miami failed to establish offensive consistency and struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 22 percent. Pack’s being out does not help that metric, but Miami’s shot selection did not favor them.
There were a lot of little things for Miami. UM they missed out on an abundance of second-chance points while allowing the Eagles to secure way too many of their own. The game was one in which Miami had a chance to win, but as the team has displayed all season long, it just needed more juice to get it done.
Omier and Pack were honored as part of the Senior Night celebrations, and many student assistants were present at what could be Omier’s final home game at the Watsco Center. Miami’s big man could test the waters of the NBA like last season.
The Hurricanes cap off their season with a trip to Tallahassee on Saturday to take on the rival Florida State Seminoles. Miami fell to the Seminoles in January and look to end their season on a high note. Tip-off for this concluding matchup is set for 4:00 P.M. at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center. The game will also be available on ESPN 2.
All stats and data via ESPN and Statsbroadcast.com, unless otherwise noted
Takeaways from Miami baseball’s non-conference play
Capping off its non-conference schedule with a comeback win against Stonehill College, Miami heads into conference play this weekend with many new faces emerging as stars. That being said, there are still blatant holes in offense and on the mound that need attention to succeed in conference play.
Starting with the positives, newcomers to the starting lineup, freshman Daniel Cuvet, and sophomore Jason Torres, have been on fire to begin the 2024 season. Cuvet is batting an insane .548, has six home runs, and has an OPS of 1.746. These numbers are unheard of for a freshman in his first few weeks of collegiate ball.
Not far behind Cuvet is Torres, who is hitting an even .500, has seven home runs and has an OPS of 1.582. Cuvet and Torres have been carrying the Hurricane offense out of the heart of the lineup and look to continue their elite production into conference play.
Heading out to the mound, newcomers to the weekend rotation junior Rafe Schlessinger and junior Herick Hernandez have been lights out. The starting rotation was a significant concern as Gage Ziehl was the only returner. Still, those concerns have vanished as Schlessinger and Hernandez have shined, including quality starts from both arms against No. 4 Florida.
Schlessinger enters conference play with a 2.08 ERA and 25 strikeouts through three starts, and Hernandez enters conference play with a 1.59 ERA and 26 strikeouts through three starts. These guys have been dominant, and they will need to continue their dominance for UM to be successful in conference play, as opposing lineups will only get better and better.
As for the weaknesses of this ’Canes ballclub, the most glaring is its lack of pitching depth. Aside from the weekend rotation, Nick Robert has been the only dependable arm night in and night out on the mound. Only two Miami relievers have a sub 4.00 ERA, and many of those ERA’s are above 6.00.
Coach J.D. Arteaga and pitching coach Laz Gutierrez anticipated this issue coming into the season, and they will need to sort it out to have consistent success in ACC play.
One positive for the pitching depth was Wednesday night’s return of Brian Walters. Walters looked electric on the hill for his one inning against Stonehill, quickly logging three strikeouts. He could pump the gas up as high as 96 mph, making the Stonehill batters look silly. Adding a piece like Walters to the pen will be huge for Miami, who is desperate for bullpen depth.
Another negative for the Canes in non-conference play would be offensive inconsistency outside Cuvet and Torres. The UM offense has shown flashes of what everyone knows they can do, scoring over 15 runs in three games this season. Unfortunately, the bats are not producing on the same level night in and night out.
In games against NJIT, LIU, UCF, and even Stonehill, the offense has had major scoring droughts against pitching at lower levels than what it will see in conference play. Guys expected to play significant roles in the offense, like Blake Cyr, Lucas Costello, and Lorenzo Carrier, are all off to dreadful starts and will have to turn things around for the Canes to see offensive success.
The Hurricanes will host the red-hot No. 13 Virginia Cavaliers (12-1) in a three-game set to kick off ACC play. Game one is set for a 7 p.m. start time, with Ziehl likely on the mound for Miami at Mark Light Field on Friday night.
Comeback ‘Canes beat Skyhawks, 7-6
There is one thing for sure about the J.D. Arteaga–led Hurricanes: they can never be count out.
Miami (7-5) came back down 6-1 and scored six unanswered runs to take down Stonehill (3-5), 7-6.
A five-run seventh inning brought Miami back. Started by a Blake Cyr three-run home run, Miami got two more runs from a walk and a wild-pitch to tie the game at six. A Daniel Cuvet RBI single broke the tie in the eighth inning, and the Hurricanes closed it out in the ninth inning.
Stonehill came out loose and scored a run in every inning up to the fifth inning. First baseman Trey Ciulla-Hall sparked rallies for the Skyhawks, hitting two separate two-out doubles. Freshman starter Braydon Grey shut down Miami, only giving up one earned run on three hits in four and ⅔ innings pitched.
A multitude of Miami relief pitchers stepped up toward the end of the game. Redshirt freshman Ashton Crowther got Miami out of a jam in the fifth inning, and in his first appearance of the season, Brian Walters struck out the side in the seventh inning.
Nick Robert, got the win as the 6-foot-6 true freshman seems to be a sure thing. Robert gave up no hits on three strikeouts for one and ⅓ inning pitched.
Cyr showed discipline at the plate and had his first big game of the year. He finished with two hits, four RBIs and two walks.
Ben Chesnutt got the start on the mound for Miami. The senior pitcher gave up two earned runs on five hits and two walks in two and ⅔ innings.
Miami gets ready for ACC play against No. 13 Virginia this Friday at Mark Light Field. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Hurricanes golf struggle in Gainesville, finish in 9th
The Miami Hurricanes golf team traveled to Gainesville, Fla. and struggled for the second tournament in a row.
The ‘Canes finished ninth out of 14 teams in the Gator Invitational at 26-over par at 866. The Gators Invitational took place over two days but was a 54-hole event.
After finishing the fall semester with force, the goal was to carry that momentum into the spring. After starting off on the right foot at the UCF Challenge, they’ve stumbled since then.
Once again, senior Sara Byrne led the way for the Hurricanes, yielding herself yet another top-10 finish. After a first-round 66, Byrne found herself just one shot behind the leader; however, back-to-back over-par rounds dropped her back to even par. Byrne finished the tournament in a tie for eighth place, just six shots behind the leader. Byrne continues an impressive streak of golf after winning ACC golfer of the month.
Sophomore Olivia Grønborg finished in a tie for 30th place at six-over par. After a first-round 77, Grønborg bounced back with rounds of 71 and 68 to limit the damage. The sophomore will look to build on the two-under 68 as the spring goes on.
Freshman Rebekah Gardener finished at 11-over-par in a tie for 45th place. Gardener shot rounds of 72, 75 and 74.
German freshman Sophie Bierstorfer finished in a tie for 48th place at 13-over par. After an opening round of 78, Bierstorfer limited the damage and shot 71 and 74 in the final two rounds.
Freshman Barbora Bukájová finished at 20-over par and tied for 60th place.
The Hurricanes will have a week-and-a-half off before they travel to Charleston, South Carolina for the Briar’s Creek Invitational. The tournament will take place on March 11 and 12.
Students share excitement for Miami Open tennis tournament
As this tennis season continues its course, fans of the sport now turn to the next highly-anticipated tournament: the Miami Open. Held every late March at the Hard Rock Stadium, this tournament attracts tennis fans from all over the U.S and worldwide.
Like its predecessors, this year’s tournament will display fierce competition, a broad range of talent and state-of-the-art facilities for players and audiences alike.
For several University of Miami students, the Miami Open is a highlight of their spring semester.
“My family and I have been going to the Miami Open since I was a kid,” freshman biology major Emma Tews said. “I get excited every March knowing these players I looked up to when I was younger will be so close to me.”
The Miami Open offers a two-week experience where each day consists of different men’s, women’s and doubles matches. The tournament officially starts on Sunday, March 17 with the women’s qualifying rounds.
Each day gets more competitive as the best go head-to-head for each match and players are gradually eliminated. The women’s final will be held on Saturday, March 30, and the men’s on Sunday, March 31.
“I’m excited for the finals,” Macias said. “I think it’s going to be an Alcaraz and Djokovich showdown which is always pretty interesting.”
This year, wheelchair tennis and Major League Pickleball will also be part of the open, marking the first time both events will take place at any 1000 series tournament.
“I’m glad the Miami Open added these events,” sophomore finance major Maria Amaro said. “It shows an effort to diversify and make the tournament more inclusive.”
The annual tennis tournament continues to display the world’s top tennis talent and spotlight emerging players. Attendees this year can expect to see renowned stars of the sport such as Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and many more.
“Since I grew up playing tennis, it was really special for me to watch these players every year,” Tews said. “Although the tournament is held at a farther venue than where it was when I was a kid, my family and I still make an effort to go.”
Since 2019, the Miami Open has been held at the Hard Rock Stadium instead of its original location at the Crandon Park Tennis Center. When this switch was made, many fans of the tournament were disappointed to know they would have to drive extra miles to attend.
“I don’t like how far it is,” freshman finance major Samuel Macias said. “But it’s like going to a UM football game — you sacrifice an hour or so of driving to end up getting a good experience.”
Attendees will also get to enjoy state-of-the-art cuisine as some of Miami’s finest restaurants host pop-ups around the stadium. Some of these restaurants include David Chang’s Fuku, Kiki on the River and Ella’s Oyster Bar.
“I’m really excited to go this year,” Macias said. “The other times I’ve gone have been a lot of fun, and there’s so much to do and see besides watching the matches.”
The Miami Open is a major event on the tennis calendar and an exciting opportunity for South Florida residents to see some of the world’s top talent in action.
Tickets are being sold on the Miami Open website. Among the several ticket options are package deals for the full tournament, single session tickets, luxury seating tickets and many more.
‘Canes take on the world: where UM students are going for spring break
Spring break and Miami seem like a match made in heaven, but the city loses its sparkle amidst the 10 p.m. curfews, overwhelming tourist crowds and spike in crime rates.
Despite the increased number of visiting college students in March, some UM students will begin the great migration out of Miami this weekend to get away from the noise.
Students of all grade levels plan to travel during spring break. For some, traveling means taking a trip home to rest and recuperate.
“I’m going home for spring break. I need to sleep,” said Laren Nygaard, a freshman business major. “Most of my friends are also going home.”
Other students, like sophomore finance major Jayson Rabinowitz, will use the break to catch up on much needed-family time.
“I’m going home to see my family and then to Boulder to visit my sister,” sophomore finance major Jayson Rabinowitz said. “We are going to ski in a steamboat for a few days before I head back to Miami.”
While some ‘Canes prefer domestic travel, others plan to head outside U.S. borders to destinations like the Bahamas or Europe.
“All my roommates are going to Cancun for a break, and the other kids I know are going to Cabo,” Rabinowitz said.
Spring semester of junior year is a popular time for students to study abroad, but for those who decided not to, spring break offers a chance to visit their friends and get a taste of life abroad.
Junior marketing major Connor Dunham chose to stay in Miami this semester, but will use his spring break for an overseas excursion.
“I am going to Barcelona to visit some of my friends who are currently studying abroad,” Dunham said.
Some students may visit multiple countries during the break to maximize their trip and get a fuller picture of what it’s like to live overseas.
“I am going to Amsterdam to meet up with a couple of my friends who are currently studying in Barcelona,” said junior biochemistry major Bella Haham. “We’re also going to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day because everyone will be there, so it’ll definitely be an eventful trip.”
Among some graduating seniors, there is an unofficial travel tradition where they head to Las Vegas for fall break, then spend spring break in Nashville to enjoy one last ride as a UM student.
“I am going to Nashville for spring break with some of my friends,” Amanda Coleman, senior marketing major said. “Most seniors tend to go to Nashville for the first half of spring break, and either stay or split off to do their own thing after.”
Though Miami’s weather, culture and nightlife attract spring breakers from around the U.S., an occasional break from the city can be refreshing for UM students.
Whether they’re in Miami or not, ‘Canes find a way to have a good time.
MSA initiative unites and empowers women of color on campus
Enough, a program by Multicultural Student Affairs, instills confidence in diverse female students through monthly luncheons and group discussions that promote mentorship, leadership and networking skills.
The organization feels women of color’s battle to lead in a white or male-dominated workspace can surge competition between those who need to unite most. Enough hosts then empowerment sessions to remind attendees of collaboration’s power and how one diverse woman’s success can mean a more welcoming future for all.
Madison Rojas, the MSA associate director, works with Enough leaders junior Kevmely Antonie, Enough co-founder Sierra Straker and PhD candidate Guerdiana Thelomar to unite women of color.
“We’re fighting for what we think is a limited resource of power, money, wealth, knowledge,” Antonie said. “When you’re stepping on other people of color, you’re also bringing yourself down.”
As a past first-generation college student, Rojas recalled her previous individualistic mindset.
“Always having it ingrained in my mind that I had to fight for my space, I had to fight for my presence to be recognized in these spaces,” Rojas said.
Rojas’ first months as a MSA staff introduced her to an inclusive workspace, which promoted collaboration, contrary to her previous experiences. Her initial mindset then morphed into one that puts ‘we’ before ‘me.’
“I’m in an environment where I’m uplifted,” Rojas said. “You may not be thinking that you’re harming others or not uplifting those around you until you actually have someone that’s there sharing these things with you because they want you to advance with them.”
Her experience showed an institution’s power when run by empathy instead of domination, the institutions Enough promotes.
Speak with intention instead of domination
“We just need to listen to each other,” Starker said. “Have a fruitful conversation to see where [our partners] are, see how similar we are, to develop that vulnerability and make that space for love to flourish.”
By enlisting more women of color to create more collaborative work environments, Enough sees a loving world within reach.
“Looking at society now, we have this idea of ‘the others,’ the people who are other than me,” Antonie said. “When you have women of color in those positions of leadership, that idea of otherness goes away.”
The organization invites people to create positive affirmation jars, release negative self-talk and reignite their inner confidence with monthly events.
Enough hosted “Centering Self-Love: Women of Power in Academia,” a discussion where panelists shared strategies on navigating higher education, preserving your confidence and practicing self-love as women of color.
With a “Women’s History Month: Passions, Entrepreneurship, Influence” event on March 7, Enough continues to provide diverse womens’ leadership skills to kickstart their path toward success.
Each event aids Enough’s mission to embody the welcoming and nurturing environment they believe the world can be for women of color.
“As a graduate student, the journey can be isolating,” Thelomar said. “Enough and MSA has been a great way for me to be intentional about having a community for myself and navigating this space.”
Enough seeks to shatter diverse female students’ negative self-perceptions and reaffirm that they are deserving of opportunities, growth and professional development.
“There are several times, especially navigating a predominantly white institution, where you don’t feel adequate just by being in the space,” Straker said. “If you tell yourself in the mirror, ‘you are enough, you got up today,’ celebrating the little things, you’re able to celebrate the bigger things.”
Enough brings people together
“Even if it may feel you’re going through these things alone or you may feel you’re the only one who has certain thoughts or viewpoints, you’re not alone,” Thelomar said. “There’s a whole village and community out there who’s willing and ready to support you.”
Enough works to plant seeds of leadership, positivity and progress in its members and event attendees. Those who represent and spread Enough’s values are the organizations’ future, according to its leaders.
Commemorate Women’s History Month with Enough on March 6 at their entrepreneurship discussion at 5 p.m. in the Shalala Student Center. Supporters can follow Enough’s mission to cement diverse female students’ space on campus on their Instagram @enough.woc.