Athletics Department grows and adds fall sports

The Athletics Department has added two new sports this fall, men’s volleyball and wrestling, following significant growth in the department. 

Director of Athletics, Jeff Bussell, noted how the number of student-athletes has grown from 187 to 355 in just three years, according to Bussell.

Last year, 13 out of the 15 teams reached the postseason. The softball team reached the NAIA World Series, the women’s cross country team secured the first GSAC Championship in program history, and the women’s golf team won the conference title during their first year. Five teams won the GSAC Championship.

This year, students can look forward to watching wrestling, led by Heach Coach, Caleb Flores, in the winter and men’s volleyball, coached by Brad Rostratter, in the spring.

Additionally, women’s soccer is under new leadership with Lauren Mascaro, and the softball team welcomes its new head coach, Amber Freeman. 

So far, teams have started the year with a running start—brining both wins and awards, one of which is the naming of Myranda Baca (women’s soccer) as the first GSAC Player of the Week for the season.

“Last season, our players did a great job with winning weekly awards in the conference,” Assistant Athletics Director, Jeff Melton, said. “Both men and women’s soccer are ramping up towards the start of conference play. The women’s team is going for their fourth consecutive GSAC championship, and the men’s team is going for their third straight.”