Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Athletics Celebrates Historic 2025-26 Season
6/29/2026 9:00:00 AM | General
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The 2025-26 academic year will stand among the most successful and transformative years in the history of Eastern Michigan University Athletics. From historic postseason appearances and national recognition to record-breaking academic achievement and impactful community engagement, EMU student-athletes continued to elevate the standard of excellence across every area of the department.
The year showcased the success of Eastern's commitment to developing champions in competition, in the classroom, and in the community. That commitment produced historic firsts, national accolades, conference honors, and a growing reputation for excellence that extended well beyond Ypsilanti.
At the center of the year's success was a women's golf program that authored one of the greatest seasons in school history.
HISTORIC HEIGHTS FOR WOMEN'S GOLF
The Eagles entered the season with momentum and quickly established themselves as one of the nation's top programs.
Eastern opened the campaign with consecutive tournament championships at The Southern and the Leadership & Golf Invitational before adding a third team title at the Silicon Valley Showcase in the spring. The three victories marked the program's most tournament wins in a season since 2011-12 and represented another major step in the program's rapid ascent under Head Coach Josh Brewer.
Individual success accompanied the team's achievements.
Janae Leovao captured medalist honors at both The Southern and the Leadership & Golf Invitational, while Baiyok Sukterm claimed medalist honors at the Silicon Valley Showcase. The accomplishments marked the first time since 2007-08 that Eastern golfers earned three individual tournament titles in a single season.
The Eagles continued their rise throughout the spring and reached No. 19 in the national rankings before finishing second at the Mid-American Conference Championships, their best conference finish since 2015.
That success positioned Eastern for another historic milestone.
The Eagles earned the program's first NCAA Regional selection and traveled to Tallahassee as the No. 5 seed. Eastern rose to the occasion, finishing fourth and securing the first NCAA Championship berth in school history.
The story only grew more remarkable from there.
Competing against the nation's best at Omni La Costa Resort in California, Eastern advanced through stroke play and made the 15-team cut after three rounds. The Eagles then produced the lowest round of the day during the fourth round, firing a 4-under-par 284 to move into the top eight and qualify for match play.
Eastern stunned fourth-ranked Texas in the quarterfinals before eventually falling to eventual national champion Stanford in the semifinals.
When the final putt dropped, Eastern Michigan stood tied for third nationally.
The accomplishment completed a remarkable two-year climb of 223 spots in the national rankings and established the Eagles as one of the premier programs in collegiate golf.
The historic season also brought unprecedented national recognition.
Brewer was named Golfweek Women's National Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach in program history to earn a national coaching honor. Janae Leovao became the first All-American in program history after earning Golfweek Third Team All-America recognition and Women's Golf Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-America honors.
Leovao finished her career ranked No. 46 nationally while Sukterm, Savannah de Bock, and Jasmine Leovao also concluded the season among the nation's top 100 golfers.
SUCCESS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT
While women's golf delivered one of the year's most memorable stories, success was evident throughout Eastern Athletics. EMU student-athletes combined for 47 Mid-American Conference weekly awards during the year while earning 22 First Team All-MAC selections and 22 Second Team All-MAC honors.
Eastern athletes claimed seven MAC individual and relay championships while five student-athletes earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors.
Track and field continues to be one of the conference's elite programs. Kian Wiles captured MAC championships in the indoor mile, indoor 800 meters, and outdoor 1500 meters while helping Eastern earn multiple conference honors throughout the year. The men's distance medley relay team of Ronan Codyre, Michael Hawkins, Jimmy Geller, and Ty Dailey secured a MAC championship, while Gabe Oliveira and Mariah Taylor each claimed conference titles in the triple jump. The women's track and field program added championships in both the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays.
Lacrosse continued its rise as one of the department's most successful programs. The Eagles recorded the first victory over a Power Conference opponent in program history when they defeated Oregon, 12-9, in Eugene. The victory represented a major milestone for a program that has steadily built momentum over the last several seasons.
Maddy Porter earned MAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors after one of the finest seasons by a goalkeeper in program history, while Mackenzie Blackwell received First Team All-MAC honors and was selected to the IWLCA Senior All-Star Team.
Freshman excellence was another theme throughout the year.
Rose Kendrick earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors in diving, Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya claimed the award in tennis, Peyton Hill earned the distinction in women's basketball, Matilde Zocchi was recognized in women's golf, and Robby Turnbull secured the honor in men's golf. Sam Vesperman also earned MAC Men's Freshman Field Performer of the Year honors following his performance at the MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Eastern's impact extended far beyond conference competition.
Rowing Head Coach Kemp Savage was named USRowing Man of the Year after helping spearhead the addition of rowing as a Mid-American Conference championship sport and assisting with the creation of women's lightweight rowing as Eastern's 20th varsity sport.
Volleyball Head Coach Kevin Foeman was selected to coach at the USA Volleyball Sitting National Team Development Program, marking another milestone in his coaching career.
Women's Basketball Assistant Coach Shareese Ulis was selected for the prestigious WBCA Next Generation Institute, a national leadership development program for rising coaching professionals.
Former Eagles also continued to make headlines on the national and international stage.
Track and field alumna Jasmine Jones earned a bronze medal for Team USA in the two-woman bobsleigh competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Former quarterback Charlie Batch was selected for induction into the Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame, while former women's basketball standout Sisi Eleko signed a professional contract with a team in Poland's top league.
EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
The accomplishments on the field were matched by historic success in the classroom.
Eastern student-athletes achieved a department-record cumulative GPA of 3.517 during the Winter 2026 semester. The mark represented the seventh consecutive semester in which EMU Athletics established a new all-time cumulative GPA record.
For the first time in department history, every athletic program maintained a cumulative GPA above 3.0.
Student-athletes combined for a 3.480 semester GPA while 388 student-athletes earned semester GPAs above 3.0 and 411 maintained cumulative GPAs above 3.0. Thirty-three student-athletes achieved a perfect 4.0 GPAs during the semester.
Volleyball led all programs with a program-record 3.832 semester GPA and a program-record 3.811 cumulative GPA.
The NCAA's annual Graduation Success Rate report further highlighted the department's academic excellence. Three programs posted perfect GSR scores while Eastern recorded an overall GSR of 85 percent and extended its streak to 11 consecutive years above 80 percent.
Eastern also posted impressive Academic Progress Rate results, with men's cross country and women's golf earning perfect multiyear APR scores of 1,000.
BUILDING CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE
Beyond wins, championships, and awards, Eastern Athletics continued its mission to prepare student-athletes for success after graduation.
The department earned the Mid-American Conference Institutional Sportsmanship Award for the first time in school history, reflecting the values demonstrated by student-athletes, coaches, and staff throughout the year.
Student-athletes participated in financial literacy seminars, leadership development programs, mental health awareness initiatives, community engagement activities, and career readiness workshops.
Football hosted its fifth annual Empty the Nest event, connecting senior student-athletes with successful alumni mentors across a wide range of professions.
The program also welcomed community members to Rynearson Stadium for the 12th annual Victory Day, creating another memorable experience centered on inclusion and service.
Throughout the year, student-athletes volunteered at local schools, participated in Reading with the Eagles, supported youth programs throughout Ypsilanti, and continued to strengthen the connection between EMU Athletics and the surrounding community.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The 2025-26 academic year will stand among the most successful and transformative years in the history of Eastern Michigan University Athletics. From historic postseason appearances and national recognition to record-breaking academic achievement and impactful community engagement, EMU student-athletes continued to elevate the standard of excellence across every area of the department.
The year showcased the success of Eastern's commitment to developing champions in competition, in the classroom, and in the community. That commitment produced historic firsts, national accolades, conference honors, and a growing reputation for excellence that extended well beyond Ypsilanti.
At the center of the year's success was a women's golf program that authored one of the greatest seasons in school history.
HISTORIC HEIGHTS FOR WOMEN'S GOLF
The Eagles entered the season with momentum and quickly established themselves as one of the nation's top programs.
Eastern opened the campaign with consecutive tournament championships at The Southern and the Leadership & Golf Invitational before adding a third team title at the Silicon Valley Showcase in the spring. The three victories marked the program's most tournament wins in a season since 2011-12 and represented another major step in the program's rapid ascent under Head Coach Josh Brewer.
Individual success accompanied the team's achievements.
Janae Leovao captured medalist honors at both The Southern and the Leadership & Golf Invitational, while Baiyok Sukterm claimed medalist honors at the Silicon Valley Showcase. The accomplishments marked the first time since 2007-08 that Eastern golfers earned three individual tournament titles in a single season.
The Eagles continued their rise throughout the spring and reached No. 19 in the national rankings before finishing second at the Mid-American Conference Championships, their best conference finish since 2015.
That success positioned Eastern for another historic milestone.
The Eagles earned the program's first NCAA Regional selection and traveled to Tallahassee as the No. 5 seed. Eastern rose to the occasion, finishing fourth and securing the first NCAA Championship berth in school history.
The story only grew more remarkable from there.
Competing against the nation's best at Omni La Costa Resort in California, Eastern advanced through stroke play and made the 15-team cut after three rounds. The Eagles then produced the lowest round of the day during the fourth round, firing a 4-under-par 284 to move into the top eight and qualify for match play.
Eastern stunned fourth-ranked Texas in the quarterfinals before eventually falling to eventual national champion Stanford in the semifinals.
When the final putt dropped, Eastern Michigan stood tied for third nationally.
The accomplishment completed a remarkable two-year climb of 223 spots in the national rankings and established the Eagles as one of the premier programs in collegiate golf.
The historic season also brought unprecedented national recognition.
Brewer was named Golfweek Women's National Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach in program history to earn a national coaching honor. Janae Leovao became the first All-American in program history after earning Golfweek Third Team All-America recognition and Women's Golf Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-America honors.
Leovao finished her career ranked No. 46 nationally while Sukterm, Savannah de Bock, and Jasmine Leovao also concluded the season among the nation's top 100 golfers.
SUCCESS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT
While women's golf delivered one of the year's most memorable stories, success was evident throughout Eastern Athletics. EMU student-athletes combined for 47 Mid-American Conference weekly awards during the year while earning 22 First Team All-MAC selections and 22 Second Team All-MAC honors.
Eastern athletes claimed seven MAC individual and relay championships while five student-athletes earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors.
Track and field continues to be one of the conference's elite programs. Kian Wiles captured MAC championships in the indoor mile, indoor 800 meters, and outdoor 1500 meters while helping Eastern earn multiple conference honors throughout the year. The men's distance medley relay team of Ronan Codyre, Michael Hawkins, Jimmy Geller, and Ty Dailey secured a MAC championship, while Gabe Oliveira and Mariah Taylor each claimed conference titles in the triple jump. The women's track and field program added championships in both the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays.
Lacrosse continued its rise as one of the department's most successful programs. The Eagles recorded the first victory over a Power Conference opponent in program history when they defeated Oregon, 12-9, in Eugene. The victory represented a major milestone for a program that has steadily built momentum over the last several seasons.
Maddy Porter earned MAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors after one of the finest seasons by a goalkeeper in program history, while Mackenzie Blackwell received First Team All-MAC honors and was selected to the IWLCA Senior All-Star Team.
Freshman excellence was another theme throughout the year.
Rose Kendrick earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors in diving, Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya claimed the award in tennis, Peyton Hill earned the distinction in women's basketball, Matilde Zocchi was recognized in women's golf, and Robby Turnbull secured the honor in men's golf. Sam Vesperman also earned MAC Men's Freshman Field Performer of the Year honors following his performance at the MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Eastern's impact extended far beyond conference competition.
Rowing Head Coach Kemp Savage was named USRowing Man of the Year after helping spearhead the addition of rowing as a Mid-American Conference championship sport and assisting with the creation of women's lightweight rowing as Eastern's 20th varsity sport.
Volleyball Head Coach Kevin Foeman was selected to coach at the USA Volleyball Sitting National Team Development Program, marking another milestone in his coaching career.
Women's Basketball Assistant Coach Shareese Ulis was selected for the prestigious WBCA Next Generation Institute, a national leadership development program for rising coaching professionals.
Former Eagles also continued to make headlines on the national and international stage.
Track and field alumna Jasmine Jones earned a bronze medal for Team USA in the two-woman bobsleigh competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Former quarterback Charlie Batch was selected for induction into the Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame, while former women's basketball standout Sisi Eleko signed a professional contract with a team in Poland's top league.
EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
The accomplishments on the field were matched by historic success in the classroom.
Eastern student-athletes achieved a department-record cumulative GPA of 3.517 during the Winter 2026 semester. The mark represented the seventh consecutive semester in which EMU Athletics established a new all-time cumulative GPA record.
For the first time in department history, every athletic program maintained a cumulative GPA above 3.0.
Student-athletes combined for a 3.480 semester GPA while 388 student-athletes earned semester GPAs above 3.0 and 411 maintained cumulative GPAs above 3.0. Thirty-three student-athletes achieved a perfect 4.0 GPAs during the semester.
Volleyball led all programs with a program-record 3.832 semester GPA and a program-record 3.811 cumulative GPA.
The NCAA's annual Graduation Success Rate report further highlighted the department's academic excellence. Three programs posted perfect GSR scores while Eastern recorded an overall GSR of 85 percent and extended its streak to 11 consecutive years above 80 percent.
Eastern also posted impressive Academic Progress Rate results, with men's cross country and women's golf earning perfect multiyear APR scores of 1,000.
BUILDING CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE
Beyond wins, championships, and awards, Eastern Athletics continued its mission to prepare student-athletes for success after graduation.
The department earned the Mid-American Conference Institutional Sportsmanship Award for the first time in school history, reflecting the values demonstrated by student-athletes, coaches, and staff throughout the year.
Student-athletes participated in financial literacy seminars, leadership development programs, mental health awareness initiatives, community engagement activities, and career readiness workshops.
Football hosted its fifth annual Empty the Nest event, connecting senior student-athletes with successful alumni mentors across a wide range of professions.
The program also welcomed community members to Rynearson Stadium for the 12th annual Victory Day, creating another memorable experience centered on inclusion and service.
Throughout the year, student-athletes volunteered at local schools, participated in Reading with the Eagles, supported youth programs throughout Ypsilanti, and continued to strengthen the connection between EMU Athletics and the surrounding community.
All in for 26-27😤
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