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Pilots Prepare for WCC Cross Country Championships

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2025 WCC Cross Country Championships
Event: Women’s 6,000 Meters / Men’s 8,000 Meters
Date: Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025
Time: Women – 10:00 AM (PST) / Men – 11:00 AM (PST)
Location: Spokane Valley Commons – Spokane, Wash.
Live Results: PortlandPilots.com
Live Video: ESPN+

THIS WEEK

• The Pilots head to Spokane, Wash., for the 2025 West Coast Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Spokane Valley Commons.

 • The women’s 6,000-meter race is set for 10:00 a.m. (PST), followed by the men’s 8,000-meter race at 11:00 a.m. (PST).

• The Pilots men’s team will feature 10 competitors: Jonas Price, KG Monyebodi, Nolan Hosbein, Trey Gannon, Giuliano Scasso, Eliason Kabasenche, Anthony Giesch, Carson Helmer, Jacob Hupke and Mark Milner.

• The Pilots women’s team will be represented by 10 athletes: Danica Allen, Giana Atkinson, Janelle Avilez, Selena Bangerter, Megan Crum, Madison Griffith, Clare Herring, Lindsey Kaines, Abigail Kurgat and Izzy Lochtefeld.

• Live results will be available at PortlandPilots.com, with live coverage streaming on ESPN+.

 

LAST MEET

• Graduate student Jonas Price led the way for the Portland men’s cross country team with a top-20 finish at the prestigious Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, clocking 23:38.3 to place 20th overall in a deep national field. His effort paced the Pilots to a 25th-place team finish with 575 points, supported by strong performances from Nolan Hosbein, Kgadi Monyebodi, Trey Gannon, and Anthony Giesch.

• At the Linfield George Oja Invitational, the Portland men joined the Pilot women in finishing second overall, totaling 87 points behind Eastern Washington. Jacob Hupke led the charge with a fifth-place finish in 23:58.90, while teammates Mark Milner and Nathan Stein each recorded personal bests to give the Pilots three runners inside the top 15. Cohen Williams and Juan Diego Contreras rounded out the scoring five as several Pilots set new career marks.

• The Portland women’s cross country team also turned in a strong performance at Linfield, placing second overall with 59 points. Freshman Megan Crum continued her impressive debut season by running a personal-best 20:23.20 to finish second overall, leading a pack that included Selena Bangerter and Lindsey Kaines, who both set lifetime bests inside the top 15. Clare Herring and Danica Allen completed the scoring for a Portland squad that placed all five runners among the top 35.

 

THIS SEASON

• The Pilots women were picked to finish third in the annual WCC Preseason Coaches Poll ahead of the 2025 season with Maebh Richardson making the All-WCC Preseason Team.

• The Pilots men has been selected to finish first in the 2025 WCC Preseason Coaches Poll. This marks the third year in a row that the Pilots have been chosen to finish first in the WCC Preseason Polls. KG Monyebodi, Jonas Price, and Cameron Stein named to the 2025 All-WCC Preseason Team.

• Portland’s women added 17 incoming freshmen to the roster while Pilot men welcomed one freshman to the Bluff.

• Pilot runner Collin Penuel has been selected as the West Coast Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week, announced by the Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 2nd.

• The Portland Pilots men’s cross country team opened their 2025 season with a second-place finish at the Lewis & Clark XC Opener on Friday morning at Milo McIver State Park. The Pilots scored 49 points as a team, placing behind Boise State (17) and ahead of Portland State (86). Portland’s top finisher, Collin Penuel, claimed fourth overall with a personal-best time of 15:12.55 in the 5K. He was followed by Matthew Cordova in ninth (15:35.53 PR) and Hugh Kent in 10th (15:40.20). Andrew Gannon (12th, 15:47.49 PR) and Xander Penaflor (14th, 15:49.1) rounded out the Pilots’ scoring five.

• The Portland Pilots women’s cross country squad totaled 136 points on the day to open the 2025 season with a fourth-place team finish at the Lewis & Clark XC Opener on Friday at Milo McIver State Park. The Pilots were paced by a close group of finishers. Avery Owen led the way in 24th at 19:27.50, followed within seconds by Madison Griffith (25th, 19:27.83), Kate Kabenina (26th, 19:29.96), and Julia Ferreira (28th, 19:31.95). Janelle Avilez secured the fifth scoring spot for Portland in 33rd with a time of 19:46.80.

• Portland men totaled 41 points to finish second at the Gator Cross meet on Friday, just behind Western Washington’s winning score of 35. The Pilots were led by Jacob Hupke, who won the race in 17:59.7, a personal best. Four of Portland’s five scorers set personal bests, with Carson Helmer placing seventh in 18:11.3, Estanis Ruiz eighth in 18:12.2, and Collin Penuel 11th in 18:23.9. Cohen Williams rounded out the scoring group in 14th at 18:36.3.

• Portland Pilots Women’s Cross Country earned their first win of the season on Friday, taking first in the Ash Creek Festival in Monmouth, Oregon. Selena Bangerter was the top runner on the day for Portland, finishing the 5K in 17:51.3 to take third in the contest. Megan Crum and Lindsey Kaines followed in eighth and ninth respectively to round out the top 10 finishers, with Crum running the race in 18:22.0 and Kaines in 18:28.7. Izzy Lochtefeld (11th, 18:28.7) and Danica Allen (12th, 18:53.8) rounded out the scoring runners for Portland.

• The Portland women’s cross country team earned a third-place finish at the Mike Johnson Classic on Saturday, scoring 97 points in a 14-team field hosted by Western Oregon. Sophomore Lindsey Kaines led the Pilots with a 10th-place finish in 21:25.50, followed by fellow PR-setters Megan Crum (23rd, 21:47.30) and Danica Allen (25th, 21:52.70). Izzy Lochtefeld (26th, 21:54.60) and Clare Herring (31st, 22:02.10 PR) rounded out Portland’s scoring five.

• The Portland men’s cross country team captured the team title at the 50th Charles Bowles Invitational, improving on last year’s sixth-place finish. The Pilots placed five runners in the top 12, led by individual champion Eliason Kabasenche, who won in 23:39.75 (PR). He was followed closely by Anthony Giesch (2nd, 23:41.93 PR) and Carson Helmer (4th, 23:46.76 PR), with Jacob Hupke (8th, 23:55.28 PR) and Isaac McGill (12th, 24:09.95 PR) rounding out the scoring five — giving Portland an impressive 1–5 spread of just 30 seconds.

• Kabasenche was named the West Coast Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week after his winning performance, marking Portland’s second WCC weekly award of the season.

PILOT HISTORY

The Portland men’s cross country team has made 24 appearances at the NCAA Championships, with 19 of those resulting in top-20 team finishes under longtime head coach Rob Conner. Their most impressive performances came in back-to-back years, placing second in 2017 and third in 2018. On the women’s side, the Pilots have qualified for the national meet four times, highlighted by a program-best 12th-place finish led by head coach Ian Solof.

COACHES’ ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Rob Conner enters his 35th year leading Portland’s men’s cross country and track & field programs. During his tenure, the Pilots have earned 24 NCAA Championship berths, 10 Top-10 national finishes, and 51 All-America honors. Conner guided the team to a program-best second place in 2017 and a third place in 2018, while also collecting 35 WCC titles. He has been named West Region Coach of the Year seven times and WCC Coach of the Year ninth times. In 2024, Conner was inducted into the WCC Hall of Honor before leading Portland to another championship title and receiving WCC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year recognition in the Fall.

Since 1995, Ian Solof has directed the Pilot women’s distance program, bringing consistent success and growth. A former standout runner for Portland himself, Solof has guided the women’s team to milestones such as a No. 5 national ranking in 2016 and a 12th-place finish at the 2018 NCAA Championships. His teams have captured 20 WCC titles, while several of his athletes have achieved All-America status. Solof’s achievements have earned him WCC Coach of the Year honors seven times, underscoring his role as one of the program’s most accomplished leaders.

PILOTS IN THE POLLS

• In the NCAA DI Cross Country National Coaches Preseason Polls, the Portland men received votes.

• In the West Region Week 1 Rankings, the men are currently seventh in the region, while the women sit at 11th.

 

Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App.  For group and fan experience package information, email pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.
 
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a contribution to the Pilot Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly helps our nearly 300 student-athletes as they strive to make a difference in our community and achieve academic and athletic excellence. Thank you for support of Pilot Athletics!
 
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Get the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting PortlandPilots.com. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram.



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Purdue Volleyball Adds ACC All-Freshman Outside Hitter to 2026 Roster

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December 29, 2025

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Purdue has added a young star to its 2026 roster via the transfer portal. The Boilermakers landed a commitment from former Georgia Tech outside hitter Mimi Mambu. She comes to West Lafayette with three years of eligibility remaining.

Mambu spent her freshman season with the Yellow Jackets and was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. She averaged 2.923 kills per set and hit .155 for the year. The 6-foot outside hitter also totaled 48 blocks and averaged 1.067 digs per set.

“What a wonderful Christmas gift to get the commitment from a smart and dynamic student-athlete,” coach Dave Shondell said in a statement. “We’re excited to have this hard-hitting high-flyer join our team after such a strong first season at Georgia Tech where she helped lead them to an NCAA tournament appearance. We watched Mimi play in high school and knew she would be a special player. Mimi learned so much about our program from Kash [Akasha Anderson] and Isabelle Bardin who are good friends from the D.C. area.”

Shondell saw Mambu up close during the 2025 season. On Sept. 3, the Boilermakers hosted Georgia Tech in the Stacey Clark Classic. The Yellow Jackets won the match 3-1, and the freshman hitter ended the evening with 10 digs and seven kills.

Georgia Tech ended the year with a 16-14 record.

Mambu will likely fill a void left by Purdue senior Akasha Anderson, who proved to be one of the top hitters last season. After transferring in from Michigan State, the senior averaged 2.911 kills per set and had a .282 hitting percentage. She only got better as the season progressed.

Mambu will join a talented and experienced roster in West Lafayette. She joins All-Big Ten selections Kenna Wollard and Grace Heaney at the pin-hitter spots. She will also be playing alongside All-Big Ten setter Taylor Anderson and All-Big Ten honorable mention libero Ryan McAleer.

Purdue closed out the 2025 season with a 27-7 record and a trip to the Regional Final round of the NCAA Tournament.

Mambu had ups and downs

Mackey Arena hosts the NCAA volleyball match between the Washington Huskies at the Purdue Boilermakers

Mackey Arena hosts the NCAA volleyball match between the Washington Huskies at the Purdue Boilermakers | Chad Krockover / For The Journal & Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As any freshman might, Mambu had some highs and lows throughout her freshman campaign. She reached a double-digit kill total in 13 of Georgia Tech’s 30 matches.

Mambu also had some off days, though. On five occasions, she ended a match with a negative hit percentage. Three of those came against Louisville, Pitt, and Purdue, all of which made deep runs into the NCAA Tournament.

Mambu is a tremendous athlete with high-flying ability and a strong arm. The biggest focus for Shondell and the Boilermakers will be to develop some consistency, but Purdue’s coaching staff has proven it can correct some of those issues.

Plus, with a full year of college volleyball now under her belt, Mambu is likely to show major improvement from her freshman to sophomore season.

Get top Boilermakers stories, expert analysis, and can’t-miss moments straight to your inbox for free by signing up for the Purdue Boilermakers on SI newsletter!

Related stories on Purdue volleyball

PURDUE FRESHMAN HITS TRANSFER PORTAL: One of Purdue’s freshmen from the 2025 recruiting class entered the NCAA transfer portal and has already found a new home. CLICK HERE





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How does a Q-Collar work?

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December 29, 2025

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Cougars come back to win Pop-Tarts Bowl 25-21 over Georgia Tech – BYU Athletics – Official Athletics Website

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December 29, 2025

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Fourth Quarter

On second-and-nine, Bachmeier found Roberts in a tight window for a gain of 18. Damuni added four yards, and on third down, Roberts caught a 7-yard pass to move the chains. Bachmeier and Ryan connected for the seventh time, this time for 13 yards to pin BYU at the Yellow Jacket six-yard line. After Kingston recorded a four-yard carry, Nawahine took the direct snap and plowed into the end zone. Keeping the offense on the field to go for two, Bachmier rushed it into the end zone to cut the deficit to three.

BYU forced the game’s first three-and-out. Kingston returned the punt 34 yards to set BYU up at its 45.

Bachmeier pitched to Damuni for a gain of five on first down. The freshman running back gained one yard on the next play, but the Cougars were unable to convert on third-and-four, and Vander Haar and the punting unit returned to the field, resulting in the second three-and-out of the game.

An illegal snap penalty pushed Georgia Tech back to its four-yard line. On second-and-14, King hit Rutherford for a gain of 12, and then another illegal snap penalty was enforced on the Yellow Jackets to set up third-and-seven. Haynes got just short of the line of gain before Glasker and Tanner Wall tackled him to force a punt. Kingston returned the punt four yards and set BYU up at its own 30 with 5:44 on the clock.

Following two incomplete passes, Bachmeier found Kingston at the BYU 34, and he advanced to the 43-yard line to grab the first down. Phillips secured a 14-yard pass from Bachmeier, and then Kingston caught a 15-yard pass to cap three consecutive first downs. After an eight-yard pass to Ryan to the Georgia Tech 20, the running back room led the way, kick-started by Nawahine picking up nine yards with a hurdle over a defender. Bachmeier passed to Damuni for a gain of seven, and then the Providence, Utah product powered into the end zone for his first career touchdown. Alongside Ferrin’s extra point, the Cougars took the lead, 25-21 with two minutes left.

Ferrin’s kickoff was returned 13 yards to pin Georgia Tech at its 21. Nusi Taumoepeau and Lutui hurried King and his pass fell incomplete on first down. On the next play, King lost the ball on a low snap but recovered his fumble for a loss of five yards. On third-and-15, another pass fell incomplete, forcing fourth-and-15. On the play, King went deep to Rivers for a gain of 66 at the BYU 18 with 52 seconds on the clock. The defense held the Yellow Jackets to three-straight incomplete passes, setting up fourth down with 14 seconds remaining. King attempted to hit Haynes in the end zone but his pass was intercepted by Johnson to seal the Pop Tarts Bowl victory 25-21.



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Kats take care of Biblical Studies 117-57

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December 29, 2025

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HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston bounced back from a loss in the Conference USA opener to wrap up nonconference action with a 117-57 victory over the College of Biblical Studies at Johnson Coliseum on Sunday.
 
The Bearkats (8-4) controlled the temp on both ends of the court, shooting close to 60 percent while limiting the Ambassadors to 31 percent. Sam Houston used its height advantage to dominate the paint, outscoring Biblical Studies 62-12 and outrebounding the Houston area team 66-29.
 
Isaiah Manning led the Kats with a career-high 27 points to go along with 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Freshman Jacob Walker also scored a new career high with 24 points, Veljko Illic added 16 points and nine boards, freshman Matt Dann chipped in a career-high 12 points, freshman Jacoby Coleman finished with 11 and Damon Nicholas Jr. had 10.
 
Sam Houston built a huge first-half lead and never looked back.
 
The Kats went on a 10-0 run thanks to back-to-back 3s by Walker and Manning, who added a pair of layups to grab a 23-10 advantage. Dann punched in consecutive dunks after a free throw and a two more layups by Nicholas to cap the run at 19-0 to put the game away early as the Ambassadors went more than seven minutes without scoring.
 
Sam Houston shot a blistering 66 percent from the field in the first half, making 25 of 40 shot attempts. The Bearkats also held Biblical Studies to just 23 percent shooting to build a commanding 59-21 lead at the break.
 
Conference USA action resumes Jan. 2 when Sam Houston heads to Bowling Green, Kentucky to face WKU at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.
 



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Texas A&M star Ifenna Cos‑Okpalla signs with League One Volleyball

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December 28, 2025

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Dec. 28, 2025, 12:20 p.m. CT

At the end of the season, after some of the adrenaline from the Texas A&M championship run had subsided, head coach Jamie Morrison revealed that a few players on his roster would have the opportunity to compete at the next level. While he didn’t name names, we had a pretty strong idea of which standout athletes he was referring to.

On Sunday morning, it was officially announced that senior middle blocker and 2025 NCAAVB Champion Ifenna Cos-Okpalla signed a professional contract to play with League One Volleyball (LOVB) Salt Lake. She joins senior opposite Logan Lednicky in the league, who recently signed with LOVB Houston. Cos-Okpalla was also drafted by MLV but ultimately chose to pursue her career with LOVB. We knew a move was coming soon after the news broke that she had signed with Valor Sports Agency just days before this announcement.





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Deaf volleyball coach speaks volumes (video)

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December 28, 2025

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Sherry Bryant was born deaf, but that hasn’t stopped her from becoming a wife, mother and volleyball coach for Copper Sky Multigenerational Center’s youth volleyball league.

Bryant can’t hear and she doesn’t speak, but she uses hand gestures and written notes to communicate with players. During practice, she is often in the action pointing players to proper positions and cheering on successful plays.

Her desire to coach stems from more than her love of the game. She is able to spend time with her daughter on the court and show that deaf people are not limited.

“My daughter plays, and I feel it benefits her and the girls,” Bryant said. “If there are no volunteers, there might be no one to coach. Another reason is to show deaf people can do it.”

From time to time, Bryant’s players are unable to understand their coach’s instructions.

“This is my first (coaching) experience,” Bryant said. “My assistant coach (Nikki Lucchesi) helps me a lot. She speaks to the players.”

For Copper Sky Sports Coordinator David Aviles, picking Bryant to coach was simple.

“When you run a sports program there are times you run low on coaches,” Aviles said. “I reached out to the parents for the girls, and [Bryant] volunteered. She’s done a great job and really enjoys it.”

Bryant’s team won its first game. The players were attentive to her instructions.

“It’s inspirational for the kids to see that she’s out there coaching,” Aviles said. “She takes a hands-on approach and plays with them. It seems to be working well.”

This story appeared in the February issue of InMaricopa News.



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