Portland State University has always been a breeding ground for outstanding athletic talent, and now some of its most accomplished alumni are returning to contribute in a new way.
        
There are many ways to judge the quality of experience student athletes have during their years in a specific athletic program.  One of those is the number who decide to return and work for their alma mater.
        
“We have a number of student-athletes who have returned to PSU as coaches or in athletic administrative capacities and that shows that they liked their experience enough here that they wanted to come back after graduation,” said Lund.
       
The nearly 20 coaches and staff members who are alums currently working are a testament to the experience these people had at Portland State and should be a good indication to anyone considering coming here of the value as athletes and students that’s intrinsic in the PSU experience, he added.
      
“These are people who want to give back to the institution and to help others have the same quality experience they had,” said Lund.
        
He pointed to four current athletic administrative staff members as good examples of people wanting to help younger athletes have the same fun and productive experience they had.
      
Paige Donathan, Malik Thirdgill, Tyson Pauling and Olivia Dean—once student athletes who wore PSU colors with pride—have returned to the university to work within the athletic department, bringing their unique experiences and insights to empower the next generation of Vikings.
      
Donathan, a former soccer star (2017-2020), donned the PSU jersey as a dynamic forward, leading her team in goals during her senior year. Her journey to PSU was spurred by a desire to remain in the Pacific Northwest and participate in a strong collegiate soccer program. Throughout her athletic career, adversity taught her valuable lessons in resilience.
    
“I was recruited as a defender and played that position until injuries restricted me from consistently playing 90 minutes. But, I wanted to make a difference on the field, so I transitioned to forward my senior season. Adapting to change is what defined my time here, and it shaped the way I want to support future athletes,” Donathan said.
       
Now, as an Athletic Academic Advisor to women’s soccer, women’s softball and men’s basketball, she is committed to fostering the same spirit of perseverance among current student athletes.
     
“I enjoy the constant interaction with the student-athletes I oversee,” she said. “Seeing their growth throughout the years, both academically and athletically, is amazing.”
      
Donathan’s involvement as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) also has equipped her to advocate for the athletes she now mentors.
       
Her athletic academic advisor left a positive impact on her life. “I remember not knowing exactly what I wanted to do after graduation with my Masters and telling my family it would be really cool to do what my athletic academic advisor did,” Donathan said.
       
“The thing that interested me the most was the ability to encourage, support and cheer on the student-athletes in the classroom and on the field, court or track. You have the power to positively impact these athletes during their student-athlete experience at PSU,” she said.
       
“I enjoy the constant interaction with the student-athletes I oversee. Seeing the growth throughout the years academically and athletically is amazing. I am part of their support team and in a position to advocate for them throughout their student-athlete experience here. Assisting athletes to discover their passions academically and professionally is very rewarding,” said Donathan.
     
Thirdgill, a tight end for the PSU football team from 2018 to 2022, shares a similar belief in giving back to the program he once trained in. Thirdgill felt PSU was a great school to build on the connections he had already made as a native Portlander who prepped at Central Catholic High School.
     
“I ended up at Portland State because I felt like this was a good school to be able to build on my connections,” he said. “I loved my time at Portland State. I was able to grow individually, athletically, professionally and educationally. As I hung up my cleats and moved on in life, I’ve been able to focus on sharing the environment that helped me become the person I am today and I’m able to share what college athletics has to offer to youth programs and organizations.”
     
As Director of Ticket Sales and Service, Thirdgill said he sees the impact he can have on sports from a different angle.
     
He enjoys “the day-to-day interactions with campus partners and athletic staff and being able to collaborate with campus partners and outside organizations to find a way that athletes can contribute and help their mission, is by far the best part of my job.”
     
Pauling and Dean round out this impressive group of returning athletic alumni, both of whom have brought their own experiences and expertise to the athletic department.
       
Pauling, a standout offensive lineman from 2018-2022, joined the Viking program out of Victorville, CA. He enjoyed his PSU experience on and off the field, especially upsetting the University of Montana on a 52-yard field goal in 2018 and Eastern Washington in 2022 on their home turf.
    
“I liked that PSU is in the heart of downtown Portland and that there is so much to do. Coming from Victorville, CA, sort of in the middle of nowhere, I had many opportunities right in the palm of my hand in Portland,” he said.
     
As Compliance Coordinator, Pauling said “there is something very special about being able to come back into this building (Stott Center) because it still feels like I am still going to work as a student-athlete.  My biggest thing is giving back to PSU because there was so much that was given to me from this athletic department…it will always have a special place in my heart.” 
     
His Portland State student experience “gave me growth in my football career and the opportunity to play with the Calgary Stampeders. It gave me the growth academically enabling me to walk out of here with a Master’s degree and it gave me growth within the friendships that will last a lifetime. Those are the things that drew me back here.”
      
He said the “impact I have when I am able to have conversations with some of our student-athletes is what I enjoy most because I was once standing in the same spot they are now. I like working with the staff here because I see the time and effort that goes toward making sure our student-athletes succeed at the highest level.”
       
Dean, an All-Big Sky Conference selection as shortstop on PSU’s women’s softball team (2021-2023), transitioned from player to assistant coach for PSU Softball Head Coach Meadow McWhorter.
      
“I knew that I wanted a career in athletics because it has always been a passion of mine, so when Coach Meadow asked me to come on as a volunteer coach last year, it was a no-brainer,” she recalled.
     
Dean was also working in game operations while coaching and soon moved into a role as assistant director of operations.
    
“What interests me the most is the ability to be hands-on with every sport. I’ve learned to respect what goes into running a game and the support it takes to be a successful athlete,” Dean said.
       
Coming back (well, never really going away), has been a perfect fit. “I love that it feels like home. I’ve been here for almost five years now. Throughout my time as an athlete, I made so many wonderful connections, from coaching staff to friends and now great coworkers.  It has been important during my transition into the workforce to feel so welcomed in a career right out of college. The PSU staff was immediately there for me,” said Dean.
     
The collective experiences of Donathan, Thirdgill, Pauling and Dean create a powerful network of support within the athletic department. All four alumni share a profound understanding of the challenges and triumphs that student athletes face, and they are uniquely positioned to guide and advocate for them.
      
“Our goal is to create an atmosphere where student athletes feel empowered to pursue their dreams, both on the field and in the classroom,” Donathan said.
     
With their backgrounds in athletics, they are keenly aware of the pressures that accompany being a student-athlete and are dedicated to providing tailored support to help current Vikings overcome those challenges. This new wave of leadership at PSU symbolizes a bright future for the university’s athletic programs.
      
Donathan and her colleagues bring not just their experiences, but a shared passion for uplifting the student-athlete community.
     
As these four returnees – and a number of other Viking alums on staff – leave their mark on the PSU athletic landscape, their stories serve as a reminder of the potential that lies within every student-athlete. They embody the spirit of perseverance, community and mentorship that PSU instills. With a commitment to equity, inclusion and support, PSU’s returning alumni—both administrative and in coaching—aim to uplift and guide the next generation of athletes.
     
Their journey back to PSU is not just a homecoming—it’s a mission to empower young athletes to achieve their dreams, carry forward the legacy of PSU, and create a lasting positive impact on the university community. As they strive to make a difference, the future looks promising for PSU athletics, backed by a team of dedicated alumni who understand the heart and hustle required to succeed in both sports and life.
                                                        
 

IRVINE, Calif. – Add one more awesome honor to the resume of recent Concordia University Irvine alum Dylan Fox.

The three-time All-American and three-time PacWest Champion in the long jump was named the PacWest Men’s Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second time in his incredible Concordia career.

The Irvine, Calif. native sported a 3.91 GPA in business administration. He was also voted the Men’s Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the PacWest sports communicators in 2023.

A graduate of nearby Irvine High School, Fox finished 11th, 10th, and then 8th in the long jump on the national stage at the NCAA DII Championships the past three years. He is Concordia’s first three-time All-American on the men’s track and field side in the NCAA DII era, capturing Second Team honors the past two seasons before capping it off with First Team All-American honors in May.

Fox was also honored last month as Concordia’s Male Athlete of the Year during the 2025 Senior Legacy Award Banquet.

---

This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund.

---

A dunk on a hot summer day, a workout in the lap lanes, a rehabilitation session after an injury, a swim lesson — a public pool can bring a lot to a community. But in the Santa Ynez Valley, residents have had no public swimming access for about five years. 

The Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation is hoping to change that by building a two-pool complex at Santa Ynez High School. The complex will include a 33-meter-by-25-yard competition pool where swim and polo teams can train and compete (the current pool at Santa Ynez High School is not regulated for high school sports and cannot host meets) and the public can swim laps. It will also feature a 25-yard warm-water pool for swim lessons, rehabilitation therapy, and aqua fitness. 

Earlier this month, the foundation announced it had received a $450,000 grant from the City of Solvang to put toward the construction of the complex. Lisa Palmer, the foundation’s board president and campaign chair, called the donation a critical step forward and a call to action in a press release.

“We hope it inspires matching contributions and additional support from across the County,” she said.

Palmer told the Independent that discussions surrounding building an aquatic complex started well before valley residents lost public swim access in 2020. In 2017, the foundation purchased the 2016 Olympic Trials pool. That pool was a Myrtha pool — a stainless-steel pre-engineered pool that can be taken apart and put back together. The pool was shipped from Omaha, Nebraska, to the valley, and its pieces are currently in storage. 

Solvang’s $450,000 grant adds to the approximately $3.5 million the foundation has raised. In a press release, the foundation said it has about $10 million more to go, with the goal of finishing fundraising by the end of 2026.

A little more than 40 miles away, Carpinteria is planning to simultaneously fundraise and start on updates for its public pool after a report from aquatics engineering firm Counsilman-Hunsaker last month found that it needs just less than $1 million of repairs. 

“The Carpinteria community pool is more than just a place to swim — it’s a vital space for health, recreation, and connection. Keeping the facility updated and well-maintained ensures that we continue to meet the needs of families, seniors, and youth alike,” said Jeanette Gant, director of Carpinteria’s Parks and Recreation and Community Services. 

[Click to enlarge]

---

Currently, the Carpinteria Community Pool is open year-round. It’s home to swim and water polo teams for both youth and adults as well as aqua-aerobics, lap and recreational swim sessions, and swim lessons. Carpinteria High School’s swim and water polo teams also use the facility for competitions. 

Recommended repairs include replacing the pool’s cantilevered gutters as well as its depth markings and warning signs. Because addressing the gutters will require replacement of part of the deck, the city plans to replace the whole deck simultaneously, ensuring consistency. 

The pool’s filter system is in need of repairs; the city has maintained it for 36 years, and it is reaching its end-of-life stage as is the pool’s heater is also nearing the end of its life. Further, Counsilman-Hunsaker found that the pool’s bathhouse is not currently ADA compliant and recommended updating it — Carpinteria’s Parks and Recreation Department says a renovation, which would give the current conditions a facelift along with the required structural changes to reach compliance, will cost about $160,000. 

Carpinteria brought its strategic goals to the city’s council last weekend. The plan, says Gant, is to fundraise and begin the project (including creating designs and getting permits) simultaneously, as the renovation process will be lengthy. 

“We’re excited to begin ramping up fundraising efforts and invite the public to join us in shaping the future of these essential services,” Gant said. 

Finally, in Santa Barbara’s Eastside, plans to replace the Ortega Park swimming pools are in the design stage. Currently, Ortega Park’s pool is open in the summer for children younger than 14 and offers swim lessons. The current proposal is to build a lap pool that can be open year-round, as well as a wading pool for children and two waterslides. The City of Santa Barbara’s Parks and Recreation Department said that it aims to submit plans to Building and Development in a couple of months. The current goal is to have the project “shovel ready,” or ready to be built, to make it more competitive for grant funding. The plans to replace the pool are part of a wider park revitalization project, which is estimated to cost approximately $30 million.

EUGENE, Ore. – Ole Miss track & field will have four freshmen representatives at the 2025 U.S. U20 Championships, held at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field from June 19-20.
 
Rebels in competition will be SEC silver medalist pole vaulter Lily Beattie and fellow freshman teammate Katie McFarland in the women’s pole vault, freshman jumper Indya Dotson in the women’s long jump, and recently crowned Second-Team All-American Jordan Urrutia in both the men’s 100 and 200-meter dashes.
 
Just last week Urrutia ran the second leg on Ole Miss’ 15th-place national 4×100-meter relay squad. He enters with a wind-aided season-best of 10.33 (+4.0) in the 100, as well as a wind-legal PR of 20.82 (+0.9) from the SEC Outdoor Championships that currently ties him for 10th in Ole Miss history.
 
Beattie’s silver medal performance at the conference meet marked the best finish ever by a Rebel woman in the event, and her runner-up height of 4.26m/13-11.75 ranks her third in Ole Miss history outdoors. McFarland had a productive first season with the Rebels as well, with her PR 4.07m/13-04.25 from her outdoor debut at the Ole Miss Classic ranking ninth on the all-time Rebel lists.
 
Dotson redshirted the 2025 outdoor campaign, but indoors notched strong debut bests of 5.85m/19-02.50 in the long jump and 11.75m/38-06.75 in the triple jump.
 
Competition begins with Urrutia in the men’s 100-meter dash on Thursday evening, with the meet running through Friday night as well.
 
COMPETITION SCHEDULE (All Times Pacific / Central)
 
Thursday, June 19
4:21/6:21 PM: Men’s 100-Meter Dash (First Round) – Jordan Urrutia
5:30/7:30 PM: Women’s Pole Vault (Final) – Lily Beattie, Katie McFarland
6:16/8:16 PM: Men’s 100-Meter Dash (Final)
 
Friday, June 20
3:00/5:00 PM: Women’s Long Jump (Final) – Indya Dotson
4:20/6:20 PM: Men’s 200-Meter Dash (First Round) – Jordan Urrutia
5:50/7:50 PM: Men’s 200-Meter Dash (Final)
 

Water Polo Australia is pleased to confirm the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.

A 15-strong team has been selected to represent Australia at the event, which will take place from 11-24 July.

The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks team features five World Championships debutants, eight Paris Olympians, as well as captain and two-time Olympian Nathan Power.

Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks Head Coach Tim Hamill said: “We’re proud to announce and select our team for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.

“Singapore will be the first opportunity for our team to return to the world stage since the Paris Olympic Games last year.

“We played a great test series against New Zealand at home earlier this year, and have just returned from a tour of the United States where we were able to win the test series against them – but nothing compares to the international stage.

“We’ll be heading to Thailand for a training camp with Serbia in the lead up to the World Championships. We’ve been refining and updating our principles and systems, both offensively and defensively, so Singapore will be a great opportunity to implement these.

“We’re also excited for the five athletes that will make their World Championships debut – representing our country and the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks is always a proud moment and I know it’s something that our team does not take lightly,” he said.

The 2025 World Aquatics Championships will be held in Singapore from 11-24 July, with the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks set to play their first game on Saturday 12 July against Hungary. The Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks and Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers games will be LIVE and FREE on 9Now.

Water Polo Australia would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection:

Laurence Barker (NSW)
Marcus Berehulak (QLD/NSW)
Matthew Byrnes (NSW)
Tristan Glanznig (NSW)
Andrej Grgurevic (NSW)
Angus Lambie (NSW)
Milos Maksimovic (NSW)
Drew McJannett (NSW)
Jacob Mercep (NSW)
Sam Nangle (NSW)
Charlie Negus (NSW)
Luke Pavillard (WA)
Nic Porter (QLD)
Nathan Power (NSW)
Tim Putt (WA/NSW)