Sports

Viking Pride Is Evident On PSU Athletics Staff As Alums Now Contribute Off The Field

Published

6 months ago

June 19, 2025

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.

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Sports

Men’s Track and Field Starts 2026 Campaign With Strong Showing at Springfield College Season Opener

Published

1 minute ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Springfield, Mass. – December 6, 2025 – The Springfield College men’s track and field team had a strong showing as it hosted the Springfield College Season Opener for the first meet of the season.

Shane Erb (Marion, Iowa) took first place in the mile after finishing with a time of 4:23.30 and was the second place finisher in the 3000-meter run after crossing the finish line at 9:02.42. Erb’s mile time ranks sixth in Division III to start the campaign, while his 3,000-meter time ranks 14th.

Mike Anderson (Cromwell, Conn.) and Isaiah Hannah (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) finished first and second, respectively, in the 60-meter hurdles. Anderson finished with a time of 8.16 to tie his school record he broke just a season ago, while Hannah finished at 8.59. Anderson’s time currently ranks second in Division III this season.

In his debut, Luca Kabel (Merrimack, N.H.) won the 60-meter dash crossing the finish line at 7.04. He also competed in the 200-meter dash where he finished second at 22.58.

Colin Hansen (Ipswich, Mass.) won the 400-meter dash at 50.54 and Seth Twarog (Hubbardston, Mass.) was close behind at 50.70 which was good for a second place finish with both now ranking inside the top-20 nationally to kick off the seaosn. Parker Ruger (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) won the 600-meter run finishing in 1:26.74 while Eli Burt (Topsham, Maine) came in third at 1:29.34 in their first meets for the Pride.

The 4×400-meter relay team of Twarog, Ruger, Hansen, and first-year Caleb March (Hampden, Maine) took the win after crossing the finish line at 3:37.78.

In the field events, Alex McKenney (Ossining, N.Y.) won the pole vault after clearing 4.45-meters (14 feet, 7.25 inches), which currently stands eighth in the country, while Jamil Manu (Manchester, Conn.) claimed second in the high jump after jumping 1.92-meters (6 feet, 3.50 inches).

Martin Nyagilo (Randolph, Mass.) won the shot put with a throw of 15.21-meters (49 feet, 10.75 inches), a mark that ranks sixth in the country early in the season and Peyton Blanchard (Kennebunk, Maine) came in third with a mark of 14.28-meters (47 feet, 2.25 inches). Charles Botelho (Middleboro, Mass.) finished third in the weight throw with mark of 15.01-meters (49.3 feet).

Springfield will await the new year and travel to Tufts on Saturday, January 17 for the Branwen Smith-King Invitational.

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For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to tune into all Springfield College Athletic events by subscribing to FloSports.

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West Fargo volleyball coach Kelsey Titus resigns after four seasons – InForum

Published

2 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WEST FARGO — West Fargo High School volleyball coach Kelsey Titus has resigned after four seasons guiding the Packers.

West Fargo activities director Justin Behm confirmed the resignation to The Forum late Friday.

In an email to The Forum Saturday, Titus cited family as the primary reason in her decision to step down.

“The main reason is to be more present with my family,” Titus said. “The decision was extremely difficult as I have absolutely loved my time coaching at West Fargo. (Behm) has been an incredible person to work for and with. I am extremely grateful for his support and guidance.

“The decision came after a lot of prayer. My husband is also a (football) coach, and having both of us coaching in the fall — with a very active 7-year-old — has become challenging. As hard as it is to be done, I know that being more involved and present in our son’s activities is where I am supposed to be. I have peace knowing it’s where the Lord wants me to be.”

10xx22.S.FF.Chwialkowski — West Fargo’s Raina Chwialkowski is recognized by coach Kelsey Titus for her 1,000th dig before play against Valley City at the Packers gym on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022.

Titus took the reins of the West Fargo program ahead of the 2022 season. Over four seasons, she led the Packers to a 96-48 record that included two state tournament appearances and an East Region tournament championship.

The Packers first advanced to state under Titus during her first season in 2022 where the team placed fifth that season. The 2025 campaign was West Fargo’s strongest with Titus at the helm, finishing 28-8 overall to go with a third-place finish at the state tournament and the East Region tournament title — which ended in

a five-set thriller

over crosstown rival West Fargo Sheyenne.

Titus coached three all-conference and all-state players throughout her tenure. Raina Chwialkowski was a four-time all-conference selection under Titus while Ellee McIntosh was named to the all-conference team three times. Olivia Soine was an all-conference player for Titus in 2022.

Chwialkowski was also an all-state selection four times, McIntosh three times and Soine one time. Chwialkowski was named both East Region and Division AA Senior Athlete of the Year in the sport of volleyball this season. She’ll head to NCAA Division I Maryland next season to continue her career while McIntosh will play for North Dakota.

Titus received Division AA Coach of the Year honors this season upon conclusion of the state tournament. West Fargo

defeated Bismarck in five sets

during this year’s Division AA quarterfinals before

falling to Fargo Davies

in the semis. The Packers proceeded to defeat Bismarck Century in five sets in the third-place match.

“The girls have truly bought in to our culture and have been so much fun to work with,” Titus said. “I truly feel blessed to have gotten the chance to coach such wonderful young women. They mean so much to me and my family. This past season was an incredible one for me to witness on and off the court. I am so thankful for the girls and their trust in me and our coaching staff. These girls are truly special and have brought so much joy into the game of volleyball, to each other and to us coaches.”

Titus previously served as an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Jamestown for seven seasons prior to coming to West Fargo. There, she also served as associate athletic director for three years.

A search for Titus’ successor will begin immediately.

“Again, I can’t thank West Fargo High School and Justin Behm enough for the opportunity and the trust they put in me to run the volleyball program the last four years,” Titus said. “I also want to thank my coaching staff — they have become such a huge part of my life and I’m so thankful they chose to do this with me. I will forever be grateful for my time at West Fargo High School. Go Packers.”

Ryan Spitza joined The Forum in December 2021 as a sports reporter. He grew up in Marquette, Mich., a city of 20,000 on the southern shore of Lake Superior. He majored in multimedia journalism and minored in public relations at Northern Michigan University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in May 2019. While attending college, Spitza gained real-world experience covering high school and college athletics for both The Mining Journal and The North Wind.

Spitza can be reached at 701-451-5613 or rspitza@forumcomm.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryspitza.

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Sports

Haugen Sets Norwegian National Record at Youree Spence Garcia Invitational

Published

17 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John’s track and field team opened its indoor campaign by hosting the Youree Spence Garcia Invitational on Saturday afternoon at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. Senior Nora Haugen started her indoor campaign by setting a program, national and facility record in the 600m. Her time of 1:26.91 is the fastest time in the NCAA as of Saturday evening. Haugen was named the Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet for her results.

The Red Storm collected six event wins and 10 top-three finishes. In addition, five Johnnies etched their names on indoor top-10 all-time lists.

On the track, Haugen’s program record is the first to fall at Ocean Breeze this season. Chinenye Josephine Onourah won the 400m in a time of 53.13, which sits number two on the indoor all-time list. St. John’s took first through fifth place in the 400m. Freshman Nia-Ruby Forbes-Agyepong kicked off her Red Storm career with a top five finish in the 60m hurdles, stopping the clock in 8.90.

Both the 4x400m relay and the 4x800m relay quartets crossed the line first. The 4x400m squad finished 10 seconds ahead of second place, while the 4x800m group cruised to a 17 second margin of victory.

In the field, senior Jamora Alves started her indoor campaign with a second place showing in the women’s shot put. Her toss of 14.30m (46ft 11in.) is her second-best season opening mark of her career and gives her another top-10 performance in program history. Linn Hertz Saebbo won the long jump on her final attempt, leaping 6.05m (19ft 10.25in). The mark sits third all-time on the indoor list. Freshman Tatiana Camilo also made the long jump final, with a jump of 5.45m (17ft 10.50in) and Nyla Branche placed second in the high jump with a 1.62m (5ft 3.75in) clearance.

Youree Spence is regarded as one of the greatest track and field athletes in St. John’s history. She is an 11-time BIG EAST Champion and holds three top-10 performances across three disciples. The track and field legend and the meet’s namesake was in attendance, along with several other alumni.

A portion of the team is set to compete next Friday, Dec. 12, back at Ocean Breeze in the Wagner Seahawk Shootout.

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NCAA Tournament: Nebraska vs. Kansas State Volleyball Watch Thread

Published

18 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

#1 Nebraska vs. Kansas State

When: Saturday, December 6th, 7:00pm CST

Where: Bob Devaney Sports Center, Lincoln, NE

Both Kansas State and Nebraska won their 1st round matches to create an old Big 12 matchup for Round 2 in Lincoln, NE on Saturday night. Though the Huskers played a little later, they probably have the upper hand tomorrow since they only had to play 3 sets while Kansas State had to battle through 5 tough sets against San Diego earlier on Friday afternoon.

Since the match is less than 24 hours away, you’re only going to get the spark notes version for this Kansas State team and a quick recap of their match against San Diego. Kansas State could be bringing a good amount of fans tomorrow as they are only roughly 2 and half hours from Lincoln.

Kansas State finished the 2025 season going 18-9, 10-8 in conference play, in the Big 12 conference and getting ranked wins against North Carolina, Kansas, Colorado, Baylor, and Iowa State. The Big 12 was one of the most, if not the most, competitive conferences this year putting the most teams in the tournament in 2o25.

The stats get a little rough for K-State if you just look at the record between them and Nebraska. These two teams played their first match against each other in 1975 and the most recent one was in 2023 in the non-conference portion of the season. K-State is 4-81 against the Huskers, all time, with their last win coming in 2011 in the tournament. Nebraska hosted this match.

K-State’s top player, in their match against San Diego, was SR OH Shaylee Myers, who is a Lincoln Southwest graduate. She had 26 kills on 58 swings and hit .328%. She only recorded 7 errors.

RS-JR OH Aniya Clinton was another top Wildcat on Friday night, recording 19 kills in the 5 set match, hitting .304%. She also added 13 digs as well.

MB Jordyn Williams and Setter Ava LeGrand were the top blockers for K-State with Williams blocking 7 balls and LeGrand blocking 6. Brenna Schmidt is the Wildcats’ other middle blocker and she had a pretty good night defensively, but struggled offensively ending in the negatives with 2 kills and 3 errors. Schmidt had 4 assisted blocks and also had 1 of 2 solo blocks. Clinton had the other solo block.

Nebraska will look to continue their hunt for a national championship Saturday night against a Kansas State team that will be hungry to take out the only undefeated team left in D1 volleyball, and the predicted national champion. The match will begin at 7:00pm CST on ESPN+.

#1 Nebraska Cornhuskers (31-0, 20-0 B1G)

Kansas State Wildcats (18-9, 10-8 Big 12)

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Sports

Indoor Track and Field’s Mia Hoskins Breaks Weight Throw Record on Opening Weekend

Published

34 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEW YORK — The Columbia track & field team began its 2025-26 season this weekend, competing in three meets in the New York City Area. The Lions had a successful start to the year, with many successful performances, which included a new program record.

The weekend began at the Armory Collegiate Distance Carnival, where Columbia dominated in the field events. Tyler Yen and Madison Williams won the long jump events, posting 6.85m and 5.63m, respectively, to lead the pack.

Viktoria Mihaylova picked up a win in the triple jump, posting a 11.97m jump. Rocco Carpinello took second in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 14.58m.

In the distance events, Elia Ton-That had the top finish for the Lions, placing second in the 3000m with a time of 9:42.63.

On Saturday evening, the Lions continued to compete at the Armory in the TCNJ Indoor Open. The highlight of the meet came in the mile run, where Jacob Van Orden (4:08.14) and Maggie Boler (5:02.17) both finished in first place.

Moriah Luetjen took first in the 400m with a time of 57.09. In addition, Collin Moore (1.93m) and Norina Khanzada (1.68m) won the high jump events, Mignonne de Beer (5.72m) won the long jump, and Liam Wright (4.60m) and Lucy Markow (3.62m) won the pole vault.

Elsewhere, Columbia sent its throwers to compete at the Army Crowell Open, where history was made.

Mia Hoskins took second in the weight throw, setting a new program record with a mark of 17.94m.

Marcus Blasucci also placed second in the shot put, with the second best mark in program history at 17.59m.

Parker Kim won the weight throw with a throw of 19.70m.

Full results from the Armory Collegiate Distance Carnival, including all of Columbia’s other top finishers, can be found HERE.

Full results from the TCNJ Indoor Open, including all of Columbia’s other top finishers, can be found HERE.

Full results from the Army Crowell Open, including all of Columbia’s other top finishers, can be found HERE.

ON DECK:

The Lions will be off the rest of December for the holidays, before returning to action in the new year on January 9 in the TCNJ Lions Invite at the Armory.

Stay up to date on all things Columbia track & field by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsXCTF), Instagram (@culionsxctf) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).

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Sports

Nebraska advances to Sweet 16 after sweeping Kansas State

Published

36 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Nebraska hosted Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Saturday.The Huskers got on the board first thanks to Harper Murray.Virginia Adriano forced a Wildcat timeout after a solo block and a kill. Nebraska led 13-7.Check out this incredible play.Nebraska won set 1, 25-17.Kansas State got on the board first, but the Huskers bounced back quickly.The Huskers won set 2, 25-21.The Wildcats got out ahead of the Huskers, but Andi Jackson was able to tie things up at five apiece.Adriano with a kill made it 18-12 Nebraska.With a 25-16 set 3 win, the Husker swept Kansas State to advance to the Sweet 16 for the 41st time in program history.Nebraska will play Kansas in the next round of the tournament. The time and date have yet to be announced.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

LINCOLN, Neb. —

Nebraska hosted Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Saturday.