Recognizing how female coaches empower and inspire young athletes for Women’s History Month

By Alexis Blue

March marked the start of Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate women’s contributions to American history and their evolving roles in all aspects of life, including sports. In a field still largely dominated by men, recognizing and acknowledging the impact of women head coaches on student athletes is more important than ever. 

Cal Poly Humboldt offers collegiate-level athletics for both men and women. Basketball, cross-country, soccer, track and field, and wrestling are offered as men’s sports. Basketball, cross-country, rowing, track and field, softball, soccer, triathlon, and volleyball are all sports offered for women. Of these sports offered at Humboldt, the head coaching positions have nearly the same number of male and female head coaches. Many of the women’s sports are also coached by women, with the exception of women’s cross-country, rowing and soccer. 

With women coaches in influential positions, young student athletes have found a unique sense of guidance. Poppy Edge, a freshman student athlete on the women’s triathlon team majoring in molecular cellular biology, reflected on the role that her head coach, Kinsey Mattison, has played both in and outside of her sport.

“I am able to relate to her on so many levels, even just from her being a woman athlete,” Edge said. “She cares about what we are going to be doing in the future and what it looks like beyond [college].”

Edge also discussed the great experiences that she had with men coaches in high school, noting that each coach varied in their coaching style. Notably, Edge said that Mattison’s coaching creates a sense of comfort and understanding, especially when it comes to difficult topics for athletes like injuries. 

“She’s also very conscious about injury, more than any other coach I’ve had,” Edge said. “She wants to make sure that from the start, you’re not doing anything that’s even going to start an injury.” 

Julia Rivera, a senior softball player majoring in criminal and justice studies, shared sincere gratitude towards a coach who also acted as a role model of hers prior to college. While playing travel softball and amid college recruitment, Rivera’s assistant coach was Humboldt Alumni and Softball Hall of Fame recipient Andrea Williams, now Andrea Williams Padilla. Rivera articulated the confidence and growth that Padilla gave her. 

“This woman was definitely the deciding factor of me playing college softball,” Rivera said. “Seeing her succeed at every single thing in her life gave me so much confidence, and I can definitely say she’s a role model.” 

Rivera’s drive to continue to pursue athletics collegiately can also be attributed to the coaches she had growing up. 

“Being that every female coach I’ve ever had played college softball, I think working up to that point, there was never a doubt in my mind that I wanted to do this,” Rivera said. 

Kinsey Mattison, head women’s triathlon coach, shared a similar sentiment of hope for the athletes she coaches to have an athletic experience as positive as her own. Prior to Humboldt, Mattison competed in women’s swim and cross-country as a student athlete at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, where she also became the assistant women’s swim coach after graduation. She then coached as the head women’s triathlon and assistant men’s swim coach at Colorado Mesa University. 

“Seeing how [college athletics] completely changed the trajectory of my life and thinking, ‘I can do this for other people,’ then I have to,” Mattison said. “There’s no other option. If this is possible, to help people have an experience like I had and find themselves, then that’s what I want to do.” 

Mattison discussed her approach to mentorship and leadership for her athletes and the development of this process over the course of her career as a college coach. She acknowledged how she has begun to lean into vulnerability in her coaching style.  

“I think that is something that has changed as I’ve gone along is not just wanting to coach them, but give them kind of a real-life example of what it looks like to be not just a woman in this profession, but a mom in this profession,” Mattison said. “And it’s not easy or perfect.”

According to the 2022-2023 NCAA Demographics Database, only 24% of the 20,255 NCAA teams, including both men’s and women’s sports across all three divisions, are led by female head coaches. As an NCAA DII college coach, Mattison reflected on challenges she faced prior to Humboldt in feeling underrepresented and like her voice was less important. Ultimately, she emphasized the support she feels specifically within Humboldt’s athletic department. 

“To be in an athletic department where it’s 50/50, we get a seat at the table and our opinion matters,” Mattison said. 

Mattison acknowledged that what each individual athlete needs from a coach is a bit different, but the best thing she can do is stay true to her coaching style by leaving athletes with confidence beyond their sport. 

From the earliest days of recreation sports, to collegiate athletics, to competing professionally, coaches are there every step of the way. It is important to acknowledge the role models, and specifically women coaches, because their impact on the younger generation of athletes contribute to a cycle of leadership and empowerment for future generations to come. Coaches act as role models on and off the field, guiding and potentially inspiring athletes to push through challenges and believe in their own potential.  

“It is gonna take a long time, it’s gonna be a lot of work with sacrifices and hard days, but if I put my mind to something — I can do it,” Mattison said. “I want other people to feel that way.” 

Alexis Blue is a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt, majoring in journalism and minoring in writing. She enjoys drinking coffee, sunsets on the beach, and playing soccer.

Student athletes share how music plays into their pre-game routine

By Alexis Blue

The grass is warm to the touch and the white lines marking the bounds of the field are glowing as bright as the white jerseys of the Jacks as they roll out of the travel bus, each player with headphones on and their minds centered on the win to come. The silence from the scene is reflective of the laser focus of these athletes, but what plays in their headphones is anything but silent. 

Humboldt student athletes may not agree on one favorite pre-game song, but they can agree on how important music is to their competition. Song choices not only vary from athlete to athlete, but for some, music is essential for attaining a game-ready mindset. Cam Timmons, a graduate student athlete in men’s basketball majoring in kinesiology, noted the role that music plays in his mindset towards competing. 

“I feel music plays a big role, just in training and getting prepared for a game for me, because I like to tune out the world and all the excess noise,” Timmons said. “Just listening to music puts me into the zone.” 

Timmons’ go-to artists for reaching this mentality are often Rod Wave or Drake, but he enjoys listening to a variety of music that matches his energy for the day. Songs like The Greatest and Already Won by Rod Wave are particularly meaningful to him. When asked what his personal walk-up song would be, Timmons was quick with a response.

“I used to play baseball, and I always wanted a walk-up song,” Timmons said. “ I like a song by Lil Uzi called Celebration Station. It’s very upbeat and uptempo, and I feel like that’s the type of vibe I like and personality I have, too.”

Seth Uson, a junior on the men’s soccer team majoring in business administration, uses music as a way to compose himself before a game. He commended Gratitude by Brandon Lake as a way to feel more present in the moment.   

“I have a pretty different perspective or view of music compared to other people. Personally, I like to listen to a lot of worship or gospel music,” Uson said. “It is grounding and something that gives me a bigger perspective, that it is more than just myself.”

Uson shared how his team also uses music as a bonding experience, a way to connect and be on the same page as one another prior to training or competition. 

“A lot of music that we listen to as a team — it’s something that’s very upbeat, something that’s very catchy and something that we could all vibe to,” Uson said. 

Senior Sebastian Vaisset-Fauvel, a kinesiology major on the men’s track and field team, offers an additional perspective by sharing his interest in listening to artists like $uicideBoy$ and Nas. Vaisset-Fauvel shared a special shoutout to songs Low Key by $uicideBoy$ and Purple by Nas. He even has a playlist meant to get him in the race-ready mindset.

“I have a big playlist, and I usually use that, but recently I’ve been shuffling between a bunch of different songs,” Vaisset-Fauvel said. “Before racing, it gets me in the right mindset to just go crazy.” 

From Rod Wave to $uicideBoy$ to Brandon Lake, every athlete sings and plays to their own beat. The tunes ringing in the ears of athletes before they take the pitch are diverse and necessary to reach a winning-ready-mindset.

Alexis Blue is a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt, majoring in journalism and minoring in writing. She enjoys drinking coffee, sunsets on the beach, and playing soccer.

By Barley Lewis-McCabe

With 20 seconds on the clock, the women’s team was down by two points,  Lumberjack Arena was filled with an array of people shouting “DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE.” The Jacks called time out to draw up a play, and the energy in the stadium was palpable. With 10 seconds left on the clock, sophomore Kyori Lloyd took the ball up the court and drilled a 2-pointer to tie the game. 

On Thursday night, the campus celebrated the blackout basketball game, presented by the Umoja Center for Pan-African Student Excellence. The event consisted of back-to-back games against Cal State San Marcos, starting with the women’s team and ending with the men’s.

The women’s team kicked off the event with strong defense, but it wasn’t enough to escape the Cougars’ claws. With half a second left in the game, San Marcos scored a buzzer-beating layup to win in a nail-biting 55-57 game.

Coming into the second game, it was clear the Jacks and the audience were ready for redemption. 

The smell of popcorn wafted through the stands. The men’s team had a noticeable pep in their step as they pushed through the Cougars’ defense early in the game, though San Marcos maintained a strong offensive performance. 

At halftime, the Umoja Center celebrated esteemed Black staff and faculty, calling them onto the court and handing out gift bags to the sound of the audience’s applause. During Black Liberation Month, the Umoja Center held a series of events to celebrate Black excellence, from karaoke to cooking and more, all with the intent of uplifting the Black community at Humboldt. Program Coordinator for Umoja, Alexus-Harrelle Deshazier, spoke highly of the events highlighting Black students. 

“I think at Humboldt specifically, we really need to be able to see ourselves. If we can’t see ourselves, we can’t be ourselves,” Deshazier said. “And having more events outside of February and having people support those events is really important to that. Not just for our Black students and their retention or graduation, but really for their overall enjoyment.”

As the second half of the game began, the Jacks cut through San Marcos’s defense like an axe chopping wood. The Cougars were getting lethargic, missing more shots and getting less defensive stops. As the marching band’s tempo picked up the players found their groove, preventing San Marcos’s attempts at making a comeback and keeping strong possession of the ball. 

As vigorous as San Marcos’s efforts were, they weren’t enough, as they repeatedly missed their free throws, which became their main option for getting on the board. The final buzzer rang through the air and the stands erupted with cheers and applause. The men’s team won in a 78-59 blowout, and will move on to the finals this week.

Barley is a freshman journalism major, photojournalist, and untraditional reporter, they like to cover interesting stories that center on social change, and human impact.

By Alexis Blue

The damp, warm breeze rustles the grass while cleats grip the dirt, the seams becoming saturated in an orange-red color. Cheering rings in the air, smelling faintly of sweet, sweet victory – the victory of the Jacks. 

Humboldt’s softball team hit the road, axe in hand, to the Aloha State two weekends ago, turning up the heat in Honolulu from Feb. 2 to Feb. 9 and clinching six of eight games on their trip. With two canceled matches against Simpson and Southern Oregon University, the Jacks instead had the opportunity to dive into their season from the islands, competing against two Midwestern teams and local teams. 

The first battle on the road was a Midwest vs. Northern California matchup, first facing Lewis University and then Ferris State on Feb. 4. The Jacks walked away from their first double-header with two wins, including a resounding 10-0 victory over No. 22 Lewis University, according to the NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. This season opener was one for the books, being Humboldt’s first season-opening win since 2019. 

Head coach Megan Corriea reflected on the success they collected in their opening matches.

“I’m incredibly proud of the effort and determination shown today from this team,” Corriea said in a statement to Drew Gwerder, Humboldt Athletics. “We faced some tough competition, but our teamwork and resilience carried us through.” 

More wins trailed the Jacks as they secured wins from each opponent they faced, including Hawai’i Pacific University, Chaminade University and the University of Hawai’i at Hilo. These local teams gave the Jacks a good battle, a testament to their hard work and preparation for the season. Katlyn Gifford, junior first baseman majoring in criminology and justice studies, shared her thoughts on the team’s mindset going into their games.

“We were really excited [to get] an opportunity to play in Hawaii, and we knew that we were going to play some pretty good competition,” Gifford said. “We were all really excited for what our team had put together throughout the fall.”

Gifford attested to the confidence radiating and reflecting off one another on the field and the team’s composure on the pitch. Julia Rivera, catcher and senior majoring in criminology and justice studies, reflected on their aggressive approach in the games that led to their success.

“We were ready to rock,” Rivera said. “We came out, bats firing. We almost scored in the first inning of every game. I can say for the seniors, we were ready to have a good kick start to the year, and we definitely had that.”

For the Jacks, the fun extended beyond the field. Rivera experienced some memorable moments with her teammates at a lūʻau, notably when they were gifted with leis and traded pins from other teams in attendance.

“I think that was just fun to be able to take photos with your teammates and soak it all in, and the sun was setting,” Rivera said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for sure.”

The Humboldt softball team’s success stretched from Hawai’i to Turlock, CA, this past weekend as the Jacks competed in the 2025 Tournament of Champions. They walked away from the weekend on top once again with three more wins, defeating Academy of Art University, Menlo College and the No. 24 ranked team, Northwest Nazarene University. 

Going into the rest of their season with a 9-4 overall record, the Jacks are feeling the wind under their wings with some big wins under their belt. The Jacks will take the pitch again at Humboldt Softball Field on Friday, Feb. 21, for their CCAA opener versus San Francisco State. Warning — bats are blazing!

“We know what we need to get done, we know how to win, and we know how to beat really good teams, because we’ve done it before,” Rivera said.  

Alexis Blue is a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt, majoring in journalism and minoring in writing. She enjoys drinking coffee, sunsets on the beach, and playing soccer.

By Nick Escalada

President Trump signed an executive order signaling the Department of Education to withhold federal funding from schools that support transgender athletes on Feb. 5. This legislation was a campaign promise made months prior to eliminate the perceived unfairness of biological males competing in women’s sports. It was enacted on the basis of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in all federally supported institutions. This belongs to a series of executive orders regarding transgender rights that Trump has authorized in his first few weeks in office, with one banning trans soldiers in the military and another banning gender-affirming care for people under the age of 19.

In a nation with a long history of LGBTQIA+ movements and social progress, this policy decision was heavily contested, but people opposed to the order do not actually expect much to change under its enforcement. According to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) president Charlie Baker, there are fewer than 10 openly trans athletes currently competing in college sports. Trans rights advocates are instead citing this as unnecessary bullying that sets a concerning precedent for how trans people may be viewed and treated moving forward. 

Gender has been a concept interwoven with sports since their inception — with biological distinctions between men and women inhibiting their ability to compete with one another for millenia. Today, the grounds for separating our competitions more closely resembles the scientific notion of sex, with gender drifting apart in its etymology to describe what is now considered a social construct. However, men and women are still the foundational terms for the division in sports worldwide and the adhesion of gender to athletics has remained one of the most interesting constants in human history.

For most of the recorded past, only men had been permitted to set foot in recreational athletic contests. Up until the 19th century, western society employed the archaic belief first voiced by Aristotle that women were ruled by their reproductive systems and that excessive physical or mental exertion would lead to infertility. It wasn’t until the end of the first wave of the feminist movement in 1920 where a separate version of the Olympic Games was established for women to compete.

The rising women’s sports scene was inevitably enveloped by racial segregation in the United States, but that did not stop Black communities from excelling in mixed-race track and basketball meets. In the heat of World War II, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was founded, offering escapist entertainment for the distressed American homefront. Despite the performative nature of leagues like these, wartime offered women an opportunity for empowerment in sports, which was withdrawn immediately by 1945 in place of traditional gender roles until the next feminist wave in the late 60s and 70s. 

Relative to their treatment in the 20th century, it might seem like the two genders recognized in modern sports are just about as equal as they can get. This is a dangerous assumption to make and it ignores the countless instances of sexist injustice in athletics that still linger from its bigoted past. For instance, finding a social media platform that does not offer a video compilation of male journalists pressing visibly uncomfortable female athletes about their body types, sex lives, or revealing uniforms, may seem impossible. It may not be as opaque today as referring to Olympic-level competitors as “girls,” but gender roles are still at large and are being imposed upon people who simply want to prove their skills to the world.

This recent executive order will still allow transgender athletes to compete in the division of the gender they were assigned at birth. While this might make sense in an industry where biological traits are paramount, it may also speak to the level of legitimacy our society is willing to grant the chosen genders of these contestants. Above all, whether or not you think gender has a place in athletics, one can only hope for a world where professional tennis players like Eugenie Bouchard are not asked to give their interviewers a twirl for the camera.

By Nick Escalada

The Cal Poly Humboldt Men’s Basketball team surged through Southern California last weekend, securing victories against Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino. Their 91-81 sweep against San Bernardino marks the Lumberjacks’ fifth consecutive win, following the previous week’s success against CSU schools in San Marcos, Los Angeles, and Dominguez Hills.

The team had a promising start to the season, dominating in clashes with Simon Fraser and Simpson University. Still, momentum seemed to wane in late November and December, with inconsistent results ending in victory and defeat. The new semester has signaled a return to power for the Jacks, which the players attribute to their heightened determination and new preparation methods.

“We don’t shy away from trying to change the routine, so really just going hard every day in practice, and then just using the momentum for winning games,” said senior forward-center Kyle Frelow. “We’re all tired of losing, so it’s time to build a streak, and this is the time to do it.”

Frelow is a recent transfer from Cal State Northridge and quickly proved to be invaluable on the paint, defending the 3-point area and maintaining ball possession with abundant rebounds each game. After refining his play style for the past three years, Frelow now works to conduct himself in a way that best suits his new team.

“As a freshman, you play kind of fast, and then as a sophomore, you kind of pick up on how the speed is, and then now as a senior, it’s really just finding my own pace and then just making the right plays for myself and for the team,” Frelow said. “As a forward, there’s not really too much to learn when you master the different spots you’re at. It’s more of putting the whole game together, whether you’re shooting, passing, blocking shots or making charges.”

The team has been held together by a handful of veteran athletes and newcomers who repeatedly show out as top performers. Fans and basketball analysts were quick to spot the rise of a few breakout stars among the group’s freshmen. One such sensation is guard Aidan Fowler, who previously broke the most records in history at Junipero Serra High School and claimed Orange County Player of the Year and is now routinely giving Humboldt the edge with game-high scores.

“The speed of the college game is definitely a lot faster than high school. Obviously, you’re playing against grown men,” Fowler stated. “And physicality-wise, [they’re] a lot stronger. But, from Coach Billups helping me, and going at it with Kalib — who’s an experienced guard — and Kyle, who’s an experienced big [center], practice really helped me adapt to the games.”

The team is now back after a 5-day away trip from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, and they have one more big outing before the CCAA Tournament in March hosted by San Marcos. The time the team has spent traveling and being off-campus has been challenging and rewarding for the players.

“It has a disadvantage in the sense that you don’t have your own routine,” Frelow said. “You’re at a hotel, you’re eating out, and you have homework. It’s kind of harder to find your time than you would at home. But it’s also more organized. We’re on the road — all you have to worry about is eating, school and basketball, so it kind of makes it easier.”

The awaited playoff period is fast approaching for the Lumberjacks, and it’s clear that this hot streak has lit a fire under them to perform their best once the post-season arrives.

“[We’ve] got to focus on the main thing,” Frelow said. “It’s cool being on the road, having fun, seeing the fans, but at the end of the day it’s a business trip. We’re trying to win and go to the conference tournament, and then go to the post-season NCAA tournament.”

If their current performance is anything to go by, it’s promising that the Jacks are already well on their way to the top. Men’s Basketball will be back at Lumberjack Arena on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and a Cancer Awareness game will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. Don’t forget to wear pink!

By Alexis Blue

On Jan. 22, Sonoma State University announced its decision to discontinue its athletic department as a part of a restoration effort for the $23.9 million deficit the university is currently facing, officially leaving the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with one less team and Cal Poly Humboldt teams with one less opponent.

With Sonoma discontinuing all Division II athletics, over 225 Sonoma student-athletes across 11 sports face uncertainty, while 62 members of faculty, staff, and management will no longer have contracts for the 2025-2026 school year. Sonoma is one of the closest neighbors to Humboldt in the CCAA and has been a conference member since 1998.

The sudden nature of this decision by Sonoma State has left Humboldt concerned for what competition will look like for seasons to come. Seth Uson, a Humboldt men’s soccer player majoring in business administration, reflects on his initial shock at the news.

“It was just a befounding moment,” Uson said. “No way we would think something like that could happen to them.”

Uson shared his sympathy for Sonoma State’s student athletes, as many are now likely faced with the challenge of finding new housing and a new place to compete. He expressed how this situation has made him realize how valuable time as a student athlete can be while situations exist beyond most student athletes’ control.

Juliano Pereira, the assistant coach for men’s soccer, offered his perspective on what competition may look like in the next chapter for Humboldt.

“I think the CCAA is probably the best Division II conference for soccer,” Pereira said. “I think it’s always tough to be losing a team, but we’re lucky to have a strong conference with lots of competitive games.”

Pereira conveyed a similar sense of gratitude toward competing, as well as a hope that Humboldt Athletics can create a greater understanding of value within the university and community. 

“There’s ways that athletics can help add a lot more to the university — both financial, but also in terms of culture and spirit within the community,” Pereira said. 

This situation has contributed to a variety of emotions toward what the future of Humboldt Athletics and Division II sports in the CCAA may look like. However, Associate Athletics Director for External Relations and Senior Woman Administrator Amanda Nelson offered some uplifting insight.

“We will be adjusting our competition schedules starting next year, as we will no longer be traveling to Sonoma,” Nelson said. “The CCAA recently added UC Merced, which brought the number of member schools up to 13. With Sonoma State’s decision, the CCAA will return to 12 member institutions.”

In light of the recent changes that the CCAA — and consequently Humboldt Athletics — has faced, Nelson voiced the significant role that athletics intends to support and sustain moving forward.

“Athletics provides opportunities for engagement through events, intramural sports, and fitness programs, creating a sense of community and school pride,” Nelson said. “The athletic department contributes to a rich, inclusive campus life that complements the university’s academic mission and prepares all students for success beyond graduation.”

Alexis Blue is a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt, majoring in journalism and minoring in writing. She enjoys drinking coffee, sunsets on the beach, and playing soccer.

By Ariana Wilson

Men’s Basketball is one week away from their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opener with a short preseason at the beginning of November. The team traveled up north for the West Region Crossover in Bellingham, Washington, where they faced Simon Fraser University (B.C.) and Western Washington University, leaving the rainy state with a 1-1 record.

 Diaz has led the charge for the Lumberjacks with impressive stats to start the season but says, “It’s not one person that has got us these wins, it’s everybody. Everybody has a part in us winning.”

CCAA Watch-list Rob Diaz III is entering his second season with the Jacks and has been determined since day one. Diaz is third in scoring in the CCAA and in the top 25 for blocked shots, steals, and assists. 

 “My role was never really defined [last year]. We were a new team, but I worked hard in practice and I started to start [in games] last year,” Diaz said. “I love basketball. I try to give it my all every time I play. It’s a blessing to play and come to practice every day. We’re trying to win a championship — that should be the goal for any team.”

Junior Transfer Kalib LaCount leads the CCAA conference in assists and steals, averaging 6 assists and 3.3 steals per game. LaCount played at East Carolina University in North Carolina for two years prior to his transition to Humboldt.

 “I have [basketball] IQ and a feel for the game,” LaCount said. “I’m helping my younger guys that haven’t seen that level yet and bringing them with me.”

With only four games on the season, the team is setting its sights high. This fall has been an opportunity to work on cohesion and understanding as a new team. 

“When you believe in your point guard, you’re gonna wanna make that shot for them,” LaCount said. “Whoever I see is open when I break the defense, I get them the ball. I’m going to put you in the best position possible and I’m gonna believe in you one hundred percent to make the shot.”

Kyle Frelow, a senior who transferred from UT Tyler, understands the importance of team dynamics.

“I’m an older guy, I’m a senior, a leader. So now, I have to pick up what I’m doing so I can lead the team in different ways,” Frelow said. “We’ve got a long season to go, then we want to go to the postseason too. The earlier we all buy in will be a good outcome, overall.”

Frelow is this week’s recipient of “Lumberjack of the Week,” and is holding a position in the top 20 for scoring and number one in rebounding in the CCAA.

 “Details matter,” Frelow said. “In college basketball, everything is detail-oriented. Being focused, playing hard, and playing together.”

The upperclassmen and new athletes to the program are in agreement about the goals going into the next 3 months.

 “Have a winning season,” Frelow said. “Make it to postseason. Compete for a conference championship — just win. I want to be a part of winning”

Men’s Basketball is at home at the Lumberjack Arena for their first CCAA conference match-up against Chico State on Nov. 30 and again on Dec. 5 versus San Francisco State.

Ariana Wilson is a junior Journalism major and the Lumberjack Sports Editor. As a member of the Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Volleyball team she brings an athletes perspective to our rising sports section. She intends to merge her passion for the environment and conservation with her love of journalism as a science writer.

By Ariana Wilson

The 2023 Cal Poly Humboldt Rowing Team made history two seasons ago, paving the way for the 2025 season. May 2023, the team earned their third NCAA Division II Rowing National Championship title in program history, ending their season with proud smiles and trophies in hand. The two previous national championship trophies were won in 2012 and 2014, their finish in New Jersey ended an 11-year title drought.

Women’s rowing has been putting in the work this fall after their second-place finish at the 2024 National Championship in Bethel, Ohio.

Rowing at Humboldt accepts athletes with little to no experience in the sport, which was the perfect opportunity for this year’s novice group. For first-year rowers, they join the Novice team for a year to work on fundamentals and the technical aspect of the sport. Rowers with past experience typically join the Varsity boats.

The CPH Varsity Rowing Team has two boats; the 8+ racing shell is designed for eight rowers and a coxswain, who sits at the front of the boat and steers. Respectively, the 4+ racing shell is designed for four rowers and a coxswain. Each seat in the boat controls a different aspect of their performance. The fastest rowers are typically in the middle of the boat while the rowers the furthest from the coxswain are the most technically sound and have the most balance and stability.

Mia Kelm, an Art History and Museum Studies major, approached the team while they were tabling at the club fair in September and decided she wanted to try out right then.

“They had a friendly atmosphere that made it more welcoming to someone like me who has never played any sports before,” Kelm said. “I’m aware I still have a lot to learn, which makes me determined to keep going and do my best.”

Kelm found out about the team through an email aiming to recruit athletes for the team and she has had to adapt to the foreign world of athletics from her art student routine. 

“I am being trained as a coxswain, which is basically the person in charge of driving the boat, and has its own unique sets of challenges,” Kelm said. “Rowing is an incredible sport, centered around teamwork — which Humboldt’s team has shown to value immensely.”

Kylie Mosley was a freshman and the second seat in the Varsity 4 boat that won nationals in 2023. Coming in as a junior, she has big goals for this team and the outcome of this season. 

“We are focused on team culture. It’s a big part of the sport,” Mosley said. “It’s a difficult sport, physically and mentally. We’re trying to establish trust early on, being there for each other and knowing we have each other’s back.” 

Mosley is from Pittsburg, PA and her move to Humboldt was intentional, following her zoology major to a program that met all of her needs academically. 

“I don’t want people to step down from challenges,” Mosley said. “I have a job, an internship, I’m from out of state. It’s difficult, but it’s also really rewarding when you can do it, and it’s even more of a pat on the back to yourself.” 

She joined the novice team her first year and moved to the Varsity 4 halfway through the season, where the team had to get used to the new addition and make adjustments. 

“Rowing was all I thought about that entire year and I dedicated so much time to it,” Mosley said. “I knew there was this thing at the end of the year; I wanted to make it to that and I wanted to show up for my team and my coaches.”

That thing was the National Championship. Senior Dana Foley led the Varsity 8 and collected accolades; 2023 Rower of the Year and 2024 All-American First Team. The 8 boat was undefeated the entire season, and the 4 boat clung onto that energy to secure a double national title with both boats winning their races.

“It’s possible [this year], but it’s dependent on us putting in the work right now,” Mosley said.

Last year, the difference between a national title and second place was 3 seconds, which still haunts some rowers, like senior Emily Marsolais. She was 5th seat for the Varsity 8 boat that placed fourth at the GNAC championships with a time of 7:18.44. Marsolais’ work paid off, earning her Division II All-American Second Team honors.

“Last year lit a fire in me to push myself through the summer to come back strong,” Marsolais said. “I was determined to be in that 8.” 

Her competitive drive is a product of her years as a tri-sport athlete competing in swim, water polo, and skiing in high school. Throughout this summer, Massolais has had the motto, ‘I can and I will,’ which she hopes motivates her team to push and buy in. 

“I really want to do well this year but I also want to leave the team with the ability to continue to be successful in future years,” Marsolais said.

This is a comeback season for the rowing team. The Lumberjacks will get another opportunity to face their rivals Western Washington and Central Oklahoma on the water this spring.

Ariana Wilson is a junior Journalism major and the Lumberjack Sports Editor. As a member of the Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Volleyball team she brings an athletes perspective to our rising sports section. She intends to merge her passion for the environment and conservation with her love of journalism as a science writer.

The Cal Poly Humboldt men’s lacrosse team has been playing here in Arcata since 1983. With an active alumni network and a passionate, growing team each year, Humboldt lacrosse has been able to foster the love of the game in hundreds of athletes. This is the first year as head coach for Augustus “Gus” Johnson. Johnson has an extensive athletic background but had never played lacrosse prior to attending Humboldt in 2008. Throughout high school and college, he coached youth boxing and after three years at Humboldt he moved to Portland, Oregon.

In 2015, Johnson moved back to Humboldt County and was quickly signed on to the team as an assistant coach after a call from an alumni member. He coached under Danny Eggert for three years, the former head coach who stepped down after the 2023-24 season. Johnson credits a lot of his lacrosse coaching knowledge to Eggert and his experience in the sport.

Men’s lacrosse at Cal Poly Humboldt is not considered a varsity sport, so the team competes in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA), which is essentially the NCAA specifically for men’s lacrosse. 

There are currently no youth lacrosse programs in this region but CPH has received a grant and equipment from U.S. Lacrosse to conduct youth camps and seminars to expose more kids to the sport.

“Leading and being a mentor [and] developing talent is awesome, and that is the point of all of this for me,” Johnson said. “As someone who didn’t find lacrosse until college, it’s really important for me to find the guys who have never played before, or maybe only played a year, and really develop them and see that talent grow.”

He is dedicated and committed to this team and his players. 

“I have a day job, but that’s not what I tell people I do,” Johnson said. “I tell them, ‘I’m a lacrosse coach, this is me, and I love it.’” 

It was purely coincidental that Senior Offensive Captain Macguire Ferrell found Cal Poly Humboldt Lacrosse. After following a friend who moved to Humboldt to attend school, he discovered the team and joined in the spring.

 “Gus reminds me of my old travel team coach because he creates a very chill atmosphere, but has the discipline to run the team,” Ferrell said.

As a club sports coach, Johnson has the benefit of flexibility, because the ultimate goal is to have fun. 

“I don’t like to be the tough coach, but I will push them when they need it,” Johnson said. “And flip the switch to put pressure on them and expect better from them.”

Ferrell has been playing lacrosse most of his life. Growing up in the Bay Area and playing travel ball in high school — then transferring from the Marquette club lacrosse team — he has the experience to lead the offense. As a leader, Ferrell commends the lack of arrogance on the team.

“If you tell someone they’re not doing what they need to do, they’ll lock in,” Ferrell said.

Ferrell quickly moved up the ranks to captain after only two months on the team, proving himself with his speed and voice.

“At the end of the day, it’s about community,” Ferrell said. “It is still a club so it’s about the people that show up and less about what you’re doing. There’s more camaraderie between the boys.”

Many members of the team come into the season with athletic experience and have played a high school or competitive travel sport, but not all athletes graduating high school want to play a varsity sport. Club sports are a space where athletes can be a part of a community without being held to the same schedules as varsity athletes. Some athletes come out of high school and travel sports burnt out and tired, but that is not something that comes with club sports.

“We’re on the field for 6 hours of practice a week and that’s it,” Johnson said. “This is an opportunity to have fun and grow and to be great on the field.”

Sophomore Vice President Jack Mattson has been playing lacrosse since he was 10. He was recruited to play while at a tournament in Grapevine, CA, where he ultimately decided to pursue going to Cal Poly Humboldt. 

“Coach Gus really brought back a lot of appreciation for the game for the overall team aspect of the sport,” Mattson said. “I enjoy the family that you become a part of when you’re on the team. This season, I look forward to having loads of fun and hopefully winning a lot of games.”

The fall is all about developing their skills, focusing on fundamentals, and competing in a couple scrimmages. With about 24 team members and a handful of new athletes, this time is important for the team to ensure that the basics become second nature and can focus on running plays and the more strategic aspects of the game. 

“Lacrosse can be a complicated sport, but it can also be as simple as you make it,” Johnson said. “We have an incredibly talented and very athletic squad and we have a good chance to beat people if we practice sound fundamentals. We can win games through execution more so than trickery. We want to be talented, and ultimately, the most fun is winning. No one likes to lose, but at the same time, I’m not here to make anyone wake up at 5 a.m. and go run gassers or run up the hill. If we’re not having fun, we’re not going to play well. It’s all about chemistry.”

Ariana Wilson is a junior Journalism major and the Lumberjack Sports Editor. As a member of the Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Volleyball team she brings an athletes perspective to our rising sports section. She intends to merge her passion for the environment and conservation with her love of journalism as a science writer.

By Ariana Wilson

The 2024-2025 school year has begun, and so have the fall seasons for our newest athletic teams on campus. Although this is the third season for women’s triathlon, this season follows the last collegiate races for the inaugural Triathlon team at Cal Poly Humboldt. This winter, mens wrestling laces up their shoes again for the first time since the early 1990s.

Graduate student Farrah Tyler qualified in 2022 for the Western Regionals in Springfield, Missouri as the first member of the Humboldt Women’s Triathlon team to compete at the USA Triathlon (USAT) championship. There are currently only 40 schools nationwide with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women’s Triathlon teams, and Cal Poly Humboldt is the last school added under an agreement set by NCAA and USAT. There is not currently an NCAA tournament for Women’s Triathlon, but they are emerging as an NCAA championship sport.

“Kinsey helped me to manage this and trust my training, which led to my result qualifying the team for Nationals,” Tyler said. “To control the variables and feel prepared to meet the challenges or uncertainties of a race as they occur is integral to racing competitively.”

Women’s Triathlon Coach Kinsey Mattison is a triathlete as well. In 2018 and 2019, Mattison raced professionally, finishing in the top 5 at five Half Ironman races and a win in Xi’an, China. She is from the Pacific Northwest, so being in Arcata is like an extension of her roots in Bend, Oregon. Her love of the landscape translates into her coaching and her athletes.

 “I hope the love of interacting with our environment through running in the community forest, cycling through the redwoods, and swimming in the lagoons carries through the program.” Tyler said. “It is a special opportunity to have a team in this nook of the North Coast.”

Junior and environmental science and management major Aydee Aredondo hails from a running and swimming background, so the transition to Triathlon was almost a no-brainer. The team competes in what is known as sprint triathlons, consisting of a 750 meter swim, a 12 mile bike, and a 3.1 mile run. Over the summer, Aredondo competed in a triathlon in Long Beach that the 2028 Summer Olympic Triathlon course will follow. 

Aredondo is prepared to push her limits this season while having fun and enjoying her sport. One of her main goals this season is to make progress in the bike portion of her race and to remember the little things.

 “I want to stay connected with the people I’ve met along the way,” Aredondo said. “They’ve made a big impact and a big difference.” 

Abdurrahman Garner, a junior transfer from Sacramento City College, is optimistic about the wrestling season ahead.

“This year as a new program is an opportunity for us to set the tone for years to come,” Garner said. 

Mens wrestling returns to Humboldt as a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, representing new beginnings for both Garner and the legacy of the sport at our school. 

“The community has had their arms out for us and people in the community want us to succeed and want to support Cal Poly Humboldt,” Garner said. “It’s about the little things, how we prepare and the mindset we have. Our coaches go over the little details over and over so we can be technically sound.”

Liam Clark, a transfer from Palomar College, is invested in the Cal Poly Humboldt wrestling program. After seeing the newest addition to the coaching staff, Lennie Zalesky, he knew where he would end up next. With 10 men on the team, there is opportunity for more personal coaching and growth. Clark and Garner have seen this first hand as their preseason and practices have begun. 

“I have treated every word they say as scripture, it’s important to buy into a coach’s plan for you,” Clark said. “We don’t want to be 10 guys who are just good at wrestling, we want to be a room of dawgs and hammers who are rooting for each other and shooting for the same goal.”

Zalesky has an impressive resume, reviving the team after a 30 year hiatus with 21 years of head coaching experience. As an athlete at Iowa University, Zalesky was a three-time All-American and three-time Big Ten champion, leading Iowa to four straight NCAA team championships. In 2022, he was awarded the Lifetime of Service Award in Wrestling for the state of California after coaching nine years at UC Davis and eleven years at California Baptist University, and winning Pacific-10 Coach of the Year in 2007, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2016, and NCAA DII Coach of the Year in 2017.

“The individual attention the coaches give each of us, with a room of 27 people, is amazing,” Clark said. “As a team, we are trying to build cohesion and a culture of hard work, no excuses, dominant style, and relentlessness. I want to restart the tradition of winning and dominance.”

Their season begins on Nov. 1 and goes through the first weekend of November, where the team will face Menlo College in Atherton and several other duels at the Menlo Invite.

Humboldt Wrestling’s lone home match is on Jan. 10 at Lumberjack Arena against Simpson University.
Women’s Triathlon does not have any home events, but they have two in-state races coming up: Santa Cruz on Sept. 22 and Berkeley on Oct. 27.

Ariana Wilson is a junior journalism major and the Lumberjack Sports Editor. As a member of the Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Volleyball team she brings an athletes perspective to our rising sports section. She intends to merge her passion for the environment and conservation with her love of journalism as a science writer.

By Alex Anderson

Cal Poly Humboldt softball faced Chico in a double header on April 16. The double header was part of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Strikeout Cancer day. The Jacks wore special strikeout cancer uniforms to raise awareness for various types of cancer.

The first game against Chico began at 11 a.m. and started off quickly, with the Jacks getting out to an early lead. Jacks scored seven runs in the first inning and kept the momentum going. 

Humboldt’s pitcher Gaige Garcia applied the pressure against Chico, making it difficult for Chico to get any hits off. By the fourth inning, the Jacks still maintained a 7-0 lead. Humboldt’s first base player Katlyn Gifford smashed a homerun into left field at the bottom of the fourth inning. 

The Jacks kept pace throughout the bottom of the fourth inning, adding two RBI’s to the scoreboard. The Jacks held off any response from Chico in the top of the fifth inning, final score 10-0, Jacks.

The opening inning of game two saw the Jacks getting out to another early lead with four runs. The Jacks kept the pressure on and Chico was unable to score a run until the fifth inning. Chico started to build some momentum, scoring two runs in the fifth inning and a third run in the sixth. The Jacks quickly answered back by scoring two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Final score 7-3, Jacks. 

After the April 16 double header, the Jacks are on a five game win streak and are undefeated against Chico after four matchups. The Jacks now have an overall record of 22-19 for the season. 

By Alex Anderson

Cal Poly Humboldt men’s and women’s soccer dominated the opening weekend of spring games on March 23 and March 24. 

The men’s soccer team kicked off the weekend with their match against Woodland Community College in the pouring rain on Saturday. The Jacks had control of the ball for the majority of the game, constantly attacking Woodland’s side of the field. The Jacks got out to an early lead and sustained that momentum through the entire game, scoring six goals to Woodland’s zero. 

Sunday was a double header for the women’s soccer team, with the first game against Merced College at 11 a.m. and their second game against Santa Rosa Junior College at 3 p.m. The Jacks came out strong against Merced. Humboldt forward Morgan Young scored the opening goal within the first few minutes of the game. From that point on the Jacks took charge offensively. They continued the attack and scored two more goals before the game ended. Final score against Merced was a 3-0 victory for the Jacks.

The women kept the pace high going into the second game against Santa Rosa. Once the Jack’s got an opening goal in the first half, they continued their attack throughout the game and scored two more goals. Jacks also played well defensively, taking control of the ball for a majority of the game. Final score 3-0, Jacks. 

Photos by Alex Anderson