The Master’s University Athletic Department is coming off its most successful year ever. Five NAIA individual national championships were won, another individual and a team were national runners-up, and another team made it to the semifinals of their national championship tournament.

This year, the department’s teams once again feature a plethora of talent and a shared focus — to honor Christ in everything. Here’s a preview of what you can expect from TMU’s fall teams on the field, the court, and the course.

As always, the best source for all things TMU Athletics is gomustangs.com, where you will find schedules, stats, and livestreams of games.

Zach Garey

Men’s Cross Country

Head Coach
Zach Schroeder (18th season)

Overview
Despite losing All-American and track and field national champion Davis Boggess to graduation, the men’s cross country team returns some of the best distance runners in the nation and has a legitimate opportunity to claim TMU’s 14th consecutive Golden State Athletic Conference title and first-ever team national championship. Plus, the Mustangs will host two meets in Santa Clarita — The Master’s University XC Invitational on Sept. 23, and the GSAC Championships on Nov. 3.

Key Returners
Brint Laubach (finished 10th at NAIA National Championships; 2x All-American)
Daniel Rush (4x All-GSAC member)
Zach Garey (part of indoor 4×800 national championship relay)

Key Newcomers
Jacob Fredericks (finished 28th at California state championships)
Jacob Niednagel (CIF San Diego Section D3 champion)
Emmanual De Leon (transfer from Menlo College; GSAC Freshman of the Year)

Last Season
GSAC Champions; 3rd at the NAIA National Championships

Hannah Fredericks and Ellen Palmgren

Women’s Cross Country

Head Coach
Zach Schroeder (18th season)

Overview
TMU Women’s Cross Country is coming off its third consecutive conference title, and the program doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. After finishing sixth at nationals and returning most of the team’s core, the women’s squad could crack the top five nationally for the first time in program history.

Key Returners
Hannah Fredericks (2021, 2022 NAIA All-American)
Ellen Palmgren (2021, 2022 NAIA All-American)

Key Newcomers
Rebekah Niednagel (3x California state finalist)
Cora McClain (freshman from Colorado Springs)

Last Season
GSAC Champions; 6th at the NAIA National Championships

Prince Chingancheke

Men’s Soccer

Head Coach
Jim Rickard (33rd season)

Overview
With a solid core of returners and a recruiting class that features some of the best talent in the country, the men’s soccer program looks to improve on its 6-8-3 overall finish last season. The team will be tested early, with its first three games coming against NCAA Division 2 opponents. Two of those three matches will be at home.

Key Returners
Prince Chingancheke (2022 All-GSAC selection)
Giorgio Martino (2022 All-GSAC selection)
Theo Kudlo (2022 All-GSAC selection)

Key Newcomers
Alexis Garcia (1st Team All-Region 20 at Harford Community College)
Peyton Gorans (Regional Olympic Development Program player)
Trenton Rickard (All-CIF and 3x Foothill League MVP)
Tyrik Trotman (member of Trinidad and Tobago U20 national team)

Last Season
6-8-3 Overall; 4-4-1 GSAC (T-6th)

Autumn Jensen

Women’s Soccer

Head Coach
Esteban Chavez (1st season)

Overview
The big news for the Lady Mustangs was that Curtis Lewis stepped down after 16 years as head coach. Taking over is Esteban Chavez, an assistant with the team last season who brings a significant amount of success from the high school and club soccer ranks.

Key Returners
Hannah Burke (2022 All-GSAC; team’s leading scorer)
Autumn Jensen (2022 All-GSAC)

Key Newcomers
Cynthia Ramos (1st Team All-Ventura County)
Harmony Rohde (sister of TMU All-GSAC men’s soccer player Aidan Rohde)

Last Season
5-8-5 Overall; 2-2-4 GSAC (6th)

Faith Tarver

Women’s Volleyball

Head Coach
Annett Davis (4th season)

Overview
The Mustangs went from 5-13 in GSAC play in 2021 to 9-9 last season, making it back to the GSAC postseason tournament. With a core of key veterans returning and several high-level freshmen coming in, the Lady Mustangs will look to continue climbing the conference standings.

Key Returners
Faith Tarver (2022 All-GSAC)
Ruby Duncan (2021 All-GSAC)
Breanna Brooks (2020, 2021 All-GSAC)

Key Newcomers
Trinity Beers (2x MVP Central California Athletic Alliance)
Kaysa Brown (2021 CIF Southern Section D8 Player of the Year)
Cara Dunnigan (LA Mission College 2nd Team All-Conference)

Last Season
14-12 Overall; 9-9 GSAC (6th)

Learn more and get recruited at gomustangs.com.