The Master’s University has won eight individual NAIA national championships in the last two years. But the biggest storyline moving into the upcoming season is the reorganization of the Mustangs’ conference.
Formerly known as the Golden State Athletic Conference, “GSAC” now stands for the “Great Southwest Athletic Conference” with the addition of three Arizona schools: Park University Gilbert, Benedictine University Mesa, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Of the eight schools that now make up the GSAC, five are in Arizona and three in Southern California.
As always, your best source for all things TMU Athletics is gomustangs.com, where you will find schedules, stats, and livestreams of games.
Tyrik Trotman
Jim Rickard (34th season)
Last season, TMU Men’s Soccer made it to the GSAC tournament championship match, only to fall one goal short of bringing home the trophy. According to Head Coach Jim Rickard, the 2024 team will be more of an attacking-style team that has the talent necessary to defend well with several key new players who will enhance an already strong core group of returners.
Tyrik Trotman (2023 All-GSAC)
Prince Chingancheke (2023 All-GSAC)
Kai Terentieff (led the 2023 team with eight goals)
Theo Kudlo (2x All-GSAC)
Matt Picht (scored three goals and had four assists in 2023)
Adiel Kaduya (talented player with great attacking capabilities)
Julian Graham (Australian goalkeeper with a lot of experience and skill)
Michael Masimango (midfielder with great poise, skill, and maturity)
M.K. Oredi (dangerous flank player with tremendous acceleration and scoring potential)
9-6-3, 3-3-1 GSAC (4th)
Sinclair Francescon
Esteban Chavez (2nd season)
In his first year as head coach, Esteban Chavez led a team that went 5-8-5 in 2022 to a 2023 record of 8-5-3. More than 10 new players will mix with a veteran crew to create a dynamic and technical team on the field with a lot of fight and grit.
Kate Merical (2023 All-GSAC)
Sinclair Francescon (2023 All-GSAC)
Autumn Jensen (2022 All-GSAC)
Breanna Fajardo (Los Altos HS; El Monte, CA)
Bryanna Elias (Costa Mesa HS; Costa Mesa, CA)
Zaria Echemendia (Flintridge Prep; Downey, CA)
8-5-3 Overall, 3-2-2 GSAC (4th)
Jack Anderson (861)
Daniel Rush (1st season)
After nearly two decades and 14 consecutive GSAC championships, Zach Schroeder has stepped away as TMU’s cross country head coach. But he has recommended Daniel Rush, an All-American during his time at TMU, for the top spot. Rush has five athletes returning from a team that placed fourth at NAIA nationals in 2023. The team has a legitimate chance at claiming TMU’s 15th consecutive GSAC title and another top-five finish at the national championships.
Jack Anderson (2023 GSAC Champion; NAIA All-American)
Hunter Romine (2023 All-GSAC)
Jake Fredericks (2023 All-GSAC)
Connor Ybarra (2023 All-GSAC)
Nate Day (2023 All-GSAC)
Elijah Lovett (Academy for Academic Excellence; Apple Valley, CA)
Bauer Hollman (Flathead HS; Kalispell, MT)
GSAC Champions; 4th at NAIA nationals
Ellen Palmgren (481)
Daniel Rush (1st season)
The Mustangs return their top seven athletes from a 2023 team that finished second at the NAIA national championships, matching the best finish of any team in TMU history. The program has five All-Americans returning for 2024, when the Mustangs should contend for a fifth-straight GSAC title and a podium spot at nationals.
Hannah Fredericks (2023 GSAC Champion; NAIA All-American)
Ellen Palmgren (2023 GSAC Runner-Up; NAIA All-American)
Suzie Johnson (2023 GSAC 3rd-place finisher)
Emma Nelson (2023 All-GSAC)
Rebekah Niednagel (2023 All-GSAC)
Alyssa Lovett (2023 All-GSAC)
Brooke Cregan (2023 All-GSAC)
Ella Howe (Resurrection Christian HS; Loveland, CO)
Kylie Page (Hesperia Christian HS; Hesperia, CA)
GSAC Champions; 2nd at NAIA nationals
Timberlie Miller
Annett Davis (5th season)
The Lady Mustangs picked up four more wins in 2023 than the previous season, with several players having breakout years to lead the way. TMU, with one of the best outside hitters and the best setter in the conference returning, plus the emergence of two key freshmen last season, will look to contend for its first conference regular season championship since 2020.
Ruby Duncan (2x All-GSAC)
Timberlie Miller (2023 GSAC Setter of the Year)
McKenna Brady (was 2nd on team with 80 blocks in 2023)
Sierra Hale (had 502 digs in 2023)
Grace Colburn (Transfer from UC Irvine)
Kiera Maynard (Crean Lutheran HS; Mission Viejo, CA)
Kate Wagner (Perry HS; Chandler, AZ)
18-12 Overall, 7-7 GSAC (tied 4th)
Jonathan Larson
Craig DeSpain (2nd season)
A strong core of returners with national championship experience will lead a team that is less than two years removed from a runner-up finish at NAIA nationals. “We feel like we left something on the table last year, and we want to use that to motivate us this year,” said Craig DeSpain, TMU director of golf. Incoming athletes with state championship experience at the high school level should make for a competitive squad looking to start strong in the fall and finish the spring by contending for GSAC and NAIA championships.
Jonathan Larson (qualified for 2024 NAIA nationals)
DonDon Bumacod (finished 8th at 2024 GSAC Championships)
Seth Bishop (finished tied for 12th at 2024 GSAC Championships)
Wes Opliger (finished 15th at 2024 GSAC Championships)
Jacob Janho (high school team won 2024 Washington state championship; he placed third)
Blake Hopkins (2024 1st Team All-Northeast Ohio)
Josh Smith (helped Hart High reach 2024 SCGA Team Qualifier Tournament)
2nd at GSAC Championships
Hannah Ulibarri
Craig DeSpain (2nd season)
Now entering its fifth season, the TMU women’s golf program is coming off a campaign that saw the group tie previous team records and set several personal bests. In 2024-25, the team expects to continue its improvement and to keep moving up the team and individual leaderboards.
Hannah Ulibarri (2023 national runner-up; NAIA All-American)
Bella Huff (finished 7th at the 2024 National Preview)
Nicole Southard (finished tied for 22nd at 2024 GSAC Championships)
Peyton Grider (finished tied for 24th at 2024 GSAC Championships)
Grace Aamot (finished 32nd at 2024 GSAC Championships)
5th at GSAC Championships
For more information, visit gomustangs.com.
