Fall Athletes Shine with Outstanding Achievements

EUGENE, Ore. –The fall athletic season recently wrapped up at Bushnell University, giving the Beacons many reasons to celebrate the achievements and records across various sports. The university’s athletes excelled on their respective playing fields and in the classroom, showcasing their continual commitment to athletic and academic excellence while navigating the many responsibilities of being full-time student-athletes. 

The Beacons enjoyed a noteworthy fall season, with seven Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Players of the Week and seven All-Conference Honorees. Additionally, 35 fall athletes earned Academic All-Conference honors with a minimum GPA of 3.2 and sophomore standing or higher. Further showcasing their dedication to academic excellence, 26 of the 35 Academic All-Conference fall athletes also received NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors, maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher. 

Bushnell’s volleyball team maintained its consistency, securing a spot in the CCC Tournament for the fifth consecutive season. Notable accomplishments included junior Bella Parque’s record-breaking performance with 520 digs, setting a new single-season record of 5.15 digs per set. Senior Halle Neumann left her mark in the record books as well, achieving a Beacons all-time and career record of 930 kills and ranking third all-time in blocks with 258. The team’s stellar performance earned all-conference recognition for multiple players. Neumann and junior Matty Ladd earned First-Team All-Conference honors, and Parque received All-CCC honorable mention. 

The men’s soccer team continued trending up, going 4-0-1 in the preseason and tying a school record with a four-game winning streak. Notably, they achieved their highest number of wins in six years, setting school records for goals (35) and assists (28). Freshman Omar Barajas made history by breaking the single-season and career records for assists. The team’s success was recognized with sophomore Jay Jay Van Der Velde earning Second-Team All-Conference Honors. 

The women’s soccer team, led by first-year coach Halle Meadows, experienced a remarkable turnaround, going from zero to five wins and securing their first trip to the CCC tournament in seven years. With the fewest goals allowed in school history, junior goalkeeper Lexi Bates, set a new single-season record with a 1.14 Goals Against Average. Junior Lexis Canyete-Asato, earned First-Team All-Conference honors, while Bates and senior Niamhie Taylor-Hughes received second-team honors. 

Under first-year head coach Kyle Will’s guidance, the men’s and women’s cross-country teams navigated a transitional year, fielding complete rosters for the Cascade Conference Championships. The teams are eager for continued growth in the future. 

On the golf course, senior Jackson Muramoto secured victory at the TMU Danish Classic, shooting a four-under-par 69-71—140, one of the best two-round totals in school history. Muramoto’s tournament win is his second while playing for the Beacons. 

In the esports arena, Bushnell senior Christian Velazquez and junior Ethan Slayden showcased their skills by placing fifth at the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Fortnite Fall Championship, giving the Beacons their third consecutive season with a top-10 national finish. 

As the fall season concludes, Bushnell University encourages fans and supporters to stay updated on all Beacon Athletics by visiting www.bushnellbeacons.com. Prospective student-athletes interested in attending and playing at Bushnell University should fill out a recruiting interest form for the sport they are interested in. 

Explore fall season photos of any team at the Beacons photo gallery by visiting www.bushnellbeacons.pixieset.com.