Editor's note: The Eastern Echo is introducing Eagle Watch, a new column featuring athletes to pay attention to across all Eastern Michigan University sports disciplines. Check back each week for a new Eagle Watch!
This week’s inaugural Eagle Watch celebrates the outstanding individual performances of Eastern Michigan University athletes across various sports, highlighting their grit, skill and record-breaking achievements for the week of Jan. 18 through Jan. 25, 2026.
Gymnastics: Abby Brushwood
At the Air Force Quad Meet on Jan. 23, 2026, EMU junior Abby Brushwood delivered a standout performance by tying for first place on the floor exercise with a score of 9.875. Her consistency helped the team to a third-place finish overall. Brushwood also contributed a 9.700 on the vault during the same meet.
Women’s basketball: Peyton Hill
Freshman guard Peyton Hill had a historic week, exploding for a career-high 25 points in a thrilling comeback win against The University of Toledo on Jan. 20, 2026. Her 25 points represent the most scored by any MAC freshman in a single game this season. Hill also showcased her versatility by grabbing a career-high eight rebounds and recording three steals in the victory.
Men’s basketball: Mohammad Habhab
In a grueling double-overtime battle against Kent State University on Jan. 24, 2026, Mohammad Habhab anchored the Eagles with a dominant double-double, recording 22 points and 11 rebounds. Habhab also recorded a career-high four blocks while playing a career-high 47:28 of game time. This performance marked his eighth double-double of the season.
Women's track & field: Mariah Taylor
Sophomore Mariah Taylor reached new heights at the third annual Bob Parks Memorial on Jan. 24, 2026. Competing in the triple jump, Taylor secured first place with a massive personal-best mark of 12.49m. This elite performance earned her the No. 72 spot in the current NCAA rankings and followed a program Top 10 mark she set just one week prior.
Men's track & field: Bamidele Ajayi
EMU junior Bamidele Ajayi proved to be the fastest man at Bowen Field House during the Bob Parks Memorial. Ajayi captured gold in the 60m dash with a personal-best time of 6.82 seconds and doubled his gold medal count by winning the 200m collegiate event with a time of 21.96 seconds.
Tennis: Pehal Kharadkar
Freshman Pehal Kharadkar has become the ultimate "closer" for the EMU tennis team. During the Jan. 23, 2026, match at Youngstown State University, she secured the team-win-clinching point for the third consecutive match, coming back from one set down to win 4-6, 6-1, 7-5. She continued her hot streak the next day against St. Francis, moving to 4-0 in spring singles play with a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
Diving: Rose Kendrick
EMU sophomore Rose Kendrick led a complete sweep of the diving events in a conference matchup against Ball State University on Jan. 24, 2026. Kendrick won both the one-meter and three-meter competitions, setting personal bests in both. She earned 280.88 points in the one-meter dive and a dominant 295.13 points in the three-meter event.
Swimming: Nina LaRosa
In the pool against Ball State, Nina LaRosa was the definition of dominance in the breaststroke. She captured two first-place finishes, touching the wall first in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:02.61 and following it up with a victory in the 200-yard breaststroke at 2:20.02.
