The 2025-26 academic year will be remembered as one of the most successful and transformative chapters in the history of Eastern Michigan University Athletics. From the greens of California to the academic halls of Ypsilanti, EMU student-athletes elevated the "standard of excellence" through historic postseason runs, national accolades, and unprecedented academic achievement.
At the heart of this historic year was a women’s golf program that authored what is arguably the greatest season in school history. Under Head coach Josh Brewer, who was named the Golfweek Women’s National Coach of the Year, the Eagles began their ascent early with tournament titles at The Southern, the Leadership & Golf Invitational, and the Silicon Valley Showcase. These three victories were the program’s most in a single season since 2011-12.
The momentum carried into the postseason, where the Eagles secured their first-ever NCAA Regional selection. After finishing fourth in the Tallahassee Regional, the team advanced to the NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort. There, the Eagles stunned the field by making the 15-team cut and firing a 4-under-par 284 in the fourth round to qualify for match play. In a true "Cinderella" moment, Eastern stunned fourth-ranked Texas in the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual champion, Stanford, in the semifinals. When the final putt dropped, EMU stood tied for third nationally, completing a staggering climb of 223 spots in the national rankings over just two years. Individually, Janae Leovao made history as the program’s first All-American.
Success was not limited to the links. The track and field programs remained conference powerhouses, with Kian Wiles capturing three MAC championships in the indoor mile, indoor 800 meters, and outdoor 1500 meters. Field events also shined, as Gabe Oliveira and Mariah Taylor claimed conference titles in the triple jump. On the turf, the lacrosse team reached a major milestone by recording its first-ever victory over a Power Conference opponent, defeating Oregon 12-9. Maddy Porter anchored the defense, earning MAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
The season also highlighted a bright future, as EMU saw six different athletes earn MAC Freshman of the Year honors across various sports, including Rose Kendrick (diving), Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya (tennis), and Peyton Hill (women's basketball). Beyond current students, EMU alumni continued to bring pride to Ypsilanti; track and field alumna Jasmine Jones secured a bronze medal for Team USA in bobsleigh at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Off the field, the department reached a pinnacle of academic success. For the first time in EMU history, every athletic program maintained a cumulative GPA above 3.0. The department set a new record with a cumulative GPA of 3.517 during the Winter 2026 semester, marking the seventh consecutive semester of record-breaking growth. Volleyball led the way with a staggering 3.832 semester GPA.
The season’s legacy was cemented by the MAC Institutional Sportsmanship Award, won by Eastern for the first time in school history. This honor reflected the department's commitment to "Building Champions for Life" through community initiatives like Victory Day and the Empty the Nest mentor program. Whether volunteering in local schools or competing for national titles, the 2025-26 Eagles proved that Eastern Michigan is a rising force in collegiate athletics.
