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The Eastern Echo Saturday, May 2, 2026 | Print Archive
The Eastern Echo

Recaps


A group of about 10 people stands together on a tennis court.

MAC Freshman of the Year: Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya's historic freshman year

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After being named the 2026 MAC Freshman of the Year and earning First Team All-MAC honors, Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya capped off one of the most impactful debut seasons in Eastern Michigan history. The freshman’s rapid rise to the No. 1 singles spot and success against top conference talent established her as both a present force and future cornerstone for the program.


A women's lacrosse goalie intercepts a score from the opposing team on an outdoor lacrosse field with defensive teammates standing around the goal.

The season of excellence continues: EMU athletes sweep MAC weekly honors

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Eastern Michigan University’s spring athletic season has been defined by a historic wave of Mid-American Conference honors across golf, track and field, and lacrosse. These standout student-athletes are not only leading the conference in their respective disciplines but are also rewriting the EMU record books as they approach the 2026 championship season.


Golf.

Eastern Michigan wins the Silicon Valley Showcase

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The Eastern Michigan Eagles captured first place at the Silicon Valley Showcase in Millbrae, California, delivering a wire-to-wire victory behind consistent team scoring and standout individual performances. Led by tournament medalist Baiyok Sukterm, the Eagles held off California Golden Bears and will look to carry their momentum into the Chevron Silverado Showdown in Napa.

A group of about 10 people stands together on a tennis court.

Eastern Michigan takes on the Ball State Cardinals

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The Eastern Michigan Eagles fell 6-1 to the Ball State Cardinals on April 3, 2026, as Ball State controlled doubles play and secured five of six singles matches. Despite a strong comeback win at No. 1 singles from Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya, Eastern Michigan will look to regroup before facing the Miami University RedHawks on April 12 in Oxford, Ohio.


Pitcher mid-toss at outdoor baseball game. Two players stand crouching in the background, one from each team.

Rockets' red glare: Eastern Michigan baseball swept by Toledo as win streak ends

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The Eastern Michigan University baseball team faced a grueling weekend in Toledo, suffering a three-game series sweep that effectively halted their six-game winning streak. Despite significant offensive contributions from John Hale and Devan Zirwas, the Eagles' pitching staff struggled to contain the Rockets, culminating in a season-high 23 runs allowed in the series finale.


A lacrosse player in a white jersey stands facing away with a large number 26 visible in green text.

Eagles make history: Henry’s career day leads EMU lacrosse to first-ever win over CMU

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The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team secured a historic 14-9 victory over Central Michigan University on April 4, marking the program's first-ever win against their in-state rivals. Led by a career-high performance from sophomore Emerson Henry and a resilient defensive effort, the Eagles tied the program record for single-season wins while setting a new benchmark for home victories.


EMU rowing

EMU rowing’s 3V8+ topples Michigan State for first time since 2018

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The Eastern Michigan University women’s rowing team achieved a historic milestone on Ford Lake this past Saturday, securing a wire-to-wire victory in the 3V8+ race against Michigan State University. This victory marks the first time the Eagles have defeated the Spartans in any event since 2018, signaling a significant shift in program momentum as they head into the championship phase of their season.


Track

Eagles throw down: Records fall, and NCAA rankings rise at Spartan Invitational

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The Eastern Michigan University track and field programs delivered a standout performance at the 2026 Spartan Invitational, securing multiple NCAA rankings and program records. This recap details the key victories in East Lansing, including dominant throwing displays and personal bests that set a strong tone for the outdoor season.


callum .jpeg

EMU Track and Field opens outdoor season with record-breaking weekend

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The Eastern Michigan University track and field programs delivered a powerhouse performance to open the 2026 outdoor season, securing 22 personal bests and seven program top-10 marks across two premier meets. Competing in both Florida and North Carolina, the Eagles demonstrated significant depth in sprints, distance, and field events, signaling a strong start to the spring campaign.


Women's lacrosse players huddle outdoors on a lacrosse field near a goal.

Eagles fall in narrow MAC road contest at Akron

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The Eastern Michigan University lacrosse team suffered a narrow 10-9 defeat on the road against the University of Akron, despite a dominant five-goal opening quarter. The game was highlighted by significant career milestones for Mackenzie Blackwell and Tracy Grollman as the Eagles moved to 2-1 in Mid-American Conference play.


EMU golf player leans to the side while hitting a golf ball with a golf club outdoors on a cloudy day.

Eagles face elite national field at 57th annual Goodwin Tournament

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The Eastern Michigan University men’s golf team concluded a demanding week of California competition with a 28th-place finish at the prestigious Goodwin tournament hosted by Stanford University. Led by Leo Mihaich’s resilient final-round performance, the Eagles battled an elite field featuring dozens of nationally ranked programs.



A group of about 10 people stands together on a tennis court.

Eastern Michigan tennis takes on the Buffalo Bulls

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Eastern Michigan fell 6–1 to Buffalo on March 27, 2026, at The Chippewa Club, struggling to recover after dropping the doubles point early in the match. Despite a strong comeback singles win from Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya, the Eagles were unable to overcome Buffalo’s depth and now turn their focus to their upcoming matchup against Ball State.


A group of about 10 people stands together on a tennis court.

Eastern Michigan tennis takes on the Buffalo Bulls

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Eastern Michigan fell 6–1 to Buffalo on March 27, 2026, at The Chippewa Club, struggling to recover after dropping the doubles point early in the match. Despite a strong comeback singles win from Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya, the Eagles were unable to overcome Buffalo’s depth and now turn their focus to their upcoming matchup against Ball State.


Player number 48 stands with back facing camera in the background. Player number 47 squats with his hands on his knees in the foreground of the baseball diamond.

Eagles overcome 5-run deficit in thrilling walk-off victory

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On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team staged a dramatic five-run comeback to defeat Youngstown State University 8-7 in a walk-off thriller at Oestrike Stadium. Behind a career-high four RBIs from Demir Heidelberg and a game-winning bases-loaded walk by Tristan Crane, the Eagles secured their third consecutive victory and the first nonconference home win under interim head coach Trevor Beerman.


A group of about 10 people stands together on a tennis court.

Eagles fly high: Eastern Michigan tennis dominates Toledo for first MAC win

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The Eastern Michigan University tennis team secured its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season with a commanding 6-1 win over the University of Toledo on March 22, 2026. This pivotal home win at the Chippewa Club improved the Eagles’ home record to 25-3 under head coach Ryan Kucera and featured standout performances from a talented group of freshmen.


Mens Baseball 3/24/23

Eagles claim first MAC series victory of 2026 with weekend surge against Akron

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The Eastern Michigan University baseball team captured its first Mid-American Conference series victory of the 2026 season with a 2-1 weekend showing against the University of Akron at Oestrike Stadium. Following a disappointing series opener, the Eagles rallied for a dramatic 10-inning walk-off win and a commanding Sunday finale to mark a significant milestone in the Interim Head Coach Trevor Beerman era.


Golf.

Eagles Fly High in Florida: Women’s Golf Secures historic runner-up finish at Florida State University match Up

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The Eastern Michigan University women’s golf team continued their season of excellence by taking second place at the Florida State Match Up, finishing ahead of several nationally-ranked programs. Led by a third-place individual effort from Jasmine Leovao, the Eagles posted the fourth-lowest team score in program history to cement their status as a rising national contender.


EMU golf player leans to the side while hitting a golf ball with a golf club outdoors on a cloudy day.

Eastern Michigan claims second place at All-American Intercollegiate

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Eastern Michigan men’s golf delivered a strong, consistent performance to claim second place at the All-American Intercollegiate in Humble, Texas, finishing behind nationally ranked Arkansas in a competitive 16-team field. Led by top-10 finishes from Leo Mihaich and Robby Turnbull, the Eagles showcased depth and improvement across all three rounds, continuing their momentum heading into their next tournament in Napa, California.

Joshua Nieman sits down with Eastern Michigan University's new College of Arts and Sciences Dean, Carol Bishop Mills, and talks about bravery, bullying, life in Florida and more.