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The Eastern Echo Thursday, May 14, 2026 | Print Archive
The Eastern Echo

Sports

Baseball player winds up pitch while teammate, umpire, and spectators watch at varying distances.

Spartans outlast Eagles in East Lansing

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Michigan State University secured a 5-2 victory over Eastern Michigan University on May 12, 2026, behind a decisive three-run surge in the sixth inning and a late two-RBI triple. The win extends the Spartans' current winning streak against the Eagles to eight games, continuing a period of historical dominance in this regional rivalry.



Golf.

Historic heights: EMU women’s golf shines at MAC Championships and earns first NCAA regional berth

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The Eastern Michigan University women’s golf team made program history by earning its first-ever team selection to the NCAA Regionals as an at-large participant for the 2026 season. This historic milestone follows a record-breaking second-place finish at the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships, where the Eagles posted their best-ever conference tournament score and saw three individuals place in the top 10.


Gray cement sidewalks and structures surround the black gate, closed in front of a football stadium on a partly cloudy day. A metal statue of a basketball player holding a ball above its head is positioned in the middle of the walkway.

Donlon Era Begins: New-Look Staff Signals Fresh Start for EMU Basketball

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Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball enters the 2026–27 season with a complete reset, highlighted by a high-caliber coaching staff assembled by head coach Billy Donlon. Blending veteran leadership, deep Michigan recruiting ties, and strong program connections, the new staff positions the Eagles for a tougher, more competitive future.

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.



A baseball player mid-swing at outdoor game. Teammates stand in the background.

Stecko sparks EMU surge with record-breaking week

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Ty Stecko powered Eastern Michigan University to a key stretch of wins with a record-setting week at the plate, earning MAC Player of the Week honors after a dominant run of extra-base hits and a four-game home run streak.



Baseball player prepares for pitch from opposing team while catcher and umpire stand positioned off to the side.

Eagle Sports Tips and Tales | April 21-27

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From April 21–27, Eastern Michigan athletics features a packed schedule, highlighted by women’s golf competing in the Mid-American Championships, baseball traveling to face Northern Illinois, and key matchups in lacrosse, track and field, and rowing.



A pitcher winds up in preparation to pitch the ball. A teammate and an umpire are visible in the background on the field.

Eagle Sports Tips and Tales | April 14-21

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Athletics at Eastern Michigan University are gearing up for a packed week of competition from April 14–21, 2026, highlighted by key matchups across golf, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, track and field, and football.


Golf.

Honored on the green: Sukterm claims MAC Golfer of the Week

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Junior Baiyok Sukterm has earned her second MAC Golfer of the Week award of the season after securing her first NCAA Division I medalist honors. Her victory at the Silicon Valley Showcase helped the EMU women’s golf team set a new program record with eight total weekly awards this year.


Image swimmers in the swim lanes of a pool with water splashing around them.

Excellence in the deep end: EMU swim and dive athletes secure top conference and national honors

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The Eastern Michigan University women’s swimming and diving program has set a new high-water mark for academic and athletic synergy this spring, with 14 student-athletes earning Academic All-MAC honors and four securing prestigious CSC Academic All-District recognition. These awards highlight a culture of discipline where the Eagles are achieving podium finishes at the conference level while maintaining elite GPAs in demanding fields like Neuroscience, Engineering, and Nursing.


Women's lacrosse player cradles the ball mid-step on outdoor lacrosse field.

Emerson Henry honored by MAC after record-breaking game

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Sophomore Emerson Henry has earned her first career Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week award following a record-breaking performance against Central Michigan. Her seven-point contribution led the Eagles to their first-ever victory over the Chippewas and tied the program's single-season win record.


Eastern Michigan Vs. Toledo (Football)

The national standard: EMU football leads MAC in NFF Hampshire Honor Society

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Eastern Michigan University football has once again asserted its academic dominance, leading the Mid-American Conference with 14 players named to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society. This achievement ties EMU for fifth-most nationally, placing the Eagles alongside elite programs like Rutgers University and Texas Tech University.


#14 Sisi Eleko taking the opening tip-off

Eleko and Thrash recognized with Academic All-MAC Honors

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Seniors Sisi Eleko and Brooklyn Thrash have been named to the Academic All-MAC Team, marking a milestone for two of the women’s basketball program's most consistent leaders. These awards celebrate their first conference academic honors as Eagles following a season of historic statistical achievements on the court.


Image shows a student athlete with their back to the camera, wearing a green jersey.

Excellence defined: 22 Eagles achieve All-MAC Academic status

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The Eastern Michigan University track and field programs have demonstrated that their speed on the track is matched only by their diligence in the classroom, landing 22 student-athletes on the Academic All-MAC list. This recognition highlights a department-wide culture of excellence where athletes manage rigorous majors alongside Division I competition


Baseball player mid-jog at home base at outdoor game. A large group of teammates stand in the background, watching another player who is out of frame.

Eagle Sports Tips and Tales | April 7-13

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From April 7–13, Eastern Michigan University’s athletic programs will compete across multiple sports, including men’s and women’s golf, baseball, women’s lacrosse, women’s tennis, track and field, and rowing, with several events on the road and at home.


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.