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The Eastern Echo Monday, Sept. 7, 2026 | Print Archive
The Eastern Echo

Sports-Features

Indoor track and field equipment in gray, green, and white fills the space, with athletes standing off to the sides of most of the competition areas.

A legacy continued: Eastern Michigan track and field claims 11 All-MAC honors

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Following a series of dominant performances at the conference championships, eleven Eastern Michigan University student-athletes have been recognized with 2026 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Outdoor Track & Field All-MAC honors. These prestigious selections, which include seven first-team and four second-team accolades, highlight the program's depth as the Eagles prepare for the upcoming NCAA East Prelims in Lexington.


The wall of a baseball stadium from outside. Text in the top center reads "Oestrike Stadium." One entrance is visible with a hanging sign that reads "Center Entrance."

Nick Weaver named to MAC All-Defensive Team: A historic honor for Eastern Michigan’s defensive leader

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Nick Weaver, a standout junior catcher for Eastern Michigan University, has quickly established himself as a premier defensive force in the Mid-American Conference by leading the league in runners caught stealing. This article explores his remarkable journey from a multi-sport high school star in Illinois to a national defensive leader and 2026 MAC All-Defensive Team selection.



Eastern Michigan vs Buffalo Women's Tennis

End of an era in Ypsilanti: Head coach Ryan Kucera announces resignation as Eastern Michigan launches national search

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After three seasons of record-breaking home dominance and significant postseason progress, Head Coach Ryan Kucera has officially resigned from the Eastern Michigan University tennis program. The university has launched a national search for its 12th head coach to build upon the foundation of individual player accolades and the first 100-win careers seen in Ypsilanti in a decade.

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

Year in review: Eastern Michigan Mens golf builds momentum through 2025-26 season

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Eastern Michigan golf showcased consistency, resilience, and steady growth throughout the 2025-26 season, competing against strong conference and regional competition while continuing to build momentum within the program. From standout individual performances to key team finishes, the Eagles demonstrated determination and progress that laid a strong foundation for the future of EMU golf.


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

Beyond the baseline: Eastern Michigan’s Daneva and Mendez Carreño ace the Academic All-District honors

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Iva Daneva and Regina Mendez Carreño of the Eastern Michigan University tennis program have been named to the 2025-26 CSC Academic All-District team, recognizing their elite performance in the classroom and on the court. To earn this national honor, both student-athletes maintained a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA while competing in at least 75 percent of the team's spring schedule.


Eastern Michigan Track at UofM Invitational feb 17th

Hawkins and Oliveira sweep MAC honors as Eastern Michigan primed for championship glory

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Eastern Michigan University standouts Michael Hawkins and Gabe Oliveira have been named the Mid-American Conference Men’s Track and Field Athletes of the Week following dominant performances at the Hillsdale Last Chance meet and the Len Paddock Open. These honors represent the first time the Eagles have secured multiple conference awards in the same week during the outdoor season, signaling a powerful surge of momentum heading into the MAC Outdoor Championships.


Football field with gray turf reads "Eastern" on either end zone. Empty bleachers and goalposts surround the field.

A new era on the green: Jesse Siordia and the rise of women's flag football at Eastern Michigan

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Eastern Michigan University is expanding its athletic department to 21 varsity programs with the addition of women’s flag football, which is scheduled to begin intercollegiate competition in the spring of 2027. To lead this new initiative, the university has appointed Jesse Siordia, a former Navy veteran and national championship-winning coach, as the program’s first head coach.


Mariana Vega crouches on golf course to think while gazing off into the distance.

Women's golf punches first ticket to NCAA Championships in program history

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The Eastern Michigan University women’s golf team made history by finishing fourth at the 2026 NCAA Tallahassee Regional, securing their first-ever berth to the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships. Led by top-10 individual performances from Janae Leovao and Baiyok Sukterm, the Eagles became only the second program in Mid-American Conference history to reach the national stage.


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 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.




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.