Austin Young
The 2023 spring sports season at The Master’s University was arguably the greatest season in the 60-plus years of the school’s athletics department. The Mustangs claimed three individual national championships during the spring, with an additional two runners-up trophies brought back to the campus. Many veteran athletes return for the 2024 campaign, with teams strengthened further by key transfers and freshman recruits. Expect another exciting spring for the Mustangs.
As always, your best source for all things TMU Athletics is gomustangs.com, where you will find schedules, stats, and livestreams of games.
Austin Young
Head Coach
Monte Brooks (28th season)
Overview
Last season the Mustangs finished fourth in the nine-team GSAC, qualifying for the conference postseason where they went 1-2 in the double-elimination tournament. Several key players were lost to graduation, but the emphasis has been on recruiting pitching to bolster the staff. The offense, led by All-Golden State Athletic Conference returners Austin Young and Ryan Mathiesen, is expected to duplicate last season’s 7.9 runs per game.
Key Returners
Davis Beavers (.261, 12 RBI)
Ty Beck (.246, 4 HR, 31 RBI)
Cason Brownell (.241, 19 RBI, 9 SB)
JT Friesen (8-1 record, 4.04 ERA, 63 K)
Miles Henderson (.280, 8 HR, 31 RBI)
Carson Knapp (6-3 record, 5.16 ERA)
Ryan Mathiesen (All-GSAC; .385, 10 HR, 49 RBI)
Austin Young (All-GSAC; .373, 16 HR, 50 RBI)
Key Newcomers
Robert Schardt (transfer pitcher from Oxnard College)
Gage Webster (transfer pitcher from Vanguard/University of Utah)
Joseph DeFrancisco (transfer utility player from Westcliff)
Last Season
31-16, 13-11 (4th in GSAC)
Evi Yates
Head Coach
Annett Davis (5th Season)
Overview
Last season, The Master’s beach volleyball team finished the season ranked No. 8 in the NAIA and third in the very-competitive GSAC. In fact, four conference opponents finished the year in the Top 10 nationally, a testament to the GSAC’s strength. Three All-GSAC players return to the Mustangs in 2024, and with the addition of nationally recognized newcomers, expect TMU to once again rank among the nation’s elite.
Key Returners
Violet Avila (’23 All-GSAC)
Annika Booker (’23 All-GSAC)
Evi Yates (’23 All-GSAC)
Key Newcomers
Zoe Yates (freshman from Chandler, Ariz.)
Faith Wada (transfer from Rio Hondo College)
Last Season
3rd in GSAC, Ranked No. 8 in the NAIA
Mitchell Briley
Director of Golf
Craig DeSpain (1st season)
Overview
The Master’s is coming off its most successful year of golf, with the men’s team finishing second in the NAIA National Championships, and Easton Johnson winning the individual national title. But Head Coach Jacob Hicks accepted the assistant golf coach position at North Carolina State, 2022 NAIA Runner-Up Jack Dudeck graduated, and Johnson transferred to the University of Louisville. However, new recruits and improved scores from returning players have proven the team has picked up where it left off last season.
Key Returners
Seth Bishop (75.8 scoring average; low-round 68 in 2022-23)
Mitchell Briley (74.8 scoring average; low-round 69 4x in 2022-23)
DonDon Bumacod (76.1 scoring average; low-round 72 in 2022-23)
Key Newcomers
Wesson Opliger (freshman from Grabill, Ind.)
Rye Winans (freshman from Solvang, Calif.)
Last Season
GSAC Champions, NAIA National Championships Runner-Up
Hannah Ulibarri
Director of Golf
Craig DeSpain (1st season)
Overview
The women’s team returns every player from a team that achieved program bests last season. The highlight came from Hannah Ulibarri, who finished as runner-up at the NAIA National Championship. With former Head Coach Jacob Hicks heading to North Carolina State, Craig DeSpain has stepped in as the director of golf, accepting the challenge of continuing the upward climb of this team as it enters its fifth year of existence.
Key Returners
Ellie Daugherty (finished 26th at last season’s National Championship Preview)
Peyton Grider (finished tied-14th at last season’s National Championship Preview)
Bella Huff (finished 7th at last season’s National Championship Preview)
Nicole Southard (finished 19th at last season’s National Championship Preview)
Hannah Ulibarri (NAIA National Runner-Up)
Key Newcomer
Grace Aamot (helped Manhattan Christian HS win its sixth straight Montana state championship in 2023)
Caleb Pouliot
Head Coach
Zach Schroeder (18th season)
Overview
TMU’s men’s outdoor track and field team has continued to be regarded as one of the best in the country, with the results on the track as proof. Last season, Davis Boggess (10k) and Caleb Pouliot (pole vault) each won national championships, and the team as a whole finished the season 12th nationally. Boggess, a four-time All-American, has graduated, but Pouliot returns as does the core of last season’s successful team.
Key Returners
Caleb Pouliot (2023 Pole Vault National Champion)
Daniel Rush (All-American in the 5k)
Josh Williamson (9th in shot put at NAIA National Championships)
Key Newcomers
Jake Fredericks (freshman from Saugus, Calif.)
Dominic Grinceri (freshman from Ontario, Calif.)
Seth Richardson (freshman from Carmel, Ind.)
Last Season
1st in GSAC, 12th at NAIA National Championships
Hannah Fredericks
Head Coach
Zach Schroeder (18th season)
Overview
The women’s outdoor track and field team finished in the top 20 at NAIA nationals last year and returns multiple All-Americans for 2024. Junior Hannah Fredericks has already earned seven All-American distinctions on the track and continues to put herself in the conversation as one of the greatest female athletes in Mustangs history. Every member of the 4×800-meter relay team that finished seventh at nationals in 2023 also returns, another reason to believe this should be a special season.
Key Returners
Hannah Fredericks (’23 All-American in the 10k; finished 3rd)
Ellen Palmgren (’23 All-American in the 800 meters; finished 8th; 4×800 Relay member)
Emma Nelson (’23 All-American 4×800 Relay)
Rebekah Niednagel (’23 All-American 4×800 Relay)
Suzie Johnson (’23 All-American 4×800 Relay)
Key Newcomers
Sierra Hale (libero on the TMU women’s volleyball team)
Juliette Colunga (transfer from Clovis Community College)
Kayli Lincoln (freshman from Los Alamos, N.M.)
Last Season
3rd in GSAC, 17th at NAIA National Championships
Matthew Hamm
Head Coach
Jared Goldberg (4th season)
Overview
In just five years of existence, TMU Men’s Volleyball has developed into one of the best programs in the country. And last season’s NAIA national semifinal appearance, when the Mustangs lost to eventual champion Vanguard in a five-set thriller, was further proof. As was the NAIA recognizing Head Coach Jared Goldberg as its 2023 National Coach of the Year. With more NCAA Division I transfers arriving at TMU for 2024, expect the Mustangs to once again be in the national championship conversation.
Key Returners
Diego Perez (2x NAIA All-American)
Isaac Seltzer (2nd on team in ’23 with 2.42 kills/set)
Will Avera (2023 All-GSAC)
Braden Van Groningen (6th in GSAC in ’23 with a .348 hitting percentage)
Matthew Hamm (NAIA Championship Tournament record 66 assists vs. Indiana Tech in ’23)
Key Newcomers
Patrick Paragas (transfer from D1 UC Santa Barbara)
Mason Mullins (transfer from NCAA D1 Concordia-Irvine)
Preston Schmidt (freshman from Irvine, Calif.)
Last Season
GSAC Tournament Champion, NAIA National Semifinalist
