EUGENE, Ore. –The fall athletic season recently wrapped up at Bushnell University, and the Beacons have much to celebrate as they showcased their continued commitment to athletic and academic excellence.
The Beacons earned seven Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Week awards, 11 All-Conference honors, and a remarkable 44 Academic All-Conference selections, which are awarded to sophomores and above with a minimum 3.2 GPA. This year also saw 41 student-athletes recognized as NAIA Scholar-Athletes for maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Women’s Volleyball
Bushnell volleyball delivered the strongest campaign in program history, breaking the single-season wins record and closing the year ranked No. 15 in the NAIA postseason national coaches’ poll, the highest final ranking in program history. The Beacons qualified for the CCC tournament for the seventh consecutive year and advanced to the NAIA national tournament for the fourth time in six seasons. For the first time, Bushnell earned a host bid for the NAIA National Championship opening round, sweeping MidAmerica Nazarene, 3–0, in front of a raucous Morse Center crowd to secure a spot at the NAIA final site.
The season was also highlighted by strong individual performances. Senior Hailey Heider earned First-Team All-CCC honors and was named NAIA 2nd-Team All-American, while senior Leah Agost also claimed First-Team All-CCC recognition. Junior Amyah Semau garnered Second-Team honors, and junior Soleil Sands received an honorable mention.
The program’s success extended to the coaching staff. Marlee Smith was named AVCA West-Region Assistant Coach of the Year, and Head Coach Jason Corwin celebrated a career milestone, surpassing 200 wins with 215 total victories, 143 at Bushnell and 72 at Oregon Tech.
Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team produced a historic season, extending its non-conference undefeated streak to 16 games with a 6–0 preseason record. The Beacons went on to achieve a school-record ten wins, posting the highest winning percentage in program history (.567), and earn a berth in the CCC tournament for the first time in eight years.
Junior Omar Barajas led the offensive charge, setting new single-season records with 12 goals and 30 points. His performance earned him First-Team All-CCC honors as well as CSC 2nd-Team Academic All-America recognition. Seniors William Haberfield and Jorge Lopez also received CCC Honorable Mention accolades.
The season marked a significant milestone for Head Coach Joao Ehlers, who became the winningest coach in Bushnell men’s soccer history.
Women’s Soccer
Bushnell’s women’s soccer team continued its upward trajectory, tying the school record for single-season wins with seven, a feat last achieved in 2016. The Beacons also notched a program-best six CCC victories, finishing fifth in the conference and securing a berth in the CCC tournament for the second time in three years.
Freshman standout Elidia Cervantes Carlos had one of the most impressive debut seasons in program history, scoring seven goals, a Bushnell freshman record, and earning a place on the All-CCC Second Team. She was joined on the Second Team by seniors Ana Augusto and Lexis Canyete-Asato, while senior Lorelai Murphy received honorable mention recognition.
Cross Country
The 2025 cross country season was highlighted by junior Cadence Smith, who ran 22:39 at the George Oja Invitational, the eighth-fastest 6,000-meter time in program history and the fastest in more than a decade.
The program continued to shine academically, with nine runners earning Academic All-CCC honors and eight additional student-athletes achieving NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition.
Golf
Bushnell’s golf teams made a strong impression throughout the fall season, competing in six events. The women’s team opened the year with a 345–397 victory over Corban University and went on to claim first place at the Coastal Collegiate Classic. An exciting moment in the season came when junior Morgan Schlesinger made history by recording the first hole-in-one in Beacon golf history at the College of Idaho Invitational.
On the men’s side, Bushnell began the season with a dual meet win over Corban University, 745-791, and followed with fourth-place finishes at both the Run-in at the Ranch and the Coastal Collegiate Classic.
Esports
Bushnell esports competed across multiple titles during the fall season, including Fortnite, FC 26, Madden, College Football, Rocket League, and iRacing. The season included a milestone performance in FC 26, as senior Andrew Bennett secured Bushnell’s first-ever playoff appearance. In Fortnite Zero Build play, sophomore Nick McGowen and senior Nathan Farris turned in a strong conference showing, finishing 17th out of 169 teams in the ECAC regular season and placing 23rd overall in the finals.
Support the Beacons and Stay Connected
Bushnell University encourages fans and supporters to stay updated on all Beacon athletics by visiting www.bushnellbeacons.com. Prospective student-athletes interested in attending and playing at Bushnell University should fill out a recruiting interest form for the sport they are interested in.
Explore fall season photos of any team at the Beacons photo gallery by visiting www.bushnellbeacons.pixieset.com.