2026 USSU Athletics Year in Review

United States Sports University to Join NAIA

USSU received its acceptance into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in April. The Eagles will become full members of the NAIA effective July 1, 2026.

The Eagles will join the Continental Athletic Conference in 2026-27 and plan to enter the Southern States Athletic Conference in 2027-28.

“As a university dedicated to educating sports professionals for more than five decades, we launched our intercollegiate athletics program with a clear and abiding purpose — to graduate student-athletes who are service-oriented, driven by strong character, and representative of the very best this institution has to offer,” said USSU President Dr. Steven Condon. “The NAIA is an exceptional fit for our university, providing outstanding competitive and educational opportunities across all of our programs. I am pleased to stand alongside our coaches and athletic director in enthusiastic support of our NAIA membership, and I look forward with great confidence to everything it will mean for the future of athletics at this institution.”

“We are incredibly honored to be accepted into the NAIA and join a membership defined by integrity, competition, and a true commitment to the student-athlete experience,” USSU Athletic Director Shealynn Miller said. “This is a tremendous step forward for our athletic department, creating elevated opportunities for competition while strengthening our ability to compete both regionally and nationally. The NAIA’s education-focused mission and Champions of Character values align seamlessly with who we are and what we strive to provide for our student-athletes. As an association built on the belief in the ‘Right Way to Play,’ the NAIA represents exactly the type of environment we want for our programs. We believe this will be a great home for our student-athletes to grow, compete, and succeed alongside institutions that share our commitment to character and excellence.”

Men’s Track & Field Wins First USCAA National Championship

The United States Sports University men’s track and field team captured its first USCAA National Championship in program history, scoring 207 points to dominate the field at the 2026 USCAA Small College Track & Field National Championships.

The Eagles more than doubled the point total of the next closest competitor, with SUNY-ESF finishing second with 85 points, as USSU combined record-breaking performances, sprint dominance and field event excellence to secure one of the most commanding victories in meet history.

Highlights included nine individual national champions, two relay national championships, 22 podium finishes, six broken meet records, two multi-event champions and a podium sweep in the men’s 200m.

Baseball Named No. 4 Seed in USCAA Small College World Series

The USSU baseball team made its first postseason appearance after earning the No. 4 seed in the 2026 USCAA Small College World Series. The Eagles finished the regular season with a 23-19 record, marking the most regular-season wins in program history.

Baseball Earns First Postseason Victory in Program History

Victor Tyo’s clutch performance led the Eagles to their first postseason victory in program history on day two of the USCAA Small College World Series. USSU defeated Central Penn 8-7 to secure the historic win.

After the Knights loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning, Tyo entered the game and recorded three-straight outs, including back-to-back strikeouts, to get the Eagles out of a jam and swing the momentum.

Washo Represents USSU in Postseason Debut

Hamilton Washo represented USSU in its postseason debut at the USCAA Small College Cross Country National Championships. He finished the 8k in 30:11.0, earning him 10^th place individually.

Washo earned Second-Team All-American honors for his performance. The national championship appearance marked the first in school history.

Men’s Soccer Records First Win Over NCAA Opponent in School History

After a challenging stretch to open the season, the United States Sports University men’s soccer team broke through, earning their first win over an NCAA opponent in school history at Huntingdon College with a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

After falling behind early 1-0, USSU responded in the second half, leveling the match in the 78th minute on a goal by Kidomo Albert, assisted by Henry McMurphy. Just minutes later, in the 82nd, Kipper Miller secured the lead with another goal, this time assisted by Albert, giving USSU their first lead of the game and ultimately the win.

Softball Collects First Ranked NAIA Win

The United States Sports University softball team earned its first victory against a ranked NAIA opponent when it defeated No. 25 Faulkner 5-2 in game two of the doubleheader on March 21.

USSU opened the scoring in the third inning. Morgan Courtney singled and later scored on an RBI double by Kassidy (Rowdy) New. Beene followed with an RBI groundout to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Faulkner answered with two runs in the fifth, capitalizing on a pair of errors to tie the game at 2-2.

The game remained tied until the ninth when the Eagles broke through with three runs. Irina Sanford doubled and scored on an RBI single by New. Beene followed with a single, and Victoria Nunez reached on an error that allowed another run to score. Isabelle Calagaz added an RBI groundout to extend the lead to 5-2.

Volleyball Records First Win of its Inaugural Season

The Eagles women’s volleyball team experienced their first program win during their inaugural season. USSU put together a commanding 3-0 victory over Trinity College of Jacksonville in September.

The Eagles displayed balanced play across offense, defense, and serve-receive, controlling each set and limiting the opponent’s opportunities. Standout performers included Jeya Dupris, who contributed significantly with 23 assists and 7 kills; Emmory McMurtray, who anchored the back row with 9 dig total and added 12 key kills; and Oriana Morin, who each tallied 17 digs to support the team defensively.

Women’s Soccer Opens with 3-0 Shutout Against Blue Mountain

The Eagles opened the year with a 3-0 shutout against Blue Mountain, marking the first shutout of an NAIA opponent in program history in their first match as a postseason-eligible squad.

Ansley Warner broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute, scoring her first goal of the season and giving the Eagles the momentum they needed. Warner struck again in the 75th minute, this time on an assist from Katherine Solis, doubling the lead. Just three minutes later, Solis added a goal of her own when she calmly converted a penalty kick to seal the 3–0 result.

The Eagles went on to earn four total shutouts over the course of the season.

End-of-Season USCAA Highlights

This year, USSU Athletics continued its rise on the national stage, earning three victories over NCAA opponents and producing 37 USCAA All-Americans. The university also received the USCAA Coaching Staff of the Year award for Men’s Track & Field, recognizing Andy Canegitta, Gabor Mate, and Latavia Jack for their leadership and success throughout the season. Additionally, Dominick Hartman earned a spot on the USCAA Small College World Series All-Tournament Team, capping off a year that saw Eagles teams and student-athletes make their mark in conference, regional, and national competition.

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