Interim Athletic Director Elizabeth Brooks, in yellow, poses for a photo with the Kingsmen football team during preseason. (Inset) Brooks with her son Brody after the teen underwent open-heart surgery in 2025 to reduce risks tied to a genetic condition. After seven years working behind the scenes in Athletics, the one-time Regals soccer player is now leading the department. “She deserves to be where she’s at,” men's soccer head coach Miguel Ruiz said of Brooks. “I think she’s been doing a lot more than people realize.”

By Kyle Jorrey

On the windowsill of Elizabeth Brooks’ corner office sits a tattered soccer ball, its surface cracked and colors faded by nearly three decades. Closer inspection reveals a collection of players’ autographs and the inscription, “1997 SCIAC Champs.”

To Cal Lutheran’s interim athletic director, a title Brooks earned over the summer, the ball is more than a keepsake from her playing days. It’s a reminder to live life like tomorrow may never come.

A coveted recruit from nearby Moorpark High School, Brooks — then Liz Christensen — earned All-SCIAC honors her freshman year on a Regals team that won the program’s seventh consecutive conference title. The speedy forward looked every bit the future college star.

Then her life came apart at the seams.

The weight of losing her mother suddenly two years earlier became too great to bear. Mary Christensen died a week shy of her daughter’s 16th birthday, the victim of a rare genetic heart condition. Brooks, who would be diagnosed with the same condition years later, left Cal Lutheran in the spring of 1998 and didn’t come back. She’d never play competitive soccer again. The following year, she enrolled at Arizona State University and began taking classes in education. 

“I thought I was going to be a fourth-grade teacher,” she said.

But God had other plans for Brooks, whose path to becoming the university’s head of athletics is as unlikely as it is inspiring.

Tyler Woodworth

Senior | Football

Head coach Anthony Lugo’s aerial assault is operating with impunity through five games, thanks in large part to another monster season from Woodworth. A transfer from Ventura College in 2025, the defending first-team All-SCIAC wideout leads the conference in touchdowns (seven) and is second in receiving yards (427). Woodworth was nearly unstoppable (nine catches, 152 yards and two TDs) in a heartbreaking 24-22 loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in Week 4. His only real competition for the title of SCIAC’s best pass-catcher comes from teammate TeNorris Merkel. The seniors have formed a tight bond since arriving on campus together last year. “We’re constantly pushing one another to get better,” Woodworth said of Merkel. With Woodworth at 6-foot-3 and Merkel at 6-foot-4, the Kingsmen present a mismatch for any opponent.

Sawyer Frye

Sophomore | Women’s Soccer

When star midfielder Olivia Suarez went down with a torn ACL one month into the season, the Regals lost their best goal scorer. Among those who’ve done the most to help pick up the slack: a fleet-footed sophomore from Issaquah, Washington. Eleven of Frye’s team-leading 18 points (six goals, six assists) have come in Cal Lutheran’s last five matches, including a hat trick against Redlands on Sept. 30. Frye, who appeared in all 23 games in 2025, is coming into her own in the second half of the season. Still, head coach Frank Marino didn’t mince words when asked about the impact of Suarez’s absence: “From a soccer standpoint, it’s a tough one to fill,” he said. Frye, fellow midfielder Stephenie Hackett and forwards Isabella Haulman and Jessica Sprouse will be counted upon to do the bulk of the scoring come postseason. 

Paul Patterson

Junior | Men’s Water Polo

No Cal Lutheran program is winning with more local talent than men’s water polo. Head coach Tim Settem’s top contributors hail from across Ventura County, including star attacker Paul Patterson of Camarillo, a true menace in the pool. Through 18 games, Patterson — a first-team All-SCIAC selection as a sophomore — leads the conference in goals (58) and points (74). Patterson, Levi Cook (Newbury Park) and Merrick Giles (Ventura) represent the core of the Kingsmen attack. “They’re all doing a phenomenal job,” Settem said of the trio. Though Cook and Giles are team captains, Patterson and fellow junior Max Gerdeman (Carlsbad) are equally vocal leaders in the pool. “All are stand-out and step-up guys,” Settem said. “They’re in it. They’re in the culture. They’re in it for everything.” Off to a 3-1 start in conference play, Cal Lutheran has the makings of a postseason Cinderella.

Alexis Gonzalez

Sophomore | Women’s Cross Country

Bolstered by its fastest roster in recent memory, the Regals cross-country team is aiming to vault into the top five at the SCIAC Championships for the first time in over 10 years. With injuries to Summer Gelman and Sloan Pullen, Gonzalez has slid into the role of No. 1 runner with ease. The Oregon native paced Cal Lutheran in its first three competitions, including a 58th-place finish earlier this month at The Master’s Invitational, a race featuring Division I and II talent. Head coach Brett Halvaks credited Gonzalez with keeping her teammates’ spirits high while Gelman and Pullen were sidelined. “Seeing how Alexis is performing ... they’ve got to be thinking, 'Hey, once Summer and Sloan are back, we’ve got something special here, maybe we should latch onto the train.’” Still two weeks out from conference championships in Claremont, the Regals could be at 100% when it matters most. 

A Pacific Northwest native, quarterback Joe Farley is raining on the parades of opposing defenses. The junior from Seattle boasts an eye-popping 14 passing touchdowns through five games, including a 260-yard, two-TD performance against Redlands in the Smudge Pot Trophy Game, a 40-14 Kingsmen victory. Photo: Kendal Lanz

Since head coach Anthony Lugo handed him the keys to the Kingsmen offense last fall, quarterback Joe Farley has kept the accelerator to the floor, starting 15 consecutive games and registering at least one touchdown throw in 11 of them.

This year, the junior play-caller has shifted to a higher gear. Through five games, Farley leads all SCIAC passers with 14 touchdowns and 1,210 yards through the air — an average of nearly 245 a contest.

A graduate of Seattle’s Ballard High School (home of the Beavers), Farley has his two favorite targets back, Tyler Woodworth and TeNorris Merkel, and the trio makes it look easy at times. In the third quarter against the University of Puget Sound, Farley hit Merkel in stride for a 66-yard strike to go up 27-0; four plays later, he found Woodworth in the end zone from 42 yards out.

At the midpoint of the season, Cal Lutheran (3-2) is tops in the conference in passing offense and total scoring. If Farley keeps this up, the Kingsmen faithful might need to swap out their purple and gold for heavy flannel and Doc Martens. 

Get to know the “Seattle Slinger”:

Students and staff are buzzing about the brand-new California Lutheran University Gaming Center, which will serve as home base for the school’s future esports team. The center, equipped with rows of top-of-the-line GPUs and multi-screen displays, will be open for tours — and game play — throughout Homecoming weekend.

Fans returning for this weekend’s Homecoming festivities will be treated to more than exciting athletic action. The university is using the annual tradition to host a grand opening for a new esports facility and a groundbreaking for the future track.

The California Lutheran University Gaming Center inside Nygreen Hall will open to the public at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. It is the largest collegiate facility of its kind in the state.

Visitors will be able to tour the new physical home of Cal Lutheran’s upstart esports program and try their hand at a few games. Adam Lopez, director of esports, will be available to answer questions about the facility and the program, which will feature competition divisions for faculty, staff, students and community members.

“It’s tournament-ready, but it’s also ready for casual gaming,” Lopez said. “In designing (the center), we were really trying to appeal to everyone. ... You’re not going to find places like this elsewhere in California.”

Then at 11 a.m. Saturday, university leaders will gather at 3550 N. Campus Drive to provide an update on progress toward starting construction on a new track and field venue. More than two decades in the making, the future site will allow Kingsmen and Regals to compete at home for the first time since the 1980s.

Ryan Van Ommeren, associate vice president of planning and services, said the university has already received several competitive bids. The next steps are deciding on the final scope of the project and bringing in a contractor to relocate utility lines.

President John Nunes has said he hopes the venue will open in time for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Saturday’s ceremony will include light bites and refreshments.

Women’s Soccer

Hannah Gamez wants to end her Cal Lutheran career like she started it: with a national championship. The senior from Dripping Springs, Texas, has helped anchor a defense that has allowed just eight goals in 14 matches, the third fewest in the conference. Gamez and fifth-year superstar Tessa French are the Regals’ unquestioned leaders on the backline. “Hannah is just a rock,” head coach Frank Marino. “She played more minutes for us last year than anyone else and will probably do the same thing this year.” Having already tied rival Pomona-Pitzer on the road, the Purple and Gold will be in position to lock up another SCIAC title when they battle the Sagehens at home on Halloween (read more below). 

Men’s Soccer

SCIAC’s Newcomer of the Year in 2025, Shaw Nishizawa is having another solid season in Purple and Gold. Just a sophomore, the defender was chosen by his teammates as one of three captains, joining Gavin Arce and Tika Kakimoto. It speaks to his maturity and his commitment to the game, head coach Miguel Ruiz said. “I think our captains have done a great job of really trying to create a better culture this year, which I think we were lacking a little bit.” Nishizawa is one of several talented underclassmen on Ruiz’s roster. “He’s a special player," the coach said. “He’s someone we hope sticks around.” The Maple Valley, Washington, native is majoring in biology. 

Men’s Cross Country

On a squad brimming with talented young runners, Henry Gonzalez is setting the pace. The first-year was the first Kingsman to cross the finish line at last weekend’s Pomona-Pitzer Invitational, the second time he’s accomplished that feat in three meets. With the arrival of Gonzalez and fellow newcomer Julian Guignard, Cal Lutheran has the building blocks of a serious contender. “Henry has been a real bright spot for us,” head coach Brett Halvaks said. “He had some solid high school marks, but he really bought in over the summer and came in in really good shape.” Gonzalez knows winning. His alma mater — Granada Hills Charter — has won five consecutive L.A. City Section track and field championships.

Football

Blake Hurley is everywhere for the Kingsmen defense. With five games in the books, the junior inside linebacker has two interceptions and two fumble recoveries to go along with 35 tackles. Hurley and Logan Bowers (45 tackles) anchor a defense that is giving up a conference-best 17 points per game. A graduate of Portland’s Sunset High School, Hurley has been a meaningful contributor ever since stepping on the field at Cal Lutheran, bringing a mix of tireless abandon and game knowledge into every play. Hurley supplied the signature highlight in last month’s 40-14 win over rival Redlands, scooping up a fumble and racing 85 yards for the score late in the fourth quarter to send the Kingsmen faithful inside William Rolland Stadium into a frenzy.

Women’s Volleyball

The Regals’ top recruit is producing immediate returns on the court. With over half the season complete, first-year outside hitter Cienna Alvarez leads Cal Lutheran in kills (138) and is second in serving aces (17). Head coach Kellee Roesel said the Napa, California, native needed very little time to adjust to the college game. “The kid is physical,” Roesel said. “She’s gotten a lot of minutes for us.” Alvarez’s transition has been made easier by the presence of fellow freshman Kimmy Wilson, a teammate at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa. Wilson, a setter, leads the program in aces. “They’ve definitely contributed a lot in a short time,” Roesel said. A diehard Golden State Warriors fan, Alvarez is repping NorCal with pride. 

Men’s Water Polo

After one of the best individual seasons in Kingsmen history, Levi Cook is out to put an exclamation point on his Cal Lutheran legacy. The senior from Newbury Park, California, has helped the team to a 8-10 record despite a tough early-season schedule that included six Division I and four Division II opponents. Cook leads the conference with 30 assists to go along with 29 goals and 26 steals. Head coach Tim Settem praised the co-captain for his work in and out of the pool. “Levi, Paul (Patterson), Merrick Giles and Max Gerdeman are doing a phenomenal job,” he said. Cook, who ranks second among the Kingsmen’s all-time assist leaders, reached the 100-goal milestone with a score against Chapman in a 17-10 victory last week. 

Our rundown of the can’t-miss Kingsmen and Regals action at home

Members of the Cal Lutheran cross country team were asked, “How are we feeling ??” ahead of this month’s Master’s Invitational in Santa Clarita. Their answers, posted to the program’s official Instagram page (@callutheranxctf) ran the gamut, including “nervous,” “sleepy,” “excited,” “lit,” and our favorite: “jump-scared,” courtesy of junior Daniel Velasquez from Maui (shown below).

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Naomi Gipson, a former All-SCIAC forward for the Regals, is a mental performance coach in her native San Diego. After graduating from Cal Lutheran, Gipson attended Cal Baptist to get her master’s in sport and performance psychology. She opened her own practice this year. 

When Naomi Gipson ’23 looks back on her playing days for Cal Lutheran women’s basketball, one night still shines brightest: her 21st birthday.

Taking the court against Caltech, Gipson scored a season-high 22 points in a Regals victory while looking up into the stands to see her extended family, who had traveled from out of town to surprise her.

“It was one of those moments that just felt super special and intentional, on top of winning and making memories with my team,” Gipson said.

Today, the former Regals forward is channeling that same passion for competition into helping the next generation of athletes unlock their full potential — from the neck up.

After graduating early from Cal Lutheran with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a concentration in sports psychology, Gipson took her ambitions to California Baptist University. She completed an intensive 16-month master’s program in sport and performance psychology in December 2025, gaining valuable hands-on experience along the way leading team and individual workshops across Southern California collegiate programs.

Now based in San Diego, Gipson is building her own private practice as a mental performance coach, working with both team and individual clients.

Her fascination with the mental side of sports began in high school, but it crystallized during her time in Thousand Oaks. Like many student-athletes, Gipson had to navigate the grind of high-level competition, rigorous academics and the emotional toll of rehabbing serious injuries.

“I knew that sports psych was for me due to my own experiences as a high-level athlete, navigating serious injuries, my passion for sports and my interest in psychology,” she said. “The most rewarding part of working with student-athletes is witnessing the increase in their confidence when they play or speak about sports, and the joy that returns after overcoming challenges. It feels really good to be able to give back to a community I love.”

At Cal Lutheran, that perspective was shaped in large part by faculty mentors like Megan Fischer, who encouraged Gipson to pair high academic standards with self-compassion.

“She challenged me to hold myself to a high academic standard while also reminding me that taking care of myself mattered,” Gipson said. “Through her support, I learned to give myself more grace and compassion as I navigated the highs and lows of life as a college student-athlete.”

In her coaching work today, Gipson finds that confidence remains the single steepest hurdle collegiate athletes face — whether adjusting to the college pace, shaking off mistakes, or returning from physical setbacks. Her approach focuses on helping athletes identify unproductive habits and negative self-talk, replacing them with actionable routines that foster resilience and inner poise.

While she continues expanding her practice and connecting with athletes across Southern California, Gipson has set her sights on the biggest stage: serving as a mental performance coach in the WNBA.

“It is a dream to be able to work in professional sports and to represent and support women’s sports at the highest level,” she said. “However, I am excited and open to the ride it takes to get there. College athletes will always have a special place in my heart.”

Even with a full client roster, Gipson hasn’t strayed far from Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center. She follows the Regals online, checks in on game livestreams and regularly laces up her sneakers for the annual alumni game during Homecoming weekend.

Purple Reign is the official newsletter of Cal Lutheran Athletics.

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