New softball head coach Kecia Davis is in her 34th year at Cal Lutheran. Athletic Director Howard Davis approached the longtime athletic trainer ― who last coached the team in the mid-90s ― about the job last summer. She initially said no, before changing her mind. “I’m one of those let’s-do-it type of people,” she said. The results speak for themselves: the Regals are 12-3, their best start in 30 years. Photo: Logan Bury
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From head trainer to head coach |
Kecia Davis has Regals softball team in rare form |
By Kyle Jorrey Though she’d deflect the praise, first-year head softball coach Kecia Davis can’t suppress a smile when discussing the Regals’ 12-3 start — their best in almost 30 years. “It’s about confidence,” she said. “They’re having fun, they’re confident. They believe in themselves and believe in the team and that’s what’s keeping us going.”
The team’s dramatic turnaround, with essentially the same starting lineup as last year, is undeniable. Asked to assess her new coach’s performance, Regals’ star pitcher Ashlyn Flinchum said, “10 out of 10.” “For the seniors, she’s really into making this our best year,” Flinchum said. “She’s all about us having fun. And winning, it’s fun.” |
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| Devon Lewis Graduate Student | Men’s Basketball
Talk to the Cal Lutheran faithful who witnessed Lewis’ 2024-25 season up close and they’ll be the first to tell you they can’t remember anything like it. Now they have confirmation. Last week, the Pasadena native became the first Kingsmen basketball player in the program’s 64-year history to be named an NABC DIII first-team All-American. Always a gifted scorer, Lewis this year transformed into an insanely efficient one. Yet the numbers alone ― 22.3 points per game, 86 threes, 43% from three-point range ― fail to capture the magic. The team’s clear No. 1, defenses knew he was coming but couldn’t stop him. And when the game was on the line, “Dev the Deadly” didn’t disappoint. His last-second three to beat Whittier in the SCIAC Tournament semis (one of three game-winners he hit this season) will go down as one of the great shots in Kingsmen history.
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| Leo Bristow Graduate Student | Baseball
The Kingsmen appear to have struck transfer portal gold. After graduating from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey last spring, Bristow decided to use his final year of athletic eligibility at Cal Lutheran. Six weeks into the season, the hard-throwing righty is going pitch for pitch with established ace Luke Wechsler. The duo is a combined 8-0, with Bristow holding the edge in ERA (1.89 to 2.19), strikeouts (44 to 40) and batting average against (.221 to .245). In last weekend’s series against Occidental, the Sherman Oaks native struck out six in a 7-6 victory, giving up a season-high 4 earned runs in a 5-inning no-decision. Head coach Erik Scherer said Bristow has already emerged as a leader in the dugout. “He’s an excellent example for younger pitchers,” Scherer said. “He works very hard but is always smiling and having a great time on the field.”
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| Olivia Vargas Senior | Softball
Death, taxes ... and Olivia Vargas line drives. The co-captain from Fillmore is off to a blistering start at the plate, hitting .478 for the scorching-hot Regals’ offense, which is averaging a full three runs more per game than it did in 2024. A career .339 hitter at Cal Lutheran, Vargas is showing the plate discipline (six walks, .528 on-base percentage) that has made her a fixture in the three spot. On the defensive side, the third baseman has made 15 assists without an error. “Right now, given that this is my last season, I’m kind of soaking it all in,” said Vargas, who has played softball since she was 4. “I’m not putting so much pressure on myself. I’m just trying to enjoy the game and it seems to be working.”
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| Lincoln Hall Graduate Student | Swimming
Competing at the Division III Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships for the first time, Hall ― the Kingmen’s lone representative in Greensboro, N.C. ― ended his storybook Cal Lu career as an All-American. The Camarillo High School grad finished fourth in the nation in the 100-yard breaststroke, clocking a time of 53.87 in the finals (he also finished 12th in the 200 breast). SCIAC Coach of the Year Barry Schriefels gushed about the two-sport star, noting how the water polo standout improved every year as a competitive swimmer. “You get swimmers who are big stars and they make it there right away. With Lincoln, it took four years to get to this level,” Schriefels said before nationals. “He just kept working and working ... and the results followed ... that’s spectacular.”
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Summer Gelman Junior | Women’s Track and Field
The Season of Summer continues for the distance-running dynamo. Fresh off pacing the Regals cross country team, Gelman has made the transition to track and field look easy. In just her fourth meet ― she transferred to Cal Lutheran last spring ― the Agoura Hills native ran the second-fastest 5K in program history (17:46:41), finishing 17th at the Oxy Distance Carnival/Spring Break Classic. Her best 1,500-meter time of the season (4:43.80) ranks her fifth in all of Division III and her 5K time puts her in 10th. It’s not impossible to imagine a scenario where Gelman tops the podium in both races at next month’s SCIAC Championships. Said head coach Brett Halvaks: “If she’s in a race with a lap to go, she’s not losing. She just fights and fights.”
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As fearsome as Borys Horiuk is on the court for the Kingsmen volleyball team, he’s equally friendly off it. The program’s all-time leader in blocks first came to the United States with his parents and older brother in 2017 from Khreshchatyk, Ukraine. Since enrolling at Cal Lutheran in 2021, he’s come to embrace the university population as a second family. “I know everybody and everybody knows me,” he said. Photo: Logan Bury
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Towering at 6-foot-10, Kingsmen volleyball middle blocker Borys Horiuk’s height is a big advantage on the court, but not always off it. As a member of the most well-traveled team on campus, the senior from Ukraine regularly struggles to find legroom on the program’s frequent cross-country flights to face competition on the East Coast. On the court, it’s Horiuk’s opponents who are uncomfortable.
Beyond his ability to dominate at the net ― he’s 18th in Division III with 67 total blocks this year ― the 21-year-old has mastered a devastating serve; he’s currently second on the team in aces (18). If Cal Lutheran (19-6) is able to repeat as national champions, Horiuk will be a huge reason why. Here are some questions to get to know the Kingsmens’ big man in the middle: |
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Members of the inaugural Cal Lutheran women’s flag football team practice in William Rolland Stadium on March 21. Over 20 students have come out for the upstart program, which will face its first competition this weekend as the university welcomes seven teams for a two-day tournament. Photo: Kyle Jorrey |
Regals football gearing up for first test |
Cal Lutheran will host two-day tournament starting Friday |
By Kyle Jorrey
On March 21, as dawn broke over William Rolland Stadium, members of Cal Lutheran’s first-ever women’s flag football team were already hard at work.
Undeterred by the chilly morning air, the group of 20 ran through plays for head coach Brandon Alexander and assistant Glenn Gates. The two football veterans watched intently and offered instruction, trying to avoid jargon because some of the athletes are new to the sport.
“Not only are they learning technique, but the terminology,” Alexander said. “It’s like having to learn a whole new language.” Tasked with constructing the program from its foundation, Gates, a former Cal Lutheran football player, and Alexander are aiming for a transition from club status to a fully sanctioned NCAA team by spring 2027.
None of the current crop of players came to school to play football.
When Cal Lutheran unveiled its decision to launch women’s flag football in late 2024, an email circulated among the female student body seeking players for a spring intramural team. Sophomore Lucy Cassell and junior Clara De La Cerda were among those who answered the call. The pair, who grew up playing softball, soccer and basketball, are already hooked. “Low key, it’s probably my favorite sport,” Cassell said. “We practice every single morning at 6 a.m. and there’s nothing else I’d want to wake up for.” |
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The Ides of March ought to beware Lucas Danielewicz. The even-keeled outfielder is hitting .462 this month, highlighted by a three-double, five-RBI performance against Cornell College on March 8. One of 10 true seniors on this year’s roster, Danielewicz has found a home in the cleanup spot, leading the Kingsmen in hits (28), RBI (27), runs (24) and slugging percentage (.750). Coach Erik Scherer said the Illinois native, a transfer from Arizona’s Mesa Community College in 2023, has delivered one big hit after another. “He leads by example with a quiet, but fierce, competitive fire,” Scherer said. “He’s a team-first guy, does whatever we need at that time and is always excited for others’ success.”
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Jessica Waters’ penchant for the deep ball is reaching epic proportions. A year removed from leading the Regals in home runs as a freshman, the Spokane, Wash., product began the 2025 season with three long balls (and one double) in her first five hits. A month in, Waters leads SCIAC with an absurd .900 slugging percentage. During Sunday’s sweep of visiting Whitworth, the first baseman showed she’s not simply a power hitter, going 4-7 (with four singles) in the day-night doubleheader. “I have to imagine when she gets in that box, the pitcher is just shaking in her boots,” head coach Kecia Davis said. As of Tuesday, Waters is flowing: hitting .475 to go along with a team-leading four home runs and 20 RBI.
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Returning All-American Katie Knight is playing like royalty for the Regals water polo team. Through 21 matches, the fifth-year senior from Houston ranks second in the conference in goals scored (55), having already eclipsed her total from all of 2024, and is fourth in total points (67). “Katie has really come into her own to be a true dominant force, and it’s fun to watch," head coach Tim Settem said. In last Saturday’s 17-10 conference win over La Verne, Knight paced the Regals with six goals.
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Adam Cartozian is closing out his decorated Cal Lutheran career in prime form. The defending All-West Region selection shot even par to tie for second at the two-day, 14-team Kingsmen Invitational earlier this month, his second top 3 finish of the year. Cartozian (73 stroke average) currently ranks 115th among all Division III golfers, according to Scoreboard. With one event left before the SCIAC Championships (April 27-29), the Modesto native and his fellow Kingsmen have a fighting chance to qualify for the DIII Men’s Golf Championship in New York in May.
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Taylor Dominguez is turning heads. The freshman from Newbury Park earned SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors this month after placing fourth (out of 17) in the high jump at the Oxy Distance Carnival/SBC. Her leap of 1.52 meters beat all other Division III competitors. Though pole vault hasn’t been her best event to date, the biology major has the potential to be one of the Regals’ all-time greats, head coach Brett Halvaks said. In just her second meet, the Pomona-Pitzer All Comers, Dominguez cleared 3.35 meters, which remains the third best vault among SCIAC women this year ― and third best in program history. “We’re definitely looking forward to what she can do come conference championships,” Halvaks said.
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It took Malina Diaz nine contests to match her goal total (28) from 2024. After a slow start, the senior shifted into high gear, netting 20 goals in a three-game stretch (all victories) between March 8 and 15, earning SCIAC Lacrosse Athlete of the Week. At the midpoint of the season, the Moorpark native leads the Regals (5-5) in goals (34), shots on goal (69) and points (42). First-year head coach Mac McDonough praised the 5-foot-6 attacker, who played high school lacrosse for Agoura. “Malina is a hustler,” she said. “Her athleticism and drive are the main contributors to her success. She is a great leader and a momentum changer for our team.”
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Our rundown of the can’t-miss action at home |
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Backdrop: Off to a sizzling start, the Kingsmen (15-5) remain two behind first-place La Verne in the conference standings. Winners of 16 straight, the 18-1 Leopards are the talk of the West region, having outscored their opponents 178-65. Don’t expect the purple and gold to act impressed. The Kingsmen have split their last 10 with La Verne and are playing terrific in all facets. The three-game series ― the opener played here in T.O. ― will feature five of SCIAC’s top seven pitchers by ERA: Leo Bristow, Luke Wechsler and Frank Willius for Cal Lu and Ethan Galindo and Matthew DesMarets for La Verne. Photo: Logan Bury
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Softball vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps |
Backdrop: It’s early, but the 2025 Regals (12-3) look like a whole new team under first-year head coach Kecia Davis. Cal Lutheran’s senior-laden roster has outscored opponents 113-39 through 15 games. Things are about to get a whole lot tougher. After a home doubleheader against No. 2-ranked Linfield (Oregon), the Regals welcome rival CMS for a key three-game series. The Athenas will be set on revenge after CLU knocked them out of last year’s SCIAC Tournament. Keep an eye on sweet-hitting sophomore Danielle Diaz (.608 on-base percentage), who may be the toughest out in the conference right now. Photo: Logan Bury
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Women’s Lacrosse vs. Redlands |
Backdrop: It’s been a season of highs and lows for Regals lacrosse. Cal Lutheran’s five wins ― already the most in program history ― have come by an average of 11 goals; its five losses, by an average of 12. About to enter the thick of the SCIAC slate, the team still has plenty of time to build on its successes under first-year head coach Mac McDonough. Avenging an early-season 17-7 defeat to Redlands would be a great place to start. Goalie Bella Bravo currently leads the conference in saves (92) and goals against (118), proof the Regals defense needs to improve. Midfielder Josie Oparanaku has come on as of late, scoring 18 goals in her last six games. Photo: Logan Bury
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Women’s Water Polo vs. CMS |
Backdrop: Tim Settem may not be Ted Lasso but he’s got the same message: BELIEVE. The head coach put the Regals through a gauntlet of DI and II opponents in hopes the experience would have them believing in themselves come conference play. With only SCIAC opponents left on the slate, Cal Lutheran (9-12, 3-3) will see if the strategy pays off. After knocking off La Verne last weekend, they get Occidental (March 29), Redlands (April 2) and then CMS, a team they haven’t beaten since 2019. Senior Day is the perfect time to exercise those demons. Look for goalie Izzy de Souza to do better than the 18 goals she allowed to the Athenas on March 12. Photo: Logan Bury
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The Cal Lutheran men’s basketball team took full advantage of their time in Texas for the Division III NCAA Tournament. In town to face Hardin-Simmons, the Kingsmen experienced all the Lone Star State had to offer, chowing down on barbecue, attending a rodeo, shopping at Buc-ee’s and even getting a tour of NRG Stadium (home of the Houston Texans) courtesy of Cal Lutheran alum Cory Undlin (see more below). Head coach Russell White was kind enough to document the team’s southern adventures on X.
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At left, former classmates, Houston Texans defensive passing game coordinator Cory Undlin and Cal Lutheran men’s basketball head coach Russell White, grab a selfie together during a meetup in March. At right, Undlin on the sidelines last season for the Texans. Photo Courtesy of Houston Texans |
About to begin his 22nd season as a coach in the NFL, Cory Undlin ’94, MBA ’07, says relationships keep him coming back. “Twenty-one years and only been to the Super Bowl three times, and I talk to all the people who were not on those three SB teams as much as the ones that were fortunate to make it,” said Undlin, defensive passing game coordinator for the Houston Texas. “I value each of those relationships more than winning any game. If there is a chance to help someone become better on the field or off, that’s the same as winning a championship.”
An All-SCIAC safety in his playing days, Undlin spent four years at Cal Lutheran before joining the coaching staff under then-head coach Scott Squires. In 2004, the Minnesota native was coaching at Fresno State when he caught the eye of New England’s Bill Belichick, who gave him his first NFL job. Fast forward two decades and Undlin has stalked the sidelines with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and now, the Texans.
The self-described “crazy adventure” would have not have been possible without his wife, Amy.
“She has moved our family eight times and raised all three children while I was gone and working in a new place,” he said. “God also blessed us with three amazing young adults and I feel pretty confident that each of them would say it wasn’t always easy, but each consecutive move taught them how to adapt and has shaped them in some way for the better as they continue to grow.”
Undlin said he still keeps in touch with several Cal Lutheran contacts, including a few who still live here in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park. As of yet, he has no plans for retirement.
“I can imagine doing a lot of other things, but the relationships keep me in this profession,” he said. “New players, new teams every year give you a chance to help someone get better, gain confidence in themselves and when you see them succeed then it all makes it worth it.”
Cory and Amy make their year-round home in Montana. His oldest, Caden, will graduate in May from the University of Miami, where he was on the coaching staff as a student assistant. His daughter Brooke will be attending the University of Arizona in the fall and his youngest, Taylor, is a freshman in high school. “We’re very proud parents, to say the least,” Undlin said. |
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