Linebacker Blake Hurley, 2024 SCIAC Newcomer of the Year, is one of several impact players back for Cal Lutheran this season. The Kingsmen launched their 2025 campaign in dramatic fashion, staging an 18-15 comeback victory over Pacific Lutheran last Saturday. Following a bye this weekend, the team will travel to Tacoma, Washington, on Sept. 20 to face Puget Sound. Photo CLU Athletics |
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2025 Kingsmen roster is large in more ways than one |
By Kyle Jorrey Vibes are high to start the year for Kingsmen football. So is the head count.
With over 140 players, including 34 seniors, suiting up for practice, the program has more than tripled in size since 2022. Anthony Lugo, now in his fifth season as head coach, credits the increase to recruiting a particular brand of student-athlete, one more likely to remain committed for four seasons.
“It’s all about getting the right guys, guys who want to be here for the right reasons: No. 1, to graduate; No. 2, to play some really good football; and No. 3, to find their passion,” Lugo said.
Among those “right guys” are a trio of senior captains who, Lugo said, define what Cal Lutheran football is all about: linebacker Arthur Orta, defensive end Devon Goosby and center Gavin Quiroz. All three are three-year starters; Orta is a rare three-time captain. “They get it done in the classroom and obviously on the football field,” Lugo said. |
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| JD Sumlin Senior | Football
In what is arguably the deepest Cal Lutheran backfield in years, Sumlin stands out from the pack. The Lancaster native ― whom teammates call “Cuatro” because he wears No. 4 ― sealed the Kingsmen’s season-opening victory over Pacific Lutheran with a game-winning, 12-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. Sumlin and backfield mate Mehki Delouth combined for 91 rushing yards running behind a massive offensive line that features Gavin Quiroz (6-foot, 300 pounds), Jordan Ortiz (6-4, 295), Gabriel Anguiano (6-1, 320) and Aaron Galicia (6-1, 300). Quiroz described Sumlin, Delouth and returning starter Gabe Landless as a “three-headed dragon.” “I don’t think the SCIAC’s ready for this running game,” said Quiroz, a 2024 First Team All-SCIAC selection.
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Jessica Sprouse Sophomore | Women’s Soccer
Facing a defense with several new starters, the Regals’ hopes of another postseason run may rest on their ability to find the back of the net with regularity. That challenge is embraced by players like Sprouse, who delivered the decisive late goal in last Saturday’s 1-0 victory against No. 23 Pacific Lutheran. Head coach Frank Marino anticipates the Sonoma County native will be a key contributor to the program’s success. “I think with a year under her belt, she’s going to do tremendous things for us,” Marino said. The speedy 5-foot-5-inch forward is one of several underclassmen expected to play meaningful minutes for Cal Lutheran, which is just one season removed from winning a national championship.
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Alejandro Loza Senior | Men’s Soccer
The Kingsmen’s top-returning scorer, Loza, aims to lead the program to its first SCIAC Tournament Championship in eight years. A Ventura native, he was a model of efficiency in 2024, scoring four goals on just nine shots in limited action. Head coach Miguel Ruiz said his co-captain is one of several seniors who have gone above and beyond to improve team cohesiveness, even creating a buddy system that paired freshmen with upperclassmen. “That was their idea. … I had nothing to do with it,” Ruiz said. In a potential preview of the season ahead, Loza recorded the team’s first goal of 2025 in a 3-1 road win over Soka University last week. Local fans will have to be patient: the Kingsmen’s next home game isn’t until Sept. 24.
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Tarin Rueckert Junior | Women’s Volleyball
With no player taller than 6 feet, the 2025 Regals lack height, but they more than make up for it in tenacity. Leading that charge is 5-foot-9-inch middle blocker Rueckert, who has wreaked havoc on opponents early in the season, recording 34 kills and a team-leading 10 blocks. After switching positions over the summer, the junior from Buena Park has played in every set for the 4-1 Regals. Head coach Kellee Roesel, who is in her 20th year coaching Cal Lutheran volleyball, said it’s student-athletes like Rueckert who keep her coming back. “The kids are how I stay motivated. They’re just so dedicated,” Roesel said. “They know the wins and losses are a product of us working hard and great effort.”
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Katie Bell is Cal Lutheran’s new associate athletic director. The Chapman University grad spent the last three years in Brooklyn working for St. Joseph’s University. Bell said she missed the beaches and the burritos, most. |
There’s a fresh face around the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center.
Katie Bell was hired over the summer to serve as associate athletic director and senior woman administrator. The Chapman University graduate and former college soccer standout spent the last three years at Brooklyn’s St. Joseph’s University, a fellow Division III institution.
Athletic Director Howard Davis called the Sunnyvale, California, native a fantastic addition to the Cal Lutheran family.
“Katie’s experience, personality and work ethic clearly made her the best fit for Regals and Kingsmen Athletics,” he said. Here are a few questions to get acquainted with the athletic department’s new No. 2: |
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The Victory Club Golf Tournament will take place in November at Moorpark Country Club. |
Victory Club goes swinging for support
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Fun day on local course will raise funds for Cal Lutheran athletics |
Step aside Happy Gilmore. Cal Lutheran sports boosters are hitting the links this fall. The Victory Club Golf Tournament will be held Monday, Nov. 17, at Moorpark Country Club.
Women’s soccer head coach Frank Marino has taken the reins of the long-running fundraiser, which was last held in 2023. “The entire Cal Lutheran athletics department is indebted to Coach Marino for his persistence and work to get this event back to profitability,” said Howard Davis, associate vice president and athletic director.
Relaunched in 2024, the Victory Club is dedicated to enhancing the Cal Lutheran student-athlete experience. Funds are used for everything from back-to-school barbecues and pool parties to postseason travel costs and new equipment.
“With our fiscal challenges, we want to preserve and enhance the student-athlete experience,” Davis said. “This golf tournament will allow us to do the special things these young men and women deserve.”
The Victory Club Tournament is a Texas Scramble format featuring multiple opportunities to win prizes, including a putting contest, longest-drive contest and closest-to-the-pin contest. To get the competitive juices flowing, the top two scoring foursomes will receive a special award.
The event begins at 8:30 with breakfast, followed by a 10 a.m. shotgun start. At the conclusion of play, attendees will be treated to a happy hour and hot hors d’oeuvres in the clubhouse.
Individual entry is $250; foursomes are $900 before Nov. 1 and $1,000 after. Non-golfers who would like to attend can pay separately for breakfast ($15), lunch ($20) and happy hour/appetizers ($35). A variety of sponsorships is also available. |
Inductees represent the best of the best |
By Kyle Jorrey The hallowed halls of the Cal Lutheran Hall of Fame are about to get a little longer. Five individuals and an entire team ― the 2015 women’s volleyball squad ― will be bestowed the highest honor a university athlete can achieve. This year’s inductees are:
Nick Boggan ’13. A two-time All-American, Boggan is one of the most elite sluggers in Kingsmen baseball history. In his historic senior season, the first baseman hit .412, knocked 13 home runs and recorded 67 RBIs (a CLU record to this day). Boggan appeared in 150 games for the purple and gold, fourth most all-time, and remains among the program’s career leaders in RBIs (first, 157), hits (second, 199) and home runs (second, 29).
Joy (Cyprian ’10) Buechler. Cyprian is one of the most decorated athletes in Regals water polo history. A two-time All-American, the fearless attacker played an instrumental role in helping the team win national titles in 2007 and 2010, graduating as the program’s all-time leader in goals (223) and assists (143). Cyprian was also a standout student, earning the Cal Lutheran Scholar-Athlete of the Year award in 2010.
Butch Eskridge ’77. A dual-sport standout, Eskridge left an indelible mark on both Kingsmen football and basketball. On the gridiron, he was a three-year starter at both wide receiver and punter who, in 1975, helped lead the team to an appearance in the NAIA Division II national championship game. On the hard court, the point guard served as the squad’s floor general for three seasons, earning a spot in the 1976 NAIA District III All-Star Game. For his toughness and leadership, Eskridge received the Davey Spurlock Fighting Heart Award in his senior year.
Michelle Lawrence ’17. A transfer from the University of Colorado, Lawrence maximized her three seasons with the Regals volleyball team. Named an All-American each year, the Northern California native was the dominant force in the program’s memorable 2015 run to its first-ever national championship. That year, Lawrence won SCIAC Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Regional Tournament. Despite her abbreviated time in the program, Lawrence still ranks among the program’s all-time leaders in kills and blocks.
Lynn Thompson ’66. A four-year letter winner in both football and baseball, Thompson was a true two-sport standout during the early years of Kingsmen athletics. On the gridiron, he was a versatile two-way starter, earning numerous honors, including the Davey Spurlock Fighting Heart Award in his senior season. On the baseball diamond, he was a consistent force, batting over .300 in all four of his seasons and serving as team captain.
2015 Regals Volleyball. Coach Kellee Roesel’s 2015 squad made history by becoming the first Cal Lutheran team to win an NCAA national championship. Led by an all-star roster, including All-American Michelle Lawrence and All-Region selection Sarah Pappas, the team finished 31-5. They capped off their unforgettable season with a dominant performance at the NCAA Championships, culminating in a three-set sweep over Wittenberg (Ohio) in the finals. Come and celebrate greatness
An induction ceremony is slated for Homecoming Weekend (6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17) inside the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center. Tickets are $85 per person or $800 for a table of 10, and include dinner and drinks.
Howard Davis, associate vice president and athletic director, said the event will bring together Kingsmen and Regal sports greats, past and present, as well as alumni, families and fans. “We’ve got a terrific evening planned to celebrate these amazing athletes and what they meant to Cal Lutheran,” Davis said. |
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Student-athletes make a splash to kick off the year |
New and returning athletes gathered at the Samuelson Aquatics Center this week for some fun in the sun |
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Our rundown of the can’t-miss action at home |
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Men’s Water Polo vs. Santa Barbara |
Backdrop: Despite a single win at the season-opening Inland Empire Tournament, the Kingsmen played admirably against Division I and II competition. Cal Lutheran averaged 10 goals per game, capping the two-day event with a hard-fought 13-9 victory over Biola. Head coach Tim Settem’s squad aims to build on its .500 season (14-14) in 2024. Nothing would jumpstart that campaign like an upset victory over the Division I Gauchos, a program the Kingsmen have yet to defeat in seven attempts. The offense is powered by two local players: junior Levi Cook of Newbury Park and sophomore Paul Patterson of Camarillo, who have combined for 18 of the team’s 39 goals. On defense, the purple and gold look to 6-foot-4 senior Jack Bradbury from La Grange, Illinois, to set the tone. Photo: Logan Bury
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Women’s Volleyball vs. UC Santa Cruz |
Backdrop: Expect the Regals to show off their hard-hitting style for the home crowd as they host the 16th annual Cal Lu Fornia Invitational this weekend. After starting Saturday with Linfield ― coached by CLU alum Jenna Street ’10 ― the Banana Slugs await. Though the Regals dominate the all-time series 16 to 4, Santa Cruz has won four out of the last five. Head coach Kellee Roesel’s scrappy squad is utilizing a 6-2 formation, keeping two setters and six hitters on the court at all times. “We’ve got good right-side hitters who are good blockers, so it lends itself to that,” Roesel said of the system. Outside hitter Kennedy Smith, a sophomore from Spokane, Washington, has been a pleasant surprise for the 4-1 Regals, leading the team with 45 kills. Sophomore Kaylee Clayton and senior Kylee Grimm are two other players to watch. Photo: CLU Athletics
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Women’s Soccer vs. Pomona-Pitzer |
Backdrop: The Regals open this year’s SCIAC slate against their longtime nemesis from the Inland Empire. Cal Lutheran is just 2-6-2 against the Sagehens in their last 10 meetings, including two defeats in 2024 decided by one goal each. But don’t count the purple and gold out. The 2023 national champs are brimming with gamers, starting with the return of midfielders Ashley Escamilla, Olivia Suarez and Hana Sawan. Tessa French leads a retooled defense buoyed by two battle-tested goalkeepers, Kelsey Slaugh and Kira Kasarda. Head coach Frank Marino called the team’s first week of practice one of the best he’s seen in his 16 years. “We’re young, so how quickly those younger players can get comfortable at the collegiate level and contribute, that’s going to play a big role (in our success).” Photo: CLU Athletics
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Backdrop: After spending three weeks on the road to start the season, the Kingsmen will return to Thousand Oaks later this month to face Chapman in their home and conference opener. Cal Lutheran beat the Panthers 2-0 in T.O. last year but fell 2-1 in the first round of the SCIAC Tournament. Head coach Miguel Ruiz is counting on a better defensive effort from the Kingsmen after the program gave up nearly two goals a match in 2024. The group is led by center back Jack Gominiak, a senior and co-captain, and senior goalie Isaak Tanaka. Offensively, look out for contributions from fifth-year senior Jackson Endsley. “He looks good this year, so we’re excited about him starting to put some balls into the back of the net,” Ruiz said. Senior Tika Kakimoto tallied the team’s lone goal in a 3-1 loss to The Master's University on Thursday. Photo: CLU Athletics
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Regals soccer is serious about filling the stands. Their social media team capitalized on the biggest celebrity news of the year — the engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce — to promote their home opener against Fredonia State on Aug. 30. Subsequently, a solid defensive effort (1-0) left their opponent with a “Blank Space” in the score column. |
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Tyler Sherard, who played three seasons at fullback for Kingsmen soccer, is now a firefighter in training with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. The son of a police officer/SWAT team member and grandson of a firefighter, Sherard has first responding in his blood: “From a young age, I knew I wanted to follow in their footsteps and pursue a career where I could make a real impact on people’s lives.” |
Former SCIAC Defensive Player of the Year Tyler Sherard is mastering a whole new kind of defense these days: fire defense. The one-time Kingsmen soccer star is a probationary firefighter with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, a 1,200-person agency responsible for a city of 1.4 million. Less than a year on the job, Sherard already has battled a fully-engaged house fire and provided medical aid to a critically injured gunshot victim.
Sherard, 24, played five seasons in purple and gold, earning All-SCIAC honors twice. In 2022, he had the unique distinction of leading the team in goals (5) while playing defense.
“One of my best memories from my time at (Cal Lutheran) was being able to step on the field every day and play the game I love alongside some of my best friends,” he said. “Those moments are ones I’ll always cherish.”
Sherard, who is engaged to his high school sweetheart, Krista Eberle, commutes each day from Chula Vista to various stations around San Diego. He hopes to complete his probationary period this spring and make a career as a firefighter/paramedic.
“One of the most exciting parts of the job is that we never know what the next call will be — whether it’s a structure fire, vegetation fire, car accident, vehicle rescue, cliff rescue or medical emergency,” he said. “We’re ready to respond 24 hours a day.” Sherard said lessons he learned on the pitch helped prepare him for his high-stakes role. “The fireground reminds me a lot of playing soccer — little mistakes are bound to happen, but the job (or the game) keeps moving forward,” he said. “What matters most is letting go of those mistakes quickly and staying focused on what comes next.
“Coach Ruiz always believed in me and trusted me, even as a freshman. That confidence allowed me to play freely, and the leadership roles he put me in helped shape me into a better leader in everything I do today.” |
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© 2025 California Lutheran University |
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