Riley Osborne, right, and Mia Reveles cover the outfield during a February game against the University of Chicago. Born without a left hand and forearm, the 21-year-old calls being underestimated her “superpower,” a fact head coach Kecia Davis detected early. “I wanted that runner tagging up on third to think they could go home because I knew Riley would throw them out,” Davis said.  Photo Kendal Lanz

By Kyle Jorrey

Throughout childhood, Riley Osborne wanted one thing above all else: to blend in. Born with a partial left arm, she disdained the special attention she received from coaches, teammates, parents and sportswriters, even when it was well-intentioned.

These days, her mindset has changed.

“I’ve come to realize representation is important, and having my story out there … you never know what little kid is going to see it and get inspired like I was inspired by Jim Abbott,” she said of her hero — the former Los Angeles Angels star pitcher who was born without a right hand.

This past season, the rising senior drew plenty of attention on the diamond, not only because of her limb difference, but because of her dazzling defense in right field.

“I love making diving catches,” she said. “It’s the best.”

Michael Holland

Senior | Men’s Track & Field

Blink and you might have missed him. Michael “Mikey” Holland ended his brief but thrilling tenure at Cal Lutheran by taking 16th in the 200 meters (21.60 seconds) at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. An offseason transfer from CSU Long Beach, Holland was the first individual Kingsmen sprinter to compete at the national outdoor meet in two decades. The Chatsworth native debuted in grand fashion, running the fastest 100 meters by a Cal Lu athlete in 40 years (10.72) in just his second meet. He followed that up with a string of podium-topping performances en route to capturing the SCIAC title in the 200. Holland’s legacy will endure in the record books, where he ranks second in the 200 and third in the 100. “Only wish we'd had him for longer,” head coach Brett Halvaks said. “He was a great role model and definitely showed the freshmen what you can accomplish with hard work, drive and effort.”

Aleaha Gonzalez

First year | Women’s Water Polo

Many stars shone for the Regals in 2026, but none brighter than newcomer Aleaha Gonzalez. The utility player from Commerce, California, did a little bit of everything for Cal Lutheran (14-12), registering 48 goals, 22 steals and 16 drawn exclusions en route to being named SCIAC Newcomer of the Year and a First Team All-American. Gonzalez and the Regals went on an epic five-match winning streak to close the regular season — finishing third in the conference — before losing a 12-7 heartbreaker to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the SCIAC Tournament semifinals. CMS would wind up losing to conference rival Pomona-Pitzer in the Division III national title game. The arrow is pointed upward for Cal Lutheran water polo, especially if Gonzalez opts to stay put.

Kai Caranto

Junior | Baseball

Kai Caranto doesn’t care where he plays ... only that he plays. After spending time at third base, second base and DH his first two seasons, the Harvard-Westlake grad transitioned to shortstop this spring, filling a need and keeping his lethal bat in the lineup. “He’s a guy who puts the team first,” head coach Erik Scherer said. “It’s one of the reasons he’s ascended into a leadership role. He has a lot of pride in the program and is willing to do whatever is asked of him to see the team win.” The Castaic native batted .280 this year with a team-high 12 doubles, 12 steals and three home runs. Off the field, the sports management major carried a 3.75 GPA and was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team. Despite a 23-17 record, the Kingsmen missed postseason play for the first time since 2018, giving Caranto and his teammates plenty of motivation heading into 2027. “The moment is never too big for him,” Scherer said.

Jessica Waters

Junior | Softball

During a roller-coaster 2026 season, one thing remained constant for the Regals: Jessica Waters’ bat. The Spokane Slugger hit .337 with 22 RBIs, 18 runs scored and six doubles. Waters also clubbed six home runs, moving into second place on the team’s all-time list with 24. The data science major needs 10 round-trippers next year — a feat she accomplished as a sophomore — to break Emily Robertson’s career mark of 33, a record that has stood for nearly two decades. With head coach Kecia Davis stepping down after two seasons to resume full-time duties as director of health, wellness and performance, Waters and the rest of the Regals await news on the program’s next skipper. Whoever steps into the role can strike one item off their to-do list: choosing a cleanup hitter. “She is always a threat,” Davis said of the first baseman. “The conference knows that she can hit the ball over the fence at any time, so they don’t pitch to her a lot. Trying to get a good pitch to hit is always a bit tougher for her.”

Shawn Howie ’78, Jessica Sprouse, Chloe Smith and Director of Athletics Howard Davis grab a photo together during the Cal Lutheran Wine & Beer Walk in April. The second annual fundraiser for Cal Lutheran student-athletes drew over 350 people to campus. Photo Mia Bertone

Overcast skies couldn’t dampen the festive atmosphere at the second annual Cal Lutheran Wine & Beer Walk on April 25.

Around 350 guests — many donning purple and gold — filled the outdoor plaza between William Rolland Stadium and Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center. Attendees swapped stories of Kingsmen and Regals lore while sampling top-shelf wine and beer from more than 20 vendors whose generosity made the event possible.

Felix Wang, a member of the Cal Lutheran Community Leaders Association and chair of the Mathews Leadership Forum, said the occasion lived up to its billing.

“Personally, I would love to see the university host more events that bring alumni, supporters, students and the broader community together,” said Wang, general manager of the Best Western Plus Thousand Oaks Inn. “These types of events not only benefit CLU athletics, they elevate the university’s profile beyond the campus.”

The fundraiser brought in around $20,000 for the Victory Club, which helps cover the cost of postseason travel, new equipment, banners, apparel and extra resources for student-athletes. Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Howard Davis, who conceived the festival two years ago, said the outcome exceeded all expectations.

Track & Field

As if the hours of training and studying weren’t enough, sophomore sprinter Gracie Gervacio took on another challenge this school year — fundraising. Gervacio was among a select group of student-athletes tapped by the university to speak face-to-face with prospective donors about the importance of building an on-campus track, a $10-million project. “Most of our meets are over an hour or two away,” she said at January’s State of the University address. “Students can see football, soccer, basketball, swimming … but they’ll never be able to see an actual home meet of ours.” The additional workload didn’t slow Gervacio down on the track. She put on a show at SCIAC Championships, taking fourth in the 100 meters (12.39) and sixth in the 200 (25.85) — both top-10 times in Regals’ history.

Baseball 

Oscar Lopez has seen plenty of transfers come and go during his time at Cal Lutheran, as coaches routinely used the portal to plug holes in the bullpen. Through it all, Lopez kept grinding and maximizing every appearance on the mound — a mindset that paid off in a big way in 2026. The left-hander from Chatsworth stepped into a starting role and delivered his best collegiate season to date, going 6-4 with 48 strikeouts. While his 5.04 ERA and 30 walks leave room for improvement heading into his senior year, head coach Erik Scherer said the CSC Academic All-District selection is the consummate competitor. “He wants the ball in big situations,” Scherer said. “That’s just who he is. … He’s accountable for his actions and holds his teammates accountable as well.”

Golf

Maya Dela Rama wrapped up her four-year run with the Regals at the top of her game. The senior from San Ramon, California, competed in all nine of the team’s tournaments this season, helping Cal Lutheran to a No. 28 national ranking and a fourth-place finish at the 2026 SCIAC Championships (where she took ninth). Dela Rama saw her scoring average improve from 85 as a freshman to 77 as a senior. Off the course, she managed the program’s social media accounts. “Maya’s a lot of fun,” head coach Jeff Lindgren said. “Just a great personality ... and she puts in the time and effort. As a coach, I couldn’t ask for more.” A two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, Dela Rama majored in business administration with an emphasis on finance.

Golf

After a slow start to the season, Jackson Stitt caught fire on the back nine. The standout sophomore led the Kingsmen in scoring five times, capped by a fifth-place showing at the SCIAC Championships, where he carded an impressive 4-under 67 in the final round. The San Luis Obispo native averaged a team-best 72.7 per round, a near three-stroke improvement over his freshman campaign. Saving his best golf for the final month, the business administration major bested a field of 43 to win the SCIAC 2 Tournament in April. Between Stitt, Nick Huffman and Ryan Mattivi, head coach Jeff Lindgren has plenty of pieces to build around next fall when he kicks off his 36th season at Cal Lutheran. Stitt ended the year ranked 17th in the loaded West Region, according to Scoreboard, and was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team.

In the run-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the @CLUSports Instagram account shared that Kane Reese ’25 received a contract extension from SV 1890 Westerhausen, a professional soccer club in Germany. After graduating last year with a degree in sports management, Reese decided to take the opportunity to play abroad. In his first season in Westerhausen — a tiny village near the center of the country — Reese made six appearances. The Scottsdale, Arizona, native started 17 of 18 matches as a senior at Cal Lutheran, leading the Kingsmen with seven goals and 16 points.

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At bottom: Hundreds of guests toss their caps in unison at the conclusion of a celebration of life for Adam Rauch, held June 13 on the baseball field at Moorpark High School. The Moorpark native, who excelled on the diamond for the Kingsmen in the late 1990s, passed away May 11 from cancer at the age of 49. After college, Rauch went on to a successful career in public education, rising through the ranks from guidance counselor to principal to assistant superintendent. At top: Rauch with his wife, Brooke, and their two children, Quinn and Emerson. The baseball cap created in honor of Rauch, a lifelong Cubs fan.

The Cal Lutheran family said a far-too-early goodbye to one of its own last month: Adam Rauch, a member of the Class of 1998. Rauch, 49, died May 11 in Houston, where he had gone to receive treatment for a rare and aggressive form of cancer. His wife, Brooke, was at his side.

A star outfielder for the Kingsmen, Rauch still holds the school record for most stolen bases in a season — a mind-boggling 67 — nearly 30 years after his final game. Following graduation, Rauch played a year of minor league baseball before returning to Ventura County and taking a job with MTV. Soon after, he decided to try his hand as a guidance counselor at his alma mater, Moorpark High School. That job opportunity developed into a lifelong passion for education. Rauch went on to serve as an assistant principal, principal and district administrator, eventually returning to Cal Lutheran to get his master's in education.

At the time of his death, Rauch worked as assistant superintendent of business services for Oak Park Unified School District.

Proof of his impact — more than 500 people attended a June 13 celebration of life held in his honor on the baseball field at Moorpark High School, where Rauch played and later coached. Speakers marveled at their friend’s zest for life, his love for his family and students, his willingness to lend a hand at a moment’s notice, and his faith in Jesus Christ.

Matt Larson, senior pastor at Anthem Thousand Oaks, led the ceremony. Reading from Philippians 4:7, Larson said Rauch faced death with the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.”

“Over the last year, as I spent time with Adam, the overwhelming theme was the peace of God,” Larson said. “It didn’t matter where I saw Adam, at Ace Hardware, at the hospital, at his house or at the church, I would hear from him his deep experience of this peace that surpasses understanding.”

Among those who shared memories of Rauch: Henry Ning, a Chinese immigrant who arrived in the United States in 2003 without his parents. When his host family jettisoned him, Ning was in danger of being sent back to his home country. Rauch intervened, signing on as Ning’s legal guardian and offering him a place to stay. 

“He welcomed me in and loved me as if I was part of the family,” Ning said. “I was 17 and he was 27 ... I cannot imagine being ready to raise a teenager at that age.”

A memorial website, adamrauch.com, has been set up to allow those who were impacted by Rauch to leave a memory, share a photo, or offer words of sympathy to Brooke and the couple’s children, Quinn and Emerson.

“Adam believed deeply in the potential of every child,” the site reads. “He understood that education was not only about academics, but about shaping lives, building character and helping young people believe in themselves. His passion for making a positive impact on the youth in his community shined through in everything he did. He led with humility, compassion and integrity, always putting people first.”

Purple Reign is the official newsletter of Cal Lutheran Athletics.

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