Getting to Know … T.J. Hodges
Athletics, Student Success - Fall 2016AGE: 20
HOMETOWN: Phoenix, Ariz.
MAJOR: Accounting
A CINDERELLA STORY: Despite the fact that he had been a member of a highly successful prep cross-country program (Phillips Exeter Academy), Hodges didn’t draw much interest … Read More
Playing in the Moment
Athletics, Student Success - Summer 2016SOFTBALL CATCHER MARY GRABOWSKI SAYS THE GAME IS HER LIFE
When Softball Coach Melissa McElvain recruited high school standout catcher Mary Grabowski five years ago, it was a big deal. McElvain’s catcher at the time would be … Read More
Meet Bryson Brigman
Athletics, Student Success - Summer 2016AGE: 20
HOMETOWN: San Jose, Calif.
SUPERLATIVES: Brigman announced his presence with authority during his freshman campaign with the Toreros, posting an impressive .339 batting average and earning WCC Freshman of the Year honors. The best part? He’… Read More
Nothing but Net
Athletics - Spring 2016WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH CINDY FISHER IS TENACITY, PERSONIFIED
The girl, all of 7 or 8 years old, would walk outside her Cheyenne, Wyo., home, put chalk to cement, designing basketball plays. Then she would pick up her basketball … Read More
Meet Lamont Smith
Athletics - Fall 2015AGE: 40
HOMETOWN: Colony, Texas
BONA FIDES: After finishing his playing career at USD in 1999, Lamont Smith began a 16-year run as an assistant coach, with stops at St. Louis University, Saint Mary’s, Santa Clara, Arizona … Read More
All the Right Moves
Athletics, Student Success - Fall 2015CORNERBACK DEVYN BRYANT WANTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD
Junior University of San Diego cornerback Devyn Bryant is a mechanical engineering major. He selected the specialty, in part, because his mother is a researcher for a pharmaceutical company and … Read More
The Precisionist
Athletics, Student Success - Spring 2016TENNIS STANDOUT UROS PETRONIJEVIC KEY TO TEAM’S SUCCESS
Newly minted USD Men’s Tennis Head Coach Ryan Keckley had only been on the job a few weeks when he figured out the winning recipe for the upcoming 2015… Read More
Meet the Taylor Sisters
Athletics, Student Success - Spring 2016AGE: Jackie (left), 21; Danielle (right), 18
MAJORS: Jackie, biology; Danielle, undeclared
HOMETOWN: San Ramon, Calif.
BIG FINS TO FILL: Older sister Jackie Taylor has firmly established herself as USD swimming and diving royalty, as she … Read More
By Leaps and Bounds
Athletics, Student Success - Fall 2015THINGS ARE HEATING UP FOR POWERHOUSE LAUREN SCHAD
There are sounds distinctive to sports. When bat squarely meets baseball, crack echoes throughout the ballpark. Swish is for basketball, a shot from deep distance that … Read More
The Stuff of Dreams
Athletics, Student Success - Summer 2015PITCHER TAYLOR KACZMAREK IS DETERMINED TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY DAY
The dream goes like this … USD pitcher Taylor Kaczmarek stands atop the mound, peering toward his catcher. The fastball touches 90 mph.
The breaking ball … Read More
Meet Chris Anderson
Athletics, Student Success - Spring 2015AGE: 22.
HOMETOWN: Anaheim Hills, Calif.
SUPERLATIVES: USD’s all-time leader in assists (560 entering the 2014-15 season), and assists in a season (216; 2013-14) Anderson is likely to shatter the school record for career steals this year. Not … Read More
A Global Game
Athletics, Student Success - Spring 2015USD WOMEN’S TENNIS PROGRAM A MELTING POT
It’s hard not to notice how much fun Shani Blecher and Colomba DiFilippo are having on a sun-splashed afternoon at USD’s Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center. The … Read More
Meet Kim Cupini
Athletics - Fall 2014AGE: 33
HOMETOWN: Rochester, NY.
SUPERLATIVES: A five-time West Coast Conference (WCC) coach of the year in women’s rowing, Cupini led the Toreros to the program’s first-ever NCAA National Championships appearance in 2014. As a three-time … Read More
Exactly Opposite
Athletics - Fall 2014EXCEPTIONAL USD RECEIVERS THRIVE ON THEIR DIFFERENCES
If you’ve spent any time at Torero Stadium over the past few seasons watching USD football’s prolific passing attack wreak havoc on opposing defenses, consider yourself fortunate. After all, … Read More
