The Sidelines

The RMAC celebrates the beginning of the 2026 Men's Basketball Tournament with three-time RMAC Player of the Week, Stewart Erhart of Fort Lewis College. As one of just two players on the Skyhawks roster when head coach, Jordan Mast, was hired, Stewart demonstrated loyalty and trust to a historically successful program, which has now started a new generation of talent and leadership. Before his time at Fort Lewis, Stewart was a two-time Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year from Alaska, proudly representing his family and Native American roots and introducing him to the opportunity to carry on his career at Fort Lewis. Episode 67 highlights Stewart's Native American culture and the sense of community he's felt during his time at Fort Lewis, which ties directly to the institution's mission of serving Indigenous students. Tune in tonight at 6:00pm MT as the Skyhawks take on the Adams State Grizzlies in the RMAC Men's Basketball Tournament quarterfinals.

It's officially tournament week for RMAC basketball! To kick off an exciting night of quarterfinal matchups, The Sidelines: Episode 66 catches up with graduate student, Elaina Watson, and sophomore, Jada Price, of the Adams State Grizzlies. Beyond their shared love for basketball, Elaina and Jada share journeys filled with injuries and health challenges that easily could have ended their basketball careers. As discussed in Episode 66, however, both of them used these roadblocks as motivators to push beyond what even doctors thought was feasible, while leaning on their incredible support systems, teammates and Coach Mario. Tune in for an inspiring episode that puts basketball into perspective and sets the stage for a determined Adams State women's basketball team to take the court tonight against the MSU Denver Roadrunners.

The stage is set for the 2026 RMAC Indoor Track and Field Championships in Gunnison, CO. The highly anticipated championships will not only feature the highest collegiate indoor track in the world, but also three of the nation's top 20 Division II track and field programs this year. Episode 65 highlights Allison Beasley, an All-American distance and steeplechase student-athlete from Western Colorado, as she shares what it means to her and her teammates to get to bring the RMAC Championships to their home facility. As she wraps up her senior season this spring, Allison reflects on the supportive running community she's been surrounded with her entire life, while also looking forward to the software engineering position she has lined up after graduation. Tune in to help celebrate Allison's storied career at Western Colorado, and prepare for a weekend of the nation's best track and field programs battling for the conference crown.

Division II's oldest football rivalry, the Black Hills Brawl, takes the ice this Saturday, February 21, as the Rapid City Rush face off with the Worcester Railers for a three-game home series in Rapid City, SD. The Rapid City Rush, now led by President Jared Reid and Head Coach, Dave Smith, has offered a consistent source of entertainment and camaraderie to the Black Hills sports community for the past 18 years. This year, the local ECHL professional squad takes their community contributions a step further, by celebrating the rivalry of Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines. In Episode 64, Coach Smith joins Black Hills State athletics director, Mark Nore, and South Dakota Mines athletics director, David Crum, to share the importance of the longstanding traditions and competitiveness this rivalry has sparked in the region for decades. Following the game Saturday, the Rapid City Rush will be auctioning off the South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State special jerseys, worn by the players, further supporting both athletics departments and capturing the power of sport through community. Purchase your tickets for Saturday's 7:05pm puck drop at rapidcityrush.com.

The RMAC's next championship event, the 2026 RMAC Swimming and Diving Championships, highlights one of the most dominate swimming and diving programs in the country in Colorado Mesa. One of the Mavericks' seniors, Ryan Campbell, joins Episode 63 to offer some insight into the impressive sport of diving. Ryan, a repeat RMAC Diver of the Week, and last year's RMAC Diver of the Year, accredits much of his success to the development he gained through junior college, explaining that oftentimes, competing at a high level in Division II doesn't always occur on a linear path. Ending his career at Colorado Mesa has shown Ryan what a true college community looks like, and has encouraged him to take each dive and each opportunity to compete as a privilege. As Ryan sets his sights on a National Championship this season, the RMAC is excited to celebrate him, and the rest of the competitors, during their stop at the 2026 RMAC Swimming and Diving Championships next week in Grand Junction.

The RMAC is thrilled to host its third RMAC Women's Wrestling Championships in Colorado Springs at the United States Air Force Academy. To set the stage for a highly competitive championship, Episode 62 features Julia Richey of Simon Fraser University. The senior for the Red Leafs is the RMAC's defending conference champion at 207, and has been a dominate presence in the league this season, bringing home an RMAC Women's Wrestler of the Week title in late November. Off the mat, Julia has capitalized on her personal brand as a student-athlete, entering a number of NIL partnerships and promoting her platform as a personal trainer. Julia recognizes that being a collegiate athlete has not only made her a better student, but has set her up to overcome any obstacle life may present after her time at SFU. Join The Sidelines in preparing for the excitement of Julia's season ahead, including her stop at the 2026 RMAC Women's Wrestling Championships this Saturday, January 31.

To continue The Sidelines' celebration of the 2025-26 RMAC wrestling season, Episode 61 features Chadron State men's wrestling head coach, Brett Hunter. Coach Hunter is in his 14th season coaching the Eagles, with his Chadron roots extending back to his time as a men's wrestling student-athlete in the program. Chadron's strong sense of community has significantly impacted Coach Hunter's journey, both on the wrestling mat, and throughout his adult life. This same community, including a crew of current and former Chadron State wrestlers, helped support him to the finish line of a 100-mile race in the Black Hills of South Dakota this past summer. In Episode 61, Coach Hunter describes the incredible physical and mental toll that comes with training for and executing a 100-mile race, while also sharing the significant lessons he took from the experience and applied to his coaching. Coming off a recent dual win, the Eagles eagerly look towards the end of the RMAC wrestling season, with hopes of securing the 2025-26 regular season title.

As the 2026 RMAC wrestling season continues to develop, The Sidelines' 60th episode highlights Aaden Valdez, senior wrestler for Adams State. Collegiate athletics naturally pose challenges for any student-athlete, however, Aaden has endured unique adversity after a firework accident in high school caused him to lose his left eye and four fingers on his left hand. Wrestling soon turned from a sport he casually competed in throughout high school to an avenue for Aaden to prove his tenacity and positivity to everyone around him. As a Division II All-American and this week's RMAC Men's Wrestler of the Week, Aaden continues to showcase his determination on the mat, as well as his commitment to his teammates in life beyond wrestling. Tune in to help the RMAC celebrate Aaden's journey and his plans to continue his involvement at Adams State and improve the lives of future wrestlers well beyond his career as a Grizzly.

The RMAC has officially added its 69th National Title and first ever Volleyball National Championship Title, courtesy of the MSU Denver Roadrunners. Today's episode features sophomore middle and Texas native, Alyssa Boyte, member of the NCAA Division II All-Tournament team, South Central Region Middle Blocker of the Year, and RMAC Defensive Player of the Year, as she recaps her team's NCAA tournament experience. As the first RMAC team to make a National Volleyball Title appearance since 2005, MSU Denver quickly made their presence known in Sioux Falls, playing with what Alyssa referred to as an overwhelming sense of freedom. Alyssa credits much of the team's success and confidence to what they call their "line of belief," which offered a clear roadmap to achieving the program's first National Championship Title. Alyssa's humility, maturity and leadership as an underclassman is extremely impressive, and reflects the culture of the MSU Denver program that will continue to foster success for years to come. Join the RMAC in celebrating and congratulating the MSU Denver Roadrunners and Coach Jenny Glenn for earning the 2025 NCAA Division II Volleyball National Championship Title.

Following the 2025 RMAC Volleyball Tournament, the 2025 NCAA Division II volleyball bracket has been set, with five RMAC schools advancing to the tournament. UCCS, in particular, sees its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2007, following one of the most historic seasons for the program. Today's episode features two key components of the program's success, head coach, Tara Hittle, and senior libero, Mackenzie Ransom. This season, Coach Hittle reached her 50th career win at UCCS, while Mackenzie and her teammates earned the most season wins in program history. The road to this season hasn't been easy, however, as both Coach Hittle and Mackenzie have gone through three years of growing pains and culture change in the program. As an Arizona native, Mackenzie is grateful to have seen the hard work she and her teammates have dedicated finally paying off, while Coach Hittle credits her amazing support staff and administration for constantly believing in the program. Be sure to catch the No. 2 seeded Mountain Lions face the No. 7 seed, Colorado School of Mines, in a first round conference matchup at the regional tournament in Denver on December 4.