Kicking off The Sidelines basketball series is graduate student, Josephine Howery, of Colorado School of Mines. A native of Colorado Springs, Josephine has established herself as a leader both on and off the court, spearheading a nonprofit organization called Crossover for Change and supporting Colorado School of Mines' on-campus food pantry for athletes. Josephine's work in the classroom and in her community make her the epitome of a Division II athlete and it was inspiring to hear how she's used her sport to help and educate the next generation of female athletes. Tune in to hear about Josephine's plans after college, and about her incredible passion for leaving a legacy in her program.

Today marks the start of the highly anticipated 2025 RMAC Swimming and Diving Championships. Leading up to this championship week, The Sidelines had the incredible opportunity to speak with Claire McDaniel, head coach for the Colorado School of Mines men's and women's swim programs. McDaniel, a three-time RMAC Coach of the Year for both men's and women's swimming, started her impressive journey as a standout swimmer for Georgia and NCAA Woman of the Year finalist. Her background in sports nutrition and extensive coaching experience for the NCAA and Swiss National Team contribute to her passion for providing a holistic experience for her student-athletes. The RMAC is thankful for Coach McDaniel's service to our league, and wishes all programs competing in the 2025 RMAC Swimming and Diving Championships a safe and successful competition.

The Sidelines: Episode 27 continues the RMAC's swim and dive series with Colorado Mesa senior and team captain, Andrew Scoggin. Scoggin, originally from Greeley, Colorado, is no stranger to success. Preceding his participation at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the summer of 2024, Scoggin has racked up five Second Team All-America honors, four RMAC event titles, 10 All-RMAC honors and a CMU facility record. As Andrew wraps up his career this year, he looks forward to pursuing a career in medical sales and finding a new life balance after his experience as a Division II athlete. Tune in to hear from Andrew as we continue to prepare for an incredible 2025 RMAC Swimming and Diving Championship.

The Sidelines: Episode 26 kicks off the RMAC's swim and dive series, preparing for the 2025 RMAC Swimming and Diving Championship in just one week. Episode 26 features Tori Meklensek, senior freestyle swimmer for Simon Fraser University. Meklensek, originally from Ontario, Canada, shares her unique experience as a Canadian student-athlete competing in the NCAA, and expresses her appreciation for the conference meet. Tori has already achieved NCAA Championship automatic qualifying times in four events, becoming the first SFU swimmer in school history to achieve this feat. Her leadership and passion for swimming aids in her role as team captain, and the RMAC is excited to watch Tori and her SFU teammates at the RMAC Championship.

The 2025 RMAC Women's Wrestling Championship is here! Joining The Sidelines: Episode 25 is Coach Randi Miller of Texas Woman's University. Coach Miller, a true pioneer of women's wrestling, kicked off her career at TWU in 2021. A native of Arlington, Texas, Miller was the first black woman and Texan to win an Olympic medal in women's wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Coach Miller's passion for giving back to her sport and supporting the next genertion of champions is quite evident, and the RMAC is proud to have her represent the league. Tune in to Episode 25 to prepare for an elevated RMAC Women's Wrestling Championship!

In continuing the RMAC Women's Wrestling Championship preparation, The Sidelines: Episode 24 sits down with Ana Rojas, junior wrestler for Chadron State. Ana's journey to Chadron included many twists and turns, being born in Cuba and raised in Nevada and Texas. She's battled through the ups and downs of her sport, recently experiencing a career-pausing ACL tear back in March. Through her unique journey, Ana has managed to find the positive in every situation and accept the challenges of a very demanding sport. Tune in to experience Ana's captivating energy and optimistic outlook, both on and off the wrestling mat.

In honor of the 2025 RMAC Women's Wrestling Championship being just two weeks away, The Sidelines: Episode 23 sits down with Jennesis Martinez, a senior wrestler at Colorado Mesa. As a four-time NCWWC All-American wrestler and four-time All-American Scholar, Jennesis has become a leader in Maverick Athletics, both on and off the mat. Tune in as Jennesis shares the struggles of competing in a male-dominated sport throughout high school, her plans after wrestling, and what it means to her to be part of a conference championship for women's wrestling.

The Sidelines: Episode 22 catches up with Jack Faczak, redshirt sophomore wrestler for Adams State. In an effort to expand leadership opportunities this year, the RMAC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) approved the separation of its National SAAC Representative role, with a new RMAC SAAC Chair position. Jack was elected by his peers in October as the RMAC SAAC Chair for the next two-year term. Jack is not only a standout athlete, but a high-achieving student and an inspiring human being. Tune in to hear about Jack's path to becoming the leader he is today, and about his passion for maximizing the student-athlete experience.

Heading into 2025, The Sidelines: Episode 21 celebrates the fantastic work of RMAC office members Maya McEwen, Graduate Assistant for Championships and Operations, and Nash Loibl, Graduate Assistant for Strategic Communications. Tune in to hear about their journeys to becoming part of the conference office, their experience managing a full academic and professional workload, and their career goals after their time at the RMAC.

As the 2024 fall seasons come to a close and the RMAC transitions to winter and spring competition, The Sidelines: Episode 20 would like to recognize the league's incredible administrators who serve as the backbone to each of our successful seasons. Episode 20 features Tommy Gilhooly, Director of Athletics at Regis University, as he shares his background as a former student-athlete, entrepreneur, restaurant owner, and devoted member of not only his personal family, but his community at Regis.