Fall’s finishes: A semester of sports in review
Aggie athletics has had a fall semester of trials and triumphs. The Utah Statesman has summed up each team’s season below.
FOOTBALL
“Quitting is easy, and not one person in this locker room or building even thought about doing that.” -Head coach Nate Dreiling
The USU football team encountered unimaginable levels of adversity, and the results reflect that. After an internal investigation in July, the team dropped former head coach Blake Anderson. Later that month, tragedy struck when transfer defensive back Andre Seldon died in a cliff-diving accident. Amid heartbreak and uncertainty, 33-year-old Nate Dreiling was thrust into the interim head coach role just months after joining the coaching staff as a defensive coordinator. Heading into the season, the Aggies faced one of their most demanding schedules in recent history, taking on four teams that would be nationally ranked at some point during the year. By the end of the season, more than a dozen starters were out with injuries. The team faced every hurdle imaginable, yet the way the season ended wasn’t so bad — perhaps even admirable. The Aggies started the season 1-6, losing games left and right, but their 3-2 finish brought a renewed sense of pride to the team.
“The ups and downs that we’ve been through — it has been a complete rollercoaster,” said quarterback Bryson Barnes. “It comes down to the locker room. These guys showing up to work each and every day.”
The Aggies defense was ranked fourth-worst in the country, giving up close to 38 points per game. ESPN columnist Ryan McGee, known for his humorous weekly rankings of the 10 worst teams in college football, included Utah State on the list in seven of the 13 weeks of the season. However, after a late-season surge, the Aggies climbed from one of the country’s worst teams to finishing ninth out of 12 teams in the Mountain West Conference. Dreiling couldn’t help but praise his team after the late-season turnaround.
“The fact that this team was able to stay together is incredible,” Dreiling said. “And that has little to do with me. It has to do with this locker room and the senior class. And them wanting to prove people wrong.”
The Aggies line up on defense against the SDSU Aztecs at Maverik Stadium on Nov 23, 2024.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
“It was a step forward but not a big enough step forward because we’re not advancing. But I think we’re moving in the right direction.” -Head coach Manny Martins.
The women’s soccer team was poised to become, if they weren’t already, the greatest team in the history of USU athletics. At one point during the season, they were ranked seventh in the nation, the highest ranking of any sports team in school history. The team set program records for wins, points, shutouts and shots on goal in a single season, ranking among the top 10 teams in the country in many of these categories. The Aggies were a juggernaut on both sides of the ball all season, and while a deep run in the NCAA tournament was a tall order, the team was confident they could defeat Washington in their first-ever home match in the tournament game. For much of the match, it seemed to be heading that way, as Utah State’s eight shots on goal greatly outnumbered Washington’s three. However, Washington’s defense held firm, and the game went to penalty kicks, where the moment’s pressure led to USU’s downfall. Emotions ran high in the postgame Aggie huddle. This year’s squad was heavily comprised of seniors and graduate students. Still, there were also young players, like sophomore midfielder Summer Diamond, who would benefit from the invaluable experience of playing at the highest level.
“Some of us got to play a lot, and that’s great to get this experience,” Diamond said. “It gives us a lot of excitement for these upcoming years.”
The younger players feel prepared to take on leadership roles, the incoming recruits look promising and Martins, who is highly admired by his players, received a three-year contract extension. There may be some growing pains next season due to player turnover, but the culture being built will hopefully yield long-term success.
Tess Werts (12) steals the ball from a Washington player at Chuck & Gloria Bell Soccer Field on Nov. 15.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
“Sometimes competition breaks your heart. I am so proud of this group and their battle all season.” -Head coach Rob Neilson.
After a nail-biting 3-2 loss to Wyoming on Sept. 28, Neilson, though disappointed, remained determined to rally his team.
“We’re getting lots of reps,” Neilson said following that loss. “We’ve got a lot of talent, but we’re just not putting it together in long enough stretches.”
Heading into the season, Neilson hoped to lead the Aggies to their fourth-straight Mountain West title. Still, his young roster, which included nine first-year players, needed more experience and composure than their conference counterparts. However, the matches following that late-September loss would mark a complete shift in momentum for the team’s season. They finished with a 12-6 record in conference play and a 15-14 overall record, delivering dominant performances along the way and reinvigorating the program. But their good fortune ran out in the first round of the Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Championship, where they lost 3-1 to Boise State, a team they had beaten handily in their two regular-season matchups. Although it was a less successful season than in recent years, Neilson couldn’t help but celebrate his team’s growth as the season progressed.
“They’re starting to come into themselves and see how good they can be,” Neilson said. “There’s a sense of confidence. There’s not this frenetic energy.”
Their midseason turnaround came when off-court distractions could have derailed their season for good. In early October, the team announced they would be forfeiting an upcoming match against San Jose State University due to the Spartans having a transgender player on their team. The controversial decision proved divisive within the larger student body but was a galvanizing force within the Aggie locker room. Multiple players on the team were involved in a lawsuit against the Mountain West for allowing SJSU to compete in the tournament. Still, their focus remained on the court, leading the Aggies to finish the year more successful than many had expected.
USU volleyball players celebrate a point at the game against University of Nevada on Oct. 29.
CROSS COUNTRY
“I hope years down the road, they will be telling their families and kids stories about today and this year. I will remember them and this season forever.” -Director of track & field and cross country Artie Gulden.
For the past seven years, the men’s and women’s cross country teams have established themselves as two of the best programs in the nation. Since 2017, the men’s team has qualified for the NCAA championships five time, and the women’s team has qualified three times. The men had another opportunity to compete at the national competition this year. The team finished 22nd in the 10K team competition, and while the team had been nationally relevant all year, graduate student Camren Todd was the show’s star. Todd finished the competition in 25th place at 29:17.4, shortly after becoming the seventh All-American in program history.
“Camren ran an incredible race,” said director of track & field and cross country Artie Gulden. “There have been a lot of ups and downs in his cross-country career, and to finish as an All-American is very special.”
Todd wasn’t the only Aggie to receive national acclaim. Junior Logan Garnica, whose older brother Caleb was an All-American runner in 2020, won the Elite 90 Award. Established by the NCAA, this prestigious honor recognizes individuals who reach the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level while also achieving the highest academic standards among their peers.
“Logan is a phenomenal student and athlete,” Gulden said. “I am grateful for everything he does — excelling in all walks of life.”
The women’s cross country team, along with the men, finished in sixth place at the Mountain West championships. At the NCAA Division I Mountain Regional Cross Country Championships, the women placed ninth in the 6K team competition. Senior Emma Thornley, who earned all-Mountain Region honors, finished in 22nd place with a time of 20:17.0, but the team unfortunately just missed the cut to compete in the NCAA championships.
“I’m very proud of the women,” Gulden said. “Emma being all-region two years in a row is great. They had a really good season, and we will look to build from here.”
