The Rise of the Warriors: Inside Westcliff Athletics’ Landmark 2025–26 Season
The story of Westcliff Athletics has never been about a single team, a single season, or a single championship.
It has been about building something bigger.
Over the past several years, Westcliff University has quietly transformed into one of the NAIA’s fastest-rising athletic departments. What began as a collection of ambitious programs has evolved into a culture of excellence where student-athletes compete for championships, coaches build nationally respected programs, and opportunities continue to expand for the next generation of Warriors.
The 2025-26 athletic year may have been the clearest example yet of how far that vision has come.
From national championships and conference titles to historic postseason runs, program expansion, and community impact, Westcliff Athletics delivered one of the most successful and well-rounded years in department history.
A National Championship Years in the Making
No moment better captured the rise of Westcliff Athletics than what unfolded at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.
After years of climbing the collegiate surfing ranks, finishing fifth nationally, then third, then runner-up twice—the Westcliff Surf Team finally broke through, capturing its first-ever NSSA Collegiate National Championship.
In doing so, the Warriors defeated nine-time defending national champion Point Loma Nazarene University and cemented themselves as the top collegiate surfing program in the country.
The achievement represented far more than a single weekend of competition. It was the culmination of years of investment, belief and innovation.
Westcliff became the first university in the nation to offer true athletic scholarships for surfing, helping redefine what collegiate surfing could be. What once seemed like a bold idea has now become a national model, attracting elite talent from across the country and creating opportunities for student-athletes to pursue both academic and athletic excellence.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Lucas Taub, a former Westcliff scholarship surfer, valedictorian and professional surfer, the Warriors turned vision into reality.
The championship season featured standout performances throughout the year, including event victories from co-captains Jordy Collins and Taylor Stacy, breakthrough performances from Blaze Roche, and major contributions from nationally recognized newcomers Titus Kaimana Santucci and Jackson Taylor.
The team’s success also brought national attention to the university. Westcliff Surf was featured on FOX Sports Los Angeles, showcasing the program’s growth and influence on collegiate surfing. Earlier in the year, Taub himself made national headlines after rescuing a father and daughter from a dangerous rip current in Oceanside, earning recognition from major media outlets and being honored by the City of Oceanside for his heroic actions.
For a program built on innovation, culture and perseverance, the national championship represented a defining moment, not just for Surf, but for the entire department.
Championship Expectations Across Multiple Programs
Westcliff Cheer continued its dynasty-like run by claiming both the NCA Collegiate National Championship and the USA Collegiate National Championship. The USA title marked the program’s third consecutive national championship and further established Westcliff as one of the premier cheer programs in the country.
On the pitch, both soccer programs added to the department’s championship legacy.
Women’s Soccer completed a perfect conference season, secured the Cal Pac Tournament Championship and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the third time in four years. Men’s Soccer added a Cal Pac Tournament title of its own and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament, continuing the program’s tradition of postseason success.
Together, those accomplishments reinforced what has become a defining characteristic of Westcliff Athletics: winning is no longer isolated to a handful of teams. It has become embedded throughout the department.
The Teams That Defined Growth
Some of the most compelling stories of the year weren’t necessarily the championship teams.
They were the programs that demonstrated just how quickly growth can happen when culture, leadership and belief come together.
Women’s Volleyball embodied that spirit better than perhaps any team on campus.
After opening the season 4-9 with a roster largely built through transfers, new arrivals and first-year contributors, the Warriors could have viewed the season as a rebuilding year. Instead, they found their identity.
Following a pivotal midseason victory over Cal Lutheran, Westcliff won 10 of its final 14 matches and entered the Continental Athletic Conference Tournament as the sixth seed. The Warriors proceeded to upset both the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds, earning the first postseason victories in program history and setting a new standard for the program.
The season also marked the final chapter of standout career performances from leaders such as Samantha Carelock, who helped drive the program’s breakthrough and will remain part of the Warrior family as an assistant coach next season.
Women’s Wrestling delivered another historic step forward under Head Coach D’Rell Gist.
The Warriors earned their highest conference finish in program history, placing fifth at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships while producing seven conference placers and multiple national qualifiers. Fernanda Canedo and Genesis Rivera earned podium finishes, while Berlyn Davis and Canedo secured national championship berths.
Just as important as the results was the trajectory. With nearly the entire roster returning and recruiting momentum continuing to grow, Women’s Wrestling has rapidly emerged as one of the department’s most exciting programs.
The growth extended to the men’s side as well. Junior wrestler Chris Calderon authored one of the year’s most inspiring individual performances, coming within a single point of All-American status after suffering two heartbreaking one-point losses to eventual All-Americans at the NAIA National Championships.
The wrestling program also hosted the inaugural Warrior Classic, bringing collegiate teams from across the country to Westcliff and further establishing the university’s growing presence within the sport.
Championship Momentum Across the Court
Westcliff’s winning culture extended well beyond the beach, with multiple programs turning breakthrough seasons into championship performances.
Men’s Volleyball continued to establish itself as one of the NAIA’s premier programs, dominating conference play with an undefeated Cal Pac record while capturing both the regular season and conference tournament championships. The Warriors earned a top-10 seed in the NAIA National Championship tournament, a reflection of the consistency, discipline, and championship standard the program has built. Year after year, the team has continued to raise expectations, proving it belongs among the nation’s elite.
Men’s Basketball authored one of the year’s most memorable journeys, demonstrating the resilience and growth that defined so many Westcliff teams this season. Along the way, the Warriors delivered unforgettable moments, including a thrilling triple-overtime Senior Night victory that showcased the grit and determination of a team continuing to find its identity. As the season progressed, that perseverance translated into results, culminating in a Cal Pac Tournament Championship and another conference title for the Warriors.
Though each program took a different path, both reflected the same department-wide philosophy: build a strong culture, invest in development, trust the process, and compete with confidence when the biggest moments arrive. Together, they added to a season that saw Westcliff teams consistently contend for championships while further establishing the university as one of the NAIA’s fastest-rising athletic departments.
More Than Wins and Championships
What separates Westcliff Athletics is not simply the number of trophies won.
It is the culture being built behind them.
Across every program, coaches consistently speak about character, accountability, academic success and personal development as foundational elements of the student-athlete experience.
That commitment was evident throughout the year, whether through community outreach efforts, leadership development opportunities or events designed to create access and inclusion through sport.
One of the department’s signature initiatives, Inclusive Sports Day, welcomed nearly 400 students, athletes, volunteers and community members this year. Hosted in partnership with the Inclusive Sports Foundation, the event continues to provide meaningful athletic experiences for individuals with disabilities while showcasing the values that define the Warrior community.
As Inclusive Sports Foundation founder Matt Lance remarked, “Westcliff does it better than anyone that we work with.”
That impact extends beyond the playing field and reflects a department committed to developing leaders, serving its community and creating opportunities for others.
What’s Next for the Warriors
While the 2025-26 season delivered some of the most significant accomplishments in department history, it also marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Westcliff continues to expand its athletic offerings with the addition of Women’s Flag Football and STUNT, two of the fastest-growing sports in collegiate athletics. Both programs represent strategic investments in the future and will create new opportunities for student-athletes while helping position Westcliff at the forefront of emerging sports.
The department also welcomed Cross Country this year under the leadership of Gus Schmader, a former NCAA national champion, 16-time All-American and coach with more than 20 years of collegiate experience. His arrival signals another important step in the university’s continued athletic growth.
Across the department, recruiting momentum remains strong, facilities continue to evolve, and programs that were once building toward contention are now competing for championships.
The foundation being built today is designed for long-term success.
A Program on the Rise
Championship banners may be the most visible measure of success, but they tell only part of the story.
The true story of Westcliff Athletics is one of vision, perseverance and opportunity. It is a story of coaches building programs, student-athletes chasing ambitious goals and a university willing to invest in both.
It is reflected in national championships, conference titles, historic postseason runs, expanding opportunities and a culture that continues to attract talented student-athletes from around the world.
The 2025-26 season will be remembered as one of the greatest years in Westcliff Athletics history.
But if this year proved anything, it is that the Warriors are not simply celebrating what they have accomplished.
They are building what comes next.
To learn more about Westcliff University’s landmark year of academic and athletic achievement, read the full press release here.