On this episode of Vikings Press Pass, Head Softball Coach John Nelson joins me to talk about the team’s red-hot 4-0 start—their best since 2015. We break down the opening weekend at the Blue Angle Invite, including a statement win over #23 UW-Stevens Point. Coach Nelson also shares insight to his 2nd year at the helm, the1st year hurdles of taking on a new team, the coaching staff, the culture shift, and what to expect from this year’s squad. Plus, we discuss many key players, scheduling, and how he balances coaching both at Augustana and with Heartland Havoc. A great Sunday conversation!

On this episode of Vikings Press Pass, I sit down with Assistant Coach Eric Rowell to talk about his long-standing connection to Augustana basketball, spanning 14 seasons across both the men’s and women’s programs.

He shares how Augustana continues to position itself as a top-tier place of academic excellence and it's ability to attract students globally.

We dive into this year’s team, highlight our Senior Class (Emma Berg and Ashley Lang), and what’s at stake heading into Saturday’s showdown at home against #4 Illinois Wesleyan. Plus, we take a trip down memory lane to revisit the 1993 National Championship run and discuss some of the greatest players to come through the program.

Don’t miss this conversation with a tremendous person who I've had the pleasure of knowing for the past 23+ years as the Vikings host a huge Senior Day doubleheader on Saturday!

In this episode of Vikings Press Pass, I sit down with Associate Head Coach Justin Hauer as the Vikings gear up for their season opener at the Rhodes Classic in Memphis. We discuss the challenges of preseason preparation in winter conditions, the impact of returning x7 5Yrs and x7 Seniors on the roster and the expectation that others can and will step up to play critical roles throughout the season. Coach Hauer also shares insights on how the University of Iowa matchup came about, and some fun team traditions—including the search for a new "YMCA" hype man as Joe Morgano has since graduated and who has the best walk-up song. Plus, we set some over/under predictions for hit-by-pitches and strikeout-to-walk ratios. Tune in for a great conversation as Vikings baseball gets ready to roll!

In this episode of the Vikings Press Pass, I sit down with Senior wrestler Jacob Badger, currently regionally ranked at 197 lbs, to talk about his season, mindset, and preparation for the upcoming conference championships this weekend. We talked about the Pete Willson Invitational and how he stays mentally strong after tough matches. Jacob also shares insights on his wrestling style, pre-match routines, and gave a ton of great advice for young wrestlers.

Beyond the mat, we dive into his journey from Littleton (Colorado) to Augustana, his love for the outdoors, plans for after college, and his academic path as a Biology and Spanish major which led him to an eye-opening internship in Costa Rica in the Summer of 2023. Tune in for a great conversation with one of Augustana’s top wrestlers!

In this episode of the Vikings Press Pass, I catch up with Anthony Cooper from the Men’s Basketball team to talk about the Vikings’ third straight win over Millikin, what’s been driving their recent success, and the push to host a conference tournament game.

We also discuss Anthony’s role on the team as a shooter, his journey to Augustana, and his plans after graduation. Plus, a little Super Bowl talk to wrap things up. Don’t miss it!

In this episode of the Vikings Press Pass, I sit down with Kade Ariano, student manager for the Men’s Basketball team. We talk about his journey to the role, his daily responsibilities, and balancing academics and athletics. Kade shares memorable moments with the team, insights from his internship with the Quad Cities River Bandits MiLB this past summer, his passion for kinesiology and physical therapy, and how his drive for excellence is really modeled after his older brother who is currently at Duke.

Coach Delp had high praise for Kade—and after this conversation, it’s easy to see why. Tune in!

On this episode of the Vikings Press Pass, I chat with Augustana Wrestling Senior Jack Patting about his season, recent tournament performances, and preparation for the CCIW Championships. He shares insights on training, advice for youth wrestlers and transitioning from his youth days at Young Guns WC to a standout high school career at Rock Island Alleman HS to his college career.

Beyond the mat, we talk a bit about his passion as a history education major, his future career in teaching, YouTube History being one of this favorite things to watch, and some memorable moments along the way.

In Episode 32, I spend some time with Junior Guard, Carly Stone of the Women's Basketball team. She shared how wanting to be closer to extended family in the Midwest and the Kinesiology Program drew her to Augustana.

I got all the insights to the best places in the Portland area, found out she is a bit of a sneakerhead, enjoys Fleetwood Mac, and her first sport she loved was actually soccer!