BASEBALL GIVEAWAY

Support USD Baseball!

Exciting news, Torero fans! We are launching a special opportunity to support USD Baseball while scoring some great memorabilia!

For a limited time, your donation to our Spring Sports Campaign will directly benefit our baseball program AND reward you with exclusive Torero gear:

• $50 Donation: Receive a stylish San Diego script hat (see below)

• $100 Donation: Get the hat PLUS a baseball signed by one of our standout players:

  • Logan Reddemann - Our ace pitcher with an impressive 2.14 ERA

  • Jack Gurevitch - Our hitting star batting a strong .351

Your support makes a real difference for our student-athletes while giving you a meaningful piece of USD Baseball to treasure. These players are working hard to represent our university, and your contribution helps fuel their success!

Don't wait - quantities are limited on these signed items! Click HERE today to make your donation and claim your Torero memorabilia.

Go Toreros!

Donate today to receive your piece of USD history!

NIL NEWS

Men’s Rowing Partners with Nautica

The USD Men's Rowing team recently experienced their first major NIL partnership with iconic American lifestyle brand Nautica. What started as a regular morning practice at Mission Bay quickly transformed into a professional photoshoot complete with production vans, cameras, and racks of clothing.

"We got there and it wasn't just another practice. It was a whole ordeal, so much bigger than any of us imagined," said Derek Hissong, a senior mechanical engineering major and rowing veteran.

The two-day collaboration featured the student-athletes both on water and at South Mission Beach, demonstrating how NIL opportunities are expanding beyond high-profile sports to benefit athletes across all collegiate programs.

For junior Rex Bales, a marketing major with theater aspirations, the experience provided valuable professional exposure. "Now I have a taste of it, and I want to keep working at this professional level. It opened a door into this industry for me."

The partnership, facilitated by head coach Bart Thompson and USD Athletics Director of NIL Lauren Kirby, not only provided financial compensation but also included gifts of the clothing worn during the shoot.

As Hissong noted, the partnership highlighted "the beauty" of rowing: "If you see an eight out on the water in Mission Bay with the backdrop of USD and the sunrise – that's a pretty special kind of image."

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT NEWS

Toreros Show Heart in WCC Basketball Tournaments

Both USD basketball programs displayed resilience at the 2025 WCC Championship before seeing their seasons end in the tournament's second round at Orleans Arena.

Men's Team Battles Through Adversity

The USD men concluded their campaign with a 6-27 record after falling to LMU 74-100. Despite the record, the team showcased unwavering spirit amid unfortunate circumstances, including a national-leading 13 players lost to injury.

"Our team has always had the potential to be great," reflected senior center Steven Jamerson II. "We've always made sure to stay in the game, stay locked in."

The Toreros' tournament journey began with a thrilling first-round victory over Pacific, where freshman Tony Duckett's clutch free throws secured an 81-77 win after 21 lead changes. Against LMU, USD mounted a valiant 14-2 second-half run but couldn't overcome the Lions' hot shooting.

Women's Team Shows Promise

The USD women (7-24, 3-19 WCC) saw their season conclude with a 64-52 loss to Pacific after an impressive 66-59 opening-round win over Pepperdine.

In their tournament opener, the Toreros dominated behind twin 20-point performances from Kylie Horstmeyer and Truitt Reilly. Against Pacific, Hallie Rhodes delivered a season-high 18 points while Reilly added 14 points and 9 rebounds in her final USD game.

With promising talent returning next season, Torero fans have reason for optimism despite the challenging 2024-25 campaigns.

Help fund our Toreros in their pursuit of excellence.

GREAT PRICES, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Hannah Gilliland

Hannah Gilliland, former University of San Diego softball player, has traded her cleats for running shoes – and found remarkable success along the way. After graduating with a psychology degree in 2018, this USD alumna now balances a career at Encinitas-based software startup Blooma with an impressive running career that includes winning the 2022 Carlsbad Marathon and competing in the prestigious Boston Marathon.

During her time at USD (2014-2018), Gilliland built memories that continue to resonate today. "All the small moments with my teammates are my favorite memories," she shares. "We had a lot of fun on our road trips whether we were taking the team bus or flying to the city we were playing in. Those were probably some of the moments that I have laughed the most in my life."

Her athletic experience prepared her well for the startup environment, where adaptability is essential. "Being a student athlete taught me to be responsible, respectful, to always work hard, how to work together and to trust myself," she explains. These foundational skills built confidence that helped her transition smoothly into her professional career handling sales operations and security compliance.

For current USD student-athletes, Gilliland offers candid advice: "You don't have to be perfect. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves as student athletes, and sometimes that can stunt our growth. Learning to grow from failures is one of the most important things we can do." She encourages today's Toreros to embrace growth rather than striving for perfection.

Though she primarily follows USD athletics through social media now, her connections with former teammates and staff keep her linked to the university community. Her parting wisdom reflects both gratitude and perspective: "It goes by so fast. Enjoy every minute, even the hard ones. And remember, it's all going to be okay!"

WHERE TOREROS OWN THEIR FUTURE…

That’s All For Now!

We hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter! You can follow us on @olefoundation on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Please help us in continuing to spread the word, and thank you for supporting the Olé Foundation!

Powered by Athletiverse