Golf
Headrick Shines with Top-3 Finish at NWAC Championships; Rangers Cap Season in Style
The Olympic College Rangers sent six individual qualifiers to the NWAC Golf Championships this week, and they delivered their strongest golf of the season on one of the conference's biggest stages. Held at the picturesque but demanding Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima, the tournament featured the league's top five teams alongside a select group of individual qualifiers. Although the Rangers did not qualify as a team, three OC men and three women earned their place among the best in the NWAC and made their presence known.
For the men, sophomore Seth Headrick proved why he belonged among the league's elite. The final individual qualifier into the field, Headrick rose to the occasion with rounds of 77 and 72 to post a 149 total and finish in third place overall. His even-par second round was capped in dramatic fashion with back-to-back birdies, earning him a spot on the NWAC All-Tournament Team. Headrick now heads to Simpson College in Redding, California to continue his academic and golf career.
Joining Headrick in Yakima were captain Orlando Chiquiti and freshman Casey Carter, both of whom saved their best for the final round of the year. Chiquiti rebounded from an uncharacteristic 89 on day one to fire a superb even-par 72 on day two—an incredible 17-stroke improvement—to finish tied for 21st at 161. Carter followed suit, carding 84 on Sunday and then going low on Monday with a 76 to finish at 160 and tie for 18th. The performance marked one of the most impressive collective second rounds of the season for the Ranger men.
On the women's side, two OC golfers broke into the top 10. Sophomore captain Elizabeth Mellum, recently named to the All-League Second Team, bounced back from an opening 95 with a strong 83 in round two to total 178 and tie for 9th place. Freshman Ava Guthrie matched that total with rounds of 90 and 88, also finishing tied for 9th.
Although Olympic College was not in contention for the team titles, the individual efforts and final-day performances showcased the grit, growth, and potential of the program. The Rangers walk away from Apple Tree with a top-3 finisher, an all-tournament selection, and multiple top-10 results—plenty to build on as they look ahead to the next season.
Congratulations to all five Ranger qualifiers and to the entire OC golf team on a memorable season!
Track & Field
Rangers Bring Home Titles and All-American Honors at NWAC Championships
The Olympic College Track & Field team capped off a stellar season with a commanding showing at the 2025 NWAC Track & Field Championships, held May 19–20 at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon. Competing against the best from across the conference, the Rangers women earned 5th place and the men took 8th. Olympic College impressed with multiple All-American and All-Conference honors and solidifying their place among the top programs in the NWAC.
Leading the charge was freshman Shay-Lah Squally, who was crowned NWAC Champion in the women's high jump by over 10 cm, clearing 1.68 meters to earn All-American honors. Sophomore N'dya Hudson continued her standout season, sprinting to a third-place finish in the 100 meters (12.46) to join the All-American list. In the field events, freshman Nashayla Fellows delivered big, taking third in the shot put (12.38 m.) and second in the discus (39.83)—both podium finishes earning her All-American status.
On the men's side, sophomore Ivan Picazo proved dominant in the hammer throw, claiming first place and the All-American title with a massive 51.57 m. toss. His consistent presence across the throws also earned him All-Conference recognition in the shot put and discus.
Both relay squads turned in strong performances. The women's 4x100 and 4x400 teams, led by Hudson, Squally, sophomores Aalliya Alcorn, Avery Thompson, and freshman Na'Riyah Jones were key contributors to the Rangers' overall success. The men's 4x100 and 4x400 groups, anchored by freshman Aiden Smith, Zachary Cummings, Octavian Clark, Jaxson McCrimmon, Nathan Morrison, and Johny Raymundo, also earned All-Conference honors with fast, cohesive efforts on the track.
In total, Olympic College athletes received 4 All-American honors and 17 All-Conference selections across sprints, jumps, throws, and relays. The depth and determination of this group has marked 2025 as one of the program's strongest seasons to date.
Softball
Rangers Cap Season with Statement Win at NWAC Championships
The Olympic College softball team wrapped up its 2025 campaign at the NWAC Championships held May 15–18 at the Owens Sports Complex in Portland, Oregon. Entering the tournament as the 15th seed, the Rangers stunned the bracket with a 4–3 upset over second-seeded Columbia Basin in Thursday's opener, then battled through two hard-fought losses to Walla Walla and Clackamas to close out their season.
Against Columbia Basin, the Rangers found themselves down 0-3 after the third inning, but freshman Shelby Avery settled down to pitch a complete game and hold the Hawks scoreless over the last 4 innings. The comeback was sparked in the 6th inning with RBI hits from sophomores outfielder Kiana Fajotina and shortstop Olivia Pater, scoring freshmen Natalie Brierly, OC Athlete of April Tatem Miller, and sophomore Abigail Aribal. The defense was pressed down the stretch, but met the challenge and the win was widely regarded as the biggest upset of the tournament.
Later that day, the Rangers faced Walla Walla in a back-and-forth contest that ultimately ended in a 10–8 defeat. Olympic collected 11 hits, including 5 doubles from 5 different Rangers, but a late surge from the Warriors proved too much to overcome.
In Friday's elimination game, Olympic squared off with Clackamas. The Rangers went down 0-4 after the first and couldn't hold off the Cougars' offense in an 11–4 loss. Freshman Sienna Kauhi finished her season with a 3-RBI, 3rd inning double and Miller and Avery shared the circle, each going 3 full innings.
Sophomore infielder Abigail Aribal was named First Team All-NWAC North Region, and freshman pitcher/outfielder Tatem Miller earned Second Team honors. The Rangers finished the season 24–26 overall and 18–14 in North Region play, with a postseason win that highlights the program's growth and promise moving forward.
Thursday, May 16 – NWAC Championship (Portland, OR)
Game 1: Rangers 4, Columbia Basin 3
Offense: 4 runs [Aribal, Miller, Brierly, Garber], 5 hits [Pater (2)], 4 RBI [Fajotina (2)], 6 walks [Aribal (2)], 1 steal [Fajotina].
Defense: 7 IP [Avery], 3 earned runs, 5 hits allowed, 3 strikeouts, 2 errors [Brierly, Whitehead].
Game 2: Walla Walla 10, Rangers 8
Offense: 8 runs [Thomas (2)], 11 hits [Aribal (3)], 7 RBI [Kelker (2)], 5 doubles [Aribal, Pater, Kelker, McBee, Thomas], 3 walks [Kelker (2)].
Defense: 6 IP [Kelker (3.2), Whitehead (2.1)], 8 earned runs [Kelker (6), Whitehead (2)], 13 hits allowed [Kelker (9), Whitehead (4)], 3 strikeouts [Kelker], 3 errors [Pater (2)].
Friday, May 17 – NWAC Championship (Portland, OR)
Game 3: Clackamas 11, Rangers 4
Offense: 4 runs [Pater, Garber, Fajotina, McBee], 4 hits [Pater, Garber, Kauhi, McBee], 1 double [Kauhi], 4 RBI [Kauhi (3)], 3 walks [Aribal, McBee, Fajotina], 2 steals [Aribal].
Defense: 6 IP [Miller (3.0), Avery (3.0)], 8 earned runs [Miller (5), Avery (3)], 14 hits allowed [Miller (8), Avery (6)], 3 strikeouts [Miller (2), Avery (1)], 3 errors [Brierly (2)].