Bantolina's Record Run Punctuates Exciting Start For Boxer Athletics
RUSHING TO A RECORD: Records are made to be broken. Brody Bantolina ’26 did his part on Saturday, Sept. 14.
The junior running back broke off a 99-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, one of two touchdowns he scored as Pacific won its football non-conference home opener over Lewis & Clark, 34-24. The run broke the 52-year-old record of 87 yards set by Hall of Famer Ralph Nickerson in 1972. It is also the longest rushing play in Division III football this season.
Two plays later, and after a Lewis & Clark kickoff return for a touchdown, Zion Booker ’25 broke off a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, just missing the school record and ending 30 of the craziest seconds of football Hanson Stadium has ever seen.
Bantolina was named the Northwest Conference Football Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week after finishing the game with 256 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. He enters the week ranked second in Division II with 411 rushing yards (as of Sept. 17) and 205.5 rushing yards per game.
Pacific will host Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., the only night game of the Boxers’ six-game home schedule.
WATCH BOXER FOOTBALL: For the second straight year, Pacific football games can be watched in the Portland area on over the air and cable. All six home football games will air live over the air on digital channel 32.2 (Antenna TV) and on cable on Comcast channel 304. As always, home football games (and home games for most other Pacific sports) can be watched wherever you are on the Pacific Athletics Streaming Portal.
MEN’S SOCCER STARTS STRONG: Pacific’s men’s soccer program is off to a 3-2 start to the season. The Boxers opened conference play on Sunday, Sept. 15, jumping on Linfield for a 4-1 victory in McMinnville. All four goals came in the second half with Brodie Buchert ‘25 and Adam Landy ‘25 scoring two goals apiece.
It’s a good sign for a Pacific team that returns all 11 starters from last year. The Boxers went 2-2 in non-conference play to open the year, scoring 2-1 victories over Multnomah on Aug. 30 and Evergreen State on Sept. 7.
THREE IN A ROW: Boxer volleyball is on a three-match win streak and started the NWC schedule with a solid rivalry win.
The Boxers closed their non-conference schedule with a pair of four-set road wins over Redlands on Sept. 6 and Occidental on Oct. 7. Returning home, Pacific opened conference play with a four-set win over rival Linfield. Emma Velchek ‘27 led the way with a double-double of 15 kills and 14 digs.
NEW ON THE SIDELINES: The 2024-25 seasons sees a number of new faces leading Pacific’s athletic programs. Christine Eckstein is the new Boxers’ head cross country coach. She comes to Forest Grove after one year as the lead assistant at Oregon State. Kellen McNamara ‘17 is in his first season as head women’s soccer coach after spending seven seasons as an assistant coach for the Pacific men’s program.
Jacob Upwood took over the Pacific baseball program in August. Upwood previously spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach at Division III North Park University in Chicago. He succeeds Brian Billings, who stepped down after an impressive 10-year tenure where he amassed a 223-173 record and led the Boxers to three NCAA Division III playoff appearances.
Claire Ratcliff has been tapped as interim head women’s rowing coach after Charlotte Copp departed after three seasons leading the program.
Pacific also bid farewell to longtime associate athletic director Lauren Brownrigg, who departed in August to become an assistant executive director at the Oregon School Activities Association. Mallory Hiefield ‘17 will assume the position on an interim basis in 2024-25.
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