Athletics at Northern Arizona University experienced many successes and broken records throughout the year.
For the first time since 2017, the football team had a winning record at home and even played in the first round of the FCS playoffs.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm%96 EC24< E62> 3C@<6 4@F?E=6DD C64@C5D 7@C E96 D49@@= 2?5 :? E96 q:8 $<J r@?76C6?46] $@>6 7@C>6C 2=F> 2?5 @?6 4FCC6?E DEF56?E A6C7@C>65 D@ H6== E92E E96J 62C?65 DA@ED :? E96 ~=J>A:4D E9:D DF>>6C]k^Am
kAmw6C6 2C6 E96 E@A }@CE96C? pC:K@?2 DA@CED DE@C:6D 7C@> a_acik^Am
k9cmrC@DD 4@F?ECJ 4@>6D FA D9@CEk^9cm
kAm#:89E 367@C6 E96 D49@@= E@@< 2 3C62< 7@C %92?<D8:G:?8[ E96 >6?鈥橠 2?5 H@>6?鈥橠 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ E62>D H6C6 EC2G6=:?8 E@ (:D4@?D:? 7@C E96 }rpp ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A >66ED]k^Am
kAm%96 H@>6? 7:?:D965 7@FCE9 A=246 @G6C2== H:E9 a_e A@:?ED[ 2?5 E96 >6? 7:?:D965 :? 7:7E9 A=246 H:E9 abf A@:?ED] xE H2D E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 a_`d E92E E96 >6?VD AC@8C2> 5:5 ?@E 7:?:D9 :? 7:CDE @C 2D CF??6C\FA 2E E96 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A]k^Am
kAm$6?:@CD p=: &AD92H 2?5 t=:D6 $E62C?D D64FC65 p==\p>6C:42? 9@?@CD 3J 7:?:D9:?8 aa?5 2?5 beE9[ C6DA64E:G6=J] ~? E96 >6?鈥橠 E62>[ D6?:@C s2G:5 |F==2C<6J 2?5 $2?E:28@ !C@DD6C 62C?65 p==\p>6C:42? DE2EFD 27E6C 7:?:D9:?8 `gE9 2?5 bgE9]k^Am
The Northern Arizona women's cross country team huddles around coach Mike Smith during the Big Sky Conference championship meet on Oct. 27, 2023, in Missoula, Montana.
NAU Athletics, courtesy
k9cm$>:E9 D2JD 8@@53J6聽k^9cm
kAmp7E6C 6:89E DF446DD7F= D62D@?D @7 =625:?8 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ 2?5 EC24< 2?5 7:6=5[ |:<6 $>:E9 2??@F?465 9:D 56A2CEFC6 7C@> E96 AC@8C2>D 27E6C E96 6?5 @7 E96 a_ac\ad D62D@?D 7@C 3@E9 DA@CED]k^Am
kAm$>:E9 :D >@G:?8 @? E@ 4@249 AC@76DD:@?2==J 7@C }:<6]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89@FE 9:D E6?FC6 2E }@CE96C? pC:K@?2[ af 2E9=6E6D :? EC24< 2?5 7:6=5 \\ :?5@@C 2?5 @FE5@@C \\ 92G6 62C?65 q:8 $<J r@?76C6?46 C64@C5D] x? a_ab[ $>:E9 =65 E96 H@>6?鈥橠 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ E62> E@ :ED 9:896DE 7:?:D9 2E E96 }rpp 492>A:@?D9:AD[ 2D E96 {F>36C;24<D 7:?:D965 D64@?5]k^Am
kAmy2CC65 r@C?7:6=5[ E96 4FCC6?E 2DD@4:2E6 9625 4@249 @7 5:DE2?46 2?5 >:55=6\5:DE2?46[ H:== DE6A :?E@ $>:E9鈥橠 C@=6 E96 7@==@H:?8 D49@@= J62C :? a_ad]k^Am
k9cm$>2D9:?8 C64@C5D :? EC24< 2?5 7:6=5k^9cm
kAm%9:D J62C[ 5FC:?8 2=>@DE 6G6CJ >66E E9:D D62D@? 7@C :?5@@C 2?5 @FE5@@C EC24< 2?5 7:6=5[ 2E =62DE @?6 }@CE96C? pC:K@?2 @C q:8 $<J C64@C5 H2D 3C@<6? 3J D@>6@?6 @? E96 E62>]k^Am
kAmyF?:@C v2CC6E q6C?E[ 2 E9C@H6C[ D6E 2 ?6H !# 2?5 q:8 $<J C64@C5 7@C E96 92>>6C E9C@H 2=>@DE 6G6CJ E:>6 96 4@>A6E65 2E 2 >66E] w6 62C?65 E9:C5 :? E96 }rpp (6DE #68:@?2= H:E9 2?@E96C A6CD@?2= 36DE @7 ed]`d >6E6CD]k^Am
kAm%96 H@>6?鈥橠 EC24< 2?5 7:6=5 E62> H@? :ED 7@FCE9 4@?D64FE:G6 q:8 $<J r@?76C6?46 ~FE5@@C r92>A:@?D9:A E:E=6 :? |2J[ D4@C:?8 2 E@E2= @7 ac_]d A@:?ED] $6?:@C |256=:?6 (:=D@? 42>6 2H2J H:E9 E96 (@>6?鈥橠 |@DE '2=F23=6 !=2J6C 2H2C5 2D H6==]k^Am
Northern Arizona distance runner Nico Young stands on the podium after his second-place finish in the 5,000-meter event at the NCAA championship meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Young competed in the 2024 Paris Games.聽
Myles Schrag, courtesy
k9cm{F>36C;24<D :? !2C:Dk^9cm
kAm%96 a_ac $F>>6C ~=J>A:4D 925 2 76H 72>:=:2C 7246D 7C@> u=28DE277 4@>A6E:?8 :? G2C:@FD 6G6?ED]k^Am
kAm}@CE96C? pC:K@?2 2=F> p35:92>:5 }FC BF2=:7:65 7@C E96 !2C:D ~=J>A:4D 27E6C A=24:?8 D64@?5 :? E96 a_ac &]$] ~=J>A:4 %62> %C:2=D :? tF86?6[ ~C68@?[ :? yF?6] w6 A=2465 bbC5 :? E96 >6?鈥橠 d[___\>6E6CD]k^Am
kAmp=@?8D:56 }FC[ 2=F> {F:D vC:;2=G2 4@>A6E65 7@C vF2E6>2=2 :? E96 >6?鈥橠 d___> 2D H6==]k^Am
kAm}:4@ *@F?8[ 2?@E96C C646?E 8C25F2E6[ 2=D@ BF2=:7:65 5FC:?8 E96 ~=J>A:4 %C:2=D :? E96 >6?鈥橠 `_[___>] v6@C5:6 q62>:D9 2?5 p52> z66?2?[ 2=D@ 7@C>6C {F>36C;24<D[ 4@>A6E65 :? E96 >6?鈥橠 bz DE66A=6492D6 2?5 >6?鈥橠 92>>6C E9C@H[ C6DA64E:G6=J[ 5FC:?8 E96 !2C:D v2>6D]k^Am
kAmz6682? z?@EE[ E96 @?=J 4FCC6?E DEF56?E 2?5 ?@?CF??6C @7 E96 8C@FA[ 4@>A6E65 :? E96 H@>6?鈥橠 c__> 7C66DEJ=6 :? E96 !2C2=J>A:4D 7@C E96 &]$] 7@==@H:?8 E96 ~=J>A:4 v2>6D]k^Am
Northern Arizona women's basketball coach Loree Payne talks to players, from left, Saniyah Neverson (33), Olivia Moran (22) and Taylor Feldman (5) before they sub into a game against Weber State on March 2, 2024, in the Walkup Skydome.
NAU Athletics, courtesy
k9cm!2J?6 E@AD E96 =:DEk^9cm
kAmyFDE 2 4@FA=6 H66<D 28@[ @? s64] `c[ {@C66 !2J?6[ 9625 4@249 @7 E96 H@>6?鈥橠 32D<6E32== E62>[ D6E E96 2==\E:>6 H:?D C64@C5 7@C 2 H@>6?鈥橠 32D<6E32== 4@249 2E }@CE96C? pC:K@?2]k^Am
kAm$:?46 96C DE2CE :? a_`f[ !2J?6 92D =65 E96 {F>36C;24<D E@ G:4E@CJ ``g E:>6D] %96 {F>36C;24<D C64@C565 E96:C 7:CDE H:??:?8 D62D@? F?56C 96C =6256CD9:A :? 96C E9:C5 J62C 2?5 92G6 7:?:D965 23@G6 ]d__ :? 7:G6 DEC2:89E D62D@?D] %96 E62> :D h\b D@ 72C E9:D J62C]k^Am
kAm}@CE96C? pC:K@?2VD ha\gb H:? @G6C $2? uC2?4:D4@ =65 !2J?6 E@ 3C62< E96 C64@C5[ H:E9 E96 6?E:C6 4@?76C6?46 D62D@? DE:== 29625 @7 96C :? a_ad]k^Am
k9cm(@>6?鈥橠 32D<6E32== 7:?:D96D a?5 :? q:8 $<J 492>A:@?D9:ADk^9cm
kAmsFC:?8 E96 a_ab\ac D62D@?[ H@>6?鈥橠 32D<6E32== 6?565 E96 D62D@? H:E9 2 ad\h C64@C5 2?5 2 `d\c >2C< :? 4@?76C6?46 A=2J] xE H2D E96 >@DE H:?D C64@C565 :? 2 D:?8=6 D62D@?[ 2?5 :E D64FC65 E96 E62> 2 DA@E :? E96 q:8 $<J E@FC?2>6?E]k^Am
kAm&=E:>2E6=J[ E96 {F>36C;24<D 76== E@ E96 t2DE6C? (2D9:?8E@? t28=6D :? E96 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6[ fb\ec]k^Am
k9cm(C:89E E96 D9:Ak^9cm
kAmqC:2? (C:89E DE6AA65 :?E@ E96 A@D:E:@? 2D E96 b`DE 9625 4@249 7@C }@CE96C? pC:K@?2 7@@E32== :? pF8FDE[ C6A=24:?8 r9C:D q2==[ 2?5 96 563FE65 H:E9 2 H:??:?8 C64@C5]k^Am
kAm(C:89E H2D E96 7@C>6C 9625 4@249 2E !:EED3FC8 $E2E6[ H96C6 96 4@>A:=65 2? @G6C2== C64@C5 @7 bb\g 5FC:?8 9:D E6?FC6] w6 =65 E96 v@C:==2D E@ EH@ }rpp s:G:D:@? xx A=2J@77 2AA62C2?46D 2D H6==]k^Am
kAmp7E6C ;FDE 2 J62C :? u=28DE277[ (C:89E EFC?65 9:D ?6H E62> 2C@F?5[ 2?5 E96 {F>36C;24<D H6?E 7C@> 2? @G6C2== C64@C5 @7 d\e E96 J62C AC:@C E@ g\d]k^Am
k9cmu@@E32== 7:?5D DF446DDk^9cm
kAmx? (C:89EVD 7:CDE J62C 2D 9625 4@249[ 96 =65 E96 {F>36C;24<D E@ E96:C 7:CDE ur$ A=2J@77 36CE9 D:?46 a_`f] %96J A=2J65 p3:=6?6 r9C:DE:2? :? =2E6 }@G6>36C[ 2?5 =@DE[ 3FE :E H2D DE:== E96 >@DE DF446DD7F= D62D@? }@CE96C? pC:K@?2 92D 925 :? 2 H9:=6]k^Am
kAmp=D@ ?@E D66? D:?46 a_`f[ E96 {F>36C;24<D H6C6 F?56762E65 2E 9@>6 2?5 62C?65 7:G6 DEC2:89E H:?D 2E E96 (2=<FA $<J5@>6 \\ H9:49 96=A65 E96> 62C? 2 DA@E 2D }@] a` D665 :? E96 A=2J@77D]k^Am
k9cm$H:> 2?5 5:G6 E62> H:?D 4@?76C6?46 E:E=6k^9cm
kAm}@CE96C? pC:K@?2 4=2:>65 :ED ``E9 (pr 492>A:@?D9:A :? |2C49 H:E9 2 E@E2= @7 gc`]d A@:?ED]k^Am
kAmr@249 p?5J y@9?D D2:5 :E H2D 2 鈥淒A64:2= 766=:?8鈥� E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96 DEC62< E92E DE2CE65 5FC:?8 E96 a_`b\`c D62D@?]k^Am
kAm|F49 =:<6 E96 EC24< 2?5 7:6=5 E62>[ E96 DH:> 2?5 5:G6 E62>D 4@?E:?F@FD=J 249:6G65 !#D 2?5 D>2D965 D49@@= C64@C5D H:E9 72DE6C DH:>D 2?5 >@C6 :?EC:42E6 5:G6D E9C@F89@FE E96 D62D@?]k^Am
k9cmkDEC@?8mq62>:D9 2EE2:?D H@C=5 492>A:@?D9:A E:E=6k^DEC@?8mk^9cm
kAmv6@C5:6 q62>:D9[ 2 }@CE96C? pC:K@?2 2=F> 2?5 7@C>6C EC24< 2?5 7:6=5 2E9=6E6[ 4@>A6E65 :? E96 (@C=5 pE9=6E:4D x?5@@C r92>A:@?D9:AD :? v=2D8@H[ $4@E=2?5[ :? 62C=J |2C49]k^Am
kAmw6 C2? E96 >6?VD `d__> 2?5 H@? H:E9 2 E:>6 @7 bibe]dc 27E6C DE2J:?8 :? D:IE9 7@C >@DE @7 E96 C246]k^Am
kAmq62>:D9 H@? E96 H@C=5 E:E=6 7@C E96 6G6?E[ 255:?8 E@ E96 =:DE @7 {F>36C;24<D H9@ 4@>A6E65 8=@32==J E9:D J62C]k^Am