For more than 125 years, Saint Martin’s University has been a cornerstone of learning, faith and community. Alongside its academic legacy, the University boasts a thriving athletic department that regularly hosts and competes in top-tier regional competitions across a variety of sports. Recently, Saints tackled the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) both on campus and from the road.
Since its founding more than two decades ago, the GNAC has grown into one of the nation’s premier NCAA Division II athletic conferences. It features competitions in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, rowing, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. Over the years, GNAC teams have produced All-American athletes and national championship winners, hallmarks of the conference’s competitive excellence.
From Playing to Hosting, Saints Athletes Welcome the Great Northwest Athletic Conference
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference started in July 2001 and Saint Martin’s was one of the first enrolled schools in the program, explains Theresa Hanson, the University’s Director of Athletics.
Saint Martin’s hosted the 2025 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships in March. “Saint Martin’s has been successful in hosting seven GNAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships since 2011, the year of the inaugural Championship Tournament,” shares Hanson.
Overall, Saints athletics includes 15 teams across 9 sports, representing nearly 250 student-athletes. Programs include men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field as well as cross country. There are also women’s volleyball and softball teams and men’s baseball teams.
Saints Softball Superstars Shine on the Field
The Saints softball team recently wrapped up their Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament. They ranked second in the GNAC regular season, seventh in the West Region and advanced to the first round of the NCAA DII championships.
“The squad has continued to improve over the past five seasons and looks forward to a competitive 2026 season,” says softball head coach Jim Peterson. “We have a good young team as we only graduated two seniors off the current 2025 team.”
Recent softball accolades include:
- Two consecutive seasons qualifying for the NCAA Playoffs
- Five straight seasons qualifying for our GNAC League Playoffs
- An SMU Softball player has been named the GNAC Freshman of the Year three of the past five years. Britney Patrick (2021), Chloe Leverington (2022), Heather Ebner (2024)
- GNAC 2025 Co-Player of the Year: Heather Ebner
- 2024 Freshman All-American: Heather Ebner
- 2023 1st Team All West Region: Haley Agena
- 2025 1st Team All West Region: Heather Ebner
- 2024: Chloe Leverington set SMU Single season strikeout record at 125
- 2025: Heather Ebner set new GNAC League Single season RBI Record at 67
GNAC Gives Athletes Top Tier Play While Introducing Saint Martin’s to Prospective Students
Hanson believes that hosting conference championships like the Great Northwest Athletic Conference is beneficial for both student-athletes and the University overall. She says that it “increases visibility and recognition, showcasing Saint Martin’s to broader audiences while enhancing the school’s reputation and drawing attention to our athletes’ achievements.”
These events also strengthen community and school spirit by fostering a sense of pride and unity amongst students, alumni and supporters. “There is nothing better than playing in front of your home crowd,” says Hanson, “It’s also a nice competitive advantage.” Plus, hosting boosts visibility for recruitment by attracting visitors from around the conference.
Recruitment, says Hanson, is vital to shaping the quality, culture and long-term success of both teams and programs. By bringing in skilled athletes, recruitment elevates team performance, attracts more students and strengthens alumni and community engagement.
Join the Action by Cheering on Saints Athletes at GNAC and Beyond
The public is warmly invited to attend Saints athletic events, both on campus and on the road. You can see a full roster of team schedules and the sports program’s event calendar online or visit the ticketing portal for upcoming games.
Can’t attend in person but don’t want to miss out? Saint Martin’s regularly streams both live and archived games on their YouTube channel, making it easy to support from wherever you are
To learn more about becoming a Saints athlete, fill out their athletic inquiry form or consider joining one of the Saints Camps in baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball or track and field.
If you’re the proud parent of a Saints athlete, check out the school’s discounted hotel rate for when family flies in to watch. And make sure to pick up some spirit wear to represent with pride whether in the stands, on the bleachers or puttering around town.
Supporting Saints Athletics is more than just cheering at a game – it’s a shared experience that celebrates student achievement and deepens the spirit of community. Whether courtside at home or following the team across the GNAC, there’s always a reason to root for the Saints.
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