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The independent, student-run news site of Eastern Washington University.

The Easterner

The independent, student-run news site of Eastern Washington University.

The Easterner

The independent, student-run news site of Eastern Washington University.

The Easterner

Head football coach Aaron Best leads the football team out after halftime against Weber State last season. Best has been a part of the Eagles' last eight Big Sky Championships - one as a player and seven on the coaching staff | Bailey Monteith for The Easterner

Aaron Best ready for second season at the helm

By Taylor Newquist, Reporter June 7, 2018

Aaron Best has been a part of the EWU football program for 20 of the last 21 years, beginning with his playing career in 1996. This fall, Best will start his second year as the Eagles’ head coach, after...

Two hockey club members in a game against Washington State this season. The club recently joined the Pac-8, a Division II conference in the American Collegiate Hockey Association | Photo courtesy of EWU Hockey Club

EWU hockey club moves to Pac-8

By Jeremy Burnham, Copy Editor June 6, 2018

EWU hockey has a new conference. The men’s club hockey team will be moving to the Pac-8 conference, EWU Hockey Club president Zachery Mindermann announced on May 31. The Pac-8 is a Division II conference...

Athletic Director Lynn Hickey during her introductory press conference on April 25. Hickey is focused on pinpointing and solving problems in the athletic department at this point in her tenure | Photo courtesy of EWU

EWU Athletic Director Lynn Hickey and the athletic department prep for a busy summer

By Taylor Newquist, Reporter June 6, 2018

EWU Athletic Director Lynn Hickey has spent six weeks in her permanent position. In her first week she filled staff vacancies for the associate head soccer coach and the Senior Associate Athletic Director...

Senior Paula Gil-Echevarria competes in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Big Sky Championships on May 10. On May 25, Gil-Eehevarria placed 27th in the event at the NCAA West Preliminaries | Photo courtesy of EWU Athletics

Eags’ outdoor track & field campaign ends in Sacramento

By Taylor Newquist, Reporter May 31, 2018

The EWU outdoor track and field season concluded last weekend at the NCAA West Preliminary Round in Sacramento, after all seven competing Eagles placed outside of the top 12 that was required to qualify...

Bogdan Bliznyuk, who was named the 2018 Big Sky Conference MVP, will make his NBA Summer League debut on July 6, 2018. | Easterner Archives

Bogdan Bliznyuk continues NBA Draft preparation

By Michael Brock, Sports Editor May 31, 2018

Since capping off a record-breaking EWU career by being named the 2018 Big Sky Conference MVP, senior forward Bogdan Bliznyuk has been working tirelessly to fulfill his dream of playing professional basketball. Bliznyuk...

Senior Erin Clark prepares to pole vault at a recent practice. Clark will compete in the event at the NCAA West Preliminary Championship in Sacramento this weekend | Bailey Monteith for The Easterner

Sactown showdown: Eags prep for NCAA West Prelims

By Taylor Newquist, Reporter May 23, 2018

Seven Eagles have qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary Championship this weekend in Sacramento after final rankings were posted on May 17. Three athletes from the men’s team and four from the women’s...

The 2017-2018 track and field team at the beginning of the season. At the Outdoor Championships, the men grabbed fourth place while the women finished sixth | Photo courtesy of EWU Athletics

Season in review: EWU’s outdoor track transformation

By Taylor Newquist, Reporter May 23, 2018

At this time last year, the EWU track and field team sent five athletes to compete in the NCAA West Preliminary Championships – with only one Eagle surpassing the top 40 of qualifying rankings. The...

Senior Rebecca Tarbert (center) posing with her 100-meter first place medal at the Big Sky Championships on May 11. Tarbert, who is the first Eagle to win the event since 1994, secured the title in 11.64 seconds | Photo courtesy of EWU Athletics

EWU sprinters shine at outdoor championships

By Taylor Newquist, Reporter May 16, 2018

The EWU track and field team traveled to Moscow, Idaho on May 11 to compete in the Big Sky Conference Championships. The men finished fourth overall at the meet, their best team finish since 2013. Senior...

Sophomore Keshun McGee competes in the long jump at the Whitworth Buc Scoring Meet on March 17. At the Big Sky Championships on May 11, McGee won the long jump and placed second in the triple jump | Photo courtesy of EWU Athletics

Keshun McGee jumps to top of Big Sky

By Taylor Newquist, Reporter May 16, 2018

Sophomore Keshun McGee became the first Eagle ever to win the Big Sky Conference outdoor long jump title on May 10, while also opening the gates to the best EWU men’s team finish since 2013. McGee added...

Michael King, former EWU head volleyball coach, addresses the team at a home match last season. King, along with assistant coach Nathan Fristed, was dismissed on March 27 following a university investigation | Bailey Monteith for The Easterner

New details emerge in EWU volleyball coaches firing

By Michael Brock, Sports Editor May 16, 2018

On March 27, EWU volleyball coaches Michael King and Nathan Fristed were relieved of their duties by then-interim athletic director Lynn Hickey. Hickey, who has since been promoted to the permanent director...

EWU basketball alumna Ashli Payne prepares for the layup against an Atomeromu KSC Szekszard defender while she played for GDESSA of Portugal. Payne is currently  playing professionally in Australia after spending the winter playing in Portugal. | Photo courtesy of Ashli Payne

EWU basketball alumna Ashli Payne continues hoops career abroad

By Taylor Newquist, Reporter May 11, 2018

Former EWU basketball player Ashli Payne is headed back to Australia to play out her third professional contract, this time in Perth with the Willetton Tigers in the Australia-State Basketball League. Payne...

Senior quarterback Gage Gubrud waits to call for the ball at the Red-White game on April 28. Gubrud is entering his third season under center for the Eagles. | Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

Gage Gubrud, EWU offense primed for productive 2018

By Michael Brock, Sports Editor May 10, 2018

After being snubbed from the FCS playoffs in November, the EWU football team has a new motto for the upcoming season: Leave No Doubt. In 2017, the Eagles went 7–4 overall (6–2 in Big Sky Conference)...

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