Welcome to PNW Athletics Today, the official athletics podcast of Purdue University Northwest, hosted by Director of Athletics Rick Costello.

In this action-packed episode, we celebrate a decade of academic excellence and nine years of NCAA Division II competition as the Pride continues to thrive under the "students first, athletes second" model. With 23 sports and over 530 student-athletes, PNW Athletics is building a championship culture both in the classroom and in competition.

🏆 Featured Highlights Include:

• ⚾ A historic jersey retirement for MLB pitcher Chad Patrick of the Milwaukee Brewers — former GLIAC Pitcher of the Year, All-American, and the first PNW athlete drafted into a major professional sports organization.

• 🏒 Hockey dominance as the Pride defeats Hope College and advances in postseason tournament play.

• 📚 20 consecutive semesters with a 3.0+ department GPA, marking 10 years of academic achievement.

💥 Stunt Team Spotlight
Head Coach Marshall Smith and student-athletes Maggie Underwood and Leah DeCeser break down the fast-growing sport of collegiate stunt — a dynamic blend of competitive cheer and gymnastics structured into a four-quarter head-to-head format. Ranked Top 12 in Division II, the Pride are pushing toward national playoff contention as stunt earns championship status at the NCAA level.

🏈 Flag Football on the Rise
First-year Head Coach Micah Lowe joins team leaders Marilyn Myrick (QB1) and Morgan Ellis to preview the inaugural season of PNW Flag Football. With the sport gaining national momentum and Olympic recognition, the Pride prepare to compete at the collegiate level — including games at Hallas Hall, the Chicago Bears' practice facility.

🏀 Plus updates on:

• GLIAC men's basketball playoff push

• Record-breaking track & field performances

• Baseball, softball, and tennis season openers

• The expanding impact of women's athletics at PNW

From NCAA tournament aspirations to emerging sports status for stunt and flag football, PNW Athletics is building something special in Northwest Indiana.

🎧 Subscribe for weekly updates, student-athlete stories, championship highlights, and everything happening across Pride Athletics.

Go Pride!