Message from Matt: Summer Updates for the Spartans
6/30/2025 3:06:00 PM | General
Summer has officially arrived!
While campus life may slow down during these warmer months, this season marks a crucial period of planning and preparation for the fall and beyond.
Last week, USC Upstate Athletics formally notified the NCAA of our decision to opt into the House v. NCAA settlement. As I’ve noted in previous communications, we’ve been closely monitoring this case for several months. The recently approved settlement language—protecting opportunities for our current student-athletes and those already recruited for the 2025–26 academic year—made it clear that opting in now is in our best interest. As the collegiate athletics landscape continues to shift, we believe this step is both necessary and responsible in order to remain aligned with the future direction of Division I athletics.
Our highest priority remains the well-being and holistic development of our student-athletes – in competition, in the classroom, and in life. The settlement provides clarity as we plan for long-term sustainability and competitive success within this new era of college athletics, while also allowing flexibility to enhance the resources and benefits we currently offer, in a way that aligns with our strategic financial model. This creates new opportunities to enrich the student-athlete experience and ensures we can continue to attract, support, and retain those who choose to be USC Upstate Spartans.
As you are aware, intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve rapidly, and while the future remains uncertain, our decision positions Upstate Athletics to navigate these changes with confidence and readiness. Based on what we know today, this path strengthens our ability to adapt and thrive in a shifting landscape.
As you’ll read below, it has been a historic year for USC Upstate Athletics, highlighted by four Big South Championships, a best-ever finish in the Big South Sasser Cup rankings, and another record-breaking year in the classroom. Opting-in to this new model provides a pathway to ensure USC Upstate Athletics continues to compete for championships and prosper into the future.
How Can You Help?
- Stay in the Game: Continue your support of Upstate Athletics as a season ticket holder, donor, corporate sponsor, or NoCap Revenue Partner. Your investment is essential to sustaining our championship-level success and providing critical resources for all Spartan student-athletes.
- Get Involved: Have questions about how you can support our student-athletes through revenue-sharing opportunities with USC Upstate? Let’s start the conversation—your engagement can make a lasting impact.
- Spread the Word: Help us grow the #SpartanArmy! Share our mission with friends, family, and fellow fans. The more our community grows, the stronger our future becomes.
Recapping a Historic Spring
While the opportunity to “opt-in” is exciting for our future, we cannot look forward without first recognizing the historic Spring Season for USC Upstate Athletics – which included three Big South Championships in Baseball, Men’s Golf, and Softball. I couldn't be prouder of the effort and excellence shown by our student-athletes, coaches, and staff.
Baseball
In Coach Sweeney's first year at the helm, the Spartans not only captured their first Division I regular season championship in school history but also captured the program's first-ever Big South Tournament title. That historic win secured our first trip to the NCAA Tournament, where the team continued its momentum and battled to the end at the Clemson Regional. It was a phenomenal season—and we believe it's just the beginning of many more to come!
We’re heading to Clemson! ????
— USC Upstate Baseball (@UpstateBSB) May 26, 2025
Let’s get dancing, Spartans!#SpartanArmy?? pic.twitter.com/WWjZCSeXKa
Softball
Not to be outdone, our softball program defended last year’s championship by claiming a Big South Tournament Championship of their own, defeating Winthrop 7-4 in the championship game, leading them to the Clemson Regional, their seventh regional appearance in program history. Building off last year's title, the team posted another 30-win season, featured eight All-Conference selections, and celebrated a Co-Freshman of the Year honoree in Sophia Kardatzke. They also finished the season ranked in the top 10 nationally in stolen bases with 150 swipes. What a year!
Men’s Golf
For the first time in school history, our men’s golf program captured the Big South Championship, beating Charleston Southern in match play at the Ocean Creek Golf Course on Fripp Island. The match came down to a 19th-hole playoff, which senior Jaskaran Sohal birdied the extra hole to secure the championship title. The team was selected to compete in the Auburn Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????????….
— USC Upstate Golf (@UpstateMWGolf) April 23, 2025
Your Spartans are the Big South Champions!#SpartanArmy?? pic.twitter.com/vQnGsHwTxW
Track & Field
Our track & field teams secured best-ever finishes at Big South Outdoor Championships, with our men’s team securing a runner-up finish for the second year in a row, and our women’s team finishing fourth – their best finish since becoming a Big South member. Rachel Davis was named Meet MVP after she swept her events, placing 1st in the discus, shot put, and hammer! Freshman sprinter Jeremiah Harris was named Men’s Newcomer of the Year for his performances in the 100m and 200m. Women’s throwers Rachel Davis and Jessa Beach each earned the opportunity to represent USC Upstate by competing at the NCAA East Regional.
Overall, our department is very healthy. It's easy to point out the four conference championships in women's soccer, men's golf, baseball, and softball—but I believe our success goes far beyond the trophies. We're seeing consistent growth in the classroom and across all our programs. The Big South Conference recently announced the final standings for the George F. "Buddy" Sasser Cup Trophy for the 2024–25 season, and USC Upstate finished with its fifth-straight top five placement—the best five-year stretch since moving to Division I. We placed third out of nine institutions, our best-ever finish, which speaks volumes about who we are and where we are going.
Sparty’s Ball & Auction
A huge thank you to everyone who made Sparty's Ball a night to remember! Your support helps fuel opportunities for our student-athletes. Attendees also got the first look at our newly unveiled Spartan logo, which is being integrated across all programs. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and it perfectly captures the strength and identity of USC Upstate.
Academic Success
As the year drew to a close, our student-athletes once again excelled academically. We finished the spring with a cumulative GPA of 3.31, and 51 Spartans achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA. Coming off a record-breaking fall, this continued academic success is something we are incredibly proud of.
Thank you for your continued support. Enjoy your summer, and we'll be back soon with more updates as we gear up for another unforgettable year in Spartanburg!
