As the school year ends, Linn-Benton Athletics is wrapping up with its baseball program heading to the NWAC’s postseason tournament.

It’s been another successful year of sports at Linn-Benton, with the volleyball and baseball programs appearing in the postseason while the men’s and women’s basketball teams finished only a few games outside of a playoff spot.

Here’s a brief overview of LBCC’s four sports programs and their highlights during the 2024-25 school year.

Volleyball

To kick off the year, the Linn-Benton volleyball program carried its momentum from 2023’s NWAC Championship success and put together another impressive campaign.

Coming off of three consecutive NWAC Championships, the Roadrunners entered the 2024 season on a remarkable unbeaten run of 55 matches. The Roadrunners built upon their run by going 30-0 during the regular season and then 4-0 to start the postseason before the championship game.

Ultimately, Linn-Benton’s unbeaten run and reign as defending champions ended in the championship game against Skagit Valley. The 34-0 Roadrunners fell three sets to two in a thriller against the Cardinals, earning Skagit Valley their first-ever NWAC volleyball title.

Despite coming up just short in the title game, the Roadrunners had plenty to celebrate on the season, setting multiple school and conference records while winning the program’s fourth straight NWAC South regional title.

The Roadrunners also had five players selected to the NWAC South’s All-Region team, with head coach Jayme Frazier winning coach of the year and outside hitter Brooklyn Willard winning the South Region’s most valuable player award.

With seven members of last year’s squad set to graduate, the Roadrunners are losing half of their team from the 2024 season. However, the motivated group of returning players will be inspired to avenge their championship defeat.

“The family that we have on the court really makes us believe in one another,” said sophomore setter Meah Carley. “We really are a family out there and that brings a lot to the team.”

Women’s Basketball

Entering the 2024-25 season, the Linn-Benton women’s basketball program knew they would face strong opposition in the NWAC’s strongest division. During the 2023-24 season, two of Linn-Benton’s South Region opponents, Lane and Umpqua, took on one another in the NWAC Championship.

Despite the strength of their opposition, the Roadrunners battled hard throughout the 2024-25 season, finishing with an overall record of 14-14 and landing just two games outside of a playoff spot.

Highlights from the Roadrunners’ season included the month of December, when the team won five out of seven matches, and sophomore night, when the team won 67-63 in overtime against the then 19-8 Chemeketa Storm.

Sophomore guard Katelynn Weaver spearheaded the team’s offense for much of the season, finishing the season with the highest averages for points, rebounds, assists, and minutes amongst her team.

On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore forward Natalia McBride led the team in blocks, averaging 0.9 per game, while also being just one of two players on the Roadrunners’ roster to average two steals a game.

With only five sophomore players leaving the program, Linn-Benton will retain much of its roster for the 2025-26 season. With 11 players set to return next year, the Roadrunners’ team chemistry will be an advantage for them heading into the next season.

“I think the sophomores did a really good job of welcoming the freshmen in,” said freshman guard Lidia Jacobsen. “It’s a super close-knit team, it’s like a second family here.”

Men’s Basketball

Heading into the season, Linn-Benton men’s basketball coach Todd Zimmermann knew that the team’s offense would look different without his son T.J. on the roster.  

During the 2023-24 season, T.J. Zimmermann led the Roadrunners by averaging a team-best total of 21.6 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game. Zimmermann’s production played a vital role in leading the Roadrunners to an overall record of 15-14 and a postseason appearance in 2024.

In their first season since T.J. Zimmermann’s graduation, the Roadrunners stayed competitive and battled for a postseason spot until the final week. Despite finishing with an overall record of 12-17, the team picked up impressive wins against two teams that would make the playoffs, Portland and Lane.

Highlights from the 2024-25 season included the team winning three intense overtime battles at home against Columbia Basin, Blue Mountain, and Portland, and a 19-point victory over Chemeketa on sophomore night.

On the statistical side, sophomore guard Liam Spencer led the team by averaging 19.4 points per game and 1.6 steals per game. The team also had plenty of production out of their first-year players, with freshman forward Jackson Oglesby leading the team averages in rebounds and blocks, and guard Eli Lerman leading the team with 2.9 assists per game.

In line with the women’s basketball program, the Roadrunners will only lose five players ahead of the 2025-26 season. With a hungry group of returning players who have already proven their contributions to the team, the Roadrunners could be a team that surprises next season.

“I love the team, I love the game. The fact that I get to do [basketball] for a couple more years, it’s super awesome,” said Spencer. “I’m just glad we got a great group with potential.”

Baseball

While the season may not be over just yet for the Linn-Benton baseball program, the Roadrunners have officially put another successful regular season in the books.

After winning the 2024 NWAC Championship last season, the squad entered 2025 with heavy expectations after retaining over half of their roster from their title-winning run.

The Roadrunners didn’t let the pressure get to them and wound up finishing the regular season with an overall record of 30-10-1 while clinching the program’s seventh NWAC South title since 2017.

So far this season, the Roadrunners’ success comes from two integral factors: dominant pitching and winning wild games. Before the NWAC Super Regional Playoffs, Linn-Benton pitchers Connor Mendez and Brody McMullen were each in the top 10 for ERA among NWAC pitchers.

In terms of winning wild games, the Roadrunners have had six games go past nine innings this year, but have managed to win five, including a 14-inning home victory against Mt. Hood and a 13-inning walk-off win against Umpqua.

If the Roadrunners win the championship again, it will mark the program’s third NWAC title in the last four years, establishing them as a dynasty among the conference’s baseball programs. But no matter the result, Linn-Benton’s players will have already left their legacy on the program and will undoubtedly never forget their time as a Roadrunner.

“This team’s a family. Everybody loves everyone and everybody’s always there to pick each other up,” said sophomore pitcher Seth Dreeszen. “Even when guys fail, they’re just excited to see the next guy come in and pick them up.” 

Follow along with LBCC baseball here.

This article originally appeared in the May 2025 edition of The Commuter.