"Aggie Pride is about more than what happens in competition. It's about the people, relationships and commitment to making a difference that define UC Davis Athletics. You see it in John and Joleen Silverfoote's efforts to honor Phil Wells, in our student-athletes giving back to others, and in the pride our alumni continue to have in this university.
You also see it in performances like field hockey's historic win over Louisville and Sam Gbatu Jr. closing in on another career milestone. There's a lot to celebrate across our programs, and these stories are great reminders of what makes being an Aggie so special."
— Rocko DeLuca, Director of Athletics
STUDENT-ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT – Sam Gbatu Closing In on the Record Books
From growing up in Liberia to discovering football at a Marine Corps high school in Japan, Samuel Gbatu Jr.'s journey to becoming one of the top wide receivers in UC Davis history has been anything but conventional.
Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Gbatu Jr. spent the first 11 years of his life there before reuniting with his father, a United States Marine, and eventually moving to Okinawa, Japan. It wasn't until his freshman year of high school that he first picked up a football, later moving to Temecula, Calif., where he developed into a standout wide receiver.
Throughout his journey, the discipline and work ethic instilled by his father have remained central to his success, along with a deeply personal motivation: using the opportunities football has provided to one day reunite with his mother, whom he has not seen since leaving Liberia.
Now, Gbatu Jr. continues to cement his place among the best wide receivers in UC Davis football history, building on an already impressive career with another standout season for the Aggies.
Through the first six games of the 2026 season, Gbatu Jr. has recorded at least five receptions in every contest, surpassing 100 receiving yards and scoring a touchdown in four of those games. Following his six-catch, 92-yard performance in UC Davis' 48-39 victory over Eastern Washington on Oct. 3, he ranks fourth in program history in career receiving yards (2,975) and receiving touchdowns (26). Sitting just 25 yards shy of 3,000 career receiving yards, he is on the verge of becoming only the fourth Aggie to reach that milestone.
A First Team All-Conference selection and Second Team All-American in 2025, Gbatu Jr. has continued to be a consistent offensive threat for UC Davis this fall. His performance against Stetson on Sept. 19 was among his best yet, as he recorded career highs of 10 receptions and 172 receiving yards in the Aggies' 45-7 victory. The effort earned him Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors and helped UC Davis sweep all three of the conference's weekly awards for just the second time in program history.
From his beginnings in Liberia to his record-setting career at UC Davis, Gbatu Jr.'s story reflects the perseverance, discipline and determination that have shaped his journey both on and off the field.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT – Taymar Partnership Brings New Faces To Aggie Athletics
As UC Davis Athletics continues to grow and invest in the future of its programs, a new partnership with Taymar brings two new faces to the department, focused on strengthening connections with Aggie fans and the surrounding community.
Through a recently announced multiyear partnership with Taymar, a national leader in collegiate ticket sales and marketing, John Reilly and Nick Thompson have joined the Aggie family to help expand ticket sales efforts, grow attendance and create new opportunities for fans to experience UC Davis Athletics.
Reilly joins as general manager of ticket sales, bringing extensive experience in professional sports. A graduate of King's College, he began his career with the American Hockey League's Binghamton Devils and has since held leadership positions with the Tucson Roadrunners, Utah Grizzlies and Wichita Thunder. His background in sales leadership and fan engagement will help guide the department's ticket sales efforts.
"I'm excited to join UC Davis Athletics and work alongside such a great group of people," Reilly said. "I'm looking forward to getting to know the Aggie community and helping create great experiences for our fans."
Joining Reilly is Thompson, who will serve as an account executive. A former collegiate football player and graduate of Full Sail University, Thompson brings experience across collegiate and professional sports, including time with the Visalia Rawhide and Portland Pickles. His perspective as both a former student-athlete and sports industry professional adds to the team's focus on building meaningful relationships with Aggie supporters.
"I'm excited to be part of this new chapter in UC Davis Athletics and help build on the momentum surrounding Aggie sports," Thompson said. "I look forward to connecting with our fans and community, creating memorable experiences, and helping more people be part of Aggie game days."
Together, Reilly and Thompson will work alongside UC Davis Athletics staff to connect more students, alumni, families and community members with the excitement of Aggie Athletics, helping build a stronger game-day atmosphere and lasting relationships with fans throughout the region.
DONOR IMPACT – Honoring Phil Wells, Building A Lasting Legacy
What began as a tribute to a beloved teammate and friend has grown into a lasting legacy of support for UC Davis football student-athletes, thanks in large part to the dedication of longtime Aggie supporters John and Joleen Silverfoote.
Established in 2015 by a group of former UC Davis football players, the Phil Wells Memorial Award honors the memory of Phil Wells, a former Aggie football standout and team captain who played under legendary head coach Jim Sochor. Among the many friendships Wells formed during his time at UC Davis was a particularly close bond with teammate John Silverfoote.
Following Wells' passing, John and his wife, Joleen, helped lead an effort to honor his legacy through the Phil Wells Memorial Golf Tournament. For 10 years, the Silverfootes, alongside Phil's wife, Carol Wells, who played an integral role on the organizing committee, and a dedicated group of supporters organized the annual event, bringing together former teammates, alumni and friends to raise funds for the scholarship. The tournament concluded its 10-year run in fall 2025, leaving behind an enduring impact on the program.
Through their efforts, an endowment that began with a $50,000 pledge has grown to more than $400,000, providing annual scholarship support to a UC Davis football student-athlete who embodies the values Wells represented, including character, integrity, leadership and a commitment to serving others.
Beyond their work with the scholarship, John and Joleen remain devoted supporters of UC Davis Athletics. Longtime Champion Aggies Club members, the couple regularly makes the trip from the Bay Area to cheer on the Aggies at home football games. Their contributions have also helped honor Wells through the co-naming of the defensive line coaching office.
The Silverfootes' commitment is a reminder of the lifelong connections formed through Aggie Athletics and the lasting difference those relationships can make for future generations of student-athletes.
IN THE COMMUNITY – Building Connections Beyond Competition
At UC Davis, the impact of Aggie Athletics extends well beyond competition. Through partnerships with the Redwood SEED Scholars Program and Team IMPACT, student-athletes and teams continue to create meaningful opportunities for inclusion, mentorship and connection throughout the campus community.
That commitment was on display Sept. 22, when UC Davis student-athletes participated in the Redwood SEED Scholars Fall Launch event, helping welcome scholars ahead of the new academic year. Women's soccer's Ashleigh Garcia, men's water polo's Baxter Chelsom and women's basketball's Anna Bassett and Sahana Kanagasabay are among the Aggies who serve as mentors in the program, providing academic support, encouragement and opportunities to build friendships across campus.
The partnership also extends into UC Davis Athletics programs. For the past four years, Redwood SEED Scholar Bryan Le served as a manager for the Aggie volleyball team before graduating in June. Continuing that tradition, head coach Dan Conners welcomed fellow scholar Ishaan Mishra into the role this fall, providing another opportunity for hands-on experience and meaningful involvement with the program.
"We don't measure our season only by wins and losses but also by our attitude, growth and resilience," Conners said. "Bryan has modeled those characteristics for us over his four years with our program, and we are proud to have Ishaan with us again this fall."
Volleyball has also embraced the mission of Team IMPACT, a national organization that connects children facing serious illnesses or disabilities with college athletic teams to foster belonging and lasting relationships. With the support of senior Breeze Czapinski, the Aggies welcomed 13-year-old Maren into their program in April 2025, forming a special bond that extended far beyond the volleyball court.
Following Maren's passing this summer, the team continues to honor her memory and the lasting impact she made on the program. During its Oct. 3 match against Air Force, UC Davis volleyball also recognized three other children connected with Aggie teams through Team IMPACT: Bailey with field hockey, Maverick with track and field, and Alyssa with women's water polo.
"Maren joined us through Team IMPACT and reminded us of what it means to show up for each other," Conners said. "These three (Bryan, Ishaan, and Maren) have shaped our team in ways that don't show up in a box score, and we're deeply grateful to Redwood SEED Scholars and Team IMPACT for supporting the opportunity for us to have them join our program."
Together, these partnerships reflect what it means to be an Aggie: showing up for others, creating a sense of belonging and building relationships that leave a lasting impact on everyone involved
AGGIES IN COMPETITION – Field Hockey Secures Historic Win Over Nationally Ranked Louisville
UC Davis field hockey delivered one of the biggest victories in program history Sept. 27, defeating No. 12 Louisville, 1-0, in a neutral-site matchup that marked a historic achievement for the Aggies.
The victory marked UC Davis' first-ever win over an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent and its first against Louisville. It was also just the second win over a nationally ranked team in program history and the first since 2013. The result represented the highest-ranked RPI victory in program history, further underscoring the significance of the accomplishment.
Senior Molly Main scored her first career goal to give the Aggies the advantage, while a strong defensive performance secured the shutout against one of the nation's top programs.
"The Louisville game was a tremendous moment for this program," head coach Austin Pile said. "It showed us that on any given day we have the potential to compete and win against the best in the nation. The team spent 60 minutes working for each other, supporting each other and were rewarded with a victory they'll always remember."
The historic result was more than a single win for the Aggies, serving as a testament to the team's hard work, determination and ability to compete with some of the nation's best programs.
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS
UC Davis Athletics represents one of the nation's premier public universities on the NCAA Division I stage, with more than 650 student-athletes competing across 25 sports, including 16 programs in the Mountain West Conference. Located in California's quintessential college town, UC Davis combines championship-level athletics with the academic excellence of the nation's #8 public research university and is home to the nation's No. 1 programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine and sustainability. With a growing national media presence, bold investments in facilities and the student-athlete experience, and a tradition of developing champions in competition, in the classroom and beyond, the Aggies are elevating UC Davis on a national stage.
For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/.
