Winter 2026 Highlander Athletic News

The start of Houghton’s fall semester marks another year of pursuing the Athletics Department’s motto: “Excellence for the Glory of God.” But what does excellence actually look like within Houghton’s teams? Dr. Matthew Webb, Director of Athletics, offers a perspective that reframes the idea entirely.

“I think a misconception would be that excellence equates perfection… I don’t think that’s the case,” Webb says. “To me, excellence is more about a pursuit.”
Webb emphasizes that perfection—whether as an athlete, student, or employee—is impossible. What matters is the effort. “We’re not going to be perfect,” he says. “But I think we can still be excellent without being perfect.” He draws a parallel to Christian life: believers will never be perfect, yet their pursuit of God is what truly matters.

When identifying excellence among Houghton’s athletes, Webb looks beyond wins and losses. While victories are celebrated, he believes true excellence is embedded in the culture of each team. “The excellence that I see in our programs is more behind the scenes,” he explains. “It’s the culture—things that teams are doing to pursue Christ culturally.”

Each team expresses this culture differently. The men’s basketball team sits together at the front of chapel services. The women’s soccer team carries a wooden cross across campus during their annual cross run, praying and fellowshipping along the way. These traditions rarely take center stage, yet they reveal each team’s deeper commitment to growth and faith.

At the start of the year, the Athletics Department holds its all-athlete meeting. While it covers required policies and expectations, Webb also uses it to remind athletes why they compete. His hope is that each student-athlete not only performs well but grows spiritually through their sport and team community.

Looking ahead, Webb says each team stands in a unique place based on its history and current needs. Some programs with new coaches are focused on building culture; others aim to build on last year’s progress. With a strong start to the fall season—both in performance and team culture—Houghton’s ongoing pursuit of excellence is already in motion.

Houghton University Athletics has taken significant steps in recent years to elevate the holistic development of its student-athletes—pairing a structured strength and conditioning program with a new mental performance partnership. Together, these initiatives reflect the department’s commitment to equipping Highlander athletes with the tools needed to thrive physically, mentally and spiritually.

Strength and Conditioning: Building Stronger, Safer Athletes 

Launched three years ago under Head Athletic Trainer Austin Walden, Houghton’s strength and conditioning program has quickly become a cornerstone of athlete development. The program is designed to enhance performance while reducing injury risk by offering structured, intentional training for athletes both in-season and out-of-season.

“The goal is to provide structured training programs for our athletes—to help them perform on the field while minimizing the risk of injuries,” Walden explains. “Once our athletes are physically stronger and faster, there’s a decreased chance of injuries.” 

Each session includes dynamic warmups, agility drills, sprints and full-body strength work. Walden collaborates closely with coaches to ensure each program aligns with team goals and reflects sport-specific needs.

Athletes have already seen measurable benefits. Women’s basketball player Hannah Farley ’27 credits the program for improvements in explosiveness, agility, and injury prevention. “Austin does a great job at implementing exercises that are game-like,” she said. “I’ve seen growth in my explosiveness and agility, and I’ve been blessed to avoid major injuries.”

Walden has likewise observed fewer muscular injuries and stronger team cultures around training. His long-term vision includes expanding the program to allow teams up to three sessions per week.

Complementing the physical training program, Houghton recently partnered with Jason Rollins, founder of Holos 360 and a certified Mental Performance Mastery Coach, to bolster athletes’ mental preparation and resilience.

Director of Athletics Dr. Matthew Webb says the partnership grew from a desire to give student-athletes proactive mental performance resources: “It’s not mental health resources particularly—it’s proactive, intentional mental performance training.”

Rollins’ curriculum guides athletes through three phases—preparing well, performing well, and reflecting well—each centered on developing mental habits and disciplines that directly influence performance. He works with teams and individuals through online meetings, focusing on personalized support.

One unique element of Holos 360 is its Christian foundation. Rollins helps athletes understand their Imago Dei—their identity as people created by God—so they compete from a place of purpose rather than pressure.

“When athletes understand that their identity is placed in who God made them to be, it releases them to perform at their best,” Rollins says.

Early feedback from athletes has been highly positive. Webb notes that while conversations with Rollins remain confidential, students have expressed appreciation for the program’s impact.

Watch the full interview with Jason Rollins here.

Together, Houghton’s strength program and mental performance partnership represent a unified effort to strengthen the whole athlete. By investing intentionally in both physical readiness and mental excellence, Houghton is preparing its teams to compete with confidence, resilience, and purpose—reflecting a holistic vision of athletic success.

Kyra Binney ’26 is a senior majoring in Writing and Communication. A native of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, she is a mid-distance runner for the Houghton University Track and Field team and a member of the Houghton University Cross Country Team.