Maroon and Gold Podcast CMU Athletics

This week Adam talks women's basketball. Kristin Haynie stops by to chat about her new team. The new roster has 16 players now thanks to ten new additions. Also, former CMU assistant and Chippewa alum, Raina Harmon joins to talk about her time in Mount Pleasant, the last seven years at Iowa and the current rise of women's basketball. 

Happy Father's Day! On a special edition episode, Adam opens up about his dad being his inspiration for becoming a sports broadcaster. His dad, David Jaksa, passed away three years ago. 

Adam brings on CMU men's basketball coach Tony Barbee this week. They talk about last year's successful season and give fans an idea on what the new signing class will add to next year's team. TJ Meerman, CMU basketball alum also stops by. Meerman was the starting PG for the 2002-03 team that went to the NCAA tourney. They talk about his time in Mount Pleasant and how he currently is the varsity basketball coach at Grand Rapids Catholic Central. 

Adam chats with Zach McKinstry, who's now in his second season with the Detroit Tigers. The two reminisce about McKinstry's time growing up in Fort Wayne, attending Central Michigan and his climb to the MLB. 

Adam chats with Ben Bennett after he's just been introduced as the 6th ever CMU wrestling head coach. The two talk about Ben's career as a wrestler, why he's stayed in Mount Pleasant since wrestling here, what it's been like to learn under Tom Borrelli and much more! 

CMU’s New Venture Challenge — hosted by the CMU Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship — provides transformational experiences for CMU students to develop their business ideas and earn start-up funds for their businesses. Amy sat down with two CMU student-athletes — football player Lawai’a Brown and baseball player AJ Kostic — who participated in the 2024 New Venture Challenge, earning awards and the interest of real investors. Also joining her was Kaye Reimers, program and event manager for the CMU Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship.