Good Morning, FAU Fam.
What else do we have mixed into today’s Brew? Check it out below!
🌴 This Week in Paradise
🍻 On Tap
🦉 And much, much more
📈 STOCK UP
🔼 This Week in Paradise. A busy stretch in Paradise peaks Saturday when football hosts Rice at noon on ESPNU for Homecoming at Howard Schnellenberger Field at Flagler Credit Union Stadium, with past champions and youth sports also being celebrated. Volleyball, sitting just one match off the conference lead, visits South Florida this evening before hosting Memphis on Friday at 6 p.m., and men’s basketball rolls through two exhibitions, Keiser tonight and The Citadel on Sunday afternoon. Swimming and diving races at Keiser on Friday, baseball holds Scout Day on Saturday, and women’s soccer closes the week against Rice on Sunday at 1 p.m.
🔼 On Tap. Florida Atlantic and official craft beer sponsor Islamorada are running a 3-2-1 draft deal at Saturday’s noon kickoff against Rice, with pints going for $3 from pregame through the first quarter, $2 in the second quarter and halftime, and $1 in the third. Two points of sale on the first level of Flagler Credit Union Stadium will carry the promo, which is cashless, limited to one beer per transaction, and open to fans 21 and over. Alcohol sales wrap at the end of the third quarter.
🔼 Perfect at Home. Florida Atlantic hosts Rice for Homecoming at noon Saturday on ESPNU, bringing a spotless 3-0 home record into a matchup with an all-time series tied at 3-3. Easton Messer leads all active FBS players with 248 career receptions, and he and Kelby Valsin sit one-two in the American in receiving yards, with Valsin pacing the league at 601. Linebacker Joseph Sipp Jr. tops the Owls with 41 tackles and two sacks.
🔼 One-Two Finish. Tina Genoulaz captured the Richmond Spider Invitational by three shots, and teammate Maria Jose Cardona Estrada finished second, lifting Florida Atlantic women’s golf into a tie for first with host Richmond at 15-over. The sophomore started the day two back, parred her first eight holes, then birdied the par-three ninth on her way to the title, her second win in just 12 career starts. It’s the Owls’ fourth team victory in five seasons under Heather Bowie Young.
🏆 NOMINATE YOUR HOMETOWN COACH! 🏆
Every great athlete has a coach who believed in them. Now, it’s time to give that coach the spotlight they deserve! 🦉
In collaboration with Dynasty Custom, nominate your favorite hometown coach for a chance to be recognized as our Hometown Coach Spotlight!
Whether they’re coaching the next generation of stars, inspiring their players, or making
a difference in the community, we want to hear their story. 💙❤️
👉 Nominate your hometown coach today!
🔼 Streaking Into a Short Week. Florida Atlantic volleyball rides a four-match winning streak into tonight’s 6 p.m. trip to South Florida before hosting Memphis on Friday at 6 p.m., both on ESPN+. The Owls sit at 13-6 overall and 6-2 in the American, leading the league in both kills and assists, with Olivia Hart pacing the attack and Maya Van Heyst topping the conference at 725 assists. Friday brings Spike-tacular Halloween to Abessinio Court, with a free Halloween bucket giveaway while supplies last and a fan costume contest.
🔼 Mountains to Palm Trees. Leonard Farrow left West Virginia for the first time in his football career to spend his final season at Florida Atlantic, and he wasted no time making history, becoming just the second Owl ever to return a kickoff for a touchdown and then doing it twice in the same game to tie an FBS record. The former Division II All-American honorable mention at Fairmont State now sits on the midseason Jet Award Watch List, given to the nation’s top return specialist. Julia Gualtieri caught up with him about the move to Boca Raton, the running back room, and his plans to pursue physical therapy after football.
🔼 Tipping Off at Home. Florida Atlantic men’s basketball opens its exhibition slate tonight at 7 p.m. against Keiser on Abessinio Court, with The Citadel visiting Sunday. The Owls return four players from a 15-man roster that added eight transfers and three freshmen, led by American Preseason All-Conference First Team pick Kanaan Carlyle and Preseason Freshman of the Year Felipe Quinones. Neither exhibition will be streamed, and both are included in season ticket packages.
🔼 Lockdown in the Back. Kevin Gorbell has been named American Conference Defensive Player of the Week after he and center back partner Emil Lausten shut the door on No. 17 Missouri State in Sunday’s 0-0 draw. The Bears arrived with the league’s top offense and managed just four shot attempts, none on target. Gorbell logged all 90 minutes for the eighth time in 12 matches and leads all FAU position players with 1,032 minutes, and the Owls head to FIU on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+.
🏈💰 TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE! 💰🏈
The stakes are HIGH and the end zone is worth $10,000! 🔥
If the Owls take the opening kickoff TO THE HOUSE, one lucky fan could take home $10,000!
Think the Owls are going all the way? 🦉🏠
👉 Enter now for your chance to win!
🔼 Climbing the Charts. NaShawn Tyson tied for eighth at the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational, his second top-10 of the fall, as Florida Atlantic men’s golf wrapped the season in 11th. The senior rolled in five birdies on his way to a final-round 72, pushing his fall total to 65 and his career mark to 354, second in program history. Christian Veilleux made the day’s biggest jump, climbing 21 spots behind a bogey-free 68, and the Owls return to competition Feb. 1-2 at the Sea Best Invitational in Jacksonville.
🎙️ Mic’d Up. First-year FAU men’s basketball assistant coach Ryne Lightfoot wore a mic at a recent FAU men’s basketball practice, giving fans a listen as the Owls ramp up for the 2026-27 season. Check it out.
🔼 Making Noise in the Draw. Newcomer Roman Venger carried Florida Atlantic men’s tennis the furthest at the ITA Southeast Regional, winning three straight matches to reach the quarterfinals with victories over Georgia State, Georgia Tech, and Florida State. Simon Myslivec also made a run to the round of 16 after coming through qualifying, while Marek Pazdera, Mark Havlicek, and Jose David Segovia each picked up main-draw wins. Lucca Pignaton and Segovia head to the American Conference Individual Championships tomorrow through Sunday in both singles and doubles.
WPBF 25 IS PROUD TO BE AN OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER OF FLORIDA ATLANTIC ATHLETICS.
🦉 PARADISE TRIVIA
NaShawn Tyson’s 354 career birdies rank second at FAU. Who holds the program record?
Have a guess?
Scroll to the bottom to find out!
Season tickets for the 2026-27 Florida Atlantic men’s and women’s basketball seasons are now on sale through the Owls Ticket Office. Season tickets to support your Hometown Team start at just $350 for men’s hoops and $75 for the women’s season. Purchase 2026 season tickets!
🗓️ THE SCHEDULE AHEAD
*All Times Are in ET
Wednesday, Oct. 21
🏐 Volleyball @ South Florida @ 6 p.m. (Tampa, Fla.) | Live Stats
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Keiser @ 7 p.m. (Exhibition)
Thursday, Oct. 22
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ American Individual Championships (Houston, Texas)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ American Individual Championships (Houston, Texas)
⚽ Women’s Soccer @ Temple @ 7 p.m. (Philadelphia, Pa.) | Watch: ESPN+ | Live Stats
Friday, Oct. 23
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ American Individual Championships (Houston, Texas)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ American Individual Championships (Houston, Texas)
🏊 Swim @ Kesier @ 10 a.m. (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
🏐 Volleyball vs. Memphis @ 6 p.m. | Watch: ESPN+ | Live Stats
⚽ Men’s Soccer @ FIU @ 7 p.m. (Miami, Fla.) | Watch: ESPN+
Saturday, Oct. 24
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ American Individual Championships (Houston, Texas)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ American Individual Championships (Houston, Texas)
🏖️ Beach Volleyball @ AVCA Collegiate Beach East Qualifier (Tavares, Fla.)
⚾ Baseball Scout Day @ 11 a.m. (FAU Baseball Stadium)
🏈 Football vs. Rice @ 12 p.m. | Watch: ESPNU | Listen: Fox Sports South Florida | Tickets
Sunday, Oct. 25
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ American Individual Championships (Houston, Texas)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ American Individual Championships (Houston, Texas)
🏖️ Beach Volleyball @ AVCA Collegiate Beach East Qualifier (Tavares, Fla.)
⚽ Women’s Soccer vs. Rice @ 1 p.m. | Watch: ESPN+
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. The Citadel @ 2 p.m. (Exhibition)
Monday, Oct. 26
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
⛳ Women’s Golf @ FIU Pat Bradley Invitational (Miami Lakes, Fla.)
Tuesday, Oct. 27
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
⛳ Women’s Golf @ FIU Pat Bradley Invitational (Miami Lakes, Fla.)
Wednesday, Oct. 28
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
⚽ Men’s Soccer vs. USF @ 7 p.m. | Watch: ESPN+
Thursday, Oct. 29
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
🏈 Football @ North Texas @ 7:30 p.m. (Denton, Texas) | Watch: ESPN/ESPN2 | Listen: Fox Sports South Florida
Friday, Oct. 30
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
🥎 Softball vs. Lynn @ 6 p.m. (10 Innings)
🏐 Volleyball @ Tulsa @ 7 p.m. (Tulsa, Okla.) | Live Stats
🎃Saturday, Oct. 31 - Happy Halloween! 👻
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
👟 Men’s Cross Country @ American Cross Country Championships (New Orleans, La.)
👟 Women’s Cross Country & Track & Field @ American Cross Country Championships (New Orleans, La.)
🥎 Softball vs. Kesier @ 1 p.m. (10 Innings)
⚾ Baseball @ Miami @ 1 p.m. (Coral Gables, Fla.)
Sunday, Nov. 1
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
🏐 Volleyball @ Wichita State @ 1 p.m. (Wichita, Kan.) | Live Stats
🥎 Softball vs. Eastern Florida @ 1 p.m. (10 Innings)
⚽ Men’s Soccer @ UAB @ 8 p.m. (Birmingham, Ala.) | Watch: ESPN+
🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER
Answer: Max Sturdza, with 421.
🦉 Have a great Wednesday, Owl Fam!
