University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa standouts Jamie McGaughey and Taryn Irimata swept Big West Conference weekly honors, earning Field Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, after a dominant series against Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners, April 10–11.

McGaughey powered the Rainbow Wahine鈥檚 offense, batting .667 with two home runs, two doubles and nine RBI across the three-game sweep. She opened the weekend with a two-run home run and later delivered a three-run double in a 10鈥�8 game one win.

Irimata was equally dominant, throwing back-to-back complete-game shutouts. She posted a 0.00 ERA over 10 innings, allowing just four hits while holding opponents to a .118 batting average.

The weekly honor marks the first of McGaughey鈥檚 career and the third this season for Irimata, who continues to anchor a 糖心Vlog官方 pitching staff that has claimed half of the conference鈥檚 weekly awards so far this year.

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The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo team wrapped up a memorable week-long trip to Japan, combining cultural immersion with international competition.

The Vulcans stayed at Tenri University in Nara, where players participated in morning exercises and connected with local students. The team also visited popular Japan destinations including Nara Deer Park and Tsukiji Market, and traveled aboard the Shinkansen.

The team closed out the trip with exhibition games against Josai University and Nippon Sport Science University, gaining valuable experience against strong international competition.

The trip came after a demanding stretch in Southern California and provided both a cultural and competitive boost as the Vulcans prepare for the final matches of their conference season.

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University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa pitcher Hannah Pitts delivered a standout performance to earn Big West Pitcher of the Week honors, leading the Rainbow Wahine to a key win over UC Santa Barbara on April 4.

Pitts tossed a complete-game shutout in the second game of the series, allowing no runs over seven innings in a 6-0 victory against the conference-leading Gauchos. Pitts threw 113 pitches, struck out three and did not allow an extra-base hit while holding UCSB to a .267 batting average, securing her second weekly conference honor of the season.

Pitts improved to 8-4 overall and 5-1 in Big West play. She currently holds a 1.32 ERA in conference action and ranks among the nation鈥檚 best, sitting at No. 7 in the NCAA in walks allowed per seven innings and No. 12 with four shutouts.

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University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa softball player Taryn Irimata was selected as the Big West Pitcher of the Week after earning two wins and posting a perfect 0.00 ERA against Long Beach State March 20鈥�21.

This marks the second weekly conference honor of Irimata’s career, after earning the accolade for the first time in the first week of the 2026 season.

In both games, Irimata held Long Beach State scoreless across 10 innings, allowing just two hits, while issuing six walks and striking out four.

糖心Vlog官方 M膩noa will face California State University, Northridge in a three-game series beginning on March 27 at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

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University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa softball pitcher Hannah Pitts earned her first Big West Pitcher of the Week award on March 9 following a pair of road wins at UC Davis.

The senior posted a 0.54 ERA, allowing just one run in 13 innings, while holding the Aggies to a .149 batting average.

In the series opener, Pitts recorded her first shutout as a Rainbow Wahine. In the series finale, Pitts earned her second win of the series, allowing just one run in six innings as the Rainbow Wahine defeated UC Davis 9鈥�1.

Overall, Pitts has a team-low 2.66 ERA in 12 appearances and seven starts. She has thrown a team-high 52.2 innings with five walks and 28 strikeouts.

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University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo softball player Janessa Santos was named PacWest Pitcher of the Week after defeating Chaminade with a one-hit shutout.

Santos threw a complete-game, 7-inning shutout against rival Chaminade, allowing just one hit, one walk and she struck out seven. Santos gave up just one second-inning single and wrapped up the contest on 83 pitches. She induced four flyouts and 10 ground outs, including three right back to her. Santos is now 2鈥�0 on the season with a 1.78 ERA.

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University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa pitcher Taryn Irimata was voted Big West Pitcher of the Week following an impressive Rainbow Wahine debut at the Bank of Hawaiʻi Paradise Classic.

The sophomore transfer went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA over 14 innings, throwing complete-game wins against SeattleU and Pacific while allowing just one run in each outing. Irimata held opponents to a .143 batting average, walked four and struck out nine.

Irimata began her collegiate career at Nevada before transferring to 糖心Vlog官方 M膩noa in the fall. She opened the season by allowing three hits against SeattleU, then followed with seven strikeouts while giving up four hits against Pacific.

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As the director of human resources at Young Brothers, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumna Shannon Lum doesn鈥檛 just manage teams—she connects people, communities and purpose across the state. With a deep belief in compassionate leadership and a foundation built at Shidler, she鈥檚 helping move what matters most in Hawaiʻi.

In her statewide role, Lum works with employees, union leaders and local stakeholders across all islands, guided by the values of empathy, accountability and integrity.

“Over time, I鈥檝e learned that impactful leadership comes from supporting and empowering others,” she said. “It鈥檚 not about having all the answers but creating space for others to grow, speak up and lead.”

Lum said a big part of her evolution came after becoming a mother to 3-year-old Emi. Her daughter has taught her that being a role model to a child strengthens her as a leader across all areas of her life. She now understands the influence that home and work have on each other, and this awareness reminds her to lead with grace, flexibility and humanity.

Lum earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Shidler and said that her time at the helped her to see systems and service from a broader lens. Later in graduate school, her time in the master of human resource management helped her to pivot into human resources leadership.

Lessons from the field

Outside of the classroom, Lum played first base on the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa softball team. As a student-athlete, Lum had long days on campus and her time was split between athletics and academics. Playing college softball taught the former Rainbow Wahine that no one wins alone, and success is a team effort. Lum says that with her long days, having structure helped her to build discipline and resilience. She also learned to ask for help and rely on mentors, which is a habit she took with her into the workforce.

Lum shared that Young Brothers believes in investing in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 future. Since 2006, in partnership with Saltchuck Giving Hawaiʻi, the company has funded scholarships at Shidler, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 College of Engineering and Honolulu Community College, with more than $562,000 awarded to students.

“Supporting higher education means creating opportunity,” she said. “It means ensuring that local students have a pathway to thrive right here at home.”

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Three University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo student-athletes earned the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.

Madi Lee, Madison Rabe and Lexie Tilton were awarded for their combined excellence on the field and in the classroom.

Honorees must have a 3.5 GPA or higher, sophomore standing or above and meet competition criteria.

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Panita Thanatharn has been selected as the fourth head coach of the , acting athletics director Lois Manin announced.

Thanatharn replaces Bob Coolen, who coached the Rainbow Wahine for 34 seasons and retired following the 2025 season.

“We are thrilled to welcome Panita to our athletics ʻohana,” Manin said. “She has a deep passion for the game and the competitive spirit to build a winning culture. We are confident that her integrity-based leadership and unmatched work ethic will inspire our student-athletes to grow on and off the field. She brings excitement to the future of our softball program.”

“I am so pumped and honored to be the head softball coach at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa,” Thanatharn said. “I鈥檓 grateful for the trust and confidence, and I鈥檓 looking forward to the journey ahead! I can鈥檛 wait to meet the team and learn about them and their families. Academically, Hawaiʻi is one of the top universities in the world, and paired with its breathtaking beauty, I鈥檓 confident we鈥檒l attract outstanding student-athletes who are just exceptional off the field as they are on it. I鈥檓 ready to get to work and start building relationships and am committed to winning in the classroom, in the community, and on the field. Let鈥檚 go 鈥楤ows!”

Thanatharn spent 16 seasons in two stints at Long Beach State, where she has served as associate head coach since 2016. She began her coaching career with the Beach in 2008 as director of operations/assistant coach before joining UNLV鈥檚 coaching staff as assistant coach. She returned to Long Beach State in 2011 and has served as the primary recruiter and hitting coach as well as handling all administrative duties and the conditioning program.

In 18 seasons as an assistant coach, Thanatharn has been a part of nine NCAA Regional teams鈥攅ight with Long Beach State and one with UNLV—and five Big West championship teams.

A four-year letterwinner for the Beach, Thanatharn earned the school鈥檚 Todd Hart Courage Award in 2003 and was honorable mention all-Big West in 2007. She still holds the school record for most hits in a game. Following her senior season, she was one of 20 finalists for the Lowe鈥檚 Senior Class Award, presented annually to a senior softball player who excels both on and off the field.

Thanatharn double-majored at Long Beach State in exercise science and sport psychology and coaching in 2006 and earned a master鈥檚 in kinesiology with an option in sports management from Long Beach State in 2008.

For more on Thanatharn, visit the .