Hard work and strong team relationships pay off for Saints athletes.
Sitting courtside, experiencing a basketball game live is a nonstop thrill ride, especially when the team is on a record-setting winning streak and emotions are running high. During the 2025-26 Saint Martin’s University school year, their men’s basketball team achieved another championship season, and Saints staff, coaches and players are excited for what’s to come.
Saints basketball players make history with record GNAC championship season
The Saints won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) men’s basketball tournament championship for the first time in the University’s history and ranked fourth in the nation in defensive field goal percentage. They tied the program’s record for most wins in a season (26-6) and even maintained a 14-game winning streak, another program record.
For the third time in the last five years, the Saints were GNAC regular season champions and coaches Aaron Landon, Tyler Velasquez and Wesley Reynolds became the only coaching staff in GNAC history to win three outright GNAC regular season championships.
Saint Martin’s freshman Patrick Kilfoil was named GNAC Tournament MVP, the first ever underclassman to win the award. Kaden Hansen was named GNAC Player of the Year, Diego Trejo-Delgado was named First Team All-GNAC and Dae’Kwon Watson was named All-GNAC Second Team. Kaden Hansen (First Team) and Diego Trejo-Delgado (Second Team) were both named to both D2CCA All-Region and NABC All-District teams.
Six players on this season’s roster are international students. And for Kaden Hansen and Dae’Kwon Watson, who grew up together and have been playing basketball for most of their lives, this championship season was a repeat of their experience winning a high school state championship as teammates.
Strong team culture powers Saint Martin’s basketball success
Dae’Kwon Watson, the season’s captain, earned an all-GNAC selection for his hard work and skill. He credits the team’s culture and player bonds for their overall success. “What made this season so special is not only were we able to win the conference championship and regular season championship,” says Watson, “but what we had with each other was really special in my opinion. We all connected really well and were aligned with the same end goal.”
This was built, in Watson’s opinion, through the family-like atmosphere between coaches and players. “Everyone is transparent with each other, and no one has bad intentions or feelings towards one another. We want the best for each other,” he says. “The coaches help us a huge amount, creating a good space. Relationships with them and the team’s atmosphere and mindset are awesome.”
Watson, who started playing basketball as a child thanks to his dad’s love for the game, appreciates the school’s ability to play at the GNAC level of competition. “It’s important for a team because it really tests the composure and poise of a team when things do get hard while competing at a high level,” he says.
Saint Martin’s coaches know what it takes to make a championship basketball season
Associate head coach Tyler Velasquez believes the Saints’ championship run boiled down to three things: toughness, selflessness and strong relationships. “Without quality players who are tough, selfless and coachable,” he explains, “there is no chance for success. Our three championship teams all played very different styles of basketball, but they all shared the same goals and were willing to sacrifice individual spotlights.”
Velasquez says that as coaches, they share similar values on how the game should be played and truly enjoy spending time as a team.
Even with eleven new players this year, Velasquez says the coaching staff “knew pretty early that our team had a chance to be special.” Despite injuries and ever shifting roles, the players adapted and stepped up when needed. “Those moments are all steps throughout the season the team needed to take in order to reach their goals, but it’s not until the end of the year that we are all able to look back and remember those small steps and see how important each one was.”
Head coach Aaron Landon agrees. “Working with my staff is one of the great joys in my life,” he says. “They don’t get nearly enough credit for what we’ve accomplished the last five years. Coach Velasquez is so creative with our defense, I’ve learned a ton from him.”
“The only thing we talked about during the season was getting a little better each day and finding ways to be tougher as a team,” says Landon. “There were some historical accomplishments, but in the moment, it was all about grinding out long days together and fighting to improve ourselves.”
Be part of the next chapter in Saints basketball history
You can follow the team’s journey through the Saints athletics website. There you’ll find standings, breaking news, a detailed calendar, ticket sale portals and a Fan Zone with links to youth sports camps and team merch for looking your best.
Make sure to grab season tickets when they become available so you never miss a game. With momentum on their side and a championship foundation in place, the Saints are already looking ahead to another exciting season. You don’t want to miss a shot at next year’s championship run.
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