At Cal State East Bay, the golf course is more than just a playing field—it's a testing ground for resilience, growth, and ambition. Two standout student-athletes, Adam Brangefalt and Makena Ebster, have taken unique paths to reach their peaks, carving their own identities on the greens while navigating the demands of collegiate athletics. One hails from halfway across the globe in Västerås, Sweden; the other is from the Central Valley. Together, they represent the drive and discipline it takes to compete at the NCAA Division II level—on both sides of the scoreboard.

Adam Brangefalt: A Journey Across Continents and Competition

For Adam Brangefalt, the leap from Sweden to Hayward was more than just a geographic shift—it was a leap of faith. The sophomore standout has quickly made a name for himself, rising to No. 17 in the NCAA Division II West Region rankings. With a sharp scoring average of 72.6 in the 2024-25 season, Brangefalt's presence has become a key asset to the Pioneers' men's golf team.

Brangefalt's sophomore campaign has been marked by consistency and podium finishes. He earned fourth place twice—once at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout and again at the Southwest Airlines HPU Sharks Shootout—adding a sixth-place showing at the Nighthawk Invitational to his impressive resume. These performances built on a stellar freshman year, where he placed second at the Nighthawk Invitational, contributing to a team victory, and later competed at the NCAA West/South Central Regional. His accolades include being named 2023-24 CCAA Freshman of the Year and earning a spot on the All-Academic Team.

But the success hasn't come without obstacles. "Moving from Sweden, facing a new culture, new learning style, and a new language has been a hurdle," Brangefalt admits. "But it's been an enjoyable challenge." He credits golf's mental demands with teaching him to overcome adversity: "In golf, we all experience ups and downs and it's a sport that requires a lot mentally. It challenges everyone and overcoming struggles is something we get tested on every single day."

On the women's side, senior Makena Ebster is finishing her collegiate golf journey with a quiet tenacity. Her top finish this season came at the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate, where she placed 19th at +8, building on a consistent junior year that included a 22nd-place finish at the Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout and in the Pioneer lineup at the NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships.

Ebster is no stranger to academic achievement. With honors that include the CCAA Spring Academic Honor Roll, WGCA All-American Scholar, and D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award, she exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete. Her chosen field of business finance is more than a career path—it's a lens through which she sees her future. "Knowledge is power," she says, "and I enjoy the challenge that my major has brought me."

For Ebster, the biggest challenge wasn't swinging a club—it was finding balance. "The trial and error of what is a good amount of time to study and what is a good amount of time to practice," she says, was a struggle, especially while soaking in her experience in the Bay Area. But she eventually found her rhythm: "Over time I found the formula that worked for me where I still enjoyed both without being overwhelmed."

Her source of inspiration is deeply personal. "My family has always inspired me," she says. "They push me to achieve goals I never thought were reachable."