Cougars Uncaged: A Cleary University Podcast

In this episode of Cougars Uncaged, the Den Dwellers sit down with Cleary University President Alan Drimmer and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Carl Thomas for a conversation filled with momentum, heart, and humor. Fresh off the release of Cleary’s strategic plan and the men’s basketball team’s biggest win yet over nationally ranked Indiana Tech, both guests reflect on what these milestone moments mean for the university and its future...

Athletic Director Max Ballinger and Associate Head Baseball Coach Nick Hoogerhyde bring energy, humor, and heart to this episode of Cougars Uncaged—joined by our first-ever live studio audience.

Max shares his journey from joining Cleary in 2019 to leading a rapidly growing athletics program, while Nick reflects on being part of Cleary’s first baseball recruiting class and now helping shape the next generation of student-athletes.

Fr...

🐾 Cougars Uncaged – Cleary Hockey Takeover

Lonnie sits down with Cleary hockey players Nick, Dylan, and Bennett to talk about what brought them to Cleary, why they chose Cougar hockey, and what they’re studying — from Sports Promotion & Management to Corporate Finance.

The guys share their favorite campus spots (Cougar Corner, Clancy’s, and Wellness) and break down their competitive pregame “Super Bowl” soccer-style ritual that ...

This episode kicks off with high energy, quick laughs, and a totally unplanned guest lineup that turns into an instant favorite. Lonnie and Kylie welcome Sage Erskine, Barry Seymour, and Jerry Wallace for a conversation that’s equal parts funny, candid, and full of Cleary pride.

The trio shares how they each found their way to Cleary and why the campus family culture means so much to them—proving it’s not buildings that make Cleary ...

Cougars Uncaged welcomes bowling team captains Bryce Owens and Courtney Witten for a lively, laugh-out-loud conversation that blends leadership, student life, and a whole lot of personality.

As juniors at Cleary University, Bryce and Courtney share what drew them to Cleary, why their coaches have become such a powerful influence, and how the close-knit campus culture has shaped their college experience. From balancing academics and ...

In this episode of Cougars Uncaged, den dwellers Lonnie Preis and Kylie Walker sit down with Cleary men’s basketball players Isaiah Bailey and Brian Eberhardt for a wide-ranging and entertaining conversation ahead of game day. The duo shares their journeys to Cleary, from Isaiah returning home to Lansing after playing in Alabama to Brian transferring from Henry Ford Community College after a challenging athletic transition. The epi...

In this lively episode of Cougars Uncaged, den dwellers Lonnie Preis and Kylie Walker sit down with Cleary women’s soccer players Emily Krampitz and Ashley Stover for a fun, fast-paced conversation that blends campus life, personal stories, and plenty of laughs. The duo shares their backgrounds, majors, and what they love most about Cleary—highlighting the close-knit community, favorite campus hangout spots, and the sense of belong...

This episode of Cougars Uncaged brings the laughs, the “hot takes,” and a ton of heart as The Den Dwellers sit down with Coach Hayley Dann (Bowling Coach) and Coach Jamey Lobdell (Softball Coach).

Coach Dann shares how a “quarter-life crisis” turned into a bold leap from a 9–5 job in Ohio to chasing big goals in collegiate and professional bowling—ultimately landing her at Cleary, where she’s now entering her fourth season and lovin...

In this episode of Cougars Uncaged, hosts Lonnie Preis and Kylie Walker sit down with Cleary men’s soccer standouts Jack Heald and Oscar Clarke, both originally from England, to talk about their journey to Cleary University and life as international student-athletes. Jack and Oscar share how they were recruited through the same agency, committed to Cleary without ever visiting campus, and quickly found their place on the Cougars so...

In this episode of Cougars Uncaged, Lonnie Preis and Kylie Walker sit down with Jacob Haley and Brody Hurt—two highly involved Cleary University students who bring energy, heart, and personality to campus life.

Brody, a freshman student-athlete, shares his journey to Cleary after a season-ending injury, his passion for soccer and coaching, and how Cleary’s coaches helped reshape his future. Jacob, a graduate student studying Data Ef...

Get ready for one of our most entertaining episodes yet! The Den Dwellers sit down with two of Cleary University’s top leaders — Julie Vartoogian (VP of Human Resources) and Jeremy Walker (SVP of Enrollment Management) — for a fast-paced, heartfelt, and downright hilarious conversation.

Julie and Jeremy share their journeys to Cleary, what they love most about campus, the people who have shaped their lives, and even their favorite h...

This week on Cougars Uncaged, things get fun, chaotic, heartfelt, and downright hilarious as Lonnie and Kylie welcome three Cross Country & Track standouts — Kiera, Rylie, and Devin — for an episode packed with energy.

The trio opens up about their journeys to Cleary, including second chances, unexpected recruiting, and overcoming obstacles. They share what they love most about being Cougars, from family-like support to life-cha...

In this unforgettable episode, hosts Lonnie Pries and Kylie Walker sit down with two Cleary fan favorites—Emma Smith and Basile Malempre—for a wildly entertaining ride through college life, friendship, culture clashes, country music confessions, and one seriously competitive beer showdown.

Emma—horse-loving, double-majoring, three-job-working powerhouse—and Basile—the Belgian golfer with elite fashion sense and zero interest in cowb...

This week on Cougars Uncaged, Lonnie Pries and Kylie Walker sit down with two incredible Cleary University leaders — Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Kelly Genei, and Associate Professor, Justine Defever.

Get ready for laughs, inspiration, and surprises as Kelly and Justine share their unique paths to Cleary — from plastics recycling to academia, and from residence life to leadership.

They dive into their passion for DECA, their favori...

Host Lonnie Preis and co-host Kylie Walker sit down with two Cleary fan favorites — David Victor, Sports Information Director and Ombudsman, and Leanne Nichols, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine and Senior Woman Leader.

From the opening moments, it’s pure energy and laughter as Lonnie’s rapid-fire questions spark hilarious and heartfelt conversations. You’ll hear:

• Behind-the-scenes insights from Cleary Athletics — f...

Meet our first women guests—Sam Hoelscher (Public Accounting, senior) and Izzy Dugal (Business Communications, senior)—and yes, they brought the vibes. From the Wellness kitchen to the wooded campus trail (groundhogs, turkeys… maybe Bigfoot?!), these Den Dwellers dish on campus life, hot takes, and hotter dogs.

Highlights you’ll love:

• Roll With It: Accents devolve into close-talking, hunting becomes “save the animals,” and Izzy p...

Grab your popcorn (or your bowling ball) because this episode is an absolute strike! Hosts Lonnie Pries and Kylie Walker kick off the chaos with Jacob Chouinard and Ryan Ching, two Cleary student-athletes who bring the energy, laughs, and a few surprise stories from the lanes to the classroom.

From mechanical bull challenges and forest-scented candle bets to heartfelt shoutouts to their parents and a lightning-fast “Show What You Kn...

Welcome to the very first episode of Cougars Uncaged! Host Lonnie Pries, joined by co-host Kylie Walker, kicks things off with special guests Katee Cole (Chief of Staff) and Julea Fisher (Financial Aid Coordinator). From debating their favorite cakes and quirky field trips to reflecting on mentors and life lessons, this episode brings humor, heart, and authentic Cleary energy. You’ll laugh at their “roll with it” tangents, get to k...