Bastron Named USTFCCCA Female Coaching Mentor for Eighth-Consecutive Year
10/1/2025 10:30:00 AM | Cross Country, Track and Field
Associate Head Coach Ashley Bastron will also serve on FCMP committee for the upcoming year.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – For the eighth-consecutive year, Wake Forest track & field and cross country associate head coach Ashley Bastron has been selected to serve as a coaching mentor in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Female Coaches Mentorship Program.
In addition to serving as a mentor, Bastron has also been selected to serve on the FCMP committee, which includes herself, Kelsey Riggins (Murray State), Angelina Ramos (SIU-Carbondale), Emma DeLira (Poona-Pitzer), and Becca Rhodes (Utah).
The program, which began in 2018, is designed to increase the representation, depth of knowledge and advancement of female coaches in the field of cross country and track & field coaching at every level, as well as to create accessibility within the industry.
This specific opportunity amplifies that by pairing individuals with 1:1 year-round mentorship with a senior coach and adhering to set guidelines for successful consultations with esteemed leaders of the sport from a variety of backgrounds.
Started by a trio of accomplished female coaches – Rhonda Riley, Angelina Ramos and Janine Tessarzik – the program aims to support climate change within coaching through pairing individuals up with 1:1 year-round mentorship with a senior coach and adhering to set guidelines for successful consultations with esteemed leaders of the sport from a variety of backgrounds.
"Having experienced firsthand the powerful impact a mentor can have on a young coach's journey, I'm endlessly grateful to the women who once filled that role for me," Bastron said. "I'm honored to give back by serving as an FCMP committee member and continuing as a mentor for the eighth-consecutive year. It's truly a privilege to empower and mentor the next generation, just as I was once supported."
Since arriving in Winston-Salem in 2019, associate head coach Ashley Bastron has helped lead the Wake Forest women's cross country program into a period of steady success. Over her tenure with the Demon Deacons, Bastron has helped produce seven All-Region performers, as well as four All-ACC honorees. In addition, Bastron has helped coach 15 All-ACC honorees across both indoor and outdoor track and field during her time at Wake Forest.
In her first cross country season with the Demon Deacons, Wake Forest's women placed sixth at the ACC Championships and had two All-ACC performers, Elise Wright (14th) and Samantha Halvorsen (19th). The team then went on to finish fourth at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship with two All-Region performers, Halvorsen (13th) and Madeline Rehm (22nd).
In 2023, she coached three All-Region honorees (Brooke Wilson, Caroline Garrett, Lydia van Dijk) in addition to Brooke Wilson being named All-ACC as a true freshman.
During the 2024 season, the women's cross country team continued to improve under Bastron's leadership, as she coached three All-Region honorees (Angelina Perez, Brooke Wilson, Elizabeth Whaley). In addition, freshman Angelina Perez earned All-ACC honors in her debut season while Brooke Wilson added her second-consecutive honor.
Bastron and the Demon Deacons have kicked off the 2025 regular season with two top-10 finishes, including a first place finish at the Queen City Invite and a 10th place result at the highly competitive Gans Creek Classic. The Deacs will be back in action on Friday as they compete in the Spartan Classic at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville.
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In addition to serving as a mentor, Bastron has also been selected to serve on the FCMP committee, which includes herself, Kelsey Riggins (Murray State), Angelina Ramos (SIU-Carbondale), Emma DeLira (Poona-Pitzer), and Becca Rhodes (Utah).
The program, which began in 2018, is designed to increase the representation, depth of knowledge and advancement of female coaches in the field of cross country and track & field coaching at every level, as well as to create accessibility within the industry.
This specific opportunity amplifies that by pairing individuals with 1:1 year-round mentorship with a senior coach and adhering to set guidelines for successful consultations with esteemed leaders of the sport from a variety of backgrounds.
Started by a trio of accomplished female coaches – Rhonda Riley, Angelina Ramos and Janine Tessarzik – the program aims to support climate change within coaching through pairing individuals up with 1:1 year-round mentorship with a senior coach and adhering to set guidelines for successful consultations with esteemed leaders of the sport from a variety of backgrounds.
"Having experienced firsthand the powerful impact a mentor can have on a young coach's journey, I'm endlessly grateful to the women who once filled that role for me," Bastron said. "I'm honored to give back by serving as an FCMP committee member and continuing as a mentor for the eighth-consecutive year. It's truly a privilege to empower and mentor the next generation, just as I was once supported."
Since arriving in Winston-Salem in 2019, associate head coach Ashley Bastron has helped lead the Wake Forest women's cross country program into a period of steady success. Over her tenure with the Demon Deacons, Bastron has helped produce seven All-Region performers, as well as four All-ACC honorees. In addition, Bastron has helped coach 15 All-ACC honorees across both indoor and outdoor track and field during her time at Wake Forest.
In her first cross country season with the Demon Deacons, Wake Forest's women placed sixth at the ACC Championships and had two All-ACC performers, Elise Wright (14th) and Samantha Halvorsen (19th). The team then went on to finish fourth at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship with two All-Region performers, Halvorsen (13th) and Madeline Rehm (22nd).
In 2023, she coached three All-Region honorees (Brooke Wilson, Caroline Garrett, Lydia van Dijk) in addition to Brooke Wilson being named All-ACC as a true freshman.
During the 2024 season, the women's cross country team continued to improve under Bastron's leadership, as she coached three All-Region honorees (Angelina Perez, Brooke Wilson, Elizabeth Whaley). In addition, freshman Angelina Perez earned All-ACC honors in her debut season while Brooke Wilson added her second-consecutive honor.
Bastron and the Demon Deacons have kicked off the 2025 regular season with two top-10 finishes, including a first place finish at the Queen City Invite and a 10th place result at the highly competitive Gans Creek Classic. The Deacs will be back in action on Friday as they compete in the Spartan Classic at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville.
Follow the Demon Deacons
Social: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
Players Mentioned
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/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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