From the ADs Desk
September 2025
It is finally here! Weeks of preparation and now on to the official seasons. So where do we begin? Thursday, Sept. 4 starts an amazing weekend for the Huskies.
Football opens their campaign at Fairmont State (WV) with a 7 p.m. kickoff. However, the day starts earlier with men’s soccer visiting Dominican (NY) at 3 p.m., women’s soccer on the road at Queens College (NY) at 5 p.m., and field hockey facing Bentley at 7 p.m.
The weekend continues with women’s volleyball battling in the Virginia State Invitational (Sept. 5-6), while cross country visits Edinboro to open the season Saturday. The action does not end there as Bloomsburg will host the Husky Invite all weekend at the Burt Reese Tennis Center at Pettit Athletic Complex. And, both soccer teams return to campus for Saturday home openers (women vs. WV State at 1 p.m. and men vs. Lock Haven at 4 p.m.), while field hockey plays Saturday and Sunday against Franklin Pierce and AIC, respectively.
Games, games, and more games … The Huskies are back and ready for the 2025 seasons! And, the buzz in and around Nelson Field House with golf (men’s and women’s), lacrosse, baseball, softball, swimming (men’s and women’s), track, basketball (men’s and women’s) and wrestling is amazing!
On the wrestling front, this is an exciting weekend as well. In partnership with the Husky Elite Wrestling Club (HEWC), Bloomsburg will host a meet the team and coaches reception on Friday night, Sept. 5, at Frosty Valley. That is followed by the HEWC Golf Outing Saturday. The “Restore the Glory” weekend concludes with a dedication of the Houk & Sanders Wrestling Room on Sunday morning at 11 a.m., Sept. 7. It is not too late to join us for any of these festivities!
Some important dates for us include annual non-game events. For example, the Coffee with a Cop event on campus for athletics will be September 17, followed by Huddle with the Huskies at West End Ale Haus on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. prior to the football home opener on Sept. 20. The annual first game of the season provides the Husky athletic department a forum to honor our major award winners and winter and spring student-athletes for their success on-and-off the field.
The annual Bloomsburg Fair (Sept. 19 through 27) is another highlight for Bloomsburg Athletics. The teams enter their second year of a major fundraising endeavor with an athletic-supported parking area at the site of the former Magee Mansion, with the $5 per car fee being used for athletic scholarships and support of the program. We hope if you are coming to Bloomsburg for the fair, you consider parking at the Athletics lot, which directly impacts your Husky student-athletes!
It is a new day in athletics and the Huskies are ready and poised for success – in the classroom and in sport. There may be more changes coming in athletics – Division II is considering (to be voted upon at the 2026 Convention) a proposed 5 years to play 5 years (that is the easy definition). Not to mention all the other legal challenges and changes within the NCAA governance. It is great to have a partnership with the NCAA and NACDA – specifically the D2 Athletic Directors Association (D2ADA) as Past President – to remain at the table while these discussions are occurring. Bloomsburg remains an amazing athletics space and we will continue to graduate scholar-athletes who are representative of the ideals and values of previous Huskies!
There is so much going on nationally, and that is mirrored in Husky athletics. We hope you continue to visit all of our
social media channels as you learn about the teams. Most importantly, please bookmark the
new athletic website – with a new URL as well,
https://bloomsburgathletics.com/ (although you can still get there through
www.buhuskies.com). And, also
bookmark the schedule page so you know when the Huskies will be playing in Bloomsburg or near you!
There is still time to join us for this year’s Homecoming weekend, October 17-19, 2025. On Saturday (Oct. 18) the Huskies will battle Shepherd, followed by the Hall of Fame induction for the 2025 class on Sunday (Oct. 19) in Kehr Union. The
43rd induction class reflects another stellar group of Huskies who will be honored. The members of the 2025 Hall of Fame Class are Tim Baer (Football – 2000), Vicki Davis (Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field – 2013/14M), Dr. Louis Mingrone (Men’s Soccer – Coach), Sharla Partlon (Field Hockey – 2005), and Carl Poff (Wrestling – 1979). The induction brunch and ceremony will begin with doors opening at noon for cocktail hour, followed by lunch service at 12:45 p.m., then the induction ceremony. To register for the event,
please click here.
Time to wrap-up this edition, however, I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to recognize and acknowledge some of our new and returning department members. Abigail Joy returns for another year in athletic operations joined by Nate Bacon and Jackson Purnell, while Tim Freligh (returning) and Gannon Horning join the Athletic Communications & Marketing group supporting Husky student-athletes. A couple of new faces in the department feature Evan Evans (baseball), along with Anna Collins (tennis) and Faith Diffenbacher (women’s soccer), while Kelsey Homberg (women’s lacrosse) and Patrick Alvarez (men’s soccer) return. In wrestling Ty Raines has joined Coach Stutzman’s staff, while Coach Sheptock welcome student assistants Chase Higgins, Peyton Persing, and Loughlin Smith, along with volunteer Nick Troutman.
Time to get back to the grind … Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
August 2025
With August comes a host of new welcomes. Welcome to the 2025-26 Academic Year (with classes starting August 25), welcome to the new class of Huskies, and welcome to pre-season to all the new Huskies and the returners who report early for practices August 11 and August 18, respectively (football, and men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, volleyball, and cross country).
Another welcome would be to Dr. Jeffrey Osgood, who will serve as Interim President this year. The Huskies are excited to welcome you to Pettit Athletic Complex as we prepare for one of the best years in Bloomsburg history. A thank you to former president Dr. Bashar Hanna for his leadership and support of the Huskies as well.
There have been a few other things to welcome and some upcoming “new” elements as well. First, make sure to check out all the new bells and whistles on the
new athletic website – with a new URL as well,
https://bloomsburgathletics.com/ (although you can still get there through
www.buhuskies.com). From the article about the launch, “The redesign reflects a significant step forward in digital engagement for the Huskies. The homepage now features bold imagery, real-time scores, upcoming events, and news stories front and center, replacing the more static layout of the previous site. Users will notice simplified menus and quicker access to team schedules, rosters, and live coverage—all optimized for both desktop and mobile use.” Be sure to check it out and make sure to
bookmark the schedule page so you know when the Huskies will be playing in Bloomsburg or near you!
The Huskies also welcome in a new means of transportation. Two new, fully-Husky-branded 15-passengar vans for the varsity teams to use. This provides a significant transportation upgrade for Huskies Athletics, made possible by a generous contribution from longtime supporter Steph Pettit ’89 and Allie Pettit. The gift was provided to enhance mobility and comfort for Bloomsburg student-athletes and staff while traveling, while also decreasing costs for renting transportation. THANK YOU, Steph and Allie!
Make sure to mark your calendars for some exciting events happening this fall within Husky Athletics. To open the year, Bloomsburg Athletics, in conjunction with the Tyler J. Horst Foundation, will host the Third Annual 5K Run/1 Mile Walk. In Tyler's memory, the race aims to bring the community together while raising funds for the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center, that supports Husky student-athletes. The race is set for Sunday, August 24, 2025 and will begin at 9:00 a.m. from Redman Stadium in the Pettit Athletic Complex on the Bloomsburg campus. Registration is open to anyone and the registration fee of $20 can be paid by mail or Venmo; $20 (+fee) online, or through the
official race registration page.
The next major event will be the Restore the Glory celebration for wrestling. The September 5-6-7 weekend will feature a reception – hosted by the Husky Elite Wrestling Club – on Friday, followed by the Wrestling Golf Outing on Saturday at Frosty Valley, and concluding with the naming and reception surrounding the Houk & Sanders Wrestling Room. More information will follow on the naming, but be sure to register for the Golf Outing before all the spots fill.
Are you ready for some football? While the home opener for the Huskies is not until September 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. versus Edinboro, Coach Frank Sheptock and Bloomsburg Athletics has announced the annual
“Huddle with the Huskies” events. For the second year we will partner with West End Ale Haus on Main Street in Bloomsburg for the September 18 and the October 16 Huddle events. The gatherings are open to the public, and appetizers are available as supplies last, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a short program to follow. During the program, Coach Sheptock will speak about the season, preview the upcoming game(s), and introduce members of the coaching staff and players from this year's roster.
On October 4, 2025 we will be celebrating all things football, with the Husky Legacy Club game and honoring of the 1985, 1005, 2000, 2005, and 2010 anniversaries of each successful team. Honoring the teams from each of these remarkable seasons will occur during the 2:00 p.m. game against Lock Haven in Redman Stadium at Danny Hale Field.
This year’s Homecoming weekend, October 17-19, 2025, will feature the football game on Saturday (Oct. 18) versus Shepherd, followed by the Hall of Fame induction for the 2025 class on Sunday (Oct. 19) in Kehr Union. Speaking of the Hall of Fame, the
43rd induction class reflects another stellar group of Huskies who will be honored. The members of the 2025 Hall of Fame Class are Tim Baer (Football – 2000), Vicki Davis (Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field – 2013/14M), Dr. Louis Mingrone (Men’s Soccer – Coach), Sharla Partlon (Field Hockey – 2005), and Carl Poff (Wrestling – 1979). The induction brunch and ceremony will begin with doors opening at noon for cocktail hour, followed by lunch service at 12:45 p.m., then the induction ceremony. To register for the event,
please click here.
One of the final elements to wrap-up the 2024-25 season was the July 16 announcement of the 2024-25 Major Award Winners. Named in honor of some of the Husky legends, the following six award winners were announced: Danny Litwhiler Underclass Male Athlete of the Year, the Joanne McComb Underclass Female Athlete of the Year, the Robert B. Redman Senior Male Athlete of the Year, the Eleanor Wray Senior Female Athlete of the Year, and the Outstanding Senior Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
The Joanne McComb Underclass Female Athlete of the Year was track and field and basketball standout
Kelly Leszcynski. She was the NCAA National Champion in Women's Javelin, with a school-record throw of 52.07m – the furthest throw in all of Division II this spring. She also became as PSAC Spring Top-10 honoree. This was her second JoAnne McComb Underclass Female Athlete of the Year honor after taking home the award following the 2022-23 season.
The Danny Litwhiler Underclass Male Athlete of the Year was men’s soccer defender
Kody Besser. For the second-straight year he was named the Danny Litwhiler Underclass Male Athlete of the Year.
The Eleanor Wray Senior Female Athlete of the Year was field hockey forward
Aydan McFarland. She was a two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American after bringing home first team honors in 2024 and was a second team honoree in 2023.
The Outstanding Senior Female Scholar Athlete of the Year was field hockey and softball player
Bella Culp. She was a two-sport standout earning academic and athletic honors in both sports.
The final honoree took home two awards. The Robert B. Redman Senior Male Athlete of the Year and Outstanding Senior Male Scholar Athlete of the Year was men’s soccer goalkeeper
Brady Rimple. He concluded his Bloomsburg career as the winningest and most decorated shot-stopper in team history, along with a host of academic honors.
Husky student-athletes continue to amaze. And, in the coming days the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Awards will be announced, where the Huskies will again make their mark. In sport and in the classroom, Huskies remain leaders!
Time to get back to getting Nelson Field House ready for the return of our Husky student-athletes. Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
June and July 2025
Another athletic and academic year is in the books! Commencement concluded the academic-side on May 17, 2025. Congratulations to all the graduates – especially the Husky student-athletes who earned their degrees – undergraduate and graduate (ceremony was May 16).
With the close of the academic campaign came the close of the athletic campaign as well. The year was wrapped up with one of the highest honors – A National Champion! Husky sophomore Kelly Leszcynski won the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Javelin National Championship title with a school-record throw of 52.07 meters (170’ 10’). The sophomore was seeded second in the event as she broke her own school record at the LH qualifier with a throw of 50.40 meters. She demolished that record with her first throw at the National Championships, setting the bar high for her competitors in the finals. Leszcynski’s throw was the furthest of the 2025 season for DII women’s track & field season and would have won the event the last two years. The part not listed above is that Kelly also is a standout for the Husky women’s basketball team. A true champion! We expect great things from her as she continues her Bloomsburg career.
Additionally, Bloomsburg returned the Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams to the NCAA Tournament this spring, along with the Huskies Softball team. The Bloomsburg women's tennis team claimed the 2025 PSAC East Regular Season title and ended the regular with 13-2 record and a perfect 6-0 slate in the PSAC East. The men’s team finished second in the PSAC and advanced to the conference championship match to earn the bid. This year’s two-team selection marked the first time since 2010 where both the men’s and women’s tennis programs headed to the NCAA Tournament. The men also earned an NCAA bid in 2012. The Huskies softball team earned a seed in the Kutztown Regional and won their first two games to enter the Championship final. Unfortunately, Bloomsburg’s season came to a heartbreaking conclusion after a pair of losses in the Championship and ended the season with a 33-21 record.
With the close of the year also brings the 2025 NACDA Convention and the D2 Athletic Directors Association (D2ADA) conference in Orlando, Fla. This annual event serves as a professional development opportunity and closure to the academic year as preparations for the upcoming 2025-26 season approach. This past year, I had the pleasure to serve as the President of D2ADA. This convention culminates that term as I move to the Past President role for the 2025-26 academic year. It has been an impactful and humbling experience leading this great association and I look forward to many more years of continued success with such great industry leaders.
Also concluding with this year’s NACDA/D2ADA convention is the annual Women and Minorities Mentoring Program. This program is designed to empower women and ethnic minorities by providing them with the guidance, support, and resources they need to thrive in their careers. Together, we are building a future where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and make a meaningful impact. One of the mentees in this year’s graduating class was our own Director of Athletic Communications & Marketing, Mary Raskob. I know that Mary gained a ton of experience through the program.
In other celebratory news, our own Jan Hutchinson and Stu Marvin are both new award winners. Jan was named as one of five recipients of the 2024-25 Lifetime Achievement Award on National Girls and Women in Sports Day. She was honored in Colorado at the WeCOACH conference for this honor. Stu is getting inducted to the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame, which recognizes local athletes who have brought athletic achievements and community involvement in the state of Pennsylvania. The induction is slated for June 8 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Finally, with the end of the academic semester, both the men’s and women’s athletic programs ended the year with a combined 3.263 grade point average for all 700+ student-athletes. The 11 men’s teams boasted a combined GPA of 3.125, while the 12 women’s teams earned a 3.401 combined GPA. The top male team was men’s soccer (3.469) while softball lead the women’s teams (3.665). We are proud of our Huskies in the classroom and in their sport!
Stay connected with the Huskies this summer and be sure to visit the
game schedule page for the latest updates. We hope to see you soon.
Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
May 2025
Thank you, Huskies!
Thank you for your support … For completely CRUSHING it on All In Day of Giving. And, thank you for the impact you have on our Husky student-athletes.
With commencement right around the corner (this week is the last week of classes and exams next week), our student-athletes are in the homestretch. And, we look forward to adding to our alumni network all the graduating student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility.
As of the close of the All In Day of Giving at 10:00 a.m. on April 11, Bloomsburg athletics was the leader (WINNER) among Commonwealth University schools and raised $141,185 during the April 10 – April 11 24-hour campaign window – all in direct support of Bloomsburg student-athletes. In total, Bloomsburg garnered support from 1,887 total donors between the 20 programs, including the general athletics fund and the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center. Husky supporters helped complete 22 total matches among the programs and athletics unlocked every match and challenge that was offered. Those matches included:
Matches & Challenges Met:
General Athletics – Tim & Carol Wagner ($5,000 for 50 donors)
Baseball – David Zinkler ($2,000 for 20 donors)
Cross Country/Track & Field – Bernie Empie ($350 for first 40 donors)
Cross Country/Track & Field – Bernie Empie ($350 for 100 total donors)
Men's Basketball – Chris Bess ($100 for 10 donors)
Women's Basketball – Connie Jarrard ($1,500 for 20 donors)
Women's Basketball – Alyssa (Flan) Carsia ($150 for 20 Women's Basketball Alumni Donors)
Field Hockey – Sharon Gettel ($2,500 for 30 donors)
Football – Mike Glovas ($5,000 for 30 donors)
Football – Jay and Ashley Collins ($5,000 for 30 donors)
Football – Josh Bernocco ($200 for first 100 donors)
Men's Soccer – Greg & Terri Malloch ($1,867 for 20 donors)
Men's and Women's Soccer – Eric Pettis ($5,000 for 60 donors)
Softball – Steve Messner ($3,000 for 30 donors)
Softball – Cathy Constable ($2,500 for 30 donors)
Men's Tennis – Rebecca Helt ($200 for 10 donors)
Women's Tennis – Rebecca Helt ($200 for 10 donors)
Wrestling – Dennis Siegmann ($1000 for 25 donors)
Wrestling – Mike Cunningham ($1000 for 25 donors)
Wrestling – Chet Snavely ($1,000 for 25 donors)
Wrestling – Tony Reed ($1,000 for 25 donors)
Tyler Horst Nutritional Center – Laura Horst ($500 for 10 donors)
A huge thank you for all those who supported ALL IN.
In other celebratory news,
Bloomsburg celebrated its student-athletes and influential professors on April 24. The 36
th annual honor highlighted 224 student-athletes who achieved a grade point average of 3.25 or higher during the past two semesters or who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. Additionally, 92 freshmen or transfer student-athletes posted a 3.25 grade point average or higher in their first semester at Bloomsburg, thus showing promise to become future scholar-athletes. The event also honored 124 faculty members – identified by our student-athletes – as influential to their academic endeavors and who have contributed to their overall academic well-being.
Additionally, the start of the spring award season is upon us. Football had
12 named to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, and in the coming weeks more academic and athletic honors will be announced from the PSAC, the respective coach’s association and the College Sports Communicators (CSC). The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced the recipients of the 2025 NCAA DI Men’s Scholar All-American Awards. Junior William Morrow earned the distinction for the second-straight season. Morrow boasts a 3.76 GPA at Bloomsburg and finished 1-2 at the 2025 MAC Championships.
In my next column, I will recap the spring championships. We have just a few events left this spring, so be sure to visit the
game schedule page for the latest updates.
In other news, there will be a new Husky on the hill in the future. Thanks to the amazing generosity of Steph and Allie Pettit,
“Rally” will be joining the team. The bronze Husky statue will be one of four coming to campus, created by renowned sculptor Joshua Koffman, who will also collaborate with faculty and students in the university’s arts department during the creative process. Thank you, Steph and Allie!
Time to focus on academics and prepare for the end of the semester! We hope to see you soon.
Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
April 2025
April showers are upon us! The constant changing weather – 60s one day to snow showers and 30s the next. No better time to be in college athletics in the Northeast. Please stay current through
our website to ensure you don’t miss a Husky contest based on the April weather.
Another thing to not miss is All-In Day of Giving. The fourth annual All-In Day of Giving kicks off at 10 AM on April 10 and runs through 10 AM on April 11. This is a full 24-hour window for Huskies to show the power of collective support for Bloomsburg Athletics. The countdown is on and you could start supporting now or on April 10-11. Our
student-athlete success starts by going All In!
Along those same lines of “all” we are in the cross-over season of Spring sports preparing and battling for post-season playoff berths, while the fall and winter teams are in their non-traditional season window. What does that mean? All Husky student-athletes are participating in their sport right now.
The spring championship schedule opens with the Women’s Golf event at Berkleigh Golf Club in Kutztown, Pa., April 25-27. The men’s and women’s PSAC Tennis championship follows April 29 on campus sites and May 2-3 at the Burt Reese Tennis Center on the Bloomsburg campus. Women’s lacrosse and softball championships compete similar dates with lacrosse at the top seeds on April 29 and the Eastern Division hosting May 2 & 4, while softball will be April 30 through May 3 in Quakertown, Pa. The final two spring championships will be baseball, May 7-10, at Millersville, and Outdoor Track and Field at Slippery Rock, May 8-10. Spring is in the air and the Spring Championships are right around the corner.
A handful of academic honors were recently announced. Bloomsburg featured
three women’s swimmers earning CSC Academic All-District honors (Madison Osanitsch, Catie Strayer, and Morgan Holmes), while
four men’s swimmers garnered the CSC Academic All-District award (Jack Drake, Connor McClurkin, Luke Willard, and Sean Witmer). In
wrestling, three student-athletes (Kolby Flank, Major Lewis, and William Morrow) earned All-MAC Academic Team honors.
Near the end of April, April 23 to be exact, Bloomsburg Athletics will celebrate and honor our scholar-athletes and influential professors, virtually. As previously listed, the Scholar-Athlete Recognition is an opportunity to celebrate the academic success of student-athletes who have achieved a grade point average of 3.25 or higher during the spring and fall semesters of a calendar year or have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. Also honored are the faculty members – identified by our student-athletes as influential to their academic endeavors and who have contributed to their overall academic well-being. The NCAA and Bloomsburg are committed to the best interests of our student-athletes. To that end, we strive to provide a quality athletic experience while supporting each student-athlete’s pursuit of higher education. A look at past honorees can be found
here.
Celebrating the past and the accomplishments of our student-athletes is always exciting. With that said, there are a host of upcoming athletic alumni events to add to your calendars. On April 26, the men’s and women’s soccer teams will be hosting Alumni Day. The Alumni event will be hosted from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Steph Pettit Stadium. This is a fun and unique opportunity to connect with current players, coaches and alumni of the Bloomsburg Men’s and Women’s Soccer programs. To register and reconnect with former teammates and develop new professional connections
please click here for additional information.
In football, there are two upcoming events. First, in conjunction with the Spring Game, the Husky Legacy Club will be hosting the HLC Alumni & Family Flag Football Game. This event will be Saturday, April 26 and
registration is required. The second upcoming football event is the
2025 Devlin Golf Tournament on June 7 and registration is now live. We hope you can join us for one or both of these events.
The field hockey team will be hosting their annual alumni game and social on Sunday, May 4, 2025. This is a great event to break out your stick and join the alumni team or cheer from the sidelines while also connecting with current players, coaches, and fellow Husky alumni. There will be a post-game social at Turkey Hill Brewing Company and the event runs from 1-4 pm. Please
register here.
If you can make it back – for either an alumni event or to an in-season or post-season contest – please visit any of our
Corporate Partners and check out current and past
game programs, while following along with the
game schedules.
Out to check on the fields to see if we can play! Remember, Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
March 2025
Here we are in Championship season!
Congratulations to the Husky Women’s Basketball team,
who defended their home court – Nelson Field House – as the third seed, in the opening round of the PSAC Championship. After the ESU victory, the Huskies travel to Lock Haven tomorrow (3.5.25) for a battle of #2 vs. #3. March Madness, as they say, is in full swing.
Also, this weekend, the Husky wrestlers travel to Rider for the MAC Championships, March 7-8.
Both the swimming programs and the indoor track and field teams battled in their respective conference championships since my last From the ADs Desk. Women’s Swimming wrapped up the 2024-25 season with a
second-place finish, while the
men came in fourth overall.
Rylee Wenzel qualified for a pair of individual events at the 2025 NCAA Swimming Championships while the 200-freestyle relay earned an invite after posting an NCAA ‘B’ cut and school record time of 1:33.21 at the PSAC Championships. Wenzel will compete in the 100-yard freestyle and the 50-yard freestyle after winning both events at the PSAC Championships. Wenzel set the school record in the 100-free at the PSAC Championships as well with a time of 50.10.
Indoor track wrapped up the season at Lehigh University with the
women’s team finishing in 12
th place, while the
men’s team notched a 10
th place finish.
Other great things in Husky Athletics include some amazing gifts and support from our alumni and loyal friends. First,
Tim and Carol Wagner continue to lead by example with a recent gift to support wrestling, and also a gift to provide
Game Plan educational software for every student-athlete. There is momentum in the wrestling program right now to rebuild and return the Huskies to the national scene. Everyone knows how amazing Steph and Allie Pettit are with their continued support of all of Husky athletics, which includes additional support to baseball and softball, along with football, volleyball and all student-athletes and coaches through a recent gift which provides the Huskies with two branded 15-passenger vans! This is amazing and truly impactful. As we say, It Starts with Us. It has not stopped there either, as
Tom Stiner has recently provided additional support for women’s basketball through scholarships and facility enhancements. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements on the horizon as well. We cannot do it without your continued support and thank you to those who have helped so far!
We have two big events happening in April. We will celebrate and honor our scholar-athletes and influential professors, virtually, on April 23. The Scholar-Athlete Recognition is an opportunity to celebrate the academic success of student-athletes who have achieved a grade point average of 3.25 or higher during the spring and fall semesters of a calendar year or have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. Also honored the faculty members – identified by our student-athletes as influential to their academic endeavors and who have contributed to their overall academic well-being. The NCAA and Bloomsburg are committed to the best interests of our student-athletes. To that end, we strive to provide a quality athletic experience while supporting each student-athlete’s pursuit of higher education. A look at past honorees can be found
here.
We hope you can attend a game and support the Huskies. If you are unable, you can always visit any of our
Corporate Partners and/or check out the
game programs, while following along on the
game schedules. Also, in case you haven’t heard, our All-In Day of Giving is coming up on April 10-11.
Click here to make an early gift to the team you care about most. If 200 donors make a gift before April 10, you can help us unlock an additional $2,000 to support Huskies facing unexpected financial challenges. Please consider making a gift today to go All In for Huskies!
Time to get ready for this week’s events … Remember, Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
February 2025
We have turned the corner. It is staying lighter longer, the student-athletes are all back, and we are in the winter to spring cross-over season. This comes with nervousness, excitement, and a solid work ethic.
Teams are battling for their winter championship slots with the PSAC Swimming Championship first up February 17-20 at York Aquatics Center, followed by the men’s and women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships March 1-2 at Lehigh, the men’s and women’s basketball teams look to secure a spot in the playoffs March 3, 5, and 8-9 (campus sites and women in the West for the finals and the men in the East) and that same weekend as the basketball finals, March 7-8, the wrestlers travel to Rider University for the MAC Championships. We are extremely excited as our teams put in final preparations for these championships!
Nelson Gym is back to full-capacity. Between the tennis teams, baseball, softball, track, and a sprinkling of all other teams (when weather does not allow outside activity) the hours in the building are full. The basketball season still has games to play and those two teams are practicing as well as some academic classes in the space. It is so great to seeing the young men and women in the building preparing and working so hard in their sport.
As we prepare for the day-to-day of the winter and spring sports, we are also looking into the future. Bloomsburg has been selected to host the 2025 NCAA Field Hockey National Championship in Steph Pettit Stadium. This summer we will replace the turf and make other enhancements to the venue to ensure a first-class event. There is a host of exciting news coming from Husky Athletics in the coming months as well. Stay tuned as we continue to look for opportunities to provide the best for our current and future student-athletes and coaches.
On February 12, during halftime of the men’s basketball game, the Athletic Department will honor all of the success from the Fall season! Please join us as we honor all of our All-PSAC, All-Region, All-American, Academic All-District and All-American success as well as Coach of the Year honors and the 2024 PSAC Men’s Soccer Championship team. The men’s basketball team hosts East Stroudsburg at 5:30 p.m. that day. During the women’s game that night, at 7:30 p.m. (and truly the entire evening) we will also be hosting our National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) activities. We hope you can join us for an exciting evening of celebration!
Speaking of celebrating, the Huskies will be on the road at the end of February and are hosting a home celebration at the start of the month. First, mark your calendars and join us for the 2025 Wrestling Alumni Day on February 8. Registration information
can be found here. We congratulate the team on their first win of the year (vs.
Sacred Heart on Feb. 1) and look to honor the past for this alumni day afternoon. At the end of the month, off to Tampa we go. We cannot thank Steph ’89 and Allie Pettit enough as they will be
hosting Huskies at Jackson’s Bistro on February 28. This is a great time to celebrate with fellow Huskies wand to enjoy the “unparalleled view of the Tampa’s Waterfront & Dynamic skyline.” There may even be some exciting things reviewed during this gathering so we hope you can join us!
Look around town for our pocket schedules featuring the winter and spring sports. If you aren’t local, be sure to connect with the Huskies through the
website for the latest schedules. As I have said many times … Once a Husky, Always a Husky! Cannot wait to see what the winter championship season brings and with the excitement of the spring sports ahead … It is a great day to be a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
January 2025
Where did the time go? 2024 is now over and on to 2025.
We experienced one of the best fall seasons I can remember. Multiple teams qualified for PSAC and NCAA championships and individuals were recognized for their performances in the classroom and in sport.
Team-wise, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, field hockey, and cross country all participated in the PSAC Championships, while men’s soccer, field hockey, and women’s cross country positioned themselves for NCAA Tournament appearances. There were two historic runs this fall with the men’s soccer program garnering their first-ever PSAC title since the league was founded in 1951, and the field hockey team returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Football, selected eighth in the pre-season poll, shocked the naysayers and finished the season in third in the PSAC East. The volleyball team finished one game out of a PSAC appearance under first-year head coach Lee Anderson.
On the individual side, senior field hockey forward
Aydan McFarland was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American First Team, while
Kody Besser, Brady Rimple, and Owen Hollobaugh garnered United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-America honors (first, first, and third).
Patrick Walsh, senior men’s soccer player, earned D2CCA All-America honors, while
Rimple and
Walsh added to the trophy case with CSC Academic All-America selections (second and first team). Additionally, the men’s soccer coaching staff, featuring
Head Coach Mark Bassett and Patrick Alvarez and volunteer Liam Harmon, were named the Division II Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year. Bassett also garnered the
PSAC Coach of the Year honor, for a second time in three seasons. Women’s soccer garnered multiple post-season honors for Sam Merklin and Erin Ranegan. Merklin earned
USC Third Team All-Atlantic Region third team honors and
first team accolades from the D2CCA Atlantic All-Region team. Ranegan posted a third team
USC Division II All-Atlantic Region selection, along with a
second team D2CCA All-Region award. Academically, the
volleyball team placed three on the CSC Academic All-District list, with Maura Uschock, Marlee Johnson, and Sophie Wales earning the award.
This fall we also were able to honor two Husky greats with former
football head coach Danny Hale’s induction into the College Football Hall of Fame and standout
offensive lineman Jahri Evans being named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Evans and Harlon Hill winning running back
Franklyn Quiteh were also named as finalists for the College Football Hall of Fame.
During the fall, and in partnership with the
Husky Legacy Club, Bloomsburg Athletics hosted the College Football Hall of Fame to celebrate and honor Coach Hale during the West Chester victory in a Salute to Danny Hale. Another amazing event this fall was celebrating the
2024 Hall of Fame induction for Husky Athletics. The members of the 2024 Hall of Fame Class are Jen Bryan ’03, (Women's Basketball), current Huskies Head Field Hockey Coach Nicole Hartranft ’04 (Field Hockey), Christine Krebs ’01 (Women's Soccer), Pete Rinella ‘95 (Wrestling), and Vanessa Sterner ’02 (Softball).
We hope to continue the success of the fall as we are in the full heart of the winter seasons. The 2025 PSAC Swimming Championship will be contested February 17-20 at Graham Aquatics Center in York, Pa, while the Indoor Track and Field Championship will be hosted by Lehigh University March 1-2. Men’s and Women’s Basketball are at home sites March 3, 5, 8-9, with the men in the East and the women battling in the West. The MAC Wrestling Championship will be March 7-8, hosted by Rider University in Trenton, N,J. And, in the coming days, the spring teams will begin their quests for PSAC success.
The academic semester begins January 27, 2025, and there are a host of Alumni events on the horizon. The first one will be January 6 with the 7
th Annual Professional Night for Huskies Baseball at Mill Creek Elementary in Warrington, Pa.
Wrestling will host their annual Alumni Day on February 8, 2025 at Nelson Field House with a social post-match.
Congratulations to baseball coach Brenden Argomaniz who will be leaving the Huskies. He will be joining the Boston Red Sox as a MILB Pitching Coach. We are proud of all you have done in support of the Huskies Argo and wish you the best. Once a Husky, Always a Husky. Coach Mike Collins continues to develop his assistant coaches who advance and have amazing careers, along with the annual improvement on the 40-year plan with the Huskies Baseball Professional Night (mentioned above).
On a sad note, the Husky athletic family lost a legend this December. The entire Bloomsburg athletics family mourns the passing of legendary wrestling head coach
Roger Sanders who passed away December 18, 2024, at the Sunset Ridge Nursing Center in Scott Township. Coach Sanders, a 2014 inductee into the Bloomsburg Hall of Fame, was the Huskies head wrestling coach for 21 years finishing with a record of 250-104-8.
We wish you all the best for 2025 and hope to see you soon at a game or event (Make sure to connect with the Huskies through the
website for the latest schedules). Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
December 2024
November is a time for Thanksgiving and appreciating everything you have. December is a time to celebrate, reflect, and honor.
First, we celebrate an amazing fall it was for the Huskies. Each fall team finished a solid campaign that included individual and team championships and NCAA appearances. The men’s golf team concluded its 2024 season at the PSAC Championships with an 8
th place finish and scored well for a program still in its infancy. The women’s soccer team was ranked regionally all season, qualified for the PSAC playoffs, and boasted some individual honors as well (noted below). The men’s cross country teams finished 10
th at the PSAC championship with Payton Riley leading the men’s team on a 20
th spot individual finish.
The field hockey team spent almost the entire season ranked in the NFHCA Coach's Poll, earning as high as #4 national ranking. The Huskies advanced to the semifinal round of the PSAC Tournament and hosted the first tournament game since 2013, as Bloomsburg defeated West Chester 2-1 at Steph Pettit Stadium. Bloomsburg earned the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance in the national tournament since 2013, falling to ESU.
The men's soccer team won the 2024 PSAC Men's Soccer Championship for the first time in program history and was ranked as high as number 13 in DII, the highest in program history. The Huskies hosted the PSAC Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons after receiving the top seed in the Eastern Division. On selection Monday, the Huskies were announced as a host for the second round of the NCAA Tournament, earning a bye in the first round. This was the second-straight season the Huskies earned an NCAA berth.
Senior Kelley Selheimer earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Cross Country championship, for the second straight year. Selheimer is a three-time First Team All-PSAC runner and a three-time NCAA All-Atlantic Region honoree.
The Bloomsburg football team put together its first winning season under head coach Frank Sheptock with a 6-5 overall record. The Huskies were selected to finish eighth in the PSAC East and, under Coach Sheptock's direction, finished third behind two NCAA Tournament qualifiers - Kutztown and East Stroudsburg. The Huskies were ranked third in the PSAC in team passing efficiency and first in the conference in passing yards per completion. The Huskies were among the least penalized teams in the PSAC and NCAA as they were third in the conference, 18th in the NCAA, in fewest penalties, and second in the PSAC, 14th in the NCAA, in fewest penalty yards.
Next, we reflect on the fall and honor those award winners who have already been announced (more awards will be coming in the next two-three weeks so stay tuned to the
website to see those honors.) Bloomsburg had 15 student-athletes named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honorees this fall. Six student-athletes from both men's and women's soccer, while three more from the Bloomsburg volleyball program garnered the accolades for having at least a 3.5 GPA and playing in 90% of Bloomsburg's contests.
Individually, men’s soccer head coach Mark Bassett was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year for the second time, and Patrick Walsh was the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year. Walsh also added Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Atlantic All-Region team honors, along with teammates Brady Rimple and Kody Besser. On the women’s side, two student-athletes earned D2CCA Atlantic All-Region team honors, Samantha Merklin and Erin Ranegan. It is the third time in five seasons Bloomsburg women’s soccer has placed multiple players on D2CCA All-Region squads. In field hockey, Bella Culp and Aydan McFarland were named to the 2024 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II Senior Team. This honor celebrates not only their outstanding performances throughout the season but also their influence on and off the field. Make sure to visit each sport page on the website to see the current list of All-Conference players as well.
In additionally celebratory fashion, a host of Huskies are planning a trip to Las Vegas for the December 10
College Football Hall of Fame induction for former head coach Danny Hale. This should be an amazing evening and experience for a coach who has done so much for Bloomsburg and the men he has coached. For those of you who cannot make it to Vegas, the Induction Dinner will be
live streamed on ESPN+ starting at 6:00 p.m. PT.
The fall sure has boasted a ton of exciting memories. As we move to winter sports and the Holiday break (one week of classes remain prior to exams), the Huskies are ready to battle in swimming, track, men’s and women’s basketball, and wrestling. And, before we know it, January will be upon us with the spring sports returning and the crossover seasons starting again. Make sure to connect with the Huskies through the
website for the latest schedules and hopefully we can see you at a game soon.
Please take a moment to celebrate, reflect, and honor those in your life … And, remember – Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
November 2024
What an amazing fall we have had. The weather has been above average making home games and days perfect. In fact, we just celebrated Senior Days for men’s and women’s soccer and field hockey and many of the participants were still in short-sleeve shirts – in November. With a couple of weeks remaining for outdoor sports we hope these conditions can hold on … As well as the successes of the teams entering the PSAC playoffs.
In doing a quick Fall sports recap, – since many of the teams are still competing – the teams have been stellar. For the Huskies Men’s Soccer team, they are ranked 13th in NCAA, which is their highest ranking since 2002, and are set to host the 2024 PSAC Tournament November 15-17, as the #1 seed in the East. The Women’s Soccer is currently ranked sixth in the Atlantic region and are points away from earning a spot in the 2024 PSAC Tournament. In Field Hockey, the team is currently ranked 4th in NCAA and just won and hosted the PSAC Tournament first round as the #4 seed with 2-1 victory over West Chester (first PSAC home tourney win since 2013). The FH Huskies advance to Final Four at Shippensburg this weekend, Nov. 8-10. The Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams finished fourth and 10
th respectively. Kelley Selheimer finished fourth at the PSAC Championships while Payton Riley led the men’s team with a 20
th spot finish. The Football team is currently 5-4 on the season and hosting Millersville on Nov. 9 (Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day). The Volleyball team is currently 5-5 in PSAC action and in the hunt for a spot in the PSAC Tournament for the second time in program history. And, in Men’s Golf, the team finished eighth at PSAC Championships with Jarred Barrish leading the Huskies with a 23rd place finish.
The fall has been exciting and we are moving into the crossover season with the Winter sports underway. Swimming and wrestling both opened this past weekend and indoor track season is right around the corner. Men’s and women’s basketball launch into their season’s as well. Be sure to visit the
website for the latest on the schedules and how you can follow the Huskies – at home or on the road.
In case you missed it, we celebrated Roongo’s birthday in October and the 2024 Hall of Fame induction. Congratulations again this
year’s induction class. It is never too early to nominate deserving individuals into the 2025 class, and you can do so by providing
information here.
It is time to get back out on the field and cheer on our Huskies, but I wanted to take a couple of minutes and provide you all with some updates. Hope to see you soon Husky fans!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
October 2024
The mid-point of the fall has hit. Midterms academically, and heart of the PSAC competition slate. It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming back the students and student-athletes and in the blink of an eye September has ended.
So how are we doing? Men’s soccer is ranked 5
th regionally, women’s soccer is ranked 4
th regionally, and receiving votes in the national poll, football sits 3-2, field hockey is ranked 5
th in the nation, while Kelley Selheimer leads women’s cross country with the men’s team challenging each meet, volleyball has opened PSAC play with a 3-0 record, and men’s and women’s golf continues to light up the leader board. Tennis has opened their fall campaign and continues to work toward the PSAC spring championship season. All of the hard work from the student-athletes and coaches is positioning itself for solid runs.
With Roongo’s birthday on the horizon (Oct. 13), along with the 2024 Hall of Fame induction, October will continue to be a stellar month for the Huskies! This is your last opportunity to register and join the
Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame Committee with the induction for the 2024 class on Oct. 13, 2024. This year’s class features five new inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame, as part of the Homecoming and Parents & Supporters Weekend festivities. This group marks the 42nd Athletic Hall of Fame class and, with the addition of five individuals, brings the number of members enshrined to 213.
Registration for the 2024 Bloomsburg Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is now open and the event will take place in Kehr Union Ballroom. The members of the 2024 Hall of Fame Class are Jen Bryan '03, (Women’s Basketball), Nicole Hartranft '04 (Field Hockey), Christine Krebs '01 (Women’s Soccer '01), Pete Rinella '95 (Wrestling), and Vanessa Sterner '02 (Softball). Make sure to get your tickets to what promises to be an amazing day in Husky athletics. Bios on each inductee
can be found here.
Regarding our current student-athletes, the Huskies have earned a host of Player of the Week Honors, from the Conference and Nationally. In football, Jerry Griffen-Batchler has earned two players of the week nods, joined by KJ Riley and Cole Turner, Selheimer earned women’s cross country runner of the week, women’s soccer goalie Samantha Merklin garnered two defensive players of the week accolades along with Brooke Foster earning an East athlete of the week nod, and field hockey’s Aydan McFarland grabbed two PSAC and two NFHCA National Player of the Week honors. Additionally, volleyball Elise Adelman and Marlee Johnson were named to the Golden Eagle Invitational All-Tournament team. Adelman also broke the volleyball program record for career assists (1,285) and continues to grow that mark. Head women’s soccer coach Matt Haney has eclipsed the 100-win mark in his career leading the Huskies and with plenty of matches left, we look to see that mark improve.
The next
Huddle with the Huskies at West End Ale Haus is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, opening the Homecoming Weekend activities. The event is open to the public, and appetizers are available as supplies last, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a short program to follow. During the program, Coach Sheptock will speak about the season, preview the upcoming game(s), and introduce players from this year’s roster. Those joining the team for Huddle with the Huskies are encouraged to stay following the formal programming to enjoy a delicious dinner and drinks at the West End Ale Haus.
It’s not too late to add Husky games to your calendar so you don’t miss a minute of action. Be sure to download your Huskies schedule by visiting the
website, and to stay current with any other happenings within Husky Athletics. Fans can also follow the Huskies on the live stream provided by
BUSN, in partnership with the PSAC Digital Network and BlueFrame, or with games produced by our Athletic Communications and Marketing staff. Broadcast schedules are listed on each schedule page, sport-by-sport, with links to audio, video, and live stats, if available.
Time to leave the desk and get out to support your Bloomsburg Huskies. See you soon Husky fans!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
September 2024
September is one of the most exciting months of the year. Why you may ask? It is simple. ATHLETICS ARE BACK. The student-athletes have all arrived, classes are in full-swing, and games are just a few days away. It is not just the fall sports back, but all student-athletes are now in meetings, practices, and prepping for the 2024-25 academic and athletic year.
This week, we open up the 2024 fall seasons – officially. We just completed scrimmages in field hockey, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, and volleyball, along with the football team having a couple of intrasquad duals. The first official competition day is Sept. 5 with two home soccer games and the football home opener (a black-out day), while volleyball and field hockey start their seasons on the road. It is a GREAT time to be a Husky! All the preseason predictions can be thrown out the window as it is time to face-up against the opponents and do what Huskies do.
The
Bloomsburg Black Out day is Sept. 5 for the three home games taking place in the Pettit Athletic Complex. We are encouraging all fans coming to Bloomsburg for any of the day’s activities to wear black, with women’s soccer hosting Goldey-Beacom at 1 p.m., men’s soccer takes on Felician at 3:30 p.m., and football hosting Fairmont State under the lights at 6 p.m.
Excitement on the hill doesn’t stop with just the fall. The Huskies have a new wrestling coaching staff with the return of
John Stutzman, the third winningest coach in Bloomsburg wrestling history. Coach Stutzman returns to Bloomsburg after a stint at his alma mater. Joining him as the assistant coach is five-time NCAA qualifier
Mitch Moore. Additionally, Taylor Cahill, will join the team leading the Husky Elite Wrestling Club, which has been on the leading edge of the revival of Bloomsburg Wrestling. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements from the Husky wrestling program as well.
Also, it is the return of
Huddle with the Huskies with two dates. This year’s event will feature a new location through a partnership with West End Ale Haus. The two Huddle with the Huskies evenings will be September 12 and October 10. The Thursday, October 10 date serves as the midseason review and preview for the Huskies Homecoming match-up with East Stroudsburg on October 12. The events are open to the public, and appetizers are available as supplies last, beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a short program to follow. During the program, Coach Sheptock will speak about the season, preview the upcoming game(s), and introduce members of the coaching staff and players from this year's roster. Those joining the team for Huddle with the Huskies are encouraged to stay following the formal programming to enjoy a delicious dinner and drinks at the West End Ale Haus.
It's not to late to get your tickets and tailgate passes for the football season. Ticket packages and tailgate passes – single-game and season options – are now on sale now. Single-game ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students (5 and older) and senior citizens (62 and older). All Bloomsburg students receive free admission to each game with their valid student ID. Children under the age of five are also admitted free of charge. Season-ticket packages are also available: $55 for adults and $25 for students and senior citizens. To purchase advanced single-game tickets or season-ticket packages, please visit
buhuskies.com/tickets. Tickets will also be sold at the gate before each home game during the regular season.
Additionally, the 2024 Husky Tailgate Zone passes are also on sale, and fans can
click here to reserve their spot. A full-season pass, including a pair of season tickets, costs $250, with each game priced at $50. A full-season pass is $180 for students, with every contest marked at $30.
Don’t miss a single minute of action with the Huskies. Be sure to download your Huskies schedule by visiting the
website, and to stay current with any other happenings within Husky Athletics. During the year, fans can follow the Huskies on the live stream provided by
BUSN, in partnership with the PSAC Digital Network and BlueFrame, or with games produced by our Athletic Communications and Marketing staff. Broadcast schedules are listed on each schedule page, sport-by-sport, with links to audio, video, and live stats, if available. Additionally, fans can tune into Jim Doyle and Andy Ulicny on
106.5 Bigfoot Country all season to catch football action, and to
WHSK during basketball season to hear Doyle and Larry White.
As previously announced, the
Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame Committee is hosting the induction for the 2024 class on Oct. 13, 2024. This year’s class features five new inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame, as part of the Homecoming and Parents & Supporters Weekend festivities. This group marks the 42nd Athletic Hall of Fame class and, with the addition of five individuals, brings the number of members enshrined to 213.
Registration for the 2024 Bloomsburg Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is now open and the event will take place in Kehr Union Ballroom.
The members of the 2024 Hall of Fame Class are Jen Bryan '03, (Women' Basketball), Nicole Hartranft '04 (Field Hockey), Christine Krebs '01 (Women’s Soccer '01), Pete Rinella '95 (Wrestling), and Vanessa Sterner '02 (Softball). Make sure to get your tickets to what promises to be an amazing day in Husky athletics. Bios on each inductee
can be found here.
With the new year upon us, please visit our
Staff Directory to see any of the new faces joining our team. Also, make sure to visit the
facilities page to see all the recent modifications and adjustments to Pettit Athletic Complex. Positive things are happening in Bloomsburg Athletics and
we hope can join us or continue to support this strong momentum.
Time to do one last check of all the facilities, compliance, and teams to make sure we are ready for game day. See you soon Husky fans!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
August 2024
It is time! The return of the 2024-25 student-athletes is just around the corner. The Huskies men’s soccer team is currently participating in a Foreign Tour in Portugal, with the football squad returning to campus for the first practice on August 12. The following Monday the remainder of the traditional fall sports report back to Pettit Athletic Complex, with men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and men’s and women’s cross country beginning their fall seasons. The week after, tennis and golf will begin preparing for their fall campaigns as well. It is time … A great time to be a Husky!
A lot has occurred since I last scribed the happenings of Husky Athletics in June through the From the ADs Desk column. Let me try to give you a quick recap. Regarding our staffing, we are in the final stages of hiring a new Wrestling coach staff, following the departure of Marcus Gordon and Russ Hughes. Additionally, we have added to the Football staff with
Tim Landis (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks),
Zach Martin (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers),
Johnathan Pruden (Defensive Backs),
Greg Kahn (Defensive Line), and
Josh Bernocco (Wide Receives/Special Teams Coordinator). In track and field and cross country, Coach
Bernie Empie welcomed
Marcus Disbrow as an assistant coach.
In the next edition of From the ADs Desk, I will provide you with the new Graduate Assistant Coaches and Administration who are joining or returning to the Huskies.
A couple of other exciting elements for the Husky Athletic program occurred in July.
Mary Raskob, Bloomsburg’s director of athletic communications and marketing, was named the President of the Eastern Athletic Communications Association (EAST-COMM). And, yours truly,
Dr. McFarland was named President of the Division 2 Athletic Directors Association for the 2024-25 year.
With the start of the year upon us, please be sure to join us for the Second Annual Tyler Horst Run/Walk to kick-off the year. This year’s event will be Sunday, August 25 and we look forward to having you join us. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and will start and finish at Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium with the one-mile occurring around the track and the 5K run will be out on the cross country course around the practice/intramural fields. Last year’s event was a huge success with all the proceeds from this event directly funding the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center. It is open to everyone. For registration information,
please visit. Thanks for your continued support.
Speaking of supporting our student-athletes. We also want to take a moment to honor them.
The Bloomsburg Athletics
department announced its seven major award winners on July 17. These awards include the Outstanding Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year (male and female), the Senior Athlete of the Year (Robert B. Redman male honoree and Eleanor Wray female awardee), and the Underclass Athlete of the Year (Danny Litwhiler male and Joanne McComb female). Past winners of these prestigious honors can be found
here. This year’s class includes: Bella Culp, Joanne McComb Underclass Female Athlete of the Year; Kody Besser, Danny Litwhiler Underclass Male Athlete of the Year; Madison Coyle, Eleanor Wray Senior Female Athlete of the Year; Nick Fiddler, Robert B. Redman Senior Male Athlete of the Year; Amanda Stoll, Outstanding Senior Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year; and, Andrew Basile, Outstanding Senior Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Congratulations to each of these amazing Husky student-athletes.
Additionally, the
Bloomsburg Huskies led the PSAC with 307 Scholar-Athletes during the 2023-24 season – that is remarkable and telling of the academic drive of our students. There were 18 institutions eligible for the Scholar-Athlete honors and for Bloom to top all of them is a great feat by our student-athletes – and our coaches who support their academics! Way to go Huskies!
Also, the
Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame Committee has established Sunday, Oct. 13 as this fall’s induction date for the 2024 Class. There will be an announcement during the first week in August for the induction class. But, please mark your calendars to join us at the Homecoming Weekend to celebrate some great history.
Time to download your Huskies schedule by visiting the
website, and to stay current with any other happenings within Husky Athletics. And, in the coming days, IT IS TIME – Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
June/July 2024
Welcome to the end of spring and the start of summer with this edition of From the ADs Desk. The academic year has concluded, now we enter camp/clinic season and other events to support our student-athletes.
We just wrapped up an extremely successful event at our home golf course Frosty Valley. Football hosted, in conjunction with the Devlin family (thank you to all the family members who attended) the 25
th Anniversary of the John S. Devlin Memorial Golf Tournament. At the conclusion of the golf event we honored former Head Coach Danny Hale with a picnic and celebration, in honor of his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame this coming December. If you are planning to attend the December event, please let me know so we can ensure we have all the Bloomsburg Huskies sitting together to honor Coach Hale. We also welcomed the Husky Legacy Club at the event, with a lot more information coming so please check your e-mail regarding this great group that will further support the efforts of the football program.
A special Thank You to Tim and Carol Wagner, from the Class of 1974, for their continued support of the Huskies and helping us succeed in advancing our student-athlete opportunities. First, they supported the John S. Devlin Golf Outing this year commemorating the 25
th anniversary of the event, and second have agreed to partner with Husky Athletics to provide
Game Plan, an educational software service that provides a host of holistic learning modules for the student-athletes. We cannot thank them enough for their continued support.
I am also pleased to announce that
Bloomsburg Athletics has extended its partnership with Under Armour and BSN Sports to outfit our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. This is our third contract overall with UA/BSN and we are pleased to partner as the official equipment supplier to all 23 varsity programs.
There are a host of awards and honors to recap. The highlight will be the Bloomsburg Athletics major award winners which will be announced on July 17. These awards include the Outstanding Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year (male and female), the Senior Athlete of the Year (Robert B. Redman male honoree and Eleanor Wray female awardee), and the Underclass Athlete of the Year (Danny Litwhiler male and Joanne McComb female). Past winners of these prestigious honors can be found
here.
Other highlights from the spring include
Head Baseball Coach Mike Collins winning his 400th career game this season. Coach Collins continues to do things right while leading the Huskies.
On the student-athlete side,
women’s lacrosse capped their 2024 season with the Freshman of the Year, as well as an All-Conference honoree. Kayla Stressman captured the PSAC East Freshman of the Year honors while Madison Coyle earned a spot on the All-PSAC East first team. As a team, the Huskies finished the regular season ranked number one in NCAA DII in caused turnovers per game (15.29) and ground balls per game (25.24) and are receiving votes in the final IWLCA poll of the regular season. In softball, there were
five student-athletes being named to the CSC Academic All-District team, while junior
Callie Sowers earned D2CCA All-Athletic Region athletic honors. Men’s and Women’s tennis featured academic and athletic awards. Men’s tennis posted
two CSC Academic All-District selections, while having Denis Dementev earn was named
PSAC Freshman of the Year, along with two all-conference awardees. The women’s team boasted three
players on the PSAC Eastern Division All-Conference roster, earning four honors.
In other exciting news, two former Husky football standouts are now on the 2024-25 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. As you know, Coach Hale will be inducted this December, and both
Jahri Evans and Franklyn Quiteh are now on the ballot for consideration to the Hall of Fame. This is a tremendous honor for two great men.
Also, the
Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame Committee has established Sunday, Oct. 13 as this fall’s induction date for the 2024 Class. There will be an announcement later in June/early July for the induction class. But, please mark your calendars to join us at the Homecoming Weekend to celebrate some great history.
We are excited for some work at the Pettit Athletic Complex this summer. The projects may not be glamorous, but will benefit our student-athletes. First, we will be completing court repairs at the Burt Reese Tennis Center and finalizing the viewing platform, thanks to a gift from former head coach Marty Coyne. Second, there are going to be roof repairs on Nelson Fieldhouse over the gymnasium. And, finally, we are completing the stages of bidding for a full light replacement at Steph Pettit Stadium converting to energy efficient LED lights while increasing the candle-wattage by almost double. As always, there will be other projects and general up-keep throughout the Pettit Athletic Complex at each venue as well.
Two glamorous projects are occurring this summer. The first gift comes to us from Bob and Gigi Gibble as we finalize the naming of the baseball scoreboard, which was installed at Danny Litwhiler Field in 2022. The scoreboard will bear the name “Bob Gibble Scoreboard” later this summer, in time for the fall season. Thank you, Bob, and family for your continued support.
The second gift is from former student-athlete and long-time supporter of Bloomsburg Athletics, Sharon Gettel who has established an endowment to name the student-athlete lounge in Nelson Fieldhouse. The “Sharon Gettel Student-Athlete Lounge” will allow further enhancements to the room that features computers, a group workspace, and individual study areas. We cannot thank Sharon enough for supporting our current student-athletes academically, and through scholarship support.
From the ADs Desk will return in August as we prepare for the fall season!
Please remember to visit the
website regularly as we will be announcing recruits for the 2024-25 season, as well as the team schedules, and any other happenings within Husky Athletics.
Enjoy summer and if you are in Bloomsburg, please visit us in Nelson Fieldhouse!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
May 2024
That’s a wrap … Well, almost. April brings with it PSAC Championships and the end of the academic year. May wraps it all up nicely. Exams are next week, along with Commencement, while PSAC Championships have completed in women’s golf, start in tennis, softball, and track this week, with lacrosse next week.
The women’s golf team, in their short history, finished the championship with its best-ever finish of seventh. Two players were in the top-25 and there is excitement for the future of the program. Women’s tennis heads to West Chester as the third seed, while the men’s team wrapped up the fourth seed and will compete this weekend at the Burt Reese Tennis Center on the campus of Bloomsburg. The fourth-ranked team in the region, Bloomsburg softball, finished as the Eastern Division’s fifth-seed and will battle for the PSAC crown in Quakertown, May 1-4. The men’s and women’s track teams will battle at the Outdoor PSAC Championship, May 3-5 at Shippensburg. In women’s lacrosse, there are two games left for the Huskies and winning both would solidify a spot in the PSAC post-season. These are exciting times for sure for the Husky student-athletes and coaches.
This past weekend saw the coaches and teams of Field Hockey, Women’s Soccer, and Men’s Soccer welcome back alumni. There were alumni games and gatherings for the teams. It was great seeing former Huskies back on campus supporting the current student-athletes! Thank you for the impact and mark you left on your program, and most importantly, for still playing a part in the future success of our teams.
When I last wrote, we are embarking on the Huskies Annual Day of Giving. The two-day, 24-hour event saw the Husky faithful support a majority of our teams, support the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center, and support of athletics in general. The Husky Athletics team WON the day with the highest giving of all of the areas at Bloomsburg. We cannot thank you enough for your support of our teams, student-athletes, and projects.
We are in the process of finalizing and connecting with the 2024 Hall of Fame Class. This great group of individuals will join 208 members with the 42
nd Annual induction on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, as part of the Homecoming Weekend events. Make sure to
review the previous inductees and
nominate any deserving Huskies for future years’ selections.
I will be back in June to give some additional and full updates as we enter the summer months!
Please visit the
website for the latest team schedules and Husky updates as we navigate the PSAC post-season.
Enjoy the end of the year (academic and athletic) and if you are headed to Bloomsburg, please stop in as we would love to see you and show you all the great things happening in athletics!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
April 2024
In higher education, as in intercollegiate athletics, April is the dreaded month. The weather is still sketchy with constant changes needed in games, the academic schedule is winding down with post-mid-terms, final assignments and finals, and conference and NCAA championships loom around the corner. But April is not short on activity either! Every day brings a new challenge, a new game, and new goals.
One of the elements is the annual Officials Appreciation Week. This year, the thrice-annual event, falls April 1-7 where student-athletes and coaches will celebrate and thank officials for what they do day-in and day-out. If you are attending a Huskies contest be sure to listen for the PA announcement and help us Thank an Official.
In the theme of thank yous … Please be sure to join us on the
Huskies Annual Day of Giving as a way to thank those who came before you. The two-day, 24-hour event is your opportunity to
support the Huskies, support the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center, and to support the team of your choice. As with athletics, this two-day Day of Giving competition, is a challenge to all current and former Huskies, fans and friends, parents and supporters, to help us “win” the day!
Academic awards are starting to come in – with PSAC awards still to come as well. Two members of the Bloomsburg women’s basketball were named CSC Academic All-District selections. The honorees include junior guards Allison Hileman and Lauren Kirsch. Our student-athletes continue to amaze with their performances in the classroom and in their sport.
Husky Athletics continues to make some moves. Lee Anderson has joined the family as the new Huskies volleyball coach, while Tim Landis has joined the football staff. Rounding out the athletic training room is Carl Andrews, who joins the first-class team of trainers serving the Husky student-athletes. Join me in welcoming this great group of individuals to Bloomsburg Athletics.
More awards are coming soon too! In the coming weeks, Bloomsburg should be announcing the 2024 Hall of Fame Class. This great group of individuals will join 208 members with the 42
nd Annual induction on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, as part of the Homecoming Weekend events. Make sure to
review the previous inductees and
nominate any deserving Huskies for future years’ selections.
Bloomsburg Athletics has applied for two grants to support our student-athletes and community. The first is an NCAA Coaching Education Grant to support expansion of the Cross Country and Track programs while adding an additional coach to the growing roster. The second grant, awarded on March 19, 2024, was the USTA and ITA Collegiate Community Hub Award. The tennis grant’s intent is to defray some of the costs associated with providing tennis programs that are open to the public through your Collegiate Community Hub. Both of these grants support Bloomsburg Athletics and continue to advance the offerings to our student-athletes and through the community.
April, as I mentioned is packed with events – from the Spring Football Game (April 12 at 6pm) to conference games, to championships. Be sure to stay
tuned to the website for the latest schedules and other Husky updates through the website as games may be adjusted based on weather.
We hope to see you soon!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
March 2024
As I sit waiting for today’s rainy-day lacrosse home opener, we are turning the page on winter sports and welcoming spring activity – and hopefully improved weather.
The spring season brings, not only, warmer days but the return of outside sports with track, tennis, lacrosse, baseball, golf, and softball. Upcoming, the Bloomsburg Foundation will be hosting its annual Day of Giving, April 18-19. The two-day, 24-hour event is your opportunity to support the Huskies, support the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center, and to support the team of your choice. As with athletics, this two-day Day of Giving competition, is a challenge to all current and former Huskies, fans and friends, parents and supporters, to help us “win” the day! We appreciate any and all support you can provide.
In other celebratory events, the
Field Hockey program will host its annual Alumni Game and Social on April 28, while
men’s soccer will also host an alumni weekend April 26-27. The 25
th anniversary of the John S. Devlin Golf Tournament will be Saturday, June 1 at Frosty Valley to support Bloomsburg Football. Stay tuned to the Alumni website for any new or additional events.
Later this spring we will be announcing some special details for a Make-A-Wish (MAW) Reveal. Bloomsburg student-athletes fundraised for MAW and have been awarded a third reveal since 2018. This honor is amazing as the student-athletes must raise more than $10,000 in a year to be awarded a wish.
To wrap-up the winter championship season, swimming and indoor track have completed while wrestling (MAC Championship at Kent State, March 8-9) is still to be contested.
Keystone Aquatics Center hosted the 2024 swimming event and the Huskies finished in third for both the men and the women. There were some amazing finishes from both squads and junior Rylee Wenzel and freshman Grace McBlain posted NCAA qualifying times for the NCAA Championships.
In the men’s and women’s PSAC Indoor Track Championship, the Huskies were led by Kelley Selheimer on the women’s side and Doug Walsh on the men’s side. Selheimer picked up two medals as the Bloomsburg women's indoor track and field team racked up seven podium finishes during day two of the Championships. The women’s team finished in ninth place with 34 team points. For the men, Walsh broke his own school record in the heptathlon en route to a third-place finish, as the Huskies men’s team placed tenth.
The Huskies continue to battle into the spring season so stay
tuned to the website for the latest on team schedules and other Husky updates.
Let’s hope for warm weather and no more snow so spring sports can get the best opportunity to practice and compete. Join us for any event – home or on the road – as we would love to see you and appreciate your support of the Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
February 2024
There is so much going on this February, thus the delay in providing my From the ADs Desk. A few key updates include:
NCAA DII football coaching legend, Danny Hale, has gotten the call for enshrinement in the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame, as announced by the National Football Foundation and ESPN. Hale, one of the winningest coaches in all of NCAA DII, retired June 28, 2013, after spending 20 seasons as the Huskies head coach and 25 years coaching overall. Hale joins current Huskies' head coach Frank Sheptock in the College Football Hall of Fame. Sheptock was inducted in 2007 after a prolific career as a linebacker for the Huskies. Hale’s induction is set for December 10, 2024 at the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Mary Raskob, Bloomsburg’s director of athletic communications and marketing, was selected for the 2024-25 NCAA Division II Athletics Directors Association Mentoring Program. The NCAA and D2 ADA Women and Minorities Mentoring Program began in 2011-12. It pairs mentees together with their own mentor, a sitting Division II athletics director. Director of Athletics, Dr. Michael McFarland, is a current and five-time mentor with the program and the First Vice President for D2 ADA.
Eight Huskies earned College Sport Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors (3.50 GPA and participated in 80% of season) between volleyball and football in December. For volleyball, Liz Bopp and Emily Jackson earned their second All-District honor this season while Jenna Dubosky earned her first. On the football team, Owen Anderson and Cobe Frycklund were repeat honorees, while Kevin Carrigan, Brady Thompson, and Kenny Yurkonis were first time honorees.
The Bloomsburg athletic department hosted National Girl and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on February 10 during the Huskies’ women’s basketball game. Student-athletes from various women’s teams lead drills teaching their sports to local youth invited to the game. Young athletes from several local elementary schools were in attendance to learn from the Husky student-athletes.
Stay
tuned to the website to keep up-to-date on all the schedules and other updates on the Huskies.
We hope to see you soon on campus or at a venue near you to support the Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
January 2024
2024 … Yes, it is officially 2024!
Winter sports are in full swing with their championships right around the corner. In the next 20-or-so-days all the student-athletes – not just swimming, track, wrestling, and basketball – will be back in Nelson preparing for the spring semester, academically and athletically. Classes for the spring semester formally begin January 22, 2024, while most spring sport contests will begin in February.
In the middle of February, the men’s and women’s Swimming Championship will be held at Keystone Aquatic Center in Carlisle, Pa. (Feb. 14-17), while the Indoor men’s and women’s Track Championship will be contested at Lehigh University (Feb. 18-19). In March, the men’s basketball will be hosted on the Western side, while the women’s finals will be on the Eastern division. Dates for those Championships are March 4, 6, and 9-10, 2024. And, the Husky wrestling team will battle in the MAC Championship March 8-9, 2024, hosted by Kent State University. We are expecting big things from the Huskies in their respective championships!
This year’s NCAA Convention will be held January 9-13, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona with five major pieces of legislation, along with continual review of the NCAA Constitution. I thoroughly expect detailed discussion and hopeful for further clarification on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors Roadmap from Committee Recommendations to Transformation, which can guide the initial actions taken by the board and provide detail on what the future of intercollegiate athletics will look like overall, and specifically for Bloomsburg. These are ever-changing and challenging times ahead based on Transformation Committee’s recommendations, the changing Name, Image, and Likeness space, and all the movement with the Transfer Portal. This is an encouraging time of fluid movement within the NCAA.
There will be a host of learning opportunities for future Huskies to participate in Winter Camps/clinics. The
baseball team will be hosting two this winter, while
softball will feature several opportunities in January and February. Joining head coach Susan Kocher for these clinics will be
Doug Lynn. Lynn joined the Huskies coaching start at the start of December – Welcome Aboard!
A bunch of awards have been announced since my last From the ADs Desk.
Two field hockey players were named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-America team, with
Bella Culp and Aydan McFarland earning Second Team honors. The pair are the first NFHCA All-Americans for Bloomsburg since Tali Wehner in 2018. They join the historic list of Huskies' field hockey All-Americans that includes Head Coach Nikki Hartranft, who was a three-time NFHCA All-American from 2001-2003.
In volleyball,
Liz Bopp, Emily Jackson, and Jenna Dubosky earned CSC Academic All-District selections, while football had five players earn Academic All-District accolades (
Owen Anderson, Cobe Frycklund, Kevin Carrigan, Brady Thompson, and Kenny Yurkonis).
In soccer, Kody Besser continues to add to his honors while Erin Ranegan also has more hardware to add to her list.
Besser was named to the United Soccer Coaches Division II All-Atlantic Region Second team, while
Ranegan earned First Team All-Atlantic Scholar All-Region honors and
she was named to the Third team All-Atlantic for on-field performance.
Overall, the Husky Athletic teams continue to perform well in the classroom. The men’s average fall GPA for ten teams was a 3.119 – with the top team (men’s soccer) earning a team GPA of 3.343. On the women’s side, featuring 11 teams, they boasted a 3.355 fall GPA with the top team earning a 3.669 (softball). Congratulations to all the student-athletes on their academic achievements during the fall semester.
Stay
tuned to the website to see schedules and other updates on Husky award winners and all things happening in Bloomsburg Athletics.
Welcome to 2024! The Huskies plan to finish this academic year strong and even stronger athletically. We look forward to seeing you all at a contest soon. Let’s Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
December 2023
November is the month that brings awards and playoffs. What a great start to the fall. In competition, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, field hockey, and women’s cross country all qualified for either PSAC Championships or NCAA Championships. For awards, multiple teams brought home hardware to include PSAC Honors and even Coach and Player of the Year awards.
Starting with field hockey,
six players earned All-PSAC honors with Head Coach Nikki Hartranft being named Coach of the Year and freshman Genna Bush being named Freshman of the Year. Bush, along with Aydan McFarland, and Emily Swineford earned second team all-conference accolades, while Meg Barnard and Jackie Nevel garnered third team honors. Bella Culp was named to the PSAC First Team in wrapping up a season that saw the Huskies nationally ranked and falling in the playoffs.
Kelley Selheimer
qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championship and became the first Husky to race in the National Championship since the 2018 season. She was part of the team that finished second at the PSAC Championship.
In women’s soccer, three members of the Bloomsburg
women’s soccer team received All- PSAC honors. Erin Ranegan picked up a PSAC East First team selection, while Lauren Bull and Alivia Gallardo were named to the Second Team. Additionally, three Huskies were selected to the College Sports Communicators (CSC)
Academic All-District Team: Ellie Rowe and Alivia Gallardo picked up their first career honors, while Kennedy Kilchrist became a two-time honoree.
Men’s soccer featured
six All-PSAC honorees. Owen Hollobaugh earned PSAC East Freshman of the Year honors, while Kody Besser and Alex Wilsterman were named first team, while Hollobaugh, Stephen Hollis, Anthony Schlee, and Teagan Wallace earned second team accolades. Additionally,
six Huskies earned CSC Academic All-District honors: Hollis, Wilsterman, Brady Rimple, Schlee, Wallace and Braden Alicea. Also, Besser was named to the
second team of the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Atlantic Region team.
Historic! That is what you can call the 2023 men’s soccer campaign. The Huskies, in their third-ever NCAA appearance, defeated Southern New Hampshire 2-1 for the program’s first-ever NCAA victory! Besser tallied the game winner in the come-from-behind win.
Six Huskies football players landed on the All-PSAC team. Quentin Gaskill and Kaleb Monaco repeated as All-PSAC East honorees, while Giovanni Cancro, Tom Goetz, Nas Jones, and Nadir McLeod earned their first career accolades. We expect big things from the Huskies football program in 2024.
Nominations
are now open for the 2024 Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame. Please consider nominating a worthy Husky to join the impressive list of honorees since the Hall was founded in 1982.
Winter seasons are in full swing for the Huskies. Stay
tuned to the website to see schedules and other updates on Husky award winners and all things happening in Bloomsburg Athletics.
Don’t forget … you can end the year supporting your Huskies in multiple ways. There is scholarship support through the
BU Foundation’s page to initiate your tax-deductible support of a Husky! There is also supporting and donating
to the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center it provides our student-athletes with a much needed nutritional boost following a practice or game in case there is not time for a full meal.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year (it will be here before we know it!) Good luck to the Huskies with their exams and with the winter seasons … Let’s Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
November 2023
One day it is 77 degrees in Bloomsburg to end October and the next we have a frost warning and high temperatures of 50 degrees. Welcome, officially, to the change of seasons. The fall championships are upon us and the winter seasons are underway!
This is the final week for the PSAC men’s and women’s soccer schedules with the men facing either a #2 or #3 seed in the post-season, and the women’s team has secured a slot in the post-season and will learn their ranking Friday. Volleyball still has two weeks of competition ahead and are looking to secure a post-season berth.
In men’s golf, the Huskies finished the
PSAC Championship in 10th place with Jake Taylor earning 31
st place toping the Bloom individual players. The women’s golf team will compete in the spring for the PSAC Championship.
The men’s and women’s cross country teams excelled during the PSAC Championship and prepare for the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional this weekend, Nov. 4. The women’s team finished
second in the conference championship and Kelley Selheimer paced the team with a 4
th place finish, earning All-Conference accolades with teammates Amanda Kelly and Alyssa Cunningham. The men’s squad tallied an
8th place finish in the PSAC event, with Ryan Duff earning first-team All-Conference honors.
The Field Hockey team earned the 5
th seed in the PSAC post-season and battled through to an overtime 1-0 defeat at Mansfield. It was a great showing for the squad finishing the season 14-5, which is the most wins since 2012 and the 33
rd time in program history the field hockey team has won at least 14 games in a season. Congratulations to
Head Coach Nicole Hartranft on being named the PSAC Coach of the Year, joined by student-athletes Bella Culp (First Team), Genna Bush (Freshman of the Year; Second Team), Aydan McFarland (Second Team), Emily Swineford (Second Team), Megan Barnard (Third Team) and Jackie Nevel (Third Team).
With the conclusion of the fall sports, we are looking forward to seeing many more Huskies listed among the All-Conference teams, which will be released in conjunction with their respective championships. Stay
tuned to the website to see our Husky honorees. You can also stay up-to-date on the schedule of events.
This weekend also opens the season for the Husky Wrestling team as they visit New Jersey for the Princeton Open on Sunday, following the
Maroon & Gold Dual. Be sure to check out their
schedule and
roster, as we open up the 2023-24 season this weekend.
This year marks the 50
th Anniversary of NCAA and Division II. Bloomsburg athletics nominated
Jan Hutchinson and Jahri Evans for this prestigious award. After a conference-wide vote by the Pennsylvania State Athlete Conference’s athletic directors, senior woman administrators, and sports information directors,
Bloomsburg's Jan Hutchinson and Pitt-Johnstown's Pat Pecora have been selected as the conference’s representatives and finalists for the NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Gold Award.
The Gold Award recognizes two individuals (one who identifies as male and one who identifies as female) who have made a positive impact in Division II—whether it be a current or former student-athlete, coach, faculty member, or administrator from an active member school or conference who has distinguished themselves in the areas of athletics, professional achievement, service, and leadership and who have helped shape Division II over time.
The NCAA Division II Management Council Identity Subcommittee will review each conference’s finalists and select two overall winners, who will be recognized at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix, Ariz.
As the year concludes, we cannot thank our friends, families, fans, and alumni enough for their support. Our corporate partners continue to provide much needed relief to our programs and we cannot be more thankful. If you are considering supporting the Huskies, there are multiple methods. One is through the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center in Nelson Field House that benefits all student-athletes. If you are inclined, you can support and
donate to the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center it provides our student-athletes with a much needed nutritional boost following a practice or game in case there is not time for a full meal. We also encourage you to visit our
corporate partners and support those businesses that support our student-athletes. Finally, we appreciate your consideration to support our Athletic Scholarship Fund, that truly provides an academic and athletic experience for student-athletes. You can visit the
BU Foundation’s page to initiate your tax-deductible support of a Husky!
We hope to see you on campus cheering on the Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
October 2023
The Bloomsburg Fair has concluded. Fall sports have ended their non-conference schedules – with an exception here and there. And, the Huskies are challenging for the PSAC championships. Winter sports are just around the corner as well.
With October comes
PSAC Championships. Bloomsburg is the host site for the tennis individual championships October 7-9, followed by the Huskies hosting the Cross Country championship October 21. The men’s golf championship will be October 19-22 at Iron Valley Golf Club in Lebanon, Pa. And, the PSAC Field Hockey championship opens on October 31 with the top six seeds qualifying. Men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball will be in November, along with football.
Hopefully, Bloomsburg captures a host of honors this fall. The accolades have started for the women’s golf team, where we opened the month with a program first. Junior Olivia Martinez notched the program’s first-ever hole in one during the Arcadia University Golden Oaks Shootout. Another first is the NCAA’s 50
th Anniversary Celebration and Gold Awards. The Gold Award recognizes two individuals who have made a positive impact in Division II—whether it be a current or former student-athlete, coach, faculty member, or administrator from an active member school or conference who has distinguished themselves in the areas of athletics, professional achievement, service, and leadership and who have helped shape Division II over time. Bloomsburg has
nominated legendary field hockey and softball coach Jan Hutchison and football hall of fame member and NFL veteran Jahri Evans for the NCAA Gold Award. Both individuals embody the virtues of Division II and are true Husky leaders.
Stay on top of all the Husky action by visiting our
composite schedule to make sure you have the latest schedules of all the teams. Thanks to our partners with BUSN, many of the games are web streamed and can be accessed through the website.
This is the last week to register – as an early bird – for the 2023 Husky Athletics Hall of Fame. This year’s class includes
Lindy (Altadonna) McKinney ’99 (Women’s Lacrosse),
Amber (Hackenberg) Brosius ’08 (Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country),
Bill Paule ’65 (Wrestling),
Franklyn Quiteh ’13 (Football),
Tracy Wirth ’00 (Women’s Soccer), and
Sheila (Zilinski) Hughes ’04/’06M (Field Hockey/Lacrosse). This group marks the 41st Athletic Hall of Fame class and, with the addition of six individuals, brings the number of members enshrined to 208. Make
sure to join us!
During the Homecoming game, Bloomsburg Athletics will celebrate the 2013 PSAC Championship football team in a special ceremony in-game, along with honoring Husky great Brian Clarke and honoring his jersey. We hope you can join us for the 1pm honoring of Brian Clarke and during the game celebrating our Hall of Fame class, along with honoring the 2013 Team. Please
contact me if you would like additional information.
And, with increased games and events, we will have increased use of the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center in Nelson Field House that benefits all student-athletes. If you are inclined, you can support and
donate to the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center year-round. I know our student-athletes can always use that little bit extra.
As the leaves turn and we enter fall, make sure to join us for some exciting events in Bloomsburg. We hope to see you on campus in support of the Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
September 2023
As August ends, we of course hit a heat wave to mark summer is not gone yet! Our student-athletes continue to battle through and strive for continued success. From the first practice to open the 2023 season to today, we remain committed to bringing home some hardware to celebrate the success of Bloomsburg Athletics. This is not an easy task – I know that should be no surprise, but sometimes it is. If we all had the special recipe for success that would be remarkable. What we have is Huskies who are diligently trying to get better every day – in the classroom and in their sport.
We seek your support and positivity as much as possible. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “Nothing worth having comes easy.” That is so true in sports. And, there is not one person in Nelson Field House who does not work every day to drive a winning attitude. Together, and within our teams, we will get there.
Our first home contest of the 2023-24 season will be today with Field Hockey opening the Huskies home campaign, followed by the men’s and women’s tennis invitational this weekend. It is not until next week that we will have men’s and women’s soccer, and football at home as well, with our first home volleyball match on Sept. 22. The first home cross country event will be the BU Invitational on Oct. 7, followed by Bloomsburg hosting the PSAC Championship on Oct. 21. It plans to be an exciting fall.
Please visit our
composite schedule to make sure you have the latest schedules of all the teams. As previously mentioned, as we plan the
2023 Football Season, pay special attention to the Homecoming Weekend and the
2023 Athletics Hall of Fame (Sunday, Oct. 15 during Homecoming weekend). Make sure you book early for the
game and
tailgating.
Specifically, the 2023 class includes
Lindy (Altadonna) McKinney ’99 (Women’s Lacrosse),
Amber (Hackenberg) Brosius ’08 (Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country),
Bill Paule ’65 (Wrestling),
Franklyn Quiteh ’13 (Football),
Tracy Wirth ’00 (Women’s Soccer), and
Sheila (Zilinski) Hughes ’04/’06M (Field Hockey/Lacrosse). This group marks the 41st Athletic Hall of Fame class and, with the addition of six individuals, brings the number of members enshrined to 208. Make
sure to join us!
Another upcoming event will be Sept. 30 when the women’s soccer team will host an Alumni Day/PSAC Championship Celebration. This is in conjunction with the game against West Chester. The Huskies will honor both the 1998 and 2018 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) teams during the day while welcoming all alumni back to campus. The celebration of the 1998 and 2018 teams is the 25th and fifth anniversary, respectively, of the Huskies PSAC Championships. We
hope you can join us!
And, with increased games and events, we will have increased use of the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center in Nelson Field House that benefits all student-athletes. If you are inclined, you can support and
donate to the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center year-round. I know our student-athletes can always use that little bit extra.
While the temperature continues to rise outside, so do the team’s competitions! We hope to see you on campus this fall in support of the Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
August 2023
Wow does time fly! As I sit in my office on the first Friday of August, I am what seems like hours away from the first football practice and the remainder of the fall team's arrivals on campus in a week. This is exciting. I have missed seeing all the student-athletes grace the hallways, study lounge, and the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center.
Speaking of the Horst Nutritional Center, please make sure to sign up for the Tyler Horst 5K Run/Walk to support the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center directly impacting the Bloom student-athletes. The event will be Sunday, August 20, at Pettit Athletic Complex beginning at 9 a.m. To register, please
click here. We hope you can join us for this tremendous event. If you are unable to join us, you can always
donate to support the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center.
A lot is happening in Athletics. Please visit our
composite schedule to make sure you have the latest schedules of all the teams. Additionally, as we plan the
2023 Football Season, pay special attention to the Homecoming Weekend and the
2023 Athletics Hall of Fame (Sunday, Oct. 15 during Homecoming weekend). Make sure you book early for the
game and
tailgating.
Specifically, the 2023 class includes
Lindy (Altadonna) McKinney '99 (Women's Lacrosse),
Amber (Hackenberg) Brosius '08 (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country),
Bill Paule '65 (Wrestling),
Franklyn Quiteh '13 (Football),
Tracy Wirth '00 (Women's Soccer), and
Sheila (Zilinski) Hughes '04/'06M (Field Hockey/Lacrosse). This group marks the 41st Athletic Hall of Fame class and, with the addition of six individuals, brings the number of members enshrined to 208. Make
sure to join us!
Another event to put on your calendar is this year's
Huddle with the Huskies. Head Football Coach Frank Sheptock returns this fall to Quaker Steak and Lube located on Columbia Mall Drive for the 2023 season series. The first one will be Thursday, September 7 at the start of the season and the final edition will be Thursday, October 12 - two days prior to the Huskies' Homecoming date against Lock Haven and the Hall of Fame celebration weekend when standout running back, Franklyn Quiteh, is inducted in the Bloomsburg athletics Hall of Fame. The Huskies will honor the 2013 team during the Homecoming game, as well as adding the late Brian Clarke's number, #77, to the list of honored jerseys at Bloomsburg. Huddle with the Huskies are open to the public with dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. and a short program to follow. A buffet dinner will be held each night with the cost of the meal being $14 per person - including a non-alcoholic beverage. Following the dinner, Coach Sheptock will speak about the season, preview the upcoming game(s), and introduce members of the coaching staff and players from this year's roster.
Our student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom
with a school-record 164 honorees in the D2 ADA Academic Achievement award list. Student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for the annual award which started in 2007-08.
Two of our Husky teams are enjoying August right now. The Women's Basketball team is participating in an international trip to Italy, while the Field Hockey team is over in Ireland. These are great opportunities for our student-athletes as they prepare for their seasons.
Time to walk through the building to make sure we are ready for Husky Arrival! We hope to see you soon and please stay tuned to our
website to get an update on our staff this fall.
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
June/July 2023
Welcome to the summer edition of From the ADs Desk. This column will cover the year in review and preview for June and July, with an August edition jumping in the fall seasons and academic year.
Coming at the end of the summer we have two exciting pre-season trips as well. The women's basketball team will be heading to Italy at the start of August, while the field hockey team will head to Ireland. Both squads have fundraised for these transformational trips where they will immerse in the culture while participating in their sports. A tremendous opportunity for the student-athletes in these programs as they launch into the 2023-24 academic and athletic year.
Currently, while those teams are preparing their plans, our tennis staff and student-athletes will return this fall to a newly resurfaced and remodeled facility. We completed a new sound system last year and will resurface all three tiers of courts this summer. Additionally, we will be adding new windscreens and repairing the viewing platform for increase opportunities of coaching and viewing. Very exciting times on the hill as we prepare for the return of the student-athletes.
As you have previously read, Stu Marvin has retired from Bloomsburg Swimming as the head coach. Additionally, Mike Gilger, from Athletic Communications has left Bloomsburg for an opportunity teaching, coaching, and serving as a high school athletic director. At the end of June, Brenda Pitonyak will be retiring from Bloomsburg Athletics as well. We wish all three of them the best with their next steps.
The John S. Devlin Golf Classic, celebrating Irma Devlin as well this year, was held at the start of June at Frosty Valley Resort and Golf Club. This was a tremendous event that draws back supporters to the BU Football program and it did not fail. Thank you to the Devlin family, and the football alumni, friends, and fans – along with our sponsors – in having a first-class event.
As we review the calendar of events for the summer and into the fall there is a lot happening in Bloomsburg Athletics. Make sure to
visit our camps page for the latest happenings in athletic and educational opportunities. Our
composite schedule continues to get updates with adding the fall and winter sports schedules in. And, we have finalized details on the
2023 Athletics Hall of Fame, which will be held Sunday, Oct. 15 during Homecoming weekend.
The 2023 class includes
Lindy (Altadonna) McKinney '99 (Women's Lacrosse),
Amber (Hackenberg) Brosius '08 (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country),
Bill Paule '65 (Wrestling),
Franklyn Quiteh '13 (Football),
Tracy Wirth '00 (Women's Soccer), and
Sheila (Zilinski) Hughes '04/'06M (Field Hockey/Lacrosse). This group marks the 41st Athletic Hall of Fame class and, with the addition of six individuals, brings the number of members enshrined to 208. Stay tuned to the
website for
ticket information.
Tickets and Tailgate passes are also now on-sale for the
2023 Huskies' Football season. Make sure to check out the schedule and reserve your spot early!
A special THANK YOU to all the Husky fans, supporters, alumni, and friends who cheered us on, your time, and donated to support our Husky student-athletes. We cannot do it without you as part of our team!
Enjoy the summer and I will provide more updates in August – including the balance of our staff updates.
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
May 2023
Exams, Championships, and the end of another academic year!
It is Championship season … with exams next week.
Congratulations to the Husky softball team that qualified for the PSAC Championship at Veteran's Park in Quakertown, May 3-7, 2023. The squad punched their championship ticket needing one win over Millersville and pulled of the two-game sweep in the
regular-season finale to join the Championship field.
The baseball team needs a strong weekend in the regular season series final to qualify for the 2023 PSAC Championship to be hosted by Slippery Rock University, May 10-13, 2023. The Rock will be a busy location as the campus will also be host to the 2023 PSAC Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships, May 11-13, 2023. Good luck to baseball and track as they prepare to qualify for each championship.
The women's golf team battled in a
rain-shortened PSAC Championship and finished 7
th overall during the last weekend in April. Olivia Martinez topped all Bloomsburg golfers finishing 17
th overall, while Ryleigh Faust (30
th), Julia Zonca (33
rd), Sarah Vietmeier (35
th), and Gianna Pelzer (38
th) rounding out the finishing order for the Huskies. There was a 15-shot improvement between days one and two, prior to the cancellation of the championship. We look forward to the fall when the Huskies return to the course!
Speaking of golf, June 3 this year is the return of the
John S. Devlin Golf Tournament – now in its 24
th year. The event will again be held at Frosty Valley Country Club in Danville, Pa., and it promises to be an amazing event. Please mark your calendars and we hope you can join us for this tremendous event in honor of John, and a special honoring of Irma Devlin who passed away in January 2023, that benefits our football student-athletes.
A special THANK YOU to all the Husky fans, supporters, alumni, and friends who donated during the Huskies ALL IN Day of Giving, April 13-14, 2023. Your support is immeasurable and directly benefits our student-athletes. We cannot do it with you as part of our team!
With the 2023 Commencement approaching (May 13), I would be remiss if I did not congratulate all the seniors and student-athletes, who have exhausted their eligibility. Each Husky has left their mark on Bloomsburg Athletics and know that each of you will always have a home with the Huskies. Good luck in your future endeavors, and remember "Once A Husky … Always A Husky." Be sure to remember that and support those who supported you!
A lot of work still remains for the Huskies to finish the year between softball, baseball, and track still competing. Most importantly, this is the last week of classes and then exams, to end strong in the classroom. Good luck Huskies!
Please be safe as we transition through the spring and we hope to see you at a Huskies contest or on-campus soon!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
April 2023
Oh, how April's weather is more troubling than anything. Between the cancelations and movement of games – baseball, softball, and tennis mainly – it seems as though every day there may be a game scheduled or rescheduled, and every day we are working to adjust. The life of a spring season, I guess.
The next few weeks are my favorites though, as we are approaching the mid-way point of the season in preparation for the post-season opportunities, along with all the fall and winter sports holding practices and competing as well. Another part of this week is the thrice annual PSAC / D2 Officials Appreciation Week where we honor and thank the officials for the work they do. It is a job where you are always wrong (in one team's eyes) or always right (in the other team's view), but a necessary evil for the safety of the student-athletes and the security of the games to be played and managed properly. So, THANK YOU Officials and Umpires.
Additionally, on April 14, we have the pleasure of hosting the Bloomsburg University Athletics Advisory Board meeting. This group of alumni, supporters, and friends is very special to the Athletic Department and our decision-making, as well as to me professionally and personally. A true group of leaders that support BU Athletics in so many ways. I cannot wait to learn more from this talented group.
That same day, spring football will almost wrap up. We will host the annual Maroon and Gold Spring Football game at 6:00 p.m. on Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium. This contest is open to the community and a great opportunity to visit campus as we will also have softball, baseball, and lacrosse at home that weekend. The Athletics Department will have information on next fall's season too with schedule cards, tailgating information, other exciting activities. We hope you can join us.
As promised, I would recap the NCAA Wrestling Championship too. For the fifth consecutive season, BU had an NCAA Qualifier – indicating one of the top 133 wrestlers in the country – with
senior Josh Mason. Josh concluded his BU career at the Championships in Tulsa and leaves a great legacy. Our next goal is to continue to qualify student-athletes for the Championship and step on the All-America platform. The team crushed it again in the classroom and finished with
four scholars making the 2022-23 Mid-American Conference (MAC) All-Academic Team.
A big thank you to soon-to-be retired Stu Marvin on his amazing BU career. As the
announcement states, it is the End of an Era as he retires from BU. The swimming program is in excellent hands though as alum and current Assistant Coach
Bridget Hilferty will take the reigns as head coach. Joining the staff will be former All-American BU standout and current Millersville Women's Head Swimming Coach
Eric Usbeck, effective June 3, 2023. The
announcement of the new coaching staff broke on April 3, 2023.
There have been some record-setting outings and performances already this year. First, women's swimmer
Rylee Wenzel earned PSAC Women's Swimming Freshman of the Year honors, joined by 12 members of her team earning All-Conference accolades. In baseball,
Jared Marshman set the program record for career wins as he led the Huskies to a victory over Shepherd in late March at Danny Litwhiler Field. While in men's swimming,
Patrick Agnew was named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American, not to forget about his in-pool accolades as well. We have also featured a host of PSAC weekly award winners this spring and hope to keep those awards coming.
I would also like to personally thank Steph and Allie Pettit for hosting an alumni event on March 11, 2023 in Tampa. It was great to see a lot of familiar faces at the event.
Time to get out to the fields and courts for some schedule and/or rescheduled events, in support of our student-athletes. Please stay up-to-date by
visiting our webpage and by reviewing our
schedule on the web – whether following the Huskies at home and on the road.
Please be safe this spring and we hope to see you at a Huskies contest or on-campus soon!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
March 2023
Spring Break! I cannot wait for Spring Break. This is an opportunity to recharge, visit with friends, and enjoy a little down time. Wait, we have 26 athletic events from March 10 through March 19, an alumni event in Tampa, Fla., hosted by Steph and Allie Pettit, and the possibility of NCAA Wrestling Championships! I cannot wait for Spring Break … This is such an exciting time and a great launch into the spring season while concluding the winter campaign.
We hope you can join us for some amazing upcoming alumni events, including the annual
Huskies in Tampa event, hosted by Steph and Allie Pettit, Saturday, March 11 from 3-5pm. Other events will be held in
Charlotte and
Atlanta if you are able to join us to celebrate, engage, and connect.
The biggest down fall to the spring seasons is the unpredictability of the weather and the constant need to adjust baseball and softball games and tennis matches. Be sure to stay on top of the schedule by
visiting our webpage and by reviewing our
schedule on the web – whether following the Huskies at home and on the road.
I would like to personally thank Mike Kogut (Bloomsburg High School Athletic Director and football coach) and Chuck Baker (Bloomsburg High School Building Supervisor and field hockey coach) for accommodating our teams when needed this spring. We have always had a great partnership with area high schools and it is great to have support when needed for our teams and student-athletes.
Regarding our student-athletes, we have recently had multiple honorees on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District teams. Leading the way in
men's swimming are Pat Agnew, Tucker Ball, Nick Fiddler, and Luke Scoboria, while the
women's quartet of Grace Beierschmitt, Courtney Hubric, Tara Kupsky, and Anna Sugra earned the honor. In women's basketball, four ladies joined
the CSC Academic All-District Team (Emma Gochnauer, Allison Hileman, Ella Kale, and Lauren Kirsch), while the men's squad featured
three All-District Academic honorees (Jake Nelson, Dylan Harris, and Matt Bengel).
Some championships have concluded since I last wrote From the ADs Desk. In men's swimming, the GOAT,
Andy Thomas lead the Huskies men's squad to
a fourth place finish overall, while capping an amazing career being named the PSAC Male Swimmer of the Meet for the second-straight season. Equally as impressive was the
women's team's third-place finish that included multiple record setting times. Sophomore
Rylee Wenzel capped her first-ever PSAC tournament with an all-conference and school record swim in the 100-yard freestyle. The previous record was set by
Nikki Young in 2018, who just made an appearance at Nelson Field House to say hello!
During the 2023 indoor PSAC Championships,
Madison Baudille led the Huskies with a school record in the shot put, along with a host of other
Huskies earning podium finishes en route to an overall 11th place finish. The Husky men's team
garnered numerous podium slots while finishing 12th during the two-day championship held at Bucknell University.
As always, we welcome back any and all athletic alumni, including friends of the program too. Let us know when you are in town as we would love to see you! Time to hit the road to the
MAC Wrestling Championships (which I will recap next month) to cheer on the Huskies. Hope to see you cheering on the Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
February 2023
I cannot believe it is already February! The best part of this month (no, not the cold and constant threat of snow) is that all teams are working and preparing whether in-season, out-of-season, or just conditioning. My office sits above Nelson Gym and to hear and witness all the activity is one of the great elements of college athletics. Whether it is watching student-athletes run and condition, to plying their trade hitting, pitching, shooting, etc., there is nothing like the constant activity and a full gym of student-athletes working harder each day.
As our winter sports wrap-up their seasons, we are excited about the upcoming championships. The first one to hit is the swimming championship from Feb. 15-18 at Graham Aquatic Center in York, Pa. Our senior
swimmers just celebrated with senior day as they prepare to challenge for medals in the PSACs. The second championship this winter will be the men's and women's indoor track and field event held at Bucknell University this year. Our teams have worked extremely hard and we are expecting solid results. The basketball championships run Feb. 27, March 1, 4-5. The women's team is on the brink of qualifying for this year's PSAC event. The final conference championship is March 3-4 with the MAC wrestling championship to be hosted by George Mason University this year. The Huskies are hoping to win some weight classes and earn qualification to the NCAA Tournament.
The efforts so far this year, despite the ups and downs of athletics, by our coaches, athletic trainers, staff, and student-athletes has been nothing shy of remarkable. We desire to win and have not quit in any event even if the results have not been in our favor. That is another one of the great elements of college athletics – the grit and grind by our folks as they battle every day to get better.
Speaking of getting better … Many of our teams have been signing and growing rosters daily. This year, for National Signing Day in Football, the
Husky Football program added 20 new recruits which will make us better on the field and in the classroom. I am excited to welcome all the new student-athletes to the Husky program – in all sports – and to watch them grow, develop, and win some championships.
We just celebrated, as an athletic department,
National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Feb. 1 – the 37
th annual NGWSD event and 11
th time BU has sponsored an event. This tradition celebrates female student-athletes while bringing local and national attention to the promise of girls and women in sports. A big thank you to our female student-athletes and their coaches for supporting this event and showing how you can make a difference.
Speaking of making a difference … Our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) did just that. As I mentioned in a previous edition, BU was selected to host its second-ever Make-A-Wish Reveal. I cannot be prouder of our team and what they accomplished with the Reveal on December 1, 2022. Grab some tissues and watch
the Reveal recap to relive this life-changing event.
Right around the corner will be an amazing basketball celebration, focusing on the 50
th Anniversary of Nelson Field House, honoring past champions, 1,000-point scorers – including our first-ever 1,000-point scorer Bill Swisher – and other accomplishments of basketball. We hope you can join us for the basketball event (one night, two games, and three celebrations) and
you can register here.
Additionally, our spring schedules are up and posted so please review our schedule and
check our website and follow the Huskies at home and on the road.
Before we know it, we will be hitting Spring Break! With that comes the annual
Huskies in Tampa event, hosted by Steph and Allie Pettit, Saturday, March 11 from 3-5pm. Please visit the Alumni page, as there are also events in
Charlotte, and
Atlanta. We hope you can join us to celebrate, engage, and connect.
Time to start arranging my calendar to make it to the winter championships and some alumni events. As always, Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
January 2023
As we reflect on 2022 and launch into 2023 there is so much to be thankful for. Where does one start?
First, a thank you to our student-athletes who have taken part in making Bloomsburg Athletics the excellent leader it has become. This has never been more evident than now. BU was selected to host its second-ever Make-A-Wish Reveal. Led by Courtney Noll, assistant field hockey coach, and a host of other coaches and staff, the BU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) made Harley's wish come true on December 1, 2022. To say I was honored would be an understatement and humbled would be disingenuous. I have never been more proud of our student-athletes and campus community who came together to make the 2022 Make-A-Wish Reveal nothing shy of spectacular. Be sure to visit
our website to view a wrap-up video of the Reveal sometime in January.
I am also thankful for our corporate partners and supporters of Bloomsburg University. We could not do what we do without your generous support of your time, your treasure, and your talent. Our
Corporate Partners keep us rolling through enhanced support for our student-athletes and we ask that you support these businesses and groups that support the Huskies. A special thank you to Tim Wagner, owner of
Wagner's Trophies in downtown Bloomsburg. After 38 years in business – and supporting the Huskies – Tim is retiring from Wagner's Trophies. The store will remain open with Amelia Davis (a former Huskies intern in the athletic department) taking over effective January 1, 2023. We wish Tim (and Carol) Wagner happiness with the upcoming retirement and want to thank him for supporting the Huskies for all these years. I am extremely happy to call you a colleague, a business acquittance, and most importantly a friend.
We have some
exciting events upcoming with baseball, softball, basketball, and wrestling. These alumni events include the Fifth Annual Professional Engagement Night for the baseball team, the softball Virtual Networking Night, and the wrestling programs Alumni night. Registration for the Wrestling event on January 28 can be
found here. The basketball celebration, also focusing on the 50
th Anniversary of Nelson Field House, will celebrate past champions, 1,000-point scorers – including our first-ever 1,000-point scorer Bill Swisher – and other accomplishments of basketball. We hope you can join us for the basketball event (one night, two games, and three celebrations) and
you can register here. All these events help celebrate our past, honor our present, and prepare for our future – I am so thankful for everyone's efforts.
If you cannot make it to a home winter event, please review our schedule and
check our website and follow the Huskies at home and on the road. As I mentioned previously, men's and women's basketball games can be heard on WHSK, 91.1 The Husky, and streamed online through BUSN – along with other Husky events, including wrestling. Links to the broadcasts can be found on each sports' webpage or on the
main web site.
Happy New Year to all! Let's go Huskies … As the winter seasons hit mid-stride and we begin to launch into the spring campaigns, I am thankful to be a Husky! We appreciate all your support and hope to see you all soon.
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
December 2022
End of the athletic season = check
Exams at the end of the academic semester = check (by Friday, Dec. 9 that is)
Moving into winter sports = check
That was a whirlwind of a fall. As we look back, there have been a host of academic accolades bestowed on our deserving student-athletes. Academic awards have been named, so far, in
men's soccer,
women's soccer,
volleyball, and
football. Expect more honors to come to our student-athletes in cross country and field hockey, as well. Congratulations to those Huskies who continue to excel in their respective sport and in the classroom.
As awards are named in the coming weeks, we hope and expect to have additional Huskies honored. To date, we have had football standout
Chris Monaco named to the D2CCA All-Super 1 Region second team and women's soccer leaders
Nicole Varano and Lorelei Hartzfeld earned 2022 United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region honors, joined by
Hartzeld and Riley Spingler being named to the D2CCA All-Athletic Region squad.
The Bloomsburg women's cross country team finished ninth overall at the recent NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships in the middle of November.
Kelley Selheimer paced the Huskies and finished 22
nd overall to earn All-Atlantic Region honors. The
men's team finished 11th overall at the NCAA regional event. Congratulations to both teams and all the student-athletes.
The Huskies were one of the 18 PSAC institutions joining college athletics to celebrate International Student-Athlete Week. During International Student-Athlete Week,
Bloomsburg celebrated 16 international student-athletes with students from men's soccer, men's tennis, and women's tennis.
Winter commencement is Saturday, Dec. 10 with two ceremonies being held in Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall. Congratulations to all the student-athletes who will be celebrating and graduating this weekend and good luck with the next step in your professional or academic career. Once a Husky, Always a Husky! You will always have a place to visit and we look forward to seeing you again at Pettit Athletic Complex.
On the staffing front, we would like to welcome
Sarah Zbierski to the Huskies team as the Athletic Success and Student Support Coordinator. We would also like to thank
Aaron Trumino who has served BU, in partnership with the Social Work department, as Student-Athlete Support Services Graduate Assistant. We expect big things from Aaron as he has truly made an impact on supporting all student-athletes.
If you cannot make it to a home winter event, please review our schedule and
check our website and follow the Huskies at home and on the road. As I mentioned previously, men's and women's basketball games can be heard on
WHSK, 91.1 The Husky, and streamed online through BUSN – along with other Husky events, including wrestling. Links to the broadcasts can be found on each sports' webpage or on the
main web site.
I sincerely hope everyone has a great Holiday season and welcomes in the New Year with hope, pride, and achievable goals. We appreciate all your support and hope to see you all soon. Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
November 2022
The fall is coming to an end. As the leaves hit the ground and the temperatures change – along with Daylight Savings Time kicking in – we wrap up fall seasons with Senior Days and Championships as we move indoors. Seems like yesterday I was referencing mid-terms and mid-season and now we are almost at the end of the Academic term and already into PSAC and NCAA playoffs.
Congratulations to all the seniors who have exhausted their eligibility and will be graduating and taking the next step in their professional or academic career. The men and women from Football, Field Hockey, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Volleyball, and Cross Country (Men and Women) are going to exceed in whatever they do next. Just remember, Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
In October, I was asked to be the keynote speaker at the annual Bocce Bash in Nelson Field House. It was an amazing experience to be able to join so many talented athletes and the campus community at this event. To be able to play a small part in this student-led event filled with volunteers and professionals from across campus was a tremendous honor in my 12 years at Bloomsburg!
As the outdoor focus moves indoors, we are excited about the start of the wrestling, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming, and the indoor men's and women's track seasons. While many of these have been going, a few are just starting to compete outside of the daily practice grind. For a full look at the schedules, please
check our website and follow the Huskies at home and on the road.
The men's and women's basketball games return to WHSK, 91.1 The Husky this winter too. Jim Doyle and Larry White return to call the men's and women's action. For wrestling and swimming, we will also stream the home events and links can be found on each sports' webpage or on the
main web site.
The Championship season featured the Men's Soccer Huskies earning hosting rights as the number one seed with a win against Gannon (West, #2)
before losing in the final to West #1 Mercyhurst, the Women's Soccer Huskies earned the number two seed in the East and fell to Gannon (West #1), and the
men's cross country team earned a 10
th place finish in the PSAC meet at Mansfield while the
women's team placed eighth. There is still one week remaining in the
Husky Field Hockey season with a PSAC berth on the line during senior day versus Slippery Rock, Nov. 12.
Football will wrap-up the regular season at Mercyhurst and
volleyball ended the season with a five-set win at Kutztown.
As I have stated for the past few From the ADs Desk columns, we are still seeking support for the
Tyler Horst Nutritional Center. To address the on-going need, we have been provided a matching gift by the Tyler J. Horst Foundation to give a dollar-for-dollar match up to $5,000. If you can, please consider
making a gift today to support BU athletes in memory of their Husky teammate. As mentioned, the first $5,000 will be matched by the Tyler J. Horst Foundation to double the impact of your gift.
NCAA Soccer selection shows aired Monday night and the
Women's Soccer team earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed in the Atlantic Region. The Huskies will travel to West Chester on Thursday to take on No. 5 West Virigina State in the opening round at 1:00 pm!
Hope to see you all at a contest soon. Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
October 2022
And just like that … Summer is over, the start of the fall semester is now past us and we are entering mid-terms, mid-season, and a change in the seasons with cooler temperatures and less daylight. But things are just heating up in Husky athletics!
Our women's golf team, led by first-time PSAC Golfer of the Week Gianna Pelzer, was the low scorer guiding the team to its first-ever title at the Ursinus Invitational. Her round of 77 is the best of her Husky career and set the table for the Huskies as they are battling through the fall. The men's team will be competing in the Fall PSAC Championships Oct, 14-16 at the Iron Valley Golf Club in Lebanon, Pa.
Prior to the golf championship, BU will host the men's and women's individual tennis championships which was moved due to weather from Oct. 1-3 to Oct. 8-10. We are excited to host this championship and look forward to seeing the growth and development of the Husky squads.
The next conference championships will be in November with Mansfield hosting the men's and women's cross country event (Nov. 5). The teams are preparing and competing well with the goals of improving on last year's finishes.
While we have a host of non-traditional games and events – softball this coming weekend at home, women's lacrosse alumni game and contests to name a few – there are a couple of other events I want to recap as well. Recently, the Husky Elite Wrestling Club hosted its annual golf outing at Frosty Valley to an amazing turnout. The HEWC directly supports the BU wrestling program and we continue to see advancements on the mat through this partnership. Additionally, the baseball program has had three big occurrences. First, join me in welcoming assistant coach Adam Sinkoe to the program supporting Coach Mike Collins staff. Second, there was a great turnout at the alumni game – even with the threat of rain. And, third, the 2022 Baseball Golf Outing and Wall of Honor Luncheon – with the induction of Chet Henicle ('95) – was a tremendous day celebrating the past and supporting the baseball team to remain at the top of the PSAC.
This is only the tip of the iceberg with events for Husky fans. We will have our second "Huddle with the Huskies" gathering on Oct. 20 to review the football season. The events are open to everyone and begin at 6 p.m. at the Quaker Steak and Lube located on Columbia Mall Drive.
Huddle with the Huskies kicks-off the 2022 Homecoming and Parents and Family Weekend activities that ends with the BU Athletics Hall of Fame induction. The Homecoming and Parents and Family Weekend event will be Oct. 21-22-23, 2022. For information on this year's induction class and tickets to the Oct. 23, 2022 brunch, please click here. Please purchase your tickets soon so you don't miss out on being able to celebrate with us this year's induction class.
In our ongoing partnership with University police, the Huskies will be supporting "Faith & Blue" and Trunk or Treat. BUPD will be participating in a national community outreach program called "Faith & Blue Weekend," which hosts events around the country from October 7-9. On Saturday, Oct. 8, the BUPD will join us at Steph Pettit Stadium for the home game and Alumni welcome back. There will be "Welky's Wieners" in the Faculty/Staff Lot providing complimentary hot dogs, drinks with BUPD giveaways and interactions with students, student athletes, parents, and alumni. This is a great opportunity to see our BUPD in action. At the end of October, athletics will join forces with campus in the BUPD coordinated "Trunk or Treat" event on lower campus Oct. 27. We will have candy and wooden nickels which allow complimentary admission to non-championship events for all children who attend. Two great engagement opportunities featuring Husky student-athletes and partnering with BUPD.
As I have listed for the past few From the ADs Desk columns, we are still seeking support for the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center. To address the on-going need, we have been provided a matching gift by the Tyler J. Horst Foundation to give a dollar-for-dollar match up to $5,000. If you can, please consider Making a gift today to support BU athletes in memory of their Husky teammate. As mentioned, the first $5,000 will be matched by the Tyler J. Horst Foundation to double the impact of your gift.
With a heavy heart and a lot of sadness, I need to mention the loss of two of our important Husky alumni, with football player Moritz (Morrie) Schultz and two-sport Hall of Famer Joseph Gerst.
Schultz, who passed on his 88th birthday (Sept. 12) was a 1959 graduate earning a degree in audiology. He went on to become an audiologist in Florida where he passed. As a football standout, Morrie's love of the Huskies earned him one of the Huskies Donors of the Decade honor as he created athletic scholarships in football, women's track, women's soccer, and wrestling. Gerst was a 1968 BU graduate earning a master's in education. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000 for his football and wrestling career. We will miss both of these individuals and the impact they have had on their institution.
Time to get back to it here with upcoming events and contests. Hope to see you all at a contest soon. Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
September 2022
I love the sound of whistles – not really. But when we hear them, that usually means there is a game. That I truly do love. After a fall pre-season (as early as August 6 for many of the fall teams), we are back to playing. The road to the PSAC Championship starts now and our student-athletes, coaches, and the administration are ready to battle and support!
Each fall team has begun the battle with a competition now under everyone's belt. Some teams are multiple games into their campaigns and are looking for success. Through our fans, friends, and alums supporting it will let our student-athletes compete at the highest level. Even when our teams come out to support other teams it truly bonds the athletic department and that support is monumental to earning championships. Keep up that support.
We have some new faces and some returning faces in our athletics department to support the student-athletes as well. Those closest to the action are our graduate assistants who support everything we do in athletics. Join me in welcoming the following class of GAs with their area: Maci Mazzatesta (Athletic Operations), Eric Peterson (Baseball), Natalie Holmes (Women's Soccer), Nik Verma (Men's Soccer), Vitoria Nery (Men's and Women's Tennis), Kate Lindholm (Volleyball), Oliver Whitham (Strength & Conditioning), and Nechole Hill-Perry (Track and Field). These outstanding scholars make us all better each day. Additionally, Isaiah Smiley has rounded out men's basketball head coach Chris Bess' staff, while Adam Sinkoe joins Mike Collins' baseball bench.
We hope you can join us at a game or event in athletics this year – or many of them. To open the fall, we return with "Huddle with the Huskies" to review the football season. There are three events this fall (Sept. 15, Oct. 20, and Nov. 3). The events are open to everyone and begin at 6 p.m. at the Quaker Steak and Lube located on Columbia Mall Drive.
The next non-game event aligns with the 2022 Homecoming and Parents and Family Weekend where BU will host the Athletics Hall of Fame induction. The Homecoming and Parents and Family Weekend event will be Oct. 21-22-23, 2022. For information on this year's induction class and tickets to the Oct. 23, 2022 brunch, please click here.
These are great ways to support our student-athletes. Another way is to help us provide nutritional sustenance for the student-athletes through the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center. To address the on-going need, we have been provided a matching gift by the Tyler J. Horst Foundation to give a dollar-for-dollar match up to $5,000. We hope that you can check it out and even if you can give a dollar, we have two. Make your gift today to support BU athletes in memory of their Husky teammate. As mentioned, the first $5,000 will be matched by the Tyler J. Horst Foundation to double the impact of your gift.
Named for Tyler Horst, the Nutritional Center will provide healthy food and beverage snack options for all Husky student-athletes to help them perform at the highest level. Tyler excelled on the field and in the classroom and aspired to serve his country as a Navy SEAL. He passed away unexpectedly in 2021. Even though Tyler was only 22 years old, he impacted the lives of everyone around him. His legacy of caring and compassion continues today with the creation of the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center. Located in Nelson Field House, the center will be available to all Husky student-athletes and provide nutritional snacks and beverages for pre and post-practice activities.
Please take the time to review our schedules which are now complete and we hope you can make it to a game near or far. Additionally, you can still join us by purchasing tickets and tailgate packages. We would love to have you join us before we sell out of spaces in the Husky Tailgate Zone.
More games around the corner. Time to get out to support the student-athletes … Let's Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
August 2022
Like turning on the light switch upon entering a gymnasium, August is upon us and the start of the Fall sports campaign is starting to warm-up like the light bulbs brightening the facility. This time of year always brings anticipation and a newness unmatched throughout the year. The schedules are complete and the teams begin moving in this coming weekend. It's Go Time!
August 25 is the first allowable and countable date of competition and the Huskies will be ready. If you haven't made plans to visit and attend a game, don't wait too long. We have an action packed fall opening on August 25 with women's soccer hosting Mercyhurst, volleyball traveling to California (Pa.) for a weekend tournament, men's soccer hosting College of Staten Island on Saturday, August 27, and field hockey opening on the road at Belmont Abbey on Sept. 1. Along with the cross country season opening on Sept. 3 at Mansfield, the Huskies kickoff the 2022 Football Schedule hosting Stonehill College on Sept. 3. Don't miss your chance to join the action by purchasing tickets and tailgate packages. We would love to have you join us before we sell out of spaces in the Husky Tailgate Zone.
This time of year, we finalize our staff and enter the year re-charged. Joining us in our Athletic Training area are two familiar faces. Dr. Kristin Funk Maguire returns to BU and former student Ryan Flanagan joins the Athletic Training team as well. Other familiar faces in new roles include women's soccer standout Natalie Holmes joining Coach Matt Haney's coaching staff, men's soccer graduate Oliver "Olly" Whitham joins Andrew Foran's strength and conditioning staff, tennis graduate Vitoria Nery returning to join head tennis coach Rebecca Helt's staff, and Maci Mazzatesta will serve in the role of Operations Graduate Assistant at her alma mater. In Athletic Communications and Marketing, Michael Gilger returns to the BU team, and football student-athlete Aaron Trumino will serve as the student-athlete support services graduate assistant. Other new additions include Stephen Pribble on the football staff and with men's soccer Devon Shapiro and PJ Steiner.
In the middle of July, the athletic department announced its 2021-22 seven major postseason award winners. The awards consist of the Danny Litwhiler Underclass Male Athlete of the Year, the Joanne McComb Underclass Female Athlete of the Year, the Robert B. Redman Senior Male Athlete of the Year, the Eleanor Wray Senior Female Athlete of the Year, and the Outstanding Senior Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The winners include: Co-Outstanding Senior Female Scholar-Athlete, Kathryn Blair (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field) and Emma Saxton (Women's Basketball); Outstanding Senior Male Scholar-Athlete, Bryce Evans (Men's Soccer); Robert B. Redman Senior Male Athlete of the Year, Ben Newbert (Baseball); Eleanor Wray Senior Female Athlete of the Year, Natalie Holmes (Women's Soccer); Joanne McComb Underclass Female Athlete of the Year, Callie Sowers (Softball); Danny Litwhiler Underclass Male Athlete of the Year, Jared Marshman (Baseball). Congratulations to each of these deserving Huskies.
Later this week, there will be an announcement of the 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame class. This year's event will be in conjunction with Homecoming Weekend and will feature a Sunday Brunch induction. Visit the website for additional information on this exciting weekend as we honor the past with some amazing and deserving new HOF members.
And, as we enter into the fall, you will see a refresh of Robert B. Redman Stadium's banners. The new banners are being hung right now on the back of the home bleachers. The banners will feature new, updated pictures of current and/or former student-athletes. All outdoor sports will be represented on seven separate banners that will be imbedded between BU maroon banners that spell out "Huskies." Soccer, track and field, tennis and golf will share a banner that features one woman and one male student-athlete. Baseball and softball will be represented on the same banner as will field hockey and lacrosse. There will also be banners on each side of the home bleachers that read "Pettit Athletic Complex." Thank you to a gift from Steph Pettit allowing us to update the banners as we continue to highlight our pride in Husky Athletics.
Time to get out to the fields … Let's Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
June and July 2022
We have finally made it to June … Not officially to summer yet, as that begins June 21 … but it is the semester break with commencement concluded and camps and clinics now in full force. Fall planning is 300% underway with some great and exciting initiatives planned for the 2022-23 academic and athletic year. This is also the time where I combine my From the ADs desk column into a June/July edition, thus coming out later in the month.
Planning, planning, and more planning is on the docket for the summer. If you missed it, we just announced the 2022 Football Schedule, along with ticket information, and tailgate packages. This is a great time to arrange for the fall campaign. I encourage you to visit our composite schedule page too as the Office of Athletic Communications will continue updating and announcing each team's home and away schedule over the coming weeks.
As we prepare for the fall, we do have some special announcements that were shared recently too. First, Chris Bess has joined the Huskies as the new Head Men's Basketball Coach. We are excited to have Coach Bess and his family here in Bloomsburg. As I do yearly, in August I will provide additional staffing updates with any additional changes and with our Graduate Assistants who are instrumental in our structure and success.
Second, it is always great talking about awards and honors for our student-athletes and coaches. Former Bloomsburg University football greats Danny Hale and Jahri Evans are among the 96 athletes and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks on the 2023 ballot for potential induction into the College Football Hall of Fame as announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and the College Hall of Fame. We hope this is the year for these extremely deserving Husky greats.
In other award information, two more Husky baseball standouts become All-Americans. Ben Newbert was named to the Second Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Third Team by the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), while teammate Jared Marshman, on the list as the starting pitcher, picked up his second All-American nod by being named to the ABCA/Rawlings Second Team. Marshman was also named to the NCBWA's honorable mention All-American squad.
And, in August, we will be announcing our 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame class. These are exciting times for BU as we conclude the year and prepare for the future.
During our planning time for the fall, we want to offer a continued thank you to everyone who donated to help establish our The Tyler Horst Nutritional Center. There are still opportunities to donate and support our student-athletes in Tyler's Honor, so if you are able, please consider making your gift today.
Enjoy the summer break and with the NACDA Convention right around the corner, and the Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2ADA) meetings to conclude the month of June, it promises to be an engaging month with a host of learning and networking opportunities. On a personal note, I was just elected to serve as the 3rd Vice President for the D2ADA Board of Directors (previously, I was a board member for two years prior to being elected to 3rd Vice President). This is on the heels of a recent announcement of promotion to a Full Professor, effective with the start of the fall semester, at Bloomsburg. Exciting times for me personally as we wrap up 2021-22 and enter into 2022-23.
See you on a field soon … And, Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
May 2022
It's OFFICIAL! As the headline reads, NCAA Approves Plan to Retain Full Complement of Athletic Programs at Bloomsburg … This is tremendous news for our student-athletes, coaches, prospects, alumni, and fans! And, from an academic standpoint, your student-athletes will have expanded opportunities as the curriculum is finalized.
With that hurdle passed, it is time to focus on the remaining Spring championships and begin planning for the summer and fall. We are in the process of finalizing our Summer Camp, Clinic, and ID schedule so visit our camp page and remain locked into the main website for additional information.
It is time for the PSAC Spring Championships too. The Husky Softball team qualified as the #3 seed from the East and opens play on Wednesday, May 4. The Huskies are coming off an impressive sweep of East Stroudsburg to end the regular season with a 25-16 overall record and a 10-6 mark in conference play. The tournament will be at Veterans Park in Quakertown, Pa.
Women's and men's tennis wrapped up the 2022 season earning berths into the PSAC post-season. The third ranked women's team fell to West Chester in the quarterfinals, while the men dropped a match to Edinboro in the semifinals. Senior Oliver Wiesemann was named the PSAC Champion Scholar Athlete at the men's championship. The PSAC Champion Scholar Awards are modeled after the NCAA's Elite 89 award and honor the student-athlete with the top-grade point average who is competing at the site of each of the PSAC's 23 championship finals. The selection criteria for the Champion Scholar Awards are identical to that of the NCAA Elite 89 awards, which honor the student-athlete with the top GPA at each of the championship finals sites of the 89 NCAA championships across all three divisions – I, II, and III. Congratulations to Oliver!
The men's and women's track and field programs have experienced a ton of success this spring. They will battle in the 2022 PSAC Championship at Millersville University, May 12-14, 2022.
The women's lacrosse team concluded the 2022 season with a 10-7 record and a 6-6 mark in the PSAC. The future looks bright for the Huskies!
This was the first year of the women's golf team competing in the PSAC Championship held April 22-24 at the Berkleigh Golf Club, with the Huskies finishing 7th. The team is looking to build on its first-year finish.
The 2022 PSAC Baseball Championship will be held at Slippery Rock University, May 11-14, 2022. The Huskies have a final weekend of regular-season play to determine if they will be defending their PSAC title.
This June is the return of the John S. Devlin Golf Tournament – now in its 23rd year. The event will again be held at Frost Valley Country Club in Danville, Pa., and it promises to be an amazing event. Please mark your calendars and we hope you can join us for this tremendous event in honor of John that benefits our football student-athletes.
A lot of work still remains for the Huskies to finish the year. Most importantly is the last week of classes and then exams to end strong in the classroom.
A big thank you to everyone who donated to help establish our The Tyler Horst Nutritional Center. There are still opportunities to donate and support our student-athletes in Tyler's Honor, so if you are able, please consider making your gift today.
With Commencement right around the corner as well (May 15), I would be remiss if I did not congratulate all the seniors and student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility. You have left your mark on Bloomsburg Athletics and know that you always have a home with the Huskies. Good luck where your future takes you but remember "Once A Husky … Always A Husky." Be sure to remember that and support those who supported you!
Enjoy the May weather as we all prepare for a much needed academic and athletic break. Be well and Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
April 2022
It is GO TIME. April is the final chance for the Huskies to win some additional conference games and catapult into the Spring Championships. For the fall sports, it is time to install new formations and styles of play while honing skills and improving fitness. The winter sports are not too far behind in being able to roll out the planning for 2022-23.
Wow, it is odd saying 2022-23 (I am still typing getting used to using 2022 instead of 2021). There is so much more ahead this spring to be contested on the fields, courts, and track, and more importantly in the classroom.
Recently Bloomsburg Athletics celebrated and honored our Scholar-Athletes with a virtual celebration for those student-athletes who achieved a grade point average of 3.25 or higher during the past two semesters or student-athletes who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. We honored a record-number of 255 student-athletes who meet that criterion from the Spring 2021 and Fall 2022 semesters. There were also 83 freshmen or transfer student-athletes who posted a 3.25 grade point average or higher in their first semester at Bloomsburg University, thus showing promise to become future scholar-athletes.
Part of the unique nature of the Scholar-Athlete Celebration, we also use the platform to honor the various faculty members – identified by our student-athletes – who are influential to their academic endeavors and who have contributed to their overall academic well-being. There were 125 faculty members celebrated.
It is important to use this Scholar-Athlete honor as a time to thank all the faculty for their support and encouragement throughout the academic year, and for some student-athletes, their entire Bloomsburg University career. Bloomsburg University Athletics strives for a proper balance of academics and athletics. The NCAA and Bloomsburg University are committed to the best interests of our student-athletes. To that end, aligned with the PSAC and NCAA goals, Bloomsburg Athletics strives to provide a quality athletic experience while supporting each student-athlete's pursuit of higher education.
It is important to make an impact with student-athletes. In our structure at BU, the athletic administration and athletic trainers continue to make an impact on the academic, social, and athletic careers of the student-athletes. One element that supports this is the Department of Athletics Faculty recently applied for a Teacher-Scholar Grant, through The Teaching and Learning Enhancement Center (TALE) office, to support the growth of the members in direct support of the student-athletes. The Department was awarded the grant and will be enrolling in the Return on Inclusion Leadership Certificate program to further grow communication opportunities.
As I touched on last month, we are over half-way funded to completely finish The Tyler Horst Nutritional Center and every donation helps to get us to our goal. If you are able, please consider making your gift today to support BU athletes in memory Tyler J. Horst. Fallen Husky Tyler Horst from the BU Football Team, in conjunction with the Tyler J. Horst Foundation have developed a room and student support area that will allow his legacy to live on for eternity in Bloomsburg Athletics.
Another opportunity, that I touched on briefly in March, is the first-ever 1867 Minutes of Giving Challenge at Bloomsburg. We hope that you, our loyal Huskies Athletics fans, alumni, and donors, can make a gift to support our student-athletes from Thursday, April 7 at 8 a.m. through Friday, April 8 at 3:07 p.m. By making a gift to the areas and athletic programs that you care about the most during this time, you will be helping to provide funds our student-athletes need, while also coming together to show our Huskies that our strong community of fans and supporters has their backs and is here to help them build a championship culture. You can visit the website to learn more or make your gift early: giving.bloomu.edu/huskies [givecampus.com].
What a great way to support and honor Huskies!
Speaking of honoring true Huskies, longtime radio announcing greats Jim Doyle and Andy Ulicny earned the Fran Fisher Award for "Excellence in Sports Journalism" from the National Football Foundation's Central Pennsylvania Chapter last Sunday. Doyle and Ulicny have been mainstays in the radio booth for the Bloomsburg football team for the last 33 years. As I stated in the announcement of the pair earning this latest honor, "Andy and Jim are consummate professionals and true leaders in media. We are so honored and pleased with all they bring to the table. We are very proud of their efforts and happy for this award."
To learn more about BU Athletics, including additional information about the radio duo, please visit the athletics website. To remain current, you can also check the composite schedule with all the changes that may be occurring.
As I opened with, it is GO TIME! Time to hit the fields and courts for the ever-changing spring weather. It is time to finish the academic year and the spring athletic year on some positive notes … Go Huskies!!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
March 2022
Spring is upon us! Not just because Spring Break is around the corner – which it is – but it means outdoor spring sports are here too.
However, we still have a few winter sports to wrap up. The Huskies Women's Basketball team sit as the number 2 seed in the East and will battle number 3 Shepherd March 2 for a chance to continue in the PSAC Tournament. Come to Nelson and help us cheer on the ladies as they seek a PSAC Title! During the upcoming weekend, March 4-5, the Husky wrestling team returns to the MAC Championship with some NCAA berths on the mat to be taken. And, the BU Men's swimmers – featuring individual qualifier Andy Thomas, the two-time PSAC Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Championship, and the relay team of Thomas, Pat Agnew, Jace Fry, and Collin Hummel – will travel to Greensboro, N.C. for the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Swimming Championship. It is a great time to be a Husky!
Also, over the Spring Break week, there will be the "Bloom in Tampa" event on Saturday, March 12, hosted by Steph ('89) and Allie Pettit. Come and experience The Tampa Club, with an opportunity to connect with fellow Huskies, meet and chat with BU President Bashar W. Hanna, and be inspired by the amazing women of the BU softball team. Softball, which will be in Florida during spring break for action, will make the trip over to Tampa to join and connect with alumni. We hope you can join our hosts, Steph and Allie Pettit, at this amazing event.
The spring also means the installation of the new Baseball scoreboard. Ground is being broken today with the install of the new scoreboard from a generous, anonymous donor. Work should be completed during the first week of March, with training on March 8. Just in time for the scheduled home opener on Saturday, March 12.
You all should remember fallen Husky Tyler Horst from the BU Football Team. That said, his legacy will live on for eternity in Bloomsburg Athletics with the Tyler Horst Memorial Scholarship. However, it is not stopping there. Tyler was a true fitness and health nut. There is now an opportunity to support the new Tyler Horst Nutritional Center in Nelson Field House. Through the Tyler J. Horst Foundation, there is a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $5,000 to establish the Nutritional Center which will provide healthy snack options and drinks for student-athletes for pre- or post-practice activities. We encourage you to learn more about this great cause that will truly impact ALL Husky student-athletes while honoring Tyler and his legacy. To support all of our student-athletes and honor the legacy of Tyler Horst, make your gift to the Tyler Horst Nutritional Center.
Looking ahead to next month, I am also excited to share that Bloomsburg University is launching its first-ever 1867 Minutes of Giving Challenge. We hope that you, our loyal Huskies Athletics fans, alumni, and donors, can make a gift to support our student-athletes from Thursday, April 7 at 8 a.m. through Friday, April 8 at 3:07 p.m. By making a gift to the areas and athletic programs that you care about the most during this time, you will be helping to provide funds our student-athletes need, while also coming together to show our Huskies that our strong community of fans and supporters has their backs and is here to help them build a championship culture. You can visit the website to learn more or make your gift early: giving.bloomu.edu/huskies [givecampus.com].
With the ever-changing landscape of COVID and weather, please continue to check the composite schedule and Huskies social media for the latest news. For easy access, here is the composite schedule and links to the various social media platforms, as well as the main Athletics website.
It is that time … Let's finish the winter strong with additional championships and jump in to the spring … Go Huskies!!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
February 2022
How many of us say … "I am so happy it is February?" Well, this year I do. February means a host of things – other than cold weather and potential daily snow on the hill in Bloomsburg.
There is National Girl and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), which falls on Feb. 2, 2022 and Bloomsburg will celebrate on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Straight from the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF):
February 2, 2022, marks the 36th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). This celebration inspires girls and women to play and be active, to realize their full power. The confidence, strength and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls and women need to become strong leaders in sports and life. This year's event will also serve as the kickoff of WSF's activations for the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, happening throughout 2022.
This is an important effort and I am so proud of our Huskies who strive for equality and growth in all opportunities. The work done by Protect Our Pack shows evidence of the importance of inclusion and support for all in BU Athletics.
On February 6, the BU Wrestling team will hosted an alumni event in conjunction with the matches against Sacred Heart and York. I am happy the wrestling team continues to engage all wrestling alumni and had an excellent post-match social planned. It was a great opportunity to see some exciting wrestling action and re-connect with the wrestling community.
Another happy element in February is Championship season. The teams of swimming, indoor track and field, and basketball will all compete for their respective PSAC Championships. The championship season opens with Men's and Women's Swimming at the Graham Aquatic Center in York, Pa., from Feb. 16-19 as the Husky men look to repeat on last year's title. The second championship is the men's and women's indoor track and field championship hosted by Edinboro University Feb. 26-27. And, men's and women's basketball championships tip-off February 28 on campus sites with additional games on March 2, 5-6. The women's finals will be at the highest remaining Eastern site, while the men's will be contested at the highest remaining Western site. Wrestling's Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship will be contested March 4-5 at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
Speaking of events in March, THANK YOU to Steph ('89) and Allie Pettit, who will be hosting "Bloom in Tampa" on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Come and experience The Tampa Club, with an opportunity to connect with fellow Huskies, meet and chat with BU President Bashar W. Hanna, and be inspired by the amazing women of the BU softball team. The team will be in Florida during spring break for action and will make the trip over to Tampa to join and connect with alumni. We hope you can join our hosts, Steph and Allie Pettit, at this amazing event.
There have been a few adjustments made in the spring schedules, but all are now final and are accessible on the composite schedule. If you are unable to attend a game, please check the schedule page for streaming video – which we will plan to provide for home events, as technology, staffing, and the event allows. As previously mentioned, please join our various social media platforms or visiting the main Athletics website to stay on top of all Husky athletics.
Since I last wrote, I hope everyone is sticking to their New Year's Resolution(s) and is as happy as I am for welcoming February. Time to get ready for the last stretch of games in January and Let's Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
January 2022
Happy New Year! Time to move forward after a brief re-charge over the semester break. The student-athletes have already returned to campus for all of the winter sports and the spring student-athletes will make their way back to Bloomsburg prior to the end of the month. With a New Year brings new challenges, new commitments, and new resolutions.
My resolution this year is simple … be better! Be better in everything. Whether that includes working out more, and harder, to being a better father, husband, administrator, leader, athletic director, or in general, a better person. This is something we can all do. It doesn't cost us anything, but the returns are plentiful.
In being better, we can all win. I hope that our teams prepare better, compete better, and have greater success. That is not a slight on what each is doing or on what each has accomplished to date. As competitors, we strive to get better so let's be better in the process to. Enough pontificating about how we can improve when there is still plenty to be proud of.
The BU men's swimming team departed campus for break ranked in the Top 25 in the country with hopes of a PSAC Championship repeat. The baseball team placed 33rd in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason poll with a bullseye on their back as the squad is gunning for a three-peat. And, in women's soccer, both Natalie Holmes and Helen Flynn took home athletic and academic accolades to cap the Huskies 16-5-2 NCAA tournament season, the third in a row. Another proud moment for the Huskies includes the 33rd rank at 157 pounds for Alex Carida with InterMat NCAA Division I Rankings. These accomplishments are just the start of what we know will be a better spring!
The spring schedules are now live and accessible on the composite schedule. If you are unable to attend a game, please check the schedule page for streaming video – which we will plan to provide for home events, as technology, staffing, and the event allows. As always, stay on top of all Husky athletics through the various social media sites or visiting the main website.
If you are visiting campus this spring, please be sure to check out our Corporate Partners who support the entire athletic department, and most importantly, our student-athletes. There is also a new address for GPS users when traveling to Bloomsburg University's Upper Campus. Type in 59 Pettit Way, Bloomsburg, PA. which will get you to the edge of the Pettit Athletic Complex.
This spring we expect some great community engagement activities from our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the "Protect Our Pack" group. BU student-athletes continue to impress with their involvement in and around the community making Bloomsburg a better place.
Let's hope for success in everyone's New Year's resolutions and a safe and success academic and athletic year. A better year all the way around. Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
December 2021
I cannot believe that it is already December. The fall semester is wrapping up and the full switch to indoor winter sports has transpired.
Congratulations to all of our fall teams for a great campaign. Women's Soccer won the PSAC Championship and won their first round NCAA game, Volleyball qualified for the PSAC Tournament and set team and individual records in doing so, and Cross Country finished solidly in the PSAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA Regional round. Men's Soccer, Football, Men's Golf, and Field Hockey showed promise and excitement for the future with their goals remaining the same – PSAC Championships and NCAA berths. While recruiting is on-going, all the fall teams have earned a much-needed break before getting back to work in their quests for greater success.
At the conclusion of the fall, many student-athletes were honored with individual awards. Volleyball featured the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year in Alyssa Cianciulli who racked up a school-record 749 digs this season along and at the season's end was leading NCAA DII volleyball with 7.00 digs per set. Joining Cianciulli on the all-conference team was senior Sydney Buell who was selected to the All-PSAC East Second Team Accolades. Field Hockey had a trio of All-PSAC selections with seniors Foto Tsioles and Kristen Robinson, and sophomore Alicia Carr all named to the third team. Women's soccer landed the PSAC Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Year in Natalie Holmes, while Paige Harris and Helen Flynn joined Holmes on the First Team All-PSAC. Additional awards continue to come in for Holmes too, earning D2CCA All-Atlantic Region First Team honors and CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team accolades. Men's soccer landed four players on the All- PSAC East Second Team, with Kacper Grycel, Sammy Ames, Mackenzie Fairs and Alex Wilsterman earning honors. Three members of the Husky football team were recognized by the PSAC with First Team selections AJ Simon and Quentin Gaskill and second team honoree Kaleb Monaco. In women's cross country Kathryn Blair and Nicole Keeley posted top-10 finishes at the PSAC Championship to be named All-Conference, while on the men's side Hunter Jarratt and Kevin Konyar earned All-PSAC with top-10 finishes.
Basketball, for men and women, wrestling, indoor track and field for men and women, and swimming for men and women are now fully competing. Be sure to check the composite schedule to support the Huskies at home or on the road.
In the coming month, after the end of the semester, the Hall of Fame Committee will convene for the first time to begin working on the 2022 Induction Class. To nominate a deserving individual, please make sure to complete the online form.
Be sure to stay current with all Husky updates by joining us on social media or visiting the website. As we prepare the new year, we will be announcing many exciting athletic events including the annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), and we are looking into some special programs for the spring semester as well.
Also, as the year ends, if you are able, please don't forget about Giving Tuesday through the BU Foundation (#GIVETUEBU) with designating your gift to support athletics. As always, any support you can give to help our student-athletes succeed is immeasurable! If you are able to support the Huskies, please visit the Bloomsburg University Foundation and toggle the Designation drop down to Athletic Scholarships to support the student-athletes.
Please stay safe, healthy, and for the current Huskies good luck with the end of the semester and exams. See you all soon – Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
November 2021
The leaves have turned, the temperatures are forcing hats, gloves, and jackets, and the fall seasons are winding town transitioning into winter indoor sports. In athletics this is always an odd time. The end for some, the start of playoffs for others, and the start of a new campaign for student-athletes who have just been practicing. The excitement for swimming, wrestling, indoor track and field, and both basketball teams is brimming with competitions beginning soon. As we wrap up the regular-season in field hockey, cross country, men's soccer, women's soccer, football, and volleyball, playoffs are on everyone's mind. Be sure to visit our webpage and the PSAC website to see where the Huskies will be playing.
October was a whirlwind month with Parents' and Family Weekend, Homecoming, the Pettit Athletic Complex Dedication, and Hall of Fame. Now, November promises to provide the same level of opportunity for our student-athletes.
A few of our teams have already celebrated senior days while others will be doing just that in the coming days. A reminder, the Huskies look to honor those senior members of teams, of the band, and cheer teams at halftime of the November 13, 2021 home football game. Visit our webpage and complete the web form, inviting you back to celebrate a lost Senior Day. The contest kicks-off at noon, but for those unable to be honored and who graduated in the Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 please look to sign-up and be honored. You must register and attend to be honored, but we want to make sure to provide an opportunity to celebrate all you have done for BU and Husky Athletics.
Recently, 10 members of the BU softball team earned Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athlete honors, for the 2020-21 academic year. Earning the recognition were: senior Tara Baney, junior Danielle Barnes, junior Erin DelPierre, senior Briannah Dobson, junior Annika Gemberling, freshman Alex Iseminger, freshman Kayleigh Lenner, senior Nicolette Ray, junior Rebecca Rossi, and redshirt junior Abby Wild. This is a great accomplishment and one to be celebrated.
One more big congratulations to our 39th Annual Hall of Fame Class: Michael Barnhart (football) '70, Jeff Benson (men's basketball) '99, Susan Boyer Flanders (women's swimming) '84, Andy Cappelli (wrestling) '80, Kate Denneny Peckham (field hockey/softball) '87, Michele Ruzicka Lamb (women's basketball) '99, and Danny Hale (football coach) '01(H). These great individuals were inducted on October 29, 2021 and join a list of Husky greats.
We would like to thank former Assistant to the Athletic Director Eric McCabe for his service to our student-athletes as well. Eric left us and joined the IUP Athletics Department, and we wish him and his family continued success.
Speaking of success, the volleyball team recently won its 11th match this season, setting the program's single-season win record. The Huskies are currently 11-13 and are making a push for the playoffs which begin on November 16. Graduate student Alyssa Cianciulli has set the bar for Bloomsburg volleyball as she recently recorded her 2,000th career dig at BU in less than three seasons.
If you are able to support the Huskies, we need you more now than ever. Our student-athletes continue to work hard in the classroom while representing the Husky maroon and gold. You can always visit the Bloomsburg University Foundation and toggle the Designation drop down to Athletic Scholarships to support the student-athletes with your philanthropic donation.
While this is a short update, it is not for a lack of items occurring it is just that time of year with crossover sports and preparing for the winter seasons. Everyone in athletics wishes you and your families all the best as we enter into the end of the year and the upcoming holiday seasons.
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
October 2021
As I prepare my remarks for what promises to be an exciting October – Parents' and Family Weekend, Homecoming, the Pettit Athletic Complex Dedication, and Hall of Fame – I am so extremely excited about Husky Athletics. We have a long road ahead, that is for sure. But we are continually making strides to get there.
Love or hate the hand we have all been dealt due to COVID and the challenges the pandemic has presented, we have to continue to battle through as Huskies prior to us have. The Legacy families and the 150th Anniversary of the Alumni association, to be celebrated with Parents' and Family Weekend's athletic activities, is a testament showing that we are resilient and can fight back to the top winning in the classroom and in sport. It goes without saying the impact Homecoming has on a campus and those who return will tell stories of the battles fought (and lost) and the advancements made since the "old" days. I can tell you first hand, the strides made by Steph Pettit in support of his alma mater and what that has meant – to him, to those around him, and to those in the future. And, Hall of Fame, well that speaks for itself. The strides made are just the start of the journey we are all on and I know that the Huskies will continue to battle to make everyone proud!
It feels like eons since I last scribed From the ADs Desk, yet it was just a month ago. The days seem to get longer and the nights shorter – and we haven't even approached the Daylight Savings timeframe. Athletics has been full bore since the start of September with the in-season sports competing and moving up the charts (Field Hockey ranked in Top 10, Men's and Women's Soccer Nationally Ranked, and golf starting as the 22nd and 23rd competitive sports at BU). We have had PSAC athletes of the week in football, field hockey, men's soccer, women's soccer, and women's cross country – with more to come! If you saw the looks on the faces of the student-athletes, many after having to miss last year's seasons, the Huskies are proud and want to represent Bloomsburg more than ever.
Thanks to the support of an anonymous donor, the Husky baseball team is on track to have a new scoreboard in play for the 2022 season. The back-to-back PSAC Champions will look, as Head Coach Mike Collins says, to "see the offense put some crooked numbers on it!" We cannot thank our donor more for this generous contribution to move the program ahead.
As the month winds down, we ask all Husky student-athletes, members of the band, and/or cheer team to stay connected with the website. We will be announcing a web form, inviting you back to celebrate a lost Senior Day activity at halftime of the November 13, 2021, home football game. The contest kicks-off at noon, but for those unable to be honored and who graduated in the Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 please look to sign-up and be honored. You must register and attend to be honored, but we want to make sure to provide an opportunity to celebrate all you have done for BU and Husky Athletics.
And, it is not too late to secure your tickets to honor the 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame induction class. Seven individuals will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, October 29, 2021. The 39th Athletic Hall of Fame class will feature: Michael Barnhart (football) '70, Jeff Benson (men's basketball) '99, Susan Boyer Flanders (women's swimming) '84, Andy Cappelli (wrestling) '80, Kate Denneny Peckham (field hockey/softball) '87, Michele Ruzicka Lamb (women's basketball) '99, and Danny Hale (football coach) '01(H). The induction dinner and ceremony will occur on Friday, October 29, at the Nelson Field House. Festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail hour followed by the dinner and induction ceremony starting at 7:00 p.m. Please register and join us for a great evening!
Well time to get back at my remarks for all the great celebratory events planned for October! On behalf of Bloomsburg Athletics, please stay safe, healthy, and we hope you can join us for any of the October events. Let's Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
September 2021
The seasons have opened. Games have begun. Classes are ongoing with tests, projects, and assignments. Is this back to normal? Regretfully, no. We are still battling the COVID virus and testing unvaccinated student-athletes with having individuals still having to quarantine. We hope that all of our student-athletes and coaches (and everyone in general) can remain symptom free and away from COVID so we can get back to a normal. We do know that the Huskies are masking and doing what they can to make this reality just that – normal athletics.
Before we know it, BU will be hosting Parents and Family Weekend and Homecoming – with some extra special events included. During the October 15-17 Homecoming weekend, the University will be honoring, debuting, and dedicating the Pettit Athletic Complex. A big thank you to alum Steph Pettit ('89) from everyone at the University, but most specifically the athletic department and the student-athletes for your continued support of what we are doing! Make plans to join us for all the athletic and dedication activities that weekend.
Speaking of activities, be sure to visit our schedule page and join us for a game. Not to mention, avoid the lines and purchase game tickets in advance while securing your parking spot by registering for a spot in the Husky Tailgate Zone. You purchase your ticket packages and tailgate passes - both single-game and season options – today. We are so excited about this year and hope to see you at a game. If you cannot make it to a contest, you can still support the Huskies and the entire Intercollegiate Athletics department. If you are able, please visit one of two links as The Pack Is Back. We hope you can help us hit our aggressive goal.
As community spread and COVID changes, please continue to visit our website to stay on top of the latest visitor guidelines. The BU policy includes what to expect in Bloomsburg, while the PSAC is tracking all conference campus regulations. It is better to review and be prepared than to not know the latest adjustments.
Finally, the Hall of Fame is right around the corner. There will be seven individuals who will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, October 29. The 39th Athletic Hall of Fame class will bring the number of members enshrined to 196. The 2021 Hall of Fame Class will feature: Michael Barnhart (football) '70, Jeff Benson (men's basketball) '99, Susan Boyer Flanders (women's swimming) '84, Andy Cappelli (wrestling) '80, Kate Denneny Peckham (field hockey/softball) '87, Michele Ruzicka Lamb (women's basketball) '99, and Danny Hale (football coach) '01(H). The induction dinner and ceremony will occur on Friday, October 29, at the Nelson Field House. Festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail hour followed by the dinner and induction ceremony starting at 7:00 p.m. Please register and join us for a great evening!
Stay safe, stay healthy, and we hope to see you this fall. Let's Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
August 2021
What a long and challenging year and a half it has been. Starts, stops, masks, no masks, and the unknown of what the fall brings. The known is THE HUSKIES ARE READY. Football reports back August 8 due to NCAA practice protocols, with all other fall programs returning on August 15. Classes begin August 23 for all the Huskies. It is going to be fun. The excitement in Nelson Field House is percolating like a strong cup of coffee.
How did we get here? The history of our greats. With that, it gives me great pride to list our 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame induction class. There will be seven individuals who will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, October 29. The 39th Athletic Hall of Fame class will bring the number of members enshrined to 196. The 2021 Hall of Fame Class will feature: Michael Barnhart (football) '70, Jeff Benson (men's basketball) '99, Susan Boyer Flanders (women's swimming) '84, Andy Cappelli (wrestling) '80, Kate Denneny Peckham (field hockey/softball) '87, Michele Ruzicka Lamb (women's basketball) '99, and Danny Hale (football coach) '01(H). The induction dinner and ceremony will occur on Friday, October 29, at the Nelson Field House. Festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail hour followed by the dinner and induction ceremony starting at 7:00 p.m. Please register and join us for a great evening!
We are also pleased to announce some of our returning Corporate Sponsors for the 2021-22 season – with more to come who will directly impact and support our student-athlete success. The newest to join us include: The Apartment Store; Advanced Student Housing; Applebee's Grill & Bar; BU Alumni & Professional Development; Briar Creek Mutual Insurance; Clean Earth Systems, Inc.; First Columbia Bank & Trust Co.; Geisinger; Giant; Honeysuckle; Kades-Margolis; Marley's; Naps; PSECU; Roto Rooter; Steph's Subs; Stone Office; Wagner's Trophies and Engraveables; and, Weis Markets. Please support these great groups which support Husky Athletics!
This year, the Huskies are hoping you can support the entire Intercollegiate Athletics department. If you are able, please visit one of two links as The Pack Is Back. We hope you can help us hit our aggressive goal.
Speaking of support. There are a host of other ways to support your Huskies. Please check the Composite Schedule to know where we are playing – at home at Pettit Athletic Complex or on the road, as we battle for PSAC Championships this fall. Additionally, Huddle with the Huskies will return for a night of football recaps, previews, student-athlete stories, and food and camaraderie at Quaker Steak and Lube. Head Coach Frank Sheptock will host three dates (September 16, October 14, and November 4) starting at 6 p.m. Also, football ticket packages and tailgate passes - both single-game and season options - are now on sale for the upcoming 2021 Huskies' football season. Single-game ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students (12 and older) and senior citizens (62 and older). All Bloomsburg University students receive free admission to each game with their valid student ID. Children under the age of five are also admitted free of charge. Season-ticket packages are available as well and are $45 for adults and $20 for students and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased the day of the game at the gate or in advance. The 2021 Husky Tailgate Zone passes are also on sale with a full-season pass, which includes a pair of season tickets, costing $175 and each individual game priced at $45. For students, a full-season pass is $135 with every single contest marked at $35.
We have been blessed with the amount of student-athlete academic success this year. A school-record total of 276 Bloomsburg University student-athletes were recognized as Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athletes for the 2020-21 academic year. The 276 Huskies join a PSAC-record 4,163 student-athletes from the league's 18 institutions being named to the list. Individually, swimmer Colton Schnars was named to the Academic All-District® At-Large First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), while football defensive lineman Alex Findura garnered 2020-21 Academic All-America® First Team honors. Baseball graduate student Cole Swiger earned 2020-21 Academic All-America® Third Team accolades, while men's soccer player Carter Luckenbaugh earned first team Academic All-America honors and women's soccer player Lauren Hoelke, joined the second team as an Academic All-American.
We also would like to acknowledge junior track and field standout Ashley Blannard who earned All-Academic recognition from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). She, along with the men's and women's track and field teams were honored by the USTFCCCA as 2021 Division II All-Academic Teams for their success in the classroom. Another team, BU women's volleyball, was named United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) winners of the USMC/AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2020-2021 season. Congratulations to all our student-athletes and coaches. Another team earning an academic honor is the Husky PSAC Champion baseball squad. The team earned the 2020-21 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award
To formally wrap-up the year, the athletic department recently announced its six major postseason award winners for the 2020-21 season. The awards consist of the Danny Litwhiler Underclass Male Athlete of the Year, the Joanne McComb Underclass Female Athlete of the Year, the Robert B. Redman Senior Male Athlete of the Year, the Eleanor Wray Senior Female Athlete of the Year, and the Outstanding Senior Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Honorees are:
JOANNE MCCOMB UNDERCLASS FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Courtney Hubric (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin) – Women's Swimming
DANNY LITWHILER UNDERCLASS MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Andy Thomas (Harleysville, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) – Men's Swimming
ELEANOR WRAY SENIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Lauren Hoelke (Blackwood, N.J./Highland Regional) – Women's Soccer
OUTSTANDING SENIOR FEMALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Anna Dempsey (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) – Lacrosse
ROBERT B. REDMAN SENIOR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Noah Cancro (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford) – Men's Swimming
OUTSTANDING SENIOR MALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Cole Swiger (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) – Baseball
Please take a minute to review our new and incoming faculty, coaches, staff, graduate assistants, administrators, and volunteers who will be or have recently joined the Huskies. We would be remiss if we did not thank Dave Leisering, former Sports Information Director, on his service and support of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. We wish him well in his new position outside of athletics.
Welcome to all members of the Class of 2025, especially the student-athletes. Also, welcome to the newest members of the BU Alumni Association, the Class of 2021. Your Husky brothers and sisters welcome the newest members attending the school we love and thank those who can now be called fellow alumni.
On behalf of Bloomsburg Athletics, please stay safe, healthy, and we hope to see you this fall. Let's Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
June 2021
It is an early heat wave here in Bloomsburg! What happened to easing into the warmth? I can tell you, with all that is going on it is not a surprise.
Speaking of hot, the BU baseball team was on fire to end the season. After a 54-year drought between league titles, the Husky baseball team captured its second consecutive PSAC Championship with a 6-2 victory at sixth-ranked Seton Hill University in game three of the best-of-three series. Bloomsburg's run to the title was impressive as the Huskies entered the conference tournament as the third seed from the east and was the only lower seeded team to advance past the quarterfinal round when they traveled to West Chester and earned a 5-2 win over the Golden Rams on Wednesday, May 12. The Huskies then knocked off the top seed from the east, Millersville, two games to one in the semifinals on Sunday and Monday, May 16 and 17.
In the finals, Bloomsburg faced a daunting task as Seton Hill, ranked sixth in the country, entered the championship series with just four losses on the year and an unblemished 22-0 mark on its home turf. After a 7-5 loss in game one, the Huskies turned to the freshman Michael Standen, who threw a complete-game gem in game two as Bloomsburg defeated Seton Hill, 9-2, to force game three. Standen, the tournament's Most Valuable Player, allowed two runs on five hits with a career-high 11 strikeouts in the victory. Redshirt sophomore Jared Marshman threw Bloomsburg's second straight complete-game gem in game three to propel BU to the title.
The Huskies advanced to the NCAA Regional for the third straight year where they their opening game in dramatic fashion before bowing out of the tournament, finishing with a 24-18 overall record.
That championship, along with men's swimming winning the PSAC's, gives us two titles this spring. Not too shabby for only beginning the "season" on January 4.
Yet, we want and expect more.
In other news, the entire Husky family will be able to listen to BU Football this season as we have renewed our radio partnership with Bigfoot Country, 106.5 (centered out of Bloomsburg and providing coverage well beyond Columbia County, including Snyder, Union, Lycomingt, Northumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Sullivan, Montour, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Berks, Wyoming, and Carbon counties – not to mention nationwide via the internet). The partnership extension with Bigfoot Country includes the live broadcast of all Huskies football games, home and away, for the upcoming 2021 season. Bigfoot Country 106.5 is owned and operated by Seven Mountains Media, LLC, based in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Expected to return as the radio team for Bloomsburg football, once again, are long-time Huskies' broadcasters, Jim Doyle and Andy Ulicny. In addition to the airing of all 11 Bloomsburg University football games, including pre-game shows, head coach Frank Sheptock will join the Morning Lookout show each Friday morning during the season to talk about the upcoming game. The relationship will also provide an opportunity for Bloomsburg fans to get an inside glimpse of their favorite coaches and student-athletes with the addition of "Husky Insider Videos." The relationship does not end there, extending into some basketball promotional activity featuring head women's coach Alison Tagliaferri and head men's coach John Sanow joining the Morning Lookout show every Monday morning during their seasons to preview the week ahead. Thank you to everyone at BU and at Bigfoot Country and Seven Mountains Media for keeping this great partnership in place.
This fall we will celebrate the 39th Induction Class to the Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame, after a one-year absence. We anticipate making a full announcement of this year's inductees later in June or at the start of July. What I can mention is that the event will be Friday, October 29, 2021 so please mark your calendar for what promises to be an amazing evening!
It has been a promising end of the year so far as well. We hope for a few more awards to be announced in the coming weeks, but academically and athletically the Huskies are making an impact. First, baseball standout Kyle OFier was been named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Atlantic Region Second Team on the heels of earning PSAC Eastern Division First Team accolades. In softball, junior Sammi Starr was named to the 2021 DII Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Region team. Previously, Starr was named to the All-PSAC East second team and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Atlantic Region second team. Staff and junior Abby Wild and senior Tara Baney all earned PSAC All-East Team honors as well. In men's tennis, senior Nagid Walle was named to the All-PSAC First Team in singles, while, in women's tennis, graduate student Taylor Capoferri concluded her eligibility earning All-PSAC East First Team honors in singles. Women's lacrosse featured nine All-PSAC honorees, along with five being named Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region accolades (Seniors Abby Bergman, Anna Dempsey, and Tiffany Diachynsky all earning First Team; with graduate student Angela DiPasquale and senior Lana Paulo achieving second team honors).
Second, the academic awards continue to come in for the Huskies. In track and field, senior Jessica Brenfleck was named the PSAC Champion Scholar Athlete at the PSAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The PSAC Champion Scholar Awards are modeled after the NCAA's Elite 89 award and honor the student-athlete with the top grade point average who is competing at the site of each of the PSAC's 23 championship finals. The selection criteria for the Champion Scholar Awards are identical to that of the NCAA Elite 89 awards, which honor the student-athlete with the top GPA at each of the championship finals sites of the 89 NCAA championships across all three divisions – I, II, and III. Also, the Bloomsburg field hockey team earned National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II National Academic Squad honors. There were four student-athletes to earn NFHCA Division II Scholar of Distinction honors with senior Cheyenne Ott, junior Sydney Rimmer, and sophomores Bri Doebler and Carlee Williams being announced.
The Bloomsburg wrestling program boasted Mid-American Conference (MAC) All-Academic Team selections with Willy Girard; senior Jarrett Walters; junior Alex Carida; redshirt sophomores Josh Mason and Vincenzo Miceli; sophomore Christian Gannone; and redshirt freshmen Bronson Garber and Bruno Stolfi. The awards didn't stop there for the team or for Josh Mason. He was named as a Division I Scholar All-American as announced by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) recently. A total of 191 individuals, representing 59 institutions, were recognized with the honor. Also announced by the NWCA were the top 30 Scholar All-American teams with the Huskies finishing eighth overall in the country with a team grade point average of 3.4524. Long Island University claimed the top spot with a team GPA of 3.5584. It was followed by North Dakota State University, Cleveland State University, Stanford University, George Mason University, Hofstra University, and Drexel University, with the Huskies just behind the Dragons by a mere percentage points for seventh.
Men's and women's soccer faired extremely well academically also. Senior midfielders Lauren Hoelke and Maggie McDonald, along with junior forward Nicole Varano were named to the 2020-21 Academic All-District® First Team as announced, and selected, by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). For the men, senior midfielder Carter Luckenbaugh and junior midfielder Bryce Evans were named to the 2020-21 Academic All-District® First Team as announced, and selected, by the CoSIDA. And, senior Emma Saxton from the women's basketball also earned 2020-21 Academic All-District® honors from CoSIDA. We hope to be announcing more of these tremendous honors in the coming weeks - with maybe some Academic All-America® awards as well.
Joining the Husky football staff is the new Defensive Coordinator Mark Ross. He joins Bloomsburg after spending nine seasons as the head coach at Misericordia University. The only head coach in Misericordia's history, Ross took over the helm of the Cougars' program in February 2011 and built the program from the ground up. He earned his first victory as a head coach on November 16, 2013, when Misericordia earned a 63-40 road win against Fairleigh Dickinson. In the coming From the ADs desk columns, look for information on completing our athletic staff, including full-time and graduate assistant positions.
Now the focus turns to planning for the fall. Be sure to stay tuned to www.BUHuskies.com for all the latest news, notes, and information regarding the fall seasons – along with the return of tailgating and fan attendance! Be well Huskies and be safe so we can return to sports as we know and love them!
All the best,
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
May 2021
The seasons are changing and the spring is winding down into summer. Prior to that we have PSAC Championships, Commencement, and adjustments to our student-athlete leadership. Let's focus on our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Protect Our Pack student-run groups to open the May edition of From the ADs Desk.
First, we would like to thank every person – student-athlete, faculty member, coach, and staff member – for their service and representation on- and off-campus with all of our groups. The leadership of these groups continues to amaze me.
Our 2020-21 SAAC executive committee included the following student-athletes:
- President: Chad Cooperman, Baseball
- Vice President: Mia Nicholes, Volleyball
- Secretary: Sydney Rimmer, Field Hockey
- Technology Director: Matt Loeh, Track
- Sub-Officers: Meghan Longenhagen, Field Hockey, and Brandon McGaw, Baseball
This group navigated very interesting times and challenging times in intercollegiate athletics and we greatly appreciate all they have done. That said, we are equally as excited to work with the 2021-22 SAAC leadership:
- President: Makayla Force, Track
- Vice President: Mia Nicholes, Volleyball
- Secretary: Sydney Rimmer, Field Hockey
- Technology Director: Matt Marvin, Swimming
- Sub-Officers: Logan Leiby, Football, Meghan Longenhagen, Field Hockey, and Brandon McGaw, Baseball
Notice that there are many of the same individuals in place, which is tremendous in carrying the messages and momentum forward.
Our next group is "Protect Our Pack," which was developed and led by student-athletes to create a safe space where student-athletes can speak up and protect themselves and their team while getting the necessary support to excel. We would like to thank the first-year executive leadership team of:
- President: Angela DiPasquale, Lacrosse
- Vice President: Lauren Hoelke, Soccer
- Secretary: Bryce Evans, Soccer
- Technology Director: Mackenzie Gebhardt, Soccer
And, we would like to welcome the 2021-22 leadership group of:
- President: Bryce Evans, Soccer
- Vice President: Erin Gingrich, Lacrosse
- Secretary: Logan Leiby, Football, and Tyshaun Pollard, Football (co-position)
- Technology Director: Justin Ziegler, Cross Country/Track
A host of student-athletes, faculty, coaches, and staff are also playing a part in Protect Our Pack, with a lot of positive work ahead of all of us.
Speaking of student-athletes, I would like to congratulate, once again, the record number of Huskies who were honored as Bloomsburg University Scholar-Athletes. We had the opportunity to recognize 246 student-athletes - virtually - who have achieved a grade point average of 3.25 or higher during the past two semesters or who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25. Additionally, 99 freshmen or transfer student-athletes have posted a 3.25 grade point average or higher in their first semester at Bloomsburg, thus showing promise to become future scholar-athletes. Also honored were 123 faculty members – identified by our student-athletes – as influential to their academic endeavors and who have contributed to their overall academic well-being. Congratulations on this tremendous accomplishment and hopefully we can celebrate in person again next year.
Now turning to the PSAC and the winter and spring championships. With the final week of the regular-season upon us, the baseball team is still battling for a post-season slot, while the men's and women's track teams are preparing the final steps to compete this coming weekend at Shippensburg. We wish the student-athletes and coaches the best of luck as they prepare for the Championships.
The recently completed PSAC Championships include men's and women's tennis, women's lacrosse, and men's and women's swimming.
First, for the first time in 62 years, there is a Husky team at the top of the PSAC men's swimming podium as the team won the program's first-ever conference championship on April 21 and 22. Led by sophomore Andy Thomas (who won seven titles in seven events), the Huskies won five individual races and five relays – 10 total – out of the 19 events. Congratulations to Head Coach Stu Marvin and Assistant Coach Bridget Hilferty, along with the entire men's team on this tremendous accomplishment. Meanwhile, the women's team wrapped up the COVID-shortened season with a runner-up finish at the PSAC Championships on April 23 and 24. Senior Chelsea Ackerson won her first collegiate individual titles and sophomore Courtney Hubric captured her first-ever PSAC win to lead a balanced scoring team.
Women's lacrosse entered the 2021 PSAC Championship, and after a wonderful season, and fell to #9 ranked East Stroudsburg 18-7 to end the campaign with an 8-6 overall record. The women's tennis team entered the PSAC Quarterfinals and fell to Millersville 4-3 in a hard fought match, ending the COVID-shortened season with a 4-4 record. On the men's tennis side, the Huskies traveled to Edinboro for the PSAC Semifinals and fell 4-0 to the Fighting Scots, concluding the COVID season with a 5-3 overall record.
We look forward to continued success with those spring sports still to battle for PSAC Championships.
Time to return on planning for the summer schedule and fall programming. Stay tuned to our website for the latest in Husky Athletics! As always, we appreciate all you do as part of the Husky Family. Be well.
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
April 2021
Hope you enjoyed the Easter holiday! It is that time of year … Spring is well under way. Soon we will hear the sound of lawnmowers going again which means warmer weather and more outdoor sports.
We have been playing baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, and running/throwing with track – all in season – preparing for PSAC Championships. Due to the unknown nature of the still-going COVID pandemic, it has caused us to adjust and honor our senior Husky student-athletes early in their home game season to ensure we can celebrate these excellent Huskies properly. Since we missed the fall and most of the winter, we are presently placing Virtual Senior Days online to honor the student-athletes in those BU programs that are not having a competitive season. While not the most ideal situations, it still provides us an opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of these excellent student-athletes.
There is a lot of information for me to update you on. First, let's review some championships results and upcoming events. In recapping the 2021 PSAC Cross Country Championships, on the women's side, sophomore Nicole Keeley earned her second-straight All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) accolade as she finished eighth overall and led the Bloomsburg University women's cross country team to a ninth-place finish. The men's team finished 10th out of 12 teams, with senior Hunter Jarratt leading the men with a 38th place finish. In other championship results, during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship, redshirt freshman Cole Rhone won his first-ever match on a national stage but lost his next two bouts. Rhone concluded the COVID-shortened year with a 6-4 overall record. He was seeded 32nd at 133 pounds.
In the next upcoming PSAC Championship, the men's and women's swimming teams head to York, Pa., to battle for a Championship, April 21-24. The split event, held at Graham Aquatic Center, features the men swimming on April 21-22, while the women will be in the pool April 23-24.
Second, let's talk about the upcoming Virtual Scholar-Athlete event which will be "held" on Monday, April 12. With the COVID-19 pandemic still active, we will be virtually celebrating 246 student-athletes who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 or have achieved a GPA of 3.25 or higher during the past two semesters. Additionally, a total of 98 first-year and transfer students posted a 3.25 GPA or better in their first semester here at Bloomsburg University. In addition, Bloomsburg Athletics will also recognize 123 faculty members, whom Husky student-athletes identified as influential and significant contributors to their academic success and overall well-being. This celebration, while not in person, gives us an opportunity to celebrate the success of our student-athletes and faculty as they work toward personal and professional success.
Finally, congrats to the Field Hockey team on earning the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division II National Academic Team Award. The Huskies were one of 33 institutions in the country earning the National Academic Team Award, which recognizes programs that achieved a minimum team grade point average (GPA) of 3.0, or better, during the fall semester of the 2020-21 academic year. It marks the 14th consecutive year, and 16th time since 2003 - the first year the award was given - that the Bloomsburg field hockey program has received the distinction.
And, be sure to mark your calendars for the return on the John S. Devlin Football Golf Tournament. This year's event will be held Saturday, June 5, 2021 with registration beginning at 11am and the golf shotgun start at noon at Frosty Valley Country Club, Danville, Pa. We hope you can make the 22nd annual version of the event.
I want to reiterate and offer another sincere thank you to our Athletic Trainers (Allen Larsen, Allison Brooks, Syrena Hess, and George Salvaterra) for ensuring all the necessary testing protocols are met for our Huskies to compete. I would also like to offer a hearty thank you to our Student Health Center staff, the nurses, and the University we have been able to safely get to this step. We will continue to battle and prepare for the PSAC Championships, so stay tuned to the athletics website for the latest schedules.
Let's get win some games and let's earn some PSAC titles! Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
March 2021
Huskies are resilient! Huskies are workers! Huskies are intelligent! Huskies are leaders! And, our Huskies are the best student-athletes around! They embody all of these attributes and characteristics. As I mentioned in February "we are back." Now, as we turn the calendar to March, we are back and competing.
Wrestling is coming off the MAC Championships with three place winners - NCAA qualifier at 133 lbs Cole Rhone who finished fourth, redshirt sophomore Josh Mason finished seventh at 141 lbs, and junior Alex Carida placed eighth at 157 lbs. Swimming competed this past Saturday (Feb. 27) for their first activity against someone other than another Husky. And, in the coming days (weather permitting) softball, baseball, tennis, cross country and track, and women's lacrosse all will begin their seasons. It is still an extremely fragile environment, with constant COVID testing and monitoring. Difficult and troubling only touches on what it has been for our coaches and student-athletes to get us to this point. I cannot thank our Athletic Training group (Allen Larsen, Allison Brooks, Syrena Hess, and George Salvaterra) enough for ensuring all the necessary protocols are met for us to compete. It truly takes a village and the support of our Student Health Center staff, the nurses, and the University we have been able to safely get to this step. We remain cautious and know that our Huskies will continue to do what is necessary to ensure we can play.
This brings me to another positive adjustment. After thorough conversations and review, Bloomsburg University and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will now be able to allow limited home spectators only (through a pass list) for outdoor home activity. The following policies and procedures for spectators will be implemented, yet subject to change:
- Spectators will be limited to two per Bloomsburg student-athlete for outdoor events (via pass list)
- Spectators will be required to wear a mask throughout the entirety of their time on Bloomsburg University's campus, and will be required to socially distance their group from other groups when seated at the venue
- No tailgating allowed
- No visiting team spectators are allowed
- No spectators allowed at any indoor athletic events
- Failure to abide by these policies will result in expulsion from Bloomsburg University's campus
Our number one goal remains providing a safe environment for student-athletes and coaches to compete. This, along with the limited spectators following and abiding by all the protocols listed above, will provide a safe environment for our student-athletes to excel. We implore any spectators experiencing symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 to please refrain from attending any on-campus activity. For those unable to attend the contests, or for visiting team fans, please visit www.BUHuskies.com, as the University will provide live streams and video footage of athletic contests, as possible.
As we look forward to more campus visitors, we also welcome two new department members to campus. On Feb. 18, Paul Johnson joined the football staff as offensive coordinator. He comes to Bloomsburg after serving as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at the University of Charleston. We look forward to him mirroring the success he enjoyed at Charleston, as he mentored more than 20 All-Conference honorees during his tenure. In 2019, the Golden Eagles went 8-3, averaged nearly 36 points per game, and had several players set single-game and single-season school records during the year. We welcome Paul and his family to the Husky family.
The second new face in the hallways of Nelson Field House is head men's soccer coach Mark Bassett. He is returning to Bloomsburg after he earned his Master's of Education degree from Bloomsburg University in 2003, while serving as the Huskies' assistant men's soccer coach during the 2001, 2002, and 2004 seasons under the program's all-time winningest coach, Paul Payne. Following a one-year stint at Goucher College in 2005, Bassett was named the first full-time head coach at King's College in 2006 and has been with the Monarchs ever since. As outlined in the announcement, he spent 14 seasons as the head coach at King's (2020 season canceled due to COVID). His overall record with the Monarchs was 159-89-28 and included ten trips to the MAC Freedom Tournament – including eight consecutive appearances from 2012-19. He led King's to conference championships in 2013 and 2014 and trips to the NCAA tournament in each of those seasons – both firsts in program history. He also guided the Monarchs to the ECAC Southeast Regional title in 2008. The MAC Freedom Coach of the Year in 2015, Bassett led King's to at least ten victories 11 times during his tenure, including a program-record 16 wins in 2008 and 2015. We welcome Mark and his family back to the Husky family.
Please continue to check our website, especially the spring sport schedules for continual updates.
Let's get back to competing and win some PSAC titles! Again, thank you to everyone who has made it possible for our return, now let's prove we are doing it right. Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
February 2021
WE ARE … Back! Let's Go Huskies!
Through the support of Bloomsburg University – the Health and Wellness team, the Student Rec Center staff, everyone in Nelson Field House, and the campus administration, student-athletes have been (and will continue to be) tested for negative COVID findings and return to the field, pool, mat, etc.
The student-athletes are back working at what they love … the coaches are designing plays and preparing their squads for improved times, techniques, and performance. Life is good! Let's keep our fingers crossed this holds the course and we remain COVID-free in order to get our seasons in.
A lot has occurred but not much to report on. Between preparing for the testing and testing itself, returning to play, and planning for web streaming contests, to ensuring our protocols and operations are solid, it has been a challenging and rewarding time. Our sports information staff has been announcing on the website our spring sport schedules with more to come. However, I encourage everyone to visit the site often for the latest information and updates in case there are changes.
Congratulations to our own graduate assistant for athletic operations, Keenan Huss, who was recently awarded a slot to attend the 2021 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar. This is a fantastic opportunity for Keenan, but also demonstrates the power of athletics and education partnering together. The seminar is a three-day virtual program that educates, develops, and connects the selected participants and equips attending young professionals with the skills necessary to accelerate their career progression in college sports. This professional development event provides leadership, educational, and transitional programming for current graduate assistants and interns from NCAA member schools, conference offices, and affiliate organizations.
The football team suffered the loss of a true Husky when senior fullback Tyler Horst passed due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. He was 22. Our team will don the number 37 on their helmets in the fall of 2021 in honor of Tyler. The entire athletic department's thoughts are with Tyler's family, the football team, its players and coaches, and all of our student-athletes and staff who had the privilege of knowing him.
The Protect Our Pack student-athlete-led group will start the with a Virtual March in support of all Huskies! Be sure to visit the Protect Our Pack homepage to stay engaged with the group.
By the end of February, our goal is to have the new head men's soccer coach and the football offensive coordinator positions in place. We look forward to welcoming new Huskies to our team … Most importantly to continue to work with our student-athletes with their development.
As always, please visit our website for the most up-to-date information on BU Athletics, including game schedules.
Time to get back into action … Thank you to everyone who has made it possible for our return. Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
January 2021
The launch of a new year, 2021. There are a host of memes around mentioning things like 2020 is over but it is now turning 21. I look at it differently, as I have to. By that I mean, we learned a lot about 2020 with COVID-19 and the immediate adjustments that had to be made. We are still adjusting and learning, while doing everything we can to be ready for the Spring of 2021 and return to competition. We learned determination in the classroom by adjusting how we teach, learn, digest, use technology, and report out. We learned to do things for everyone not just for ourselves. But most importantly, we learned (reluctantly) patience. In the competitive world of sports patience is not a virtue that is easily accepted … practice to perform better … if you are not performing better return to practice and adjust … there is no time for patience. Yet, our coaches and student-athletes have learned that with proper care (masking, social distancing, etc.) that patience led to us returning – albite not 100% to sport participation. This patience has gotten us to today … The start of a new year!
As I wrote to the Athletics staff prior to the holidays, we can look at the past spring and fall as disruption. And now we are back stronger than ever. I stated "While words and phrases like the new normal, social distancing, and pivot have become commonplace, all of it has led to a disruption. A disruption in what we know, how we act, and how we adjust. I cannot thank you all enough for battling this disruption head on. Yes, it causes us to work in different ways, to play in different ways, and to miss out on many of the things we have all taken for granted. Some elements of the disruptions we have faced have been good, others have been extremely negative – yet all have been challenging. We, in athletics, never back down from a challenge. Together we will emerge on the other side stronger and better." I truly know that our student-athletes, coaches, and staff are ready as we begin testing on January 4 for our student-athletes and will continue that through the spring.
A lot of work has been spent recently on preparing documents and researching all things athletics, academics, budgets, support, etc., in collection for Integration talks. For those unaware, the Northeastern Integration Triad consists of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield. The unknown of how athletics features in a "New University" is still being worked out. However, the data has uncovered a lot of positives about Bloomsburg Athletics, the coaches, and the student-athletes. For example, all the data points I have seen show how important BU athletics is to the development and success of students while lending tremendous benefits to the entire university, the community, and the ongoing partnerships with our alumni. I could not be prouder of our team (coaches, staff, university, etc.) for pulling together during these unknown times and working on sometimes duplicative and difficult duties by collecting data, data, and more data. It easily underscores the facts: Bloomsburg is doing athletics the right way for our student-athletes, the university, and PASSHE.
Stay tuned, as well, for some exciting spring programming from our Protect Our Pack student-athlete-led group as we welcome back the spring semester. Thanks to collaborative efforts on Campus with the Women's Resource Center, BU athletics has partnered with Game Plan for the student-athletes, driven by the Protect Our Pack leadership. Through this partnership, every student-athlete at Bloomsburg will have access to over 60 innovative eLearning and personality assessments explicitly designed for the modern athlete. The eLearning courses will provide education and information on relevant topics around academic success, career and professional development, brand-building, diet and wellness, financial literacy, healthy relationships, social justice, and more. The interactive modules will help student-athletes, coaches, and administrators develop awareness and resources in the ever-changing environment of college athletics. Thanks to men's soccer player Bryce Evans, an executive board member of the group, for initiating our relationship with Game Plan.
Also, in similar news, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Commissioner (PSAC) Steve Murray announced the creation of a Social Justice Task Force. The group will represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds with the common goal of combating racism and injustice while focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the league. Serving on the Social Justice Task Force on behalf of the Bloomsburg University athletic department will be Faculty Athletic Representative, Dr. Molly Marnella. The purpose of the Social Justice Task Force is to assist the PSAC and its member institutions in developing and recommending policy, programs, initiatives, and education for the awareness, improvement, and success of the conference's efforts in diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice. Congratulations Molly and we know your will represent Bloomsburg well.
While his second stay at Bloomsburg has only been a few years, we wish head men's soccer coach Danny Wheelan and his family the best as his last day as a Husky was January 1, 2021. Coach Wheelan will be missed but during his time made an impact on BU's soccer program. The University is actively conducting a search for the next head coach of the Husky program and I know we are in good hands with Head Women's Soccer Coach Matt Haney serving in the interim role for the men while the position is filled.
Well, keep checking our website for the most up-to-date information on BU Athletics, including game schedules, any changes, and exciting news for 2021.
After the 2020 disruption and using all the lessons learned, the Huskies are back – stronger than ever – and will be preparing for the spring challenges. Happy New Year … Stay safe … And, Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
December 2020
The holidays. A break academically and a break athletically. But this year features a few wrinkles to those plans. Winter session begins today (Dec. 7) for students and student-athletes at Bloomsburg. This is typically earlier than normal. A virtual commencement airs this coming weekend, and for all intents and purposes, the fall semester is over.
So now to the next step … The holidays. Due to the ongoing nature of COVID, it is more trying than normal on all fronts. As I have said many times during the fall semester, what I wouldn't have given to have a lightning delay in a game … I wouldn't mind the large family gathering where ultimately someone says something to make someone mad … Oh how I yearn for those discussions again. But, with the goal of safety in mind, we will be refraining from those gatherings with the hope of getting back to normal. What does that mean? Who knows. I can say, though, I will continue to mask up if it means safety for family, friends, and equally as important a return to athletic competition.
Where are we athletically, you may ask? Simple … planning to play in the spring with our traditional spring sports … competing in the PSAC for a championship and the goal of NCAA success. The ultimate goal, as long as it can safely be managed, is for all BU student-athletes to return in the spring and, at minimum, practice and hone their skills for the day when a full return to play is possible. The fall sports and majority of the winter sports will be allowed, at this time, to practice. The best news of all is that the NCAA has granted an extra year of eligibility to fall and winter student-athletes – if they choose and elect to use it – while still providing the opportunity to train and improve. However, the key in all of this is continuing to earn an education. Academics will remain of paramount importance for all student-athletes, whether in season or practicing only. We already know a handful of our student-athletes are "Finishing What They Started" in the spring and for some fall and winter sport student-athletes those decisions are ahead of them. Many have an opportunity to continue their undergraduate careers and complete their degrees while others are contemplating a Master's degree – both are solid choices – Huskies continue to make the right choices and lead while getting better every day (athletically and academically).
For those who will be playing, we will be administering COVID testing regimens in-line with the NCAA's guidelines. This is not a small undertaking as tests will have to be timed against competitions to ensure results are received, by the procedures provided to us, in order to compete. It is another level of safety, but an important level we must adhere to. We will continue with the contact tracing of who is where, athletically, and the daily temperature checks necessary to look for any early concerns. Pausing team activities may happen but our goal is to minimize exposure and to keep everyone as safe as possible.
If you haven't visited our website recently, please check out the new look. Our Sports Information staff, Dave Leisering and Mary Raskob, continue to prove they are a dynamic duo and leaders within the PSAC and regionally. The website features have been improved and the content continues to remain fresh, even without the daily game features and recaps – which we have every intent on returning with competition in the spring.
I do encourage you to take a look at our new auction page as well. Not only does it feature some excellent BU items, it boasts a host of other holiday treasures that would make for excellent gifts for any sports fan. We plan to continue adding new items in the Auction space as well, so visit often.
Our alumni, families, and friends continue to amaze me. Last week featured the annual #GivingTuesday activities with Bloomsburg's #GIVETUEBU campaign. As with any challenge, the athletic family stepped up and helped us achieve two match gifts (raise $1,000 and earn $1,000 and $10 for every gift up to 100 for another $1,000 match). We not only exceeded the two challenges with 112 donors, we achieved the highest dollar amount raised $8,660 between athletics and the four on-campus colleges. There is still time to give as well, if you are able. However, there are not enough ways to say THANK YOU to those who did. Huskies are amazing!!!!
I know I mentioned the PASSHE Integration during my November update, and I will provide a few minor updates now as well. A lot of work has been completed to-date with data collection (awards, history of teams, roster sizes, policies, etc.), but nothing final has been decided or advanced as options moving forward. Working groups and sub-working groups for athletics have been diligent in gathering information and working on provided documents like Consultation Plans, Critical Paths, Aspirational Goals, all to develop what the Integration may look like for athletics on each campus. I will continue to provide updates – especially as information becomes more concrete. Know that the Huskies are important to all of us and we will continue to exhibit the same winning qualities you have come to love about your institution's athletics programs.
As I close the December From the ADs Desk, please do what you can to stay healthy and safe and enjoy every day. The Huskies will be back – stronger than ever – in the spring! Happy Holidays.
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
November 2020
As the leaves turn and fall, the temperatures take a bit longer to rise, and daily light savings time forces a clock adjustment, we should be turning our attention to the end of the fall with PSAC and NCAA Championships around the corner while the winter sports would normally kick into high gear. We continue to work with teams on strength and conditioning and sport-specific drills but are not in full-gear yet.
Allowing our teams activity supports in the NCAA's Resocialization of Sport yet COVID-19 testing, in order to compete at a larger scale, is still being ironed out on campus and throughout our department. What does the future hold? If we only had a crystal ball. The PSAC leadership will be deciding on what the spring will look like (fall and winter sports taking place after January) in the middle of November. We have just received guidance from the MAC for wrestling and are investigating the impact of the guidelines on possible participation. We determined, earlier in the fall, the spring schedules if we are able to manage the testing requirements. As with previous decisions, everyone wants to play yet in a safe manner while following the rules and guidelines established, if possible.
Now for the good news. We hope that on Veteran's Day, November 11, we will be able to honor football standout Alex Findura. He was recently named a finalist for the 2020 Armed Forces Merit Award. Make sure you also take the time to visit the website and vote for Alex as Team Captain for the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 2020 Allstate Good Works Team®.
Continuing with the positive news for our student-athletes, the Bloomsburg University women's soccer program was named a recipient of the Team Pinnacle Award from the United Soccer Coaches. The Huskies were one of only nine collegiate programs across all divisions - men or women - to earn the prestigious accolade. Congratulations to Coach Matt Haney and the team on this award.
And, in case you missed it, Bloomsburg University has been selected to serve as the host institution for the 2025 NCAA Division II Field Hockey National Championships. The national semifinals and national championship game are scheduled to take place at Steph Pettit Stadium.
The series, Beyond the Bench, continues with BU Athletics being highlighted by sports information. If you haven't viewed the weekly series, please check it out. It provides an inside look into Husky athletics, program-by-program.
As a reminder, please take time to support the Huskies with the purchase of the University Archivist Bob Dunkelberger's book Hail to the Huskies - The Story of Bloomsburg University Football. Make sure to purchase your copy today through the BU Bookstore with all proceeds going to athletic scholarships.
Our student-athletes have off from activity on election day to provide them an opportunity to vote – driven through our Protect Our Pack Committee. This ties into the end of the academic semester as well so we wish each and every student-athlete success as they enter into the exam period and winter break.
In my December column, I will provide an update on the PASSHE Integration, as more information will hopefully be available.
I cannot stress it enough … wear your mask, remain healthy, and stay well. We hope to be able to get back together soon!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
October 2020
COVID continues to mix up intercollegiate athletics. That said, we continue to engage our colleagues in the PSAC and the MAC (for wrestling) to determine what is the best path forward for our student-athletes health and safety. This is not lost on the community aspect, the impact on our coaches and staff, and the overall status of Pennsylvania.
I cannot stress enough how impactful this is for our student-athletes. Remember when you are a member of a team – any team – and there were the slightest of disruptions? Magnify that by about a million and you will understand what all of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff are facing. This global pandemic has affected the Spring sports in 2020 and Winter Championships for 2020, the Fall sports in 2020, and now is bracing in on the Winter sports of 2020-21, not to mention what the Spring of 2021 may hold.
The resiliency of our student-athletes has been amazing throughout all of this. Which brings me to what our student-athletes have been doing. Not only have we been on Zoom overload between classes, team meetings, and discussions, but we have not yet dipped our toes into Countable Athletic Related Activity (CARA) or Voluntary Athletic Related Activity (VARA). This means that everyone is ready to get back at it – safely. However, on another front, the student-athletes have been leading the charge with "Protect Our Pack," as an initiative and in response to student-athletes identifying issues of bullying, racism, LGBTQA, gender, and social issues, to address these important topics facing everyone today. The "Protect Our Pack" concept has been developed and led by student-athletes to create a safe space where you can speak up and protect yourself and your team while getting the necessary support to excel. We will be creating educational resources for the student-athletes, a resource page on BUHuskies.com, along with campaigns to feature, but not limited to posters, videos, speakers, etc. Athletics, and most importantly, the student-athletes, and coaches are attacking the on-going social justice issues. I am so excited to play a small part in impacting positive change and action to a better BU!
Speaking of making it a better BU, let's discuss and review the Hall of Fame. Founded in 1982 to recognize athletes, coaches, and other individuals who exemplify the true spirit of being a Husky – the foundation by individuals who brought us to the point we are athletically. Due to COVID, we had to postpone the Fall 2020 event. However, the Committee is working on plans which not only will welcome the next class but also to develop and celebrate our history. As you may be aware, members of the Hall of Fame are responsible for helping the University's athletic program establish itself as a regional and national leader in intercollegiate athletics. Hall of Fame inductees have brought much distinction and honor to the Huskies while establishing a tradition of excellence at Bloomsburg University and we are always soliciting nominations.
In case you haven't seen what I mean by the tradition of excellence that is BU Athletics, our coaches are currently being highlighted in a new segment called Beyond the Bench. This weekly series will highlight the excellent head coaches that make Bloomsburg University such a special place. I invite you to watch the weekly shows which run every Tuesday through December as we celebrate BU Athletics and what it means to be a Husky.
Based on success … let's add another accolade to Alex Findura. He has been named to the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992, by the College Football Association, to recognize extra efforts by players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor players who go the extra mile for those in need. A total of 22 student-athletes and one honorary coach - across all divisions - were chosen for this prestigious award. Since the inception of the award in 1992, Findura becomes the first student-athlete from Bloomsburg University to earn the honor. We cannot wait to celebrate this success with Alex for what he continues to do. Be sure to vote for Alex to be named the honorary captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team - once a day, every day, through November 22.
I know I mentioned it in my last column, but make sure to check out another weekly event – highlighting the history of BU football each Saturday. University Archivist Bob Dunkelberger's book Hail to the Huskies - The Story of Bloomsburg University Football will appear in weekly social media posts regarding the history and tradition of BU football. Make sure to purchase your copy today through the BU Bookstore with all proceeds going to athletic scholarships.
Let's all Mask Up, stay safe, stay healthy, and hopefully we can all get back stronger and better than before. We miss you on the hill … Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
September 2020
As I write this column, I feel the need to point out that we have not yet had an athletic activity this fall. This is troubling for so many reasons. Most importantly, and not to be downplayed due to the overall impact on those who have suffered through illness and even lost their live or the lives of loved ones, the reason has been to ensure student-athlete safety. Which has been the right decision. We can argue all day about the mental, physical, and social well-being and adjustment of college athletes and the negative impact by not participating in the sport(s) each has worked so hard to reach this peak in their athletic career, that is not the issue. We need to return and do it safely. There is not a single one of us associated with BU Husky athletics who does not want to be on the field, the track, the court, or in the pool. But, I continue to dream about the time when Nelson Field House becomes a buzzing Mecca of activity like it was just one year ago.
How can we get our fix of sports? Well there are a host of ways. Look for continued, fresh new content on www.BUHuskies.com along with on all the social media locations the Huskies use. Read the in-depth articles and review of all the excellent things our student-athletes continue to do. For example, one of the featured articles highlights the near school-record 81 student-athletes named to the D2 Athletic Directors Association (D2ADA) Academic Achievement Award winners list. I encourage you to stay connected with all the social media accounts for BU.
Another way to get your fix is to follow along during the football season online as we celebrate Husky football. Each week, we will highlight a chapter in university archivist Bob Dunkelberger's book "Hail to the Huskies - The Story of Bloomsburg University Football." These promotional reviews each Saturday – when there would have been a football game – allow us to relive the history, tradition, and Husky swagger that will be back in Redman soon. Look for information soon on how to purchase the book through the BU Bookstore with all proceeds going to athletic scholarships. This is just one way to support the Huskies.
Speaking of support. We need you more now than ever. Our student-athletes continue to work hard in the classroom while waiting for the opportunity to put on the Husky maroon and gold. You can always visit the Bloomsburg University Foundation and toggle the Designation drop down to Athletic Scholarships to support the student-athletes with your philanthropic donation.
Also, please continue to support the businesses and community groups who support Bloomsburg Athletics. Some of our returning corporate partners for the 2020-21 academic year include: First Columbia Bank and Trust, Geisinger, Honeysuckle Student Apartments, PSECU, Steph's Subs, and Wagner's Trophies and Engravables. We are actively working with previous corporate partners and know that with the support of our friends, fans, students, and alumni we can add to this list.
One thing I failed to do is provide a formal welcome. Welcome to all members of the Class of 2024, especially the student-athletes. Also, welcome to the newest members of the BU Alumni Association, the Class of 2020. Your Husky brothers and sisters welcome the newest members attending the school we love and those who can now be called fellow alumni.
We have had a host of scheduling adjustments for the fall. This is continuing daily as we plan for fall sports to be contested in the spring and for the winter and spring seasons. There are some exciting things ahead for our student-athletes, fans, alumni, and community as we navigate the COVID world while returning to sport.
However, with all the changing issues in today's society, I want to focus on a student-driven initiative that you will see "live" in the coming days on the Husky website. In response to student-athletes identifying issues of bullying, racism, LGBTQA, gender, and social issues, an ever-growing group of student-athletes have partnered with coaches and administrators to address these important topics facing everyone today. The "Protect Our Pack" concept is being developed and led by student-athletes to create a safe space where you can speak up and protect yourself and your team while getting the necessary support to excel. We are creating educational resources for the student-athletes, a resource page on the website, along with campaigns to feature, but not limited to posters, videos, speakers, etc. Athletics, and most importantly, the student-athletes, and coaches are attacking the on-going social justice issues. The Huskies will "Protect Our Pack."
On behalf of Bloomsburg Athletics, please stay safe, healthy, and continue to look for the positive messages in everything we do as we continue to grow stronger. Hopefully, we will all be back together soon.
Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
August 2020
When will it end? COVID is still with us so, as Huskies, I ask and implore everyone to MASK UP so we can get back to playing and doing what we all love. As I have said to our coaches, faculty, staff, and even the student-athletes I have been fortunate enough to engage with, "We, not me, to be able to play." We must take this on, as Huskies do, and battle it. I have talked to a host of alumni, friends, fans, and others to get all sides of the coin in relation to COVID. This is like going into extra innings, overtime, wrestle-offs – we have to be smart if we want to come out on top. Sports need to return and the only way is by working together!
We have proof that Huskies can work together for the good of others. THANK YOU to all who recently supported the "Finish What We Started" campaign to support our nine student-athletes who are returning for a 'bonus' year which has been granted to spring student-athletes. The support of we received – from alumni, friends, fans, staff, and others – is truly amazing and allows our student-athletes to complete their athletic career while advancing their academic credentials. Everyone of the student-athletes and the coaches, along with our administration, cannot thank you enough and know that we will do what we can to make this the best opportunity possible.
I could drone on-and-on about all the planning, Zoom sessions, meetings, and calls to set-up a fall like no other only to begin the process again. However, I would not change a thing in doing it as the goal is to provide the best experience for our student-athletes and I feel the leadership in the PSAC, the MAC, and through our President Dr. Bashar Hanna representing Bloomsburg, we are doing everything in our power to ensure Bloomsburg provides that opportunity for our student-athletes. When people ask "what is it going to look like?" I can only think of organized chaos. But this is the type of chaos we in athletics excel with … Fighting for everything we get, battling until we cannot battle any longer, and emerging as better individuals for doing what we love to the best of our ability. The Husky Way! I could not be more excited about the future as we determine the path forward in a COVID world.
But that is not all we have been doing. We have experienced many highs, lows, and professional opportunities. One of those has been afforded to our assistant men's and women's cross country and track coach Kristin Stam. She was selected as one of seven recipients from the PSAC to attend this year's virtual Women Leaders in College Sports (WLCS) convention. The two-day event, WOMEN LEADERS X, is scheduled to begin on Sunday, October 11, and conclude on Monday, October 12. Women Leaders in College Sports is the premier leadership organization that develops, connects, and advances women working in college sports and beyond. Women Leaders takes a proactive role in advancing women into positions of influence and powerfully shapes the landscape of women leaders. Coach Stam will represent Bloomsburg well with this professional development opportunity.
Another high was earned by the second-year Bloomsburg University women's volleyball team which received a Team Academic Award from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) / American Coaches Volleyball Association (AVCA) for the 2019-20 academic year. The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average. The Huskies finished the year with a 3.31 overall team GPA with a 3.60 mark during the spring semester.
Another team recently awarded was the men's and women's track and field teams which were honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as 2020 Division II All-Academic Teams for their success in the classroom. In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period. Both the men's and women's teams finished the year with a 3.32 GPA. Sophomore criminal justice major Hank Anderson was honored individually with All-Academic honor from the USTFCCA. Individually, the academic honor is awarded to student-athletes with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale through the end of the semester.
At the end of June the Bloomsburg University athletic department announced its six major postseason award winners and team MVPs for the 2019-20 season. As always, we had some amazing student-athletes to choose from in the awards voted upon by the coaches. Here is a quick summary of the award winners with the link to full biographical information:
JOANNE MCCOMB UNDERCLASS FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Lauren Hoelke - Women's Soccer
DANNY LITWHILER UNDERCLASS MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Colton Schnars – Men's Swimming
ELEANOR WRAY SENIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
OUTSTANDING SENIOR FEMALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Becca Cubbler – Women's Swimming
ROBERT B. REDMAN SENIOR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Kyle Dix – Men's Swimming
OUTSTANDING SENIOR MALE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Trevor Allard – Wrestling
Even with the cancellation of spring sports, our Husky student-athletes battled it out in the classroom featuring, through their grit, determination, and strong work ethic, one of the best academic semesters ever for BU sports. The department boasted a record-breaking 208 student-athletes who earned PSAC scholar-athlete honors for maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 throughout the year. The numbers easily surpassed the school's previous high of 164 established last academic year. Additionally, 81 student-athletes were nominated as Division II Athletic Director Association (D2 ADA) scholar-athletes – an increase of 20 from last year's total. Selected student-athletes who earned the honor will be released on September 1.
Overall, Bloomsburg student-athletes combined to post an overall GPA of 3.57 during the spring semester with all 19 programs earning a team GPA of at least 3.0. In fact, all 19 teams had GPAs of 3.19 or higher for the term. A total of 275 student-athletes posted a 3.50 GPA or better during the spring, which included 52 earning a perfect 4.0 GPA. In the spring, the women's basketball and men's tennis teams tied for the highest team GPA at 3.76 while women's soccer (3.71) and women's cross country (3.70) were right behind. Seven other teams – field hockey, lacrosse, softball, men's soccer, women's swimming, women's tennis, and volleyball – each had team GPAs of 3.60 or better during the semester. All told, Huskies' student-athletes combined for a cumulative GPA of 3.24, with 17 of the 19 programs maintaining at least a 3.0 overall team GPA.
As we wrap up the 2019-20 year and prepare for the 2020-21 year, it is important to look back at the numbers from last year …
BY THE NUMBERS
208 – School-record number of student-athletes named to 2019-20 PSAC Scholar-Athlete list
- An increase of 44 from 2018-19's previous record number of 168
81 – Student-athletes nominated for D2 ADA Scholar-Athlete award
- An increase of 20 student-athletes from 2018-19
- Names to be announced on September 1
3.57 – Combined GPA for all student-athletes during spring 2020 semester
3.24 – Cumulative GPA for all student-athletes over the course of their collegiate careers
26 – Student-athletes earning All-Academic honors from respective sport organizations
- Lauren Hoelke, Maggie McDonald (Women's Soccer Scholar All-East Region from United Soccer Coaches)
- Carter Luckenbaugh (Men's Soccer Scholar All-East Region from United Soccer Coaches)
- Zach Bitner (Men's Cross Country All-Academic from USTFCCCA)
- Autumn Avery, Kathryn Blair, Nicole Keeley, Sydney Koons (Women's Cross Country All-Academic from USTFCCCA)
- Trevor Allard, Alex Carida, Kyle Murphy, Nate Newberry, Jarrett Walters (Wrestling MAC All-Academic)
- Mikayla Barrow, Nicole Cuervo, Bri Doebler, Callie Edwards, Tesa Hoffman, Ashley Maxwell, Madilyn McKay, Cheyenne Ott, Sydney Rimmer, Kristen Robinson, Rachael Strockbine, Foto Tsioles, Carlee Williams (Field Hockey National Academic Squad)
8 – Scholar All-Americans from respective sport organizations
- Carter Luckenbaugh (men's soccer)
- Lauren Hoelke (women's soccer)
- Bri Doebler (field hockey)
- Tesa Hoffman (field hockey)
- Cheyenne Ott (field hockey)
- Carlee Williams (field hockey)
- Trevor Allard (wrestling)
- Alex Carida (wrestling)
7 – Team Academic Award winners from respective sport organizations
- Men's cross country, women's cross country, field hockey, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, men's swimming, women's swimming
- Wrestling ranked 23rd in all of Division I in overall team GPA
5 – CoSIDA Academic All-District recipients
- Chad Cooperman (baseball)
- Cole Swiger (baseball)
- Becca Cubbler (women's swimming)
- Collin Hummel (men's swimming)
- Colton Schnars (men's swimming)
3 – PSAC Top 10 Award winners
- Carter Luckenbaugh (men's soccer)
- Becca Cubbler (women's swimming)
- Chad Cooperman (baseball)
2 – CoSIDA Academic All-Americans®
- Becca Cubbler (women's swimming) – First Team
o First female in school history to earn First Team Academic All-America® honors in back-to-back years
- Cole Swiger (baseball) – Second Team
o First baseball player since 1977 to earn Academic All-America® accolades
2 – Bloomsburg University Senior Scholar-Athlete Award winners
- Trevor Allard (wrestling)
- Becca Cubbler (women's swimming)
1 – PSAC Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- Becca Cubbler (women's swimming)
o Third student-athlete ever – and first since 1994-95 – from Bloomsburg to earn the honor since the award's inception in 1990-91
How could anyone not be proud of our Husky student-athletes? Until next month, stay safe and healthy. Remember to Mask Up … And, as always, Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
June/July 2020
Summer is upon us. Well, summer in a COVID world with the outlook of returning to campus hopefully looming in our future. This month, I write outlining June and July with a return to monthly columns in August outlining all the amazing happenings within Bloomsburg University athletics and with our student-athletes.
It is heavy-hearted and with great sadness that I open this column with listing the passing of two Husky athletic stalwarts.
I learned the morning of May 31, 2020 of the tragic accident that occurred with Husky legend and volunteer wrestling coach Mike Dessino. Mike passed the morning of June 1, 2020 and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Dessino family, the BU community, and the Husky wrestling nation. The outpouring of heartfelt wishes and support for Mike's wife Katrina by Mike's teammates, the Bloomsburg community, and wrestling in general has been nothing but amazing. As I listed in the announcement of his passing, "We are devastated by the loss of Mike Dessino. Mike embodied all the great elements of BU Husky Wrestling and has been a true leader for the program. This is a tremendous and tragic loss for his family, his wife Katrina, the BU wrestling family, and everyone who knew this young man of unbelievable character."
Also, the University lost former track and field and cross country coach Lanny Conner. Coach passed away in May at the age of 70. As I stated in the announcement of Coach, "He made a mark and shaped so many individuals during his time coaching the men's and women's programs at Bloomsburg University. He was truly a remarkable man, an amazing coach, and everyone felt his kindness." Conner coached the men's programs from 1987-97, with the men's cross country team finishing in the top-five at the regional meet in 1992 and 1993.
Turning to our student-athletes overall, as the year concludes and the academic and athletic awards are finalized, we are pleased with our overall academic semester especially during the changes forced through COVID for online instruction. Our student-athletes continue to amaze me with their success in the classroom. A few of those honorees include Chad Cooperman and Cole Swiger in baseball for the 2020 Academic All-District® First Team, swimming standout Becca Cubbler was named to the 2019-20 CoSIDA Academic All-District® At-Large First Team, and men's swimmers Collin Hummel and Colton Schnars being named to the 2019-20 Academic All-District® At-Large First Team. We hope that many other honors are bestowed upon our excellent student-athletes.
When we return, there will be a new turf field waiting for us at Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium. It is a tremendous classic design that I know all Husky fans will be excited to see and those who get to play on it will even be more excited. We have a lot of unfinished business.
Well, back to working from home. I miss being able to interact with colleagues in athletics and across campus but hopefully soon that can return. My home office does have a great view out the window. My Nelson office has a better view when teams are in full swing preparing and/or playing games – not to mention when classes are going. Everyone stay safe so we can get back to the campus we love, doing what we do best!
With the everyday changes, please stay tuned for what lies ahead in Husky athletics by visiting our composite schedule at www.BUHuskies.com. See you in August!
Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
May 2020
Good morning and welcome to May. I feel as though everyone's spring has been a bit the same – the days blending together as we are hopefully all staying safe and healthy. Monday could be Thursday, and Saturday seems like a Tuesday. As I scribe this column, it is Sunday, May 3 and we should be wrapping up the Spring PSAC regular seasons and a couple of conference championships with exams right around the corner. Oh, how things have changed in just a few short months. Terms like "flattening the curve," "the new normal," "shelter in place," and "stay at home, save lives," have become commonplace and expected in conversations. Yet, for Husky athletics we continue to end the year with reporting, grade tracking, retention, recruiting, and student-focused activities to guide our student-athletes. Planning and budgeting has taken on new meaning as well. Trying to determine contingency plans for the unknown is somewhat as taxing as the unknown. Modeling is happening in more than just COVID tracking as we prepare for the future of intercollegiate athletics overall, and more specifically the sports on the Hill.
It is usually in this and my June/July columns that I gloat about all the accomplishments of our student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff. I will not disappoint as the amazing work of these individuals continues – even during these non-face-to-face times.
In these uncharted times, we were able to celebrate the accomplishments of our spring sport senior classes. If you have not visited the senior page stories on Men's and Women's Track, Women's Tennis, Women's Lacrosse, Baseball, and Softball, I would encourage you to take time and visit the links. These individuals, while not getting to celebrate a true "Senior Day" still deserve our sincere thank you and acknowledgment for their commitment to BU in the classroom and with their sport. Thank you to the coaches and to our sports information staff (Dave Leisering and Mary Raskob) for putting together these tributes.
What can one say about the accomplishments of Becca Cubbler from the women's swimming team? For the second consecutive year, Becca was named to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Winter Top 10 Team for her accomplishments in the pool and in the classroom. The award, initiated in the 1997-98 academic year, is given to five males and five females in each athletic season; fall, winter, and spring. To be a candidate for the PSAC Top 10 Awards, a student-athlete must have achieved a minimum of a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and must be a starter or key reserve with legitimate athletic credentials for their respective team. The winter sports eligible for consideration for the Winter Top 10 Awards are men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's swimming, and wrestling.
Becca is the second student-athlete from Bloomsburg to earn a Top 10 honor this season as she joined Carter Luckenbaugh from men's soccer who claimed the honor during the fall season. Becca, who also received the accolade last season, is the first Huskies' women's swimmer, since the inception of the award, to garner the accolade. She is the first female student-athlete at Bloomsburg to win in back-to-back years since Amber Hackenberg from women's cross country and track and field accomplished the feat in both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. The Spring PSAC Top 10 award winners will be named soon and hopefully we can celebrate another Husky (or two) on the list.
Staying with the swimming theme, freshman Courtney Hubric capped off a sensational freshman season being named the PSAC Freshman of the Year, the program's first-ever recipient of the award. I would be remiss if I did not congratulate Head Swimming Coach Stu Marvin on his latest accomplishment as well. Coach Marvin, a 1978 BU graduate, was named to the Pennsylvania Aquatics Hall of Fame part of the Class of 2020.
While the Bloomsburg University wrestling was cut short after the conclusion of the 2020 MAC Championships, two of our wrestlers – both NCAA qualifiers – earned Academic Scholar All-American honors. Thanks and congratulations redshirt senior Trevor Allard and sophomore Alex Carida who were named Division I Scholar All-Americans as announced by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). A total of 175 individuals, representing 63 institutions, were recognized with the honor. But, even a better accomplishment includes the entire Husky wrestling team. The squad ranked in the top 30 Scholar All-American teams with the Huskies finishing 23rd overall in the country with a team grade point average of 3.2183. Bloomsburg was one of seven teams from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) to crack the top 30 in overall team GPA, and it finished ahead of such institutions as Duke, Brown, Oklahoma, Purdue, and Arizona State. This is an amazing achievement. The performances continue to improve on the mat and in the classroom and we could not be more Husky Proud.
There are still many ways you can support the Huskies during these times. Many of you may have seen and even purchased "Husky Strong" t-shirts, so Thank You. If you have not, there is still time as the sale runs until May 15, 2020. The proceeds will directly benefit student-athletes and the shirts will be shipped straight to your address once the store closes. Here is the link to get your "Husky Strong" t-shirts. Another way to continue to support is through the John S. Devlin Golf Outing site. If you have played in the Devlin before you understand the great event it has become. There is an option to give to support the football program and we will also be featuring an online auction soon in support of the Devlin Scholarship as well. Let's not forget the locals either. Another element of support includes visiting our Corporate Partners who back the Huskies. You can visit the main web page or the Huskies' Facebook page and scroll through to find all the Corporate Partners and information on each business. We hope by shopping with them or visiting the businesses you can let them know that you are/were a Husky and how appreciative we are of everything they do! And, finally, we appreciate all of our alumni, friends, fans, and donors who continue to support the Husky student-athletes through philanthropic giving. We cannot do it without you! You provide so much opportunity for our student-athletes to succeed in their sport by offering any a $10 gift. So, thank you all for your continued support – in whatever method you can support!
A big thank you to all of our "graduating" student-athletes who have completed their eligibility and will hopefully be walking across the stage in August. We could not be more proud of all you have accomplished at BU, in your major, and with your team. Thank you to each of you for leaving your mark on us. We are and will remain Husky Proud of your accomplishments – there is always a spot for you on the Hill. We also thank our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members for their service to their teammates and to athletics. As we leave the 2019-2020 season behind, a special thank you to Executive Board Members: President - Jordan Wyant, Swimming; Vice President - James Reardon, Baseball; Secretary - Kyle Murphy, Wrestling; and, SAAC Tech Director - Delany Schappert, Women's Lacrosse, for their service. Additionally, we welcome the new incoming executives for the 2020-21 academic year: President - Chad Cooperman, Baseball; Vice President - Mia Nicholes, Volleyball; Secretary - Sydney Rimmer, Field Hockey; and, SAAC Tech Director - Matt Loeh, Track.
Well, we hope to be seeing everyone, amid social distancing, this fall. Please check the Composite Schedule link at www.BUHuskies.com to stay up-to-date on all the latest happenings for all the Huskies. Stay safe, stay well, and Go Huskies!
Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
April 2020
Members of the Bloomsburg University Athletics Community,
Now that I have had some time to digest and reflect on the challenges and the difficulties facing not only our university, but the entire world, I wanted to reach out with updates regarding Bloomsburg athletics and to personally say "Thank You" to our coaches, staff, administration, fans, friends, alums, and – most importantly – our student-athletes for their unbelievable flexibility and cooperation during this unprecedented time.
Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13, are two days that, unfortunately, we will never forget in the world of intercollegiate athletics. The NCAA announced the cancellation of the remainder of winter and spring championships on the 12th. Then the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) followed suit by suspending the rest of the spring season the following day - two decisions that were extremely difficult to make. But, as I continue to track the on-going changes with the COVID-19 pandemic, they were two necessary decisions.
We've gone a full week without sports at Bloomsburg, and, as our students begin distance online learning until the end of the semester, I want to take a look back at a couple of our successes and offer sincere appreciation to those coaches and student-athletes who had their seasons cut short.
Looking back …
- Our women's soccer team had another tremendous fall season as it won the Atlantic Regional championship for the second straight year and reached the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season. The Huskies finished the season ranked sixth in the country. Lauren Hoelke earned All-American and Scholar All-American honors while Jenna Hawkins and Tayah Naudascher also earned All-American accolades. Hawkins was the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, and head coach Matt Haney earned PSAC Coach of the Year laurels. He and his staff (Allison Mack and Rebecca Grubb) were named the United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year for the second straight season.
- In just its second season, our women's volleyball team reached double digits in wins and had the program's first All-Conference and All-Region honoree in junior libero Alyssa Cianciulli.
- Our women's basketball team made the conference tournament for the 11th straight season and upset higher-seeded Kutztown in the first round of the playoffs before bowing to East Stroudsburg in the PSAC Quarterfinals.
- Our men's and women's swimming teams finished second and third, respectively, at the conference championships. The teams combined for 25 All-PSAC results and five All-Americans as well as Courtney Hubric earning PSAC Women's Swimming Freshman of the Year accolades. The men finished the year ranked 25th in the country—more on the swimming teams in a moment.
- To date, our teams combined for 46 All-Conference selections, 17 All-Region accolades, and eight All-Americans – with some awards still to be determined. Also earning a significant postseason honor was Carter Luckenbaugh from men's soccer who earned PSAC Fall Top 10 accolades.
- We also had a number of our fall and winter teams and student-athletes honored for their work in the classroom with team and individual academic awards at the regional and national levels.
Early in the fall, we announced that women's golf would begin competition in the fall of 2020 – our 22nd varsity sport at the university. In October, we inducted seven more individuals into the Bloomsburg Athletic Hall of Fame, bringing the total to 182 members. And, in December, we announced that Frank Sheptock '86 was coming home to guide the Huskies' football program as he becomes the 28th coach in school history.
It was also shaping up to be a tremendous end to the winter season and a great spring for the Huskies until the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members of our swimming programs – seniors Becca Cubbler and Kyle Dix, juniors Collin Hummel and Noah Cancro, and sophomores Colton Schnars and Pat Agnew – were able to get a day-and-a-half in of competition at the NCAA Division II Championships in Geneva, Ohio, before the NCAA made its announcement prior to the evening finals on day two ended their seasons abruptly. We are proud to say that Becca became a four-time All-American with her 10th-place finish in the 1000-yard freestyle on day one, and the men's 200-yard freestyle relay team also earned All-American status with a 15th-place result during the morning prelims on day two. Kyle, who was part of the group, collected his eighth career All-American award. Becca was well on her way to two more All-American honors but, unfortunately, won't get that chance.
The same, however, can't be said for our two wrestlers – senior Trevor Allard and sophomore Alex Carida – who qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships in Minneapolis but didn't get the opportunity to compete. For Alex, we are thankful he gets to come back for two more seasons after earning the last qualifying spot at 157 pounds at the program's first Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships. But, Trevor, who qualified with an at-large bid in his final season, didn't get the chance to fulfill his dream. I want to thank Trevor for a tremendous four-year career and for helping our wrestling program continue to move in the right direction. Your work ethic and leadership will be missed.
As unfortunate as the cancellations have been for all of our student-athletes, especially for our seniors, the difficult decisions were the right decisions for the health of all of us. We consistently preach that the health and well-being of our student-athletes is one of the most important priorities that we have as coaches and administrators.
Lastly, I want to say how proud I am of the student-athletes who had their spring seasons end abruptly. It is truly unfortunate that their hard work and preparation for their seasons and championships will go unrewarded. Our teams were well on their way to having great years. Baseball was 9-1 and receiving votes in the national poll. Women's lacrosse was 4-1, with several individual milestones reached. Softball was off to an 8-6 start with three PSAC Athlete of the Week awards in the first two weeks. Both tennis teams got a couple of matches in after a successful fall, and the outdoor track and field teams were scheduled to begin the weekend everything came to a halt.
The unexpected ending is especially difficult for our seniors on our spring sports programs. We plan to honor these seniors, listed below, with profiles on www.buhuskies.com and through social media during the remainder of the semester. Be on the lookout each Thursday for those "virtual senior days." With the NCAA announcing that spring student-athletes would be granted another year of eligibility, we certainly hope this isn't "goodbye" but, hopefully, "see you next spring." Regardless, we thank them and honor them:
BASEBALL
Brett Alaimo
Christian Ciotti
Chad Cooperman
Ed Herbener
Andrew Holmes
Nate Krizan
James Reardon IV
Gianni Sinatore
JJ Spehrley
Cole Swiger
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Angela DiPasquale
Cailyn Gormley
Grace Kelleher
Delaney Schappert
Kirsten Wozniak
SOFTBALL
Kelsey Impink
Julia Knight
Ashli Venokur
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Cassidy Calimer
Taylor Capoferri
Vitoria Nery
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Zach Bitner
Marcus Gray
Eric Heatwole
Declan McDonald
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
Danielle Adornetto
Amanda Aulenbach
Zoe Berg
Kirsten O'Malley
On behalf of Bloomsburg Athletics, we wish you and your families health and safety in the weeks ahead, and please know that together, we will move past this challenge and be stronger because of it. Please be sure to visit our website, www.buhuskies.com, for updated information as it becomes available. I am looking forward to seeing you all soon.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael McFarland
From the ADs Desk
March 2020
The NCAA March Madness season is upon us in more ways than one. Madness is really Championships. We just wrapped up the PSAC Winter Championships for the Huskies, with the exception of the wrestling program's upcoming first-ever MAC Championship March 6-8, 2020.
The men's and women's swimming programs had stellar showings in their PSAC Championships. You can read all the full details on the men's recap and women's recap. On to the NCAA's for senior Becca Cubbler and sophomore Colton Schnars, along with the men's 200 freestyle relay team featuring Schnars, senior Kyle Dix, junior Collin Hummel, and sophomore Pat Agnew. Cubbler will swim in the 500, 1,000, and 1,650, while Schnars will swim the 50 free and 100 and 200 backstrokes, along with the 200-freestyle relay during the March 12-15, 2020 NCAA Championships in Ohio.
Indoor track and field competed at the PSAC Championships in Edinboro this past weekend and brought home multiple school records. The women finished 11th during the Championship while the men ranked 10th with a host of good individual performances during the championship. We will wait to see if there are any NCAA qualifiers for the Indoor Championship, but the outdoor season is right around the corner and the indoor is just another step for the Huskies as they prep for the outdoor season.
Wrestling, as mentioned above, will compete in the 2020 MAC Championships with a host of qualification spots predetermined, along with a handful of at-large berths available. The Huskies travel to DeKalb, Illinois as Northern Illinois will host the Championship, March 6-8, 2020. If wrestlers advance and qualify, the NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championship tournament will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota March 19-21, 2020.
The Women's Basketball team enters the PSAC Championship with a trip to Kutztown to open the playoff season, while the men's team finished strong but failed to qualify for the post-season. We are excited about what both basketball teams bring to the table for next season.
Speaking of next year … A big thank you to the fall and winter student-athletes who have completed their eligibility and will be graduating soon, or graduated with the end of the fall term. As you move on as an alum, please be sure to remain connected to your Husky family. For example, this year, during spring break, we will be having a few alumni events and hope you can join us. This year's events, in Florida, will be March 12-13-14, 2020. Alum Steph Pettit '89 is hosting the March 13, 2020 event in Tampa. We cannot wait to see him, and all the others Huskies planning to attend.
We would also like to thank everyone who attended the first-ever Husky Athletics Coaches Caravan at SOMO SoPhi in Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago. Host Jahri Evans and members of the coaching staff traveled to the Philadelphia area to meet up with alumni and exchanged stories with about 70 fellow Huskies. Look for our next Husky Athletics Coaches Caravan to be planned and excited this spring/summer.
Spring sports are in full swing – and no pun intended. Men's and women's tennis have a few early matches under their belts, while women's lacrosse is off to a solid start. The baseball and softball teams have opened their 2020 campaigns, while outdoor track is a couple of weeks away from their competitions. Please check the Composite Schedule link at www.BUHuskies.com to stay up-to-date on all the latest contests for all the Huskies.
In the next edition of From the ADs Desk, we will discuss the spring championships, upcoming Husky athletic and alumni events, and look ahead toward the end of the academic year. Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
February 2020
As I sit in yet another hotel room during this time of year, I get to author the February edition of From the ADs Desk. This version comes following the 2020 NCAA Convention in Anaheim, California, a trip as a "sports-dad / #girldad" to Disney's Wide World of Sports for a field hockey tournament seeing a lot of coaches from all three NCAA Field Hockey divisions, and on to Indianapolis for NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship meetings. The travel piece comes with the position, but the memories we make and the time spent with friends, family, and especially your children are second-to-none! Take advantage of every opportunity even if it means crazy balance and sacrifice. But what is best is having an opportunity to collaborate and connect with others.
Four events are coming up allowing us to do just that with our Husky Family – with more to be planned and executed this spring and into the summer. First, this coming Friday, February 7, BU Wrestling is hosting a special Wrestling Alumni Night. It is not too late to register and come support the Huskies as they battle Virginia Military Institute at 7 p.m. followed by a post-match social. We hope to see you there so we can celebrate, honor, and continue to support the program as we battle preparing for our institution's first-ever MAC Championship.
Second, on February 17, thanks to NFL football great and BU alum, Jahri Evans '07, Bloomsburg Athletics will be hosting its first-ever Coaches Caravan. This is an opportunity to join the BU teams, coaches, and other alumni and fans while engaging and winning some official BU athletics gear. The evening will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. as the Coaches Caravan heads to Philadelphia and SOMO SoPhi Restaurant, owned by Jahri. We hope you can join us for what plans to be an exciting event while discussion the future of BU athletics.
Spring Break offers three additional opportunities to visit with fellow alumni in the state of Florida. Steph Pettit will be hosting one of those events, a name synonymous with Husky athletics. Please visit the alumni page for information on all three events and join us at any and all if you can.
And finally, the 2020 Field Hockey Alumni Day will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2020. This event is always a great opportunity to engage with teammates and friends of the program. More information can be found at buhuskies.com.
In the next edition of From the ADs Desk, we will discuss the winter championships, prepare for the spring championship schedule, and outline upcoming Husky athletic events. In the meantime. Please visit www.BUHuskies.com for all the updates, schedules, championships, and news on BU athletics.
Time for kick-off! Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
January 2020
Wow … What a December!
First, THANK YOU Steph Pettit '89. On December 4, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and the Bloomsburg University Foundation announced a $10 million gift, with $5 million supporting athletic priorities, specifically scholarships, and a $5 million trust to support future university needs. As outlined in the announcement "In recognition of the impact this donation will have, BU will rename and brand the University's athletic complex, to Bloomsburg University Pettit Athletic Complex. This latest gift from Pettit will increase scholarship dollars for BU student-athletes, bolstering the recruiting efforts of the Huskies' coaches. The gift makes Steph Pettit the largest donor in University history, bringing his total contributions to more than $12.5 million." What an amazing individual who loves Bloomsburg and drives us all to be better individuals while supporting growth and success.
Second, the Huskies Women's Soccer program repeated as Atlantic Region Champions by eliminating West Chester at Afrim's Sports Park in suburban Albany the first weekend in December. That was followed by a loss to end their remarkable season in the Elite Eight, 2-1 versus the College of Saint Rose. Statistically, Bloomsburg's 18 wins tied the program record for most victories in a season, which was originally established in 1996 when the Huskies went 18-3-1 under Hall of Fame coach Chuck Laudermilch. Meanwhile, the 35 program victories over the last two seasons established a new record. But, the awards didn't stop there. All-Region, All-American, Regional Coaching Staff of the Year, Scholar All-American, etc. Check out the women's soccer page for a full listing of the great season for Coach Matt Haney and the BU women's soccer team.
Third, on December 20, I was able to announce the hiring of Frank Sheptock '86 as the 28th head football coach of the program. Sheptock, a member of the NCAA Division II Team or the Quarter Century (1973-97) and the PSAC 150 Contributors of College Football in 2019, played linebacker for head coach George Landis and holds the school records for tackles in a career (537), single-season (159), and single-game (23), as well as career fumble recoveries (12). Before his arrival, Bloomsburg experienced a winless season and, in his freshman year, only won one contest. But, by his junior year, Sheptock helped lead the team to a tie for the conference crown and then in his senior season, the Huskies posted an undefeated regular season, won the PSAC title after a 31-9 win over IUP, and advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals. His program record for tackles in a single-game, in fact, occurred during the national semifinal contest at North Alabama. Sheptock was a four-time PSAC First Team selection, a three-time First Team Associated Press All-American, and All-East Region honoree for the Huskies. Sheptock was inducted into the Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
Now, as we move into January it has already proven to be exciting with a lot more to come! We will be announcing more details about the new Women's Golf program in the coming weeks. The 22nd sport at BU promises to be exciting, along with our partnership with Frosty Valley.
Opening the New Year, Bloomsburg welcomed to Nelson Field House the Harlem Globetrotters. From my understanding, this is the third visit of the World-Famous Globetrotters (1970, 1983, and 2020). The "Pushing the Limits" World Tour featured a great game against the Washington Generals and created great memories for all those in attendance. The Globetrotters pulled out a 69-63 victory as well to end the evening.
While we are only in January, the winter championships are right around the corner, the spring teams are a couple of weeks from beginning their campaigns. The Championship schedule for the winter programs includes: Swimming on Feb. 19-22, in York; the Indoor Track Championships Feb. 29-March 1; Men's Basketball will be hosted in the East, while Women's Basketball will be hosted in the West March 2, 4, 7-8; and the first MAC Championship for the Wrestling program will be held March 6-8 at Northern Illinois University.
Make sure to check www.BUHuskies.com for all the updates, schedules, championships and news on BU athletics.
Happy New Year to everyone … And we are looking forward to the start of the spring semester. Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
December 2019
Just a couple of weeks remain in the fall semester and 2019 will come to a close! Can you believe it? The great news is the Husky women's nationally-ranked soccer team continues to prepare this week with the dream of a national championship. The team will battle West Chester for the Atlantic Region title in Albany, New York, on December 6. With a win, the Huskies will take on the East Region Champion (either College of St. Rose or Molloy) for a spot in the NCAA National Championship. That event will be held in Pittsburgh December 12 and 14. We hope you can cheer on and support the ladies on this remarkable run.
Speaking of support … Tuesday, December 3 is Giving Tuesday! Your support can only make our athletic programs stronger. The BU version of Giving Tuesday is managed by the Bloomsburg University Foundation with support by directing your gift to athletics. Giving Tuesday is a powerful national day of giving, raising funds, and generating awareness after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Join the worldwide day of giving with a gift of any size to support BU Husky Athletics and please consider sharing why you give back. To join the movement, visit TakeActionBU.org and find athletics. Click GIVE NOW! to make your gift – no matter what the amount is your support is what is critical to our continued and future success. We hope you can support on Husky Athletics on Giving Tuesday or when the time is right for you.
There have been a host of adjustments in BU athletics since I last authored From the ADs Desk. First, BU welcomes its 22nd sport with women's golf. The addition of the program will provide Huskies' student-athletes with more opportunities to compete, and succeed, in 10 men's varsity programs and 12 women's varsity programs at the University. As outlined in the announcement, women's golf will be the second female sport to be added at Bloomsburg in the last three years as the announcement of women's volleyball as a varsity sport was made in 2017. The Huskies' volleyball program concluded its second season of varsity competition and junior libero Alyssa Cianciulli earned the women's volleyball program its first-ever postseason honor earning All-PSAC Second Team accolades. Bloomsburg also announced that the Golf Course at Frosty Valley will serve as the host golf course for the Huskies' women's golf program. This has been the location for the Husky Golf Outings for the last two years.
Second, we are conducting a national search for a successor of head football coach Paul Darragh. I would like to personally thank Coach Darragh for his dedication and service to BU and the overall football program. The University's goal is to have a new coach in place prior to January 1 to ensure we have solid opportunity to lock-in future Husky gridiron stars during recruiting.
Now that the cross-over of fall to winter sports is all but complete – go women's soccer and let's play through the middle of December – you can catch the action for women's and men's basketball online and on the airwaves. Wrestling home matches will also be web-streamed without audio. The basketball games can be found through WHSK 91.1 FM with the men's games called by Jim Doyle, Hall of Fame voice of the Huskies, and the women's games by long-time women's basketball broadcaster Larry White. The broadcasts of Bloomsburg University basketball during the 2019-20 season, along with airing on 91.1 FM in Bloomsburg, are available via WHSK's online stream. If you would rather watch the contests, the home games will be web-streamed live through the Bloomsburg University Sports Network (BUSN) and those links can be accessed on line on the men's and women's schedule pages. Wrestling matches, for the home events, can also be found online. The first home meet will be Friday night, December 6, as the Huskies welcome Rider opening the Mid-American Conference (MAC) campaign at Nelson Field House with a 7 p.m. start.
I also mentioned an exciting event to start the New Year. BU will welcome the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters to Nelson Field House January 2, 2020. The game will be at 7:00 p.m. with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. Ticket can be purchased online. The Original Harlem Globetrotters are a worldwide icon, synonymous with one-of-a-kind family entertainment and great basketball skills. Founded in 1926, the Globetrotters represent 94 years of breaking down barriers, acts of kindness and a commitment to fans that goes well beyond the game. The "Ambassadors of Goodwill"™ have dazzled and dunked their way into the hearts of over 148 million fans worldwide, performing in 124 countries and territories on six continents in their illustrious history. The Globetrotters' spectacular live show is unrivaled in the world of family entertainment, showcasing some of the greatest athletes on the planet. With incredible ball handling wizardry, amazing rim-rattling dunks and trick shots, side-splitting comedy and unequaled on-court fan interaction, this must-see event is guaranteed to entertain the whole family – creating memories that will last a lifetime. This is a great opportunity for basketball fans and those in Bloomsburg to experience a great evening of fun and basketball.
With the full winter season beginning, please be sure to visit www.BUHuskies.com for the latest news about BU athletics and to check all our game schedules. Come and support us at home or on the road.
Well, time to make sure we are ready for exams and the end of the academic semester push. To the student-athletes, good luck with finals. To the alumni and fans, please consider supporting on Giving Tuesday and with the end of the year approaching. And to all, have a great Holiday season with friends and family. We hope to see you soon … Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
November 2019
The weather has changed. There is the first call for snow later this week. What does that mean? Well, outdoor sports are coming to a close and indoor winter sports (men's and women's basketball, indoor track, wrestling, and swimming) are starting.
Swimming and wrestling are off to stellar starts while men's basketball opens the season this weekend and women's basketball starts the season at home on Nov. 13 against the University of the Sciences. Indoor track opens the 2019-20 campaign on Dec. 7. This is truly an exciting time for all of Husky athletics.
Be sure to tune in to WHSK 91.1 FM for all the Husky women's and men's basketball coverage – the former WBUQ. The agreement will air 28 men's basketball games and 26 women's basketball games for a total of 54 regular-season home and road basketball contests, as well as any postseason competition. The men's games will be called by Jim Doyle, Hall of Fame Voice of the Huskies, while the women's games will feature the play-by-play of long-time women's basketball broadcaster Larry White. Pre-game will begin approximately 15 minutes before the start of each scheduled tip-off time. All broadcasts of Bloomsburg University basketball during the 2019-20 season will also be available via WHSK's online stream.
You can also find the home games on the BUSN for live video streaming and those links can be accessed on line on the men's and women's schedule pages.
The Harlem Globetrotters will be making a visit to Bloomsburg University's Nelson Field House on Thursday, January 2, 2020. The game will be at 7:00 p.m. with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online. The Original Harlem Globetrotters are a worldwide icon, synonymous with one-of-a-kind family entertainment and great basketball skills. Founded in 1926, the Globetrotters represent 94 years of breaking down barriers, acts of kindness and a commitment to fans that goes well beyond the game. The "Ambassadors of Goodwill"™ have dazzled and dunked their way into the hearts of over 148 million fans worldwide, performing in 124 countries and territories on six continents in their illustrious history. The Globetrotters' spectacular live show is unrivaled in the world of family entertainment, showcasing some of the greatest athletes on the planet. With incredible ball handling wizardry, amazing rim-rattling dunks and trick shots, side-splitting comedy and unequaled on-court fan interaction, this must-see event is guaranteed to entertain the whole family – creating memories that will last a lifetime. This is a great opportunity for basketball fans and those in Bloomsburg to experience a great evening of fun and basketball.
Right around the corner is Thanksgiving followed by Giving Tuesday. Outlined by the BU Foundation, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Bloomsburg University Foundation will mark its second year participating in Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a powerful national day of giving, raising funds and generating awareness after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Join the worldwide day of giving with a gift of any size to support BU Husky Athletics and please consider sharing why you give back. To join the movement, visit TakeActionBU.org and find athletics. Click GIVE NOW! to make your gift – no matter what the amount is your support is what is critical to our continued and future success. We hope you can support on December 3, or when the time is right for you … Because Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
The winter schedules are fully posted and the PSAC Championship dates are listed at www.BUHuskies.com. Log in for the latest news about BU athletics and to check all our game schedules. We hope you can support our coaches and student-athletes either at a home event or on the road.
Speaking of promotions and information, the Sports Information Office will be beginning a new "pre-event" method of getting the word out. That said, weekly there will be a release, posted to all electronic and social media, that highlights all the activities in one succinct document including a brief sport recap, a preview of the week ahead, and the necessary links to game stats, live video or audio. This will provide opportunities to view all the Husky information and to carry some consistent messaging. Keep checking the website for additional information and the 'new look' weekly promotional materials.
We wish you the best as the leaves turn and fall and the winter weather approaches … Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
October 2019
I still remember the old sports slogan "The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat." That rings louder today than ever. Our student-athletes continue to jump through hurdles, hoops, landmines, and whatever else is tossed their way when battling day-in and day-out in their sport and in the classroom. The coaches are no different experiencing the highs and lows of preparation, competition, and balancing the successes and failures. Administratively, we are in the throes of all of it – daily! One team may be performing well when another hits a bump … whatever the outcome it appears with thrill and agony.
I know I highlighted our upcoming Hall of Fame induction and dinner in the last few From the ADs Desk columns, but we are extremely thrilled about the Friday, October 11, 2019 event. Be sure to register today for what plans to be an exciting evening celebrating some amazing Huskies! This year's class includes: Ron Morgan (former equipment manager); Joanne McComb (former women's basketball coach and administrator); Alea Balthaser Floren '02 (women's soccer); Megan Hunsinger '99 (softball); Justin Shepherd '07 (men's cross country); Richard Scorese '64 (wrestling); and, Trisha Leitzel Hoffman '03 (field hockey).
On a recent agony note, former head women's soccer coach Sandy Dickson passed away on Monday, September 16, 2019. As I stated in the announcement, "Sandy meant so much to the ladies she coached and all those she interacted with during her time at Bloomsburg University." Coach Dickson, who most recently was the head women's soccer coach at Chestnut Hill College, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer late in the spring of 2019. During her battle with the disease, she continued to make an impact on so many individuals.
During her 14-year tenure at Bloomsburg University, she led the Huskies to a 139-89-27 record which included 10 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship Tournament appearances and eight NCAA DII Championship Tournaments. Coach Dickson led the Huskies to PSAC Championships in 1998 and 2002, while finishing runner-up in 2000 and 2001. She was named the PSAC Coach of the Year in 1998 and earned the honor again in 2008 after leading the Huskies to a 13-6-1 overall record and an 8-3-1 league mark - second in the PSAC East Division. While at Bloomsburg, Coach Dickson produced 13 All-Americans and 52 All-PSAC student-athletes, including three PSAC Athletes of the Year, two PSAC Rookies of the Year, and one Adidas NCAA Division II Player of the Year.
Another upcoming "Dinner with Darragh" football show is this week, Thursday, October 3. Bloomsburg University head football coach Paul Darragh hosts "Dinner With Darragh," at the Quaker Steak and Lube on Columbia Mall Drive. The event is open to the public with dinner beginning at 6 p.m. and the program to follow. The cost of the buffet meal is $13 per person including a drink. Following dinner, Coach Darragh will talk about the Huskies' season and upcoming games.
Game schedules for the fall teams are in full swing with PSAC Championships around the corner. Be sure to check out www.BUHuskies.com for the latest news about BU athletics and to check all our game schedules. Come and support us at home or on the road.
The University will be hosting Parents and Family Weekend (PFW) this weekend (October 4-6) and Homecoming on October 26. During the PFW weekend (October 5-6), the PSAC Champion Baseball Team will host a pre-game celebration at the football game against Kutztown, followed by their annual Golf Outing and Wall of Honor Luncheon on Sunday, October 6. Event information can be accessed through the baseball website.
As the fall comes to a close, basketball, swimming, indoor track and field, and wrestling seasons will be starting practice and competition. The basketball games will return to the new WHSK 91.1 radio station (formerly WBUQ) with the action called by Jim Doyle (men) and Larry White (women). Through the Bloomsburg University Sports Network (BUSN), each home game will be produced and web streamed. Road games will be streamed by the host institution for all conference games. Links to those games will be posted with the game story and on the schedule page. Athletics, in partnership with Instructional Media Services, continues to investigate methods of streaming other sports too. We have heard from a host of parents, friends, fans, and others of the desire to have the games aired. Discussions are on-going and we hope to have a solution in the future.
Thanks to Danny Fisher, football alum from the class of 2015, for presenting at the Career Intensive Boot Camp (September 29, 2019). His presentation, attended by workshop registrants and members of the BU Volleyball team and football coaching staff, was titled "Lead Like a Husky." As the outline of the session read "Huskies are loyal, hardworking, and run in a pack. Understand the value you bring as a young professional, how to apply your experience to your career, and see how leadership is all about working together to achieve goals." The session was tremendous and as I mentioned to Danny afterward, I know the attendees learned about leadership as there were even nuggets of information that will benefit me as a leader provided. A tremendous benefit of having fantastic student-athletes, current and former, who want to give of their time, talent, and treasure to support Bloomsburg!
Due to athletic events over the weekend, I was only able to attend Danny Fisher's session at the Boot Camp but was pleased to see fellow alum Ed Coar at the event as well. Ed is a 1978 graduate who served as an Honorary Captain at the September 21, 2019 home football game against Mercyhurst. He joined the panelists during the session by interviewing students during Boot Camp. Thank you, Ed, for your continued support at all levels.
Time to prepare for the Parents and Family Weekend activities this coming weekend. Be sure to stop in and help cheer the Huskies on to victory. Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
September 2019
Let the games begin!
The teams and coaches have been on campus since mid-August, so it is time to lace 'em up and play against outside opponents. The week opens at home with women's soccer beginning their PSAC title defense battling Edinboro this Thursday. Men's soccer and volleyball hit the road to open the season, while football hosts Stonehill Saturday, men's and women's cross country opens at home Saturday, and field hockey starts the 2019 campaign at home Sunday versus Bellarmine. It should be a tremendous opening weekend – at home and on the road.
While the games are beginning for our fall sports, we have some upcoming events worth adding to your calendar. It is not too late to join us for this year's Hall of Fame event. Be sure to register for the upcoming Hall of Fame dinner and induction of seven individuals on Friday, October 11, 2019. As I listed in my last edition of From the ADs Desk, the class features: Ron Morgan (former equipment manager); Joanne McComb (former women's basketball coach and administrator); Alea Balthaser Floren '02 (women's soccer); Megan Hunsinger '99 (softball); Justin Shepherd '07 (men's cross country); Richard Scorese '64 (wrestling); and, Trisha Leitzel Hoffman '03 (field hockey). Be sure to register today for what plans to be an exciting evening celebrating some amazing Huskies!
Another upcoming event is the "Dinner with Darragh" football show. Bloomsburg University head football coach Paul Darragh will again hold his dinner series, "Dinner With Darragh," at the Quaker Steak and Lube on Columbia Mall Drive this fall. There are three dates of "Dinner With Darragh": September 12, October 3, and October 24. The events are open to the public with dinner beginning at 6 p.m. and the program to follow. Each night will feature a buffet dinner. The cost of the meal is $13 per person including a drink. Following dinner, Coach Darragh will talk about the Huskies' season and upcoming games.
While we celebrate the past, we need to alert you of the present. The newest member of our team, joining the Huskies as Director of Athletic Operations and Summer Camps is Colin Bailey. Bailey joins the Huskies after a stint with Northern Arizona University where he served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations. Prior to his time at NAU, Bailey was the Director of Event Operations at North Dakota State University where he oversaw facility maintenance, scheduling, event planning and game day operations. Prior to NDSU, he worked with Landmark Event Services at the University of Arkansas and spent the 2013-14 season as an intern for facilities and operations at the University of Florida. Bailey also spent time in Minor League Baseball working as a stadium operations and clubhouse intern with the State College Spikes in 2011 and as clubhouse manager for the Delmarva Shorebirds in 2012. He completed his undergraduate studies with a bachelor's degree in business administration and communications from West Virginia University (2011) and earned a master's degree in sport management from WVU (2013). During his time as a Mountaineer, he interned in the marketing office for one year and the athletic communications office for three years. I am sure you will see Colin out and about at an event on campus.
Three other new members of the Husky team include additions in track and field, men's and women's tennis, and wrestling. Former Millersville All-American Sunflower Greene joins the Husky track and field program as a graduate assistant. Daniel Elston will serve as the men's and women's tennis graduate assistant joining first-year head coach Rebecca Helt. Finally, joining the wrestling program is new volunteer and Husky Elite Wrestling Club coach Steve Mytych.
I cannot believe that it is September already. Classes are in full swing on the BU campus and all the teams are starting to gather. Be sure to check out www.BUHuskies.com for the latest news about BU athletics and to check all our game schedules. If you cannot make it to a game in Bloomsburg, we hope you can join us at one of our opponents' venues. It is always amazing to witness the support our student-athletes receive – both at home and on the road.
I realize this edition is abbreviated, but there is a lot to accomplish in the coming weeks. Check this space in October for mid-season updates. We hope to see you soon! Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
August 2019
Do you hear that? It is the hustle and bustle of pre-season. Nelson Field House, which sat full of summer campers and clinic participants, will soon be the home of the 500 BU Husky student-athletes as they prepare for the 2019-20 academic and athletic seasons. It has already begun in many cases with the coaches plotting game and practice plans, the athletic trainers inventorying and ensuring proper paperwork, compliance office solidifying academic issues, and all other areas of athletics gearing up for what promises to be an amazing year.
July ended with a bang and now we are already awaiting the return. However, a lot to catch-up on in just the few short days since my last update.
Head Wrestling Coach Marcus Gordon and I spent time at the Mid-American Conference offices for the MAC's orientation. The entire wrestling associate membership was there and we had some excellent conversations with MAC leaders Jeff Bacon and Korinth Patterson. The move to the MAC for wrestling, while it will be challenging, is a fantastic opportunity to continue to advance the program. We are extremely excited to "Get Some MACtion" and battle in the new conference.
The PSAC featured two great announcements recently as well. The first was academically-related, while the second celebrates the 150 years of NCAA Football and the PSAC 150 Contributors. First, academically, Bloomsburg boasted 164 student-athletes on the PSAC Scholar-Athlete list for 2018-19 (this is an increase of 132 from the previous year). Our student-athletes still have a long way to go but continue to excel in the classroom. Secondly, the PSAC named a 150 Contributor list on the eve of College Football's 150th anniversary. The entire Bloomsburg group of players, coaches, and contributors earning selection on the PSAC 150 Contributor list include: Jamar Brittingham, Jim Doyle, Jahri Evans, Matt Feiler, Danny Hale, Franklyn Quiteh, Robert Redman, Frank Sheptock, Irvin Sigler, Bob Tucker. This is a tremendous reflection on our program and what lies ahead for BU football. We are planning, with the PSAC, to honor these individuals at a game this fall. Speaking of football, it is not too late to order your tickets and tailgate spots for the 2019 season.
Celebration is key to a successful program. Two major items to celebrate include the 2019 Hall of Fame class and the major award winners from the 2018-19 season, which was announced on July 24, 2019. First, the Hall of Fame class this year features seven former contributors, coaches, and players and those individuals will be inducted on Friday, October 11, 2019. The class features: Ron Morgan (former equipment manager); Joanne McComb (former women's basketball coach and administrator); Alea Balthaser Floren '02 (women's soccer); Megan Hunsinger '99 (softball); Justin Shepherd '07 (men's cross country); Richard Scorese '64 (wrestling); and, Trisha Leitzel Hoffman '03 (field hockey). Be sure to register today for what plans to be an exciting evening celebrating some amazing Huskies! To recap this past year's major athletic award winners, the following student-athletes were honored: Outstanding Scholar Female Athlete of the Year: Allison Barber, Women's Soccer; Outstanding Scholar Male Athlete of the Year: Nicholas McGuire, Men's Cross Country/Track; Robert B. Redman Senior Male Athlete of the Year: Ashton Raines, Baseball; Eleanor Wray Female Athlete of the Year: Allison Barber, Women's Soccer; Joanne McComb Female Underclass Athlete of the Year: Rebecca Cubbler, Women's Swimming; and, Danny Litwhiler Male Underclass Athlete of the Year: Kyle Dix, Men's Swimming. These individuals have been invited back to the home opener football game on Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. against Stonehill College to be honored, along with other PSAC and NCAA teams from the spring.
We are excited to announce some of our returning Graduate Assistants and some of the new Graduate Assistants who help with our overall program success and the student-athlete experience. Here is a list, in no particular order, of the individuals who help make BU a great place: Keenan Huss, Athletic Operations; Matthew Kress, Baseball; Allison Mack, Women's Soccer; Thomas Coombes, Men's Soccer; Kathleen Mirgon, Women's Lacrosse; Alisha Wein, Athletic Academics; Sarah Gomish, Volleyball; and Jordynn Kurcoba, Strength and Conditioning. Thank you each for all you do everyday!
Well, be sure to check out www.BUHuskies.com for the latest news about BU athletics and to check all our game schedules. We hope to see you soon! Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
July 2019
Normally I skip the July update. However, there is so much going on at BU that I felt a brief update was important to our fans, families, friends, alumni, and supporters.
As you may recall, we have three available positions that greatly support all that the Huskies do. The first is tennis with the retirement of Marty Coyne. A second position is hiring a permanent athletic trainer to service all the student-athletes. And, the third has just opened as James Updike will be joining Penn State making our Director of Athletic Operations and Summer Camps position available. That said, I would like to announce the following two positions that join our team: Men's and Women's Tennis Head Coach and Athletic Training.
As I announced earlier in the week to our staff, accepting the role of Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach is Rebecca Helt. The veteran coach joins us from Bucknell University. She will replace long-time tennis coach Marty Coyne. Rebecca joins us after serving for 20-plus years as head women's tennis coach, which included being the coordinator of tennis since 2013. She also served as head men's tennis coach from 2002-13. She is a graduate of Lock Haven University and earned a teaching certification from the United States Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR). We are pleased to welcome her to lead the program.
Second, returning in a now permanent tenure-track role as an athletic trainer is Syrena Hess. She is a West Chester University undergrad and a Winthrop University master's student. Her previous experiences were at Gannon University and Winthrop University followed by a year at Bloomsburg.
We hope to announce the new Director of Athletic Operations position at the start of August. I know I speak on behalf of all our coaches and many at the University when I say thank you and good luck to James Updike as he moves into his new role.
In other news, I was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA). This is an exciting role that allows me to remain on the cutting edge of athletic administration while representing and reporting out to the PSAC Athletic Directors and administrators. Paul Lueken, Director of Athletics at Slippery Rock, previously represented the PSAC on the Board and I am honored to follow his leadership in this role.
Looking back at 2018-19 and preparing a Year End Review, I wanted to make sure to highlight a few items from this past academic year:
* 7,864 Community Service Hours (2018-19) - second overall in PSAC
* 344 Student-Athletes earned Co-Curricular Learning Experience (CLE) Credit for Varsity Athletic Credit (VAC)
* 132 Student-Athletes named to PSAC Scholar-Athlete List (2018)
* 62 D2 ADA Scholar-Athletes
* 3 Academic All-Americans
* 3 Athletic All-Americans
* 14 All-Region / All-District Student-Athletes
* 42 All-Conference Recipients
* 2 Team Academic Award Winners
* 1 PSAC Freshman of the Year
* 21 PSAC and EWL Athletes of the Week
* 2 PSAC Championship Teams – Women's Soccer and Baseball
* 1 EWL Champion/NCAA Qualifier – 125-lb. Willy Girard
* Successful launch of the 21st sport Women's Volleyball program
* Four PSAC Coach of the Year recipients
* Three PSAC Top 10 Award Winners
What a year! We still have a lot of room to improve, but I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of our student-athletes and coaches and I am expecting even great accolades for 2019-20.
In the next edition of From the ADs Desk I will bring to you the 2019 Hall of Fame honorees, as well as the list of all six athletic major award winners, and our list of new Graduate Assistants joining our team.
Until next time … Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
June 2019
Welcome to June. Where do we begin? The seasons are now officially over for another year. The planning for 2019-20 is well underway. There is conference after conference for networking, education, idea gathering, and mentorship. Before we know it, the student-athletes will be back in the building preparing for the fall season.
In my last correspondence, I was just writing about the teams entering into their respective conference championships and concluding their seasons. Let's recap: The BU baseball team won its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship since 1965. Individual awards and honors are still rolling in for the team that won its first NCAA Tournament game since the 1995 World Series qualifying squad. Bloomsburg's 35 victories are the second-most in program history trailing only the 37 wins (of the 1995 North Atlantic Regional Championship team that advanced to the Division II College World Series). The BU Softball team concluded the 2019 season with a Coach of the Year honor, the PSAC Central Division Freshman of the Year, six All-PSAC award winners, as well as two National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Atlantic Regional members and a D2CCA All-Atlantic honoree. The Husky Track and Field team won the women's 4x800 relay at the PSAC Championship while junior Amanda Aulenbach set a new school record in the Heptathlon. The men's 4x800 relay also established a new school record at the championship. The BU Women's Lacrosse team had six student-athletes earn All-PSAC honors following their 2019 11-win campaign, which was the most since 2012.
This year, we had three Huskies earn PSAC Top 10 awards with two in the fall (Nick McGuire and Allie Barber) and most recently, swimming's Becca Cubbler. She was named to the 2018-19 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Winter Top 10 Team. Another honor was wrestling's Trevor Allard being named a Division I Scholar All-American for the second consecutive year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). And, five members of the Bloomsburg University field hockey team were honored as Zag Sports Tours / National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholars of Distinction. The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® honors are also rolling in with Chad Cooperman and Cole Swiger (baseball), Cubbler (at-large, swimming), and McGuire (cross country / track and field) already earning district accolades.
A solid spring campaign for all the Huskies teams – on and off the field/pool/track.
Convention and networking time is upon us as well. Next week is the NACDA convention where we will network, learn from others in the field, and gather more ideas to better the experience for our student-athletes, coaches, alumni, and fans. That will be followed up by the PSAC Retreat where we will review the conference and spend time together discussing all elements of advancing the success of our program. It is an exciting time of year!
Not to forget, we have a host of camps and clinics going on this summer. Make sure to visit our camp website for additional information. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing our schedules for all the fall sports so make sure to check the website often for new information. Also, we will be having the announcement of the 2019 Hall of Fame class in the coming weeks – you don't want to miss this year's class with the ceremony scheduled for October 11, 2019.
As we wrap-up another year and plan for 2019-20, I want to take a moment to thank everyone for their partnership this past year. It is critical to the success of our 500+ student-athletes, but also of the entire athletic department. Whether you are a fan, parent, alum, corporate sponsor, philanthropic supporter, student-athlete, professor, or coach, you continue to make an impact on our program. As you know, supporting Bloomsburg and the athletic department directly translates into scholarship funding, academic advancements, and overall growth for our young men and women to compete at Bloomsburg on the field and in the classroom. As I have said before and I will say many times again – We cannot do it without you. THANK YOU!!!!
Time to get back at it. Enjoy the summer and I hope you all have a chance to recharge and enjoy time with family and friends. Remember, Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
May 2019
The end of another academic and athletic year is upon us. Exams are this week along with the final two PSAC Conference Championships (Outdoor Track at Mansfield and Baseball at Point Stadium, Johnstown). The Track student-athletes will battle for the championship while the baseball team is seeded third in the conference tournament.
This is also the time of year to reflect back and look ahead as many of our student-athletes will graduate and formally become alumni. Commencement will be held this year in Redman Stadium and we will be using the new Jahri Evans Scoreboard for announcements during the ceremony. Also, Steph Pettit '89, a great friend, fan of BU, and alum will be honored at this year's commencement with an honorary doctor of humane letters during the 10 a.m. commencement ceremony for the College of Education and the College of Liberal Arts. It should be a wonderful day and ceremony. For the third consecutive year, BU will honor any student-athlete unable to attend the ceremony due to their athletic schedule conflicting with the graduation. The support received for our student-athletes is tremendous – not only through the coaches and teammates, but also through the campus administration and with the faculty who support their out-of-classroom efforts.
In case you haven't noticed there are some great ways to follow the Huskies! We will be printing fall posters and schedule cards soon in preparation for the seasons, but in the meantime social media allows you to be up-to-date on all things BU Athletics. The Facebook page, now has over 5,000 likes and friends, while the Twitter account continues to grow with over 8,600 followers, and both provide excellent information about BU. There are a ton of ways to keep updated and we welcome you to join the conversation or just come and visit so we can interact the old fashioned way – face-to-face. For that matter, you can even call the BU Athletics office (570-389-4050), if you want to learn more.
The end of the year means time for vacations, camps, and planning for the fall. You will start to see the schedule announcements for the fall teams and a host of other upcoming events through athletics. Now for the camp information for your little Huskies to come and learn skills, compete, and be seen by college coaches … Make sure to visit Bloomsburg University Camps. We have something for everyone!
Another important date to mark on your calendar is our annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction. We will be announcing the 2019 Hall of Fame induction class very soon as well. Mark your calendars now for this exciting event that will be held on October 11, 2019 in Kehr Union.
I know this is a short post but wanted to make sure we provided you with some quick updates. To our graduating student-athletes we wish you nothing but luck in your future endeavors and know you always have a home at BU. Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
April 2019
As I write this on April 1, 2019, I need to make sure that all jokes are put aside. My wife asked me this morning as I was leaving the house why I didn't try any April Fools jokes on our daughters and I said, like I say right now, that I didn't even realize it was April Fool's Day. Other than the brief humor involved in an April Fools' gag, I want to focus on what is needed and continue to advance BU athletics so I will pass on trying to fool anyone!
So where do we start? First, a huge THANK YOU and congratulations to all of our student-athletes, coaches, cheerleaders and others associated with the Community Government Association's (CGA) 'The Big Event.' The annual community and town engagement and clean up occurred this past Saturday morning. Every BU athletic team (530 student-athletes, coaches, cheerleaders, and volunteers) supported the event and even Roongo chipped in to make the day a success while cleaning-up the town that we all call home.
Spring sports are solidly underway and the final winter sports have concluded. To take a quick look back at the winter, a huge atta-boy to wrestler Willy Girard for winning the 125-pound EWL title and advancing to the NCAA Division I wrestling championship. Another celebratory moment was the qualification of swimmers Becca Cubbler and Kyle Dix to their respective NCAA Championship. Becca walked away with three All-America honors and we could not be more proud of her accomplishments. Kirsten O'Malley garnered qualification in the Indoor Track and Field Indoor National Championship as well. And, to round out the winter, the women's basketball team earned an Eastern Division Co-Championship. Not too bad of a run.
Baseball, women's lacrosse, both men's and women's tennis, softball, and men's and women's outdoor track and field are now in the heart of their competitive seasons. Right around the corner we will have the spring PSAC Championships – which is another reason I forgot it was already April 1st as fast as the calendar is turning. The schedule for all the teams highlights their runs for titles, championships, and post-season. We appreciate all the support we receive and hope you can join us for any contests – home or on the road.
In partnership with our colleagues in Instructional Media Services, BU will be streaming not only the PSAC Tennis Championships for a second season, but have two women's lacrosse games in the mix this spring. The games on Tuesday, April 2 against Kutztown and on Tuesday, April 16 against West Chester will be streamed online. Links for the games can be found on the lacrosse schedule.
During the spring, all the fall teams are conducting their non-traditional season activities. This includes practices and games, per NCAA rules. Additionally, a lot of the programs will be hosting Alumni games and gatherings this spring and early summer. We will be holding our annual Maroon and Gold Spring Football game on Saturday, April 13 at 1:30 p.m. in Redman Stadium and hope you can join us for a full day of Husky Athletics (tennis at home, softball at home, lacrosse at home). The football team will also hold the annual John S. Devlin Golf Outing at Frosty Valley Country Club on June 8. Be sure to sign-up early for this exciting event that directly supports our student-athletes.
The Devlin event is not the only opportunity for alumni to engage with their friends, teammates, and other Huskies. The women's soccer team will hold an alumni game and dinner after on April 27 at 4:30 p.m. The same day, April 27, there will be an Alumni Social following the BU Maroon and Gold Track Meet. BU Field Hockey will hold its 2019 alumni game on April 28 at 11 a.m. with a social to follow. And, the men's soccer alumni weekend will be May 3 and 4 with an alumni game and a golf outing. Make sure to register today!
Now I need to go think of who I can pull an April Fool's gag on. Have a great April and Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
March 2019
With March comes March Madness and the end of basketball, swimming, indoor track and wrestling. A lot to review.
First, women's basketball is the Co-Eastern Division Champion and due to tiebreakers became the #2 seed in the East earning a bye and hosting a quarterfinal PSAC Championship game on Wednesday, March 6. There is still a chance to either host (if highest remaining seed) or to advance to the Final Four with a victory Wednesday. The Championship Weekend will be contested March 9-10.
With men's and women's swimming, the PSAC Championships concluded with the Huskies placing second and third, respectively. During the PSAC Championships, held in York, Pa., a host of Huskies finished with individual and team bests. A pair of juniors, Kyle Dix and Becca Cubbler, posted NCAA qualifying times during the championship and will compete March 13-16 at Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In the rare one-day condensed format due to weather, the PSAC Indoor Track and Field Championship was contested on February 24 at Edinboro. The BU Huskies Women's Team and the BU Huskies Men's Team are now primed for the outdoor season based off their respective performances at the Championship.
Senior Kirsten O'Malley was selected to participate in the 2019 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships for her triple jump performance. She will compete on Saturday, March 9, beginning at 6:55 p.m. The NCAA Championships will be in Pittsburg, Kansas at the Robert W. Plaster Center.
Another championship March 9 is the now-final Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Championship. Bloomsburg enters the event looking for place winners and NCAA qualifiers. Additionally, we are extremely excited about the FUTURE of the program. A lot of discussion continues to swirl, incorrectly, about the status of the program. With the announcement on March 5, that should quiet the critics to show we are committed to Division I wrestling at Bloomsburg. Here is the information on that announcement: "Bloomsburg University is honored by the invitation to join the Mid-American Conference for our Division I wrestling program," said Dr. Michael McFarland. "It is important to preserve our historic rivalries with the EWL opponents and create new rivalries and expand our competition with MAC institutions as we enter this agreement. This new conference alignment supports Division I wrestling and the opportunities for our student-athletes will be expanded."
What does this mean for the Huskies? From the release, "… a historic membership expansion in the sport of wrestling as the MAC has added six new affiliate members – Bloomsburg, Clarion, Edinboro, Lock Haven, Rider and George Mason – to begin competing in the MAC with the 2019-20 wrestling season. The addition of six new affiliate members increases MAC wrestling membership to 14 total members. Bloomsburg, Clarion, Edinboro, Lock Haven, Rider and George Mason all have joined the MAC from the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) making the MAC tied for the second largest NCAA Division I Wrestling conference. MAC wrestling membership includes Buffalo, Central Michigan, Kent State, Northern Illinois and Ohio, along with current affiliate members Missouri (since 2013), Old Dominion (since 2013) and SIU-Edwardsville (since 2018)."
As stated, by joining the MAC, not only does it enhance Bloomsburg's commitment to Division I wrestling but elevates the MAC's stature as one of the leading Division I Wrestling Conferences in the nation with legendary collegiate wrestling programs and solidifies membership and future growth in the sport of wrestling.
Prior to the end of the EWL, two former Huskies, standouts Chad Bailey and Richard Perry will be honored with induction into the EWL Hall of Fame at the 2019 EWL Championships at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. The duo join former Bloomsburg wrestling greats Mark Banks, Ricky Bonomo, Rocky Bonomo, Tony Caravella, George Carter, Dom DiGioacchino, Ed Hockenberry, Matt Moley, Dave Morgan, Carl Poff, Don Reese, Pete Rinella, Brad Rozanski, Mike Sees, and Mike Spaid, along with coaches Tom Martucci and Roger Sanders, as Huskies' members of the EWL Hall of Fame.
Turning back to the spring … Baseball is off to a 6-1 start and ranked fifth in the region, women's lacrosse is presently 2-0 to open the campaign and we are still waiting for Mother Nature to cooperate for softball and tennis to open their respective seasons. All of our spring sport schedules are now posted at www.BUHuskies.com. Our student-athletes and coaches appreciate any and all support you can give in Bloomsburg or when we are on the road. We hope you can join us for a game, match, meet, or just to say hello.
It is also time to start thinking about summer plans. We have some exciting summer camps for all ages this year and with the new BU Camps website, we hope you can attend with future Huskies. The new camp website and promotion of the camps is critical to our success. Please take a minute and review and pass on any information, camps, or clinics that may be of interest.
Thank you to our Bloomsburg athletic alumni as well. We have had one PASS program mentoring session between alumni and our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and have a second one scheduled. It is not too late to get involved in the Bloomsburg Athlete – Alumni Network either through joining the group or by completing an interest form so we can contact you. This is a great opportunity for alumni to engage with current student-athletes and create a system of support among current and former Husky student-athletes.
Time to get back to clearing some fields for competition!
Once a Husky, Always a Husky
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
February 2019
So winter is truly upon us. On spring move-in weekend, Bloomsburg was right in the center of a Governor-declared State of Emergency due to winter storm Harper, January 19-20. Why wouldn't a major snow storm hit right as we are in the midst of football recruiting, return to campus, and the start of the spring outdoor sports? Sure temperatures are cold – it is February – but the less snow and snow on the ground the better our teams can prepare for their spring seasons. Hopefully as the weeks go on, it will get better and better and allow our teams to get outside.
This year, at the latter half of February, Bloomsburg will serve as host of the 2019 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) swimming championship in York, Pa. The conference office, specifically Carlin Chesick, and sport liaison from Clarion Wendy Snodgrass, do an excellent job preparing the event. We will continue to meet internally to determine how to take a solid championship and add a Bloomsburg twist to it. I am excited to see what our crew of head coach Stu Marvin, assistant coach Bridget Hilferty, volunteer assistant and operations grad Tyler Gross, along with sports information director Dave Leisering, assistant to the athletic director Eric McCabe, and athletic trainer Allen Larsen offer to enhance this championship.
On a side note, welcome back to alum Tim Hipszer, who joins the BU family. Tim is now working in Sports Information at his alma mater and will be supporting SID Dave Leisering and promoting all 21 Husky sports.
Near the same time, the Indoor Track and Field Championships will be starting at Edinboro and we feature a host of qualifiers already with the season hitting only its midway point. This year's Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Championship will be held at George Mason, March 9. Not to mention the men's and women's basketball titles will be contested at the end of February and start of March. This is an exciting time as the winter sports put the final pieces together for their championship runs and the spring sports are just beginning their seasons.
Congratulations to women's basketball senior Alyssa Mack who became just the 22nd player in the history of Bloomsburg University women's basketball to score 1,000 career points. She completed the task by tallying a game-high 20 points to lead the Huskies to an 85-82 win over visiting Seton Hill on January 23, 2019.
Looking back, to wrap up the fall, there was some exciting news coming out of the conference office in Lock Haven. Women's soccer standout Allie Barber and men's cross country national qualifier Nick McGuire, both seniors, were named to the PSAC Fall Top 10 Team as chosen by the league's sports information directors. The PSAC Top 10 Awards are designed to recognize ten student-athletes (five female and five male) each season who excel in both the classroom and is athletic competition. Initiated in the 1997-98 academic year, the Top 10 is given to five males and five females in each athletic season; fall, winter, and spring. Criteria for the PSAC Top 10 Awards states a student-athlete must have achieved a minimum of a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and must be a starter or key reserve with legitimate athletic credentials for their respective team. The fall sports eligible for consideration for the Fall Top 10 Awards are men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's soccer, and women's volleyball. We will be cheering them on as they are now eligible, as one of the Top 10 Award winners from each season (fall, winter, and spring) for the PSAC Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards, given to one male and one female candidate.
The spring sport schedules are now all open at www.BUHuskies.com. We hope that you can get out and support the Huskies – either on the road or in Bloomsburg! Our doors are always open and we love to see fans, friends, and alumni back engaging and cheering on the current student-athletes and coaches.
If you haven't seen the new Bloomsburg Athlete – Alumni Network, be sure to check out how to get involved either through joining the group or by completing an interest form so we can contact you. This is a great opportunity for alumni to engage with current student-athletes and create a system of support among current and former Husky student-athletes.
Each day our student-athletes compete in the classroom and in their sport. The same as we do in our professional lives and with our family. Always striving to be better than the day before. Fighting to improve, yearning to learn more, and strengthening our health and welfare. As former student-athletes who have moved off the field/pool/court/track, the fire and desire to be better never leaves. We appreciate your continued support of us, in whatever way you can, as we make sure our battles are fought positively and with constant improvement at the core. As we continue to grow, learn, and improve, we must also remain grounded and appreciate all we do have … So THANK YOU for laying the groundwork and giving us goals to achieve and, hopefully, surpass.
Time to go get a workout in so I can hopefully keep up the pace and show our student-athletes that the game never ends we just compete in new ways.
Once a Husky, Always a Husky
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
January 2019
Happy New Year! With that comes all the same resolutions, changes, and reflections. Let's start there.
Resolutions: This is simple. We need to continue to recruit, retain, and graduate scholar-athletes who represent Bloomsburg University in a positive manner while winning games. We want to win. That is and remains a goal – to be better than the opposition: in the classroom, court, pool, and in the professional workplace once graduated.
Changes: Everyday something new is happening in Husky athletics. A couple of the changes we are focused on include enhancing and updating two important areas in Nelson Field House that celebrate the success of our student-athletes in their sport as well as in the classroom. There are two areas where All-Americans are highlighted in Nelson Field House. The first is in the main lobby with a display that features athletic All-Americans by sport and the CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. These boards will be completely updated this year with the new award winners and is a great display of the fine students and student-athletes that have been Huskies. The second area is in the football locker room with an All-America display wall. This area is being updated to include All-Americans from 1979 to present. A tremendous undertaking but thanks to our dedicated alumni and friends/fans of the program this project is slated for completion by the end of January.
Another major change includes the development of the new Bloomsburg Athlete – Alumni Network. Driven by our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and supported athletically, by the Alumni Association, and Professional U, we are launching this new network to engage current and former Husky student-athletes and others affiliated with the program. You will see a lot more on this on www.BUHuskies.com and through other social media sites, but here is the main information:
The goal of the Bloomsburg Athlete – Alumni Network is to create opportunities for alumni to engage with current student-athletes and create a system of support among current and former Husky student-athletes. As an Alumni volunteer, you can have a lasting impact on BU's soon-to-be-professionals.
There are three opportunities to get involved and engaged:
- Complete the BU Alumni Association's volunteer interest form to update your contact information and let us know what topics would be of interest to you.
- Join our Bloomsburg Athlete – Alumni Network Group on LinkedIn.
- Sign-up to be a panelist and speak to current student-athletes about your transition from college athlete to professional, strategies for achieving success, and leadership development. The dates for these spring panel discussions will be February 5, 2019 and March 7, 2019 from 8-9 p.m. The sessions will be conducted either virtually (Zoom) or face-to-face, if you are available to come to campus. Contact Courtney Noll, Student-Athlete Advocate and Assistant Field Hockey Coach to express your interest in any of these dates.
As we outline in the promotional document for the Bloomsburg Athlete – Alumni Network, we need your support to help our student-athletes prepare for life after graduation and gain confidence in their upcoming transition from students to professionals. The commitment when joining the Bloomsburg Athlete – Alumni Network is simple: Have a willingness to advise and correspond with current BU student-athletes. Elements of these connections can include but are not limited to: sharing your post-graduation experiences, how being a student-athlete helped you in the application/interview process, how to tailor resumes or cover letters to emphasize strengths gained from being a college student-athlete, or how to list volunteer/leadership experience on a resume or cover-letter – you get the picture!
Every student-athlete – current and former – can benefit from this exciting new program. Additionally, this is a program that is being driven by the student-athletes on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and we look forward to working with our Husky Alumni in developing these exciting opportunities.
Reflections: Much has occurred this past fall and through the start of the winter season. We had an amazing women's soccer run into the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, had two qualifiers for the NCAA Cross Country National Championships, successfully launched a new women's volleyball program, established a new radio partnership for football games on Bigfoot Country 106.5 and extended our men's and women's basketball games to be aired on the campus radio station 91.1 WBUQ, and as an institution launched the BUSN (Bloomsburg University Sports Network) to web stream athletic contests. I continue to be amazed at the work of my colleagues on campus and the care and concern shown toward bettering the student-athlete experience for our Huskies!
Now that 2019 is official … I wish everyone the best for a safe, happy, and healthy 2019. We are excited about the remainder of this year with swimming, indoor track, wrestling, and basketball this winter and look forward to solid starts to the lacrosse, tennis, outdoor track, softball, and baseball seasons.
As I remind myself daily … your support is critical to our success … Thank you!
Once a Husky, Always a Husky
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
December, 2018
The fall has come to a screeching stop with the end of the women's soccer team's fantastic run through the PSAC and into the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament. The Huskies lost 3-1 in Steph Pettit Stadium to the University of Bridgeport, who became the eventual National Champion. Head coach Matt Haney, assistant Allison Mack, and volunteer Rebecca Grubb were named the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year and finished the season ranked as the #5 squad in the Nation! We cannot be more pleased of the coaches and the student-athletes. Without the ground work laid by all the future Huskies we would not be able to be where we are as we look to continue to advance! Recruiting has already begun to defend the PSAC and Atlantic Region title!
As a side note, we are hoping that the Women's Soccer staff wins the National award as well. The Men's and Women's Soccer National Staffs of the Year will be announced for all NCAA Divisions on December 14.
If you haven't been following BU Husky basketball or wrestling – and for that matter swimming and track as well – you need to visit www.BUHuskies.com for all the news, notes, and happenings with all the programs. The men's and women's basketball games can be heard on 91.1 WBUQ, the campus radio station of Bloomsburg University, and home game video is provided by BUSN, Bloomsburg University Sports Network, through webcasting. The road games can also be viewed through each home institution's webcast and the links are found on www.BUHuskies.com Home wrestling matches can be viewed through www.BUHuskies.com for those unable to make it to Nelson Field House. We look forward to having you join us for a game but if not we hope you can still view or listen to the Huskies.
Regarding our Husky swim program, BU is serving as host of this year's PSAC Swimming Championship so there will be a host of stories and other elements emanating from Bloomsburg. We are excited for this year's championship and hope to take that step from runner-up to champion. The dates of this year's championship are February 20-23, 2019 returning to the Graham Aquatic Center (York, Pa.).
The BU Husky wrestling program is battling daily and continues to improve. Redshirt junior Grant Bond and junior Nate Newberry became the Bloomsburg University wrestling team's first PSAC individual champions since the 2013 season at this year's PSAC Championships, hosted by Kutztown University. The last winners were Mike Dessino (174), Richard Perry (197), and Justin Grant (285) in 2013.
Speaking of the PSAC's, Indoor Track will be contested February 23-24, 2019 at Edinboro University. The track teams opened the 2018-2019 season competing at Bucknell University and followed up with a meet at Houghton (N.Y.). The team is now off until after the holiday and will jump right back in to preparing for the Championship.
There will still be a few All-American teams announced, but we can at least congratulate some Huskies who were honored as being the top in their respective sports. First, and for the second consecutive season, senior field hockey standout Tali Wehner was named Second Team All-American from Synapse Sports. Women's soccer senior midfielder Allie Barber was named Second Team All-American from the United Soccer Coaches, while junior defender Tayah Naudascher earned Third Team honors.
In my last column the Cross Country team was still competing and we advanced two runners to the National Championships on December 2, 2018. Senior Nick McGuire finished his college career with a 108th place finish at the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championships at the Bob O'Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park. McGuire finished the 10k course in a time of 34:41. On the women's side, senior Morgan Ilgenfritz concluded her collegiate career with a 92nd place finish. Ilgenfritz finished the 6k course in a time of 24:20. These two student-athletes had great careers and we are proud of their individual and team accomplishments.
A big THANK YOU should be provided for those who joined in on #GivingTUEBU on Giving Tuesday. We are greatly appreciative of all our corporate sponsors, alumni, friends, and fans who support us philanthropically. Your support directly impacts our student-athletes and provides them the best opportunity to success in the classroom and in their sport. If you would like more information on supporting BU Husky athletics, please visit the BU Foundation page and select Athletic Scholarships.
I wish you and your family – and all fellow Huskies – a wonderful holiday season. And, a great start to 2019!
We cannot do what we do without your continued support and we hope you have a great end to 2018!
Once a Husky, Always a Husky
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
November, 2018
Will it ever stop raining in Pennsylvania? The good news is on a select-few game days the rain has subsided only to return on practice days for the Huskies. Daylight savings time has also hit us so now it will be dark for most of our team's late afternoon practices. The winter sports of basketball, wrestling, swimming, and sometimes track can at least experience the climate controlled Nelson Field House without worry. For football, field hockey, cross country, and women's soccer – who are all still competing – hopefully inclement weather and shades of darkness make the fight that much more worthwhile.
The fall sports are winding down in an NCAA Festival Year so the Championships will all be contested later than usual. However, men's soccer and women's soccer just completed the PSAC Championship. The men's team, under first-year head coach Danny Wheelan show excellent progress and we are excited about what 2019 brings.
Congratulations to the 2018 Bloomsburg University Women's Soccer Team – PSAC Champions! The top-seeded Huskies ran the table in the PSAC Championship and won the program's fourth PSAC title. On to the NCAA Tournament!!! The Huskies, led by Head Coach Matt Haney, graduate assistant coach Allison Mack, and volunteer assistant Rebecca Grubb, will serve this weekend as the #1 seed in the Atlantic Region and will host a game between #4 Millersville and #5 East Stroudsburg, to be played Friday, November 9. The winner of that first round game will face the Huskies on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 2 p.m. in our own Steph Pettit Stadium. Come out and support these ladies as they try to advance to the NCAA Festival in Pittsburgh.
Men's and Women's Cross Country concluded the PSAC Championships with solid finishes. The men's team finished the championship at Edinboro with a ninth place overall ranking. Senior Nick McGuire led all Huskies with a third place All-PSAC All-League finish while his teammate Tom Moser finished 24th to each second team All-PSAC accolades. Leading her team to a 15th place finish overall, and an individual rank of fifth in the championship, senior Morgan Ilgenfritz led all Huskies in the 2018 Women's PSAC Cross Country Championship. Her finish provided her with a First Team All-PSAC ranking.
The Field Hockey program still has a game left this weekend, senior day, against Seton Hill. A postseason berth will come down to the final regular season match of the year when the Huskies battle the Griffins at Steph Pettit Stadium.
The BU Football team's victory over West Liberty, its fourth straight, ensured the program's 20th-consecutive winning season. The Huskies improved to 6-4 on the year and still have work to do this weekend. The Huskies have now posted a winning season in 24 of their last 25 years.
After the initial start-up, the BU Women's Volleyball team closed their first-ever season with two PSAC conference wins – including a five-match marathon against new-rival Lock Haven. The young squad gained a lot of experience and big things are expected for Coach Kreiger and his charges in the coming year.
Still a lot of work to do on the Hill to get BU back to the top of the standings – but our student-athletes, coaches, and staff are committed to making everyone proud to be a Husky!
The torch has been passed as well with the start of the winter seasons. Wrestling opened the 2018-19 season with a solid showing at the Clarion Open, while men's and women's swimming already have four meets under their goggles with a 3-1 showing in each. Women's basketball opens play this weekend at the Kutztown Tournament with games Friday and Saturday, while the men begin competition on November 17 at home for Alumni Day against Georgian Court University. Indoor Track and Field opens the 2018 season with a meet on December 1, at the Bison Opener at Bucknell.
You can always follow the Huskies online at www.BUHuskies.com, and, for the second-straight season, the men's and women's basketball games will be aired on WBUQ 91.1 FM. The Bloomsburg University athletic department and campus radio station partnership for the 2018-19 basketball season will keep the Huskies on the radio airwaves for all men's and women's basketball games. The agreement will air 53 regular-season home and road basketball contests, as well as any postseason competition, and will allow fans to listen to games live online. The men's games will be called by Jim Doyle, Hall of Fame voice of the Huskies, while the women's games will feature the play-by-play of long-time women's basketball broadcaster Larry White.
WBUQ is a 600-watt non-commercial, educational radio station operating at FM 91.1 MHz. The student-run radio station provides a means of student training and experience in radio broadcasting, a means of entertainment and information for the student body and community, serves the public interest and is an instrument of expression for student, faculty, and community opinion, as well as home to BU Huskies Basketball, in accordance with the rules of the FCC.
I hope everyone has time to get outside one last time after daylight savings time and enjoy the crisp fall days we have left. We hope to see you on the Hill and look forward to your continued support.
Once a Husky, Always a Husky
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
September, 2018
The fall has exploded and is fully underway! All fall teams are competing now with the winter and spring teams beginning their non-traditional seasons soon. Nelson Field House, Steph Pettit Stadium, Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium, and the cross country course have all seen events already early this fall with many more to come.
First, if you attended the home opening football game you saw one consistent message: Thank you Jahri. We debuted the new Jahri Evans ('07) Scoreboard and sound system that will support football and track and field. As I said in my speech during the celebration and dedication, "Jahri, thank you for believing in our vision to make Bloomsburg University's football and track venue one of the best in the PSAC and likely in the region with this new state of the art video scoreboard and sound system. And, equally as important, thank you to your family, friends, and other support staff members who are here with you or supported you during your Husky journey."
That was followed up with giving credit where credit is due: "I do need to acknowledge the work of many individuals who made this scoreboard a reality, other than Jahri that is. The BU Facilities team, led by Eric Ness and joined by Emil Mikel and Ed Webb, Jerome Dvorak, Erik Evans, and the BU Foundation, the staff from Rhombus who completed the install, the individuals in athletics and marketing and communication, the IT and Tech folks including Asa Kelley, Larry Zapotocky, and Adam Hower, and the staff from Daktronics who took our vision and designed this wonderful scoreboard and sound system.
So again, Thank You Jahri, from everyone at Bloomsburg for your continued support.
The support of our alumni is truly amazing and continues to allow us to support the growth and development of our student-athletes while remaining a leader in the PSAC. To all who have given of your time, efforts, internship opportunities, and financially, Thank You as well.
Second, we are excited about the fall with new coaches in Men's Soccer and, going without saying, Volleyball. A pair of Dans, Danny Wheelan with men's soccer and Dan Kreiger with volleyball, are guiding the charges this fall. Men's soccer is 2-0 and ranked 23rd in the country while volleyball won the program's first-ever match against Virginia Union on August 31 and then won the first-ever home match against Chestnut Hill on September 4. Matt Haney is leading the women's soccer program to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2008, Bernie Empie has opened the cross country season, while Marty Coyne is in his final season with the men's and women's tennis programs. Coach Paul Darragh has the Husky football team off to a 1-0 start, while Nikki Hartranft has field hockey 2-0 after the opening weekend. There is a lot to be excited about early this fall.
Make sure to check out schedules and see if there are games (home or away) that you may be able to attend. Remember, once a Husky, always a Husky – and we can use your support!
Two events I mentioned in my last column that need to be mentioned again include the Hall of Fame Dinner and the Dinner with Darragh series.
In repeating the announcement regarding the Hall of Fame, seven individuals will enter the 2018 Bloomsburg University Athletic Hall of Fame class, the 36th class. With the new seven to join, the Hall of Fame will now boast 182 of the best of the best from Bloomsburg. Being inducted as the members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2018 are former women's basketball coach Joe Bressi, Susan (Brophy) O'Donnell '81 (women's swimming), Adam Clay '05 (men's soccer), Jahri Evans '07 (football), Megan LaBuda '02 (women's basketball), Jennifer Lefever '96 (softball), and Tom Vargo '66 (wrestling). This year's induction dinner and ceremony will take place on Friday, October 19 at Nelson Field House. Festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail hour followed by the dinner and induction ceremony starting at 7:00 p.m. Tickets and registration are now available.
Also, Bloomsburg University head football coach Paul Darragh will again hold his dinner series, "Dinner With Darragh", at the Quaker Steak and Lube located on Columbia Mall Drive this fall. Three dates have been established for this season's series with the first one to be held on Thursday, September 6 recapping the home opener from September 1 against Merrimack and previewing the September 8 home game against Edinboro. The next dinner will be on Thursday, October 4 - two days prior to the Huskies' Homecoming game against West Chester - and then the series will wrap up on Thursday, October 25 as a preview for this year's game against Millersville. The events are open to the public with dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. and a short program to follow. A buffet dinner will be held each night with the cost of the meal being $13 per person - including a non-alcoholic beverage. Following the dinner, Darragh will speak about the season, preview that Saturday's game, and introduce members of the coaching staff and players from this year's roster.
Time to get back at it after the Holiday weekend … See you soon and Go Huskies!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
From the ADs Desk
June and July, 2018
Welcome to the June and July edition of From the ADs Desk. It is a great time to be a Husky! Summer is in full swing (officially) and camp season is upon us. It is great to see all the future Huskies on campus with camps. If you haven't checked out our camp and clinic schedule please visit www.bucamps.com for the latest information on dates and sports. We would love to have our coaches and student-athletes work with your future Huskies.
With the orientation days, admissions days, and campus visits occurring daily, campus is vibrant and alive – not to mention some of the construction projects keep us on our toes. While road construction continues to upper campus, which will only improve future traffic patterns and access, there is still a lot of activity at Steph Pettit Stadium, Nelson Field House, Redman Stadium at Danny Hale Field, and the pool. Nelson Pool will undergo a complete renovation this summer and into the early fall. The roof will be replaced, along with sealing the internal walls and repair of the outdoor walls. This is a much-needed project and the goal is to have the pool back on line early in the fall semester. In the August edition of From the ADs Desk we will have a special announcement about another facility renovation that makes us a leader in the PSAC.
Additionally, in the coming weeks we will be announcing the 2018 Bloomsburg Hall of Fame class. What I can tell you is that the induction event is one not to be missed. Be sure to mark your calendars for October 19, 2018 for this year's ceremony in Nelson Field House. Another exciting Hall of Fame is that former Bloomsburg University football greats Danny Hale and NFL All-Pro Jahri Evans are among the 100 athletes and 32 coaches from the divisional ranks on the 2019 ballot for potential induction into the College Football Hall of Fame as announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and the College Hall of Fame. The pronouncement of selections will be in January with the National Championship football game and we hope to hear two Huskies called when announced.
A huge congratulations to recent graduate Daniel Neiswender of the Bloomsburg University men's cross country and track and field teams who was named to the 2017-18 Google Cloud Academic All-America® Third Team. This is the second consecutive year that Neiswender has claimed the award. The 2017-18 Google Cloud Academic All-District® Men's Track/Cross Country Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the playing field and in the classroom. The list is divided into eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. The Google Cloud Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and College Division.
Since this is the planning time for athletics as we prepare for the 2018-19 academic year, it is fitting to re-announce that Shepherd University has accepted membership in the PSAC, to begin competition in 2019-20. The Rams will replace Cheyney University and returns the PSAC to 18 teams. New conference schedules are being designed starting with the 2019-20 year.
A big congratulations to Dave Leisering who served as the interim Sports Information Director on being selected to lead the SID area. Dave has done tremendous work since joining the university as the Assistant SID and we are pleased to have him as part of the Husky family. Other upcoming staff changes include the soon to be named men's soccer graduate assistant coach, women's lacrosse graduate assistant coach, men's and women's tennis graduate assistant coach, and two new athletic trainers. We hope to have everyone in place and announce their appointments in the August edition of From the ADs desk.
The teams are finalizing schedules, uniform orders, transportation, and all other prep for the early August return of the student-athletes. Make sure to visit www.BUHuskies.com often to check the latest news, schedules, new rosters, and all things Husky. Also, you can now purchase your tickets for the 2018 football season online and also reserve your Tailgate spot for an individual game or the entire season – don't miss out!
Enjoy the summer and make sure to spend some family time. We look forward to having all our Huskies back on campus soon … Remember, Once a Husky, Always a Husky!
Dr. Michael McFarland
Director of Athletics
