2014 lycoming college fall magazine

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Craig Needhammer is not your typical college running back. That makes
him the perfect fit for Lycoming College.
There’s no doubt that Needhammer stacks up with the best of them in the
speed department. As a sophomore in 2011, he sprinted for a 61-yard
touchdown against Lebanon Valley College to clinch a 21-13 win. It
may have been the longest run of his career, but it is just one of
many highlights, as the senior entered his final season with the
Warriors needing just three more rushing touchdowns to tie
the school record of 29.
Needhammer, who entered his senior season
within shouting distance of the school’s career
records for rushing yards, 100-yard rushing
games, all-purpose yards, and total points
scored, knew early on that Lycoming’s
football program was a place where he
would feel comfortable.
“Coach Clark was very straight-forward with me
and very honest (during recruiting),” Needhammer
said. “You could tell that the coaches cared about
their players and that they were more than just
numbers on the field.”
It’s not just on the field where the running back
excels, as he has also worked to become special in the
classroom. He admits that he was not a great student in
high school, especially in math, where he struggled with
his placement exam at Lycoming College. However, he
is quick to thank his advisor, Dr. Christopher Kulp, who
made sure that Needhammer’s goals were reached.
Three years later, the physics major earned
Capital One Academic All-District
honors and he was inducted into the
Sigma Pi Sigma honor society for
physics as a junior. As a senior, he has
his eyes on more academic honors.
Needhammer said he would like to earn
an induction into the Kappa Mu Epsilon
mathematics honor society.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Needhammer said.
“When I got into the Physics Honor Society, I
thought ‘Wow.’ In high school, I never dreamed I’d be
an academic honor society. Coming from a high school
where I wasn’t in an honor society to having a chance to
be in two - it’s pretty cool.”
Craig Needhammer
“You could tell
that the coaches
cared about
their players and
that they were
more than just
numbers on the
field.”
13
By
Joe Guistina
S T U D E N T AT H L E T E