2018 FALL LC MAGAZINE

re you sure there’s nothing you should have told us?” associate director of athletics Joe Guistina asked over the phone. “I really don’t think so.” Sam Dressler ’18 was beginning to sound panicked. “I just got an e-mail. You’ve been selected for a NCAA postgraduate scholarship.” “What? No way. That’s awesome,” Dressler said, through a laugh and some well-earned shock. Head football coach Mike Clark joined in the phone call to congratulate Dressler, the second Warrior in the College’s history to earn the prestigious award from the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Wrestler Brandon Conrad ’18 became the third later in the spring. The Danville, Pa., native hung up and called his parents to tell them about the $7,500 scholarship, which will help cut his out-of-pocket expenses when the biology major begins medical school at Penn State Hershey Medical Center this fall. Almost immediately afterward, the only other Warrior to earn the postgraduate scholarship — men’s soccer player Justin Walker ’13 — sent a Facebook message to congratulate Dressler and welcome him to Penn State Hershey, where Walker is doing his residency. It was a fitting denouement to a collegiate career that began with Dressler realizing he wanted to be a doctor because of an injury suffered entering his senior year of high school. “I broke my foot and found out the next day that I needed surgery,” explained Dressler. “I questioned whether I would be able to get back for the beginning of preseason camp. The work of the orthopedic surgeon was really caring. He asked me questions throughout the process and the checkups and cared about how I was doing. I really thought it could be something I would be interested in doing.” Lycoming’s biology program was a perfect fit thanks to its track record of success in getting its best students into medical school. The school’s football program provided Dressler the chance to continue his athletic career, which was also important to the running back. Dressler waited in the wings behind two Academic All-District rushers in Craig Needhammer ’15 and Blake Bowman ’17, but given the chance to enter the starting lineup as a senior, he scored four touchdowns and finished ninth in the Middle Atlantic Conference with 466 rushing yards. “I had a fun four years,” said Dressler. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything because I have so many memories with everybody on the team. It was just a great time.” SAM DRESSLER ’18 AWARDED NCAA POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP A ,, 28 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2018 FALL MAGAZINE Lycoming’s biology program was a perfect fit thanks to its track record of success in getting its best students into medical school. . . .