The good news for Lycoming College’s department of athletics in 2021-22 was that all 17 active sports were able to complete their competitive seasons while working through plenty of residual issues that defined the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The better news was that in addition, new head coaches for the sports of baseball and field hockey successfully recruited student-athletes to begin competition in Lycoming’s 18th and 19th varsity sports during the 2022-23 academic year. There were plenty of department-level highlights during the academic year, with an emphasis on some significant facility projects, including the renovation of the weight room on the lower level of Keiper Recreation Center in September 2021, the beginning of construction on the Doug and Dawn Keiper Stadium at UPMC Field for the soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey teams in January 2022, and the planning for extensive renovations to Lamade Gym Natatorium which began in the spring before construction started in June 2022. In addition, the department’s student-athletes committed more 2021-22 ATHLETICS IN REVIEW BY JOE GUISTINA than 1,500 hours to volunteer work and a record 168 studentathletes (45 percent of the 376 student-athletes on campus) claimed a spot on the MAC Academic Honor Roll. The football, men’s soccer, men’s basketball, and men’s tennis teams all set records for the number of honorees. Luke Jordan ’22 became the fifth Warrior in the past 10 years to earn a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, and he was also the recipient of the inaugural Robert J. Sinnott ’81 Award, established to recognize a student-athlete who has excelled at Lycoming in the areas of athletics and academics and who has exemplified the qualities of character, courage, and determination. In competition, the wrestling team capped the season with two AllAmerican performances at the NCAA Championships, one from Connor Fulmer ’23 at heavyweight and one from Gable Crebs ’24, the son of head The Hearst Foundations have awarded Lycoming College a grant of $150,000 to support middle-income retention scholarships. This two-year grant will be implemented for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years and will provide support to middle-income students as they move from their first to sophomore year. “Foundation grants have enabled the College to launch multiple initiatives that have enhanced the student experience, and grants from the Hearst Foundations are a prime example,” said Kent Trachte, Ph.D., president. “Having invested significantly and successfully in access and retention of low-income students, Lycoming now plans to also focus on students from middle-income families. We are grateful for the Hearst Foundations’ generous grant in support of this initiative.” LYCOMING RECEIVES $150,000 GRANT TO SUPPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS coach Roger Crebs, at 197 pounds. Katherine Brown ’23 won two MAC Championships and became the first Lycoming women’s swimmer since 1983 to compete at the NCAA Championships. The men’s basketball team reached the MAC Freedom Championship game, the third year in a row they made it to the conference title game, and was one of 12 programs that were able to compete in a postseason competition. 10 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2022 PRESIDENT’S REPORT/FALL MAGAZINE
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