A pioneering coach, co-athletic director, and professor at 91����Ƶ in the 1960s and ’70s—and the youngest daughter of John R. Mumaw, 91����Ƶ’s fourth president from 1948-65—Miriam “Mim” Mumaw ’61, of Arlington, Virginia, passed away on Dec. 5, 2025.

During her tenure at 91����Ƶ (then known as Eastern Mennonite College or EMC), Mumaw coached the school’s first women’s basketball (1966-75), women’s volleyball (1968-79), and field hockey (1970) teams. She achieved the most success with the volleyball team, winning a state championship over James Madison University in 1973 and posting a perfect 21-0 season in 1976. Her overall record with the squad stands at 151-99. Mumaw was inducted into the in 2002. Only three other coaches share that distinction.

Those who were fortunate enough to cross paths with Mumaw, either on 91����Ƶ’s campus or at Washington Community Fellowship (WCF), describe her as a people person who greeted everyone she met with warmth. They speak highly of her meticulous attention to detail, which shone brightly in her volunteer service to WCF and in her career at Gammon & Grange Law Offices, where she worked for more than 40 years. They also remember her for her love of baseball, particularly the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, and her generosity in sharing her season tickets with others.

Mumaw was a beloved mentor, leader, and friend, known by many for her deep commitment to 91����Ƶ and her congregation.

“She was a titan, a fierce advocate for women in athletics and for 91����Ƶ in general,” said Carrie S Bert, the first woman to serve as 91����Ƶ athletics director.

Dave King ’76, 91����Ƶ’s athletics director for 17 years before Bert, agreed. 

“Mim advocated for the expansion of women’s sports at a time when that wasn’t supported by many in the institution, including her father who had been president of the college,” said King. 

During one of her visits to the 91����Ƶ Athletics Suite, Bert recalled, Mumaw had shared with her how her father, likely reflecting the feelings of the wider church, had opposed the growth in women’s physical activities at 91����Ƶ. “Mim just laughed and said, ‘Well, that wasn’t going to stop me … we just had to agree not to talk about it,’” shared Bert. 

“Mim was always so encouraging of me, both in words of affirmation and in the wonderful way she would squeeze my hand while we chatted,” Bert said. “I could feel her positivity and enduring support in those moments.”

King told the that he first met Mumaw when he arrived as a student in 1972, but “had no idea of the trailblazer she was and the impact she had on women’s sports” until he returned as director of athletics in 2005. “Besides coaching women’s sports and teaching PE classes, her involvement with the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) exposed EMC athletics to the broader collegiate athletic community and elevated the EMC sports programs,” King said.

Growing up in a glass bowl

Mumaw was born on Jan. 14, 1938, in Harrisonburg, the youngest of five daughters, to John R. and Esther Mosemann Mumaw. She was 10 years old when her father, a professor and ordained minister, took office as president, succeeding John L. Stauffer. He would serve in that role for the next 17 years.

“That was an important part of her growing up,” said Byron Peachey, a nephew of Mumaw and longtime 91����Ƶ staff member. “She lived down the road on College Avenue and EMC was an even smaller community than it is now. Everybody knew everybody else’s business. And so for her and her four older sisters, there was a spotlight on them and a set of higher expectations for what they did and how they conducted themselves.”

Mumaw graduated from 91����Ƶ in 1961 with a degree in business education. She then taught business education classes at Iowa Mennonite School for four years.

“That would’ve been an opportunity for her to spread her wings, outside of this glass bowl at 91����Ƶ where everybody knew her,” Peachey said.

In 1964, while Mumaw was in Iowa, her mother died “very suddenly,” Peachey said. She returned to Harrisonburg to care for her father (in 1965, he married Evelyn King, former dean of women for 91����Ƶ, and resigned as president).

Hired by 91����Ƶ’s fifth president (1965-80) Myron S. Augsburger, Mumaw coached the school’s first women’s intercollegiate athletic teams, including women’s basketball, volleyball, and field hockey. 

“That was groundbreaking for EMC,” Peachey said. “She was a real innovator. ‘Trailblazer’ is an overused word, but she truly was one.”

In 1968, after completing her master’s degree at the University of Iowa, Mumaw began teaching accounting and physical education courses at 91����Ƶ. She also served as co-athletic director and co-chair of the physical education department.

Sandy Brownscombe, coach of 91����Ƶ women’s basketball (1978-89), field hockey (1978-93), and men’s volleyball (1991-98) also in the Hall of Honor, said that Mumaw held significant roles at the state, regional, and national levels within the AIAW, which governed women’s college athletics before the NCAA took over in the 1980s.

“Mim was a foundational figure for women’s athletics in Virginia through the AIAW,” Brownscombe said. “She started volleyball in the state of Virginia.”

A life of balance

Brownscombe was finishing her master’s degree coursework at Washington State University in 1978 when she was hired to teach physical education classes and coach the field hockey and women’s basketball teams at 91����Ƶ. Mumaw interviewed her for the job, and was tasked with finding a place for her to live.

“There weren’t any apartments available,” said Brownscombe, “and so that’s how I ended up sharing her house with her that first year I was here.”

“That was, in my opinion, probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” she added, “because we spent many nights talking with each other, and she would explain to me what it meant to be a Mennonite female athlete. At that point, I was the first non-Mennonite full-time faculty member at 91����Ƶ, so it really was my introduction to Mennonites and to EMC, and she shared that whole faith experience with me. She was like a big sister to me.”

Less than a full year later, in 1979, Mumaw left for a sabbatical year in D.C. at The Fellowship Foundation. It led to her permanent move to the area.

“She felt like she had taken 91����Ƶ athletics to the next stage,” Brownscombe said.

“91����Ƶ women’s sports experienced much success in the 1980s, which I believe was a direct result of Mim’s commitment to developing and expanding sports activities for women,” said King.

Mumaw was a founding member of , a Christ-centered faith community started by President Emeritus Augsburger (its first pastor) and his wife, Esther, in 1981 and affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Mumaw was an active member of WCF for 43 years and served in many roles, including as presiding deacon, elder, and on the Finance, Human Resources, and Building committees.

“Any time students from WCF were attending 91����Ƶ, Mim always made sure I knew about it,” said Tim Swartzendruber, senior regional advancement director for 91����Ƶ. “She was an admissions ambassador for us, no question.”

In 1982, Mumaw began a long career at Gammon & Grange Law Offices in Tyson’s Corner, where she served as accountant, office manager, and assistant to senior partner. She worked at the firm for more than 40 years.

She often returned to 91����Ƶ and continued to love and support the university. She served on the 91����Ƶ Board of Trustees from 1988-96.

“When I think of Mim, I think of balance,” Brownscombe said. “Her whole life was balanced. She was great as a coach, administrator, teacher, and yet she was so involved in the church, in leadership there, and in her care for people. She was one of those well-rounded people who had it all together.”

“She was always positive, always optimistic,” shared Peachey. “She wanted sports to be fun for young women and for it to be a team experience. I think that was an important value she cultivated, that student-athletes experience team success rather than individual excellence.”

Clockwise from front center: Miriam “Mim” Mumaw ’61, Liz Chase Driver ’86, David Driver ’85, former Orioles player Larry Sheets ’83, and Stephanie Rheinheimer ’13 attend an Orioles baseball game in August 2022. Sheets told writer David Driver for the Augusta Free Press: “Mim was, first and foremost, a wonderful Christian woman, a huge fan of 91����Ƶ, and a huge supporter of my career and then my son’s (Gavin Sheets’) career.” (Photo courtesy of David Driver/AFP)

A connector of people

A devoted fan of the Orioles and Nationals, Mumaw was known to invite family, friends, and anyone else within her orbit to baseball games. While there, she recorded the action with a pencil and paper scorecard. “It was in her DNA to keep track of details,” Peachey said.

As a student, David Driver ’85, former Weather Vane sports editor, narrowly missed the window when Mumaw was on campus. But he and his family became acquainted with her as longtime members of WCF beginning in the late 1980s.

“She was never one to talk about the role she played as a pioneer for women’s athletics at 91����Ƶ, but her love of sports was contagious,” said Driver. “I’m happy to say she made WCF a church with a lot of baseball fans.”

“I know that Carrie Bert benefited greatly from having Mim as a mentor,” Driver added. “Without Mim, there may not have been a Carrie as the first woman to serve as 91����Ƶ athletics director.”

Long after leaving 91����Ƶ, Mumaw continued to invest in its mission and its students. According to Swartzendruber, Mumaw included 91����Ƶ in her estate plans, directing support to two funds established by her parents: the Esther Mosemann Mumaw Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which benefits upperclasswomen of any major, and the John R. Mumaw Endowed Scholarship, which benefits teacher education students.

In 2018, Mumaw coordinated a fundraising effort among past and present members of WCF to increase the ongoing student impact of the Myron S. and Esther K. Augsburger Endowed Scholarship for Urban Ministry. The scholarship, valued at more than $400,000, benefits students at Eastern Mennonite Seminary who plan to serve in an urban setting. 

“Mim tried her hardest to attend every alumni gathering, homecoming, you name it,” Swartzendruber said. “She adored 91����Ƶ. I always got the impression that 91����Ƶ felt like home to her.”

In addition to her parents, Mumaw was preceded in death by her four sisters: Helen Peachey, Grace Mumaw, Catherine Mumaw, and Lois Martin. She is survived by six nieces and nephews, and many beloved great-nieces and great-nephews. 

“She was a single woman, never had children, never married, and so she created a community around her,” Peachey said. “She knew lots of people in lots of different walks of life. When she went to baseball games, people noticed how all the attendants knew her. She knew them all by name. She was always looking for ways to connect people together.”

Thanks to Simone Horst, special collections librarian, for providing the archival images of Mumaw included in this story.

When 91����Ƶ built a turf field in 1989, it became the first school in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) to do so. 91����Ƶ’s field hockey athletes, who began playing on the field that fall, welcomed the switch from grass to artificial turf. The new surface complemented the speedy and skilled set of players; they could move the ball up the pitch faster and with more control and pass and shoot with more accuracy and power. The other schools in the ODAC were less than thrilled with the change, recounts Sandy Brownscombe, coach of the 91����Ƶ team from 1978-93.

“Everybody was upset,” she said. “They thought we had an unfair advantage. There was even discussion that we shouldn’t be allowed to host the conference tournament if we were the No. 1 seed.”

Fortunately, for 91����Ƶ and for the future of field hockey, those discussions soon ground to a halt. Eventually, the other ODAC schools, as well as countless high schools and colleges across the country, installed turf fields for their own field hockey programs.

“It’s the way the game was meant to be played,” Brownscombe said.

A sport with success

91����Ƶ’s turf field, along Park Road north of Suter Science Center, has witnessed the school’s leading scorers and legendary goalkeepers play on its pitch. Field hockey has more athletes inducted in 91����Ƶ’s Hall of Honor (18 players) and more teams in the hall (two: the 1980 and 1995 squads) than any other sport at the school. By comparison, men’s soccer, which has the second-most inductees, has 12 players and one team in the hall. Two coaches who led the field hockey program, Brownscombe and Miriam “Mim” Mumaw ‘61, are also in the hall.

91����Ƶ field hockey teams have won 11 ODAC titles and appeared at 11 national tournaments (two Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women [AIAW] and nine National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA] tournaments). The 1995 team, which advanced further than any other in school history, competed in the final four of the NCAA Division III field hockey tournament and placed third in the country.

From 1979 to 2003, Royals field hockey celebrated an unparalleled streak of success with teams advancing every year during those 25-seasons to the final four of their conference—the Virginia Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (VAIAW) from 1979-81 and the ODAC from 1982-2003. For six straight seasons, from 1995 to 2000, 91����Ƶ field hockey went undefeated in ODAC play. (The 1987 and 2007 teams were also undefeated in the ODAC.)

An era begins

Field hockey’s start in America is credited to Constance Applebee who played the sport in England and introduced it while on a tour of northeastern U.S. women’s colleges in 1901. She served as athletic director of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania from 1904-28 and co-founded the American Field Hockey Association.

It began as a club sport at 91����Ƶ in 1970 under Mumaw, a trailblazing athletic director who coached the women’s basketball (1966-75) and women’s volleyball (1968-79) teams.

Before that, students interested in field hockey like Fannie Bomberger Miller ‘71 played on area club teams composed of coaches from nearby schools and colleges.

“When I would tell kids from Virginia that I played hockey, they were like, ‘What’s that?’” said Miller, who came to 91����Ƶ from Manheim, Pennsylvania.

She played on the Shenandoah Valley club team from 1967-68. By the time 91����Ƶ fielded its own team, Miller said, she was too busy with her nursing coursework to join.

A group of students from the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, area had played field hockey in high school and wanted to start a team at 91����Ƶ, Mumaw said. So, she volunteered to get them started, serving as inaugural coach for that first season. Field hockey became a varsity sport at 91����Ƶ in 1971, with coach Dianne Gates taking the helm for four years.

“I was more of a faculty adviser than a coach,” Mumaw said. “Dianne’s the one who developed the program.”

The Title IX Act of 1972 mandated equal funding for women’s sports. “A lot of the expansion in women’s athletics came from that,” Mumaw said. “We were fortunate to have Madison College (now JMU) and Bridgewater College close by because we could play them in almost any sport.”

In those days, 91����Ƶ’s women athletes competed in the AIAW. 91����Ƶ became one of the founding members of the ODAC in 1976, beginning with men’s sports. ODAC added women’s sports in 1982.

When Mumaw left 91����Ƶ in 1979 for a sabbatical-turned-permanent residency in Washington, D.C, she rented out her basement to Brownscombe for a year. Brownscombe, who also coached the women’s basketball (1978-89) and men’s volleyball (1991-98) teams, led the field hockey program for 16 seasons.

The 1980 team

For as long as 91����Ƶ has fielded a team—and even longer, Pennsylvania and the Lancaster region has been a hotbed of field hockey talent. As a coach, Brownscombe ran a field hockey camp at Camp Hebron (Pennsylvania) during the summers that helped to recruit players to 91����Ƶ. In fact, a majority of the players throughout 91����Ƶ’s history began playing the sport in high schools around Pennsylvania.

“The rest of the hockey world had not figured out, until we started getting really good, how great these Lancaster County girls were,” Brownscombe said. “Then they began to realize, ‘Oh, these kids are great players, they’re great people, and they’re great students.’”

For an example of their integrity, look no further than the 1980 AIAW regional tournament match between 91����Ƶ and Mary Washington. That game ended in a 0-0 tie, and both teams headed to a separate practice field for penalty strokes. When a Mary Washington player took her first penalty stroke, the ball slipped past 91����Ƶ goalkeeper Shirley Yoder Faust and through a hole in the net. The umpire, unaware of the hole, signaled a missed shot. It was then, Brownscombe said, that Faust approached the umpire and pointed out the hole.

“They came up to me, and the umpire asked, ‘Why would your goalie tell me it was a goal when I said it wasn’t?’” Brownscombe said. “Shirley looked at me and said, ‘Because it’s the truth,’ and the official just shook her head.”

That 1980 team, which went on to win those penalty strokes, finished third at the state tournament and second at the regional tournament. That year marked the first time Royals field hockey, or any sports team at the school, would qualify for a national tournament. It finished 13th and was inducted in the Hall of Honor in 2012.

“The players on that team saw the transition of field hockey at 91����Ƶ from just another team to one that had to be reckoned with,” Brownscombe said.

The ‘hay’ days of hockey

Before the turf field arrived on campus, the field hockey players practiced and played on a grass field that ran from the top of the tennis courts to the physical plant, through what is now the softball field.

Brownscombe recalled regularly painting lines on the field with the soccer coach, whose field was next to them, where the new track complex is. One year, she said, her players arrived at the field and found the grass so long it looked like hay.

“Fortunately, one of the captains had worked at the physical plant all summer and was allowed to drive a truck, so the other players could throw the grass in it,” she said. “Sure, it was frustrating, but that’s what we did.”

Field hockey and soccer players often had to stop practices for cross-country meets, which ran right across the 50-yard line of our grass fields. When they did get to play, it was in front of a passionate group of fans: the boys in the three-story Oakwood dormitory.

“They were rowdy,” Brownscombe said. “They would be watching out their windows and be shouting at the players.”

The ’90s teams

Tina Book ‘91 played on the field hockey team for four seasons in the late 1980s and returned to coach the team in 1994 after Brownscombe left. She remembered playing on the turf field the first year it was installed.

“It made the game faster, and it also allowed us to score more,” the 1989 ODAC Player of the Year said. “I feel like we were so adaptive to the turf.”

Indeed, all of the top scorers in the 91����Ƶ record books—players like Jeané Horning Hershey ‘94—made their mark on the turf. Hershey, once the career record leader in goals and points scored, now ranks sixth in career goals and eighth in career points at 91����Ƶ.

In 1992 and 1993, the Royals defeated rival and perennial ODAC powerhouse Lynchburg College in back-to-back conference finals matches to advance to the first round of the national tournament. It was the start of seven national tournament appearances that decade. (The Royals returned to the national tournament in 2000 and 2003.)

“We had a good camaraderie, and I don’t remember any drama,” Hershey said. “I just remember working hard and doing the best we could.”

Former goalkeeper Jen Kooker Peifer ’96, who played on the team from 1992-95, held the career saves record for 23 years before it was broken in 2018 by Kelsey Troyer. Peifer’s career save percentage record (89.8 percent) remains intact. She was inducted in the Hall of Honor as an athlete and as a member of the 1995 team.

That ‘95 squad posted a remarkable 21-2 overall record, an 8-0 conference record and a historic run to the final four at nationals. “I think that’s one of the best teams that 91����Ƶ has ever had in any sport,” Peifer said.

‘Small but mighty’

When Kristina Landis Yoder ’09 joined the field hockey team in 2006, she had heard all about its history of success.

“There was definitely a sense of honor in carrying on those traditions,” she said. “We always had pride in being a small but mighty team.”

Yoder recounted starting each morning of preseason practice with a three-mile run, followed by three practices held throughout the day. During her playing career, from 2006-08, the team led by coach Brenda Bechler made it to the ODAC finals every year only to be defeated by Lynchburg each time. Their first meeting, in 2006, ended in a tie and went into a second overtime before Lynchburg prevailed in penalty strokes.

“I don’t think there was any other game in my career that all of us played so hard and ran so hard,” she said. “That year, they didn’t expect us to make it that far, and we did. It was exhilarating and fun and by far the most memorable game I’ve ever played.”

A bright future

In February 2024, Chardonnay “Char” Hope took the reins as the new field hockey coach. She succeeds Ashley “Stick” Kishorn, who had coached the team since 2017.

Prior to coming to 91����Ƶ, Hope was the head field hockey coach at ODAC school Ferrum College. She said she had researched the Royals’ success, and it was what drew her to taking the job.

“A championship history and a winning mindset is embedded in the roots of this program,” Hope said. “There are many athletes and coaches who have paved the way for our current team and me.”

Turf as old as time

The 91����Ƶ turf field has a rich history. Its playing surface, which was last replaced in 2006, is now used by the men’s and women’s soccer teams and women’s lacrosse team, in addition to the field hockey team. But, after 18 years of dutiful service, it’s showing its age. The turf no longer has the same bounce or cushion it once had. Sections of the surface are peeling away, presenting a safety hazard to the athletes who use it.

“Replacing the turf field is absolutely necessary to avoid injuries and attract the level of players that will build a winning team,” Hershey said.

Peifer agreed with her former teammate: “If you want athletes to come to 91����Ƶ, having top-tier athletic facilities is paramount. When they’re touring schools, the facilities that impress them play a big part in where they want to go.”

The turf field, one of the oldest in the ODAC, has lived nearly two industry-standard lives. The school is set to install new carpet and a top-of-the-line pad this summer. 91����Ƶ Athletics Director Carrie Bert said the new and improved field will be “visually appealing and, more importantly, provide more consistent ball play and a significantly safer experience for athletes and officials.”

Support our student-athletes and a new turf field through an immediate gift or multi-year commitment. Give today at emu.edu/turf-field, or contact kirk.shisler@emu.edu for more details.

91����Ƶ’s fall athletes ended their seasons with more than 20 individual honors.

91����Ƶ’s field hockey team finished 10-7 overall, notching its best overall record since 2011.

• Defender Brandy Troutman (senior, Recreation and Sports Management, Mountville, Pa./Hempfield) earned her fourth consecutive Second Team All-ODAC honor and ended her 91����Ƶ career with an appearance in the NFHCA 2022 Victory Sports Tours/Division III Senior Game. She ranked in the top-four in all three major offensive categories, finishing third in total points (41) and assists (11) and fourth in goals with 15. Those numbers were all career-highs for the fifth-year senior, who played a larger role in the Royals offense this year.
• Attacker Elizabeth Longacre (junior, accounting and business administration, Quakertown, Pa./Dock Mennonite Academy) was Third Team All-ODAC.

Six soccer athletes earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors:

• Ariel Bonilla (junior, history and political science, Richmond, Va./Huguenot)
• Aja Laun, (sophomore, nursing, San Antonio, Tx./Claudia Taylor Johnson)
• Ashley Catalano, (sophomore, nursing, Stephens City, Va./Sherando)
• Abigail Forrest, (sophomore, pre-med, Winchester, Va./Millbrook)
• Kaden Schrock (sophomore, biology, Dalton, Ohio/Central Christian
• Mesa Dula (junior, accounting and business administration, Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite).

Women’s volleyball advanced to the ODAC quarterfinals, falling to eventual runner-up Averett. 

• Captain Lizzy Kirkton (junior, business administration and organizational leadership, Goshen, Ind./Goshen) and Megan Miller (junior, biology, Millersburg, Ohio/Central Christian) earned CSC Academic All-District honors. 
• Paris Hutchinson (junior, recreation and sport management, Waynesboro, Va./Wilson Memorial) earned her third straight all conference honor, this time to the All-ODAC Third-Team.

Both men’s and women’s cross country teams finished fifth in the ODAC.  

• Bellamy Immanuel (sophomore,  mechanical engineering, Allentown, Pa./William Allen) ended with an NCAA South/Southeast All Region performance. He was also named ODAC Runner of the Week Oct. 11.
• Clay Kauffman (senior, environmental science, Broadway, Va./Broadway) earned ODAC Runner of the Week recognition Sept. 27.
• Lucy Unzicker (junior, Spanish, Benson, Ill./Roanoke-Benson) was ODAC Runner of the Week Oct. 11. 
• Vanessa Gardiner (junior, environmental science, Springfield, Va./John R. Lewis) nabbed Second Team All-ODAC honors.

The women’s triathlon team finished fifth at the 2022 National Championships.

•  Jenna Weaver (sophomore, nursing, Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) earned 11th place at nationals; third place at the national qualifier meet, and College Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA) Second Team All-American honors.
• Vanessa Gardiner was 13th place at the national meet, fourth place at the national qualifier meet, and CTCA Second Team All-American honors.
• Jessica Buckwalter, a graduate student in the MA in Counseling program, was 16th at the national championships, sixth place at the national qualifier, and a CTCA Honorable Mention All-American.

Photos by Scott Eyre/91����Ƶ.

91����Ƶ will induct three new members to the this fall: Richy Bikko ‘11, Alyssa Derstine Landis ‘11, and Michelle Leaman Richards ‘10.

The induction ceremony, among many events during 91����Ƶ’s Homecoming and Family Weekend 2021, begins with a drop-in continental breakfast from 8-8:45 a.m. followed by a program from 8:45-9:45 a.m. Registration is required for the induction ceremony. Visit to register.

A video webstream of the induction ceremony will be available. Check the Homecoming website for more information.

With this year’s inductions, 91����Ƶ’s Hall of Honor contains more than 100 former players and coaches, as well as four teams and six administration honorees from the era known as “The First 60 Years.” Sponsored by the Royals Club, the Hall of Honor is located in the main hallway in University Commons, which houses Yoder Arena.

The event kicks off a busy day on campus, which includes three varsity sporting events as well the baseball team’s traditional Blue/Black World Series (Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon). Royals field hockey is also celebrating its 50-year anniversary with a special recognition at their home game, 11 a.m., on Saturday, and with a drop-in tent open at 2 p.m. by the Campus Center ( for the reception or email Coach Kishorn for more information.). Roger Mast, retiring men’s soccer head coach, will also be honored at halftime of that game, scheduled to start at 3 p.m.

Richy Bikko ‘11, Cross Country and Track and Field

Bikko, a standout distance and middle distance runner, earned 91����Ƶ’s highest athletics honor, the President’s Award, at the culmination of his career in 2011. The Kenyan native was new to the sport, with just two seasons of high school indoor and outdoor track during his senior year at Harrisonburg High before arriving at 91����Ƶ. [Read more on .]

He finished 16th in his first cross country race and won the next one, setting up a stellar career that included two NCAA National Championship appearances. His best finish of 108th during his junior year was the highest national finish of an 91����Ƶ runner since Kenny Layman took fifth place in 1997.

Bikko was also a two-time All South/Southeast Region First Team selection, finishing eighth in 2010 and ninth in 2009. He was All-ODAC First Team, finishing fifth and second in 2010 and 2009. He also accumulated four conference honors on the track in the 1500m, the 800m, and 4x400m. Bikko earned 91����Ƶ’s Rookie of the Year Award in 2009 and two academic awards, named to the NCAA Division III All-Academic Men’s Cross Country Team in 2009 and honored with the ODAC Academic All-Conference Award in 2010.

Among his strongest memories of being an Royals athlete is his for outdoor nationals in the 1500m. He bested the 31-year-old record set by Layman, but missed qualifying by .41 seconds — “a learning for me in how I can balance both disappointment and joy in a moment.” [Bikko’s record was broken in 2021 by junior Isaac Alderfer.]

Bikko carries on the spirit of mentorship and teamwork that he says sustained him at 91����Ƶ. He is director of programs for . (GMin), creating experiential learning programs for youth in Sierra Leone and Kenya to become leaders and problem-solvers in their communities. He is also a board member at the peacebuilding organization  (Dipad) founded by his late mother Doreen Ruto MA ‘06 (conflict transformation).

Bikko says his athletic experiences at 91����Ƶ directly impact his current work. “I learned to appreciate how everyone led through big and small ways –whether it’s by coming up with a warm up exercise for the team, leading team practice, pacing the runs, leading a prayer, cheering teammates and also rivals. I also appreciate the way in which as a student-athlete I got spiritual guidance from my coaches… I still keep the verse from Micah 6:8 close ”What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”‘  as I continuously work in solidarity with the most vulnerable and disenfranchised communities.”

Alyssa Derstine Landis ’10, field hockey

Landis, an attacker and two-time 91����Ƶ Athlete of the Year in 2009 and 2010, helped the Royals to four consecutive ODAC championship game appearances.

This was a career highlight despite losing each time to Lynchburg. “We were so close!” she says.

One of 91����Ƶ’s most decorated athletes, Landis named those who surrounded her as the reason for her success. “I have been honored to receive numerous individual awards during my time at 91����Ƶ, but I absolutely could not have done it without my teammates, coaches, and support from parents and other individuals along the way. I remember feeling the sting of losing the ODAC Championship Game multiple times in a row, and what I would have done to be able to trade in the individual awards for winning the Championship Game and getting the opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament.”

Landis holds two Top 10 slots in the 91����Ƶ field hockey records books. She is seventh in the career goals (58), ninth in career points (140)  and 13th in career assists (24).

Landis is one of 91����Ƶ’s most decorated field hockey athletes. Among her many conference honors were ODAC First Team honors in 2007, 2009, and 2010; ODAC All-Tournament Team honors the same three years; and two Player of the Year honors in 2008 and 2009. She was also twice named ODAC Player of the Week.

She was also a three-time VaSID All-State First Team honoree (2007, 2008, 2009).

Landis holds three All-American awards: She was a two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) honoree, joining the Division III Senior All-Star Team in 2009 and the All-American Second Team in 2009. In 2008, Womensfieldhockey.com named her to the All-American Second Team.

NFHCA also awarded her All-Region (South) Second Team honors in 2007 and 2009 and All-Region (South) First Team honors in 2008.

She lives in Telford, Pa., with her husband, Bryan, their daughter Corbyn, 4, and son Parker, eight months. She has worked with Lacher & Associates for nine years, currently in the role of client executive and healthcare and benefits team lead. She and her family are members at Salford Mennonite Church.

“Field hockey has been such a part of me for the majority of my life and in some ways defined who I was for many years,” Landis wrote in her acceptance letter. After graduation, she was an assistant coach with the 91����Ƶ team and then played in a local adult league. She still pulls her stick out to play with her daughter and says she hopes her two young children will learn to love field hockey — “or any  other sport that can help teach them some of the valuable life lessons that these activities can offer.”

She has “great memories” of her time with the Royals: “The bus rides, dinners, and hotel stays with teammates, team building activities, devotions after every practice, the comradery around the dreaded conditioning practices or running tests, the high intensity games – there were so many wonderful memories.”

Michelle Leaman Richards ’10, track and field 

Richards was the most dominant female hurdler to attend 91����Ƶ, capping her career as a two-time NCAA national championships qualifier in the 100m hurdles and the 55m hurdles and 60m hurdles in 2008. She was also a provisional qualifier in the indoor 55m hurdles in 2009.

She holds six individual 91����Ƶ records: 55m hurdles (8.48); 60m hurdles (9.13); 100m hurdles (14.85); 400m hurdles (1:06.08). She was also on two record-setting outdoor relay teams.

She set two indoor ODAC records in the 55m hurdles (8.48 seconds) and the 60m hurdles (9.13) on the way to earning three conference championships. She was ODAC Champion in the indoor 55m hurdles in 2008 and 2010 and in the outdoor 100m hurdles in 2008. 

A standout in the classroom as well, Richards was recognized three times by ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-District awards. Among her other athletic honors were two All-ODAC second team awards in the 55m hurdles in 2009 and the 100m hurdles in 2007. She was a two-time ODAC Track Athlete of the Week. She was also honored with the 91����Ƶ Athlete of the Year Award in 2008.

Richard recalled the “May season,” with the stresses of the academic semester and ODAC championships over, as particularly enjoyable for fun times and bonding with teammates. She also enjoyed road trips to meets at DI schools “where even just making the finals or semifinals was an accomplishment.” 

She says the relationships and support of her teammates and 91����Ƶ athletics staff in general made all the difference in her career: “I would not have been able to get as far as I did without the support of teammates, the individual attention and individual practices from coaches, and the athletic training staff keeping me healthy/pain-free.”

One of her more poignant memories was getting to the second hurdle in an indoor 55 m race ahead of the defending DIII national champion and being so surprised at this that she “clobbered the hurdle.” Though she didn’t finish, the quality of her start from the blocks over the first hurdle was “a real confidence booster.”

Richards lives in Lewiston, Maine, with her husband and children ages 7, 5, 2. “After teaching high school Spanish for two years in Maine, God called me away from my teaching career and toward the nearby refugee, asylee, and immigrant community,” she said. “During this transition, I got involved with The Root Cellar, a non-profit organization committed to being the hands and feet of Jesus in the most impoverished neighborhood of our city.”

In 2013, she and her family moved into the same neighborhood. “We have since been trying to figure out what it means to love our neighbors and to build bridges across cultural, language, religious and socioeconomic lines,” she said, which includes overseeing a volunteer-based adult English program at The Root Cellar.

Richards enjoys staying active with her children and walking in the community “where relationships are often built on the street.”

Not only did Brandy lead the ODAC (and the nation) with eight defensive saves, but she also tied for first with three game-winning goals this year.

In the final week of the regular season, the Royals crammed three games into four games, and Brandy came up big, notching two game-winning goals and five defensive saves in the stretch. In a comeback win over Bridgewater, the defender stepped up and scored on a corner in the 44th minute to put 91����Ƶ in front, 3-2. the junior also had a defensive save in that key win. Brandy hit the cage on another corner to put 91����Ƶ on the board just 3:19 into play in the win at Sweet Briar. Then she had four defensive saves in the finale against Lycnhburg.

Along with her team, Brandy was successful in creating a memorable season for the seniors and looks forward to next year. 

You are the first 91����Ƶ field hockey player to receive the ODAC Player of the Week award since 2009. Please briefly describe what this recognition means for you.

Honestly, I was really surprised when I was notified of this recognition! Being able to represent 91����Ƶ in the ODAC was a big honor. I worked really hard in the offseason to get to where I am and to receive the ODAC Player of the Week had been one of my goals for the season.

For the second season in a row, you led the ODAC (and the nation) with eight defensive saves. Talk about your role as a defender and the defensive unit as a whole. 

The only thing I think about when I have a defensive save is, “This ball is not getting into the cage.” First-year Cassidy Armstrong was also added into our defensive unit this season. She really stepped into the role and we all came together to create a strong defense. My favorite memory as a defender this season was keeping Lynchburg to their season-low scoring output. Even though we lost that game, I had four defensive saves and that game was our best game as an entire team.

What did you do in the summer and fall to prepare for your season?

During the summer, the gyms were closed so I did a lot of running and bodyweight exercises. I decided to prepare myself as best I could with the resources I had available. I was hesitant about having a season in the spring because it was something I was not used to. I was also worried about our schedule only being ODAC teams, but I knew it was a challenge that I was ready for.

Due to COVID-19, the field hockey season got moved from playing in the fall to the spring. What did it mean for you to be able to have a season?

Coach Stick really helped our team maintain a positive attitude during the season. COVID-19 affected multiple games for us but we remained flexible. Having a season this year meant a lot for me because a lot of schools were not given the same chance to play. The team wanted to give a season for our seniors and send them off on a high note. 

In the game against Bridgewater, you had one defensive save and one goal. What did this big ODAC win mean to you?

As I mentioned before, the team really wanted to give our seniors the best season. Beating Bridgewater was something that the seniors strived for and the motivation to win came from them. I gave it everything I could because I knew that if we tied the game, we just needed one more goal to win. Scoring the winning goal on a corner against Bridgewater is something that I will never forget.

What are your thoughts and goals going into your senior year?

It is kind of scary to think about how I have played field hockey my entire life and now I will be entering my final season. I am excited to get into next season and look forward to playing. We have some tough opponents but I know the team will continue to improve our overall record.

Coach Stick on Brandy Troutman’s season:

Brandy’s work ethic and commitment to the field hockey team have been instrumental in the turnaround of our program. After having a successful campaign during her sophomore season, she came back ready to compete against a really tough ODAC schedule. It was amazing to see her continue the drive to keep opponents from scoring against us. Not only has she been steady and strong on the defensive end, she has really stepped up to be a threat on offensive corners. In fact, most of our goals scored this year were off of offensive corners which was a great improvement from our offensive corner unit from years prior. Seeing a defensive player tied for the most game-winning goals in the conference is unusual, but Brandy is a special player. I am already excited to see 91����Ƶ Field Hockey take the field in the fall!

This spring, 91����Ƶ Athletics has been celebrating alumni-athletes working in the health care professions.

“It has been so exciting to reconnect with former Royals  for this special social media campaign highlighting the outstanding work being done in the health care field,” said Director of Athletics Dave King. “And it has been very rewarding to hear the ways in which athletics prepared and shaped them for their current work.  I hope you are as inspired as I was in reading their responses.”

To view the entire series, visit the .

To join the series, send us a note in the comment box below and we’ll get in touch with you!

Below are a few of the more than 25 alumni-athletes. Scroll down to view a complete list (as of 3/24/2021). Thanks to James DeBoer, director of athletics communication for his work on this project.

Martin Pou ’20, Volleyball

Now: Assistant to the practice manager, Shenandoah Valley Gastroenterology

Lesson: Clear and quick communication is crucial both on the court and in the medical field.

Julie Kratz McElwee ’85, BNS ’86, Field Hockey

Now: Emergency department chair, Lewis Gale Hospital Montgomery, Christiansburg, Va.

Lesson: The importance of relationships and knowing who is behind you, to give support, when things are not going well.

Tyler Denlinger ’18, Cross Country/ Track & Field

Now: Vaccines process development engineer, Merck Pharmaceutical, Elkton, Va.

Lesson: I have found the lesson of “enjoy what you do” to hold a lasting effect from my time at 91����Ƶ. There are few things in my life I hold more dearly than my experience with the 91����Ƶ track and field squad. I love running and T&F, and that love enabled my teammates and I to collectively accomplish a lot of really difficult tasks…I found that my love of the sport and my desire to achieve goals  were useful in propelling me to accomplish unpleasant tasks such as lifting after a hard workout. This directly applies to my work setting—while I do not love every  aspect of my job, my passion for the end goal makes the unpleasant aspects more bearable.

Rachel Sturm ’18, Soccer/Track & Field

Now: Registered nurse, UVA Medical ICU/Special Pathogen ICU, Charlottesville, Va.

Lesson: I learned that I needed to stop worrying about society’s standards of success and focus on what God’s successes were for me. At the time there was so much pressure on my shoulders to be a successful athlete and a successful student. It’s hard to succeed in both, as one usually has to take over the other. In my case I had to choose my career to become a nurse. Yet, I never stopped giving it my all in academics and sports, which created a lot of frustration when I failed in my sport. Now I look back and realize, God gave me the talent to play college sports to introduce me to the people he wanted in my life. To give me the experiences I needed to grow into the woman and leader I am now. To let me learn failure and to strive from it. All these little things are God’s achievements for me.

Brooke Hensley ‘14, Softball

Now: Emergency department team coordinator, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Lesson: The importance of playing together as a team to be successful because you cannot do it all on your own. Throughout my career, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been vital to work as a team in providing patient care in order to promote positive outcomes and save lives.

Laura Rosenberger ‘03, Track & Field

Now: Surgeon, associate professor of surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Lesson: 91����Ƶ Athletics taught me how to be resilient during adversity and perseverance. Thankful for dedicated coaches and supportive teammates. Feels so pertinent to life right now in a pandemic!

Jess Rheinheimer Bishop ‘16, Basketball

Now: Registered Nurse, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa.

Lesson: I learned many lessons from the basketball court but one that sticks out from Coach Griff is that you are the driver to your own success –  no one else can determine how successful you are going to be in life or in sports. You get out what you put in.

Katie Lehman Maust ‘09, Soccer

Now: Emergency department RN, Sentara RMH / Paramedic and training lieutenant, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, Harrisonburg, Va.

Lesson: As an athlete, I was so thankful to be surrounded by people who were courageous, tenacious, hardworking, and supportive. Being part of a healthcare team has a lot of similarities to being on an athletics team and I aspire to carry those traits of great team members into my roles in the healthcare system.

Thanks to ALL of our Royals athletes working to make this world a safer place!

From left: Brent Yoder ’12, soccer, physical therapist and co-owner of Yoder Physical Therapy and Wellness in Sarasota, Fla.

Emily Augsburger ’18, field hockey, CCU Registered Nurse, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

Jackson Maust ’09, soccer, physical therapist at Augusta Health, working in outpatient therapy and in acute care in the hospital, including with COVID patients; also a captain and life member of Harrisonburg Rescue Squad (Jackson is married to Katie, featured above).

Jamey Groff ’98, volleyball, oncology pharmacist, Hahn Cancer Center, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Jessica Blanks Jaindl ’13, field hockey, registered nurse at Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

From left: Juni Schirch Sauder ’16, cross country/track and field, athletics testing coordinator, 91����Ƶ.

Laura Rittenhouse ’20, soccer, registered nurse, cardiac care, UVa Hospital.

Laurie Serrell ’19, cross country/track and field, registered nurse with Spanish interpreters training, Sentara RMH.

Leah Lapp ’20, triathlon, associate chemist, Merck Pharmaceutical, Elkton, Va.; attending Liberty University School of Osteopathic Medicine, fall 2021.

Linda Cimini Boesch ’11, field hockey/track and field, critical care RN, St. Luke’s University Health System, Chalfont, Pa.

Lisa King Burkholder ’08, RN, Sentara RMH and instructor of nursing, 91����Ƶ, Harrisonburg, Va.

Mariah Foltz ’17, softball, RN, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Mariah Martin ’17, field hockey, labor and deliver nurse, Sentara RMH, Harrisonburg, Va.

Nolan Prock ’12, volleyball, veterinarian, Healthy Pets Veterinary Care, Boca Raton, Fla.

R.J. Ocampo ’19, volleyball, EMT with Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Virginia Beach, Va.

Rodney Eshleman ’88, soccer, ICU nurse, Augusta Health, Fishersville, Va.

Sylvia Mast ’19, soccer, ED technician, Sentara RMH and EMT, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, Harrisonburg, Va.

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) released its National Academic Squad today, and 75% of 91����Ƶ’s roster earned the recognition.

The Academic Squad award is for individuals who hold a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher through the fall semester.  (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View),  (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite),  (Barboursville, Va./Orange County),  (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch),  (Aldie, Va./John Champe),  (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central),  (Smithfield, Va./Smithfield),  (Sellersville, Pa./Dock Mennonite Academy),  (Quakertown, Pa./Dock Mennonite Academy),  (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester),  (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside) and  (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) represent Royals out of the 2,050 student-athletes from the 140 Division III institutions recognized this year.

Hartzler earned special recognition as a four-year honoree on the National Academic Squad.

Six 91����Ƶ student-athletes have been named to the Academic-All State Team by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID). A total of 222 student-athletes representing 37 colleges and universities across the state were recognized.

Those honored from 91����Ƶ were:

 (Broadway, Va./Broadway), So., Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field, Environmental Science, 3.96 GPA. Alderfer earned All-Region honors in track & field finishing fourth in the region in the 800m with his school record time of 1:54.97. He was also Eastern Mennonite’s top cross country runner in the fall.

 (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), Jr., Women’s Soccer, Secondary English Education, 4.00 GPA. Breidigan is a three-year starter in the Royals’ back line. She has helped Eastern Mennonite to 10 shutouts this past season and 19 over her career.

 (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite), Sr., Women’s Cross Country, Writing Studies, 4.00 GPA. Good had a comeback senior season after missing time the previous season. She ran her best 6K time of     24:26.5 at the 2019 ODAC Cross Country Championship.

 (Smithfield, Va./Smithfield), So., Field Hockey/Women’s Lacrosse, Elementary Education, 4.00 GPA. Hedgepeth played and started in every contest for field hockey and women’s lacrosse. She led the field hockey team with 10 goals with 3 assists for 23 points. Three of her goals were game-winning. 

 (Collinsville, Miss./West Lauderdale), Sr., Women’s Triathlon/Cross Country, Education and Liberal Arts, 3.97 GPA. In the first year of 91����Ƶ sponsoring the sport of triathlon, Shelly finished 13th at the National Championship, completing a 750m swim, 20k bike and 5k run in 1:19.38. She was also the Royals’ top runner on the cross country team.

 (Broadway, Va./Eastern Mennonite), Sr., Women’s Soccer, Psychology & Music Performance (Vocal), 3.96 GPA. This year, Wenger was voted as the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete for women’s soccer. She had 58 starts in 67 career games, and led the ODAC with 10 shutouts as a senior.

To be eligible for Academic All-State, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average, and be a sophomore or higher.

VaSID is comprised of sports information or athletics communications professionals from intercollegiate institutions throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Membership is open to any individual affiliated with one of the state’s institutions at the NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, USCAA, NJCAA, community college and independent levels.

The Academic Team award recognizes the team GPA from the fall semester of the 2019-20 academic year, recognizing programs with a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher. 91����Ƶ’s streak of 14 consecutive years of earning the team award started from the 2006 season.

The Academic Squad award is for individuals who hold a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher through the fall semester.  (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite),  (Aldie, Va./John Champe),  (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central),  (Smithfield, Va./Smithfield),  (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite),  (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester),  (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside),  (Fredericksburg, Va./Fredericksburg Christian) and  (Culpeper, Va./Eastern View) represent Royals out of the 1,943 student-athletes from the 157 Division III institutions recognized this year. Mast, 91����Ƶ’s lone senior, earned special recognition as a four-year honoree on the National Academic Squad.

Zag Field Hockey sponsors both awards.

“The field hockey program strives to succeed on the field and in the classroom,” said Coach Ashley Kishorn. “The players work hard to balance their schedules through the fall season. We are proud of the commitment the players make to their academics and are thrilled that they have once again exceeded our expectations.”

The Royals finished with a record of 5-13, and sophomore defender  (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield) tied for the national lead with a program record 17 defensive saves.

This marks the 14th straight year that the 91����Ƶ team has earned the National Academic Team Award, a streak started from the 2006 season.

“The field hockey program strives to succeed on the field and in the classroom,” said Coach Ashley Kishorn. “The players work hard to balance their schedules through the fall season. We are proud of the commitment the players make to their academics and are thrilled that they have once again exceeded our expectations.”

The NFHCA recognizes college teams with a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher with the award. Zag Field Hockey sponsors the national award.

The Royals finished with a record of 5-13, and sophomore defender  (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield) tied for the national lead with a program record 17 defensive saves.

She was selected to the elite team by a vote of the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID).

In her second season with the Royals, Troutman emerged as a dominating presence on the field and one of the best two-way players in the state. She tied for the national lead with 17 defensive saves (along with fellow All-State Second Team honoree Jackie Smith of Mary Washington), easily breaking the 91����Ƶ program record of 10 held by Radella Todd (1988) and Mandy Stowers (2013). With 24 already in her career, Troutman may well own the 91����Ƶ career record as well. She had seven games with two of more defensive saves, including three against each St. Mary’s (Md.) and nationally ranked Lynchburg.

Offensively, Troutman was a force with her powerful outside shots, especially on corners. She picked up four goals and three assists on the season, both career highs.

, as well as an Academic All-State squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions. Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a university or conference in the state of Virginia.

Royals of the past can play with their former teammates once again in a small-sided alumni game at 12:30 p.m. The game against Juniata follows and will include halftime introductions. Supper and a panel of past players and coaches will follow.

Current head coach Ashley Kishorn said the program is steeped in tradition and success, and she wants the current Royals to have a chance to rub shoulders with those former players.

“With 11 ODAC Championships over the years, it is clear that 91����Ƶ field hockey has had its fair share of success and talented athletes,” Kishorn explained. “The amount of field hockey players inducted into our schools’ Hall of Honor alone is impressive! We would love if alumni would come back to their roots here at 91����Ƶ and share stories and tips for success not just on the hockey field but also in their lives and careers. It has been my goal to get this program back up to the achievements that those before us had, so speaking with these wonderful alumni would be an awesome experience for our current players and coaches.”

Director of Athletics Dave King said he enjoys the chance to honor former student-athletes.

“One of my greatest joys is to hear the stories of alumni and former coaches, describing how their 91����Ƶ sports experience shaped and prepared them for life,” King explained. “They embody the purpose and value of 91����Ƶ Athletics and deserve to be recognized and honored in this way.”

All former field hockey players and coaches are asked to RSVP by filling out this short online form.

91����Ƶ is also planning a 50th year celebration of the program at the 2020 Homecoming Weekend next year.

Jasmine Wilson and Anna Hunter Nickols were recognized for outstanding leadership with the Take Back the Night event committee. Read more about their work.

Outgoing Student Government Association senators Allison Shelly, Ruth Reimer-Berg and Anisa Leonard were recognized by Rachel Roth Sawatsky, associate dean of students, for fulfillment of their elected responsibilities.

Sarah Beth Ranck, a three-year tutor who will begin her student teaching next spring, was given the Peer Tutor Award by Linda Gnagey, director of the Academic Success Center.

Riley Swartzendruber was named among a select group of 2019  College Scholars. He’ll attend the summit this summer to network, attend workshops, photograph alongside professionals, and participate in a nature-based storytelling project.” He is the third 91����Ƶ student in the past several years to earn this honor (read more about this experience).  

Luke Hertzler, Anali Martin, Sara Byler and Lindsay Acker — pastoral assistants concluding their roles at the end of the fall semester — were recognized by Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder.

Raleigh Wade, Taylor Fink and Laurie Serrell were recognized by the nursing department for three awards given each semester to senior nursing students selected from nominations made by peers and faculty. Wade was given the Sacred Covenant Award, for the student who exemplifies 91����Ƶ’s unique approach to nursing that recognizes the nurse/client relationship as holy ground. Fink earned the Academic Achievement Award. Serrell was recognized with the Servant Leader Award, for a student who has shown a deep level of caring and is an example to the entire nursing department of service and leadership.

Four graduate students from the were recognized for their contributions by Peacebuilding Practice Director Amy Knorr. “One of my favorite things about working here is how our students continually teach and inspire us… through sharing their insights, challenging us and through their actions in the broader community,” she said.

• Kirby Broadnax was recognized for her sensitivity in designing and facilitating discussion around the Doctrine of Discovery and the film The Eagle and the Condor; her work with Take Back the Night; and for contributions around responding to sexual harm.
• Katrina Poplett, for her dedicated work in facilitating, designing and securing community grant funding for 91����Ƶ’s first restorative justice training, as well as work facilitating dialogue around the film The Eagle and the Condor.
• Mikayla Waters Crittenden, for her work designing a CJP Community Grounding Day for CJP and for facilitating the 91����Ƶ training in restorative justice for students faculty and staff.
• Renata Loberg: for her tireless work in proposing, designing and facilitating CJP’s first Community Grounding Day.

Five students were recognized for  outstanding contribution to the music department by Professor James Richardson.

• Leah Wenger, a double major in psychology and music, has garnered acclaim in several different spheres of music-making, scholarship and arts advocacy. She’s received a semester-long internship with the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, has led singing and worship in various contexts, and made an immense contribution to the quality, both intellectually and artistically. She also has a role in the upcoming spring musical Beauty and the Beast.
• Kiara Norman, also a double major, has made scholarly and artistic contributions in the field of music, specifically voice performance. She was chosen as the soprano soloist for the November gala’s performance of the Fauré Requiem and will appear in Beauty and the Beast.
• Sarah Ressler, the only non-music major, was recognized for her outstanding contributions to University Choir, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble. She will also appear in Beauty and the Beast.
• Elliot Bowen was recognized for outstanding contributions in composition; he is “an expressive, concise and sensitive composer and a choral musician with a strong leadership record,” Richardson said.
• Hannah Menefee, who will do her student teaching next semester, is a “great collaborator,” Richardson said. “We look forward to seeing her inspire others in her own musicianship and gifts as a teacher.”

Student-Athlete Honors

Women’s Cross Country

• Elizabeth Nisly, All-ODAC Second Team and Royals Athlete of the Week
• Laurie Serrell, All-ODAC Second Team

Field Hockey

• Lauren Hartzler, Royals Athlete of the Week
• Skylar Hedgepeth, All-ODAC Third Team
• Kayla Maret, All-ODAC Second Team and Royals Athlete of the Week
• Kelsey Troyer, Royals Athlete of the Week and 91����Ƶ Record for Career Saves

Men’s Golf

• Austin Sachs, Royals Athlete of the Week

Women’s Golf

• Olivia Longacre, ODAC Golfer of the Week

Men’s Soccer

• Emmanuel Boamah, All-ODAC First Team, United Soccer Coaches All-South Atlantic Region First Team, and Royals Athlete of the Week
• Joshua Chiquillo, ODAC Player of the Week and Royals Athlete of the Week
• Dave Drafton, All ODAC Third Team
• Erik Peachey, Royals Athlete of the Week
• Dominic Powers, All-ODAC Third Team

Women’s Soccer

• United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award
• Leah Wenger, Royals Athlete of the Week

Women’s Volleyball

• American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award
• Hannah Johnson, Route 42 Classic All-Tournament Team and Royals Athlete of the Week
• Maria Yoder, Blue Jay Classic All-Tournament Team, Royals Athlete of the Week, CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.

But her student-teaching obligations that limited her participation in pre-season practice has in no way delayed the goalie, a four-year member of the Royals’ , from entering 91����Ƶ’s record books.

In Friday’s 3-1 win over Wesley, she made 11 saves, pushing her career total to 392 and surpassing a 23-year-old mark of 389 held by . For that effort, she was named Royals Athlete of the Week.

Troyer, an , accomplished this despite missing some of the rigorous one-week pre-season practices to attend “Opening School Experience,” a required orientation for student-teachers at their assigned school site.

“Student-teachers participate with their cooperating teacher in setting up the classroom, preparing instructional materials, attending school or division-wide professional development opportunities, going on home visits, and meeting with colleagues,” said education department chair Professor Cathy Smeltzer Erb. “It’s a good time for pre-service teachers to learn more about their site and the profession before the students arrive.”

Athletes=good time managers

Like many student-athletes before her, Troyer has juggled teacher education curricular requirements with the demands of being a collegiate athlete.

“In general, I’ve found that our student-athletes have learned to manage their busy schedules well, and Kelsey is no exception,” said Professor Ron Schultz, coordinator for the PK-6 education program.

He also isn’t surprised by her athletic success. He says Troyer is motivated to achieve at a high level, but “has a fairly laid back approach to life and doesn’t get too ‘worked up’ about anything, a perspective that has clearly served her well both in the goal for the Royals and also in the classroom.”

In the pre-season, Troyer did manage to attend one practice each day.  worked with her to make sure she was able to attend as much as possible and to reassure her about the missed time.

And when she was able to be there, she felt good about what she saw and experienced with her teammates.

“We had a lot of good solid practices and team bonding things that I was a part of and they were really good,” she said.

Growth as an athlete

Despite this initial, unique challenge, Kisner says Troyer has shown impressive growth in the position. “Due to injuries, she is our only goalkeeper this season. This puts her in a tough position, because she has to come out every day ready to perform.”

Kisner, in her second season at 91����Ƶ, says she has enjoyed watching this particular player develop her skills. “In the past two seasons of working with her, it has been fun to watch her settle into the cage and build confidence to support the defense and make big saves. She continues to improve with every game and we’re excited to see what the rest of the season holds.”

With an expansion of graduate assistantships in 91����Ƶ’s athletics department, Kisner and the field hockey program have benefited from new assistant coach Anna Cooke, a former goalie herself.

This positive change has moved Troyer to a new level and she appreciates both the knowledge Cooke brings to the position and her flexibility in communicating and adapting to individual athletes.

“Now that the school year’s started, I’m definitely actually into it and it just feels like any other year,” she said, of the awkward start to her season – most likely her final one in a career that spans more than a decade.

Her third-grade teacher was passionate about the sport and ran an after-school club for third through fifth-graders. Troyer watched her older friends get to play and started as soon as she was old enough.

Years later, she says playing field hockey is part of a well-ingrained routine.

“I don’t know what I’d do without it, like it would be just so boring,” she said. “My afternoons would be free! What does that even look like? I just don’t even know.”

The team has jumped to a 6-1 start, the best for the program in a decade, and share a goal of qualifying for the ODAC tournament. Another goal, Troyer says, is to continue to build a cohesive unit with a relatively new group of players, “to have people work together and play together more,” she said.

91����Ƶ .

Troyer will begin her student-teaching in the spring, first with third-graders in Harrisonburg and then with fifth-graders in Rockingham County.

But first, it’s field hockey season.

Nor did she have any idea just how many students she would teach, advise, coach and mentor at the university: Considering the number of courses she taught each semester as well as her class sizes, Brownscombe probably taught an estimated one-third of the student body each semester. For 15 years with the , she was the field placement coordinator for what amounts to several hundred practicum and student teachers.

So the likelihood that any student over the past 40 years graduated without relating to Brownscombe in some capacity is pretty slim.

That legacy was honored earlier this month during a reception attended by colleagues.

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One of those colleagues is also a former student: Roger Mast, associate professor of physical education and men’s soccer coach for the past 27 years. He noted that the opportunity to work alongside a passionate, committed and welcoming colleague who continuously “reflected and improved her own teaching practice is a gift we’ll cherish for a lifetime.”

Brownscombe was the second non-Mennonite faculty member, and the first female non-Mennonite, to be hired, noted Director of Athletics Dave King.

Her pioneering didn’t stop there. She coached three sports and 32 total teams: women’s basketball for 12 years, from 1978-90; field hockey for 16 years, from 1978-93; and men’s volleyball for eight years, from 1991-98.

This last coaching term is notable, says King. If Brownscombe is not the first woman to coach men’s sports in the NCAA, she is certainly among the first. That she did this at a private Christian college is also notable.

In the record books, Brownscombe is No. 1 in wins for and , and for women’s basketball (notably, she has been the longest-serving coaches in the first two sports, by several years; current women’s basketball coach Kevin Griffin logged his 12th year, to equal Brownscombe service and exceed her wins record, just this year).

She is one of three coaches with her mentor Miriam “Mim” Mumaw and Eugene Hostetler.

“You have pioneered change or embraced change at every turn in our athletic and physical education program at 91����Ƶ, so thank you for being a trailblazer,” President Susan Schultz Huxman said. “That takes energy, conviction, confidence and steady optimism and faith in a university’s future.”

In April 2018, the 91����Ƶ Board of Trustees honored Brownscombe as the first physical education faculty member to receive professor emerita status.

A role model for future role models

Reflecting on her career, Brownscombe said in a later interview that she was most proud of her record as an academic advisor, helping students to create a smooth and efficient pathway to timely graduation – a challenging task considering the practicum and student-teaching requirements for physical education and teacher education.

Her student evaluations highlight her strengths as a teacher. “I tried every semester to be better than the semester before,” she said. “That was very important to me, to get better at my work, to be a better teacher.”

For many years, all of the time-consuming coaching responsibilities – such as state-wide and regional recruitment, planning for and managing practices, driving the team to competitions – were accomplished on top of a full teaching load.

Though Brownscombe says she thinks back on that time and is still amazed at her own resilience, she says she felt a strong responsibility to model to her students how to balance the two roles. For all students, it was important to see a female coach in a leadership role.

“For the first half of my career, I was a coach and teacher, and I felt it was really important to model those dual roles to health and physical education majors because that was often the role they were going into,” she said.

Helping all teachers to be better teachers

Brownscombe arrived at 91����Ƶ (then Eastern Mennonite College) with teaching experience in the Providence, Rhode Island, schools, as well as an MA in physical education from Washington State University and a BA in physical education from University of Northern Colorado. In 2004, she earned an EdD in K-12 curriculum from Argosy University, Sarasota.

She chaired the physical education and recreation department three times (1987-90, 1992-94 and 2015-17) and was interim chair of the teacher education department during two sabbaticals.

With various teaching responsibilities in both teacher education and physical education departments, she was field experience coordinator for 15 years, representing 91����Ƶ on the MidValley Consortium for Teacher Education from 2000-2015.

In this capacity, she helped to develop an innovative new model, which emphasized co-teaching between the P-12 classroom teacher and the preservice teacher.

“When the new Standards of Learning requirements were introduced, local principals were concerned about how student teachers might impact learning,” she explained. “The model then was that the student teacher spent a few weeks observing and then took over the classroom while the regular teacher stepped out.”

Adapting a previously used co-teaching model, Brownscombe and other teacher education professionals in the MidValley Consortium eventually moved regional preservice education onto new – and better – ground. The consortium research, conducted in Augusta County schools and eventually shared at state and national conferences, showed students learning in a co-teaching model actually improved their test scores.

In the MidValley Consortium role, Brownscombe developed and shared research and knowledge gleaned about all aspects of teacher education at various conferences. Some of these topics included:

• developing co-teaching skills in clinical faculty.
• the nature of interactions between clinical faculty and preservice teachers.
• the relationship between clinical faculty and student teachers.
• the role of collaboration and reflection among teachers and students.
• performance assessments as related to co-teaching and to student teachers.
• teacher retention.
• transitioning teacher candidates from preparation to professional practice.

Joining 91����Ƶ colleagues, she presented at conferences on experiences of preservice teachers in practicum settings, socially just learning, and unique qualities of the liberal arts-based preservice teacher curriculum.

Leadership beyond 91����Ƶ

Brownscombe was on the board of directors from 2011-16 of Association of Teacher Educators (ATE), a national organization that represents over 700 colleges and universities, over 500 major school systems, and the majority of state departments of education.

She also co-chaired the 2014 national conference and served in leadership positions for four other conferences: service two times as planning committee co-chair and once as a member, and twice as program committee co-chair.

Brownscombe also co-chaired the ATE’s Commission on the Development of/and Preparation for Teaching the Whole Child, and was a four-year member of the association’s standing committee on technology and the future of teacher education.

With the Virginia Association of Teacher Educators, during 20 years of membership, she served as president from 2007-09, which included two-year terms before and after as president-elect and past president. She was the higher education delegate from 2011-12.

She was also active in leadership roles for the Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (VAHPERD), and served as one of the lead teachers at James Madison University’s Content Teaching Academy.