Last September, Joel Spalding woke up in a hospital bed from a monthlong coma. It was then, as the medication fog began to lift and his mind started to make sense of his surroundings, that he discovered that one of his legs was missing.

Spalding was a first-year computer science major at 91����Ƶ during the 2023-2024 school year and played as a on the Royals soccer team. The Alexandria, Virginia, native had been playing for a semipro team in Northern Virginia over the summer to stay in shape for the upcoming college soccer season. During a rainy night on July 31, 2024, he was driving home from a practice when his car hydroplaned and crashed into a tree. Spalding lost consciousness in the crash and was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he was placed into a medically induced coma. 

While he was sedated, his left leg was amputated above the knee. “They told me later that my leg was barely hanging on by a thread,” said Spalding, who now wears a prosthetic leg. 

It was far from the only part of him that needed mending. “I broke both of my femurs, I shattered my pelvis, I damaged my bladder, lungs, liver, and diaphragm, and I had a traumatic brain injury and brain bleed,” he said.

In the months that followed, Spalding underwent more than 30 surgeries. His days playing soccer for 91����Ƶ were over. Both college life and the future he had imagined were suddenly put on hold.

“It was really tough, both physically and mentally,” he said. “I struggled with depression, feeling like I lost everything that mattered. 

“Soccer was literally everything to me. It was what I lived and breathed. I would wake up every morning and my first thought would be, ‘What time is practice?’ And then I couldn’t do that anymore.” 

During his long recovery, through painful rehab sessions in the hospital and the feelings of depression that gnawed at him, his coach and teammates from 91����Ƶ were there to rally around him in support.

In addition to their frequent FaceTime calls, Justin Carey MBA ’21, head men’s soccer coach at 91����Ƶ, regularly made the two-hour drive to visit Spalding in the hospital and at his home. “Coach was there for me and my family and helped in any way he could,” Spalding said. “I also knew I could count on my teammates to lift me up. They would come by the house and we’d hang out and watch football and get something to eat. They’re a real stand-up group of guys.”

Carey said that the players took it upon themselves to organize trips to see Spalding. “They spend so much time together,” Carey said. “These relationships can transform your life, so when something like that happens to a friend like Joel, you drop everything to be there for him.” He added that the soccer team worked with the 91����Ƶ Counseling Center to talk through their feelings of grief and uncertainty.

It was during the recovery process, Spalding said, that he started “locking in with God” and growing deeper in his faith. Spalding, who was raised Christian, was able to visit the junkyard in Maryland that held the wreckage of his car. Looking at the mangled mess of metal, all he could think was, “Nobody should be able to survive that.”

“I should be dead right now, like super dead, but I know that God saved me for a reason,” Spalding said. “I know it’s a miracle that I’m here, that I’m still able to talk, and that I’m mentally capable. 

“I know God saved me so that he can use my testimony to inspire and help others. Ever since I realized that, I’ve decided I’m going to live the rest of my life for God and do everything I can for him.”

Spalding has been sharing his testimony about how his faith carried him through his recovery. He’s spoken at his home church in Northern Virginia, and in July testified at a conference in Tampa, Florida, where he now lives and attends Bible college. 

Carey said he’s been inspired by his former player. “For Joel to process, grieve, and find something he can be passionate about, at just 20 years old and all within a year of the accident, is incredible. Not many people could do that.”

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.

“I am delighted to have Justin join our team and give leadership to the men’s soccer program as head coach,” said Director of Athletics Dave King. “His knowledge of the program, experience in culture building and commitment to the hard work of recruiting are just a few of the qualities that stood out to the committee and make him the ideal candidate to lead the program into the future. I am excited about giving Justin his first head coaching opportunity and look forward to working with him. He was an outstanding player and leader at University of Mary Washington, giving him the experience of what it takes to achieve excellence. I am certain that Justin will develop a culture focused on excellence on and off the field and represent the university in positive ways. Justin has packed a lot of experiences in a short amount of time and I’m convinced that he is ready to be a head coach.”

Since May 2020, Carey has been an assistant coach for the Division I Stetson University Hatters.

Carey is no stranger to Eastern Mennonite, as he was the graduate assistant for the Royals for the 2019-20 season. The 2019 Royals picked up five wins on the season, including an OT win over cross-town rival, Bridgewater. Carey also earned his MBA from 91����Ƶ in 2021.

“I am incredibly excited to return to 91����Ƶ to become the next head coach of the men’s soccer program,” Carey said. “Thank you to President Huxman, Dave King and the search committee for placing their faith in me to lead this special group of young men. It is an honor to follow in Roger Mast’s footsteps after all he’s done for the program the past 30-plus years and to build upon his previous achievements. I know there is potential for great success on and off the field at 91����Ƶ and I am eager to get started!”

In his time at Stetson, Carey has helped produce one ASUN Freshman of the Year, two first-team All-ASUN selections and four ASUN All-Freshman Team selections. This season, the Hatters finished 8-7-2 and reached the quarterfinals of the ASUN Championship after knocking off #5 Liberty. In his time in Florida, he was responsible for coaching the goalkeepers, which helped the Hatters pick up four shutouts during the 2021 season.

Along with on the field coaching, Carey was also responsible for coordinating the team’s social media accounts. During his time at Stetson, the Stetson men’s soccer team saw a 494% increase in their social media interactions and was ranked #7 in interactions by Skull Sports for 2020 NCAA DI soccer programs. He also helped coordinate the fall athletics fundraiser, which raised over $12,000 for the men’s soccer program. In the community, he worked with local youth soccer clubs and the DeLand Boys and Girls Club, co-coordinated the Stetson FA “Tiny Tots” and organized over 145 hours of team community service during the fall season.

Carey was a standout player for the Mary Washington men’s soccer team. While with the Eagles, the team went to two NCAA tournaments. Individually, Carey was named a United Soccer Coaches NCAA DIII First-Team All-American as well as a USC NCAA DIII First-Team Academic All-American during the 2018 season. He was also named the Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year, the VaSID Player of the Year and the Mary Washington Male Co-Athlete of the Year. He finished his playing career with 18 goals, four assists and 40 total points.

He will become just the seventh men’s soccer coach since 1965, taking over for Roger Mast who announced his retirement after the 2021 season.

 “Words can hardly express my gratitude for the opportunity that the university has entrusted me with to guide the 91����Ƶ men’s soccer program over the past 30 plus years,” Mast said. “I am deeply indebted to the hundreds of players that I have been able to work with. Their hard work, determination, and desire to grow as men while here at 91����Ƶ has been my greatest inspiration and reward.” 

His record of more than 250 wins includes advancing to five Old Dominion Athletic Conference finals, winning two conference championships, and advancing to the Round of 16 in the NCAA national tournament. 

Mast has coached more than 20 individuals to regional All-American selections, one named to the national All-American team, and nearly twice as many athletes to ODAC conference and other individual honors. He’s also earned recognition as a two-time ODAC Coach of the Year and Virginia State Coach of the Year. 

“This decision was strongly influenced by my desire to spend more time with my wife, Cheryl, and my sons and their wives, who have sacrificed much over the years of my coaching career,” Mast said. “I also look forward to having time to pursue other interests and passions that I have had little time for.” 

Mast will continue in his role director and associate professor with 91����Ƶ’s health and physical education program. In addition to coaching, he also served the university as athletic director from 1991-94. He holds national, advanced national, and premiere diplomas with the United Soccer Coaches Association, as well as an MS in health and physical education from West Chester University and an EdD in Educational Leadership: Higher Education from Argosy University.  

“As I reflect on the many hats Roger has worn in his 30 years, there is no doubt about his commitment to 91����Ƶ, even beyond the men’s soccer program, as a valuable bridge between athletics and academics,” said Director of Athletics Dave King. “It is amazing to think about the number of lives Roger has influenced in his 30 years and I hope those stories are brought to the surface as we celebrate his years of service at 91����Ƶ.” 

Several events are being planned to celebrate Mast and his contributions to 91����Ƶ student-athletes and the soccer program.  

The search for the next head men’s soccer coach will begin shortly.

Reflections from players and coaches 

“A well-deserved rest” was how Emmanuel Boamah, a three-time VASID All-State and two-time NSCAA Regional All-American from 2015-18, described the news of his former coach’s retirement plans. Boamah praised Mast’s unparalleled work ethic and an attitude towards his students and athletes like a father figure. “He was not only worried about how we played on the field but also our academics and helping us to become responsible and respectable young men. Thank you, Coach, for all you do and continue to do for me and the rest of the boys.” 

Also a decorated team captain in the late ’90s, Mike Zook names Mast as a father figure as well. “He supported and guided me through a tough first two years with injuries, persuaded me to not play baseball, and provided me with a skill set to develop as a player.” 

“Though practices were fun, improvement through drills and conditioning was stressed,” Zook said, “and he wasn’t afraid to drop the hammer if needed.” That balanced emphasis on care for the individual athlete, as well as instillation of discipline and work ethic is a special legacy. 

“I feel his most important role was helping develop young men into caring and influential individuals who took that competitive edge back to communities all over the U.S. and beyond,” Zook said. 

Jeff Shank, who earned national All-American honors under Mast, recalled the excitement among the team and on campus during their ODAC and NCAA wins during his time with the program in late ’90s. Much of that success, Shank says, was due to Mast’s leadership, his relationships with players and his ability to motivate them — qualities that continued to connect former players with the program for years to come. “Anyone who is able to coach at a higher level for more than 30 years deserves a tremendous amount of respect and admiration,” Shank said. “I’m thankful for his dedication to 91����Ƶ and his impact on my life and so many others.” 

In 31 years of involvement with soccer, Mast has inspired and mentored many former players to join the coaching ranks. Messiah University head men’s soccer coach Brad McCarty traces his career back to being a student and athlete at Christopher Dock Academy, Mast’s first stop after graduating from 91����Ƶ. 

“A dynamic personality” in the PE classroom, Mast also “had a reputation for being a great coach who understood the game of soccer and was passionate about teaching the technical aspects of the sport,” McCarty said. “I left Dock Mennonite Academy with the desire to be a soccer coach and physical education teacher because I wanted to be like Roger Mast.  He was a man of faith, a man of character, and someone who loved his profession of coaching and teaching.” 

McCarty went on to play at Messiah University and then to move on to his first coaching position at Hesston College — two life-changing opportunities that Mast encouraged and supported. 

Ted Erickson, head women’s soccer coach at 91����Ƶ, also names Mast as a treasured mentor and friend who helped move his coaching career along. Erickson played for Mast, coached several years at the high school level, and then returned as Mast’s assistant coach. 

“Roger gave me my first opportunity to coach at the college level as his assistant coach and has always been someone who is willing to listen to my questions, ask thought-provoking questions all while helping guide me to find my own answers and never telling me what to do,” Erickson said. “He’s touched the lives of so many here and I’ll miss our working relationship, our friendship, and his mentorship.” 

University of Lynchburg head men’s soccer coach Chris Yeager, a former player and current coach with rival ODAC teams, also has known Mast as long as he’s been involved with 91����Ƶ. “When I think of Roger Mast, the first word that comes to mind is class,” he said. “Whether he won or I won, he always handled it with class. He’s one of the all-time greats. I’m sad I won’t get to share the sideline with him anymore.”

Those honored from 91����Ƶ were:

 (Broadway, Va./Broadway), Jr., Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country, Environmental Science, 3.97. Alderfer just completed an incredible season with a trip to the NCAA National Championships in the 800m, and was named the 91����Ƶ Male Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive time. He broke all four of 91����Ƶ’s indoor and outdoor middle distance records, and broke one ODAC record and another ODAC Championships mark. Along with numerous All-ODAC, All-Region and All-State awards, Alderfer claimed seven ODAC Runner of the Week honors this spring.

 (Grants Pass, Ore./Hidden Valley), Jr., Men’s Soccer, Engineering, 3.98. Beachy earned a starting role in 91����Ƶ’s midfield this year and scored a goal against rival Bridgewater College. He was recently named a Player of Distinction by the United Soccer Coaches.

 (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), Sr., Women’s Soccer, Secondary English Education, 4.0. Breidigan wrapped up a career as a four-year starter in 91����Ƶ’s defense line, helping the women’s team to 19 shutouts in her 55 games. She also was voted to the select CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for the second team and was awarded the 91����Ƶ President’s Award.

 (Smithfield, Va./Smithfield), Jr., Field Hockey/Women’s Lacrosse, Elementary Education, 4.0. Hedgepeth led 91����Ƶ’s field hockey team in scoring with four goals and two assists, adding an All-ODAC Second Team award in the postseason. She was also a starter for the women’s lacrosse team, notching seven ground balls in a defensive role.

 (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold), Sr., Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country/Triathlon, Spanish, 4.0. Miller was a steady contributor in the distance events for the track & field women. She ran in four events at the ODAC Outdoor Championships, finishing in the top-13 of each of them and running her personal best in all three individual races. Miller also joined the triathlon team this year and was top-7 in both of 91����Ƶ’s races.

 (Collinsville, Miss./West Lauderdale), Jr., Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country/Triathlon, Political Science, 4.0. Shelly blossomed as a runner this year, earning All-ODAC, All-State and All-Region honors as part of the indoor track & field season. She finished top-7 in the 1500m, 5000m and 10000m at the ODAC Outdoor Championships, earning points for the Royals in all three events. She was also 91����Ƶ’s No. 3 finisher in triathlon and was named the 91����Ƶ Female Athlete of the Year.

Alderfer, Breidigan and Hedgepeth were each selected to the Academic All-State Team for the second consecutive year.

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.

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.

, like most sports-minded boys his age, grew up playing baseball, basketball, and flag football in Rockingham County in the 1970s — since those were the main options. But he found something new when he became a freshman at Eastern Mennonite High School after attending John Wayland Intermediate.

“When I went to EMHS, football wasn’t an option. I changed schools; sports was a way to connect,” Mast said of the school that still doesn’t offer football. “Soccer was the thing to do at EMHS back in the day” with pickup games in Park View on summer nights as well.

That culture was guided by former EMHS coach Ron Koppenhaver. “He had a way of arm twisting and encouraging the athletes to play,” Mast recalls of Koppenhaver, who died in 2012 in Kansas.

Now nearly 45 after his freshman year at EMHS, Mast has done his share of encouraging and maybe some arm twisting along the way as a long-time soccer coach in his own right. A former player at EMHS (now EMS) and 91����Ƶ, Mast is preparing for his 30th season as the head men’s coach for the Royals.

“I would say how fast time flies,” said Mast, 58, when asked of his lengthy tenure. “I guess maybe I am having fun. Life just goes by really, really quickly sometimes. I have a lot of vivid memories of pretty much every season. Each season has its own unique chemistry of players.”

“What goes through my mind is looking back at all of the memories I have had with so many people,” he added. “Be that with players or coaches. You realize all of the people that have influenced me and I have been able to work with.”

He was the Old Dominion Athletic Conference coach of the year in 1996 and 1998, took his 1998 squad to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, and won his 200th game in 2012.

“That was an era that was kind of exciting,” said Mast, a 1985 91����Ƶ graduate who also played two years of baseball for the Royals. “The first ODAC title was in 1996. To play in an ODAC championship all four years (1996-99) is quite an accomplishment” for that class.

Mast and his wife, Cheryl (Yoder), who also attended EMHS and graduated from James Madison University, have two sons, and both Grayson and Mark played for their father at 91����Ƶ. Their mother is Chief Financial Officer for Rockingham County Public Schools.

Coaching tree

The influence of Mast goes beyond the field or his own family.

Several of his former players have gone on to coach at the high school or college level. “The list is extensive,” said Mast, who grew up in Mt. Clinton.

One of them is , who coached the Blue Streaks of Harrisonburg and is now the women’s coach at 91����Ƶ.

Erickson attended HHS and hoped to play at Division I JMU. But the late Dr. Tom Martin — the long-time JMU coach who passed away in October and was friends with Mast — was up front with Erickson and told him he might not see playing time his until junior year. Martin suggested he attend a smaller school.

“I ended up staying all four years,” Erickson said of 91����Ƶ. “I think (Mast) has been very good with what he has in the way of a roster and he changes to fit those needs. We had one style as a freshman and then he changed it some our sophomore and junior year and then tweaked it some my senior year.”

“He was able to develop players and make them stars in Division III. Off the field, to his credit, he gets very close to his players. He will get to know them as individuals; he is sincere about it,” Erickson added of Mast, a member of Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. “Once you are done after four years, he doesn’t kick you out the door. I think that comes from his own personal faith.”

Erickson notes that Mast balances his coaching along with a teaching load as an assistant professor in the health and physical education department.

“It is difficult, it is not easy,” Erickson said. “He deeply cares about the university and where it is headed.”

Mast also served as 91����Ƶ athletic director in 1990 and from 1991-94. He was on the board of a local youth soccer club nearly 20 years. He is one of the few college soccer coaches in the mid-Atlantic region with a doctorate.

Messiah coach Brad McCarty played for Mast at Christopher Dock, a Mennonite high school in Pennsylvania, before Mast coached one season at EMHS then took over at 91����Ƶ.

“He was a really influential person in my life at that time,” McCarty said. “I had come to know the Lord when I was younger but at that point in my life I was not really living for the Lord. (Mast) was really influential to me.”

“He was the one that told me about Messiah,” McCarty added of that Christian school near Harrisburg, Pennslyvania. “He is someone that I held in high regard as a person, teacher, and coach. He was invaluable in my life; he cared about me.”

McCarty graduated from Messiah in 1993 and has been the coach there since 2009. His team has faced 91����Ƶ regularly, with the last meeting coming in 2019 as the Royals lost 2-1.

One rival coach Mast goes to for advice is Chris Yeager, the Division III coach of the year in 2010 who has guided Lynchburg in the ODAC for nearly two decades.

As a player at Virginia Wesleyan, Yeager went up against Mast and the Royals. Now he has done that as the Lynchburg coach.

“His teams have always been super competitive and driven,” said Yeager, whose squad beat 91����Ƶ 3-1 last October. “They always seem to have something in the tank. He does a good job of getting those guys ready to play in big games.”

A year unlike others

There is plenty of motivation for Mast heading into the 2020 season — in whatever form it takes.

Last fall, the Royals were 5-14 with nine straight losses to end the season. “We got hit hard with the injury bug,” he said.

Throw in the uncertainty of COVID-19, and Mast and his fall coaching colleagues may have more questions than answers at this point.

“The question for me is how to plan for a target without knowing what that target is going to be. We are really planning for a number of different scenarios,” Mast said. “Either we hit the ground running and play a full slate of games or another option we could delay and start a little bit later. The worst-case scenario is our season would be cut short. In the ODAC, we are starting conversations right now. It is possible doing an ODAC-only schedule” without non-conference games.

“It is hard to know how to plan because it seems like the target is always moving,” added Mast.

Earlier this month, after clearance from the school, Mast hosted an incoming player who had never set foot on campus. The veteran coach said the day included plenty of social distancing for a family that wanted to check out the campus in person.

For now, 91����Ƶ plans to begin in-person classes on August 25. The NCAA, notes Mast, said student-athletes can return as early as August 10.

“I think that is an unrealistic expectation to move our student-athletes in that early,” Mast said. “We won’t have all of our housing in place by that time. There is also the cost factor.”

But after three decades at the helm, Mast should be able to adapt to whatever the schedule brings. After all, he has the most wins in soccer history as a coach at 91����Ƶ.

“His guys are always ready to play,” said Yeager, the Lynchburg coach. “Going against him, I knew his players were always ready for a fight, home or away. That is hard to go against.”

One master codebreaker and Appalachian Trail hiker, one supercomputer builder and high school soccer coach, one student organization leader headed to doctoral studies, one environmental designer bound for data analysis, and one cross-country athlete and eco-marathon mechanic.

Austin Engle, Juan Vazquez, Collin Longenecker, James Paetkau and Ben Stutzman comprise the first graduating class of Eastern Mennoninte University’s engineering program.

The program, which was started four years ago, is led by professors Esther Tian, Daniel King, and Stefano Colafranceschi. 

“It’s such a mixture of emotions” to see this first class graduate, King said. “Gratefulness to them because of their hard work and dedication to the program over these years, pride over their accomplishments so far, sorrow over the way their final semester came to such an abbreviated end, and excitement to see where they all will end up over the next few years.”

The next few years will see some of these graduates leave the country, while others plan to stay in Harrisonburg. Some have their sights set on graduate school. For others, the workforce or service assignments beckon.

“Engineering is a special form of art, it takes not just technical knowledge and scientifically sound ideas, but also creativity, fantasy, and the ability to think out of the box,” said Colafranceschi, who guided the students through their capstone projects. “We train engineers to serve and lead the way to a better world.”

Tian has many fond memories with this cohort. “We have had a lot of laughs together during the last four years, which I truly appreciate. They will be sorely missed,” she says. “It is such a fabulous class and I am privileged to work with them in the last four years.”

Austin Engle

Engle is a double major in engineering and computer science from Harrisonburg. He’s participated in and led student organizations Engineers for a Sustainable World, the Astral Society, the Math Club, and the Association for Computing Machinery. He’s most proud of “all the friends I’ve made and all the projects I’ve accomplished with them” while at 91����Ƶ.

Engle’s engineering capstone, the “Garbage Grader,” was a collaborative project with fellow graduate Ben Stutzman. “We created a device to observe food waste at the 91����Ƶ cafeteria in order to generate more sustainable eat-not-waste habits. We are thinking about applying for a patent for it,” Engle says.

Tian says that Engle “has always been freely and willingly to help his fellow students on their assignments and projects.”

He plans to attend the University of Virginia to pursue a doctorate in computer science.

Juan Vazquez 

Vazquez is a computer engineering major who was born in El Pocito de la Virgen, Guanajuato, Mexico, and calls Waynesboro, Virginia his “second home.” He played on 91����Ƶ’s soccer team for four years, was active in the Latino Student Alliance, and was an assistant junior varsity soccer coach at Harrisonburg High School for two years. One of his favorite memories from college is “my first goal my junior year against Ferrum.”

For Vazquez’s capstone project, he built a “supercomputer” – a cluster of 19 computers that can “host web applications, other technology applications, and complete parallel computation.” 

“Juan has been a hardworking student. I appreciate his can-do spirit. He has also done much good work in the IS department throughout these years,” Tian recalls.

He has accepted a job at WF in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a production support analyst.

Collin Longenecker

Longenecker is an engineering major from Harrisonburg. He ran track and cross-country for all four years, helped lead Engineers for a Sustainable World for three, and was involved in the honors council, 91����Ƶ Explore club, and building a super-efficient eco-marathon vehicle. He was also an embedded tutor in engineering classes.

Among his collegiate accomplishments are recovering from a major surgery in running, organizing hikes to Old Rag, and “meeting a ton of incredible people.” One of his favorite memories as a student was traveling to New Orleans with friends for spring break before the pandemic hit.

For his capstone project, Longenecker partnered with James Paetkau and Karissa Sauder to build a website advocating for climate action at 91����Ƶ. The web pages, based on 91����Ƶ’s 2015 climate action plan, includes a map of the energy use of different buildings on campus, information about sustainability projects that have been implemented, and an interactive modeling tool that projects 91����Ƶ’s future carbon emissions.

Tian calls Longenecker an outstanding student, saying, “he has been a wonderful tutor to many students in many classes. His calm manner has benefited us all.”

Longenecker is still determining his future plans, but intends to stay in Harrisonburg for the time being.

James Paetkau

Paetkau is an engineering major from Goshen, Indiana. He served as the president of Engineers for a Sustainable World for two years and was involved with the Sustainable Food Initiative and intramural sports on campus. He counts his greatest collegiate accomplishment as traveling to Guatemala, the U.S.-Mexico border, and Cuba for cross-cultural, and “returning with a solid conversational level of Spanish.”

Paetkau’s capstone project, which was interrupted by the pandemic, was a design for a rainwater harvesting system to be installed at the Suter House, a rental property on 91����Ƶ’s campus. “This system would be used to provide water for toilet flushing and irrigate a forest garden that was going to be planted in the adjacent yard,” Paetkau says.

One of his favorite memories from college is “stargazing on top of the 91����Ƶ hill both as a first year and as a senior, being able to look out over the twinkling lights of Harrisonburg and take a moment to breathe and reflect on the past week, month, or four years.” 

“James has been a brilliant student,” Tian says. He has been insightful in his studies as well as in research.”

He plans to move to Washington, D.C. to work in data analysis and public policy, with the long-term goal of pursuing a graduate degree in those fields.

Ben Stutzman

Stutzman is an engineering major and environmental sustainability minor from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He helped restart the Astral Society, an amateur astronomy club on campus; competed in multiple codebreaking and computer programming competitions; and participated in Engineers for a Sustainable World. He also ran one year of cross-country, and recalls his junior cross-cultural trip to the Middle East as “fantastic.” 

Stutzman’s engineering capstone, a collaboration with Austin Engle, was the “Garbage Grader.” His favorite memories of college are “random dinner conversations with all kinds of people” in the cafeteria and with close friends.

A “superb student,” Stutzman “has been inspirational for us,” Tian says, citing the times he ran the Boston marathon and his summer through-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

He plans to join the Peace Corps in Mozambique this fall to teach high school math.

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.

After quietly putting in the work over the first two weeks of the season, Obour finally broke through last week with a goal and two assists. He had a dramatic effort in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Ferrum, including the game-winning goal late in the first overtime. Obour also had an assist on 91����Ƶ’s first goal as they knocked Ferrum from the realm of the unbeatens.

He also assisted in the game’s first goal in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Albright, using his speed to start a breakaway before finding teammate  (Mount Jackson, Va./Stonewall Jackson) for the score just 7:43 into play. Obour is currently tied for the ODAC lead with three assists this season.

The Royals are off to a 5-1 start to 2017, showing improved balance as seven players have combined to score the team’s 11 goals.

 (Alexandria, Va./Howard Gardner) was . Obour and Drafton are the two attacking flank midfielders in 91����Ƶ’s offensive scheme.

Eastern Mennonite plays at Gallaudet in Washington, DC, this Wednesday night before opening ODAC play on Saturday at Randolph College.

�������±��Ա���岹��’s game against Wesley, Dave scored the overtime goal that decided the game. Then on Saturday, when 91����Ƶ hosted William Peace, he had a pass to  (Maitland, Fla./Bishop Moore Catholic) which set him up to score the final goal.

Dave commented on his goal against Wesley, “It felt extremely special, just because it was an overtime goal. It was a pretty close game with even teams. I thought we were the better side, so getting that goal definitely proved we were better.”

Dave has high hopes for the team this year. In recent years, 91����Ƶ’s men get knocked out in the first round of the ODAC Tournament, and he would like to see them get past the second round. That goal may be possible given this year’s roster, which Dave is excited about. He spoke highly of his freshmen teammates, adding needed depth.

“The whole freshman class is definitely a big part of the team,” he concluded.

Dave’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by his coach, Roger Mast, who said, “He is an explosive athlete who plays in an attacking role for us. Dave has shown great progress in his career thus far, in part because of the confidence that he is gaining in being able to utilize his speed to break down defenses. I am happy to see him beginning to reach his potential as a dynamic player who has the ability to be a game changer for our team.”

When he’s not on the soccer field, Dave is still heavily involved in the sporting world. He has a recreation leadership and sports studies major and also studies business. Over the summer he coached a team of younger athletes as a chance to take a step back from the game and gain a new perspective. After graduation he hopes to continue to work somewhere in the sports industry, either as a coach or in sports marketing.

In his free time, Dave enjoys hanging out with his roommates and watching soccer or football. He also nurtures a healthy appreciation for food.

“Food is key,” he said. “I’m not a morning guy, but I love breakfast food, so I’ll eat it whenever.”

The 91����Ƶ men are currently 4-1, having won four straight games since a season-opening loss at regionally-ranked Maryville.

“Come out and support the team,” Dave encouraged. “I think we have a really great team. Our attack is very dangerous, we have a solid defense. I think this can be an exciting season, and we need the fan support for that.”