Justin Reesor ’10 grew up in a Mennonite family in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, where he played volleyball in middle and high school. His cousin, Allan Reesor-McDowell ’02, played on the 91短视频 men鈥檚 volleyball team鈥攁nd Reesor had traveled to see him play at a tournament in New York. His uncle, Robert Reesor ’89, and sister, Denise Reesor ’07, also attended 91短视频.

While visiting his sister, Reesor fell in love with the 91短视频 campus and Harrisonburg. 鈥淚 thought it was a beautiful area, and I liked the idea of a small college with smaller classes and easier access to professors.鈥� Reesor arrived in fall 2006 prioritizing academics and his social life, but after walking on during a scrimmage, he spent four years as a middle blocker on the 91短视频 men鈥檚 volleyball team under Coach Steve Benson.听

Reesor made an immediate impact. In his first season, he was named the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Western Conference Rookie of the Year and 91短视频 Newcomer of the Year. He earned spots on the NECVA All-Western Division Second Team in 2009 and the NECVA All-Western First Team in 2010. At the time of his graduation, Reesor led the Royals in career blocks (462) and sets played (406), and ranked fifth in career kills (867). 

While at 91短视频, Reesor majored in business administration and minored in accounting. He now serves as senior director of finance at Accumulus Synergy. He and his wife, Rachel Mast Reesor ’09, have three children: Emma (10), June (7), and Charlie (4). 

Reesor will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m. in the MainStage Theater (University Commons 170) during Homecoming 2025. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit听emu.edu/homecoming.

David Falk ’15, a general studies major with a concentration in business, grew up in Madison, Virginia, where he had an impressive high school basketball career. He spent a postgraduate year playing at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, before head men鈥檚 basketball coach Kirby Dean recruited him to 91短视频. 

As a 6-foot, 6-inch center, Falk played in 105 games with 56 starts, tallying 1,058 career points in four seasons with the Runnin鈥� Royals. He was a two-time ODAC First Team honoree, earning the distinction in 2014 and 2015; he received VaSID All-State First Team honors those same two years. Falk also made the D3hoops.com All-South Region Third Team in 2014 and the D3hoops.com All-South Region Second Team in 2015.

At the time of his graduation, Falk held an 91短视频 career record for blocks (214) and ranked third all-time in career rebounds with 952. Today, he still holds 91短视频 records for most rebounds in a game (28 vs. Lynchburg on Feb. 28, 2014), most rebounds in a season (375 in 2013-2014), and most blocked shots in a season (82 in 2013-2014).

After learning life lessons from Coach Dean鈥攊ncluding 鈥渉aving perspective鈥� and 鈥渢o always have faith in God鈥濃�擣alk returned to Madison where he and his wife, Katelynn, live with their two children, Preslee (4) and McCoy (2), on a 2,000-acre farm focused on cattle, corn, and soybeans.听

Falk will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m. in the MainStage Theater (University Commons 170) during Homecoming 2025. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit听emu.edu/homecoming.

The two-day event provided an exciting opportunity for 91短视频 to showcase its new state-of-the-art track & field complex, which opened in October 2024. 91短视频鈥檚 facility is one of only a few in the ODAC that meets NCAA certification standards and is designed to host events in multiple configurations, allowing athletes to run, jump, or throw with the tailwind. The championships will return to 91短视频 next spring as part of the university鈥檚 two-year agreement to host the event.

Kyle Dickinson, head coach of 91短视频鈥檚 track and field team, said hosting the ODAC championships gave many of his athletes the chance to compete in front of their friends and family for the first time. 鈥淚t鈥檚 huge for us,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e showing other schools that 91短视频 is investing heavily in our track program and that it鈥檚 paying off.鈥� It鈥檚 also helped recruit athletes, who are eager to compete at the new facility.

91短视频 first-year Emma Greer competed in the women’s shot put on Friday and discus on Saturday. She said having the event at 91短视频 gave her college friends the chance to support her from the stands. “It鈥檚 great we get to host it here,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ecause our track and field facility doesn鈥檛 get enough credit for how nice it is.鈥� One of those friends, Kassidy Meadows, a first-year student, said that she鈥檚 visited several track and field venues and that 91短视频鈥檚 is the best she鈥檚 seen. 

Between competing in the men鈥檚 shot put and hammer throw, 91短视频 sophomore Will Ramos took a quick breather. He said hosting the conference championships at home made a big difference, cutting down on travel and giving him more time to rest and recover. 鈥淚鈥檝e felt nervous at past conference meets, but I feel right at home here,鈥� he said.

91短视频鈥檚 track and field team has achieved significant success in recent years, said Justin McIlwee, communications director for 91短视频 Athletics. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had multiple national qualifiers and back-to-back All-Americans, so hosting this event offered us a chance to show off a little bit.鈥�

On Saturday, 91短视频 sophomore Nick Arnold earned the title of ODAC champion by winning the 400-meter hurdles. Arnold is the Royals’ first ODAC men’s individual champion since Alijah Johnson won the 200-meter dash in 2022. Read more at .

That jaw-dropping throw was just a preview of what was to come. Weeks later, on April 2 and 3, Longenecker went on to win the 2025 College Disc Golf National Championship in . Held at the famed Winthrop University Disc Golf Course in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the championship featured top players from colleges across the U.S. and Canada. The 91短视频 first-year opened with an impressive nine-under-par 52 in the first round of 18 holes. He finished strong, securing a three-stroke victory after the final nine holes and fending off tough challengers from the University of Mary Hardin鈥揃aylor, Emporia State University and Redeemer University.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge honor to win a national championship,鈥� Longenecker said. 鈥淭his has been a dream I鈥檝e had for a long time, ever since I decided I wanted to play college disc golf, so it all feels unreal to me.鈥�

鈥淚 am more proud, though, of how much this means for the 91短视频 program,鈥� he told . 鈥淭here is so much family history for me here. My grandpa (Charles 鈥�57) taught here, and my parents (Lynn 鈥�94 and Laurie 鈥�94) and siblings (Nathan and Maria) came here. Being a part of making a name for 91短视频 in the college disc golf world is so special to me.鈥�

Despite 91短视频鈥檚 small size鈥攊t had the seventh-lowest enrollment among the 80 schools competing at nationals鈥攖he Royals disc golf squad has proven it can hold its own against much larger programs. In addition to Longenecker topping the men鈥檚 singles leaderboards, the women鈥檚 duo of senior Sadie Oesch and junior Miriam Rhodes finished 11th, and the men鈥檚 A team of Longenecker, first-year Theo Andreas, and juniors Eli Stoll and Beck Jantzi finished 18th in Division I. Because disc golf is not an NCAA sport, schools of all sizes compete against one another, with the top qualifying teams placed in the Division I category.

Playing for his brother

Longenecker occasionally played disc golf growing up, but it wasn鈥檛 until the COVID-19 pandemic that he fully committed to the sport. As a middle schooler, he spent nearly every day playing with his older brother, Nathan, and his dad at courses around their Lancaster, Pennsylvania, home. On days when he couldn鈥檛 make it to the course, he would spend hours practicing throws in the field by his house.

Nathan was a passionate and skilled disc golfer who became just the fifth player to join the young 91短视频 team in 2020. 鈥淣athan was an incredible person and disc golfer, but he never got to play in any college disc golf events,鈥� Oyer said. Nathan was diagnosed with brain cancer during his first year at 91短视频 and passed away in October 2021, just eight months later. In April 2022, the nine-hole disc golf course on the 91短视频 Hill was dedicated in his honor. After his brother鈥檚 passing, Jesse Longenecker made a promise to himself: he would play college disc golf to honor Nathan鈥檚 memory.

鈥淚t just feels so good to be here, to be able to do this,鈥� Longenecker said in a after his nationals victory. 鈥淚 just wish Nathan could have had the same experience.鈥�

鈥楢 generational player鈥�

As a result of his first-place finish at nationals, Longenecker earned a bid to the 2025 U.S. Disc Golf Championship held at the Winthrop course from Oct. 9-12, where he will compete against all of the highest-rated professional players in the world. Longenecker boasts a player rating of 1021, making him the second-highest-rated player in college disc golf and a top-100 player overall. According to his PDGA profile, he has earned 16 wins out of 78 career events and accumulated $12,225 in career earnings.听

This isn鈥檛 the first time he鈥檚 teed off against the best of the best. Last August, he finished 49th in the 2024 PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championship in Lynchburg, Virginia. Though he鈥檒l miss this year鈥檚 world championship, which will be held in Finland from July 26 to Aug. 3, he has plenty of tournaments lined up. He鈥檚 looking forward to competing across the East Coast this summer, with events in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Michigan, and New York. To follow his progress, visit his PDGA page at .

Part of what makes Longenecker such a formidable opponent is his mental fortitude and ability to excel in high-pressure situations, his coach said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a generational player,鈥� Oyer said. 鈥淗e is one of the most talented players in the history of college disc golf.鈥�

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As temperatures climb back into the 70s, word has spread about the six new pickleball courts on 91短视频鈥檚 campus. Athletic Director Carrie S Bert said she receives frequent texts and emails from appreciative pickleball players impressed with the courts, as well as photos of the courts when they鈥檙e full.

The new pickleball courts, located along Park Road north of the basketball courts, are joined by four freshly resurfaced tennis courts. Work on the outdoor space started in mid-October and finished in December, with nets installed over the winter break. Edwards Paving, a certified installer from Port Republic, completed the project. In addition to the resurfacing, the lights shining down on the courts after dusk have been replaced with brighter bulbs. A stack of court dividers is stored in a newly built shed next to the space. 

This weekend, the new pickleball courts will host their inaugural tournament, , to raise funds for the 91短视频 Pickleball Club, a group of faculty, staff, and mostly students that plays on the courts twice a week. Men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 doubles matches will be held on Saturday, April 5, with mixed doubles matches on Sunday, April 6.

The courts have been an instant hit. Mike Weaver 鈥�90, a member of the local pickleball enthusiasts group, said he鈥檚 enjoyed playing on the new courts. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he surface is great, the nets are great, and the lights are a game changer. There鈥檚 no other place close by with lights, except for a couple indoor courts.鈥�

Lexi Brown, associate director of athletic admissions, said she鈥檚 been regularly playing at the 91短视频 courts with her circle of friends. 鈥淚t gets crazy busy now, which is awesome to see,鈥� she said. 

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, 91短视频 seniors Mary Kate Bomberger and Caleb Chupp took advantage of the warm weather to play on the courts. 鈥淚 love them,鈥� Bomberger said. 鈥淚 come here to play all the time.鈥�

Bert said the goal of the resurfacing project is to reinforce 91短视频鈥檚 commitment to student resources and community engagement. 鈥淚 often see our students using the courts,鈥� she said. The enhancements also make 91短视频 more attractive to prospective students, helping to boost enrollment and recruitment efforts.

Code of the court

For the past four or five years, pickleball has been called the fastest-growing sport in the nation. It鈥檚 especially popular among older players due to its lower impact, making it easier on the joints, and its ease of learning and play.

A sign on the fence around the courts outlines the rules and policies for using the space. The courts are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. On Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays, between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m., the courts are designated for priority use by those 55 years and older. The student-run 91短视频 Pickleball Club reserves the courts on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Community members are welcome to play with them if the courts aren鈥檛 too full.

The order of priority for court use is:

1. 91短视频 classes, practices, tournaments, student and other programming (clubs and intramurals)
2. Rentals
3. Community open play

鈥楾he universe aligned鈥�

As a student at Eastern Mennonite School in the 鈥�90s, Obed 鈥淥bie鈥� Diener remembers how new the 91短视频 tennis courts looked and felt back then. He left the area after high school to study at Goshen College. When he returned three years ago, he saw that the courts 鈥渉adn鈥檛 been maintained very much.鈥� 鈥淭here were huge cracks that were big enough to sprain an ankle,鈥� he said.

Diener, the son of alumni Eugene 鈥�68 and Gloria 鈥�76, met with Bert about a year ago to see whether anything could be done to restore the courts to their former glory. At the same time, Paul Leaman 鈥�86, head of Eastern Mennonite School, had been in talks with the athletic director about resurfacing the courts.

For the past decade or so, EMS鈥� tennis teams practiced and competed on the 91短视频 courts. But, with the condition of the asphalt deteriorating to the point where they were no longer safe for competitive high school play, Leaman said, the school had to look elsewhere. For the past couple years, EMS rented tennis courts from Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation. Those rental costs became unsustainable, and Leaman sought a way to partner with 91短视频 to get its courts resurfaced.

Funding for the project came from EMS, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, grants from the U.S. Tennis Association, an 91短视频 fund designated for tennis, and other organizations and private donors. Leaman led a fundraising campaign for the project, calling on families who had played tennis at EMS over the years, and raised the amount they needed within a month. 鈥淧eople saw the need and they jumped in quickly to make that happen,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to thank all the people who gave what they could to make this possible.鈥�

Seed donors, led by generous supporters and avid pickleball players Dale Metzler and Barbra Graber Metzler 鈥�76, sparked the idea for pickleball courts at 91短视频 and contributed money to make it a reality. The retired couple discovered the sport within the past five years and wanted to introduce it to younger generations, said Graber Metzler, a member of the 91短视频 theater faculty from 1981-2005. 鈥淧ickleball has become the spice of our lives, and when you get excited about something, you want to share it with others,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hat I love about it is that it鈥檚 not about any of the things that divide us. It鈥檚 simply about getting on a court with other people and having a good time.鈥�

鈥淭he universe aligned in terms of interested groups within the community and the willingness of 91短视频 administration to partner with them,鈥� Bert said. 鈥淭his was a highly collaborative project, both in its design and use policies, as well as in how the financial needs were met.鈥�

What鈥檚 next

The pickleball and tennis courts offer future teaching opportunities such as youth clinics and instruction for beginner players. Bert said that additional funding will be used to purchase benches for the tennis and pickleball courts. Windscreens鈥攆eaturing the 91短视频, EMS and VMRC logos鈥攚ill be added to the fencing around the space.

A future phase of the court enhancement project will resurface and transform the basketball court area into two basketball courts and a futsal court. Leaman said he would love to see the city step forward in partnering for this next step of the project. 鈥淭he city was supportive of this project, philosophically, and it just didn鈥檛 work in their budget cycle,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e friends of the university, and I think they鈥檙e interested in seeing the current basketball courts get developed.鈥�

A pickleball tournament at the 91短视频 courts on Saturday, May 24, will raise funds for future improvements to the courts. For more information about the tournament, contact Eric Benson at 540-560-4883. For information about the local pickleball community, contact Mike Weaver at pbhburg@gmail.com.

Those interested in supporting the outdoor court enhancement project can email Bert at: carrie.bert@emu.edu

A former track sprinter at 91短视频, Watson serves as a guide runner for a visually impaired sprinter from Liberia (who couldn鈥檛 make the trip to Paris) and helped train an amputee javelin thrower and amputee shot put thrower on the team.听

And although neither of the two Liberians competing at this year鈥檚 Paralympics, Angie Myers and Jutomu Kollie, medaled in their events, Myers qualified for the shot put finals, which is an impressive achievement for the developing team. 

鈥淭hey did as well as they could with the limited resources and training they had,鈥� said Watson, who advocates for more support of the Paralympic athletes. 鈥淕etting to know them and see their hard work pay off was incredibly fulfilling.鈥�

Path to the Paralympics

When he鈥檚 not training Paralympians, Watson works as a residential area director at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. 

Before graduating from 91短视频 with a psychology degree and Cords of Distinction honors in 2016, he interned at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County to satisfy a requirement for his major. That internship led to a staff position at the organization. After graduating, Watson was promoted to unit director and led the club for two years.

鈥淚f it hadn鈥檛 been for that class requiring community service hours, I probably wouldn鈥檛 have gotten the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and get into the mindset of doing what I can do to help others,鈥� he said. 

Watson, a U.S. citizen whose parents emigrated from Liberia in the 1980s, initially sought to join the Liberian national track and field team ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. When that dream failed to materialize, he found another. He learned that former 91短视频 track teammate had been chosen as a guide runner for the U.S. Paralympic team and sprang into action, researching as much as he could about Liberia鈥檚 Paralympic team and contacting its organizer. He began working with the team in 2019 to prepare for the Tokyo Paralympics (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Learn more about Watson鈥檚 beginnings with the Liberian Paralympic team in this August 2021 article from 91短视频 News.

Watson hopes to continue guiding and training the athletes for the 2028 Summer Paralympics in Los Angeles. 鈥淚f they make it to LA, I鈥檒l be there to support them every step of the way,鈥� he said.

As goalkeeper for the Royals lacrosse team, Cristal Narciso has to be quick on her feet. The rising senior operates like a football quarterback, directing her teammates and communicating to them where the ball is. At the same time, she’s blocking shots zooming toward her at 60 to 70 mph. Many of those shots deflect off her helmet and body.

“When the ball hits you, it makes a pretty big impact,” Narciso said. “But, at the end of the day, I’d rather have a bruise than to let the ball go into the net.”

As 91短视频’s young lacrosse program prepares to enter its sixth season, the fearless goalie, her mentor and head coach Mikaela “Mik” Brooks, and the rest of their talented team aim to improve from previous seasons and stay competitive in conference play.

Goalie from the Golden State

Narciso, a first-team all-league athlete at her high school in Val Verde, California, hadn鈥檛 planned on playing lacrosse in college. But when a coach on her team convinced her to sign up for a recruiting site, and Narciso began hearing from interested college lacrosse coaches, she reconsidered. One of those coaches, reaching out from the opposite side of the country, was former 91短视频 head lacrosse coach Katie Russo.

After several virtual meetings with Russo, as well as one with the rest of the team, and an in-person visit to 91短视频鈥檚 campus, Narciso was sold. She said the school鈥檚 close-knit community and its scenic grounds were especially alluring. It also didn鈥檛 hurt that the lacrosse program, which had only started at 91短视频 the year prior, needed a goalkeeper.

鈥淚 liked the fact that I would be a part of building a program and could make an impact here,鈥� said Narciso, who is majoring in social work.

Like her goalie, Brooks was drawn to 91短视频 by its sense of belonging and the growth potential of the young lacrosse program.

鈥淚 felt like the program would take a while to grow, but I love being that gritty person who puts in the hard work to develop something and see it come to fruition,鈥� she said.

Brooks, a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, played on the inaugural girl鈥檚 lacrosse team at her high school and was part of an effort that introduced the sport to schools in her area. She was a standout goalie for Bridgewater College women’s lacrosse from 2018-21.

While a senior at Bridgewater, Brooks led the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in save percentage and was second in total saves. Her 412 career saves rank ninth in BC program history. Before graduating in 2021, the two-time All-ODAC athlete was hired by Russo, coincidentally her neighbor, as a graduate assistant for 91短视频. Brooks took the reins as interim head coach when Russo stepped down in October 2022 and was named head coach in June 2023. She completed her master鈥檚 degree in organizational leadership at 91短视频 last year.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I would be at 91短视频 at 25 as a head coach,鈥� Brooks said, 鈥渂ut life works in mysterious ways.鈥�

This past spring, the team posted a 3-11 record with wins over Waynesburg University and ODAC rival Randolph College. It鈥檚 been a tall order competing against teams that have been around for a half-century, so Brooks has been hard at work. She鈥檚 focused on building up her players holistically, developing them not only as athletes but also as leaders off the field.

Home field disadvantage

One significant challenge to the team鈥檚 success has been the condition of the aging turf field that they call home. The field, which was last replaced in 2006, is now the age of two usable lifetimes and needs replacing. The suboptimal playing surface has rips and wrinkles, dips and divots, and lacks the cushion it should have.

When she’s in the goal cage, Narciso has to react quickly to incoming shots. The worn-out turf can make it difficult for her to find her footing and can make bounces unpredictable, leading to goals that she might’ve blocked on a newer field.

A new turf field would not only help athletes like Narciso perform at their best and reduce the risk of injuries, but also would aid in recruiting prospective student-athletes. Narciso said a new field would show that the school is invested in its athletics.

鈥淲e want our recruits to see that when they come to 91短视频, they鈥檙e entering a space that鈥檚 taken care of,鈥� she said.

Her coach agreed, noting that a new surface would help her players recover faster between games and after injuries.

鈥�91短视频 can show it has bought into its athletics department,鈥� Brooks said. 鈥淚t will be huge to show athletes that we see them, we hear their concerns, we鈥檙e supporting them in the best way we know how, and we鈥檙e going to give them the best opportunities they have to be successful here.鈥�

The school aims to complete the much-needed Turf Field Project this summer, but it needs support from donors to make it a reality.

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

Turning the corner

During her first year at 91短视频, Narciso battled feelings of homesickness and struggled with her studies. Lacrosse, she said, kept her focused, developed her leadership skills, and helped her grow. Now a straight-A student, Narciso serves as president of the Latinx Student Alliance (LSA). She said she can always count on her coach to help with whatever problems she might be facing.

鈥淚 feel like we both grew up together, in a way,鈥� Narciso said. 鈥淚鈥檝e told her, 鈥業 can鈥檛 believe you鈥檝e turned into the person you鈥檝e become,鈥� and she鈥檚 said the same thing to me.鈥�

When 91短视频 built a turf field in 1989, it became the first school in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) to do so. 91短视频鈥檚 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短视频 team from 1978-93.

鈥淓verybody was upset,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey thought we had an unfair advantage. There was even discussion that we shouldn鈥檛 be allowed to host the conference tournament if we were the No. 1 seed.鈥�

Fortunately, for 91短视频 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.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the way the game was meant to be played,鈥� Brownscombe said.

A sport with success

91短视频鈥檚 turf field, along Park Road north of Suter Science Center, has witnessed the school鈥檚 leading scorers and legendary goalkeepers play on its pitch. Field hockey has more athletes inducted in 91短视频鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 鈥淢im鈥� Mumaw 鈥�61, are also in the hall.

91短视频 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鈥攖he 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短视频 field hockey went undefeated in ODAC play. (The 1987 and 2007 teams were also undefeated in the ODAC.)

An era begins

Field hockey鈥檚 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鈥檚 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短视频 in 1970 under Mumaw, a trailblazing athletic director who coached the women鈥檚 basketball (1966-75) and women鈥檚 volleyball (1968-79) teams.

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

鈥淲hen I would tell kids from Virginia that I played hockey, they were like, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 that?鈥欌�� said Miller, who came to 91短视频 from Manheim, Pennsylvania.

She played on the Shenandoah Valley club team from 1967-68. By the time 91短视频 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短视频, 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短视频 in 1971, with coach Dianne Gates taking the helm for four years.

鈥淚 was more of a faculty adviser than a coach,鈥� Mumaw said. 鈥淒ianne鈥檚 the one who developed the program.鈥�

The Title IX Act of 1972 mandated equal funding for women鈥檚 sports. 鈥淎 lot of the expansion in women鈥檚 athletics came from that,鈥� Mumaw said. 鈥淲e were fortunate to have Madison College (now JMU) and Bridgewater College close by because we could play them in almost any sport.鈥�

In those days, 91短视频鈥檚 women athletes competed in the AIAW. 91短视频 became one of the founding members of the ODAC in 1976, beginning with men鈥檚 sports. ODAC added women鈥檚 sports in 1982.

When Mumaw left 91短视频 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鈥檚 basketball (1978-89) and men鈥檚 volleyball (1991-98) teams, led the field hockey program for 16 seasons.

The 1980 team

For as long as 91短视频 has fielded a team鈥攁nd 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短视频. In fact, a majority of the players throughout 91短视频鈥檚 history began playing the sport in high schools around Pennsylvania.

鈥淭he rest of the hockey world had not figured out, until we started getting really good, how great these Lancaster County girls were,鈥� Brownscombe said. 鈥淭hen they began to realize, 鈥極h, these kids are great players, they鈥檙e great people, and they鈥檙e great students.鈥欌��

For an example of their integrity, look no further than the 1980 AIAW regional tournament match between 91短视频 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短视频 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.

鈥淭hey came up to me, and the umpire asked, 鈥榃hy would your goalie tell me it was a goal when I said it wasn鈥檛?鈥欌�� Brownscombe said. 鈥淪hirley looked at me and said, 鈥楤ecause it鈥檚 the truth,鈥� and the official just shook her head.鈥�

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.

鈥淭he players on that team saw the transition of field hockey at 91短视频 from just another team to one that had to be reckoned with,鈥� Brownscombe said.

The 鈥榟ay鈥� 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.

鈥淔ortunately, 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,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ure, it was frustrating, but that鈥檚 what we did.鈥�

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.

鈥淭hey were rowdy,鈥� Brownscombe said. 鈥淭hey would be watching out their windows and be shouting at the players.鈥�

The 鈥�90s teams

Tina Book 鈥�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.

鈥淚t made the game faster, and it also allowed us to score more,鈥� the 1989 ODAC Player of the Year said. 鈥淚 feel like we were so adaptive to the turf.鈥�

Indeed, all of the top scorers in the 91短视频 record books鈥攑layers like Jean茅 Horning Hershey 鈥�94鈥攎ade 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短视频.

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.)

鈥淲e had a good camaraderie, and I don鈥檛 remember any drama,鈥� Hershey said. 鈥淚 just remember working hard and doing the best we could.鈥�

Former goalkeeper Jen Kooker Peifer 鈥�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鈥檚 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 鈥�95 squad posted a remarkable 21-2 overall record, an 8-0 conference record and a historic run to the final four at nationals. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 one of the best teams that 91短视频 has ever had in any sport,鈥� Peifer said.

鈥�Small but mighty鈥�

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

鈥淭here was definitely a sense of honor in carrying on those traditions,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e always had pride in being a small but mighty team.鈥�

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.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there was any other game in my career that all of us played so hard and ran so hard,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat year, they didn鈥檛 expect us to make it that far, and we did. It was exhilarating and fun and by far the most memorable game I鈥檝e ever played.鈥�

A bright future

In February 2024, Chardonnay 鈥淐har鈥� Hope took the reins as the new field hockey coach. She succeeds Ashley 鈥淪tick鈥� Kishorn, who had coached the team since 2017.

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

鈥淎 championship history and a winning mindset is embedded in the roots of this program,鈥� Hope said. 鈥淭here are many athletes and coaches who have paved the way for our current team and me.鈥�

Turf as old as time

The 91短视频 turf field has a rich history. Its playing surface, which was last replaced in 2006, is now used by the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer teams and women鈥檚 lacrosse team, in addition to the field hockey team. But, after 18 years of dutiful service, it鈥檚 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.

鈥淩eplacing the turf field is absolutely necessary to avoid injuries and attract the level of players that will build a winning team,鈥� Hershey said.

Peifer agreed with her former teammate: 鈥淚f you want athletes to come to 91短视频, having top-tier athletic facilities is paramount. When they鈥檙e touring schools, the facilities that impress them play a big part in where they want to go.鈥�

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短视频 Athletics Director Carrie Bert said the new and improved field will be 鈥渧isually appealing and, more importantly, provide more consistent ball play and a significantly safer experience for athletes and officials.鈥�

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.

Royals Freshman Athlete of the Year

Male Freshman Athlete of the Year:听听(Track & Field)

A first-year athlete from Broadway, Virginia, Gonzalez-Santiago achieved not only 91短视频 all-time marks, but also garnered regional and national recognition.

Most notably, Gonzalez-Santiago broke the school record in the 500m with a blazing-fast time of 1:04.86, which is also the 20th-fastest indoor 500m in NCAA Division III history. Gonzalez-Santiago had the following 91短视频 All-Time Top 10 performances during the indoor season: third in 200m, third in 400m, and ninth in long jump. Gonzalez-Santiago’s 400m time of 49.06 was the fastest in the ODAC during indoor season, and he was named USTFCCCA (U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) All-South Region indoors for the 400m.

Female Freshman Athlete of the Year:听听(Track & Field)

David, a first-year athlete from Richmond, Virginia, made an instant impact on the 91短视频 Women’s Track & Field program.

Her name is on the 91短视频 All-Time Top 10 lists for four indoor events and three outdoor events. She is second in school history in the indoor 300m, sixth in the indoor long jump, and fifth in the indoor triple jump. At the ODAC Indoor Track & Field Championships in February, David finished fourth overall in the triple jump, just one spot shy of an All-ODAC recognition as a first-year.

David’s indoor success carried over to the spring outdoor season, during which she rose to fourth in 91短视频 history in the outdoor triple jump, sixth in the 400m hurdles, seventh in the outdoor long jump, and ninth in the outdoor 200m. At the ODAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in April, David scored points for the Royals in two events, placing seventh in the 400m hurdles and eighth in the triple jump.

Royals Athlete of the Year

Male Athlete of the Year:听听(Cross Country/Track & Field)

Immanuel had a breakthrough 2023-24 campaign on the cross country trails as well as on the track.

In cross country, Immanuel, a junior from Allentown, Pennsylvania, ran the third-fastest 8K in 91短视频 history, clocking in at 25:11.7. Immanuel continued to race at a high level into the postseason, placing seventh at the ODAC Championships to achieve First Team All-ODAC status, followed by a 17th-place showing at the NCAA DIII South Region Championships. The latter performance by Immanuel earned him a spot at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships.

In track & field, Immanuel set the school record for the indoor 5000m, completing 25 laps of the 200m indoor track in a time of 15:09.89. Moving outdoors for the spring season, Immanuel ran the second-fastest times in 91短视频 history for both the 3000m steeplechase and the 5000m. Immanuel’s 3000m steeplechase time came in a runner-up showing at the ODAC Championships in April. 听Immanuel also became just the seventh runner in 91短视频 history to break the sub-four-minute barrier in the 1500m, running a personal best of 3:57.64 at the ODAC Championships.听

Female Athlete of the Year:听听(Track & Field)

Taylor followed up an All-American performance in 2023 by continuing to rewrite the 91短视频 record books and make noise at the ODAC and NCAA Division III levels in 2024.

Taylor, a master’s graduate from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, won both the long jump and shot put at the ODAC Championships. In the long jump, Taylor reset her own school record with an impressive leap of 5.82m. Currently, Taylor is ranked in the top 10 in the ODAC in nine different events: heptathlon (first), long jump (first), shot put (second), javelin (second), triple jump (fourth), 400m (sixth), 100m hurdles (seventh), high jump (eighth), and the 200m (10th).

Taylor’s performances this spring have also garnered national attention and rankings. In all of NCAA Division III, she is ranked seventh in both the heptathlon and the long jump. With those marks, Taylor is in line to qualify for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the second year in a row.

“In two short years, she has already become one of the greatest overall athletes to come through 91短视频,” Head Track & Field Coach听Kyle Dickinson听said.

President’s Award

This award is given to student-athletes who exemplify the values of the athletic department through academic achievement, athletic contribution, faith commitment, leadership, campus involvement and service.

Male President’s Award:听听(Men’s Soccer)

Bonilla, a Richmond, Virginia, native, double-majored in political science and history, minored in Spanish and achieved a 3.87 GPA. He graduated in May and plans to attend grad school.
听
He was a member of the men’s soccer team for four years while at 91短视频. In 2023, he led the team and was second in the ODAC in assists with seven, while also helping the team reach the ODAC Tournament for the first time since 2018.
听
He has been named to the Dean’s List all four years, was named CSC Academic All-District in 2022 and 2023, is a three-time All-ODAC Academic Team member, and presented at the intercollegiate historical Erasmus Symposium. He was also a member of the Latino Student Alliance (LSA), served as historian in 2021-2022, and as president for 2022-2023. He was vice president of the Student Government Association, was a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, the International Student Organization and was the SGA representative for the Union of Student Organization.

Female President’s Award:听听(Women’s Volleyball)

Miller, of Millersburg, Ohio,听double-majored in biology and psychology and achieved a 3.98 GPA. After graduating in May, she plans to attend Walsh University in Ohio to get her master’s degree in occupational therapy.听

She was a four-year member of the women’s volleyball team. During her time on the court, she etched her name in the record books, sitting third in career assists with 1,789 and fifth all-time in assists per set with 6.65. 

She has been named to the Dean’s List all four years, was a biology honors student in 2022, was named CSC Academic All-District from 2022 to 2024, is a three-time All-ODAC Academic Team member, was named to the VaSID All-State Academic Team in 2023 and was the recipient of the Women’s Volleyball Academic Award in 2023.听

On campus, she was a Student Athlete Advisory Committee representative from 2020 to 2023, before becoming the president in the fall of 2023. She was a leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a Common Grounds barista, co-president of the senior class, a peer tutor, part of the University Women’s Empowerment Network leadership team and was a Celebration Team Leader.听

Profiles were written by 91短视频 Athletics. They have been edited for conciseness.

Having her family there helped Alicia recover from a tough loss after a standout season when the team posted a 15-1 conference record and a 23-5 overall record (After the loss, the Royals received an NCAA tournament bid, where they lost to undefeated Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, in the second round).

鈥淚 cried. It was so heartbreaking,鈥� said her mother, Joyce Ygarza, referring to the family鈥檚 emotions in their hotel room following the semi-final loss. Joyce and her husband, who live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, have been loyal fans since the girls began playing at age 4.

It was easier to get to games when the girls were playing at , than when they opted to attend a university more than three hours from home. The trips south to Harrisonburg meant many hotel rooms and late nights. And the rigorous schedule of basketball kept Bianca and Alicia away from home for the majority of the holidays.

Despite these challenges, Joyce said 91短视频 has been a great choice for both daughters: 鈥淚t鈥檚 helped them grow up.鈥�

Coach , a 10-year veteran with the program, has played a large role in this, making coaching and mentoring the whole student-athlete a priority.

The elder sister

Bianca graduated from 91短视频 with a degree in . It is one of the most demanding majors 91短视频 offers. Many late nights are spent with a head crammed in an anatomy textbook. And when nursing students have their clinicals (the nursing equivalent of an internship), they often awake and leave for the hospital before the sun rises.

鈥淭here were times I cried because I thought I would fail out of nursing school,鈥� Bianca recalls. She has one more hurdle to cross. Now back in Lancaster, she spends her time studying for the NCLEX, an exam that aspiring nurses must pass in order to receive their nursing license.

While in school, Coach 鈥淕riff,鈥� as he is called by his players, gave Bianca his support, giving advice when she confided troubling life situations, she says. Griffin says he likes his players to be exemplary role models, both on and off the court.

鈥淭wo of the hardest working kids I have ever coached,鈥� Griffin says of the Ygarza sisters.

The artistic sister

Alicia鈥檚 hard work shows off the court. A digital media major with a talent for singing, Alicia often finds herself after practice in the lab working on a project, or in a practice room in the basement of Lehman Auditorium with a cup of tea practicing her vocals.

Alicia started singing around the age of 6, mostly in church. She performs in the gospel choir, and at chapels and banquets. She recently gave two riveting performances at a campus event featuring .

Since her freshman year, she has developed increased confidence in her artistic expression, says her academic advisor, , a professor in the . He says that, above all, he has seen Alicia鈥檚 maturity of thought develop.

The digital media major, Holsopple says, is very public 鈥� students鈥� productions often find themselves under critique, which means students鈥� progress is often witnessed, and supported, by the campus community.

On the court, Alicia is not afraid to make suggestions to the coaches during time-outs. She plays the point, a role that does not always make for a glamorous stat-line. She directs the offense, sees the court, and gets players involved in the game.

Bianca, during her time at 91短视频, was a versatile post player. She earned first-team all-ODAC honors as a sophomore, junior, and senior, and she was the 91短视频 Women鈥檚 Athlete of the Year in her sophomore and senior years. She joined 91短视频鈥檚 1,000 point club as a senior, finishing her career with 1,215 points. This placed her sixth in the program鈥檚 history.

The two sisters grew up playing basketball together, but they are more than teammates. During the two years that they overlapped at 91短视频, Bianca says that they would hang out nearly every day. They aren鈥檛 just sisters, they鈥檙e best friends.