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.

As a Royal, Troyer was a three-time All-ODAC First Team honoree and a two-time all-Region middle hitter. During her sophomore year, 91短视频 women鈥檚 volleyball won the ODAC championship, defeating Bridgewater in a thrilling five-set championship match. At the time of her graduation in 1993, Troyer held 91短视频 career records for kills (969) and blocks (347) and now sits third all-time on both of those lists. As an 91短视频 basketball forward, Troyer graduated fourth all-time in career rebounds with 648. She played first base on the 1990 softball team that won the ODAC championship, is fourth all-time in the Royals鈥� record book for stolen bases in a season (1990) with 24, and earned a spot on the All-ODAC Second Team in 1992.

Troyer said she 鈥渉ad a great experience playing sports鈥� at 91短视频 with teammates that were her closest friends and a coaching staff that was 鈥渟o supportive.鈥� Troyer retired in June 2023 after teaching special education for 30 years at Turner Ashby High School (Bridgewater) where she coached girls鈥� varsity volleyball for 24 years and junior varsity softball for four years. 

At 91短视频, Ygarza developed into a versatile post player who became the only woman in program history to capture All-ODAC First Team honors three times, earning the distinction in 2012, 2013 and 2014; she received VaSID All-State Second Team honors those same three years. During her sophomore and senior years, Ygarza made the D3hoops.com All-South Region Third Team and won the 91短视频 Female Athlete of the Year award. She still remembers pulling out an exciting win against rival Bridgewater in 鈥渢he kind of moment athletes dream of鈥� to spark a 22-4 record for the 2011-2012 season鈥攁 season she shot 58 percent from the field, an 91短视频 record that stands today. Ygarza also ranks seventh all-time in scoring with 1,215 points and eighth in career rebounds with 671.

Ygarza played the last two of her four seasons with her sister. Ygarza currently works as a nurse at UPMC Lititz hospital, close to where the two grew up. She also serves as an adjutant general officer for human resources in the Army Reserve with her unit in Waldorf, Maryland. She still plays basketball regularly and looks forward to introducing her four-year-old son, Jace, to the game.

As head men鈥檚 cross-country coach, Landes oversaw teams that won four National Christian Colleges Athletic Association (NCCAA) championships and two ODAC championships, including the inaugural ODAC championship in 1976. Another coaching highlight came when Landes stepped in as head men鈥檚 basketball coach for the 1972-1973 season: 鈥淚t was the first year Lou Campanelli was at James Madison. They had scholarship players, and we hadn鈥檛 recruited at all. We beat them 72-71.鈥�

Landes finished his 16-year 91短视频 coaching career in 1983 with a 223-141 record. He also served as assistant professor of physical education from 1968-1982 and as supervisor of auxiliary services from 1984 until his retirement in 1998. He has fond memories of his time working with students in the classroom and on the playing fields. 鈥淭he kids were just a joy to teach and to coach, and they didn鈥檛 hold anything back. They always gave 100 percent, and I really appreciated that and 91短视频鈥檚 spiritual emphasis that I thought was important for the whole person.

Give to 91短视频’s new track & field complex in honor of Landes here:

The Royals started the 2003-04 season 7-0 before dropping their first game of the year to Roanoke. They followed up with nine straight wins, including four games where they scored more than 80 points, and finished the regular season at 21-3, 17-3 in the ODAC. The Royals were the #1 seed heading into the ODAC tournament where they knocked off #8 Washington & Lee and #4 Guilford to reach the ODAC Championships before downing #3 Randolph-Macon 65-54 to win the conference title. The Royals edged Christopher Newport University 63-62 in a second-round home game to advance to the Sweet 16 before losing to Hardin-Simmons University in Wisconsin to end their magical run in the NCAA tournament. They ended the season ranked 30th in the nation by D3hoops.com.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing that we were able to make it to the Sweet 16 with such a small group. We believed in ourselves, and it was a great run. It was a fun run,鈥� shared Amanda Renalds Webster 鈥�05, a starter on the 2003 team along with Shantee Bryant 鈥�06, Stephanie Mathews Lane Cooper 鈥�06, Carrie Grandstaff, class of 鈥�06, and Laura Ludholtz, class of 鈥�06. Guards Grandstaff and Ludholtz were named All-ODAC First Team, and coach Richard McElwee was named the VaSID Coach of the Year. McElwee passed away in December 2020, yet his legacy lives on.鈥淩ichard was the right man at the right time for the 91短视频 women鈥檚 basketball team when hired in 2003. As good of a coach as Richard was, he was an even better person. He always looked for the good in people and was always willing to help out those who were down on their luck. His expertise as a coach and his kindness as a person surely lives on in the hundreds of players he coached over the span of his career,鈥� said Kirby Dean, 91短视频 men鈥檚 basketball coach from 2003-2018 and longtime friend of McElwee.

See her bio at: http://www.emuroyals.com/sports/wbkb/2014-15/bios/rheinheimer_jess_rlra
See more about 91短视频 athletics at: http://emuroyals.com

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.

Video produced by visual and communication arts graduate, Shandell Taylor ’13. Music by digitalr3public, “Synthetic Truth.”

Learn more about 91短视频 athletics at http://www.emuroyals.com

What is your major?听 What do you hope to do?

Recreation and Sport Leadership.听 I鈥檓 taking the business management aspect of it.听 I want to start my own rec center or boys or girls club.听 There鈥檚 a need for it.

What originally made you choose to come to 91短视频?

At first my school choices centered around football, but they did not work out.听 I always had 91短视频 in the back of my mind, and Coach Kirby (Dean) never gave up on me.听 So I called him up, and he let me in.听 And I鈥檓 glad I did.听 I need this place.

What has it been like being a student-athlete while at 91短视频?

It鈥檚 been pretty cool.听 Usually you鈥檙e used to being just an athlete.听 I didn鈥檛 think about grades as much in high school, but when you get here they make sure you know you鈥檙e also a STUDENT and not just an athlete.听 So I鈥檓 learning to do what I have to do to succeed, so that I can do what I love to – have fun on the court.

What has it been like playing men鈥檚 basketball here?

I have learned a lot of things.听 The last two years have been so successful.听 For me to come in (as an underclassman) and get some playing time and get some wins and go that far has been great.听 And now this year, we鈥檙e so young.听 We鈥檙e learning to keep on going.听 It鈥檚 going to come and we鈥檒l be right back where we were (the last two years).听 So I鈥檓 learning to keep pushing.

You spent two years as a key sub on the team, but now you have had to quickly transition into being one of the leaders.听 Talk about those roles.

It felt good to be the sub.听 I knew who I was up against.听 I came in behind an All-American (Todd Phillips).听 Coach told me what to do, and I did what I had to do.听 I would come in and make some plays and get a dunk to get the crowd going – to play my role.听 In high school I was the man, but I enjoyed playing my role.听 This year I try to teach that to the freshmen.听 Even if you sit the bench, you don鈥檛 give up.听 Just keep pushing hard.听 I try to lead by example and throw my body out there. 听It鈥檚 a good role (to be a leader) and I鈥檓 up for it.

What are one or two things you have learned from playing basketball here that you will take with you when you leave?

From my freshman year, it鈥檚 probably the will to never give up.听 And no matter how successful things are, you can never forget and stop trying.听 You always work hard and fight to do what you do to be successful.听 I was on academic probation and I was worried for a bit that with my grades they would give up on me.听 But I worked hard to get off of academic probation.听 So to just have the will to fight.

Seventh-seeded 91短视频 heads into the ODAC Quarterfinals where they will play second-seeded Randolph-Macon.听 The two teams have also developed a rivalry in the last few years, including R-MC winning twice this year on buzzer-beating three pointers.

The ODAC Quarterfinal matchup will be at 6:00pm Friday night at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA.

But Tuesday night, the Runnin Royals had to take care of their fiercest rivals.

In the opening minutes, the game looked like a blowout.听 (Fort Washington, MD/Friendly) personally scored the first eight points of the contest and 91短视频 zipped to a 15-0 lead.

Bridgewater regrouped, however, and used a 16-2 run to tie the score at 28-28 with 5:28 to go in the half.听 The Royals got back in front, but BC drew a charge with five seconds left and then nailed a three pointer at the buzzer to take their first lead of the night, 35-34 going into halftime.

91短视频 came out strong in the second and never looked back.听 (Front Royal, VA/Skyline) scored the first four points to put the men back in front.听 (Telford, PA/Christopher Dock) banked in a three pointer to increase the lead to 48-38 with 13:10 left.

A Ronnie Thomas (Roanoke, VA/Patrick Henry) jumper got the Eagles back to within five at 52-47, but then 91短视频 unleashed a 14-4 run over a span of 2:27, blowing the lead to 66-51 with 6:09 left in the game.听 Thorne scored five straight in the run, followed by Sims scoring seven in a row.

Bridgewater never recovered from there as the Royals rolled out to the First Round win.

Thorne led all players with a career high 24 points, including 19 in the second half.听 The junior added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

91短视频 Coach Kirby Dean felt his team’s dry spell in the first half had something to do with Thorne sitting on the bench with two fouls.

“I thought we played really well except for that ten-minute stretch in the first half,” he said.听 “When Drew’s not in there we’re a different team.听 He’s doesn’t have to score to make us go.听 He’s really become a complete player.听 At halftime I second guessed myself on whether I should have left him in since we lost a 15-point lead.听 But at the end of the game when he took over I was happy to have him in there.听 He made me look smart.”

Sims didn’t look too shabby himself, as the smooth sophomore finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.听 He was 4-for-6 from three point range.

Longacre added 11 points, five assists and two blocked shots.听 (Madison, VA/Madison) also had a pair of blocks.听 Point guard (Fredericksburg, VA/Mountain View) made his presence felt with a game high 12 rebounds, including seven offensive boards.

Aaron Adams (Ellicott City, MD/Centennial) led Bridgewater with 13 while Thomas charted 12 points and five assists.听 Ed Reddick (Virginia Beach, VA/Kellam) was good for 11 points.

Eastern Mennonite forced 23 turnovers while committing just 15 of their own.听 The Royals had only two in the second half.听 BC had a slight edge in shooting at 47% to 42%, but 91短视频 erased that by dominating the boards, 47-30.听 The Runnin Royals also had 26 offensive rebounds.

Dean was ecstatic that his young team could win an ODAC Tournament game at home after such an up-and-down season.

“I’m pleased for them and happy for them,” Dean said of his players.听 “Of all the teams I’ve had, they’ve deserved some success after how hard they’ve worked and when you consider the heart-breaking losses they’ve had to persevere through.听 There has been no quit in these guys.”

Eastern Mennonite, now 12-14, seems to be gaining momentum at just the right time, taking a three-game winning streak to Salem.听 Three wins in the Salem Civic Center would earn the men a bid to the national tournament.

The ODAC Semifinals are Saturday evening with the Championship game Sunday afternoon.

Eastern Mennonite scored first in the game, but made a statement on the defensive end.听 The men frustrated the Bobcats into a season low 31.7% from the floor and never trailed.

FSU was still within two points at 17-15 midway through the first until the Royals exploded on a quick 9-0 run to blow the game open.听 The men then scored the final five of the half to lead 45-30 at the break.

The Runnin Royals didn鈥檛 let up in the second and expanded the lead to the final 21-point margin.

All 15 of the 91短视频 men in uniform got to play in the win as they out-shot Frostburg State 48.5% to 31.7%.听 They also had a hefty 50-39 edge in rebounding.

Junior Andrew Thorne (Front Royal, VA/Skyline) collected his third double double of the season, finishing with game highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds along with two steals.听 R.J. Sims (Fort Washington, MD/Friendly), who has been slowed over the past week with an illness, played a game high 34 minutes and dumped in 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting.

Guard Adam Burroughs (Roanoke, VA/Northside) made his presence felt with a career high seven assists.听 He also tied his career best with seven rebounds.听 Owen Longacre (Telford, PA/Christopher Dock) had ten points and five rebounds.听 Freshman Corey Sheppard (Richmond, VA/Open) had his best game in an 91短视频 uniform with eight rebounds, two steals and two assists in 18 minutes.

Starting point guard Dajon Daniel (Fredericksburg, VA/Mountain View) and reserve Josh Mallory (Round Hill, VA/Loudoun Valley) both missed the game because of illness.

The win is the fourth in the last five games for the Runnin Royals, who improve to 6-7.听 They return to ODAC play for the rest of the season and will try to better their 1-3 league mark Wednesday when they host Randolph-Macon.

Sophomore (Roanoke, VA/Northside) started the game with a steal and lay-up, then 91短视频 used a 6-0 run to push the lead to 8-2.听 The Hornets got within 10-8 before the Runnin Royals clamped on the defense.听 Holding SU scoreless for a span of 7:54, Eastern Mennonite inflated the edge to 20-8 and never let it below double digits the rest of the night.

(Fredericksburg, VA/Mountain View) canned the game’s first three as the first half closed, pushing the lead to 43-17.

Shenandoah never seriously threatened in the second.听 (Front Royal, VA/Skyline) provided the highlight for the opening night crowd of 745, as he stole the ball and dunked it with 4:13 to play.听 The two points bumped 91短视频 over the magic threshold of 79, giving everyone in attendance a free cone from Kline’s Dairy Bar.

From there, Coach Kirby Dean flooded the court with his bench players, getting all 15 healthy Royals playing time.听 Each team scored 44 points in the second as the men rolled to the win.

Dean was pleased with the first 20 minutes of the game.

“I think in the first half we showed how good we can be,” he said afterwards.听 “In the second half we showed how bad we can be.听 Now part of that is Shenandoah, because they played better, but our guys need to play with the same intensity from the first half for a full 40 minutes if we want to finish in the top part of the ODAC.”

Thorne led the way on the night, netting 17 points with six rebounds and four steals.听 (Fort Washington, MD/Friendly) notched 16 points to go along with his game high five assists.

Freshman (Madison, VA/Madison) added an efficient 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals off the bench. (Telford, PA/Christopher Dock) had 10 points.

The Hornet’s Avery Green led all played with 20 points.

Eastern Mennonite squelched Shenandoah to a 21.9% shooting clip in the decisive first half.听 The Royals shot 44.7% over the frame and finished 35-74 for 47.3%.听 SU came in at 35.7%, going 20-56.听 91短视频 also had a 47-39 edge in rebounds.

Now 1-0, the men head to Arlington this weekend for the Marymount Tip-Off Tournament.听 The Royals play Springfield Friday at 4:00, and then play either DeSales or host Marymount on Saturday.

The Eastern Mennonite men received four votes in the D3hoops.com national poll, which was released today, effectively putting them in a tie for 51st place in the preseason list. 91短视频 lost all five of their senior starters from last year’s 22-5 squad, which also went to the Elite Eight of the national tournament in 2009-10.

Showing the power of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Virginia Wesleyan was tabbed as the No. 1 team in the country in the preseason poll. VWC finished last year No. 10 in the rankings after losing in the Sweet 16.

Hampden-Sydney was picked No. 23 in the preseason rankings, while Randolph-Macon also received votes, coming in at No. 36.

The official ODAC Preseason Poll will be announced at the league’s media day this Thursday in Salem.

The Runnin Royals start their season at home on Nov. 15 against future ODAC-opponent Shenandoah.

The classic will be two of the Royals’ 14 home games in their 24-game schedule, which was released today.听 91短视频 hosts York (NY), Stevenson and Mary Baldwin at the classic, playing Stevenson at 8:00pm on Nov. 18 and York at 4:00pm on Nov. 19.听 MBC will play the other team beforehand each day.

After the season-opening weekend, the women jump right into their 20-game Old Dominion Athletic Conference slate, playing at last year’s champion, Randolph-Macon, on Nov. 22.听 The tough start continues with a Nov. 28 game at Bridgewater, which tied R-MC for the regular crown, and then a Nov. 30 hosting of Roanoke, which finished third.

The Royals play five of their eight pre-Christmas games at home, wrapping up with a non-conference contest with Shenandoah on Dec. 17.

Lynchburg comes to Harrisonburg on Jan. 3 to start the 2012 half of the schedule.听 The women play seven home games in the month of January, including rival Bridgewater on Jan. 24.

The final home game of the year is Feb. 11 when Virginia Wesleyan visits.听 Eastern Mennonite then closes with games at Randolph, Emory & Henry and Guilford.听 The ODAC Tournament starts Feb. 23.

The Royals finished 15-11 in 2010-11 with a 13-7 mark in the ODAC, making the conference tourney for the tenth straight year.

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