disc golf Archives - 91��Ƶ News

91��Ƶ disc golf team hosts tournament at Westover Park

Ryan Cornell — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 15:27:01 +0000

91��Ƶ’s disc golf team hosted a tournament at Westover Park in Harrisonburg this past weekend. Along with 91��Ƶ, teams from Liberty, Gallaudet, NC State, UNC, and Appalachian State competed at the tournament.

91��Ƶ’s Jesse Longenecker ties for 30th at US Disc Golf Championship

Ryan Cornell — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:13:15 +0000

Jesse Longenecker, a sophomore environmental science major who won the 2025 College Disc Golf National Championship in April, competed against the sport’s best of the best at the 2025 U.S. Disc Golf Championship this weekend in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He tied for 30th place.

Breathtaking beauty: Five ways to round out summer on the 91��Ƶ campus

Ryan Cornell — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 20:47:05 +0000

Whether you’re visiting 91��Ƶ for the first time or have walked its grounds for more than a decade, some spots on campus never lose their magic. With summer break winding down, temperatures (hopefully) starting to finally dip, and the first day of classes (Aug. 26) fast approaching, here are our favorite places on campus to spend the summer.

5 — Stroll through the East Garden

A visit to the East Garden on Friday afternoon revealed an ample supply of tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, and a variety of native flowers.

Located just across the pond south of the Suter Science Center’s greenhouse, a short walk across a wooden bridge and through some lush greenery reveals a plentiful patch of produce. The fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown on the campus gardens by the student-run Sustainable Food Initiative are used to supply the 91��Ƶ Free Food Room, which supports members of the campus community experiencing food insecurity.

Bonus tip: For an air-conditioned and educational detour, duck into the nearby D. Ralph Hostetter Natural History Museum and browse the displays of fossils, insects, birds, and wildlife inside the science center’s main entrance.

4 — Practice your pickleball

An aerial view of the new pickleball courts on 91��Ƶ’s campus, looking south along Park Road. The courts are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day.

Bring your paddle and your A-game out to the six new pickleball courts on Park Road, which were installed at the end of last year. The enhanced outdoor courts space, which also includes four new tennis courts, is the result of a partnership between 91��Ƶ, Eastern Mennonite School, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, and other organizations and private donors. “A lot of people in the Harrisonburg community come out to play on the 91��Ƶ pickleball courts—people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels,” said Levi Clymer ’25, former co-president of the 91��Ƶ Pickleball Club. “That’s the beautiful thing about pickleball.”

Bonus tip: After the game, stretch out those calf muscles with a lap around the neighboring 91��Ƶ track, which was dedicated in October. During the summer, track lanes 5-8 are open to the public from 6-10 a.m. and 6-9 p.m. daily, except for special events. Or take a stroll along the , a paved shared-use path that stretches from 91��Ƶ, passes by picturesque fields and streams, and will eventually connect to Downtown Harrisonburg.

3 — Walk through the Park Woods

The Weaver Loop perimeter path in Park Woods was dedicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in October.

Take advantage of the shaded paths that wind their way through Park Woods, a 13-acre oak-hickory forest that adorns the northeast corner of campus between Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community and Eastern Mennonite School. Walk along the recently completed Weaver Loop perimeter path and breathe in the scents of the native trees and understory. The paths are regularly used by walkers of all ages, from children at the K-12 school to retirees at the senior living community.

Bonus tip: See if you can find the rustic cabin located in the clearing at the heart of the woods. Built as a gift by the classes of 1946 and 1950, the cabin was the central hub of socialization and recreation on 91��Ƶ’s campus for more than 40 years…Read more about it here.

2 — Toss some discs

During a ceremony (pictured) in April 2022, 91��Ƶ’s disc golf course was dedicated in honor of Nathan Longenecker, class of 2024, an avid disc golfer who was diagnosed with brain cancer during his first year at 91��Ƶ and died in October 2021, just eight months later.

Play a round of disc golf on 91��Ƶ’s nine-hole, par-27 course. The stomping grounds of 2025 college disc golf national champion Jesse Longenecker, the course is dedicated in honor of his late brother, Nathan. Try to keep your cool while sinking your putt at some of the course’s tougher holes—we think the basket perched on top of the tree stump is awfully tricky!

Bonus tip: After finishing the eighth hole, wander over to the , a spiral-looking maze just up the hill above the Seminary Building. The feature offers those at 91��Ƶ a unique way to connect with God.

1 — Gaze out from the 91��Ƶ Hill

A view that’s every bit worth the climb.

Take in the majestic vista of Massanutten Mountain and the city of Harrisonburg from the summit of the 91��Ƶ Hill. If the trek doesn’t take your breath away, the view surely will (note: parking is also available at the top of the hill by the Astral Hall recording studio). No matter how long you’ve been at 91��Ƶ, it’s one sight that never seems to get old.

Bonus tip: Want a similar view without the hike? Head to the Campus Center balcony—a favorite spot for Trina Trotter Nussbaum ’00, MA ’17, director of 91��Ƶ’s Center for Interfaith Engagement. She remembers falling in love with 91��Ƶ the first time she looked out from that very spot. “All it took was one look at those mountains, and they seemed to tell me, ‘You belong here,’” she said. And, according to Macson McGuigan ’17, campus photographer and resident lover of lightning bugs, the overlook offers prime firefly viewing after sunset.

What are your favorite places on campus to capture its breathtaking beauty? Leave a comment below!

91��Ƶ’s Jesse Longenecker crowned national champion of college disc golf

Ryan Cornell — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:27:00 +0000

It’s the end of another routine practice for the 91��Ƶ disc golf team when Jesse Longenecker turns to his teammates, a disc in hand and a smile on his face. “Do you guys want to see this fly really far?” he asks, as the other players buzz with excitement. The first-year environmental science major stands at the south end of the track & field complex and lets the disc fly. It slices through the air above the grassy pitch, clears the hammer and discus cage, the shot put circles, and the eight-lane track, soars beyond the perimeter fence, and finally touches down in the baseball outfield. After a quick measurement by disc golf coach Trevor Oyer ’19, the throw clocks in at 620 feet. “That’s longer than two football fields,” Oyer said. “There are very few people in the world who can throw that far.”

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��Ƶ 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–Baylor, Emporia State University and Redeemer University.

“It’s a huge honor to win a national championship,” Longenecker said. “This has been a dream I’ve had for a long time, ever since I decided I wanted to play college disc golf, so it all feels unreal to me.”

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

Despite 91��Ƶ’s small size—it had the seventh-lowest enrollment among the 80 schools competing at nationals—the Royals disc golf squad has proven it can hold its own against much larger programs. In addition to Longenecker topping the men’s singles leaderboards, the women’s duo of senior Sadie Oesch and junior Miriam Rhodes finished 11th, and the men’s 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.

The 91��Ƶ disc golf team finished its 2024-25 season with a successful showing at the College Disc Golf Nationals on April 2-5. (Photo by Beck Jantzi)

Playing for his brother

Jesse Longenecker, right, with his dad, Lynn ’94, who served as his caddie during the championship. (Photo by PDGA)

Longenecker occasionally played disc golf growing up, but it wasn’t 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’t 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��Ƶ team in 2020. “Nathan was an incredible person and disc golfer, but he never got to play in any college disc golf events,” Oyer said. Nathan was diagnosed with brain cancer during his first year at 91��Ƶ and passed away in October 2021, just eight months later. In April 2022, the nine-hole disc golf course on the 91��Ƶ Hill was dedicated in his honor. After his brother’s passing, Jesse Longenecker made a promise to himself: he would play college disc golf to honor Nathan’s memory.

“It just feels so good to be here, to be able to do this,” Longenecker said in a after his nationals victory. “I just wish Nathan could have had the same experience.”

For years, Jesse Longenecker watched professional players compete at the U.S. Disc Golf Championship, held annually at the Winthrop University Disc Golf Course. This October, he’ll get his own chance to compete. (Photo by Beck Jantzi)

‘A generational player’

Sporting gear from sponsors Prodigy Disc and Treemagnets, Jesse Longenecker celebrates after making a shot. (Photo by PDGA)

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.

This isn’t the first time he’s 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’ll miss this year’s world championship, which will be held in Finland from July 26 to Aug. 3, he has plenty of tournaments lined up. He’s 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. “He’s a generational player,” Oyer said. “He is one of the most talented players in the history of college disc golf.”

Jesse Longenecker boasts a player rating of 1021, making him the second-highest-rated player in college disc golf and the top-rated player from Pennsylvania. (Photo by Beck Jantzi)

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A Royal Tale: Content creator Willem Hedrick ’27 sharpens skills at 91��Ƶ

Ryan Cornell — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 15:12:00 +0000

Editor’s Note: This profile is the first of six stories about students and alumni leading up to Lov91��Ƶ Giving Day on April 2. For more information about the day and how to donate, visit:

As a native of Waterloo, Ontario, 91��Ƶ sophomore Willem Hedrick ’27 often hears the same question: “Why would you choose to attend a university in the U.S. when tuition is so much cheaper in Canada?” people ask him.

The answer is that 91��Ƶ isn’t just any university. Its unparalleled emphasis on academic excellence, peace & justice, and active faith was the unique blend of values that Hedrick was looking for in a school. 91��Ƶ’s robust Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) department, its small class sizes and personalized approach to hands-on learning, its strong sense of community—not to mention its top-flight disc golf team—made 91��Ƶ more than just a place for him to continue his learning; it was the only place.

“91��Ƶ was the only school I applied to,” said Hedrick, who is majoring in digital media with a minor in marketing. “I didn’t look anywhere else.”

From a young age, Hedrick discovered a way to combine his love of video games with a passion for making videos. The 11-year-old would record himself playing Minecraft on his computer and upload the videos to YouTube. He still does that, but now on a much grander scale. Today, his channel boasts more than eight million subscribers (for reference, the YouTube channel for the Red Hot Chili Peppers has 8.1 million subscribers), which is part of the 15 million followers who watch his content across various platforms.

Hedrick said his digital media classes at 91��Ƶ have taught him new skills, including how to shoot documentary films, record better audio, and use proper lighting techniques. Last semester, through a weekend workshop at 91��Ƶ, he became a certified commercial drone pilot. It’s something, he said, he’s wanted to do “for the longest time.”

“Being in a classroom, having a professor there to give me feedback, and having projects to hold me accountable has been so helpful,” he said.

Outside of the classroom, Hedrick found a sense of belonging on the disc golf course. He was a member of last year’s squad that competed at nationals and will return with the team to Rock Hill, South Carolina, this year as it competes at the 2025 College Disc Golf National Championship in April.

Hedrick, who was raised Mennonite, had considered taking a gap year after graduating from high school (Rockway Mennonite Collegiate) to devote more time to his video projects. It wasn’t until his parents, 91��Ƶ grads Tim and Janice ’94, suggested he take a look at their alma mater that he thought seriously about higher education. 91��Ƶ awarded him the President’s Scholarship, which has significantly helped bring his college costs down. It’s not quite to the same level as the cost of college in Canada, but it’s close enough.

“It definitely made my decision to come here much easier,” Hedrick said about his scholarships. (He is also a VACA scholarship recipient.)

Your generous support helps students like Hedrick pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Join us for the 9th annual Lov91��Ƶ Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future 91��Ƶ students. Together, we can help write 91��Ƶ’s next chapter.

disc golf Archives - 91����Ƶ News

91����Ƶ disc golf team hosts tournament at Westover Park

91����Ƶ’s Jesse Longenecker ties for 30th at US Disc Golf Championship

Breathtaking beauty: Five ways to round out summer on the 91����Ƶ campus

91����Ƶ’s Jesse Longenecker crowned national champion of college disc golf