For some reason I expected a slower pace this spring, but thankfully I was wrong! Last month had so many highlights that we will start with a few of those and then move to some blockbuster events in the coming week.
Just yesterday our Women's Tennis team clinched the Colonial Athletic Association's championship with a 4-1 win over Elon. What an effort by the second-seeded Tribe and our first-year head coach
Athletics Has Record One Tribe One Day
I am extraordinarily thankful and happy to report that Tribe Athletics
set a new one-day record for fundraising on April 12. Tribe supporters (2,248 of them) made gifts of $571,862 during the 24 hours of the OTOD event. And because W&M Athletics is always ready for a good competition, we earned a $15,000 stipend by attracting the most donors among all the W&M departments. Thank you Sue Hanna Gerdelman for sponsoring this award, and thanks to everyone who helped us win it!
National Award for Gymnast
Hearty congratulations are in order for Tribe student-athlete Alek Kuzmenchuk
who received an Elite 90 Award in gymnastics. This impressive award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships. Alek, a sophomore who has a 3.98 GPA, competed on rings, parallel bars and high bar in the NCAA Men's Gymnastics championship.
Remembering W&M Football Hero Art Matsu
On Saturday I had the privilege of attending a ceremony where a historical marker bearing Art Matsu's name was unveiled near an arcade at Zable Stadium. It's one of five landmarks commissioned by the commonwealth to observe Asian American Pacific Island history.
The story of Art's numerous accomplishments as a popular and talented student-athlete is compelling, as is the way he overcame some of the obstacles he faced. I know you will be as proud as I am that Art wore the Green & Gold.
Basketball Momentum
Thanks to all of you who have helped welcome Head Women's Basketball Coach
Erin Dickerson Davis to the Tribe family. She has settled in quickly and while I'm not sure that she's yet played H-O-R-S-E with her team as she promised in her press conference, she's off to a great start in getting to know her student-athletes.
Head Men's Basketball Coach
Dane Fischer has likewise been busy. Using the opportunities afforded by the transfer portal, Fischer has added a mix of undergrad and grad transfers from Pitt, Rice, Providence and St. Thomas universities, to join three incoming freshmen. I've had a chance to meet these young men who are as excited about the opportunities at W&M as we are to have them!
The Countdown Begins!
In just one week, we will celebrate a momentous day for W&M Athletics when we host a ceremonial groundbreaking to commemorate the start of construction of the W&M Athletics Complex, including a renovated Kaplan Arena, the new Sports Performance and the Mackesy Tennis Center at the Millie West Courts, among other facilities. We have designed a day to celebrate the next great chapter in Tribe Athletics as well as to thank our generous and loyal supporters for making this day possible.
Please make every effort to join us. After the speeches and turning over the dirt, I'm looking forward to sampling the wares in the food trucks and using the photo booth to commemorate the day with our friends and fans!
A Game-changing All In Gift
As we build the excitement for May 9, one family's vision and aspirations for the Tribe are bringing us ever closer to completing our
All In campaign. The Gordinier family
has contributed $2 million to the Athletics Complex in hopes that it inspires others to support the project, too. Calling the Complex a game changer for Athletics, the Gordiniers understand their gift will have an impact on Tribe student-athletes for generations to come. I know all of you are as grateful as we are in Athletics.
More Fun to Come!
Our football coaches are getting ready for their spring road trip. If you have the chance, Coach London and his assistants are always eager to visit with our fans. Check out where the tour will be - and when by
clicking here!
Finally, move over Oscar, Grammy and Academy awards, the Griffy's are returning tomorrow! For the first time since 2018, our student-athletes will come together for this ceremony, which is marked by announcing President's and Provost's awards, plus gifting each student-athlete with a present from the William & Mary Athletic Foundation. I am looking forward to another personal W&M first and I will share highlights in my next Mannuscript!
Go Tribe!
Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics
