Dear Friends of William & Mary Athletics,

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is the last day of classes and the fall semester is just about over!  Our student-athletes are busy with their sports and preparing for finals, while our Tribe Athletics staff is hard at work as we begin the home stretch of the year.

I am thrilled to report that we are entering the last few weeks of 2023 on a VERY positive note, with tons of momentum thanks to our wonderful community of supporters. On Dec. 1, we hit an impressive milestone when our All In campaign surpassed $50 million!
 
Recently a group of alumni gave gifts totaling $3 million, and we are tremendously grateful. Dr. Hal H. Mathews HON '02 and Nancy Wonnell Mathews '76, Rob W. Estes '74, P '06 and Jean Berger Estes '75, P '06 and Tracy Leinbach '81, who played golf at William & Mary, are among those who helped us reach the new campaign total.

Our overall All In goal of $55 million is within reach by Dec. 31. Please consider joining your fellow alumni and Tribe faithful to make a gift or pledge. With your continued support, I know we can reach that number. Thanks for your consideration!

Congratulations!
Our student-athletes keep receiving honors and recognition and we couldn't be prouder:

• Track & Field picked up three wins and set three freshman records at the Navy Invitational. Sophomore Jonathan Kumer and junior Nate Jennings won the 1-mile and 3000m, respectively, on the men's side, while junior Arianna DeBoer (pictured below) captured the 1-mile title for the women. Combined, the Tribe produced 18 top-3 finishes (10 women/8 men) at the Navy Invitational. 

 

• Football's Caden Bonoffski is one of 10 finalists for the Fred Mitchell Award, which honors the best kickers across the FCS, DIII, NAIA and NJCAA.
• Field Hockey's Pyper Friedman was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-South Region First Team.  Teammates Jayden Moon and Lauren Curran made the Second Team.
• Five swimmers qualified for the 2023 Toyota U.S. Open Championship — (pictured below, L-R) Alex Valliere, Sophia Heilen, Brock Rempe, Lauren Klinefelter and Conor Sokolowsky.

 

• Alumna Jill Ellis '88, L.H.D. '16, will be inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.  At W&M, she scored 32 goals and was third-team All-America in 1987, which was great preparation for her storied career as head coach of the U.S. national women's soccer team.  The event will take place the weekend of April 19 & 20 in Henrico County, Va. (complete events details).

How Businesses Can Support Student-Athletes
I think it's fair to say the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) program that allows compensation to student-athletes, has had a huge impact on college athletics and in this age of the transfer portal, NIL programs have become a big recruiting and retention tool.

As we continue to ensure that we give every opportunity to our student-athletes, William & Mary has crafted a comprehensive NIL program of educational and business opportunities. 
 
The Green and Gold Exchange is an extremely important component of our NIL program. It connects student-athletes with potential business opportunities, such as endorsements through traditional and social media, appearances, autographs, in-kind deals and more. Please visit our website to learn more about how the Green & Gold Exchange operates and how to participate. Thank you in advance for helping our Tribe.

Delaware Departure
As you have probably heard, the University of Delaware will be leaving the CAA, and while we hate to see a long-time rival leave the conference, we wish them well. Changes in conference affiliations continue and it is critically important for us to monitor possible effects on both W&M and the CAA to ensure we are positioning our department for success today and in the future. And as the CAA continues to change with the times, so too will W&M evolve with the best interest of our student-athletes at the core of every decision we make. 

Hoops and Holiday Cheer
Last night, our men's basketball program delivered a thrilling 84-79 win over a long-time state rival Old Dominion. Playing shorthanded, our Tribe came together with a remarkable team performance, with four players scoring in double digits, including career-high nights from sophomores Charlie Williams (23 points) and Trey Moss (20) and junior Caleb Dorsey (17). Even better was the support and enthusiasm we received from the crowd of over 3,200, who filled the arena with energy as we battled down the stretch for the win.  

Later today (7 p.m.), our women's basketball team takes on James Madison and you can catch all the action of ESPN+.  

Our gymnastics programs will hold its annual Green & Gold Meet tomorrow at 6 p.m. in Kaplan Arena. The exhibition is free and open to the public.  Don't forget to bring a new unwrapped toy for the Tribe Holiday Toy Drive.
 
Clam Bakes and Cabins
Already sick of turkey? Then make a note on your calendar for Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. to buy your tickets to the 2024 Lord Botetourt Affair. The Lord Botetourt Affair is celebrating its 35th year of being one the premier fundraising evenings in support of our student-athletes.  As always, there will be a large variety of unique gift items, experiences and travel packages available through the live and silent auctions. From the always popular New England Lobster and Clam Bake hosted for you and a group of friends to a super luxury stay in a cabin in River Rim Ranch, Idaho, there will be something to tempt everyone. Be on the lookout for an email from the William & Mary Athletic Foundation in the coming weeks with the registration link, as tickets will go quickly! It is always a great evening and I hope to see you there this year.
  A Star Is Born!
I always try to end the Mannuscript on a high note and this week I got a huge assist from 5-year-old Bella Howland, who sang the national anthem before a recent men's basketball game. Bella wowed the audience, especially proud dad Mike Howland, an assistant men's coach. Click the picture below to hear it for yourself!
 
Go Tribe!

Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics