Dear Friends of William & Mary Athletics,

We are all about shining a light on the Tribe and it turns out 9 LED displays and 2.6 million LEDs/pixels make it much brighter for all of us! I'm talking about the new 1,000 sq. ft. center-hung scoreboard that was recently installed in Kaplan Arena, a major first step in a series of upcoming renovations.
 
Our volleyball team and its fans were among the first to experience our state-of-the-art video board, brighter lighting and a stronger sound system that are part of the Kaplan upgrades.  On the opening weekend of CAA play, our team defeated the College of Charleston. Taylor Burrell snagged CAA Offensive Player of the Week honors, courtesy of her 23 kills in both matches. 
 
Special Delivery!

While volleyball was delivering thrills in Kaplan, Tribe football was receiving a couple of special deliveries.  After beating Maine, 28-3, on Saturday for its fourth consecutive victory, the team was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week.  Earlier this month, senior defensive end Nate Lynn was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week.  Saturday's game was the Military Appreciation game and lacrosse midfielder Maresa Moyer gave a heartfelt tribute to her family's military service.
 
The game was also designated football's annual Be The Match contest, which highlights the need for bone marrow donors whose life-saving gifts help people with blood cancers or blood diseases.  Coach Mike London has a strong personal interest in the initiative, as he was a donor to his daughter, Ticynn, in 2003 as she battled Fanconi anemia.  Since the spring of 2014, the football program has been holding annual donor drives for Be the Match Foundation and has had no less than six students being identified as perfect matches, including an incredible FOUR former, or current, football players.

Soccer Match Times Two

The men's soccer match against Drexel Sept. 30 will also highlight Be The Match.  The team has firsthand knowledge of the importance of bone marrow donations.  Sophomore Webb Kosich developed aplastic anemia, and against heavy odds, his sister Julia turned out to be a perfect match.  Our Tribe Scribe, Dave Johnson, has an in-depth story about Webb and Julia, one in a series of great human interest articles by Dave that are available on TribeAthletics.com.  You can catch up on all of his work by clicking here. 

More September Highlights

• The CAA recognized Sam Pritchard of men's cross country as its Runner of the Week.

 

• Field Hockey's Pyper Friedman earned her second CAA Player of the Week honors.
• Ten members of men's gymnastics were selected College Gymnastics Association All-America Scholar-Athletes.
• Football is streaking —  six-straight home wins, nine straight CAAFB wins (a school record), eight straight regular-season road wins (a school record) and 11 straight regular-season wins!
• Senior punter Will Whitehurst was selected as a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, which is announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame, honors an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership
• Women's soccer extended its unbeaten streak to 11 and will take on Hofstra tonight (Sept. 28).
• Men's tennis turned had a strong showing at the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club Collegiate Invitational, going 22-4 over the three days in singles action and 9-3 in doubles.

Down the Road

Full schedules are now out for women's and men's basketball.  Men's basketball released its 18-game conference schedule last week and will begin CAA play Jan. 4 at home vs. Elon. The Tribe's women also released its full schedule of games, the women start conference play Jan. 5 at Monmouth.  Seasons for both teams kick off Nov. 6 with a doubleheader; the women play Norfolk State first, followed by the men vs. Regent.   Now is the perfect time to get your season tickets to watch basketball while enjoying the new amenities in Kaplan!
 
On Saturday (Sept. 30), there will be a pregame gathering before the Tribe football game against Elon.  Fans are invited to join us at the Burlington Beer Works for food and fun.  Hope to see you there (if you are interested in attending, just RSVP via email to Jenna Beattie - jbeattie01@wm.edu), our Director of Signature Events!
 
Talking about….

Friends of Tribe Swimming is having its season kickoff meeting Oct. 1 and I've been invited to speak to the group.  Today I spoke at the Board of Visitors meeting to give an overview about the current state of college athletics.  I also spoke at the first Trib360 meeting of the year, which is a program designed to assist incoming freshmen and transfer students successfully navigate their first year on campus. As part of the meeting, each newcomer signs our Honor Code and we hang it outside our offices. 
 
There's a full slate of games and events ahead, and we're hoping to see many of you in the coming weeks.  That's a wrap for this week! 
 
Go Tribe!

 Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics