Dear Friends of W&M Athletics,

This newsletter is a terrific way to keep the Tribe community up to speed on the current happenings in our 23 sports programs, but today I am embracing Throwback Thursday!

We have just announced the newest additions to the W&M Athletics Hall of Fame, and I know reading these names will bring smiles to your faces as you remember some of the thrilling moments from their coaching and playing days. Complete bios are available through the links below.

John Daly, Head Coach, Women's Soccer (1987 - 2017)
Cliff Gauthier, Head Coach, Men's Gymnastics (1974 – 2016)
Jonathan Grimes'11, Football
Mary Pat Kurtz '86, Field Hockey/Lacrosse
​​​​​​​Christo Landry '08, Men's XC / T&F
Jimmye Laycock '70, Head Coach, Football (1980 – 2018)
Katie Radloff '10, Swimming
Dr. Alex Sleeker '97, Men's Golf
Katarina Zoricic '09, Women's Tennis
2009 Men's Cross Country Team
 
This year there will be two formal induction ceremonies, one on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 for the six former student-athletes and the 2009 Cross Country team. A second ceremony will be held in the spring of 2025 to honor the three coaches at a time and place to be decided. More information on both events will be forthcoming. 

Men's Basketball 
I am very encouraged by the interest we have received in our men's head basketball coaching position.  We've had numerous outstanding applicants, and it is gratifying to see how well our program's potential is viewed across the coaching profession.  All of you have contributed in many important ways to making this an attractive position, including helping us average more than 3,000 fans per game, third in CAA basketball attendance. We have been extremely diligent in the search process, and I look forward to sharing an update before too long.  You can be sure that when it is completed, you will read it here!

Notable

• What a week it was for freshman shortstop Josiah Seguin, pictured below.  Looking for his first collegiate hit, he got six of them, resulting in being named the CAA Baseball Rookie of the Week!

 

• Speaking of baseball, the Tribe's home field, Plumeri Park, was dedicated 25 years ago this week.  This weekend W&M has the year's first CAA series there, and if you can't make it in person, it will be streamed on FLO Sports. 
• Men's tennis is on a roll!  They've been ranked five weeks in a row in the ITA National Team Rankings, landing at #68 this week.
• Hedda Gurholt and Ine Stange were named the CAA Doubles Team of the Week, after they led the Tribe to the doubles point in league wins over UNCW and Charleston.
• Men's gymnast Aidan Cuy, pictured below, was selected one of 13 finalists for the 2024 College Gymnastics Association Nissen-Emery Award. The honor is considered the "Heisman Trophy" of gymnastics.

• Emily Ervin won three events at the Dan Stimson Memorial Meet—200m, 400m and as a member of the 4x400m relay team.  Megan Heidebrecht claimed first place in the long jump and in the triple jump. In all, the Tribe posted 19 event wins in the program's first outdoor meet of the season. You will have a great opportunity to see all our Track and Field Athletes compete in, and around, Zable Stadium as the team will host the 58th running of the Colonial Relays from April 4-6th!  Complete meet details will be available through TribeAthletics.com.  

Celebrating Peel Hawthorne
People often use the term labor of love, but it's a term that perfectly describes the contributions of Peel Hawthorne to W&M, first as a student-athlete, then as a coach and, finally, as an administrator. Since my arrival to Williamsburg, I have gotten to know Peel personally as well as professionally. She is a trusted advisor, a wonderful ambassador for the Tribe and a friend who will always go the extra mile for you. Please join me, Peel's colleagues, friends and family from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, April 19 in the W&M Mason School of Business Alan B. Miller Hall as we wish her well on her retirement. You can see just a few of her many achievements listed below – and what's more appropriate than having her pictured with fellow iconic W&M leader Millie West!
 
Did You Know…
… As a part of our Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) efforts, W&M student-athletes have online storefronts where they can sell licensed and personalized W&M apparel from Athlete's Thread? In this academic year, W&M student-athletes have already sold over $11,000 worth of personalized apparel.  If you want to support our student-athletes, click here and here .  More student-athletes are signing up by the day! 

Tuesday Is One Tribe One Day!
Earlier this week, the university sent out an email about OTOD that was so provocative I couldn't resist clicking the links!  In my defense, who could resist an invitation about dogs, alligators and your favorite pond?  In all seriousness, I do hope you will join us on March 26 for this annual day of giving back and paying it forward.  Remember, you can direct your gift to your favorite sport or program.
 
As always, thank you for all that you do for W&M Athletics.

Go Tribe!

Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics