Dear Friends of Tribe Athletics,

The Green & Gold reached new heights last Friday! On a beautiful afternoon, the University held a Topping Out Ceremony for the new Mackesy Sports Performance Center (The Mack!). The highlight was placing a pair of green and gold I-beams featuring the signatures of our student-athletes and the names of many of our donors at the top of the structure. It was a great occasion as we came together to celebrate the generous gift from Jen and Scott Mackesy (pictured below with President Katherine Rowe) and the bright future of W&M Athletics.
 
I see more progress in the building daily, and I can't wait to see the finished product less than a year from now. 
In addition to the Topping Out Ceremony, many other events over the weekend were part of the University's 332nd Charter Day observance. One of our former offensive linemen, perhaps better known as former W&M Rector Todd Stottlemyer '85, P'16, P '21, received an honorary degree during the ceremony, which launched the University's Year of the Environment. And our great friend Larry Pulley, '74, P'13, P'15, whose tenure in our business school spanned nearly four decades,  received the prestigious Alumni Medallion.  Also, loyal alumna and Women's Gymnast Christina Colabella Wilds '00 received an Alumni Service Award  for her dedication to several areas of W&M. Congratulations to all of the accomplished individuals who were honored, many of whom have ties to Tribe Athletics. You all make us so proud! 
 
Quietly for the Tribe
Earlier today, the silent auction for The Lord Botetourt opened for bidding. If you can't make the event Saturday in person but still want to participate in this hugely important fundraiser for the Tribe, now's your chance to buy a virtual ticket and get in on the action.  This is my fourth auction, and this year's version features some of the coolest items yet. Whether you fancy a trip, golf outing, delicious libation or some W&M memorabilia, I guarantee there's something you'd like!
 
Notable

• Sprinter Austin Rice, pictured below, the CAA's Men's Track Athlete of the Week, put together another record-setting weekend at the Virginia Beach Sports Center, notching an individual school indoor record in the 400m and, with teammates Jacob Robinson, David Seekford and Charlie Bestic, helped the 4x400m relay team to the best finish in school history at the East Coast Invitational.

• Overall, Track & Field had seven top 10 marks at the East Coast Invitational, with Jonathan Kumer placing first in the men's 800m and the Tribe pole vaulting duo of Elizabeth Strobach and Olesya Sitkowski finishing first and second. 
• Women's Lacrosse opened its season with an impressive 13-11 win at Coastal Carolina, the defending ASUN Conference champions, giving first-year head coach Kelyn Freedman, pictured below, her first victory for the Tribe. Read the Tribe Scribe's story about how Kelyn arrived in Williamsburg.

• The CAA honored Kate Draddy and Marin Wilhelm as the Lacrosse Players of the Week after the win at Coastal Carolina.
• Women's Tennis is off to a 3-1 start and senior Hedda Gurholt has earned her seventh career CAA's singles Player of the Week honor, while Alessandra Anghel and Francesca Davis have garnered a Doubles Team of the Week honor.
• With its overtime victory over Hampton on Sunday, Women's Basketball improved to 7-3 in CAA action, tying the program record for best conference start through 10 games.  Bella Nascimento made nine of 10 free throws in the last minute of regulation and overtime to secure victory. She had a game-high 25 points. The team is on the road vs. Drexel tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
• After going 3-0 in the top doubles position last week, Oliver Hague and Gur Trakhtenberg were named CAA Men's Tennis Doubles Team of the Week.  Sean Joseph claimed a three-set win at No. 3 singles to clinch a 4-2 win over Northern Illinois in the second of two matches during the Tribe's Midwest road swing on Sunday. The Tribe opened its league play last night and rolled to a 7-0 over Hampton University

• Women's Gymnastics posted its best bars score this season (48.275) en route to a fourth-place finish at a quad meet hosted by Towson on Saturday.
• Luke Tully of Men's Gymnastics highlighted the team's performance at a dual meet hosted by No. 8 Army on Saturday, as he claimed the high bar title with a season-best 13.4.  After his performance, he earned ECAC Routine of the Week honors.

Tourney Time
March Madness is quickly approaching, and first up is the CAA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, which will be held at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. Tribe Men's Basketball currently sits fifth in the standings with six games left. The women's team holds third place with eight games left.   
 
The men's tournament is March 7-11, and the women's games are March 12-16.  Tickets can be purchased at the following links: Men's /Women's.
 
Celebration of Women's Athletics
Are you ready for an inspiring weekend that will celebrate the past and present women of Tribe Athletics? Scheduled for March 1-2, the days are replete with chances to meet up with friends and interact with our head coaches and female student-athletes. Also, you can watch our Women's Basketball team vs. Monmouth on Senior Day March 2 and our men's team vs. Northeastern on Saturday. Our CAA Champion women's tennis team and lacrosse play matches the day before. There will be a W&M Women's Gathering at Paul's Deli on Saturday and brunch on Sunday with our female student-athletes and coaches at the Alumni House. Hurry and sign up for fun, food and friends seasoned with plenty of Tribe Pride! Register at the QR Code provided below!
 
What's Your Pleasure?
Talk about an embarrassment of riches! Fans of Track, Baseball, Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball, Lacrosse, Women's Tennis, Men's Gymnastics and Women's Gymnastics need to get ready to cheer on their teams, which are competing today through the weekend.  Some of the games are right here in Williamsburg, others can be watched online.  All the details you need can be found here.

Go, Tribe!

Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics