Dear Friends of Tribe Athletics,
We are back in the swing of things! Classes started Wednesday and while everyone is getting used to their new courses, it's hard not to be excited about the months ahead. Our spring sports (lacrosse, baseball, track & field, golf, and tennis) have released their schedules, so it's time for all our fans to plan how they are going to take advantage of the many, many opportunities to
watch W&M in action.
And let's not forget, even though they aren't "spring sports," Tribe basketball programs are going strong, as are swimming, gymnastics and indoor track & field.
Last night, our men had a huge win over UNCW, who came into the evening undefeated in league play. Our crowd—especially the student section—showed up loud and proud, and the energy in Kaplan was a major factor in the hard‑fought 77–70 victory. Head Coach Brian Earl credited the crowd in his post game remarks, calling it a key reason we remain undefeated at home this season. To me, it proves something I strongly believe: great things happen when our community comes together to support the Tribe!
More great opportunities are ahead for basketball fans, as our upcoming schedules feature some fun-themed games (check them out here:
Men |
Women).
Winter Weather
Like many of you receiving this newsletter, a significant snow and ice storm is in our forecast. Our university is proactively planning to take the necessary steps to ensure everyone's safety by closing campus at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Due to the planned campus closure, we are moving Saturday's men's basketball vs. Hofstra up to a noon start, and we had to cancel a women's gymnastics meet scheduled for Sunday. We look forward to cheering them on again in Kaplan Arena soon! The weather is also likely to affect many of our scheduled road competitions, so please check in with
TribeAthletics.com for the latest information.
Across Two Continents
One of our student-athletes Zeta Kromah, traveled home to Monrovia, Liberia to work on a community project near and dear to her heart. Zeta, who is a midfielder on our Women's Soccer team, helped organize a program called Tribe Stars in Liberia that is designed to encourage and empower young athletes through soccer workshops, distribution of soccer kits and school supplies. She is a recipient of a Hixon Family Scholarship from W&M, which provides undergraduate scholarships for students who are residents of African countries.
As you will read in the article linked below, Zeta grew up in a neighborhood where resources were scarce and she has dedicated herself to be a force for change. She says her W&M community has inspired her, especially the Women's soccer team where everyone is equally supported and cared for as they work toward achieving their dreams and full potential. Zeta says, "I felt like a star the moment I arrived at W&M. That's why my project is Tribe Stars in Libera, bringing the W&M community to Liberia."
Many of our coaches and student-athletes help support Zeta's mission, and I couldn't be prouder of them. To read more details about Zeta's incredible dedication to her hometown and her sport,
click here.
What a Rush!
Gold Rush Weekend, our great annual basketball tradition, is just over a week away. On Saturday, Jan. 31, Men's Basketball will have a noon tip-off vs. Campbell in a nationally televised game as part of the conference package on CBS Sports Network. The next day at 1 p.m., Women's Basketball hosts UNCW in a contest that will be broadcast throughout the eastern seaboard on MASN. Dress accordingly - we plan to pack Kaplan in a sea of W&M gold!
In addition, on Saturday we are excited to welcome back our Men's Basketball alumni as they celebrate Alumni Weekend and get a first look at the Mackesy Sports Performance Center, that we are dedicating on Charter Day Weekend. I've written about The Mack several times, but I still get a thrill when I think about showcasing the amazing facility we've built for our student-athletes.
Notable
- Swimming split its dual meet at Davidson, with a dominating 205-89 victory on the women's side while the men fell 148-140. The teams had 21 event wins and swept both the 200 medley and 400 free relays.
- Strong performances at the Tribe's Quad Meet netted Aiden Bond and Lauren Tucker CAA Swimmer of the Week honors . Aiden was first in both the 50 free and the 100 free. He was also part of the first-place 400 free relay team. Lauren, pictured below, was first in the 1000 freestyle and the 500 freestyle, breaking dual meet records in both.
Don't Miss It!
I started today's Mannuscript talking about the Tribe's upcoming sporting events, and I hope you don't miss a single one of them. But there are a couple of other important events that merit a place on your calendar. W&M will celebrate the 333rd anniversary of the awarding of the Royal Charter from King William III and Queen Mary II of England during the
Charter Day Ceremony on Feb. 6 at 3:30 p.m. Our guest speakers will be luminaries from show business and politics. Please join me at the event featuring award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger.
The next day, Feb. 7, our very own Erin Dickerson Davis will be recognized as the Coach of the Year Award during the
Alumni Medallion & Service Awards! The W&M Alumni Association Board of Directors voted to recognize Coach E after her history-making run with Women's Basketball to the CAA Championship and then on to the NCAA Tournament. We couldn't be more excited to continue celebrating this great accomplishment!
Go Tribe!
Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics
