ATHLETICSANNUALREPORT

CONFERENCE WEEKLY AWARD WINNERSSept. 25 WSOC Christiana Ogunsami Defensive Player of the WeekSept. 25 WSOC Raenah Campbell Co-Rookie of the WeekSept. 25 MSOC Sebastien Cabral Co-Player of the Week Sept. 27 GOLF Aaron Fricke Co-Player of the WeekOct. 16 WSOC Christiana Ogunsami Defensive Player of the WeekNov. 8 DIVE Anthony Musciano Men’s Diver of the WeekNov. 20 MBB Jarvis Doles Rookie of the WeekNov. 24 DIVE Anthony Musciano Men’s Diver of the WeekDec. 4 WBB Hannah Nihill Rookie of the WeekDec. 4 MBB Tramaine Isabell Co-Player of the WeekDec. 6 SWIM Jason Arthur Men’s Swimmer of the WeekDec. 6 SWIM Alexa Kutch Women’s Swimmer of the WeekJan. 2 WBB Hannah Nihill Rookie of the WeekJan. 10 WSWIM Tanja Kirmse Women’s Swimmer of the WeekJan. 15 WBB Kelsi Lidge Player of the WeekJan. 17 SWIM Kiran Richardson Men’s Swimmer of the WeekJan. 17 SWIM Simon Carne Men’s Diver of the WeekJan. 24 SWIM Jason Arthur Men’s Swimmer of the WeekJan. 28 WBB Hannah Nihill Rookie of the WeekJan. 29 MBB Tramaine Isabell Co-Player of the WeekFeb. 5 WBB Hannah Nihill Rookie of the WeekFeb. 14 WTEN Rodriguez Cruz/Ziouti Doubles Team of the WeekFeb. 20 WLAX Karson Harris Rookie of the WeekFeb. 22 WTEN Kendra Bunch Player of the WeekFeb. 26 WBB Aubree Brown Player of the WeekFeb. 26 WBB Kayla Bacon Rookie of the WeekMar. 5 WBB Kelsi Lidge Player of the WeekMar. 12 WLAX Karson Harris Rookie of the WeekMar. 19 MLAX Reid Bowering Player of the WeekMar. 19 WLAX Colleen Grady Rookie of the WeekMar. 19 SB Megan Trivelpiece Rookie of the WeekMar. 26 MLAX Matt Varian Co-Player of the WeekApril 2 WLAX Colleen Grady Rookie of the WeekApril 3 WTEN Ghita Benhadi Player of the WeekApril 4 WCREW Varsity 8 Boat of the WeekApril 11 WCREW Varsity 4 Boat of the WeekApril 16 MLAX Jimmeh Koita Co-Player of the WeekApril 16 SB Kristi DiMeo Rookie of the WeekApril 23 WLAX Colleen Grady Rookie of the Week

ALL-CAA PERFORMERSFH Tess Bernheimer Second TeamFH Isis Cornelissen Rookie TeamFH Chandler McFeeley Rookie TeamWSOC Vanessa Kara First TeamWSOC Kiera Hennessy First TeamWSOC Christiana Ogunsami First TeamWSOC Madison Dunn Second TeamWSOC Shaelyn McCarty Third TeamWSOC Wilhelmina Hauch-Fausbøll Third TeamMSOC Neil Boyal Rookie TeamMBB Tramaine Isabell Second TeamMBB Austin Williams Defensive TeamWBB Kelsi Lidge Second Team, Defensive TeamWBB Bailey Greenberg Second TeamWBB Hannah Nihill Rookie TeamGOLF Aaron Fricke Second TeamMLAX Reid Bowering Second TeamMLAX Marshal King Second TeamMLAX Jimmeh Koita Second TeamMLAX Matthew Varian Second TeamMLAX Sean Quinn Rookie TeamWLAX Colleen Grady Second Team, Rookie TeamWLAX Karson Harris Second Team, Rookie TeamWTEN Kendra Bunch Second TeamMTEN Hamza Laleej Second TeamMTEN Sinan Orhon Second TeamMTEN Bernard Tefel Second TeamSB Kristi DiMeo First Team, All-Rookie TeamSB Linda Rush Second TeamSB Elena Woulfe All-Rookie TeamWCREW Catherine Haas All-CAAWCREW Meghan Knecht All-CAAWCREW Paige Propp All-CAA

CAA COACH OF THE YEARWBB Denise DillonMSWIM Adam BraunMDIVE Emily Howard

CAA DEAN EHLERS AWARDWBB Kelsi Lidge

CAA ROOKIE OF THE YEARWBB Hannah NihillWLAX Colleen Grady

CAA DIVER OF THE YEARMSD Anthony Musciano

AWARDSZAG FIELD HOCKEY/NFHCA DIVISION I SCHOLARS OF DISTINCTIONErin Gilchrist

ZAG FIELD HOCKEY/NFHCA DIVISION I NATIONAL ACADEMIC SQUADKatie BagdonDelaney BaxendaleTess BernheimerEmily BerryLindsay BoernerIsis CornelissenAmy Ferguson

Erin GilchristMaria PalmieriKatie PappasAva SchwartzAlexis SokachRebecca WeinstockMegan Wiest

UNITED SOCCER COACHES ALL-EAST REGION (FORMERLY NSCAA MID-ATLANTIC ALL-REGION)Vanessa Kara Second TeamChristiana Ogunsami Third Team

NFCA NORTHEAST ALL-REGIONKristi DiMeo Second TeamLinda Rush Second Team

USILA TEAM OF THE WEEKMatt Varian Mar. 19 Jimmeh Koita Apr. 17

PHILAFIELDHOCKEY.COM WEEKLY AWARDSOct. 25 Katie Pappas Student-Athlete of the Week

USBWA NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEKAubree Brown Feb. 27

NSCA ALL-AMERICAN TEAM (STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING)Ted Dickerson Men’s SwimmingGarett Hammond WrestlingLawrence Lindawan CheerCharlotte Myers Women’s Swimming

DAD VAIL REGATTAOverall Team TitleWomen’s Team TitleWomen’s Second Varsity 8 – GoldMen’s Third Varsity 8 – GoldMen’s Second Varsity 4 – GoldWomen’s Second Varsity 4 – SilverWomen’s Quad – SilverWomen’s Varsity 4 – BronzeWomen’s Third Varsity 8 – Bronze

GCAA NORTHEAST ALL-REGIONAaron Fricke

CRCA SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Mackenzie DorsettCatherine HaasJulianna HuntMeghan KnechtDanika MeldrumBailey Price

Amanda RealeSofia RyanKayley SlicerJenny WhiteChristine Wojciechowicz

IRA ALL-ACADEMIC Doug DavisHunter ReedDario Vracevic

USROWING FAN’S CHOICE COLLEGIATE COACH OF THE YEARPaul Savell

COLLEGEINSIDER.COM LOU HENSON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK (MID-MAJOR)Jan. 29 Tramaine Isabell

FAST PITCH NEWS ALL-AMERICANKristi DiMeo Second Team

NCAA APR PUBLIC RECOGNITIONWomen’s TennisMen’s GolfWomen’s Crew

COLLEGE SWIMMING COACHES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICA TEAMSAlexa Kutch All-AmericanPatrick Cobb Honorable MentionStathias Malamas Honorable MentionAlicia Diaz Honorable Mention

COLLEGE SWIMMING COACHES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICA TEAMMen’s SwimmingWomen’s Swimming

ALL-CAA SWIMMING AND DIVING (EVENTS)MSD Jason Arthur (100/200 back, 200 IM)MSD Joseph Brown (100/200 breast)MSD Ralph Cannarozzi III (100/200 breast, 200/400 medley relay)MSD Simon Carne (1 meter dive)MSD Patrick Cobb (200/500 free, 200/800 free relay)MSD Luke Hanner (400/800 free relay)MSD JT Lumpkin (200 medley relay)MSD Stathis Malamas (100/200 free, 200/400/800 free relay, 400 medley relay)MSD Anthony Musciano (1/3 meter dive)MSD Kiran Richardson (200/400/800 free relay, 200 medley relay)MSD Joe Short (400 medley relay)WSD Alicia Diaz (100 back, 200/400 medley relay)WSD Hollie Hopf (200 medley relay)WSD Tanja Kirmse (200/500 free, 400 medley relay)WSD Alexa Kutch (100/200 back, 200 medley relay)WSD Gab Rudy (100 breast, 200/400 medley relay)WSD April Forsthoffer (400 medley relay)

ALL-CAA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMWSOC Kiera HennessyWSOC Christiana OgunsamiWBB Kelsi LidgeWBB Bailey GreenbergGOLF Connor SchmidtGOLF Aaron Fricke

EIWA PLACERSZack Fuentes 125 pounds ThirdAustin DeSanto 133 pounds ThirdGarett Hammond 157 pounds ThirdStephen Loiseau 197 pounds ThirdAlex DeCiantis 184 pounds SixthEbed Jarrell 165 pounds SeventhAustin Rose 174 pounds Seventh

EIWA ACADEMIC AWARDSAlex DeCiantisZack FuentesGarett Hammond

Ebed JarrellStephen LoiseauSean O’Malley

NWCA DIVISION I ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMZack Fuentes 125 poundsGarett Hammond 157 poundsEbed Jarrell 165 poundsAlex DeCiantis 184 poundsStephen Loiseau 197 pounds

NWCA DIVISION I TOP 30 ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMDrexel 3.36 Team GPA (eighth highest in the country)

NCAA QUALIFIERSAustin DeSanto 133 pounds (auto)Garett Hammond 157 pounds (auto)Austin Rose 174 pounds (at large)Alex DeCiantis 184 pounds (auto)Stephen Loiseau 197 pounds (auto)

COLLEGE SQUASH ASSOCIATION ALL-AMERICANSLucas Rousselet Second Team

COLLEGE SQUASH ASSOCIATION SCHOLAR ATHLETESNat FryRoyston RaymondNoel Solomon

Apoorva AddepalliHayley Hughes

PHILADELPHIA SOCCER SIX WEEKLY AWARDSNeil Boyal Rookie of the Week Week 3Sebastien Cabral Player of the Week Week 5

PHILADELPHIA SOCCER SIX POSTSEASON AWARDSSebastien Cabral All-Star TeamNeil Boyal All-Rookie Team

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER ACADEMIC ALL-AREA TEAMWSD Alexa KutchWREST Garrett HammondWREST Ebed JarrellWREST Stephen LoiseauMSQ Noel SolomonWSQ Hayley HughesMCREW Leon BulicMCREW Justin TerekWCREW Catherine HaasWCREW Paige ProppWCREW Christine WojciechowiczWTEN Kendra BunchWTEN Clary Rodriguez CruzGOLF Connor Schmidt

NFHCA MID-ATLANTIC ALL-REGIONTess Bernheimer Second Team

ZAG FIELD HOCKEY/NFHCA DIVISION I NATIONAL ACADEMIC TEAM AWARD

Katie BagdonDelaney BaxendaleTess BernheimerEmily BerryLindsay BoernerIsis CornelissenAmy Ferguson

Erin GilchristMaria PalmieriKatie PappasAva SchwartzAlexis SokachRebecca WeinstockMegan Wiest

MESSAGE FROM THE AD

At Drexel Athletics we prepare our student-athletes to embrace the challenges of professional life in a diverse and global world. Dragons learn essential and unique “hard” skills in the athletic arena including drive, teamwork, managing risks, and yes, failure, to position themselves to make the impossible, possible.

In 2018, Drexel student-athletes continued to excel between the lines. The women’s basketball team won the CAA regular-season title and Drexel crew won a sixth consecutive Dad Vail Regatta championship. The wrestling team earned a top-25 ranking, while both squash teams were also nationally ranked. Men’s basketball had the historic comeback, while women’s soccer, tennis and swimming and diving had outstanding seasons. Off the field, Drexel Athletics is a national leader in academic integrity, graduation rates, and gender equity.

Drexel Athletics is an engine for self-confidence, high-performance, and institutional pride. The real-life laboratory of athletics sets our students apart for becoming tomorrow’s leaders.

Student-athletes and coaches, thank you for playing your hearts out on any given day. To our friends, alumni, and parents, thank you for your support and investing in us.

Dr. Eric A. ZillmerPictured above: Members of the Varsity Rowing Eight, seniors Paige Propp and Meghan Knecht, who won the Dad Vail Team title and posted wins at the Reading and Henley Regattas in England.

BEST OF THE BLUE & GOLD

2018 Mary Semanik Award Winner: Senior, Kelsi Lidge2018 John Semanik Award Winner: Senior, Alex DeCiantis

2010 Cohort NCAA Graduation Success Rate• Drexel Student-Athletes: 89%• NCAA Student-Athletes: 86%

NCAA Public Recognition Awards Academic Progress Rate 2016-2017 – Top 10%• Men’s Golf (2nd consecutive year)• Women’s Rowing• Women’s Tennis (9th consecutive year)

Drexel CAA Team Academic Excellence AwardsThe Team Academic Excellence Award recognizes the institution with the highest collective grade point average in CAA sponsored sports.• Women’s Basketball• Women’s Lacrosse• Women’s Swimming & Diving Total cumulative GPA for all student-athletes

in 2017-18 academic year: 3.33

2018 MARY SEMANIK AWARD WINNER

KELSI LIDGE (SENIOR)

2018 JOHN SEMANIK AWARD WINNER

ALEX DECIANTIS (SENIOR)

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ALL-DRAGON TEAMS

JASON ARTHUR ★ Set three Ghanaian national records in the in the 2018 Commonwealth

Games in Gold Coast, Australia including the 100 backstroke (56.52), 200 backstroke (2:03.91) and 200 medley (2:07.44)

★ All-CAA in the 200 and 400 medley relay, the 200 and 400 free relay, the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 individual medley

★ Won gold in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:54.23, a school record and an NCAA B-qualifying time, at the 2018 CAA Championships

★ Won gold in the 100 backstroke with a time of 48.10 at the 2018 CAA Championships

★ Helped his team to a second place finish at the 2018 CAA Championships

★ Named CAA Men’s Swimmer of the Week for the fifth and sixth times in his career on Dec. 6 and Jan. 24

ALEX DECIANTIS ★ Qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Championships at 184

pounds

★ Placed sixth at the EIWA Championships

★ Selected to the NWCA Division I All-Academic Individual Team for the second time

★ Earned EIWA Academic Achievement honors for the second time

★ Finished his senior campaign as the No. 27-ranked 184-pounder in the country

★ Concluded the year with 19 victories on the mat

★ Served as a team captain for the second season in a row

★ Placed in three tournaments as a senior

KIERA HENNESSY

2018 JOHN SEMANIK AWARD WINNER

ALEX DECIANTIS (SENIOR)

★ Started all 19 games on one of the top defenses in the CAA

★ A First Team All-CAA selection for the first time in her career

★ Played in all but five minutes as a junior

★ A key contributor in the back to a team that has 19 shutouts in the last two years

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VANESSA KARA ★ A First Team All-CAA selection for the

second straight season

★ Has led the team in scoring in each of her three seasons

★ Earned NCAA Division I Women’s All-East Region honors the third straight year after being named to the Mid-Atlantic Region’s Second Team

★ Finished her junior year second in Drexel history with 22 goals, just four away from setting the record

★ Ranks third all-time in points at Drexel with 55 and is tied for second in career assists

STEPHEN LOISEAU ★ Qualified for the NCAA Wrestling

Championships at 197 pounds as the No. 12 seed

★ Placed third at the EIWA Championships

★ Led the Dragons with 32 victories on the mat in 2017-18

★ Voted to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men’s At-Large Team

★ Selected to the NWCA Division I All-Academic Individual Team

★ Earned EIWA Academic Achievement honors

★ Closed the year as the No. 19-ranked 197-pounder in the country

★ Placed in four tournaments as a junior

ALEXA KUTCH ★ 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming

Championships qualifier in the 100 and 200 backstroke

★ Came into the 100 backstroke seeded 45th and improved to a 22nd-place finish with a time of 52.48 that stands as a CAA and program record

★ Established a new meet and program record with a time of 1:54.23 in the 200 backstroke at the CAA Championships

★ Also holds the CAA Championships meet record in the 100 backstroke with a 52.95 swum during prelims

★ Completed the first successful title defense in the 100 and 200 backstroke events at the CAA Championships since Navy’s Debbie Williams in 1988 and 1989

★ Also earned All-CAA recognition as part of Drexel’s 400 medley relay team

★ Named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team

ALL-DRAGON TEAMS

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KELSI LIDGE ★ A Second Team All-CAA selection and the

Dragons’ conference-record sixth Dean Ehlers Leadership Award recipient

★ The first ever Dragon to earn CAA All-Defensive Team recognition

★ Led the team to a program-record 24 regular season wins and the team’s second CAA regular season championship

★ Was the team’s active career leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals throughout the season

★ Put together three double-doubles

★ Scored a career-high 27 points in a critical late-season win at Delaware

WOMEN’S VARSITY 4 ★ Became the first varsity four boat in Drexel history to win gold at the CAA Championship

★ Helped the Dragons to their sixth consecutive overall title at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta

★ Assisted Drexel in winning back-to-back women’s team titles at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta

★ Took home the bronze medal at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta

★ Won twice to lead the Dragons to their second straight Wilkens Bowl title at the George Washington Invitational

★ Earned a bronze medal at Eastern Sprints

★ Won gold medals at the Murphy Cup, Kerr Cup, Kelly Cup and Cooper Sprints

★ The Diane Corle boat was made up of coxswain Danika Meldrum, stroke Christine Wojciechowicz, Bailey Price, Kayley Slicer and bow Rachel Frank to close the season

ANTHONY MUSCIANO ★ Won gold in the 3-meter dive with a score of 306.75 and in the

1-meter dive with a score of 277.45 at the CAA Championships

★ Named the CAA Men’s Diver of the Year for a second consecutive year

★ Named the Diver of the Meet at the 2018 CAA Championships

★ All-CAA in the 1-Meter Dive and 3-Meter Dive

★ Helped his team to a second place finish at the 2018 CAA Championships

★ Named CAA Diver of the Week on Nov. 8 and Nov. 24

ALL-DRAGON TEAMS

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CHRISTIANA OGUNSAMI ★ A First Team All-CAA selection in each of her two

seasons at Drexel

★ A United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s All-East Region team selection

★ Allowed only five goals in CAA play this year and finished the year with a .835 save percentage

★ Is second in Drexel history with 18 career shutouts and seventh in career saves despite playing only two seasons in University City

★ Had eight shutouts in goal in only 19 games, the best percentage in the CAA

ALL-DRAGON TEAMS

LINDA RUSH ★ A Second Team All-CAA

selection as a sophomore and two-time All-CAA award winner

★ Finished the season second on the team with a .388 batting average, 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 55 RBI and a .727 slugging percentage

★ Currently holds the single-season program records for batting average (.414), slugging percentage (.850) and broke the record this season for runs scored with 45

MATT VARIAN ★ A Second Team All-CAA selection

★ Scored 28 goals and handed out 21 assists as a sophomore

★ Led the CAA in both points and assists per game

★ Had six goals and an assist in Drexel’s win against No. 14 Georgetown

★ Had at least one goal in every game and had seven multiple-goal games

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WOMEN’S SQUASH

After the men’s squash program reached new heights last year, it was the women’s squash program’s turn to take great strides forward in 2017-18. The Dragons won the 2018 ‘B’ Division Kurtz Cup championship over Dartmouth to avenge runner-up finishes in their previous two tries. With the Kurtz Cup victory, they finished the year ranked No. 9 in the country, the highest College Squash Association ranking they have achieved to conclude a season. Drexel finished the year with an 11-8 record, tying the program mark for single-season victories.

The Dragons sent six women into action at the CSA Individual Championships in Washington, D.C. Hayley and Anna Hughes highlighted the competition for the Dragons by advancing to the Holleran Cup South Division semifinal to conclude the year. On the season, senior Ryan Morgan became the program’s all-time winningest player, finishing her career with 52 victories. Freshman Hannah Blatt broke the program mark for individual single-season wins, going 17-4 in her rookie campaign.

Off the court, the Dragons took home hard-earned honors in the classroom. Apoorva Addepali and Hayley Hughes were named CSA Scholar-Athletes, while Hughes was voted to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Women’s At-Large Team for the third time in her career.

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MEN’S TENNIS

GOLF

The 2017-18 season was one of the most successful in Drexel men’s tennis history. With wins over Hofstra, La Salle and Villanova the team finished 14-7 on the season and was 8-2 at home. The 14 wins broke the program record for most victories in a season.

In the CAA Tournament, the No. 5 Dragons would meet No. 4 James Madison in the quarterfinals. The Dragons got out to an early lead with doubles wins by Sinan Orhon and Bernard Tefel, then Sanil Jagtiani and Balaji Lakshmanan. In singles, Orhon, Jagtiani, and Youssef Lahlou secured wins to give the Dragons the 4-2 victory as the team advanced to its first CAA Semifinals since 2013.

Orhon led the team in both singles and doubles wins, with 21 and 24, respectively. He was one of four players on the team to eclipse 20 doubles wins on the season along with Tefel, Lakshmanan, and freshman Xandy Hammitt. Three players on the team also captured conference awards, as Orhon and Tefel earned Second Team All-CAA honors and Hamza Laleej earned Second Team All-CAA singles honors.

The Dragons set three new program records this season including career-singles wins by Laleej (62) and career doubles wins by Orhon (62). Coach Mehdi Rhazali also became the winningest coach in school history.

The Drexel golf team capped off a successful 2017-18 season with a third place finish at the CAA Championships. The Dragons saved their best round for last as they shot a two-over-par 290 on the final 18 holes. The third place finish was the highest finish in the program’s 17 years in the CAA.

Connor Schmidt, Aaron Fricke and Alex Butler led the way with top 10 finishes for head coach Ben Feld’s team. Schmidt and Fricke were each named to the CAA All-Tournament Team. Schmidt finished the tournament at two-over par, one shot ahead of Fricke and two better than Butler, who emerged down the stretch for the Dragons. Drexel finished the tournament with an 886 over the three day event, just five shots behind UNCW.

The team tied a school record with three wins during the 2017-18 season. The Dragons won the 14-team Quechee Club Collegiate Challenge. The competitive field included five teams from the Ivy League. Drexel also won the City 6 Championship at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale. Fricke was the medalist at both of the events and at the end of the season was a Second Team All-CAA selection. Drexel picked up its third win of the season in the spring at the Wildcat Invitational at White Manor Country Club.

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

It was a season to remember for Drexel women’s basketball, which captured the Colonial Athletic Association regular season championship and advanced to postseason play for the ninth time in the last 10 years with a 27-8 record in 2017-18. The Dragons set a program record with 24 regular season victories, then played their way to the CAA title game on their home court before settling for the WNIT, where they advanced to the second round.

Head Coach Denise Dillon became the program’s all-time leader in wins on New Year’s Eve when a 47-38 victory over Hofstra was the 265th in her tenure with the Dragons. She guided the team to a 16-2 record in CAA play and earned her third CAA Coach of the Year recognition.

The Dragons were led by senior Kelsi Lidge, who was named a Second Team All-CAA performer at season’s end. She also won the league’s Dean Ehlers Award and was the Dragons’ first-ever CAA All-Defensive Team honoree. Lidge was joined on the Second Team by sophomore Bailey Greenberg, just the fifth Dragon to earn All-CAA recognitions in each of her first two seasons. Meanwhile, freshman Hannah Nihill captured the program’s third CAA Rookie of the Year award and first since Gabriela Marginean won it in 2007.

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A planned $3.5 million renovation of the Vidas Athletic Complex has received a major boost with a generous $1 million challenge from Drexel University Trustee Jim Bean ‘91 and his wife, Christine.

The project will transform the Complex’s lower field, which is the training and competition ground for some of Drexel’s winningest Division I teams – men’s and women’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s soccer. The renovations will give these deserving student-athletes a professional playing field, with a stadium-like look, that matches their skills, talents and ambitions.

“Jim maximized what he learned playing Drexel lacrosse to become hugely successful off the field,” said Drexel President John Fry. “Now, with his extraordinarily generous challenge gift, he is in position to rally countless other Drexel friends in creating a world-class sports facility where today’s student-athletes can compete and grow as leaders.”

The Beans’ challenge creates a matching opportunity for gifts toward the Vidas improvement project. All gifts and commitments of $25,000 and above will be matched dollar for dollar up to $1 million, enabling donors to double the impact of their gifts.

“Christine and I are proud to support the Vidas Complex improvement project and give back to Drexel during this transformative time for the University,” said Jim. “There are many pillars that support a world class university, and athletics is a critical one. We are excited to welcome fellow Drexel alumni, parents and friends to join us in helping ensure Drexel athletics is a leading contributor to this amazing transformation.”

Jim and Christine are both former Apple executives, now entrepreneurs and seed investors in early-stage technology and

healthcare companies. As the former vice president of retail at Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, California, Jim led a global team and oversaw the operations of more than 450 stores in 17 countries. He graduated from Haverford High School where he played lacrosse. At Drexel, he played on the men’s lacrosse team and was a member of the Alpha Pi Lambda fraternity. In 2010, he was named to the World Association for Cooperative Education Hall of Fame at the University.

“To have a former player support the project at this leadership level means a great deal to the teams, players and coaches who benefit from Jim and Christine’s generosity,’’ said Drexel Lacrosse Coach Brian Voelker. “The enhancements to the complex will attract high-caliber student-athletes to Drexel and elevate our programs for years to come.”

Planned improvements to the lower field include:

• New seating for 1,600 spectators,

• A film tower on top of the seating structure,

• A state-of-the-art video scoreboard,

• A new plaza entrance with a permanent ticket office,

• New concession and merchandise areas, team rooms, storage areas, an officials’ locker room and restrooms.

“I am thankful for Jim and Christine’s generosity and leadership to launch the Vidas Complex improvement project,’’ said Director of Athletics Eric Zillmer. “This challenge will impact Dragons of today and tomorrow, and create a space needed to prepare leaders and build champions.”

GIVING

VIDAS ATHLETIC COMPLEX RECEIVES $1 MILLION CHALLENGE

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Drexel Athletics has received a significant contribution to the Vidas Athletic Complex renovation campaign from Hall of Fame men’s lacrosse player Dennis Fink ’78, his wife Dee and family. Fink Family Scoreboard, a state-of-the-art LED display for Vidas Field, will mark the first phase of the Complex’s transformation.

“I can’t thank the Fink family enough for their generous support that will impact so many student-athletes who practice and compete at the Vidas Athletics Complex,” said Director of Athletics Eric Zillmer, “Dennis serves as a member of my Athletic Director’s Circle and has been a great ambassador to our department. It is inspiring to have a former student-athlete support future generations of student-athletes.”

Fink’s gift takes advantage of the matching challenge made possible by a $1 million gift from Drexel University Trustee Jim Bean ’91 and his wife, Christine. The Beans’ challenge creates a matching opportunity for gifts toward the Vidas improvement project. All gifts and commitments $25,000 and above will be matched dollar for dollar up to $1 million, enabling donors to double the impact of their philanthropy.

“I am grateful for my experience at Drexel as a student-athlete and honored to support Drexel Athletics in this way”, said Dennis. “As a former player, proud father to collegiate lacrosse players, and current high school coach, I know how imperative it is to have facilities that reflect the hard work and dedication of the student athletes and athletic staff. I appreciate Jim Bean’s matching opportunity so that my impact to this project can be doubled, and I look forward to the total transformation at Vidas Field.”

“Leading investments from the Bean and Fink families to Drexel Athletics and the Vidas improvement project make it possible to break ground” said Kerry DiBlasio, Assistant Vice President of Development. “Even though we have incredible momentum, this is just the beginning; we welcome alumni and supporters to continue rallying around what Jim and Dennis have started. This project is so significant for our athletics development and we cannot complete a project of this magnitude without additional

private support.” Don’t pass up on this unique opportunity to leave your lasting legacy and taking Drexel Athletics to the next level.

Fink, who has supported Drexel University and Drexel Athletics for almost 30 years, graduated in 1978 as the second-leading scorer in Drexel lacrosse history. His 206 career points currently rank third in program history, and his 126 assists still stand as the most ever by a Drexel lacrosse player. He earned the University’s first ever Division I All-America honor when he was named Honorable Mention his senior year, a season in which he led the country in assists (63) and points (98). He was inducted into the Drexel Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985 and was named to the Drexel Lacrosse 75th Anniversary Team

last year. The Fink’s have three children, a son, Erik, who also played lacrosse at Drexel, a daughter Maddie played lacrosse at the University of Cincinnati and a son Jesse who graduated from the University of Maryland.

To learn more about the Vidas Complex renovation initiative click here or contact Kerry DiBlasio, Assistant VP of Development at knd39@drexel.edu or 215-571-3803.

GIVING

MAJOR GIFT TO THE VIDAS ATHLETIC COMPLEX RENOVATION CAMPAIGN

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WRESTLING

Drexel Wrestling had yet another standout season in 2017-18, highlighted by finishing ranked in four different polls for the first time to close the season, including the No. 25 ranking in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll. The Dragons placed a program-best seven wrestlers and finished fourth overall as a team at EIWA Championships. Senior Zack Fuentes (third), freshman Austin DeSanto (third), graduate student Garett Hammond (third), junior Stephen Loiseau (third), senior Alex DeCiantis (sixth), sophomore Ebed Jarrell (seventh) and senior Austin Rose (seventh) all placed for the Dragons.

The Dragons qualified five wrestlers for the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. DeCiantis returned to the national tournament for the second time in as many years, while DeSanto, Hammond, Loiseau and Rose made their first career

appearances. The strong turnout at NCAAs capped a 2017-18 campaign that saw the Dragons go 12-4 (6-4 EIWA) with an 18-14 upset of No. 21 Rider and a dramatic, near upset of No. 5 Lehigh.

Off the mat, the Dragons turned in another successful year in the classroom. DeCiantis, Fuentes, Hammond, Jarrell, Loiseau and Sean O’Malley earned the 2018 EIWA Academic Achievement Award, while Hammond, Jarrell and Loiseau were named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Men’s At-Large Team. The Dragons finished with the eighth highest team GPA in the nation among Division I programs to earn NWCA Division I Top 30 All-Academic Team honors, while DeCiantis, Fuentes, Hammond, Jarrell and Loiseau were named to the NWCA Division I All-Academic Individual Team.

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Swimming and Diving had yet another successful season in 2017-18. The team, helmed by fourth-year coach Adam Braun, found success on both the men’s and women’s side. In the regular season, the men won the Patriot Invitational and the Thomas Murphy Invitational. At the Colonial Athletic Association Championships, the men placed second for the third-straight season, and the women placed fifth.

For their efforts the Dragons were honored with multiple conference awards. Coach Braun was honored as the Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year, after earning Women’s Swimming Co-Coach of the Year last season. Diving coach Emily Howard was named Men’s Diving Coach of the Year for the second time in a row after the Dragons had three divers reach the respective 1-meter and 3-meter A finals at the 2018 CAA Championship.

Sophomore Anthony Musciano swept the diving events at the meet with golds off the 3-meter and 1-meter boards, the first time that had happened since 2014. Musciano was honored with CAA Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet and CAA Diver of the Year for the second consecutive season.

At the CAA Championships the Dragons won 13 gold medals at the four-day event. Multiple Dragons earned All-CAA honors at the event with junior Jason Arthur leading the men with seven

and sophomore Alexa Kutch leading the women with four. Other notables included Gabrielle Rudy with three, Tanja Kirmse with three, and Stathis Malamas with six.

Kutch represented Drexel at the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships in the 100 and 200 backstrokes. Kutch was seeded 45th and swam a 52.48 in the 100 backstroke to set a Drexel and CAA record and earn a 22nd place finish in the preliminary round. In the 200 backstroke, Kutch, who qualified with a program record time of 1:53.46, finished 39th in the nation with a swim of 1:55.54.

SWIMMING & DIVING

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Drexel Women’s Soccer concluded yet another successful season with an 11-7-1 (6-2-1 CAA) record and a second-place finish in the Colonial Athletic Association for the second-straight year. The defense, led by goalkeeper Christiana Ogunsami, allowed only five goals in conference play and totaled eight shutouts on the year.

Six Dragons earned conference recognition as a part of the 2017 Women’s Soccer All-CAA teams. Vanessa Kara, Kiera Hennessy and Ogunsami were all named to First Team All-CAA, while Madison Dunn earned Second Team All-CAA honors and junior Shaelyn McCarty and senior Wilhelmina Hauch-Fausbøll were selected to Third Team All-CAA.

In addition to being recognized as First Team All-CAA selections, Kara and Ogunsami also garnered NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region honors. This marks the third-straight All-Region recognition for Kara while Ogunsami earned All-Region honors for the first time in her career.

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WOMEN’S CREW

Drexel Rowing continued to solidify itself as a top-tier rowing program in 2017-18, highlighted by the Dragons’ sixth consecutive overall team title and second straight women’s team title at the 80th annual Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta. En route to the victories, Drexel tied the program mark with seven medals, including three gold, two silver and two bronze. The Dragons’ women took home gold in the second varsity eight, silver in the second varsity four and quad as well as bronze in the varsity four. They carried that success over into postseason racing, finishing runner-up as a team in the Colonial Athletic Association for the fourth straight season while the varsity four won the program’s first gold medal at the championship. Catherine Haas, Meghan Knecht and Paige Propp were named All-CAA performers.

The Drexel women’s crew put together an impressive 2018 spring campaign. In addition to another remarkable showing at the Dad Vail Regatta, the Dragons won the women’s team

Wilkens Bowl at the George Washington Invitational for the second straight season. The varsity eight won the Kelly Cup for the seventh consecutive season. The varsity four boat had perhaps the best season of any in the Dragons’ fleet, taking home the bronze medal at Eastern Springs after finishing behind only two Ivy League crews. The varsity four, which raced in the Diane Corle boat all season, was the top-ranked four in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic region and won gold medals at the Kelly Cup, Kerr Cup, Murphy Cup and Cooper Sprints.

The Dragons’ success extended out of the water as well as women’s crew was one of three Drexel teams to earn NCAA APR public recognition. A dozen Dragons were named CRCA Scholar Athletes, while Haas, Propp and Christine Wojciechowicz earned Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team selections.

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COACHES OF THE YEAR

ADAM BRAUN

★ Earned the CAA Men’s Swimming Coach of the year.

★ Led the men’s team to a second place finish in the CAA Tournament for the third year in a row.

★ Helped the men’s team to set seven new program records.

DENISE DILLON

★ Named CAA Coach of the Year for the third time in her career after leading the Dragons to their second CAA regular season championship.

★ Guided the team to a ninth postseason appearance in 10 seasons, defeating Robert Morris in the first round of the WNIT.

★ Became Drexel women’s basketball’s all-time leader in overall coaching victories, finishing the season with 282.

EMILY HOWARD

★ Earned the CAA Men’s Diving Coach of the Year nod for a second consecutive season.

★ Third female to be named the CAA Men’s Diving Coach of the Year since 2004.

★ Helped lead sophomore Anthony Musciano to be named the CAA Diver of the Year for the second straight year.

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RECREATION

Recreational Athletics Overall NumbersRecreation Center and Daskalakis Athletic Center

• 694,624 access swipes

• 134,113 miles logged on Rec Center treadmills

• 32,472 visits in Group Exercise

• 21,592 visits to the DAC Pool

Club Sports

• 32 teams

• 962 participants

• 172-156 overall competition record

• 407 competitions; 63 home and 344 away

Intramural Sports

• 7,832 participants

• 956 teams

• 1,919 league games in 18 league sports

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RECREATION

Club Sport Highlights• Badminton – Lee Chern won the Mixed Doubles championship at Yonex Boston Open

• Baseball – Won the North Atlantic East Division for 2nd Consecutive Year

• Cricket – Won the American Collegiate Cricket Northeast Regional and competed in the National Championships

• Ice Hockey – won their second consecutive ECHA Conference Championship and qualified for the ACHA Division 1 National Championships in Columbus, OH

• Karate – Sent 4 athletes to the National Championships in Los Angeles, CA

• Soccer (M) – Finished second in division and qualified for 2nd consecutive NIRSA Region 1 Soccer Championships

• Swimming – Sent a team record 22 individuals to the National Championships in Atlanta, GA

• Track – Brandon Stec qualified and competed in the National Championships in Shelbyville, IN

• Triathlon – Meghan Smith finished 20th in the Women’s Division at the National Championships in Tuscaloosa, AL

• Volleyball (M) – Competed in the National Championships in St. Louis, MO

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RECREATION

Recreation Center Membership & Wellness• Peak Number of Rec Center members: 1,864 (December 2017)

• 25 Corporate Partners with 176 members (Peak-July 2017)

• Chai & Espresso, Drexel Recreational Athletics’ therapy dogs, reached 16,298 students, faculty, & staff throughout the University during office & event visits

• 1,665 personal training & IMPACT small group training sessions

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RECREATION

Recreational Athletics Event Highlights Fresh Check Day Drexel hosted its first annual Fresh Check Day. Fresh Check Day is a day dedicated to bringing awareness to mental health and suicide prevention. Over 400 students came to the carnival-style event located outside the Recreation Center on the Fitness Plaza on Thursday, April 19. The students visited various booths and received peer-to-peer messaging on very important topics within mental health and suicide prevention while completing activities addressing various mental health topics within the JED model. The booths were as follows:

• 100 Reasons: instilling a sense of hope in students by reminding them that there are many reasons to stay alive and inspiring them to find their own reason to stay.

• Rise Up: educating students about the mental health effects of sexual assaults and providing resources to help them. Bring awareness to rape culture and the impact of victim blaming. Empower all students to be active and informed bystanders.

• Boost: explore how physical activities have positive effects on overall wellness and mental health.

• Be Yourself: promote self-acceptance and acceptance of others for who they are. Provide information on risk and protective factors within the LGBTQ community.

• Nine out of Ten: suicide prevention. 1 out of every 10 students contemplates or seriously thinks about suicide – the other 9 students are in positions to help. Educating students about the warning signs of suicide and how they can help. Empower to be aware, speak up, reach out and help someone.

• Know Your Limit: raise awareness on alcohol (and other drugs) safety and the warning signs of alcohol abuse and dependence. Provide information and resources that can help if students are worried about themselves or someone else.

• Mood Matters: raise awareness, educate and decrease stigma about anxiety and mood disorders, including bipolar and depression among college students.

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US SQUASH

The fourth annual Women in Sport Day took place during the 2017 United States Open at Drexel. The day began with a special lunchtime panel discussion at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Moderated by Katline Couwels (the director of MSquash), the panelists included Niki Clement (head men’s and women’s coach at Haverford College), Jenny Duncalf (world No.30 and PSA women’s president) and Amy Gross (former Team USA member and performance coach).

Mr. & Mrs. US Open! Ali Farag and Nour El Tayeb both upset the seedings in the finals of the 2017 U.S. Open presented by Macquarie Investment Management to become the first married couple to win World Series titles — or any major sporting title — together on the same day Saturday night at Drexel University in Philadelphia. The U.S. Open marks the first career World Series titles for both players.

The Drexel Men’s Squash team practicing on the Glass Court during the 2017 U.S. Open.

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— GIVING —

It takes a certain kind of commitment to get up at the

crack of dawn and spend hours in training while most

classmates are still sleeping. Drexel student-athletes

know what it takes to be part of something bigger

than themselves. They know the pride of wearing

the Dragon logo on their back, representing their

University in a sport that they love.

Now, you can express

your pride in the program

by including Drexel’s

student-athletes in your own

personal legacy. This year,

Drexel Athletics is launching

Forever Dragons, a new

program for planned giving.

Many different vehicles

exist, including those that

protect your assets or generate income for you or your

beneficiary. They range from gifts of appreciated

securities or real estate to liquid assets or life insurance

policies. You can join the Forever Dragons Society with

whatever gift best meets your current and future needs.

By planning now to give later, you support Drexel

Athletics and get a stake in its future.

Benefits of membership include annual luncheons,

invitations to special events and seminars, and a

subscription to our newsletter. Your membership involves

no dues, obligations or solicitations, but it does allow

us to thank you and recognize you, and it may inspire

generosity in others. The most

important benefit you will receive

from joining the Forever Dragon

Society is the satisfaction derived

from making a lasting contribution

to our long-term success.

“I see first-hand how our student-

athletes compete their hearts out

for Drexel, between the lines and

in the classroom. This motivates

me to bring my A-game to campus each and every

day. A Drexel Legacy Society gift ensures that the

Drexel passion will continue for generations to come,”

says Athletics Director Eric Zillmer, PhD.

“I’m extremely grateful for my experience at Drexel, and I am honored to leave my legacy to ensure that future Dragons have an environment to succeed and

thrive for decades to come”

—JOHN DASKALAKIS ’63

Member of the inaugural Forever Dragons class

Leave a legacy that enhances student life, deepens alumni engagement and boosts Drexel pride.Kerry DiBlasio, Assistant Vice President of Development 215.571.3803 knd39@drexel.edu

Plan Now to Give Later

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D R E X E L D R A G O N S . C O M

Drexel Women’s Crew had the opportunity to travel to Henley-on-Thames, England to compete at the prestigious Henley Women’s Regatta in June. The team advanced its varsity eight and double into the second day of action after a strong day of racing the first day. The Dragons’ varsity eight, racing in the Championship 8 division, found itself matched up with stateside-foe Rhode Island. Drexel narrowly edged the Rams on the 1,500-meter Thames race course by half a length. The Dragons lost in their second race against the Great Britain Under-23 National Team. Drexel’s double also advanced with a two-length victory over Sheffield University (UK) they then lost to Thames Rowing Club A (UK). Drexel’s second varsity eight fell to Newcastle University (UK) in the Aspirational Academic 8 division by two lengths.

Drexel Athletics played host to the Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Championship in March for the first time in school history. The support by the University departments including EMSS, IA, and others helped get impressive turnouts to the games. The Dragons played the championship game in front of a near-sellout crowd and made a great impression to the CAA and its members.

Cara and Phoebe Fry join Cindy Leesman ‘83, Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations, and the Women’s Crew team for dinner and International Reception at Henley Women’s Regatta.