[FRND] Falcon Athletics raises the standard of excellence in 2021-22 campaign
WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Athletics department raised the bar in many facets this past year, with breakthrough developments coming on and off the playing surface.
Below is a comprehensive list of the unforgettable achievements that are sure to make the 2021-22 season a watershed moment in Friends University Athletics history.
Record-setting conference victory: The Friends University Falcons have once again captured the KCAC Commissioner's Cup with a record 160 points. The 160 points is the highest point total in the history of the award. The Falcons bested Kansas Wesleyan University by nine points to win their fifth Commissioner's Cup in the past eight years.
"Falcon athletics have had an amazing year of success that began with the kick-off of the newly renovated Garvey Athletic Center," said Dr. Amy Bragg Carey, Friends University President. "It's exciting to conclude the year with this wonderful award from the KCAC in recognition of our many athletic achievements."
The Falcons found themselves at the top of the standings throughout the 2021-22 campaign, coming in tied for the top spot following the fall season and then taking the lead for good at the conclusion of the winter sports year.
"We are excited and proud to win the Commissioners Cup this year," said Dr. Rob Ramseyer, Friends University Associate VP of Athletics. "We have talented and hardworking student-athletes, coaches, and support staff as well as a campus community that is dedicated to the holistic development of our students. Our environment at Friends not only focuses on winning, but also places a high emphasis on graduating, engaging with our community, exploring questions of faith, and character growth."
Exemplary performance in the classroom: The Friends University Falcons placed second in the conference this past year with 146 KCAC Scholar-Athletes and sported a cumulative GPA of 3.0 as a department for the fourth consecutive year. A big key to these scholastic achievements was the hiring of Lisa Hibbs as the Friends University Director of student-athlete success, a role that allows her to be the contact person for all student-athletes and assist with student-athletes that need a boost academically while also serving as an advisor for student-athletes that are undecided on a major or have switched to Liberal Studies.
Hibbs serves as the contact person for all student-athletes, assisting with student-athletes that need a boost academically while also serving as an advisor for student-athletes that are undecided on a major or have switched to Liberal Studies.
"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the Falcon student-athletes," said Hibbs. "It's an exciting time for Falcon Athletics with the investments being made in facilities and now in academic support for the student-athlete. It shows the priority that everyone here at Friends, from the President to the Athletic Department, has put on athletics and academic excellence."
Community Service: A few of the activities within the community involved women's soccer head coach Brent Hobson initiating a new project that focuses on our student-athletes in community engagement. Thus far, the project included a community dignity drive that involved our Women's Soccer Falcons collecting hygienic items and donating them to Giving the Basics, an organization that states they provide personal care and hygiene products to over 250,000 people monthly. Our Men's Soccer team also volunteered and spent time with HumanKind Ministries. All Falcon teams did some form of community service, including the baseball squad playing catch at a retirement home in the fall.
A variety of teams also participate in Friendship Fields, a program on campus designed for college-aged adults with special needs to enjoy a college experience. A highlight involves members of the Friendship Fields program receiving an opportunity to frequently sit on the bench of home Men's and Women's Basketball home games.
Additionally, Friends University is set to receive an NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star award at the bronze level for the 2021-22 season.
Gold is the highest level that can be achieved, as the five-star tiers are Gold, Silver and Bronze and are determined by their final scoring on the Champions of Character scorecard with a scoring system of Five Star Gold level Institution (90-100 points), Five Star Silver level Institution (75-89 points) and Five Star Bronze level Institution (60-74 points).
Conference Championships and National Champions: A year of championships at each end of the spectrum, Friends University Athletics celebrated the first-ever KCAC Championship for our Competitive Cheer program along with the Women's Indoor Track & Field Falcons claiming their eighth straight conference title. Dulce Delacruz (SO/Floresville, Texas) and Tyler Wilson (SO/Andover, Kan. ) each won a Powerlifting national championship at the USAPL Nationals. It's the second career national title for Delacruz, while Wilson set an American record in the 110 Collegiate Raw division. In the first year on campus for Men's Golf since 2015, freshman Trenton Sutherland (FR/Arkansas City, Kan. ) won the KCAC individual championship to qualify for the NAIA National Championship.
National Tournament Appearances: The Friends University Falcons continue to make strides on the national level as well, with the Women's Soccer Falcons securing an NAIA National Tournament bid for the second time in three years. The Cross Country Falcons featured a pair of NAIA All-America finishes, with Emad Bashir-Mohammed winning the KCAC men's individual title and posting a top-five national finish. Aubry Donley (JR/Lincoln, Kan. ) finished 31st on the women's side to also earn an NAIA All-America nod. The Women's Wrestling Falcons completed their inaugural season with an appearance at the NAIA National Invitational, while the Indoor Track & Field Falcons earned a combined 18 All-Americans at the NAIA National Championship Meet. Baseball took a major leap forward with a fourth-place KCAC finish after not qualifying for the postseason tourney the previous season. During the outdoor track & field campaign, the Falcons brought 27 national qualifiers to the NAIA meet, the most qualifiers on record in program history. The Softball Falcons capped a historic season with their second national tournament appearance in the past four seasons. The Falcons won their way there with a KCAC tournament championship before recording their first NAIA Opening Round victory since the 2013 season. By winning the KCAC individual title, Trenton Sutherland earned an appearance at the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship.
Coaching the Whole Person: Two years ago, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Friends Athletics piloted a first-of-its-kind partnership. Friends gave two scholarships per year to FCA Interns who lead FCA on campus and are mentored weekly by Keith Townsend, our on-campus FCA Representative. Keith also meets, supports, and prays with coaches on the Friends University staff. This year featured the first "FCA Night" for a home basketball doubleheader, with $1 of every ticket sold going to Keith and his campus initiatives.
Another part of this is the 3D Institute, an organization that seeks to transform the world of sport through world-class training and professional development that empowers coaches to fulfill their purpose in all three Dimensions of coaching—-the skills, the mind, and the heart of athletes. Keith Townsend and assistant Football Coach Jeremy Reed meet with coaches on a monthly basis to develop holistic coaching skills. Additionally, Dr. Rob Ramseyer was named the first-ever 3D Institute Research Fellow. In this role, Rob will work with the athletic department and 3D Institute to research 3D Concepts.
Terry Harrison hired as football coach: The Friends University Falcons made a big splash in hiring proven winner Terry Harrison as the next head coach of the football program. Harrison arrives on campus after transforming KCAC member Bethel College into a conference and national power. Harrison took over a Bethel program that was 1-9 the previous season and guided the team to a pair of KCAC co-regular season championships and an NAIA Playoff berth in 2020 during his four-year tenure there.
Supplement World Partnership: The student-athlete experience at Friends University got even more enticing, as the Athletic Department teamed up with Supplement World, Wichita to provide a refueling station that is located in the new weight room inside the Garvey Center. It gives student-athletes a fresh spot to recharge and replenish following workouts. Amino acids will be the sole supplement provided and are known to aid muscle development and strength while lessening fatigue following workouts. They are also believed to improve workout performance while minimizing soreness and boosting recovery following exercises.
Hall of Fame Class: Friends University welcomed three new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame class in 2021. The honorees were Chris Allen (Football), Derek Racette (Track & Field) & Bruce Burnett (standout supporter of Friends Athletics and student-athlete). The 2020 Hall of Fame class was also honored at this past year's ceremony, with its inductees including Tony Sheffield (Basketball, Baseball), Cole Davis (Track & Field head coach), and Aaron Howell (Football) & the 1985 Volleyball team.
New sports: The 2021-22 season featured a year of new beginnings with the formation of the Falcon men's and women's wrestling program and the return of men's golf to campus for the first time since 2015. The powerlifting program, formed in 2019, continues to blossom as well.
Garvey Center Transformation: This past summer, the Garvey Center underwent a major renovation project that now features a larger training room, an expanded weight room, administrative spaces/team meeting room, and a refreshed main lobby.
Historic Fundraising Success: A crucial component to the achievement this past season was the Capitol campaign that resulted in a record-setting fundraising year for the department. Another factor was the hiring of retired men's basketball head coach Dale Faber to the newly created position of Assistant AD of Development. This new role allows Faber to help raise funds for the athletic department in a variety of ways.
Friends University Athletics also now boasts more than 40 corporate sponsors that serve a critical part in the success and continued growth of the Falcon Athletic Department.
Mission of Friends University:
Friends University Athletics seeks to provide a holistic experience for its student-athletes. Our goals are to provide an environment where our students retain and graduate, cultivate their character, explore and/or grow in their faith, engage in our community, and win.