Paw Prints E-Newsletter: Volume 30

Paw Prints E-Newsletter | 12/22/2016 10:30:00 AM

From The Director of Athletics' Desk...

Happy Holidays Wildcat fans! December is a fascinating month on college campuses. The first two weeks buzz with the stress-fueled electricity of final exams. Daemen Athletics consistently sets the goal of creating a welcoming and supportive space for student-athletes, and this is especially true in December. This year, with the help of our new NCAA-funded Student-Athlete Success and Community Engagement Coordinator, Mame Yaa Ankoma-Mensa, Daemen Athletics hosted several study sessions for our athletes. Mame got the coaches and staff involved in attending these events to show that from the Director of Athletics to the graduate assistants, Daemen Athletics' staff are here to motivate and support our student-athletes in the classroom and on their chosen field of competition. As the grades start to post, we can see that our supportive atmosphere has helped our hard-working student-athletes excel in academics while balancing their athletic commitments. More to come on the academic success of Daemen student-athletes next month.

Once that last final exam is complete, our student-athletes head home, and the pace of Daemen Athletics slows tremendously. As a staff, we use these "down-times" to look at what we've accomplished and set new goals for the upcoming semester. One goal we have discussed in recent weeks is connecting more of our athletics staff with the Daemen community and alumni. Daemen has been very fortunate to attract and hire an incredibly talented and focused group of coaches and administrators. Paw Prints readers will have the opportunity in coming editions to hear the perspectives of our staff on Daemen, college athletics and all the responsibilities and details that go with a successful NCAA Division II programs. Our first guest author will be Head Women's Volleyball Coach and Senior Woman Administrator, Stephanie Albano. Steph and her staff helped the Daemen volleyball team to the NCAA Sweet 16 this season. This past weekend, Steph was honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as the NCAA Division II East Region Coach of the Year. We hope you check out the January edition of Paw Prints to hear from Steph and what Daemen Athletics has planned for 2017.

The final week of December is quiet everywhere but Daemen! Please check out our women's basketball team as they play at home against St. Michael's from Vermont on December 30, followed the by a men's and women's basketball doubleheader on December 31. More gameday information is available on daemenwildcats.com. Both teams have played competitive and exciting games with late-game comebacks to keep fans on their feet.

You can also follow Daemen Athletics and Daemen Recreation on Twitter and Facebook. The Daemen Athletics Fitness Center at the Academic & Wellness Center will be open during the break, and now might be the perfect time to buy a monthly fitness pass for just $12.00. For the Paw Prints readers that live close to campus, the Daemen Athletics Fitness Center is the perfect place to launch your 2017 fitness goals. All proceeds from membership sales and facility rentals go to supporting Daemen Athletics and our nearly 200 student-athletes. For information on monthly fitness passes and facility rentals, please call our lovely Administrative Assistant, Vivian Heverley, at (716) 839-8346.

We are always looking for more Wildcat fans and supporters of NCAA Division II athletics. There are many different opportunities to support Daemen Athletics. Please check-out our Move to DII web page for more information.

We wish you and your family a restful holiday week. As always, your feedback and support are critical to our future success. Please feel free to contact me at bniland@daemen.edu or (716) 472-5951.

Go Wildcats!

Bridget Niland
Director of Athletics

UPCOMING EVENTS
December 30 - WBB vs. St. Michael's - 7 PM
December 31 - MBB/WBB Doubleheader - 12 PM / 2 PM
January 2 - MBB/WBB Doubleheader - 6 PM / 8 PM
January 4 - MBB/WBB Doubleheader - 5 PM / 7 PM
January 18 - MBB/WBB Doubleheader - 6 PM / 7PM
January 20 - TRACK @ Houghton Invitational - 4 PM

FOR A DETAILED LISTING OF UPCOMING EVENTS,
CHECK OUT OUR COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE CALENDAR

IN THE NEWS...

NOV. 29 - DRZYMALA EARNS FIRST-TEAM ALL-REGION HONORS
READ MORE

NOV. 30 - REGIONAL ACCOLADES KEEP ROLLING IN FOR WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
READ MORE

DEC. 3 - VOLLEYBALL ENDS HISTORIC SEASON IN THE EAST REGION FINALS
READ MORE

DEC. 6 - BEATTY ANNOUNCES SPRING SCHEDULE FOR MEN'S TENNIS TEAM
READ MORE

DEC. 7 - ASHLEY DRZYMALA AWARDED AVCA HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICAN
READ MORE

DEC. 8 - SPRING SCHEDULE SET FOR WOMEN'S TENNIS
READ MORE

DEC. 9 - METZ ANNOUNCES SPRING SCHEDULE FOR WOMEN'S TRIATHLON TEAM
READ MORE

DEC. 10 - WILDCATS DOWN REGIONALLY-RANKED PURPLE KNIGHTS
READ MORE

DEC. 19 - GARVIN'S CAREER DAY POWERS WILDCATS PAST PURPLE KNIGHTS
READ MORE

DEC. 20 - SABA NAMED ECC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
READ MORE

Watch Daemen volleyball coach Stephanie Albano reflect on her team's historic 2016 season following their loss in the East Region Finals on Dec. 3

Watch men's basketball coach Mike MacDonald's post-game interview following a 92-69 win over St. Michael's as the Wildcats improved to 7-4 this season

MAKE AN IMPACT TODAY BY GIVING A GIFT TO THE WILDCAT ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION

Did you know there are over 123,000 men, women and children waiting for life-saving organ transplants? Did you know that 100 people in WNY need blood every day?

You can provide hope to those in need by becoming an organ, tissue or blood donor through Unyts. Visit unyts.org/checkyes to register as a donor today.

UNYTS is a proud corporate partner of Daemen College Athletics.

Print Friendly Version