From The Director of Athletics' Desk...
 

Happy Thanksgiving Daemen Wildcat fans!   I'd be remiss if I didn't open this update by noting that November was another historic month for Daemen Athletics.  Mackenzie Donahue, a junior runner on our women's cross country team became the first Daemen student-athlete in any sport to qualify and compete in a national championship event at the NCAA Division II level.  I want to send my congratulations to Mackenzie who finished in third place at the regional championship meet to earn her ticket to nationals.  Mackenzie is an elite runner but an even finer person.  Her diligence in the classroom and her determination in distance running is inspirational.  Mackenzie competed this past weekend in Joplin, Missouri where she finished in the top third of the 246 competitors. If you're unfamiliar with Mackenzie, I would invite you to watch this brief video that our communications team produced leading up to the national meet.  I also owe a congratulatory message to head coach Paul Lagno, under whose leadership Mackenzie and the entire cross country team continues to excel.
 
In addition to being proud of Mackenize and Paul, it was truly great to see student-athletes from all sports turn-out in person or via social media to wish them well and share their pride in Daemen Athletics.  Seeing Daemen student-athletes and coaches post words of support for Mackenzie on social media made those of us working behind the scenes feel that we are building an athletics program that can be the very best of Division II in both competition and atmosphere.  This was evident throughout the fall as men's and women's basketball student-athletes were consistent fans at soccer and women's volleyball matches.  Watching student-athletes cheer on other teams is a great sight and does not occur in every college athletics program.  The shared experiences and friendships across sports is a mark of a strong athletics program. 
 
November marked the conclusion of other fall sports and we officially tipped off the 2015-16 basketball season.  Our women's triathlon team competed in its first-ever collegiate national championship in Clermont, Florida.  The women's soccer team closed its season with a flurry, finishing one-place back of an ECC Tournament berth, as did our women's volleyball team.  Congratulations to these teams on their continued development.  We're certainly excited to see them back on the respective fields of competition next season.
 
The end of fall sports meant an initial goodbye to our graduating seniors.  Congratulations to Mackenzie Knihinicki and Ye Wang (volleyball), Meghan Lipinoga and Ashley Griffin (women's soccer), Robert Ralyea, Kenny May and Frank Poppolo (men's soccer), Jeremy Rushok (men's cross country) and Brooke Nolan (women's cross country) on their outstanding careers.  Daemen Athletics is better place because of their collective contributions. We will have a second opportunity to celebrate the careers of these Daemen student-athletes at our Senior Luncheon next May. 
 
As the upcoming holiday indicates, November is a great time of year to take stock of the things we are thankful for; this great country being one of them.  After graduating from law school, I spent several years away from college sports working for the U.S. Justice Department.  I returned to college sports in the summer of 2001. Like most, the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 changed my outlook on life and work.  Word of the recent attacks in Paris broke during our first home basketball opener and I recalled for younger staff a conference call that occurred the afternoon of 9/11 during which a colleague described college athletics as " the candy store of life."  As committed and passionate as we are for making Daemen Athletics the very best, it is important not to lose sight of the bigger blessings in life like the freedom and security we enjoy mostly uninterrupted in this country that is so threatened elsewhere.   Those of us working, studying and competing as part of Daemen Athletics feel fortunate for "the candy store of life," but we aim to never lose sight of the bigger picture and the need to preserve the freedoms that allows us to do what we do each day.    
 
With this in mind, I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful Thanksgiving filled with great food and even better memories.  I am thankful for your interest and support in Daemen Athletics.  We have a number of home basketball games, as well as contests in the New York City metro area in the next few weeks and would love to see you there.  As always, feel free to contact me at bniland@daemen.edu.

Remenber, BE FIERCE!

Bridget Niland
Director of Athletics