Athletics

Jason Edwards Joins E-Club Hall of Fame
After holding Eastern's men's outdoor track and field school record in the long jump for 14 years and counting, Jason Edwards, the Warrior's second-year assistant track and field coach, was inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame on Oct. 19, 2013. Edwards is the first track athlete to earn All-American honors as many as four times, and only one of three individuals to get inducted based solely on track and field accomplishments.

Hockey Club Picking Up Speed
Approaching its sixth season, Eastern's club hockey team is developing into a force to be reckoned with. This past season the team played in the Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association (NECHA)-a subset of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)-and concluded the season with a 17-3 record, tying them for first place in the Colonial Conference of the NECHA. Because Eastern is still new to the association, the team underwent a "probationary period" this past season and was not eligible to participate in playoffs or championship games-despite their conference-leading record. The team has now completed three preliminary seasons with the NECHA. These trial seasons are intended to test a prospective team's commitment to the league and gauge its playing style and sportsmanship. Next season, the team will be officially placed into a conference, and eligible for championship play-a hopeful prospect as the majority of the team will be returning.

Baseball Wins Conference Championship
Eastern Connecticut State University's baseball team added to its storied history when it captured its eighth Little Eastern Conference (LEC) championship at the 2014 LEC tournament. With the victory, Eastern earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III New England Regional Tournament in Harwich, MA. The NCAA appearance was the 33rd for the program since 1976, but first for new head coach Matt LaBranche. While losing both games it played on May 14-15 in the ECAC Regional, the Warriors still finished its season with a stellar 32-9 record.

Basketball Team Hits 20 Wins Again; Garrow Wins LEC Award
Eastern Connecticut State University men's basketball team continued its recent success with its fifth-straight season with at least 20 victories. The Warriors finished the 2013-14 season with a 23-7 record, reaching the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament before losing to host Plattsburgh State University by a score of 70-60. Eastern had defeated Husson University, 81-75 in the first round of the regional tournament. Eastern's recent five-year run includes five straight postseason tournaments, an NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" appearance and an ECAC Championship in 2013. On March 20, senior Mike Garrow of Terryville was named the first NABC Division III men's basketball All-American in Eastern history when he was a third-team choice to the 2014 team. The 6-foot-4 inch Garrow was the only player chosen from the Little East Conference and among only three selections from New England.

Annual Athletic Awards Banquet Honors Student-Athletes
More than 100 student athletes, coaching staff and administrators gathered in the Betty R. Tipton Room on May 3 for Eastern Connecticut State University's annual athletic awards banquet, which recognizes the best of Eastern's student athletes.

Notable awardees included: Rookies of the Year Greg Walton of the men's soccer team and Adrianne Mihalek of the women's volleyball team; Individual Sport Rookie of the Year Natalie Bowens, a track and field athlete specializing in sprinting and jumping; Male Athletes of the Year Mike Devine, lacrosse, and Mike Garrow, basketball; Female Athlete of the Year Award Mattie Brett, softball; and Individual Sport Athlete of the Year Katie King, women's swimming.

The Bonnie J. Edmondson Sportswoman of the Year Award went to volleyball player Erynn Miller, and the Francis E. Geissler Sportsman of the Year Award went to Carl Stensland of the men's soccer team. Team Faculty Athletic Representative Award for Academic Achievement went to the women's volleyball team, which had a cumulative GPA average of 3.47 after the fall 2013 semester.