Central Michigan University Athletics
Working Together for Student-Athlete Success
3/2/2021 10:23:00 AM | General
Amy Folan's Maroon & Gold Message
Greetings from snowy Mount Pleasant. It is an exciting time for our department with 13 of our programs in action. Some are preparing for their championship seasons while others are just getting started. I am so proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for all of their hard work and creativity to compete safely during the pandemic.
An example of the great teamwork within our department was our lacrosse game a couple weeks ago. Our squad was set to play at No. 2 Notre Dame on Friday, Feb. 19, but due to COVID-related issues, the game was cancelled. Our group quickly worked to schedule a home game against Marquette. Putting together a home contest in 24 hours is not an easy task, but our group did it, making sure our lacrosse student-athletes could kick off their season on schedule. The team then delivered an exciting 11-10 victory!
This is just one example of everyone working together to support our programs and student-athletes. Like many of you, this pandemic has forced us to think differently, constantly challenging us to achieve things we might not have thought possible before. We remain focused on supporting our student-athletes and helping them succeed, I know we will be able to look back at this year with a lot of pride for what we accomplished.
Our department recently had the opportunity to present to the Board of Trustees. A part of this presentation was a panel discussion with three student-athletes – Kalil Pimpleton (football), Hannah Potter (lacrosse) and Drew Marten (wrestling). This group talked about the impact that athletics and CMU have had on their lives and how we can better support them in the future.
Much of the conversation centered around our priorities to improve the student-athlete experience – investment in nutrition, sports medicine and mental health services; life programming; and continued academic support. Toward the end of the session, all three mentioned that they had lived on the same residence hall floor when they came to CMU. They talked about how they rooted for each other and how close the student-athlete group was within our department. It shows how athletics brings together individuals with all types of experiences and backgrounds and gives them a common goal to work towards, not just as programs, but as an entire department.
As we get ready to kick off our annual Chippewa Athletic Fund membership drive, I want to thank our donors for helping us provide these life-changing opportunities for our student-athletes. As I listened to our student-athletes talk about how much they had learned from their teammates and other student-athletes, it reinforced what I have heard since coming to CMU – this place is made up of outstanding people who want to help those around them be successful and do great things together.
Our CAF members are critical to our success and they impact every program in our department. Simply put, we would not be able to do the things we do for our student-athletes without your support. Our donors are a primary reason we are able to reach our goal of giving each student-athlete the opportunity to leave CMU with a diploma in one hand and championship rings on the other.
I have been so impressed when I talk to our donors to learn how personally invested they are in our programs. They take a lot of pride when our student-athletes have success on the field or in the classroom and understand the value of the experience our young women and men receive when they are a CMU Chippewa.
Our staff has begun the renewal process for all of our current members and will be reaching out soon. If you want to become a member or have questions about your membership, please reach out to our CAF staff at (989) 774-6680 or chipclub@cmich.edu.
I hope you and your family stay healthy and safe as we head into spring. Please know we remain hard at work preparing for your return to our events when it is safe to do so. Until then, hopefully you will continue to cheer on our programs from afar as they battle for conference championships and national success throughout March and into the spring months.
Fire Up Chips!
Amy Folan
Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics
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An example of the great teamwork within our department was our lacrosse game a couple weeks ago. Our squad was set to play at No. 2 Notre Dame on Friday, Feb. 19, but due to COVID-related issues, the game was cancelled. Our group quickly worked to schedule a home game against Marquette. Putting together a home contest in 24 hours is not an easy task, but our group did it, making sure our lacrosse student-athletes could kick off their season on schedule. The team then delivered an exciting 11-10 victory!
This is just one example of everyone working together to support our programs and student-athletes. Like many of you, this pandemic has forced us to think differently, constantly challenging us to achieve things we might not have thought possible before. We remain focused on supporting our student-athletes and helping them succeed, I know we will be able to look back at this year with a lot of pride for what we accomplished.
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PREVIOUS MAROON & GOLD MESSAGES
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Our department recently had the opportunity to present to the Board of Trustees. A part of this presentation was a panel discussion with three student-athletes – Kalil Pimpleton (football), Hannah Potter (lacrosse) and Drew Marten (wrestling). This group talked about the impact that athletics and CMU have had on their lives and how we can better support them in the future.
Much of the conversation centered around our priorities to improve the student-athlete experience – investment in nutrition, sports medicine and mental health services; life programming; and continued academic support. Toward the end of the session, all three mentioned that they had lived on the same residence hall floor when they came to CMU. They talked about how they rooted for each other and how close the student-athlete group was within our department. It shows how athletics brings together individuals with all types of experiences and backgrounds and gives them a common goal to work towards, not just as programs, but as an entire department.
As we get ready to kick off our annual Chippewa Athletic Fund membership drive, I want to thank our donors for helping us provide these life-changing opportunities for our student-athletes. As I listened to our student-athletes talk about how much they had learned from their teammates and other student-athletes, it reinforced what I have heard since coming to CMU – this place is made up of outstanding people who want to help those around them be successful and do great things together.
Our CAF members are critical to our success and they impact every program in our department. Simply put, we would not be able to do the things we do for our student-athletes without your support. Our donors are a primary reason we are able to reach our goal of giving each student-athlete the opportunity to leave CMU with a diploma in one hand and championship rings on the other.
I have been so impressed when I talk to our donors to learn how personally invested they are in our programs. They take a lot of pride when our student-athletes have success on the field or in the classroom and understand the value of the experience our young women and men receive when they are a CMU Chippewa.
Our staff has begun the renewal process for all of our current members and will be reaching out soon. If you want to become a member or have questions about your membership, please reach out to our CAF staff at (989) 774-6680 or chipclub@cmich.edu.
I hope you and your family stay healthy and safe as we head into spring. Please know we remain hard at work preparing for your return to our events when it is safe to do so. Until then, hopefully you will continue to cheer on our programs from afar as they battle for conference championships and national success throughout March and into the spring months.
Fire Up Chips!
Amy Folan
Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics
Â
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