Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz
CMU Athletics Hosts Annual Welcome Back Picnic for Student-Athletes
8/31/2026 9:25:00 AM | General, Our Stories
Over 400 student-athletes attend annual Welcome Back Picnic; return to the Central Michigan campus for the start of the 2026-27 academic year.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Nearly 500 Central Michigan student-athletes from 15 of 17 sports arrived back on campus and attended the annual CMU Athletics Welcome Back Picnic Sunday evening at the Jack Skoog Indoor Track and Indoor Practice Facility. Fall 2026-27 semester classes begin Monday morning at Central Michigan University.
Central Michigan's volleyball and field hockey teams were competing on their respective West Coast trips.
The student-athletes were greeted by Central Michigan President Neil MacKinnon and his wife Leanne, Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Amy Folan, Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Kelly Murphy, Deputy Athletic Directors Chris Walker and Tangela Cheatham, and Student Athletic Advisory Board President and soccer player Caitlin Gill.
MacKinnon addressed the crowd first, fired everyone up, and introduced each of the teams.
"We are thrilled to be here and starting a new year," MacKinnon said. "All of you work very hard, we look forward to seeing you on the athletic fields, and we want to make this the best year!"
Folan was then introduced.
"We're so excited to welcome you all back to campus," Folan said. "We are here to celebrate the start of another great year. Less than three percent of all athletes make it to NCAA Division I and FBS. You have all earned it. You will all be members of this distinguished Central Michigan alumni network of 250,000 graduates across the country. We're here for all of you. The most important thing to me is that you all have an experience that makes you better and successful in life. We want to build the best student-athlete experience that we can."
Gill took the mic and informed the athletes about the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She introduced the committee and explained the functions of the group.
Dinner was served as the student-athletes were treated to barbecue, macaroni and cheese, salad, and water. Following dinner, student-athletes were entertained with games set up across in the Indoor Practice Facility. Spike ball, cornhole, and Kan Jam games were set up. A large Connect Four board, several bouncy house games, field paddleball, and various other games were also on the field for the student-athletes' enjoyment. Additionally, a photo station was set up with a backdrop for students to pose for social media shots.
All Central Michigan fall sports continue or begin their schedules this week. This week, field hockey concludes its West Coast road trip at Stanford today at 3 p.m. ET, volleyball hosts its home opener on Wednesday vs. Oakland (6 p.m.), while soccer hosts Cincinnati on Thursday at 7 p.m.
The weekend begins on Friday when the Central Michigan men's and women's cross country teams open their seasons with the annual Jeff Drenth Memorial at 11 a.m. in Shepherd and volleyball plays Illinois State at 4 p.m. On Saturday, volleyball hosts a doubleheader with Illinois State (Noon) and Michigan State (6 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena and football opens its season at New Mexico on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on FS1. The week ends on Sunday with field hockey competing against New Hampshire in Bloomington, Ind. (Noon), soccer hosting Wisconsin at 1 p.m., and women's golf hosting the A-Ga-Ming Invitational in Kewadin, Mich.
Central Michigan's volleyball and field hockey teams were competing on their respective West Coast trips.
The student-athletes were greeted by Central Michigan President Neil MacKinnon and his wife Leanne, Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Amy Folan, Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Kelly Murphy, Deputy Athletic Directors Chris Walker and Tangela Cheatham, and Student Athletic Advisory Board President and soccer player Caitlin Gill.
MacKinnon addressed the crowd first, fired everyone up, and introduced each of the teams.
"We are thrilled to be here and starting a new year," MacKinnon said. "All of you work very hard, we look forward to seeing you on the athletic fields, and we want to make this the best year!"
Folan was then introduced.
"We're so excited to welcome you all back to campus," Folan said. "We are here to celebrate the start of another great year. Less than three percent of all athletes make it to NCAA Division I and FBS. You have all earned it. You will all be members of this distinguished Central Michigan alumni network of 250,000 graduates across the country. We're here for all of you. The most important thing to me is that you all have an experience that makes you better and successful in life. We want to build the best student-athlete experience that we can."
Gill took the mic and informed the athletes about the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She introduced the committee and explained the functions of the group.
Dinner was served as the student-athletes were treated to barbecue, macaroni and cheese, salad, and water. Following dinner, student-athletes were entertained with games set up across in the Indoor Practice Facility. Spike ball, cornhole, and Kan Jam games were set up. A large Connect Four board, several bouncy house games, field paddleball, and various other games were also on the field for the student-athletes' enjoyment. Additionally, a photo station was set up with a backdrop for students to pose for social media shots.
All Central Michigan fall sports continue or begin their schedules this week. This week, field hockey concludes its West Coast road trip at Stanford today at 3 p.m. ET, volleyball hosts its home opener on Wednesday vs. Oakland (6 p.m.), while soccer hosts Cincinnati on Thursday at 7 p.m.
The weekend begins on Friday when the Central Michigan men's and women's cross country teams open their seasons with the annual Jeff Drenth Memorial at 11 a.m. in Shepherd and volleyball plays Illinois State at 4 p.m. On Saturday, volleyball hosts a doubleheader with Illinois State (Noon) and Michigan State (6 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena and football opens its season at New Mexico on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on FS1. The week ends on Sunday with field hockey competing against New Hampshire in Bloomington, Ind. (Noon), soccer hosting Wisconsin at 1 p.m., and women's golf hosting the A-Ga-Ming Invitational in Kewadin, Mich.
—CMU—
Tuesday, September 01
Saturday, August 08
Friday, June 26
Friday, June 26