Athletics

Darby Fitzpatrick Named Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Concord University Sports Information Director Wes McKinney has announced the addition of CU softball standout Darby Fitzpatrick to the sports information office staff for the 2020-21 academic year.

Fitzpatrick joins the Concord sports information staff while finishing her final year of collegiate eligibility in the spring of 2021. In three-plus years on the softball diamond, Fitzpatrick has compiled a record of 24-18 as a pitcher with a 3.20 ERA in 327.2 innings. She ranks fifth in program history in wins, seventh in innings pitched and 10th in ERA.

As a two-way player in the outfield, Fitzpatrick has collected 100 career hits with 50 runs scored and 39 RBI in 366 at-bats. Earlier this summer, the native of Pocomoke City, Md. was named to the Concord softball all-decade team.

Outside of softball, Fitzpatrick has worked closely with the CU sports information office the last two years as the primary photographer for several athletic teams at Concord.

“With Darby’s background in graphic design and photography, I’m excited for the next step we can take in our graphics production in the sports information office,” McKinney said. “Darby is very familiar with Concord and the operations of the sports information office. She will be a great addition.”

With an undergraduate degree in studio art, Fitzpatrick is beginning studies in Concord’s Master of Social Work program this fall.

Duffy Named MEC Women’s Sports Coach of the Year

Concord University women’s soccer head coach Luke Duffy was voted the Mountain East Conference Women’s Sports Coach of the Year, the league office announced in May.

Duffy is the fifth different coach to garner the award in the six-year history of the MEC Women’s Sports Coach of the Year honor, but is the first women’s soccer coach in the conference to be voted as the winner.

Duffy is the first winner of MEC Sports Coach of the Year for either men’s or women’s sports at Concord.

In his fourth season at CU, he led the Mountain Lions to a 19-2 record, the MEC South Division Title, the MEC Tournament Championship and Concord’s first NCAA Tournament bid in women’s soccer. The Mountain Lions broke the MEC single-season goals record for a second consecutive season as they tallied 70 goals during the 2019 season. The 70 goals were also the third most in Division II in the fall.

Defensively, Duffy’s team was equally as stout as Concord had a +61 goal difference, allowing just nine goals which were the third fewest among Division II teams.

The success of 2019 comes just three years after CU won three games in Duffy’s first season at Concord.

Overall, Duffy coached nine All-MEC selections in 2019 which broke the record for most players from one team on the All-MEC squads – previously set by West Virginia Wesleyan in 2014 with eight. The fourth-year coach also tutored the MEC Defensive Player of the Year, junior Morgan Carmichael, the MEC Offensive Player of the Year, sophomore forward Leah Foster, and the MEC Freshman of the Year, forward Rachel Bell.

At season’s end, Foster and junior midfielder Mira Kontio were selected as All-Americans under Duffy’s watchful leadership.

The MEC Women’s Sports Coach of the Year is selected by a vote of institutional administrators and the conference office.

MEC Announces Update for 2020-21 Athletics Season

The Mountain East Conference Board of Directors announced several decisions on Aug. 13, including the postponement of fall sports until the spring semester. The board’s resolutions come following the prior week’s announcement from the NCAA Board of Governors regarding additional requirements and the cancellation of 2020 NCAA Division II Fall Championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The board also approved a reduced schedule model for fall sports that will shift to spring 2021 (football, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s cross country), that includes a conference championship, without participants exhausting a year of eligibility utilizing the legislative relief provided to NCAA Division II institutions for the 2020-21 season.

Additionally, the board approved several other recommendations from the league’s Committee of Athletics Administrators: • Suspend competition for winter sports until no earlier than November 1, 2020.

• Suspend all competition in all sports indefinitely, with MEC board review by no later than Oct. 15, 2020. • Suspend the indoor track and field championship for the 2020-21 season. • All countable athletically-related activities (CARA), excluding the restrictions regarding outside competition, for all MEC sports are permissible (as allowed under NCAA rules and Board of Governors requirements) at the discretion of each MEC member institution.

Note: The Mountain East has traditionally conducted its men’s and women’s golf conference championship in the fall, but the sport is classified by the NCAA as a spring sport, and thus will have a delayed conference championship in addition to NCAA postseason opportunities in the spring semester.

“I pledged to our board, administrators, athletics staffs, and most importantly to our student-athletes that we would exhaust every opportunity to stage competition this fall, and I am confident that is collectively what we have done within the MEC,” said Commissioner Reid Amos. “Present public health challenges, combined with the new mandates put forth by the NCAA last week, create too great of a challenge on too short of a timeline to be able to conduct meaningful competition for our fall sports.

“We are tremendously disappointed for our student-athletes, and we recognize the gravity that comes with these decisions,” Amos continued. “We now turn our efforts to keeping our student-athletes engaged with their coaches and teammates this fall, continuing to develop our return to play protocols, creating new schedules for delayed sports, and preparing for our 21 championship events now slated for the winter and spring. We will continue our commitment to providing a meaningful athletics experience for all of our student-athletes and crowning MEC champions during the 2020-21 academic year.”

Information is also available from the Mountain East Conference at https://mountaineast.org/

Weitzel Selected to CoSIDA Academic All-District

For a third consecutive year, senior Jason Weitzel of the Concord University men’s cross country and track & field teams has been voted to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District.

Weitzel, now a graduate student, added to his distinguished career during the spring semester by being named United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA) Atlantic All-Region for the 16th time during his track career as he earned all-region in three events – the mile, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs – during the indoor season along with being on CU’s distance medley relay that was named all-region.

The Athens, W.Va. native has been the MEC Track Athlete of the Year (2018), MEC Cross Country Runner of the Year (2016 and 2018), USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Cross Country Runner of the Year (2018) and a four-time Atlantic All-Region honoree in cross country during his illustrious career in the Maroon and Gray.

Weitzel is also the current holder of seven school records in indoor and outdoor track between individual events and relays.

As a student-athlete, Weitzel carried a 3.44 GPA throughout his undergraduate career as he graduated in December with a degree in health and physical education. He has since started his master’s degree, and will have outdoor track & field eligibility remaining in the spring of 2021.

Weitzel was one of three representatives from the Mountain East Conference on the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team as Davis & Elkins’ Felix Buck-Gramcko and Frostburg State’s John Kerns were also selected to the squad.

Walker Honored with Martinsburg Dedication

Concord University head football coach Dave Walker has had the football stadium at Martinsburg High School dedicated in his name. The complex where the Bulldogs play will now be named Cobourn Field at David M. Walker Stadium.

During his tenure at Martinsburg, Walker racked up 248 career wins in 23 seasons guiding the program while playing in 12 state championship games since 2001. In his final decade in charge of the Martinsburg program, Walker won eight of the last ten Class AAA State Championships, including two different four-peats (2010-13, 2016-19).

When the Pineville native returned to southern West Virginia to assume the reins of the Concord football program in December, he had collected 56 consecutive wins at Martinsburg which is the second-longest active streak in the nation.

2020 Hall of Fame Class Announced

The Concord University Athletic Department and Hall of Fame Committee have announced the five former student-athletes that will represent the class of 2020.

Athletes from five different sports make up this year’s class. In the class of 2020 is Evan Muscari (men’s golf, 2010-14), Amber Showalter (women’s basketball, 2005-09), Devin Smith (baseball, 2009-13), DeWayne Smith (men’s track & field, 1999-04) and Mike Spradling (football, 1989-92)

Evan Muscari – Men’s Golf

One of the most decorated players in program history, Muscari was named PING All-Region at the end of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons. The Pineville, W.Va. native was named to all-conference first teams three times during his career as he was All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) First Team in 2011 and 2012 before being selected All-Mountain East Conference (MEC) First Team in 2013. Muscari was on two conference championship teams as Concord claimed the final WVIAC Championship in 2012, and was the first team champion in the MEC behind Muscari’s individual conference championship in 2013. In his final two seasons, Muscari averaged 18-hole scores of 74.5 and 73.8. Muscari was equally sharp in the classroom as he was twice voted to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team and was also a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American Scholar in 2013 and 2014.

Amber Showalter – Women’s Basketball

Showalter is one of eight players in the history of the women’s basketball program with at least 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds. She ranks 19th in scoring with 1,016 career points and finished her career with 740 career rebounds, good enough for sixth in the CU record books. The Penn Laird, Va. native was named to the All-WVIAC Freshman Team at the conclusion of the 2005-06 season and was selected to the All-WVIAC First Team in 2009. During her all-conference season in 2008-09, Showalter averaged just shy of a double-double with 13.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. For her career, Showalter shot 46.3 percent (396-for-855) from the floor which places her seventh in program history. She also appeared in 113 career games in the Maroon and Gray, tied for sixth. During Showalter’s sophomore and junior seasons, Concord tallied back-to-back 20-win seasons for the program’s first two 20-win campaigns. Along with her play on the hardwood, Showalter was one of the best field athletes for the Mountain Lions in her time at CU. She was twice named All-WVIAC Honorable Mention in the throwing events as she earned the accolades in the javelin in 2006 and the discus in 2007. Additionally, the two-sport athlete still holds the outdoor school record in the discus throw at 36.68 meters, a mark that she set in 2007.

Devin Smith – Baseball

As a two-way player for the Mountain Lions, Devin Smith ranks top 10 in program history in hitting and pitching statistics. In his career, Smith recorded 44 doubles which sits eighth in program history, and on the bases, he stole 28 career bags, ranking 10th. As a pitcher, Smith started 24 career games, tied for ninth at Concord. Overall, the Wytheville, Va. native hit .328 over 512 career at-bats and was 11-8 on the mound with 100 strikeouts in 137 innings. During his senior season, Smith hit a career-best .351 with seven home runs and 48 RBI to land on the 2013 All-WVIAC Second Team, the American Baseball Coaches’ Association (ABCA) All-Atlantic Region Second Team and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association (NCBWA) All-Atlantic Region Honorable Mention Team. The current Concord assistant baseball coach was on two WVIAC Championship teams as a player in 2011 and 2013.

DeWayne Smith – Men’s Track & Field

Over 15 years removed from his successful career at Concord, DeWayne Smith still owns four men’s track & field program records. Smith is the school record holder in the indoor 300-meter dash (35.49 seconds),

2020 Hall of Fame Class Announced

the indoor 400-meter dash (48.57 seconds), the outdoor 400-meter dash (47.78 seconds) and is a member of CU’s 4x400-meter relay indoor school record team (3:19.39). After finishing as the runner-up in the 400-meters at the WVIAC Championships in 2002 and 2003, and earning All-WVIAC Second Team, Smith concluded his career by winning the 400-meters in 2004 to earn All-WVIAC First Team. Additionally, he hit a NCAA Division II Provisional Qualifying standard in the 400-meters during the 2004 outdoor season. In the classroom, Smith was on the WVIAC All-Academic Team four times.

Mike Spradling – Football

In a program that has had nine different players win WVIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Spradling was the sixth winner at the conclusion of the 1990 season. During his final three seasons as a Mountain Lion, he was an All-WVIAC First Team honoree, and his career culminated by being selected as a NAIA Second Team All-American in 1992. Spradling was an integral part of two WVIAC Championships for Concord in 1989 and 1990 as he led CU to being the best defense in the WVIAC in 1990, allowing just 306.7 yards per game. Spradling was part of 28 wins during his career as the Mountain Lions only lost three conference games during his four years in the Maroon and Gray. Spradling went over 100 tackles in a single season twice – 1990 and 1992 – as he accumulated 316 career tackles, sixth in program history.

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Graduate Assistant Coaches Join CU Athletics Staff

Two Concord alums are joining the Mountain Lion coaching staff as graduate assistants. Jakob Divers will be part of the baseball program while Jonathan Gore takes on responsibilities with cross country and track & field.

Divers starts his coaching career this fall after a successful playing career for the Mountain Lions.

The Moneta, Va., native had a career batting average of .298 to go with 135 hits and 98 career RBI in 148 games at Concord. Divers was an ultimate utility man for the Maroon and Gray as he appeared in the lineup at first base, second base, third base, left field, right field and designated hitter over the course of his career.

At the conclusion of the 2019 season, Divers was named All-Mountain East Conference Honorable Mention after posting career highs in batting average (.323), hits (52), doubles (nine) and RBI (36). He started in all 50 games last spring, helping the program to its sixth 30-win season.

Divers will assist with all aspects of the program while working on his master’s degree at Concord.

Jonathan Gore returns to his alma mater as an assistant coach for the program where he flourished as a student-athlete from 2013-17.

The former all-region long jumper begins his role at Concord this fall on head coach Mike Cox’s staff that also includes All-American RJ Anderson. In addition to being an all-region selection in 2017, Gore was the Mountain East Conference Championships MVP/ High Point.

He was the MEC Champion in the 100-meter dash in 2017, and took second in both the 200-meter dash and long jump that season. In all, Gore was a seven-time AllMEC performer during his time in the Maroon and Gray. He was also a two-time United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Atlantic Region selection.

Gore holds both program records for the long jump – indoor at 7.14 meters in 2015 and outdoor at 7.16 meters in 2017.

The Fayetteville, W.Va. native will begin his coursework in Concord’s master’s of health promotion program in addition to his coach-

Nathan Neff Named CoSIDA Academic All-American

Infielder Nathan Neff of the Concord University baseball team has been voted to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American Second Team, the organization announced in June. Neff lands on the Academic All-American team for the first time in his career.

Despite the cancellation of spring competition during COVID-19, CoSIDA continued its sponsorship of the Academic All-America awards program. Student-athletes were selected based on career statistics.

Over his four years in the Maroon and Gray, Neff batted .332 (166-for-500) with 123 runs scored, 64 RBI and 15 stolen bases. His 95 career walks rank fifth in program history, and the Fredericksburg, Va. native had a career on-base percentage of .463. Furthermore, Neff never missed a game at Concord as he started 160 consecutive games, and helped the Mountain Lions to 90 wins over that time and an appearance in the Mountain East Conference Tournament in each of his first three seasons (This year’s MEC Tournament was cancelled).

Neff was twice named to the All-MEC Teams as he earned a second-team selection in 2017 and was on the honorable mention squad in 2019.

In the classroom, Neff earned his degree in business administration with emphases in accounting and finance from CU in May. He was an honor graduate, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a career 3.97 GPA. Neff was named Concord’s 2020 Outstanding Business Student of the Year.

Neff was the only MEC representative on this year’s CoSIDA Academic All-American Teams and was just one of three players from the Atlantic Region.