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Bethune-Cookman University Athletic Director Lynn W. Thompson As we rapidly approach the close of the 2008-09 academic year, I think it would be prudent for us to pause and take a look back at the tremendous accomplishments of this year. While human nature has a tendency to propel us towards new challenges in our quest for victory after victory, I am of the mindset that we need to take the opportunity to "smell the roses." We should never forget that we exist on this campus to mentor and mold the lives of young people...that means that we should find reasons to celebrate through the amazing victories and event the heartbreaking defeats. In each of these instances there are teachable and touchable moments. B-CU's 2008-2009 sports year has had some impressive team and individual accomplishments (and we still have spring sports to compete into May/June). It has been a record-setting year for Wildcat Athletics. In the fall, the 2008 B-CU Football Team, with its 8-3 record, and second place tie in the MEAC, earned Head Coach Alvin B. Wyatt the new school record for career wins by a Head Football Coach with 85, breaking the long-standing record by Hall of Famer and Wildcat legend "Bunky" Matthews. In the beginning of the winter, B-CU Men's Track All-American Ronnie Ash made school history by winning the 2009 NCAA's Indoor 60 meter hurdle championship and earning third place NCAA honors in the 2008 outdoor, 110-meter hurdles. Ash is B-CU's first-ever NCAA Division I individual champion in any sport.
Other notable Wildcat accomplishments include: · The Wildcat baseball team winning back-to-back-to-back MEAC Championships (third straight in 2008) - baseball will compete for its fourth straight MEAC title and NCAA Tournament bid May 14-17, with B-CU hosting the MEAC Championships. · B-CU men's basketball team - compiling the first-ever NCAA Division I winning season, going 17-16 in 2008-2009, tied for third place in the MEAC with Wildcat freshman guard C. J. Reed earning MEAC Rookie of the Year and All-Tournament Team honors. · B-CU's women's basketball team with an outstanding turn-around season winning 12 games in 2008-2009 (more wins than the past two seasons combined - for First Year Head Coach Vanessa Inge). · Tennis Coach Trey Bogue earned two MEAC Coach of the Year honors being named the 2009 Women's Coach Of The Year and Co-Coach of the Year in Men's Tennis. In May, the softball team hosts the MEAC Softball Championships in Ormond Beach as they attempt to regain their dominance of the past 5 years. Also, the Men's and Women's golf teams have earned four team championships between them in 2008-2009 and will be among the team favorites at the NCAA Minority Golf Championships in May. This has truly been a year to remember and for the thousands of fans and supporters who follow the Wildcats I would like to say thank you for your unwavering support and faith. Let's Go Wildcats!
Thanks so much for being a part of our family and congratulations to each of you for helping to make us into what we are now and what we are to become in years to come. Sincerely yours,
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