Men's Gymnastics Alumnus Releases Book

Dr. Fred Ward ’54, who has worked with the Men's Gymnastics team through Sports Medicine for over 20 years and Adrian Eissler ‘02, twice a “Presidents Award” recipient, have collaborated to write a novel shedding light on the tragedy of early-onset frontotemporal degeneration in an action-packed account of a young lawyer struggling through a government conspiracy to kill trials of a promising drug. The book will be formally released on September 23^rd, but before then, signed pre-release copies are available to W&M gymnastics friends and family beginning September 9^th through www.felonydementia.com. Fred and Adrian have generously agreed to pay shipping and tax and donate 20% of each sale from this offer to Men’s Gymnastics prior to the September 23r^d release date (click add to indicate the W&M donation on the web site when ordering).

Celebration of Women's Athletics a success

The 2nd Annual Celebration of Women's Athletics was a great success.

Check out some photos from the event: www.tribeathletics.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml

Williamsburg, Va. (May 9, 2011) - Though just in its second-year, the College of William and Mary's Celebration of Women's Athletics Weekend attracted well over 100 former coaches, administrators and athletes for the two-day event and raised over $25,000 in sponsorships, donations and ticket sales.  

A welcome reception kicked off the weekend's activities on Friday, April 29, at the College's McCormack - Nagelsen Tennis Center.  On Saturday, the Celebration of Women's Athletics Brunch, honoring iconic former head lacrosse coach Feffie Barnhill was held at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William and Mary.  Barnhill's career accomplishments and numerous contributions to women's lacrosse were highlighted for 100 guests in attendance, including many of Feffie's former lacrosse players.   The athletics department also presented Dr. Camilla Buchanan '66 with the inaugural Tribe Champion for Life Award for her leadership, integrity, fortitude and excellence in her professional career as a physician for 31 years and in her extensive philanthropic endeavors in providing health and education to the Maasai Tribe in Kenya. 

The weekend concluded with a Tribe Club fundraising Casino Night to support scholarships and program funding for women's sports programs.    The western themed event was held at the Sadler Center and in addition to poker, Texas hold 'em, roulette and a craps table, the guests enjoyed line dancing and competing on a mechanical bull. 

The first incarnation of the event was originated to highlight the distinguished histories of the Tribe's women's athletics programs and to recognize the 50 years of dedication and determination of long-time W&M coach and administrator, Millie West.  

Starting with this year's event, the focus has now aligned itself with one of the major elements of William and Mary's overall strategic plan in creating life-long connections to the College.  This is done by bringing together the school's many generations of female athletes and celebrate their shared successes on and off the field; and to honor women whose experience in intercollegiate athletics has shaped their personal, professional and charitable lives.

For the first time, the event brought in a titled corporate sponsor, as established lacrosse apparel and merchandise manufacturer, STX, partnered with the College.

The date for next year's event will be finalized shortly and will be announced through both the College's official athletics website, TribeAthletics.com and the school's athletic fundraising site, TribeClub.com.

Green and Gold Game Set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

The William and Mary football team will conclude its 15-date spring practice schedule Saturday afternoon with its annual Green and Gold Scrimmage.  The game will start at approximately 1:30 p.m., in Zable Stadium, with admission free to the public.

Tribe Head Coach Jimmye Laycock will be leading a unit that will be well regarded in the coming preseason polls.  After earning back-to-back NCAA Playoff appearances, W&M will look to continue the momentum and defend its CAA Championship in 2011. The College will return 13 starters (seven offense/six defense) from the last year's unit that secured a NCAA Playoffs bid for the second-consecutive year and garnered a national ranking as high as No. 1.

One of the team's most noticeable additions is the return of former all-conference performer Jake Trantin back to the middle linebacker position for 2011.  His addition moves Dante Cook (Second-Team All-CAA linebacker in '10) out to his more natural outside position and will give the Tribe one of the top linebacker corps in the conference (along with junior Jabrel Mines ).  All three are very athletic and bring a wealth of playing experience to first-year defensive coordinator Scott Boone 's defense.

The same will be true for the defensive backfield, which will have three of the four starters returning, including first-team all-conference cornerback B.W. Webb .

One focus in camp has been developing depth on the defensive front.  The pending graduation of all-conference tackle Mike Stover was biggest loss, along with the graduation of defensive end Brian Jean-Pierre. The front returns senior defensive end Marcus Hyde  (a 2010 All-CAA Second Team selection), who was one of the most productive down lineman in the league last season (63 TT, 12.5 TFLs/5.5 sacks/four QB hurries, two PD and a blocked kick).  But only fellow senior defensive tackle Harold Robertson returns with significant starting experience (28 career starts).  Rising sophomore George Beerhalter and rising redshirt sophomore Brian Stinnie will come into fall as the likely starters, as each saw significant playing time as reserves in 2010.  However, depth will have to be found among a group of mostly untested younger players.

On the offensive side, Jonathan Grimes will once again lead the Tribe's attack. The most decorated player in CAA history, Grimes will enter his senior year having already earned eight league citations. He returns as the league's leading rusher and will be a strong challenger for the highest national honors. With 3,110 career rushing yards, he ranks third all-time at W&M. Beyond Grimes, depth at the running back position will be provided by junior Meltoya Jones and a host of talented youngsters, including Navy transfer redshirt freshman Keith McBride .

The tailbacks will be playing behind an offensive line that has potential to emerge as one of the most complete units the College has fielded in recent years, led by returning all-conference senior center James Pagliaro . Rising sophomores Matt Crisafi and James Johnson earned significant playing time in '10 and were effective, with Crisafi having all-conference level potential.  The biggest loss along the line will be replacing graduated senior left tackle Keith Hill (a first team all-conference and All-America selection). His likely replacement will be 2010 starting right tackle Mike Salazar . 

Supplementing the offensive front will be one the squad's premier weapons in returning All-American tight end Alex Gottlieb , who has established himself as one of the nation's premier pass-catchers at the position last season. Depth is good at tight end, as athletic junior Nolan Kearney (a converted QB) has outstanding hands and size (6-4, 246) and earned significant playing time last fall.

The return of senior signal caller Michael Paulus will be a great plus for the program, as it searches for an heir apparent.  Paulus' size, strength and accuracy are all at an elite level and ideally suit him for the Tribe's pro-style offense. Unfortunately, he won't be participating in the spring game as he has missed all of spring drills with a shoulder injury.  The team had three players compete for reps this spring in rising senior D.J Mangas, rising sophomore Brent Caprio and rising redshirt freshman Raphael Ortiz. Mangas is likely the best athlete competing for the job, while Caprio and Paulus are the only players returning with starting experience. Ortiz is a raw talent with outstanding arm strength.

At receiver, the team sustained one of the biggest losses in graduated senior Chase Hill , who graduated with 19 career touchdown receptions and more than 1,390 career receiving yards.  Returning all-conference wide receiver Ryan Moody entered the spring as the top target (as he had 47 receptions for 731 yards and two touchdowns in '10), but will miss Saturday's action with an injury.  Developing depth at the off the ball positions will be a priority, as pair of seniors in D.J. Mangas (28 receptions, 233 yards in '10)  and Ryan Woolfolk (13 rec, 142 yards in '10) have experience, but most of it has primarily come in the slot position.

W&M will also have to replace three-time all-conference punter David Miller - an All-American selection in 2010. Former wide receiver Tyler Bailey earned valuable experience last season when Miller suffered and injury, while Sean Kroeger and John Carpenter will also compete for the job this fall.

Another area where there figures to be sharp competition is place-kicker, although rising sophomore Drake Kuhn finished last season well - making his final nine field goal attempts of the season.

Billbrough Acing His Last Pitching Exams By Don Leypoldt '96

It is critical for pitchers to learn how to work from the stretch.  Yet Tribe senior righty Logan Billbrough may be forgetting how to do it.

It’s been a long time since Billbrough allowed a lot of baserunners.

Billbrough, a 6’4” Miami native, dominated Fairfield on February 26th.  He allowed just four base runners and no earned runs while striking out seven in eight innings.  That performance was good enough for a CAA Pitcher of the Week Award.

He followed that up by yielding just one unearned run and fanning seven in a no decision against conference favorite JMU. 

Billbrough then had a tough outing against ODU, but rebounded the next Saturday to post another seven K, one run start against George Mason. 

One week later at Delaware, Billbrough was literally unhittable.  He tossed a shutout, one-hitter against the Blue Hens, facing just one batter over the minimum.  That was good enough for his second CAA Pitcher of the Week Award in four weeks.

Then last Saturday, Billbrough fanned ten in seven shutout innings while picking up his third win, this time victimizing Hofstra.  It earned him yet another Conference Pitcher of the Week honor.

The CAA is quickly become the ABC: Another Billbrough Commendation.  Throw out the ODU game and Billbrough is 3-0 with a 0.25 ERA and 35 punchouts in his last five starts.  Opposing hitters are batting a paltry .139 off of him. 

“For (Fairfield and Delaware), warming up I didn’t have my best stuff but once I got on the game mound, I felt that I had really good command of all my pitches,” Billbrough remembered.  “Throwing strikes and throwing where I wanted to” as he credited his location and spotting. 

“When he's locating his fastball well, it sets everything else up,” commented Tribe skipper Frank Leoni.  “He also has a curve, slider and change.  He's at his very best when he commands all four pitches, which has been the case lately.”

This was the same kid who posted an unsightly ERA of over 10 as a freshman.  But Leoni saw an electric arm and a terrific summer- Billbrough pitched for Vermont of the New England Collegiate Baseball League where he posted a 1.01 ERA in 19 appearances – and named Billbrough a closer as a sophomore.

And Billbrough answered the call, winning three, saving three and striking out better than a batter per inning.

The Tribe converted Billbrough to a starter in his junior year.  “(Closing) was more of throwing two different pitches for short stints at a time.  Last year they moved me to the starting rotation and that was a learning experience trying to figure it out,” Billbrough admitted.  “I felt like last year helped me better train for this year.

Starting, says Billbrough, a captain of this year’s Tribe squad, “is learning to use all four of my pitches consistently for strikes and to pitch deeper into ballgames.”

Now, as a senior, the transition of Billbrough as “two pitch thrower” to “four pitch pitcher” is nearing completion.  And paying huge dividends.

“Logan has matured immensely since he first arrived in the Burg,” Leoni observed.  “We tried him as a closer during his sophomore season and at the beginning of his junior year.  However, he has really shined as a starter and continues to build his resume as a competitor. 

“Earlier this season, when he didn't have his best stuff, Logan battled and kept us in the game.  He has handled his ups and downs with professionalism all season, a true sign of his maturity.”

“The pitches I throw now I’ve learned from different guys that I’ve played with.  Guys I played with here when I was younger,” explained Billbrough.  “That and playing summer ball, talking with those guys and seeing how they throw certain pitches.  They taught me a few things and I tried to teach them a few things.  We traded tools.”

Summer ball, like his NECBL stint and his two stints in the Cape Cod League, helped Billbrough’s game tremendously.  Billbrough pitched for Bourne on the Cape in both 2009 and 2010.  He put together an excellent 2.12 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and struck out 62 of the country's best college hitters in 46.2 innings over those two summers.

“On the field, pitching to wood bats is definitely easier than pitching to metal bats so you get your confidence going,” said Billbrough, an Economics and Accounting double major back at Williamsburg.  “I felt I was going in a good direction and I built up a lot of confidence that I was able to bring back to school. 

“Off the field, I had a lot of fun.  I had a great host family.  I met a lot of great guys from all across the country.  They taught me a lot of things about baseball.  We hung out, went to the beach, went to the movies and made new friends all over the place.”

It’s surprising that the traditional Florida baseball powers let Billbrough get out of their backyard.  Even though he was a Miami Hurricanes fan, “I had grown up in Miami my whole life and I kind of wanted to experience a different part of the country, meet new people and break out of my shell,” he explained.  “All of my friends back home were going to Miami, Florida State, Florida, UCF.  So once I kind of started looking outside of the state of Florida, I knew I didn’t want to go too far North being a warm weather kid. 

“With my grades and my baseball, I wanted to find a happy medium where I could get a good athletic and academic experience.  I looked at a few schools that had all of those options and I felt like W&M was the best fit for me.  It turned out to be right.”

The Major League Draft is just two months away.  Billbrough said, “I really hope to play at the next level and I feel like I might have that opportunity.”  Scouts aplenty have noticed his recent dominance.  But he quickly pointed out, “It’s early for speculation.”

He also wants to take advantage of the unique camaraderie that is college baseball.  “(Alumni) have given me some good advice,” he said.  “To just enjoy the college experience and enjoy playing baseball with your college teammates.  Once you get to the pros, it gets very individualized.  You’re playing on a team but you’re playing for yourself if you want to move up.

“Whereas in college you’re playing to win baseball games and conference championships.  Enjoy that and if you do well there, everything will take care of itself.” 

The self-described “warm weather kid” has ironically tossed many of his gems in some downright cold game conditions.  Not even Mother Nature lately can cool the red hot Billbrough.

Haley the Comet: Junior Ranks in Tribe Top 5 for Career Swimming Wins By: Donald Leypoldt '96

In her final meet entering the CAA Championships, Hailey Hewitt did was she has been doing for three years.

The junior won the 200 backstroke in a record time for the Rec Center Pool. 

She also clocked a 57.70 win in the 100 fly.  Just like that, Hewitt cracked the William & Mary’s top five list in all time victories.

And she still has one year to go.  

While Hewitt’s speed garners attention and earns her medals, she excels in two very different strokes.

“I mostly train on backstroke,” she explained.  “For the endurance work I do, while my teammates are doing distance freestyle, I’ll do the backstroke.  Almost everything I do in practice for time or that is working on speed work, I’ll do backstroke.  I have a lot of yards behind my backstroke. 

“The butterfly for me is a more fun event.  It’s definitely different for training,” she continued.  “When I’m working on butterfly, I’m mostly working on sprinting.  I think the sprint is more about power and coming from my background where I’ve been swimming my whole life, the sprinting is just having fun.” 

Hewitt’s success on D.O.G. Street is not unexpected.  She assembled an extremely impressive resume while at Robinson High School.  A seven-time prep All-American, Hewitt qualified for USA Swimming’s Junior Nationals.  Hewitt captained the Rams to a state runner-up her senior year while she herself was a five time state finalist.

Although Fairfax County is home, Hewitt spent her sophomore year at Brunswick High in Maine.  While Down East, she won state titles in the 100M backstroke and the 200M IM.  She even helped lead the Brunswick cross country team to a state title.

When it came time to choose colleges, Hewitt was being wooed by Colgate in upstate New York.  Their coach was a fellow named Matt Crispino. 

“He had started recruiting me for Colgate.  I didn’t like how far North that was, but I liked Coach Crispino,” Hewitt remembered.  “I didn’t really want to look (at W&M), but my Mom loved the school so I decided to come on a recruiting trip.  When I found out (Crispino) was coming to William & Mary, I was more excited about my trip. 

“I ended up falling in love with the team and the school.  It’s a gorgeous campus.  I loved our team dynamic: how the men and women interacted with the coach.  As soon as I came here, I knew I wanted to come to William & Mary,” she concluded.

Hewitt made a splash with the Tribe quicker than you can say “Michael Phelps.”  She earned the CAA’s Swimmer of the Week award in early November of her freshman year.  Hewitt’s 27 wins during her freshman campaign tied a William & Mary record. 

By far, Hewitt’s most impressive of the 27 “W”s was her claiming the CAA Championship in the 200 meter backstroke.  Her time of 2:00.45 set a new Tribe record.

Hewitt built on that season as a sophomore, winning races in events as diverse as the 200 IM, the 100 fly and the 200 freestyle.  Her 20 individual wins in the 2010-11 season led all Tribe swimmers.

The wins are a result of many, many hours of swimming and training.  Yet there are tangible benefits to the work ethic that is required from a Division I competitive swimmer.

“I think it really helps me with my time management.  When I’m not swimming, it’s harder for me to have a solid schedule,” observed Hewitt, a Kinesiology and Education double major.  “When I know that I have to go to a morning practice, then class, then an afternoon practice, I know I’m going to have to do my school work afterwards.  I can prioritize well, because I’m going to be on a tight schedule and that helps me out in the long run.”

Indeed it has.  Both the men’s and women’s swimming squads were honored as Scholar All-American Teams by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.  The award is presented to teams with a cumulative GPA of 3.0; the College women were one of just three CAA programs honored.

Though Hewitt is racking up impressive individual accolades, swimming is also a team sport.  The practices and travel ensure that Hewitt spends a significant amount of time with the 48 other men and women on the Tribe’s swimming and diving teams.  This year’s team chemistry, Hewitt feels, is uniquely strong.

“I’ve been on teams before where we haven’t all gotten along.  But this year especially, the team dynamic has been great.  The men and women get along better than ever.  There is not one girl that I could not turn to with a problem,” said Hewitt.  “It’s a great support system to have, in and out of the pool.  We’ll all study together if we all have a test. 

“I think what is so comforting about having the team, especially your freshman year when you come into the school, is that you have 50 friends automatically.  50 people who have your back.”

The teammates help each other out not just will swimming, but with school work and just relaxing.  “We’ll sit in each other’s apartments or watch movies.  A lot of us have gotten into that new dance video game so we’ll hang out and play that,” Hewitt said. 

“Or recently, we’ve been playing a lot of Clue which can get really competitive.”   

There is no swimming pool in the Clue mansion but if there were we would all accuse Hailey Hewitt of being fast with the back and fly.  And we’d all be right.