Big South Conference Archives - �۶�ֱ�� University

Mike Griffith Reaches 200 Big South Wins, Cementing a Legacy at �۶�ֱ��

Office of University Communications — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:00:45 +0000

Longtime Head Coach Reflects on Championships, Growth, and the Student-Athletes who Shaped the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ Success

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—�۶�ֱ�� men’s tennis coach Mike Griffith reached a significant milestone in his tenure with the Runnin’ Bulldogs, recording his 200th career victory while being a member of the Big South Conference. The historic win came over Converse College on Feb. 28.

Griffith, who is retiring after 23 seasons at �۶�ֱ��, is recognized as the third winningest coach in the history of the Big South Conference. Having built one of the league’s most consistent and respected programs, he is a four-time Coach of the Year. As the program approaches its final season of competition, his impact will remain a lasting part of �۶�ֱ�� athletics history.

Griffith became the head men’s tennis coach in 2003 during �۶�ֱ��’s first Division I season. The program competed in the A-Sun Conference until 2008, recording some wins before joining the Big South Conference in 2009.

“I will always remember the day I interviewed for the position with former AD Chuck Burch,” Griffith reflected. “So much activity was happening that day with so many athletic teams practicing. I knew right then I wanted to be at GWU and this was the perfect job for me. I was meant to be a coach.”

In 2019, �۶�ֱ�� claimed its first regular-season conference championship, finishing 7-1 in league play. “The conference had the finest No. 1 players ever, with UNCA having an eventual Grand Slam winner at Wimbledon and the Australian Open,” Griffith observed. “Our No. 1 player, Maximilian Scholl, then went 20-1, and his only defeat was to the defending national champion from Wake Forest.”

Griffith also led the Runnin’ Bulldogs to back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in program history, compiling a 29-6 conference record over the past six seasons. The program captured its first-ever Big South Tournament Championship in 2025, earning an NCAA Tournament berth and capping a historic campaign.

“I remember some of the wins, but what motivated me was the losses,” Griffith shared. “It drove me to get better and work harder. One of the hardest defeats we’ve ever had was losing in the finals in 2024. The team and I worked hard to make sure that never would happen again, and thankfully we won it all in 2025.”

Under Griffith’s leadership, �۶�ֱ�� has consistently competed among the conference’s top teams, earning multiple postseason appearances and producing numerous All-Conference selections. His teams have been known for their depth, discipline, strong doubles play, and ability to close out matches on the singles courts.

This year’s team currently sits atop the Big South standings. “We are 12-3 and need one more conference win to clinch the regular-season championship,” Griffith said. “This is a team and a group who will go their separate ways after this season. Their character and willpower motivate me, and my goal is to send them out as champions.”

A former standout at Winthrop, Griffith played in 1987 for Cid Carvalho, the second winningest coach in Big South Conference history.

Beyond wins and accolades, Griffith’s influence has extended far beyond the court. His players have consistently excelled academically while representing �۶�ֱ�� with pride throughout their collegiate careers.

Sources: gwusports.com and Big South Conference

�۶�ֱ�� University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., �۶�ֱ�� prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .

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Hart and Soul: �۶�ֱ��’s Andrea Hartman Beat Cancer, Earned Starting Spot

Office of University Communications — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:46:55 +0000

With Support from Family, Coaches and Teammates, Lacrosse Defender Fought Her Way Onto the Field

Written By Beth Ann Mayer

Courtesy of

No one likes to learn they need a filling during a routine dentist appointment. But it’s not out-of-the-ordinary news.

Less than two months before leaving California for her freshman year at �۶�ֱ��, where she was slated to play lacrosse, Andrea Hartman’s dental hygienist did, in fact, tell her she would need to have a cavity filled. But on three separate occasions, the hygienist also mentioned that Hartman’s thyroid was swollen. She advised her to get it checked out.

“I didn’t know anything about the thyroid,” Hartman said. “The only thing I knew was that my dog was having weight issues and that it was because her thyroid was not working. So, my initial reaction [was] not initial panic.”

But Hartman did want to get it checked out. She had no idea that a few months later, and at the age of 17, she’d learn that she had thyroid cancer. What Hartman did know was that she was no stranger to bumps in her athletic career. She spent her early childhood and school years in Maryland, where kids are basically handed out lacrosse sticks at birth.

Many of Hartman’s friends never put theirs down, but Hartman opted to start gymnastics. In middle school, she was diagnosed with osteochondritis in her elbow. The joint condition occurs when blood circulation is cut off from a bone (or, as Hartman said, “My bone died in my elbow”).

Hartman didn’t go back to gymnastics. Instead, she joined her friends in lacrosse. But her family decided to move to California during the pandemic. California is an emerging market for the sport, but it doesn’t have the same panache as Maryland. She made do, finding a high school with a solid program in Murrieta Mesa.

Still, Hartman didn’t get many Division I looks. Eventually, then-�۶�ֱ�� head coach Kathleen Mirgon Crum’s name appeared in her inbox.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, my first D-I email—this is so cool,” Hartman recalled.

Hartman and Crum spoke on the phone and texted back and forth. She visited the campus in November and attended a camp a few months later.

“It was �۶�ֱ�� from there,” Hartman said.

Before going to �۶�ֱ��, Hartman had a cavity to fill, and she had items to pick up from an uncle’s house in Maryland. Another dental hygienist also flagged her swollen thyroid, so she saw an old family doctor there who ordered blood work. It came back clean.

But the bump was still there when she needed to get a physical upon arriving at school. She brought it up to the doctor, who encouraged her to come back in a few days to discuss it further.

“We decide that it’s worth it to get an ultrasound,” Hartman said. “At this point, it was so big, I guess that it wasn’t just a swollen thyroid. It was like, ‘There’s something there. There’s something like growing.’”

Was it a cyst? A nodule? Was it cancer? The ultrasound in September couldn’t say for sure, but Hartman’s care team could see that something was there. To learn more, she’d need to go for a biopsy. That step happened in October.

All the while, Hartman was participating in fall practices for the lacrosse program, now guided by head coach Chris Harris, who took over for Crum after she resigned in 2024. He liked what he saw of Hartman on film alone. “She was very responsive to everything, so I could tell that she was a mature young lady who was ready to roll,” Harris said.

Ready to roll on the lacrosse field? Sure. Ready to roll with what happened next? Not really. But to be fair, is anyone?

A week after the biopsy, Hartman got a notification that her lab results were ready, but she was unable to log in on her phone. She called the doctor’s office. “The secretary answers, and is like, ‘You need to come in and make an appointment. I can’t tell you anything about the results. You have to make an appointment,” Hartman said. “My mom and I hang up the phone, and we’re like, ‘We kind of know what this means.’”

The Hartmans were pretty sure that the secretary wouldn’t insist that they speak to the doctor in person if it wasn’t cancer. They were right. She was diagnosed with stage II papillary thyroid cancer. It was treatable with surgery, and she would not need chemotherapy.

And if there’s one thing that Megan Hartman, Andrea’s mom, knows all too well, it’s cancer. She herself has a BRCA2 gene mutation and had a preventative mastectomy. Her uncle had thyroid cancer later in his life. Other members of her family have gone through glaucoma, lung cancer and ovarian cancer, just to name a few. It was a diagnosis she had heard about so many times but never wanted for her own daughter, of course. “It was scary for a lot of reasons, but mostly because there’s such a high rate of cancer and so many different kinds of cancer in our family,” Megan Hartman said. “This is something she now has to deal with at 17. That was really concerning for us.”

It would be easy to say, “Put lacrosse on the back burner and focus on healing.” Yet there was a healthy amount of grief and angst over the cruel timing of Hartman learning of her diagnosis and the need for treatment right as she was getting her feet under her at school and in lacrosse, after an underdog’s journey to become a Runnin’ Bulldog in the first place.

“This moment collided with something she had worked toward for so long,” her mother said. “She worried about getting out of shape, letting her team down and watching her dreams slip away just as they felt within reach. This diagnosis came at a moment when she was just beginning to fully believe she belonged at this level, and that made the fear feel even heavier.”

The Runnin’ Bulldogs didn’t feel let down, though. So, Harris steadied her. Her team lifted her. “After I talked with her, I actually just sat down and just prayed about it, because it’s not an easy process,” Harris said. “But I wanted to make sure she knew that we were there for her and we were going to be with her every step of the way, no matter what the situation, whatever the results.”

Those words were a genuine promise that Harris and �۶�ֱ�� kept. “The team rallied around Andrea,” Megan Hartman said. “The coaches were so kind to her and flexible with her. The parents were absolutely amazing. We’ve been on teams for decades now, and I’ve never felt so supported by people who honestly didn’t even know us. They offered their homes for me to stay in so that I could be in North Carolina with her through all the appointments.”

Parents and players brought groceries so that Hartman and her mother were well fed. They sent gift cards and baskets and celebrated with her after the surgery, which conveniently and appropriately fell near her 18th birthday. But Hartman had a few months and a long road before she hit that milestone. And all the support was necessary. It took decisions and to-dos off the Hartmans’ plates, which were already overflowing with choices to make, appointments to attend, and information to process and act on quickly.

The first step was choosing a surgeon. They opted to work with a surgeon at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Proton & Advanced Radiation Center because of its proximity to campus. “It made the most sense to us to do that, but that was stressful,” Hartman said. “You’re picking your surgeon. Hopefully, they do the best.”

Then, there was a matter of scheduling the surgery, which required a referral and consultation. “I was feeling like, ‘It’s already been nearly six months. I want this out. It’s stage II. Let’s not make it stage III,” Hartman said. “My coach did a really good job of keeping me calm. He said, ‘Don’t worry. If it were, if it were this big of a rush, they would be rushing.’”

The goal wasn’t to minimize her understandable fears. It was to provide steady confidence and unwavering support.

The next steps took a hard pivot when Hartman’s surgeon offered her another choice. She could remove half her thyroid as planned or all of it to lower the risk of recurrence. “I was like, ‘Wow, another big decision,’” Hartman said.

A big decision complicated by some serious whiplash.

“The same day, we go into a different office, and we see the endocrinologist, who is the doctor who’s going to be with me for the rest of my life, and she said, ‘We recommend you get only half out, because there’s no need to get the other half out,’” Hartman said. “So, it was like, ‘OK, I have a surgeon telling me to get the full thing out. I have my doctor telling me to get half. This is just a lot.’”

In the end, Hartman opted to have her entire thyroid removed. The surgery was successful, but the first night was sleepless for Hartman and her mother as she struggled to maintain calcium and hormone levels, a common but scary side effect. “She was convulsing, and it was incredibly, incredibly scary for me as a parent,” Megan Hartman said. “[The staff] knew exactly how to take care of her. There were definitely points where I was really, really scared and uncomfortable with what was happening, but very confident in her medical team.”

The confidence was well placed. The doctors tested lymph nodes that would not have been removed if Hartman had opted for the less-comprehensive surgery, and they turned out to be cancerous, too.

She will complete preventative radioactive iodine treatment this summer, once the lacrosse season ends. Leaving the game that she’s come to love behind? Never an option. “Quitting lacrosse never crossed my mind,” Hartman said. “I think having to take six weeks off was difficult.”

But she’s grateful for the timing, which “only” included the last two weeks of fall ball. The other four weeks occurred during holiday and winter breaks, giving her time to work her way back.

But unlike an ACL injury, which typically takes around 18 months to fully return from, there’s not a blueprint for making a comeback from thyroid cancer. Perhaps surprisingly, though, it’s much shorter than an ACL tear recovery. The doctor suggested that she avoid heavy weightlifting for two weeks and progressively work her way back up after. They told her she’d likely be good to go after six weeks. Hartman wasn’t just good to go. She was ready.

“It made me realize how much I loved lacrosse,” Hartman said. “Fall ball is hard, so I was craving winter break. Then, I had that last little bit of fall ball taken away from me, and I was like, ‘The only thing I want to do right now is go back to being on the lacrosse field, practicing at 6 a.m. in the freezing cold weather.’ When Coach says, ‘Get on the line,’ I’m grateful to be on the line.”

Hartman’s gratitude isn’t all that’s grown. She has, too. “She truly had to grow up quickly,” her mother said. “She now manages much of her own medical care, communicates directly with doctors, tracks appointments and makes decisions about her body and recovery in a way most teenagers never have to. There were moments where she was forced to process uncertainty, timelines and decisions like an adult. That experience didn’t change who she is, but it deepened her sense of responsibility, self-advocacy and perspective.”

Hartman’s strength has poured out onto the field. In January, she played like she had a fall, free of doctor’s appointments, a cancer diagnosis and missed practice time. She was finally able to play freely. “When she came back, she was hitting the ground rolling,” Harris said. “We put her in, let her get a couple of reps, just to build her back into the play. Then, once she’d shown she could take on more responsibilities, we just put her in bigger situations, and she was able to handle them as well.”

And so, Hartman learned that she’d start on defense for the Runnin’ Bulldogs first game of the season against Austin Peay. She again earned a start at Campbell. “I was proud of myself for coming back in those first few practices of spring and doing well,” Hartman said. “I had worked hard over winter break to build back up to everything. It paid off. When I got to practice, I was doing well. [I started] our first scrimmage and was like, ‘It’s all working out. Everything is going to be OK.’”

Harris sees a bright future for Andrea as a Runnin’ Bulldog. “We’re excited about the way she’s going to grow for this year and years to come,” he said. “In the years to come, she’ll be one of the ones who could teach the freshmen, ‘This is what we do. This is how we go about doing things, and this is the way we play.’”

Hartman has certainly shown she can play through adversity with grace. But the starting spot wasn’t the best news Hartman and her family received recently, nor is it the only reason to believe her future is, in fact, bright. Given her family history and now her own history of cancer, Hartman decided to go for genetic testing to see if she had biomarkers for other cancers.

“She tested negative for every single genetic marker, for every single type of cancer in our family and every single type of cancer that they even have a genetic marker for,” her mother said. “She tested negative.”

Does it mean she’ll never receive another diagnosis? That no one can say. But cancer has less of a fighting chance without the markers. Hartman, on the other hand, has a fighting chance to make a name for herself and help turn around the program at �۶�ֱ��.

USA Lacrosse Staff Writer Beth Ann Mayer is a Long Island-based writer. She joined USA Lacrosse in 2022 after freelancing for Inside Lacrosse for five years. She first began covering the game as a student at Syracuse.

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�۶�ֱ�� Football Announces 2026 Schedule

Office of University Communications — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:49:29 +0000

Gardner-Webb Opens Kris McCullough Era with 12‑Game Schedule Highlighted by Road Tests and Rivalry Matchups

Family Weekend set for Sept. 19; Homecoming and Military Appreciation is Nov. 7

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—First-year head coach Kris McCullough and the �۶�ֱ�� football team have announced their full schedule for the upcoming 2026 season.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs, coming off a 7-5 overall record and 5-3 mark in OVC/Big South action, will have a 12-game slate that includes seven games within the conference and four home games.

“We are excited for the task of a very challenging schedule,” McCullough said. “Playing two FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) schools and three talented FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) teams in non-conference will get us ready for our OVC/Big South schedule. I can’t wait to get to work this spring while we prepare for a top-25 Austin Peay team on the road in August.”

The FBS represents the highest level of NCAA Division I football. The FCS, which includes Gardner‑Webb, is the next level within Division I. Together, FBS and FCS make up the two subdivisions of NCAA Division I football in the United States.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs’ first game will be against the Governors of Austin Peay University, an FCS team, on Aug. 29 in Clarksville, Tenn. The next stop on the road trip will be just over state lines as �۶�ֱ�� heads to nearby Spartanburg, S.C., for a matchup with longtime foe Wofford on Sept. 5. The Terriers and Runnin’ Bulldogs have met 11 times in their history with Wofford holding a 9-2 advantage in the series.

The final stop of the road trip lands the Dawgs in Lynchburg, Va., on Sept. 12 to play the Flames of Liberty University, the first FBS team.

Opening the home portion of its schedule, �۶�ֱ�� will play host to North Carolina Central on Sept. 19 for Family Weekend. The Runnin’ Bulldogs pulled out a 21-12 win during the last meeting in 2019.

The home stay does not last long as GWU hits the road once again for its next two contests, starting with a showdown on Sept. 26 with the second FBS team, the Thundering Herd of Marshall in Huntington, W.Va. Conference play opens on Oct. 3 at Charleston Southern, which is also the third edition of the North-South BBQ Bowl with the previous two contests being won by �۶�ֱ��.

Eastern Illinois visits Spangler Stadium on Oct. 10 for an OVC/Big South bout before �۶�ֱ�� travels to UT Martin on Oct. 17. Following a bye week, the Runnin’ Bulldogs return to action on Oct. 31 at Southeast Missouri State.

A quick trip back to Boiling Springs on Nov. 7 for Homecoming and a Military Appreciation game has �۶�ֱ�� pitted against Lindenwood followed by a trek to Macomb, Ill., to face Western Illinois on Nov. 14. The Runnin’ Bulldogs close out the regular season on Nov. 21 after playing host to Tennessee State.

Ticket information will be announced later. For all up-do-date news, events, and schedule changes for �۶�ֱ�� football, please visit www.gwusports.com or follow the Runnin’ Bulldogs on social media @gwusports.

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�۶�ֱ�� Baseball Unveils Challenging 2026 Schedule

Office of University Communications — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:41:10 +0000

Runnin’ Bulldogs Set for 56 games, Including Big South Battles and Trips to Oklahoma State and Washington State

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Head Coach Jim Chester and the �۶�ֱ�� University baseball team have announced the 2026 schedule. This year’s slate has 56 games, including 24 games within the Big South Conference.

“The 2026 schedule is as challenging as any in my tenure at �۶�ֱ��,” said Chester. “Traditional non-conference opponents like Western Carolina, App State, Wofford, and UNC Charlotte are back this year. The Big South slate will be competitive from top to bottom. Our alumni and fans will be excited about trips to Oklahoma State and Washington State this spring. Opening Day can’t get here soon enough! Sko Dawgs!”

The Runnin’ Bulldogs open the 2026 season playing 11 of its first 12 games within the friendly confines of Bill Masters Field. Valparaiso visits Boiling Springs for a four-game set beginning Feb. 13-15 before a quick trip on Feb. 18 to face South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference.

�۶�ֱ�� returns home to host Fairleigh Dickinson University for a pair of games on Feb. 20-21 followed by two games against Dartmouth (Feb. 21-22) and a three-game series with Appalachian State (Feb. 27-March 1). Next, the Dawgs head north to Durham, N.C., to take on Duke for a single game on March 3 before making a trip out west to play three games against Oklahoma State (March 6-8). They return to North Carolina to play a single game at Davidson on March 10.

GWU opens league play with three games versus Longwood at home on March 13-15. The remainder of the season follows.

March 17 – 5 p.m. Western Carolina, Cullowhee, N.C.
March 20-22 – Charleston-Southern, Charleston, S.C.
March 24 – 6 p.m., vs. North Carolina A&T, Moss Stadium.
March 27-29 – vs. High Point, Moss Stadium.
March 31 – North Carolina A&T, Greensboro, N.C.
April 2-4 – UNC-Asheville.
April 7 – 6 p.m., vs. Elon, Moss Stadium.
April 9-11 – Washington State, Pullman, Wash.
April 14 – 6 p.m., vs. Queens University, Moss Stadium.
April 17-19 – Radford, Va.
April 21 – 1 p.m., vs. Western Carolina, Moss Stadium.
April 24-26 – vs. Winthrop, Moss Stadium.
May 1-3 – USC Upstate, Spartanburg, S.C.
May 6 – 6 p.m., vs. Wofford, Moss Stadium.
May 8 – 5 p.m., vs. Bradley, Moss Stadium.
May 9 – 11 a.m., vs. Campbell, Moss Stadium.
May 9, 7 p.m., vs. Bradley, Moss Stadium
May 12, 6 p.m., UNC Charlotte.
May 14-16 – vs. Presbyterian, Moss Stadium.

For updates, game times, and more news on the Runnin’ Bulldogs, visit gwusports.com, or follow @gwusports on Instagram, X and Facebook.

Sixth Annual First Pitch

Fans are invited to celebrate the 2026 season at the Sixth Annual First Pitch celebration on Jan. 24. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and a silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind items that support your �۶�ֱ�� Runnin’ Bulldogs. Then at 7 p.m., meet the 2026 roster, coaching staff, and support team as the team kicks off another exciting season of Bulldog baseball! This year’s special guest is Major League All-Star, San Diego Padre, and proud �۶�ֱ�� alumnus Mason Miller—and in a historic moment, the baseball program will be retiring his jersey, #17, forever etching his legacy in Bulldog history. Get event and game tickets at .

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�۶�ֱ�� Basketball Season Tickets On Sale Now

Office of University Communications — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:13:08 +0000

Choose �ѱ��’s, �´ǳ��’s, or Combo Package for an Action-Packed Season at Paul Porter Arena

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Season tickets for the upcoming �۶�ֱ�� basketball season at Paul Porter Arena are now available for purchase. In addition to purchasing separate men’s and women’s season tickets, a new Super Season Ticket combo option will allow for one ticket to all 26 home men’s and women’s basketball games for the 2025-26 season.

Brendan Fahey

Members of the Bulldog Club have priority access and receive discounts on all season ticket packages. Join the Bulldog Club or call William Glover at 704-406-4630.

“Runnin Bulldogs nation make sure you secure your tickets now for what promises to be an exciting season!” emphasized Vice President for Athletics and Athletic Director, Brendan Fahey. “We look forward to enhancing the game day atmosphere and creating a strong home court advantage for teams. I can’t wait to see you at Paul Porter arena soon. Thank you for your support and ‘Sko Dawgs.”

The �۶�ֱ�� men will play 13 home games this season, starting with the home-opener on Monday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. versus North Greenville. The women’s team will also play 13 home games with the opener coming on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. against Hampton.

For ticketing information, please contact Michael Covil, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, at 704-406-2026 or mcovil@gardner-webb.edu.

A complete list of season ticket options and the home schedules are below.

Season Tickets

Men’s season tickets – $130 (40% savings)
Women’s Season Tickets – $130 (40% savings)
Super Season Ticket – $200 (one ticket to all home MBB and WBB games)

Single Game Costs

General Admission Adult – $15
General Admission Child (10 and under) – $7
Reserved Seating – $20

Dynamic Game Single Game Pricing (High Point, UNC Asheville, and Winthrop)

General Admission – $25
Reserved Seating – $30

Home Games

�ѱ��’s

Nov. 10 – 7 p.m. vs. North Greenville
Dec. 6 – 2 p.m. vs. Georgia Southern
Dec. 12 – 7 p.m. vs. Brevard
Dec. 15 – 7 p.m. vs. Wofford
Dec. 18 – 7 p.m. vs. Toccoa Falls, education day game
Dec. 31 – 2 p.m. vs. Charleston Southern
Jan. 14 – 7 p.m. vs. Radford
Jan. 17 – 2 p.m. vs. Presbyterian
Jan. 24 – 2 p.m. vs. USC-Upstate
Feb. 4 – 7 p.m. vs. Longwood
Feb. 12 – 7 p.m. vs. Winthrop
Feb. 14 – 2 p.m. vs. High Point
Feb. 26 – 7 p.m. vs. UNC-Asheville

�´ǳ��’s

Nov. 16 – 2 p.m. vs. Hampton
Nov. 19 – 7 p.m. vs. UNC-Wilmington
Dec. 1 – 7 p.m. vs. Appalachian State
Dec. 4 – 7 p.m. vs. Wofford
Dec. 13 – 2 p.m. vs. Western Carolina
Jan. 7 – 7 p.m. vs. UNC-Asheville
Jan. 10 – 2 p.m. vs. USC-Upstate
Jan. 21 – 7 p.m. vs. Presbyterian
Jan. 28 – 7 p.m. vs. Longwood
Feb. 7 – 2 p.m. vs. Winthrop
Feb. 11 – 2 p.m. vs. Presbyterian
Feb. 21 – 2 p.m. vs. High Point
Feb. 28 – 2 p.m. vs. Radford

For updates, game times, and more news on the Runnin’ Bulldogs, visit , or follow @gwusports on Instagram, X and Facebook.

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 working days prior to the event. Please call 704-406-4270 or email disabilityservices@gardner-webb.edu with your request.

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�۶�ֱ�� to Honor Athletic Excellence at Hall of Fame Gala During Homecoming Weekend

Office of University Communications — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 18:54:26 +0000

Event Celebrates 120 Years of Runnin’ Bulldogs’ Legacy and Recognizes 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—A highlight of the annual Homecoming festivities at �۶�ֱ�� is the Athletics Hall of Fame Gala. This year’s event on Oct. 17 also kicks off the University’s “120 Years and Runnin’ Strong” celebration.

Alumni and friends will gather for an unforgettable evening to honor the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ legacy and the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 inductees: Amanda Steinmuller Bennett (lacrosse), Graham Whitlock (football), and the late Will Corn, GWU athletics facilities coordinator, who will receive the Chuck Burch Meritorious Service Award.

The semi-formal Hall of Fame Gala features a spirited red carpet walk at 6:30 p.m. and reception, celebratory dinner, and the induction ceremony at 7:15 p.m. Each of the inductees adds another unique chapter to 120 years of Bulldog pride.

Tickets are $35 per person, $65 per couple, or $250 for table of eight.

This celebration was made possible in part by the generous support of OrthoCarolina. Their continued dedication to excellence and community aligns closely with the mission of �۶�ֱ�� University.

Class of 2025 Inductees

Amanda Steinmuller Bennett

One of the program’s first signees, Bennett played on the women’s lacrosse team from 2015-2018 after a stellar high school career at Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City, Md. At GWU, she was a three-time All-Big South Conference selection, received honorable mention twice and second team once. She finished her career as the program’s career leader in goals, assists and points. Bennett also set single-season program records for goals and points in both 2017 and 2018. She played in 68 games, collected 123 goals, 50 assists, and achieved a team-high and school-record 61 points in 2018. She also held a single game record for scoring eight goals versus Wofford.

After completing her undergraduate studies at �۶�ֱ��, Steinmuller Bennett continued her passion for the sport as a graduate assistant coach at Capital University, Bexley, Ohio, where she also earned her master’s degree in school counseling. For the past six years, Steinmuller Bennett has served as a school counselor in Brentwood, Tenn., while coaching lacrosse for four years. “Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor and a reminder of the incredible people, opportunities, and experiences that lacrosse has given me,” she affirmed.

Graham Whitlock

Whitlock played football at Laurens District 55 High School in Laurens, S.C. A punter for the Runnin’ Bulldogs from 2001-2004, Whitlock led the NCAA Division I-AA nationally in 2003 with a school-record and Big South-record average of 45.5 yards per attempt. He was a 2003 All-America and three-time, first-team All-Big South Conference selection (2002-2004). Whitlock had 28 career punts of 50-yards or more, which ranks fourth in Big South history, and had 16 of those kicks in 2003.

He was named to the Big South Conference All-Decade Team in 2013 in conjunction with the league’s 30th anniversary. He also made the National Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 10, 2002, after averaging 41.3 yards on 11 attempts at Georgia Southern. He also had a career-long, 73-yard punt at Georgia Southern in 2002, which is the second-longest in school history—and had a 71-yard punt at Liberty that same season.

After leaving �۶�ֱ��, Whitlock played football in the American Indoor Football League for the Carolina Force. Whitlock is employed with Caliber Collision/Auto Glass as the business development manager for the Northeast. He is also the quarterback/kicking coach for the boys’ varsity and junior varsity football team at Southside Christian School in Greenville, S.C. “I’m very excited for the opportunity to thank a lot of people who impacted my life at �۶�ֱ��,” he shared. “I’m also thankful for my parents and brothers who supported me, and for Coach Steve Patton and my teammates. We were a family. I’m also excited to share the honor with my wife and children. The greatest joy in my life is my wife, Nicole; son, Greyson; and twins, Paxton and Peyton.”

Will Corn

For more than a decade, Corn served as the athletics facilities coordinator at �۶�ֱ��, where he became known not just for his tireless work ethic, but for the care, humor and warmth he brought to every interaction. He died June 14, 2025, at the age of 46.

Whether preparing fields, assisting a coach, or offering a kind word, Corn’s impact on campus extended far beyond his job description. His presence could be felt in every corner of the athletics community—and beyond. He displayed all the qualifications of the Chuck Burch Meritorious Service Award, which recognizes service to the University, reputation for good character as well as dedicated support for �۶�ֱ�� Athletics through all seasons.

Beyond his professional duties, Corn was deeply invested in service. He was an active member of the Boiling Springs Area Rotary Club, the Historic Mount Harmony Church board, and the security team at First Baptist Church of Shelby.

Friends and colleagues remember him as a joyful, selfless presence—someone who loved music and laughter, and showed up with a heart for others, friends and strangers alike.

“Will lived a life of deep friendship, love, compassion and true acceptance of everyone,” one friend shared. “One of a kind.”

Learn more about Homecoming Weekend at �۶�ֱ��.

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Hogs, Hits and Hometown Pride: BBQ Bowl Fires Up at �۶�ֱ��

Office of University Communications — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:18:45 +0000

Runnin’ Bulldogs Host Charleston Southern in Sizzling Rematch for the Coveted Hog Trophy—and a Feast Fit for Champions

Nate Evans, interim GWU
president

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The coals are hot and the rivalry is well-seasoned as �۶�ֱ�� opens the month of October with a BBQ Bowl rematch against Charleston-Southern. This gridiron grill-off marks the start of Big South/OVC play for GWU and the second annual “Clash of the Carolinas,” set for Oct. 4 at 1:30 p.m. in Spangler Stadium. At stake? Bragging rights and the North-South BBQ trophy—a hefty hog atop a placard engraved with each year’s victor and score.

The ’Dawgs smoked out a nail-biter 17-14 win over Charleston Southern in last year’s inaugural BBQ Bowl and are fired up to keep the trophy—and the flavor—on their side of the smoker. If �۶�ֱ�� holds on, the Bucs will be serving up a smokehouse feast. But if CSU flips the grill, the Bulldogs will bring the slow-cooked spread to Charleston. In this rivalry, the victors don’t just win—they choose the pitmaster’s platter: North Carolina-style (western BBQ, of course) or South Carolina-style.

Interim �۶�ֱ�� President Nate Evans noted, “Football, BBQ, and bragging rights … what’s not to love? The BBQ Bowl is more than a game; it is about spirit and tradition. We welcome our friends from Charleston-Southern and look forward to defending the trophy while enjoying some good BBQ!”

B. Keith Faulkner, Charleston
Southern president

�۶�ֱ�� and Charleston Southern are the only two remaining original Big South football teams from the conference’s inception in that sport in 2002. The two teams have met every year since joining the Big South. This will be the 23rd overall meeting with �۶�ֱ�� leading the series with 13 wins.

“This is an unmatched tradition between the Carolinas to determine which Big South Baptist university has the best football and BBQ,” CSU President B. Keith Faulkner said. “CSU will launch the attack this year to bring the Hog Trophy title back to where it belongs—in Charleston, South Carolina.”

�۶�ֱ�� won the first five meetings in the series from 1988-2004. Charleston Southern won five in a row from 2017-2021, before the Dawgs broke the losing streak to the Bucs with a 28-14 win on Oct. 22, 2022. �۶�ֱ�� has won the last two meetings in the series, including a 34-10 victory on Nov. 18, 2023, in the regular season finale to clinch the inaugural Big South-OVC championship.

Both schools’ athletics programs compete as full members of the Big South Conference.

Tickets for �۶�ֱ�� football are available online at GWUSports.com.

About Charleston Southern

Charleston Southern University is an independent, comprehensive Christian university grounded in the liberal arts tradition, affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Founded as the Baptist College at Charleston in 1964 upon the principle that students should have an opportunity for a quality education under the guidance of Christian faculty, the institution changed its name to Charleston Southern University in 1990 to reflect the offering of graduate programs.

About �۶�ֱ��

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�۶�ֱ�� Men’s Basketball Begins 2025-’26 Campaign with Trip to Minnesota on Nov. 3

Office of University Communications — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:11:45 +0000

Schedule Includes 31 Games, 16 Within Big South Conference, and 13 at Home in Paul Porter Arena

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Head coach Jeremy Luther and the �۶�ֱ�� men’s basketball team have announced the full schedule for the upcoming 2025-’26 season. This year’s slate includes 15 non-conference games as well as 16 games within the Big South Conference.

Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jeremy Luther

“I love our schedule,” said Luther. “In putting this year’s schedule together, we wanted to make sure we were going to be tested, gave our kids a great experience and our fans some great non-conference home games to come and see.”

Luther added, “At the end of the day it’s about what we do in Big South Conference play and we feel this schedule will get us ready to be the best team we can be going forward.”

The Runnin’ Bulldogs kick off this year’s schedule with a trip to Minnesota on Nov. 3 before making the trip down I-85 to visit the Tigers of Clemson on Nov. 7.

�۶�ֱ�� opens the home portion of its schedule on Nov. 10, playing host to the Trailblazers of North Greenville University. The next seven games will be played away from Paul Porter Arena as the Dawgs start their road swing at Elon Nov. 15.

Trips to DePaul and Richmond on Nov. 18 and 22, respectively, lead the Runnin’ Bulldogs into the Live Oak Bank Holiday Classic hosted by UNC Wilmington over Thanksgiving break, Nov. 26-29.

On day one of the tournament, GWU will take on Navy before having a rest day to prepare for Southeastern Louisiana. The classic wraps up on Nov. 29 when the Runnin’ Bulldogs play the host Seahawks.

�۶�ֱ�� will complete its seven-game road trip on Dec. 3 after traveling to the Queen City of Charlotte, N.C., to face Queens University.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs will then enter a season-long four-game home streak, starting with Georgia Southern on Dec. 6. Brevard visits the LYCC on Dec. 12 followed by Wofford and Toccoa Falls on Dec. 15 and 18, respectively.

One last non-conference contest at Tennessee on Dec. 21 will bring GWU into the conference portion of the schedule. Charleston Southern will come to town on Dec. 31.

Here’s the rest of the schedule:

Jan. 3 – at Winthrop.
Jan. 7 – at High Point.
Jan. 14 – Radford (home).
Jan. 17 – Presbyterian (home).
Jan. 21 – at Longwood.
Jan. 24 – USC-Upstate (home).
Jan. 29 – at UNC-Asheville.
Jan. 31 – at Charleston-Southern.
Feb. 4 – Longwood (home).
Feb. 7 – at Presbyterian.
Feb. 12 – Winthrop (home).
Feb. 14 – High Point (home).
Feb. 19 – Radford (home).
Feb. 26 – UNC-Asheville (home).
Feb. 28 – at USC-Upstate.

For tickets, updates, game times, and more news on the Runnin’ Bulldogs, visit , or follow @gwusports on Instagram, X and Facebook.

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�۶�ֱ�� ѱ��’s Tennis will be Honored at Soccer Game on Sept. 12

Office of University Communications — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 16:58:26 +0000

Big South Tournament Champions Receive Rings During Halftime Ceremony

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The �۶�ֱ�� University men’s tennis team will receive their conference championship rings in a halftime ceremony at the �۶�ֱ�� vs. Furman men’s soccer game on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. in Greene-Harbison Stadium.

The team capped off a landmark year by capturing its first-ever Big South Tournament Championship, a triumph that secured the Runnin’ Bulldogs a coveted spot in the 2025 NCAA Division I �ѱ��’s Tennis National Championships in Waco, Texas.

This momentous win came on April 18, when freshman standout Boyd Schreiber clinched the title with a 6-5, 6-1 victory over UNC Asheville’s Trevor Gray. Schreiber, in his debut season, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, providing a thrilling glimpse into the future of GWU tennis.

Guided by Head Coach Mike Griffith—who earned his third consecutive and fourth overall Big South Coach of the Year honor—the Bulldogs achieved a rare and historic double, winning both the regular season and tournament championships. It marked the program’s third consecutive regular-season title and the first time both titles were won in the same year.

The team posted an impressive 20-4 overall record, including a perfect 9-0 mark in conference play and a stunning 18-0 run at home over the past two seasons. Their fortress, the Webb Tennis Complex, has become one of the toughest venues in the region.

“This championship means everything to our program,” Griffith said. “It’s for the alumni, the current players, and everyone who’s believed in us. We’ve built something special here.”

Senior leadership was key to the team’s ascent. Eduardo Dias, Numa Lemieux-Monette, and Alex Lepine wrapped their collegiate careers with a combined dual-match record of 68-27 and a dominant 33-6 mark at home. Dias earned back-to-back Big South Player of the Year honors, while Lemieux-Monette joined him in capturing singles and doubles titles at the conference’s inaugural Fall Individual Championships.

Eduardo Dias

Dias and senior Kim Niethammer were named to First Team All-Conference Singles. Niethammer went 15-5 overall in singles action, including a perfect 8-0 at No. 3. Niethammer moved to No. 2 singles in February while finishing the regular season at 7-5.

First-year student Alexandre Bergeron added to the program’s future promise by earning Big South Freshman of the Year honors.

“This team will always be remembered as the conclusion for four seniors who stuck with the program and saw us go 18-0 at home over the past two and a half years,” Griffith reflected. “They also won three out of the past four conference championships and went 68-27 over four years.”

Though their NCAA Tournament journey ended in the first round against top-ranked Wake Forest—the eventual national champions—the Runnin’ Bulldogs left an indelible mark on the national scene. They earned their highest-ever final national ranking at No. 75 and climbed to No. 8 in the highly competitive Carolina region.

Source:

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�۶�ֱ��’s Nate Hampton and Jamari Young Garner Week One Honors

Office of University Communications — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:14:06 +0000

Hampton Recognized with FCS National and Big South/OVC Player of the Week; Young Named Big South/OVC Defensive Player of the Week

Nate Hampton ran for 132 yards and four scores against
the Western Carolina Catamounts. Photos by Dakota
Hawxwell

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Graduate quarterback of the �۶�ֱ�� football team has been tabbed the Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week as well as Big South/OVC Football Offensive Player of the Week. Teammate and redshirt-junior linebacker has been named Big South/OVC Football Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league on Sept. 1.

Hampton and Young helped guide the Runnin’ Bulldogs to their largest come-from-behind win in program history after taking down then-No. 18 Western Carolina, 52-45, on Aug. 30. The Runnin’ Bulldogs trailed by as many as 28 points (35-7) in the second quarter before outscoring the Catamounts 45-10 the rest of the way.

Jamari Young led the Dawgs with 11 tackles.

Hampton, in his first career game with the Runnin’ Bulldogs, put his name in the books with a phenomenal performance both through the air and on the ground. After a slow start to the game against the Catamounts, Hampton went on to toss for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also running for 132 yards and four scores, accounting for 80% of the team’s points.

On the defensive side of the ball, Young disrupted the Catamounts offense all night, leading the Dawgs with 11 tackles, including six of the solo variety. He also added a tackle for loss and sack on the evening as well as a forced fumble.

�۶�ֱ�� returns to action this weekend, traveling to Atlanta, Ga. and Bobby Dodd Stadium to take on the Ramblin’ Wreck of Georgia Tech. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 6, and will be streamed on the ACC Network. You can follow along with live stats at .

Source: ;

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