Athletics Archives - 91�Թ�

USTA Grant Helps Resurface McCurdy Tennis Facility Courts

Ersy Wambold — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:35:16 +0000

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) awarded a Tennis Venue Services grant to 91�Թ� in order to resurface 4 of the courts within the McCurdy Tennis Facility.

The USTA’s Tennis Venue Services grant program is designed to enhance existing tennis venues and construct new ones in order to provide increased playing opportunities in communities across the country. The significant funding was made possible by the expansion of the grant program in 2025 in order to meet the increasing demand for tennis courts as tennis participation continues to rise nationwide.

Since 2005, the USTA’s TVS grant program has awarded more than $34 million in TVS grants, including more than $16 million in 2025, which supported nearly 300 projects impacting more than 2,500 courts.

“We are committed to supporting the enhancement and construction of tennis facilities in communities across the country,” said Theodore Loehrke, Managing Director, Section Partnerships, USTA. “Investing in the development of tennis facilities nationwide helps support the USTA’s mission of growing tennis to inspire healthier people and communities everywhere.”

In order to ensure communities have access to safe, appealing and functional tennis environments, grant recipients also receive start-to-finish project management assistance from the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services team which provides industry-leading experience in tennis court and facility design, as well as technical assistance, including construction document review and business development insight to ensure the facilities can deliver tennis at a high-level.

The McCurdy Tennis Facility has served as the home venue for the 91�Թ� Women’s Tennis team since their inception in 2001. In this time the Highlanders won 4 consecutive Conference championships stretching from 2019-2023. The Highlanders are coming off a season that saw 4 players earn All-Conference recognition en route to a playoff appearance. The Men’s Tennis team joined the women at the McCurdy Tennis Facilities in 2019 when the team was restarted after a hiatus from competition.

Thank you to USTA for the refreshed courts that will serve 91�Թ� athletics and the broader 91�Թ� community for years to come!

Student-Led Mission Trip Shares the Gospel Through Soccer

Ersy Wambold — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:19:50 +0000

Over spring break, the 91�Թ� men’s soccer team traveled to Pucallpa, Peru, for a student-led mission trip centered on sharing the gospel through soccer.

The trip was spearheaded by team captain, Aaron Babyak ‘26, whose initiative carried the effort from early planning to execution. After proposing the trip, he spent the following months coordinating with South American Mission (SAM) to finalize logistics and develop a plan for the week. He shared “I had questions about whether it would really end up working out. But in the end it went better than we could have ever thought.”

Throughout the week, the team hosted daily soccer camps for more than 200 boys and girls in Pucallpa. Each session combined soccer skill development with devotionals, using translators to communicate the message of Jesus Christ. “We used soccer as a door to share the good news of Jesus with them every day,” Aaron said.

While language barriers and the heat presented challenges, the team rose to the occasion. Soccer became a common language as the student-athletes formed trust and connection with the kids they served. Spanish-speaking students led in translating for the rest of the team, while some led devotionals, and others served in the background by handling equipment.

One of the most meaningful moments came at the end of the week. In the early days of the week, campers seldom celebrated exciting moments on the field. By the end of the week, that hesitation was gone. Aaron shared, “People who did not know each other’s names a couple of days ago were screaming in celebration and running around. All of a sudden, no one was too cool to celebrate anymore.”

By the end of the trip, more than 200 children had heard the gospel, and the team was able to donate equipment and soccer gear to the community in Pucallpa. Head Coach Luke Gibson highlighted the impact of Aaron’s leadership: “Aaron took full ownership of the vision and brought it to life through intentional planning, strong communication, and meaningful relationship-building with our hosts,” Gibson said. “His work was foundational to everything we experienced.”

This mission trip to Peru is an encouragement, seeing how 91�Թ� students are purposefully using their unique gifts and talents to make a lasting impact through global missions.

Women’s Volleyball Hosts Their Annual Dig Pink Event in Support of Families with Cancer

Lydia Garrison — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 13:11:18 +0000

On Friday, October 21, 91�Թ�’s women’s volleyball team held their annual Dig Pink event during their match against Lancaster Bible College. Initiated at 91�Թ� by Coach Whitney Seidel in 2018, Dig Pink raises awareness and money for cancer research.

Leading up to the event, the women’s team designed and sold Dig Pink T-Shirts. Throughout the game, the team sold concessions as another way of raising funds. In past years, 91�Թ� has teamed up with Side-Out, an organization dedicated to serving patients with breast cancer. For several years now, however, the 91�Թ� women’s volleyball team has selected cancer-awareness organizations that their own team members’ families have relied on. Over $1,000 was raised this year for the “For Pete’s Sake” Cancer Respite Foundation, an organization dedicated to giving cancer patients and their families a chance to experience respite from the burdens cancer can bring.

Raising proceeds for the organization has been particularly meaningful to senior player Lizzy Fay and her mother, Michele, who has been battling cancer since 2009. The Fay family appreciates support from such an organization, and the women’s volleyball team is proud to host an event to raise awareness and funds for the Fay family through the organization.

Coach Seidel, on behalf of the team, says “being able to support our teammates and their families as they journey through some of the most difficult periods of their lives is one of the highest honors I have experienced coaching this volleyball program.” Each year, the event has played an impactful role not only in raising awareness, but also in showing faithful support to 91�Թ� students and their families.

Coach Seidel adds “Dig Pink is one of the most important days of our season every year. I firmly believe that collegiate athletics is at its best when it is used as a platform for service and community impact, especially at a university like 91�Թ�, where the expectation is that our athletes are learning to ‘walk a different path’ through the love and service of others.”

The unity and support the team shares with one another is evident not simply in their conduct on the court, but for their continual support for one another in events such as these.

Alumnus David Babb Named Next Athletics Director

Lydia Garrison — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 16:00:43 +0000

David Babb ’91 will be taking the helm of 91�Թ� Athletics this academic year as its next director.

Babb is not unfamiliar with the University or its athletics program. A student himself in the late 80s, he competed on the men’s soccer team, receiving the Randy Ostein Award for Courage and Perseverance in his senior year. After graduating from 91�Թ� with degrees in business administration and Bible, he went on to Temple University to earn a Master of Education in athletic administration.

In addition to his personal understanding of what it means to be a 91�Թ� student-athlete, Babb brings a plethora of professional experience to the position. He has spent over 25 years in athletic leadership and administration, most recently serving 12 years as the director of athletics at Pennridge High School in Perkasie, PA. He is also actively involved in the sport-based ministries Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Push the Rock, where he serves as the camp and missions director.

“I am thrilled to have David Babb join 91�Թ� and bring years of leadership experience to our athletes and coaches,” remarked Scott Cawood, senior vice president of student affairs and administration. “He is uniquely qualified as a former student-athlete, a seasoned mentor of coaches, an experienced administrator, and a volunteer in sports-related ministries. He will bring a vision to 91�Թ� Athletics that will allow us to further define the role of highly competitive, Christ-centered collegiate athletics.”

Babb assumed the role on Monday, August 1 and has already begun making preparations for the fall student-athletes’ return in just a few weeks. Reflecting on his new position, he commented:

“Serving at my alma mater as the Director of Athletics is a special opportunity and I am excited to start working with the student-athletes, coaches, and staff. 91�Թ� played a major role and foundation for me, and I look forward to giving back and impacting the current student-athletes.”

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Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Beginning of Construction for the Stillman Athletic Complex

Juston Wolgemuth — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 20:36:58 +0000

President Williams and Pat Stillman put shovels in the ground near the soon-to-be entrance of the G. Patrick Stillman Athletic Complex.

On Friday, April 16, 2021, 91�Թ� held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction for the G. Patrick Stillman Athletic Complex. The complex bearing Patrick Stillman’s name will house new soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and softball fields, providing new opportunities for campus life and community gatherings.
Following a special recognition of the new construction in Friday’s chapel, President Todd J. Williams and Patrick Stillman, Board of Trustees member, met at the construction site with a close gathering of students, faculty, staff, friends, and family. After a few words from President Williams, they put shovels in the ground, signifying the official beginning of construction.
A former college athlete himself, Stillman understands the important role athletics can play in personal development and community life. The Stillman Family’s generous gift will create a new physical space for the 91�Թ� community to come together, as well as an upgraded venue for various athletics teams (including the newly added men’s and women’s lacrosse teams) to compete.

Student-athletes and coaching staff from the women’s soccer and men’s lacrosse teams are eager to compete on the new fields later this year.

When 91�Թ� launched their Forward campaign in 2016, they set out to improve student affordability, expand their academic programs, and strengthen campus community with facility upgrades. At that time, Patrick Stillman; his wife, Beulah; and their four children gave $3 million to help create the new athletic complex. Friday’s groundbreaking marked the official beginning of construction and also marks a successful end to the Forward campaign. Through the generous support of donors like the Stillman family, the University has met and exceeded their goals with increased student affordability, new academic programs in science and technology, and several new campus spaces and upgrades.
To the Stillman family, thank you for your generous and faithful support.

91�Թ� XC Hosts Two Successful Fall 5Ks

Juston Wolgemuth — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 15:15:53 +0000

In the midst of an unusual year, 91�Թ� Athletics and the men’s and women’s cross country teams successfully hosted two Fall 5Ks in the month of November. Both races were one of the few to take place in the region this fall.
Like most other collegiate athletic teams, the 91�Թ� cross country teams were unable to hold their season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although meets with other schools were canceled, that did not stop the men’s and women’s teams from continuing to build on their success in recent years. With robust COVID-19 safety protocols in place, 91�Թ� Athletics teamed up with the cross country teams to host two Fall 5Ks in local state parks.
On Saturday, November 7, 2020, the Veteran’s Day 5K took place at Core Creek Park. The race brought an impressive showing for the year, totaling 62 runners: 50 in-person and 12 virtual, who chose to complete the 5K from anywhere in the world.
Two weeks later, on Saturday, November 21, the Autumn 5K took place at Tyler State Park. This race also brought 62 runners: 46 in-person and 16 virtual.
The proceeds for each 5K supported 91�Թ� Athletics. Together they brought in over $2,500.
“These two races meant a lot to me,” explained senior captain, Greg Snow. “Nothing can recreate what a regular season is, but this was another amazing opportunity.” Thanks to first-year cross country coaches, Chris Palladino and Allyssa Hampson, Greg developed a new love of trail running in the 2020 season. That new experience came in handy particularly during the Veteran’s Day 5K: “Zipping through the turns, dodging rocks, and leaping across footbridges . . . this is what cross country’s all about.”
91�Թ� Athletics and the cross country teams are planning several 5Ks for 2021. Stay tuned to our channels for future updates.