Falcon Insider with Derek van der Merwe: April 26
4/26/2023
Important news happening in and around Bowling Green Athletics compiled by Director of Athletics & Recreation Derek van der Merwe. This Falcon Insider shares upcoming dates to remember and news to be aware of in regards to Bowling Green State University Athletics.
Falcon Family,
As the spring semester comes to a close, I thought it was important to begin my monthly communication commitment to our closest fans and friends of Falcon Athletics. The purpose of this communication will be to provide brief communication updates from me, important calendar notifications, and updates and highlights from our sport programs regarding student-athlete and team success.
I started at Bowling Green State University on November 30, 2022. My family and I have enjoyed the process of joining the Bowling Green community. I would like to thank this community for the kind, warm, and welcoming reception.
My first 90-days in this job was a commitment to studying and listening to coaches, student-athletes, staff, campus partners, donors, ticket buyers, and community members about the contributions BGSU Athletics makes to the campus and community culture, the University brand and identity, the student and alumni experience, and the student-athlete centered mission. While my learning process will never be complete, I have learned a great deal about what people value and prioritize at BGSU.
This University has a strong sense of community and a “people” centered mission. President Rodney K. Rogers is an amazing leader who is relentlessly committed to creating a culture of excellence centered on the student experience. The University’s strategic vision embraces the motto, “A Public University for the Public Good”. This is a commitment to serving our students, community, region, and country through the mission of the University.
My first priority this spring has been to work with a broad base team of individuals to begin the process of drafting BGSU Athletics’ strategic plan. This plan will demonstrate how BGSU Athletics serves the “Public Good” and the Misson of the University through our commitment of our student-athletes to excellence on the field of competition, in the classroom, and in the community. More information on this plan will be coming in early fall 2023.
Winning is important! We want our student-athletes, students, campus, alumni, supporters, and friends of the program to feel the pride and achievement that comes with winning. Winning is the apex of doing the little things right. It is a daily commitment to people, processes, and systems that are innovative, disciplined, persistent, and creative. I am working with my coaches and staff, campus partners, donors, and the boarder community to be thoughtful about meaningful changes and improvements to provide overall programmatic growth and to creating a sustained “winning” culture.
Things that you have seen and will continue to see is a persistent commitment to providing our students and student-athletes with a quality athletics experience and to surrounding them with excellent coaches, mentors, and leaders. We will be committed to evaluating and enhancing our game day experience with a focus on engaging and inviting our students, alumni, supporters, donors, and friends to support and share in our success.
Finally, we will celebrate together as a campus community. Success in intercollegiate athletics has many stakeholders. When a team wins championships, they stand on the stage alone with their trophies. However, the story of how they got there is because of you. The greatest part of our story are all the fans, supporters, faculty, students, staff, and community members who passionately support and give year-after-year and have helped position our programs for success. Thank you for your commitment BGSU.
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— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) April 25, 2023
Bowling Green Legend Mickey Cochrane will be inducted into the @MACSports Hall of Fame this summer as a member of the class of 2023!!!#AyZiggy ????
???????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????@BG_XCTrack All-American and Olympic Gold Medalist Dave Wottle will be inducted into the @USTFCCCA Collegiate Hall of Fame in September!#AyZiggy ????https://t.co/ldnvkP6PbA
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) April 26, 2023
Upcoming Dates to Remember
• Football Tickets for the Sept. 16 game at Michigan are now on sale (Buy Yours Today)
• Falcon Club Renewals for the 2023-24 academic year (April 1-June 30)
• You can Currently Submit Season Ticket Deposits for MBB and WBB
• Season Tickets for Football go on sale to the general public (May 1)
• Season Tickets for Volleyball go on sale to the general public (May 6)
• BGSU Baseball vs. Toledo at Fifth Third Field (May 19) (Buy Your Tickets)
• Season Ticket Renewals for Ice Hockey (May 20)
• 14th Annual Gridiron Classic at Toledo Country Club to benefit BGSU Football (June 19)
News and Notes
Department
• One-Day and Thank-a-Thon: This year’s one-day was the most successful ever with $658,000 raised and 1,607 unique gifts. As a thank you to all our generous donors 86 Student athletes made over 996 calls during our Thank-a-Thon event.
• Revamp of Falcon Fanatics: With the slogan “We are back” Falcon Fanatics has been reenergized for a new generation. With fantastic student leadership and support from the athletics department the Fanatics have already made an impact, most notably during the women’s basketball WNIT run.
• Launch of Ziggy Collective: This venture will provide unique business and sponsorship opportunities for our student-athletes. This university is fortunate to have a group of innovative and entrepreneurial supporters who are inspired by extending these opportunities to student athletes.
Hall of Fame
• Mickey Chochrane will be inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame. He is the 11th Falcon all-time to be inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on June 1 at the Metropolitan at The 9 in Cleveland. MORE INFO
• Dave Wottle will be inducted into the USTFCCCA Collegiate Hall of Fame. MORE INFO
We’re excited to be a part of this journey and can’t wait to bring more students to the Stroh for @BGSUMBB games! #SimonSwarm https://t.co/daQrSUTzTp
— Falcon Fanatics (@FalconFanatics1) April 5, 2023
The Ziggy Collective is here to help connect all @BGathletics student-athletes with NIL opportunities.
— The Ziggy Collective (@ZiggyNIL) March 30, 2023
The Ziggy Collective is led by alumni advisors Cal Bowers and Jonathan Jakubowski.
Learn more: https://t.co/ZRb1ldpG2s #AyZiggy | #TheZiggyCollective #NIL pic.twitter.com/4iUfd3dnPb
2022-23 Ziggy’s Winners
Falcon Medal of Honor – Zaresha Neal (Track & Field) and Gage Schenk (Baseball)
Athlete of the Year – Petra Indrova (Volleyball) and Joey Akpunonu (Men's Soccer)
Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Petra Indrova (Volleyball) and Gage Schenk (Baseball)
Junior Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Maya Dean (Women's Soccer) and Joey Akpunonu (Men's Soccer)
Newcomer of the Year – Lauryn Hovey (Volleyball) and Odieu Hiliare (Football)
Comeback Performance of the Year – Football's 42-35 win at Toledo
Community Service Individual of the Year – Emilie Gardner (Women's Soccer)
Community Service Team of the Year – Swim & Dive
Diversity & Inclusion Award – Bernie Compton (Women's Soccer)
Distinguished Service Award – Todd Walker
Distinguished Alumnus Award – Kristi Koester
Wear Orange on Fridays for Falcon Friday!
• Make sure you support Bowling Green Athletics by wearing Orange on Fridays!
Orange all day every day- but especially on Fridays! pic.twitter.com/gYZztG8YTL
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) April 21, 2023
Roll Along with the ???????? ...#Ziggys x #AyZiggy ???? pic.twitter.com/AqZegZ2Wsg
— BGSU Athletics (@BGathletics) April 26, 2023
Football
• Head coach Scot Loeffler had his contract extended through the 2025 season.
• Loeffler hired Beyah Rasool as the cornerbacks coach and special teams assistant. Rasool comes to BGSU after spending two seasons at Arizona as a senior defensive analyst.
• With Rasool’s arrival, co-offensive coordinator Greg Nosal shifts over to cover the offensive line and special teams coordinator Alex Bayer will continue that role and coach the tight ends.
• There are a series of improvements to the fan experience at Doyt L. Perry Stadium this fall. Improvements are coming to the concession areas which will improve the consumer experience in that area. The south end of the stadium will feature End Zone Box Suites, a brand-new premium experience for our fans.
• The Falcon Club Party Deck will be completely overhauled for the 2023 season. Falcon Club members at a $250 or higher giving level can purchase season tickets in the Party Deck for $300. This new premium experience will include a tailgate buffet and cash bar, along with multiple seating options. Fans can choose to watch the game from the north end zone bleachers, high-top tables on the balcony, or stay out of the elements inside the Sebo Center. There will be two sets of staircases that connect the Party Deck to the field seating in the endzone.
• There will be a new Falcon Club Tailgate for fans that gave at a $250 or higher giving level to the Falcon Club. The tailgate will be in the South End Zone.
• More info on these changes can be found at BGSUFalcons.com.
Women’s Basketball
• We welcomed Fred Chmiel, the 10th head men’s women’s basketball coach in program history. Chmiel comes to BGSU after spending the last eight seasons on head coach Dawn Staley's staff at South Carolina. During that time, the Gamecocks posted an overall record of 247-32 and a Southeastern Conference mark of 116-12.
• Nick DiPillo joins Coach Chmiels staff as an Assistant Coach bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience at both the collegiate and professional levels. In the coming weeks Chmiel will announce his staff.
• Chmiel inherits a women’s basketball program that won 31 games which tied both the school and the Mid-American Conference single-season records. BG advanced to the championship game of the MAC Tournament for the second time in three seasons.
• BG’s WBB team earned the MAC's automatic bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament, and the Falcons won a school-record four games in that tournament to advance all the way to the semifinal round for the first time in school history. The Falcons downed Liberty, Green Bay, Memphis and Florida before falling to Columbia WNIT's Fab 4.
• BG WBB’s total of 31 wins was tied for fourth in the nation in 2022-23.
• BGSU was 22nd or better in the country in no fewer than nine NCAA statistical categories.
Men’s Basketball
• Bowling Green’s 18th head men’s basketball coach Todd Simon was hired on March 15.
• Simon comes to BGSU from Southern Utah. He has compiled an overall record of 127-115 in his eight seasons as a head coach, which includes serving as the interim head coach at UNLV for 17 games in 2016.
• Coach Simon has added assistant coach Bryce Martin and German Srulovich as the director of operations. Both followed Coach Simon from Southern Utah. Parker Settle and Nick Korta will remain on staff. Simon will be rounding out his staff in the coming weeks.
• Two men’s basketball transfers have announced they are coming to BGSU. Coach Simon welcomes center Jason Spurgin from Southern Utah and guard P.J. Edwards from UCF.
Women’s Golf
• Kayla Davis was named the MAC Sportswoman of the Year for 2022-23.
• Davis broke the BGSU single-season scoring average with a 75.4 score per round, besting the previous mark of 75.48 set by current BGSU head coach Erin Fahey.
• Davis was also named MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week for her efforts at the MAC Championship, finishing in second place.
Gymnastics
• Taylor Jensen won the MAC Championship on beam. It was BGSU’s first individual MAC Championship since Jovannah East in 2019.
• Katrina Mendez Abolnik competed as an individual on vault at the NCAA Regionals in Pittsburgh.
Ice Hockey
• Austen Swankler ranked fifth in the nation with 1.26 points per game.
• The Falcons ranked 10th in the NCAA in the penalty kill (84.4 percent) and tied for fourth in the country in shorthanded goals (7).
Tennis
• Ioanna Tsadari and Eloise Saraty won MAC Doubles Team of the Week on April 6, their second recognition of the season. This was the fifth time a player or duo was recognized by the MAC, matching the program's best single-season total since 2010.
Track and Field
• Bowling Green had 16 student-athletes named Academic All-MAC, including a conference-best five student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA (Darian Braddix, Raegan Burkey, Zaresha Neal, Kailee Perry, Katerina Shuble)
• Zaresha Neal won the shot put and discus at the Tennessee Invite, recording a season-best and MAC-best mark of?53-6.25 (16.31m) in the shot put.
Volleyball
• Going on a foreign tour in May to Berlin, Prague, Czech Republic, Poland, Vienna.
Baseball
• Nathan Rose was named MAC Co-Player of the Week on April 3, his first weekly award of his career and the first for the team this season.
