Special events/announcements
Former Bearcat Smith makes Major League Baseball debut
Former Binghamton baseball standout Murphy Smith reached the pinnacle of professional baseball on Monday when he made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hours after being called up from Triple-A Buffalo and 10 years after beginning his pro career, Smith joined the club in Baltimore and took his spot in the bullpen. With the Orioles ahead 7-0 in the seventh inning, Smith was called to the mound and he retired the first batter on a 6-4 forceout at second to end the inning. Smith then pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, getting a lineout to left field, groundout to third and groundout to second. He retired all four batters faced and threw 14 pitches.
“It felt great after I finished the eighth,” Smith said. “My family and friends were cheering and I pointed to them. It was just a moment of pure joy.”
Binghamton hosts first Contemporary Athletics Issues Summit
As its fall sports teams start arriving back on campus for preseason this week, Binghamton has already begun the academic year on a strong note.
The athletic department hosted a two-day Contemporary Athletics Issues Summit August 1-2 at the University’s Center of Excellence in the Innovative Technology Complex. The aim of the summit was to enhance communication and collaboration within and across athletic departments. The main components addressed were Mental Health, Substance Use, Evolution of Coach Communication and Understanding Emerging Adult Needs.
Student-athletes and staff from 10 other intercollegiate programs joined Binghamton for the inaugural event. Senior women’s basketball player Kennedi Thompson and redshirt senior wrestling Joe Russ represented Binghamton’s student-athletes on one of the panels. Head men’s soccer coach Paul Marco was one of the speakers as were several other Binghamton athletic administrators.
Other speakers at the summit included Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger, who delivered the keynote address, and America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. Administrators from other schools such as Penn State, Vermont, Albany and Hamilton also were among the speakers and panelists.
Three individuals, one team selected to 2018 Hall of Fame class
The Binghamton Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2018 has been selected and the group features three individuals from BU’s Division I era plus one of the most accomplished teams in school history. Set to be enshrined on December 8 are wrestler Josh Ruff, golfer Jeff Wolniewicz and baseball player Corey Taylor, along with the 1992-93 golf team. They were voted in by a 15-member committee of coaches, staff, alumni, current HOF members and members of the media.
In the 22 years since its inception, the Hall of Fame has seen 107 inductees spanning 19 sports.
President Stenger welcomes back student-athletes
The Binghamton Athletic Department officially launched the 2018-19 academic year with its seventh annual Welcome Back BBQ for its student-athletes on Tuesday night at the Events Center. It marks the seventh consecutive year the event has been held.
Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger and Athletic Director Patrick Elliott were among those who greeted the student-athletes and wished them the best for the upcoming year.
“I want to tell you how proud I am of you,” Stenger said. “Because I know how challenging it is to do what you do. To be an excellent student and an excellent athlete here is very hard but you have that perseverance and you make Binghamton University look great.”
Men’s tennis partners with community organization to win grant
Binghamton men’s tennis will be able to expand its community outreach in 2018-19, thanks to a $6,000 grant from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Eastern Section. The grant was a collaboration between head coach Nick Zieziula’s Bearcats program and createABLE, a local organization that has been supporting individuals with special needs for more than a decade.
The grant, part of a “Growing Tennis Together USTA Eastern Section initiative, will allow the Bearcats to broaden their reach within Broome County and share their tennis talents and experience with more children. And as Zieziula notes, the college student-athletes gain a valuable perspective as well.