Athletics

Eastern unveils new athletics logo
Rebrand highlights forward momentum for Warriors

The Eastern campus community came out in full force on Jan. 29 to celebrate an exciting new chapter for Eastern Athletics. Hundreds of students, faculty, and staff packed the Student Center for the...

Posted on February 02, 2026 by Michael Rouleau

Runksmeier receives lifetime achievement award at NCAA convention
‘This job is 90% relationships’

Lori Runksmeier’s tenure as director of athletics at Eastern Connecticut State University has spanned more than 10 years and includes milestones such as the addition of new varsity programs,...

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Noel Teter '24

Turf installation underway for Eastern’s softball and baseball facilities

Two of Eastern Connecticut State University’s most decorated athletics programs are receiving major facility upgrades. The Warriors’ national championship softball and baseball teams...

Posted on October 15, 2025

From Warrior to World Stage
The Unstoppable Rise of Patrick Agyemang

A few years ago, Patrick Agyemang was just another determined college athlete — a confident striker from East Hartford playing Division III soccer at Eastern Connecticut State...

Posted on September 01, 2025 by Ryan Quigley and Noel Teter '24

Men’s soccer captain, aspiring physician named LEC Student-Athlete-of-the-Year
Walter Scudder: 'I tried to stay present and focus on the task at hand'

Walter Scudder ’25, a four-year starting midfielder and two-year captain on Eastern Connecticut State University’s men’s soccer team, was named one of three recipients of the...

Posted on August 12, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Eastern names baseball field in honor of legendary Coach Bill Holowaty
Ceremony pays tribute to Eastern baseball ‘family’

Eastern Connecticut State University honored one of the most storied coaches in NCAA Division III history on June 28 with the formal naming of its baseball field as Holowaty Family Field. Taking...

Posted on July 08, 2025 by Michael Rouleau '11

Cheerleading team returns to national stage

Eastern’s cheerleading club traveled to Daytona Beach, FL, to compete in the National Cheerleading Association (NCA) and National Dance Association (NDA) College Nationals tournament on April...

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Female student-athletes discuss being women in sports

Four student athletes joined Eastern’s Women’s Center on March 10 for a “Women in Sports” panel. Celeste Petrowsky, Emily Jones, Natasha Frisch, and Taylor Smith represented...

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Kyle Berson '26

Students register to donate bone marrow and change lives

Eastern Connecticut State University’s men’s soccer team hosted a donor registry in partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) on Feb. 18 in the Sports Center. The...

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Darlene Orozco B. '28

Sport management students get inside look at CT venues

During the fall 2024 semester, Eastern Connecticut State University business students went on tour throughout Connecticut’s most renowned arenas and athletic complexes. From the Bushnell...

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Kyle Berson '26

Fall Fest: CCE and student athletes bring seasonal fun to local youth

Eastern Connecticut State University welcomed nearly 100 children from the Windham Public School After School Program to campus for Fall Fest on Oct. 28, an afternoon of festive games, prizes and...

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Elisabeth Craig

Eastern hosts 5th annual ‘End Relationship Violence’ event honoring Alyssiah Wiley

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted its 5th annual relationship violence awareness event on Oct. 9, bringing together faculty and students in honor of Alyssiah Wiley, an Eastern student who...

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Darlene Orozco B.

Rugby team hosts second Special Olympics clinic

For the second consecutive year in a row, the men’s rugby team at Eastern Connecticut State University and its alumni held a rugby clinic on Eastern’s turf field during the annual...

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Elisabeth Craig

Eastern students register to donate bone marrow and stem cells

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) hosted a donor registry at Eastern Connecticut State University on Feb. 7 in partnership with Eastern’s men’s soccer team. The registry sought...

Posted on February 08, 2024 by Noel Teter

Eastern rugby hosts first clinic for Special Olympics Willimantic

Eastern Connecticut State University’s men’s rugby team hosted Special Olympics Willimantic for its inaugural Special Olympics rugby clinic on Aug. 12 at the Mansfield Sports...

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Noel Teter

ECSU Foundation Golf Tournament draws support for scholarships

The annual Eastern Connecticut State University Golf Tournament on June 26 drew nearly 80 golfers to the Wethersfield Country Club for a day of golf that will support student scholarships, the...

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Eastern teams up with 'Be the Match' to connect donors with patients in need

Eastern Connecticut State University’s men’s soccer team recently joined forces with Be the Match, an organization seeking to find potential donors for patients with blood diseases....

Posted on March 02, 2023 by Noel Teter

Breast Cancer Awareness Basketball Thumbnail

Women’s basketball team advocates for breast cancer awareness

During a recent women’s basketball game, Eastern Connecticut State University athletes, coaches and Athletic Department staff met an objective that extended far beyond beating their opponent....

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Jack Jones

Eastern Rugby, Covenant Soup Kitchen Take the ‘Plunge for Hunger’

Eastern Connecticut State University’s men’s rugby team hosted the 12th annual Olga Ezis “Plunge for Hunger” on Feb. 4 at Lauter Park in Willimantic. For the first time in...

Posted on February 07, 2023 by Noel Teter

7th annual #WarriorsGive raises $84,000

The seventh annual #WarriorsGive fundraising campaign that concluded on Nov. 14 generated $84,629, including an anonymous matching gift of $21,629.

Posted on December 08, 2022

Athletics Update
Warriors battle hard but fall short at nationals

The softball team made a run at the nationals, with pitcher Alexis Michon being named Pitcher-of-the-Year; the golf team defended its 2021 title with another LEC tournament championship in 2022;...

Posted on December 07, 2022

We Are The Champions
Baseball Team Wins 5th National Championship

The Warriors baseball team became the 2022 NCAA Division III national champion on June 7 after defeating Salisbury University at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, IA. The Warriors...

Posted on December 05, 2022 by Bob Molta

Campus Briefs
Eastern ranked in top 20 in U.S. News & World Report

Catch up on a variety of happenings on our dynamic campus, from being named one of U.S. News & World Report’s top 20 public institutions to the blooming of a rare Indonesian flower. Other...

Posted on December 01, 2022

Eastern rugby clubs rebound from pandemic with strong 2022 campaigns

The men’s and women’s rugby clubs at Eastern Connecticut State University both have young rosters with many first-year players. This lack of experience has not hurt the teams, however,...

Posted on November 16, 2022 by Noel Teter

Eastern Warriors top Little East Conference in athletics and academics
Student-athletes win consecutive LEC Commissioner’s and Presidents’ Cups

Following the success of its NCAA Division III national championship baseball team, the Warriors at Eastern Connecticut State University concluded the 2021-22 academic year winning the Little East...

Posted on July 06, 2022 by Michael Rouleau

Campus Briefs
Commissioner's Cup | 'Book of Queer' | College of Distinction

Eastern wins 5th consecutive Commissioner’s Cup; Eastern named a 2022-23 College of Distinction; Eastern names 2 permanent deans; Student wins NAACP scholarship; Historian Tom Balcerski...

Posted on June 17, 2022

Eastern President Elsa Núñez, left, and NAACP President Leah Ralls, right, congratulate Adalyse Gonzales on winning an NAACP scholarship

Windham NAACP presents scholarship to Eastern student

On June 4 at a packed house at the Lakeview Restaurant in Coventry, the Windham/Willimantic Branch of the NAACP presented Adalyse Gonzales ’22 a scholarship for her academic and athletic...

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Dwight Bachman

Campus Briefs

Warriors baseball and softball ranked nationally; ‘What’s Up, Warriors?’ podcast features President Núñez; Student Colleen Goff selected for CT Poetry Circuit; Eastern...

Posted on April 06, 2022

Campus Briefs
Plunge for Hunger, Police Award, Podcast

Warriors participate in annual Plunge for Hunger; Tompkins named head coach of women’s soccer; Eastern launches ‘What's Up, Warriors?’ podcast; and Logan receives letter of...

Posted on February 10, 2022

Campus Briefs

Track alumni finish 10th in 95-mile relay; Art Gallery presents ‘Our Tears Are Sweet, Our Laughter Venomous’; Eastern employs therapy puppies to reduce back-to-campus anxiety; Students...

Posted on September 01, 2021

Campus Briefs

Honors Program recognizes graduating members at Senior Reception; Cerra awarded at New England estuarine research conference; Mesagno hits walk-off grand slam to propel Warriors to LEC finals; and...

Posted on May 19, 2021

Campus Briefs

Zuzu Acrobats perform thrilling Kenyan acrobatics on campus; Baseball remains unanimous no. 1 in New England; Students and faculty awarded for research and mentorship at CREATE conference; Physical...

Posted on May 06, 2021

Campus Briefs

Modern Movement presents ‘A Natural Woman’ at 5x5 Dance Festival; 'Trans 101' workshop gives lesson on 'Transcending Sexpectations'; Softball: Warriors (14-0) vault...

Posted on April 08, 2021

Campus Briefs

Music faculty perform in faculty recital; Eastern Theatre to present ‘Blood at the Root’; Eastern dominates LEC's weekly awards in 4 sports; Mama receives fellowship to work on new...

Posted on March 10, 2021

Campus Briefs

Storyteller Raouf Mama narrates poems that teach life lessons; Judy Dworin Performance Project brings hope to incarcerated individuals; Hope springs as sports transition to outside competition;...

Posted on February 25, 2021

Campus Briefs
Plunge for Hunger, men's basketball, shoveling snow

Covenant Soup Kitchen hosts virtual Plunge for Hunger with help of Eastern rugby; Men's basketball resumes in spring 2021; CCE volunteers shovel out neighbors after snow.

Posted on February 15, 2021

Eastern hosts a star-studded conversation on race in athletics

On Jan. 23 over WebEx, more than 300 students, faculty and staff from Eastern Connecticut State University and other colleges and universities heard a panel of prominent members of the higher...

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Ed Osborn

Eastern participates in statewide virtual collegiate 5k

On Oct. 22–25, Eastern Connecticut State University joined other colleges and universities across the state of Connecticut to plan and hold the first-ever virtual marathon titled the...

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Bobbi Brown

Eastern Students Share their Thoughts on Campus Life During the Pandemic

Like other colleges and universities across America, Eastern Connecticut State University is having an unusual semester because of the coronavirus pandemic. With online and hybrid classes, limited...

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Bobbi Brown and Molly Boucher

Student athletes receive university and national honors

Among the year's student-athlete success stories were track-and-field runner Rahman Oteng, soccer player Justin Jensen and track/cross country runner Samantha McKosky.

Posted on August 01, 2020

New coaches to lead womens lacrosse and golf

Eastern Athletics welcomes two new head coaches to lead the women's lacrosse team and men's golf team.

Posted on August 01, 2020

Eastern Warriors dominate LEC on and off the field

Despite a spring athletics season cut short by COVID-19, the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors continued their dominance — on and off the field — in the Little East...

Posted on June 04, 2020 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern Offers Virtual Fitness During Pandemic

For decades, doctors the world over have agreed that “exercise is the best medicine.” Studies show that exercise is great for the mind, body and soul — it enhances one’s...

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern Athletes Tops in Little East Conference for Third Straight Year

For the third straight year, Eastern Connecticut State University has claimed the Little East Conference (LEC) Commissioner’s Cup, the league’s top honor for overall athletic...

Posted on June 03, 2019 by Ed Osborn

Eastern Athletes Win Presidents’ Cup for Academic Achievement

Eastern was named the top academic institution in the Little East Conference when it was presented with the Presidents’ Trophy for the second time in the six-year history of the award for...

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Ed Osborn

Eastern Volleyball Wins LEC Championship

The Eastern Connecticut State University women’s volleyball team put the finishing touches on its most successful season in 12 years by winning the Little East Conference tournament...

Posted on November 05, 2018 by Bob Molta

Poverty Awareness Marathon Raises 378 Food Items

Eastern Connecticut State University held its 10th annual Poverty Awareness Marathon on Oct. 5. The event culminated with 197 members of the Eastern community who walked and ran to raise awareness,...

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Raven Dillon

Eastern Announces New Head Baseball Coach

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Bob Molta

Runksmeier named NADIIIAA Vice President

Eastern Connecticut State University Director of Athletics Lori Runksmeier was recently named vice president of the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA). She was...

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Mckenzie Maneggia

The women’s cross country team captured its first-ever LEC title in fall 2017 and was a major contributor to Eastern winning the 2017-18 Commissioner’s Cup.

Eastern Repeats as LEC Commissioner's Cup Winner

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - For the second straight year, Eastern Connecticut State University has claimed the Little East Conference (LEC) Commissioner's Cup, the league's top honor for overall...

Posted on June 06, 2018 by Bob Molta

Kathy Manizza, Coach-of-the-Year

Eastern Connecticut State University cross country coach Kathy Manizza was named Little East Conference (LEC) Cross Country Coach-of-the-Year this fall after leading the Warriors to their...

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Casey Collins

Eastern Hosts 7th Marrow Drive

In its ongoing support for people with life-threatening blood diseases, Eastern Connecticut State University hosted its seventh marrow registry on Dec. 6. Organized by the men’s soccer team,...

Posted on December 08, 2017 by Michael Rouleau

Men’s basketball player Tarchee Brown ’18 and women’s volleyball player McKenzie Maneggia ’20 pose with Willi the Warrior and the two LEC Cups

Eastern Warriors Win Top Conference Honors On and Off the Field

For the first time, student-athletes at Eastern Connecticut State University have won the Little East Conference’s (LEC) two top honors – the Presidents’ Cup and the...

Posted on July 06, 2017 by Ed Osborn

Eastern’s Stephen Nelson Recognized for Excellence in Rugby Community

Stephen Nelson, director of information technology and IT planning at Eastern Connecticut State University, received the Dr. Robert L. Laurence Award for 2017 for his work as the advisor for the...

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Christiana Rossomando

Eastern Took the Plunge for Hunger

Hundreds of people, including members of the Eastern Connecticut State University campus community, took a dive into the cold waters of the Natchaug River on Feb. 4 to raise money for the Covenant...

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Christine Rossomando

Eastern Wraps Up University Hours for October

Eastern Connecticut State University’s University Hour series brought a number of interesting speakers to campus in October.

Posted on November 10, 2016

The Eastern Warriors Raise $3,300 for Connecticut Cancer Patients

Eight members of the Eastern community raised an event-high $3,300 on Oct. 22 for Connecticut cancer patients during the Cycle Against Cancer fundraiser in West Hartford. The Eastern Warriors spent...

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Michael Rouleau

More than 100 Students Partake in Relay for Life

Students from Eastern Connecticut State University came out in force for the 20th year of the Greater Windham Relay for Life, held at Eastern’s Athletic Complex on Oct. 15 and 16. More than...

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Jolene Potter

Edmondson Coaches Olympic Gold

Fans of Eastern athletics have spent almost 30 years enjoying the grace, wisdom, strength and athleticism of two-time All American Bonnie Edmondson ’87. This year, Edmondson took her skills...

Posted on October 02, 2016

Eastern’s Eighth Annual Poverty Awareness Marathon

Eastern Connecticut State University held its eighth annual Poverty Awareness Marathon on Sept. 23. More than 400 food items were donated to the Covenant Soup Kitchen and Windham Area Interfaith...

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern Wins President’s Cup for Second Straight Year

For the third time in the seven-year history of the award and for the second straight year, Eastern Connecticut State University has earned the Presidents’ Cup for the 2015-16 academic year....

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Bob Molta