UMW Athletics will kick off its 2017-18 basketball season with Eagle Madness on Tuesday, Nov. 7, in Rosner Arena at the Anderson Center. The event, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., precedes the University’s basketball season opener on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Eagle Madness is a pep rally-style event with dance performances, fan contests, and prizes. Also, on […]
UMW to Add Men’s Golf in 2016
The University of Mary Washington will add men’s golf as a varsity athletic program beginning in fall 2016.
Rod Wood, former men’s basketball coach and current Director of Athletic Facilities, will serve as the program’s head coach. Augustine Golf Club in Stafford County will be the home course for the Eagles and Raspberry Golf Management will become the newest partner of UMW Athletics.
“UMW is in a prime location for golf,” said UMW Director of Athletics Ken Tyler. “We’re very pleased to add men’s golf to our varsity athletic program and look forward to the many benefits it will bring to our athletic department, the university, and our community. Rod Wood is a proven coach and recruiter with a great deal of experience and connections in the sport of golf, and he will be an excellent leader for our program.”
The school will spend the next year and a half recruiting talented student-athletes and planning for the first tee shot in August 2016. The program will be immediately eligible for CAC and NCAA championships.
“It’s exciting to start a program from scratch,” said Wood. “Golf has always been a passion of mine, and I look forward to working with the students we plan to recruit.” Wood’s first coaching job was with the golf team at Robert E. Lee High School, where he coached PGA Tour Professional Kris Blanks.
The University is also looking to add women’s golf in either the fall of 2016 or 2017.
Coach Pens Lyrics to New UMW Fight Song
The University of Mary Washington now has a fight song to call its own, thanks to the lyrics of Corey Hewson, coach of the women’s soccer team. Hewson beat out 10 other submissions to a recent contest sponsored by the Department of Athletics and the Office of Student Activities. The winners were announced at Devil-Goat Day on Thursday, April 24.
Hewson, who received a master’s degree in education from UMW in 2005, and runner-up Ronald May, a sophomore business major, contributed the lyrics to “Soar, Eagles, Soar,” a composition by Paul Murtha, a world-class composer and arranger for the United States Army Band. Murtha has long been associated with UMW as a member of the UMW Faculty Brass Quintet and an arranger for the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra.
Philip Pierce, director of athletic development and promotions, Jim Ford, director of the UMW Pep Band, and Kevin Bartram, maestro of the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra, reviewed each anonymous submission and voted on their top choice. Freshman Hannah Morgan, an English and computer science double major, received third place and Garrett O’Brien, a sophomore economics and anthropology double major, received an honorable mention.
The fight song will be heard at university athletic and student events.
“We want the song to last and be a part of the UMW culture and tradition,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Doug Searcy.
UMW Women’s Rugby Team Headed to Nationals
The University of Mary Washington women’s rugby team will soon cap off a highly successful 2013-2014 season by competing in the USA Rugby National Championship at Penn State University on April 26 and 27.
The Eagles received an automatic bid to nationals after their Division II Women’s Capital Collegiate Rugby Conference win in November. Under the leadership of coaches Kris Kabza and Bill Lucas, this marks the team’s eighth appearance at the event, more than any other Division II women’s rugby team in the country.
UMW will enter the Round of 16 at the national championships, with a chance to advance to the Round of 4 at Stanford University in May. At Penn State, UMW will face the Kent State University on Saturday, April 26 and Appalachian State or American University on Sunday, April 27.
The team has a long history of success before the recent establishment of the Capital Conference. Between 1998 and 2012, UMW finished in first place 13 times and finished second twice in the Virginia Rugby Union Division II league. From 1998 to 2010, UMW won five championships in the Mid-Atlantic Territorial Championships. Only one other team comes close with four wins.
UMW women’s rugby, a club sport since 1985, competes in both the spring and fall. For more information about the team, visit http://www.marywashwomensrugby.com/.
UMW Outdoor Tennis Complex Named for Former Athletic Director
The University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors recognized former women’s tennis coach and athletic director Dr. Edward Hegmann by naming the outdoor tennis facility in his honor in a ceremony on Wednesday. The facility is named the Edward Hegmann II Tennis Complex.

Edward Hegmann (center) poses with UMW All-American players Tyler Carey ’15 and Lindsay Raulston ’14.
During his 36-year tenure, Hegmann built UMW Athletics into one of the nation’s top Division III programs. For more information about Hegmann’s legacy, visit http://www.umweagles.com/edceremony.
‘All In’ the Game
Coach Caitlin Moore ’08 motivates the women’s lacrosse team to succeed.
Family Ties
Senior Sam Partonen keeps the basketball team together, on and off the court.
A Focus on Goals
David Heller ’14 excels on and off the soccer field.
Record Breaker
UMW field hockey player leads team to NCAA championships and picks up awards in the process.