Game day — in many ways the culmination of the work of the athletic department. But, a little more than a year ago, the department went through a pretty significant change in how each game runs.  In years past, Goshen College traditionally had a smaller staff for game days than many of the other schools in the Crossroads League, as they chose to pay each of their student-athletes who worked there.  However, in conversations in the summer of 2023, the department decided to change things up, in an effort to save money, improve game day experiences  and to more closely...

By Kate Bodiker • February 6, 2025 • Features

The U.S. Highway 20 Cup is an all sports athletic competition between Goshen College and Bethel University. Every sport that both schools compete in has a chance to score a point for their respective school. For every guaranteed competition between the Maple Leafs and the Pilots, there are points up for grabs.  For example, this year the men’s tennis team took down Bethel in the regular season, winning 4-3  and garnering a point towards the U.S. Highway 20 Cup’s total for GC. But not every sport plays one game against each other. During the spring season the softball and baseball...

By Kevin Liddell • November 22, 2024 • Sports

Two driving forces behind all sixteen of Goshen College’s sports teams are Tony Miller, statistician, and Justin DeWeese, assistant athletic director of communications and operations  DeWeese explained that his role has two parts, with the communications part entailing “writing up the game previews and reviews for the college athletics website, goleafs.net.”  The operations part of his job entails ensuring that everything on game days runs smoothly for all of the teams when they play at home, including “setting up and tearing down and getting all of the workers together,” DeWeese said.  Miller explained that he is “the person responsible for...

By Liam Shaw • November 21, 2024 • Sports

Cross country will conclude its unexpected season at the NAIA National Championship. The women’s cross country team left for their journey to nationals on Tuesday along with Mathew Keitany from the men’s cross country team. The women’s team consists of Ella Armstrong, Mercy Chebet, Stephany Claudio, Caroline Jelimo, Marin Kauffman Smith, Britney Ortega and Teresa Ross Richer. The championship will take place in Columbia, Missouri and they will race on Friday.  This is the second time the women’s team has ever qualified to nationals after  the  Leafs’ “impactful,” season, in the words of Coach Lisa Voyles. Last year was a...

By Caoimhe Farrell • November 21, 2024 • Sports

In the summer of 2023, coaches of the Goshen College athletic teams were uncertain whether they would switch out of the Crossroads League and into another NAIA conference, the Chicagoland Athletic Conference, with the purpose of finding a better fit for their facilities, competitive level, enrollment size and values.  “It felt like there was enough energy here to say we want to do this,” said Chad Coleman, interim director of athletics and director of campus safety. “I think the Crossroads [League] thought we were definitely leaving.”  Coleman stepped into the role of associate athletic director in 2023 under Erica Albertin,...

By Sadie Brenneman • November 14, 2024 • Sports

On Sunday, Oct. 27, the Goshen College athletic department hosted their second annual Trunk or Treat community event. Trunk or Treat, a modern twist on regular trick-or-treating, involves families parking cars in a shared location and passing out candy from the trunks of their decorated vehicles.  This variation is intended for trick-or-treaters to experience the fun of costumes and sweet treats while being in the safe vicinity of their own car and families. GC athletics has created their own version of Trunk or Treat in the Ruth Gunden Gymnasium where costumed trick-or-treaters and their families can cycle, free-of-charge, through sports...

By Ben Koop • November 3, 2024 • Sports

Men’s volleyball advanced through three rounds in The Academy Men’s Collegiate Invitational in Indianapolis last Saturday with two wins (2-0 and 2-1) and one loss (1-2). The games were part of an exhibition tournament that helped the team prepare for their official season, which will start in January. Head coach Jeff Phillips has had this tournament on his radar since he took over the program early last year. “[The tournament] was one of those ones we kind of planned to make sure that we got into this year,” he said. “It just gives us an idea to obviously go play...

By Griffin Eash • November 3, 2024 • Sports

After going winless in their 2023–24 campaign, the Goshen College men’s basketball team is looking for better results with a revamped roster. With 10 transfers, one freshman and seven returners, the team is older and looking to take advantage of that this year.  When asked about the roster reset, Judah Simfukwe, a junior player returning for his third season, said, “It’s a great opportunity. I know last year we were super young, so we have [10] transfers or so that are juniors and seniors. So they bring a lot of basketball, a lot of playing time to our team, which...

By Isaac Sawatzky • November 3, 2024 • Sports

I would like to take the time to respond to Kevin Liddell’s article in last week’s Record. My initial response is to want to minimize the negative feelings that the article may have caused other athletes, coaches and people on campus to feel. Except, what Kevin said is true. And I want the members of our team to know I support them and how they feel.   It is true that the track and cross country teams consistently perform at the national level. To date, there have been 26 national championships between cross country, indoor and outdoor track. Goshen College...

By Rustin Nyce • November 3, 2024 • Features

With a striking change of pace and fresh strategy, Tyra Carver is determined to turn things around for the women’s basketball team this upcoming season as their new head coach.  As a Goshen College alumna and former player, she has returned to her alma mater with a wealth of experience and a vision for success.  Growing up, Carver developed a love of basketball through her father. She said, “He had these basketballs downstairs and by the time I was four, I was dribbling around a men’s size basketball and just fell in love with it.”  The love only intensified during...

By Carmen Merino • October 24, 2024 • Sports

As winter approaches, Goshen College’s athletics department is seeing an end to many sports seasons, including women’s soccer. With two games left in the season, the team’s overall record stands at 1-9-3, with a conference record of 0-4-3. While the season’s results haven’t turned out the best for the team, there have still been positives to the season. Head coach Justin Crew said, “From a results perspective it hasn’t been great … so that’s obviously been disappointing for everyone, for staff and players alike.”    Amy Drew, a senior on the team, “We’ve definitely had improvements throughout the season,” Isabel...

By Griffin Eash • October 24, 2024 • Sports

On Saturday, Oct. 5, a host of past Goshen College athletes found themselves once again playing on home soil, taking part in the alumni matches that were a part of the Homecoming weekend activities.  The baseball, softball and women’s basketball teams got together to take part in relaxed scrimmages against their coaches, former GC athletes and teammates.  During the baseball match, Coach Brad Stoltzfus said, “Anytime you get a chance to come out on the field and actually play, it’s super fun.” While Stoltzfus enjoyed the opportunity to get out on the field and play against his team, he also...

By Griffin Eash • October 10, 2024 • Sports

On Friday, Oct. 4, Goshen College announced the public phase of their “Connected Cause” campaign after raising $60 million of $68 million during the first three years, making it the largest campaign in GC history, according to a spokesperson for the college. “Connected Cause is rooted in the mission and values that have guided Goshen College for more than 130 years,” President Becky Stoltzfus said in a press release. “It is designed to support thriving students, integrating academic excellence with real-world learning and active love for God and neighbor.”  The quiet phase of the campaign began in June of 2021...

By Sadie Brenneman • October 10, 2024 • News Charlie Aldrich • October 10, 2024 • News

Jordan Ross Richer   On Saturday, Sept. 28, Ross Richer scored a goal, the first of his Goshen career, to put the Leafs up 3-2 against Marian University. Ross Richer’s goal came from close to the halfway line, also receiving recognition online for its significance. Though the game ended as a tie, it was a riveting back and forth watch.  Mathew Keitany  Keitany, at the Gans Creek Classic on Friday, Sept. 27, broke a school record set by Nelson Kemboi in 2021, running a 24:37.4 8k. Keitany also finished 15th out of 389 total competitors, improving at least 38 places...

By Griffin Eash • October 4, 2024 • Sports

Goshen College cross-country athletes excelled last Friday at the Gans Creek Classic, held in Columbia, Missouri. The team showed up to the meet in full force, achieving impressive times in the process.  Starring for the women’s team was none other than Mercy Chebet, a senior nursing major. Chebet ran a 22:17.5 in the 6k race, placing her 30th overall out of 307 athletes. This time broke her previous 6k best — and school record — in style. Chebet said, “I was happy with my performance and I believe that there is always room for improvement.”  Chebet’s achievement led her to...

By Caoimhe Farrell • October 4, 2024 • Sports