2015 was a very good year for the !

By offering athletic and recreational opportunities for students–athletes, students, faculty and staff, Drexel athletics embraces and openly celebrates a performance culture of doing. This creates a sense of community that has become a nexus of campus life and a stimulating place for students to compete, play, and recreate in. This sense of personal and collective pride has helped cultivate and shape our athletic department’s identity – I am a Dragon.

Now more than ever athletics departments can be of value to their host educational institutions by serving as models for competition, creativity, a healthy life-style, community building, and integrity. The 2015 top 25 celebrates our year in review as well the relevance an athletic department brings to a major comprehensive university such as Drexel. The most recent success of our athletic teams and the popularity of the department’s recreation, intramural, and club programs are a testament to the development of collegiate athletics at as a dynamic, growing area within institutions of higher education. At Drexel, the student in student-athlete comes first. Our student-athlete Graduation Success Rate was 93% (national average 82%), our graduation rate 82% (66% national average), and our total Cumulative GPA for all student-athletes was 3.28. Bravo!

Sports have become part of our national culture, including our educational culture. Sports play an important role in higher education since athletics at all levels requires self-discipline, leadership, managing risks, teamwork and capturing what is possible. Having the opportunity for a Drexel student to take that shot with the game on the line, whether it is intramurals, club, or varsity competition, is the quintessential American Dream for both young women and men.

So pour yourself a cup of coffee, settle-in on your couch in front of the fireplace, and judge for yourself what your favorite moments of 2015 were! Have a great 2016! Go Dragons!

Dr. Eric Zillmer Director of Athletics TOP 25 MOMENTS DREXEL ATHLETICS 2015

MARCH , PA – Women’s in Postseason WNIT The Dragons finished second in the 2015 CAA regular-season standings behind James Madison with a record of 20-10 and received an AQ for the 2015 postseason WNIT. The Dragons fell to Hampton, 45-42, in a tightly contested game in the opening round. It was the fifth time the women’s team qualified for the WNIT under Head Coach Denise Dillon. The Dragons won the 2013 WNIT title when they defeated Utah, 46-43. It was the first WNIT title for a Colonial Athletic Association team.

St. Louis, MO – Drexel Sends Four Wrestlers to NCAA Drexel Wrestling qualified four wrestlers for the 2015 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Kevin Devoy had a standout tournament. After securing two wins in the first day of his second-career NCAA tournament appearance, Devoy moved on to the quarterfinals of the championship round. Faced with the No. 1 seed Chris Dardanes of Minnesota, Devoy was unable to pull off the upset, as he was defeated, 7-2. Moving into the consolation rounds, Devoy was matched up against Michigan's Bruno who was seeded 14th at the start of the tournament. Despite a strong effort from Devoy, Bruno was able to secure the first takedown of the overtime period and walk away with a 7-5 victory. With his two wins at the national tournament, Devoy finishes the 2014-15 season with a career-best 38-7 record. The 2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships will be held at Madison Square Garden. Look for more Dragons at the Garden next year!

Rotterdam, Holland – Field Hockey Travels to Europe Drexel Field Hockey traveled to Europe to prepare early for their season by playing against top Dutch clubs in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Field hockey is one of the most popular sports in Holland and the local club and pro teams challenged the Dragons abilities as a team and exposed them to different styles of play. International training trips also provide for great team chemistry, rich recruiting opportunities, and are a source of alumni support since foreign tours are always financed by donations.

APRIL Philadelphia, PA – Semanik Makes $1 Million Gift to Drexel Athletics A $1 million commitment from Mary Semanik, who served as director of women's athletics at Drexel University from 1965 to 1991, will endow the first named coaching position of a women's team, namely women’s , as well as provide unrestricted support to Drexel Athletics. This endowed head coaching position confers not only prestige to the head lacrosse coach herself but also valuable and lasting resources that allow her to further strengthen the program for generations of student-athletes. It was under the leadership of Mrs. Semanik and her husband, John Semanik '56, who served as director of athletics from 1962 to 1991, that Division I sports first came to Drexel. The Semaniks also played a key role in the development of the University's Physical Education Athletic Center — now known as the Daskalakis Athletic Center. In addition, Mrs. Semanik guided the women's athletic program through the changes brought about by Title IX legislation, which was enacted in 1972, and the transition from the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women to the NCAA Division I for women. "My entire professional life was at Drexel and coaching at the University was a joy," Mrs. Semanik says. "I am making this gift to leave a legacy, with my husband, that supports Drexel athletics and the student athletes." The University officially recognized Mrs. Semanik's philanthropy, and her and her husband's legacy at Drexel, with the naming of the Mary and John Semanik Lobby in the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Mrs. Semanik earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Temple University, where she was a star student-athlete. A five- participant at Temple, she was captain of the 1950 hockey team and was inducted into the Temple Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. Mrs. Semanik was selected to the All-American lacrosse team for nine consecutive years and played on the United States Women's Lacrosse Association touring team in 1955 and 1957. She has served as president of both the Philadelphia Women's Lacrosse Association and the United States Women's Lacrosse Association, and Lacrosse Magazine named her to the All-Century Women's Lacrosse Team for the United States. Pictured below Mary Semanik with President Fry at the naming ceremony. Richmond, VA – Sanchez Named CAA Diver of the Year

Drexel swimming and diving junior standout David Sanchez was named the Colonial Athletic Association Diver of the Year in a vote by the conference's coaches, the CAA announced on April 7th, 2015. Sanchez was chosen as the Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet at the CAA Championships for the second time in his career and Men's Diver of the Year. He also won the honor as a freshman in 2013, when he was tabbed Men's Diver and Rookie Diver of the Year. At the CAA Championships in February, Sanchez won the gold medal in the 3-meter competition with a score of 373.35.

The 2015 Drexel University Athletic Department “Family.” MAY

Philadelphia, PA – Dad Vail 3-Peat If you think you have got the “chops” you sign up for the and line up. Named after legendary rower and coach Harry Emerson Vail (1892-93), the “Vail” is the largest collegiate regatta in the world with over 100 schools and 3,000 rowers competing. For many student-athletes it is the season finale. For some the Vail represents the final event of their collegiate career. No other race is quite like it. The Vail is a civic treasure of the city and Drexel’s involvement in it is symbolic of the Institution’s roots as a quintessential Philadelphian University. A 2,000 meter adrenaline rush down the picturesque Schuylkill River along Kelly Drive, home of Philadelphia’s historic Boathouse Row and Drexel’s rising men’s and women’s crew programs.

Eights can finish the Olympic length course in less than six minutes, but at a cost! A grueling, painful effort that takes one to the limits of what one is capable of. Psychologists know that humans will do more for each other than they do for themselves and so it is with crew. Rowers will not let their teammates down. Spectators are offered unbelievable views from the banks of the river. The racing shells are so close that one can actually see into the boats and hear the often-desperate commands of the coxswain urging the crews to go faster yet. Thousands of spectators have assembled in dozen of alumni tents and enclosures to enjoy the pageantry and an afternoon at the races.

Drexel Crew won its third consecutive overall title and regained the men's points title at the 77thannual Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta on Saturday, May 9 on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pa. The Dragons medaled in six events. They won gold in the men's second varsity eight and the men's freshmen eight. Drexel took home a silver medal in the men's varsity four. The Dragons also won bronze in the women's varsity eight, men's varsity eight and the men's freshmen four. Drexel reclaimed the men's points’ title from Michigan after winning it in 2013. Drexel's men's second varsity eight defended the boats gold medal in perhaps the best and closest race of the day. The Blue and Gold has now won 48 Dad Vail medals in its history, including 18 gold.

The Dragons became the first back-to-back-to-back winner since Purdue won five years in a row from 2000-2004. Drexel sent 13 boats into competition Friday, advancing 12 of them to Saturday semifinals and finals. The Dragons then advanced eight boats to finals before medaling in six of eight events. Philadelphia, PA – Women's Sports Reception hosted by Dr. Hazem Maragah featuring Chris McKendry Drexel Athletics celebrated women in the sports industry Thursday, May 14, 2015 at the Water Works Restaurant and Lounge in Philadelphia with alumnae and ESPN anchor Chris McKendry. McKendry, who played at Drexel from 1986-88, spoke to the more than 50 attendees about the importance of staying involved in the Drexel community and networking with peers. Drexel has been long recognized as a national leader in Title IX gender equity, diversity and shared leadership among men and women. Chris McKendry has been a Sports Center anchor on ESPN since 1996 and the mid-day host since 2008. McKendry serves as a host for a variety of sporting events such as the NFL Draft, the College Playoff Championships, the Little League World Series, the , French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. Long-time Drexel supporter Dr. Hazem Maragah sponsored the reception. Below Chris is joined by Sr. Associate AD Laura White and head tennis coach Mehdi Rhazali.

Philadelphia, PA – Paul Savell Named Matt Ledwidth Award Winner by Dad Vail Committee Drexel Director of Rowing Paul Savell became the first crew coach in school history to win the Matt Ledwidth Award for collegiate coach of the year, the Dad Vail Organizing Committee announced on May 8th, 2015. The Matt Ledwidth Award is presented annually to a collegiate rowing coach who has had outstanding success combined with contributions and dedication to the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta. Drexel has won three straight Dad Vail overall titles in 2013, 2014, and 2015 under Savell's watch. To have Paul Savell recognized, as the Dad Vail Coach of the Year is a great honor for Drexel University. Winning the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta is the greatest of accomplishments because the Schuylkill River is only a stone's throw away from our campus. Drexel history is intertwined with the history of urban Philadelphia, and the Dad Vail is part of that fabric that makes our city very special. Pictured below Savell with Dad Vail President Jim Hanna and Drexel AD Eric Zillmer.

West Windsor, NJ – Men's Crew Finishes 15th Overall at the IRA National Championships Drexel Crew finished 15th overall in its 2015 season finale Sunday at IRA National Championships on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J., as the freshmen eight took the Dragons' highest finish in sixth place. Rounding out the Dragons' boats at IRAs was the varsity eight (20th), second varsity eight (19th), varsity four (16th) and third varsity eight (17th). The University of Washington won the title for a record fifth- straight time.

West Windsor, NJ –Women's Crew Earns Second Overall Finish at CAAs Drexel Crew's women had its best finish in the seven-year history of the event. The Dragons improved on their third place finish from a year ago, when they finished behind both Northeastern and Buffalo. Drexel's varsity eight placed second for the silver medal in the Marlene Buckley II boat with a time of 6:41.083, less than three seconds behind Northeastern's 6:38.429. In the second varsity eight races, the Dragons won the silver medal with a time of 6:55.894 in the Maria Papadakis boat. Northeastern won the race with a 6:48.746. The Dragons varsity four reeled in the team's first silver medal of the day in the Sandra Lee Sheller boat, finishing with a 7:39.952. The day began with the first-ever third varsity eight races at CAAs with Drexel in the Marlene Buckley boat, which finished third with a 7:13.721.

Chester, PA - Drexel’s Rugby Club Wins City Cup at PPL Drexel’s Club Rugby team won the City 4 Division in the Collegiate Rugby Championships held at PPL Park in Chester, PA. The team played their hearts out and went undefeated on the weekend, beating LaSalle, Penn, and Villanova. The games were televised on Comcast SportsNet and NBC Sports. With the title the Drexel rugby team qualified to compete in the overall CRC Championships in 2016 also held PPL and broadcast on national television.

Philadelphia, PA – Drexel Hosts NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships @ Lincoln Financial Field For the second time in three years, the Drexel athletics department hosted the NCAA Division I, II, and III Men's Lacrosse Championships at Lincoln Financial Field. Drexel, which will also be the host of the 2016 event, put on the event in 2013. The Final Four were a big success with over 75,000 attending and nationally televised by ESPN2. Denver won the Division I national championship.

Richmond, VA – Crawford Named Drexel's First-Ever CAA Golfer of the Year Drexel Golf's Christopher Crawford has been named the school's first-ever Colonial Athletic Association Golfer of the Year; the conference announced Thursday May 14, 2015. Crawford earned a spot on the All- CAA First Team for the second straight year. He has received league honors in each of his three years, as he was named CAA Rookie of the Year in 2012 and to the All-CAA Second Team in 2013. The Bensalem, Pa. native finished in the top-ten in every tournament he played in during the 2014-15 season, while holding a league-best average score of 71.76 over 25 rounds. At the CAA Championship, Crawford tied for fifth overall with a four-over 220 (77-70-73). Crawford was named the CAA Men's Golfer of the Week twice over the course of the season. Pictured below Crawford’s approach shot at # 12 Merion.

JULY Philadelphia, PA - Drexel Voted #1 Gym In Philadelphia.

The #1 Gym in Philadelphia! Philly.com voted The Drexel Recreation Center the best gym in Philadelphia for 2015! With a world-class staff as well as numerous programs and classes aimed to enhance health and wellbeing, the Recreation Center provides all the tools needed to achieve a healthy and active lifestyle. Start your New Year’s resolution to get fit at the DAC!

AUGUST Amsterdam, Holland – Women's Basketball Travels to Europe and Goes 4-0 Drexel women's basketball went on a 10-day foreign tour to Holland, Belgium, and France to play four friendlies against professional teams, help grow the game of women's basketball in Europe, and learn about the local and national culture. Off the floor, the Dragons were Drexel ambassadors for alumni/alumnae living or working abroad, and for entering freshman that we met during two receptions in Gent, Belgium and Paris, France. International competition allows teams like Drexel to get an invaluable head start on competitive game experience and team unity. It is a great recruiting tool and international travel presents great cultural and educational opportunities for our student-athletes. This was evident on this tour as well as the team gelled from game to game, finishing undefeated 4-0 against increasingly more formidable competition. The trip was a great success. We made many, many friends in Europe, "climbed" the Eiffel Tower, analyzed Rembrandt's masterpiece "Night Watch," strolled the canals of Amsterdam, played some hoops and shopped 'til we dropped. No question, Europe is a global sports power with women's basketball emerging as an important sport.

SEPTEMBER Indianapolis, IN - Laura White Serves as Chair of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tennis Committee Drexel's Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator Laura White has been appointed chair of the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Tennis Committee on September 1. The Committee will develop policies and procedures governing the administration and conduct of the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Tennis Championships. White will help evaluate and select teams into the championship, which includes determining the pairings and sites for all competition during the championship, as well as supervising games at the final site. White is now in her 32nd year at Drexel. She assumed a permanent administrative role with the University in May of 1999 as an assistant director of athletics and the department's senior woman administrator.

Before entering athletic administration, White was the head coach of the men's and women's tennis teams at Drexel. She posted 14 winning seasons as the head coach of the women's tennis program, including a school-record 12 victories in 1998-99, and was instrumental in bringing the men's team to a more competitive level after taking over that program in 1994. The 1992 North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year stepped away from coaching with 150 combined victories between the programs including a 124-89 record in 16 seasons as the women's head coach.

Laura is the first Drexel athletic administrator in program history to act as the chair of any NCAA sport. OCTOBER Hunt Valley, MD – Voelker Inducted into National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Drexel Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Brian Voelker took his place among the greats in the sport as he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Voelker was one of five men and four women honored. Voelker, a native of Baltimore and Drexel's coach since the fall of 2009, was a three-time All- American as a defenseman at Johns Hopkins University. He was selected to play in the North-South All- Star Game in 1991. Voelker helped lead the U.S. National Team to the gold medal in both 1994 and 1998. He was selected to the 1998 All-World Team and also named the World's Best Defenseman following the 1998 World Games. Voelker played seven seasons professionally in indoor lacrosse with the Philadelphia Wings, where he won three championships, and two seasons in , where he added another championship with the Long Island Lizards in 2003. As Drexel's coach, Voelker led the Dragons to their first-ever Colonial Athletic Association championship in 2014. Drexel advanced to its first NCAA Tournament and then defeated Penn at Franklin Field to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals. In his six seasons, Drexel has advanced to the CAA playoffs on five occasions and has led the Dragons to 10 or more wins on five occasions.

Philadelphia, PA – Drexel Hosts 5th Delaware Investment U.S. Men’s and Women’s Open This year’s U.S. Open saw growth in attendance and stature making it the bet Open yet. Although the on-site action has concluded at Drexel University following the 2015 Delaware Investments U.S. Open Squash Championships, you can still re-live the matches, drama, and glory by watching U.S. Open replays on SquashTV. On the women’s side, claimed her second U.S. Open title as she came from two-one down to beat Nour El Tayeb in a thrilling women’s final. On the men’s side, Gregory Gaultier joined the illustrious group of Hashim Khan, Roshan Khan, , and Peter Nicol having secured his third career U.S. Open title, defeating first-time world series finalist in a three-game final.

NOVEMBER New York City, NY 11/29/2015 – Wrestling Defeats No. 20 Northwestern at the Garden The Drexel wrestling team earned its first win over a nationally ranked team as it defeated No. 20 Northwestern by criteria, 21-20. Matthew Cimato was awarded Outstanding Wrestler honors after he defeated both the top-ranked 149 pounder in the country in Jason Tsirtsis of Northwestern and No. 19 Kyle Langenderfer of Illinois. With his wins, Cimato improved his individual record to a team-leading 16-2. The redshirt junior has five technical falls, three major decisions and one pin thus far on the season and is a perfect 7-0 in dual meet competition. Cimato, who was ranked 15th in the nation coming into Sunday's competition, upset the top-ranked Tsirtsis who was the NCAA Champion at 149 pounds two years ago. Cimato earned a 7-1 victory over the two-time All-American to cut Northwestern's lead to 9-6. The Wildcats would pull away again, though, as they won the next three consecutive matches to go ahead, 20-6 with only three matches remaining. The Dragons, however, began to stage a comeback as Stephen Loiseau earned a technical fall over Regis Durbin at 184. Nezar Haddad won by forfeit at 197 to bring Drexel within three points again, 20-17, which left it up to Joey Goodhart to tie things up in the heavyweight match. Goodhart went on to win by a 4-1 decision to knot the team score up at 20-20 and Drexel ultimately was awarded the victory, winning by the third criteria as they outscored the Wildcats in bout points, 46-44.

Richmond, VA - Women’s Soccer Kara Earns Rookie of Year Drexel freshman Vanessa Kara was named the Colonial Athletic Association's 2015 Rookie of the Year, the league announced on November 4th. Kara, who had a standout first season in University City, also earned Second Team All-CAA and All-Rookie team honors. Kara, a rookie forward from Burlington, N.J., made her mark on the record books in her first season as a Dragon.

Her 11 goals and 25 points on the year were good for single season program-best and she matched the program record for game-winning goals in a single season with four. After just one season, she ranks eighth all-time in career goals and 10th in career points for the Dragons. Kara's three assists on the year tied for team leader and she was recognized three times over the course of the season as CAA Rookie of the Week.

Philadelphia, PA - Men’s Club Plays at Wells Fargo The Drexel Men’s Club Ice Hockey team took to the ice of the Wells Fargo Center, facing off against rival on Monday, Nov. 23, losing 3-1. The game took place prior to the start of the vs. Carolina Hurricanes game.

It was the first time the ice hockey club team played at Wells Fargo Center, although they participated in the Winter Classic a few years ago playing Villanova at Citizens Bank Park.

DECEMBER Philadelphia, PA – Men’s Squash Beat # 8 Princeton In a wild finish at the Kline & Specter Squash Center, the No. 9 Drexel men's squash team (5-1) pulled out a slim 5-4 victory over the No. 8 (1-2) on December 1st, 2015 for the program's first win against Princeton in five previous meetings and the first over an school. No. 8 Princeton, a program with 11 team national championships and 20 individual national championships, also served as the highest-ranked win for a Drexel opponent in the Dragon's fifth year of varsity competition. Trailing 3-4 to the Tigers after seven matches, Drexel junior Michael Thompson earned an 11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 11-1 victory from the No. 5 position for the Dragons to square up the match at 4-4. It came down to the No. 1 match for the Dragons and Tigers. Drexel freshman Omar El Atmas jumped out in the first, winning 11-7 before Princeton's Cody Cortes evened it up after an 11-8 second. El Atmas won the third 12-10 as the pair entered the fourth. El Atmas went up 9-5 before Cortes evened it up at 9-all. The two traded points, as it was eventually tied 13-13. The Drexel freshman was able to regain the lead to clinch the match for the Dragons as he won the fourth, 15-13, with a final result of 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 15-13. The win pushed El Atmas to 5-0 on the year, all from the No. 1 spot. Fellow freshman Bransten Ming improved to 6-0 as he played from the No. 3 position for the first time this campaign, sweeping Princeton's Spencer Anton, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8. Senior Ibrahim Bakir earned one of the five wins for the Dragons in one of two matches that went the distance. He emerged victorious over Jarryd Osborne, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6. Junior Nat Fry won in the No. 8 position for Drexel as he defeated William Oon, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-2, for the comeback victory.

Women’s Squash Finishes 2015 Ranked 13th in Nation The women’s squash team finished the year with its highest ranking ever, namely at # 13. After posting wins over Williams and Franklin & Marshall, two teams they lost to last year, the women’s squash team is enjoying its best season in the five-year history of the program. Philadelphia, PA – Men's Basketball Get’s Two W’s Against Schools Drexel men's basketball made the short trip to La Salle for the first time since 2000 and came away with the 66-53 victory at Gola Arena, which is the Dragons' first over the Explorers since December of 1997. The Dragons were able to put two aspects of their game together that have been inconsistent in the early going -- free throw shooting and perimeter defense. At the line, Drexel was 21-for-24. Tavon Allen, who led the way with a team-high 25 points, going 7-for-11 from the field and 3-for-3 from deep, also went a perfect 8- for-8 from the charity stripe. Rodney Williams came into the game shooting 59 percent from the line, but turned it around and hit all six of his attempts. La Salle hit on just 15 of its 27 free throw attempts.

After giving up the first four points of the extra period, the Dragons went on a 7-0 run to take the lead and held on for the 53-52 overtime win against Penn at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Drexel has now won six straight in its series against Penn. The Dragons went a perfect 6-for-6 from the line in the overtime, making the free ones when it counted to keep the game in hand. Rashann London scored five of his 14 in the extra session. The Quakers had two shots to win it on their final possession of overtime, but Drexel finally knocked the ball away to secure the win.

Grand Cayman – Men’s & Women’s Squash Visited Cayman Islands for Training Trip Drexel Squash headed to the Caribbean for squash, fitness, and team bonding on December 27th over New Year’s Eve. Cayman was a wonderful trip with tons of fun activities, a great squash facility, and ample opportunities for the team to get in shape for the heart of next season. An international tour like this allowed our men’s and women’s squash student-athletes a unique cultural experience while practicing two-a-days for a week. The Cayman Islands were a generous and elegant host and the team trip has been a great success. This foreign tour represented Drexel’s first international tour for squash and a first by having both men and women student-athletes travel together internationally.