Bulldog Bites 2 • Bulldog Bites May 2019 $250,000 Matching Gift Will Allow Bulldog Baseball to Continue to Enhance Greenwood Field
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
UNC Asheville Athletics • May 2019 UNC Asheville Student-Athletes Continue to Raise the Bar in the Classroom in the 2018-19 Athletic Year Bulldog Bites 2 • Bulldog Bites May 2019 $250,000 Matching Gift Will Allow Bulldog Baseball to Continue to Enhance Greenwood Field ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Ashe- In addition, funding has already another $250,000 by Dec. 31, 2019. would make a huge difference for his ville baseball is a significant program been completed for updated home “Continuing the momentum to build student-athletes on and off the field within the athletics department and and visitor dugouts that will include Greenwood Field into the facility of play. the future is incredibly bright for the bathroom facilities and storage areas. that our Bulldogs deserve is vital,” “UNC Asheville is a special place,” Bulldogs at Greenwood Field. The new dugouts are scheduled to de- UNC Asheville Director of Athlet- Friedholm said. “We have one of the That bright future has been made but in the 2020 season at Greenwood ics Janet R. Cone said. “I cannot say premier public universities in the possible due to the efforts of many Field. thank you enough for this $250,000 country, we are located in a destina- over the years, but of late a tremen- The process to make Greenwood matching gift that will truly enhance tion city and we continue to enhance dous effort has been put in place to Field one of the premier ballparks in our baseball program and update our the baseball facilities for our student- make critical improvements to Green- the Big South and area is still a work facility. Our goal is to make Green- athletes, coaches and fans. Our goal wood Field. in progress, but the ability to cement wood Field into a place that student- is to develop quality young men on In fact, just over the last year alone the future of the Bulldog baseball athletes, coaches and college baseball and off the field, and these improve- a new championship outfield wall facility was made even stronger fans can be proud of. With the help ments will help us with that goal. We and backstop netting system has been recently with the announcement of a of our Bulldog Friends we can make can’t thank our anonymous donor installed to provide a safe experience $250,000 matching gift to UNC Ashe- this dream a reality.” enough for their commitment to the for the UNC Asheville student-ath- ville baseball. UNC Asheville baseball head coach university and our program. We are letes along with a brand-new score- The anonymous $250,000 matching Scott Friedholm knows that a reno- extremely excited about the future of board and a new outdoor batting cage. gift has been made in hopes of raising vated and enhanced Greenwood Field Bulldog baseball.” May 2019 Bulldog Bites • 3 Record-Breaking ‘Our Turn to Play Scholarship Luncheon’ Presented by Wells Fargo Raises Over $109,000 Every year the event gets bigger and arship Luncheon’ presented by Wells cheon” presented by Wells Fargo. Cone said. bigger, and the 2019 edition of the Fargo.” Cone knows the funds raised during The “Our Turn to Play Scholarship “Our Turn to Play Scholarship Lun- Not only was the 2019 “Our Turn to the “Our Turn to Play Scholarship Luncheon” presented by Wells Fargo cheon” presented by Wells Fargo was Play Scholarship Luncheon” Presented Luncheon” presented by Wells Fargo is an annual event that helps recog- no different. by Wells Fargo the largest turnout in are critical for UNC Asheville athlet- nize women that are true champions In fact, this year’s edition of the the history of the event, but the 2019 ics. and leaders and helps raise scholar- annual event was the biggest ever edition also marked the most money “The annual ‘Our Turn to Play ship funds for UNC Asheville women with well over 500 in attendance on raised in the history of the event. Scholarship Luncheon’ supporting student-athletes. Wednesday, May 1, 2019, from 11:45 “Thank you for all that attended women’s athletic scholarships is one of The event recognizes the many suc- a.m.-1:30 p.m. on the Kimmel Arena the 2019 ‘Our Turn to Play Scholar- our most important events of the year,” cesses of women in athletics and en- floor inside the Wilma M. Sherrill ship Luncheon,’” Special Assistant to Cone said. “This fundraising event courages all to support gender equity. Center. the Director of Athletics Betsy Blose is key to the success of our women’s As part of the annual event, UNC “The turnout today continues to said. “We not only set a record in at- athletics programs, and just like every Asheville swimming & diving senior show the powerful growth of women’s tendance, but we raised over $109,000 year we have been overwhelmed by the Katie Brown was awarded with the athletics in our area and across the for female student-athlete scholar- amount of individuals who are sup- Janice Brumit Rising Star Award. She country,” UNC Asheville Director of ships. Thank you to those that chose to porting us in this endeavor.” is the second-ever recipient. Last year Athletics Janet R. Cone said. “When invest in our female student-athletes Cone knows this would all not be her teammate Elizabeth Conte was we started this event it was just an idea by making a gift. They are so worth possible without the continued support awarded with the prestigious honor. that we hoped would catch on, but now it. It is not too late to still give. Please of those who work tirelessly to make To learn more about all of the great so many years later it has become one consider making your gift today.” the event a success. things happening with UNC Asheville of the must-do events on the Asheville This year’s event featured keynote “I want to say thank you to not only athletics, please visit uncabulldogs. calendar. I could not be more thankful speaker Lesley Visser, who could not our sponsors and ‘Our Turn to Play’ com. You can learn more about Lesley and proud of what we are accomplish- have been more impressed with the committee members, but to Asheville Visser by visiting her official website ing with the ‘Our Turn to Play Schol- “Our Turn to Play Scholarship Lun- for showing up strong for our women,” at www.lesleyvisser.com. 4 • Bulldog Bites May 2019 Trio of UNC Asheville Baseball Alums Proudly Playing Game They Love Overseas Justin Woods knows it could not that not everyone gets to enjoy. I was played for the Hunstetten Storm in building players mentally and growing have been possible without UNC Ashe- able to play independent professional Germany and the East Torrens Red Sox the baseball community by giving back ville. baseball in the states before coming in Australia. with camps, seminars and personal “I am very thankful for all that over here. In 2016, in Trinidad, Colo- “All of the people, places and training. I look forward to helping UNC Asheville, my teammates, Scott rado and for a short stint in 2017 in cultures that I have had the chance spread the word internationally for Friedholm and the coaching staff have Schaumburg, Illinois. I hope to be able to experience on this international them.” done for me and prepared me for,” to bring what I’ve learned over my journey have been invaluable,” Woods Swindell hopes that many others Woods said. “I look forward to being career to better baseball as a whole and said. “Your perspective of the world take the opportunity to play the game on campus in the fall and catching up to bring the excitement of the game to grows with each new city and country, they love professionally overseas. with everyone.” kids in this country.” and I have been lucky enough to see “The game does in fact exist all Before Woods makes his way back Swindell is now in his third season 14 new countries since leaving the US around the world at all different lev- to UNC Asheville though he will con- overseas. last March. I’ve had to learn how to els,” Swindell said. “The reality is hav- tinue living out his dream of playing “I have played two seasons and am communicate and coach in different ing a full-time job and having enough professional baseball. He is presently in the midst of my third,” Swindell languages, do various currency conver- time to travel and get to know different suiting up for Skokani Olomouc in said. “The first in Spain, the second sions in my head and navigate using all places and cultures is extremely dif- Olomouc, Czech Republic. in Austria and the third here in Italy,” types of public transport. I have been ficult, and this is a beautiful way to get He is not the only Bulldog excel- Swindell said. “The cultural differ- able to walk inside buildings older around that hurdle and get to explore ling professionally after their time as a ences are the biggest takeaway for than our country, cook a real Austra- the world while we’re still young and member of the baseball program with me. To feel like an outsider, not only lian Barbie and make lifelong friends able.” Lucas Owens also playing for the Vi- socially but also culturally, for the first with people in different corners of the Recently featured by Baseball Jobs enna Wanderers in Vienna, Austria. In time for many (or, realistically, most) world.” Overseas as a top international pitcher addition, Parker Swindell is currently of us is who were fortunate enough to Owens is amazed with all of the con- and hitter, Woods is forever thankful playing for the Nettuno2 Baseball play D1 sports is an amazing learn- nections he has already made through for that chance to play the game he Club in Nettuno, which is a town in ing experience.