Athletics

George Mason Women's Indoor Track and Field crowned as 2025 A-10 champions

Katarina Benson — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:47:44 +0000

George Mason Women's Indoor Track and Field crowned as 2025 A-10 champions Katarina Benson Mon, 03/03/2025 - 13:47

��AV has been crowned the Atlantic 10 Women's Indoor Track and Field Champions, claiming the title over VCU at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. The men's team placed second in the championship behind Rhode Island.

The Patriots clinched the championship in dramatic fashion, securing three additional medals on the final day of competition. Senior Abby Weening captured gold in the high jump, delivering a pivotal performance that helped George Mason maintain its lead over VCU. She was also named the Most Outstanding Field Performer, recognizing her stellar meet, which included two gold medals in the pentathlon and high jump. Junior Olamide Enajekpo earned bronze in the shot put, while sophomore Susan Adenitan placed third in the 200m race.

Women's Indoor Track and Field A-10 Championship team. Photo by George Mason Athletics

With the championship hanging in the balance, the 4x400m relay became the deciding event. Holding a slim 2.5-point advantage over VCU, the Patriots needed to outpace the Rams to secure the title. The relay team—Chairley Bido, Simone Hamlar, Helena Santacana, and Ay'rianna Moore—delivered in dominant fashion, sealing the long-awaited victory for George Mason.

"Overall, an outstanding weekend of competition for both genders but, especially for our women. It was just a tremendous effort spread across all event groups," said Head Coach Andrew Gerard. “It really is not an exaggeration to say that we continue to have the best combined men's and women's program in the conference and that is 100% credit to the team of athletes we have assembled and the awesome staff that helps get them onto the line, circle and runway."

This victory marks a historic achievement for George Mason, as the Patriots have claimed their first A-10 Indoor Championship since 2014.

The men's team placed second, only behind Rhode Island who have won the Atlantic 10 Championship for the fifth consecutive year.

The men’s 60m hurdles were swept by the Patriots. Freshman Davian Burke won bronze, junior Albert Asare placed silver, and graduate student Joshua Sutton won the gold. Senior Paul McClain earned the gold in the 500m race, and a gold was also won in the 4x400m relays with a young team of Mason Samuels, Lance Koontz, Max Karen, and Jordan Tuck. Sophomore Abdurrazzaq Hassan got the bronze in the heptathlon.

Head Coach Andrew Gerard and his staff were honored as the Coaching Staff of the Year.

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George Mason recognizes 78 scholar-athletes for academic achievements

Katarina Benson — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:22:32 +0000

George Mason recognizes 78 scholar-athletes for academic achievements Katarina Benson Wed, 02/26/2025 - 14:22

A record-breaking 78 Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar Athletes were honored in a ceremony on Feb. 17 for their outstanding academic achievements.

photo provided

In its 17th year, the award recognizes the student-athletes who have earned at least 38 credit hours at George Mason and have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or better. George Mason's Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis congratulated this year's recipients at the ceremony.

"I truly appreciate the Provost's Office for recognizing the dedication and hard work of our student-athletes, who excel both in the classroom and in their sport," said Lewis. "This group truly stands out, embodying the highest academic and athletic achievement standards. As Provost Scholars, they are developing valuable skills and discipline that will serve them for years to come, setting them apart as leaders among their peers."

The previous record for Provost Scholar Athletes was 68. In the 2023-24 season, 19 teams were represented, along with cheer and dance. In 2021-22, George Mason had 11 teams with a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher, including three teams with a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

This year, 43 student-athletes were honored for the first time. Of the 22 who have received the award before, 11 have been named to the list at least three times, and two recipients—Max Karen (Men's Track & Field) and Josh Walker (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country)—have been recognized four times.

First-time Honorees

Brant Ertel (Baseball)
Shaun O'Keefe (Baseball)
Page Greenburg (Women's Basketball)
Lauren Bailey (Co-ed Cheerleading)
Caitlin Cardin (Co-ed Cheerleading)
Makenna Diza (Co-ed Cheerleading)
Alyssa Pettijohn (Co-ed Cheerleading)
Sarah Clark (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country)
Luke Brown (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country)
Stephanie Dundas (Women's Track & Field)
Amalia Florou Dimitriadou (Women's Track & Field)
Caleb Hymans (Men's Track & Field)
Victoria Bates (Women's Lacrosse)
Madelyn Holloway (Women's Lacrosse)
Kara Becker (Women's Rowing)
Dabria Dawkins (Women's Rowing)
Sarah Galligan (Women's Rowing)
June Johnson (Women's Rowing)
Elene Meurmishvili (Women's Rowing)
Isabelle Puentes (Women's Rowing)
Jazmine Vasquez (Women's Rowing)
Julie Bike (Women's Soccer)
Mia Casciani (Women's Soccer)
Marie Franjicic (Women's Soccer)
Amelia Martin (Women's Soccer)
Kiyomi McCausland (Women's Soccer)
Aliyah Morgan (Women's Soccer)
Carly Passaro (Women's Soccer)
Madyson Taylor (Women's Soccer)
Anton Siren (Men's Soccer)
Asparuh Slavov (Men's Soccer)
Haleigh Dellow (Softball)
Kaleigh Friend (Softball)
Maya McGowan (Softball)
Harlowe Nigh (Softball)
Kylie Wilkerson (Softball)
Alayna Brooker (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Kristen Ivey (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Emma McDonald (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Clare Smith (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Casey Tingen (Women's Swimming & Diving)
William Arends (Men's Tennis)
Robert Evangelista (Men's Volleyball)

Second-time Honorees

Megan Baird (Women's Track & Field)
Kaitlyn Bestick (Women's Lacrosse)
Evan Blanchard (Baseball)
Selamawit Caldart (Women's Soccer)
Pilar Cerritos Gatto (Women's Rowing)
Jack Chapman (Men's Swimming & Diving)
Sydney Dacus (Women's Soccer)
Lauren Distad (Women's Lacrosse)
Rachel Eberly (Women's Soccer)
Ryan Edmonds (Baseball)
Peyton Farley (Women's Lacrosse)
Alexandra Hooks (Women's Soccer)
Kamryn Inman (Softball)
Alexander Lombardo (Men's Track & Field)
Sierra Matheson (Women's Track & Field)
Noah McGrath (Men's Soccer)
Ella Oare (Women's Track & Field)
Milan Pierre-Jerome (Women's Soccer)
Jordan Tallman (Softball)
Brooke Volpi (Women's Soccer)
Allyson Yeary (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Georgi Zahariev (Men's Volleyball)

Three-time Honorees

Jordan Anderson (Softball)
Madeline Baldwin (Women's Rowing)
Grayson Clark (Men's Track & Field)
Ewelina Gacek (Women's Volleyball)
Shannon Judge (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Olyvia Kennedy (Women's Volleyball)
Ashton King (Men's Track & Field)
Abigail Murtaugh (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Alexandra Tyler (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Anna Whelan (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Arslan Yaqubi (Men's Track & Field)

Four-time Honorees

Maximilian Karen (Men's Track & Field)
Joshua Walker (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country)

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At George Mason basketball game, students ran the show

Sarah Holland — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:16:20 +0000

At George Mason basketball game, students ran the show Sarah Holland Fri, 02/21/2025 - 11:16

Most students at Division 1 universities like George Mason can say they’ve been to at least one sport event. A sold-out football game, a baseball no-hitter, or a Cinderella run at the NCAA Final Four: these games bring the campus together and make core memories for future alumni.

Students from left: Melissa Quinteros, Cody Salenga, and Manahil Piracha. Photo provided.

But while many can say they’ve cheered in the stands, only a handful can say they’ve run the show.

In fall 2024, Donald G. Costello College of Business students had that unique opportunity, leading the marketing and management of the Ferrum vs. George Mason basketball game on November 23.

Mentored by marketing professor Niki Vlastara, assistant director of fan engagement Lily Plizga, and senior marketing and communications director of Costello College of Business Duane Bailey, five students took responsibility for various aspects of the game: from marketing ticket sales to managing check-in to developing a creative timeout game.

For Plizga, the experience was an opportunity to show students the breadth of career possibilities in sports management and marketing. “I found this career because I was a student wage worker with Athletics; I wouldn’t have known about all the opportunities here otherwise,” she said. “So for me, this experience helps showcase all the different paths available to them.”

For Vlastara, it was an opportunity to give students hands-on experience to practice theories and concepts from their coursework. “In event marketing, once the event is done, it’s done; you can’t resell. So, it’s important for the students to have that experience of having one chance to get it right and fill the seats,” Vlastara explained.

George Mason is nationally ranked for internships/co-ops and its graduates report high job success related to their career goals, which underscores its prioritization of experiential learning opportunities like this one.

“I think this experiential part of education is what students are looking for. Projects like this help them really understand where the concepts I’m teaching in class apply,” said Vlastara. “It’s very holistic.”

From left: Melissa Quinteros, Cody Salenga, Dean of Costello College of Business Ajay Vinzé, and Manahil Piracha. Photo provided.

Melissa Quinteros, a senior in Costello, said that this hands-on opportunity challenged her to improve the skills she was developing in her classes and extracurriculars. “Having interpersonal skills and collaborating on projects have always stood out as necessary skills in my marketing and business classes,” she said. “For this, I needed to take those skills and learn what worked when trying to promote an event to attendees. I had to figure out how to be brief while emphasizing what parts of the event would be most interesting to the person I’m talking to. That was a challenge, but I learned so much.”

The students, Bailey said, “jumped in with both feet and smiled the whole way.” They brought ideas not just from the classroom, but also from their own experiences: winter 2024 graduate Cody Salenga, for example, pitched the idea of the timeout game based on a game he saw at an NBA game. According to Plizga, the game was really successful.

Athletics also saw increases in their social media engagement when the students had taken over; Plizga’s data showed more comments and higher views.

“We want students to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves, that extends beyond graduation,” said Bailey, “We want them to invest in George Mason, and experiences like these plant that seed early.”

The team hopes to continue this collaboration next season. “Athletics and the fans were excited by the collaboration. So we hope to keep it going in the fall, maybe make it a big event each year that becomes tradition,” said Plizga. “And I hope that other departments, schools, and colleges see what we did as a baseline for opportunities in the future.”

In This Story

Mariniki (Niki) Vlastara

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George Mason, men's head soccer coach Rich Costanzo agree to contract extension

Katarina Benson — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 20:11:41 +0000

George Mason, men's head soccer coach Rich Costanzo agree to contract extension Katarina Benson Wed, 02/05/2025 - 15:11

��AV and men's soccer head coach Rich Costanzo have agreed on a contract extension through the 2029 season, announced Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Marvin Lewis on Tuesday. Costanzo came to George Mason in 2022.

Men's soccer head coach Rich Constanzo. Photo by Art Pittman/Athletics

After leading the Patriots to one of the most successful regular seasons in program history, Costanzo is the first George Mason men’s soccer coach to earn the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honor. He is the fifth Patriots' coach across all sports to be named A-10 Coach of the Year since George Mason joined the conference in 2013.

"In just three seasons, Rich has transformed the George Mason men's soccer culture, elevated our on-field performance, and brought a renewed energy to our university,” said Lewis. “His leadership has resonated deeply within our Northern Virginia community, inspiring youth leagues, Mason students, and our campus with an exciting, innovative brand of soccer. We are fully committed to supporting Rich's championship vision as he leads our program into an even brighter future."

Costanzo, in his third year with George Mason, guided the club to the Atlantic 10 regular season title for the first time in program history. The Patriots finished the season 13-4-1 overall, won seven of eight matches at home in the regular season, and went 6-1-1 in conference play to post six wins in the A-10 regular season for the first time. After earning the top-seed in the A-10 Championship, they advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament.

Costanzo was named the head coach in April 2022 and inherited a club that finished a combined 4-18-5 over the two previous seasons. Under his leadership, the Patriots climbed to 13th in the United Soccer Coaches Association poll this season, marking the first time in 10 years that George Mason has been in the national rankings. The team finished the A-10 regular season third in total goals (33) and goals per match (2.2) and tied for the third-fewest goals allowed (17).

Six Patriots earned Atlantic 10 post-season honors, including freshman midfielder Martim Sereno, who was selected to the 12-member All-Rookie Team. He is the seventh Patriot to earn a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team. Graduate student Marek Gonda and sophomore Quentin Clain were named All-Conference Second Team forward, sophomore James Eliuda was tabbed All-Conference Second Team midfielder and graduate student Luis Maestre and senior Javi Sanchez earned All-Conference Second Team defender honors. Beyond their success on the field, the team also excelled in the classroom, earning an impressive 3.50 GPA during the fall semester.

"I want to thank Marvin Lewis and Deputy AD of Intercollegiate Sports Todd Bramble for their support, belief, and confidence in our coaching staff and program," said Costanzo. "Our athletics department leaders share in our vision in competing for championships and developing George Mason soccer into a national brand.”

Costanzo joined the Patriots after five seasons as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh men's soccer program, where he helped guide the Panthers to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2019 to 2021) and an appearance in the College Cup.

Costanzo played at Penn State (2004-05), where he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2004 and was also selected Freshman All-America by Soccer America and TopDrawerSoccer. He transferred to the University of Maryland (2006-08), and as a senior captained the 2008 squad to the NCAA Division I National Championship and ACC Championship. He graduated from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business in December 2008 with a bachelor of science degree in general business.

After his collegiate career, Costanzo played professionally in more than 100 games over five years with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (43 games), Rochester Rhinos (2010-11), and the Minnesota Thunder (20 games) of the U.S. Soccer League.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to continue leading our program and working with this talented and committed group of student-athletes and coaches,” Costanzo said. “We have stayed focused on the process and have worked diligently to build a strong foundation and a culture focused on kaizen. We are excited for the future at George Mason."

"We are thrilled to continue having Rich at the helm of our men's soccer program," Lewis said. "He is a proven winner, building a championship-caliber program from the ground up in Fairfax.”

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George Mason alum and current student take part in sold out Banana Ball World Tour

Katarina Benson — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:13:28 +0000

George Mason alum and current student take part in sold out Banana Ball World Tour Katarina Benson Wed, 12/11/2024 - 13:13

Photo by Lily Plizga/George Mason Athletics

George Mason baseball alum South Trimble, BS Business ’23, (left) and current graduate student Danny Hosley (right) took the field in front of a sold-out crowd as part of the Banana Ball World Tour at Nationals Park in July. Adam Virant (center), who also played baseball at George Mason, is director of baseball operations and an assistant coach for the Savannah Bananas. Hosley, who is pursuing an MS in athletic training, is a utility player on the Bananas and Trimble is a first-year player on the Firefighters, the Bananas’ new third team. Banana Ball, a close approximation of baseball with circus tricks and performance art mixed in, has become a phenomenon, and this was the first year the Banana Bowl included Major League Baseball stadiums on its schedule.

"As a kid, you dream of a moment like this," says Trimble of the game. "Playing in a major league park in front of a sold-out crowd. It's something that is so surreal, and I'm grateful for being able to fulfill this dream of mine at Nationals Park, a stadium I've been to countless times as a kid, watching my favorite ballplayers play, and now I get to experience it firsthand."

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George Mason athletics facilities draw international usage

Colleen Rich — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:58:49 +0000

George Mason athletics facilities draw international usage Colleen Rich Tue, 09/10/2024 - 15:58

��AV's Fairfax Campus is becoming a popular destination for international soccer. Over the summer, George Mason Athletics hosted four international soccer programs: the Argentina men's national team, the Celtic FC men's team, the Aston Villa FC men's team, and the Arsenal FC women's team.

Soccer star Lionel Messi training at George Mason Stadium. Photo by Selección Argentina

The biggest name to step on the ﬁeld at George Mason Stadium came this summer when eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and international sensation Lionel Messi trained with the Argentina National team in Fairfax before competing in a Copa América Cup match at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.

The reigning World Cup champions, Argentina, had planned to practice in Miami where they had the security measures in place for Messi, but a storm system threatened to strand them in Miami, making them unable to compete in their game in Washingon, D.C. So, with just a few days' notice, they thought of George Mason and asked to use our facilities. The Athletics events and facilities team coordinated training times, locker room usage, and the proper security to allow Argentina to train in Fairfax, and eventually go on to win the 2024 Copa América Cup.

It wasn't just this summer that George Mason has drawn international attention by hosting teams from around the world though. The university has had teams come on and off for years, but it was the summer of 2023 when the Arsenal men's team was looking for a place to train while gearing up to play the MLS All-Stars at Audi Field that some external money was invested in making the soccer ﬁelds world-class.

Arsenal women’s soccer training at George Mason Stadium. Photo by Art Pittman/George Mason Athletics

In 2023, after the Arsenal men trained at George Mason, the Pumas UNAM men's team from Mexico and the Aston Villa FC men's team from England came for the ﬁrst time. The success of these visits helped George Mason gain the international reputation of being a good spot to train for teams doing summer tours in the United States, which many teams do.

"Some of the big attractions that draw teams to us is we're one of the few universities or facilities in this area that has two natural grass ﬁelds right next to each other," said Todd Bramble, deputy athletic director for Intercollegiate Sports. "There are so many schools that maybe have one really good ﬁeld, but teams sometimes like to be able to utilize two ﬁelds. And most schools in this area have ﬁelds that are artiﬁcial turf, and the teams want nothing to do with that."

Being on the East Coast near two international airports also helps European teams with shorter travel, and the university's proximity to Washington, D.C., allows teams to experience the nation's capital as well.

"Our top tier ﬁelds and facilities enable us to host these world-class teams and expose the international soccer community to ��AV," said Marvin Lewis, assistant vice president, director of athletics. "Thanks to the leadership and commitment of our amazing facilities and events team, we've provided high-level experiences and outstanding service to the international clubs, which keeps them coming back."

Aston Villa men's soccer training at George Mason Stadium. Photo by Aston Villa

Aston Villa returned to George Mason this year because of the great visit they had in 2023, even though they had no games in the Washington, D.C., metro area. They used Fairfax as their home base and chartered planes to go to their games in Ohio, New York, and Chicago.

After the Arsenal men's team was in Fairfax in 2023, they recommended George Mason to their women's program, which was looking to take their program on an international tour for the ﬁrst time. The arrangement ended up being even more of a perfect ﬁt because Arsenal's game in D.C. was set to be the return of Northern Virginia native Emily Fox, who was returning to the team after winning the 2024 Olympic gold medal with Team USA.

These international program visits also beneﬁt the staff and student-athletes of George Mason. The soccer teams have been invited to private training sessions to gain inspiration and exposure from the players. The soccer coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, and athletic training staff share their spaces with the teams and have the opportunity to network. The teams also pay a rental fee to use the space, and that money is put back into George Mason’s programs, enhancing the experiences of the student-athletes.

"Hosting these types of events offers an excellent educational opportunity for our staff and coaches, as they witness up-close training regimens from different professional teams," said Lewis. "This positions them with a unique chance to exchange knowledge with others excelling in this competitive environment that is always looking for an edge."

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Faur paves the way for exchange student-athletes

Colleen Rich — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:44:39 +0000

Faur paves the way for exchange student-athletes Colleen Rich Tue, 04/23/2024 - 15:44

When ��AV tennis coach Steve Curtis got an email from Maïlys Faur asking to join his team as an exchange student, he didn't think it was possible but he was eager to check into it with our academic and compliance offices.

Maïlys Faur is an exchange student from Toulouse, France, here at George Mason for just one year. Photo by Rafael Suanes/Mason Athletics

"The initial thought was she may not be eligible because she's not working toward a degree at Mason, and there are all these complex NCAA rules," said Curtis. "Deputy Athletic Directors Nena Rogers and Malcolm Grace started looking into it because we hadn't had this situation before. But then we figured out that it was possible because she is working toward a degree at her university [in France] so it applied."

Faur is an exchange student from Toulouse, France, here for just one year as she finishes her degrees at her home university. She's currently finishing up two degrees, in political science and literature, and will return to France to graduate in May.

Her love of tennis started by accident, confusing badminton and tennis at a young age. "When I was little, I played a lot of badminton with my family in the garden," said Faur, who attends Sorbonne Université in Paris. "So when my mom asked if I wanted to play a sport, I said 'yes I want to play tennis,' but I meant badminton. I ended up on the tennis courts, and I just never quit after that."

She played with the same tennis club through high school, but there are no collegiate tennis programs outside of the United States. So when she went to school in Paris, she found a tennis club where she could play casually, but couldn't compete the same way she used to. One of the requirements at her college is an exchange year at another school, so when Faur was picking where she wanted to go, she knew she wanted it to be in the United States so she could play tennis.

Faur says her favorite memory this season was their trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina, for PTR Springfest where they beat Saint Francis University, 4-3: "That was our first big win against a D1 team and so the energy on the court was nice,” said Faur. “We were screaming during all the points. That was the point where we really came together as a team."

Since joining, Curtis says Faur's been nothing but a positive impact. "She's one of those people that you can't not like. Everyone on the team thinks she's wonderful. She's been a great addition to the team."

Faur has paved a new path with her addition to Mason's women's tennis team: never before has there been an exchange student on a varsity team at George Mason. With this new knowledge of the possibilities, Faur's advice to future exchange student-athletes is: "Try to do it. It was such a great experience, I loved it. If I wasn't on the tennis team, my whole year would have been very different so I'm very grateful. I'm going to miss it so much."

Faur and team travel to Orlando, Florida, to compete at the 2024 Atlantic 10 Tennis Championships, April 24-27.

"I just want to thank Coach Curtis and all my teammates who were so welcoming.," said Faur. "I have so many good memories, and I'm really grateful for everything that happened to me."

Check out George Mason's Women's Tennis Team

Interested in becoming an exchange student?

Virtual townhall for updates on West Campus

Melanie Balog — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 19:18:04 +0000

Virtual townhall for updates on West Campus Melanie Balog Mon, 01/22/2024 - 14:18

��AV will host a virtual townhall on Monday, January 29, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to present a West Campus update for community feedback, comments, and questions.

The update will include members of the Washington Freedom and details on a proposed temporary stadium that would bring cricket, the second-most watched sport in the world, to the region, strengthen the local economy, and improve the university’s baseball program facilities.

Attendees can use the following link and do not need to pre-register to attend the virtual discussion. Please enter the Zoom meeting with your video off and mics muted. Questions and comments will be shared through the Chat feature. Zoom link.

This Zoom meeting can accommodate up to 1,000 attendees and will be recorded and posted to construction.gmu.edu.

Mason athletic experts: All schools will need to adapt to a fast-changing college sports landscape

Colleen Rich — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:22:07 +0000

Mason athletic experts: All schools will need to adapt to a fast-changing college sports landscape Colleen Rich Thu, 10/12/2023 - 12:22

Mason Provost Mark Ginsberg sits down with former college basketball coach Craig Esherick and Mason AD Marvin Lewis for Mason Vision Series. Photo by GMU TV

The advent of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals has been a game-changer, but ��AV officials like their chances of successfully navigating a fast-changing collegiate sports landscape.

“At a place like George Mason that might not have the same resources as a Power 5 school, there are other variables like coaching, culture, etc.,” said Marvin Lewis, Mason’s assistant vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “We have to focus on that because there’s always another school with a little bit more money in the NIL space, a little bit more resources. But, if you can develop that personal relationship, get a kid to really buy into our value proposition, hopefully, they won’t make that change.”

Lewis appeared with former college basketball coach Craig Esherick on the Mason Vision Series to discuss “The New Business of College Sports: Changes Shaking the Foundation of Intercollegiate Athletics.” Go here to watch the discussion.

Outgoing Mason Provost Mark Ginsberg hosted the hour-long discussion on GMU-TV that also delved into the transfer portal, soaring coaching salaries, the growing importance of television revenues in conference realignment, and the ongoing facilities arms race in major college sports.

NIL deals weren’t intended as a recruiting tool, but that’s been the unintended consequence, Lewis said. Wealthier schools have begun forming powerful collectives—groups of wealthy donors and boosters who come together to provide more NIL opportunities—to make their preferred school more attractive to potential student-athletes, Lewis said.

As a result, the chasm between the haves and the have-nots is increasing daily.

“That’s the challenge,” said Lewis, a former four-year basketball starter and team captain at Georgia Tech who helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the 2004 national championship game.

Esherick, now an associate professor of sport management within the College of Education and Human Development, spent more than 17 years as an assistant basketball coach at Georgetown before leading the Hoyas for five years. He also served as an assistant coach on the USA Olympic Team that competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

He and Lewis agreed that a coach’s relationship with their players, a positive culture within the locker room, and a positive educational and social experience are draws for student-athletes.

“If you have a personal relationship with all your players and if the experience you can control is a healthy one with your players,” Esherick said, “most of them are not going to want to leave.”

Marvin Lewis can be reached at admason@gmu.edu.

Craig Esherick can be reached at cesheric@gmu.edu.

For more information, contact John Hollis at jhollis2@gmu.edu.

About ��AV

��AV is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and sustainability. www.gmu.edu.

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Volleyball star finds her place on and off the court

Colleen Rich — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 12:33:54 +0000

Volleyball star finds her place on and off the court Colleen Rich Tue, 10/10/2023 - 08:33

As far back as her sophomore year in high school, Ewelina Gacek knew she wanted a career in law enforcement.

Junior criminology major and outside hitter on the Patriots women’s volleyball team, Ewelina Gacek (No. 19) has shined on the court this season. Photo by Rafael Suanes/Mason Athletics

That is why ��AV and its highly regarded Criminology, Law, and Society Department originally made it onto her radar. Add an offer of an athletic scholarship and Gacek, from Chicago, said attending Mason was something she couldn’t pass up.

Now a junior criminology major and outside hitter on the Patriots women’s volleyball team, Gacek has shined on the court for a building squad. But she also has taken advantage of a university culture and flexible environment that does not demand student-athletes cocoon themselves in what Gacek called an “athletic bubble.”

“You get the opportunities to meet people and do something separate from volleyball,” Gacek said. “It gives me another identity, and it’s cool to show people I’m not just a Mason athlete, that I am part of the Mason community in a different way.”

For Gacek, that means participating in Mason’s Police Cadet program and getting a summer internship.

Photo by Art Pittman/Mason Athletics

Still, it is volleyball that defines the Fall 2023 semester for Gacek as the Patriots try to find their way after winning only 12 matches during her first two seasons. The team already has six wins this season with 11 matches to go, including a 2-5 record in the Atlantic 10 and Gacek leading in total points and kills.

“She’s been absolutely fantastic for us this year,” Coach Megan Shifflett Bachman said. “She’s incredibly athletic. The kid is in incredibly good shape and just outworks people.”

For Gacek, though, it’s all about the team.

“I’ve never seen us have such depth at every position,” she said. “Everyone is truly ready to go, and that’s what I mean by everyone is on the same page. Everyone is willing to put in the work and be ready when they need to be.”

As a cadet, Gacek must be ready for several duties. Cadets direct traffic on campus, lock up and help patrol academic buildings, and help with security during events.

Interestingly, Gacek said no one in her family is in law enforcement, and she even had thoughts of becoming a lawyer. But after some Mason classes that were taught by faculty who had been or are in law enforcement, Gacek said her career direction solidified.

“The professors, you just can’t beat it,” she said. “It’s like I’m getting officers and federal employees teaching my class.”

That said, another possible career option did emerge last summer, when Gacek worked as an intern in Victoria Secret’s compliance office, an opportunity she got through a former teammate’s connections. There, she said, she did intake of cases and classified them according to subject matter. She also worked with senior investigators, listening in on interviews and taking notes.

“It was great,” Gacek said. “It just opened my eyes to another thing that I could do as far as my career.”

For now, though, Gacek and her teammates are focused on building toward the Atlantic 10 tournament. The event, hosted by Davidson College, isn’t until mid-November, so there is plenty of time to fine-tune, starting Friday, Oct. 13, at home against Loyola University Chicago.

“We’re all just hungry and want to prove people wrong,” she said. “We all have the same goal in mind, that we can be who we want to be.”

A sensibility, Gacek found, that Mason encourages in all its programs and opportunities.

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