VESTAL, N.Y. – All 400+ of Binghamton's student-athletes were at the Events Center on Monday but for a change, all of them were sitting in the bleachers. Instead of competing, they were on hand for the Division of Athletics' Welcome Back Program.
A handful of teams (men's and women's soccer and volleyball) have been back on campus since early August but the rest of the teams returned over the past weekend. As a result, Monday marked the first time many teams had seen each other since the end of the spring semester.
"It's definitely exciting to see everyone back," senior wrestler Brevin Cassella said. "My team trained here during the summer but I'm looking forward to catching up with athletes from all of the other teams to see how they are doing."
"It's really great to bring everyone back together," senior softball player Sarah Rende said. "It really brings the campus back to life seeing everyone on the field and in the weight room and at practice. It's great."
Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger and Director of Athletes Gene Marshall were both at the Welcome Back Program. Each of them commended the student-athletes for the role they've played in enhancing the image of the university and gave a challenge to them for the upcoming year.
"The most important experience I have had during my career is playing sports," Stenger said. "I know that those activities, opportunities and experiences taught me how to be a good team member. They also taught me to be a really good leader later on. Sports made me appreciate what hard work does for you. You're mastering a skill. It's your sport, but mastering the skill is going to be so important to you the rest of your life. So good luck this semester!"
"What I need from each and every one of you is to demonstrate 100 percent effort," Marshall said. "I expect a lot from you but I'm going to give a lot. But the one thing I want you to do is have fun. You can't win if you don't have fun. I want you to enjoy this journey, because you only have this snapshot - four or five years. So, enjoy it and Go Bearcats!"
Among the other speakers at the Welcome Back Program were Ellen Vibbard of the Fleishman Center on campus, Daniel Greene, an attorney from the Syracuse-based Newman & Lickstein Law Firm who spoke about NIL topics, as well as Brandon Wimbush of MOGL. Wimbush spoke about the partnership between MOGL and the Binghamton Division of Athletics and how its student-athletes can take advantage of NIL opportunities and services.
The 2024-25 academic year is already off to a good start for the Binghamton Division of Athletics. The women's soccer team won its season opener on Sunday with a 3-2 win at George Washington.
The men's soccer team launches its season at Mt. St. Mary's on Thursday at 7 p.m. while the volleyball team hosts its annual tournament on Aug. 30-31 at the Events Center. The cross country teams, meanwhile, start their campaigns at the Colgate Invitational on Aug. 31.
