I would like to start this edition of our newsletter by extending a welcome to our acting President, Joanne Epps, as she takes over leadership of Temple University. President Epps has served Temple for over 30 years in various leadership roles including Provost, and a time as our Faculty Athletics Representative to the NCAA.

We had the pleasure of welcoming the new President of the NCAA and Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, to our campus on April 13. President Baker walked campus and talked to a group of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff as well as Trustee Bret Perkins about his vision for college athletics. It was a productive dialogue, and we look forward to his leadership of our national organization.

What an amazing night we just completed, celebrating our student-athletes at the Stellas Awards Gala on the Liacouras Center floor. Congratulations to all our winners as well as all 500-plus student-athletes for their efforts during the 2022-23 academic year.

I want to thank the planning committee which was spearheaded by Associate Athletics Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Student-Athlete Development, Prince Moody.

One of our top student-athletes, women’s tennis graduate student Jamie Wei is the recipient of the NCAA Women's Enhancement Graduate Scholarship. She is one of only 13 female student-athletes selected nationwide who met the proper criteria for the award. The NCAA states that all applicants must have an overall undergraduate minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.2, while also in their final season of NCAA athletics eligibility.

Two Saturdays ago, our staff and student-athletes participated in cleaning up the surrounding areas in and around campus.

On April 15, Athletics teamed with the Office of Sustainability, Office of Community Affairs and Engagement to cover at least five different areas immediately surrounding campus including Edberg-Olson Hall and Temple Sports Complex, as well as Carver High, and Duckery Elementary Schools, and the Berean Presbyterian Church at Broad and Diamond Streets.

Our Faculty Athletics Representative, Dr. Jeremy Jordan, along with our Assistant Director of Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs, Nicole Repetto, along with student-athletes, Taylor Davenport (women’s volleyball) and Emma Nesbitt (field hockey), attended the 2023 American Athletic Conference Academic Symposium from April 13-15 at Tulane University. The symposium, presented by the AAC Academic Consortium, brought together scholars, students, and administrators engaged in research related to student-athlete well-being.

Here is a nice article on our former MBB star and current Mayor of Camden, Vic Carstarphen. He is doing great things right across the river for his hometown.

Congrats to women’s lacrosse senior Charessa Crosse who was named the winner of the Together We Stand Award, an award granted as part of the Racial Equity Action Group awards from the American Athletic Conference.

Women’s Rowing traveled to Michigan State on April 15 to face stiff competition from Tulsa and the host Spartans. The 2V8 defeated the Golden Hurricane to highlight the day.

Golf closed out its season with a ninth-place finish at the AAC Championship. Ethan Whitney led the Owls and placed fifth overall with a two-under over the three days of play.

Women’s Tennis also closed its campaign out with a quarterfinal loss to top-seed SMU. 4-0. The team finished at 17-5.

Women’s Track and Field saw Allie Riches set her third outdoor pole vault record at the Larry Ellis Invitational to highlight their two weeks of competition in preparation for this week’s Penn Relays.

Special shoutout to our Athletes of the Week since our last edition of From the Nest. Athletes of the Week – Women’s Track – Allie Riches (4/17) and Women’s Lacrosse - Taylor Grollman (4/24); Belle Mastropietro (Midfielder of the Week), Grollman (Goalkeeper of the Week) and Katie Shallow (Defensive Player of the Week) all earned and AAC weekly honors.

Mark your calendars for Temple University is hosting the 2023 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championship on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, N.J. The dates are Friday-Sunday, May 26-28.

Next Thursday and Saturday, May 4 & 6, Temple will host the 2023 American Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championship at Howarth Field. Thursday’s semifinals will take place at 4:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. with the Championship game commencing at noon. Our Owls close out the regular season at Vanderbilt Saturday (noon) needing a win to earn a spot in the four-team tournament.

The University has firmed up a date for Homecoming and Family weekend (Oct. 2-8) and this year’s Temple Football game will be against new American Athletic Conference for Texas San Antonio on Saturday, October 7. Our Owls have won 14 of the last 17 Homecoming games, including 10-2 in conference contests.

For our current men’s basketball season ticket holders, you should have received an email with THIS letter recently. We are looking forward to seeing you next season, the first for new head coach Adam Fisher. There is much excitement surrounding the team and the 2023-24 team and we look forward to seeing you at the games.

Please come out and continue to support all our Temple Athletics teams. Below is a link to our composite schedule.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the AAC Women’s Lacrosse Championships (May 4-6) and the NCAA Women’s Rowing Regatta (May 26-28).

Missed an edition? See all past newsletters HERE.