It's a long three months to wait before the next Elon home game. To get you through the off-season blues, we'll be bringing you updates all summer long on what's new with Elon Athletics. To kick off our new segment, here's a round-up of everything you need to know this week in Phoenix sports:
Tuesday, June 17
- Elon released the 2014 women's soccer schedule. The squad opens up the season at home on Aug. 22 versus Jacksonville State, followed by home games against Appalachian State on Aug. 24 and Clemson on Aug. 29. The schedule features 18 games, eight of which will happen within the confines of Rudd Field. The team will also travel to Wilmington, N.C. for the UNCW Hilton Garden Inn Mayfaire Invitational. Women's soccer will cap the year off by participating in its first ever Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. Elon's men's schedule was released by the University last week.
- It was announced that Elon Cross Country runner Tereza Novotna was selected to represent her home nation of the Czech Republic at the 2014 European Team Championships that will take place Saturday, June 21 in Brunswick, Germany. Novotna, who just finished her sophomore year, will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She was the Southern Conference Champion and set an Elon record in the event during the outdoor season.
- Former Elon Wide Receiver Aaron Mellette was cut by the Baltimore Ravens following a failed physical. Mellette was with the Ravens for one season and spent his time on Injured Reserve attempting to recover from a knee surgery. In the Spring 2013, Mellette was a seventh round pick and had a promising preseason in which he caught nine passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns for the then-Superbowl Champions. At Elon, he was a three-time FCS All-American and finished second in Southern Conference History with 304 receptions, 4,254 receiving yards and 44 touchdown catches.
Wednesday, June 18
- Elon baseball player Casey Jones was selected to the Rawlings/ABCA All-American second team. It was the third All-American honors to be given to Jones this season: earlier this year he was named to the Louisville Slugger second-team and to the third-team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. His .418 batting average led the SoCon and ranked top five nationally. Jones was also a finalist for the Gregg Olson Award as the nation's breakout player of the year.
- Elon Head Football Coach Rich Skrosky announced that Kelly Page will be the new Director of Football Operations. Page played quarterback for Skrosky at Ball State and spent the past year as a graduate assistant in marketing and promotions at the university.
Thursday, June 19
- Elon University named Ryan Horton the new head strength and conditioning coach. Horton came to Elon from Elkin Sports Performance in Richmond, VA. Before joining the Phoenix, he was the assistant coordinator for strength and conditioning at Florida International University and a strength and conditioning coach for the University of Tennessee football team. According to a press release from Elon Athletics, Horton has trained 40 athletes that have gone on to compete professionally.
- Elon men's basketball team will compete in the Cancun Challenge next season. The tournament features eight teams with the tournament's final three rounds taking place in Cancun, Mexico. The Phoenix will travel to Illinois on Nov. 22 to play Northwestern in the competition's first round.
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