Sports


SPORTS 9/8/23 8:31am

Elon University athlete finds solace in rugby team

Junior Coby Fecher was 18 years old when he planned to meet up with someone he trusted. That someone, a man, sexually assaulted him. Now as a junior at Elon, Fecher said the experience left him fearful of men — especially those who are bigger and taller than him. Around the time of the incident, Fecher joined Tobacco Road Rugby Club in Durham while attending Alamance Community College. For Fecher, rugby has always been a constant in his life, but playing on the field helps him work through his feelings. When he transferred to Elon last fall, Fecher said joining club rugby was an easy choice.


SPORTS 9/6/23 12:44pm

Born to Ball

Eastern Alamance High School senior quarterback and team captain Jason Ball said he knew he wanted to play football from the very first time he picked up a ball. Ever since, he said he's dreamed of playing football at the next level and looks to turn those dreams into a reality as he enters his final year of high school. With college on the horizon, Ball said he has already received interest from a few schools, including Appalachian State, Eastern Carolina University, Liberty University, as well as other Division II schools.


SPORTS 9/3/23 12:35pm

Elon University football captain grows from injury

Just a few days before the start of the 2022 season, Dylan Tucker said he was feeling the excitement for his third season on the field for Elon University’s football team. During one-on-one drills against former wide receiver Bryson Daughtry on Aug. 18, 2022, Tucker suddenly felt a pain in his chest. His pectoral muscle was torn. The injury sidelined him for the entire 2022-23 season, something Tucker said was the hardest moment in his career. Now, the redshirt sophomore begins the 2023-24 season as a leader of the team.


SPORTS 9/1/23 12:21am

Elon University football falls in season opener

Elon University football officially started its 2023-24 season Aug. 31 at Wake Forest, ultimately losing 37-17. After a slow start with senior Matthew Downing as quarterback, coaching staff made the change to red-shirt senior Justin Allen. The first half ended with the Phoenix down 24-0, but Allen said thanks to locker room pep talks, the team outscored Wake Forest in the second half 17-13. One of the big scores in the second half was a pick-six by redshirt sophomore Caleb Curtain taking the ball 49-yards for the touchdown.


SPORTS 8/31/23 10:03am

Elon University Football prepares for season starting

Elon's football team is set to travel to Wake Forest Aug. 31 to begin the 2023-24 season against the Demon Deacons. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. as the team looks to start its push for the playoffs once again by facing a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Head coach Tony Trisciani said he is hopeful that new additions to the team coupled with last season's accomplishments will lead to greater success this year. Senior quarterback Matthew Downing and redshirt sophomore Dylan Tucker also said they are setting their sights high.


SPORTS 8/29/23 9:15am

Elon University track and field athlete enters motorway with NASCAR internship

Elon University senior track and field athlete Lauryn Carlton partnered with NASCAR this summer for her marketing internship. According to Carlton, she didn’t want to make her passion for sports feel like a job, but searched for something during the summer in the industry. In the internship, Carlton said she helped manage the relationship between NASCAR and its official partners. She also said her most memorable assignment was putting together an information packet for the Chicago Street Race — the first street race in NASCAR history.


SPORTS 8/27/23 11:34am

Elon University’s women’s soccer duo fosters strong relationship on, off the field

Sophomores Ashlee Brehio and Rachel Buckle said they have a connection that allows them to know where the other is at all times. The soccer duo's bond started last year as freshmen entering Elon University's women's soccer program and has only gotten stronger thanks to the long road trips on the bus and team dinners spent together. Both Buckle and Brehio said they never let anything get in the way of their friendship, especially if it means jeopardizing the game. 


SPORTS 8/24/23 12:46pm

Elon University men’s basketball release 2023-24 non-conference schedule

Elon University's men’s basketball team released their 2023-24 non-conference schedule Aug. 23. Head Coach Billy Taylor said that the team has already started preparing for what looks to be a competitive schedule. This is Taylor’s second season and the team's first home exhibition will be on Oct. 31 against William Peace. The full 2023-24 Coastal Athletic Association schedule will be released at a later date, including game times for the non-conference games.


SPORTS 8/14/23 11:24am

Elon University athletic director driven by student, professional athletic experience

After working at the University of Miami since 2012, Jennifer Strawley began as Elon University’s director of athletics on Aug. 1. Strawley is Elon’s first female director of athletics and the 20th individual to hold the position, filling the role after Dave Blank stepped down at the end of the 2022-23 academic year. She was the senior deputy director of athletics at Miami, and also served as the sport administrator for football, women’s soccer and women’s basketball.


SPORTS 7/20/23 1:51pm

CAA changes name

The CAA announced it's changing its name from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Coastal Athletic Association on July 20. According to the CAA, the name change comes from its expansion across the East Coast and its goal of  ‘United in Excellence.' Despite this, George Washington University announced last year that it would be dropping all “Colonial monikers” because of the name's glorification of colonialism. 


SPORTS 7/6/23 11:22am

Elon University selects new athletic director

Elon University selected Jennifer Strawley as its new athletic director after former director Dave Blank stepped down at the end of the 2022-23 academic year. Strawley will come to Elon as the former deputy director of athletics at University of Miami and is set to begin her role Aug. 1. Strawley has over 20 years of experience in athletics administration and has been involved in various committees and positions for both the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Atlantic Coast Conference throughout her career.


SPORTS 6/14/23 3:56pm

North Carolina sports betting bill signed by governor

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper officially signed House Bill 347, which will legalize betting for professional, amateur, electronic and collegiate sports in 2024. A similar bill was introduced in North Carolina last year but did not pass. HB347 charges the North Carolina State Lottery Commission with regulating sports wagering and being responsible for issuing wagering and supplier licenses that will last five years. While the bill could go into effect as soon as January 2024, the commission has until June 2024 to open the betting. 


SPORTS 5/22/23 10:06am

Injury plagued Elon University lacrosse player’s life outside the sport

Graduating senior lacrosse defensive player Cassidy Creighton has now walked across the stage in Schar Center, but the path to get there wasn’t easy. Creighton went through multiple injuries, playing in only eight games with the Phoenix over four seasons. But fighting through these injuries is what Creighton said will help propel her in her future. 


SPORTS 5/15/23 10:12am

3 Elon University baseball pitchers to play in Cape Cod Baseball League this summer

The Cape Cod Baseball League has served as a stepping stone for collegiate athletes looking to make their way to Major League Baseball. This summer, Elon University baseball will continue its tradition of sending players up to this high level playing environment with three pitchers – sophomore Shea Sprague, junior Ben Simon and redshirt junior Joe Savino. The pitching trio have signed contracts to play with the Harwich Mariners for the 2023 season.  


SPORTS 5/14/23 9:03pm

Elon University baseball excels on Senior Day

Heading into its final home game of the season, the Elon University baseball team looked to complete a few milestones with a win. The Phoenix did just that, winning 9-6 against the North Carolina A&T Aggies, and in doing so it earned its 30th victory on the season, its final home victory and punched its ticket in the Colonial Athletic Association postseason. 


SPORTS 5/8/23 4:36pm

Elon University senior continues dancing dreams at professional level

Elon University senior Lindsey Rothenstein continues her dancing dreams at the professional level as an NFL dancer for the Washington Commanders. Nicknamed the Command Force, Rothenstein auditioned for the team in April and underwent a four-day tryout process. The team will practice all summer to prepare for the NFL season, which takes place from May to January, with two to three practices a week in addition to game days and community appearances.



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