A year after becoming the first team to win three consecutive crowns since UAlbany in 2006 – 2008, UMBC softball has permanently inked their place in the record books with their fourth-straight America East Championship win. Continue Reading UMBC softball nabs 4th consecutive America East title, advances to NCAA tournament
When UMBC’s volleyball team headed to the University of Southern California (USC) for a tournament, Athletics reached out and invited West Coast Retrievers to an LA happy hour before the game. Eager to reconnect with their alma mater and meet other alumni in the area, folks gathered together and new friendships were formed. Despite the decades between their UMBC experiences, Matt Sheriff ’00, political science, and Nathenael Dereb ’21, computer science, bonded over a quintessential California connection—surfing. Specifically, Dereb, a recent relocator, wanted to learn how and Sheriff, who’s been on the West Coast for years, had the skills to… Continue Reading Hang Ten with New Friends
At the 2022 Homecoming alumnae volleyball scrimmage, Kasey Crider, who joined UMBC as head volleyball coach earlier this year, got a firsthand view of the connections the program has forged over the last 50 years—connections that he considers the foundation of the team’s success. “I exist in that ecosystem of this legacy, which hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m walking out of there going, ‘Man, this is why you do it. You have these incredible people.’” The volleyball players over the years would tell you that common values and hard work unite a team that comes from all… Continue Reading Then & Now—Band of Sisters
The only things faster than David and Caitlyn Bobb themselves, perhaps, are the zingers they toss at one another. As Caitlyn, a rookie running star now in her sophomore year, describes what it’s like to have a father as head coach of track and field at UMBC, her dad dryly turns it into a bit. “My dad has many sides to him, okay?” Caitlyn laughs as Coach Bobb literally acts out everything she’s saying while seated beside her. “There’s the coach side, where he’s stern, and he’s got the stopwatch in his hand, arms crossed, hat on, and ‘GO!’…And then… Continue Reading Think Fast
On the eve of UMBC’s 50th anniversary in 2016, when the institution put forth a goal to raise $150 million— money that goes directly to student scholarships, graduate fellowships, professorial awards, and so much more— we didn’t question if we would succeed, we just wondered how we’d be able to capture the magnitude of the collective campaign when it came to a close. Continue Reading When We Work Together
UMBC volleyball continued their hot streak, capturing their third-consecutive America East championship title. “Throughout the season, we had to get better on the fly,” said head coach Kacey Crider, “and even as things got tough, we didn’t flinch.” Continue Reading UMBC volleyball wins third-consecutive America East championship
The weeks around Homecoming offer multiple ways for the UMBC community to reconnect with our Retriever pride and celebrate the accomplishments of our amazing alumni. Two marquee events during this time are the Alumni Awards ceremonies and the UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame Induction. Recognizing alumni excellence Standing out on the Alumni Awards stage, Rising Star honoree Stefanie Mavronis ’12 shared a sentiment echoed by several other speakers—UMBC is a place to flourish. “UMBC did more than accept students like me who brought idealism and lots of passion to campus,” said Mavronis, chief of staff in Baltimore City Mayor’s Office… Continue Reading Celebrating Retriever Achievements
It’s never easy to start a new job, but athletic director Brian Barrio had more to contend with than which parking lot to use. He joined #RetrieverNation in January of 2020 and after only two months (during which time, he even lived in a campus apartment), UMBC closed its physical campus due to COVID-19. With 17 Division I sports and over 350 student-athletes, this would have been a massive undertaking in the best of circumstances. We talked to Brian about what that transition was like, what he’s learned from the experience, and what’s up next. And he almost managed to make it through the entire interview without one sports reference. Continue Reading Leading a (Retriever) Nation
Courtney Coppersmith ‘22, biochemistry and molecular biology, was named America East Woman of the Year. Coppersmith is the first Retriever in university history to achieve this honor and only the second softball player ever represented. Continue Reading Coppersmith is America East “Woman of the Year”—the first in UMBC history
Courtney Coppersmith, ‘22, biochemistry and molecular biology, experienced UMBC as a welcoming community on her first visit, and she has devoted her time on campus to paying that spirit forward. She is one of the top softball pitchers in the nation. And she has supported fellow UMBC student-athletes and the broader UMBC community through mental health and food security initiatives. Continue Reading Scholar-athlete shines a light on mental health
or the third consecutive season, UMBC softball reigns as the America East champions. Sweeping all three tournament games, the Retrievers held their opponents scoreless becoming the first team in America East history to achieve this milestone. Continue Reading UMBC softball captures third consecutive America East title, returns to NCAA tournament
Logan Hawker ‘22, mechanical engineering, chose UMBC because she wanted to feel supported both in the classroom and on the softball field. Continue Reading Balancing academics, D1 athletics: Softball standout excels as a flight test engineer
