Dear Ferrum College Family, What a year 2021 has been. I am proud to have been a part of the amazing staff at Ferrum College, as we worked diligently to provide safe opportunities for our studentathletes to compete last spring and this fall. In January of 2021, we embarked on a journey to provide every student-athlete the opportunity to participate in meaningful competition. In doing so, we witnessed both of our basketball teams advance to the ODAC semifinals, both of our wrestling programs participate in their respective national championships and both of our soccer teams qualifying for the ODAC playoffs. In the spring, all of our teams played as scheduled, with women’s lacrosse hosting a home playoff game, softball making an ODAC playoff appearance and our men’s track and field team appearing at the NCAA championship in just its first year of NCAA Division III competition. Making this happen was no small feat. With every single Ferrum athletic team “in-season” at the same time, facilities were scheduled non-stop and covering our events with athletic training, sports information and event management was a challenge. However, we persevered as we always do and we were able to provide a positive experience for all of our students. Personally, I am thankful for our athletic training staff who were the MVP’s in making the season happen. They lead the charge of COVID testing, while continuing to care for our students through difficult circumstances. We were able to celebrate a number of accomplishments individually and at the team-level last spring. In addition to the ODAC playoff appearances mentioned above, Ferrum posted its best ever finish in the ODAC Commissioners cup since joining the league. We had two student-athletes named all-Americans, three student-athletes were named academic all-America, and three student-athletes were named ODAC Scholar Athletes of the year for their respective sports. As we wrap up the fall and head into winter, and 2022, we have been excited to welcome fans back to our games, including an enhanced tailgating experience at our home football games, a thrilling fall homecoming weekend and the induction of both the 2020 and 2021 classes into the Ferrum College Sports Hall of Fame. Our students continue to grow and thrive as they compete and represent Ferrum College in one of the premier leagues in all of NCAA Division III, the ODAC. Thank you for your support of Ferrum College and Ferrum athletics. Go Panthers!
John Sutyak Director of Athletics
