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HILLSDALECHARGERS.COM

A N ATHLETICS U P DAT E FOR A LU M NI A ND F R I E NDS

IN THIS UPDATE

Don't Neglect the Gift

THE RO B ERT S FA M ILY

Their Time to Shine

JACO B VA NCE , ’ 2 7, S H E A RU D DY, ’ 2 7, A N D E M M A RU HL M A N, ’26

Champion Reunion

1985 FO OT B A L L T E A M

Doctor on Base

A LI S O N B AU E R HA N SE N, ’15

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Hillsdale College Athletics Mission Hillsdale College was founded in 1844 with a purpose to “develop the minds and hearts of its students,” a reference to the moral and intellectual virtues. The driving purpose of athletics at Hillsdale College is to cultivate these virtues. Their practice on the field of competition inspires and elevates the minds of those who compete and those who watch.

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Inside this update: Chargers Comment ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Student Feature: Emma Ruhlman, ’26................................................................................................................6-9 Student Feature: Jacob Vance, ’27, Shea Ruddy, ’27 .............................................................................10-17 Alumni Feature: Alison Hansen, ’15 ..............................................................................................................18-21 Athletic Fundraising Priority................................................................................................................................... 22 Student Feature: Roberts Sisters ...................................................................................................................24-33 Coach Feature: Kyle Gross.................................................................................................................................34-39 Alumni Feature: 1985 Football Team ...........................................................................................................40-43 Alumni Feature: 1955 Football Team ............................................................................................................44-47 Chargers Clips and Chargers Champions ...................................................................................................48-50 Athletic Staff Directory ............................................................................................................................................. 51

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HILLSDALECHARGERS.COM Aretê, a Greek word meaning “excellence,” is used frequently in Chargers Athletics. It encompasses what the Hillsdale College community—including our student-athletes—seeks in every way.

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Chargers Comment AT HILLSDALE, WE HAVE A PHILOSOPHY OF “ONE TEAM” WHEN TALKING ABOUT OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT—current student-athletes,

coaches, alumni, and fans. That includes you! To that end, I want to get something on your calendars. On August 3, 2026, we are hosting the inaugural Charger Classic, a golf scramble that brings together all those who want to support Chargers Athletics. If you’ve been reading past issues of Aretê, you know we are trying to fund several priorities for Athletics. Those include athletic scholarships, facilities, and operating budgets that allow Hillsdale to provide a first-class experience for our student-athletes. The Charger Classic will be at the Jackson Country Club in Jackson, Michigan. We are hoping for a great turnout, both in golfers and in sponsorships. This is an opportunity to support Chargers Athletics and have fun doing so. Look for more information on how you can be a part of the Charger Classic soon. Speaking of events, our Charger Chats continue throughout the Midwest. These events offer alumni and friends of Chargers Athletics a chance to get together and learn about what is happening with the program. During these events, Director of Development for Athletics Jeff Lantis and I get a chance to interact with supporters and provide timely updates about what is happening with athletics at Hillsdale College. Our next event is scheduled for April 14, 2026, in Three Oaks, located in southwestern Michigan. We would love to see you! Finally, I want to mention a new initiative that we started in the fall of 2025. The Hometown Hero program is a chance to honor former Chargers who are local to Hillsdale and have accomplished great things both on and off the field. The first honoree was Larry Covey, ’65, a Hillsdale born-and-raised student-athlete who excelled in four sports at the College. He went on to have a successful career in teaching, coaching, and construction, and we highlighted his story in the Fall 2025 edition of Aretê. It was great to have him back on campus to honor his accomplishments and career. Alumni, we want to connect with you! We need you to be a part of the Hillsdale College Athletics family. Take advantage of the opportunities I mentioned above and come back to connect with our program. See you for a game soon! Go Chargers!

John Tharp Director of Athletics

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EMMA RUHLMAN’S BREAKOUT BASKETBALL SEASON BY MONICA VANDERWEIDE, ’95 A COLLEGE ATHLETE’S FRESHMAN YEAR CAN SOMETIMES BE A SLAP IN THE FACE. As a basketball player at a small high school in Warren, Pennsylvania, Emma Ruhlman was used to being the best one on the team. Recruited to Hillsdale by then-Assistant Coach Brianna Brennan (now the head coach), Ruhlman felt an immediate connection to the College and the women’s basketball team and was eager to become a Charger. But she quickly realized that all of her teammates had also been the best one on their high school teams. “It was a big adjustment,” she said. “There were upperclassmen who were stronger, more experienced players. I had to accept limited playing time and figure out my strength.”

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Ruhlman went from limited playing time her freshman year to a little more her sophomore year, supporting her teammates in every way she could. “I was always the loudest one on the bench,” she said. She pushed herself in practices and workouts, building up her strength and skills. By her junior year, Ruhlman had found her strength, earning a spot in the starting lineup and helping the Chargers to their best season in 16 years. The team finished as regular season runner-up in the G-MAC and made it to the final round of the G-MAC Championship tournament, falling just shy of a victory against Ashland in the final minutes. The Chargers also received a bid to play in the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance since 2018 and their first at-large bid since 2008.

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Ruhlman’s breakout moment in that spectacular season came at a home game in December 2024 against the nationally ranked and defending Midwest Regional Champion Ferris State Bulldogs. “The stands were packed, my parents were there, and I knew we were going to have a big win,” Ruhlman said. She played her best collegiate game, scoring a career-high 11 points while also contributing three rebounds and two assists. The Chargers dominated, stunning Ferris with a 76-61 victory. WHAT CLICKED FOR RUHLMAN? “I’ve always prided myself on communication,” she said. “I’m always seeking feedback from my teammates and coaches. I knew if I had a goal to work toward, it would pay off. And everything just came together last year. I realized all the time in the gym was worth it.” The Ferris win gave the Chargers momentum going into the second half of the season as they won 14 out of the next 17 regular season games. Ruhlman set a new career high of 12 points in the next game after the Ferris victory, and she set a new career high of eight rebounds twice, contributing to pivotal late-season victories that set the stage for the Big Dance. “Playing in the NCAA tourney was surreal,” she said. “You dream about this kind of thing as a little kid. My parents were able to come, and seeing the pride and joy in their eyes was amazing.” For Ruhlman, the team’s success, as well as her own, is a testament to the coaching and guidance of Brennan.

“Coach Bri cares about you as a player and as a person,” she said. “She wants the best for us. She has believed in me from Day 1, and she never stopped pushing me to get better.” Just as she’s willing to put in the hard work behind the scenes to excel on the court, Ruhlman has put in the hard work to prepare for a future career as a physician, likely in pediatrics or sports medicine. A biochemistry major, Ruhlman volunteers at Hillsdale Hospital and has also shadowed physicians at the local hospital back home in Pennsylvania. Last summer, she participated in the LAUREATES research program with Professor of Chemistry Christopher Hamilton, who also guided her through the medical school application process. Last March, she received College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors in recognition of her excellent work in the classroom. Now a senior, Ruhlman is excited for her final basketball season. “A lot of people think this is going to be a rebuilding year, but I believe we can pick up where we left off,” she said. “Personally, I just want to have fun. I’ve been so blessed to have this time with my teammates.” From a freshman on the bench to a starting senior, Ruhlman has truly blossomed during her years as a Charger. “Athletics can teach you a lot that you can’t learn in the classroom,” she said. “I’ve become a better person through athletics. I don’t know if freshman Emma would recognize senior Emma.”

“Playing in the NCAA tourney was surreal. You dream about this kind of thing as a little kid.” HILLSDAL E . E DU

Shea Ruddy and Jacob Vance go from Overlooked to Undeniable for Hillsdale College Football

BY JAMES GENSTERBLUM, ’12

After three seasons on the field for the Hillsdale College football team, the importance of Shea Ruddy and Jacob Vance to the Chargers is easy to see. The two juniors were named preseason AllAmericans by D2Football.com entering the 2025 campaign and lived up to the hype for Hillsdale this season. Vance, a redshirt junior linebacker, led the program in tackles for the third straight season and was named team MVP while earning repeat All-G-MAC honors. Ruddy, meanwhile, had a record-setting season as an offensive Swiss Army knife and return man that led to him being named a

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first team All-American by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association. While both Ruddy and Vance are well known by Hillsdale fans and opposing coaches now, that wasn’t true coming out of high school. Both players were heavily underrated in the recruiting process, and few beyond Hillsdale saw their potential to be the elite players they are today. As both Ruddy and Vance prepare to enter their final year of college football this fall, their journey to this point reflects their drive, self-belief, and hard work, plus Hillsdale’s acumen at identifying and developing underappreciated talent.

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Jacob Vance, ’27 ACCOLADES

Chargers Captain Chargers MVP 2025 Chargers Leading Tackler POSITION:

Linebacker HOMETOWN:

HEIGHT:

6' 0"

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Shea Ruddy, ’27 ACCOLADES

2024 G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Year First Team All-American Leads all levels of college football in kickoff return yardage POSITION:

Wide Receiver HEIGHT:

5' 11"

WEIGHT:

185

HOMETOWN:

Temperance, Michigan

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WEIGHT:

220

A Family Affair Family played a major role in Ruddy and Vance first stepping onto the gridiron. The second of five brothers in the Ruddy family, Shea’s siblings provided him camaraderie and competition throughout his football journey. “Some of my earliest memories are watching NFL games with my dad and my brothers,” Ruddy said. “After the games were over, we’d all go out in the front yard and play against each other, pretending we were our favorite players. “That led to all of us playing tackle football together, starting in the third grade and continuing through high school. It’s been a huge part of our family’s life and still is.” Vance, too, started his football career with his brother by his side. “My older brother, Ethan, was a year ahead of me in football, so I wanted to join the team to play with him the following year,” Vance said. “It just became part of our family, the two of us on the football field together, all the way to high school.” Ruddy was an elite quarterback in high school, leading his team to a 2022 Michigan state championship and rewriting his school’s record book while flashing the athleticism and versatility that would later make him a collegiate star.

The challenge for Ruddy as he looked to take his game to the next level was that his accomplishments came at Ottawa Lake Whiteford, a school with an enrollment of 262 in the smallest division of Michigan high school football. “It can be tough to get coaches to take you seriously coming from a small school, because you’re not playing against the same kind of talent, and so, can you do what you’re doing against bigger and faster players?” Ruddy said. “A lot of coaches are not going to take the risk to find out. “Also, I was late starting my recruiting process and getting out to camps, so a lot of schools had already finished up their classes by the time I was getting in front of them. Hillsdale was my only offer coming out of high school, and I feel blessed that the one school that wanted me was a perfect fit.”

“I feel blessed that the one school that wanted me was a perfect fit.” –SHEA RUDDY, ’27

Vance, meanwhile, went under the radar not because of school size—his high school, Birmingham Seaholm, was in the rugged Oakland Activities Association— but because injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic limited opportunities to showcase himself fully on the field and at camps. While those injuries hurt his development and evaluation, they did light a fire under Vance that helped fuel the player he is today.

“Some of my earliest memories are watching NFL Games with my dad and my brothers.” –SHEA RUDDY, ’27

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“Sitting on the sideline helped me see the game a different way... It was tough to go through at the time, but it made me appreciate the game and the opportunity I had more than I did before.” –JACOB VANCE, ’27

“Sitting on the sideline helped me see the game a different way,” Vance said. “I saw more than just my position and thought about how I could be a leader in other ways than just what I was doing on the field. It was tough to go through at the time, but it made me appreciate the game and the opportunity I had more than I did before.”

Earning a Spot Scouted at a senior camp, Vance chose Hillsdale over his only other offer. A raw player coming in due to those injuries, Vance redshirted in 2022 to spend the year getting stronger and learning the nuances of the game. At the start of the 2023 fall camp, Vance was deep down on the team’s linebacker depth chart and wasn’t on the dress list to travel to away games. He appeared unlikely to see the field for the Chargers any time soon, but that didn’t change his mindset. “You never want to see the field because the guy in front of you goes down, but at the same time, you never know what can happen,” Vance said. “My focus heading into that season was ‘if I get on the field, I am going to be ready to play my best, and I’m going to do everything I can to stay there.’” Sure enough, the opportunity came, as a wave of injuries to linebackers shook up the depth chart and forced Vance into the starting lineup against rival Findlay in week four of the 2023 season. Vance was

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stellar against the always-tough Oilers, finishing with nine tackles in his first collegiate game, and that performance proved to be a springboard. By the end of the season, Vance was the team’s leading tackler, a feat he would repeat in 2024 and 2025. His performance and leadership earned the respect of his teammates as he was selected to be the team captain as a junior in 2025.

Emerging Stars Ruddy arrived in 2023, a year after Vance, and his obvious athletic gifts saw him earn a spot on the field as a true freshman. That didn’t mean it was an easy adjustment. “I moved to wide receiver in college, and I had never played the position before. The summer before I arrived was one of the hardest of my life, trying to cram years of knowledge and reps at the position into three months,” Ruddy said. “I was lucky to have great coaching and great mentorship from teammates when I got here, and I was able to find a few things I could do well to help the team.” Hillsdale’s bet on Ruddy paid off immediately, as he produced eight touchdowns as a receiver and runner in his first season, but it was in his sophomore year that he really took off. Not only did Ruddy become the team’s leading receiver, but he also expanded his repertoire to include kick returns and became one of the best in the nation, using his acceleration, speed,

and spatial awareness to score multiple return touchdowns. Ruddy was named an honorable mention All-American as a returner after 2024. He was even better in 2025 as a junior, leading all levels of college football in kickoff return yardage with 960 and breaking Chargers career records for kick return yardage and touchdowns that have stood since 2005.

said. “Being at Hillsdale has completely changed my perspective.

Both Vance and Ruddy have developed on the field as football players, but Hillsdale has helped both grow in other critical ways.

From humble beginnings, Ruddy and Vance have achieved tremendous success as individuals at Hillsdale, but for their final season in 2026, both players have just one goal in mind—to bring home the team’s first championship since 2018.

“I was a raw, unheralded recruit coming to Hillsdale, and I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by the best possible people from the moment I’ve set foot on campus,” Vance said. “Coach Deck [linebackers coach Riley Deckard] has done so much to help me develop as a player, but it’s the man he is off the field that’s really inspired me to become a better person. “All the older guys—Kyle Kudla, Jake Maloney, and so many others—they showed me what it meant to live your life and do everything at an elite level. Who I am as a player comes from those guys, and what I’m trying to do now is pay that forward to the guys who are coming up behind me.” Ruddy pointed to Hillsdale’s academic reputation as a game-changer for him. “I got good grades in high school, but academics weren’t a priority for me in the same way football was,” Ruddy

“All the older guys... they showed me what it meant to live your life and do everything at an elite level.” –JACOB VANCE, ’27

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“Having access to amazing professors and being in classes and on teams with some of the smartest people I’ve ever met has given me an appreciation for the opportunities I have in my own life. It’s pushed me to be the best I can be in the classroom as well.”

“We’ve been close to contending for a title the last couple of years, but we’ve come up short,” Ruddy said. “With the team we have coming back, we have all the pieces in place to play championship-level football and win titles in 2026.”

“ With the team we have coming back, we have all the pieces in place to play championship-level football and win titles in 2026.” –JACOB VANCE, ’27

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DR. ALISON BAUER HANSEN SERVING IN THE USAF BY DOUG GOODNOUGH, ’90

As a Major in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Alison Bauer Hansen, ’15, actually prefers to spend her free time in or near the water. The former standout swimmer said she “loved every minute” of her academic and athletic experience at Hillsdale College. “One, I wanted to swim there, and two, [Hillsdale] has a great acceptance rate into medical school,” said Dr. Hansen, who is currently serving at Eglin Air Force Base near Pensacola,

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Florida. “I really was challenged, probably for the first time academically, at Hillsdale, which was beneficial going into medical school.” In the pool for the Chargers, she was a standout in the breaststroke, setting a school record in the 200-yard event as a sophomore. When she graduated with her degree in biology, she accepted a military scholarship to attend Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“ I really was challenged, probably for the first time academically, at Hillsdale, which was beneficial going into medical school.”

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After completing LECOM’s program, she spent two years doing her clinicals in the Detroit area. Dr. Hansen then completed her officer training and subsequent active-duty residency at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska. During her three years there, she finished her family medicine residency and met and married her husband, Blake. They moved to Fort Belvoir in Virginia, where she finished a one-year sports medicine fellowship with the U.S. Naval Academy as well as at several area high schools. For the past two years, Dr. Hansen has been teaching as part of Eglin’s family medicine residency program and seeing patients in Eglin’s sports medicine clinic. Dr. Hansen said splitting her time between sports and family medicine gives her many career options. “I think teaching is one of the long-term benefits of my current job,” Dr. Hansen said. “You really get to see the improvement over time. I’ve seen residents go from very new and green to being able to develop some pretty complex treatment plans and do some pretty awesome procedures in just the short time that I’ve been here. That’s really rewarding to be able to watch and know that I had a direct impact on their success. So far in my tenure, we’ve had a 100 percent acceptance rate into sports medicine fellowships.” She has two years remaining on her Air Force commitment and said she is keeping her future options open.

anything,” Dr. Hansen said. “A lot of it depends on what the job opportunities are in the area where you’re looking. My husband is from Nebraska, and I’m from Michigan, so we’ll probably end up back in the Midwest at some point. But we’re not in a huge hurry to get there.” They are currently enjoying the Florida weather with their young son, Lincoln, and daughter Ivy. Once an avid triathlete, Dr. Hansen said family life is now about spending time on splash pads and the beach and growing citrus trees. “I think the older I get, the more I want to spend time with my family,” she said. “Five or six years ago, I was still very much caught up into the grind and wanted to keep grinding. But now that I’ve slowed down a little bit and started a family, I definitely have different priorities.” Her parents still live in Michigan, and she gets to visit often. She remembers her Hillsdale experience fondly. “Breaking the school record, obviously, was one of my favorite memories,” Dr. Hansen said. “Also just spending time with my teammates and getting to decompress with them after practice. We had really good camaraderie, especially after our training trips. The [Florida] training trips were some of my favorite times, just getting out of the Michigan winter for a week or so and spending some time at the beach with my best friends. We also worked really hard for the whole time we were there. It was grueling, but it was fun.”

“Having a broad family medicine training and spending four years doing sports medicine as well, I can do pretty much

“ I’ve seen residents go from very new and green to being able to develop some pretty complex treatment plans and do some pretty awesome procedures... That’s really rewarding... to watch and know that I had a direct impact on their success.”

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BY DOUG GOODNOUGH, ’90

Building for the Future: Funding Priority Hillsdale College Athletics recently completed a strategic plan that will address the needs of the department for years to come. Here is one of the major funding priorities that was identified in this plan:

Indoor all-purpose turf building Indoor turf facilities are becoming more commonplace, not only for colleges and universities, but also, in many cases, for high schools. Hillsdale College needs a similar facility that will meet the needs of our student-athletes and College community. It will be a practice and training area for the intercollegiate

teams, but it also will be used for other activities such as intramural sports, club teams, and College and community events. Plans call for an 80-yard indoor artificial turf field that will include locker rooms, an observation suite, and a weight room. The estimated cost to complete is $26 million.

There are naming opportunities available for the turf facility. To learn how you can support Hillsdale College Athletics, please contact Director of Athletic Development Jeff Lantis at jlantis@hillsdale.edu or (734) 516-9036. 22

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SCAN QR CODE TO SUPPORT HILLSDALE COLLEGE ATHLETICS

SAVE THE DATE!

April 14, 2026 Journeyman Distillery The Featherbone Factory 109 Generations Drive Three Oaks, MI 49128 Join Director of Athletics John Tharp and Director of Development for Athletics Jeff Lantis for an evening of fellowship and updates about athletics at Hillsdale College! Registration details coming soon.

INAUGURAL CHARGER CLASSIC

GOLF OUTING MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2026 Join us at the Jackson Country Club for a golf scramble to support Hillsdale College Athletics! Golfers and sponsorships needed.

Not everyone considers running a gift, but for the Roberts family, it is the gift that keeps on giving. Running has been a family affair for the four Roberts sisters and simply a way of life. Anna, ’26, Megan, ’27, Caroline, ’29, and Eliza (a current freshman at Hillsdale Academy) grew up around the track. Their parents, Mike, ’98, and Lisa, ’99, both former Chargers athletes, spent the girls’ childhoods coaching track and field. Now, the three oldest Roberts sisters are carrying the family legacy forward, running their own races at their own paces for the Chargers.

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The Starting Line

On Your Marks, Get Set…

Mike and Lisa, both Michiganders, came to Hillsdale College to run cross country and track for the Chargers in the 1990s. Lisa ran the 800-meter run, the 400-meter hurdles, and various relays, while Mike competed in the 400-meter dash, the 800-meter run, and relays. Both are All-American athletes.

Running was instilled for fun at a young age for the Roberts sisters. “My dad was the athletic director and head track coach at Hillsdale Academy, so we spent a lot of time at the track,” said Anna. “Our mom would take us to the meets, and we all wanted it to be our turn to run,” added Megan.

Mike and Lisa married in 1999, and after a brief stint teaching in Colorado, they returned to Hillsdale, where Mike began his long tenure as an administrator at Hillsdale Academy. He currently serves as its headmaster and the head coach of its track and field program. Lisa is a science teacher at Hillsdale Academy and also helps coach the Colts’ track and field athletes.

The sisters recalled running laps around their childhood home for fun while holding a baton to make it feel official. “We would spray each other with spray bottles, too,” laughed Anna. “One time, Megan ran 100 laps around the house.”

“ My mom would often tell us, ‘Don’t neglect the gift.’ Racing is an enjoyment and a gift. When I run, I feel God’s pleasure. You can be suffering through the sport, but He’s there all of the time.” –CAROLINE ROBERTS, ’29

One hundred laps around the house turned into fun runs and Hillsdale Academy Turkey Trots. The sisters began running competitively in 6th grade and claimed they got their competitive drive from their parents. “That drive has carried us through a lot of gritty races,” Megan said. “And it’s also changed the mindset of how you approach a race—doing the best you can rather than trying to be the best is really important,” added Caroline. The Roberts sisters had a big impact on their high school cross country and track teams. The three sisters were on the Academy’s 2021 MHSAA Division 4 4x800-meter relay state championship team. Anna was a state champion in the long jump in her senior year. Megan took home two more state titles after winning the 4x800 and 4x400 relays in 2023. Caroline earned state titles in the 4x800 and 4x400 relays in 2023 and 2025, and she placed third in the state in the 800-meter run in 2025. The sisters all attribute their success to the love of running instilled at a young age. Caroline also added that Lisa would frequently remind them of 1 Timothy 4:14. “My mom would often tell us, ‘Don’t neglect the gift.’ Racing is an enjoyment and a gift. When I run, I feel God’s pleasure. You can be suffering through the sport, but He’s there all of the time.” Back row: Mike, ’98, Lisa, ’99, and Megan, ’27 Front row: Eliza, Caroline, ’29, and Anna, ’26

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Lisa fondly remembers her high school coach, Jenny Wilson Goodpaster, ’88, who opened Lisa’s eyes to running as a sport and where it could take her. “Jenny was the one who would encourage me during tough workouts with 1 Timothy 4:14. The gift should be used to bring God glory and to enjoy His goodness—the joy of running and the opportunities it provides.”

Go! It was no surprise when it came time to choose a college that there were options for the Roberts sisters. The girls caught the attention of several colleges, but the sisters made sure their decisions were their own. “Our girls had a different connection to Hillsdale,” said Mike. “Lisa and I really wanted them to compare colleges.” And though they did, Hillsdale was the one for the three of them. The combination of academics, a positive team environment, and the feeling of home sealed the deal. Megan said that she’s glad to be a Charger because Hillsdale is home. “Walking past our parents’ All-American photos in the Splex every day just feels familiar—and I’m running the same race as my mom and dad.”

“...It’s been a joy to watch the girls develop at their own pace. And with that development have come leadership skills and how to deal with adversity.”

–MIKE ROBERTS, ’98

“Coach White is incredible,” Anna said of Hillsdale’s cross country coach. “He’s the one who got me into distance running. He took a chance on me and had no idea how I would perform. I was a sprinter my freshman year, but I kept thinking I could give more in a different way.” So Anna joined the cross country team and really fell in love with running. “The mental piece was the trigger,” said Anna. “My mindset changed so much with distance running. Mentally, I grew, and it’s part of the reason why I’ve had success.”

“I chose to attend Hillsdale because of the team culture and the experiences that my sisters had,” Caroline added. “It’s a healthy team environment, and the coaches and teammates want what’s best for each other. Having my sisters on the team, too, is pretty special.”

“We’re not just physically bettering ourselves every day, but mentally as a person, too; we’re refining ourselves and learning to endure and apply the running aspect to the race of life,” Megan said. “Running is broad-spectrum, and that’s why we love it.”

Anna, Megan, and Caroline are triple-sport athletes for the Chargers. They compete on the cross country team and the indoor and outdoor track teams. Anna’s track event is the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Megan’s is the 800-meter run, and Caroline will be tackling the 800 or 1500-meter run. The way the three sisters prepare for their events is unique to each of them. But figuring out their place on the team wasn’t a simple process.

Contrary to popular belief, Mike and Lisa never wanted to force running on their daughters. For them, it’s been a joy to watch the girls develop at their own pace. And with that development have come leadership skills and how to deal with adversity.

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Despite the success, the Roberts parents have made it clear that not everything rests on running. “Watching our girls persevere through adversity, whether through injuries or bad races, and deal with struggles in a healthy way has also reinforced the perspective that running isn’t the main thing in their lives,” Mike said. “It took adversity

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to understand where the perspective is. It’s been great to watch them handle growth and work things out with their coaches directly, and for Lisa and me to be observers and sounding boards.” But as parents, it can be nerve-wracking, especially with three daughters competing at the collegiate level. “It’s a mixed bag,” added Mike. “There are those days when everything is clicking and you celebrate with them, but there are the lows, and you just have to be there for them. You have to be ready for everything.” Anna echoed her father’s statement, saying the journey is not always pretty. “There are good times and hard times and highs and lows, but God will have your best interest, and it’s beautiful to see when you get rewarded with that.”

Staying the Course The Roberts sisters have experienced great success at Hillsdale. In 2025, Anna was the G-MAC Champion in the outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase. “Winning that race was really special,” Anna explained. “I did not expect to win, as I was ranked 7th going in, but I PR’d by 45 seconds. I knew I was capable of winning all season. I kept thinking, I can’t just let this go. I’m here now, and I have to do it.” And that she did.

Megan was all-conference her freshman year and PR’d in the 800-meter run. “I ran a 2:12—a time I would have never thought I was capable of,” she said. “That changed my view on my potential. It gave me the confidence I needed to move forward with my running career.” So how do the Roberts sisters do it? Sleep, food, and faith. “I think we can all agree that sleep is our secret sauce,” smiled Anna. “I also love a good chicken parmesan the night before a race. For breakfast, I love peanut butter and banana toast.” “I love my mom’s jam and peanut butter toast,” said Megan. And for Caroline? Red meat and a GoGo Squeeze before every race. The sisters explained that their teammates are their best friends, and they have a healthy Christian community. “There’s something so much greater that we’re united in,” said Anna. “So therefore, we can form even deeper relationships and also come to love the sport more. These people have everyone’s best interests in mind, and it’s to glorify the Lord.” Both Mike and Lisa had similar experiences during their time on the cross country and track teams in the ’90s. “It was such a special time to spend four years with your people,” Mike said. “You grow with these people who are your teammates, and then to see your kids go through that as well—yes, it’s about the competition, but it’s also about the relationships you see them start to develop. Those will carry forward for years.”

“ We’re not just physically bettering ourselves every day, but mentally as a person, too; we’re refining ourselves and learning to endure and apply the running aspect to the race of life.” –MEGAN ROBERTS, ’27

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The Finish Line The sisters have ambitious goals for the spring 2026 season. Anna hopes to qualify for Nationals in the steeplechase. Megan hopes to be all-conference in the 800-meter run. Caroline hopes to grow in her running journey during her first track and field season and to be all-conference in her event. It’s also Anna’s final track and field season before graduating in May. “It’s a bittersweet feeling, but I am grateful for everything,” she said. “I’ve learned and grown a lot. The one constant has always been the team. It’s been the foundation for my college career. I entered college saying I love to run, but now I can truly say I love to run.” Anna plans to pursue a future in sports management and will marry her fiancé, Richie Johnston, ’25, the former Chargers track and field standout and former G-MAC steeplechase champion, in the summer of 2026. “I also plan to do a marathon after I graduate,” Anna added. “I want to enjoy running for as long as I can.” Megan aspires to have a future in nursing, and Caroline would love to become a teacher one day. Both sisters plan to keep up with running, too. “Running levels me,” Megan said. “I can see myself keeping up with local 5ks, and maybe one day I’ll be running with a stroller with my kids.” While the sisters are forging their own paths and successes at Hillsdale, there’s no doubt that Mike and Lisa helped lay the foundation. The couple has followed their daughters’ athletic careers since childhood, calling these college years a “great joy” and a welcomed “bonus”—a chance to watch the girls compete at the collegiate level so close to home. From cherished childhood laps around the house to all-out laps around the Chargers’ track, the Roberts legacy lives on through love, support, hard work, and the gift behind every stride.

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“I’ve learned and grown a lot. The one constant has always been the team. It’s been the foundation for my college career. I entered college saying I love to run, but now I can truly say I love to run.” –ANNA ROBERTS, ’26

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Kyle Gross Guides Hillsdale Softball to Success BY MONICA VANDERWEIDE, ’95

A popular saying goes, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” For Head Softball Coach Kyle Gross, that sentiment rings true as he comes off one of the most successful seasons ever in program history and enters his eighth season at the helm. The path to Hillsdale took some twists and turns, however, marked not only by times of uncertainty and sacrifice, but also by determination and the unwavering support of his family. “I always knew I would do something with sports when I grew up,” Gross said. “I wanted to be a professional baseball player.” A multisport athlete in high school, Gross primarily played baseball but also tried his hand at football, soccer, and swimming and diving. At Otterbein College (now University)

in Ohio, he played baseball for a year. But as he realized that a career in the Major Leagues was highly unlikely, Gross switched gears. He started a career as a police officer in Newark, Ohio, eventually earning a degree in criminal justice from Columbia Southern University. Still, Gross couldn’t shake the idea of doing something with sports. He worked with his young daughter, who played on a softball rec league, on the basics of the game. “I was asked to be an assistant coach for her league,” he recalled. “I found that those coaches taught at a higher level than you would expect for eight-year-olds. I realized that if you taught the kids something, they would do it. You shouldn’t limit what they can do.”

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Hungry for more coaching experience, Gross sought out other softball coaches and asked to observe their games. He did some high school coaching and also coached at softball camps and clinics on the side, getting a big break when Olympian Crystl Bustos asked him to be the hitting instructor at her summer camps. As Gross became known in Ohio for his coaching work, the University of Toledo came calling in 2013. “It was an assistant coaching position,” Gross said. “But it would come with great sacrifice.” Even though the job offered less pay and meant temporarily moving away from his family, Gross took the leap of faith, leaving law enforcement for a chance to coach full time. In the course of the season, Gross was moved up to head coach. Even though he led the Toledo program to its best season in more than 15 years, his contract was not renewed. The next three years saw him coach at three different colleges, all with one-year contracts. “After four years, I had nothing,” Gross recalled. “We moved to Florida [where Gross had grown up], and I started a lawn care business.” The Gross family was about a year into their new life in Florida when Kyle received a call from Hillsdale’s then-Athletic Director Don Brubacher. “He said, ‘Your name came across my desk for our head softball coach opening,’” Gross recalled. “I was so excited to be considered, even with my limited coaching experience.” Gross interviewed and was offered the job, and he began coaching Hillsdale for the 2019 season. “The program was in good shape,” he recalled. “But I wanted to build Hillsdale softball into something that would be well known.” It didn’t take long for that to happen. Right out of the gate, the 2019 squad captured a G-MAC Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. In 2021, the team racked up 33 wins—the most since 1991—good enough for another NCAA Tournament bid. Gross was named G-MAC Coach of the Year in 2022, and the 2023 team also won the G-MAC Tournament and headed to the regional tournament.

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“I wanted to build Hillsdale softball into something that would be well known.” The 2025 season, however, propelled the team to new heights. The 39-win season (one win shy of tying the school record) saw the Chargers win the G-MAC Championship and advance to the final round of the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament for the first time in program history. “We had a tremendous senior class,” Gross said of his 2025 squad. “They had so much fight in them right up to the end of the season. And the underclassmen were right there with them, supporting them and pushing them forward.” That reflects one of the traits, besides athletic and academic talent, that Gross looks for in recruits: selflessness. “Not everyone can be a star or even a starter,” he said. “But selflessness is important in every role. I’m looking for students of high character who will be excellent teammates.”

Gross wants the athletic experience to be good on an individual level as well as the team level. “This isn’t about the wins or losses,” he said. “If we do things right, the wins will come. It’s really about each player’s experience. My daughter played Division I softball and did not have a good experience. No matter what your position is, you should have a good experience as a college athlete, and that’s my goal for them.” Even with the graduation of four seniors last spring, Gross feels confident that the 2026 team will continue the program’s winning ways. He believes that a trip to the Division II World Series is not out of reach. After all, Gross knows firsthand that hard work, persistence, and teamwork can help you achieve your goals and dreams, even if it takes a while to get there. “I’m very blessed to be in this position and grateful that Hillsdale College took a chance on me,” he said.

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Special Season

BY DOUG GOODNOUGH, ’90

1985 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS GATHER FOR 40TH REUNION

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When the 1985 Hillsdale Chargers took to the football field, Kurt Norman, ’86, knew the season was going to be special.

Kurt Norman, ’86

Despite a 1984 team that finished 6-4, he said the returning senior class had this calm confidence that great things were ahead.

“There was not one person on that team who was a solo player,” said Norman, an outside linebacker who earned NAIA All-American honors on one of the top defenses in program history. “We were united, and everybody celebrated every little victory we had together.”

That season, the Chargers celebrated 11 victories. Ironically, the biggest celebration did not come after a win, but a tie. In what now has become part of Chargers Football lore, Hillsdale and Central Arkansas battled to a 10-10 tie in the NAIA Championship game. “We were in control of the game,” Norman recalled. “It was a tough game, and we were getting some big plays. But it just sort of ended the way it ended.” After regulation time expired, coaches from both teams met to decide how to proceed. The decision: End the game in a tie. “It was the right decision to settle for the tie,” Norman said. “When I look at it long-term, sometimes I think maybe we should have played it out. But it was the right call. It was a national championship. That’s why we’re here together today.”

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Norman was referring to the large contingent of teammates who returned to Hillsdale during Homecoming Weekend 2025 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of that national championship team. Dave Dye

Defensive Coordinator

Jeff Gatt, ’87

Mike Gatt, ’86

Tim Green, ’88

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On a team of stars, Norman was one of the brightest. The imposing 6-foot2, 235-pound outside linebacker was a menace to opposing quarterbacks all season. In fact, he recorded an astounding 29 quarterback sacks that season and finished with 47 for his career, both of which remain program records. He was not alone, though. That Chargers defensive front put up numbers that will probably never be matched. Defensive lineman Al Huge had 19 sacks, and linemates Tim Green and Chris Winowich added 14 and 12, respectively. If an opposing offense did manage to cross the line of scrimmage, there awaited linebacker Dennis Susa, who recorded 162 tackles, and All-American defensive back Jeff Hubert, who intercepted seven passes. “What made our defense special is practice,” said Norman, who is now retired after a career as a senior marketing director at PepsiCo. “Every practice we had was like a game. [Defensive Coordinator] Dave Dye was conscious about the way we practiced.”

Jeff Hubert, ’86

Al Huge, ’88

Jeff Lantis, ’86

Dick Lowry

Head Coach

The offense was led by senior quarterback Mike Gatt, ’86. The cerebral signal caller threw for 2,664 yards and 25 touchdowns during that magical season. Most of those passes went to senior receivers Dave Mifsud, ’86, and Jeff Lantis, ’86, who joined Gatt as NAIA Academic All-Americans. Jeff Gatt, ’87, Mike’s younger brother and a starting running back on that team, had a bittersweet year. He and Mike both started the season in the same backfield until Jeff sustained a serious ankle injury during an early October game against Wayne State. He was out most of the regular season, but did return for part of the championship run, catching a key pass in a spectacular come-from-behind 24-21 win against Mesa (Colorado) in the semifinals. “I did everything I could to get back on the field,” said Jeff, who now resides in Tampa, Florida. “We were not the most talented team. A lot of teams we played were way more talented than us. We just happened to have that unique combination of outstanding coaching and a real togetherness that separates good from great teams. It was very humbling to be a part of that group.” One person missing from the reunion was former Head Coach Dick Lowry, who passed away in October 2024.

“Coach Lowry had a major influence on me,” Norman said. “I just felt a really good vibe with him. [The coaches] cared about you. They not only cared about what you did on the field, they cared about what you did in the classroom and in your life.” Dave Mifsud, ’86

That influence remains, even four decades after the players walked off the Muddy Waters Stadium turf for the last time. “You get goose bumps when you are driving here and you get a little closer to the campus,” Norman said of Hillsdale.

Dennis Susa, ’87

Chris Winowich, ’89

“It’s all about the people. There are only two things in life that matter: those you influence and those who influence you. And I can tell you, every single player on that 1985 team has influenced me in a major way.”

1985:

A Season for the Ages (11-1-1) Regular Season Hillsdale 21, Wisconsin-Whitewater 7 Hillsdale 23, Ashland 7 Saginaw Valley State 28, Hillsdale 17 Hillsdale 25, Wayne State 0 Hillsdale 24, Ferris State 15 Hillsdale 21, Grand Valley 14 Hillsdale 42, Kentucky State 0 Hillsdale 52, Michigan Tech 6 Hillsdale 30, Northwood 0 Hillsdale 16, Central State 6

NAIA Playoffs Hillsdale 47, Salem 3 Hillsdale 24, Mesa 21 (overtime)

National Championship Game Hillsdale 10, Central Arkansas 10

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TRIPPETT: 1955 FOOTBALL TEAM UNITED IN TURNING DOWN TANGERINE BOWL BID

BY DOUG GOODNOUGH, ’90

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Seventy years is a long time. But Dave Trippett, ’58, still remembers. He was a standout player on a standout team, one that became legendary more for what it did off the field than on. And that’s saying something. The 1955 Hillsdale College football team finished the regular season 9-0 and dominated the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In fact, the Dales were being considered for a New Year’s Day bowl game in Orlando, Florida. Then-Hillsdale Head Coach Frank “Muddy” Waters even traveled to Orlando to lobby for his team’s invitation, which would have been the first in program history. It would have meant everything for the team to play in the Tangerine Bowl, which in essence was a national championship game featuring the best small-college teams in the country. So, when Hillsdale finally received the invitation, it quickly became news around the Midwest. However, there was one huge caveat: Hillsdale could play, but the four African American players on its roster could not. It was the climate of the time in the segregated South. “Muddy called the team together and said, ‘Do we want to still go to the bowl game?’” Trippett said. After a team meeting and vote, Muddy had his answer. “We voted no,” Trippett said. “If they aren’t going to take us all, then we are

not going. We had a good team, a great team, and we could have done all right in our bowl game. Probably could have won it.” Although devastating to not be playing in the postseason, he said the team never looked back on that decision. “It cemented us a little more together,” Trippett said. “Muddy had the best interests of his players at heart. He believed in the players that he recruited and instilled in us the drive to win, to play the best we could.” In fact, Trippett said the 1956 team that also finished with a 9-0 record might have been even better. In 1957, his senior year, the unbeaten Dales accepted and played in their first bowl game, falling in heartbreaking fashion to Pittsburg State, 27-26, in the Holiday Bowl. Trippett said Muddy built his program with talent from all backgrounds. Two of his top players and eventual Hillsdale Hall of Famers, tailback Nate Clark, ’56, and end Andy Kincannon, ’57, were African American. He also had several NCAA Division I transfers and military veterans on his roster. Trippett was the former, transferring after one season at Michigan State University to Hillsdale to play for Muddy, who was his high school coach in Albion, Michigan. The 6-foot, 215-pound two-way lineman earned All-American honors for the Dales. “We looked after each other. We were very mature. Most of us played both ways, because [Muddy] wanted the best

“[MUDDY] BELIEVED IN THE PLAYERS THAT HE RECRUITED AND INSTILLED IN US THE DRIVE TO WIN, TO PLAY THE BEST WE COULD.” players out there all the time,” Trippett said. “And our second team was almost as good as our first team.” Drafted in the 17th round by the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams in 1957, Trippett turned down a professional football career for one in teaching and coaching. “My knees were so bad, and back in those days, you didn’t get guarantees,” said the sociology major of his decision to forego the NFL. “And I had a teaching job.” The 90-year-old Trippett, who was later inducted into Hillsdale College Athletic Hall of Fame, returned to his alma mater to coach and teach. In fact, he was an assistant for the football program and a Opposite page inset photo: former football players Andrew Kincannon, ’57 (left), Warren Spragg, ’57 (center), and Dave Trippett, ’58 (right), attend a Hillsdale College Hall of Fame event.

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“WE WERE JUST A GOOD BUNCH OF MEN DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT, AND THAT’S THE MAIN THING.” 46

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sociology professor for the College for several years before deciding to work in the prison system.

1955 Hillsdale Dales (9-0 overall, 6-0 MIAA)

A Better Kind of Glory Hillsdale 47, Anderson 7 Hillsdale 20, Eastern Michigan 6 Hillsdale 45, Olivet 6 Hillsdale 14, Albion 7 Hillsdale 27, Alma 20 Hillsdale 19, Hope 13 Hillsdale 41, Kalamazoo 7 Hillsdale 62, Adrian 7 Hillsdale 27, Lewis 13

He eventually moved to Sault Ste. Marie to become a deputy warden of a prison, then was warden at the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer, Michigan. His love of teaching never waned. He taught in Lake Superior State University’s criminal justice program before instructing prisoners for the intermediate school district near his Lapeer home before finally retiring in 2000. He said he enjoys returning to Hillsdale, especially for the Athletic Hall of Fame banquets, and he is proud of the legacy of the 1955 team.

the main thing,” Trippett said of his teammates. By the way, that 1956 Tangerine Bowl was played, with the Juniata Indians and Missouri Valley Vikings competing to a 6-6 tie. Ultimately, there were no winners of that bowl game— at least on the playing field.

Editor’s Note: For more on the 1955 Hillsdale College football team and their decision to turn down a Tangerine Bowl bid, scan the QR code to check out the online documentary A Better Kind of Glory. Opposite page inset photo: 1956 cocaptains Dave Trippett, ’58 (top) and Nate Clark, ’57 (bottom).

“We were just a good bunch of men doing what was right, and that’s

No Regrets HILLSDAL E . E DU

Chargers Clips (A whirlwind look at Chargers Athletics by sport)

Baseball Hillsdale was one of 440 college baseball programs from across the country to receive the 2025 ABCA/ Sports Attack Team Excellence Award. This award recognizes ABCA member teams from all levels of high school and collegiate baseball that achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale during the 2024-25 academic year. Softball The Chargers hired Taylor Segorski as assistant coach. Being the lead assistant, she will help manage all aspects of the program. A Michigan native, Segorski has multiple seasons of collegiate coaching experience, most recently with Division III Albion College and Davenport University, a Division II program. Men’s Basketball The Chargers secured national letters of intent from three players for the 2026-27 season. Cole Albers (Minster, Ohio/Minster), Leland Berg (Kalamazoo, Michigan/Hackett Catholic) and Cade Dirkse (Oostburg, Wisconsin/Oostburg) are talented prospects at the guard, wing, and forward positions, respectively. Women’s Basketball The Chargers scored a three-player signing class for 2026-27. The class of Delaney Larson (Manhattan, Kansas/Manhattan), Ella Martin (Westerville, Ohio/ Westerville Central) and Maya Sonday (Keller, Texas/ Homeschooled), all signed their national letters of intent in November. Football Junior Shea Ruddy was the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year and NCAA Division II All-Region for the second straight season. He accomplished a rare feat in 2025 as the only Division II player in the country to finish the year with a passing, rushing, receiving, and kickoff return touchdown in the same

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season. Tailback Ben Ngishu was named the G-MAC’s Freshman of the Year while also earning first team AllG-MAC honors. Senior tight end Noah Larrick earned the G-MAC’s Elite 26 award for having the highest GPA of any player in the conference. Men’s Cross Country Senior Gabriel Phillips placed 10th at the NCAA DII Midwest Regional in Kenosha, Wisconsin. His 10K time of 30:42.5 was a personal best and one of the fastest cross country 10Ks in program history. He also earned his first All-Region honor to go with two all-conference honors. Phillips was third behind two eventual AllAmericans at the G-MAC Championships. Track and Field Jessica Bridenthal, entering her eighth year with the Hillsdale College program, moves into the top spot as the program’s head coach. She has excelled as the throws coach for the Chargers and has played a significant role in helping to run the program over the last two years as the associate head coach. R.P. White, who previously served as head track and field coach, will continue to serve as Hillsdale’s head cross country coach and remain a part of the track and field coaching staff. Women’s Cross Country Junior Eleanor Clark earned first-team All-G-MAC honors, taking ninth in 21:57.5 at the conference meet to help the Chargers finish in fourth place. At the NCAA Division II Regionals, Hillsdale finished a promising 11th, with a lineup that included no seniors and three freshmen in the top five. Volleyball Senior captain Adi Sysum was recognized as a first team all-conference honoree by the G-MAC and was Hillsdale’s lone representative on the team. She hit .379 to rank second in the G-MAC in hitting percentage, while leading the Chargers in kills with 225.

Men’s Golf The Chargers are ranked 25th in NCAA Division II as a team and third in the Midwest Region in the Scoreboard National Collegiate Golf Rankings, the program’s highest ranking nationally and in the region since the Scoreboard poll was first brought into existence, and the second-best national ranking at the NCAA DII level since the program was restarted in 2014. Luke Kelly begins his first season as the head coach. He was formerly the club pro at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Arizona, and has also played professionally on PGA Tour Americas. Men’s Tennis The Chargers continued an eight-year streak of having at least one Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete. Last year, there were two honorees. Sophomore Ellis Klanduch recorded his second ITA Scholar Athlete honor, while freshman Alex Cordero Lopez was the other honoree. In order to receive ITA Scholar-Athlete honors, an athlete must maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher for the 2024-25 school year. Women’s Tennis The Chargers had a strong showing in the ITA Midwest Regional last fall in Grand Rapids. The event brings together all the top players at the NCAA Division II in each of the country’s eight regions. Junior Ane Dannhauser led the way with Hillsdale’s best ever singles performance in an ITA Midwest Regional. Playing in the top A bracket against the region’s best players and seeded fifth, Dannhauser won four straight matches to reach the semifinal round. Dannhauser’s run came to an end in the semis in a matchup with the top-seeded player in the region, Eleanor Coleman of Rockhurst. Women’s Swimming Senior Elise Mason earned first-team All-G-MAC honors for the fourth straight season this year. Joining Mason as a first-teamer was freshman Ella Schafer, who captured the

200 freestyle title at the 2025 G-MAC/MEC Championships for the Chargers. Freshman Matilyn Wilhelmsen was named the conference’s co-Freshman of the Year, sharing the award with Findlay’s Sophia Busby. Shotgun Jordan Sapp, a three-year competitor and twotime ACUI/SCTP All-American with the Chargers, is forgoing his remaining collegiate eligibility to join the prestigious U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in time for the next Olympic cycle. The Army Marksmanship Unit has a storied legacy in international competition, producing 20 Olympic medal winners since its inaugural appearance at the 1960 Olympic Games. The ultra-selective program only brings in new recruits to replace departing members and generally asks for a 10-year commitment for members of its unit, or two-and-a-half Olympic cycles. Members of the Army Marksmanship Unit are enlisted soldiers in the U.S. Army and go through the same basic training and requirements as every other soldier in the Army. Action Shooting The Chargers hosted the Springfield Armory 2025 USPSA Collegiate Championship at the Ailes Action Shooting Range last fall. Hillsdale took second in the nation as a team in the Limited category and also in the Limited Optics category. Junior Kayla Mullin had a dazzling individual performance, winning the Limited Division title, which is the most popular one at the collegiate level.

hillsdalechargers.com

ONE CLUB, ONE TEAM, ONE FAMILY JOIN TODAY! The Charger Champions Club supports all 16 intercollegiate sports and 400-plus student-athletes at Hillsdale College. It allows every Charger—past, present, or future—to play an important role in our success.

For more information on joining the Charger Champions Club, go to hillsdalechargers.com or scan the QR code.

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Chargers Champions Allison Kuzma | ’28

Fifteen and Counting: NCAA Division II Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence For the 15th consecutive year, the Chargers earned the NCAA Division II Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence. Hillsdale posted an Academic Success Rate of 99 percent, the second highest in the nation among all 305 NCAA Division II Schools. The Academic Success Rate (ASR) follows a class of freshman student-athletes over six years and measures the percentage of those freshmen at each institution that, over the course of that six-year period, either graduated or left the institution in good academic standing and on track to graduate when they departed. Hillsdale’s rating means that 99 percent of Chargers student-athletes covered by the award met one of those two criteria at the end of the six-year period. Forty-three schools received the award, and Hillsdale is one of just seven Division II schools to receive the award every year it has been given.

Hillsdale Shotgun Trio on Team USA Madeline Corbin, Taylor Dale, and Ava Downs were each selected to both the Open and Junior Women’s National Teams. They earned the opportunity to shoot with Team USA internationally in 2026, including the ISSF Junior World Championships in Suhl, Germany. At the 2025 USA Shooting Fall Selection Match in Arizona last fall, Corbin was the top Charger in International Skeet, breaking 236 out of 250 targets. She took first place in Junior Women and first in Collegiate. Dale and Downs took first and second, respectively, in Junior Women, while Downs placed third in Open Women.

Allison Kuzma Sophomore Allison Kuzma became the third Charger woman in three seasons to capture the individual G-MAC cross country crown with a 6K time of 20:29.1 at the G-MAC Championships in October in Midland, Michigan. Kuzma followed that performance with an impressive runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional. On the national stage, Kuzma became the 21st Charger woman to earn All-American honors in cross country, placing 13th in the nation in 20:38.7.

Shea Ruddy Junior receiver Shea Ruddy received All-American honors for the second consecutive year as a return specialist. He earned first-team honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). He led all of college football with 960 kickoff return yards in 2025 and tied for the national all-division lead with three kickoff return touchdowns of 97, 90, and 86 yards. His 33.1 yards per return average fell just shy of the school and G-MAC record of 33.3 he set in 2024. With 1,692 career return yards and five career return touchdowns, Ruddy officially surpassed Hillsdale College career records set by Chad Gurica in 2005. 50

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Chargers Athletic Staff Directory John Tharp Director of Athletics (517) 607-3130 jtharp@hillsdale.edu Keven Bradley Head Coach, Men’s Basketball (517) 607-3148 kbradley@hillsdale.edu Brianna Brennan Head Coach, Women’s Basketball (517) 607-3148 bbrennan@hillsdale.edu Jessica Bridenthal Head Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Coach (517) 607-3171 jbridenthal@hillsdale.edu Adam Burlew Head Action Shooting Coach (517) 610-5593 aburlew@hillsdale.edu Josh Calver Deputy Director of Athletics (517) 607-3140 jcalver@hillsdale.edu Tyler Cortright Assistant AD—Sports Medicine and Performance (517) 607-3193 tcortright@hillsdale.edu Trey Follis Corporate Partnerships Manager (517) 607-3125 tfollis@hillsdale.edu James Gensterblum Director of Athletic Communications (517) 607-3172 jgensterblum@hillsdale.edu

Chris Gravel Head Volleyball Coach / Assistant Athletic Director (517) 607-3162 cgravel@hillsdale.edu

Anika Stepke Internal Operations and Compliance Manager (517) 607-3156 afassett@hillsdale.edu

Kyle Gross Head Softball Coach (517) 607-3191 kgross@hillsdale.edu

Tiffany Treppa Marketing and Game Day Experience Manager (517) 607-3132 ttreppa@hillsdale.edu

Jordan Hintz Head Shotgun Coach (262) 930-9718 jhintz@hillsdale.edu Luke Kelly Head Men’s Golf Coach (517) 607-3149 lkelly@hillsdale.edu Haley Ketchum Executive Assistant to the Athletic Director (517) 607-3130 hketchum@hillsdale.edu

Keith Turner Head Men’s Tennis Coach (517) 607-3180 kturner@hillsdale.edu Ashley Van Hoose Creative Services Manager (517) 607-3129 avanhoose@hillsdale.edu Tom Vessella Head Baseball Coach (517) 607-3137 tvessella@hillsdale.edu

Kurt Kirner Head Women’s Swimming and Diving Coach (517) 607-3142 kkirner@hillsdale.edu

Nikki Walbright Assistant Athletic Director, Senior Women’s Administrator (517) 607-2980 nwalbright@hillsdale.edu

Jeff Lantis Director of Development for Athletics (517) 607-3182 jlantis@hillsdale.edu

R.P. White Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach (517) 607-3161 rwhite@hillsdale.edu

Nate Shreffler Head Football Coach (517) 607-3141 nshreffler@hillsdale.edu

Melanie Zampardo Head Women's Tennis Coach (517) 607-3168 mzampardo@hillsdale.edu hillsdalechargers.com

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How well do you know the history of Hillsdale College Athletics? This is your chance to prove your mettle. If you think you know who this prominent person was from Hillsdale’s past, send us your answer by emailing us at dgoodnough@hillsdale.edu by April 15, 2026. Make sure you put “Mystery Photo” in the subject line. Include the first and last name of the person in the photo as well as any other pertinent information. We will conduct a drawing from the correct answers we get, with the winner receiving a $25 gift card for the College’s online store! Charge On!