Liberty University is the sixth representative of the ACHA Division I women's hockey team (founding head coach Paul Bloomfield), the third former member of the triathlon team (Parker Spencer, '12) and its third men's wrestling NCWA Grand National Champion (Andrew Wilson, 2013) took place Friday afternoon at the Montview Alumni Ballroom.
A former track and field student-athlete at Liberty University, Spencer competed in the Flames' triathlon as a senior under head coach Beth Frackleton and as a teammate of Club Sports Hall of Fame inductee Joseph Anderson in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Joined the team. He then succeeded Frackleton as head triathlon coach in 2015, and went on to start the cycling and men's swimming teams in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Also, from 2014 until 2018 he was the Endurance Club Sports Director of the program and for the past two years he coached all three teams simultaneously and then the US Triathlon Olympic Development Team. Project he became the head coach of the podium.
He was introduced to Liberty's head coach of indoor and outdoor track and field, Lance Bingham, who recruited him as a promising middle-distance runner and strong-willed pole vaulter from Liberty Christian Academy.
“Ten or 15 years from now, when I see someone faithfully serving the Lord in their family and succeeding, I see Christina and Parker raising their children…I hope that by his influence I see myself influencing people at a very high level for the sake of the kingdom,” Bingham said. “His time here has been extremely meaningful. He has taken what he has learned from different experiences and people who have influenced his life, including his parents, teachers and coaches, and is now passing it on. That's success.”
After four years as a coach at Endorphin Fitness in Richmond, Spencer received a call from club athletic director and ACHA DI men's hockey head coach Kirk Handy asking if he was interested in taking over the reins of the triathlon team. I remembered the time. .
“I did it remotely and then decided to start a bike program. And then I decided to add one more thing and start a men's swimming program. So my wife and I I moved here,” Spencer said. “We talked about how we really want to bring elite triathletes here from all over the world. The facilities here at (Liberty) Mountain and the training between the trails is a great place for endurance sports athletes. ”
He strategically conducted recruiting efforts via Zoom while standing in the Liberty Indoor Track and Field and later the Liberty Natatorium, where he and Christina opened their home to student-athletes.
“We have nine elite athletes on our team and we took them to Europe over the summer,” Spencer said. “Some of those kids couldn't afford Liberty, so club sports allowed them to be active in a different way, so while four of them were students here, We let them live together in our house.”
Eventually, USA Triathlon called Spencer in the summer of 2018 and told him they wanted him to stop training triathletes from other countries and move to Arizona to train the next American Olympic triathletes.
Wilson, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, was recruited as an NCAA Division I wrestler at Liberty before becoming the Flames' third individual NCWA Grand National Champion in Allen, Texas, as a senior in the 235-pound weight class in 2013, and the Flames' third individual NCWA Grand National Champion. He contributed to the 3rd place finish. team. Wilson follows in the footsteps of 2017 Hall of Famer Scott Clymer and 2021 class member Aaron Thompson. They also won an individual national championship, setting the stage for the team's first of five Grand National titles. 2015.
He was unable to attend the ceremony, and neither was the Flames head coach who served as the presenter. jesse castroHowever, both recorded video presentations were played during the banquet.
“Andrew set the pace in the (wrestling) room as a very quiet but very influential leader in the way he trained. I have a lot of respect for the example he set for us,” Castro said. Told. He was also able to make a mental impression on Wilson. After losing in the NCWA Grand National Championship final for the first time as a junior, Wilson felt he had let his teammates down and came off the mat very upset.
“I told him, 'This fight doesn't define who you are, it doesn't define you at all,'” Castro recalled. “I said, 'Your faith in Jesus Christ defines you first and foremost.' And he took that to heart.”
After winning the national title the following season, Wilson kept the game on his mind and kept it in mind.
“I got off the mat so happy and he came up to me and gave me a hug and said, “Coach, this championship doesn't define me,'' Castro said. . “And he was exactly right. Win or lose, it doesn't define us. I have the utmost respect for Andrew and the way the Lord worked in his life. ”
As the founding head coach of the DI women's hockey program, Bloomfield led the Lady Flames to their first ACHA Division I national championship in 2015 after reaching the Final Four in 2013 and 2014. Mr. Bloomfield served as the presenter for DI Women's Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith. She was the first goaltender hired in 2006 and 2016. Carrie Zickling, the Lady Flames' all-time leading scorer, was also acquired last spring.
Bloomfield also coached three other forwards who were inducted into the Hall of Fame: Christine Freskula, who was inducted in 2017, Stacey McComb, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018, and Sarah Stevenson, who was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. .
Justin Force was an assistant coach for five seasons under Bloomfield and six more seasons under the current head coach. Chris LawsBroomfield, who won five more titles, said coaching was a labor of love.
“Coaching is first and foremost about the mission,” Force said. “In the last nine seasons, Liberty has won six championships, but that doesn't mean anything if you're not trying to win.” defenders of christ”
Bloomfield understands this, and cares about his team members not just as players, but as people, as father figures to the team, and who Handy now considers the “godfather” of club sports. he said.
“He was a mentor to me, not just in coaching, but in life and business,” Force said. “He coached with passion and diligence, but to be honest, I don't think Paul loved hockey. He loved the opportunity to treat hockey as his calling field. I think there is, and I was able to witness that and learn from those five seasons.”
Bloomfield served as the head coach of the Flames' first men's hockey team prior to an 11-year career in which she amassed a 232-88-21 record on the women's DI hockey bench, and Handy's playing and coaching career. contributed to the formation of The person who offered the opening prayer at the ceremony.
Dr. Greg Tilley, Liberty's Director of Alumni Engagement, also attended the event, and DI Men's Associate Head Coach Jeff Bettger delivered a powerful benediction and closing prayer.
Spencer had to fly out of Lynchburg immediately after the ceremony to coach his team in the second and third stages of the cycling competition in Arizona, but his wife and daughters Alaina and Liliana , and Bloomfield and his wife Sharon received a red penalty. -Carpet treatment installed prior to the start of Friday night's DI men's hockey game at the Lahey Ice Center.
