Mansfield University welcomed back alumni and friends as the campus celebrated an event filled Homecoming Weekend 2018 on October 19-21. This year’s theme was “Heroes Come Home”.
Micah Maxton was named Homecoming Queen and Devin Haskins was named Homecoming King. President Peter Fackler crowned the royal couple during a rainy halftime ceremony at the Mountaineers football game against Franklin Pierce University on Saturday, an 18-2 Homecoming victory for the Mountaineers.
Maxton, a sophomore Business Administration major from Philadelphia, PA, represented the Mountaineers Cheerleaders. Micah is also a member of the MU Cheerleader squad.
Haskins, a Liberal Studies major from Philadelphia, represented the Black Student Union.
The Mountaineers new Mountie mascot made his long awaited debut at Van Norman Field, leading the Mountaineers on to the field before the National Anthem.
Earlier Saturday morning, the Homecoming parade made it’s annual procession up Main St. This year’s parade featured special honorees Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Seth Kelly ‘00 and Detective Heather Long ‘05 of the Pottstown Police Department.
Corporal Kelly was shot and severely wounded on November 7, 2017, when he and his partner came under fire during a traffic stop in Plainfield Township. His story of survival—beginning with his quick-thinking application of a tourniquet to his gunshot wound—received national attention. He was named Trooper of the Year by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Detective Long is a Mansfield University field hockey All-American and a 2014 inductee to the MU Alumni-Athletic Hall of Fame. This summer, she was selected to represent the United States at the 2018 FIH Masters World Cup in Spain. In 2015, Heather was named Police Officer of the Year by the Pottstown Police Department.
The annual Butsko Breakfast was also held Saturday morning. The Butsko Breakfast has been an annual event since 1986 to honor the memory of former Mountaineer assistant coach Frank Butsko who was tragically killed in an automobile accident during a recruiting trip.
Kyle Pierce ’17 was named the 35th recipient of the Frank Butsko Memorial Award while Rocco Zegalia ’94 was honored with the Austin Snyder Alumni Appreciation Award. Kevin Valentine ’14 was posthumously awarded the John “Jay” Atkins Mountie Award.
Tristin Cicio of the Mansfield University sprint football team was named the inaugural recipient of the Scott Holtzapple ’87 Academic Award. The academic award was presented at the breakfast to Cicio by Mansfield alumni Chris Fluck ’88 and Carl Dessena ’88 who, along with the Holtzapple family, helped create the scholarship.
Friday night, the MU Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed four new members. Former men’s basketball Head Coach Tom Ackerman, men’s basketball standout Ken Bianchi ’67, cross country and track & field star Terry Stanley ’74, and the Voice of the Mountaineers Chris Vaughn, were enshrined.
The weekend also included a golf tournament, a pre-game alumni tailgate, and an evening mixer event allowing alumni, students, and the community the opportunity to network with each other.