Christendom’s student-athletes earned numerous awards from the United States College Athletic Association (USCAA) to close out the fall 2023 semester, with six student-athletes earning All-American honors and twenty-nine student-athletes earning All-Academic honors.
Christendom Crusader’s Cross Country hit the paths in Fayette, PA this past weekend participating in the USCAA Nationals run. Both teams ran hard and competed well to cap off a fun season of racing.
Congratulations to all of our Fall Sports Teams on their success this season. A special congratulations to our Women’s and Men’s Cross Country teams for getting invited to the USCAA Nationals on November 11-November 12. Cross Country Nationals will be hosted at Penn State Fayette in Uniontown, PA.
The Women's team was off first, their 6k race starting at 12:45pm. The Crusaders ran hard and performed well in the race. The women’s two top finishers were Faustina Whittaker (Senior/ White Post, VA) and Mary Noble (Junior/ Charlottesville, VA). Out of 33 contestants, Whittaker finished seventh with a 26:55 time and Noble finished sixth with a 26:54 time. The women’s squad averaged a solid 27:52 6k.
Christendom College’s Athletics Department is starting a new chapter this year, revealing new primary and secondary logos ahead of the start of the 2023-24 academic year.
Christendom College will welcome back alumni and friends of Christendom for the fourteenth annual Thomas S. Vander Woude Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, October 9. The event, held this year at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club in Front Royal, Virginia, raises funds for the Thomas S. Vander Woude Memorial Scholarship, which supports student-athletes at Christendom each year.
Christendom’s women’s cross-country team took second place at the USCAA Nationals in Norfolk, Virginia on November 11 — a remarkable achievement for the team and a testament to the cross-country program’s growth over the past six years. The men’s cross-country team also qualified and placed well at the Nationals, with all three runners placing within the top 31 out of 86 total runners.
Christendom College’s athletics program is set to begin its fall sports season this coming weekend, with men’s and women’s soccer jumping into action on August 27. The games are the first of many on the schedule for Christendom’s numerous athletic teams this fall, which will be playing full seasons for the first time since 2019.
Christendom College will welcome back alumni and friends of Christendom for the thirteenth annual Thomas S. Vander Woude Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, October 10. The event, held this year at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club in Front Royal, Virginia, raises funds for the Thomas S. Vander Woude Memorial Scholarship, which supports student-athletes at Christendom each year.
Christendom College's Athletics Department announced on Wednesday, July 6 the college's fall sports schedule, which begins on Saturday, August 27 with a men’s and women's soccer double header vs Frederick Community College.
Junior Joseph Ellefson is always up for a good challenge. His idea of a “good challenge” might be more extreme than it is for others, however, proven by him signing up for and competing in a 50-mile race this past weekend. Not only did Ellefson finish the race, he placed second out of 106 competitors — a testament to both his perseverance and his desire to compete “for the glorification of God.”
The USCAA honored its student-athletes this past week, with awards for stellar performances, on the field, court, and in the classroom. Christendom was well represented, with Crusader athletes receiving multiple awards in both categories. Six Crusaders were given the honor of being chosen to the All-American Team; an award given to those who show excellence in their respective sport. For performance in the classroom, an impressive 18 Crusaders were awarded to the All-Academic Team. The All-Academic Team is awarded to student-athletes who have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours, played a fall varsity sport, while also achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above.
Staunton, VA- Crusader Cross-Country traveled to Staunton, VA this past Friday, Oct. 1, to run in Mary Baldwin University’s Golden Acorn Invitational. The Women raced in a 6k while the Men raced in an 8k.
McHenry, MD- Crusader Cross-Country traveled away this past Saturday, September 18, to run in the Garret College Laker Invitational. The Men’s 8k was scheduled to start at 10:30am with the Women’s 6k to follow.
Bridgewater, VA- Crusader Scholar Athlete, Joseph Ellefson(Junior, Gallup, NM) finished top 5 in the team’s opening race. Ellefson, finished the race 4th, an impressive feat considering he was competing against 44 other runners.
Christendom College’s Athletics Department announced on Thursday, August 19 the college’s fall sports schedule, which begins on Saturday, August 28 with women’s soccer taking on Hagerstown.
Student-athletes across the nation were presented with their most unusual fall seasons ever last year in the wake of COVID-19, with many schools deciding to not hold seasons whatsoever. At Christendom, the athletics department worked hard to offer sports teams an extended pre-season, where they worked out throughout the week and took part in select scrimmages as well. Sports provided a healthy outlet for them that helped build discipline both on the field and in the classroom, with twenty-six student-athletes ultimately qualifying for the USCAA’s Academic All-American awards.
This Fall semester has not been a normal one, and athletics are no different. Like the other Varsity Sports at Christendom, the Cross Country has gone above and beyond in the face of the various Covid challenges to practice, workout, and safely run and compete again other small colleges and area runners. The XC teams’ manager, Joe Ellefson, shared this: “Although this season proved uniquely difficult in terms of sporting events, Cross Country was lucky enough to still maintain somewhat of a semblance of normality. We were blessed to have been given the opportunity to race in a few community races up in Winchester, Virginia. Even though it wasn't a regular season, we are thankful to be able to compete and are excited to continue moving forward with the sport.”
Christendom College earned the USCAA’s 2019 President’s Cup for Academics this past weekend, as announced by the collegiate sports organization. The award, which is given to the school with the most Academic All-Americans and whose athletes have the best GPA, is Christendom’s first and a testament to the college’s strength in balancing sports success with academic excellence.
From Christendom’s volleyball team reaching its first National Championship to the rugby team earning trips to two separate National Championships, the 2018-19 academic year was full of defining moments for Christendom Athletics. At the center of these moments were 37 senior student-athletes who earned numerous honors during their four years, leaving behind a legacy of sportsmanship and perseverance that the college will remember for years to come.
Sports seasons can be a grind, as athletes give their all to try and help their teams succeed day in and day out. At Christendom, the athletic department is seeking to make these seasons as easy as possible on students’ bodies, resulting in a new partnership with Performance Sport and Spine — a team of sports physicians committed to helping Christendom athletes avoid injuries as much as possible, making them that much more of a force on the field, the court, and in the classroom.
Christendom's student-athletes were awarded top honors by the USCAA at their annual awards banquet on November 8, with two athletes awarded the organization's prestigious Student-Athlete of the Year awards, while numerous others named to the organization's All-American teams. In addition, the Cardinals Collegiate Rugby Conference named six Crusaders to their All-Conference teams, making this fall one of the most awards-decorated in school history.
HEADED TO NATIONALS!!! Congratulations to all of our Fall Sports Teams on their success this season. A special congratulations to our Volleyball team and our Women’s and Men’s Cross Country team for getting invited to the USCAA National Tournament in Virginia Beach