Dear Bomber Nation,

Over my first four months as the Athletic Director at Ithaca College, I have been truly inspired by the people who make this community exceptional. I have spent meaningful time getting to know our campus community along with our remarkable network of alumni and friends who continue to champion Ithaca College athletics with genuine pride and unwavering support. What has stood out most to me is the character and dedication of our student athletes. I have had the privilege to see firsthand how talented they are not only in competition but also in the classroom and in the countless ways they contribute to the college and the wider community. They are leaders in every sense of the word. Their drive, their integrity, and their commitment to excellence set a powerful example for everyone around them. Equally impressive is our staff whose passion and hard work ensure that our student athletes are supported, challenged, and positioned for success in everything they do. Each day I witness their sincere dedication to the mission of helping our students grow as competitors and as people. These first months have confirmed that Ithaca College is a truly special place where teamwork, community, and pride shape the experience for all who are part of it. I could not be more proud to serve as the Athletic Director and to play a role in supporting the continued success of our student athletes who represent this college with pride and passion.

Aaron Bouyea, 

Director of Athletics & Campus Recreation 

Highlights From the Fall Season

New Outdoor Track & Field Complex, Press Box Dedicated During Homecoming Weekend

After more than a decade, IC's outdoor track and field programs have a home again: a top-flight, iconically blue facility engineered for performance and striking in its design, built for training and competition, with the added benefit of serving campus wellness and community connection.

Aaron Bouyea, director of intercollegiate athletics, described the complex as both a milestone and a promise: "This track gives our student-athletes a place to train, to compete, and to dream, right here on our campus.". Read the full story here.

Ithaca College Receives $100,000 Gift to Men’s Soccer Endowment in Memory of James Bredin ’91

On a gorgeous late September afternoon at Carp Wood Field, Ithaca College honored James Bredin ’91—a classmate whose humor, warmth, and steady years at left back with the men’s soccer team still resonate. Bredin, who passed away in 2015, is celebrated not only for how he played, but for how he made people feel. What began as a tribute to a teammate’s legacy became a commitment to carry that legacy forward for future student-athletes.

Before kickoff against Vassar, Glenn Schneider ’91—Bredin’s classmate and CEO of SUSA FC, a Long Island–based youth soccer academy that has produced players for top collegiate programs—joined his wife, Kori (Weaving) Schneider ’91; James’s widow, Jen (Cooper) Bredin ’91; and their daughter, Jessica Bredin ’23, for an on-field ceremony.

Director of intercollegiate athletics and campus recreation Aaron Bouyea, head coach Gabe Kuhn, former head coach Andy Byrne, and the entire Bombers squad gathered to mark the moment as the Schneider and Bredin families presented a $100,000 check to the Men’s Soccer Endowment, funding that directly supports the team (travel, equipment, and training) and strengthens the program for the long term. The moment also highlighted the SUSA FC-to-Ithaca College pipeline. Three current Bombers—CJ Abbott ’29 (Business Pathways), Patrick Morano ’29 (Sports Media), and Ryan Levy ’29 (Finance)—came through Schneider’s academy. Read full story here. 

Ithaca Athletics Inducted 55th Hall of Fame Class on October 24

The Ithaca College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics officially inducted its 55th Hall of Fame class on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Emerson Suites. Nearly 200 people were in attendance to honor the newest class, which featured eight individuals.

55th Ithaca College Athletics HOF Class

• JANE DEGRENIER '86 – FIELD HOCKEY/WOMEN'S LACROSSE
• CARL GRAETZ '90 – BASEBALL
• JON HEISMAN '80 – MEN'S LACROSSE
• PAT LEMMO '13 – BASEBALL
• EMILIA SCHEEMAKER '15 – WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
• VICKI (SCOTT) GIRAUD '82 – SOFTBALL
• JEREMY STIERLY '12 – WRESTLING
• BLAINE WOSZCZAK '11 – WRESTLING

 Rewatch the ceremony here.

Yankee Stadium Set to Host 67th Cortaca Jug Game

The Cortaca Jug —the legendary football rivalry between Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland—will return to Yankee Stadium on Saturday, November 14, 2026, with a kick-off time to be announced at a later date, marking the second time the two schools have faced off at the iconic Bronx venue.

Dubbed “the biggest little game in the nation” by Sports Illustrated, Cortaca has drawn the two largest crowds in NCAA Division III history, with attendance topping 40,000 when the matchup last took place in the Bronx in 2022. The rivalry also made headlines in 2019, when the teams met at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey , setting a Division III single-game attendance record of 45,161 fans .

Tickets for Cortaca 2026 at Yankee Stadium will go on sale exclusively through Ticketmaster on November 20, 2025 and will be available Ithaca College Athletics website.

THANK YOU for your continued support of our student-athletes and programs. Your pride and partnership make a tremendous impact, and we look forward to all we will accomplish together in the months ahead. 

Go Bombers!

Aaron Bouyea

Director of Athletics & Campus Recreation 

Ithaca College