From the Desk of Your AD - March 2026

3/30/2026 9:43:00 AM

Dear Ithaca College Athletics Community,

I am excited to share our second edition of this year’s AD Newsletter, highlighting an incredible winter season and the meaningful momentum we have built since our last newsletter. The accomplishments of our student-athletes continue to reflect the pride, commitment, and excellence that define our program.

This winter, we celebrated success on the national stage. Five members of our Swimming and Diving program advanced to NCAA Nationals, with Madison Morris earning Second Team All-America honors in the 3-meter dive. Track and Field once again demonstrated its strength, as Rachel Larson captured her third All America honor, while Lily Seyfert and Madeleine Wright delivered outstanding national performances. Men’s Wrestling sent five competitors to NCAA Nationals, led by All American Isaias Torres with a seventh-place finish. We also proudly launched our Women’s Wrestling program, with four student-athletes qualifying for NCAA Regionals in the program’s first season. In Gymnastics, Grace Murray delivered a championship performance, earning a national title on floor.

Beyond competition, we continue to invest in the holistic experience of our student-athletes. The introduction of our new Refueling Station marks a significant step forward in supporting performance, recovery, and overall wellbeing. Our upcoming Giving Day provides an opportunity for our entire community to directly impact the future of our programs and the student-athlete experience.

We also take this moment to celebrate and honor the retirement of our head women’s basketball coach, Dan Raymond, whose leadership and lasting impact have shaped generations of student-athletes and elevated our program in countless ways.

Thank you for your continued support and belief in Ithaca College Athletics.

Aaron Bouyea,

Director of Athletics & Campus Recreation

Highlights From the Winter Season

SENIOR GYMNAST GRACE MURRAY WINS FLOOR NATIONAL TITLE

Grace Murray finished in a six-way tie for first on floor to become the 39th Ithaca College student-athlete to win a national title on March 20 at the NCGA Championships hosted by Cortland. It is the 60th all-time national championship for the athletic department and the 13th for the gymnastics program.

WINTER SPORTS EARN 12 ALL-AMERICA HONORS

65 WINTER STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED LIBERTY LEAGUE ALL-ACADEMIC

Liberty League commissioner Tracy King has announced that 411 winter sport student-athletes (65 from Ithaca) have qualified for the league's 2025-2026 All-Academic Teams in their respective sports, the most for a winter season in the league's 30-year history.

Dan Raymond Announces Retirement as Women’s Basketball Coach After 26 Seasons

Longtime Ithaca College women's basketball head coach Dan Raymond announced on March 25 that he will retire at the end of this academic year after spending the past 26 seasons with the program. Raymond is the winningest coach in program history with 522 victories.

IC Athletics, Partners with Wegmans to Unveil New Student-Athlete Refueling Station

The Ithaca College Department of Athletics is excited to announce the launch of the brand-new Bomber Refueling Station: Powered by Wegmans, a dedicated space designed to support the health, performance, and recovery of Bomber student-athletes. The new space reflects Ithaca College's ongoing commitment to student-athlete development and competitive excellence.

"The Bomber Refueling Station reflects our commitment to supporting the complete student-athlete experience. Access to quality nutrition and recovery resources is essential to success in the classroom and in competition. We are grateful to Wegmans for their partnership and investment in the health and wellbeing of our student-athletes," said Aaron Bouyea, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics & Campus Recreation at Ithaca College. read the full story here.

Ithaca Athletics Hosts 10th Annual Scholar-Athlete Luncheon

The Ithaca College Department of Athletics, in conjunction with the Office of the Provost, hosted its 10th (ninth in-person) annual scholar-athlete luncheon on Monday, March 9. The luncheon was held in Emerson Suites on campus to celebrate the exceptional achievements for current junior, senior, and graduate student-athletes.

More than 50 student-athletes from 24 of Ithaca's 28 sponsored varsity programs attended the ceremony. Each student-athlete who attended the luncheon has obtained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.75 or higher for over five-plus semesters. Deans and faculty advisors of the student-athletes also attended the luncheon on Tuesday afternoon. Read the full story.

Ithaca College Giving Day - April 23-24, 2026

Join us at noon on Thursday, April 23 to celebrate Ithaca College Giving Day! This 24-hour giving event provides vital support for current and future IC students. Please join alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends as we celebrate Ithaca College.

Countdown to Cortaca - Yankees vs Red Sox - June 7, 2026

The Countdown to Cortaca 2026 has begun! Join your fellow IC Alumni for a special outing to Yankee Stadium to gear up for the big game in November. IC and Cortland football coaches will be throwing out the first pitch for another storied rivalry as the Yankees take on the Red Sox in the House that Ruth Built. Each Ticket includes: - A New York Yankees Ithaca (Cortaca) Jersey - Jersey sizes are guaranteed for all orders placed on or before April 6th.

Yankee Stadium Set to Host 67th Cortaca Jug Game

Buy Tickets to the 67th Cortaca Jug Game at Yankee Stadium on November 14, 2026

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 are currently on sale exclusively through Ticketmaster and are available on the Ithaca College Athletics website.

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