Bulldogs have no bite vs Lenoir Rhyne
 9-23-13

A group of loyal Wingate fans gathered at a familiar roadside restaurant on the road to Hickory, NC. They were on their way to watch their beloved Bulldogs play the Bears of Lenoir Rhyne. There was hope and fellowship among them as they enjoyed a nice meal and pleasant conversation.

A steady rain had fallen throughout the day and continued into the early evening.

"The Bears had trouble hanging onto the ball in their first game" said one. "They fumbled 8 times against Concord University"

"Surely our defense can cause them to cough up the ball on a wet field. The ball gets awfully slippery as the game wears on" said another. "A wet field is the worst enemy of the triple option offense".

It wasn't to be. 

Lenoir Rhyne did hang onto the ball and put up some impressive numbers against the Bulldogs. the most impressive being the final score of 34 - 13. The Bears ran for 422 yards and threw the ball only twice, completing one pass. They averaged almost 8 yards per running play. They had the big plays: a 49 yard breakaway by fullback Isaiah Whitaker for a first quarter score and a 56 yard scamper by tailback Miles Freeman. Their defense kept pressure on Wingate quarterback Robbie Nalenweg and stopped the Bulldog running game. 

There were some bright moments for the Wingate fans. Nallenweg found 10 different receivers for a total of 324 yards and one touchdown. For the second week in a row Forest Hills graduate, tight end Mark Clyburn caught a Nallenweg aerial for a touchdown. For the second week in a row runningback Mycah Gaylord dove headfirst into the endzone for the second score. Punter Austin Anthony had a big night in Hickory. He averaged 41 yards per punt and his longest went for 47 yards. The Wingate defensive line seemed to gel into a cohesive unit late in the game stopping the dive plays and containing the runners. 

Hope springs eternal in the human breast;

Man never is, but always to be blessed:

The soul, uneasy and confined from home,

Rests and expatiates in a life to come.  

- Alexander Pope, "An Essay on Man"

The Bulldogs travel again Saturday afternoon as they head east on US 74 to play Pembroke.

The Latest News

1. It hasn't been announced by the SAC....but sources at Lenoir Rhyne, Carson Newman and Catawba tell me that the SAC presidents have voted to lift the athletic scholarship cap. If true (and I believe it is) then each sport could have it's full complement of scholarships as mandated by NCAA Division 2 rules. For example, the SAC cap for football is 25 scholarships. When the cap is lifted the SAC schools can go to the 36 maximum allowed in Division 2 by the NCAA.

2. Big Saturday was 100% wins for WU....Big Saturday Football won over Saint Augustine 24-3, Volleyball won over Anderson 3-1, Women's Soccer won over Carson Newman 4-1 and Men's Soccer pulled out a 2-1 victory over Carson Newman in OT.

3. I'm hearing Men's Basketball will be....taller and more talented. Taking nothing away from last years great team, I'm hearing that, if the pieces fall together just right and Jupiter aligns with Mars we may be talking playoff basketball next February.

4. Wow! Those Freshmen Cross Country Women are....really fast! Brittany Tretbar, Alyssa Johnson, Morgan Neher finished in that order, 1,2 and 3 at the invitational hosted by Montreat College on the course where the SAC conference finals will be held later.

5. Fans missed seeing some familiar numbers... at the football game Saturday. I know 88 Cory McNulty is out for the season with a Knee injury. We've got a couple that are expected back for the LR game: 55 Ernest Bridges and 21 Tim Nalesnik.

Big Saturday---Dogs win!! Dogs win!!

Senior QB Robbie Nallenweg was 23 of 30 for 203 yards and 2 TDs as Wingate defeated Saint Andrews 24-3 on Saturday Spetember 14, 2013. Nallenweg utilized 8 receivers. His longest completion was a 30 yard catch and run by Redshirt Junior Hunter Haffly. 

Wingate's Defense came up big when it counted. They stopped the talented running corps of the Falcons and forced them into a passing offense. Wingate had no turnovers. The Falcons had a fumble and were intercepted twice by the Dogs. Sophomore Phillip Staples swiped a Falcon pass on his own 4 yard line and raced downfield 83 yards. He was touchdown bound but a desperate grab at his facemask by a Falcon stopped Phillip just short of the endzone. The refs tacked on a "half the distance" penalty putting the Dogs on the 4.

The Wingate Report

Richard Harding Davis

Under a clear Carolina blue sky and perfect fall football weather The Wingate University Bulldogs began their 2013 football season at Irwin Belk Stadium Saturday afternoon September 14.

 It was Patriot's Day at the stadium and all retired and active duty soldiers and veterans were recognized along with Law Enforcement, Firefighters and Emergency Personnel. To add to the excitement, fans were treated to a flyover by a WWII aircraft. 

The Saint Augustine Falcons found the Wingate defense against the run stout and turned to the air on their second possession. Quarterback A.J. Gilford found receiver Jermaine Jones for a long gainer to the Wingate 8. Two losses on successive running plays and an incomplete pass set up a Michael Lima field goal from the 28 and Saint Augustine took a 3 - 0 lead.  

Wingate came right back and marched downfield behind the passing of Senior Quarterback and Academic All American nominee Robbie Nalenweg. True Freshman Jordan Berry's third reception took the ball to the Saint Augustine 11 where the drive stalled. Junior placekicker Patrick Smith drilled a 28 yarder to tie the score 3 - 3.

Neither team held an advantage until Wingate Return Specialist Cameron Leviner, a Piedmont graduate, fielded a punt and scampered 12 yards into Saint Augustine territory. From there Nallenweg completed three passes, the last being to Tight End Mark Clyburn, a Forest Hills graduate which took the ball to the 4. The drive ended with Runningback Mycah Gaylord's dive into the endzone for the score. With the extra point Wingate led 10 - 3.

With less than two minutes before halftime Saint Augustine began a drive behind the passing of reserve quarterback Alex Munro. He completed four straight passes taking the ball to the Wingate 27. The Falcons called timeout with 30 seconds on the clock.  An incomplete and two quick short passes took the ball to the 9. Munro attempted to score on the quarterback draw but was stopped at the 1 by linebacker Josh Everts when the clock ran out. 

The second half began with Wingate's defense pushing the Falcons backwards, forcing them to punt from their own endzone. Leviner again gave the Bulldogs great field position with a 20 yard return, taking the ball all the way to the Saint Augustine 21. Four plays later Nallenweg found Clyburn for the score. With the extra point Wingate led 17 - 3.

Wingate's defense kept pressure on the Falcons and forced turnovers. Wingate's defensive ends were in the Falcon backfield stopping runners for losses and keeping pressure on the quarterback. The Bulldogs had two interceptions in the game. The second one took the wind out of the sails for the Falcons. Sophomore Defensive back Phillip Staples intercepted a Gilford pass at the Wingate 2 and rumbled 83 yards before he was tackled in desperation by the facemask at the 15. The resulting penalty put the ball on the Saint Augustine 7. Two plays later Nallenweg found runningback Nestor Lantiqua for the touchdown. The Patrick Smith extra point made it 24 - 3. 

Wingate used the clock to their advantage to wind down the final minutes and preserve the victory. 

The Bulldogs travel to Lenoir Rhyne Saturday for a 7 PM contest. 

Wingate University Football History

Wingate brought back football after a 24 year absence in 1985. The first season of competition was 1986. Head Coach was Steve Wilt. The team went 3-5 that first year. This photo taken from the 1986-1987 Yearbook, The Gate, shows action during the win at Samford, the final game of the year.

Pre-Season Camp Report with Coach Joe Reich and Ryan Brown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=K7_VmVqG_uA

Friday July 12, 2013 Back from Vacation

Hello everyone. I've archived 2 years worth of posts from this blog. 
Let's review a few of the things that have happened since the spring football game. 

The big story this summer was the SAC President's Meeting where WU president Jerry McGee and Vice President and Athletic Director Steve Poston accepted the seventh consecutive Echols Trophy for Athletic Excellence. Wingate is the only current SAC Conference member to achieve that record. Winning in 2013-2014 would establish a new all time record in the conference. The trophy is awarded via a point system for all sports to the college or university in the South Atlantic Conference with the greatest accumulated point score.  Points are awarded for the highest regular season or tournament standing. Wingate finished 20 points ahead of it's next nearest SAC rival.  

Two new conference members, Coker College of Hartsville, SC and Queens University of Charlotte NC will begin competing in the SAC conference beginning this fall. Both of these schools will compete in all sports except football. Queens has been a non-conference rival for many years, especially in Volleyball and men's basketball. The 2013-2014 year also brings two new sports into the conference as Men's and Women's Lacrosse and Men's and Women's Track and Field are added as official South Atlantic conference sports. 

Construction and renovating continued this summer. Helms dorm has been renovated and rebuilt to exacting standards. Not only have the rooms been completely rebuilt but the exterior facade has changed. Between the two wings new residents will find a swimming pool and a barbeque pit. The Caf has been renovated allowing for more serving room and seating space. Bright new colors and changes to the ceiling give more of an open feeling. The big brick planters in front of the Caf are gone, replaced by an aesthetically  pleasing seating area with accompanying landscaping. At long last Cuddy Gymnasium in the Cannon Athletic Complex is being air conditioned. 

Recruiting classes for Men's and Women's Lacrosse were announced in early July. Men's Coach Michael Lawson has new Bulldogs coming from Canada, Florida, the Carolinas and England. Women's Coach Caline Ohmsted has recruits coming from North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, Florida and California. 

Volleyball Coach Shelton Collier announced the "most challenging schedule" in Wingate's Volleyball history. Wingate will open the season in early September traveling to St. Paul, MN to play in the Concordia Tournament.against elite Divison II opponents. Concordia is the 6 time National Champion. 

Returning Senior QB Robbie Nallenweg Averaged 331.3 yards per

 game passing and threw 29 touchdown passes

Football Head Coach Joe Reich released the 2013 schedule last week. It is the same 10 game schedule that came out prior to the spring game. The Bulldogs will have an open date the first week of the season. The first game will be a home game with St. Augustine September 14th. Fall camp will open in about 3 weeks, in early August. Some of the veterans have been on campus lifting weights and running in preparation for the opening of camp. That takes real dedication. Conditioning is a huge plus for athletes coming into camp. Camp is intense and physically draining. Those that aren't ready suffer more from the heat and sometimes get sick or cramp up. 

That beautiful new track is ready for records to be broken by Wingate Athletes. My six year old grandaughter looked at the track and said "Wingate is getting awesomer and awesomer"

Football Recruit

Ryan Dilworth 51 Porter Ridge High School

Article: http://www.unioncountyweekly.com/sports/2013/05/pirates-undersized-dilworth-hoping-to-make-a-big-impact-for-wingate-program/ 

Football Recruit
North Duplin QB/DB Tyler Royal signed yesterday with Wingate University. Royal rushed for 2,032 yards his senior year and scored 33 touchdowns, 3 of those on kickoff returns. At 5'9" and 175 he has good speed with 40 times in the 4.5-4.6 range. He was all conference and conference offensive player of the year and is listed on the 1A All-State team as "athlete".

How will the coaching staff use him? I don't think he was signed as a QB. Maybe his position will be as a defensive back

But here is the hidden caveat in my humble and unsolicited opinion:
I looked at 3 videos of Mr. Royal. He runs very well. He has a very quick start, appears to cut in both directions well and has gazelle like strides once he is in the open. He bounces off of tacklers and uses his upper body strength to fend off others. His KO return TD on one video was reminiscent of seeing Vince Jordan's TD run against Catawba in 2009. He could very well end up as that special teams guy who fields punts and/or Kickoffs...or who knows, maybe he could be a runningback.

Here is his 2012 highlight video:

Bulldog Football History

(photo from the 1960 Wingate "Gate" Yearbook)

Wingate was a Junior College in 1960. The football team that year tore through the conference without a loss defeating arch rival Gardner-Webb twice, 19-0 at home and 13-0 at "The Webb". Wingate's Bulldogs were nationally ranked among Junior Colleges at the end of the season and were invited to play in the Pine Bowl game in Texas.

The Bulldogs lost a close game in Texas but the stories the players tell of the trip to Texas, the game and the bus ride home are a part of the legend and lore of Wingate football.

Sadly, in 1963 Wingate dropped football.

In 1985 Football was reinstated after Wingate became a 4 year Senior College. Those young men on that first Wingate Senior College team have stories of that year that are also part of the legend and lore of Wingate Football.

WU Recruit Josh Dominguez is a 6'5" guard with quick moves driving to the basket or driving and dishing off. He signed during the early signing period. Josh played for the Charlotte Jets AAU team as well as for the Metrolina Christian Warriors where he averaged nearly 15 points per game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc9HMCBrgWk

WU Recruit Austin Crown listed as a 6' 0" point guard/shooting guard led his Independent school to the National Independent semifinals. A strong shooter with exceptional foot speed and great range, Crown can score from anywhere on the floor. This video features Crown's team playing one of the top prep schools in the country, Gray Military Academy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce19BmpWW2M

WU Recruit Keith Griffin...He's 6'9" and still growing. I like his toughness in the lane. He stops drives, he blocks shots, he gets off the floor and he rebounds on both ends. He and Dustin Dodd both played at Hickory Grove Christian and for the Charlotte Rein AAU teams. This kid has a lot of upside potential. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C-F4_eWCZc

WU Recruit Dustin Dodd.....Look how quickly he squares up and the extension he gets on his jump shot. He's got great foot movement and handles the ball well. He averaged over 17 points a game this year. At 6'5" he can play SG or SF. This kid's skill level is high and he should really shine in Coach Good's system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uCoW1ib6gw

Men's Basketball Recruit
Isiah Cureton,  Cuthbertson HS Waxhaw, NC, 6'4" (6'9" wingspan) SG,  All Union county, All Region

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHPI_JkhdMQ









Track and Field/Cross Country Recruits
Zuri Thomas,  Pinecrest HS Southern Pines, NC,  Women's Discus, Shot, Javelin
Jacob Troutman, Pinecrest HS Southern Pines, NC, Men's distance/ Cross country

Softball Recruit
Katie McLaurin,  Laurinburg HS, Laurinburg, NC  Infielder/P

Women's Soccer Recruit 
Forest High Ocala, FL soccer standout Ali Pritchard recently signed a national letter of intent with Wingate University. Pritchard scored over 100 career goals for the Wildcats and was a first-team all-area selection this past season. Pritchard scored her 100th career goal this year in a win over North Marion on Jan. 10. She also earned the FHS Principal's Award for girls soccer.




Women's Tennis Recruit Layla Tanik has signed her National Letter of Intent to play tennis at Wingate University. Tanik has been a member of the Ravenscroft (Raleigh, NC) Varsity Tennis team since eighth grade, earning recognition at the All-Conference and/or All-State level each of those years. She is a three-time NCISAA 3A All-State (2010, 2011, 2012) and TISAC All-Conference selection (2010, 2011, 2012), and was twice chosen TISAC Honorable Mention All-Conference (2008, 2009). She was named the TISAC Conference Player of the Year in 2012. Tanik also was a key member of the Ravens’ 2008 NCISAA 3A State Championship team, playing both singles and doubles as an eighth-grader.