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An introductory soccer program has provided real life training for 10 College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences coaching and performance sciences students. Raymond Kryzak, director, Mountaineer United Soccer Club, organized and led sessions for the Fundamentals soccer program, an eight-week introductory soccer clinic designed for three- and four-year-old children.

“Last year, we officially partnered with the Fundamentals program and plan to make the same connection in the spring of 2022. CPASS did their part by arranging the use of the facility to host the first coaching and training class in the Morgantown area,” Kryzak said.

As the Mountaineer community eagerly prepares to recognize the achievements of West Virginia University December and August 2021 graduates, the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences will honor the first cohort of Health and Well-being students to earn their degrees. 

“Working with Health and Well-being students is such a great experience. The students have a wide range of career interests within Health and Well-being professions. We have had the privilege to work with each student to help them reach their individual goals,” Colton Metzger, student success coordinator, said.

CPASS Physical Education and Kinesiology Assistant Professor Samantha Ross is one of seven WVU faculty selected to receive Universal Design of Learning grant. The grants, provided by WVU Teaching and Learning Commons, include a stipend of $3,500 to support design or redesign of courses to meet the principles of UDL.

As a teacher-researcher, Ross says that she is motivated to implement and evaluate evidence-based practices to her classrooms and the preparation of future physical activity professionals. “Applying Universal design for learning principles to the classroom strengthens my direct support of student learning and provides student’s personalized pathways to success. As a third-year faculty, I am still developing as a teacher,” she said.

The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences welcomes Kimberly Straight as the new accounting and operations coordinator for FiT Publishing.

Straight, who started on Nov. 15, has long been a member of Mountaineer family, most recently having worked with Shared Services, and previously Extension Services and the John Chambers College of Business and Economics. In her new role at FiT, she will coordinate accounts payable and procurement, business operations and communications, customer service, and will oversee student workers.

On a gray, cold and damp fall afternoon, students from the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences sport management program and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences World Languages, Literature and Linguistics department met to play in the Friendship Cup, two friendly soccer matches in a one-day event.

Eberly College professor Lisa Di Bartolomeo, Russian, Slavic and East European Studies coordinator with the WLLL department, contacted Gonzalo Bravo, CPASS associate professor, sport management, to suggest that the programs host an event for the students. “It’s been almost 20 months since the COVID 19 pandemic erupted. Many of the extracurricular activities students have been involved in the past had been temporarily suspended or significantly changed,” Di Bartolomeo said.

The National Athletic Trainers Association Intercollegiate Council has honored a College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences graduate with the 2020 NATA Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine Head Athletic Trainer of the Year Award. Mike Matheny (B.S. PE, concentration in Athletic Training, Magna Cum Laude 1982) received the award for exceptional performance as a head athletic trainer in the Div. III category. Award recipients are actively involved in their community or campus, athletic training associations and promotion of the profession.

Matheny, who serves as clinical professor and head athletic trainer, department of exercise science and athletic training at Ithaca College, spends part of his day with classroom teaching in the athletic training education program, serving as a preceptor for students in their clinical experience.

The WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences will honor four graduates and name its Legacy Award recipient during its 2021 Hall of Fame Ceremony, Oct. 15 via a virtual ceremony on Zoom. The 2021 Hall of Fame inductees are Herbert K. Amato, Dana D. Brooks, Joseph A. Martin and Catherine “Cathy” E. Parson. The College will honor Daniel F. Mahony with the Legacy Award. Visit the CPASS Hall of Fame website to view full bios for this 33rd class of CPASS Hall of Fame inductees. The Zoom event will open at 5:30 p.m. with the virtual reception and program beginning at 6 p.m. Use the following zoom link to join: https://wvu.zoom.us/j/94126424981 

Notable past CPASS inductees include Linda Carson, Judith Hayes, Chuck Howley, Rodney C. “Hot Rod” Hundley, Rodney K. Thorn, Alfred F. Ware, Robert L. DeProspero, Fred Schaus, George J. Esper, General Earl E. Anderson, Jerry West and Robert Sam Huff, all members of the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni. 

James L. Taylor passed away Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. Jim, or Coach Taylor, as he was affectionately known, was born in Charles Town, WV on February 26, 1934. Among his numerous honors and achievements, Taylor was inducted into the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Hall of Fame in 2020.

He attended Eagle Avenue Elementary School in Charles Town and graduated from Page-Jackson High School in 1951. After graduating high school, Taylor enlisted in the US Navy and served in the Korean War from 1951-1955. After serving in the US Navy, Taylor enrolled at Shepherd College (now Shepherd University) and graduated in 1955 with BS and AB degrees and a Corrective Therapist Certification. He attended graduate school at West Virginia University and earned a Master of Science Degree in 1965.

Nieko Torres chose the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences because he wanted to work with athletes. He researched the CPASS coaching and performance science program through the suggestion of an advisor. “It quickly became clear that CPASS had plenty of options for me to explore which avenue of athletics I wanted to pursue. I am extremely grateful for it,” Torres said.

Assistant Professor Guy Hornsby says that it was evident early on that Torres was serious about pursuing a career in strength and conditioning. “Nieko was interning at Morgantown High School, lifting/spending time with the WVU weightlifting club while being an exemplary student. I am grateful he was mentored by such a great staff at Mississippi State, the same staff that has mentored other students of ours, Billy Cedar, Matt Anti and Lauren White,” Hornsby said.