
Eagle Athletics Welcomes Student-Athletes Back to Campus
8/16/2015 8:11:00 PM | General
Special event held at Splash in the Boro
Photo gallery
STATESBORO, Ga. – For the second consecutive academic year, Georgia Southern Athletics welcomed its student-athletes back to campus with a special event at Splash in the Boro.
After a brief presentation by Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein and Interim President Dr. Jean Bartels, Georgia Southern's student-athlete population was treated to a cookout and an evening in the local waterpark.
Kleinlein welcomed the student-athletes back to campus and introduced members of the senior athletics staff and Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Chris Geyerman.
Dr. Bartels presented an award to women's soccer student-athlete Katey Lippitt, who was named to the Sun Belt Conference's Leadership Team to recognize her outstanding work off the field. Bartels also referenced legendary Eagle football coach Erk Russell's motto and told the Eagle student-athletes to, "Do right."
Kleinlein and Director of Student-Athlete Services Reggie Simpkins handed out trophies to the volleyball team and the men's tennis team for posting the department's best team grade point averages last year.
Kleinlein reminded the student athletes "what you do and how you act will tell your story. Don't let somebody else write your story for you – you write it – by being great, being a great leader, being a great student, being a great athlete and being a great person." He welcomed the freshmen by telling them, "This is your new family," and to "take advantage of everything Georgia Southern and this athletic department has to offer you and leave here a better person than when you came."
After the welcoming address, student-athletes were given free reign over the 155-acre waterpark which includes four waterslides. The park also includes Georgia's only FlowRider surfing machine.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 17 – Day 1 – Paulson Stadium – 9 p.m. - Students will fill up the entire student section in Paulson Stadium for Day One to learn our traditions, chants, fight song and alma mater. Coach Fritz and Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein will speak at the event.
Aug. 22 - Erk Russell Classic – Paulson Stadium - 5 p.m. – The fourth annual Erk Russell Classic has North Oconee High School taking on Coffee County at 5 p.m. and Statesboro facing Burke County at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.
STATESBORO, Ga. – For the second consecutive academic year, Georgia Southern Athletics welcomed its student-athletes back to campus with a special event at Splash in the Boro.
After a brief presentation by Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein and Interim President Dr. Jean Bartels, Georgia Southern's student-athlete population was treated to a cookout and an evening in the local waterpark.
Kleinlein welcomed the student-athletes back to campus and introduced members of the senior athletics staff and Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Chris Geyerman.
Dr. Bartels presented an award to women's soccer student-athlete Katey Lippitt, who was named to the Sun Belt Conference's Leadership Team to recognize her outstanding work off the field. Bartels also referenced legendary Eagle football coach Erk Russell's motto and told the Eagle student-athletes to, "Do right."
Kleinlein and Director of Student-Athlete Services Reggie Simpkins handed out trophies to the volleyball team and the men's tennis team for posting the department's best team grade point averages last year.
Kleinlein reminded the student athletes "what you do and how you act will tell your story. Don't let somebody else write your story for you – you write it – by being great, being a great leader, being a great student, being a great athlete and being a great person." He welcomed the freshmen by telling them, "This is your new family," and to "take advantage of everything Georgia Southern and this athletic department has to offer you and leave here a better person than when you came."
After the welcoming address, student-athletes were given free reign over the 155-acre waterpark which includes four waterslides. The park also includes Georgia's only FlowRider surfing machine.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 17 – Day 1 – Paulson Stadium – 9 p.m. - Students will fill up the entire student section in Paulson Stadium for Day One to learn our traditions, chants, fight song and alma mater. Coach Fritz and Director of Athletics Tom Kleinlein will speak at the event.
Aug. 22 - Erk Russell Classic – Paulson Stadium - 5 p.m. – The fourth annual Erk Russell Classic has North Oconee High School taking on Coffee County at 5 p.m. and Statesboro facing Burke County at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.
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