12
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
SPORTS
Soccer alum Bri Eilman becomes new assistant coach
BY ALLISON DEBUSK
Staff Writer
Some players' passion for their sport is so strong that they never want to leave.
This is the case for the new Assistant Women's Soccer Coach Bri Eilman.
Eilman graduated from Guilford last year after three stellar years on the women's
soccer team. During her career at Guilford, she totaled 12 gods in 47 appearances,
and her 12 assists stand tenth overall in school history.
Head Women's Soccer Coach Eric Lewis said that she was a "leader right away."
Her leadership and soccer skills led to her appointment as captain last year.
"Everyone looked up to her on and off the field," said senior midfielder Jaclyn
Nucd.
"She could see the plays that were necessary and strategies that we could use,"
said senior midfielder Gabrielle Lahowitch.
Eilman had been coaching soccer camps at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill for four years. "It came naturd to me," she sdd.
Eiuring the fall season she asked if there might be a position open for a new
assistant coach. When Lewis sdd that it was a possibility, she applied for the job
after graduation.
Approaching the season, Eilman was nervous about transitioning from the
players' teammate to coach. Lewis was dso concerned that the older players would
not respect Eilman as a coach.
"Surprisingly, if s been great, because they do respect me as their coach," Eilman
sdd.
"I had a lot of respect for Bri to begin with," sdd junior godkeeper Abby Gove.
"So it's not that much different from having her as a captdn."
"It felt very naturd for me because I felt like she was already coaching me in a
sense," sdd Lahowitch.
Even though the players respect her, the transition has not been completely easy.
"At first it was awkward, keeping that line of respect," sdd Nucd. Now everyone
can mdntain professiondism.
So far, EUman's coaching career has been a success.
"She stayed on me about everything as captdn and does the same as an assistant,"
sdd Lewis. "She knows my weaknesses and compensates for them."
Eilman has dso impressed the players with her coaching skills.
"She pushes us because she wants us to win," sdd first-year defender Cassie
Vaughn.
When Eilman is pushing the players to be their best, she offers verbd
encouragement as well.
"If I'm down about something, she has something to say to help my game,"
Lahowitch sdd.
Vaughn expre^ed the attitude with which Eilman is approaching the upcoming
season, and the attitude that she instills in the team.
"When she's like, 'We're going to win,' I feel like we're going to v\dn," sdd Vaughn.
Bri Eilman, the new assistant women's soccer coach, has
previously coached at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Guilford alum Bri Eilman talks to senior
Lily Wotkins. In her time, Eilman tallied a
record number of assists at 12 total.
Assistant Coach Eilman’s stats:
- 12 goals in her 47 appearances
- 10th highest Guilford College record in assists
with 12 total
- Has 4 years of coaching experience at UNC Chapel
Hill
You can still play sports without being on a varsity team
BY JAMES ROWE
Staff Writer
Lots of students who are sports fans come to college and
are not able to play or prefer not to play varsity athletics.
Luckily, a college like Guilford is able to give those students
that competitive and athletic opportunity in intramurals.
In intramurals, students can play a competitive sport like
soccer or basketbdl. Another great thing about this is that
other varsity athletes can play intramurals with non-athletes
as well.
There are no tryouts for any teams in any of the intramural
sports because Guilford gives an equal opportunity to
everyone. The only requirement to join intramurals is that
students sign up themselves and other members for the
team they want to form.
Intramural players can have fun while meeting other
people and playing a sport that they like.
Steve Moran is in charge of the program.
"I hope there is an increase of participants from the
Guilford community, more diverse participants (and)
increased programmatic offerings to represent the diverse
campus interests," said Moran, "(as well as) increased
collaboration with additiond departments on campus (and)
increased student involvement in leadership roles provided
by intramurd sports programming.
"(The program) is meant to facilitate social interaction,
and leadership development experiences for the diverse
members of the Guilford College community," Moran
added. "This is achieved by providing competitive and co
educational athletic opportunities that support the physical
and mental well being of our community in accordance with
the Guilford College mission and institutional core values."
Some of the sports that the program provides are
dodgeball, first-year Hall Olympics, tennis, floor hockey,
volleyball, softball, basketball, flag football, Texas Hold 'Em,
ping pong and pool.
Senior Caleb Whited-Ford is in charge of the intramural
"Hopefully there will be a breokdown of the
barrier between the student-athletes and non-
athletic students because of this program."
Caleb Whited-Ford, senior
program and has been running it for the past three years.
Whited-Ford is a sports management major who says that
he hopes running this program will help him when he
graduates as a credential on his resume.
"I one day hope to get a full time job at some Division I
athletic program," said Whited-Ford.
"The main purpose of the program is to provide an
opportunity for people to participate in athletics at a lower
skill set," said Whited-Ford. "Also some of the other things
that we hope the program achieves is that it could start a
healthier lifestyle, hopefully retain students at Guilford
College and that people can make some friends out of the
program."
"Hopefully there will be a breakdown of the barrier
between the student-athletes and non-athletic students
because of this program," Whited-Ford said.
Whited-Forci explained that there really were no concerns
for the program except for the expenses they have to pay for
the equipment.
"Playing intramurals is a great way to just get outside,
play an awesome sport, hang out with old friends and make
new ones," said senior Will Singley.
Singley described his experience as a student-athlete
being difficult to manage.
All he did was sleep, eat, go to class and play soccer.
Intramurals allowed him to have some downtime and play
for fun.
However, senior Brianna Goodison, who also helps
Whited-Ford run the program, says that there is one problem
with the program: not enough women participate.
"We need more women to get involved," said Goodison.
"We really want to make the teams more divers^ this year,
and that starts by making sure intramural sports aren't male-
dominated."
So, to everybody and anybody: get out there and have
some fun.
Intramural programs are a guaranteed good time.