Lancers Past

After sitting out for most of two seasons, Cassie Ensley took full advantage of her fifth year.  Now known as Cassandra Ensley Storer, the 5-6 guard made history in 1995 as the first Longwood women's basketball team to play in the NCAA Division II tournament.  After dropping 464 points in her final season, she ranks #8 in career scoring, #2 in made 3PTs, and #5 in assists.  Cassandra was named Hon...

Brenda Fettrow ranks #20 in all-time scoring for Longwood WBB.  But she would much rather talk about stealing the ball and feeding a teammate for an easy basket.  She still holds the record for steals in a game – 11.  As the city manager of Rockledge in Brevard County Florida, her team serves 29,000 citizens.  Learn how Brenda leveraged her Longwood experiences on and off the court to prepare and...

As a graduate transfer, Jordan Perkins, was a winner – with two trips to the NCAA DI tournament. The one-year Lancer tapped into his experience and leadership to help Longwood to a 26-7 record and the Big South Conference Championship.   Known by his teammates as Juice, Perkins is now in Armenia as a starting point guard for the Mad Foxes in Yerevan.  This episode is part of the series celebrating...

From the opening of Longwood College's Lancer Hall in 1980, Jim Gussett and his wife Ann, have been game day fixtures.  From 1966 to 1998, Jim was known as a student advocate at Longwood, first as the assistant dean and later as a math professor.   As a high school catcher in Cincinnati, he played with future MLB managers Don Zimmer and Jim Frey before attending the U.S. Naval Academy.  This episo...

In Mike Testa's two years at Longwood, his GPA was higher than his scoring average.  As a senior guard, he came off the bench to beat visiting Randolph Macon 41-39 in February of 1983.  It may be the most dramatic and unlikely game winning shot in Longwood men's basketball history.   This episode is the first of a series celebrating Willett Hall that opened in 1980.  The new Joan Perry Brock Cente...

After starting at 4-10-1, Joe Parker captained three straight winning seasons for Longwood College soccer, a first in program history.  He capped off his career in '82 at 14-5-1, the VISA state championship, and a #14 ranking in the DII national polls.   Listen to Joe describe the ascent of LC soccer in the second episode of this two–part celebration of the '82 team. 

Darryl Case kicks off the first episode of a two-part celebration of the 1982 Longwood College Men's soccer team, VISA State Champions.  The four-time All-American and Lancer Hall of Famer is retired and lives just outside San Antonio, Texas.  

Michael Tucker takes a deep dive into his major league career in the second of a two-part episode.  Tucker played 12 years in MLB with seven teams.   From Bobby Cox to Barry Bonds to the man they simply called Junior (Ken Griffey, Jr.) Tucker shares his stories from playing with baseball's best. 

In this first of a two-part episode, Michael Tucker talks about teaching aspiring big leaguers, developing his game at Longwood, and balling with Michael Jordan in the Arizona Fall League.  In 1992, Tucker earned NCAA DII Player of the Year and was the DH on the Olympic Baseball team.  He capped off the year as a first-round selection by Kansas City in the MLB Draft (10 th overall).    

Former Longwood Associate Head Coach Tiffany Sardin and Lancer teammate Dayna Rouse celebrate Akila Smith's college hoops success and look forward to her pro career.  Sardin is now in a similar role at St. Louis University.  Rouse and Smith reunite on the island of Madeira where they will play for Francisco Franco, a team in the top women's league in Portugal.                                      ...

Akila Smith's journey to 2022 Women's Basketball Big South Player of the Year and a conference championship was a test of faith.  Despite a tough freshman year, she persevered with help from coaches and teammates.  Now, armed with her degree and a win in the NCAA tournament, Akila joins forces with former Longwood teammate Dayna Rouse to compete in the top women's basketball league in Portugal.   ...

Kylie was born into a soccer family and played for her father, Todd, at Longwood before graduating with a B.S. in Political Science.  Despite a season ending injury as a junior, she received the Jimmy Yarbrough Inspiration Award for her academic, community service and team leadership.  Kylie, who also worked in the Longwood Admissions Office, now generates support for Lancer student-athletes as th...

Hunter Gilliam received his B.S. from Longwood University in May and promptly committed to the University of Kentucky to play baseball as a graduate student.  The Lancer walk-on from the Fuqua School in Farmville earned LU freshman student-athlete of the year and capped his career as first team All-Big South Conference.  Hunter is spending his second summer in Colonial Heights at first base with t...

With a determined attitude and superior athletic ability, John Stukes racked up a career record of 70 wins, eight losses and two ties in three years.  At the 134-pound weight class, John was Longwood's first NCAA Division II Regional Champion and the second Lancer wrestler to compete in the nationals. John is now a veteran high school wrestling coach and math teacher at Hayfield High in Fairfax Co...

Despite two season ending injuries, Geter finished his six-year Longwood stint on a high note.  He anchored a turnaround in Longwood basketball and earned his M.S. in Counselor Education after completing his B.S. in Sociology.  Damarion now applies his education and first-hand experience as a mental health clinician at Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania.       

LaRon Wilson's teammates and coaches at Lee-Davis High knew Wilson had speed and raw athletic ability, but no one thought he would be drafted after a stellar college career (MLB 2002, NYM, Rd. 15).  The late bloomer caught the eye of Longwood Hall of Fame coach Buddy Bolding, who developed him into a .408 career hitter and a stolen base leader.   LaRon earned his B.S. in Business Management in 201...

At five years old, Phil's goal was to hear his name called at the MLB draft.  Since then, he has been on a mission to learn, improve and prove he belonged.   As a starting third baseman at Longwood, he batted .386 and set school records for career hits (256) and sacrifice flies (22) among other hitting accolades.  After two years in the St. Louis Cardinals chain, Cerreto earned his Doctor of Pharm...

Emily Murphy was a key part in Longwood's first three Big South Conference championships.  The four-time all-conference shortstop left her marks in the career record book ranking within the top four in home runs, RBIs, and hits, just to name a few.  She topped off her career hitting .365 as a senior.  Murphy now passes on her lessons learned from mentors Kathy Riley and Kayla Miller as a coach and...

Dana Smith knows resilience.  After two season ending injuries at Longwood, the basketball standout from Woodbridge racked up 1,540 points and 708 rebounds.  For his grit and resilience, Smith was a two-time finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award.  He took full advantage of his 6-year stay in Farmville and earned two bachelor's degrees. 

Brian Sprinkle was a fixture in goal as the Lancers posted a 50-15-11 record from 1981 to 1984.  The three-time all-conference keeper received his BS in Business Administration and Marketing.  After 20 years in corporate advertising and 10 years in college coaching, Sprinkle continues to pay tribute to his late teammate and Longwood All-American Mark McCardle. 

Danny Sterling came to Longwood in 2006 as the Head Athletic Trainer and left in 2009 as the Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations.  He applied lessons learned from Longwood's transition to Division I as the Athletic Director at UVA-Wise and Presbyterian College.  After a two-year stint as VCU's Executive Associate Athletic Director, Sterling is the Vice President of Sales for A Bett...

Randy Johnson, Longwood '82, made his mark in the beginning of co-education and men's basketball.  He was the leading rebounder on the NCAA Division III Final Four Team in 1980 and then mentored a young Jerome Kersey in Longwood's first two years in Division II.  At George Wythe High in Richmond, Johnson teamed with another future NBA veteran - Paul Pressey.  After a 32-year career with Philip Mor...

Kathryn Idleson Noftzger wasted no time making her mark as a Longwood gymnast.  The freshman from Severn, MD finished 7th in nationals and was Longwood's first A-A in any sport.  On May 5, 2017, she faced her biggest opposition when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  With help from friends and husband, Mike, she is now cancer free and a passionate advocate for early detection and awareness.  L...

"Jerome Kersey:  Overcoming the Odds" is a motivational story about a young man who came from humble beginnings to rise to the top of professional basketball.  Kerry Eggers, veteran Portland Oregon area journalist, tells the story through Jerome's friends, teammates, family, and coaches.    

Mitch Walker is featured in the third and final tribute to Longwood basketball legend Jerome Kersey.   Walker, who bonded with Jerome as a freshman on and off the basketball court, reflects on the traits and characteristics that made Kersey special.  Walker is a Financial Advisor for the Equitable Advisors Group and the First Deputy Director of Administration for Children's Services with the City...