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Country music bounces non-stop off the concrete bleachers in the cavernous Syracuse Coliseum as the show ring gate swings open and the announcer crackles to life. “Here’s draw number 20, back number 591, Holy Cannoli Katie and RE Sears.” The chestnut mare jogs into the center of the ring and, with nearly invisible cues from Sears — a tap on the neck, a touch of the spur — spins four times to the left, four to the right.

This past summer, the SUNY Morrisville Athletics Department decided to make a bold move. Needing to replace the turf playing surface of Drake Field for the first time since 2006, what set the project apart was the installation of a one-of-a-kind black turf.

Doyen “Dolo” Grant’s past is always present in his professional life. Hanging on the wall of Dolo’s Fitness — a gym Grant ’09 owns and operates in his hometown of Canarsie, New York — is a dark green SUNY Morrisville football jersey. When his gym opened in 2019, the former Mustangs football captain and star wide receiver had his No. 9 home uniform, flanked by two action photos, mounted in a customized black frame. 

From a simple knock at the door to knocking on the door of greatness.  From “arriving with nothing” to leaving with everything. From honoring previous Mustang legends to now becoming one.  Those were just some of the memorable storylines highlighting the SUNY Morrisville Athletics Wall of Fame Class of 2023, which honored seven Mustangs:

SUNY Morrisville’s woods sports team is gearing up for a new season and is looking for new members to join them!   Coach Seth Carsten, a former professional woodsman, is seeking veterans and rookies of varying majors and abilities to join the team, which showcases speed and precision with axes, chainsaws and other tools associated with traditional lumberjacking challenges.

Ernesto Mitchell ’23 went from chasing a dream to having a dream college career. Mitchell, who graduated this May with a degree in criminal justice, wrapped up his collegiate playing career as one of the most decorated student-athletes in the history of the Mustang football program.

The SUNY Morrisville men’s ice hockey team will be lacing up their skates Friday night as they play host to SUNY Canton at the Morrisville IcePlex, but for the team, it’s more than just a game; it’s the opportunity to share something they love with the young eyes that one day hope for the same opportunity.  

“It’s worth it if you put in the effort,” said Danielle Bunting ’21 while reflecting on her time as a SUNY Morrisville Mustang.

Three pairs of siblings at SUNY Morrisville are bringing more than just their skill and abilities to the game — they bring their chemistry, the anticipation of the next move, the difference in balance that counters the other and the desire to make a difference in Mustang athletics. Despite all spring- and fall-season athletics competitions being canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the siblings shared their thoughts about being teammates.

The Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL), with whom SUNY Morrisville holds membership in the sport of women's ice hockey, issued a statement Thursday afternoon, suspending conference and non-conference competition until Jan. 1, 2021, due to the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), with whom SUNY Morrisville holds associate membership in the sports of field hockey and men’s ice hockey, issued a statement Monday evening, suspending fall sports competition.    In addition, the SUNYAC Presidents, in consultation with the SUNYAC Board of Directors, delayed winter conference and non-conference schedules until Jan. 1, 2021.  

The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Presidents' Council issued a statement Friday, unanimously voting to not conduct intercollegiate athletic competition this upcoming fall semester due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.   SUNY Morrisville competes in the NEAC in men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, and women's volleyball during the fall season.  

The Empire 8 Presidents Council issued a statement on fall sports Wednesday evening, unanimously voting to postpone all fall competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including football in which SUNY Morrisville is an affiliate member.

MORRISVILLE, N.Y. — SUNY Morrisville’s woods sport team is readying for its lumberjack season, which starts with a competition Saturday, March 7. The free contest will be held inside the college’s Nancy Sears Stowell Arena on Swamp Road, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Greg Carroll champions winning culture following 18-year career as athletics director Greg Carroll still remembers his wild first day on the job as director of athletics at SUNY Morrisville. Fresh off a successful 12-year run as the athletics director and director of communications for the Cazenovia (New York) school district, Carroll walked into football check-in day before the 2001 season. Nearly 150 student-athletes flooded campus looking for his assistance.

MORRISVILLE, N.Y. — Calling all Mustangs: SUNY Morrisville welcomes alumni, students, friends and family to campus for Mustang Weekend Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 28. Highlights from the weekend’s event, which is open to the public and campus community, include a campus parade, campus tours, community picnic, carnival and rides, fireworks, and a variety of student activities and athletics contests. 

Tossing a lacrosse ball back and forth was a big part of Louie ’15 and Nick Geswaldo’s childhood. While others were playing video games, the brothers were shooting and catching, from dawn to dusk, in the backyard of their LaFayette, New York, home.   As they got older, their love for lacrosse deepened their brotherly camaraderie and spread to a college community.

Dual-sport student-athlete Jordan Anderson turns competitive fire into a career A chance attendance of a lacrosse game changed the course of Jordan Anderson’s life. Anderson ’17 had just wrapped up a very successful freshman year on the Mustang women’s basketball team, earning Rookie of the Year status in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) for her performance as the team’s starting point guard.

Morrisville State College senior Byron Evans hadn’t yet chosen a major when he first arrived on campus in 2013, let alone thought about joining the men’s cross country team. Four years later, his name is etched all over the college’s record books.

Cutting Edge Sports Management, host of the 2014 Dream Bowl, has announced the addition of a trio of Morrisville State football players to its roster for the second annual game to be played Monday, January 20 in Virginia Beach. Seniors Nate Ryan (Staten Island, N.Y.), Jeremy Stewart (Moravia, N.Y.) and David Williams (Central Islip, N.Y.) will represent Morrisville State on the squad.

The Morrisville State College women’s basketball team put together a hard fought battle Tuesday afternoon, but dropped the 77-49 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) decision to visiting SUNYIT in Morrisville. With the loss, Morrisville State drops to 4-8 overall, 2-3 in conference play, while the visitors improve to 7-4 overall and remain untouched in NEAC action at 4-0.

Host Morrisville State College men’s basketball was able to overcome a 14-point second half deficit Tuesday afternoon, edging visiting SUNY IT 88-86 in the closing minute for the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) victory in Morrisville. Morrisville State improves to 6-5 overall with the win, a 3-2 conference record, while the visitors drop just their third of the year, falling to 7-3 overall and 2-2 in NEAC play.

The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has announced its student-athlete of the week selections, naming Morrisville State College freshman guard, Jordan Anderson (West Edmeston, N.Y.) the women’s basketball co-player of the week for the week ending Jan. 12.

Visiting Morrisville State College men’s hockey picked up a 6-4 non-conference win over host Becker College Sunday afternoon, improving their overall record to 4-9-1. Ten different Mustangs tallied points in the contest, including Daniel Morello (Vaughan, ON) and Marc-Antoine Chaput (Mascouche, QC) who each posted three assists on the day.

Host Nichols College scored five first period goals and added three more in the final stanza to top visiting Morrisville State College hockey by a 9-4 non-conference decision Saturday night in Rhode Island. The loss is the second straight for the Mustangs, who fall to 3-9-1 on the season.