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Shila Shreve and Joy Downing with their Club STUNT team

Pair of AU graduates love coaching Club STUNT together at the Kroc Center

Ashland University graduates Shila (Hartzler, ’23) Shreve and Joy (Boone, ’19) Downing appear to be a perfect pairing as co-coaches for the Ashland Salvation Army Kroc Center’s new Club STUNT program for girls. “We couldn’t have found better coaches,” said Dan Lawson, the Kroc Center’s director of community relations and development. “They really put their heart into getting our team ready for competition. “They inspire, motivate and encourage the girls on…

Kevin Lacey and Jon Qualls

AU football teammates continue friendship with business partnership

One played offense as a center, while the other was on defense as a nose guard for the Ashland University football team. One enjoys the production and personnel side of business, while the other thrives on sales. While Jon Qualls and Kevin Lacey have their differences, they also have an incredible bond forged while wearing helmets, shoulder pads and cleats for the Eagles in the late 1990s and early 2000s that has continued beyond the football field as…

Trae Coopwood, Erich Metze and Zach Portner

Brotherhood formed in college continues for JDM grads as camera operators covering Ohio sports

After working together as camera operators for Ashland University games and now the past several years at Ohio sporting events, Trae Coopwood, Erich Metze and Zach Portner have formed a brotherly bond. “I’m like the annoying older brother they can’t get rid of,” said a laughing Metze, who is in his 40s while Coopwood and Portner are in their 20s. Joking is common with these “brothers,” whose relationship started in the AU classrooms almost 10 years ago…

graphic of Katie Moon competing at Paris Olympics

Katie Moon '13 earns silver at Paris Olympics, now a two-time Olympic medalist

On Wednesday (Aug. 7) in Paris, France, former Ashland University national champion Katie Moon earned a silver medal in the women's pole vault at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. Moon cleared the bar on her first attempt at 4.40 meters/14-feet-5¼, 4.60 meters/15-feet-1, 4.70 meters/15-feet-5, and 4.80 meters/15-feet-9, then her second attempt at 4.85 meters/15-feet-11. After passing at 4.90 meters/16-feet-0¾ following a miss, she had two attempts to tie her…

Shane Rue, Richie Delaney, Ryan Kern and Zach Balo

Dorm Dudes Breaks, sports memorabilia selling business, really takes off for AU students

“All right everybody, who’s ready for the brand-new product from Just Break It?” Shane Rue excitedly asks TikTok viewers while filming a video to kick off a live stream as Richie Delaney pumps his first and then claps loudly with Ryan Kern. “We got Richie,” Rue says pointing to Delaney. Then pointing to Kern, “We got Kern, and we got Boss Man over there,” he adds turning his phone toward a smiling Zach Balo as he calls Balo by his nickname. “Here we go,”…

Elmar Schutte

South Africa native graduating from AU with some big goals

Elmar Schutte will graduate with two big goals he hopes Ashland University will help him accomplish. Schutte will receive his master’s degree in education: curriculum and instruction in the 21st century during AU’s commencement ceremony Saturday, May 4 at the Niss Athletic Center. “What I want to do is write a preschool curriculum in South Africa,” the South African native said about one of his goals. “We don’t have a very established preschool…

Kory Clark

Ashland University graduate named to Crain's Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 list

Even though Kory Clark only saw playing time in eight games for the Ashland University football team for various reasons, including a knee injury, longtime Assistant Coach Tim Rose said he appreciated the speedy wide receiver/defensive back’s positive attitude and saw his potential beyond AU. “He had a great spirit and was upbeat,” Rose said. “You felt the future was going to be bright for him, which it has been as this award shows.” Crain’s Cleveland…

Michael Biller with his family

Ashland University graduate promoted to assistant chief for Norwalk Police Department

While Michael Biller came to Ashland University to play sports, he left with a strong desire for a law enforcement career. “One of the main reasons why I chose AU was because of the football and baseball programs,” said Biller, a 2008 Ashland grad. “I only played football for one year and baseball for three years. I decided to concentrate on my academics and my career in law enforcement during my senior year.” That decision has paid off for Biller, a…

Greg Nickoli, Drew Miller, Ellie Nickoli, Libby Miller Nickoli, AJ Nickoli and Larry Miller

Master's degrees and more - Ashland University a big part of the Nickoli/Miller family

When it was announced in April that Ashland University had been recognized as a 2023-24 Best Graduate School for education by U.S. News & World Report, AJ Nickoli didn’t waste any time commenting about it on social media. “Whole Nickoli family went to grad school here,” the AU assistant football coach wrote on the university’s Twitter post about the recognition. “This is LEGIT!!”   “My mom, dad, grandpa and uncle all got their master’s at AU,”…

Katie Moon and Trevor Bassitt

Moon and Bassitt earn trips to Outdoor Worlds in Hungary

Katie Moon is used to winning championships, and another one came to fruition on Sunday (July 9) night in Eugene, Oregon.   Moon, the former Ashland University track and field NCAA Division II All-American who is the top-rated outdoor women's pole vaulter in the world, won the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships title in the event on Sunday night with a new season-best and world-leading showing of 4.90 meters/16-feet-0¾.   This comes after Moon won…

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