From the Desk of AD #31

Hello Army West Point Community,

Welcome back to another edition of From the Desk of the AD - a platform from my perspective to keep you informed, engaged, and connected with everything happening in Army West Point Athletics and the Army West Point Athletic Association. Through this message, I'll be sharing important department updates, celebrating the accomplishments of our outstanding cadet-athletes, and offering insights into the dynamic world of college athletics. All of this is grounded in the four pillars of our Fruits of Victory strategic plan: Competitive Success, Delivering an Extraordinary Division I Experience, Public Engagement and Revenue Generation, and Sustainability.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY EARNS PERFECT SCORE OVER NAVY IN STAR MEET
Our Women's Cross Country team dominated the Star Meet, earning a perfect score of 15 while sweeping the first six finishes - their second consecutive win over Navy. A phenomenal effort from a disciplined and determined group.

SINGING SECOND!!!! ??

The women put together a perfect score to win the star! #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/H48XhQDre1
— Army Track & XC (@ArmyWP_TrackXC) October 18, 2025

MEN'S SOCCER SHUTS OUT NAVY AND WINS STAR IN ARMY-NAVY CUP XIV
Congratulations to our men's soccer team who displayed pure dominance in its 4-0 victory in the 14th edition of the Army-Navy Cup at Subaru Park in front of a record crowd of 11,363 to claim the Star. With a quick grab of the momentum, our team put up a staggering performance to earn the Star for the third time in the last four seasons.

?????????????? ??????????????#GoArmy | #BeatNavy @ArmyNavyGame | @GoArmyWestPoint pic.twitter.com/IXz7mwM0Bf
— Army Men's Soccer (@ArmyWP_MSoccer) October 11, 2025

BACK IN THE CLASSROOM
It was an inspiring morning stepping into the classroom at the United States Military Academy to observe a MX 400 class and observe our cadets in their scholarly efforts as they prepare for leadership. The academic rigor of our institution is about building character, sharpening judgment, and equipping tomorrow's leaders to act with integrity and resolve. I left that room energized and confident that what these cadets are learning today will make a difference tomorrow and I am resolved to continue to learn as much as I can about our cadet experience.

CROSS COUNTRY HEADS TO PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET
The first of our teams to compete in their postseason take to the starting line on Friday, October 31 as our cross country teams lace up for the Patriot League Championships in Bethlehem, Pa. The women will run their 6K first at 12 p.m. and the men will follow with their 8K at 1 p.m.

CATCHING UP AT THE CALS CONFERENCE
Speaking on the panel at the CALS Conference hosted by Ohio State University, I was inspired by the energy and ambition of those aspiring to leadership in athletics. Hearing the questions and seeing the passion in the room reinforced for me that becoming an athletic director isn't just about managing sports - it's about elevating teams, shaping culture, and fostering success across an entire community.

FOOTBALL HEADS TO COLORADO SPRINGS TO FACE AIR FORCE
Army football takes on Air Force in a crucial showdown in Colorado Springs on Saturday, November 1, and we need all our fans backing the Black Knights both in the stadium and from afar. Tune in (television: CBS and radio: Varsity Network) and show your support as they battle for another pivotal victory in the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy race!

CONGRATS TO ANDON THOMAS

A huge congratulations to linebacker Andon Thomas, named one of 16 finalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award - often called the "Academic Heisman."

Andon exemplifies what it means to be an Army Football player and a cadet - excellence in the classroom, on the field, and as a leader. We're proud to see him recognized among the very best in the nation.

Congrats Andon! ??

Thomas, a team captain who majors in Chemical Engineering, has been named a Finalist for the #CampbellTrophy by the @NFFNetwork ?? pic.twitter.com/7tmVaASunL
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 22, 2025

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S TRIP COMPLETE
This month, our Army A Club hosted the Commander-in-Chief's Trip, bringing donors and fans together for a memorable weekend in New Orleans to watch Army Football take on Tulane. The weekend was filled with camaraderie, pride, and Black Knight spirit - a great example of the strength and passion of our Army family.

The energy and enthusiasm on the CIC Trip was unmatched ??

??The Army A Club Family showed out for pregame, in game, and postgame festivities!#GoArmy | #BeatEveryone | #DutyHonorCountry pic.twitter.com/CZ3lPQZfnI
— Army A Club (@ArmyAClub) October 24, 2025

GOLF FINISHES SECOND AT COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S CUP
Army Golf placed second at the 2025 Commander-in-Chief's Cup at historic Winged Foot Golf Club. Tyson Sparks led the way with a fourth-place finish individually, helping the Black Knights post a team total of +6. Another strong showing for Coach Bagley's program!

HOCKEY STARTS 2025–26 SEASON STRONG
Army Hockey is off to its best start in six years, sitting at 3-2-1 after the first six games. Head Coach Zach McKelvie earned his first career win at the helm — a special milestone recognized with a game puck presentation from SLT and me after the win over Northeastern.

First win in the McKelvie Era ?#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/CmvZYdjTPD
— Army Hockey (@ArmyWP_Hockey) October 11, 2025

RABBLE ROUSERS ANNOUNCE CLASS OF '58 ENDOWMENT FOR HEAD COACH POSITION
We're proud to share that the Army West Point Rabble Rousers' head coaching position has officially been endowed as The Class of 1958 Head Rabble Rousers Coach. Through a remarkable $1 million class gift, Izzy da Rosa now serves under the newly endowed title. This endowment will help enhance the cadet-athlete experience for generations to come.

SIX CADET-ATHLETES EARN 1A FAR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
We take great pride in our cadet-athletes' success both in competition and in the classroom. Six former Black Knights - Joseph Buselmeier (Gymnastics), Joanna Halfhill (Track & Field), Elijah Manges (Men's Rugby), Joseph Manning (Men's Rugby), Keira Vesy (Women's Soccer), and Michael Zhang (Men's Tennis) — were honored with the 2024–25 1A FAR Academic Excellence Award. Congratulations to all on this well-deserved recognition from the 2024-25 school year.

Congratulations to our former cadet-athletes honored by the 1A Faculty Athletics Representatives (FAR) for their work in the classroom in 2024-25!

? https://t.co/yMaVjHfOwx

It is presented annually to student-athletes who graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.80 or above and… pic.twitter.com/dDDOHtK14t
— ArmyWestPoint Sports (@GoArmyWestPoint) October 25, 2025

MEN'S & WOMEN'S TENNIS COMPLETE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S TENNIS CHALLENGE
Men's and women's tennis both had standout performances at the 2025 Commander-in-Chief's Tennis Challenge, showcasing their skill and determination. The men's team, led by Jimin Jung and Daniel Choi, earned impressive victories, while the women's squad, highlighted by Madison Smith and Emily Ruckno's tiebreak wins over Navy, posted strong results across singles and doubles play. Both teams demonstrated great teamwork and competitive spirit, leaving a lasting mark in this annual rivalry tournament.

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TIP-OFF MONDAY AT CHRISTL ARENA
Basketball season is here! Both Army Men's and Women's Basketball open their seasons at home in Christl Arena on Monday, Nov. 3, hosting SUNY Maritime and Pace, respectively. Both games will be televised on ESPN+ and via radio on the Varsity Network. Join us as we tip off another exciting year of Army hoops.

Something ?????? is coming to Christl Arena ??

We are so excited to enhance our fan experience this season by adding brand new video boards, the first of its kind to arrive to Christl Arena??#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/5Jco5ZhzHu
— Army Men's Basketball (@ArmyWP_MBB) October 15, 2025

RIFLE READY FOR PRESIDENT'S TROPHY MATCH AT NAVY
This Saturday, November 1, our rifle team heads to Annapolis for the highly anticipated President's Trophy match – one of the biggest competitions of the season. Let's rally behind head coach Leighton Dempster and our Black Knights as they aim to claim the Trophy and continue to display their excellence on the range!

SPRINT FOOTBALL REMAINS UNDEFEATED
With their 31-7 victory over the Caldwell Cougars last week, our sprint football team remains undefeated this season with a 5-0 record so far this season. Our cadet-athletes will seek to continue their impressive run this season on Friday, October 31 when they welcome St. Thomas Aquinas to Shea Stadium for a 7 p.m. showdown on the Banks of the Hudson.

THANK YOU

As always, thank you for your continued support of Army West Point Athletics and our incredible cadet-athletes. Together, we create an environment that allows them to compete, grow, and lead with excellence.

Please continue to support by:

Attending games and events — home and on the road

Purchasing season tickets, joining the Army A Club, and helping identify corporate partners

Wearing your colors proudly, especially on Black Knight Fridays (#WearArmyBlackandGold)

Encouraging others to do the same

Go Army! Beat Navy!

Tom Theodorakis
Director of Athletics, Army West Point
AthleticDirector@WestPoint.edu
X: @TT_Army_AD

Army West Point Athletics

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