The Embry-Riddle men’s and women’s basketball teams had the opportunity to travel to Spain for a preseason trip. The teams took advantage of an NCAA rule that allows programs to go on a foreign tour once every four years. The trip was doubly special for seniors Eva Zaragoza (Madrid) and David Velasco (Ponferrada), who had the opportunity to do something few international student-athletes competing for colleges in the United States get to do...play with their American teams in their respective hometowns.
The women landed in Madrid at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 10 and were immediately on the move. In addition to playing three games, ERAU’s time in Madrid included exploring El Retiro Park, guided tours of the royal palace, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Espana and Toledo, and a private cooking class and lunch at Qu- a new restaurant owned by a two-star Michelin chef. The last night in Madrid feature Flamenco dancing lessons and a show before the Eagles hopped on a high-speed train to Barcelona. In Barcelona, the Eagles played two more games, visited Park Guell and the famous Sagrada Familia and capped the trip with a catamaran ride on the Mediterranean Sea.
The men's trip featured stops in Ponferrada, the home of senior David Velasco, Madrid, and Barcelona, as well as a challenging four-game slate against professional and semi-professional teams. Some of the highlights from the trip included a visit to David’s family home in Ponferrada, tours of the cities of Madrid and Barcelona, along with visits to the Spanish Royal Palace, and La Sagrada Familia, and much more. On the court, the Eagles were able to get a head start to the 2023-24 season, playing together for the first time as a squad under the eyes of the coaching staff. ERAU won all three games in which the expected starters played with Malcolm Whitlow leading the way, averaging 14.3 points per game. Newcomer Cameron Shockley-Okeke averaged 14.0 points per outing, while both Jon Alessandro (10.3 ppg) and Michael McCalister (10.0 ppg) averaged double-digits offensively.
CROSS COUNTRY
With the 2023 cross country season getting underway on Friday, both the men's and women's programs are riding a wave of momentum into the new year. After claiming a third-straight Sunshine State Conference crown in 2022, Head Coach Mike Rosolino discusses what he believes the men need to do to earn a four-peat.
On the women's side, this year the Eagles earned their highest placement in the SSC Preseason Poll since the 2019 season, and Rosolino has high expectations for his team this fall.
Additionally, Rosolino touches on the five athletic and academic goals his programs have set for themselves for the 2023-24 academic year.
Men's Soccer
Head Coach David Gregson is preparing for his 30th year leading the men's soccer program at Embry-Riddle. Almost half of the roster has changed from last season as Gregson brought in a dozen newcomers.
With a pair of preseason matches under their belt, Gregson sees promise in this year's squad and believes the team will be much improved compared to last season.
Additionally, Gregson has high praise for the two new goalkeepers who are battling for a starting role.
Embry-Riddle’s 2023 baseball season may have ended months ago, but the 10-7 sweep-clinching win over No. 3 Rollins on May 13 didn’t spell the end of everyone’s season.
Dillon Moran, and Chase Bruno, as well as incoming transfer Alex Imposimato, all continued to shine on the diamond over the summer, competing for three different teams after the collegiate season ended.
Moran, the ace of the Eagles' pitching staff in 2023, led another pitching staff in the summer, as he paced the Martinsville Mustangs in both ERA and innings pitched. The Stuart, Florida native headed to Martinsville, Virginia and thrived in the Coastal Plain League. Moran finished inside the top 10 in the league in several categories, pitching 39.2 innings (7th) to a 2.82 ERA (6th - min. 30 innings) with a 0.86 WHIP (4th). Moran also limited the opposition to 4.9 hits and 2.8 walks per nine innings pitched (both 4th) and possessed a 4.58 strikeout/walk ratio (5th) across eight games started (5th).
Chase Bruno stayed local, playing shortstop for the DeLand Suns of the Florida Collegiate Summer League. Bruno hit .333/.472/.386, with his OPS being .858 while leading the team in on-base percentage. Bruno’s batting average was seventh-best in the league, and his OBP was third-best. Bruno also excelled in the field, only committing one error at shortstop, good for a fielding percentage of .981. To top it off, Bruno took home the FCSL’s sportsmanship award.