Cedarville Magazine Fall 2024

A CENTURY OF EXCELLENCE: 100 YEARS OF YELLOW JACKET ATHLETICS For over a century, Cedarville University has been synonymous with athletic excellence. Since its founding in 1887, Cedarville has fostered a community where athletics, academics, and faith converge. In 2024, Cedarville is celebrating a milestone: 100 years of its iconic athletic identity as the Yellow Jackets, marking a century of innovation, integrity, and high performance in intercollegiate sports. THE BIRTH OF THE YELLOW JACKETS The journey to becoming the Yellow Jackets began in 1923, when Cedarville’s football teamwas known as the "Orange and BlueWarriors," named after the school's early color scheme. However, just one year later, in 1924, the team adopted a new identity that would define the University's athletic legacy — the Yellow Jackets. This transformation brought with it a new mascot, Stinger, who has since become a symbol of Cedarville's competitive spirit. FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO ATHLETIC PROWESS Cedarville’s athletic program started modestly, offering only football, basketball, and baseball. Over the decades, the program has grown exponentially, now boasting 17 intercollegiate sports teams with the addition next year of women’s golf. Each team competes in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) and NCAA Division II, embodying the same commitment to excellence that has been a hallmark of Cedarville Athletics for the past century. Under the leadership of Dr. Don Callan, who served as athletic director from 1961 to 1997, Cedarville’s athletic department expanded from just two sports to 14. Pete Reese, the next athletic director, oversaw the construction of new facilities for many of Cedarville's sports. Dr. Alan YELLOW JACKET SPORTS 30

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