A Look Back at Some of the Top Stories From 2018-19

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — As the calendar gets closer to the 2019-20 season beginning, EMUEagles.com takes a look back on the significant achievements and news worthy items that highlighted 2018-19. We celebrated victories, picked ourselves up after defeats, honored legends and said good bye to heroes. Its been a transformative year in many ways for an athletic department that strives to build champions on the fields of competition, in the classroom and in the community.

Here's a look back at some of the top stories from this past year...

Volleyball Makes History, Wins Program's First-Ever MAC Tournament Championship
The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team made history at the Mid-American Conference Championship Sunday, Nov. 18, topping No. 2 seed and host Miami University, 3-2, in Millett Hall to earn its first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

Men's Golf Earns MAC Co-Championships as Rain Washes Away Final Round
There was heavy anticipation and buildup for a final round battle between Eastern Michigan University and Kent State University for the title at the 2019 Mid-American Conference Men's Golf Championships. Unfortunately, it was Mother Nature that in the end stole the show, as heavy rains overnight forced the cancellation of today's round on the par 72, 7,202-yard Club Walden course. The Eagles and Golden Flashes share the team championship, however, Kent State earned the leagues automatic bid to the NCAA Championships due to tiebreakers. KSU won the cumulative total of non-counting scores by three, 154-151.

Delaney Duncan Records Runner-Up Performance at NCAA Championships
Senior Delaney Duncan etched her spot as one of the best swimmers in Eastern Michigan University program history with a runner-up finish in the 100 Breaststroke at the NCAA Championships. Duncan tapped the wall with a time of 57.83, besting her own school record set at the Mid-American Conference Championships, Feb.28, by more than .4 seconds. The Galesburg, Ill. native finished a mere two seconds behind the American and NCAA record-holder in the stroke, Indiana University's Lilly King, en route to the best finish at the national championships by a female Eagle in program history.

Ryland's 24-Yard Field Goal as Time Expires Pushes EMU Past Purdue, 20-19
Freshman Chad Ryland drilled a 24-yard field goal as time expired to give the Eastern Michigan University football team a 20-19 win over Purdue University Saturday, Sept. 8, at Ross-Ade Stadium. With the win, EMU secured its second victory over a 'Power 5' opponent in program history. The win moved the Eagles to 2-0 on the season, and is just the third time they have won back-to-back games to open the season in the past 20 years. EMU's defensive effort highlighted the day as the Eagles held the Boilermakers to just 17 points, forced three three-and-outs, and only allowed two touchdowns. Eastern's defense also totaled four forced fumbles, tying for fourth-most in a single game in program history and the most since forcing four at Northern Illinois, Oct. 26, 2017.

Women's Cross Country Captures Fourth Straight MAC Championship
The Eastern Michigan University women's cross country team won its fourth consecutive Mid-American Conference Championship in Toledo, Ohio. The Eagles totaled a final team score of 76 points, with three harriers finishing within the top-15.

Eastern Bested By Georgia Southern's Walk-Off Field Goal at the Camellia Bowl
A 40-yard field goal by Georgia Southern University's Tyler Bass as time expired decided the 2018 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, as the Eastern Michigan University football team fell, 23-21, at the Cramton Bowl here in Montgomery, Ala. As one would expect with a game involving EMU, which played in eight games this season decided by a touchdown or less, the Camellia Bowl was a tight one with neither team ever leading by more than 10 points. There were two lead changes in the final four minutes with Eastern Michigan taking a 21-20 lead with 3:33 remaining thanks to a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mike Glass III to Arthur Jackson III on a fourth-and-4. However, Georgia Southern marched right back down the field, and on a fourth-and-10, Eagles quarterback Shai Werts rushed 29 yards to put his team in field goal position. Three plays later, Bass gave his team the win.

Student-Athlete Performance and Success Center Ground Breaking
Eastern Michigan University and the EMU Department of Athletics held an official ground breaking ceremony for the Student-Athlete Performance and Success Center, which is located on the north end of Rynearson Stadium. The project was previously approved by the EMU Board of Regents on Dec. 15, 2017. The new construction project for sports medicine and training facilities provides a 60,000 square foot structure that will house the sports medicine, performance and equipment operations areas. Additionally, the facility will house locker rooms, coaches' offices, and meeting spaces for the football team, while also including a new video board.

Zachary Owings Selected by the Miami Marlins in the 2019 MLB Draft
Eastern Michigan University junior infielder Zachary Owings was selected in the 33rd round, 981st overall, by the Miami Marlins in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft. Owings became the 76th EMU player to be drafted all-time into the MLB, and becomes the third selection from EMU in as many years, joining 2017 Seattle Mariners pick Sam Delaplane, and 2018 Oakland Athletics selection Max Schuemann.

Rowing Secures Five Podium Finishes at MACRA Championships
The women's rowing team collected five podium finishes at the Mid-American Collegiate Rowing Association (MACRA) Championships hosted by Grand Valley State University. In their respective Grand Final performances, EMU's First Varsity Eight and Second Varsity Eight boats earned first-place finishes. The Eagles' Third Varsity Eight posted a second-place effort, while the Novice Eight and Varsity Four squads finished third overall in their afternoon performances.

Maxx Crosby Selected by the Raiders in the 2019 NFL Draft
Defensive lineman Maxx Crosby was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft in downtown Nashville. The Colleyville, Texas native is the sixth-highest draft pick in Eastern Michigan history and earliest selection since Jason Jones went in the second round in 2008. Crosby, the 106th overall pick of the draft, is the third Eagle to be drafted in the last four years joining Darius Jackson (2016) and Pat O'Connor (2017). Overall, he is the 29th EMU player to be picked in the draft since 1955. Furthermore, Crosby is the fifth Eastern Michigan defensive lineman to be drafted, joining Ron Fernandez (1973), Dave Boone (1974), Jason Jones (2008), and O'Connor.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Related Videos