Lancers Past

Former president Patricia P. Cormier (1996-2010) envisioned's Longwood's potential in student enrollment, campus expansion and overall exposure.  Listen to Patty describe the journey to NCAA Division I and Big South Conference membership.  She also shares her admiration for Longwood legend Jerome Kersey and how she helped him complete his B.S. in Social Work 22 years after suiting up for the Lancers.       

Junior Burr was a member of perhaps Longwood’s most cohesive and talented men’s basketball team ever, certainly on the Division II level.  The 1993-94 Lancers racked up 20 straight wins and won a game in the college’s first appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament. While his playing time was limited, he applied lessons learned on a bigger stage.   As the founder and owner of Canterbury Enterprises, Inc., Burr’s company is a key contributor in commercial construction and real estate development in Virginia.  Canterbury teamed with Skanska USA to build the Joan Perry Brock Center at Longwood University. 

March 2020 signified the start of the Coronavirus epidemic.  But, for six former Longwood gymnasts from the 1980s, they braved the threat and enjoyed a mini reunion where they shared old memories and made new ones.   This second episode of a three-part series highlights Lynda Chenoweth Loden as she reflects on Longwood Gymnastics.  Lynda lives in Suwanee, Ga.  Listen to episodes one and three with teammates Tammy Zeller Pierce and Kerri Hruby Kraisser.  Teresa Robey Belcher, Mary Schaefer Marshburn, and student assistant Dawn Campbell Farrington also attended the reunion.

March 2020 signified the start of the Coronavirus epidemic.  But, for six former Longwood gymnasts from the 1980s, they braved the threat and enjoyed a mini reunion where they shared old memories and made new ones.   This third episode of a three-part series highlights Kerri Hruby Kraisser as she reflects on Longwood Gymnastics.  Listen to episodes one and two with teammates Tammy Zeller Pierce and Lynda Chenoweth Loden.  Teresa Robey Belcher, Mary Schaefer Marshburn, and student assistant Dawn Campbell Farrington also attended the reunion.

March 2020 signified the start of the Coronavirus epidemic.  But, for six former Longwood gymnasts from the 1980s, they braved the threat and enjoyed a mini reunion where they shared old memories and made new ones.   This first episode of a three-part series highlights Tammy Pierce as she reflects on Longwood Gymnastics.  Tammy lives in Mifflinburg Pa.  Listen to episodes two and three with teammates Lynda Chenoweth Loden and Kerri Hruby Kraisser.  Teresa Robey Belcher, Mary Schaefer Marshburn, and student assistant Dawn Campbell Farrington also attended the reunion.

Joe Bass enjoyed the wrestling spotlight in Lancer Hall (now Willett Hall).  With a career record of 48-25, he qualified for the NCAA DII regionals and was a key part in a young program. After retiring from the Army, Joe went back to his family roots and owned and operated restaurants.  Now, as a full retiree in Burke Virginia, Joe reconnects with other Longwood wrestlers and plays golf.   

As an up-and-coming officer in the Army, Joe Bass shared his story to anyone considering college.   He graduated from high school with a 1.93 GPA with dreams of playing college football. He learned quickly that barely passing was not enough.  With the help of coaches and ROTC mentors, Joe found his way to Longwood and then to the U.S. Army where he worked his way up to Brigadier General, Longwood’s first in active duty. 

Longwood assistant women’s basketball coach Loretta Coughlin talks about Cassie Ensley from recruitment to graduation in this special 20-minute podcast.  Coughlin assisted Head Coach Shirley Duncan from 1985-1998, served as Softball Head Coach from 1986-1995, and taught 20 years at Longwood in the Department of Kinesiology.   She retired from Albemarle County Public Schools in June 2022 after a 17-year teaching career.  Listen to a related Lancers Past podcast, a 40-minute interview with Cassandra Ensley Storer.

After sitting out for most of two seasons, Cassie Ensley took full advantage of her fifth year.  Now known as Cassandra Ensley Storer, the 5-6 guard made history in 1995 as the first Longwood women’s basketball team to play in the NCAA Division II tournament.  After dropping 464 points in her final season, she ranks #8 in career scoring, #2 in made 3PTs, and #5 in assists.  Cassandra was named Honorable Mention All-American and First Team Academic All-American.  She teaches foreign languages in the Fairfax County Public Schools. Listen to a bonus episode! Loretta Coughlin shares her insight on Cassie from recruitment to graduation in a special 20-minute Lancers Past Podcast. 

This episode is part of a series celebrating Lancer/Willett Hall. The new Joan Perry Brock Center replaces Willett as LU’s basketball home in the fall of 2023.

Brenda Fettrow ranks #20 in all-time scoring for Longwood WBB.  But she would much rather talk about stealing the ball and feeding a teammate for an easy basket.  She still holds the record for steals in a game – 11.  As the city manager of Rockledge in Brevard County Florida, her team serves 29,000 citizens.  Learn how Brenda leveraged her Longwood experiences on and off the court to prepare and respond to Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.  This episode is part of the series celebrating Lancer, later known as Willett Hall.  The new Joan Perry Brock Center replaces Willett as the Lancers’ basketball home in the fall of 2023. 

As a graduate transfer, Jordan Perkins, was a winner – with two trips to the NCAA DI tournament. The one-year Lancer tapped into his experience and leadership to help Longwood to a 26-7 record and the Big South Conference Championship.   Known by his teammates as Juice, Perkins is now in Armenia as a starting point guard for the Mad Foxes in Yerevan.  This episode is part of the series celebrating Lancer, later known as Willett Hall.  The new Joan Perry Brock Center replaces Willett as the Lancers’ home in the fall of 2023. 

From the opening of Longwood College’s Lancer Hall in 1980, Jim Gussett and his wife Ann, have been game day fixtures.  From 1966 to 1998, Jim was known as a student advocate at Longwood, first as the assistant dean and later as a math professor.   As a high school catcher in Cincinnati, he played with future MLB managers Don Zimmer and Jim Frey before attending the U.S. Naval Academy.  This episode is the second in a series celebrating Lancer, later known as Willett Hall.  The new Joan Perry Brock Center will be the Lancers’ new home in the fall of 2023. 

In Mike Testa’s two years at Longwood, his GPA was higher than his scoring average.  As a senior guard, he came off the bench to beat visiting Randolph Macon 41-39 in February of 1983.  It may be the most dramatic and unlikely game winning shot in Longwood men’s basketball history.   This episode is the first of a series celebrating Willett Hall that opened in 1980.  The new Joan Perry Brock Center replaces Willett as the Lancers home in the fall of 2023. 

After starting at 4-10-1, Joe Parker captained three straight winning seasons for Longwood College soccer, a first in program history.  He capped off his career in ’82 at 14-5-1, the VISA state championship, and a #14 ranking in the DII national polls.   Listen to Joe describe the ascent of LC soccer in the second episode of this two–part celebration of the ’82 team. 

Darryl Case kicks off the first episode of a two-part celebration of the 1982 Longwood College Men’s soccer team, VISA State Champions.  The four-time All-American and Lancer Hall of Famer is retired and lives just outside San Antonio, Texas.  

Michael Tucker takes a deep dive into his major league career in the second of a two-part episode.  Tucker played 12 years in MLB with seven teams.   From Bobby Cox to Barry Bonds to the man they simply called Junior (Ken Griffey, Jr.) Tucker shares his stories from playing with baseball’s best. 

In this first of a two-part episode, Michael Tucker talks about teaching aspiring big leaguers, developing his game at Longwood, and balling with Michael Jordan in the Arizona Fall League.  In 1992, Tucker earned NCAA DII Player of the Year and was the DH on the Olympic Baseball team.  He capped off the year as a first-round selection by Kansas City in the MLB Draft (10^th overall).    

Former Longwood Associate Head Coach Tiffany Sardin and Lancer teammate Dayna Rouse celebrate Akila Smith’s college hoops success and look forward to her pro career.  Sardin is now in a similar role at St. Louis University.  Rouse and Smith reunite on the island of Madeira where they will play for Francisco Franco, a team in the top women's league in Portugal.                                                            

Akila Smith's journey to 2022 Women's Basketball Big South Player of the Year and a conference championship was a test of faith.  Despite a tough freshman year, she persevered with help from coaches and teammates.  Now, armed with her degree and a win in the NCAA tournament, Akila joins forces with former Longwood teammate Dayna Rouse to compete in the top women's basketball league in Portugal.    

Kylie was born into a soccer family and played for her father, Todd, at Longwood before graduating with a B.S. in Political Science.  Despite a season ending injury as a junior, she received the Jimmy Yarbrough Inspiration Award for her academic, community service and team leadership.  Kylie, who also worked in the Longwood Admissions Office, now generates support for Lancer student-athletes as the Director of Donor Engagement.