Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Historic success starts at the top
WCU’s historic success starts at the very top
WEST GOSHEN >> Winning at the collegiate level is challenging, especially at the NCAA Division I and II categories, where athletic scholarships are involved.
But winning at a 94-percent rate, across an entire athletic department? That isn’t just rare, it is virtually unheard of. To do that, you are in unicorn or Sasquatch territory. And believe it or not, that is exactly what West Chester’s fall teams are actually doing right now.
We are about a month in, and WCU is a combined 35-2 this fall. From rugby to football, from field hockey to volleyball, the Golden Rams are absolutely killing it so far.
“It doesn’t surprise us, necessarily, but it really is a great accomplishment,” said head football coach Bill Zwaan. “So it’s not something you expect.”
Granted, it’s highly doubtful that this rate of success can actually continue. But isn’t it time for a little reflection -- a little appreciation?
Yes, this is highly unusual, even for a school that tends to win a lot anyway. To collectively see an entire athletic program author such an incredible stretch is worth noting. It’s a level of all-around success that most colleges can only dream of.
“We have an excellent group of coaches who have been here for a long time and that stability is very important,” said West Chester Athletic Director Terry Beattie. “We also have a staff in the athletic department that works very hard and an administration that believes in the importance of athletics and gives us the support to be successful.”
A particularly accurate snapshot of what’s been happening this fall came last Saturday, when five WCU teams – all playing at home in adjacent South Campus facilities – went 5-0, including shutout wins for football, field hockey, men’s soccer and women’s soccer.
“A major part is that once the coaches get here, understand how things work and what it takes to be successful here, West Chester is an easy place to recruit to,” Zwaan said. “You have to just find the right athletes to make it happen.”
The successes are not just limited to this fall, of course. The Rams now rank among the nation’s top-10 current Division II athletic programs, and are the clear standard bearer in the 16-team Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Earlier this year, WCU placed eighth in the Learfield Cup, a national ranking which combines athletic achievement in NCAA post-season competition. It’s the highest West Chester’s ever been.
The PSAC also awarded WCU the 2018-19 Dixon Trophy for the second consecutive year – and for the fourth time in the last five years – which recognizes the conference’s best overall athletic program.
At the moment, four of West Chester’s teams are ranked nationally. The unbeaten field hockey squad is No. 2, and the women’s soccer team is 6-0 and ranked sixth.
On the men’s side, the 16th-ranked football program has won 13 regular season games in a row, and men’s soccer is 5-1 and No. 17 after opening the season at No. 1. Zwaan’s program captured the PSAC Championship in 2018 and is the team to beat again this year. Michael Benn’s soccer squad advanced to the NCAA Title Game a year ago and is currently unbeaten in conference play.
In addition, the rugby squad is 3-0 and the volleyball team started the season with a dozen straight wins and is now 12-1.
“You look at the Dixon Trophy the last couple years, and that we ended up in the top-10 in the Learfield Cup – there is a ton of pride by all of the coaches, and the entire athletic staff, with what everybody’s doing,” Zwaan said.