A Message from President Lenzmeier: Reflecting on the First Weekend of Beaver Athletics
The sights and sounds of BVU Athletics were alive in the opening weekend of competition in Storm Lake. President Lenzmier was there to take in the experience.
What a thrill it was to sit at J. Leslie Rollins Stadium last Saturday night as the Beavers hosted Gustavus Adolphus College in the 2021 football season-opener.
For those who like statistics, here are three: It had been 665 days since our last football game, 672 days since our last home football game, and 730 days since our last home football game at night.
It was a great night for our students, our student-athletes, our alumni, faculty, staff, and the greater BVU community. We had missed evenings like this for so many reasons, some of which come to mind.
In addition to the action on Peterson Field, we had plenty of sights, sounds, and high-fives in the bleachers. BVU’s Marching Blue transitioned from field band to pep band and worked in sync with our flag corps and an enthusiastic group of 18 cheerleaders who constantly worked with the coaches and players to rev up a huge crowd. The BVU dance team also performed at halftime, giving us more of the pageantry we’ve come to expect—and enjoy—at the most spectacular football setting in the state.
Speaking of spectacular, our congratulations to senior Eric Pacheco, who became BVU’s all-time leading receiver during the game!
During the week, I was also able to join lots of students, faculty, staff, and BVU parents as the Beavers hosted soccer on Peterson Field on both the men’s and women’s side.
Additionally, our volleyball, cross country, tennis, golf, and e-sports teams have returned to action.
It’s so much fun seeing campus spring to life as students move from class to practice to the library to labs and more.
Many of my fondest BVU memories surround the relationships I built as a professor with students who grew as they complemented their academic experience with athletics and a whole host of co-curricular activities.
I hope to see many of you returning to campus this fall as we work diligently to continue a return to “normal” with concerts, exhibits, games, matches, and more, including a month-long Artist in Residence visit by nationally acclaimed photographer Andre Wagner ’10, whose exhibit, “Andre Wagner—Back to Storm Lake, Iowa,” will be showcased.
Following my inauguration as BVU’s 19th President on Oct. 8, we’ll move into Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 15-17 as our greatest BVU traditions resume, a rite of passage and the reuniting of friends!
“B-E-A-V-E-R-S” clap! “B-E-A-V-E-R-S” clap! “B-E-A-V-E-R-S” clap!