EIUPanthers Podcast

Welcome back to our latest episode of EIUpanthers Podcast (No. 89).  Eastern Illinois baseball has had three players selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft most recently with the selection of Trey Sweeney in 2021 by the New York Yankees.  Tim Pyznarski was the first of those three Panthers selected when the Oakland A's tabbed him with the 15th pick of the 1981 MLB Draft.  He joins us to talk about is time playing at EIU, his path in professional baseball that included a stint in the Big Leagues with the San Diego Padres and what life after baseball has held for him.  

Welcome back to our latest episode of EIUpanthers Podcast (No. 89).  Eastern Illinois baseball has had three players selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft most recently with the selection of Trey Sweeney in 2021 by the New York Yankees.  Tim Pyznarski was the first of those three Panthers selected when the Oakland A's tabbed him with the 15th pick of the 1981 MLB Draft.  He joins us to talk about is time playing at EIU, his path in professional baseball that included a stint in the Big Leagues with the San Diego Padres and what life after baseball has held for him.  

This week in our return to the EIUPanthers Podcast series we sit down with Eastern Illinois Head Athletic Trainer Jim Nave. Nave has been in the athletic training business for more than 20 years and discusses what first got him into the profession and what things he has seen evolve over the past two decades.  In addition he talks about how he has built his athletic training staff here at EIU and how his side hobbies of playing in a band and fishing give him a good balanced approach to his job.   (Episode 88)

This week in our return to the EIUPanthers Podcast series we sit down with Eastern Illinois Head Athletic Trainer Jim Nave. Nave has been in the athletic training business for more than 20 years and discusses what first got him into the profession and what things he has seen evolve over the past two decades.  In addition he talks about how he has built his athletic training staff here at EIU and how his side hobbies of playing in a band and fishing give him a good balanced approach to his job.   (Episode 88)

Our Eastern Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame series continues this week on EIUPanthers Podcast (Episode 87) with Marlise Davidson.  Davidson was a three-sport athlete at Eastern Illinois which is a unique feat in these modern times when athletes excelling at just one sport is hard enough.  Davidson was a standout in the pool as a sprint swimmer, a member of the EIU women's rugby team playing in a unique event and middle distance runner on the track team helping EIU secure an Ohio Valley Conference Championship.  She talks about all those experiences and her current job in the medical profession.  

Our Eastern Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame series continues this week on EIUPanthers Podcast (Episode 87) with Marlise Davidson.  Davidson was a three-sport athlete at Eastern Illinois which is a unique feat in these modern times when athletes excelling at just one sport is hard enough.  Davidson was a standout in the pool as a sprint swimmer, a member of the EIU women's rugby team playing in a unique event and middle distance runner on the track team helping EIU secure an Ohio Valley Conference Championship.  She talks about all those experiences and her current job in the medical profession.  

Welcome to this week's edition of EIUPanthers Podcast (episode 86) as we continue our 2022 EIU Athletic Hall of Fame series this week as we talk with Dino Fanti.  Fanti was a member of three EIU FCS playoff teams earning Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2015 en route to earning first team All-American honors.  Fanti did not follow the professional football route like his teammate and fellow 2022 EIU Hall of Fame inductee, Kamu Grugier-Hill, instead he followed another passion to become a firefighter in his native Florida.  Fanti talks about what drew him to that career and what has kept him busy the past few years since his days on the EIU gridiron.  

Welcome to this week's edition of EIUPanthers Podcast (episode 86) as we continue our 2022 EIU Athletic Hall of Fame series this week as we talk with Dino Fanti.  Fanti was a member of three EIU FCS playoff teams earning Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2015 en route to earning first team All-American honors.  Fanti did not follow the professional football route like his teammate and fellow 2022 EIU Hall of Fame inductee, Kamu Grugier-Hill, instead he followed another passion to become a firefighter in his native Florida.  Fanti talks about what drew him to that career and what has kept him busy the past few years since his days on the EIU gridiron.  

This week on EIUPanthers Podcast we start our Hall of Fame series talking over the next couple of weeks with members of the 2022 Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame.  First up is Tom Akers who will be inducted as a coach following a dominating career leading the Panthers track and field programs.  During his tenure, EIU won 45 Ohio Valley Conference track and field championships between the men's and women's programs covering both indoor and outdoor track.  He coached 20 All-Americans and 26 OVC Athletes of the Year.   Akers talks about his experiences at EIU, what it was like to be previously inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame and what retirement life is now like. (Episode 85)  

This week on EIUPanthers Podcast we start our Hall of Fame series talking over the next couple of weeks with members of the 2022 Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame.  First up is Tom Akers who will be inducted as a coach following a dominating career leading the Panthers track and field programs.  During his tenure, EIU won 45 Ohio Valley Conference track and field championships between the men's and women's programs covering both indoor and outdoor track.  He coached 20 All-Americans and 26 OVC Athletes of the Year.   Akers talks about his experiences at EIU, what it was like to be previously inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame and what retirement life is now like. (Episode 85)  

This week we visit with another of the Panthers new head coaches as EIUPanthers Podcast (Episode 84) sits down with head swimming coach Johnathan Jordan.  Jordan was hired late in the summer and hit the ground running at EIU in early August.  He has a couple of previous head coaching stops and last fall had the unique chance to serve as an Olympic Coach for the team from the Marshall Islands.  Jordan talks about his coaching experiences, what brought him to EIU and how he is adjusting to meeting many of the Panthers swimmers for the first time in the coming days. 

This week we visit with another of the Panthers new head coaches as EIUPanthers Podcast (Episode 84) sits down with head swimming coach Johnathan Jordan.  Jordan was hired late in the summer and hit the ground running at EIU in early August.  He has a couple of previous head coaching stops and last fall had the unique chance to serve as an Olympic Coach for the team from the Marshall Islands.  Jordan talks about his coaching experiences, what brought him to EIU and how he is adjusting to meeting many of the Panthers swimmers for the first time in the coming days. 

Welcome to this week's episode of EIUPanthers Podcast (No. 83 in our series).  Eastern Illinois pitcher Hayden Birdsong was selected in the sixth round of this year's Major League Baseball Draft by the San Francisco Giants.  We catch up with Hayden on one of his off days as he is down in Arizona preparing for an abbreviated first season of professional baseball.  He gives us some insight on the draft process, why he chose EIU and what the early days of his indoctrination to the Giants organization have been like.  

Welcome to this week's episode of EIUPanthers Podcast (No. 83 in our series).  Eastern Illinois pitcher Hayden Birdsong was selected in the sixth round of this year's Major League Baseball Draft by the San Francisco Giants.  We catch up with Hayden on one of his off days as he is down in Arizona preparing for an abbreviated first season of professional baseball.  He gives us some insight on the draft process, why he chose EIU and what the early days of his indoctrination to the Giants organization have been like.  

Episode 82 of EIUPanthers Podcast - this week we talk to new Eastern Illinois men's soccer coach Josh Oakley. Oakley grew up a local kid at nearby Mattoon High School and previously worked as an assistant coach with the Panthers men's soccer program.  We talk to him about his coaching journey and what has brought him full circle as he gets to coach a program that he knows a little something about.  

Episode 82 of EIUPanthers Podcast - this week we talk to new Eastern Illinois men's soccer coach Josh Oakley. Oakley grew up a local kid at nearby Mattoon High School and previously worked as an assistant coach with the Panthers men's soccer program.  We talk to him about his coaching journey and what has brought him full circle as he gets to coach a program that he knows a little something about.  

Welcome back to EIUPanthers Podcast as we begin our third season of episodes covering Eastern Illinois Athletics with interviews with current and former coaches, athletes and administrators.  Season three (Episode 81) kicks off with a conversation with former EIU golfer Ryanne Jackson.   Jackson recently competed in the inaugural USGA Adadaptive Open placing second in the women's field.  She talks about this unique experience and how she was able to qualify for it.   In addition she gives insight on how she made her way from Florida to EIU and what the game of golf has meant to her.  

Welcome back to EIUPanthers Podcast as we begin our third season of episodes covering Eastern Illinois Athletics with interviews with current and former coaches, athletes and administrators.  Season three (Episode 81) kicks off with a conversation with former EIU golfer Ryanne Jackson.   Jackson recently competed in the inaugural USGA Adadaptive Open placing second in the women's field.  She talks about this unique experience and how she was able to qualify for it.   In addition she gives insight on how she made her way from Florida to EIU and what the game of golf has meant to her.  

Episode 80 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former Eastern Illinois men's basketball player Tyler Laser.  Laser played for the Panthers during the late 2000's and then overcame some miraculous odds to go on and have a successful professional career playing in Europe.  This week we talk to Laser about some of his experiences which during part of his career took him to Eastern Europe along with his current life plan and how that evolved.  

Episode 80 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former Eastern Illinois men's basketball player Tyler Laser.  Laser played for the Panthers during the late 2000's and then overcame some miraculous odds to go on and have a successful professional career playing in Europe.  This week we talk to Laser about some of his experiences which during part of his career took him to Eastern Europe along with his current life plan and how that evolved.  

This week we piggyback off of friends at WEIU TV & Radio.  A few weeks ago they had EIU Athletic Hall of Fame member Ken Wooddell on as a guest for their Issues and Attitudes program.  Wooddell was a long time fixture in the radio industry in the Coles County area and served as the Voice of the Panther Football team during the 1980's and 1990's.   With their permission, this week's episode of EIUPanthers Podcast, No. 79, in our series, is a rebroadcast of their recent conversation with Wooddell.  

This week we piggyback off of friends at WEIU TV & Radio.  A few weeks ago they had EIU Athletic Hall of Fame member Ken Wooddell on as a guest for their Issues and Attitudes program.  Wooddell was a long time fixture in the radio industry in the Coles County area and served as the Voice of the Panther Football team during the 1980's and 1990's.   With their permission, this week's episode of EIUPanthers Podcast, No. 79, in our series, is a rebroadcast of their recent conversation with Wooddell.  

The Eastern Illinois baseball team is off to the best start in the program's NCAA Division I history as the Panthers head into mid-April leading the Ohio Valley Conference race with 22 wins.   Part of that success has been with the play of transfer outfielder Nathan Aide along with strong performances by several other Panthers.  Recently Aide accomplished one of the harder feats to do in offensive baseball as he hit for the cycle collecting a home run in his fifth and final at-bat of the game.  Aide talks about that feat along with his baseball journey to Eastern Illinois and what he hopes the Panthers can accomplish on the field this season on Episode 78 of EIUPanthers Podcast.  

The Eastern Illinois baseball team is off to the best start in the program's NCAA Division I history as the Panthers head into mid-April leading the Ohio Valley Conference race with 22 wins.   Part of that success has been with the play of transfer outfielder Nathan Aide along with strong performances by several other Panthers.  Recently Aide accomplished one of the harder feats to do in offensive baseball as he hit for the cycle collecting a home run in his fifth and final at-bat of the game.  Aide talks about that feat along with his baseball journey to Eastern Illinois and what he hopes the Panthers can accomplish on the field this season on Episode 78 of EIUPanthers Podcast.  

Episode 77 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with EIU softball player Hannah Cravens.  Cravens played the role of hero in both of the Panthers softball games on Wednesday night (April 6) as she added to her season totals in doubles, home runs and RBI.  She is currently chasing the single season school record in several categories, some of those held by her current teammates.  We talk to Cravens about the good season she is having, what some of those accolades mean and what life holds for her after her softball days come to an end.  

Episode 77 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with EIU softball player Hannah Cravens.  Cravens played the role of hero in both of the Panthers softball games on Wednesday night (April 6) as she added to her season totals in doubles, home runs and RBI.  She is currently chasing the single season school record in several categories, some of those held by her current teammates.  We talk to Cravens about the good season she is having, what some of those accolades mean and what life holds for her after her softball days come to an end.  

Episode 76 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former Eastern Illinois women's soccer player Dr. Carole Griggs.  Griggs was a standout player on the pitch for the Panthers in the early days of the program helping EIU win an OVC Tournament Championship while earning All-League honors.  Since graduation she has gone on to create and run a successful consulting business that involves executive coaching for some top companies on the West Coast.  In addition she has worked as a college professor and written several books.  She talks about all those experiences and more on today's episode.  

Episode 76 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former Eastern Illinois women's soccer player Dr. Carole Griggs.  Griggs was a standout player on the pitch for the Panthers in the early days of the program helping EIU win an OVC Tournament Championship while earning All-League honors.  Since graduation she has gone on to create and run a successful consulting business that involves executive coaching for some top companies on the West Coast.  In addition she has worked as a college professor and written several books.  She talks about all those experiences and more on today's episode.  

In the fall of 2021 Eastern Illinois Athletics announced that it would add the sport of beach volleyball to begin play in the spring of 2022.  Fast forward eight months and the Panthers will play their inaugural NCAA Beach Volleyball competition on March 22 against Missouri Baptist.   Our guest today for episode 75 of EIUPanthers Podcast is EIU associate volleyball head coach Manolo Concepcion who serves as the head coach of the EIU beach program.  Concepcion talks about how the beach program came about, his life long involvement with the sport and his side project which also involves the his continual growth in the sport of volleyball.  

In the fall of 2021 Eastern Illinois Athletics announced that it would add the sport of beach volleyball to begin play in the spring of 2022.  Fast forward eight months and the Panthers will play their inaugural NCAA Beach Volleyball competition on March 22 against Missouri Baptist.   Our guest today for episode 75 of EIUPanthers Podcast is EIU associate volleyball head coach Manolo Concepcion who serves as the head coach of the EIU beach program.  Concepcion talks about how the beach program came about, his life long involvement with the sport and his side project which also involves the his continual growth in the sport of volleyball.  

Episode 74 of EIUPanthers Podcast, on this week's episode we visit with EIU women's basketball seniors Kira Arthofer and Jordyn Hughes as both prepare to play their final home games for the Panthers this weekend at First Mid Court at Lantz Arena.  Both came into the program four years ago and have played through the ups and downs of dealing with COVID seasons.  Each recalls what it was that brought them to Eastern Illinois, some of the special moments they have shared with their teammates and what each of their futures holds after their time on the hardwood.  

Episode 74 of EIUPanthers Podcast, on this week's episode we visit with EIU women's basketball seniors Kira Arthofer and Jordyn Hughes as both prepare to play their final home games for the Panthers this weekend at First Mid Court at Lantz Arena.  Both came into the program four years ago and have played through the ups and downs of dealing with COVID seasons.  Each recalls what it was that brought them to Eastern Illinois, some of the special moments they have shared with their teammates and what each of their futures holds after their time on the hardwood.  

Episode 73 of EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we visit with recently hired EIU football coach Chris Wilkerson.  Wilkerson, a former EIU player and assistant coach, talks about his time playing and coaching for the Panthers, some memories of stops he has had along the way and what it is like to follow in the footsteps of one of his coaching mentors as the head coach at Eastern Illinois.  

Episode 73 of EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we visit with recently hired EIU football coach Chris Wilkerson.  Wilkerson, a former EIU player and assistant coach, talks about his time playing and coaching for the Panthers, some memories of stops he has had along the way and what it is like to follow in the footsteps of one of his coaching mentors as the head coach at Eastern Illinois.  

Welcome to episode 72 of EIUPanthers Podcast as thie week we visit with former EIU swimmer Nancy Williams.   Williams was a top free style sprint swimmer for the Panthers in the late 1990's that still ranks in the EIU career top ten.  Her original career path took her to Texas and a job with State Farm.  Since that time she has followed a different passion opening up her own Cookie Company called Frosted.  Williams talks about her time at EIU, how she got involved in her current business and an interesting story about how her cookies got into the hands of one of EIU's most famous alumni.

Welcome to episode 72 of EIUPanthers Podcast as thie week we visit with former EIU swimmer Nancy Williams.   Williams was a top free style sprint swimmer for the Panthers in the late 1990's that still ranks in the EIU career top ten.  Her original career path took her to Texas and a job with State Farm.  Since that time she has followed a different passion opening up her own Cookie Company called Frosted.  Williams talks about her time at EIU, how she got involved in her current business and an interesting story about how her cookies got into the hands of one of EIU's most famous alumni.

Welcome to episode 71 of EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we catch-up with former Eastern Illinois women's basketball player Alece Shumpert.  Shumpert currently works for Nissan and talks about how a chance encounter during a car repair helped lead to her current career with the company.  In addition we talk to Shumpert about her playing days at EIU and what its like to watch her younger brother Will follow in her footsteps as a student-athlete at EIU.  

Welcome to episode 71 of EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we catch-up with former Eastern Illinois women's basketball player Alece Shumpert.  Shumpert currently works for Nissan and talks about how a chance encounter during a car repair helped lead to her current career with the company.  In addition we talk to Shumpert about her playing days at EIU and what its like to watch her younger brother Will follow in her footsteps as a student-athlete at EIU.  

Episode 70 of EIUPanthers Podcast as we visit with former Eastern Illinois running back Ron Jordan.  Jordan played football for the Panthers in the last 2000's and talks about how those experiences as a member of the EIU football team helped shape him for career as an entrepreneur.   He currently runs Jordan Hospitality and was recently featured in Inside INdiana Business magazine about his franchise opportunities with the Donatos Pizza Restaurants.   We explore how several topics including how he got into the food business on today's episode.  

Episode 70 of EIUPanthers Podcast as we visit with former Eastern Illinois running back Ron Jordan.  Jordan played football for the Panthers in the last 2000's and talks about how those experiences as a member of the EIU football team helped shape him for career as an entrepreneur.   He currently runs Jordan Hospitality and was recently featured in Inside INdiana Business magazine about his franchise opportunities with the Donatos Pizza Restaurants.   We explore how several topics including how he got into the food business on today's episode.  

Episode 69 of EIUPanthers Podcast; this week we talk with EIU head baseball coach Jason Anderson as the Panthers prepare to open what will be his 7th season at the helm.   Over the past three seasons EIU has had four players drafted under Anderson's watch including Trey Sweeney, a first round selection this past season.  Anderson talks about those players, the Panthers program and his own journey as a professional baseball player on this week's episode.  

Episode 69 of EIUPanthers Podcast; this week we talk with EIU head baseball coach Jason Anderson as the Panthers prepare to open what will be his 7th season at the helm.   Over the past three seasons EIU has had four players drafted under Anderson's watch including Trey Sweeney, a first round selection this past season.  Anderson talks about those players, the Panthers program and his own journey as a professional baseball player on this week's episode.  

Episode 68 of EIUPanthers Podcast.  The term go-getter might be an understatement when describing our guest this week as we talk with former Eastern Illinois football player Keithan Hedrick.  Hedrick earned his degree from EIU in three years while being a full-time student-athlete and guardian to two younger siblings.  He has since gone on to earn his law degree, start both a family and a company and this week he and his wife appear on an episode of Shark Tank to promote their new online product – Candi.  Hedrick catches us up on several things including what it was like to be a contestant on the show that airs on ABC this Friday, January 7.  

Episode 68 of EIUPanthers Podcast.  The term go-getter might be an understatement when describing our guest this week as we talk with former Eastern Illinois football player Keithan Hedrick.  Hedrick earned his degree from EIU in three years while being a full-time student-athlete and guardian to two younger siblings.  He has since gone on to earn his law degree, start both a family and a company and this week he and his wife appear on an episode of Shark Tank to promote their new online product – Candi.  Hedrick catches us up on several things including what it was like to be a contestant on the show that airs on ABC this Friday, January 7.  

Episode 67 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former EIU cross country and track runner Caitlin Napoleoni who since her days at EIU has gone on to have a successful career working in the TV industry as a weather person.  We talk to her about how she became interested in that field, her memories of running cross country and track at Eastern Illinois and some news from her personal life which includes her husband working towards qualifying for his third Winter Olympic Games.

Episode 67 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former EIU cross country and track runner Caitlin Napoleoni who since her days at EIU has gone on to have a successful career working in the TV industry as a weather person.  We talk to her about how she became interested in that field, her memories of running cross country and track at Eastern Illinois and some news from her personal life which includes her husband working towards qualifying for his third Winter Olympic Games.

The early national signing day for football around the country took place recently and one of the newest Panthers is an Eastern Illinois football legacy as Carson Fichtel signed to play at EIU next fall.  On episode 66 of EIUPanthers Podcast our guest is Carson's dad, Brad Fichtel a former EIU All-American lineman that played for a short while in the National Football League.  We talk to Brad about the pride he has in his son following in his footsteps at EIU, his time playing for the Panthers and the experiences that provided in a number of professional avenues.  

The early national signing day for football around the country took place recently and one of the newest Panthers is an Eastern Illinois football legacy as Carson Fichtel signed to play at EIU next fall.  On episode 66 of EIUPanthers Podcast our guest is Carson's dad, Brad Fichtel a former EIU All-American lineman that played for a short while in the National Football League.  We talk to Brad about the pride he has in his son following in his footsteps at EIU, his time playing for the Panthers and the experiences that provided in a number of professional avenues.  

Welcome to episode 65 of EIUPanthers Podcast as we visit with current EIU women's basketball player Abby Wahl.  Wahl recently joined the 1,000 point club at Eastern Illinois and was named one of 30 candidates for the NCAA's Senior Class Award.  We talk to Wahl about those two honors and what its like to be from the home town of Santa Claus, Indiana on this week's episode.  

Welcome to episode 65 of EIUPanthers Podcast as we visit with current EIU women's basketball player Abby Wahl.  Wahl recently joined the 1,000 point club at Eastern Illinois and was named one of 30 candidates for the NCAA's Senior Class Award.  We talk to Wahl about those two honors and what its like to be from the home town of Santa Claus, Indiana on this week's episode.  

Last week Eastern Illinois cross country runner Dustin Hatfield became just the third runner to qualify for the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships during the Panthers division I era.  Hatfield will compete this Saturday at the NCAA meet in Tallahassee, Florida.  On episode 64 of EIUPanthers Podcast we talk to him about the upcoming experience, his cross country journey and his love of both hunting and fishing when not on the cross country trails.