We hope you had a great thanksgiving! While you study for your exams, take a break to check out this weeks episode (December 4, 2024) of Ferris Sports Update produced by Jarius Aaron! For this episode we are joined by our host Rob Bentley alongside three special guests: head football coach Tony Annese, outside hitter for our volleyball team Emily May, and news service/social media manager Sandy Gholston. Let the games begin!
Writers Braeden Andros, Samantha Rangel, Grace Russell, & Sean Anderson | Editor Braeden Andros | Featured Image Paul Davidson
Football
Host Rob Bentley sits down with Ferris State football head coach Tony Annese to talk about the team’s success after winning the GLIAC championship. The Ferris State Bulldogs recently won against Central Oklahoma 78-17 in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The team played in tough weather conditions but stayed focused and brought home another victory. Now, the Bulldogs are heading to the quarterfinals this weekend, where they will face Harding University, last year’s national champions. Coach Annese knows the game won’t be easy. “It’s going to be an unbelievable battle here Saturday. We’re going to have to play really well to be able to beat them,” he says. Coach Annese also talked about what makes this season so special for the team. From their hard work and determination to their strong teamwork, the Bulldogs have shown they are ready for any challenge. Fans are eager to see if Ferris State can keep their winning streak alive and move one step closer to another championship.
Photo Credits: Kevin McDermott, Joe Washington, Luke Wyckoff, Bill Simpson & Abe Kraus
Volleyball
As the Ferris State volleyball team gears up for the NCAA Division 2 Midwest Regional tournament, we caught up with Emily May, an outside hitter for the team, to discuss their undefeated season and the exciting journey ahead. With a perfect 31-0 record and ranked #1 in the country, the Bulldogs are poised to make a strong push for the national title, but Emily reminds us that it’s been a team effort from start to finish. Reflecting on the season, Emily credits much of their success to the hard work and dedication put in during the spring, setting goals and building team chemistry from day one. One of the team’s standout accomplishments has been capturing both the GLIAC regular-season championship and the GLIAC tournament championship, both on their home court. This year, Ferris will also host the regional tournament, giving the team an added boost of energy as they look to advance.
Despite battling through an injury this season, Emily remains an integral part of the team. She describes the immense support from her teammates, which has made it possible to stay involved in every match. The team’s camaraderie and dedication have been key to their success on and off the court. As they prepare to face Missouri-St. Louis in the regionals, Emily speaks about the strong fan support and how grateful the team is for their state-of-the-art facilities, including the weight room, which help them stay at peak performance. The seniors, she notes, have been excellent role models, guiding the younger players with their leadership and work ethic. Emily also shares a bit about her own journey to Ferris, recalling her campus tour and immediate connection to the team. A marketing major with aspirations of working in sports social media, Emily hopes to help keep the team’s traditions alive for years to come. As the Bulldogs look toward the regionals, they remain focused on their game-by-game approach, ready to continue their remarkable season.
Photo Credits: Ben Amato
FSU Sports In The Fall
Rob sat down with his other half when it comes to commentating for basketball and football, Sandy Gholston. Gholstan is the Director of News Services & Social Media for Ferris Athletics. Rob and Sandy recapped all of Ferris Athletics for this fall semester. The two started off by talking about the cross country team not only hosting a meet at the beginning of the season, but also hosting the GLIAC Championship. They mentioned that most of the cross country athletes will also be participating in indoor track which will be starting shortly, then participating in outdoor track in the spring. “It just keeps going,” Sandy said. Next, Sandy and Rob discussed Ferris State Women’s Soccer. This season was the 25th anniversary of Ferris State Soccer. They really commended Head Coach Greg Henson for the job he has done within his short time so far here at Ferris. After that, they reviewed the Men’s Ice Hockey team so far with Head Coach Bob Daniels recently earning his 500th win. Sandy could not speak enough on how fun the team has been to watch lately. The Bulldogs have some big games coming up as the season, and conference play continues. When it comes to football, the two are on the broadcast together every game. They have had a front row seat to the action this entire season as the #1 ranked Bulldogs look to continue their run in the Division 2 playoffs. Bulldog basketball is in full swing as both teams are coming off of Elite 8 appearances last season. Both teams are ranked among the top 20 teams, the men’s team are ranked 9 in the nation. Finally, Rob and Sandy spoke about Women’s Volleyball. The #1 ranked team in the nation is currently undefeated, and has the opportunity to host the regional playoffs this weekend.
Photo Credits: Ferris State University
Credits
Producer: Jarius Aaron
Hosts: Rob Bentley
Guests: Tony Annese, Emily May, Sandy Gholston
Director: Reese Miller
Audio: Jaylah Lewis
Technical Director: Lawrence Carter
Avid: Ben Muma, Glen Okonosh
Stage Manager: Tori Bridges
Camera Work: Tori Bridges, Bobby Yaxley
Faculty: Nick Kuiper, Glen Okonoski, Joshua Pardon, Andrew Tingley
Engineer: Bill Jung
Academic Advisor: Timberly Boezwinkle
Secretary: Rolonda Gleason